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)

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

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

Kyle, Ed. "Space Launch Report".  Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica".  Krebs, Gunter. "Chronology of Space Launches". Gunter's Space Page.  "Space Information Center". JAXA.  McDowell, Jonathan. "Jonathan's Space Report". Jonathan's Space Page.  "Mission Set Database". NASA GSFC.  "NASASpaceFlight.com".  "Launch Logs". Orbital Report News Agency.  "Space Calendar". NASA JPL.  "Southwest Space Archive".  "Launch Forecast". Space.com.  "Spaceflight Now".  Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive".  "U.S. Space Objects Registry".  "Хроника освоения космоса ('Chronicle of space exploration')" (in Russian). Cosmoworld.ru.

Generic references: