On January 31, 1958 - Reacting swiftly to the Soviet success with Sputnik I, the United States makes its first foray into space a highly successful one. http://feeds.wired.com/~r/wired/index/~3/0HfWdXXPRWY/ WIRED Magazine - First U.S. Satellite Discovers Van Allen Belt Clint, K6LCS