1960 in spaceflight

For launches in the first half of the year, see 1960 in spaceflight (January–June), for launches in the second half, see 1960 in spaceflight (July–December)

1960 in spaceflight

The launch escape system fires following the failed launch of Mercury-Redstone 1
Orbital launches
First	4 February
Last	22 December
Total	38
Successes	19
Failures	19
Partial failures	0
Catalogued	19
National firsts
Spaceflight	Japan China
Rockets
Maiden flights	Atlas-Agena Molniya Scout Thor DM-18 Able-IV Thor DM-21 Ablestar Thor DM-21 Agena-B Thor DM-19 Delta Vostok-L Vostok-K
Retirements	Atlas-Able Luna Thor-Able Thor DM-18 Agena-A Vostok-L

← Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec →

Orbital launch summary

By country

		Soviet Union   United States
Orbital launch attempts by country in 1960

Country	Launches	Successes	Failures	Partial failures	Remarks
Soviet Union	9	3	6
United States	29	16	13	0

By rocket

Rocket	Country	Launches	Successes	Failures	Partial failures	Remarks
Atlas-Able	United States	2	0	2	0	Retired
Atlas LV-3A Agena-A	United States	3	1	2	0	Maiden flight
Juno II	United States	2	1	1	0
Luna 8K72	Soviet Union	2	0	2	0	Retired
Molniya 8K78	Soviet Union	2	0	2	0	Maiden flight
Scout X-1	United States	1	0	1	0	Maiden flight
Thor DM-18 Able-II	United States	1	1	0	0	Retired
Thor DM-18 Able-IV	United States	1	1	0	0	Only flight
Thor DM-21 Ablestar	United States	5	3	2	0	Maiden flight
Thor DM-18 Agena-A	United States	7	4	3	0	Retired
Thor DM-21 Agena-B	United States	4	3	1	0	Maiden flight
Thor DM-19 Delta	United States	3	2	1	0	Maiden flight
Vostok-L 8K72	Soviet Union	3	0	1	0	Only flights
Vostok-K 8K72K	Soviet Union	1	0	1	0	Maiden flight

By orbit

Orbital regime	Launches	Successes	Failures	Accidentally Achieved	Remarks
Low Earth	26	16	10	0
Medium Earth	4	2	2	0
High Earth	1	0	1	0	Including Highly elliptical orbits
Heliocentric	7	1	6	0

References

• 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". 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.
• "Space Information Center". JAXA.
• "Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).

Generic references:
 Spaceflight portal