The Flickr Stltrw Image Generatr

“PIONEER I - The world’s first lunar probe, was successfully launched October 11, 1958. Traveling more than 70,000 miles from earth, Pioneer I provided us with valuable and previously unknown data about cosmic radiation, magnetic fields and micrometeorite density.”

Gorgeous work by the eminently talented Roy Gjertson. I’m reasonably sure, based on the Space Technology Laboratories (STL) numbering nomenclature, that this is from 1960. If so, the “modern” & “contemporary” style/manner of artistic representation is so way ahead of its time…this looks more like something from the 70’s - 90’s, and I don’t mean computer-aided. You know what I mean, right?
The billowing thrust for example…that’s not the way exhaust thrust/plumes were depicted in 1960. Let alone the depiction of the probe itself. Brilliant…but then again, it’s Roy Gjertson, so it’s to be expected.

Neither here nor there, but I had no idea Mr. Gjertson worked for/did work for/was contracted by, STL.

Note that the formerly attached (until I started manipulating the photo) description is now detached, which I merely placed in the ‘vertical position’ in order to reduce my amount of scanning.

Pioneer 1:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_1
Credit: Wikipedia

Think about it, 1958…and we attempted to reach the moon, to even include crude ‘photography’ of it. The Godless Soviet maggots subsequently did actually reach it three months later. At least they didn’t photograph it:

nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1959...
Credit: NSSDCA website

ALWAYS excellent:

www.drewexmachina.com/2016/10/11/pioneer-1-nasas-first-sp...

To include an "extract" from the full image:

i0.wp.com/www.drewexmachina.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/1...
Both above credit: Andrew LePage/"Drew ExMachina" website

""PADDLEWHEEL" - An artist's conception of Explorer VI, the first earth orbiting "paddlewheel" satellite, launched August 7, 1959, which carries an integrated payload of scientific instrumentation to measure the radiation, micrometeorites and magnetic fields in space and conduct propagation experiments. The 143-pound spherical vehicle was the first to carry its own power supply and a remarkable "telebit" unit, a tiny electronic brain which collected data from the experiments to return it to earth upon command. The Explorer VI orbit extends out to 22,500 miles."

Above may be the 'official' TRW caption, found associated with the same image.

A creative, dramatic, “ahead of its time” perspective view of Explorer 6 in orbit, with the southeastern United States, Yucatan peninsula, Gulf of Mexico & Caribbean region below.
Seriously - DUCK - that protruding solar array arm might poke you in the eye! And the attention to detail is truly impressive.
Although no signature is visible, that attention to detail, overall look & feel and time period points to it being by the hand of STL’s/TRW’s franchise artist, John Desatoff. I may be wrong, but who really cares.
As if ALL of the above weren’t enough…it’s pretty historic in that this spacecraft took the first crude “picture” of the earth.

rammb.cira.colostate.edu/dev/hillger/Explorer-6_image.jpg
Credit: NOAA/NESDIS Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Branch (RAMMB) website

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explorer_6
Credit: Wikipedia

Everything - I say again - EVERYTHING you ever wanted to know about Explorer 6. Damn:

www.sdfo.org/stl/explorer6.php
Credit: STL Online Archive website

Per usual, neither here nor there; however in my trying to dig up stuff on this, I came across a color version...it didn't look that hot. As I recall, it had a lot of pinkish purple going on. Maybe a color shift in the photo.

“The Air Force Thor-Able lunar probe missile was launched at 4:42 a.m., 11 October 1958, in an effort to reach the near vicinity of the moon. The three-stage rocket left the earth successfully, carrying a small instrumented vehicle, the “Pioneer”. The “Pioneer” reached more than 79,900 miles into space before falling back to earth.”

Pioneer 1 info:

space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/pioneer-012.htm
Credit: Gunter’s Space Page

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_1
Credit: Wikipedia