1958 in spaceflight

Last updated

1958 in spaceflight
Launch of Jupiter C with Explorer 1.jpg
A Juno I launches the first American satellite, Explorer 1
Orbital launches
First1 February
Last18 December
Total28
Successes6
Failures20
Partial failures2
Catalogued 8
National firsts
SpaceflightCanadian Red Ensign (1957-1965).svg  Canada
Satellite Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States
Orbital launch Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States
Rockets
Maiden flights Juno I
Sputnik 8A91
Pilot
Thor-Able
Luna
Juno II
Atlas B
Retirements Sputnik 8A91
Pilot
Juno I

Explorer 1 was the first American satellite to reach orbit on 31 January 1958. [1]

Contents

1958 in spaceflight
←  1957
1959  →

Overview

Orbital and Suborbital flights

Orbital launch statistics

By country

CountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failures
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 5140
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 235 [a] 162

By rocket

By type and configuration

RocketCountryTypeFamilyLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failuresRemarks
Atlas B Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States SM-65 AtlasAtlas1100Maiden flight, only orbital launch
Juno I Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States Jupiter-C Redstone6330Maiden flight
Juno II Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States JunoJupiter1001Maiden flight
Luna Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union Vostok R-73030Maiden flight
Pilot II Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States PilotNOTS-EV6060Only flights
Sputnik 8A91Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union SputnikR-72110Only flights
Thor DM-18 Able-I Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States Thor-Able Thor3021Maiden flight
Vanguard Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States VanguardViking6150

By family

FamilyCountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failuresRemarks
Atlas Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 1100First orbital launch
Redstone Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 6330First orbital launch
Jupiter Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 1001Maiden flight
NOTS-EV Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 6060Only orbital launches
R-7 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 5140
Thor Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 3021Maiden flight
Viking Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 6150

By launch site

SiteCountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failuresRemarks
Baikonur Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 5140
Cape Canaveral Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 175102
Point Mugu Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 6060

By orbit

Orbital regimeLaunchesSuccessesFailuresAccidentally
achieved		Remarks
Catalogued suborbital N/AN/AN/A2 Pioneer 1 and Pioneer 3 went more than 100000 km on their way to the Moon but were ultimately suborbital due to insufficient velocity.
Low Earth 4220
Medium Earth 174130
Heliocentric 7070

See also

References

  1. ↑ First successful orbital launch
Generic references:

RocketSunIcon.svg Spaceflightportal

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "Orbital Launches of 1958". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 31 August 2025.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.