Something to think about when you are looking at all the derelict objects in your Kerbal universe - Vanguard 1 and the upper stage rocket used to launch the satellite, are still in orbit. And will be until somewhere around 2200 A.D. Vanguard 1 was launched on March 17, 1958. About a year and a half from now, it will have been in orbit for 60 years. Vanguard 2 and Vanguard 3 are still in orbit too for that matter. In fact two pieces of the upper stage of Vanguard 3 are still in orbit along with t