1952 in spaceflight

Launch of Viking 9, 15 December 1952

Rockets
Maiden flights|  Aerobee RTV-A-1c
Viking (second model)
Deacon rockoon
Retirements|  V-2
Aerobee RTV-A-1
Aerobee RTV-A-1c

* v
* t
* e

1952 in spaceflight

Timeline of spaceflight

<- 1951

1953 ->

* v
* t
* e

Timeline of spaceflight

* Spaceflight before 1951

1950s|

* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958 (H1, H2)
* 1959 (H1, H2)

1960s|

* 1960 (T1, T2, T3)
* 1961 (H1, H2)
* 1962 (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4)
* 1963 (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4)
* 1964 (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4)
* 1965 (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4)
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969

1970s|

* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979

1980s|

* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989

1990s|

* 1990
* 1991 (H1, H2)
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999

2000s|

* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009

2010s|

* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018 (H1, H2)
* 2019 (H1, H2)

2020s|

* 2020
* 2021 (H1, H2)
* 2022 (H1, H2)
* 2023 (H1, H2)
* 2024 (H1, H2)
* 2025 (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4)
* 2026
* 2027
* 2028
* 2029

* Future

In 1952, several branches of the United States' military, often in partnership with civilian organizations, continued their programs of sounding rocket research beyond the 100 kilometres (62 mi) boundary of space (as defined by the World Air Sports Federation)[1] using the Aerobee rocket. The University of Iowa launched its first series of rockoon flights, demonstrating the validity of the balloon-launched rocket, a comparatively inexpensive way to explore the upper atmosphere. The launch of Viking 9 at the end of the year to an altitude of 135 mi (217 km), by the Naval Research Laboratory team under the management of Milton Rosen, represented the pinnacle of contemporary operational rocket design.

The same year, groundwork was laid for the launch of the first artificial satellite when, in October, the General Assembly of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) scheduled the International Geophysical Year for 1957–58. This scientific endeavor would involve 67 nations in a global investigation of physical phenomena, on the ground and in space.

No new models of ballistic missile were added to the arsenals of either the United States or the Soviet Union in 1952. However, work continued on large rocket development, particularly the US Army's Redstone and the Soviet R-5 missile. Both the R-1 and R-2 missiles had operational test runs during the year.

## Space exploration highlights

[edit]

### US Navy

[edit]

In the late spring of 1952, the Naval Research Laboratory team, under the management of Milton Rosen, prepared to launch the first second-generation Viking rocket, Viking 8, from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The new Viking design was nearly one-and-a-half times as wide as its precursor, with the highest fuel-to-weight ratio of any rocket yet developed. The tail fins no longer supported the weight of the rocket, which had been the case with the first-generation design. Now, the Viking rocket rested on the base of its fuselage. This allowed the tail fins to be made much lighter, allowing the rocket to carry a heavier tank without weighing more than the first Viking design.[2]: 172–173

On 6 June 1952, Viking 8 broke loose of its moorings during a static firing test. After it was allowed to fly for 55 seconds in the hope that it would clear the immediate area and thus pose no danger to ground crew, Nat Wagner, head of the "Cutoff group", delivered a command to the rocket to cease its thrust. 65 seconds later, the rocket crashed 4 to 5 miles (6 to 8 km) downrange to the southeast.[2]: 180–181

With lessons learned from the Viking 8 failure, the successful 9 December static firing of Viking 9 was followed on 15 December by a successful launch from White Sands. The rocket reached an altitude of 135 miles (217 km), roughly the same as that of the first-generation Viking 7 in 1950. In addition to cameras that photographed the Earth during flight, Viking 9 carried a full suite of cosmic ray, ultraviolet, and X-ray detectors, including sixteen plates of emulsion gel for tracking the path of individual high energy particles. The experiment package was recovered intact after it had secured measurements high above the Earth's atmosphere.[2]: 185–203

### US Army

[edit]

The final flight of the V-2 rocket occurred on 19 September 1952 with an unsuccessful aeronomy mission conducted jointly by the Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories and University of Michigan from White Sands Launch Complex 33. The rocket reached an apogee of 7.1 kilometres (4.4 mi) before its tail exploded 27 seconds into the flight.[3]: 469–470

### American civilian efforts

[edit]

1952 saw the first rockoon flights. These balloon-mounted rockets were significantly cheaper than sounding rocket flights: $1800 per launch versus $25,000 for each Aerobee launch and $450,000 for each Viking launch. A series of seven ship-launched tests conducted by a University of Iowa team under James Van Allen achieved considerable success, with one flight grazing the edge of space with an apogee of 55 miles (89 km).[4]: 10–18

## Spacecraft development

[edit]

### US Air Force

[edit]

Progress remained slow throughout 1952 on the Atlas, the nation's first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the contract for which had been awarded to Consolidated Vultee in January 1951 by the US Air Force's Air Research and Development Command. Conservative development policies and daunting technical problems were the official causes, but the Air Force's apparent lack of enthusiasm for the project, along with a limited budget and resources, were factors as well. It was not until the first successful H-bomb test at Elugelab in November 1952 that development of the Atlas, potentially capable of delivering such a weapon, garnered more support.[5]: 59–71

### US Army

[edit]

On 8 April 1952, Redstone Arsenal in Alabama officially gave the name of "Redstone" to the surface-to-surface missile, capable of delivering nuclear or conventional warheads to a range of 200 miles (320 km), which they had started developing on 10 July 1951. The office of the Chief of Ordnance of the Army (OCO) tasked Chrysler Corporation to proceed with active work as the prime contractor on the missile by a letter order contract in October 1952; this contract definitized on 19 June 1953.[6]

### Soviet military

[edit]

In 1952, the Soviet Union focused its strategic rocket development on the R-5 missile, which superseded the overambitious 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi) range R-3, previously canceled on 20 October 1951.[7]: 275–6 OKB-1 under Sergei Korolev completed the conceptual design for the R-5, able to carry the same 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb) payload as the R-1 and R-2 but over a distance of 1,200 kilometres (750 mi),[7]: 242 by 30 October 1951.[8]: 97

This dramatic increase in performance of the R-5 over its predecessors was made possible through development of the RD-103 engine, an evolution of the RD-101 used in the R-2 missile, and by reducing the weight of the rocket through use of integrated tankage (while at the same time increasing propellant load by 60% over the R-2). The military had much more confidence in this incremental design than the radical leap forward that was the R-3, and work proceeded apace. Other innovations over the R-1 and R-2 included small aerodynamic rudders run by servomotors to replace the big fins of the R-1/R-2, and longitudinal acceleration integrators to improve the precision of engine cutoff and thus accuracy.[8]: 99–100 Two of the first ten R-5s produced underwent stand tests through February 1952,[9] and the sleek, cylindrical R-5, "the first Soviet strategic rocket", would be ready for its first launch March 1953.[8]: 99–100

Also in 1952, the design bureau OKB-486, under Valentin Glushko, began developing the RD-105 and RD-106 engines for an even more powerful rocket: the five engine R-6 ICBM. Using an integrated solder-welded configuration, developed by engineer Aleksei Isaev, these LOX/kerosene engines would be more powerful single chamber engines than those used in earlier rockets. Four 539.37 kN (121,260 lbf) RD-105 would power the R-6's four strap-on engines while a 519.75 kN (116,840 lbf) RD-106 would power the central booster.[8]: 108–109

That same year, there was also a series of fourteen test launches of the mass-produced version of R-2 missile, with a range of 600 kilometres (370 mi).[7]: 48–9 Twelve of the missiles reached their targets.[7]: 266 The R-1 also was test-launched seven times.[10]

### Civilian efforts

[edit]

In October 1952, the General Assembly of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) adopted a proposal to undertake a third International Polar Year. This endeavor would involve both a wider scope, encompassing simultaneous observations of geophysical phenomena over the entire surface of the Earth including the Arctic and Antarctica, as well as a longer period, lasting 18 months. The International Geophysical Year (IGY), set for 1957–58, ultimately would involve the participation of 67 countries. To coordinate this massive effort, the ICSU formed the Comité Speciale de l'Année Géophysique Internationale (CSAGI), 'International Geophysical Year Special Committee', which would hold four major meetings with representation from all participating countries over the next four years.[4]: 69 [11]: 19–21

In 1951, the University of Maryland's Fred Singer gave a series of lectures to the British Interplanetary Society in London espousing the use of small artificial satellites to conduct scientific observations. In 1952 Singer expanded his audience through publications and public presentations on his proposals for "MOUSE" (Minimum Orbiting Unmanned Satellite of the Earth). Though dismissed by many as too radical and/or in conflict with human exploration of space, the proposal catalyzed serious discussion of the use of satellites for scientific research.[4]: 73

## Launches

[edit]

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

### January

[edit]

January launches Date and time (UTC)  | Rocket | Flight number  | Launch site | LSP

|
|
|
|

| Payload | Operator  | Orbit | Function  | Decay (UTC)  | Outcome
Remarks
30 January
20:45  | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 21  | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force
Ionosphere 1  | AFCRC / University of Utah | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 30 January | Launch failure
Apogee: 0 kilometres (0 mi), rocket exploded in tower[3]: 85

### February

[edit]

February launches Date and time (UTC)  | Rocket | Flight number  | Launch site | LSP

|
|
|
|

| Payload | Operator  | Orbit | Function  | Decay (UTC)  | Outcome
Remarks
19 February
14:49  | Aerobee RTV-A-1c | USAF 22  | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force
| AFCRC / University of Utah | Suborbital  | Airglow | 19 February | Launch failure
Apogee: 0 kilometres (0 mi), maiden (and only) flight of the RTV-A-1c, which was an unboosted version of the RTV-A-1a. There was a thrust chamber explosion in the tower, but the instrumentation was recovered intact.[3]: 86
19 February
17:00  | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | NRL 7  | White Sands LC-35  | US Navy
| NRL | Suborbital  | Cosmic Radiation / Solar Radiation | 19 February | Successful
Apogee: 81.3 kilometres (50.5 mi)[3]: 303–304
29 February
14:40  | Aerobee RTV-A-1 | USAF 23  | Holloman LC-A  | US Air Force
| AFCRC / University of Utah  | Suborbital  | Airglow | 29 February | Successful
Apogee: 89.3 kilometres (55.5 mi)[3]: 87–88

### April

[edit]

April launches Date and time (UTC)  | Rocket | Flight number  | Launch site | LSP

|
|
|
|

| Payload | Operator  | Orbit | Function  | Decay (UTC)  | Outcome
Remarks
22 April
17:28  | Aerobee RTV-A-1 | USAF 24  | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force
| AFCRC / Boston University | Suborbital  | Ionospheric | 22 April | Successful
Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi)[3]: 89–90
30 April
13:30  | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | NRL 8  | White Sands LC-35  | US Navy
| NRL | Suborbital  | Cosmic Radiation / Solar Radiation | 30 April | Successful
Apogee: 127.8 kilometres (79.4 mi)[3]: 305

### May

[edit]

May launches Date and time (UTC)  | Rocket | Flight number  | Launch site | LSP

|
|
|
|

| Payload | Operator  | Orbit | Function  | Decay (UTC)  | Outcome
Remarks
1 May
14:59  | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | NRL 9  | White Sands LC-35  | US Navy
| NRL | Suborbital  | Cosmic Radiation / Solar Radiation | 1 May | Successful
Apogee: 126.0 kilometres (78.3 mi)[3]: 305
1 May
15:42  | Aerobee RTV-A-1 | USAF 25  | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force
| AFCRC / University of Rhode Island | Suborbital  | Solar UV | 1 May | Successful
Apogee: 91 kilometres (57 mi)[3]: 91–92
5 May
13:44  | Aerobee RTV-N-10  | NRL 10  | White Sands LC-35  | US Navy
| NRL  | Suborbital  | Cosmic Radiation / Solar Radiation | 5 May | Successful
Apogee: 127.0 kilometres (78.9 mi)[3]: 305
15 May
01:15  | Aerobee XASR-SC-1 | SC 23  | White Sands LC-35  | US Army
Sphere  | SCEL / University of Michigan | Suborbital  | Aeronomy | 15 May | Successful
Apogee: 76.1 kilometres (47.3 mi)[3]: 233–234
20 May
02:07  | Aerobee XASR-SC-1  | SC 24  | White Sands LC-35  | US Army
Grenades  | USASC  | Suborbital  | Aeronomy | 20 May | Successful
Apogee: 89.5 kilometres (55.6 mi)[3]: 235–236
20 May
16:06  | V-2 | V-2 No. 59 / TF-2  | White Sands LC-33 | US Army
| SCEL / University of Michigan  | Suborbital  | Aeronomy / Photography | 20 May | Successful
Apogee: 103.5 kilometres (64.3 mi)[3]: 455–456, 464
21 May
15:15  | Aerobee RTV-A-1  | USAF 26  | Holloman LC-A  | US Air Force
Aeromed 3  | AFCRL / WADC Aero-Medical Laboratory  | Suborbital  | Biological | 21 May | Successful
Carried 2 Philippine monkeys, Pat and Mike, and 2 mice; all recovered. Apogee: 61 kilometres (38 mi)[3]: 93–94 Flight tested requirement of restraints: one mouse was given a shelf to cling to; the other bounced from side to side of its smooth-sided plastic compartment. Acceleration was 15 gees for <1 second and 3-4 gees for 35 seconds. The two monkeys were strapped to their seats and anaesthetized. Mission demonstrated that pilot injury in rocket flight could be avoided with appropriate seats and straps.[12]

### June

[edit]

June launches Date and time (UTC)  | Rocket | Flight number  | Launch site | LSP

|
|
|
|

| Payload | Operator  | Orbit | Function  | Decay (UTC)  | Outcome
Remarks
6 June
17:30  | Viking (second model) |  | White Sands LC-33 | US Navy
Viking 8  | NRL | Suborbital  | Accidental launch | 6 June | Launch failure
Apogee: 6 kilometres (3.7 mi), accidentally launched during static fire ground test[13]
18 June
17:50  | Aerobee RTV-A-1 | USAF 27  | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force
| AFCRC / University of Denver | Suborbital  | Solar UV | 18 June | Successful
Apogee: 105 kilometres (65 mi)[3]: 95–96
30 June
14:32  | Aerobee RTV-A-1  | USAF 28  | Holloman LC-A  | US Air Force
Airglow 1  | AFCRC  | Suborbital  | Sky Brightness | 30 June | Successful
Apogee: 101 kilometres (63 mi)[3]: 97–98

### August

[edit]

August launches Date and time (UTC)  | Rocket | Flight number  | Launch site | LSP

|
|
|
|

| Payload | Operator  | Orbit | Function  | Decay (UTC)  | Outcome
Remarks
8 August | R-2 |  | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | 8 August |
First of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target[14][7]: 266
August | R-2  |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | Same day |
Second of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target[14][7]: 266
August | R-2  |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | Same day |
Third of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target[14][7]: 266
August | R-2  |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | Same day |
Fourth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target[14][7]: 266
August | R-2  |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | Same day |
Fifth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target[14][7]: 266
August | R-2  |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | Same day |
Sixth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target[14][7]: 266
August | R-2  |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | Same day |
Seventh of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target[14][7]: 266
August | R-2  |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | Same day |
Eighth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target[14][7]: 266
20 August | R-1 |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | 20 August | Successful[10]
21 August | R-1  |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | 21 August | Successful[10]
21 August
06:25  | Deacon rockoon | SUI 1  | USCGC Eastwind, Kane Basin | US Coast Guard
| University of Iowa | Suborbital  | Cosmic Radiation | 21 August | Partial failure
Maiden flight of the Deacon Rockoon, (balloon) apogee: 21.4 kilometres (13.3 mi), rocket failed to fire[3]: 312
22 August
07:33  | V-2 | TF-3  | White Sands LC-33 | US Army
| NRL / AFCRC / National Institutes of Health | Suborbital  | Aeronomy / Cosmic Radiation / Solar X-Ray / Magnetic Field / Sky Brightness | 22 August | Successful
Apogee: 78.1 kilometres (48.5 mi)[3]: 465–466
24 August
03:34  | Deacon rockoon  | SUI 2  | USCGC Eastwind, northern Baffin Bay | US Coast Guard
| University of Iowa  | Suborbital  | Cosmic Radiation | 24 August | Partial failure
(Balloon) Apogee: 21.4 kilometres (13.3 mi),[3]: 312 rocket failed to fire, but instrument package worked[4]: 17
25 August | R-1  |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | 25 August | Successful[10]
26 August
18:53  | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 29  | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force
Ionosphere 2  | AFCRC / University of Utah | Suborbital  | Ionospheric | 26 August | Launch failure
Apogee: 32 kilometres (20 mi)[3]: 99–100
29 August
00:26  | Deacon rockoon  | SUI 3  | USCGC Eastwind, northern Baffin Bay  | US Coast Guard
| University of Iowa  | Suborbital  | Cosmic Radiation | 29 August | Spacecraft failure
Apogee: 61.0 kilometres (37.9 mi),[3]: 312 first successful firing of balloon-launched rocket, instruments failed to return data[4]: 18
29 August
07:36  | Deacon rockoon  | SUI 4  | USCGC Eastwind, northern Baffin Bay  | US Coast Guard
| University of Iowa  | Suborbital  | Cosmic Radiation | 29 August | Successful
Apogee: 59.4 kilometres (36.9 mi)[3]: 312
29 August
18:15  | Deacon rockoon  | SUI 5  | USCGC Eastwind, northern Baffin Bay  | US Coast Guard
| University of Iowa  | Suborbital  | Cosmic Radiation | 29 August | Successful
Apogee: 76.1 kilometres (47.3 mi)[3]: 312
31 August
21:10  | Deacon rockoon  | SUI 6  | USCGC Eastwind, northern Baffin Bay  | US Coast Guard
| University of Iowa  | Suborbital  | Cosmic Radiation | 31 August | Successful
Apogee: 64.1 kilometres (39.8 mi)[3]: 313

### September

[edit]

September launches Date and time (UTC)  | Rocket | Flight number  | Launch site | LSP

|
|
|
|

| Payload | Operator  | Orbit | Function  | Decay (UTC)  | Outcome
Remarks
September | R-2 |  | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | Same day |
Ninth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target[14][7]: 266
September | R-2  |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | Same day |
Tenth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target[14][7]: 266
September | R-2  |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | Same day |
Eleventh of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target[14][7]: 266
September | R-2  |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | Same day |
Twelfth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target[14][7]: 266
September | R-2  |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | Same day |
Thirteenth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target[14][7]: 266
3 September
14:49  | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | NRL 11  | White Sands LC-35  | US Navy
| NRL | Suborbital  | Solar Radiation | 3 September | Successful
Apogee: 99.0 kilometres (61.5 mi)[3]: 305
4 September
09:17  | Deacon rockoon | SUI 7  | USCGC Eastwind, northern Baffin Bay | US Coast Guard
| University of Iowa | Suborbital  | Cosmic Radiation | 4 September | Successful
Apogee: 64.1 kilometres (39.8 mi)[3]: 313
18 September | R-2  |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | 18 September |
Last of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target[14][7]: 266
19 September
15:49  | V-2 | TF-5  | White Sands LC-33 | US Army
| SCEL / University of Michigan | Suborbital  | Aeronomy | 19 September | Launch failure
Final flight of the V-2, apogee: 7.1 kilometres (4.4 mi), tail exploded at 27 seconds[3]: 469–470
25 September
03:50  | Aerobee XASR-SC-1 | SC 25  | White Sands LC-35  | US Army
Grenades  | SCEL  | Suborbital  | Aeronomy | 25 September | Successful
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi)[3]: 239

### October

[edit]

October launches Date and time (UTC)  | Rocket | Flight number  | Launch site | LSP

|
|
|
|

| Payload | Operator  | Orbit | Function  | Decay (UTC)  | Outcome
Remarks
10 October
14:24  | Aerobee RTV-A-1 | USAF 30  | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force
| AFCRC / University of Denver | Suborbital  | Solar UV | 10 October | Successful
Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi)[3]: 102–103
22 October
14:35  | Aerobee RTV-A-1  | USAF 31  | Holloman LC-A  | US Air Force
| AFCRC / University of Michigan | Suborbital  | Aeronomy | 22 October | Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)[3]: 104–105
23 October
03:45  | Aerobee XASR-SC-2 | SC 26  | White Sands LC-35  | US Army
Grenades  | SCEL | Suborbital  | Aeronomy | 23 October | Successful
Apogee: 112.0 kilometres (69.6 mi)[3]: 237–238
29 October | R-1 |  | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | 29 October | Successful[10]
30 October | R-1  |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | 30 October | Successful[10]
30 October | R-1  |  | Kapustin Yar  | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | 30 October | Successful[10]

### November

[edit]

November launches Date and time (UTC)  | Rocket | Flight number  | Launch site | LSP

|
|
|
|

| Payload | Operator  | Orbit | Function  | Decay (UTC)  | Outcome
Remarks
6 November
15:56  | Aerobee RTV-A-1 | USAF 32  | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force
Airglow 2  | AFCRC | Suborbital  | Sky Brightness | 6 November | Successful
Apogee: 76 kilometres (47 mi)[3]: 106–107
21 November | R-1 |  | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1
| OKB-1  | Suborbital  | Missile test | 21 November | Successful[10]

### December

[edit]

December launches Date and time (UTC)  | Rocket | Flight number  | Launch site | LSP

|
|
|
|

| Payload | Operator  | Orbit | Function  | Decay (UTC)  | Outcome
Remarks
11 December
23:47  | Aerobee XASR-SC-1 | SC 29  | White Sands LC-35  | US Army
Sphere  | SCEL / University of Michigan | Suborbital  | Aeronomy / Cosmic Radiation | 11 December | Successful
Apogee: 105.1 kilometres (65.3 mi)[3]: 244–245
12 December
19:38  | Aerobee RTV-A-1 | USAF 33  | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force
| AFCRC / University of Colorado | Suborbital  | Solar UV | 12 December | Successful
Final flight of the RTV-A-1, apogee: 89 kilometres (55 mi)[3]: 108–109
15 December
21:38  | Viking (second model) |  | White Sands LC-33 | US Navy
Viking 9  | NRL | Suborbital  | Solar Radiation / Cosmic Radiation / Photography | 15 December | Successful
Apogee: 219 kilometres (136 mi)[3]: 494

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

## Suborbital launch statistics

[edit]

### By country

[edit]

Launches by country Country  | Launches  | Successes  | Failures  | Partial
failures

|
|
|
|

|  Soviet Union | 21 | 19 | 0 | 2
|  United States | 35 | 27 | 5 | 3
World  | 56 | 46 | 5 | 5

### By rocket

[edit]

V-2

Viking

Aerobee

Deacon rockoon

R-1

R-2

* V-2 (American)
* Viking (second model)
* Aerobee RTV-N-10
* Aerobee XASR-SC-1
* Aerobee XASR-SC-2
* Aerobee RTV-A-1
* Aerobee RTV-A-1a
* Aerobee RTV-A-1c
* Deacon rockoon
* R-1
* R-2

Launches by rocket Rocket  | Country  | Launches  | Successes  | Failures  | Partial
failures  | Remarks

|
|
|
|
|
|

V-2 |  United States | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Retired
Viking (second model) |  United States | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight
Aerobee RTV-N-10 |  United States | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Aerobee XASR-SC-1 |  United States | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Aerobee XASR-SC-2 |  United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Aerobee RTV-A-1 |  United States | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | Retired
Aerobee RTV-A-1a |  United States | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Aerobee RTV-A-1c |  United States | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight, retired
Deacon rockoon |  United States | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | Maiden flight
R-1 |  Soviet Union | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
R-2 |  Soviet Union | 14 | 12 | 0 | 2 |

## See also

[edit]

* Timeline of spaceflight

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Paul Voosen (24 July 2018). "Outer space may have just gotten a bit closer". Science. doi:10.1126/science.aau8822. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
2. ^ a b c Milton W. Rosen (1955). The Viking Rocket Story. New York: Harper & Brothers. OCLC 317524549.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai Charles P. Smith Jr. (April 1958). Naval Research Laboratory Report No. 4276: Upper Atmosphere Research Report No. XXI, Summary of Upper Atmosphere Rocket Research Firings (pdf). Washington D.C.: Naval Research Laboratory. Archived from the original on 4 November 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
4. ^ a b c d e George Ludwig (2011). Opening Space Research. Washington D.C.: geopress. OCLC 845256256.
5. ^ John L. Chapman (1960). Atlas The Story of a Missile. New York: Harper & Brothers. OCLC 492591218.
6. ^ "Installation History 1950 – 1952". US Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command. 2017. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Boris Chertok (June 2006). Rockets and People, Volume II: Creating a Rocket Industry. Washington D.C.: NASA. OCLC 946818748.
8. ^ a b c d Asif A. Siddiqi. Challenge to Apollo: The Soviet Union and the Space Race, 1945–1974 (PDF). Washington D.C.: NASA. OCLC 1001823253. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 September 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
9. ^ Mark Wade (7 January 2021). "R-5". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016.
10. ^ a b c d e f g h Mark Wade. "R-1 8A11". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
11. ^ Constance Green and Milton Lomask (1970). Vanguard — a History. Washington, D.C.: NASA. ISBN 978-1-97353-209-5. SP-4202. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
12. ^ "Believe Humans Can Fare Well 38 Miles Above Earth". Hammond, Indiana: The Times. 28 September 1952. Retrieved 11 April 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
13. ^ Mark Wade. "Viking Sounding Rocket". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Mark Wade. "R-2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2021.

* v
* t
* e

Timeline of spaceflight

* Spaceflight before 1951

1950s|

* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958 (H1, H2)
* 1959 (H1, H2)

1960s|

* 1960 (T1, T2, T3)
* 1961 (H1, H2)
* 1962 (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4)
* 1963 (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4)
* 1964 (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4)
* 1965 (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4)
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969

1970s|

* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979

1980s|

* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989

1990s|

* 1990
* 1991 (H1, H2)
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999

2000s|

* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009

2010s|

* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018 (H1, H2)
* 2019 (H1, H2)

2020s|

* 2020
* 2021 (H1, H2)
* 2022 (H1, H2)
* 2023 (H1, H2)
* 2024 (H1, H2)
* 2025 (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4)
* 2026
* 2027
* 2028
* 2029

* Future

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template