This article lists orbital and suborbital launches during the first half of the year 1959.
For all other spaceflight activities, see 1959 in spaceflight. For launches in the second half of 1959 see List of spaceflight launches in July–December 1959. [1] [2]
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | |||
Remarks | ||||||||
January | ||||||||
2 January 16:41:21 | ![]() | B1-6 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | MVS | Intended: HEO to Lunar impact Achieved: Heliocentric | Lunar impactor | In orbit | Launch failure | |||
Missed Moon due to premature cutoff of upper stage caused by control system malfunction. First spacecraft to be placed in Heliocentric orbit. | ||||||||
21 January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | ARPA | Planned: Low Earth | Technology demonstration | N/A | Destroyed prior to launch | |||
Destroyed prior to launch. | ||||||||
February | ||||||||
17 February 15:55 | ![]() | SLV-4 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NRL | Medium Earth | Atmospheric | In orbit | Partial spacecraft failure | |||
Transmitted data for 19 days, poor quality data returned due to uncontrolled rotation of spacecraft. | ||||||||
28 February 21:41:16 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | CIA DST | Low Earth (Polar) | Technology | 6 March | Successful | |||
Maiden flight of Thor-Agena, first spacecraft to be placed in polar orbit. | ||||||||
March | ||||||||
3 March 05:10:56 | ![]() | AM-14 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA/ABMA | Heliocentric | Lunar flyby | In orbit | Partial launch failure | |||
Second stage burned for longer than planned, resulting in more distant flyby than planned. [4] | ||||||||
April | ||||||||
13 April 21:18:39 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | CIA DST | Low Earth | Technology | 26 April | Partial spacecraft failure | |||
![]() | CIA DST | Low Earth | Technology | 26 April | Partial spacecraft failure | |||
Capsule recovery failed due to timer error. May have been recovered by the Soviet Union, inspiring plot of 1963 Alistair MacLean novel Ice Station Zebra . | ||||||||
14 April 02:49:46 | ![]() | SLV-5 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NRL | Intended: Medium Earth | Radiation | 14 April | Launch failure | |||
![]() | NRL | Intended: Medium Earth | Air density | |||||
Second stage damaged during separation, failed to reach orbit, first launch of multiple satellites on a single rocket. | ||||||||
June | ||||||||
3 June 20:09:20 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | CIA DST | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | 3 June | Launch failure | |||
![]() | CIA DST | Low Earth | Technology | 3 June | Launch failure | |||
Loss of signal after upper stage ignition. | ||||||||
18 June 08:08 | ![]() | I1-7 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | MVS | Intended: Heliocentric | Lunar impactor | 18 June | Launch failure | |||
Internal guidance system failed 153 seconds after launch. | ||||||||
22 June 20:16:09 | ![]() | SLV-6 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NRL | Intended: Medium Earth | Radiation | 22 June | Launch failure | |||
Second stage propulsion system malfunctioned, failed to reach orbit. | ||||||||
25 June 22:47:45 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | CIA DST | Intended: Low Earth | Optical imaging | 25 June | Launch failure | |||
![]() | CIA DST | Low Earth | Technology | 25 June | Launch failure | |||
Upper stage underperformed, failed to reach orbit. | ||||||||
For flights after 30 June, see 1959 in spaceflight (July-December) |
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
10 January 11:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Ionospheric Aeronomy | 10 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
16 January 04:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 January | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
19 January 15:42 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 January | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
22 January 00:10 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
23 January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 23 January | Launch failure | ||
27 January 17:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
ONERA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 27 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 127 kilometres (79 mi) | |||||||
27 January 23:34 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 990 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
28 January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ARPA/NASA | Suborbital | Technology | 28 January | Successful | ||
Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi) | |||||||
30 January 22:53 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
4 February 08:01 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 990 kilometres (620 mi), final flight of Atlas B | |||||||
5 February 14:45 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | 5 February | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 212 kilometres (132 mi) | |||||||
6 February 21:22 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 February | Successful | |||
Maiden flight of Titan I, battleship second stage, apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
20 February 05:38 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 20 February | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
25 February 19:45 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 February | Successful | |||
Battleship second stage, apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
27 February 15:44 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Solar | 27 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 210 kilometres (130 mi) | |||||||
27 February 19:16 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 February | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) | |||||||
27 February 23:50 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
28 February 07:58 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 28 February | Successful | ||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
3 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | REV test | 3 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 260 kilometres (160 mi) | |||||||
4 March 11:14 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RAE UCL Queen's | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 4 March | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 30 kilometres (19 mi) | |||||||
7 March 19:34 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
CASDN | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 7 March | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 35 kilometres (22 mi), released sodium | |||||||
10 March 18:40 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
CASDN | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 10 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 124 kilometres (77 mi), released sodium | |||||||
12 March 05:44 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
CASDN | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 12 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 174 kilometres (108 mi), released sodium | |||||||
12 March 10:50 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RAE | Suborbital | Test flight | 12 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 537 kilometres (334 mi) | |||||||
12 March 15:44 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | 12 March | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 210 kilometres (130 mi) | |||||||
13 March 13:50 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NRL | Suborbital | 13 March | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 170 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
17 March 01:46 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi) | |||||||
17 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Test flight | 17 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,380 kilometres (860 mi) | |||||||
19 March 00:59 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 March | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
21 March 06:19 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 21 March | Successful | ||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
22 March 00:58 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
25 March 05:25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi) | |||||||
27 March 04:02 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
30 March 15:01 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | 30 March | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 201 kilometres (125 mi) | |||||||
30 March 16:45 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NRL | Suborbital | 30 March | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 238 kilometres (148 mi) | |||||||
30 March 22:53 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 March | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
30 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
3 April 17:11 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 3 April | Successful | |||
Battleship second stage, apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
4 April 00:34 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
4 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
7 April 14:46 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | 7 April | Launch failure | ||||
Apogee: 317 kilometres (197 mi) | |||||||
8 April 06:35 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 8 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: 1,230 kilometres (760 mi) | |||||||
11 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
14 April 21:46 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 April | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) | |||||||
14 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
15 April 14:46 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | 15 April | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
16 April 20:46 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
Royal Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
20 April 15:30 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 20 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
21 April 01:05 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | 21 April | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 235 kilometres (146 mi) | |||||||
22 April 19:29 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 22 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
23 April 05:30 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
25 April 05:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
29 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
1 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 1 May | Launch failure | |||
2 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
ONERA | Suborbital | REV test | 2 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
4 May 18:30 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 May | Successful | |||
Battleship second stage, apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
5 May 01:45 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 5 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi) | |||||||
7 May 01:47 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
8 May 19:28 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 8 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
9 May 18:59 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 May | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
12 May 11:39 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | 12 May | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi) | |||||||
12 May 17:35 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
12 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
14 May 05:52 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
14 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
15 May 22:10 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Test flight | 15 May | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) | |||||||
15 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
18 May 23:16 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 18 May | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) | |||||||
19 May 04:30 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 May | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) | |||||||
21 May 06:40 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 21 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
22 May 11:15 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | 22 May | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
23 May 02:42 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
27 May 04:51 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 27 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi) | |||||||
27 May 19:55 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 27 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 177 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
28 May 07:35:02 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Air Force | Suborbital | Biological Missile test | 28 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 483 kilometres (300 mi) | |||||||
30 May 21:42 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 May | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
30 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
WRE | Suborbital | Aeronomy | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
2 June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 2 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
5 June 04:15 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | REV test | 6 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 260 kilometres (160 mi) | |||||||
6 June 17:39 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 June | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 80 kilometres (50 mi) | |||||||
8 June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 8 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
9 June 20:34 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 June | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
10 June 16:40 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | 10 June | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi) | |||||||
11 June 06:44 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 11 June | Successful | ||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
11 June 13:03 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RAE | Suborbital | Test flight | 11 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 803 kilometres (499 mi) | |||||||
12 June 18:57 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 June | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) | |||||||
15 June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
16 June 21:45 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
Royal Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 June | Launch failure | |||
Guidance system failed to engage as remove before flight safety wires had not been removed. Vehicle ascended vertically before being destroyed by range safety. [5] | |||||||
17 June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
19 June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
21 June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
AN | Suborbital | Solar | 21 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 400 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
22 June 14:32 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Solar | 22 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi) | |||||||
23 June 01:26 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RAE | Suborbital | Test flight | 23 June | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 91 kilometres (57 mi) | |||||||
24 June 12:10 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | 24 June | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
26 June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
26 June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | 26 June | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
29 June 11:33 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RAE | Suborbital | Test flight | 29 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 442 kilometres (275 mi) | |||||||
30 June 02:37 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
29 June 15:42 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) |
The year 1966 saw the peak and the end of the Gemini program. The program proved that docking in space and human EVA's could be done safely. It saw the first launch of the Saturn IB rocket, an important step in the Apollo program, and the launch of Luna 9, the first spacecraft to make a soft landing on a celestial object.
The year 1967 in spaceflight saw the most orbital launches of the 20th century and more than any other year until 2021, including that of the first Australian satellite, WRESAT, which was launched from the Woomera Test Range atop an American Sparta rocket. The United States National Space Science Data Center catalogued 172 spacecraft placed into orbit by launches which occurred in 1967.
The United States National Space Science Data Center catalogued 157 spacecraft placed into orbit by launches, which occurred in 1968. The first crewed Apollo missions occurred in 1968. It was also the year in which Earth lifeforms first left low Earth orbit, during the successful Zond 5 mission to the Moon and the Zond 6 lunar mission which crashed upon return, and the year that humans first left low Earth orbit, during the successful Apollo 8 mission to the Moon.
Japan and China each launched their first satellites in 1970, bringing the total number of nations with independent launch capability to five.
Luna 1 was the first spacecraft to leave the gravitational influence of Earth. Also in 1959, Luna 2 was the first spacecraft to reach the surface of another celestial body, impacting the Moon, and Luna 3 returned the first images of the far side of the Moon.
1973 saw the launch of the first American Space station known as Skylab on a Saturn V rocket.
The following is an outline of 1981 in spaceflight.
The following is an outline of 1983 in spaceflight.
On 29 March 1974 Mariner 10 became the first spacecraft to fly by Mercury, that saw a spacecraft for the first and last time in the 20th century.
Spaceflight in 1977 included some important events such as the roll out of the Space Shuttle orbiter, Voyager 1 and Voyager space probes were launched. NASA received the Space Shuttle orbiter later named Enterprise, on 14 January. This unpowered sub-orbital space plane was launched off the top of a modified 747 and was flown uncrewed until 13 August until a human crew landed the Enterprise for the first time.
1978 saw the launch of the Pioneer Venus missions launched by the United States, on 20 May and 8 August. The Pioneer Venus Multiprobe landed four spacecraft on the planet, one of which transmitted data for 67 minutes before being destroyed by atmospheric pressure. ISEE-C, which was launched on 8 December, flew past comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner in 1985, and Halley's Comet in 1986.
The following is an outline of 1980 in spaceflight.
This is a list of spaceflights launched between July and September 1964. For launches in the rest of the year, see 1964 in spaceflight (January–March), 1964 in spaceflight (April–June) and 1964 in spaceflight (October–December). For an overview of the whole year, see 1964 in spaceflight.
This is a list of spaceflights launched between July and December 1961. For launches between January and June, see 1961 in spaceflight (January–June). For an overview of the whole year, see 1961 in spaceflight.
This is a list of spaceflights launched between April and June 1965. For launches in the rest of the year, see 1965 in spaceflight (January–March), 1965 in spaceflight (July–September) and 1965 in spaceflight (October–December). For an overview of the whole year, see 1965 in spaceflight.
This article lists orbital and suborbital launches during the first half of the year 1958.
This article lists orbital and suborbital launches during the first half of the year 1958.
This article lists orbital and suborbital launches during the second half of the year 1959.