Wikipedia

1961 in spaceflight (January–June)

This is a list of spaceflights launched between January and June 1961. For launches between July and December, see 1961 in spaceflight (July–December). For an overview of the whole year, see 1961 in spaceflight.

Orbital launches edit

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

January-June edit

31 January
20:21:19 		 Atlas LV-3A Agena-A  Point Arguello LC-1-1  US Air Force
 Samos 2 US Air Force Low Earth Optical imaging 21 October 1973 Successful
Electro-optical satellite
4 February
01:18:03 		 Molniya  Baikonur Site 1/5  RVSN
 Venera-1VA 1 RVSN Intended: Heliocentric
Achieved: Low Earth 		Venus flyby 26 February Launch failure
Upper stage failed to ignite
12 February
00:43:46 		 Molniya  Baikonur Site 1/5  RVSN
 Venera 1 (Venera-1VA 2) RVSN Heliocentric Venus flyby In orbit Spacecraft failure
First probe to fly past Venus, contact lost before flyby
16 February
13:05 		 Scout X-1  Wallops Island LA-3  NASA
 Explorer 9 (S-56A) NASA Medium Earth Air density 9 April 1964 Successful
17 February
20:25 		 Thor DM-21 Agena-B  Vandenberg LC-75-3-4  US Air Force
 Discoverer 20 (KH-5 9014A) US Air Force Low Earth Optical imaging 28 July 1962 Successful
 SRV 520 US Air Force Low Earth Film return 31 October Spacecraft failure
Film recovery failed
18 February
22:58 		 Thor DM-21 Agena-B  Vandenberg LC-75-3-5  US Air Force
 Discoverer 21 (MIDAS RM-2) US Air Force Low Earth Technology
Missile defence		 20 April 1962 Successful
22 February
20:25 		 Thor DM-21 Ablestar  Cape Canaveral LC-17B  US Air Force
 Transit 3B US Navy Low Earth Navigation
Technology		 30 March Partial launch failure
 LOFTI-1 NRL Low Earth Technology
Ionospheric
Spacecraft failed to separate from upper stage, some data still returned
25 February
00:13:16 		 Juno II  Cape Canaveral LC-26B  ABMA
 S-45 NASA Intended: Highly elliptical Ionospheric 25 February Launch failure
Third stage failed to ignite
9 March
06:29:00 		 Vostok-K  Baikonur Site 1/5  RVSN
 Korabl'-Sputnik 4 (Vostok-3KA 1) RVSN Low Earth Test flight 08:09:54 Successful
Carried a dog and a mannequin
25 March
05:54:00 		 Vostok-K  Baikonur Site 1/5  RVSN
 Korabl'-Sputnik 5 (Vostok-3KA 2) RVSN Low Earth Test flight 07:40 Successful
Carried a dog and a mannequin
25 March
15:17:04 		 Thor DM-19 Delta  Cape Canaveral LC-17A  US Air Force
 Explorer 10 (P-14) NASA Highly elliptical Magnetospheric
Plasma research		 In orbit Successful
Successfully completed operations fifty-two hours after launch
30 March
20:34:43 		 Thor DM-21 Agena-B  Vandenberg LC-75-3-4  US Air Force
 Discoverer 22 (KH-2 9015) US Air Force Intended: Low Earth Optical imaging 30 March Launch failure
 SRV 509 US Air Force Intended: Low Earth Film return
Second stage attitude control system failure[1]
8 April
19:21:08 		 Thor DM-21 Agena-B  Vandenberg LC-75-3-5  US Air Force
 Discoverer 23 (KH-5 9016A) US Air Force Low Earth Optical imaging 16 April 1962 Successful
 SRV 509 US Air Force Low Earth Film return 23 May 1962 Spacecraft failure
SRV raised orbit during deorbit burn
12 April
06:07:00 		 Vostok-K  Baikonur Site 1/5  RVSN
 Vostok 1 RVSN Low Earth Test flight 07:55 Successful
Carried Yuri Gagarin, first crewed spaceflight. Equipment module did not fully separate until reentry was underway. Gagarin ejected from the spacecraft following reentry due to a predicted hard landing, and landed separately at 08:05.
25 April
16:15 		 Atlas LV-3B  Cape Canaveral LC-14  US Air Force
 Mercury-Atlas 3 NASA Intended: Low Earth Test flight 16:23 Launch failure
Carrier rocket destroyed by range safety 43.4 seconds after launch, following failure of guidance system to execute pitch and roll commands, spacecraft separated by launch escape system and travelled 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) downrange, reaching an apogee of 7.2 kilometres (4.5 mi)
27 April
14:16:38 		 Juno II  Cape Canaveral LC-26B  ABMA
 Explorer 11 (S-15) NASA Low Earth GR astronomy In orbit Partial spacecraft failure
Onboard recorder failed during or immediately after launch, data returned through direct transmission
24 May
19:48:05 		 Juno II  Cape Canaveral LC-26B  ABMA
 S-45A NASA Intended: Highly elliptical Ionospheric 27 April Launch failure
Second stage failed to ignite, final flight of Juno II
8 June
21:16 		 Thor DM-21 Agena-B  Vandenberg LC-75-3-4  US Air Force
 Discoverer 24 (KH-5 9018A) US Air Force Intended: Low Earth Optical imaging 8 June Launch failure
 SRV 541 US Air Force Intended: Low Earth Film return
Failed to orbit
16 June
23:02 		 Thor DM-21 Agena-B  Vandenberg LC-75-1-1  US Air Force
 Discoverer 25 (KH-2 9017) US Air Force Low Earth Optical imaging 12 July Successful
 SRV 510 US Air Force Low Earth Film return 19 June Successful
29 June
04:22 		 Thor DM-21 Ablestar  Cape Canaveral LC-17B  US Air Force
 Transit 4A US Navy Low Earth Navigation
Technology		 In orbit Successful
 Injun-1 Iowa Low Earth Ionospheric In orbit Partial spacecraft failure
 Solrad 3 (GRAB-3) US Navy/NRL Low Earth Radiation
ELINT		 In orbit Partial spacecraft failure
Injun-1 and Solrad 3 failed to separate from each other, particularly affecting operations of the Injun satellite, Transit 4A carried a SNAP-3 nuclear reactor.

After completing the mission, the Able upper stage exploded in orbit, creating hundreds of space debris.[2]

30 June
17:09 		 Scout X-1  Wallops Island LA-3  NASA
 S-55 NASA Intended: Low Earth Technology
Meteorite research		 30 June Launch failure
Third stage failed to ignite

Suborbital launches edit

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

January edit

6 January
00:10 		 MGM-31 Pershing I  Cape Canaveral LC-30  US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 6 January Launch failure
7 January
17:33:42 		 RM-89 Blue Scout I  Cape Canaveral LC-18B  US Air Force
HCO Suborbital Plasma research
Astronomy		 7 January Successful
Apogee: 1,600 kilometres (990 mi)
10 January
17:15 		 UGM-27 Polaris A2  Cape Canaveral LC-29A  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 10 January Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
10 January  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 10 January Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
11 January
18:40 		 UGM-27 Polaris A1  USS Robert E. Lee, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 11 January Launch failure
Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi)
12 January
16:54 		 Nike-Cajun  Salto di Quirra  CRA
ROSAP Suborbital Aeronomy 12 January Successful
Apogee: 160 kilometres (99 mi), first Italian spaceflight
13 January  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 13 January Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
13 January  R-5 Pobeda  Kapustin Yar  OKB-30
OKB-30 Suborbital Target 13 January Successful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
14 January
01:19:04 		 R-7A Semyorka  Baikonur Site 31/6  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 14 January Successful
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi), first launch from Site 31
14 January  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 14 January Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
14 January  R-5 Pobeda  Kapustin Yar  OKB-30
OKB-30 Suborbital Target 14 January Successful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
14 January  UGM-27 Polaris A1  USS Robert E. Lee, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 14 January Launch failure
Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi)
17 January
21:25 		 Nike-Asp  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital Test flight 17 January Successful
Apogee: 209 kilometres (130 mi)
18 January
04:00 		 Trailblazer 1  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital REV Test 18 January Successful
Apogee: 260 kilometres (160 mi)
19 January
12:42 		 Iris  Wallops Island LA-1  NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 19 January Launch failure
Apogee: 138 kilometres (86 mi)
20 January
20:53 		 HGM-25A Titan I  Cape Canaveral LC-19  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 20 January Launch failure
23 January
21:02 		 SM-65D Atlas  Cape Canaveral LC-12  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 23 January Successful
Apogee: 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi)
24 January
21:55 		 SM-65E Atlas  Cape Canaveral LC-13  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 24 January Launch failure
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), went out of control
26 January
00:30 		 MGM-31 Pershing I  Cape Canaveral LC-30A  US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 26 January Successful
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
30 January
23:20 		 Aerobee-150 (Hi)  Eglin  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 30 January Successful
Apogee: 204 kilometres (127 mi)
31 January
16:54:51 		 Redstone MRLV  Cape Canaveral LC-5  NASA
 Mercury-Redstone 2 NASA Suborbital Test flight 31 January Successful
Apogee: 251 kilometres (156 mi), carried Ham, a chimpanzee
January  R-14 Chusovaya  Kapustin Yar  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test January Successful
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
January  R-14 Chusovaya  Kapustin Yar  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test January Successful
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
January  R-14 Chusovaya  Kapustin Yar  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test January Successful
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
January  R-14 Chusovaya  Kapustin Yar  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test January Successful
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
January  R-14 Chusovaya  Kapustin Yar  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test January Successful
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
January  Kisha-Judi  Tonopah  Sandia
Sandia Suborbital Test flight January Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)

February edit

1 February
15:59 		 LGM-30A Minuteman IA  Cape Canaveral LC-31A  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 1 February Successful
Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
1 February  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 1 February Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
2 February
19:00 		 R-16  Baikonur Site 41  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 2 February Launch failure
5 February
13:48 		 Aerobee-150A  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital Technology 5 February Successful
Apogee: 152 kilometres (94 mi)
6 February
21:40 		 UGM-27 Polaris A2  Cape Canaveral LC-25A  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 6 February Launch failure
7 February
12:46 		 Black Knight 201  Woomera LA-5A  RAE
RAE Suborbital REV Test 7 February Successful
Apogee: 687 kilometres (427 mi)
8 February  R-14 Chusovaya  Kapustin Yar  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 8 February Successful
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
10 February
05:55 		 HGM-25A Titan I  Cape Canaveral LC-20  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 10 February Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
10 February  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 10 February Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
10 February  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 10 February Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
13 February
04:39 		 R-7A Semyorka  Baikonur Site 31/6  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 13 February Successful
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
13 February
13:58 		 Skylark-2  Woomera LA-2  RAE
UCL Suborbital Aeronomy 13 February Successful
Apogee: 146 kilometres (91 mi)
13 February  Véronique  Hammaguira Blandine  CASDN
LPA Suborbital Aeronomy 13 February Launch failure
14 February
23:50 		 Nike-Cajun  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 14 February Successful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
14 February  Strongarm  Wallops Island  Ballistic Research Laboratory
US Air Force/BRL Suborbital Test flight 14 February Launch failure
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
15 February
22:01 		 Véronique  Hammaguira Blandine  CASDN
LPA Suborbital Aeronomy 15 February Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
16 February
01:27 		 MGM-31 Pershing I  Cape Canaveral LC-30  US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 16 February Successful
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
17 February
07:17 		 Nike Apache  Wallops Island  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Test flight 17 February Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
17 February
19:04 		 Aerobee-150 (Hi)  Eglin  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Solar 17 February Successful
Apogee: 275 kilometres (171 mi)
18 February  Strongarm  Wallops Island  BRL
US Air Force/BRL Suborbital Test flight 18 February Successful
Apogee: 2,027 kilometres (1,260 mi)
18 February  R-5 Pobeda  Kapustin Yar  OKB-30
OKB-30 Suborbital Target 18 February Successful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
18 February  Véronique  Hammaguira Blandine  CASDN
LPA Suborbital Aeronomy 18 February Launch failure
Apogee: 16 kilometres (9.9 mi)
20 February  HGM-25A Titan I  Cape Canaveral LC-19  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 20 February Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
21 February
14:12 		 Atlas LV-3B  Cape Canaveral LC-14  US Air Force
 Mercury-Atlas 2 NASA Suborbital Test flight 14:28 Successful
Apogee: 182 kilometres (113 mi)
22 February
07:00 		 Véronique  Hammaguira Blandine  CASDN
CERMA Suborbital Biological research 22 February Successful
Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi)
22 February  R-5 Pobeda  Kapustin Yar  OKB-30
OKB-30 Suborbital Target 22 February Successful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
24 February
00:19 		 Nike-Cajun  Eglin  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 24 February Successful
Apogee: 133 kilometres (83 mi)
24 February
18:29 		 SM-65E Atlas  Cape Canaveral LC-13  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 24 February Successful
Apogee: 1,500 kilometres (930 mi)
27 February
00:52 		 R-7 Semyorka  Baikonur Site 31/6  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 27 February Successful
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi), final flight of R-7 Semyorka
February  R-14 Chusovaya  Kapustin Yar  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test February Successful
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
February  R-14 Chusovaya  Kapustin Yar  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test February Successful
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)

March edit

1 March
15:42 		 Nike-Asp  Eglin  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Solar 1 March Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
1 March
18:19 		 UGM-27 Polaris A2  USNS Observation Island, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 1 March Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
2 March
05:07 		 MGM-31 Pershing I  Cape Canaveral LC-30A  US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 2 March Successful
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
2 March  R-12 Dvina  Makat  OKB-30
OKB-30 Suborbital Target 2 March Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
3 March
03:39 		 Nike-Cajun  Eglin  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Ionospheric 3 March Launch failure
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
3 March
13:59:19 		 R-16  Baikonur Site 41  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 3 March Successful
Apogee: 1,210 kilometres (750 mi)
3 March
16:02 		 RM-90 Blue Scout II  Cape Canaveral LC-18B  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Plasma research 3 March Successful
Apogee: 2,540 kilometres (1,580 mi)
3 March  Antares (OPd-56-39-22D)  CERES  ONERA
ONERA Suborbital REV Test 3 March Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
3 March  HGM-25A Titan I  Cape Canaveral LC-20  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 3 March Launch failure
4 March  R-12 Dvina  Makat  OKB-30
OKB-30 Suborbital Target 4 March Successful
Apogee: 460 kilometres (290 mi)
6 March
09:56 		 Skylark-2C  Woomera LA-2  RAE
UCL/QUB Suborbital Aeronomy 6 March Successful
Apogee: 231 kilometres (144 mi)
6 March  Antares (OPd-56-39-22D)  CERES  ONERA
ONERA Suborbital REV Test 6 March Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
7 March  Antares (OPd-56-39-22D)  CERES  ONERA
ONERA Suborbital REV Test 7 March Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
8 March
16:53 		 Aerobee-300  Eglin  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Ionospheric 8 March Successful
Apogee: 400 kilometres (250 mi)
8 March
17:53 		 Astrobee-1500  Eglin  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Ionospheric 8 March Successful
Apogee: 431 kilometres (268 mi)
9 March  UGM-27 Polaris A2  USNS Observation Island, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 9 March Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
10 March  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 10 March Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
11 March  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 11 March Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
14 March
04:17 		 SM-65E Atlas  Cape Canaveral LC-13  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 14 March Launch failure
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), propellant system malfunctioned
14 March
21:52 		 Nike-Cajun  Eglin  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Ionospheric 14 March Successful
Apogee: 118 kilometres (73 mi)
15 March
17:47 		 Nike-Cajun  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital Test flight 15 March Successful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
15 March  UGM-27 Polaris A2  Cape Canaveral LC-29A  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 15 March Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
16 March
01:19 		 MGM-31 Pershing I  Cape Canaveral LC-30A  US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 16 March Successful
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
17 March  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 17 March Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
23 March
16:25 		 UGM-27 Polaris A1  USS Theodore Roosevelt, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 23 March Launch failure
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
23 March
19:25 		 UGM-27 Polaris A1  USS Theodore Roosevelt, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 23 March Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
23 March
22:41 		 UGM-27 Polaris A1  USS Theodore Roosevelt, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 23 March Launch failure
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
24 March
17:30 		 Redstone MRLV  Cape Canaveral LC-5  NASA
 Mercury-Redstone BD NASA Suborbital Test flight 24 March Successful
Apogee: 181 kilometres (112 mi)
24 March
19:17 		 Nike-Cajun  Eglin  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Ionospheric 24 March Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
25 March
01:49 		 SM-65E Atlas  Cape Canaveral LC-13  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 25 March Launch failure
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), electrical system malfunctioned
25 March  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 25 March Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
26 March
16:54 		 Aerobee-300A  Wallops Island  NASA
Michigan Suborbital Ionospheric 26 March Successful
Apogee: 386 kilometres (240 mi)
26 March  R-5 Pobeda  Kapustin Yar  OKB-30
OKB-30 Suborbital Target 26 March Successful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
27 March
04:08 		 Kappa-8  Akita  ISAS
ISAS/RRL Suborbital Ionospheric 27 March Successful
Apogee: 172 kilometres (107 mi)
28 March  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 28 March Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
28 March  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 28 March Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
28 March  HGM-25A Titan I  Cape Canaveral LC-19  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 28 March Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
30 March
05:13:43 		 PGM-17 Thor DM-18A  Vandenberg LC-75-2-7  Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force Suborbital Missile test 30 March Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
31 March
19:42 		 HGM-25A Titan I  Cape Canaveral LC-20  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 31 March Launch failure
March  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test March Launch failure
1st Quarter  Nike Zeus  White Sands LC-38  US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 1st Quarter Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)

April edit

1 April
03:25 		 Kappa-9L  Akita  ISAS
ISAS Suborbital Test flight 1 April Successful
Apogee: 350 kilometres (220 mi)
2 April
14:06 		 R-16  Baikonur Site 41  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 2 April Successful
Apogee: 1,210 kilometres (750 mi)
3 April  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 3 April Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
4 April  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 4 April Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
5 April
10:56 		 Skylark-2  Woomera LA-2  RAE
UCL Suborbital Aeronomy 5 April Successful
Apogee: 158 kilometres (98 mi)
5 April
12:57 		 Nike-Cajun  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 5 April Successful
Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi)
6 April  UGM-27 Polaris A1  USS Theodore Roosevelt, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 6 April Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
7 April  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 7 April Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
9 April
09:16 		 R-9 Desna  Baikonur Site 51  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 9 April Successful
Apogee: 1,160 kilometres (720 mi)
10 April  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 10 April Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
11 April
15:40 		 UGM-27 Polaris A2  Cape Canaveral LC-29A  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 11 April Launch failure
Apogee: 50 kilometres (31 mi)
11 April
15:40 		 UGM-27 Polaris A2  Cape Canaveral LC-29A  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 11 April Launch failure
Apogee: 50 kilometres (31 mi)
12 April
06:07 		 RM-90 Blue Scout II  Cape Canaveral LC-18B  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Plasma research 12 April Successful
Apogee: 1,931 kilometres (1,200 mi)
14 April
17:15 		 Aerobee-150A  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital Test flight 14 April Successful
Apogee: 206 kilometres (128 mi)
14 April  R-7A Semyorka  Baikonur Site 31/6  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 14 April Launch failure
15 April
13:58:29 		 R-16  Baikonur Site 41  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 15 April Launch failure
18 April
04:40 		 Aerobee-150 (Hi)  White Sands LC-35  NRL
NRL Suborbital UV Astronomy 18 April Successful
Apogee: 242 kilometres (150 mi)
18 April
12:27 		 Kappa-8  Akita  ISAS
TAO/TOK Suborbital Ionospheric 18 April Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
19 April
09:36 		 Nike-Asp  Wallops Island  NASA
GCA Suborbital Aeronomy 19 April Successful
Apogee: 164 kilometres (102 mi)
19 April
18:37 		 Nike-Asp  Salto di Quirra  CRA
ROSAP Suborbital Aeronomy 19 April Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
19 April  UGM-27 Polaris A1  USS Robert E. Lee, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 19 April Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
19 April  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 19 April Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
20 April
03:46 		 Nike-Asp  Salto di Quirra  CRA
ROSAP Suborbital Aeronomy 20 April Successful
Apogee: 190 kilometres (120 mi)
20 April
18:39 		 Nike-Asp  Salto di Quirra  CRA
ROSAP Suborbital Aeronomy 20 April Successful
Apogee: 188 kilometres (117 mi)
20 April
18:43 		 Nike-Asp  Salto di Quirra  CRA
ROSAP Suborbital Aeronomy 20 April Successful
Apogee: 190 kilometres (120 mi)
21 April
00:12 		 Nike-Asp  Wallops Island  NASA
GCA Suborbital Aeronomy 21 April Launch failure
Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi)
21 April
02:26:14 		 R-9 Desna  Baikonur Site 51  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 21 April Successful
Apogee: 1,160 kilometres (720 mi)
21 April
05:56:20 		 Trailblazer 1  Wallops Island  NASA
US Air Force Suborbital REV Test 21 April Successful
Apogee: 280 kilometres (170 mi)
21 April
09:34 		 Nike-Asp  Wallops Island  NASA
GCA Suborbital Aeronomy 21 April Launch failure
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
21 April
09:39 		 Nike-Asp  Wallops Island  NASA
GCA Suborbital Aeronomy 21 April Successful
Apogee: 165 kilometres (103 mi)
21 April
12:00 		 Aerobee-150A  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital Technology 21 April Successful
Apogee: 154 kilometres (96 mi)
21 April
15:53 		 MGM-31 Pershing I  Cape Canaveral LC-30A  US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 21 April Successful
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
21 April  R-16  Baikonur Site 41  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 21 April Launch failure
22 April  PGM-19 Jupiter  Cape Canaveral LC-26A  US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 22 April Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
25 April
02:26 		 R-9 Desna  Baikonur Site 51  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 25 April Launch failure
27 April
20:02 		 Javelin  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital Ionospheric 27 April Successful
Apogee: 724 kilometres (450 mi)
27 April
22:32 		 Nike-Cajun  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 27 April Launch failure
Apogee: 18 kilometres (11 mi)
27 April  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 27 April Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
28 April  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 28 April Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)

May edit

1 May
12:10 		 Skylark-2  Woomera LA-2  RAE
UCL Suborbital UV Astronomy 1 May Successful
Apogee: 155 kilometres (96 mi)
1 May  UGM-27 Polaris A2  Cape Canaveral LC-29A  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 1 May Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
3 May
17:00 		 UGM-27 Polaris A1  USS Abraham Lincoln, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 3 May Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
5 May
14:34 		 Redstone MRLV  Cape Canaveral LC-5  NASA
 Mercury-Redstone 3 NASA Suborbital Crewed flight 14:49 Successful
Carried Alan Shepard, first American in space, apogee 187 kilometres (116 mi)
5 May
23:00 		 Nike-Cajun  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 5 May Successful
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi)
6 May
04:54 		 Nike-Cajun  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 6 May Successful
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi)
8 May
17:10 		 UGM-27 Polaris A2  Cape Canaveral LC-29A  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 8 May Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
9 May
11:53 		 Nike-Cajun  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 9 May Successful
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi)
9 May
12:07 		 Black Knight 201  Woomera LA-5B  RAE
RAE Suborbital REV Test 9 May Launch failure
Apogee: 415 kilometres (258 mi)
9 May
16:00:22 		 RM-89 Blue Scout I  Cape Canaveral LC-18B  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Plasma research 9 May Launch failure
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
10 May  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 10 May Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
13 May
02:00 		 SM-65E Atlas  Cape Canaveral LC-11  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 13 May Successful
Apogee: 1,500 kilometres (930 mi)
13 May  Antares (OPd-56-39-22D)  Hammaguira  ONERA
ONERA Suborbital Ionospheric 13 May Successful
Apogee: 280 kilometres (170 mi)
16 May
15:45 		 Aerobee-150 (Hi)  White Sands LC-35  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Solar 16 May Successful
Apogee: 294 kilometres (183 mi)
16 May
17:00 		 Aerobee-150 (Hi)  White Sands LC-35  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Solar 16 May Successful
Apogee: 312 kilometres (194 mi)
16 May
19:23:27 		 R-16  Baikonur Site 41  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 16 May Successful
Apogee: 1,210 kilometres (750 mi)
17 May  UGM-27 Polaris A1  USS Abraham Lincoln, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 17 May Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
17 May  UGM-27 Polaris A1  USS Abraham Lincoln, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 17 May Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
17 May  UGM-27 Polaris A1  USS Abraham Lincoln, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 17 May Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
17 May  UGM-27 Polaris A1  USS Abraham Lincoln, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 17 May Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
17 May  UGM-27 Polaris A1  USS Abraham Lincoln, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 17 May Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
18 May
06:10 		 Trailblazer 1  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital REV Test 18 May Successful
Apogee: 260 kilometres (160 mi)
19 May
02:00 		 MGM-31 Pershing I  Cape Canaveral LC-30  US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 19 May Successful
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
19 May
14:18 		 LGM-30A Minuteman IA  Cape Canaveral LC-31A  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 19 May Launch failure
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
23 May  HGM-25A Titan I  Cape Canaveral LC-20  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 23 May Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
24 May
03:18:06 		 R-16  Baikonur Site 41/4  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 24 May Launch failure
24 May
21:50:38 		 SM-65D Atlas  Vandenberg LC-576B-2  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 24 May Successful
Apogee: 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi)
25 May
17:03 		 Nike-Apache  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital Test flight 25 May Successful
Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi)
25 May  Aerobee-150 (Hi)  White Sands LC-35  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Solar 25 May Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
25 May  Nike Zeus  White Sands LC-38  US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 25 May Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
25 May  UGM-27 Polaris A2  USNS Observation Island, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 25 May Launch failure
26 May
02:26 		 SM-65E Atlas  Cape Canaveral LC-13  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 26 May Successful
Apogee: 1,500 kilometres (930 mi)
27 May  Centaure  Hammaguira Bacchus  CNES
CNET Suborbital Test flight 27 May Successful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
29 May
01:44:23 		 R-9 Desna  Baikonur Site 51  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 29 May Launch failure
29 May  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 29 May Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
29 May  Centaure  Hammaguira Bacchus  CNES
CNET Suborbital Test flight 29 May Successful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
30 May
05:15 		 Skylark-2  Woomera LA-2  RAE
RAE/WRE Suborbital Test flight 30 May Successful
Apogee: 149 kilometres (93 mi)
May  Kiva-Hopi  Wallops Island  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy May Successful
Apogee: 273 kilometres (170 mi)

June edit

2 June
05:12:14 		 R-9 Desna  Baikonur Site 51  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 2 June Launch failure
2 June
17:24:30 		 R-16  Baikonur Site 41/4  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 2 June Successful
Apogee: 1,210 kilometres (750 mi)
4 June  R-14 Chusovaya  Kapustin Yar  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 4 June Successful
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
6 June
12:31 		 Aerobee-150 (Hi)  White Sands LC-35  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Meteorite research 6 June Successful
Apogee: 165 kilometres (103 mi)
6 June
18:00 		 R-16  Baikonur Site 41/4  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 6 June Launch failure
6 June
21:48 		 Nike-Cajun  Wallops Island  NASA
Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 6 June Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
7 June
00:40 		 Skylark-2  Woomera LA-2  RAE
RAE/WRE Suborbital Test flight 7 June Successful
Apogee: 184 kilometres (114 mi)
7 June
11:20 		 Black Knight 201  Woomera LA-5  RAE
UCL Suborbital REV test
Ionospheric		 7 June Launch failure
Apogee: 583 kilometres (362 mi)
7 June
21:37:31 		 SM-65E Atlas  Vandenberg OSTF-1  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 7 June Launch failure
9 June
05:11 		 MGM-31 Pershing I  Cape Canaveral LC-30  US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 9 June Successful
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
9 June
18:02 		 Nike-Cajun  Wallops Island  NASA
Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 9 June Successful
Apogee: 142 kilometres (88 mi)
9 June  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 9 June Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
9 June  R-12 Dvina  Makat  OKB-30
OKB-30 Suborbital Target 9 June Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
10 June  Véronique  Hammaguira Blandine  CRS
CNRS Suborbital Aeronomy 10 June Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
12 June
15:53 		 UGM-27 Polaris A2  Cape Canaveral LC-25A  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 12 June Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
13 June
05:12 		 Javelin  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital Ionospheric 13 June Successful
Apogee: 867 kilometres (539 mi)
15 June
00:02:59 		 Javelin  Wallops Island  NASA
DRTE/CRC Suborbital Ionospheric 15 June Successful
Apogee: 901 kilometres (560 mi)
15 June
05:45 		 R-7A Semyorka  Baikonur Site 31/6  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 15 June Successful
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
15 June  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 15 June Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
16 June
07:47:23 		 R-16  Baikonur Site 41/4  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 16 June Launch failure
17 June
07:29 		 Aerobee-150 (Hi)  White Sands LC-35  NRL
NRL Suborbital Aeronomy 17 June Successful
Apogee: 197 kilometres (122 mi)
18 June
04:35 		 Kappa-4  Obachi  ISAS
TOK Suborbital Cosmic ray research 18 June Successful
Apogee: 105 kilometres (65 mi)
20 June
23:54 		 PGM-17 Thor DM-18A  Vandenberg LC-75-2-7  Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force Suborbital Missile test 20 June Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
21 June
14:45 		 Aerobee-150 (Hi)  White Sands LC-35  NRL
NRL Suborbital Solar 21 June Successful
Apogee: 271 kilometres (168 mi)
23 June
03:00 		 SM-65E Atlas  Cape Canaveral LC-11  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 23 June Launch failure
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), went out of control
23 June
15:00 		 Nike-Cajun  Eglin  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Meteorite research 23 June Successful
Apogee: 157 kilometres (98 mi)
23 June
23:40 		 Nike-Zeus  White Sands LC-38  US Army
US Army Suborbital Missile test 23 June Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
24 June
03:28 		 HGM-25A Titan I  Cape Canaveral LC-19  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 24 June Launch failure
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
24 June
23:17 		 Javelin  Wallops Island  NASA
CRPL Suborbital Ionospheric 24 June Successful
Apogee: 1,018 kilometres (633 mi)
24 June  R-12 Dvina  Makat  OKB-30
OKB-30 Suborbital Target 24 June Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
26 June
15:15 		 Aerobee-150A  Wallops Island  NASA
NASA Suborbital Test flight 26 June Successful
Apogee: 187 kilometres (116 mi)
26 June  UGM-27 Polaris A2  USNS Observation Island, ETR  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 26 June Launch failure
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
29 June  R-12 Dvina  Kapustin Yar  MVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 29 June Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
30 June
17:20 		 Astrobee-200  Eglin  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Test flight 30 June Launch failure
Apogee: 29 kilometres (18 mi)
30 June  R-12 Dvina  Makat  OKB-30
OKB-30 Suborbital Target 30 June Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)

References edit

  • Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
  • Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
  • Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.[dead link]
  • Krebs, Gunter. "Chronology of Space Launches".
  • Kyle, Ed. "Space Launch Report". Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  • McDowell, Jonathan. "GCAT Orbital Launch Log".
  • Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive".
  • Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica".
  • Webb, Brian. "Southwest Space Archive".
  • Zak, Anatoly. "Russian Space Web".
  • "ISS Calendar". Spaceflight 101.
  • "NSSDCA Master Catalog". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
  • "Space Calendar". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.[dead link]
  • "Space Information Center". JAXA.[dead link]
  • "Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).
Generic references:

  Spaceflight portal

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ "Corona Program". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  2. ^ Orbital Debris: A Chronology (PDF). NASA JSC. January 1999. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 September 2000. Retrieved 13 February 2016. Two hours after separating from the U.S. Transit 4-A satellite, its Able Star upper stage becomes the first known artificial object to break up unintentionally in space. The cause of the explosion is unknown. The event produces at least 294 trackable pieces, more than tripling the number of known satellites of Earth.
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