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	30 March	Partial launch failure
		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	30 March	Launch failure
		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	8 June	Launch failure
		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]

^ "Corona Program". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
^ 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.

[corona-1] "Corona Program". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.

[chronology-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.

[1]

[2]

Orbital launches[edit]

January-June[edit]

Suborbital launches[edit]

January[edit]

February[edit]

March[edit]

April[edit]

May[edit]

June[edit]

References[edit]

Footnotes[edit]