1958 in spaceflight
Explorer 1 was the first American satellite to reach orbit on 31 January 1958.
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Orbital launches | |
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First | 1 February |
Last | 18 December |
Total | 28 |
Successes | 6 |
Failures | 20 |
Partial failures | 2 |
Catalogued | 8 |
National firsts | |
Spaceflight | ![]() |
Satellite | ![]() |
Orbital launch | ![]() |
Rockets | |
Maiden flights | Juno I Sputnik 8A91 Pilot Thor-Able Luna Juno II Atlas B |
Retirements | Sputnik 8A91 Pilot Juno I |
Launches
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
January | |||||||
8 January | ![]() |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | 8 January | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi) | |||||||
10 January 15:48 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) | |||||||
11 January | ![]() |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 January | Successful | |||
Maiden flight of Polaris, apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
17 January | ![]() |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
25 January 19:12 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 25 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 157 kilometres (98 mi) | |||||||
26 January 04:18:56 |
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NRL | Suborbital | Auroral | 26 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
27 January 06:04 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 27 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi) | |||||||
27 January 18:49 |
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US Army | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 27 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 143 kilometres (89 mi) | |||||||
28 January 20:16 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 January | Launch failure | |||
29 January 19:06 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 29 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 170 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
29 January 22:15 |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi) | |||||||
February | |||||||
1 February 03:48:56 |
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ARPA | Initial: Medium Earth Decayed to: Low Earth |
Magnetospheric | 31 March 1970 | Successful | ||
First successful American satellite launch, discovered Van Allen belts | |||||||
3 February 18:02 |
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NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 3 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 138 kilometres (86 mi) | |||||||
4 February 06:17 |
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NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 4 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 234 kilometres (145 mi) | |||||||
5 February 07:33 |
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NRL | Intended: Medium Earth | Geodesy | 5 February | Launch failure | ||
Loss of control 57 seconds after launch | |||||||
7 February 19:37 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 February | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) | |||||||
13 February 06:37 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Auroral | 13 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi) | |||||||
16 February 06:17 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Auroral | 16 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi) | |||||||
20 February 17:46 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 20 February | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi) | |||||||
21 February 07:40 |
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AN | Suborbital | 21 February | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 470 kilometres (290 mi) | |||||||
21 February 08:42 |
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AN | Suborbital | 21 February | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 400 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
21 February 09:40 |
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MVS | Suborbital | Ionospheric Solar | 21 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 206 kilometres (128 mi) | |||||||
21 February 15:20 |
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AN | Suborbital | 21 February | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 473 kilometres (294 mi) | |||||||
22 February 02:02 |
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NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric Auroral | 22 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi) | |||||||
22 February 05:35 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Auroral | 22 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi) | |||||||
24 February 07:00 |
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NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 24 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 207 kilometres (129 mi) | |||||||
24 February 07:35 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 24 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi) | |||||||
26 February 02:35 |
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MVS | Suborbital | Ionospheric Aeronomy | 26 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
26 February 05:49 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Auroral | 26 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi) | |||||||
26 February 22:18 |
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BRL | Suborbital | Technology | 26 February | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 37 kilometres (23 mi), tested longer nosecone | |||||||
28 February 13:08 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 February | Launch failure | |||
March | |||||||
4 March 06:02 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 4 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
4 March 19:30 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 4 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 181 kilometres (112 mi) | |||||||
5 March 18:27:57 |
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ARPA | Intended: Medium Earth | Magnetospheric | 5 March | Launch failure | ||
Fourth stage failed to ignite | |||||||
16 March 04:54 |
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NRL | Suborbital | Auroral | 16 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 144 kilometres (89 mi) | |||||||
17 March 12:15:41 |
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NRL | Medium Earth | Geodesy | In orbit | Successful | ||
Oldest spacecraft still in orbit, in addition to its upper launch stage | |||||||
18 March | ![]() |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | 18 March | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 107 kilometres (66 mi) | |||||||
19 March 01:12 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 19 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
21 March | ![]() |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 21 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
22 March 06:41 |
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NRL | Suborbital | Auroral | 22 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 168 kilometres (104 mi) | |||||||
23 March 18:07 |
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NRL | Suborbital | Auroral Aeronomy | 23 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 202 kilometres (126 mi) | |||||||
23 March | ![]() |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
24 March 18:30 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy Imaging | 24 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 119 kilometres (74 mi) | |||||||
24 March 22:00 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 24 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 137 kilometres (85 mi) | |||||||
26 March 17:38:03 |
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ARPA | Initial: Medium Earth Decayed to: Low Earth |
Magnetospheric | 27 June | Successful | ||
29 March 14:40 |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi) | |||||||
31 March | ![]() |
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OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 31 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
April | |||||||
4 April 15:30 |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi) | |||||||
5 April 17:01 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 5 April | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
7 April | ![]() |
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ARPA | Suborbital | Technology | 7 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: 244 kilometres (152 mi) | |||||||
11 April | ![]() |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
17 April 10:57 |
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RAE | Suborbital | Test flight Aeronomy | 17 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 152 kilometres (94 mi) | |||||||
18 April | ![]() |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 18 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
19 April 13:30 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 April | Launch failure | |||
24 April 00:10 |
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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 | ![]() |
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ARPA | Suborbital | Technology | 24 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi) | |||||||
27 April 09:01 |
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MVS | Intended: Low Earth | Magnetospheric | +88 seconds | Launch failure | ||
Rocket disintegrated during ascent | |||||||
28 April 02:53:00 |
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NRL | Intended: Medium Earth | Solar | 29 April | Launch failure | ||
Third stage failed to ignite | |||||||
May | |||||||
1 May | ![]() |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Meteorite research | 1 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
5 May 14:15 |
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NRL | Suborbital | Solar | 5 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 214 kilometres (133 mi) | |||||||
8 May | ![]() |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 8 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
15 May 07:00 |
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MVS | Low Earth | Magnetospheric | 6 April 1960 | Partial spacecraft failure | ||
Faulty data recorder limited return of experimental results | |||||||
18 May 05:05 |
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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 |
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RAE | Suborbital | Test flight Aeronomy | 20 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
20 May 09:34:35 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 20 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 101 kilometres (63 mi), released caesium and sodium | |||||||
21 May 11:31:59 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 21 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 128 kilometres (80 mi), released caesium and sodium | |||||||
22 May 00:57 |
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ARPA | Suborbital | Technology | 22 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 240 kilometres (150 mi) | |||||||
22 May 11:29:59 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 22 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi), released sodium | |||||||
24 May 10:30 |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 May | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi) | |||||||
25 May | ![]() |
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ARPA | Suborbital | Technology | 25 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi) | |||||||
25 May | ![]() |
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OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
26 May | ![]() |
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OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
28 May 03:46:20 |
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NRL | Intended: Medium Earth | Solar | 28 May | Launch failure | ||
Loss of control before or during third stage burn | |||||||
May | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
June | |||||||
3 June 21:28 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 3 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi), final flight of Atlas A | |||||||
4 June 15:15 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Solar | 4 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
4 June 21:17 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
5 June 11:30 |
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RAE | Suborbital | Test flight | 5 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 153 kilometres (95 mi) | |||||||
6 June | ![]() |
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US Navy | Suborbital | REV test | 6 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
13 June 15:06 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 13 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
18 June 10:35 |
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RAE | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 18 June | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) | |||||||
18 June 15:15 |
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RAE | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 18 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 144 kilometres (89 mi) | |||||||
19 June 21:15 |
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RAE | Suborbital | Test flight Aeronomy | 19 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 154 kilometres (96 mi) | |||||||
24 June | ![]() |
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US Navy | Suborbital | REV test | 24 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
26 June 05:00:52 |
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NRL | Intended: Medium Earth | Solar | 26 June | Launch failure | ||
Premature cutoff of second stage | |||||||
26 June | ![]() |
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NACA/AFCRL | Suborbital | Test flight | 26 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 370 kilometres (230 mi), maiden flight of Exos | |||||||
27 June | ![]() |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 June | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) | |||||||
June | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
June | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
June | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
July | |||||||
2 July 05:00 |
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AN | Suborbital | 2 July | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 210 kilometres (130 mi) | |||||||
2 July | ![]() |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 2 July | Successful | ||
Apogee: 560 kilometres (350 mi), delivery test ahead of Operation Argus | |||||||
3 July 18:52 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 3 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 262 kilometres (163 mi) | |||||||
6 July 12:02 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 6 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi) | |||||||
7 July 18:50 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy Imaging | 7 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi) | |||||||
7 July 23:18 |
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US Navy | Suborbital | 7 July | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
8 July 23:15 |
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US Navy | Suborbital | 8 July | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi) | |||||||
10 July 02:30 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 10 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,600 kilometres (990 mi), REV carried Mia II, a mouse | |||||||
10 July 07:42 |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 July | Launch failure | |||
11 July 18:30 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 11 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 243 kilometres (151 mi) | |||||||
11 July | ![]() |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 11 July | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi), maiden flight of Jason | |||||||
12 July 20:30 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy Imaging | 12 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 114 kilometres (71 mi) | |||||||
13 July 06:36 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 13 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
15 July 20:07 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 15 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 126 kilometres (78 mi) | |||||||
16 July 22:40 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | 16 July | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 142 kilometres (88 mi) | |||||||
16 July | ![]() |
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NRL | Suborbital | Test flight | 16 July | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) | |||||||
17 July 07:21 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 17 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi) | |||||||
17 July 09:04 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 17 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), carried a Gaslight re-entry vehicle which was recovered | |||||||
17 July 17:48 |
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US Navy | Suborbital | 17 July | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi) | |||||||
17 July | ![]() |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 17 July | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi) | |||||||
18 July | ![]() |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 18 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
19 July 17:36 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 July | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), maiden flight of Atlas B | |||||||
21 July | ![]() |
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SRDL | Suborbital | Test flight | 21 July | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) | |||||||
22 July | ![]() |
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NRL | Suborbital | Test flight | 22 July | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi) | |||||||
23 July 22:13 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 23 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,600 kilometres (990 mi), REV carried Wickie, a mouse | |||||||
24 July | ![]() |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 July | Successful | ||
Apogee: 560 kilometres (350 mi), delivery test ahead of Operation Argus | |||||||
25 July 05:01 |
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US Navy | Suborbital | 25 July | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
25 July | ![]() |
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US Navy | Intended: Medium Earth Achieved: Unknown |
Technology | 25 July (presumed) | Launch failure | ||
Maiden flight of Pilot II. Unexpected loss of signal during ascent. Unclear if spacecraft reached orbit, but no confirmed contact was made with it, and no objects from the launch were catalogued. | |||||||
26 July 06:40 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 July | Successful | |||
26 July 15:00:57 |
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ARPA | Initial: Medium Earth Decayed to: Low Earth |
Magnetospheric | 23 October 1959 | Successful | ||
29 July 05:03 |
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US Navy | Suborbital | 29 July | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
31 July | ![]() ![]() |
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OKB-1 | Suborbital | Target | 31 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
July | ![]() |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), delivery test ahead of Operation Argus | |||||||
July | ![]() |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | Launch failure | |||
Delivery test ahead of Operation Argus | |||||||
August | |||||||
1 August | ![]() |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 1 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 750 kilometres (470 mi) | |||||||
1 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 1 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
1 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 1 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
1 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 1 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
1 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 1 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
1 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 1 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
1 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 1 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
1 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 1 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
1 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 1 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
1 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 1 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
1 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 1 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
1 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 1 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
1 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 1 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
1 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 1 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
2 August 05:47 |
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MVS | Suborbital | 2 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 211 kilometres (131 mi) | |||||||
2 August 22:16 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 2 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 900 kilometres (560 mi) | |||||||
6 August | ![]() |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
7 August | ![]() ![]() |
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OKB-1 | Suborbital | Target | 7 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
12 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 12 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
12 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 12 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
12 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 12 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
12 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 12 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
12 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 12 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
12 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 12 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
12 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 12 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
12 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 12 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
12 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 12 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
12 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 12 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
12 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 12 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
12 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 12 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
12 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 12 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
12 August | ![]() |
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NRDL | Suborbital | 12 August | Launch failure | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), intended to observe Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects | |||||||
12 August | ![]() |
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US Navy | Intended: Medium Earth | Technology | +0 seconds | Launch failure | ||
Exploded during first stage ignition | |||||||
13 August 02:00 |
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AN | Suborbital | 13 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 212 kilometres (132 mi) | |||||||
13 August | ![]() |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 13 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
14 August 00:40 |
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MVS | Suborbital | Ionospheric Aeronomy | 14 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
14 August 13:28 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | 14 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 132 kilometres (82 mi) | |||||||
15 August 04:16 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 15 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 693 kilometres (431 mi), part of Operation Argus | |||||||
15 August 15:45 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 15 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
17 August 12:18 |
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US Air Force | Intended: Selenocentric | Lunar probe | +77 seconds | Launch failure | ||
Maiden flight of Thor-Able I, exploded at an altitude of 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) | |||||||
17 August | ![]() ![]() |
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OKB-1 | Suborbital | Target | 17 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
20 August 11:27 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 20 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), part of Operation Argus | |||||||
22 August | ![]() |
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US Navy | Intended: Medium Earth Achieved: Unknown |
Technology | 22 August (presumed) | Launch failure | ||
Unexpected loss of signal during ascent. Unclear if spacecraft reached orbit, but no confirmed contact was made with it, and no objects from the launch were catalogued. | |||||||
24 August 06:17:22 |
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ARPA | Intended: Medium Earth | Magnetospheric | 24 August | Launch failure | ||
Loss of control after recontact between first and second stages | |||||||
25 August 18:17 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 25 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), part of Operation Argus | |||||||
25 August | ![]() |
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US Navy | Intended: Medium Earth | Radiation | +0 seconds | Launch failure | ||
Exploded during first stage ignition | |||||||
26 August | ![]() |
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US Navy | Intended: Medium Earth | Radiation | 26 August | Launch failure | ||
Failed to ignite | |||||||
27 August 02:20 |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Nuclear test | 02:28 | Successful | ||
Apogee: 160 kilometres (99 mi) | |||||||
27 August 03:33 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 27 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 937 kilometres (582 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus I test or its effects | |||||||
27 August 04:06 |
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MVS | Suborbital | 27 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 209 kilometres (130 mi) | |||||||
27 August 04:24 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 27 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus I test or its effects | |||||||
27 August 06:05 |
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AN | Suborbital | 27 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 450 kilometres (280 mi) | |||||||
27 August 06:42 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 27 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 817 kilometres (508 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus I test or its effects | |||||||
27 August 07:29 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 27 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus I test or its effects | |||||||
27 August 12:40 |
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AN | Suborbital | 27 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 450 kilometres (280 mi) | |||||||
27 August 23:15 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 27 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
27 August | ![]() ![]() |
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OKB-1 | Suborbital | Target | 27 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
28 August | ![]() |
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US Navy | Intended: Medium Earth | Radiation | 28 August | Launch failure | ||
One second stage engine failed to ignite, final flight of Pilot | |||||||
29 August 04:30 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 900 kilometres (560 mi) | |||||||
30 August 03:10 |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Nuclear test | 03:18 | Successful | ||
Apogee: 293 kilometres (182 mi) | |||||||
30 August 03:48 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 30 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 817 kilometres (508 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects | |||||||
30 August 04:31 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 30 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 878 kilometres (546 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects | |||||||
30 August 05:18 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 30 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 830 kilometres (520 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects | |||||||
30 August 05:52 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 30 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 825 kilometres (513 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects | |||||||
30 August 06:36 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 30 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 699 kilometres (434 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects | |||||||
30 August 07:21 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 30 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 815 kilometres (506 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects | |||||||
30 August 22:02 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 30 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 745 kilometres (463 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects | |||||||
30 August 23:03 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 30 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects | |||||||
31 August 00:07 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 31 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects | |||||||
August | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
August | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
September | |||||||
2 September 19:03 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 2 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), part of Operation Argus | |||||||
2 September 20:03 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 2 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 7,897 kilometres (4,907 mi), part of Operation Argus | |||||||
2 September 22:15 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Radiation | 2 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 89 kilometres (55 mi), part of Operation Argus | |||||||
6 September 22:05 |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Nuclear test | 22:13 | Successful | ||
Apogee: 750 kilometres (470 mi), final flight of X-17 | |||||||
6 September | ![]() |
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OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
7 September 10:33 |
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RAE | Suborbital | Test flight | 7 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 255 kilometres (158 mi), maiden flight of Black Knight | |||||||
11 September | ![]() |
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ARPA | Suborbital | Technology | 11 September | Successful | ||
Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi) | |||||||
14 September 05:24 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 900 kilometres (560 mi) | |||||||
18 September 21:27 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 18 September | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
19 September 00:48 |
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AN | Suborbital | 19 September | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 430 kilometres (270 mi) | |||||||
23 September | ![]() |
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MVS | Planned: Heliocentric | Lunar probe | +92 seconds | Launch failure | ||
Maiden flight of Luna 8K72, rocket disintegrated | |||||||
24 September 17:15 |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 September | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) | |||||||
25 September | ![]() |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
25 September | ![]() |
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NACA/AFCRL | Suborbital | Test flight | 25 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 460 kilometres (290 mi), maiden flight of Exos | |||||||
26 September 15:38 |
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NRL | Intended: Medium Earth | Atmospheric | 26 September | Launch failure | ||
Second stage underperformed | |||||||
28 September 19:42 |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Solar | 28 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi) | |||||||
September | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
September | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
October | |||||||
4 October 14:00 |
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MVS | Suborbital | Ionospheric Solar | 4 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi) | |||||||
4 October 15:08 |
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AN | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 4 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 103 kilometres (64 mi) | |||||||
7 October | ![]() |
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ARPA | Suborbital | Technology | 7 October | Successful | ||
Apogee: 244 kilometres (152 mi) | |||||||
10 October 03:49 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | +49 seconds | Launch failure | |||
Fire burned through fuel and oxidiser transducer lines resulting in loss of control, destroyed by range safety | |||||||
10 October 13:50 |
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MVS | Suborbital | Ionospheric Solar | 10 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi) | |||||||
10 October | ![]() |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
10 October | ![]() |
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AN | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 10 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 103 kilometres (64 mi) | |||||||
11 October 08:42:13 |
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NASA | Intended: Selenocentric | Lunar probe | 13 October 03:46 | Launch failure | ||
Third stage underperformed, failed to reach the Moon, catalogued despite being on a suborbital trajectory. Returned data on radiation between the Earth and Moon. | |||||||
11 October | ![]() |
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MVS | Intended: Heliocentric | Lunar probe | +104 seconds | Launch failure | ||
Rocket disintegrated | |||||||
12 October 08:32:06 |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Solar | 12 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 222 kilometres (138 mi) | |||||||
12 October 08:42:03 |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Solar | 12 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 236 kilometres (147 mi) | |||||||
12 October 08:43:18 |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Solar | 12 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 242 kilometres (150 mi) | |||||||
12 October 08:52:49 |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Solar | 12 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 240 kilometres (150 mi) | |||||||
13 October 19:40 |
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US Navy | Suborbital | 13 October | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi) | |||||||
14 October 12:00 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Meteorite research | 14 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 137 kilometres (85 mi) | |||||||
15 October 01:04 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 15 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 156 kilometres (97 mi) | |||||||
15 October 04:00 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Meteorite research | 15 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 151 kilometres (94 mi) | |||||||
15 October | ![]() |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 October | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) | |||||||
15 October | ![]() ![]() |
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OKB-1 | Suborbital | Target | 15 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
18 October 03:25 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Meteorite research | 18 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 143 kilometres (89 mi) | |||||||
20 October 22:01 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 20 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
22 October 03:45 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Meteorite research | 22 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 158 kilometres (98 mi) | |||||||
22 October 14:22 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | 22 October | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
22 October 16:47 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Meteorite research | 22 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 177 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
23 October 03:21:04 |
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US Army | Intended: Low Earth | Atmospheric | +149 seconds | Launch failure | ||
Structural failure, final flight of Juno I | |||||||
25 October 19:27 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Meteorite research | 25 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 418 kilometres (260 mi) | |||||||
31 October 11:54 |
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AN | Suborbital | 31 October | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 410 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
31 October 19:59 |
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NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 31 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 188 kilometres (117 mi) | |||||||
31 October 20:46 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Weather Imaging | 31 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 119 kilometres (74 mi) | |||||||
31 October | ![]() |
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AN | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 31 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 103 kilometres (64 mi) | |||||||
October | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
October | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
November | |||||||
1 November | ![]() |
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RVSN | Suborbital | Nuclear test | 1 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
3 November 06:20 |
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NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy Ionospheric | 3 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 211 kilometres (131 mi) | |||||||
3 November | ![]() |
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RVSN | Suborbital | Nuclear test | 3 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
3 November | ![]() |
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RVSN | Suborbital | Target | 3 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
4 November 16:50 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Weather Imaging | 4 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi) | |||||||
4 November | ![]() |
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RVSN | Suborbital | Target | 4 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
5 November 08:53 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 5 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
5 November | ![]() |
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RVSN | Suborbital | Target | 5 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
6 November | ![]() |
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AN | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 6 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 103 kilometres (64 mi) | |||||||
8 November 01:53 |
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CARDE | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 8 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 139 kilometres (86 mi), first Canadian spaceflight | |||||||
8 November 07:30:21 |
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NASA | Intended: Selenocentric | Lunar probe | 8 November | Launch failure | ||
Third stage failed to ignite | |||||||
13 November 08:59 |
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CARDE | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 13 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 142 kilometres (88 mi) | |||||||
13 November 17:34 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Weather Imaging | 13 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 119 kilometres (74 mi) | |||||||
16 November 06:56 |
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NRL | Suborbital | Auroral | 16 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 163 kilometres (101 mi) | |||||||
17 November | ![]() |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
18 November 04:00 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 18 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi) | |||||||
18 November 16:47 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Weather Imaging | 18 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi) | |||||||
19 November 21:51 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | 19 November | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 140 kilometres (87 mi) | |||||||
19 November | ![]() |
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AN | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 19 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 103 kilometres (64 mi) | |||||||
21 November 06:08 |
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AN | Suborbital | 27 August | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 460 kilometres (290 mi) | |||||||
23 November 22:02 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 23 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 131 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
24 November 06:25:00 |
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NRL | Suborbital | Auroral | 24 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 207 kilometres (129 mi) | |||||||
24 November 08:00 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 24 November | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) | |||||||
26 November 09:09 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
29 November 02:27 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 900 kilometres (560 mi) | |||||||
29 November 16:30 |
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NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy Ionospheric | 29 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 202 kilometres (126 mi) | |||||||
30 November 18:36:36 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 30 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 304 kilometres (189 mi) | |||||||
30 November 22:27 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | 30 November | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 152 kilometres (94 mi) | |||||||
November | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
December | |||||||
1 December 19:35 |
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NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 1 December | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 97 kilometres (60 mi) | |||||||
3 December 10:13 |
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RAE | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 3 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 126 kilometres (78 mi) | |||||||
3 December 18:39 |
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NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 3 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi) | |||||||
4 December | ![]() |
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MVS | Intended: Heliocentric | Lunar probe | +245 seconds | Launch failure | ||
Hydrogen peroxide pump failed due to loss of lubrication, shutting down core stage engine | |||||||
6 December 00:41 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
6 December 05:44:52 |
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NASA | Intended: Heliocentric | Lunar flyby | 7 December 19:51 | Launch failure | ||
Maiden flight of Juno II, premature first stage cutoff and erroneous angle during orbital insertion resulted in failure to reach orbit. Catalogued despite being on a suborbital trajectory. Returned data on radiation between the Earth and Moon. | |||||||
8 December | ![]() |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 8 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
9 December | ![]() |
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NACA | Suborbital | Aeronomy Weather Imaging | 9 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
9 December | ![]() |
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NACA | Suborbital | Aeronomy Weather Imaging | 9 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
11 December | ![]() |
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RVSN | Suborbital | Target | 11 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
12 December | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
13 December 08:53:44 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Biological | 13 December | Successful | ||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), carried a monkey, Gordo. Mission completed but recovery failed | |||||||
14 December | ![]() |
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RVSN | Suborbital | Target | 14 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
16 December 23:44:45 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
16 December | ![]() |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
17 December 04:00 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
18 December 23:02 |
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ARPA | Low Earth | Communication | 12 January 1959 | Successful | ||
First communications satellite, only orbital launch of Atlas B | |||||||
23 December 13:00 |
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MVS | Suborbital | Ionospheric Aeronomy | 23 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi) | |||||||
23 December | ![]() |
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AN | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 23 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
24 December 04:45 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 900 kilometres (560 mi), maiden flight of Atlas C | |||||||
24 December 16:00 |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 December | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 70 kilometres (43 mi) | |||||||
24 December | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
25 December 13:10 |
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MVS | Suborbital | Ionospheric Aeronomy | 25 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi) | |||||||
25 December | ![]() |
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AN | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 25 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 102 kilometres (63 mi) | |||||||
25 December | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
30 December 15:28 |
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US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 September | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
30 December | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
31 December 02:00 |
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US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 31 December | Launch failure | |||
December | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
December | ![]() |
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MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
Unknown | ![]() |
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WRE | Suborbital | Test flight | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
Unknown | ![]() |
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WRE | Suborbital | Test flight | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
Unknown | ![]() |
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WRE | Suborbital | Test flight | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
Unknown | ![]() |
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WRE | Suborbital | Test flight | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
Unknown | ![]() |
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WRE | Suborbital | Test flight | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
Orbital launch summary
By country
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Orbital launch attempts by country in 1958 |
Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
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23 | 5 | 16 | 2 | First successful orbital launch |
By family
Family | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlas | ![]() | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | First orbital launch |
Redstone | ![]() | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | First orbital launch |
Jupiter | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Maiden flight |
NOTS-EV | ![]() | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | Only orbital launches |
R-7 | ![]() | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
Thor | ![]() | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | Maiden flight |
Viking | ![]() | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | |
By type and configuration
Rocket | Country | Type | Family | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlas B | ![]() | SM-65 Atlas | Atlas | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight, only orbital launch |
Juno I | ![]() | Jupiter-C | Redstone | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Juno II | ![]() | Juno | Jupiter | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Maiden flight |
Luna | ![]() | Vostok | R-7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Pilot II | ![]() | Pilot | NOTS-EV | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | Only flights |
Sputnik 8A91 | ![]() | Sputnik | R-7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Only flights |
Thor DM-18 Able-I | ![]() | Thor-Able | Thor | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | Maiden flight |
Vanguard | ![]() | Vanguard | Viking | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | |
By launch site
Site | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baikonur | ![]() | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
Cape Canaveral | ![]() | 17 | 5 | 10 | 2 | |
Point Mugu | ![]() | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
By orbit
Orbital regime | Launches | Successes | Failures | Accidentally Achieved |
Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catalogued Suborbital | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2 | Pioneer 1 and Pioneer 3 went more than 100'000 km on their way to the Moon but were ultimately suborbital due to insufficient velocity. |
Low Earth | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
Medium Earth | 17 | 4 | 13 | 0 | |
Heliocentric | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
References
Generic references:
Spaceflight portal
![](../I/RocketSunIcon.svg.png.webp)
- 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".
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Jonathan's Space Report".
- Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive".
- Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica".
- Webb, Brian. "Southwest Space Archive".
- Zak, Anatoly. "Russian Space Web".
- "ISS Calendar". Spaceflight 101.
- "NSSDCA Master Catalog". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
- "Space Calendar". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
- "Space Information Center". JAXA.
- "Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).
Footnotes
- Krebs, Gunter. "Vanguard". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
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