The one that was going to be the first American satellite was tried to launch around 1957 with a Vanguard carrier of the Navy.

“The Vanguard on a ramp” (PiP)

-It used a GE XLR-50 engine in the first stage and an Aerojet-General XLR52 in the second. Both ran on liquid fuel.

-The third stage had a Grand Central 33KS2800 solid fuel engine, with 33 seconds of operation delivering 2800 lbs.

-It was an operation of American prestige: it had to be a genuine project for the first satellite.

-However, immediately, a launch was made with the Jupiter C of German engineer Von Braun (see) and an Explorer satellite, with success. See the BBC series "Space Race".

-Now we see another Grand Central solid-fuel and double-thrust engine used in the SSM-A-23 Dart, a surface-to-surface missile.

“Dart photo from the US Army”