1958 in spaceflight (January–June)

This article lists orbital and suborbital launches during the first half of the year 1958.

For all other spaceflight activities, see 1958 in spaceflight. For launches in the second half of 1958 see List of spaceflight launches in July–December 1958.[1][2]

Orbital launches

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

February

1 February
03:48:56[3]
Juno I RS-29 (UE) Cape Canaveral LC-26A ABMA
Explorer 1 ARPA Initial: Medium Earth
Decayed to: Low Earth
Magnetospheric 31 March 1970 Successful
First successful American satellite launch, discovered Van Allen belts.
5 February
07:33[4]
Vanguard TV-3BU Cape Canaveral LC-18A US Navy
Vanguard (Test Satellite G)[5] NRL Intended: Medium Earth Geodesy 5 February Launch failure
Loss of control 57 seconds after launch.

March

5 March
18:27:57[6]
Juno I RS/CC-26 (UV) Cape Canaveral LC-26A ABMA
Explorer 2 ARPA Intended: Medium Earth Magnetospheric 5 March Launch failure
Fourth stage failed to ignite.
17 March
12:15:41[7]
Vanguard TV-4 Cape Canaveral LC-18A US Navy
Vanguard 1 (Test Satellite H)[5] NRL Medium Earth Geodesy In orbit Successful
Oldest spacecraft still in orbit, in addition to its upper launch stage.
26 March
17:38:03[8]
Juno I RS-24 (UT) Cape Canaveral LC-5 ABMA
Explorer 3 ARPA Initial: Medium Earth
Decayed to: Low Earth
Magnetospheric 27 June Successful

April

27 April
09:01[9]
Sputnik (8A91) B1-2 Baikonur Site 1/5 MVS
ISZ-D1 №1 MVS Intended: Low Earth Magnetospheric +88 seconds Launch failure
Rocket disintegrated during ascent.
28 April
02:53:00[10]
Vanguard TV-5 Cape Canaveral LC-18A US Navy
Vanguard (X-ray/Environmental Satellite)[5] NRL Intended: Medium Earth Solar 29 April Launch failure
Third stage failed to ignite.

May

15 May
07:00[11]
Sputnik (8A91) B1-1 Baikonur Site 1/5 MVS
Sputnik 3 (ISZ-D1 №2) OKB-1 Low Earth Magnetospheric 6 April 1960 Partial spacecraft failure
Faulty data recorder limited return of experimental results.
28 May
03:46:20[12]
Vanguard SLV-1 Cape Canaveral LC-18A US Navy
Vanguard (Lyman-Alpha Satellite 1)[5] NRL Intended: Medium Earth Solar 28 May Launch failure
Loss of control before or during third stage burn.

June

26 June
05:00:52[13]
Vanguard SLV-2 Cape Canaveral LC-18A US Navy
Vanguard (Lyman-Alpha Satellite 2) [5] NRL Intended: Medium Earth Solar 26 June Launch failure
Premature cutoff of second stage.
For flights after 30 June, see 1958 in spaceflight (July–December)

Suborbital flights

Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat)
Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
8 January Nike-Asp White Sands US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital 8 January Successful
Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi)
10 January
15:48
SM-65A Atlas Cape Canaveral LC-12 US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 10 January Successful
Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)
11 January UGM-27 Polaris TV Point Mugu US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 11 January Successful
Maiden flight of Polaris, apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
17 January UGM-27 Polaris TV Cape Canaveral LC-3 US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 17 January Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
25 January
19:12
Nike-Cajun Churchill US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 25 January Successful
Apogee: 157 kilometres (98 mi)
26 January
04:18:56
Aerobee-150 (Hi) Churchill US Navy
NRL Suborbital Auroral 26 January Successful
Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi)
27 January
06:04
Nike-Cajun Churchill US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 27 January Successful
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
27 January
18:49
Aerobee Churchill US Army
US Army Suborbital Aeronomy 27 January Successful
Apogee: 143 kilometres (89 mi)
28 January
20:16
PGM-17 Thor DM-18 Cape Canaveral LC-17A US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 28 January Launch failure
29 January
19:06
Nike-Cajun Churchill US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 29 January Successful
Apogee: 170 kilometres (110 mi)
29 January
22:15
R-7 Semyorka Baikonur Site 1/5 MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 29 January Successful
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
3 February
18:02
Aerobee-150 (Hi) Churchill US Navy
NRL Suborbital Ionospheric 3 February Successful
Apogee: 138 kilometres (86 mi)
4 February
06:17
Aerobee-150 (Hi) Churchill US Navy
NRL Suborbital Ionospheric 4 February Successful
Apogee: 234 kilometres (145 mi)
7 February
19:37
SM-65A Atlas Cape Canaveral LC-14 US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 7 February Launch failure
Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)
13 February
06:37
Nike-Cajun Churchill US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Auroral 13 February Successful
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
16 February
06:17
Nike-Cajun Churchill US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Auroral 16 February Successful
Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi)
20 February
17:46
SM-65A Atlas Cape Canaveral LC-12 US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 20 February Launch failure
Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi)
21 February
07:40
R-5A Pobeda Kapustin Yar AN
AN Suborbital 21 February Successful
Apogee: 470 kilometres (290 mi)
21 February
08:42
R-5A Pobeda Kapustin Yar AN
AN Suborbital 21 February Successful
Apogee: 400 kilometres (250 mi)
21 February
09:40
A-1 Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Ionospheric
Solar
21 February Successful
Apogee: 206 kilometres (128 mi)
21 February
15:20
R-5A Pobeda Kapustin Yar AN
AN Suborbital 21 February Successful
Apogee: 473 kilometres (294 mi)
22 February
02:02
Aerobee-150 (Hi) Churchill US Navy
NRL Suborbital Ionospheric
Auroral
22 February Successful
Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi)
22 February
05:35
Nike-Cajun Churchill US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Auroral 22 January Successful
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
24 February
07:00
Aerobee-150 (Hi) Churchill US Navy
NRL Suborbital Aeronomy 24 February Successful
Apogee: 207 kilometres (129 mi)
24 February
07:35
Nike-Cajun Churchill US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 24 February Successful
Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi)
26 February
02:35
A-1 Ernst Krenkel Observatory MVS
MVS Suborbital Ionospheric
Aeronomy
26 February Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
26 February
05:49
Nike-Cajun Churchill US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Auroral 26 February Successful
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
26 February
22:18
Nike-Cajun Churchill US Army
BRL Suborbital Technology 26 February Launch failure
Apogee: 37 kilometres (23 mi), tested longer nosecone
28 February
13:08
PGM-17 Thor DM-18 Cape Canaveral LC-17B US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 28 February Launch failure
4 March
06:02
Nike-Cajun Churchill US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 4 March Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
4 March
19:30
Nike-Cajun Churchill US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 4 March Successful
Apogee: 181 kilometres (112 mi)
16 March
04:54
Aerobee-150 (Hi) Churchill US Navy
NRL Suborbital Auroral 16 March Successful
Apogee: 144 kilometres (89 mi)
18 March Nike Apache White Sands US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital 18 March Successful
Apogee: 107 kilometres (66 mi)
19 March
01:12
Aerobee Holloman LC-A US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 19 March Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
21 March Aerobee Holloman LC-A US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Ionospheric 21 March Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
22 March
06:41
Aerobee-150 (Hi) Churchill US Navy
NRL Suborbital Auroral 22 March Successful
Apogee: 168 kilometres (104 mi)
23 March
18:07
Aerobee-150 (Hi) Churchill US Navy
NRL Suborbital Auroral
Aeronomy
23 March Successful
Apogee: 202 kilometres (126 mi)
23 March UGM-27 Polaris TV San Clemente US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 23 March Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
24 March
18:30
Nike-Cajun Churchill US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy
Imaging
24 March Successful
Apogee: 119 kilometres (74 mi)
24 March
22:00
Nike-Cajun Churchill US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 24 March Successful
Apogee: 137 kilometres (85 mi)
29 March
14:40
R-7 Semyorka Baikonur Site 1/5 MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 29 March Successful
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
31 March R-11FM Zemlya B-67, Beloye More OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 31 March Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
4 April
15:30
R-7 Semyorka Baikonur Site 1/5 MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 4 April Successful
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
5 April
17:01
SM-65A Atlas Cape Canaveral LC-14 US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 5 April Launch failure
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
7 April Nike-Cajun Wallops Island ARPA
Hi Ball 1 ARPA Suborbital Technology 7 April Successful
Apogee: 244 kilometres (152 mi)
11 April UGM-27 Polaris TV San Clemente US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 11 April Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
17 April
10:57
Skylark-1 Woomera LA-2 RAE
RAE Suborbital Test flight
Aeronomy
17 April Successful
Apogee: 152 kilometres (94 mi)
18 April UGM-27 Polaris TV Cape Canaveral LC-25A US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 18 April Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
19 April
13:30
PGM-17 Thor DM-18 Cape Canaveral LC-17B US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 19 April Launch failure
24 April
00:10
Thor DM-18 Able Cape Canaveral LC-17A US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital REV test +150 seconds Launch failure
Maiden flight of Thor-Able, turbopump gearbox failed. REV carried Mia, a mouse
24 April Nike-Cajun Wallops Island ARPA
Beacon Test 1 ARPA Suborbital Technology 24 April Successful
Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi)
1 May Nike-Cajun Holloman US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Meteorite research 1 May Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
5 May
14:15
Aerobee White Sands LC-35 US Navy
NRL Suborbital Solar 5 May Successful
Apogee: 214 kilometres (133 mi)
8 May UGM-27 Polaris TV Cape Canaveral LC-25A US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 8 May Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
18 May
05:05
PGM-19 Jupiter Cape Canaveral LC-26B ABMA
US Air Force Suborbital REV test 05:21 Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), carried a Gaslight re-entry vehicle which was recovered
20 May
04:26
Skylark-2 Woomera LA-2 RAE
RAE Suborbital Test flight
Aeronomy
20 May Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
20 May
09:34:35
Nike-Cajun Holloman US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 20 May Successful
Apogee: 101 kilometres (63 mi), released caesium and sodium
21 May
11:31:59
Nike-Cajun Holloman US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 21 May Successful
Apogee: 128 kilometres (80 mi), released caesium and sodium
22 May
00:57
Nike-Cajun Wallops Island ARPA
Hi Ball 2 ARPA Suborbital Technology 22 May Successful
Apogee: 240 kilometres (150 mi)
22 May
11:29:59
Nike-Cajun Holloman US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 22 May Successful
Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi), released sodium
24 May
10:30
R-7 Semyorka Baikonur Site 1/5 MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 24 May Launch failure
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
25 May Nike-Cajun Wallops Island ARPA
Beacon Test 2 ARPA Suborbital Technology 25 May Successful
Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi)
25 May R-11FM Zemlya B-67, Beloye More OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 25 May Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
26 May R-11FM Zemlya B-67, Beloye More OKB-1
OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 26 May Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
May R-12 Dvina Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test   Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
3 June
21:28
SM-65A Atlas Cape Canaveral LC-12 US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 3 June Successful
Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi), final flight of Atlas A
4 June
15:15
Aerobee-150 (Hi) Holloman LC-A US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Solar 4 June Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
4 June
21:17
PGM-17 Thor DM-18 Cape Canaveral LC-18B US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 4 June Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
5 June
11:30
Skylark-1 Woomera LA-2 RAE
RAE Suborbital Test flight 5 June Successful
Apogee: 153 kilometres (95 mi)
6 June X-17 Cape Canaveral LC-25A US Navy
US Navy Suborbital REV test 6 June Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
13 June
15:06
PGM-17 Thor DM-18 Cape Canaveral LC-17B US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 13 June Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
18 June
10:35
Skylark-1 Woomera LA-2 RAE
RAE Suborbital Aeronomy 18 June Launch failure
Apogee: 3 kilometres (1.9 mi)
18 June
15:15
Skylark-2 Woomera LA-2 RAE
RAE Suborbital Aeronomy 18 June Successful
Apogee: 144 kilometres (89 mi)
19 June
21:15
Skylark-2 Woomera LA-2 RAE
RAE Suborbital Test flight
Aeronomy
19 June Successful
Apogee: 154 kilometres (96 mi)
24 June X-17 Cape Canaveral LC-25A US Navy
US Navy Suborbital REV test 24 June Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
26 June Exos Wallops Island NACA/AFCRL
NACA/AFCRL Suborbital Test flight 26 June Successful
Apogee: 370 kilometres (230 mi), maiden flight of Exos
27 June WS-199B Bold Orion I B-47, Cape Canaveral US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 27 June Launch failure
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
June R-12 Dvina Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test   Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
June R-12 Dvina Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test   Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
June R-12 Dvina Kapustin Yar MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test   Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)

Reference

  1. ^ "Worldwide Space Launches". Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Orbital Launches of 1958". Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Juno I - Explorer 1". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  4. ^ "Vanguard - Vanguard TV3BU". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e Krebs, Gunter. "Vanguard". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  6. ^ "Juno I - Explorer 2". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Vanguard - Vanguard 1". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  8. ^ "Juno I - Explorer 3". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  9. ^ "Sputnik 8A91 - D-1 n°01". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  10. ^ "Vanguard - Vanguard TV-5". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  11. ^ "Sputnik 8A91 - Sputnik 3". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  12. ^ "Vanguard - Vanguard SLV-1". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  13. ^ "Vanguard - Vanguard SLV-2". Next Spaceflight. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
Generic references:
Spaceflight portal