1955 in spaceflight

TheViking made its final flight in 1955
Rockets
Maiden flights	Aerobee RTV-N-10c Aerobee RTV-N-10a Aerobee Hi Aerobee AJ10-27 Lokirockoon Deacon-Lokirockoon Nike-Deacon Nike-Nike-Tri-Deacon-T40 X-17 HJ-Nike R-1E R-5M
Retirements	Aerobee RTV-N-10a Aerobee AJ10-27 Deacon-Lokirockoon Nike-Nike-Tri-Deacon-T40
v t e

In 1955, both the United States and theSoviet Union (USSR) announced plans for launching the world's first satellites during theInternational Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957–58.Project Vanguard, proposed by theUS Navy, won out over theUS Army'sProject Orbiter as the satellite and rocket design to be flown in the IGY. Development ofIntercontinental Ballistic Missiles, theAtlas by the US and theR-7 by the USSR, accelerated, entering the design and construction phase.

Both the US and USSR continued to launch a myriad ofsounding rockets to probe the outer reaches of Earth's atmosphere and to take quick glimpses of the sun beyond the obscuring layers of air. The Aerobee Hi, first launched in April, promised a comparatively low cost alternative to other high altitude sounding rockets. TheState University of Iowa meanwhile experimented with balloon-launchedrockoons on its fourth expedition into theAtlantic Ocean.

TheAerobee family of rockets expanded considerably this year, both in variety and capability. Most significant was the introduction of the Aerobee-Hi, doubling the altitude range of the Aerobeesounding rocket from 125 km (78 mi) to 220 km (140 mi) and increasing the payload carried from 68 kg (150 lb) to 91 kg (201 lb). Able to probe the upper atmosphere, its $30,000 per flight price tag compared favorably to that of its high altitude contemporaries, theViking and theBumper;^[1] at least one 1955 Aerobee-Hi flight returned scientific data.^[2][a] Other, less capable, Aerobee rockets still lofted instruments beyond the100-kilometer (62 mi) boundary of space (as defined by theWorld Air Sports Federation)^[3] returningspectra of the Sun inultraviolet and investigating atmosphericairglow.^[4][5][6]

The Viking series of rockets wrapped up with the flight of Viking 12, launched 4 February 1955. Reaching an altitude of 143.5 mi (230.9 km), the rocket's K-25 camera snapped an infrared picture of the Southwestern United States, from the Pacific coast to Phoenix, just after reaching itsapogee.^[7]

A number of sounding rockets based on theNike booster (used as the first stage in various anti-aircraft missiles),^[8] were developed and launched. Just one, the 5 April Nike-Deacon flight, breached the limits of space. The Soviet Union launched three R-1E sounding rocket variants of itsR-1 missile (a copy of the GermanV-2), all carrying dogs as biological payloads.^[b]

^a (the mission date has not yet been determined)^b (see table below for details and citations)

Members of the State University of Iowa (SUI) physics department embarked September 1955 on their fourth naval expedition into the Atlantic Ocean to survey the distribution ofcosmic rays andauroral radiation by latitude using balloon-launched rockets (rockoons). The team leader wasFrank B. McDonald, formerly of theUniversity of Minnesota. Their vessel was theUSSAshland, aWorld War 2 eraDock landing ship originally used to transport and launchlanding craft andamphibious vehicles. Two research teams with theNaval Research Laboratory also sailed on theAshland. In addition to theDeacon-equipped rockoons that had been used on the prior expeditions, the SUI team experimented withLoki I rockets launched from balloons. The new vehicle worked perfectly, the first being launched 23 September.

This set the stage for the most ambitious missions of the cruise: the launchings of two two-stage Loki I/Deacon rockoons. The first was a failure, the smaller Loki second stage failing to separate from the Deacon. On the second attempt, both stages fired properly. However, two and a half seconds after second stage ignition, telemetry from the rocket abruptly stopped. ProfessorJames Van Allen, head of the SUI physics department, determined that the thin aluminum nosecone on the rocket had melted due to the incredible friction encountered at its speed of more than 8,000 km (5,000 mi) per hour. Had it reached its target altitude, Van Allen later stated, it might well have discovered theVan Allen Belts two and a half years before the missions ofExplorer 1 andExplorer 3. As it turned out, no more Loki/Deacon missions were attempted.^{[9]: 34, 37–51}

The origin of the International Geophysical Year can be traced to theInternational Polar Years held in 1882–1883, then in 1932–1933 and most recently from March 2007 to March 2009. On 5 April 1950, several top scientists (includingLloyd Berkner,Sydney Chapman,S. Fred Singer, andHarry Vestine), met in James Van Allen's living room and suggested that the time was ripe to have a worldwide Geophysical Year instead of a Polar Year, especially considering recent advances in rocketry, radar, and computing.^[10] Berkner and Chapman proposed to theInternational Council of Scientific Unions that anInternational Geophysical Year (IGY) be planned for 1957–58, coinciding with an approaching period of maximum solar activity.^[11][12] In 1952, the IGY was announced.^[13]

In January 1955, Radio Moscow announced that the Soviet Union might be expected to launch a satellite in the near future. This announcement galvanized American space efforts; in the same month, theNational Academy of Sciences' IGY committee established a Technical Panel on Rocketry to evaluate plans to orbit an American satellite. Already under consideration was Project Orbiter,^{[14]: 25–26} an Army plan to use a slightly modifiedRedstone (a 200 miles (320 km)) range surface-to-surface missile developed the prior year)^[15] combined with upper stages employing 31Loki solid-propellant rockets could put a 5 lb (2.3 kg) satellite into orbit, which could be tracked optically.^[14]

On 26 May 1955, theU.S. National Security Council also endorsed a satellite program. On 8 June,United States Secretary of DefenseCharles Wilson directed Assistant SecretaryDonald A. Quarles to coordinate the implementation of a satellite program, with theUnited States Department of Defense providing the rocket and launch facilities, and the civilian IGY National Committee producing the satellite and its experimental package, theNational Science Foundation mediating between the two agencies. A committee, under the chairmanship ofHomer J. Stewart ofJet Propulsion Laboratory, was developed to manage the project to evaluate and choose between the available satellite orbiting options. Project Orbiter now had competition in the form of theNaval Research Laboratory (NRL) plan to develop an orbital capability for itsViking rocket (Project Vanguard), even though the Loki upper stage rockets had been replaced with higher poweredSergeants. On 28 July, confident that a satellite could be lofted during the IGY, PresidentDwight D. Eisenhower's press secretary,James Hagerty, announced that a satellite would officially be among the United States' contributions to the IGY. The Soviets responded four days later with their own announcement of a planned IGY satellite launch.^{[14]: 25–43}

By 9 September, the Stewart Committee had chosen the NRL proposal over the Army's citing the Navy's impressive plannedMinitrack communications technology and network as well as both the civilian nature and the greater growth potential of the Viking/Vanguard rocket. The contract authorizing the construction of two more Viking rockets (13 and 14) was expanded to include development of the Vanguard rockets.^{[14]: 51–58} NRL received the assignment to develop the Vanguard satellite in early October.^[9]: 77

In January 1955,Convair was awarded a long-term government contract for the development of theAtlas, America's firstICBM, beginning Phase Three: detail design and development. With the increasing availability of smaller, lighterthermonuclear weapons, the Atlas design could reach a desired range of 5,500 km (3,400 mi) while using just three engines (original plans had contemplated five). Work on the Atlas accelerated in response to a secret report made in February 1955^[16]: 191 byJames Rhyne Killian to theNational Security Council on Soviet rocket progress; in December 1955, Atlas was made the highest-priority project in the nation. In addition, after the issuance of the Killian report, a second ICBM, theTitan, was authorized, along with theThorIntermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), this latter rocket using many of the systems already being developed for Atlas.^[17] All three of these missiles were adapted into workhorse orbital delivery rockets,^{[18]: 131–137} the Atlas offered as a backup alternative to both the Redstone and the Vanguard as an IGY launching vehicle.^[14]: 41

Also authorized in the wake of the Killian report was theU.S. Army'sJupiter IRBM proposal, which was to be jointly developed by theU.S. Navy for use on vessels (the Navy dropped out of the project late the following year). The Jupiter also ultimately became a space launcher under the designationJuno II.^[19]

The single-stageR-5 missile completed its test launch series and entered operational service in 1955; it was able to carry the same 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb) payload as its shorter ranged predecessors, theR-1 andR-2 but over a distance of 1,200 kilometres (750 mi). Work then proceeded on an upgrade designated R-5M, with similar launch mass and range, but designed to carry a nuclear warhead.^{[20]: 242–243} This rocket, which would be the world's first nuclear missile, was a stopgap weapon pending the development of an ICBM, the development of both of which had been decreed by the USSR Council of Ministers in late 1953.^[20]: 275

This ICBM was theR-7, whose design began in 1954. Initially contemplated as a two-stage design, the R-7 ultimately employed a cluster of four strapon boosters around a central rocket (or "sustainer"). For the first time, Soviet engineers were developing a rocket with more than a single combustion chamber (in the case of the R-7, there were32). This ambitious project was the joint effort of three design entities:OKB-1, responsible for the general hydraulic system, NII-885, managing the general electrical system, andOKB-456, developing the engines' layout and thrust sequence.^{[20]: 290–1} In 1955, after the traditional launch pad proved to be unusable for the R-7, a plan was advanced to suspend the sustainer at the launch site, attaching the strapon cluster there; the entire assembly would be suspended by the launch facility rather than resting on the ground.^[20]: 295 The first test launches were planned for 1957. The site for these launches, decided 12 February 1955, was Ministry of Defense Scientific-Research and Test Firing Range No.5 (NIIP-5), located in theKazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (nowKazakhstan) near theSyr-Darya river. The town ofBaikonur grew to support the facility.^[20]: 308

Though the R-7 was developed explicitly as a nuclear missile,OKB-1's headSergei Korolev already had plans to utilize the rocket for delivering satellites into orbit. At a private meeting on 30 August 1955, Korolev proposed this possibility Vasily Ryabikov, chairman of the Military Industrial Meeting. This suggestion culminated in the governmental resolution of January 1956 calling for the production of the Soviet Union's first satellite.^[20]: 380

January launches

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
4 January	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	4 January	Successful[21]
6 January	R-5			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	6 January	Successful[22]
8 January	R-5			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	8 January	Successful[22]
15 January	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	15 January	Successful[21]
17 January	R-5			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	17 January	Successful[22]
20 January	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	20 January	Successful
		Maiden flight of the R-5M[22]
21 January	R-5			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	21 January	Successful[22]
22 January 00:54	Aerobee RTV-A-1a		USAF 51	HollomanLC-A		US Air Force
		Sodium Release 1	AFCRC	Suborbital	Aeronomy	22 January	Successful
		Apogee: 94.8 kilometres (58.9 mi)[23]: 145–146
22 January	R-5			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	22 January	Successful[22]
25 January	R-1E			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Biological	25 January	Successful
		Maiden flight of the R-1E, carried dogs[24]
25 January	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	25 January	Successful[21]
28 January	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	28 January	Successful[25]
29 January	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	29 January	Successful[25]
29 January	R-5			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	29 January	Successful[22]
31 January	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	31 January	Successful[21]

February launches

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
1 February	R-5			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	1 February	Successful[22]
3 February	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	3 February	Successful[25]
4 February 21:55	Viking (second model)			White SandsLC-33		US Navy
		Viking 12	NRL	Suborbital	REV test / Photography / Aeronomy	4 February	Successful
		Apogee: 232 kilometres (144 mi)[26]
5 February	R-1E			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Biological	5 February	Partial Failure
		Carried dogs, not recovered[24]
7 February	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	7 February	Successful[25]
7 February	R-5			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	7 February	Successful[22]
7 February 18:51	Aerobee RTV-A-1a		USAF 52	HollomanLC-A		US Air Force
			AFCRC /University of Utah	Suborbital	Ionospheric	7 February	Successful
		Apogee: 120.4 kilometres (74.8 mi)[23]: 147–148
8 February	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	8 February	Successful[21]
8 February	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	8 February	Successful[21]
9 February	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	9 February	Successful[22]
10 February 22:38	Aerobee RTV-A-1a		USAF 53	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force
			AFCRC / University of Utah	Suborbital	Ionospheric	10 February	Successful
		Apogee: 76.1 kilometres (47.3 mi)[23]: 149–150
14 February	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	14 February	Successful[22]
21 February 18:25	Aerobee RTV-N-10c		NRL 29	White Sands LC-35		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Solar UV	21 February	Successful
		Apogee: 115 kilometres (71 mi), maiden flight of the RTV-N-10c;[27] obtained UV spectrum in 30 second exposure over range 977 to 1817A. UsedUniversity of Colorado biaxial pointer to keep camera trained on the Sun.[4]
25 February	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	25 February	Successful[21]
28 February	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	28 February	Successful[21]

March launches

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
1 March	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	1 March	Successful[21]
2 March	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	2 March	Successful[21]
19 March 06:00	Aerobee RTV-N-10		NRL 26	White Sands LC-35		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Airglow	19 March	Successful
		Apogee: 115 kilometres (71 mi)[27]
21 March	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	21 March	Successful[21]
29 March 16:47	Aerobee RTV-A-1a		USAF 54	HollomanLC-A		US Air Force
			AFCRC /University of Colorado	Suborbital	Solar UV	29 March	Successful
		Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi)[23]: 151–152

April launches

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
4 April	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	4 April	Successful[21]
8 April	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	8 April	Successful[25]
8 April	Nike-Nike-Tri-Deacon-T40			Wallops Island		NACA
			NACA	Suborbital	REV test	8 April	Launch failure
		Apogee: 18 kilometres (11 mi), maiden (and only) flight of the Nike-Nike-Tri-Deacon-T40[28]
8 April 15:19	Nike-Deacon		DAN-1	Wallops Island		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Test flight	8 April	Successful
		Apogee: 108 kilometres (67 mi), maiden flight of the Nike-Deacon[29]
9 April	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	9 April	Successful[25]
12 April	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	12 April	Successful[25]
15 April	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	15 April	Successful[25]
21 April 15:58	Aerobee Hi		USAF 55	HollomanLC-A		US Air Force
			AFCRC	Suborbital	Test flight	21 April	Successful
		Apogee: 192 kilometres (119 mi), maiden flight of the AJ11-6 Aerobee Hi (USAF variant)[23]: 153–154
29 April	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	29 April	Partial Failure[22]

May launches

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
18 May	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	18 May	Successful[21]
20 May	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	20 May	Successful[21]
20 May	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	20 May	Successful[22]
26 May	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	26 May	Successful[22]
28 May	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	28 May	Successful[21]
31 May	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	31 May	Successful[21]

June launches

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
1 June	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	1 June	Successful[21]
6 June	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	6 June	Successful[22]
15 June	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	15 June	Successful[22]
16 June 01:11	Aerobee AJ10-27		USAF 56	HollomanLC-A		US Air Force
			Holloman Air Development Center	Suborbital	Classified	16 June	Successful
		Apogee: 203 kilometres (126 mi), maiden flight of the Aerobee AJ10-27[23]: 157
18 June	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	18 June	Successful[25]
20 June	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	20 June	Successful[21]
22 June	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	22 June	Successful[22]
23 June	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	23 June	Successful[22]
23 June	Nike-Nike-T40-T55			Wallops Island		NACA
			NACA	Suborbital	Heat transfer REV test	23 June	Launch failure
		Apogee: 30 kilometres (19 mi)[30]
23 June 12:47	Aerobee Hi		USAF 57	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force
			AFCRC	Suborbital	Test flight	23 June	Launch failure
		Apogee: 61 kilometres (38 mi), premature burnout at 23 seconds[23]: 155–156
24 June	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	24 June	Successful[25]
24 June 18:04	Nike-Deacon		DAN-2	Wallops Island		US Air Force
			NACA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	24 June	Successful
		Apogee: 105 kilometres (65 mi)[29]
28 June	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	28 June	Successful[21]
28 June	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	28 June	Successful[22]
30 June	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	30 June	Successful[22]

July launches

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
1 July	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	1 July	Successful[21]
7 July	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	7 July	Successful[22]
8 July 08:39	Aerobee RTV-N-10		NRL 23	White Sands LC-35		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric	8 July	Successful
		Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi)[27]
9 July	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	9 July	Successful[22]
13 July 06:59	Aerobee RTV-N-10a		NRL 23	White Sands LC-35		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Aeronomy	13 July	Successful
		Apogee: 69 kilometres (43 mi), maiden flight of the Aerobee RTV-N-10a[27]
15 July	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	15 July	Successful[21]
25 July	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	25 July	Successful[25]
26 July	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	26 July	Successful[25]
26 July	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	26 July	Successful[21]
29 July	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	29 July	Successful[25]

August launches

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
1 August	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	1 August	Successful[25]
1 August	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	1 August	Successful[21]
3 August	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	3 August	Successful[21]
6 August	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	6 August	Successful[21]
8 August	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	8 August	Successful[21]
9 August	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	9 August	Successful[22]
12 August	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	12 August	Successful[22]
16 August	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	16 August	Partial Failure[22]
24 August	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	24 August	Successful[25]
24 August	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	24 August	Successful[21]
25 August	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	25 August	Successful[25]
25 August 13:00	Aerobee Hi		NRL 37	White Sands LC-35		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Test flight	25 August	Launch failure
		Apogee: 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), maiden flight of the Aerobee Hi (NRL variant), Navy designation: RTV-N-13[27]
26 August	X-17			Cape CanaveralLC-3		US Air Force
			ARDC	Suborbital	Test flight	26 August	Launch failure
		Apogee: 3 kilometres (1.9 mi), maiden flight of the X-17[31]
27 August	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	27 August	Successful[21]
30 August	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	30 August	Successful[21]
31 August	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	31 August	Successful[21]

September launches

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
14 September 13:30	Aerobee AJ10-27		USAF 58	HollomanLC-A		US Air Force
			AFCRC /University of Michigan	Suborbital	Aeronomy	14 September	Successful
		Apogee: 95 kilometres (59 mi)[23]: 158–159
15 September	HJ-Nike			Wallops Island		NACA
			NACA	Suborbital	Test flight	15 September	Launch failure
		Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), maiden flight of the HJ-Nike[32]
19 September	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	19 September	Successful[22]
23 September	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	23 September	Successful[22]
23 September	X-17			Cape CanaveralLC-3		US Air Force
			ARDC	Suborbital	Test flight	23 September	Launch failure
		Apogee: 5 kilometres (3.1 mi)[31]
23 September 20:34	LokiRockoon		SUI 38	USS Staten Island,Atlantic Ocean, nearNova Scotia		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	23 September	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[33]
24 September 16:35	Deacon Rockoon		SUI 39	USSStaten Island, Atlantic Ocean, near Nova Scotia		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	24 September	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[34]
24 September 21:09	Loki Rockoon		SUI 40	USSStaten Island, Atlantic Ocean, near Nova Scotia		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	24 September	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[33]
25 September 20:39	Loki Rockoon		SUI 41	USSStaten Island, Atlantic Ocean, nearNewfoundland		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	25 September	Launch failure
		Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi)[33]
27 September	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	27 September	Successful[22]
27 September	Nike-Deacon			Wallops Island		NACA
			NACA	Suborbital	REV test flight	27 September	Successful
		Apogee: 30 kilometres (19 mi)[29]
27 September 19:12	Deacon Rockoon		NRL Rockoon 14	USSStaten Island,Labrador Sea		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	27 September	Launch failure
		Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi)[34]
27 September 19:43	Deacon Rockoon		NRL Rockoon 13	USSStaten Island, Labrador Sea		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	27 September	Successful
		Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi)[34]
27 September 20:54	Deacon Rockoon		SUI 42	USSStaten Island, Labrador Sea		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	27 September	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[34]
28 September 01:13	Loki Rockoon		SUI 43	USSStaten Island, Labrador Sea		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	28 September	Launch failure
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[33]
28 September 12:45	Deacon Rockoon		NRL Rockoon 15	USSStaten Island, southernDavis Strait		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	28 September	Successful
		Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi)[34]
28 September 14:54	Deacon Rockoon		SUI 44	USSStaten Island, southern Davis Strait		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	28 September	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[34]
28 September 17:40	Deacon Rockoon		NRL Rockoon 16	USSStaten Island, southern Davis Strait		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	28 September	Launch failure
		Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi)[34]
28 September 19:22	Deacon-Loki Rockoon		SUI 45	USSStaten Island, southern Davis Strait		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Test flight	28 September	Launch failure
		Apogee: 102 kilometres (63 mi), maiden flight of the Deacon-Loki rockoon[35]
29 September	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	29 September	Successful[21]
29 September 13:42	Deacon Rockoon		SUI 46	USSStaten Island, Davis Strait		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	29 September	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[34]
29 September 19:13	Deacon Rockoon		SUI 47	USSStaten Island, northern Davis Strait		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	29 September	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[34]
29 September 21:52	Deacon-Loki Rockoon		SUI 48	USSStaten Island, Davis Strait		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Test flight	29 September	Launch failure
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), final flight of the Deacon-Loki rockoon[35]
30 September 15:50	Aerobee AJ10-27		USAF 59	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force
			AFCRC /University of Utah /University of Colorado	Suborbital	Solar UV	30 September	Successful
		Apogee: 74 kilometres (46 mi)[23]: 160–161
30 September 20:10	Loki Rockoon		SUI 49	USSStaten Island,Baffin Bay		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	30 September	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[33]

October launches

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
1 October	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	1 October	Successful[21]
1 October	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	1 October	Successful[22]
4 October 21:18	LokiRockoon		SUI 50	USS Staten Island,Baffin Bay		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	4 October	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[33]
5 October	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	5 October	Successful[25]
6 October 10:45	Deacon Rockoon		NRL Rockoon 17	USSStaten Island,Davis Strait		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	6 October	Launch failure
		Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi)[34]
6 October 19:10	Deacon Rockoon		SUI 51	USSStaten Island, Davis Strait		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	6 October	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[34]
7 October	Nike-Nike-T40-T55			Wallops Island		NACA
			NACA	Suborbital	Heat transfer REV test	7 October	Successful
		Apogee: 30 kilometres (19 mi)[30]
8 October	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	8 October	Successful[25]
11 October 14:33	Deacon Rockoon		SUI 52	USSStaten Island, southern Davis Strait		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	11 October	Launch failure
		Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi)[34]
11 October 14:37	Deacon Rockoon		NRL Rockoon 18	USSStaten Island, southern Davis Strait		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	11 October	Successful
		Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi)[34]
13 October 01:00	Aerobee RTV-A-1a		USAF 60	HollomanLC-A		US Air Force
		Sodium Release 2	AFCRC	Suborbital	Aeronomy	13 October	Successful
		Apogee: 101 kilometres (63 mi)[23]: 162–163
13 October 06:37	Deacon Rockoon		NRL Rockoon 19	USSStaten Island,Labrador Sea		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	13 October	Successful
		Apogee: 60 kilometres (37 mi)[34]
13 October 12:44	Deacon Rockoon		SUI 53	USSStaten Island, Labrador Sea		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	13 October	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[34]
13 October 13:42	Deacon Rockoon		NRL Rockoon 20	USSStaten Island, Labrador Sea		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	13 October	Launch failure
		Apogee: 50 kilometres (31 mi)[34]
13 October 15:24	Deacon Rockoon		SUI 54	USSStaten Island, Labrador Sea		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	13 October	Launch failure
		Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi)[34]
13 October 20:13	Deacon Rockoon		SUI 55	USSStaten Island, Labrador Sea		US Navy
			University of Iowa	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	13 October	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[34]
18 October 22:49	Aerobee RTV-N-10c		NRL 34	White Sands LC-35		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Solar UV / Solar X-Ray	18 October	Successful
		Apogee: 101 kilometres (63 mi)[27]
22 October 00:20	Aerobee RTV-N-10c		NRL 35	White Sands LC-35		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Solar UV	22 October	Successful
		Apogee: 185 kilometres (115 mi)[27]
31 October	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	31 October	Successful[21]

November launches

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
1 November	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	1 November	Successful[22]
4 November	R-1E			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Biological	4 November	Successful
		Carried dogs, all recovered[24]
4 November	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	4 November	Successful[22]
4 November 15:30	Aerobee RTV-N-10c		NRL 36	White Sands LC-35		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Solar UV	4 November	Successful
		Apogee: 135 kilometres (84 mi)[27]
17 November 09:15	Aerobee RTV-N-10		NRL 25	White Sands LC-35		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Meteorites / UV Astronomy	17 November	Successful
		Apogee: 105 kilometres (65 mi)[27]
19 November	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	19 November	Successful[21]
19 November	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	19 November	Successful[22]
23 November	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	23 November	Successful[21]
23 November	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	23 November	Successful[21]
29 November 17:16	Aerobee RTV-N-10		NRL 24	White Sands LC-35		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric	29 November	Successful
		Apogee: 132 kilometres (82 mi)[27]

December launches

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
1 December	X-17			Cape CanaveralLC-3		US Air Force
			ARDC	Suborbital	Test flight	1 December	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[31]
9 December 14:50	Aerobee Hi		NRL 38	White Sands LC-35		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Test flight	9 December	Launch failure[27]
13 December 05:00	Aerobee RTV-N-10a		NRL 28	White Sands LC-35		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Airglow / Aeronomy	13 December	Successful
		Apogee: 142 kilometres (88 mi), final flight of the Aerobee RTV-N-10a;[27] carriedphotometers to measure altitude and intensity ofairglow at 5577 and 5890-6A.[5] Also took threeultravioletspectrograms of the Sun, investigatingLy-α emissions.[6]
13 December 17:58	Aerobee AJ10-27		USAF 61	HollomanLC-A		US Air Force
			AFCRC /University of Utah /University of Colorado	Suborbital	Solar UV	13 December	Successful
		Apogee: 138 kilometres (86 mi), final flight of the Aerobee AJ10-27[23]: 164–165
16 December	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	16 December	Successful[21]
17 December	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	17 December	Successful[21]
21 December	HJ-Nike			Wallops Island		NACA
			NACA	Suborbital	Test flight	21 December	Launch failure
		Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)[32]
24 December	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	24 December	Successful[21]
27 December	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	27 December	Successful[21]
28 December	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	28 December	Successful[21]
30 December	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	30 December	Successful[21]

Launches by country

Country		Launches	Successes	Failures	Partial failures
	Soviet Union	95	92	0	3
	United States	61	42	19	0
World		156	134	19	3

Launches by rocket

Rocket	Country	Launches	Successes	Failures	Partial failures	Remarks
Viking (second model)	United States	1	1	0	0
Aerobee RTV-N-10	United States	4	4	0	0
Aerobee RTV-N-10c	United States	4	4	0	0	Maiden flight
Aerobee RTV-N-10a	United States	2	2	0	0	Maiden flight, retired
Aerobee Hi (NRL)	United States	2	0	2	0	Maiden flight
Aerobee RTV-A-1a	United States	5	5	0	0
Aerobee Hi (USAF)	United States	2	1	1	0	Maiden flight
Aerobee AJ10-27	United States	4	4	0	0	Maiden flight, retired
Deaconrockoon (SUI)	United States	10	8	2	0
Deaconrockoon (NRL)	United States	8	4	4	0
Lokirockoon	United States	6	4	2	0	Maiden flight
Deacon-Lokirockoon	United States	2	0	2	0	Maiden flight, retired
Nike-Nike-T40-T55	United States	2	1	1	0
Nike-Deacon	United States	3	3	0	0	Maiden flight
Nike-Nike-Tri-Deacon-T40	United States	1	0	1	0	Maiden flight, retired
X-17	United States	3	1	2	0	Maiden flight
HJ-Nike	United States	2	0	2	0	Maiden flight
R-1	Soviet Union	18	18	0	0
R-1E	Soviet Union	3	2	0	1	Maiden flight
R-2	Soviet Union	42	42	0	0
R-5	Soviet Union	8	8	0	0
R-5M	Soviet Union	24	22	0	2	Maiden flight

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