1963 in spaceflight (January–March)

This is a list of spaceflights launched between January and June 1963. For an overview of the whole year, see 1963 in spaceflight.[1][2]

Orbital launches

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

January

4 January
08:48
Molniya-L Baikonur Site 1/5
Luna E-6 №2 (Sputnik 25) Intended: Highly elliptical
Achieved: Low Earth
Lunar lander 11 January Launch failure
Maiden flight of Molynia-L, upper stage ullage motor failed to ignite, leaving spacecraft in useless orbit.
7 January
21:09:49
Thor DM-21 Agena-D Vandenberg LC-75-1-1 US Air Force
OPS 0048 (KH-4 18/9051) US Air Force/NRO Low Earth Optical imaging 24 January Partial spacecraft failure
SRV US Air Force/NRO Low Earth Film return January Successful
Attitude control problems with spacecraft.
16 January
21:59
Thor DM-21 Agena-B Vandenberg LC-75-3-5 US Air Force
OPS 0180 (Ferret/Samos-F2 3) US Air Force/NRO Low Earth ELINT 9 January 1969 Successful
Final flight of carrier rocket as Thor DM-21 Agena-B before being redesignated SLV-2.

February

3 February
09:29:14
Molniya-L Baikonur Site 1/5
Luna E-6 №3 (Luna 1963B) Intended: Highly elliptical Lunar lander 3 February Launch failure
Upper stage gyroscope malfunction, failed to orbit.
14 February
05:35:08
Delta B Cape Canaveral LC-17B US Air Force
Syncom 1 NASA Intended: Geosynchronous
Achieved: Subsynchronous
Communications In orbit Spacecraft failure
Contact with spacecraft lost following apogee motor firing.
19 February
16:33
Scout X-3M Point Arguello LC-D US Air Force
OPS 0240 (DSAP-1 F3/P-35 3/AF-3) US Air Force Low Earth Weather 26 December 1979 Successful
Only flight of Scout X-3M.
28 February
21:48
Thrust Augmented Thor SLV-2A Agena-D Vandenberg LC-75-3-5 US Air Force
OPS 0583 (KH-4 19/9052) US Air Force/NRO Low Earth Optical imaging 28 February Launch failure
SRV 610 US Air Force/NRO Low Earth Film return
Maiden flight of Thrust Augmented Thor-Agena, failed to orbit.

March

18 March
21:13
Thrust Augmented Thor SLV-2A Agena-D Vandenberg LC-75-3-4 US Air Force
OPS 0627 (KH-6 1/8001) US Air Force/NRO Low Earth Optical imaging 18 March Launch failure
SRV 612 US Air Force/NRO Low Earth Film return
P-11 4051 (Hitchhiker 1) US Air Force Low Earth ELINT
First KH-6 launch, failed to orbit.
21 March
08:30
Vostok-2 Baikonur Site 1/5
Kosmos 13 (Zenit-2 №9) OKB-1 Low Earth Optical imaging 29 March Successful
For flights after 31 March, see 1963 in spaceflight (April-June)

Suborbital launches

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

January

7 January
22:30:10
LGM-30B Minuteman IB Cape Canaveral LC-31B US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 7 January Launch failure
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
10 January
05:31:02
LGM-25C Titan II Cape Canaveral LC-16 US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 10 January Launch failure
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
16 January Plesetsk MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 16 January Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
16 January Plesetsk MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 16 January Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
18 January
03:32:50
MGM-31 Pershing I Cape Canaveral LC-30A US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 18 January Successful
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
22 January R-12 Dvina Makat MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 22 January Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
23 January
00:27:37
PGM-19 Jupiter Cape Canaveral LC-26A US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 23 January Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
23 January
18:10:13
LGM-30B Minuteman IB Cape Canaveral LC-32B US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 23 January Successful
Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
25 January
10:44:07
SM-65D Atlas Vandenberg LC-576B-2 Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command Suborbital ABM test 25 January Launch failure
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
25 January Plesetsk MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 25 January Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
25 January Plesetsk MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 25 January Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
27 January
01:00
R-11A-1 Kapustin Yar RVSN
FIAN Suborbital Ionosphere research 27 January Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
29 January
16:27
Aerobee-150A Wallops Island NASA
Johns Hopkins Suborbital Aeronomy 29 January Launch failure
Apogee: 4 kilometres (2.5 mi)
29 January HGM-25A Titan I Vandenberg LC-395A-1
Suborbital Missile test 29 January Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
31 January
00:30:05
MGM-31 Pershing I Cape Canaveral LC-30A US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 31 January Successful
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
31 January
08:51:51
SM-65D Atlas Vandenberg LC-576A-3 Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command Suborbital ABM test 31 January Successful
Apogee: 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi)
January Nike-Apache White Sands US Army
US Army Suborbital REV Test January Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
January Nike-Apache White Sands US Army
US Army Suborbital REV Test January Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
January R-14 Chusovaya Plesetsk RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test January Successful
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)

February

1 February R-12 Dvina Plesetsk MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 1 February Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
2 February
06:56:29
Blue Scout Junior SLV-1C Point Arguello LC-A US Air Force
Strategic Air Command Suborbital Communications 2 February Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
4 February UGM-27 Polaris A2 USS Patrick Henry, ETR US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 4 February Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
4 February UGM-27 Polaris A2 USS Patrick Henry, ETR US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 4 February Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
5 February UGM-27 Polaris A2 USS Patrick Henry, ETR US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 5 February Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
5 February UGM-27 Polaris A2 USS Patrick Henry, ETR US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 5 February Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
5 February R-12 Dvina Makat MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 5 February Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
6 February
17:58:24
LGM-25C Titan II Cape Canaveral LC-15 US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 6 February Successful
Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
7 February
15:59:59
UGM-27 Polaris A3 Cape Canaveral LC-29A US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 7 February Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
8 February R-12 Dvina Makat MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 8 February Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
11 February
15:30
UGM-27 Polaris A3 Cape Canaveral LC-25A US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 11 February Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
11 February R-9A Desna Baikonur Site 70 RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 11 February Successful
Apogee: 1,160 kilometres (720 mi)
12 February
01:47
Journeyman Point Arguello LC-A NASA
Minnesota Suborbital Magnetospheric 12 February Successful
Apogee: 1,675 kilometres (1,041 mi)
13 February
11:55:05
SM-65D Atlas Vandenberg LC-576A-1 Strategic Air Command
NRL Suborbital ABM test 13 February Successful
Apogee: 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi)
13 February
12:30
Nike-Zeus 3 Kwajalein US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 13 February Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
13 February R-12 Dvina Plesetsk MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 13 February Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
13 February R-14 Chusovaya Plesetsk RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 13 February Successful
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
14 February
00:30
Aerobee-150 (Hi) Eglin US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 14 February Successful
Apogee: 234 kilometres (145 mi)
14 February R-9 Desna Baikonur RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 14 February Launch failure
14 February R-12 Dvina Makat MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 14 February Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
14 February R-12 Dvina Plesetsk MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 14 February Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
15 February
00:45:00
MGM-31 Pershing I Cape Canaveral LC-30A US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 15 February Successful
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
15 February
16:34
Aerobee-150 (Hi) White Sands LC-35 NRL
NRL Suborbital Aeronomy 15 February Successful
Apogee: 239 kilometres (149 mi)
16 February
00:30
Nike-Zeus 3 White Sands LC-38 US Army
US Army Suborbital ASAT test 16 February Successful
Apogee: 240 kilometres (150 mi)
16 February
21:45
LGM-25C Titan II Vandenberg LC-395C US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 16 February Launch failure
Apogee: 5 kilometres (3.1 mi)
16 February Trailblazer 1 Wallops Island NASA
NASA Suborbital REV Test 16 February Successful
Apogee: 280 kilometres (170 mi)
18 February
14:00:02
UGM-27 Polaris A3 Cape Canaveral LC-29A US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 18 February Launch failure
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi)
18 February
17:43
Aerobee-150 (Hi) White Sands LC-35 NRL
NRL Suborbital Solar 18 February Successful
Apogee: 306 kilometres (190 mi)
18 February
23:14
Nike-Asp Wallops Island NASA
GCA Suborbital Aeronomy 18 February Launch failure
Apogee: 25 kilometres (16 mi)
19 February Plesetsk MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 19 February Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
20 February
23:18
Nike-Apache Wallops Island NASA
GCA Suborbital Aeronomy 20 February Successful
Apogee: 164 kilometres (102 mi)
20 February
23:34
Nike-Cajun Churchill NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 20 February Successful
Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi)
20 February
23:47
Nike-Cajun Wallops Island NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 20 February Successful
Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi)
20 February Nike-Zeus 3 White Sands LC-38 US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 20 February Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
21 February
01:00:04
UGM-133A Minuteman IA Cape Canaveral LC-32B US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 21 February Successful
Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
21 February
17:56:07
UGM-27 Polaris A2 USS Thomas Jefferson, ETR US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 21 February Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
21 February
23:16
Nike-Apache Wallops Island NASA
GCA Suborbital Aeronomy 21 February Successful
Apogee: 172 kilometres (107 mi)
22 February R-9 Desna Baikonur RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 22 February Successful
Apogee: 1,160 kilometres (720 mi)
26 February
01:31:43
MGM-31 Pershing I Cape Canaveral LC-30A US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 26 February Successful
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
26 February Aerobee-150 (Hi) White Sands LC-35 US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 26 February Launch failure
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
27 February
19:30:00
Nike-Apache Wallops Island NASA
GCA Suborbital Ionospheric 27 February Successful
Apogee: 151 kilometres (94 mi)
28 February
09:02:48
SM-65D Atlas Vandenberg LC-576A-3 Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command Suborbital ABM test 28 February Successful
Apogee: 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi)
28 February
09:30
Nike-Zeus 3 Kwajalein US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 28 February Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
28 February
21:48
Nike-Cajun Churchill NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 28 February Successful
Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi)
28 February
22:11
Nike-Cajun Wallops Island NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 28 February Successful
Apogee: 103 kilometres (64 mi)
28 February Hopi-Dart Wallops Island NASA
NASA Suborbital Test flight 28 February Launch failure
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi)
February Nike-Apache White Sands US Army
US Army Suborbital REV Test February Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)

March

1 March
01:20
Skylark-7C Woomera LA-2 RAE
UCL
Birmingham
UCW
Suborbital Ionospheric
Solar
1 March Successful
Apogee: 209 kilometres (130 mi)
1 March
21:00
SM-65F Atlas Cape Canaveral LC-11 US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital REV Test 1 March Successful
Apogee: 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi)
1 March R-12 Dvina Makat MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 1 March Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
4 March R-16U Baikonur Site 41/4 RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 4 March Successful
Apogee: 1,210 kilometres (750 mi)
5 March
01:00:01
MGM-31 Pershing I Cape Canaveral LC-30D US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 5 March Successful
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
6 March
22:30
Aerobee-150 (Hi) White Sands LC-35 US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 6 March Successful
Apogee: 228 kilometres (142 mi)
7 March
17:48:15
UGM-27 Polaris A2 USS Thomas Jefferson, ETR US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 7 March Launch failure
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi)
7 March
18:48:15
UGM-27 Polaris A2 USS Thomas Jefferson, ETR US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 7 March Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
7 March R-12 Dvina Makat MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 7 March Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
8 March
19:30
Nike-Apache Wallops Island NASA
NASA Suborbital Ionospheric 8 March Successful
Apogee: 155 kilometres (96 mi)
9 March
00:01
Nike-Cajun Churchill NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 9 March Successful
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi)
9 March
00:01
Nike-Cajun Wallops Island NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 9 March Successful
Apogee: 119 kilometres (74 mi)
10 March
02:42
SM-65D Atlas Vandenberg LC-576B-3 Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command Suborbital Missile test 10 March Launch failure
11 March
04:30
Skylark-7C Woomera LA-2 RAE
UCL
Birmingham
UCW
Suborbital Ionospheric
Solar
11 March Successful
Apogee: 209 kilometres (130 mi)
11 March R-9 Desna Baikonur RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 11 March Launch failure
12 March
05:21
SM-65D Atlas Vandenberg LC-576B-2 Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command Suborbital Missile test 12 March Successful
Apogee: 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi)
12 March
09:50
HAD Woomera LA-2 WRE
WRE Suborbital Aeronomy 12 March Successful
Apogee: 124 kilometres (77 mi)
12 March R-12 Dvina Makat MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 12 March Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
14 March
01:01:49
Blue Scout Junior SLV-1C Point Arguello LC-A US Air Force
Strategic Air Command Suborbital Communications 14 March Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
14 March
01:46:04
MGM-31 Pershing I Cape Canaveral LC-30A US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 14 March Successful
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
14 March UGM-27 Polaris A2 USS Theodore Roosevelt, ETR US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 14 March Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
14 March UGM-27 Polaris A2 USS Theodore Roosevelt, ETR US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 14 March Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
14 March UGM-27 Polaris A2 USS Theodore Roosevelt, ETR US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 14 March Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
14 March R-9 Desna Baikonur RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 14 March Successful
Apogee: 1,160 kilometres (720 mi)
15 March
11:38
SM-65D Atlas Vandenberg LC-576B-1 Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command Suborbital Missile test 15 March Launch failure
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
15 March R-12 Dvina Makat MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 15 March Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
16 March
02:05:40
SM-65F Atlas Vandenberg LC-576D Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command Suborbital Missile test 16 March Successful
Apogee: 1,400 kilometres (870 mi)
16 March
02:19
Aerobee-150A Wallops Island NASA
NASA Suborbital XR astronomy 16 March Successful
Apogee: 201 kilometres (125 mi)
16 March
08:32:22
SM-65D Atlas Vandenberg LC-576A-1 Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command Suborbital Target
Aeronomy
16 March Launch failure
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
16 March R-12 Dvina Plesetsk MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 16 March Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
18 March RT-1 Plesetsk RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 18 March Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
19 March
01:29:59
LGM-30B Minuteman IB Cape Canaveral LC-31B US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 19 March Successful
Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
19 March
16:00:02
UGM-27 Polaris A3 Cape Canaveral LC-29A US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 19 March Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
19 March R-12 Dvina Makat MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 19 March Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
21 March
11:40
R-12 Dvina Vladimirovka PL-1 RVSN
RVSN Suborbital REV Test 21 March Successful
Apogee: 405 kilometres (252 mi)
21 March
15:22:48
LGM-25C Titan II Cape Canaveral LC-15 US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 21 March Successful
Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
21 March
21:10:08
SM-65F Atlas Vandenberg OSTF-2 US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 21 March Successful
Apogee: 1,400 kilometres (870 mi)
21 March Nike-Zeus 3 Kwajalein LC-38 US Army
US Army Suborbital ASAT test 21 March Successful
Apogee: 207 kilometres (129 mi)
22 March
01:15
MGM-31 Pershing I Cape Canaveral LC-30A US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 22 March Successful
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
24 March
00:29:14
SM-65F Atlas Vandenberg LC-576E Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command Suborbital Missile test 24 March Launch failure
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
25 March
03:17
Black Brant I Churchill CARDE
CARDE Suborbital Aeronomy 25 March Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
25 March R-12 Dvina Plesetsk MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 25 March Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
27 March Hopi-Dart Wallops Island NASA
NASA Suborbital Test flight 27 March Launch failure
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi)
28 March
00:15
Aerobee-150 (Hi) White Sands LC-35 NASA
NASA Suborbital UV Astronomy 28 March Successful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
28 March
01:30:00
LGM-30B Minuteman IB Cape Canaveral LC-32B US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 28 March Successful
Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
28 March
07:54:59
Nike-Apache Wallops Island NASA
Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 28 March Successful
Apogee: 190 kilometres (120 mi)
28 March
09:30
HAD Woomera LA-2 WRE
WRE Suborbital Aeronomy 28 March Successful
Apogee: 133 kilometres (83 mi)
28 March
19:06
Nike-Apache Wallops Island NASA
Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 28 March Successful
Apogee: 190 kilometres (120 mi)
28 March
20:06:00
Nike-Apache Wallops Island NASA
GCA Suborbital Ionospheric 28 March Successful
Apogee: 161 kilometres (100 mi)
28 March
20:11:55
Saturn I (C-1) Cape Canaveral LC-34 NASA
NASA Suborbital Test flight 28 March Successful
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
28 March R-14 Chusovaya Plesetsk RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 28 March Launch failure
28 March R-12 Dvina Makat MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 28 March Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
29 March
02:57
Nike-Cajun Kwajalein US Navy
Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 29 March Successful
Apogee: 177 kilometres (110 mi)
30 March
08:45
HGM-25A Titan I Vandenberg LC-395A-2 Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command Suborbital Target 30 March Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
30 March R-16U Baikonur Site 41/4 RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 30 March Successful
Apogee: 1,210 kilometres (750 mi)
30 March Nike-Zeus 3 Kwajalein US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 30 March Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
March Nike-Apache White Sands US Army
US Army Suborbital REV Test March Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
March Nike-Apache White Sands US Army
US Army Suborbital REV Test March Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)

Reference

  1. ^ "Worldwide Space Launches". Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Orbital Launches of 1958". Retrieved 8 August 2024.
Generic references:
Spaceflight portal