1956 in spaceflight

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1956 in spaceflight
Jupiter c pad.jpg
The Jupiter-C rocket made its maiden flight in 1956
Rockets
Maiden flights Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee AJ10-34
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Nike-Cajun
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Terrapin
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jupiter-C
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1UK
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5RD
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5R
Flag of Japan.svg Kappa 1
Retirements Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee XASR-SC-1
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee RTV-A-1a
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Deacon rockoon
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Nike-Nike-T40-T55
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1E
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1UK
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5RD
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5R
1956 in spaceflight
  1955
1957  

Preparation for the 18-month International Geophysical Year (IGY), scheduled to begin July 1957, became a truly international endeavor in 1956. The American IGY satellite program, Project Vanguard, saw its first test launch at the end of the year, while the Army Ballistic Missile Agency tested Redstone-derived rockets, culminating in the Jupiter-C capable of orbiting a satellite. The Soviet Union developed the engines and tested vital components for its first ICBM, the R-7 Semyorka, which would fly the USSR's first artificial satellite, "Object D:

Contents

Japan developed the Kappa 1 sounding rocket with an eye toward an advanced version that would fly during the IGY, and Canada, with the assistance of the United States, established a sounding rocket range in Churchill, Manitoba. In Italy, Rome hosted the Seventh International Aeronautical Congress, which saw 400 delegates from the scientific community and representatives of (mostly American) industry gather to discuss the technical aspects of spaceflight.

Both superpowers conducted a multitude of sounding rocket flights, probing the upper atmosphere with increasing sophistication and cadence. In addition, the Soviets completed a series of capsule launches, each with two dog passengers—a prelude to human missions in space.

Space exploration highlights

Sounding Rockets

American efforts

The primary sounding rocket of the United States for 1956 was the Aerobee in a variety of models. Launched mostly (but not exclusively) from sites in New Mexico, missions were conducted by a myriad of agencies, both military and civilian, to probe and return information about the upper atmosphere. The University of Michigan utilized the Nike-Cajun sounding rocket, launched from the USS Rushmore in the Labrador Sea, to conduct aeronomy research. The Air Force launched its X-17 rocket a number of times, mostly testing reentry vehicles for ballistic missile use.

Soviet efforts

The year saw the completion of the second series of Soviet suborbital flights with dogs as payloads. After the completion of the nine-launch series, conducted with variations of the R-1 rocket, the results were published as "Vital Activity of Animals during Rocket Flights into the Upper Atmosphere" in December 1956 at an international conference in Paris. These flights made it clear that advanced animals could survive the rigors of space launch, reentry, and weightlessness. They also tested spacesuits, parachute recovery of space travelers, and radio telemetry. [1] :21

Also completed this year was the second series of Academik flights, which involved 18 sounding rocket launches between 1953 and 1956. These missions returned scientific data on cosmic rays, the atmosphere, the content and temperature of the ionosphere as well as information useful to engineers: winds, temperature, pressure and radio wave propagation at high altitudes. [1] :15,19

Seventh International Aeronautical Congress

Organized by the Italian rocket society under the auspices of the International Astronautical Federation, it was held 17-22 September [2] at the Palazzo dei Congressi, 15 km (9.3 mi) from Rome. 400 delegates from astronautical societies and research institutes, as well as representatives of (mostly American) large industrial interests attended. The first day of the conference and a quarter of the 45 papers read before the conference were directly related to artificial Earth satellites. [3] :451

Spacecraft development

United States

Project Vanguard

Vanguard_rocket-04 Vanguard rocket-04.jpg
Vanguard_rocket-04

Work continued apace on Project Vanguard, the civilian satellite project initiated in fall 1955. Vanguard consisted of a tiny satellite and a rocket launcher, the latter comprising a Viking (rocket) first stage mated with two smaller rocket stages. Starting in 1956, John T. Mengel and his Naval Research Laboratory Tracking and Guiding Branch began designing the Minitrack system, a worldwide network of stations that would receive data on 108 MHz broadcast by Vanguard's tiny transmitter. In April 1946, work began on a global optical tracking network as well, whose task would be to locate the satellite in the sky so that Minitrack could maintain continuous tracking. In addition to twelve observation stations around the world, amateurs were also recruited to assist. While it would have been logistically useful to have Minitrack and optical stations at the same site, the two types of stations had different requirements--the radio stations requiring flat ground away from interference, and the visual stations needing clear skies. In the end, only Woomera in Australia had a combined tracking station. [4] :146–150

The first Vanguard test flight took place in the early morning of 8 December 1956 and involved the launch of an unmodified Viking rocket (#13). The purpose of Vanguard TV-0 was to familiarize the Vanguard team with launch operations, and to test the range safety and tracking systems at Cape Canaveral's Air Force Missile Test Center (AFMTC). TV-0 reached an altitude of 126.5 mi (203.6 km) and a range of 97.6 mi (157.1 km). 120 seconds into the flight, the rocket ejected a small sphere equipped with a Minitrack transmitter. Its broadcasts were picked up without difficulty by AFMTC's tracking stations before the little device hit the Atlantic Ocean. A post-flight evaluation conducted mid-December determined that the rocket's performance had been "either satisfactory or superior", that rocket-borne instrumentation and telemetry had been "excellent", and that ground coverage of the instrumentation had been "adequate". This successful flight paved the way for Vanguard's first multi-stage launch, scheduled for the following year. [4] :170–176

Project Orbiter

In 1956, the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) continued trying to gain support of Project Orbiter, an Army plan to use a slightly modified Redstone (a 200 miles (320 km) range surface-to-surface missile developed the prior year) [5] combined with upper stages employing 31 Loki solid-propellant rockets to put a 5 lb (2.3 kg) satellite into orbit, which could be tracked optically. Though Orbiter had been officially rejected the year before in favor of Vanguard, ABMA hoped Redstone-Orbiter could still be used as a backup orbital system. Reentry tests that year conducted with the newly developed, Redstone-based Jupiter-C, further strengthened ABMA confidence in their vehicle as an orbital launcher. Though Orbiter remained unapproved, late in the year the Army did authorize production and firing of 12 Jupiter-Cs for nosecone reentry tests. This set the stage for the Jupiter-C to be the de facto backup in the event of Vanguard's failure. [4] :74,199–200

Long-range missiles

Development of an ICBM was given paramount importance by the United States government on the heels of a secret report made in February 1955 by James Rhyne Killian to the National Security Council on Soviet rocket progress. Not only was the 5,500 km (3,400 mi)-range Atlas, America's first ICBM, made the highest-priority project in the nation, but Titan, a more capable ICBM, was authorized for development as well. [6] By late 1956, the Convair-produced Atlas was being configured for launch operations. On 10 October 1956, a non-flying Atlas arrived at Cape Canaveral in Florida, where it was checked for compatibility with the Cape's existing launch facilities. Test flights of the first "Series A" run of missiles would begin in 1957. [7]

With development of the Atlas expected to take some time, the Thor Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), with a range of 2,500 km (1,600 mi), had been authorized in 1955 to be developed and deployed in Europe in just three years. The Douglas-produced Thor, the first missile to use inertial guidance, had its basic configuration and size frozen in January 1956. Engine testing began in March 1956 with the first engine delivered by Rocketdyne in August, by which time the inertial guidance system was finished as well. The same month, warhead data was provided to General Electric, which had been contracted to produce the missile's nose cone. The size of the nose cone was fixed in September. Test launches of the completed missile would take place in 1957. [6]

The US Army’s Wernher von Braun-led Guided Missile Development Division team, that had recently developed the Redstone, was working on its own IRBM, dubbed Jupiter in April 1956. United States Secretary of Defense Charles Wilson authorized this missile in September 1955, to be jointly developed by the Army and the US Navy. The PGM-19 Jupiter would have the same range as the Thor, and it was planned to be deployed by 1961. [8]

All of these missiles were ultimately adapted into orbital delivery rockets. [9] :131–137

Soviet Union

R-7 Semyorka ICBM

R-7 Semyorka ICBM Semyorka 8K71.svg
R-7 Semyorka ICBM

Full scale tests of the RD-108 rocket engines that would power the R-7 Semyorka, the Soviet Union's first ICBM, began in January 1956. That same month, [10] :137–138 work began in earnest on "Site 1", the launch pad at Ministry of Defense Scientific-Research and Test Firing Range No.5 (NIIP-5), located in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (now Kazakhstan) near the Syr-Darya river. [11] :308 Completed by the end of May, the platform measured 250 m (820 ft) by 100 m (330 ft) by 45 m (148 ft). An exact duplicate was set up for testing and validation purposes in Leningrad, and a full-scale test version of the R-7 was subjected to wind tests thereon. On 5 October, workers finished the road connecting Site 1 and the living settlement at Site 10, nicknamed Zarya. [10] :136–137

Other Soviet missiles

On 2 February 1956, an R-5M Medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) was the first rocket to fly carrying a live nuclear warhead. [12] In May and June 1956, three R-5R missiles—R-5Ms with their nuclear payloads replaced with radio control instrument packages—were the first Soviet missiles to be launched with radio guidance. The ground stations developed to control these missiles served as prototypes for those being built to support R-7 operations. A series of ten launches of another R5 variant, the M-5RD, tested other R-7 components including guidance, stabilization, and propellant feed. All of these launches were successful. [10] :138

Object D, the first Soviet satellite project

On 30 January 1956, the Soviet government approved Resolution #149-88, authorizing "Object D". This was a satellite massing 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) to 1,400 kg (3,100 lb), about a fourth of which would be devoted to scientific instruments. This proposal, created in 1955 by engineer Mikhail Tikhonravov, had been endorsed by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev upon learning that Object D would outmass the announced American satellite by nearly 1,000 times. Work on the project began in February 1956 with a planned launch date of latter 1957. The design was finalized on 24 July. [1] :25

By the 1956, it had become clear that the complicated Object D would not be finished in time for a 1957 launch. Thus, in December 1956, OKB-1 head Sergei Korolev proposed the development of two simpler satellites: PS, Prosteishy Sputnik, or Preliminary Satellite. The two PS satellites would be simple spheres massing 83.4 kg (184 lb) and equipped solely with a radio antenna. The project was approved by the government on 25 January 1957. [1] :27

Japan

In 1955, Japan developed its first experimental rocket, the 23 cm (9.1 in) long Pencil. [13] With an eye toward developing a sounding rocket that could meet the 60 km (37 mi) to 100 km (62 mi) minimum altitude requirement for the IGY, the Japanese began development of the Kappa series of rockets, the last of which would fulfill the IGY height limit. Kappa 1, first in this series, 128 mm in diameter and with an initial acceleration of 25 gees, [14] was launched seven times in 1956. [15]

Canada

Under the aegis of Canada's Defense Research Board, the United States Army built the Churchill Rocket Research Range 24 km (15 mi) east of Churchill, Manitoba. Due to its proximity to the north magnetic pole, it offered an excellent vantage from which to explore auroral activity. Sounding rocket launches began in October 1956, and the facility would become the nation's premier upper atmosphere research center. [16]

Launches

January

January launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks
11 January Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test11 JanuarySuccessful [12]
17 January Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test17 JanuarySuccessful [12]
20 January Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDC SuborbitalTest flight20 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: 132 kilometres (82 mi) [17]
21 January Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test21 JanuarySuccessful [18]
21 January Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test21 JanuarySuccessful [12]
24 January Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test24 JanuarySuccessful [18]
24 January Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test24 JanuaryLaunch failure [18]

February

February launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks
2 February Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baykal MVS Suborbital Nuclear weapon test2 FebruarySuccessful
First launch of a missile carrying a live nuclear warhead [12]
6 February Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test6 FebruarySuccessful [12]
13 February Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test13 FebruarySuccessful [18]
14 February Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test14 FebruarySuccessful [18]
16 February Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5RD Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
MVSSuborbital R-7 component test16 FebruarySuccessful
Maiden flight of the R-5RD (or M5RD) [12]
17 February Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test17 FebruarySuccessful [19]

March

March launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks
5 March Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDC SuborbitalTest flight5 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi) [17]
7 March Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5RD Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
MVS SuborbitalR-7 component test7 MarchSuccessful [12]
9 March Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test9 MarchSuccessful [19]
12 March
21:15
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee RTV-A-1a USAF 62 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Holloman LC-A Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Ionospheric 12 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 95 kilometres (59 mi) [20] :166–167
14 March
08:45
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee RTV-A-1aUSAF 63 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Holloman LC-A Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
AFCRCSuborbitalIonospheric / Aeronomy14 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 106 kilometres (66 mi) [20] :168–169
15 March Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5RD Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
MVSSuborbitalR-7 component test15 MarchSuccessful [12]
17 March Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5RD Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
MVSSuborbitalR-7 component test17 MarchSuccessful [12]
23 March Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5RD Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
MVSSuborbitalR-7 component test23 MarchSuccessful [12]
28 March Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test28 MarchSuccessful [18]

April

April launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks
9 April Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg HJ-Nike Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg NACA
NACA SuborbitalTest flight9 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) [21]
12 April
02:05
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee RTV-A-1a USAF 64 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Holloman LC-A Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Sodium Release 3 AFCRC SuborbitalIonospheric / Aeronomy12 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 106 kilometres (66 mi) [20] :170–171
16 April Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test16 AprilSuccessful [18]
17 April Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test17 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) [17]
29 April Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test29 AprilSuccessful [19]

May

May launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks
1 May
22:05
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee Hi NRL 39 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg White Sands LC-35 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRL SuborbitalTest flight1 MayLaunch failure
Apogee: 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13a [22]
8 May Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1UK Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalProject T-38 MaySuccessful [23]
8 May Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test8 MaySuccessful [19]
8 May
14:54
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee AJ10-34 USAF 65 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Holloman LC-A Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
AFCRC / University of Colorado SuborbitalSolar UV8 MaySuccessful
Apogee: 143 kilometres (89 mi), maiden flight of the Aerobee AJ10-34; [20] :172–173 at apogee, several photographs were taken of the Sun in Lyman-alpha (1215 angstroms) wavelength using lithium fluoride optics. The low resolution pictures revealed "considerably enhanced Lyman a radiation in the active spot and plage areas on the sun at the time of the flight." A spectrogram of the Sun was also taken. [24]
8 May
15:15
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee HiNRL 42 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg White Sands LC-35 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRLSuborbitalTest flight8 MayLaunch failure
Apogee: 188 kilometres (117 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13a [22]
10 May Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1UK Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalProject T-310 MaySuccessful [23]
14 May Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1E Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalBiological14 MaySuccessful
Carried dogs, all recovered [25]
16 May Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1UK Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalProject T-316 MaySuccessful [23]
16 May
15:40
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee HiUSAF 66 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Holloman LC-A Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
AFCRCSuborbitalTest flight16 MayLaunch failure
Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi) [20] :174–175
31 May
02:57
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1E Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalBiological / Solar UV31 MaySuccessful
Carried dogs Malyshka and Linda, [1] :23 all recovered [25]
31 May Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5R Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
MVS SuborbitalRadio guidance test31 MaySuccessful
Maiden flight of the R-5R [12]

June

June launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks
4 June
14:13
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee Hi NRL 46 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg White Sands LC-35 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRL SuborbitalSolar UV4 JuneLaunch failure
Apogee: 58 kilometres (36 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13a [22]
6 June Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1UK Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalProject T-36 JuneSuccessful [23]
7 June Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1E Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalBiological7 JuneSuccessful
carried dogs Albina and Kozyavka [1] :23 on final(?) flight of the R-1E; dogs recovered [26]
7 June Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5R Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
MVS SuborbitalRadio guidance test7 JuneSuccessful [12]
7 June Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Nike-Nike-T40-T55 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg NACA
NACASuborbitalREV test7 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), final flight of the Nike-Nike-T40-T55 [27]
8 June Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1UK Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalProject T-38 JuneSuccessful [23]
12 June Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1UK Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalProject T-312 JuneSuccessful [23]
12 June Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1UK Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalProject T-312 JuneSuccessful [23]
13 June
20:51
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee AJ10-34 USAF 67 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Holloman LC-A Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
AFCRC / University of Utah SuborbitalIonospheric13 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 137.8 kilometres (85.6 mi) [20] :176–177
14 June Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1E Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalBiological14 JuneUnknown
carried dogs Albina and Kozyavka [1] :23 on final(?) flight of the R-1E (flight not listed on Mark Wade's site—see reference) [26]
15 June Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5R Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
MVSSuborbitalRadio guidance test15 JuneSuccessful
Final flight of the R-5R [12]
18 June Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1UK Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalProject T-318 JuneSuccessful [23]
18 June
20:42
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee AJ10-34USAF 68 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Holloman LC-A Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
AFCRC / University of UtahSuborbitalIonospheric18 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 137 kilometres (85 mi) [20] :178–179
20 June Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1UK Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalProject T-320 JuneSuccessful [23]
21 June Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1UK Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalProject T-321 JuneSuccessful
Final flight of the R-1UK [23]
21 June
18:48
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee AJ10-34USAF 69 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Holloman LC-A Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
AFCRC / University of UtahSuborbitalIonospheric21 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 146 kilometres (91 mi) [20] :180–181
22 June
19:42
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee RTV-N-10 NRL 22 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg White Sands LC-35 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRLSuborbitalIonospheric22 JuneLaunch failure
Apogee: 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) [22]
26 June Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDCSuborbitalTest flight26 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 140 kilometres (87 mi) [17]
26 June
18:26
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee AJ10-34USAF 70 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Holloman LC-A Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
AFCRC / University of UtahSuborbitalIonospheric26 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 111 kilometres (69 mi) [20] :182–183
29 June
19:09
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee HiNRL 50 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg White Sands LC-35 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRLSuborbitalIonospheric29 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 263.7 kilometres (163.9 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13b [22] (Rocket #50); measured electron densities in the ionosphere by sending radio signals on two frequencies (7.75 and 46.5 Mhz) and determining how their Doppler shift was affected by the refractive index of the material near the rocket. [28] The results confirmed "the general structure of the daytime ionosphere above White Sands as deduced from previous NRL flights": that "the ionosphere remains dense between the E and F2 regions, with only minor valleys in the electron-density profiles." [29]
30 June Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test30 JuneSuccessful [18]

July

July launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks
5 July
07:52
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee RTV-N-10c NRL 33 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg White Sands LC-35 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRL SuborbitalAirglow / Aeronomy5 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 162 kilometres (101 mi) [22]
6 July
18:00
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Nike-Cajun AM6.01 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg NACA
NACA / University of Michigan SuborbitalAeronomy6 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi), maiden flight of the Nike-Cajun [30]
12 July Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test12 JulySuccessful [19]
17 July Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDC SuborbitalREV test17 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 142 kilometres (88 mi) [17]
17 July
15:40
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Deacon Rockoon NN5.27 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRLSuborbitalSolar UV / X-ray17 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) [31]
18 July
15:46
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Deacon RockoonNN5.28 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRLSuborbitalSolar UV / X-ray18 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) [31]
19 July
15:21
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Deacon RockoonNN5.29 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRLSuborbitalSolar UV / X-ray19 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) [31]
20 July Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test20 JulyLaunch failure [18]
20 July Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5RD Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
MVS SuborbitalR-7 component test20 JulySuccessful [12]
20 July
19:15
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Deacon RockoonNN5.30 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRLSuborbitalSolar UV / X-ray20 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) [31]
21 July
17:18
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Deacon RockoonNN5.31 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRLSuborbitalAeronomy21 JulyLaunch failure
Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) [31]
22 July
17:57
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Deacon RockoonNN5.32 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRLSuborbitalSolar UV / X-ray22 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) [31]
24 July Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test24 JulySuccessful [18]
24 July Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Nike-Cajun Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg HUGOUS NavySuborbitalHurricane Photography / Aeronomy24 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 112 kilometres (70 mi) [30]
24 July
14:07
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Deacon RockoonNN5.33 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRLSuborbitalSolar UV / X-ray24 JulyLaunch failure
Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) [31]
25 July
15:15
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Deacon RockoonNN5.34 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRLSuborbitalSolar UV / X-ray25 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) [31]
26 July Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test26 JulySuccessful [18]
26 July
15:28
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Deacon RockoonNN5.35 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRLSuborbitalSolar UV / X-ray26 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) [31]
27 July Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDC SuborbitalREV test27 JulyLaunch failure
Apogee: 0 kilometres (0 mi) [17]
27 July
15:30
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Deacon RockoonNN5.36 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRLSuborbitalSolar UV / X-ray27 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi), final flight of the Deacon rockoon [31]
28 July Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test28 JulySuccessful [18]
28 July Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test28 JulySuccessful [19]
28 July Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test28 JulySuccessful [19]
31 July
00:56
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee AJ10-34 USAF 71 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Holloman LC-A Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
AFCRC SuborbitalAirglow31 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi) [20] :184–185

August

August launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks
3 August
12:56
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee RTV-A-1a USAF 72 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Holloman LC-A Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
AFCRC SuborbitalSolar UV3 AugustLaunch failure
Apogee: 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi), fail safe cutoff at 4.6 seconds [20] :186–187
7 August Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5RD Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
MVS SuborbitalR-7 component test7 AugustSuccessful [12]
8 August
22:00
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Nike-Cajun AM6.30 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg White Sands Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
University of Michigan SuborbitalAeronomy8 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) [30]
9 August
15:53
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee XASR-SC-1 SC 34 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg White Sands LC-35 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Army
SCEL / University of MichiganSuborbitalAeronomy9 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: 85.5 kilometres (53.1 mi); carried three bottles for sampling air at apogee: two leaked, one recovered and analyzed. [20] :255–256
9 August
22:47
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Nike-CajunOB6.00 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg White Sands Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
BRL SuborbitalAeronomy9 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: 164 kilometres (102 mi) [30]
10 August Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5RD Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
MVSSuborbitalR-7 component test10 AugustSuccessful [12]
10 August
15:22
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee XASR-SC-1SC 35 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg White Sands LC-35 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Army
SCEL / University of MichiganSuborbitalAeronomy10 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: 85.9 kilometres (53.4 mi), final flight of the Aerobee XASR-SC-1 [20] :257–258
18 August Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDCSuborbitalREV test18 AugustLaunch failure
Apogee: 0 kilometres (0 mi) [17]
23 August Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDC / NACA SuborbitalREV test23 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: 142 kilometres (88 mi) [17]
25 August Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test25 AugustSuccessful [12]
28 August Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDCSuborbitalREV test28 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) [17]

September

September launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks
8 September Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDC SuborbitalREV test8 SeptemberLaunch failure
Apogee: 394 kilometres (245 mi) [17]
16 September Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test16 SeptemberSuccessful [12]
19 September Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test19 SeptemberSuccessful [12]
20 September
06:45
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jupiter-C Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-5 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg ABMA
ABMASuborbitalREV test20 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 1,094 kilometres (680 mi), maiden flight of the Jupiter-C, carried a 39.2 kilograms (86 lb) payload in a three-stage configuration [32]
21 September Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Terrapin Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg NACA / NSA
University of Maryland SuborbitalTest flight21 SeptemberLaunch failure
Apogee: 16 kilometres (9.9 mi), maiden flight of the Terrapin [33]
21 September Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Terrapin Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg NACA / NSA
University of MarylandSuborbitalTest flight21 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) [33]
25 September Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5RD Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
MVS SuborbitalR-7 component test25 SeptemberSuccessful [12]
26 September Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5RD Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
MVSSuborbitalR-7 component test26 SeptemberSuccessful
Final flight of the R-5RD [12]
29 September Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test29 SeptemberSuccessful [19]

October

October launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks
1 October Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDC SuborbitalREV test1 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi) [17]
5 October Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDCSuborbitalREV test5 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi) [17]
11 October Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg HJ-Nike Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg NACA
NACASuborbitalREV test11 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 70 kilometres (43 mi) [21]
13 October Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDCSuborbitalREV test13 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 102 kilometres (63 mi) [17]
18 October Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDCSuborbitalREV test18 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 155 kilometres (96 mi) [17]
20 October
22:01
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Nike-Cajun AM6.31 Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg Churchill Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
University of Michigan SuborbitalAeronomy20 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi), first spaceflight launched from Canadian soil [30]
23 October
08:40
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee AJ10-34 AM2.21 Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg Churchill Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Army
SCEL / University of Michigan SuborbitalAeronomy23 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi) [22]
24 October Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test24 OctoberSuccessful [18]
25 October Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test25 OctoberSuccessful [18]
25 October Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test25 OctoberSuccessful [19]
25 October Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test25 OctoberSuccessful [19]
26 October Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test26 OctoberSuccessful [18]
25 October Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDCSuborbitalREV test25 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 124 kilometres (77 mi) [17]
27 October
21:24
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Nike-CajunAM6.08 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg USS Rushmore, Atlantic Ocean, near New York City Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force / US Navy
University of MichiganSuborbitalAeronomy27 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 161 kilometres (100 mi) [30]

November

November launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks
1 November
12:57
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee AJ10-34 USAF 73 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Holloman LC-A Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
AFCRC SuborbitalAeronomy1 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 66 kilometres (41 mi) [22]
2 November
05:39
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee AJ10-34USAF 74 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Holloman LC-A Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Sodium Release 4AFCRCSuborbitalAeronomy2 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 146 kilometres (91 mi); [22] Three minutes into flight, starting at 60 km (37 mi) and ending at 140 km (87 mi) altitude, 2 kg (4.4 lb) of sodium metal were ejected in vapor form. At 60 km (37 mi), a yellow glow was easily visible, and a dim persistent trail was photographed. Photometric measurements and simultaneous two-site photograph with Super-Schmidt cameras measured the intensity of the emission all along the 80 km (50 mi) of emission. [34]
2 November
18:40
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Nike-Cajun AM6.09 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg USS Rushmore, Atlantic Ocean, east of Newfoundland Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force / US Navy
University of Michigan SuborbitalAeronomy2 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 131 kilometres (81 mi) [30]
3 November Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test3 NovemberSuccessful [19]
3 November Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test3 NovemberSuccessful [12]
4 November
18:54
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Nike-CajunAM6.10 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg USS Rushmore, Labrador Sea Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force / US Navy
University of MichiganSuborbitalAeronomy4 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 162 kilometres (101 mi) [30]
5 November Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDCSuborbitalREV test5 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 118 kilometres (73 mi) [17]
5 November
07:50
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee Hi NRL 45 Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg Churchill Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRL Suborbital Auroral 5 NovemberUnknown
Navy variant designation: RV-N-13b; Altitude not reported, possible failure [22]
7 November
15:02
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Nike-CajunAM6.11 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg USS Rushmore, Davis Strait Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force / US Navy
University of MichiganSuborbitalAeronomy7 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi) [30]
10 November
15:17
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Nike-CajunAM6.12 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg USS Rushmore, Davis Strait Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force / US Navy
University of MichiganSuborbitalAeronomy10 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 161 kilometres (100 mi) [30]
12 November Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test12 NovemberSuccessful [18]
12 November
11:47
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee RTV-A-1a SM1.01 Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg Churchill Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Army
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Grenades SCEL / University of MichiganSuborbitalAeronomy12 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 67 kilometres (42 mi) [22]
13 November Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test13 NovemberSuccessful [12]
15 November
19:32
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee HiNRL 47 Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg Churchill Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRLSuborbitalIonospheric15 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13b [22]
16 November Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test16 NovemberSuccessful [12]
16 November Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDCSuborbitalREV test16 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 107 kilometres (66 mi) [17]
17 November
16:48
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee HiNRL 43 Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg Churchill Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRLSuborbitalAeronomy / Solar UV / Solar X-Ray17 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 209 kilometres (130 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13b [22]
21 November
05:21
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee HiNRL 48 Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg Churchill Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
NRLSuborbitalIonospheric / Auroral21 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 251 kilometres (156 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13c; [22] equipped with a Bennett radio-frequency ion-mass spectrometer, launched "at night, into an overcast which prevented observations of the overhead sky", succeeded by flights carrying identical instruments in February and March 1958. [35]
23 November Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDCSuborbitalREV test23 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 143 kilometres (89 mi) [17]
24 November Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1Suborbital ABM target24 NovemberSuccessful [12]
First R-5 to launch as an anti-ballistic missile target for the V-1000 system [36]

December

December launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks
3 December Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDC SuborbitalREV test3 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 125 kilometres (78 mi) [17]
6 December Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test6 DecemberSuccessful [18]
6 December Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalMissile test6 DecemberSuccessful [12]
7 December Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Nike-Cajun Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg NACA
NACASuborbitalREV test7 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 30 kilometres (19 mi) [30]
8 December
06:03
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Viking (second model) Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-18A Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Navy
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Vanguard TV-0 NRL SuborbitalTest flight8 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 203.6 kilometres (126.5 mi), first Project Vanguard test flight using a single-stage Viking (No. 13) [37]
11 December Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cape Canaveral LC-3 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
ARDCSuborbitalREV test11 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 144 kilometres (89 mi) [17]
12 December Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-5M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
OKB-1SuborbitalABM target12 DecemberSuccessful [12] [36]
13 December
21:44
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Aerobee Hi USAF 75 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Holloman LC-A Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg US Air Force
AFCRC SuborbitalTest flight13 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 193 kilometres (120 mi) [22]
20 December Flag of the Soviet Union.svg A-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg OKB-1
MVS SuborbitalIonospheric20 DecemberSuccessful [38]

Suborbital launch statistics

By country

Launches by country
CountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial
failures
Unknown
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 6967201
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 76631201
World1451301402

By rocket

8
16
24
32
40
R-1
Launches by rocket
RocketCountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial
failures
UnknownRemarks
Viking (second model) Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 11000
Aerobee RTV-N-10 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 10100
Aerobee RTV-N-10c Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 11000
Aerobee Hi (NRL) Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 84301
Aerobee XASR-SC-1 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 22000Retired
Aerobee RTV-A-1a Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 54100
Aerobee Hi (USAF) Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 21100
Aerobee AJ10-34 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 99000Maiden flight
Deacon rockoon (NRL)Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 108200Retired
Nike-Nike-T40-T55 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 11000Retired
Nike-Cajun Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 1111000Maiden flight
Terrapin Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 21100Maiden flight
X-17 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 2017300
HJ-Nike Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 22000
Jupiter-C Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 11000Maiden flight
R-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 1715200
A-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 11000
R-1E Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 43001Retired
R-1UK Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 1010000Maiden flight, retired
R-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 1111000
R-5M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 1414000
R-5RD Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 1010000Maiden flight, retired
R-5R Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 33000Maiden flight, retired

See also

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Brian Harvey; Olga Zakutnyaya (2011). Russian Space Probes: Scientific Discoveries and Future Missions. Chichester,UK: Springer Praxis Books. OCLC   1316077842.
  2. "Advanced Search (event:IAC-1956)". The International Astronautical Federation Digital Library. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
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