Sounding Rocket Launches 1955 - 1959

 

Year Date Time Rocket Site Altitude Notes
1955 17 Jan   Towed rocket Wallops Island   Langley experimental rocket
1955 22 Jan 0054 AEROBEE Holloman AFB 94.8 km USAF-51 for airglow experiment
1955 25 Jan   V-1E Kapustin Yar ?   Soviet sounding launch using V-2 type
1955 04 Feb   VIKING-12 WSPG 232 km Perfect flight with 402 kg payload
1955 05 Feb   V-1E Kapustin Yar ?   Soviet sounding
1955 07 Feb 1851 AEROBEE Holloman AFB 120.4 km USAF-52 to study ionosphere - telemetry beacon failed.
1955 10 Feb 2138 AEROBEE Holloman AFB 76.1 km USAF-53 to study ionosphere
1955 21 Feb 1825 AEROBEE WSPG 115 km NRL-29 to observe solar spectrum
1955 19 Mar 0600 AEROBEE WSPG 114.3 km NRL-26 for night airglow experiment
1955 26 Mar   V-1E Kapustin Yar ?   Soviet sounding launch
1955 29 Mar 1647 AEROBEE Holloman AFB 112.7 km USAF-54 for solar radiation
1955 Apr ?   PENCIL x ? Koku   Several firings in public, brought total firings to 29 rockets.
1955 08 Apr 1019 NIKE-DEACON Wallops Island 108.5 km ND-1, first launch as a sounding rocket, trajectory test with 15.4 kg payload. Impact range: 104 km.
1955 12 Apr   PENCIL x ? Koku   First firings begin (horizontally)
1955 21 Apr 0358 AEROBEE-HI Holloman AFB 203 km USAF-55 first USAF use of AEROBEE-HI, carried 97.5 kg diagnostic payload.
1955 23 May   X-17 (¼ scale) Cape Canaveral 10 km Q-1, successful flight of quarter-scale X-17 rocket
1955 23 May   X-17 (¼ scale) Cape Canaveral 10.7 km Q-2, successful flight
1955 26 May   V-1E Kapustin Yar   Soviet sounding launch carried 2 dogs
1955 13 Jun   X-17 (¼ scale) Cape Canaveral   Q-4, booster exploded at launch
1955 16 Jun 0111 AEROBEE Holloman AFB 202.8 km USAF-56 on classified flight
1955 23 Jun   X-17 (½ scale) Cape Canaveral   H-1, first half-scale X-17 made successful flight, but radar tracking failed.
1955 23 Jun 1240 AEROBEE-HI Holloman AFB 64 km USAF-57 for rocket performance test with 90 kg payload, but rocket engine burned through - became unstable.
1955 24 Jun 1304 NIKE-DEACON Wallops Island 106.7 km ND-2 with "free floating" internal sphere and temperatures, with 17.7 kg payload. Impact range: 97.6 km.
1955 30 Jun   X-17 (½ scale) Cape Canaveral 10 km H-3 success, but lost by radar tracking
1955 08 Jul 0839 AEROBEE WSPG 113.4 km NRL-23 with ion composition payload
1955 13 Jul 0659 AEROBEE WSPG 69.2 km NRL-27 for gas composition test
1955 14 Jul   X-17 (½ scale) Cape Canaveral 9.1 km H-2 made successful flight
1955 Aug   BABY Akita   Late Aug/first BABY launch
1955 Aug   BABY-S x 6 Akita 4-5 km Six flights made with the BABY-S
1955 06 Aug   PENCIL-300 Akita   First firing at Akita/last PENCIL
1955 06 Aug   PENCIL x ? Koku   Vertical firings with the PENCIL rocket at Kokobunzi.
1955 16 Aug   ROCKAIRE-FFAR     First launch, using a 2.75" FFAR, and fired south from a Navy F-2H2 plane.
1955 25 Aug 1300 AEROBEE-HI WSPG 4 km NRL-37 but second stage didn't ignite
1955 26 Aug   X-17 Cape Canaveral 3 km D-1, first full scale rocket, but the flight was terminated at 6 seconds.
1955 Sep   BABY-T x 6 Akita 4-5 km Six flights made with the BABY-T
1955 Sep   LOKI-1     3,544th launch
1955 14 Sep 1330 AEROBEE Holloman AFB 95 km USAF-58 for rocket aerodynamics
1955 23 Sep   X-17 Cape Canaveral   Second full-scale launch, but rocket exploded at 13.5 seconds.
1955 24 Sep 0234 LOKI-1/Rockoon Ship 70.7 km SUI-38, fired from balloon
1955 24 Sep 2235 DEACON/Rockoon Ship 100.6 km SUI-39
1955 25 Sep 0309 LOKI-1/Rockoon Ship 84 km SUI-40
1955 26 Sep 0239 LOKI-1/Rockoon Ship - SUI-41, rocket ignition failure
1955 27 Sep   DEACON/Rockoon Ship 100 km SUI-42
1955 27 Sep   LOKI-1/Rockoon Ship ? SUI-43, rocket fired, payload failed
1955 28 Sep 0112 DEACON/Rockoon Ship ? NRL-14, rocket fired, payload failed
1955 28 Sep 0143 DEACON/Rockoon Ship ? NRL-13, rocket fired, payload failed
1955 28 Sep 1845 DEACON/Rockoon Ship ? NRL-15, rocket fired, payload failed
1955 28 Sep 2054 DEACON/Rockoon Ship 95 km SUI-44
1955 28 Sep 2340 DEACON/Rockoon Ship ? NRL-16, rocket fired, payload failed
1955 29 Sep 0122 DEACON/LOKI-1/Rockoon Ship ? SUI-45, second stage didn't fire
1955 29 Sep 1942 DEACON/Rockoon Ship 95 km SUI-46
1955 30 Sep 0113 DEACON/Rockoon Ship 100 km SUI-47
1955 30 Sep 0352 DEACON/LOKI-1/Rockoon Ship ? SUI-48, first stage fired, but second stage broke up at 5 seconds.
1955 30 Sep 1550 AEROBEE Holloman AFB 74 km USAF-59, solar limb darkening payload
1955 Oct   BABY-R x 3 Akita 4-5 km Three BABY-R launches in Oct & Nov
1955 01 Oct 0210 LOKI-1/Rockoon Ship 65.3 km SUI-49
1955 05 Oct 0418 LOKI-1/Rockoon Ship 91.5 km SUI-50
1955 06 Oct 1654 DEACON/Rockoon Ship - NRL-17, rocket didn't ignite
1955 07 Oct 0110 DEACON/Rockoon Ship 90 km SUI-51
1955 12 Oct 0033 DEACON/Rockoon Ship - Rocket did not fire
1955 12 Oct 0037 DEACON/Rockoon Ship - Firing box was torn off at balloon release
1955 13 Oct 0100 AEROBEE Holloman AFB 101.4 km USAF-60, sodium vapour release
1955 13 Oct 1237 DEACON/Rockoon Ship   NRL-19, rocket tumbled at 8 seconds, but instrument worked.
1955 13 Oct 1837 DEACON/Rockoon Ship 100.6 km SUI-53
1955 13 Oct 1942 DEACON/Rockoon Ship 45.7 km NRL-20, rocket tumbled at 8 seconds
1955 13 Oct 2124 DEACON/Rockoon Ship - SUI-54, rocket did not fire
1955 14 Oct 0213 DEACON/Rockoon Ship 97 km SUI-55
1955 18 Oct 2149 AEROBEE WSPG 150 km NRL-34 for solar spectrum payload
1955 22 Oct 0020 AEROBEE WSPG 185 km NRL-35 for solar spectrum study
1955 02 Nov   Multi-stage     Launch of USAF multi-stage rocket
1955 04 Nov   V-1E Kapustin Yar ?   Soviet sounding launch
1955 04 Nov 1530 AEROBEE WSPG 134.5 km NRL-36, for solar spectrum study
1955 17 Nov 0900 AEROBEE WSPG 105 km NRL-25 for night airglow, meteors and UV astronomy.
1955 29 Nov 1716 AEROBEE WSPG 132 km NRL-24, for ion composition payload
1955 01 Dec   X-17 Cape Canaveral ? Third flight, successful re-entry test
1955 09 Dec 1450 AEROBEE WSPG 3.2 km NRL-38, sharp start and explosion on leaving launch tower.
1955 13 Dec 0500 AEROBEE WSPG 142 km NRL-28, with gas composition payload
1955 13 Dec 1758 AEROBEE Holloman AFB 138.4 km USAF-61, with Lyman-a and solar limb darkening experiments.
1955 27 Dec   ASP WSPG ?   First prototype - successful
1955 1955   MR-1 "METEO" Kapustin Yar ? 113 km Biological flight with dog "Malyshka"
1955 1955   BABY x 36 Akita   By the end of 1955, a total of 36 had been fired with max altitude = 6 km.
1956 Jan   ASP x 4 Point Mugu   Four test flights from the NAMTC
1956 20 Jan   X-17 Cape Canaveral 132.6 km D-4 on successful development flight
1956 03 Feb   ASP Point Mugu   Test flight
1956 07 Feb   ASP Point Mugu   Test flight
1956 Feb   ASP x 3 Point Mugu   Three more flight tests
1956 07 Feb   LOKI-WASP Long Beach   First launch - had metalised parachute which was tracked on descent. Long Beach, California.
1956 05 Mar   X-17 Cape Canaveral 116 km D-5 re-entry test flight, but telemetry lost in last phase of flight.
1956 12 Mar 2115 AEROBEE Holloman AFB 95 km USAF-62 for nitric oxide vapour re-lease on ascent and descent.
1956 14 Mar   AEROBEE Holloman AFB 96.6 km Nitric oxide release
1956 14 Mar 0845 AEROBEE Holloman AFB 106.2 km USAF-63 with nitric oxide release in attempt to observe the recombination of atomic Oxygen.
1956 15 Mar   AEROBEE WSPG 100 km Release of nitric oxide to investigate the "twilight-flash".
1956 Apr   WASP Bikini Atoll   Upper air winds study at the nuclear testing area.
1956 11 Apr   AEROBEE-HI WSPG   NRL-40
1956 12 Apr 0205 AEROBEE-HI Holloman AFB 106.2 km USAF-64 with sodium trail release
1956 17 Apr   X-17 Cape Canaveral ? R-1 on first re-entry test flight, but tracking failed and rocket lost.
1956 30 Apr   AEROBEE-HI WSPG   NRL-41
1956 May   ASP x 13 Bikini Atoll   Fired during US nuclear tests to test winds. Firings were called Operation Redwing.
1956 May   WASP Bikini Atoll   Upper air winds in nuclear test area
1956 01 May 2205 AEROBEE-HI WSPG 3.6 km NRL-39 for rocket performance test, but second stage failed to ignite.
1956 08 May 1454 AEROBEE-A34 Holloman AFB 143.3 km USAF-65 for solar radiation
1956 08 May 1515 AEROBEE-HI WSPG 188 km NRL-42 with 54 kg payload to study rocket performance, but engine problems began 45 seconds into flight.
1956 09 May   LOKI     Test of metalised nylon chaff
1956 10 May   LOKI     Test of metalised nylon chaff
1956 14 May   V-1E Kapustin Yar 100 km? Biological payload of 2 dogs - both side pods recovered.
1956 16 May 1540 AEROBEE-HI Holloman AFB 169 km USAF-66 with 86 kg payload, but rocket slightly unstable due to fin problems.
1956 31 May   V-1E Kapustin Yar 100 km? Biological payload of 2 dogs - both side pods recovered.
1956 Jun   ASP x 13 Bikini Atoll   Operation Redwing firings in the nuclear test areas
1956 Jun   WASP Bikini Atoll   Upper air winds in nuclear test area
1956 01 Jun   V-1E Kapustin Yar 100 km? Biological payload of 2 dogs
1956 01 Jun   WASP   29.6 km Metalised parachute tracked from 97,000 ft to 24,400 ft.
1956 01 Jun   WASP     Metalised parachute
1956 01 Jun   WASP     Metalised parachute
1956 04 Jun 1413 AEROBEE-HI WSPG 58 km or 63 km NRL-46 with sunflower spectrograph, but altitude low due to valves not fully opening on sustainer stage. P/F
1956 07 Jun   V-1E Kapustin Yar 100 km? Biological flight with recovery of two side pods each with a dog.
1956 13 Jun 2051 AEROBEE-A34 Holloman AFB 137.8 km USAF-67 for ionosphere - good data
1956 14 Jun   V-1E Kapustin Yar 100 km? Biology with 2 dogs
1956 18 Jun 2042 AEROBEE-A34 Holloman AFB 136.8 km USAF-68 for ionosphere study - good data on ascent only.
1956 20 Jun   CAJUN Wallops Island   First flight
1956 21 Jun 1848 AEROBEE-A34 Holloman AFB 146.5 km USAF-69 for ionosphere payload - good data on ascent only.
1956 22 Jun   V-1E Kapustin Yar 100 km? Biology with 2 dogs
1956 22 Jun 1942 AEROBEE-A1 WSPG 5 km NRL-22 with ionosphere payload, but second stage didn't ignite.
1956 26 Jun   X-17 Cape Canaveral 140 km D-6A development round, but telemetry was lost during the flight.
1956 26 Jun 1826 AEROBEE-A34 Holloman AFB 111.1 km USAF-70 for ionosphere payload - good data on ascent only.
1956 29 Jun 1909 AEROBEE-HI WSPG 264 km NRL-50, carried 66 kg ionosphere research payload.
1956 Jul   ASP x 13 Bikini Atoll   Operation Redwing firings made at nuclear test areas.
1956 Jul   WASP Bikini Atoll   Upper air winds at nuclear test area
1956 05 Jul 0752 AEROBEE-A27 WSPG 162 km NRL-33 to study magnetic field and night airglow.
1956 06 Jul 1800 NIKE-CAJUN Wallops Island 137 km AM6.01, first flight, suffered excessive spin during boost, but successfully measured temp and released sphere. Impact distance was 143 km
1956 09 Jul   AEROBEE-HI WSPG   NRL-42
1956 17 Jul   X-17 Cape Canaveral 142 km R-2 for first complete re-entry test flight, ended at 320 km range.
1956 17 Jul 1630 DEACON/Rockoon Ship 118 km NN5-27 fired despite no solar flare
1956 18 Jul 1550 DEACON/Rockoon Ship - NN5-28 but rocket didn't fire after release in Atlantic Ocean.
1956 19 Jul 1521 DEACON/Rockoon Ship 124 km NN5-29 fired, but no solar flare
1956 20 Jul   V-1E Kapustin Yar 100 km? Biology with 2 dogs in side pods
1956 20 Jul 1540 DEACON/Rockoon Ship 97.5 km NN5-30 fired during solar flare
1956 21 Jul 1714 DEACON/Rockoon Ship - NN5-31 released but ignition failed
1956 21 Jul   ASP     42nd launch by Cooper Development Co.
1956 22 Jul 1758 DEACON/Rockoon Ship 124 km NN5-32 fired, but no solar flare
1956 24 Jul 1407 DEACON/Rockoon Ship - NN5-33 suffered ignition failure
1956 24 Jul   NIKE-CAJUN   113 km AM6.04 photographed a hurricane storm
1956 25 Jul 1516 DEACON/Rockoon Ship 117 km NN5-34 fired, but no solar flare
1956 26 Jul 1529 DEACON/Rockoon Ship 120 km NN5-35 but no solar flare present
1956 27 Jul 1705 DEACON/Rockoon Ship - NN5-36 released under balloon which split on ascent, rocket fell into sea.
1956 27 Jul   X-17 Cape Canaveral ? R-3 on re-entry flight, but third stage failed to ignite on the descent.
1956 31 Jul 0056 AEROBEE-A34 Holloman AFB 128.8 km USAF-71 to study day airglow
1956 03 Aug 1256 AEROBEE Holloman AFB 2.4 km USAF-72 for solar spectrum and atmosphere comp. Second stage didn't ignite.
1956 08 Aug 2300 NIKE-CAJUN WSPG 105 km AM6.02 for pressure/temp/radiation
1956 09 Aug 1553 AEROBEE-A WSPG 85.5 km SC-34 with Signal Corps composition payload.
1956 09 Aug 2247 NIKE-CAJUN WSPG 163 km OB6.03 with magnetometer and skin-temperature probe of 27 kg Ballistic Research Lab payload
1956 10 Aug 1522 AEROBEE-A WSPG 85.9 km SC-35 for atmospheric composition
1956 18 Aug   X-17 Cape Canaveral ? R-4 for re-entry mission, but rocket exploded at 18 seconds.
1956 23 Aug   X-17 Cape Canaveral 142 km R-5 made successful re-entry flight
1956 24 Aug   5-Stage-Rocket Wallops Island   HONEST-JOHN/NIKE/NIKE/RECRUIT/T-55 was the first 5-stage rocket, and reached a velocity of over Mach 15 (or-M10.4?)
1956 28 Aug   X-17 Cape Canaveral ? R-6 on re-entry test flight, but the telemetry was lost before apogee.
1956 Sep   KAPPA-1     First launch
1956 08 Sep   X-17 Cape Canaveral 966 km R-7 for re-entry test flight, but all stages fired upward, instead of two up, two down. Impact range 1,130 km. Reached 11,051 kph.
1956 21 Sep   TERRAPIN Wallops Island   First flight for test of structural integrity - broke up.
1956 21 Sep   TERRAPIN Wallops Island   Second flight - successful
1956 01 Oct   X-17 Cape Canaveral 146 km R-8 for re-entry test flight
1956 05 Oct   X-17 Cape Canaveral 117 km R-9 on re-entry test flight
1956 13 Oct   X-17 Cape Canaveral 102 km R-10 for re-entry test flight
1956 18 Oct   X-17 Cape Canaveral 154.6 km R-11 for re-entry test flight
1956 20 Oct 2201 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 113 km AM6.31 for atm structure and winds with 45 kg payload
1956 23 Oct 0840 AEROBEE-A34 Fort Churchill 145 km AM2.21 was the first AEROBEE at Fort Churchill. Payload for atm and winds.
1956 25 Oct   X-17 Cape Canaveral 125 km R-12 for re-entry test flight
1956 27 Oct 2124 NIKE-CAJUN Ship 167 km AM6.08 fired from USS Rushmore in North Atlantic with density sphere drop and temperature probe.
1956 01 Nov 1257 AEROBEE-A34 Holloman AFB 68 km USAF-73 with sodium trail release
1956 02 Nov 0539 AEROBEE-A34 Holloman AFB 151 km USAF-74 for sodium trail release
1956 02 Nov 1840 NIKE-CAJUN Ship 166 km or 132 km AM6.09 with University of Michigan falling sphere and temperature probe. Fired from ship in North Atlantic.
1956 04 Nov 1854 NIKE-CAJUN Ship 172 km or 162 km AM6.10 with falling sphere by U of Mich., and temperature probe.
1956 05 Nov   X-17 Cape Canaveral 118 km R-13 for re-entry test flight
1956 05 Nov 0750 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 6 km NRL-45 with magnetic fields and aurora payload, but rocket exploded in tower. Also called NN3.02. (Time 0730?)
1956 07 Nov 1502 NIKE-CAJUN Ship 176 km or 169 km AM6.11 with falling sphere and temp probe payload by U of Michigan.
1956 10 Nov 1517 NIKE-CAJUN Ship 166 km or 161 km AM6.12 with falling sphere and temp. probe, by U of Michigan.
1956 12 Nov 1157 AEROBEE-A25 Fort Churchill 67.5 km SM1.01 with grenades to measure winds and temperatures.
1956 15 Nov 1933 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 118.5 km NRL-47/NN3.07 carried ion probe, but rocket was not stable after 40 sec.
1956 16 Nov   X-17 Cape Canaveral 107 km R-14 for re-entry test flight
1956 17 Nov 1648 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 195 km NRL-43/NN3.12 for payload to study UV & X-rays and atmosphere structure.
1956 21 Nov 0521 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 251 km NRL-48/NN3.17 for UV & X-rays, and ion composition with mass spectrometer.
1956 23 Nov   X-17 Cape Canaveral 143 km R-15 on re-entry test flight
1956 Dec   WASP Chinco   Fired at Chincoteague to develop fuse, separation device and bore riders.
1956 Dec   KAPPA-128-JT     Seventh launch
1956 03 Dec   X-17 Cape Canaveral 125.5 km R-16 for re-entry test flight
1956 08 Dec   VIKING-13 Cape Canaveral 203 km VANGUARD-TV-0 reached speed of 6440 kph and impacted at 295 km range to test tracking facilities.
1956 11 Dec   X-17 Cape Canaveral 144 km R-17 for re-entry test flight
1956 11 Dec   WASP     Chaff and reflective parachute
1956 11 Dec   WASP     Chaff and parachute
1956 12 Dec   ROCKAIRE     Air-launched
1956 13 Dec   WASP x 5     Chaff and parachute rockets
1956 13 Dec 2144 AEROBEE-HI Holloman AFB 193 km USAF-75 carried 79 kg payload for rocket test using extra fin protection.
1956 13 Dec   ROCKAIRE-DEACON   44 km Air launch, but radar beacon malfunctioned at launch.
1956 14 Dec   ROCKAIRE-DEACON     Air-launch, but radar beacon failed 45 seconds into flight.
1956 14 Dec   WASP x 7     Chaff & parachute rockets
1956 17 Dec   ROCKAIRE-DEACON   42.7 km Air-launch, followed by radar tracking of entire flight.
1956 18 Dec   WASP x 6     Chaff & parachute rockets
1956 19 Dec   ROCKAIRE-DEACON     Air-launched, pilot noticed perturbations after launch. Tracked by radar.
1956 20 Dec   V-1E Kapustin Yar 100 km? Biological flight with 2 dogs
1956 21 Dec   NIKE-RECRUIT Wallops Island   First launch - reached 7,600 ft/s (8345 kph) at 13,000 ft (3.96 km) alt for record dynamic pressure of 45,700 pound/sq ft (22.3 kg/cm).
1957 08 Jan   X-17 Cape Canaveral 140.3 km R-18. Re-entry test flight
1957 15 Jan   X-17 Cape Canaveral ? R-19. Second and third stages failed to ignite on re-entry test flight.
1957 29 Jan   X-17 Cape Canaveral ? R-20. Range Safety Officer destroyed rocket at 26 seconds into flight.
1957 02 Feb 0105 AEROBEE   146.6 km Release of ethylene gas as part of Project Fire Fly.
1957 07 Feb   X-17 Cape Canaveral 106.7 km R-21. Re-entry test flight.
1957 12 Feb 2030 LOKI-2/Rockoon Guam   II5.97. Magnetic fields
1957 13 Feb 0151 SKYLARK Woomera 12 km SL-01. First flight of SKYLARK
1957 14 Feb   X-17 Cape Canaveral 141.5 km R-22. Re-entry test flight.
1957 14 Feb 2005 LOKI-2/Rockoon Guam   II5.98. Magnetic fields
1957 16 Feb 2136 LOKI-2/Rockoon Guam   II5.99. Magnetic fields
1957 Mar   HASP     First launch
1957 Mar   WASP    
1957 01 Mar   X-17 Cape Canaveral 151 km R-23. Re-entry test flight
1957 15 Mar   X-17 Cape Canaveral 134 km R-24. Re-entry test flight
1957 21 Mar   X-17 Cape Canaveral 104 km R-25. Re-entry test flight
1957 29 Mar 0451 AEROBEE-31 WSPG 146 km or 135 km NN2.26 or 29. UV & X-rays & airglow experiments carried.
1957 09 Apr 0819 AEROBEE     Micrometeorite research
1957 11 Apr   AEROBEE WSPG 203 km NRL- . VANGUARD satellite equipment.
1957 30 Apr 0810 AEROBEE-HI WSPG 289 km NRL- . Rocket performance test.
1957 May   ASP    
1957 May   ASP    
1957 01 May   VIKING-14 Cape Canaveral 193 km VANGUARD-TV-1. Development flight with first stage of satellite launcher. Ground range 724.5 km.
1957 03 May   AEROBEE-HI WSPG 203 km NRL- . Sunflower spectrograph.
1957 16 May   V-2A (R-2A) Kapustin Yar 212 km First launch, carried two dogs.
1957 22 May 0520 SKYLARK Woomera 75 km SL-02. Second flight of SKYLARK.
1957 24 May   V-2A (R-2A) Kapustin Yar 212 km Second flight.
1957 Jun   ASP    
1957 Jun   ASP    
1957 Jun   ASP    
1957 Jun   ASP    
1957 Jun   FARSIDE dummy   - Dummy rocket carried on balloon across the USA from California.
1957 18 Jun 1400 AEROBEE-HI Holloman AFB 172 km AU4.26/USAF-78. Ion probe - good data.
1957 24 Jun 1407 AEROBEE-HI Holloman AFB 193 km AU4.27/USAF-79. Ion probe - good data.
1957 Jul   ASP    
1957 Jul   ASP    
1957 Jul   KAPPA-3 Akita 18 km Technology flight
1957 01 Jul 1900 NIKE-DEACON San Nicolas Island 13 km NN7.37F for "Project Sunflare". UV payload and studied radio propagation during solar flares. Second stage failed to ignite.
1957 01 Jul   NIKE-CAJUN    
1957 03 Jul 1629 NIKE-DEACON San Nicolas Island 113 km NN7.38F. UV payload, partial data.
1957 03 Jul   NIKE-CAJUN    
1957 04 Jul 1816 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 238 km NN3.08F. Carried ion probe.
1957 05 Jul 0618 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 16 km NN3.09F. Ion probe carried, but second stage failed in flight.
1957 11 Jul 0205 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar ?   IGY-1. Temp, pressure and density.
1957 15 Jul 2123 NIKE-DEACON San Nicolas Island 29 km NN7.39F. UV and X-ray payload, but altitude too low.
1957 15 Jul   NIKE-CAJUN    
1957 22 Jul 0416 AEROBEE Fort Churchill 92 km SM1.02. Atmosphere structure - excellent results obtained.
1957 23 Jul 0302 SKYLARK Woomera 85 km SL-03. Third SKYLARK launch.
1957 23 Jul 2332 NIKE-DEACON San Nicolas Island 111 km NN7.40F. UV & X-rays - partial data.
1957 23 Jul   NIKE-CAJUN    
1957 24 Jul 0529 AEROBEE Fort Churchill 87 km SM1.03. Atmosphere structure - excellent results obtained.
1957 27 Jul 0220 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar ?   IGY-2. Temp, pressure and density.
1957 29 Jul 2200 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 210 km NN3.13F. UV & X-rays, also atmosphere study - excellent results.
1957 30 Jul 1810 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 23 km AM6.32. Atmosphere structure - too low.
1957 Aug   AEROBEE-100    
1957 Aug   ASP    
1957 Aug   ASP    
1957 Aug   ASP    
1957 05 Aug 1153 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship (23 km) II5.01F. "HAWK" launch for cosmic rays and aurora - weak telemetry.
1957 05 Aug 1658 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA ship ? II5.02F. Magnetic field - telemetry failed.
1957 05 Aug   NIKE-CAJUN    
1957 05 Aug 1910 NIKE-DEACON San Nicolas Island 15 km NN7.41F. UV & X-rays - too low.
1957 06 Aug 1053 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship 116 km II5.03F. Cosmic rays & aurora - excellent data.
1957 06 Aug 1530 AEROBEE Holloman AFB 150 km AC2.24. UV & X-rays - good results
1957 06 Aug 1603 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship 118 km II5.04F. Magnetic fields - good results.
1957 07 Aug 0328 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship (24 km) II5.05F. Cosmic ray flight, but rocket failed to ignite, so data only from balloon flight.
1957 07 Aug 2204 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship - II5.06F. Ignition failure of rocket.
1957 08 Aug 0717 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship 132 km II5.07F. Cosmic rays/aurora - good data.
1957 10 Aug 0507 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship 118 km II5.08F. Cosmic rays/Aurora - good data.
1957 10 Aug 2336 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship 77 km II5.09F. Cosmic rays/Aurora - good data.
1957 11 Aug 0516 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship (24 km) II5.10F. Ignition failure with rocket to study cosmic rays and aurorae.
1957 11 Aug 2030 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship 122 km II5.11F. Cosmic rays & aurora - good data.
1957 12 Aug 0748 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship - II5.12F. Balloon data only after rocket ignition failure.
1957 12 Aug 1355 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship (23 km) II5.13F. Ignition failure of rocket, so cosmic ray data from balloon only.
1957 12 Aug 1600 AEROBEE Fort Churchill 74 km SM1.04. Atmospheric structures - good data return.
1957 13 Aug 0158 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship ? II5.14F. Cosmic rays and aurora study, but only partial data return.
1957 14 Aug 0423 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar ?   IGY-3. Temp, pressure and density
1957 14 Aug 0806 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship (23 km) II5.15F. Cosmic rays and aurora data from balloon only. Ignition failure.
1957 14 Aug 1350 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship 97 km II5.16F. Magnetic fields - partial data.
1957 14 Aug 2000 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship 89 km II5.17F. Cosmic rays/aurora - good data.
1957 14 Aug 2251 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship 97 km II5.18F. Cosmic rays/aurora - excellent.
1957 19 Aug 0313 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar ?   IGY-4. Temp, pressure and density.
1957 20 Aug 0230 AEROBEE Fort Churchill 94 km SM1.05. Atmosphere structure & winds.
1957 20 Aug 1650 NIKE-DEACON San Nicolas Island 98 km NN7.42F. UV & X-ray payload.
1957 20 Aug   NIKE-CAJUN    
1957 22 Aug   X-17 Cape Canaveral 114.3 km R-26. Re-entry test using "spare parts" rocket vehicle by Lockheed for the USAF.
1957 23 Aug 2154 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 114 km RP6.X1. Rocket test - poor results.
1957 24 Aug 0600 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill ? SS6.38. Atmospheric structure payload, but rocket broke up in flight.
1957 25 Aug 0223 V-2A (R-2A) Kapustin Yar 206 km IGY-5. Pressure etc and biology.
1957 25 Aug 1408 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 130 km SM2.06. Interim AEROBEE-HI to study atmospheric structure - excellent.
1957 27 Aug 1554 NIKE-DEACON San Nicolas Island 16 km NN7.43F. UV & X-ray payload, but second stage failed to ignite.
1957 28 Aug   NIKE-CAJUN    
1957 28 Aug 2022 NIKE-DEACON San Nicolas Island 96 km NN7.44F. UV & X-ray payload - partial.
1957 29 Aug 2112 NIKE-DEACON San Nicolas Island 113 km NN7.45F. UV & X-ray payload - good.
1957 31 Aug 0457 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 113 km II6.23F. Aurora study - partial data.
1957 31 Aug 0530 V-2A (R-2A) Kapustin Yar 185 km IGY-6. Pressure readings and biology payload carried by 4th V-2A.
1957 Sep   KAPPA-4 Akita   Rocket exploded due to fuel problem
1957 Sep   KAPPA-4 Akita   Rocket exploded
1957 01 Sep 2228 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 160 km AM4.01. Atmospheric structure - partial.
1957 09 Sep 1550 V-2A (R-2A) Kapustin Yar 212 km IGY-7. ionosphere, air samples and micrometeorite studies.
1957 12 Sep 1520 NIKE-DEACON San Nicolas Island - NN7.46F. UV & X-rays - rocket broke up.
1957 14 Sep 0300 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar ?   IGY-8. Temps, pressure and density.
1957 15 Sep 2043 NIKE-DEACON San Nicolas Island ? NN7.47F. UV & X-ray, telemetry failed.
1957 17 Sep 0300 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar ?   IGY-10. Temp, pressure, density, cameras.
1957 17 Sep 1404 AEROBEE WSPG 51 km NN1.25. UV & X-rays, partial data.
1957 18 Sep 1742 NIKE-DEACON San Nicolas Island 21 km NN7.48F. UV & X-rays. Altitude too low.
1957 18 Sep 1754 NIKE-DEACON San Nicolas Island 77 km NN7.49F. UV & X-ray, poor data return.
1957 20 Sep 0230 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar ?   IGY-9. Temp, pressure, density, cameras.
1957 25 Sep   FARSIDE Eniwetok Atoll ? First live firing carrying 1.6 kg payload
1957 26 Sep 1705 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship ? II5.50F. Test flight, good.
1957 26 Sep 2000 NIKE-ASP-1 or 2 San Nicolas Island 16 km NN8.50F. UV & X-ray payload, but too low due to failure of 2nd stage to ignite
1957 27 Sep 1312 LOKI-2/Rockoon NA Ship 119 km II5.51F. Cosmic ray data received from flight under balloon but nothing after rocket fired.
1957 Oct   LONG-TOM Woomera c.120 km LT-1. First flight, used SKYLARK tower.
1957 03 Oct   FARSIDE Eniwetok Atoll 800 km Second flight of balloon-launched rocket, but only first two stages fired, third and fourth stages didn't.
1957 04 Oct 1916 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship 112 km II5.52F. Cosmic rays - good
1957 07 Oct   FARSIDE Eniwetok Atoll 645 km Third flight, but only the first and second stages fired. 3rd & 4th didn't.
1957 11 Oct   FARSIDE Eniwetok Atoll ? 4th flight - uncertain performance.
1957 13 Oct 1815 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.53F. Cosmic ray payload
1957 14 Oct 2116 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship 113 km II5.54F. Magnetic fields - excellent.
1957 16 Oct   AEROBEE WSPG 87.5 km USAF- . "Zwickey's" pellets fired from rocket at apogee and went into solar orbit.
1957 16 Oct 2002 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.55F. Magnetic fields - poor results.
1957 17 Oct 0009 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.56F. Magnetic fields - no data.
1957 17 Oct 0218 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.57F. Magnetic fields - poor data.
1957 17 Oct 2001 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship 51 km II5.58F. Magnetic fields - good data.
1957 17 Oct 2344 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship 127 km II5.59F. Magnetic fields - good data.
1957 18 Oct 0935 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.60F. Cosmic rays - data only during balloon flight.
1957 18 Oct 1943 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship 121 km II5.61F. Magnetic fields - partial data.
1957 18 Oct 2343 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship 122 km II5.62F. Magnetic fields - good data.
1957 19 Oct 1850 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship 129 km II5.63F. Magnetic fields - good data.
1957 20 Oct   FARSIDE Eniwetok Atoll 3220 km Fifth flight of balloon-launched rocket, but fourth stage failed to fire.
1957 20 Oct 0106 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship 104 km II5.64F. Magnetic fields - good data.
1957 20 Oct 0357 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.65F. Cosmic rays - no data
1957 20 Oct 2011 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.66F. Cosmic rays - telemetry failed.
1957 22 Oct   FARSIDE Eniwetok Atoll 4350 km+ Sixth and last launch, but transmitter failed. Estimated final alt. = 6,440 km.
1957 22 Oct 2231 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.67F. Cosmic ray payload, but data only from balloon portion of flight.
1957 26 Oct 1947 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.68F. Cosmic rays - balloon data only.
1957 27 Oct 0246 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.69F. Cosmic rays - balloon data only.
1957 29 Oct 0013 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship 18 km II5.70F. Cosmic rays and aurora payload, partial data only with low altitude.
1957 30 Oct 2140 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.71F. Cosmic rays and aurora, but data only from balloon part of flight.
1957 31 Oct 0029 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.72F. Cosmic rays and aurora, only data from balloon section of flight.
1957 31 Oct 1951 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.73F. Magnetic fields - no data.
1957 01 Nov 0100 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.74F. Magnetic fields, balloon data only before rocket fired.
1957 03 Nov 2008 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.75F. Magnetic fields - balloon data.
1957 03 Nov 2324 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.76F. Cosmic rays & aurora - partial data return.
1957 04 Nov 0141 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship 97 km II5.77F. Magnetic fields - good data.
1957 04 Nov 0347 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship - II5.78F. Magnetic fields but rocket did not fire.
1957 04 Nov 0716 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship - II5.79F. Cosmic rays and aurora - balloon data only received.
1957 04 Nov 0755 Soviet met-rocket Arctic   IGY-?. Temperature and pressure payload.
1957 04 Nov 1852 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.80F. Magnetic fields - no data.
1957 05 Nov 0125 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.81F. Cosmic ray and aurora payload, but data only from balloon flight.
1957 05 Nov 1931 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship 97 km II5.82F. Cosmic rays/aurora - good data.
1957 05 Nov 2159 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship 100 km II5.83F. Magnetic fields - excellent.
1957 07 Nov 1605 AEROBEE Holloman AFB   USAF-89. Ionosphere studies, good data on ascent, partial on descent.
1957 08 Nov 2043 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.84F. Cosmic rays/aurora - excellent.
1957 08 Nov 2215 LOKI-2/Rockoon Ship ? II5.85F. Cosmic rays/aurora - excellent.
1957 08 Nov 1457 AEROBEE Holloman AFB ? USAF-90. Ionosphere - rocket failure.
1957 13 Nov   SKYLARK Woomera 127 km SL-04. Fourth launch.
1957 10 Dec 1735 NIKE-CAJUN WSPG 143 km OB6.02F. Ion probe and magnetic field, partial data return.
1957 10 Dec 1812 NIKE-ASP-3 San Nicolas Island 169 km NN8.51F. First successful NIKE-ASP with UV and X-ray payload for project 'Sunflare' - partial data.
1957 10 Dec 2136 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill ? SS6.39. Atmosphere studies, but rocket broke up.
1957 12 Dec 0400 AEROBEE Fort Churchill 80 km SM1.07. Atmosphere structure - excellent.
1957 14 Dec 2100 AEROBEE Fort Churchill 97 km SM1.08. Atmosphere structure - good data,
1957 15 Dec 0038 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill ? AM6.34. Atmosphere structure payload, but rocket broke up.
1957 16 Dec 0435 Soviet met-rocket Arctic   IGY-11. Temp, pressure and density.
1957 21 Dec 0440 Soviet met-rocket Arctic   IGY-12. Temp, pressure and density.
1957 21 Dec 0845 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar ?   IGY-13. Temp, pressure and density.
1957 31 Dec 0610 Soviet met-rocket Antarctica   Temperature and pressure study after launch from ship in Antarctic waters near Mirny at 66°S,93°E.
1957 1957   NIKE-ASP-1 or 2 San Nicolas Island 16 km? First or second rocket had launch failure.
1958 09 Jan 1535 NIKE-ASP WSPG 15 km II8.10 with payload for UV & X-rays and micrometeorites. Second stage failed to ignite. F/F
1958 10 Jan 0727 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-14 for temp/pressure/density
1958 19 Jan 0845 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-4 for temp/pressure
1958 19 Jan 0945 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-15 for temp/pressure/density
1958 19 Jan 2321 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-16 for temp/pressure/density
1958 20 Jan 1315 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-2 from ship "Ob" at 65°26'S, 120°32'E for temperature and pressure.
1958 25 Jan 1911 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 157 km AM6.02 for UV & X-rays/atmosphere. S/S
1958 26 Jan 0419 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 180 km NN3.03F for cosmic rays/aurora/magnetic field payload. S/S
1958 27 Jan 0604 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 99 km SM2.09 for atmospheric structure. S/S
1958 27 Jan 1849 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 143 km SM2.10 for atmospheric structures. S/S
1958 27 Jan 1918 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 129 km AM6.36 for atmospheric structures. S/S
1958 29 Jan 1906 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 170 km AM6.03 for atmosphere research. S/S
1958 01 Feb 1417 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-3 from the "Ob" in Antarctic waters at 67°44'S,147°12'E
1958 03 Feb 1802 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 138 km NN3.10F for ionosphere study. S/S
1958 04 Feb 0617 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 34 km NN3.11F with ionosphere payload. S/S
1958 09 Feb 1300 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-4 fired at 69°49'S,161°52'E
1958 10 Feb 0845 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-5 for temperature/pressure
1958 11 Feb 0944 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-17 for temps/pressure/density
1958 13 Feb 0637 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 129 km II6.24F for cosmic rays/aurora/UV & X-rays payload. S/S
1958 16 Feb 0617 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 121 km II6.25F for cosmic rays/aurora/UV & X-rays payload. S/S
1958 16 Feb 0906 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-5 fired at 48°S,171°E from the "Ob".
1958 18 Feb 1310 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-6 for temps/pressures
1958 18 Feb 1431 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-18 for temp/pressure/density
1958 21 Feb 0842 V-5A Kapustin Yar   IGY-19 for ionosphere/micrometeorites/solar radiation payload
1958 22 Feb 0202 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 225 km NN3.18F for UV & X-rays and ionosphere. S/S
1958 22 Feb 0535 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 129 km II6.26F for cosmic rays/aurora/UV & X-ray study payload. S/S
1958 24 Feb 0700 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 206 km NN3.14F for UV & X-rays/atm study. S/S
1958 24 Feb 0735 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 143 km AM6.37 for atmosphere study. S/S
1958 25 Feb 0549 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 129 km II6.27F for cosmic rays/aurora/UV & X-rays study payload. S/S
1958 26 Feb 0335 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-7 for temperatures & pressures
1958 26 Feb 0435 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-20 for temp/pressure/density
1958 26 Feb 2218 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 37 km RP6.X2 for charging expt/tests. P/P
1958 04 Mar 0602 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill ? AM6.04 for atmosphere structure. /F
1958 04 Mar 1930 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 181 km AM6.05 for atm structure payload. S/S
1958 09 Mar 0730 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-6 from "Ob" at 38°53'S,142°8'E
1958 11 Mar 2021 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-7 from 38°35'S,151°43'E
1958 14 Mar 1754 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-8 from "Ob" at 43°15'S,160°15'E
1958 16 Mar 0454 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 144 km NN3.04F for aurora/UV & X-rays/magnetic fields payload. S/S
1958 17 Mar 0300 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-8 for temp/pressure
1958 17 Mar 1629 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-9 from "Ob" at 67°53'S,166°24'E
1958 19 Mar 0112 AEROBEE Holloman AFB 93 km AA1.25 for UV & X-rays/ion comp. S/S
1958 20 Mar 2145 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-21 for temp/pressure/density
1958 21 Mar 0335 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-9 for temps & pressures
1958 22 Mar 0641 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 168 km NN3.05F with payload for magnetic fields/aurora/UV & X-rays. S/S
1958 23 Mar 1807 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 204 km NN3.19F for UV & X-rays/ion comp. S/S
1958 24 Mar 1830 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 116 km OB6.08 for horizon study. S/S
1958 24 Mar 2200 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 137 km AM6.38 for atmospheric structure. S/S
1958 27 Mar 0600 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-10 from the "Ob" at 67°26'S, 165°40'E
1958 28 Mar 0335 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-10 for temp/pressure
1958 31 Mar 0241 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-11 from 67°17'S,173°30'E
1958 31 Mar 2341 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-12 from 67°26'S,180°0'E
1958 01 Apr 1200 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-11 for temperature/pressure
1958 01 Apr 2032 SKYLARK Woomera 42 km SL-06 on propulsion test flight
1958 02 Apr 1845 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-13 from the "Ob" at 69°19'S, 164°65'W
1958 07 Apr   HiBALL-1 Wallops Island 240 km NIKE/CAJUN/LITTLE-DAVID
1958 08 Apr   K-150 Japan   First launch. S/
1958 17 Apr 1057 SKYLARK Woomera 146.5 km or 152 km SL-07 with grenades and chaff, and to measure pressure and electron density. S/S
1958 20 Apr 1540 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-22 for temp/pressure/density
1958 21 Apr 1740 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-14 from "Ob" at 66°22'S, 128°3'W
1958 23 Apr 1724 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-15 fired at 65°41'S,109°46'W
1958 24 Apr 1658 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-16 from 64°59'S,109°10'W
1958 25 Apr   NIKE-CAJUN Wallops Island 80 km+ Payload of 12 ft balloon, first test. Inflated at 80 km, tracked for 300,000 yds (274 km)
1958 26 Apr 1700 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-17 from 60°23'S,109°10'W
1958 28 Apr 1700 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-18 from 55°0'S,109°37'W
1958 29 Apr   KAPPA-5 Japan  
1958 30 Apr 1700 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-19 from 49°12'S,109°20'W
1958 01 May   NIKE-CAJUN Wallops Island   Second 12 ft space balloon deployed
1958 03 May 1700 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-20 fired from 39°52'S,109°17'W
1958 05 May 1415 AEROBEE-HI WSPG 213 km NN3.22F for UV & X-ray payload. S/S
1958 05 May 1848 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-21 from "Ob" at 33°46'S,109°18'W
1958 07 May 1734 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-22 at 27°25'S,109°25'W
1958 18 May 0050 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-12 for temp & pressure
1958 18 May 0156 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-23 for temp/pressure/density
1958 19 May 0105 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-13 for temperature & pressure
1958 20 May 0426 SKYLARK Woomera 151 km SL-05 with airglow experiment.
1958 21 May   NIKE-CAJUN Wallops Island 129 km? 4 kg space balloon, lost in flight. Type planned for VANGUARD.
1958 23 May 2239 AEROBEE-75 WSPG 60 km SS12.48, first AEROBEE-75 with atmospheric structures payload. S/P
1958 29 May 0100 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-14 for temperature & pressure
1958 30 May 0231 NIKE-CAJUN WSPG 100 km SS6.49 for structure of atmosphere
1958 31 May 0145 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-24 for temperature/pressure/density
1958 04 Jun   US sounding rocket WSPG 220 km Solar spectrum measurements
1958 05 Jun 1130 SKYLARK Woomera 153 km SL-22 carried failed payload. S/F
1958 08 Jun   Sounding rocket Cuxhaven   Cuxhaven launch by the DRG
1958 09 Jun 0050 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-15 for temp/pressure
1958 16 Jun   KAPPA-6-1 Akita 30 km ? First launch - for upper atmosphere and cosmic rays
1958 16 Jun   KAPPA-6 Akita 60 km ? Upper atmosphere/cosmic rays
1958 18 Jun 1035 SKYLARK Woomera 3.0 km SL-18, motor exploded in night launch
1958 18 Jun 1515 SKYLARK Woomera 145 km SL-09 with grenades and chaff, and electron density expt - no data. S/P
1958 19 Jun 2115 SKYLARK Woomera 156 km SL-08 for atmosphere study. S/F
1958 24 Jun 0045 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-16 for temp/pressure
1958 24 Jun 0145 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-25 for temp/pressure/density
1958 24 Jun 0151 KAPPA-6-3 Akita 20 km TW-1 with grenade dispenser. No data
1958 27 Jun   ARGO-E5 (JASON) Wallops Island   Aerodynamics flight at Mach 18+
1958 29 Jun 0130 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-26 for temp/pressure/density
1958 30 Jun 0752 KAPPA-6-4 Akita 40 km TW-2 with grenades, no data. S/F
1958 Jul   X-17 San Nicolas Island 450-480 km ARGUS-Unarmed-1 with dummy high altitude bomb test rocket.
1958 02 Jul   V-2A (R-2A) Kapustin Yar 210 km
1958 03 Jul 1652 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 262 km AU3.07F with AFCRL ionosphere expt. S/S
1958 06 Jul 1202 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 250 km AU3.10F with AFCRL ionosphere expt. S/S
1958 07 Jul 1850 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 121 km OB6.09 for horizon study/water vapour using hygrometer. S/S
1958 07 Jul 2318 NIKE-ASP San Nicolas Island ? NN8.52F with UV & X-ray payload, but test rocket broke up. F/F
1958 08 Jul 2315 NIKE-ASP San Nicolas Island 225 km NN8.53F for X-ray/UV and test payload. S/S
1958 10 Jul 0553 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-23 at 31°01'S,47°50'W from "Ob"
1958 11 Jul 1830 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 243 km AU3.11F with AFCRL ionosphere expt. S/S
1958 12 Jul 0730 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-24 fired at 24°41'S,39°06'W
1958 12 Jul 2030 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 114 km OB6.10 for horizon study/water vapour using hygrometer. S/S
1958 14 Jul 0630 Soviet met-sat Ship   SH-25 fired from "Ob" at 16°13'S,33°02'W
1958 15 Jul 2008 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 126 km AM6.39 for atmosphere structure. S/P
1958 15 Jul 2045 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-17 for temp and pressure
1958 15 Jul 2145 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-27 for temp/pressure/density
1958 16 Jul 0200 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-28 for temp/pressure/density
1958 16 Jul 0630 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-26 fired at 6°11'S,30°38'W
1958 16 Jul 2240 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 133 km OB6.04F for ionosphere/mag fields. S/S
1958 17 Jul 0105 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-18 for temperature and pressure
1958 17 Jul 0722 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 169 km AA6.15 for atmospheric structure. S/P
1958 17 Jul 1748 NIKE-ASP San Nicolas Island 225 km NN8.54F for UV & X-ray/tests. S/S
1958 18 Jul 0630 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-27 from "Ob" at 3°45'N,28°13'W
1958 20 Jul 0630 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-28 from 14°1'N,25°26'W from "Ob"
1958 21 Jul 0630 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-29 at 18°45'N,24°39'W from ship "Ob" on way back from Antarctica cruise.
1958 22 Jul 0630 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-30 from 22°50'N,22°39'W
1958 24 Jul 1446 Soviet met-rocket Ship   SH-31 fired in mid-Atlantic Ocean
1958 25 Jul 0501 NIKE-ASP San Nicolas Island 225 km NN8.55F for UV & X-rays and test. S/F
1958 27 Jul 0220 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-29 for temp/pressure/density
1958 27 Jul 1510 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-19 for temperature & pressure
1958 29 Jul 0503 NIKE-ASP San Nicolas Island 225 km NN8.56F for X-rays & UV/test. S/S
1958 31 Jul 0220 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-30 for temp/pressure/density
1958 01 Aug   ARGO Wallops Island   Some flights
1958 01 Aug   X-17 San Nicolas Island 450-480 km ARGUS-Unarmed-2 flight with dummy nuclear bomb unit.
1958 02 Aug 0547 V-2A Kapustin Yar 211 km IGY-31 for air sampler/micrometeorites/ionosphere/cosmic rays/biology
1958 Aug   X-17 San Nicolas Island 450-480 km ARGUS-Unarmed-3 with dummy warhead
1958 07 Aug 0845 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-20 for temp & pressure
1958 12 Aug 0310 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-32 for temp/pressure/density
1958 12 Aug 0440 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-33 for temp/pressure/density
1958 12 Aug   X-17 San Nicolas Island 450-480 km ARGUS-Unarmed-4 test with dummy head
1958 13 Aug 0200 V-2A Kapustin Yar 209 km IGY-34 for cosmic rays/air sampler/micrometeorites/ionosphere/biology.
1958 14 Aug 0140 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-21 for temperature/pressure
1958 14 Aug 1328 NIKE-CAJUN WSPG 132 km OB6.01F for horizon study. S/F
1958 15 Aug 0440 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-35 for temp/pressure/density
1958 15 Aug   ARGO-E5(JASON)     Test of detectors to study effects of high altitude nuclear tests.
1958 27 Aug 0404 V-5A Kapustin Yar   IGY-36 for cosmic radiation/biology/ionosphere/micrometeorites/solar radiation payload
1958 27 Aug   X-17 USS Norton Sound 480 km ARGUS-1 with W-25 nuclear warhead. USS Norton Sound
1958 27 Aug   V-2A Kapustin Yar 451 km Carried two dogs, "Balanka" and "Pyostraya".
1958 27? Aug   ARGO-E5 (JASON)     To detect effects of nuclear test
1958 30 Aug   X-17 USS Norton Sound 480 km ARGUS-2 with W-25 nuclear bomb test
1958 30 Aug   ARGO-E5 (JASON)   800 km+ To detect effects of the nuclear test
1958 03 Sep 1703 LOKI-II-DART Fort Churchill ? II9.01F for cosmic rays/aurora/test. F/F
1958 03 Sep 1930 LOKI-II-DART Fort Churchill ? II9.02F for cosmic rays/aurora/test flight, gave poor results.
1958 04 Sep 1930 LOKI-II-DART Fort Churchill ? II9.03F for cosmic rays/aurora. Poor
1958 06 Sep 0425 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-37 for temp/pressure/density
1958 06 Sep   X-17 USS Norton Sound 480 km ARGUS-3 with W-25 bomb test
1958 07 Sep   BLACK-KNIGHT Woomera 483 km BK.01, first flight for technology test flight. S/P
1958 07 Sep 2330 LOKI-II-DART Fort Churchill 19 km II9.04F for cosmic rays/aurora. S/S
1958 08 Sep 0204 LOKI-II-DART Fort Churchill ? II9.05F, cosmic rays/aurora. Poor
1958 08 Sep 0256 LOKI-II-DART Fort Churchill ? II9.06F, cosmic rays/aurora. Poor
1958 11 Sep   NIKE-CAJUN Wallops Island   12 ft balloon deployed
1958 14 Sep 0440 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-22 for temp & pressure
1958 14 Sep   Sounding rocket Cuxhaven   Test sounding rocket by the German Space Agency, DRG.
1958 17 Sep 0230 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-23 for temp & pressure
1958 17 Sep 0443 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-38 with sky brightness payload
1958 19 Sep 0048 V-5A Kapustin Yar 450 km IGY-39 with payload for cosmic rays/biology (2 dogs)/ionosphere/micrometeorites/solar rad.
1958 19 Sep 0350 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-24 for temps & pressures
1958 19 Sep   SKYLARK Woomera 154 km Fourth Gassiot test launch
1958 20 Sep 0535 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-40 temp/pressure/density
1958 22 Sep 0230 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-25 for temp & pressure
1958 22 Sep 0347 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-41 for temp/pressure/density
1958 25 Sep 0255 KAPPA-6-7 Akita 43.6 km TW-3 with grenade payload - poor data
1958 25 Sep 0550 KAPPA-6-8 Akita ? RS-1 to observe solar UV spectrum, film packs were damaged.
1958 25 Sep   ARGO-C6 (EXOS) Wallops Island   USAF/NASA flight test
1958 26 Sep 0350 KAPPA-6-9 Akita 47 km or 53 km TW-4 with grenades - poor data
1958 27 Sep 0348 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-42 for temp/pressure/density
1958 28 Sep 1942 NIKE-ASP Ship 225 km NN8.57F for pre-eclipse test of UV & X-ray study payload. Launched from USS 'Point Defiance' near Danger Island, South Pacific 10°S,174°E. S/S
1958 01 Oct 0941 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-26 for temp/pressures
1958 01 Oct 1045 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-43 for ozone measurements
1958 01 Oct 1942 NIKE-ASP Ship 56 km NN8.58F for pre-eclipse payload test of UV & X ray head. Alt too low.
1958 03 Oct 0332 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-44 for temp/pressure/density
1958 04 Oct 1400 V-11A Kapustin Yar   IGY-45 for ionosphere/pressure/sky-brightness/micrometeorites/temperature/solar radiation payload.
1958 06 Oct 1030 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-46 for sky brightness payload
1958 08 Oct 0350 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-47 for temp/pressure/density
1958 10 Oct   RM-1 Krakow 2 km First launch, had no payload
1958 10 Oct 1350 V-11A Kapustin Yar   IGY-48 for ionosphere/pressure/sky brightness/micrometeorites/temps/solar radiation payload.
1958 12 Oct 1932 NIKE-ASP Ship 224 km NN8.59F for UV & X-ray study of eclipse. S/S
1958 12 Oct 1942 NIKE-ASP Ship 238 km NN8.60F, UV & X-rays during eclipse. S/S
1958 12 Oct 1943 NIKE-ASP Ship 245 km NN8.61F eclipse UV & X-rays. S/S
1958 12 Oct 1953 NIKE-ASP Ship 241 km NN8.62F eclipse UV & X-ray study. Lyman-α remained unaffected, X-rays dropped slightly. S/S
1958 12 Oct 2010 NIKE-ASP Ship 56 km NN8.63F study of eclipse conditions in UV & X-rays. Altitude too low due to second stage defect.
1958 13 Oct 1940 NIKE-ASP Ship 225 km NN8.64F, post eclipse flight with UV & X-ray studies. Provided good solar flare data. S/S
1958 14 Oct 1201 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 137 km AA6.204 for magnetic fields. S/S
1958 15 Oct 0105 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 156 km AM4.12 for atmospheric structure. S/S
1958 16 Oct 0400 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-49 for temp/pressure/density
1958 16 Oct 0400 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 151 km AA6.203 for magnetic fields. S/S
1958 17 Oct 0405 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-50 for temp/pressure/density
1958 18 Oct 0325 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 143 km AA6.205 for magnetic fields S/P
1958 20 Oct 2201 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 132 km AMB6.207 for ionosphere payload. S/S
1958 22 Oct 0345 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 158 km AA6.206 for magnetic fields. S/F
1958 22 Oct 1422 NIKE-ASP WSPG - II8.11 for magnetic fields. Poor results
1958 22 Oct 1647 AEROBEE-300 Fort Churchill 177 km AA10.01, first launch for magnetic fields, but third stage failed to fire.
1958 23 Oct 0320 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-27 for temperature & pressure
1958 23 Oct 1331 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-51 for temp/pressure/density
1958 25 Oct 0800 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-28 for temp & pressure
1958 25 Oct 1928 AEROBEE-300 Fort Churchill 420 km AA10.02, second flight was successful for mag fields, but no data return. S/F
1958 28 Oct 2000 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-29 rocket for temp/pressure
1958 31 Oct 0800 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-30 for temp & pressure
1958 31 Oct 1154 V-5A Kapustin Yar 450 km IGY-52 with payload for cosmic rays/biology (2 dogs)/ionosphere/meteorites/solar radiation.
1958 31 Oct 1959 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 193 km NN3.15F for UV & X-rays study and atmospheric structures. S/S
1958 31 Oct 2036 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 119 km OB6.11 for horizon study and water vapour measurements, but camera not recovered with pictures. S/F
1958 Nov   MONUS x ? Texel Island   Series of rockets by Hollandse Signaal apparaten flown by the Amsterdam National Aviation Lab to fly aircraft model at supersonic speeds.
1958 03 Nov 1252 AEROBEE-75 Guam 55 km SS12.50F for atmosphere structure. S/P
1958 03 Nov 1620 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 211 km NN3.20F to study UV & X-rays, and also the ionosphere. S/S
1958 04 Nov 1220 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-31 for temp and pressure
1958 04 Nov 1650 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 123 km OB6.12 for horizon study and water vapour, but nosecone destroyed. S/F
1958 07 Nov 1226 AEROBEE-75 Guam 60 km SS12.51F for atmosphere structure. S/P
1958 08 Nov 0153 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 144 km CC6.01 for airglow study. S/S
1958 10 Nov 2045 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-32 for temp & pressure
1958 11 Nov 2118 LOKI-II-DART Fort Churchill ? II9.02F for cosmic rays/aurora. S/S
1958 12 Nov 1140 NIKE-CAJUN Guam 72 km SS6.52F for atmosphere structure. S/S
1958 13 Nov 0859 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 145 km CC6.02 for airglow payload. S/S
1958 13 Nov 1734 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 119 km OB6.13F for horizon and water vapour study but the camera-carrying nosecone could not be recovered and was lost. S/F
1958 13 Nov 2115 LOKI-II-DART Fort Churchill ? II9.08F for cosmic rays/aurora. /P
1958 13 Nov 2145 LOKI-II-DART Fort Churchill ? II9.09F for cosmic rays/aurora. /Poor
1958 14 Nov 0800 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-33 for temperature/pressure
1958 14 Nov 1110 NIKE-CAJUN Guam 73 km SS6.53F for atmosphere structure. S/S
1958 16 Nov 0657 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 159 km NN3.06F for aurora/UV & X-rays. S/S
1958 17 Nov 1800 LOKI-II-DART Fort Churchill ? II9.10F for cosmic rays/aurora. S/S
1958 18 Nov 0845 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-34 for temp/pressure
1958 18 Nov 1647 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 116 km OB6.14F for horizon study with detection of water vapour. Recovered. S/S
1958 19 Nov 1802 NIKE-CAJUN Guam 71 km SS6.54F for atmosphere structure. S/S
1958 19 Nov 1830 LOKI-II-DART Fort Churchill ? II9.11F for cosmic rays/aurora. /Poor
1958 19 Nov 2151 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 139 km OB6.06F for ionosphere/mag fields. S/P
1958 20 Nov 0214 LOKI-II-DART Fort Churchill ? II9.12F for cosmic rays/aurora. /P
1958 20 Nov 0327 LOKI-II-DART Fort Churchill ? II9.13F for cosmic rays/aurora. /P
1958 20 Nov 0425 LOKI-II-DART Fort Churchill ? II9.14F for cosmic rays/aurora. /Poor
1958 20 Nov 1439 NIKE-CAJUN Guam 70 km SS6.55F for atmosphere structure. P/Fair
1958 22 Nov 0958 NIKE-CAJUN Guam 85 km SS6.56F for atmosphere structure. S/S
1958 22 Nov 1706 AEROBEE-75 Guam 60 km S12.57F for atmosphere structure. S/P
1958 23 Nov 2202 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 130 km AA6.16 with AFCRL air density test. S/S
1958 24 Nov 0625 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 207 km NN3.21F for ionosphere. S/S
1958 24 Nov 0800 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 13 km AA6.17 with AFCRL payload to study air density. Second stage didn't ignite.
1958 24 Nov 1727 NIKE-CAJUN Guam 79 km SS6.58F for atmospheric structure. S/S
1958 28 Nov 0307 KAPPA-6-10 Akita 35.6 km CP-1 for cosmic rays and pressure. S/F
1958 28 Nov 2006 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-35 for temps/pressures
1958 29 Nov 0305 KAPPA-6-11 Akita 41 km RS-2 to study solar UV radiation, but film was damaged in flight.
1958 29 Nov 1631 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 203 km NN3.16F for aurora/UV & X-rays. S/S
1958 30 Nov 0400 KAPPA-6-12 Akita 48.2 km CP-2 for cosmic rays & pressure. S/S
1958 30 Nov 1837 AEROBEE-300 Fort Churchill 304 km ABM10.200 for ionosphere study. S/S
1958 30 Nov 2227 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 153 km OB6.15F for ionosphere/mag fields. S/S
1958 01 Dec 1935 AEROBEE-300 Fort Churchill 97 km NN10.01 for ionosphere, but third stage didn't ignite. P/P
1958 03 Dec 1013 SKYLARK Woomera 127 km SL-11 studied winds and spectral lines after ejection of Sodium trail. S/S
1958 03 Dec 1839 AEROBEE-300 Fort Churchill 225 km NN10.02 for ionosphere study. S/P
1958 04 Dec 0113 AEOLUS Woomera 79 km AL-1 to study winds, using chaff, in the 50 km region. S/S
1958 05 Dec   NIKE-CAJUN Wallops Island 140 km Photos for meteorology taken over the Atlantic Ocean.
1958 05 Dec   TERRIER Wallops Island   First launch for sounding
1958 08 Dec 2000 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-36 for temp & pressure
1958 10 Dec 1200 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-37 for temperature/pressure
1958 11 Dec 1200 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-38 for temps/pressures
1958 12 Dec 1200 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Z-39 for temperatures & pressures
1958 23 Dec 1300 V-5A Kapustin Yar   IGY-53 for ionosphere/pressure/sky-brightness/temp/meteorites/solar radiation/biology (2 dogs).
1958 25 Dec 1310 V-5A Kapustin Yar   IGY-54 for ionosphere/pressure/sky-brightness/temp/meteorites/solar radiation/biology (2 dogs).
1958 27 Dec 0950 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   IGY-55 for temp/pressure/density
1958 1958   KAPPA-6 x 12 Akita   12 more KAPPA-6 launches during IGY
1959 02 Jan 2359 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Temperature and pressure
1959 10 Jan 1200 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Temperature and pressure
1959 27 Jan   DANIEL-01 Isle du Levant 127 km Atmosphere radioactivity. S
1959 28 Jan   NIKE-CAJUN Wallops Island   Deployment of third 12ft space balloon
1959 29 Jan   LOKI-DART Holloman AFB   OWL dart payload
1959 30 Jan   "ANTARES-0" Isle du Levant   OPd-12-12-D - Technology/kinetic heating. Reached mach 2.4. S
1959 05 Feb 1445 AEROBEE-HI Holloman AFB 212 km AA3.100C to collect micrometeorites, no samples returned. S/F
1959 11 Feb 2359 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Temperature, pressure and winds
1959 21 Feb   V-2A Kapustin Yar   A-3 type payload flight
1959 03 Mar   TRAILBLAZER-1 Wallops Island   First flight of a six-stage rocket in re-entry test flight
1959 04 Mar 1114 SKYLARK Woomera 30 km SL-21 for atmosphere study flight, but RAVEN motor exploded in flight.
1959 07 Mar   VERONIQUE-AGI Hammaguir 249.5 km V.18 with Sodium/Potassium vapour trail - failed to eject chemicals.
1959 10 Mar   VERONIQUE-AGI Hammaguir 180 km V.17 released Na/K trail through ionosphere regions.
1959 12 Mar   VERONIQUE-AGI Hammaguir 200 km? V.16 released Na/K vapour trail
1959 12 Mar 1109 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   Temperature and pressure
1959 12 Mar   BLACK-KNIGHT Woomera 540 km BK.03 was the second launch, on a systems test flight.
1959 12 Mar 1540 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   Temperature, pressure and winds
1959 13 Mar 1510 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   No data returned
1959 13 Mar 1545 AEROBEE-HI WSPG 197.5 km NN3.24F carried 118 kg payload for UV solar photography of complete disc. S/S
1959 17 Mar   4-stage rocket Wallops Island   HONEST-JOHN/NIKE/NIKE/20" spherical motor, vehicle flight test.
1959 17 Mar 0135 KAPPA-6-14 Akita 54 km RS-3 carried solar UV spectrograph, which could not be recovered.
1959 18 Mar 0245 KAPPA-6-15 Akita 48.5 km or 50 km TW-6 carried grenade dispenser for measurement of winds - success.
1959 19 Mar 0115 KAPPA-6-16 Akita 41.3 km RS-4 with solar UV spectrograph - lost
1959 20 Mar 0250 KAPPA-6-17 Akita 48.6 km TW-7 with grenades - good data
1959 24 Mar   ? Wallops Island   3,000th Wallops Island launch
1959 30 Mar 1501 AEROBEE-HI Holloman AFB 201 km AA3.140C for solar physics
1959 02 Apr 0800 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Temperature, pressure and winds
1959 06 Apr   SKYLARK Woomera   Launch failure
1959 07 Apr 1446 AEROBEE-HI WSPG 232 km AA3.160C for atmospheric structure. S/F
1959 15 Apr 1446 AEROBEE-HI Holloman AFB 0 AA3.180C with ionosphere study payload, but rocket exploded in launch tower.
1959 21 Apr 0105 AEROBEE-HI Holloman AFB 235 km AA3.181C with AFCRL ionosphere payload, gave partial ascent and good descent data.
1959 22 Apr 1929 NIKE-CAJUN Holloman AFB ? AA6.182C for ionosphere, but rocket failed in flight. F/F
1959 May   LONG-TOM Woomera   LT-__ launched at Woomera
1959 02 May   "ANTARES-1" Isle du Levant   OPd-56-39-22-D-01 - Technology/kinetic heating. S
1959 05 May 1200 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Temperature and pressure
1959 06 May 0145 AEROBEE Holloman AFB 132 km AA2.141C for ionosphere/chemical study payload. S/F
1959 12 May 1139 AEROBEE-HI Holloman AFB 145 km AA3.200C for chemical and ion comp.
1959 14 May   ARCON Wallops Island   2.01GT was NASA's first sounding rocket launch. Rocket test. F/S
1959 15 May   ARCON Wallops Island   2.02GT for NASA rocket test. F/S
1959 15 May   ARCON Wallops Island   2.03FT as rocket test. F/F
1959 21 May 0100 NIKE-CAJUN Wallops Island 61 km II6.20F rocket held over from the IGY, studied magnetic fields. Altitude too low.
1959 22 May 1115 AEROBEE-HI Holloman AFB 142 km AA3.201C for chemical and ion composition, also atmospheric structure.
1959 23 May 1430 NIKE-CAJUN Wallops Island 73 km II6.21F, another IGY rocket, for magnetic fields, but altitude too low.
1959 27 May 0451 NIKE-CAJUN WSPG 169 km AA6.161C with AFCRL payload for atmosphere structure study. S/S
1959 27 May 1950 NIKE-CAJUN WSPG 177 km AA6.162C for atmosphere structure. S/P
1959 29 May   NIKE-CAJUN WSPG  
1959 04 Jun   TRAILBLAZER-1 Wallops Island   Re-entry test flight
1959 10 Jun 1640 AEROBEE-HI Holloman AFB 235 km AA3.280C for magnetic fields. S/S
1959 11 Jun   BLACK-KNIGHT Woomera 800 km BK.04 on successful re-entry test
1959 22 Jun   V-2A (R-2A) Kapustin Yar c.212 km A-3 type payload flight
1959 22 Jun 1432 AEROBEE Holloman AFB 110 km AA1.260C for magnetic fields. S/F
1959 24 Jun 1210 AEROBEE-HI Holloman AFB 200 km AA3.220C for the ionosphere. S/S
1959 27 Jun 1308 NIKE-CAJUN Wallops Island 61 km II6.31F rocket left over from the IGY, for magnetic field study. Alt too low.
1959 29 Jun   BLACK-KNIGHT Woomera 800 km BK.05 for re-entry test flight. S/P
1959 29 Jun   ROOK Aberporth   Aerodynamics flight - unsuccessful
1959 30 Jun   NIKE-CAJUN Wallops Island 83 km ABME6.208 for ionosphere. P/P
1959 Jul   NIKE-ASP x 2     Possibly two more NIKE-ASP launches
1959 01 Jul 0005 SKYLARK Woomera 50 km SL-19 suffered propulsion problem
1959 01 Jul   NIKE-CAJUN Wallops Island 98 km ABME6.209 for ionosphere. P/P
1959 02 Jul 0341 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   No data returned
1959 02 Jul   V-2A (R-2A) Kapustin Yar 220 km A-2 type biological payload of 2,000 kg carried a hare called "Marfusha" and two dogs "Otvazhnaya" and "Shezhinka", all successfully recovered.
1959 03 Jul 0245 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   No data returned
1959 07 Jul   ROOK Aberporth   Aerodynamic test flight, failed
1959 07 Jul   JAVELIN (ARGO-D4) Wallops Island 1207 km JV-1, first flight carried plasma physics payload.
1959 08 Jul 0013 SKYLARK Woomera 93 km SL-14 with ion probe and solar X-ray cameras, but no data returned.
1959 10 Jul   V-2A (R-2A) Kapustin Yar 220 km A-3 type payload, carried two dogs, "Otvazhnaya", the other unnamed.
1959 13 Jul   V-2A (R-2A) Kapustin Yar 212 km A-3 type payload of 2,000 kg carrying 2 dogs, "Otvazhnaya", other unnamed.
1959 14 Jul 1735 NIKE-ASP Point Arguello 240 km NN8.65CF for solar physics in 'Project Sunflare 2'. /F
1959 17 Jul 1740 NIKE-ASP Point Arguello ? NN8.66CF for solar physics. /F
1959 21 Jul   HONEST-JOHN/NIKE Pacific   Nuclear test monitoring of atmosphere
1959 21 Jul 1400 AEROBEE-HI WSPG 203 km NN3.23F for UV & X-ray payload. S/S
1959 22 Jul   V-2A (R-2A) Kapustin Yar 195 km Payload of dogs?
1959 23 Jul 0126 SKYLARK Woomera 91 km SL-24 - payload failed to operate. S/F
1959 24 Jul 1734 NIKE-ASP Point Arguello 227 km NN8.67CF for solar physics. S/S
1959 24 Jul   NIKE-ASP    
1959 07 Aug   ARCON Wallops Island   2.04GT test and support launch. F/F
1959 07 Aug   ARCON Wallops Island   2.05GT suffered another launch failure
1959 07 Aug   ARCON Wallops Island   2.06GT test launch. F/S
1959 07 Aug 1805 NIKE-ASP Point Arguello 225 km NN8.68CF for solar physics payload. S/S
1959 14 Aug 1700 NIKE-ASP Point Arguello 217 km NN8.69CF for solar physics. S/S
1959 17 Aug 0918 NIKE-ASP Wallops Island 236 km 3.13CA, NASA launch for atmospheric structure payload. Released sodium vapour from 80 km to apogee producing yellow streak reported as UFOs 1100 km up and down the US coast. S/S - first successful NASA sounding rocket launch.
1959 17 Aug   NIKE-ASP Wallops Island 15 km? Sodium release, but rocket failed.
1959 17 Aug   AEROBEE-HI     ?
1959 19 Aug 0020 SKYLARK Woomera 144.5 km SL-17 with ion probe and atmosphere pressure measurements.
1959 19 Aug 0034 NIKE-ASP Wallops Island 30 km 3.14CA for atmosphere structure. F/F
1959 19 Aug   AEROBEE-HI    
1959 22 Aug 0045 AEROBEE-HI WSPG 230 km AA3.101C for chemical & ion comp. S/S
1959 22 Aug 0230 NIKE-ASP Point Arguello ? NN8.70CF for solar physics. /F
1959 24 Aug 2347 NIKE-ASP Point Arguello ? NN8.71CF for solar physics. /P
1959 28 Aug 1710 NIKE-ASP Point Arguello 214 km NN8.72CF for solar physics. S/S
1959 28 Aug 1845 AEROBEE-HI WSPG 235 km AA3.122C with ionosphere payload. S/S
1959 31 Aug 2353 NIKE-ASP Point Arguello ? NN8.73CF for solar physics. /P
1959 Sep   KAPPA-8 Akita   First launch
1959 01 Sep 0101 NIKE-ASP Point Arguello ? NN8.74CF for solar physics. /F
1959 01 Sep 1800 NIKE-ASP Point Arguello 210 km NN8.75CF for solar physics. S/S
1959 02 Sep 0003 NIKE-ASP Point Arguello ? NN8.76CF for solar physics. Last in 'Project Sunflare 2'. /F
1959 05 Sep   BLACK-BRANT-1 Fort Churchill   PTV-1/CC-1-1 propulsion test vehicle carrying ballast, fired at 70°.
1959 05 Sep   BLACK-BRANT-1 Fort Churchill   PTV-2/CC-1-2 with ballast at 70°QA
1959 07 Sep 1245 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Temperature and pressure
1959 07 Sep   RM-2 Krakow   Boost only, no sustainer
1959 07 Sep   RM-2 Krakow   Boost only flight
1959 07 Sep   RM-2 Krakow   Boost only flight
1959 08 Sep   BLACK-BRANT-1 Fort Churchill   PTV-3/CC-1-3 fired at 70° with ballast and telemetry payload.
1959 10 Sep 0020 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Temperature and pressure
1959 10 Sep   BLACK-BRANT-1 Fort Churchill   PTV-4/CC-1-4 fired at 70° with ballast and telemetry payload.
1959 11 Sep 1912 AEROBEE-150 Fort Churchill 225 km 4.08GI with ionosphere payload on first Aerobee flight for NASA. S/P
1959 13 Sep 2100 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Temperature, pressure and winds
1959 14 Sep 1728 AEROBEE-150 Fort Churchill 219 km 4.07GI for ionosphere. S/S
1959 17 Sep 0012 SKYLARK Woomera 133 km SL-12 with ion-mass spectrometer, and solar X-ray & Lyman-a study payload
1959 17 Sep   AEROBEE-150 Fort Churchill   4.02II with DRTE/NASA payload to study the ionosphere. S/S
1959 18 Sep 1900 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   No data returned
1959 20 Sep   AEROBEE-150 Fort Churchill   4.03II for ionosphere research payload by DRTE/NASA. S/S, or S/P, or F/F?
1959 21 Sep   NIKE-SMOKE Wallops Island   First launch - gave smoke trail data up to 12 km altitude.
1959 24 Sep 0029 SKYLARK Woomera 158 km or 161 km SL-15 with ion-mass spectrometer and electron detector payload.
1959 24 Sep 2100 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   No data returned
1959 25 Sep   NIKE-CAJUN Cape Canaveral 140 km Photography of hurricane over the ocean - nosecone lost in sea.
1959 29 Sep 1059 NIKE-CAJUN Eglin AFB 124 km AA6.203C for chemical and ion composition, and atmosphere structure. S/S
1959 29 Sep   NIKE-CAJUN Cape Canaveral 190 km Photography of hurricane from altitudes between 16-190 km - payload recovered successfully by Destroyer. S/S
1959 30 Sep 1057 NIKE-CAJUN Eglin AFB 122 km AA6.204C for chemical and ion composition and atmosphere structure. S/S
1959 01 Oct 1049 NIKE-CAJUN Eglin AFB 138 km AA6.210C for chemistry, ion composition and atm structures. S/S
1959 02 Oct 1100 NIKE-CAJUN Eglin AFB 143 km AA6.211C for chemistry and ion composition and atmosphere structure. S/S
1959 03 Oct 1103 NIKE-CAJUN Eglin AFB 122 km AA6.202C for chemistry and ion composition and atmosphere structure. S/S
1959 05 Oct 1101 NIKE-CAJUN Eglin AFB 127 km AA6.212C for chemistry and ion composition and atm structures. S/S
1959 06 Oct   RM-2P Krakow   Postal payload flight
1959 08 Oct 2100 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Temperature, pressure and winds
1959 09 Oct 0300 ARCAS Fort Churchill 47.9 km 15 ft (4.6m) radar reflective chute
1959 09 Oct 0840 NIKE-CAJUN Eglin AFB 143 km AA6.209C for ion composition and chemistry, also atm structure. S/S
1959 09 Oct 1117 NIKE-CAJUN Eglin AFB 116 km AA6.213C for chemistry and ion composition, also atmosphere structure. Poor
1959 10 Oct 1200 AEROBEE WSPG 111 km AA2.102C to collect micrometeorites. S/F
1959 11 Oct 0300 ARCAS Fort Churchill 51.2 km Fifteen foot chute deployed
1959 12 Oct 0900 NIKE-CAJUN Eglin AFB 123 km AA6.208C for chemical and ion composition and atmosphere structure. S/S
1959 12 Oct 1112 NIKE-CAJUN Eglin AFB 123 km AA6.206C for chemistry and ion study together with atm structures. S/S
1959 13 Oct 1117 NIKE-CAJUN Eglin AFB 116 km AA6.214C for chemistry and ion composition, also atm structures. S/S
1959 14 Oct 0001 ARCAS Fort Churchill 43.9 km Parachute of 15 ft diameter
1959 14 Oct 0354 LOKI-II Point Mugu 70.4 km Chaff deployment
1959 15 Oct 0424 LOKI-II Point Mugu 69.2 km Chaff deployment
1959 15 Oct 1105 NIKE-CAJUN Eglin AFB 122 km AA6.207C for chemistry and ion composition, also atmosphere structure. S/S
1959 15 Oct 2100 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Temperature, pressure and winds
1959 16 Oct 1117 NIKE-CAJUN Eglin AFB 139 km AA6.215C for chemistry and ion composition, also atm structure. S/S
1959 20 Oct 1315 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   Temperature, pressure and winds
1959 20 Oct 1425 AEROBEE WSPG 113 km AA2.240C for ionosphere. S/P
1959 21 Oct 0435 LOKI-II Point Mugu 63.4 km Chaff deployment
1959 21 Oct 0452 LOKI-I Point Mugu 32.3 km Reflective parachute of 8 ft (2.4m)
1959 22 Oct   "ANTARES-2" Isle du Levant   OPd-56-39-22-D-02 - Technology/kinetic heating. S
1959 22 Oct 0325 ARCAS Fort Churchill 31.7 km Fifteen foot parachute
1959 22 Oct 0356 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   Temperature, pressure and winds
1959 22 Oct 0433 LOKI-II Point Mugu 64 km Chaff deployment
1959 22 Oct 0450 LOKI-I Point Mugu 30 km Eight foot reflective parachute
1959 22 Oct 0629 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   No data returned
1959 22 Oct 0955 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   Temperature, pressure and winds
1959 22 Oct   LEOPARD-2b Aberporth   First launch - failed on aerodynamics experimental firing.
1959 22 Oct 2100 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Temperature and pressure
1959 25 Oct 1744 AEROBEE-300 Fort Churchill 381 km AA10.184C with AFCRL ionosphere payload, but instruments partially failed. S/P
1959 26 Oct 1700 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill ? AA6.188C with AFCRL ionosphere payload, but rocket failed. F/F
1959 27 Oct 0300 ARCAS Fort Churchill 32.3 km Fifteen foot parachute
1959 27 Oct 0520 LOKI-II Point Mugu 67.7 km Chaff deployment
1959 27 Oct 0540 LOKI-I Point Mugu 34.8 km Eight foot parachute
1959 28 Oct 0300 ARCAS Fort Churchill 41.2 km 15 ft parachute
1959 28 Oct 0455 ARCAS Point Mugu 51.2 km 15 ft parachute
1959 28 Oct 0655 LOKI-II Point Mugu 57 km Chaff deployment
1959 28 Oct   SHOTPUT-1 Wallops Island 354 km Carried prototype ECHO balloon of 30.5m (100 ft) diameter folded in nosecone, and containing water which on vaporisation inflated the Mylar sphere. It remained aloft for 1½ hours.
1959 28 Oct 1447 AEROBEE-300 Fort Churchill   AA10.185C Ionosphere study. Low apogee + instrument failure.
1959 29 Oct 2100 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   No meteorological data returned
1959 30 Oct 0300 ARCAS Fort Churchill 28 km Fifteen foot parachute
1959 30 Oct   BLACK-KNIGHT Woomera 720 km BK.06 for re-entry test flight. S/P
1959 31 Oct 0300 ARCAS Fort Churchill 34.8 km Chaff deployment
1959 06 Nov 1636 AEROBEE-300 Fort Churchill 393 km AA10.187C for ionosphere study, but telemetry transmitter failed. S/P
1959 06 Nov 1925 AEROBEE WSPG 142 km NN2.78C for chemical and ion composition payload. S/S
1959 10 Nov 1204 STRONGARM-2 Wallops Island 1770 km or 1691 km OB11.01, five-stage rocket to study electron densities between 800 and 1,400 km height with 68 kg payload.
1959 12 Nov 2200 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   No meteorological data returned
1959 14 Nov 2238 AEROBEE-300 Fort Churchill 155 km AA10.165C to study atmospheric winds and structure, but third stage didn't ignite. F/F
1959 18 Nov   STRONGARM-3 Wallops Island   Launch failure
1959 18 Nov   LAMBDA-7-1 Kagoshima ?  
1959 18 Nov   AEROBEE-HI     Aerobee-Hi flight?
1959 18 Nov 1930 NIKE-ASP Eglin AFB 206 km AA8.241C for ionosphere study. S/S
1959 18 Nov 2217 NIKE-ASP Wallops Island 250 km 3.15CA with sodium vapour trail. S/S
1959 19 Nov 0744 AEROBEE-HI Fort Churchill 106 km AA3.282C for magnetic fields. S/P
1959 19 Nov   AEROBEE-HI     Aerobee-Hi launch?
1959 19 Nov 1036 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 132 km AA6.163C with AFCRL payload for atmosphere structure study. S/S
1959 19 Nov 1051 NIKE-ASP Wallops Island 256 km 3.16CA with sodium vapour trail. S/F
1959 19 Nov 2100 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   No meteorological data
1959 20 Nov 1051 NIKE-ASP Wallops Island 236 km 3.17CA for atmosphere structure. S/F
1959 20 Nov   AEROBEE-HI     Aerobee-Hi launch?
1959 20 Nov 1816 NIKE-CAJUN Fort Churchill 132 km AA6.164C with AFCRL payload for atmosphere structure research. Weak signal.
1959 22 Nov 1835 AEROBEE-300 Fort Churchill 35 km AA10.186C for ionosphere payload, but rocket failed during second stage burn.
1959 27 Nov 2100 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   No data returned
1959 28 Nov   NIKE-CAJUN Cape Canaveral   1 or 2 launches for hurricane photography. S/S
1959 29 Nov   NIKE-CAJUN Cape Canaveral   1 or 2 launches for hurricane photography. S/S
1959 30 Nov 1016 SKYLARK Woomera 151 km or 156 km SL-16 with sodium release trail and pressure measurements.
1959 30 Nov 1235 SKYLARK Woomera 163 km or 169km SL-60 with grenade and chaff dispenser packs.
1959 30 Nov 1959 NIKE-CAJUN Cape Canaveral   Hurricane photography, not successful
1959 01 Dec 1136 SKYLARK Woomera 160 km SL-38 with grenades and chaff release, also electron density payload.
1959 01 Dec   TRAILBLAZER-1 Wallops Island   Re-entry test flight
1959 03 Dec 0800 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   Temperature, pressure and winds
1959 03 Dec 1004 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   Temperature, pressure and winds
1959 03 Dec 1228 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   Temperature, pressure and winds
1959 03 Dec 2100 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Temperature, pressure and winds
1959 04 Dec 0507 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   Pressure and winds
1959 04 Dec 0700 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   Wind data returned
1959 04 Dec 1025 Soviet met-rocket Kapustin Yar   Wind data returned
1959 15 Dec   "ANTARES-3" Isle du Levant   OPd-56-39-22-D-03 - Technology/kinetic heating. Third stage failure. /P
1959 16 Dec   HTV-2 Holloman AFB   Hypersonic Test Vehicle, reached Mach 10 in 10 seconds.
1959 22 Dec 0756 JAVELIN (ARGO-D4) Wallops Island 901.5 km 8.01GT with NASA/NRL payload to study galactic radio noise. S/F
1959 24 Dec 2100 Soviet met-rocket Zemlya   Temperature and pressure