Wikipedia

1957 in spaceflight

The first orbital flight of an artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched in October 1957, by the Soviet Union. In November, the second orbital flight took place. The Soviet Union launched the first animal to orbit the Earth, a dog, Laika, who died in orbit a few hours after launch.

  • Thor, Atlas, and R-7 rocket families all have maiden flights this year, all three of which will have long legacies for the next 50+ years
  • Australia and the UK go to space with sounding rockets; first space launches from Australia
  • The R-12 makes its maiden flight
  • The US makes its first orbital attempt and fails (Vanguard TV-3)
1957 in spaceflight
Artist's impression of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, in orbit
Orbital launches
First4 October
Last6 December
Total3
Successes1
Failures1
Partial failures1
Catalogued2
National firsts
Spaceflight Australia
 United Kingdom
Satellite Soviet Union
Orbital launch Soviet Union
Rockets
Maiden flightsUnited States Vanguard
United States Farside
United States Nike-Asp
United States Polaris FTV-5
United States Polaris FTV-3
United States HJ-Nike-Nike
United States SM-78 Jupiter
United States XSM-75 Thor
United States XSM-65A Atlas
Soviet Union R-2A
Soviet Union R-7 Semyorka
Soviet Union Sputnik-PS
Soviet Union R-12 Dvina
United Kingdom Skylark (Raven 1)
Australia Long Tom
RetirementsUnited States Viking (second model)
United States Aerobee RTV-N-10
United States Aerobee RTV-N-10c
United States Aerobee RTV-A-1a
United States Loki rockoon
United States Farside
United States Nike-Deacon
United States Terrapin
United States Polaris FTV-5
United States Polaris FTV-3
Soviet Union Sputnik-PS
1957 in spaceflight
← 1956
1958 →


Orbital launches

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Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat) 		Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks

October

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4 October
19:28:34 		 Sputnik-PS (8K71PS) PS-1  Baikonur Site 1/5  MVS
 Sputnik 1 (PS-1) MVS Low Earth Technology demonstration 4 January 1958 Successful
First orbital launch, first artificial satellite of Earth, maiden flight of the Sputnik rocket[1]

November

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3 November
02:30:42 		 Sputnik-PS (8K71PS) PS-2  Baikonur Site 1/5  MVS
 Sputnik 2 (PS-2) MVS Low Earth Biological 14 April 1958 Partial spacecraft failure
Carried Laika, the first animal in orbit. Laika died prior to completion of experiments. Final flight of the Sputnik-PS.[1]

December

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6 December
16:44:35 		 Vanguard TV-3  Cape Canaveral LC-18A  US Navy
 Vanguard 1A NRL Intended: Medium Earth Geodesy 6 December Launch failure
First all up Vanguard flight, first US orbital launch attempt, and first orbital launch attempt failure. Lost thrust and exploded on launch pad after 2 seconds.[2]

Suborbital launches

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January

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January launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
8 January  X-17  Cape Canaveral LC-3  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 8 January Successful
Apogee: 140 kilometres (87 mi)[3]
13 January  R-1  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 13 January Successful[4]
14 January  R-1  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 14 January Successful[4]
15 January  X-17  Cape Canaveral LC-3  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 15 January Launch failure
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[3]
19 January  R-5M  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
MVS Suborbital Nuclear weapon test 19 January Successful[5]
24 January  HJ-Nike  Wallops Island  NACA
NACA Suborbital Cone REV test 24 January Successful
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)[6]
26 January  XSM-75 Thor 101  Cape Canaveral LC-17B  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital Missile test 26 January Launch failure
Maiden launch of the SM-75 Thor missile, designated XSM-75 to indicate it was an experimental R&D launch; exploded on launch pad[7]
29 January  X-17  Cape Canaveral LC-3  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 29 January Launch failure
Apogee: 0 kilometres (0 mi)[3]

February

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February launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
2 February
08:05 		 Aerobee AJ10-34 USAF 76  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
 Firefly AFCRC Suborbital Aeronomy 2 February Successful
Apogee: 143 kilometres (89 mi)[8]
7 February  X-17  Cape Canaveral LC-3  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 7 February Successful
Apogee: 107 kilometres (66 mi)[3]
12 February
20:30 		 Loki Rockoon II5.097  Guam  University of Iowa
University of Iowa Suborbital Fields 12 February Successful
Apogee: 75 kilometres (47 mi)[9]
13 February
01:51 		 Skylark (Raven 1) SL01  Woomera LA-2 SL  WRE /  RAE
WRE / RAE Suborbital Test flight 13 February Successful
Apogee: 12 kilometres (7.5 mi), maiden flight of the Skylark[10]
14 February
20:05 		 Loki Rockoon II5.098  Guam  University of Iowa
University of Iowa Suborbital Fields 14 February Successful
Apogee: 75 kilometres (47 mi)[9]
14 February  X-17  Cape Canaveral LC-3  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 14 February Successful
Apogee: 141 kilometres (88 mi)[3]
17 February
21:36 		 Loki Rockoon II5.099  Guam  University of Iowa
University of Iowa Suborbital Fields 17 February Successful
Apogee: 75 kilometres (47 mi)[9]
19 February  R-1  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 19 February Successful[4]
28 February  R-2  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 28 February Successful[11]

March

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March launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
1 March  X-17  Cape Canaveral LC-3  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 1 March Successful
Apogee: 151 kilometres (94 mi)[3]
1 March
21:51 		 SM-78 Jupiter  Cape Canaveral LC-5  US Air Force
ABMA Suborbital Missile test 1 March Launch failure
Apogee: 14 kilometres (8.7 mi), maiden flight of the SM-78 Jupiter missile; overheated and disintegrated[12]
11 March  R-5M  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 11 March Successful[5]
11 March  X-17  Cape Canaveral LC-3  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 11 March Successful
Apogee: 134 kilometres (83 mi)[3]
18 March  R-5M  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 18 March Successful[5]
18 March  R-5M  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 18 March Successful[5]
Live warhead used
21 March  R-5M  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 21 March Successful[5]
21 March  X-17  Cape Canaveral LC-3  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 21 March Successful
Apogee: 103 kilometres (64 mi)[3]
28 March  R-5M  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 28 March Successful[5]
29 March
04:51 		 Aerobee RTV-N-10c NRL 31  White Sands LC-35  US Navy
NRL Suborbital UV Astronomy 29 March Successful
Apogee: 135 kilometres (84 mi), final flight of the Aerobee RTV-N-10c[8]

April

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April launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
10 April  HJ-Nike  Wallops Island  NACA
NACA Suborbital Heat transfer REV test 10 April Successful[6]
11 April
16:31 		 Aerobee Hi NRL 40  White Sands LC-35  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Vanguard instrumentation test 11 April Successful
Apogee: 204 kilometres (127 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13c; tested equipment for the Vanguard rocket[8]
12 April  R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Test flight 12 April Successful
Maiden flight of the R-2A, a scientific variant of the R-2[13]
13 April  Polaris FTV-5  Cape Canaveral LC-3  US Navy
USNSPO Suborbital REV test 13 April Launch failure
Technology test for development of the UGM-27 Polaris; maiden flight of the Polaris FTV-5[14]
14 April  R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Test flight 14 April Successful[13]
20 April
04:31 		 XSM-75 Thor 102  Cape Canaveral LC-17B  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital Missile test 20 April Launch failure
Destroyed by range safety officer after console error gave erroneous indications that the missile was off course[7][15]
26 April
20:12 		 SM-78 Jupiter  Cape Canaveral LC-5  US Air Force
ABMA Suborbital Test flight 26 April Partial failure
Apogee: 18 kilometres (11 mi)[12]
30 April
15:10 		 Aerobee Hi NRL 41  White Sands LC-35  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Meteorite research 30 April Successful
Apogee: 289 kilometres (180 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13c[8]

May

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May launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
1 May
06:29 		 Viking (second model)  Cape Canaveral LC-18A  US Navy
 Vanguard TV-1 NRL Suborbital Vanguard third stage test 1 May Successful
Apogee: 195 kilometres (121 mi), final flight of the Viking; a second stage tested the future Vanguard third stage[16]
3 May
14:04 		 Aerobee Hi NRL 44  White Sands LC-35  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar UV 3 May Successful
Apogee: 204 kilometres (127 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13c[8]
15 May
07:55 		 Jupiter-C  Cape Canaveral LC-6  ABMA
ABMA Suborbital Nose cone re-entry test 15 May Launch failure
Apogee: 655 kilometres (407 mi); gyroscope malfunctioned 134 seconds after launch and the nose cone was not recovered, but instruments indicated that the test may have been successful[17]
15 May
16:01 		 R-7  Baikonur Site 1/5  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 15 May Launch failure
Maiden flight of the R-7 and first launch of an ICBM. Engine fire in Block D booster rocket at liftoff, followed by premature separation 98 seconds after launch.[1]
16 May
02:14 		 R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 / RAS Suborbital Test flight 16 May Successful[13]
16 May
03:18 		 R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
RAS Suborbital Biological 16 May Successful
Apogee: 212 kilometres (132 mi), carried dogs[13]
22 May
05:20 		 Skylark (Raven 1) SL02  Woomera LA-2 SL  WRE /  RAE
WRE / RAE Suborbital Test flight 22 May Successful
Apogee: 75 kilometres (47 mi)[10]
22 May  XSM-75 Thor 103  Cape Canaveral LC-17B  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital Missile test 22 May Launch failure
Exploded on pad after valve malfunction caused pressure build up[7][15]
24 May  R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
RAS Suborbital 24 May Successful[13]
29 May  R-2  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 29 May Successful[11]
31 May
18:08 		 SM-78 Jupiter  Cape Canaveral LC-5  US Air Force
ABMA Suborbital Missile test 31 May Successful
Apogee: 402 to 482 kilometres (250 to 300 mi), first successful IRBM launched in the western world[12]

June

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June launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
June  R-1  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test Same day Successful[4]
June  R-1  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test Same day Successful[4]
5 June  R-2  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 5 June Successful[11]
7 June  R-2  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 7 June Successful[11]
7 June  R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital ABM target 7 June Successful[13]
10 June  R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital ABM target 10 June Successful[13]
11 June
19:37 		 XSM-65A Atlas 4A  Cape Canaveral LC-14  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital Test flight 11 June Partial failure
Apogee: 3 kilometres (1.9 mi), maiden flight of the XSM-65A Atlas missile; destroyed by range safety after fuel system malfunction, but succeeded at other primary mission goals including launch mechanisms, airframe integrity, subsystems performance, and operating procedures[18]
14 June  R-5M  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
 Vibrator OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 14 June Successful[5]
The Vibrator system was a non-contact explosive device
18 June
14:00 		 Aerobee Hi USAF 78  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
AFCRC / University of Utah Suborbital Ionospheric 18 June Successful
Apogee: 171 kilometres (106 mi)[8]
22 June  R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital ABM target 22 June Successful[13]
22 June  R-12 LKI1-1  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 22 June Successful[19]
Maiden flight of the R-12 missile
23 June  R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital ABM target 23 June Successful[13]
25 June
14:07 		 Aerobee Hi USAF 79  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
AFCRC / University of Utah Suborbital Ionospheric 25 June Successful
Apogee: 202 kilometres (126 mi)[8]
28 June  R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital ABM target 28 June Successful[13]
28 June  R-5M  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 28 June Successful[5]
28 June  R-5M  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
 Vibrator OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 28 June Successful[5]
The Vibrator system was a non-contact explosive device
29 June  R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital ABM target 29 June Successful[13]

July

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July launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
1 July
19:00 		 Nike-Deacon NN7.37F  San Nicolas  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar UV / X-ray 1 July Successful
Apogee: 93 kilometres (58 mi)[20]
3 July
16:29 		 Nike-Deacon NN7.38F  San Nicolas  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar UV / X-ray 3 July Successful
Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi)[20]
4 July  R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital ABM target 4 July Successful[13]
4 July  R-12 LKI1-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 4 July Successful[19]
4 July
18:15:40 		 Aerobee Hi NN3.08F  Churchill  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Ionospheric 4 July Successful
Apogee: 237 kilometres (147 mi)[8]
5 July  R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital ABM target 5 July Successful[13]
5 July
06:17:56 		 Aerobee Hi NN3.09F  Churchill  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Ionospheric 5 July Launch failure
Apogee: 16 kilometres (9.9 mi)[8]
7 July  R-2  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 7 July Successful[11]
8 July  R-1  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 8 July Successful[21]
9 July  R-1  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 9 July Successful[21]
9 July  R-2  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 9 July Successful[11]
9 July  R-5M  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 9 July Successful[5]
10 July  R-1  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 10 July Successful[21]
10 July  R-2  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 10 July Successful[11]
12 July
12:53 		 R-7  Baikonur Site 1/5  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 12 July Launch failure
Control system short-circuited resulting in loss of control, boosters fell off 33 seconds after launch[1]
13 July  R-1  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 13 July Successful[21]
13 July  R-12 LKI1-3  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 13 July Successful[19]
15 July
21:23 		 Nike-Deacon NN7.39F  San Nicolas  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar UV / X-ray 15 July Launch failure
Apogee: 28 kilometres (17 mi)[20]
16 July
13:30 		 Aerobee RTV-A-1a[22]: 43  USAF 80  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Meteorite research 16 July Successful
Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi),[8] final known flight of the Aerobee RTV-A-1a
18 July  R-2  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 18 July Successful[11]
18 July  R-5M  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 18 July Successful[5]
18 July
14:30 		 Aerobee (unknown type) USAF 81  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Meteorite research 18 July Launch failure[8]
19 July  R-2  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 19 July Successful[11]
19 July  Polaris FTV-3  Cape Canaveral LC-3  US Navy
USNSPO Suborbital REV test 19 July Successful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi), technology test for development of the UGM-27 Polaris; maiden flight of the Polaris FTV-3[14]
22 July  R-2  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 22 July Successful[11]
22 July
04:16:28 		 Aerobee (unknown type) SM1.02  Churchill  US Army
 Grenades SCEL / University of Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 22 July Successful
Apogee: 92 kilometres (57 mi)[8]
22 July  X-17  Cape Canaveral LC-3  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 22 July Successful
Apogee: 114 kilometres (71 mi)[3]
23 July
03:02 		 Skylark (Raven 1) SL03  Woomera LA-2 SL  WRE /  RAE
RAE / QUB Suborbital Test flight / Airglow 23 July Successful
Apogee: 85 kilometres (53 mi)[10]
23 July
23:31:52 		 Nike-Deacon NN7.40F  San Nicolas  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar UV / X-ray 23 July Successful
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)[20]
24 July  R-1  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 24 July Successful[21]
24 July  R-2  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 24 July Successful[11]
24 July  R-5M  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 24 July Successful[5]
24 July
05:29:50 		 Aerobee (unknown type) SM1.03  Churchill  US Army
 Grenades SCEL / University of Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 24 July Successful
Apogee: 88 kilometres (55 mi)[8]
27 July  R-12 LKI1-4  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 27 July Successful[19]
29 July  R-2  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 29 July Successful[11]
29 July
21:59 		 Aerobee Hi NN3.13F  Churchill  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Aeronomy 29 July Successful
Apogee: 210 kilometres (130 mi)[8]
30 July
18:10:02 		 Nike-Cajun AM6.32  Churchill  University of Michigan / US Army
University of Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 30 July Launch failure
Apogee: 25 kilometres (16 mi)[20]

August

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August launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
2 August  R-12 LKI1-5  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 2 August Launch Failure[19]
2 August  HJ-Nike  Wallops Island  NACA
NACA Suborbital Flat REV test 2 August Successful[6]
5 August  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 5 August Successful[11]
5 August
19:10 		 Nike-Deacon NN7.41F  San Nicolas  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar UV / X-ray 5 August Launch Failure
Apogee: 14 kilometres (8.7 mi)[20]
5 August
13:22 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 56  USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical Release 5 August Successful[9]
5 August
16:59 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 57  USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Fields 5 August Successful[9]
6 August  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 6 August Successful[11]
6 August
13:13 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 58  USS Plymouth Rock, southern Davis Strait[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release 6 August Successful
Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi)[9]
6 August
15:30 		 Aerobee AJ10-34 USAF 82  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Solar UV 6 August Successful
Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi)[8]
6 August
17:23 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 59  USS Plymouth Rock, Davis Strait[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Ionospheric 6 August Successful
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi)[9]
7 August
03:28 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 60  USS Plymouth Rock, northern Davis Strait[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical Release 7 August Launch failure[9]
7 August  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 7 August Successful[11]
7 August
22:04 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 61  USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Fields 7 August Launch failure[9]
8 August  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 8 August Successful[11]
8 August
06:59 		 Jupiter-C  Cape Canaveral LC-6  ABMA
ABMA Suborbital REV test 8 August Successful
Apogee: 460 kilometres (290 mi), re-entry nose cone recovered[17]
8 August
07:17 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 62  USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical Release 8 August Successful
Apogee: 132 kilometres (82 mi)[9]
9 August  Polaris FTV-3  Cape Canaveral LC-3  US Navy
USNSPO Suborbital REV test 9 August Successful
Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi), technology test for development of the UGM-27 Polaris[14]
10 August
06:29 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 63  USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release 10 August Successful
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi)[9]
10 August
23:36 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 64  USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release 10 August Successful
Apogee: 77 kilometres (48 mi)[9]
11 August
05:16 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 65  USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical Release 11 August Launch failure[9]
11 August
20:30 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 66  USS Plymouth Rock, Davis Strait[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical Release 11 August Successful[9]
12 August
07:48 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 67  USS Plymouth Rock, Davis Strait[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release 12 August Launch failure[9]
12 August
15:15 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 68  USS Plymouth Rock, Davis Strait[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Auroral / Fields 12 August Successful[9]
12 August
15:59:31 		 Aerobee (unknown type) SM1.04  Churchill  US Army
 Grenades SCEL / University of Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 12 August Successful
Apogee: 74 kilometres (46 mi)[8]
13 August
01:58 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 69  USS Plymouth Rock, southern Davis Strait[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release 13 August Successful[9]
13 August  R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
 SOI RAS Suborbital Solar UV 13 August Successful[24]
14 August
09:24 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 70  USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release 14 August Successful[9]
14 August
15:07 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 71  USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Auroral / Fields 14 August Successful
Apogee: 97 kilometres (60 mi)[9]
14 August
21:19 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 72  USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release 14 August Successful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)[9]
15 August
00:11 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 73  USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release 15 August Successful
Apogee: 97 kilometres (60 mi)[9]
15 August  R-12 LKI1-6  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 15 August Successful[19]
16 August  Polaris FTV-5  Cape Canaveral LC-3  US Navy
USNSPO Suborbital REV test 16 August Successful
Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi), technology test for development of the UGM-27 Polaris; final flight of the Polaris FTV-5[14]
19 August  Aerobee (unknown type) USAF 83  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Aeronomy 19 August Successful
Apogee: 178 kilometres (111 mi)[8]
20 August
02:29:51 		 Aerobee (unknown type) SM1.05  Churchill  US Army
 Grenades SCEL / University of Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 20 August Successful
Apogee: 88 kilometres (55 mi)[8]
20 August  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 20 August Successful[11]
20 August
16:50:04 		 Nike-Deacon NN7.42F  San Nicolas  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar UV / X-ray 20 August Successful
Apogee: 96 kilometres (60 mi)[20]
21 August
12:25 		 R-7  Baikonur Site 1/5  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 21 August Successful
First successful R-7 launch[1]
21 August  Aerobee (unknown type) USAF 84  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Aeronomy 21 August Successful[8]
22 August  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 22 August Successful[11]
23 August  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 23 August Successful[11]
23 August
21:54:05 		 Nike-Cajun RP6.X1  Churchill  University of Michigan / US Army
BRL Suborbital Test flight 23 August Successful
Apogee: 114 kilometres (71 mi)[20]
24 August
06:00 		 Nike-Cajun SS6.38  Churchill  University of Michigan / US Army
USASC Suborbital Aeronomy 24 August Launch failure[20]
25 August
02:23 		 R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
NIIAM Suborbital Ionospheric / Biological 25 August Successful
Apogee: 206 kilometres (128 mi)[24]
25 August
02:29 		 Aerobee (unknown type) SM2.05  Churchill  US Army
SCEL / University of Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 25 August Successful
Apogee: 51 kilometres (32 mi)[8]
25 August
03:27 		 R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
RAS Suborbital Test flight 25 August Successful
Apogee: 208 kilometres (129 mi)[24]
25 August
14:08:05 		 Aerobee (unknown type) SM2.06  Churchill  US Army
 Grenades SCEL / University of Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 25 August Successful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)[8]
27 August  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 27 August Successful[11]
27 August  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 27 August Successful[11]
27 August  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 27 August Successful[11]
27 August
15:54 		 Nike-Deacon NN7.43F  San Nicolas  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar UV / X-ray 27 August Launch failure
Apogee: 16 kilometres (9.9 mi)[20]
28 August
04:15:03 		 Nike-Cajun II6.22F  Churchill  University of Michigan
University of Iowa Suborbital Auroral particles 28 August Successful[20]
28 August
20:21:40 		 Nike-Deacon NN7.44F  San Nicolas  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar UV / X-ray 28 August Successful
Apogee: 96 kilometres (60 mi)[20]
28 August
21:02 		 SM-78 Jupiter  Cape Canaveral LC-26A  US Air Force
ABMA Suborbital Missile test 28 August Successful[12]
29 August  R-12 LKI1-7  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 29 August Successful[19]
29 August
21:12:25 		 Nike-Deacon NN7.45F  San Nicolas  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar UV / X-ray 29 August Successful
Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi)[20]
30 August
20:10 		 XSM-75 Thor 104  Cape Canaveral LC-17A  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital Missile test 30 August Launch failure
Disintegrated 96 seconds after launch[7][15]
31 August
04:57 		 Nike-Cajun II6.23F  Churchill  University of Michigan / US Air Force
University of Iowa Suborbital Auroral particles 31 August Successful
Apogee: 115 kilometres (71 mi)[20]
31 August
05:30 		 R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
NIIAM Suborbital Ionospheric / Biological 31 August Successful
Apogee: 185 kilometres (115 mi)[24]

September

edit
September launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
1 September
22:28 		 Aerobee Hi AM4.001  Churchill  US Air Force
AFCRC / University of Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 1 September Successful
Apogee: 160 kilometres (99 mi)[8]
5 September  R-5M M1-1  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
 Generator-5 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 5 September Successful[5]
7 September
11:39 		 R-7  Baikonur Site 1/5  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 7 September Successful[1]
9 September
15:50 		 R-2A  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
RAS Suborbital Ionospheric / Biological 9 September Successful
Apogee: 212 kilometres (132 mi)[24]
12 September  R-5M  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 12 September Successful[5]
12 September
15:19:30 		 Nike-Deacon NN7.46F  San Nicolas  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar UV / X-ray 12 September Launch failure
Apogee: 3 kilometres (1.9 mi)[20]
14 September  R-5M  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 14 September Successful[5]
15 September
20:43 		 Nike-Deacon NN7.47F  San Nicolas  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar UV / X-ray 15 September Launch failure[20]
17 September
14:04 		 Aerobee RTV-N-10 NRL 21  White Sands LC-35  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar UV 17 September Successful
Apogee: 51 kilometres (32 mi), final flight of the RTV-N-10[8]
18 September
17:42 		 Nike-Deacon NN7.48F  San Nicolas  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar UV / X-ray 18 September Launch failure
Apogee: 21 kilometres (13 mi)[20]
18 September
17:54 		 Nike-Deacon NN7.49F  San Nicolas  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar UV / X-ray 18 September Successful
Apogee: 77 kilometres (48 mi), final flight of the Nike-Deacon[20]
19 September
16:30 		 Aerobee (unknown type)  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Aeronomy 19 September Successful
Released caesium[8]
20 September
14:25 		 XSM-75 Thor 105  Cape Canaveral LC-17B  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital Missile test 20 September Successful
First successful Thor launch[15]
21 September  R-2  Urda, Kazakhstan  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 21 September Successful[11]
Launched with tactical launcher
21 September  R-2  Urda, Kazakhstan  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 21 September Successful[11]
Launched with tactical launcher
22 September  R-2  Urda, Kazakhstan  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 22 September Successful[11]
Launched with tactical launcher
23 September  R-2  Urda, Kazakhstan  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 23 September Successful[11]
Launched with tactical launcher
25 September  Farside Shot 1  Eniwetok  US Air Force
AFOSR Suborbital Ionospheric 25 September Launch failure
Maiden flight of the Farside, stage zero (balloon) malfunction[25][26]
25 September
19:57 		 XSM-65A Atlas 6A  Cape Canaveral LC-14  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital Test flight 25 September Partial failure
Apogee: 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), destroyed by range safety following fuel system malfunction, flight considered partial success[18]
26 September  R-5M  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 26 September Successful[5]
26 September
18:21 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 74  USS Glacier, Atlantic Ocean  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Test flight 26 September Successful[9]
26 September
20:00 		 Nike-Asp NN8.50F  San Nicolas  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Test flight 26 September Launch failure
Apogee: 16 kilometres (9.9 mi), maiden flight of the Nike-Asp[20]
27 September
14:27 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 75  USS Glacier, east of The Bahamas[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 27 September Successful
Apogee: 119 kilometres (74 mi)[9]
29 September  R-2  Urda, Kazakhstan  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 29 September Successful[11]
Launched with tactical launcher
30 September  R-2  Urda, Kazakhstan  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 30 September Successful[11]
Launched with tactical launcher

October

edit
October launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
October  Long Tom LT1  Woomera LA-2 SL  WRE
WRE Suborbital Test flight Same Day Successful
Maiden flight of the Long Tom and first Australian spaceflight[27][28]
1 October  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 1 October Successful[11]
2 October  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 2 October Successful[11]
3 October  Farside Shot 2  Eniwetok  US Air Force
AFOSR Suborbital Ionospheric 3 October Launch failure[25][26]
3 October  XSM-75 Thor 107  Cape Canaveral LC-17A  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital Missile test 3 October Launch failure[15]
4 October
20:36 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 76  USS Glacier, Pacific Ocean, Southwest of Costa Rica[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 4 October Successful
Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi)[9]
6 October  R-1  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 6 October Successful[21]
6 October  R-1  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 6 October Successful[21]
7 October  Farside Shot 3  Eniwetok  US Air Force
AFOSR Suborbital Ionospheric 7 October Launch failure[25][26]
11 October  Farside Shot 4  Eniwetok  US Air Force
AFOSR Suborbital Ionospheric 11 October Launch failure[25][26]
11 October
16:33 		 XSM-75 Thor 108  Cape Canaveral LC-17B  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital Missile test 11 October Partial launch failure
Turbopump gearbox malfunctioned, still met primary test objectives[7][15]
12 October  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 12 October Successful[11]
12 October  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 12 October Successful[11]
13 October  R-1  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 13 October Successful[21]
13 October  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 13 October Successful[11]
13 October  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 13 October Successful[11]
13 October
18:15 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 77  USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, east of Kiribati[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 13 October Successful[9]
14 October  R-1  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 14 October Successful[21]
14 October  R-1  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 14 October Successful[21]
14 October
15:08 		 Aerobee (unknown type) USAF 87  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Meteorite research 14 October Successful
Apogee: 146 kilometres (91 mi)[8]
14 October
22:31 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 78  USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, east of Kiribati[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 14 October Successful
Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi)[9]
16 October
21:17 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 79  USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 16 October Successful[9]
17 October
00:09 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 80  USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 17 October Launch failure[9]
17 October
02:18 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 81  USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 17 October Launch failure[9]
17 October
05:05 		 Aerobee (unknown type) USAF 88  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
 Artificial Meteor AFCRC / Caltech Suborbital Meteorite research 17 October Successful
Apogee: 114 kilometres (71 mi)[8]
17 October
21:16 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 82  USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 17 October Launch failure
Apogee: 44 kilometres (27 mi)[9]
18 October
00:59 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 83  USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Fields 18 October Successful
Apogee: 127 kilometres (79 mi)[9]
18 October
09:35 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 84  USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 18 October Successful[9]
18 October
20:58 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 85  USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 18 October Successful
Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi)[9]
19 October
00:59 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 86  USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Fields 19 October Successful
Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi)[9]
19 October
20:07 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 87  USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Fields 19 October Successful
Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi)[9]
20 October  Farside Shot 5  Eniwetok  US Air Force
AFOSR Suborbital Ionospheric 20 October Spacecraft failure
Apogee: 3,200 to 5,000 kilometres (2,000 to 3,100 mi), returned no data due to transmitter malfunction[25][26]
20 October
02:19 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 88  USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 20 October Successful
Apogee: 104 kilometres (65 mi)[9]
20 October
03:57 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 89  USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 20 October Successful[9]
20 October
20:11 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 90  USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, southwest of Kiribati[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 20 October Successful[9]
22 October  Farside Shot 6  Eniwetok  US Air Force
AFOSR Suborbital Ionospheric 22 October Spacecraft failure
Apogee: 3,200 to 5,000 kilometres (2,000 to 3,100 mi), returned no data due to transmitter malfunction[25][26]
22 October
22:31 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 91  USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, near the Cook Islands[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 22 October Successful[9]
23 October
01:07 		 SM-78 Jupiter  Cape Canaveral LC-26B  US Air Force
ABMA Suborbital Missile test 23 October Successful[12]
23 October  Aerobee (unknown type)  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Aeronomy 23 October Successful[8]
23 October
19:22:54 		 Vanguard TV-2  Cape Canaveral LC-18A  US Navy
 Vanguard TV-2 NRL Suborbital Test flight 23 October Successful
Maiden flight of the Vanguard, battleship upper stages, apogee: 175 kilometres (109 mi)[2]
24 October  R-1  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 24 October Successful[21]
24 October  R-1  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 24 October Successful[21]
24 October  R-1  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 24 October Successful[21]
24 October
14:30 		 Polaris FTV-3  Cape Canaveral LC-3  US Navy
USNSPO Suborbital REV test 24 October Successful
Technology test for development of the UGM-27 Polaris[14]
24 October
16:38 		 XSM-75 Thor 109  Cape Canaveral LC-17A  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital Missile test 24 October Successful
Final flight of R&D Series I; long range test[7][15]
25 October  Aerobee (unknown type)  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Ionospheric 25 October Successful[8]
25 October  HJ-Nike-Nike  Wallops Island  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 25 October Successful
Maiden flight of the HJ-Nike-Nike, although it wouldn't go to space until 1962[29]
26 October  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 26 October Successful[11]
26 October
19:47 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 92  USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, east of New Zealand[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 26 October Successful[23]
27 October
02:46 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 93  USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, east of New Zealand[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 27 October Launch failure[23]
27 October  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 27 October Successful[11]
29 October
00:13 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 94  USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, southeast of New Zealand[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical release 29 October Launch failure
Apogee: 8 kilometres (5.0 mi)[23]
30 October
22:50 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 95  USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical release 30 October Successful[23]
31 October
01:44 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 96  USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical release 31 October Successful[23]
31 October
19:51 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 97  USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 31 October Successful[23]

November

edit
November launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
1 November
01:00 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 98  USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 1 November Launch failure[23]
3 November  R-5M M1-2  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
 Generator-5 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 3 November Successful[5]
3 November
20:08 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 99  USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 3 November Launch failure[23]
4 November
00:39 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 100  USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical release 4 November Successful[23]
4 November
02:50 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 101  USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 4 November Successful
Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi)[23]
4 November
03:47 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 102  USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 4 November Launch failure[23]
4 November
07:16 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 103  USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical release 4 November Launch failure[23]
4 November  R-2  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 4 November Successful[11]
4 November
18:52 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 104  USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 4 November Successful[23]
5 November
01:25 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 105  USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical release 5 November Successful[23]
5 November
20:23 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 106  USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 5 November Successful
Apogee: 97 kilometres (60 mi)[23]
5 November
23:17 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 107  USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 5 November Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[23]
7 November
16:05 		 Aerobee (unknown type) USAF 89  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Ionospheric 7 November Successful[8]
8 November  Polaris FTV-3  Cape Canaveral LC-3  US Navy
USNSPO Suborbital REV test 8 November Successful
Technology test for development of the UGM-27 Polaris, final flight of the Polaris FTV-3[14]
8 November
14:57 		 Aerobee (unknown type) USAF 90  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Ionospheric 8 November Launch failure[8]
8 November
22:00 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 108  USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, near New Zealand[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical release 8 November Successful
Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi)[23]
9 November
00:00 		 Loki Rockoon SUI 109  USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, near New Zealand[23]  US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical release 9 November Successful
Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi), final flight of the Loki Rockoon[23]
9 November
16:54 		 A-1  Kapustin Yar  MVS
RAS Suborbital Ionospheric / Aeronomy 9 November Successful
Apogee: 330 kilometres (210 mi)[24]
10 November  Aerobee (unknown type)  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Aeronomy 10 November Successful[8]
13 November
11:52 		 Skylark (Raven 1) SL04  Woomera LA-2 SL  WRE /  RAE
University College London Suborbital Aeronomy 13 November Successful
Apogee: 127 kilometres (79 mi), first British spaceflight[10]
19 November
16:29:56 		 Aerobee (unknown type)  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
 Smoke Puff AFCRC Suborbital Aeronomy 19 November Successful
Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi), released potassium nitrate and aluminium to create a temporary 'radio mirror'[8]
26 November
12:55 		 Aerobee (unknown type)  Holloman LC-A  US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Aeronomy 26 November Successful[8]
27 November
02:10 		 SM-78 Jupiter  Cape Canaveral LC-26B  US Air Force
ABMA Suborbital Missile test 27 November Partial failure
Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi), mechanical failure of turbo-pump caused loss of thrust and missile exploded. Other primary and secondary flight objectives were considered successful.[12]
30 November  R-5M  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 30 November Successful[5]

December

edit
December launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
7 December
22:11 		 XSM-75 Thor 112  Cape Canaveral LC-17B  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital Missile test 7 December Successful
Start of R&D Series II[15]
10 December
17:35 		 Nike-Cajun OB6.02F  White Sands  University of Michigan / US Army
BRL Suborbital Ionospheric / Fields 10 December Successful
Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi)[20]
10 December
18:12 		 Nike-Asp NN8.51F  San Nicolas  US Navy
NRL Suborbital Test flight 10 December Successful
Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi)[20]
10 December
21:36 		 Nike-Cajun SS6.39  Churchill  University of Michigan / US Army
USASC Suborbital Aeronomy 10 December Launch failure[20]
12 December
04:00 		 Aerobee (unknown type) SM1.07  Churchill  US Army
 Grenades AFCRC / University of Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 12 December Successful
Apogee: 80 kilometres (50 mi)[8]
14 December
21:00 		 Aerobee (unknown type) SM1.08  Churchill  US Army
 Grenades USASC / University of Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 14 December Successful
Apogee: 97 kilometres (60 mi)[8]
15 December
00:38 		 Nike-Cajun AM6.34  Churchill  University of Michigan / US Army
University of Michigan / ARDC Suborbital Aeronomy 15 December Launch failure
Apogee: 9 kilometres (5.6 mi)[20]
17 December
17:39 		 XSM-65A Atlas 12A  Cape Canaveral LC-14  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital Test flight 17 December Successful
First successful Atlas launch[18]
19 December
00:07 		 SM-78 Jupiter  Cape Canaveral LC-26B  US Air Force
ABMA Suborbital Missile test 19 December Partial failure
Apogee: 92 kilometres (57 mi), mechanical failure of turbo-pump caused loss of thrust at 116.87 seconds. Other primary and secondary flight objectives were considered successful.[12]
19 December
19:57 		 XSM-75 Thor 113  Cape Canaveral LC-17A  US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital Missile test 19 December Successful[15]
23 December  Nike-Cajun  Wallops Island  NACA
 HUGO 2 New Mexico State University Suborbital Aeronomy / Hurricane photography 23 December Launch failure[20]
26 December  R-5M M1-3  Kapustin Yar  OKB-1
 Generator-5 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 26 December Successful[5]
Unknown  Terrapin  Wallops Island  NSA
University of Maryland Suborbital Chemical Release Same day Successful[30]
Unknown  Terrapin  Wallops Island  NSA
University of Maryland Suborbital Chemical Release Same day Successful[30]
Unknown  Terrapin  Wallops Island  NSA
University of Maryland Suborbital Chemical Release Same day Successful[30]
Unknown  Terrapin  Wallops Island  NSA
University of Maryland Suborbital Chemical Release Same day Successful
Final flight of the Terrapin[30]

Orbital launch summary

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By country

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 Soviet Union: 2United States: 1
Launches by country
Country Launches Successes Failures Partial
failures 		Remarks
  Soviet Union 2 1 0 1 First orbital launch
  United States 1 0 1 0

By rocket

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Rocket Country Type Family Launches Successes Failures Partial failures Remarks
Sputnik-PS (8K71PS)   Soviet Union Sputnik R-7 2 1 0 1 Maiden flight, first Soviet orbital flight and satellite, retired
Vanguard   United States Vanguard Viking 1 0 1 0 Maiden flight, first US orbital attempt

By launch site

edit
Site Country Launches Successes Failures Partial failures Remarks
Baikonur   Soviet Union 2 1 0 1
Cape Canaveral   United States 1 0 1 0

By orbit

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Orbital regime Launches Successes Failures Accidentally
Achieved 		Remarks
Low Earth 2 2 0 0
Medium Earth 1 0 1 0

Launch summary

edit

By country

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 United States: 170Soviet Union: 106United Kingdom: 4Australia: 1
Launches by country
Country Launches Successes Failures Partial
failures
  United States 170 119 46 5
  Soviet Union 106 102 3 1
  United Kingdom 4 4 0 0
  Australia 1 1 0 0

By rocket

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Launches by rocket
Rocket Country Launches Successes Failures Partial
failures 		Remarks
Viking (second model)   United States 1 1 0 0 Retired
Vanguard   United States 2 1 1 0 Maiden flight, first US orbital attempt
Aerobee RTV-N-10   United States 1 1 0 0 Retired
Aerobee RTV-N-10c   United States 1 1 0 0 Retired
Aerobee Hi (NRL)   United States 6 5 1 0
Aerobee RTV-A-1a   United States 1 1 0 0 Retired
Aerobee Hi (USAF)   United States 3 3 0 0
Aerobee AJ10-34   United States 2 2 0 0
Aerobee (Unknown Type)   United States 21 19 2 0
Loki rockoon   United States 57 44 13 0 Retired
Farside   United States 6 0 6 0 Maiden flight, retired
Nike-Deacon   United States 13 7 6 0 Retired
Nike-Cajun   United States 9 4 5 0
Terrapin   United States 4 4 0 0 Retired
Nike-Asp   United States 2 1 1 0 Maiden flight
X-17   United States 9 7 2 0
Polaris FTV-5   United States 2 1 1 0 Maiden flight, retired
Polaris FTV-3   United States 4 4 0 0 Maiden flight, retired
HJ-Nike   United States 3 3 0 0
HJ-Nike-Nike   United States 1 1 0 0 Maiden flight
Jupiter-C   United States 2 1 1 0
SM-78 Jupiter   United States 7 3 1 3 Maiden flight
XSM-75 Thor   United States 10 4 5 1 Maiden flight
XSM-65A Atlas   United States 3 1 0 2 Maiden flight
R-1   Soviet Union 18 18 0 0
A-1   Soviet Union 1 1 0 0
R-2   Soviet Union 37 37 0 0
R-2A   Soviet Union 18 18 0 0 Maiden flight
R-5M   Soviet Union 19 19 0 0
R-7   Soviet Union 4 2 2 0 Maiden flight
Sputnik-PS (8K71PS)   Soviet Union 2 1 0 1 Maiden flight, first Soviet orbital flight and satellite, retired
R-12   Soviet Union 7 6 1 0 Maiden flight
Skylark (Raven 1)   United Kingdom 4 4 0 0 Maiden flight, first British spaceflight
Long Tom   Australia 1 1 0 0 Maiden flight, first Australian spaceflight

See also

edit

References

edit
  • Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
  • Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
  • Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.[dead link‍]
  • Krebs, Gunter. "Chronology of Space Launches".
  • Kyle, Ed. "Space Launch Report". Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  • McDowell, Jonathan. "GCAT Orbital Launch Log".
  • Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive".
  • Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica".
  • Webb, Brian. "Southwest Space Archive".
  • Zak, Anatoly. "Russian Space Web".
  • "ISS Calendar". Spaceflight 101.
  • "NSSDCA Master Catalog". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
  • "Space Calendar". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.[dead link‍]
  • "Space Information Center". JAXA.[dead link‍]
  • "Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).
Generic references:

  Spaceflight portal

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Wade, Mark. "R-7". Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b Wade, Mark. "Vanguard". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wade, Mark. "X-17". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e Wade, Mark. "R-1 8A11". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Wade, Mark. "R-5". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Wade, Mark. "HJ Nike". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Wade, Mark. "Thor". Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai McDowell, Jonathan C. "General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects, Launches, Aerobee". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am McDowell, Jonathan C. "General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects, Launches, Loki". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d McDowell, Jonathan C. "General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects, Launches, Raven". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak Wade, Mark. "R-2". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Wade, Mark. "Jupiter IRBM". Archived from the original on 16 July 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Wade, Mark. "R-2A". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  14. ^ a b c d e f McDowell, Jonathan C. "General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects, Launches, Sergeant". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i McDowell, Jonathan C. "General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects, Launches, Thor". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  16. ^ Wade, Mark. "Viking Sounding Rocket". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  17. ^ a b Wade, Mark. "Jupiter C". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  18. ^ a b c Wade, Mark. "Atlas A". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g McDowell, Jonathan C. "General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects, Launches, R-12". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x McDowell, Jonathan C. "General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects, Launches, Nike". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Wade, Mark. "R-1". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  22. ^ Charles P. Smith Jr. (April 1958). Naval Research Laboratory Report No. 4276: Upper Atmosphere Research Report No. XXI, Summary of Upper Atmosphere Rocket Research Firings (pdf). Washington D.C.: Naval Research Laboratory. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs Wade, Mark. "Loki Rockoon". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  24. ^ a b c d e f McDowell, Jonathan C. "General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects, Launches, V-2". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  25. ^ a b c d e f McDowell, Jonathan C. "General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects, Launches, Recruit". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  26. ^ a b c d e f Parsch, Andreas. "Aeronutronics Farside". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  27. ^ Flight apogee not confirmed, but the rocket was capable of spaceflight
  28. ^ McDowell, Jonathan C. "General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects, Launches, Long Tom". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  29. ^ McDowell, Jonathan C. "General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects, Launches, Honest John". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  30. ^ a b c d McDowell, Jonathan C. "General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects, Launches, Deacon". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2022.


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