Pioneer program
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.