Van Allen radiation belt
The Pioneer program was the first military space mission to be launched and operated by the Air Force. Launched in 1958, Pioneer 0, Pioneer 1, and Pioneer 2 were all Air Force programs, with Pioneers 1 and 2 turned over to NASA. Pioneer 1 is considered to be the first deep space probe and transmitted back extensive information about the Van Allen radiation belt. Although the Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar was under development at the Wright Air Development Center, the Titan IIIC launch vehicle was being developed by the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division.