1957 in spaceflight

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 flights Vanguard
Farside
Nike-Asp
Polaris FTV-5
Polaris FTV-3
HJ-Nike-Nike
SM-78 Jupiter
XSM-75 Thor
XSM-65A Atlas
R-2A
R-7 Semyorka
Sputnik-PS
R-12 Dvina
Skylark (Raven 1)
Long Tom
Retirements Viking (second model)
Aerobee RTV-N-10
Aerobee RTV-N-10c
Aerobee RTV-A-1a
Loki rockoon
Farside
Nike-Deacon
Terrapin
Polaris FTV-5
Polaris FTV-3
Sputnik-PS
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 over 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).

Overview

Orbital launches

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

October

4 October
19:28:34[2] 		Sputnik-PS (8K71PS) M1-PS Baikonur Site 1/5 MVS
Sputnik 1 (PS-1 №1) OKB-1 Low Earth Technology demonstration 4 January 1958 Successful
First orbital launch, first artificial satellite of Earth, maiden flight of the Sputnik rocket[1]

November

3 November
02:30:42[3] 		Sputnik-PS (8K71PS) M1-2PS Baikonur Site 1/5 MVS
Sputnik 2 (PS-2 №1) OKB-1 Low Earth Biological research 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

6 December
16:44:35[5] 		Vanguard TV-3 Cape Canaveral LC-18A US Navy
Vanguard (Test Satellite F) 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.[4]

Suborbital flights

Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat) 		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)[6]
13 January R-1 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 13 January Successful[7]
14 January R-1 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 14 January Successful[7]
15 January X-17 Cape Canaveral LC-3 US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 15 January Launch failure
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[6]
19 January R-5M Kapustin Yar OKB-1
MVS Suborbital Nuclear weapon test 19 January Successful[8]
24 January HJ-Nike Wallops Island NACA
NACA Suborbital Cone REV test 24 January Successful
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)[9]
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[10]
29 January X-17 Cape Canaveral LC-3 US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 29 January Launch failure
Apogee: 0 kilometres (0 mi)[6]
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)[11]
7 February X-17 Cape Canaveral LC-3 US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 7 February Successful
Apogee: 107 kilometres (66 mi)[6]
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)[12]
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[13]
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)[12]
14 February X-17 Cape Canaveral LC-3 US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 14 February Successful
Apogee: 141 kilometres (88 mi)[6]
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)[12]
19 February R-1 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 19 February Successful[7]
28 February R-2 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 28 February Successful[14]
1 March X-17 Cape Canaveral LC-3 US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 1 March Successful
Apogee: 151 kilometres (94 mi)[6]
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[15]
11 March R-5M Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 11 March Successful[8]
11 March X-17 Cape Canaveral LC-3 US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 11 March Successful
Apogee: 134 kilometres (83 mi)[6]
18 March R-5M Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 18 March Successful[8]
18 March R-5M Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 18 March Successful[8]
Live warhead used
21 March R-5M Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 21 March Successful[8]
21 March X-17 Cape Canaveral LC-3 US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 21 March Successful
Apogee: 103 kilometres (64 mi)[6]
28 March R-5M Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 28 March Successful[8]
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[11]
10 April HJ-Nike Wallops Island NACA
NACA Suborbital Heat transfer REV test 10 April Successful[9]
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[11]
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[16]
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[17]
14 April R-2A Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Test flight 14 April Successful[16]
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[10][18]
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)[15]
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[11]
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[19]
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[11]
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[20]
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[16]
16 May
03:18 		R-2A Kapustin Yar OKB-1
RAS Suborbital Biological 16 May Successful
Apogee: 212 kilometres (132 mi), carried dogs[16]
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)[13]
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[10][18]
24 May R-2A Kapustin Yar OKB-1
RAS Suborbital 24 May Successful[16]
29 May R-2 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 29 May Successful[14]
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[15]
June R-1 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test Same day Successful[7]
June R-1 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test Same day Successful[7]
5 June R-2 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 5 June Successful[14]
7 June R-2 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 7 June Successful[14]
7 June R-2A Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital ABM target 7 June Successful[16]
10 June R-2A Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital ABM target 10 June Successful[16]
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[21]
14 June R-5M Kapustin Yar OKB-1
Vibrator OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 14 June Successful[8]
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)[11]
22 June R-2A Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital ABM target 22 June Successful[16]
22 June R-12 LKI1-1 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 22 June Successful[22]
Maiden flight of the R-12 missile
23 June R-2A Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital ABM target 23 June Successful[16]
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)[11]
28 June R-2A Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital ABM target 28 June Successful[16]
28 June R-5M Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 28 June Successful[8]
28 June R-5M Kapustin Yar OKB-1
Vibrator OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 28 June Successful[8]
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[16]
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)[23]
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)[23]
4 July R-2A Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital ABM target 4 July Successful[16]
4 July R-12 LKI1-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 4 July Successful[22]
4 July
18:15:40 		Aerobee Hi NN3.08F Churchill US Navy
NRL Suborbital Ionospheric 4 July Successful
Apogee: 237 kilometres (147 mi)[11]
5 July R-2A Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital ABM target 5 July Successful[16]
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)[11]
7 July R-2 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 7 July Successful[14]
8 July R-1 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 8 July Successful[24]
9 July R-1 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 9 July Successful[24]
9 July R-2 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 9 July Successful[14]
9 July R-5M Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 9 July Successful[8]
10 July R-1 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 10 July Successful[24]
10 July R-2 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 10 July Successful[14]
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[24]
13 July R-12 LKI1-3 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 13 July Successful[22]
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)[23]
16 July
13:30 		Aerobee RTV-A-1a[25]: 43  USAF 80 Holloman LC-A US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Meteorite research 16 July Successful
Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi),[11] 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[14]
18 July R-5M Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 18 July Successful[8]
18 July
14:30 		Aerobee (unknown type) USAF 81 Holloman LC-A US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Meteorite research 18 July Launch failure[11]
19 July R-2 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 19 July Successful[14]
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[17]
22 July R-2 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 22 July Successful[14]
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)[11]
22 July X-17 Cape Canaveral LC-3 US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital REV test 22 July Successful
Apogee: 114 kilometres (71 mi)[6]
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)[13]
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)[23]
24 July R-1 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 24 July Successful[24]
24 July R-2 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 24 July Successful[14]
24 July R-5M Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 24 July Successful[8]
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)[11]
27 July R-12 LKI1-4 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 27 July Successful[22]
29 July R-2 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 29 July Successful[14]
29 July
21:59 		Aerobee Hi NN3.13F Churchill US Navy
NRL Suborbital Aeronomy 29 July Successful
Apogee: 210 kilometres (130 mi)[11]
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)[23]
2 August R-12 LKI1-5 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 2 August Launch Failure[22]
2 August HJ-Nike Wallops Island NACA
NACA Suborbital Flat REV test 2 August Successful[9]
5 August R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 5 August Successful[14]
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)[23]
5 August
13:22 		Loki Rockoon SUI 56 USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical Release 5 August Successful[12]
5 August
16:59 		Loki Rockoon SUI 57 USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Fields 5 August Successful[12]
6 August R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 6 August Successful[14]
6 August
13:13 		Loki Rockoon SUI 58 USS Plymouth Rock, southern Davis Strait[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release 6 August Successful
Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi)[12]
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)[11]
6 August
17:23 		Loki Rockoon SUI 59 USS Plymouth Rock, Davis Strait[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Ionospheric 6 August Successful
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi)[12]
7 August
03:28 		Loki Rockoon SUI 60 USS Plymouth Rock, northern Davis Strait[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical Release 7 August Launch failure[12]
7 August R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 7 August Successful[14]
7 August
22:04 		Loki Rockoon SUI 61 USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Fields 7 August Launch failure[12]
8 August R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 8 August Successful[14]
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[20]
8 August
07:17 		Loki Rockoon SUI 62 USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical Release 8 August Successful
Apogee: 132 kilometres (82 mi)[12]
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[17]
10 August
06:29 		Loki Rockoon SUI 63 USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release 10 August Successful
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi)[12]
10 August
23:36 		Loki Rockoon SUI 64 USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release 10 August Successful
Apogee: 77 kilometres (48 mi)[12]
11 August
05:16 		Loki Rockoon SUI 65 USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical Release 11 August Launch failure[12]
11 August
20:30 		Loki Rockoon SUI 66 USS Plymouth Rock, Davis Strait[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical Release 11 August Successful[12]
12 August
07:48 		Loki Rockoon SUI 67 USS Plymouth Rock, Davis Strait[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release 12 August Launch failure[12]
12 August
15:15 		Loki Rockoon SUI 68 USS Plymouth Rock, Davis Strait[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Auroral / Fields 12 August Successful[12]
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)[11]
13 August
01:58 		Loki Rockoon SUI 69 USS Plymouth Rock, southern Davis Strait[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release 13 August Successful[12]
13 August R-2A Kapustin Yar OKB-1
SOI RAS Suborbital Solar UV 13 August Successful[27]
14 August
09:24 		Loki Rockoon SUI 70 USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release 14 August Successful[12]
14 August
15:07 		Loki Rockoon SUI 71 USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Auroral / Fields 14 August Successful
Apogee: 97 kilometres (60 mi)[12]
14 August
21:19 		Loki Rockoon SUI 72 USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release 14 August Successful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)[12]
15 August
00:11 		Loki Rockoon SUI 73 USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release 15 August Successful
Apogee: 97 kilometres (60 mi)[12]
15 August R-12 LKI1-6 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 15 August Successful[22]
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[17]
19 August Aerobee (unknown type) USAF 83 Holloman LC-A US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Aeronomy 19 August Successful
Apogee: 178 kilometres (111 mi)[11]
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)[11]
20 August R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 20 August Successful[14]
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)[23]
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[11]
22 August R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 22 August Successful[14]
23 August R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 23 August Successful[14]
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)[23]
24 August
06:00 		Nike-Cajun SS6.38 Churchill University of Michigan / US Army
USASC Suborbital Aeronomy 24 August Launch failure[23]
25 August
02:23 		R-2A Kapustin Yar OKB-1
NIIAM Suborbital Ionospheric / Biological 25 August Successful
Apogee: 206 kilometres (128 mi)[27]
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)[11]
25 August
03:27 		R-2A Kapustin Yar OKB-1
RAS Suborbital Test flight 25 August Successful
Apogee: 208 kilometres (129 mi)[27]
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)[11]
27 August R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 27 August Successful[14]
27 August R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 27 August Successful[14]
27 August R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 27 August Successful[14]
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)[23]
28 August
04:15:03 		Nike-Cajun II6.22F Churchill University of Michigan
University of Iowa Suborbital Auroral particles 28 August Successful[23]
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)[23]
28 August
21:02 		SM-78 Jupiter Cape Canaveral LC-26A US Air Force
ABMA Suborbital Missile test 28 August Successful[15]
29 August R-12 LKI1-7 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 29 August Successful[22]
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)[23]
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[10][18]
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)[23]
31 August
05:30 		R-2A Kapustin Yar OKB-1
NIIAM Suborbital Ionospheric / Biological 31 August Successful
Apogee: 185 kilometres (115 mi)[27]
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)[11]
5 September R-5M M1-1 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
Generator-5 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 5 September Successful[8]
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)[27]
12 September R-5M Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 12 September Successful[8]
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)[23]
14 September R-5M Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 14 September Successful[8]
15 September
20:43 		Nike-Deacon NN7.47F San Nicolas US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar UV / X-ray 15 September Launch failure[23]
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[11]
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)[23]
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[23]
19 September
16:30 		Aerobee (unknown type) Holloman LC-A US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Aeronomy 19 September Successful
Released caesium[11]
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[18]
21 September R-2 Urda, Kazakhstan MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 21 September Successful[14]
Launched with tactical launcher
21 September R-2 Urda, Kazakhstan MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 21 September Successful[14]
Launched with tactical launcher
22 September R-2 Urda, Kazakhstan MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 22 September Successful[14]
Launched with tactical launcher
23 September R-2 Urda, Kazakhstan MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 23 September Successful[14]
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[28][29]
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[21]
26 September R-5M Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 26 September Successful[8]
26 September
18:21 		Loki Rockoon SUI 74 USS Glacier, Atlantic Ocean US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Test flight 26 September Successful[12]
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[23]
27 September
14:27 		Loki Rockoon SUI 75 USS Glacier, east of The Bahamas[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 27 September Successful
Apogee: 119 kilometres (74 mi)[12]
29 September R-2 Urda, Kazakhstan MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 29 September Successful[14]
Launched with tactical launcher
30 September R-2 Urda, Kazakhstan MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 30 September Successful[14]
Launched with tactical launcher
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[30][31]
1 October R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 1 October Successful[14]
2 October R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 2 October Successful[14]
3 October Farside Shot 2 Eniwetok US Air Force
AFOSR Suborbital Ionospheric 3 October Launch failure[28][29]
3 October XSM-75 Thor 107 Cape Canaveral LC-17A US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital Missile test 3 October Launch failure[18]
4 October
20:36 		Loki Rockoon SUI 76 USS Glacier, Pacific Ocean, Southwest of Costa Rica[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 4 October Successful
Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi)[12]
6 October R-1 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 6 October Successful[24]
6 October R-1 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 6 October Successful[24]
7 October Farside Shot 3 Eniwetok US Air Force
AFOSR Suborbital Ionospheric 7 October Launch failure[28][29]
11 October Farside Shot 4 Eniwetok US Air Force
AFOSR Suborbital Ionospheric 11 October Launch failure[28][29]
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[10][18]
12 October R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 12 October Successful[14]
12 October R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 12 October Successful[14]
13 October R-1 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 13 October Successful[24]
13 October R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 13 October Successful[14]
13 October R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 13 October Successful[14]
13 October
18:15 		Loki Rockoon SUI 77 USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, east of Kiribati[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 13 October Successful[12]
14 October R-1 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 14 October Successful[24]
14 October R-1 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 14 October Successful[24]
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)[11]
14 October
22:31 		Loki Rockoon SUI 78 USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, east of Kiribati[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 14 October Successful
Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi)[12]
16 October
21:17 		Loki Rockoon SUI 79 USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 16 October Successful[12]
17 October
00:09 		Loki Rockoon SUI 80 USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 17 October Launch failure[12]
17 October
02:18 		Loki Rockoon SUI 81 USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 17 October Launch failure[12]
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)[11]
17 October
21:16 		Loki Rockoon SUI 82 USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 17 October Launch failure
Apogee: 44 kilometres (27 mi)[12]
18 October
00:59 		Loki Rockoon SUI 83 USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Fields 18 October Successful
Apogee: 127 kilometres (79 mi)[12]
18 October
09:35 		Loki Rockoon SUI 84 USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 18 October Successful[12]
18 October
20:58 		Loki Rockoon SUI 85 USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 18 October Successful
Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi)[12]
19 October
00:59 		Loki Rockoon SUI 86 USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Fields 19 October Successful
Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi)[12]
19 October
20:07 		Loki Rockoon SUI 87 USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Fields 19 October Successful
Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi)[12]
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[28][29]
20 October
02:19 		Loki Rockoon SUI 88 USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 20 October Successful
Apogee: 104 kilometres (65 mi)[12]
20 October
03:57 		Loki Rockoon SUI 89 USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 20 October Successful[12]
20 October
20:11 		Loki Rockoon SUI 90 USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, southwest of Kiribati[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 20 October Successful[12]
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[28][29]
22 October
22:31 		Loki Rockoon SUI 91 USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, near the Cook Islands[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 22 October Successful[12]
23 October
01:07 		SM-78 Jupiter Cape Canaveral LC-26B US Air Force
ABMA Suborbital Missile test 23 October Successful[15]
23 October Aerobee (unknown type) Holloman LC-A US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Aeronomy 23 October Successful[11]
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)[4]
24 October R-1 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 24 October Successful[24]
24 October R-1 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 24 October Successful[24]
24 October R-1 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 24 October Successful[24]
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[17]
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[10][18]
25 October Aerobee (unknown type) Holloman LC-A US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Ionospheric 25 October Successful[11]
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[32]
26 October R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 26 October Successful[14]
26 October
19:47 		Loki Rockoon SUI 92 USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, east of New Zealand[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 26 October Successful[26]
27 October
02:46 		Loki Rockoon SUI 93 USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, east of New Zealand[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Chemical release 27 October Launch failure[26]
27 October R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 27 October Successful[14]
29 October
00:13 		Loki Rockoon SUI 94 USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, southeast of New Zealand[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical release 29 October Launch failure
Apogee: 8 kilometres (5.0 mi)[26]
30 October
22:50 		Loki Rockoon SUI 95 USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical release 30 October Successful[26]
31 October
01:44 		Loki Rockoon SUI 96 USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical release 31 October Successful[26]
31 October
19:51 		Loki Rockoon SUI 97 USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 31 October Successful[26]
1 November
01:00 		Loki Rockoon SUI 98 USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 1 November Launch failure[26]
3 November R-5M M1-2 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
Generator-5 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 3 November Successful[8]
3 November
20:08 		Loki Rockoon SUI 99 USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 3 November Launch failure[26]
4 November
00:39 		Loki Rockoon SUI 100 USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical release 4 November Successful[26]
4 November
02:50 		Loki Rockoon SUI 101 USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 4 November Successful
Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi)[26]
4 November
03:47 		Loki Rockoon SUI 102 USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 4 November Launch failure[26]
4 November
07:16 		Loki Rockoon SUI 103 USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical release 4 November Launch failure[26]
4 November R-2 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 4 November Successful[14]
4 November
18:52 		Loki Rockoon SUI 104 USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 4 November Successful[26]
5 November
01:25 		Loki Rockoon SUI 105 USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical release 5 November Successful[26]
5 November
20:23 		Loki Rockoon SUI 106 USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 5 November Successful
Apogee: 97 kilometres (60 mi)[26]
5 November
23:17 		Loki Rockoon SUI 107 USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Fields 5 November Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[26]
7 November
16:05 		Aerobee (unknown type) USAF 89 Holloman LC-A US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Ionospheric 7 November Successful[11]
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[17]
8 November
14:57 		Aerobee (unknown type) USAF 90 Holloman LC-A US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Ionospheric 8 November Launch failure[11]
8 November
22:00 		Loki Rockoon SUI 108 USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, near New Zealand[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical release 8 November Successful
Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi)[26]
9 November
00:00 		Loki Rockoon SUI 109 USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, near New Zealand[26] US Navy
University of Iowa Suborbital Aeronomy / Chemical release 9 November Successful
Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi), final flight of the Loki Rockoon[26]
9 November
16:54 		A-1 Kapustin Yar MVS
RAS Suborbital Ionospheric / Aeronomy 9 November Successful
Apogee: 330 kilometres (210 mi)[27]
10 November Aerobee (unknown type) Holloman LC-A US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Aeronomy 10 November Successful[11]
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[13]
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'[11]
26 November
12:55 		Aerobee (unknown type) Holloman LC-A US Air Force
AFCRC Suborbital Aeronomy 26 November Successful[11]
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.[15]
30 November R-5M Kapustin Yar OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 30 November Successful[8]
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[18]
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)[23]
10 December
18:12 		Nike-Asp NN8.51F San Nicolas US Navy
NRL Suborbital Test flight 10 December Successful
Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi)[23]
10 December
21:36 		Nike-Cajun SS6.39 Churchill University of Michigan / US Army
USASC Suborbital Aeronomy 10 December Launch failure[23]
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)[11]
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)[11]
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)[23]
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[21]
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.[15]
19 December
19:57 		XSM-75 Thor 113 Cape Canaveral LC-17A US Air Force
ARDC Suborbital Missile test 19 December Successful[18]
23 December Nike-Cajun Wallops Island NACA
HUGO 2 New Mexico State University Suborbital Aeronomy / Hurricane photography 23 December Launch failure[23]
26 December R-5M M1-3 Kapustin Yar OKB-1
Generator-5 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 26 December Successful[8]
Unknown Terrapin Wallops Island NSA
University of Maryland Suborbital Chemical Release Same day Successful[33]
Unknown Terrapin Wallops Island NSA
University of Maryland Suborbital Chemical Release Same day Successful[33]
Unknown Terrapin Wallops Island NSA
University of Maryland Suborbital Chemical Release Same day Successful[33]
Unknown Terrapin Wallops Island NSA
University of Maryland Suborbital Chemical Release Same day Successful
Final flight of the Terrapin[33]

Orbital launch statistics

By country

Launches by country
Country Launches Successes Failures Partial
failures 		Remarks
 Soviet Union 2[a] 1 0 1
 United States 1 0 1 0

By rocket

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

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

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

Launch statistics

By country

Launches by country
Country Launches Successes Failures Partial
failures
 Australia 1 1 0 0
 Soviet Union 106 102 3 1
 United Kingdom 4 4 0 0
 United States 170 119 46 5
World 281 226 49 6

By rocket

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

References

  1. ^ First orbital launch
  • Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
  • Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
  • Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.
  • 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.
  • "Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).
  • "Rocket Launch Manifest". Next Spaceflight.
Generic references:
Spaceflight portal

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wade, Mark. "R-7". Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Sputnik 8K71PS - Sputnik 1". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Sputnik 8K71PS - Sputnik 2". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b Wade, Mark. "Vanguard". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Vanguard - Vanguard TV-3". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b c d e Wade, Mark. "R-1 8A11". Archived from the original on 28 December 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 Wade, Mark. "R-5". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  9. ^ a b c Wade, Mark. "HJ Nike". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Wade, Mark. "Thor". Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
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  30. ^ Flight apogee not confirmed, but the rocket was capable of spaceflight
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ 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.
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