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 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Air Force | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 21 October 1973 | Successful | ||
Electro-optical satellite | |||||||
4 February 01:18:03 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | RVSN | Intended: Heliocentric Achieved: Low Earth | Venus flyby | 26 February | Launch failure | ||
Upper stage failed to ignite | |||||||
12 February 00:43:46 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | RVSN | Heliocentric | Venus flyby | In orbit | Spacecraft failure | ||
First probe to fly past Venus, contact lost before flyby | |||||||
16 February 13:05 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Medium Earth | Air density | 9 April 1964 | Successful | ||
17 February 20:25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Air Force | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 28 July 1962 | Successful | ||
![]() | US Air Force | Low Earth | Film return | 31 October | Spacecraft failure | ||
Film recovery failed | |||||||
18 February 22:58 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Air Force | Low Earth | Technology Missile defence | 20 April 1962 | Successful | ||
22 February 20:25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Navy | Low Earth | Navigation Technology | 30 March | Partial launch failure | ||
![]() | NRL | Low Earth | Technology Ionospheric | ||||
Spacecraft failed to separate from upper stage, some data still returned | |||||||
25 February 00:13:16 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Intended: Highly elliptical | Ionospheric | 25 February | Launch failure | ||
Third stage failed to ignite | |||||||
9 March 06:29:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | RVSN | Low Earth | Test flight | 08:09:54 | Successful | ||
Carried a dog and a mannequin | |||||||
25 March 05:54:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | RVSN | Low Earth | Test flight | 07:40 | Successful | ||
Carried a dog and a mannequin | |||||||
25 March 15:17:04 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Highly elliptical | Magnetospheric Plasma research | In orbit | Successful | ||
Successfully completed operations fifty-two hours after launch | |||||||
30 March 20:34:43 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Air Force | Intended: Low Earth | Optical imaging | 30 March | Launch failure | ||
![]() | US Air Force | Intended: Low Earth | Film return | ||||
Second stage attitude control system failure[1] | |||||||
8 April 19:21:08 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Air Force | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 16 April 1962 | Successful | ||
![]() | US Air Force | Low Earth | Film return | 23 May 1962 | Spacecraft failure | ||
SRV raised orbit during deorbit burn | |||||||
12 April 06:07:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | 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 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | 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 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | 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 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Intended: Highly elliptical | Ionospheric | 27 April | Launch failure | ||
Second stage failed to ignite, final flight of Juno II | |||||||
8 June 21:16 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Air Force | Intended: Low Earth | Optical imaging | 8 June | Launch failure | ||
![]() | US Air Force | Intended: Low Earth | Film return | ||||
Failed to orbit | |||||||
16 June 23:02 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Air Force | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 12 July | Successful | ||
![]() | US Air Force | Low Earth | Film return | 19 June | Successful | ||
29 June 04:22 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Navy | Low Earth | Navigation Technology | In orbit | Successful | ||
![]() | Iowa | Low Earth | Ionospheric | In orbit | Partial spacecraft failure | ||
![]() | 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 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | 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 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Army | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 January | Launch failure | |||
7 January 17:33:42 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
HCO | Suborbital | Plasma research Astronomy | 7 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,600 kilometres (990 mi) | |||||||
10 January 17:15 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
10 January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
11 January 18:40 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 January | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi) | |||||||
12 January 16:54 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
ROSAP | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 12 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 160 kilometres (99 mi), first Italian spaceflight | |||||||
13 January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 13 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
13 January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
OKB-30 | Suborbital | Target | 13 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi) | |||||||
14 January 01:19:04 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi), first launch from Site 31 | |||||||
14 January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
14 January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
OKB-30 | Suborbital | Target | 14 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi) | |||||||
14 January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 January | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi) | |||||||
17 January 21:25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Test flight | 17 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 209 kilometres (130 mi) | |||||||
18 January 04:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | REV Test | 18 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 260 kilometres (160 mi) | |||||||
19 January 12:42 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 19 January | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 138 kilometres (86 mi) | |||||||
20 January 20:53 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 20 January | Launch failure | |||
23 January 21:02 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi) | |||||||
24 January 21:55 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 January | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), went out of control | |||||||
26 January 00:30 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Army | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi) | |||||||
30 January 23:20 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 30 January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 204 kilometres (127 mi) | |||||||
31 January 16:54:51 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Suborbital | Test flight | 31 January | Successful | ||
Apogee: 251 kilometres (156 mi), carried Ham, a chimpanzee | |||||||
January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
Sandia | Suborbital | Test flight | January | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
February[edit] | |||||||
1 February 15:59 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
1 February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
2 February 19:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 2 February | Launch failure | |||
5 February 13:48 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Technology | 5 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 152 kilometres (94 mi) | |||||||
6 February 21:40 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 February | Launch failure | |||
7 February 12:46 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RAE | Suborbital | REV Test | 7 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 687 kilometres (427 mi) | |||||||
8 February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 8 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
10 February 05:55 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
10 February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
10 February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
13 February 04:39 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 13 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi) | |||||||
13 February 13:58 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
UCL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 13 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 146 kilometres (91 mi) | |||||||
13 February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
LPA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 13 February | Launch failure | |||
14 February 23:50 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 14 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
14 February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force/BRL | Suborbital | Test flight | 14 February | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
15 February 22:01 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
LPA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 15 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
16 February 01:27 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Army | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi) | |||||||
17 February 07:17 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 17 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
17 February 19:04 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Solar | 17 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 275 kilometres (171 mi) | |||||||
18 February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force/BRL | Suborbital | Test flight | 18 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 2,027 kilometres (1,260 mi) | |||||||
18 February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
OKB-30 | Suborbital | Target | 18 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi) | |||||||
18 February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
LPA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 18 February | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) | |||||||
20 February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 20 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
21 February 14:12 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Suborbital | Test flight | 14:28 | Successful | ||
Apogee: 182 kilometres (113 mi) | |||||||
22 February 07:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
CERMA | Suborbital | Biological research | 22 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi) | |||||||
22 February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
OKB-30 | Suborbital | Target | 22 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi) | |||||||
24 February 00:19 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 24 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 133 kilometres (83 mi) | |||||||
24 February 18:29 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) | |||||||
27 February 00:52 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi), final flight of R-7 Semyorka | |||||||
February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
March[edit] | |||||||
1 March 15:42 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Solar | 1 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
1 March 18:19 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
2 March 05:07 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Army | Suborbital | Missile test | 2 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi) | |||||||
2 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
OKB-30 | Suborbital | Target | 2 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
3 March 03:39 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 3 March | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
3 March 13:59:19 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 3 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,210 kilometres (750 mi) | |||||||
3 March 16:02 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Plasma research | 3 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 2,540 kilometres (1,580 mi) | |||||||
3 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
ONERA | Suborbital | REV Test | 3 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
3 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 3 March | Launch failure | |||
4 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
OKB-30 | Suborbital | Target | 4 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 460 kilometres (290 mi) | |||||||
6 March 09:56 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
UCL/QUB | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 6 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 231 kilometres (144 mi) | |||||||
6 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
ONERA | Suborbital | REV Test | 6 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
7 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
ONERA | Suborbital | REV Test | 7 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
8 March 16:53 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 8 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 400 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
8 March 17:53 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 8 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 431 kilometres (268 mi) | |||||||
9 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
10 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
11 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
14 March 04:17 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 March | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), propellant system malfunctioned | |||||||
14 March 21:52 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 14 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 118 kilometres (73 mi) | |||||||
15 March 17:47 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Test flight | 15 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
15 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
16 March 01:19 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Army | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi) | |||||||
17 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
23 March 16:25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 March | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) | |||||||
23 March 19:25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
23 March 22:41 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 March | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) | |||||||
24 March 17:30 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Suborbital | Test flight | 24 March | Successful | ||
Apogee: 181 kilometres (112 mi) | |||||||
24 March 19:17 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 24 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
25 March 01:49 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 March | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), electrical system malfunctioned | |||||||
25 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
26 March 16:54 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
Michigan | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 26 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 386 kilometres (240 mi) | |||||||
26 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
OKB-30 | Suborbital | Target | 26 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi) | |||||||
27 March 04:08 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
ISAS/RRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 27 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 172 kilometres (107 mi) | |||||||
28 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
28 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
28 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
30 March 05:13:43 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
Royal Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 March | Successful | |||
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
31 March 19:42 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 31 March | Launch failure | |||
March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | March | Launch failure | |||
1st Quarter | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Army | Suborbital | Missile test | 1st Quarter | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
April[edit] | |||||||
1 April 03:25 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
ISAS | Suborbital | Test flight | 1 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 350 kilometres (220 mi) | |||||||
2 April 14:06 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 2 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,210 kilometres (750 mi) | |||||||
3 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 3 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
4 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
5 April 10:56 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
UCL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 5 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 158 kilometres (98 mi) | |||||||
5 April 12:57 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 5 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi) | |||||||
6 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
7 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
9 April 09:16 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,160 kilometres (720 mi) | |||||||
10 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
11 April 15:40 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 April | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 50 kilometres (31 mi) | |||||||
11 April 15:40 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 April | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 50 kilometres (31 mi) | |||||||
12 April 06:07 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Plasma research | 12 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,931 kilometres (1,200 mi) | |||||||
14 April 17:15 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Test flight | 14 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 206 kilometres (128 mi) | |||||||
14 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 April | Launch failure | |||
15 April 13:58:29 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 April | Launch failure | |||
18 April 04:40 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NRL | Suborbital | UV Astronomy | 18 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 242 kilometres (150 mi) | |||||||
18 April 12:27 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
TAO/TOK | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 18 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
19 April 09:36 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
GCA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 19 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 164 kilometres (102 mi) | |||||||
19 April 18:37 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
ROSAP | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 19 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
19 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
19 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
20 April 03:46 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
ROSAP | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 20 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 190 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
20 April 18:39 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
ROSAP | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 20 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 188 kilometres (117 mi) | |||||||
20 April 18:43 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
ROSAP | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 20 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 190 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
21 April 00:12 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
GCA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 21 April | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
21 April 02:26:14 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,160 kilometres (720 mi) | |||||||
21 April 05:56:20 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | REV Test | 21 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 280 kilometres (170 mi) | |||||||
21 April 09:34 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
GCA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 21 April | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
21 April 09:39 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
GCA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 21 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 165 kilometres (103 mi) | |||||||
21 April 12:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Technology | 21 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 154 kilometres (96 mi) | |||||||
21 April 15:53 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Army | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi) | |||||||
21 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 April | Launch failure | |||
22 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Army | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
25 April 02:26 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 April | Launch failure | |||
27 April 20:02 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 27 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 724 kilometres (450 mi) | |||||||
27 April 22:32 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 27 April | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 18 kilometres (11 mi) | |||||||
27 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
28 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
May[edit] | |||||||
1 May 12:10 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
UCL | Suborbital | UV Astronomy | 1 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 155 kilometres (96 mi) | |||||||
1 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
3 May 17:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 3 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
5 May 14:34 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Suborbital | Crewed flight | 14:49 | Successful | ||
Carried Alan Shepard, first American in space, apogee 187 kilometres (116 mi) | |||||||
5 May 23:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 5 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi) | |||||||
6 May 04:54 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 6 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi) | |||||||
8 May 17:10 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 8 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
9 May 11:53 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 9 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi) | |||||||
9 May 12:07 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RAE | Suborbital | REV Test | 9 May | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 415 kilometres (258 mi) | |||||||
9 May 16:00:22 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Plasma research | 9 May | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) | |||||||
10 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
13 May 02:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 13 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) | |||||||
13 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
ONERA | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 13 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 280 kilometres (170 mi) | |||||||
16 May 15:45 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Solar | 16 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 294 kilometres (183 mi) | |||||||
16 May 17:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Solar | 16 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 312 kilometres (194 mi) | |||||||
16 May 19:23:27 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,210 kilometres (750 mi) | |||||||
17 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
17 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
17 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
17 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
17 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
18 May 06:10 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | REV Test | 18 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 260 kilometres (160 mi) | |||||||
19 May 02:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Army | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi) | |||||||
19 May 14:18 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 May | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
23 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
24 May 03:18:06 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 May | Launch failure | |||
24 May 21:50:38 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi) | |||||||
25 May 17:03 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Test flight | 25 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi) | |||||||
25 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Solar | 25 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
25 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Army | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
25 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 May | Launch failure | |||
26 May 02:26 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) | |||||||
27 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
CNET | Suborbital | Test flight | 27 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
29 May 01:44:23 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 May | Launch failure | |||
29 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
29 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
CNET | Suborbital | Test flight | 29 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
30 May 05:15 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RAE/WRE | Suborbital | Test flight | 30 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 149 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 273 kilometres (170 mi) | |||||||
June[edit] | |||||||
2 June 05:12:14 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 2 June | Launch failure | |||
2 June 17:24:30 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 2 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,210 kilometres (750 mi) | |||||||
4 June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
6 June 12:31 | ![]() | ![]() |