1958 in spaceflight

1958 in spaceflight
Orbital launches
A Juno I launches the first American satellite, Explorer 1
First	1 February
Last	18 December
Total	28
Successes	6
Failures	23
Catalogued	8
National firsts
Spaceflight	Canada
Satellite	United States
Orbital launch	United States
Rockets
Maiden flights	Juno I Sputnik 8A91 Pilot Thor-Able Luna Juno II Atlas B
Retirements	Sputnik 8A91 Pilot Juno I

Launches

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Launch site		LSP
	Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
	Remarks

8 January	Nike-Asp		White Sands		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital		8 January	Successful
	Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi)
10 January 15:48	SM-65A Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-12		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	10 January	Successful
	Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)
11 January	UGM-27 Polaris TV		Point Mugu		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	11 January	Successful
	Maiden flight of Polaris, apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
17 January	UGM-27 Polaris TV		Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	17 January	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
25 January 19:12	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	25 January	Successful
	Apogee: 157 kilometres (98 mi)
26 January 04:18:56	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Fort Churchill		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Auroral	26 January	Successful
	Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi)
27 January 06:04	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	27 January	Successful
	Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
27 January 18:49	Aerobee		Fort Churchill		US Army
		US Army	Suborbital	Aeronomy	27 January	Successful
	Apogee: 143 kilometres (89 mi)
28 January 20:16	PGM-17 Thor DM-18		Cape Canaveral LC-17A		US Air Force
28 January 20:16		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	28 January	Launch failure
29 January 19:06	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	29 January	Successful
	Apogee: 170 kilometres (110 mi)
29 January 22:15	R-7 Semyorka		Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	29 January	Successful
	Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)

1 February 03:48:56	Juno I		Cape Canaveral LC-26A		ABMA
	Explorer 1	ARPA	Initial: Medium Earth Decayed to: Low Earth	Magnetospheric	31 March 1970	Successful
	First successful American satellite launch, discovered Van Allen belts
3 February 18:02	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Fort Churchill		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric	3 February	Successful
	Apogee: 138 kilometres (86 mi)
4 February 06:17	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Fort Churchill		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric	4 February	Successful
	Apogee: 234 kilometres (145 mi)
5 February 07:33	Vanguard		Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Navy
	6.5in Satellite 2^[1]	NRL	Intended: Medium Earth	Geodesy	5 February	Launch failure
	Loss of control 57 seconds after launch
7 February 19:37	SM-65A Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-14		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	7 February	Launch failure
	Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)
13 February 06:37	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Auroral	13 February	Successful
	Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
16 February 06:17	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Auroral	16 February	Successful
	Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi)
20 February 17:46	SM-65A Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-12		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	20 February	Launch failure
	Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi)
21 February 07:40	R-5A Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		AN
		AN	Suborbital		21 February	Successful
	Apogee: 470 kilometres (290 mi)
21 February 08:42	R-5A Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		AN
		AN	Suborbital		21 February	Successful
	Apogee: 400 kilometres (250 mi)
21 February 09:40	A-1		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Ionospheric Solar	21 February	Successful
	Apogee: 206 kilometres (128 mi)
21 February 15:20	R-5A Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		AN
		AN	Suborbital		21 February	Successful
	Apogee: 473 kilometres (294 mi)
22 February 02:02	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Fort Churchill		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric Auroral	22 February	Successful
	Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi)
22 February 05:35	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Auroral	22 January	Successful
	Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
24 February 07:00	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Fort Churchill		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Aeronomy	24 February	Successful
	Apogee: 207 kilometres (129 mi)
24 February 07:35	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	24 February	Successful
	Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi)
26 February 02:35	A-1		Ernst Krenkel Observatory		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Ionospheric Aeronomy	26 February	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
26 February 05:49	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Auroral	26 February	Successful
	Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
26 February 22:18	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Army
		BRL	Suborbital	Technology	26 February	Launch failure
	Apogee: 37 kilometres (23 mi), tested longer nosecone
28 February 13:08	PGM-17 Thor DM-18		Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force
28 February 13:08		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	28 February	Launch failure

4 March 06:02	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	4 March	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
4 March 19:30	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	4 March	Successful
	Apogee: 181 kilometres (112 mi)
5 March 18:27:57	Juno I		Cape Canaveral LC-26A		ABMA
	Explorer 2	ARPA	Intended: Medium Earth	Magnetospheric	5 March	Launch failure
	Fourth stage failed to ignite
16 March 04:54	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Fort Churchill		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Auroral	16 March	Successful
	Apogee: 144 kilometres (89 mi)
17 March 12:15:41	Vanguard		Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Navy
	Vanguard 1 (6.5in Satellite 3)^[1]	NRL	Medium Earth	Geodesy	In orbit	Successful
	Oldest spacecraft still in orbit
18 March	Nike Apache		White Sands		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital		18 March	Successful
	Apogee: 107 kilometres (66 mi)
19 March 01:12	Aerobee		Holloman LC-A		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	19 March	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
21 March	Aerobee		Holloman LC-A		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Ionospheric	21 March	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
22 March 06:41	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Fort Churchill		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Auroral	22 March	Successful
	Apogee: 168 kilometres (104 mi)
23 March 18:07	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Fort Churchill		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Auroral Aeronomy	23 March	Successful
	Apogee: 202 kilometres (126 mi)
23 March	UGM-27 Polaris TV		San Clemente		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	23 March	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
24 March 18:30	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy Imaging	24 March	Successful
	Apogee: 119 kilometres (74 mi)
24 March 22:00	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	24 March	Successful
	Apogee: 137 kilometres (85 mi)
26 March 17:38:03	Juno I		Cape Canaveral LC-5		ABMA
26 March 17:38:03	Explorer 3	ARPA	Initial: Medium Earth Decayed to: Low Earth	Magnetospheric	27 June	Successful
29 March 14:40	R-7 Semyorka		Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	29 March	Successful
	Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
31 March	R-11FM Zemlya		B-67, Beloye More		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	31 March	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)

4 April 15:30	R-7 Semyorka		Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	4 April	Successful
	Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
5 April 17:01	SM-65A Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-14		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	5 April	Launch failure
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
7 April	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		ARPA
	Hi Ball 1	ARPA	Suborbital	Technology	7 April	Successful
	Apogee: 244 kilometres (152 mi)
11 April	UGM-27 Polaris TV		San Clemente		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	11 April	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
17 April 10:57	Skylark-1		Woomera LA-2		RAE
		RAE	Suborbital	Test flight Aeronomy	17 April	Successful
	Apogee: 152 kilometres (94 mi)
18 April	UGM-27 Polaris TV		Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	18 April	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
19 April 13:30	PGM-17 Thor DM-18		Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force
19 April 13:30		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	19 April	Launch failure
24 April 00:10	Thor DM-18 Able		Cape Canaveral LC-17A		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	REV test	+150 seconds	Launch failure
	Maiden flight of Thor-Able, turbopump gearbox failed. REV carried Mia, a mouse
24 April	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		ARPA
	Beacon Test 1	ARPA	Suborbital	Technology	24 April	Successful
	Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi)
27 April 09:01	Sputnik 8A91		Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
	ISZ-D1 No.1	MVS	Intended: Low Earth	Magnetospheric	+88 seconds	Launch failure
	Rocket disintegrated during ascent
29 April 02:53:00	Vanguard		Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Navy
	20in X-ray 1^[1]	NRL	Intended: Medium Earth	Solar	29 April	Launch failure
	Third stage failed to ignite

1 May	Nike-Cajun		Holloman		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Meteorite research	1 May	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
5 May 14:15	Aerobee		White Sands LC-35		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Solar	5 May	Successful
	Apogee: 214 kilometres (133 mi)
8 May	UGM-27 Polaris TV		Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	8 May	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
15 May 07:00	Sputnik 8A91		Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
	Sputnik 3 (ISZ-D1 No.2)	MVS	Low Earth	Magnetospheric	6 April 1960	Partial spacecraft failure
	Faulty data recorder limited return of experimental results
18 May 05:05	PGM-19 Jupiter		Cape Canaveral LC-26B		ABMA
		US Air Force	Suborbital	REV test	05:21	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), carried a Gaslight re-entry vehicle which was recovered
20 May 04:26	Skylark-2		Woomera LA-2		RAE
		RAE	Suborbital	Test flight Aeronomy	20 May	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
20 May 09:34:35	Nike-Cajun		Holloman		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	20 May	Successful
	Apogee: 101 kilometres (63 mi), released caesium and sodium
21 May 11:31:59	Nike-Cajun		Holloman		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	21 May	Successful
	Apogee: 128 kilometres (80 mi), released caesium and sodium
22 May 00:57	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		ARPA
	Hi Ball 2	ARPA	Suborbital	Technology	22 May	Successful
	Apogee: 240 kilometres (150 mi)
22 May 11:29:59	Nike-Cajun		Holloman		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	22 May	Successful
	Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi), released sodium
24 May 10:30	R-7 Semyorka		Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	24 May	Launch failure
	Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
25 May	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		ARPA
	Beacon Test 2	ARPA	Suborbital	Technology	25 May	Successful
	Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi)
25 May	R-11FM Zemlya		B-67, Beloye More		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	25 May	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
26 May	R-11FM Zemlya		B-67, Beloye More		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	26 May	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
28 May 03:46:20	Vanguard		Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Navy
	20in Lyman-Alpha 1^[1]	NRL	Intended: Medium Earth	Solar	28 May	Launch failure
	Loss of control before or during third stage burn
May	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)

3 June 21:28	SM-65A Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-12		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	3 June	Successful
	Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi), final flight of Atlas A
4 June 15:15	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Holloman LC-A		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Solar	4 June	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
4 June 21:17	PGM-17 Thor DM-18		Cape Canaveral LC-18B		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	4 June	Successful
	Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
5 June 11:30	Skylark-1		Woomera LA-2		RAE
		RAE	Suborbital	Test flight	5 June	Successful
	Apogee: 153 kilometres (95 mi)
6 June	X-17		Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	REV test	6 June	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
13 June 15:06	PGM-17 Thor DM-18		Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	13 June	Successful
	Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
18 June 10:35	Skylark-1		Woomera LA-2		RAE
		RAE	Suborbital	Aeronomy	18 June	Launch failure
	Apogee: 3 kilometres (1.9 mi)
18 June 15:15	Skylark-2		Woomera LA-2		RAE
		RAE	Suborbital	Aeronomy	18 June	Successful
	Apogee: 144 kilometres (89 mi)
19 June 17:36	SM-65B Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-11		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	19 June	Launch failure
	Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), maiden flight of Atlas B
19 June 21:15	Skylark-2		Woomera LA-2		RAE
		RAE	Suborbital	Test flight Aeronomy	19 June	Successful
	Apogee: 154 kilometres (96 mi)
24 June	X-17		Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	REV test	24 June	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
26 June 05:00:52	Vanguard		Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Navy
	20in Lyman-Alpha 2^[1]	NRL	Intended: Medium Earth	Solar	26 June	Launch failure
	Premature cutoff of second stage
26 June	Exos		Wallops Island		NACA/AFCRL
		NACA/AFCRL	Suborbital	Test flight	26 June	Successful
	Apogee: 370 kilometres (230 mi), maiden flight of Exos
27 June	WS-199B Bold Orion I		B-47, Cape Canaveral		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	27 June	Launch failure
	Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
June	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
June	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
June	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)

2 July 05:00	R-2A		Kapustin Yar		AN
		AN	Suborbital		2 July	Successful
	Apogee: 210 kilometres (130 mi)
2 July	X-17		USS Norton Sound, San Clemente		US Navy
	Winder 1	US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	2 July	Successful
	Apogee: 560 kilometres (350 mi), delivery test ahead of Operation Argus
3 July 18:52	Aerobee		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Ionospheric	3 July	Successful
	Apogee: 262 kilometres (163 mi)
6 July 12:02	Aerobee		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Ionospheric	6 July	Successful
	Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
7 July 18:50	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy Imaging	7 July	Successful
	Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi)
7 July 23:18	Nike-Asp		Point Mugu		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital		7 July	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
8 July 23:15	Nike-Asp		Point Mugu		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital		8 July	Successful
	Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi)
10 July 02:30	Thor DM-18 Able		Cape Canaveral LC-17A		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	REV test	10 July	Successful
	Apogee: 1,600 kilometres (990 mi), REV carried Mia II, a mouse
10 July 07:42	R-7 Semyorka		Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
10 July 07:42		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	10 July	Launch failure
11 July 18:30	Aerobee		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Ionospheric	11 July	Successful
	Apogee: 243 kilometres (151 mi)
11 July	Jason (Argo-E5)		Wallops Island		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Test flight	11 July	Launch failure
	Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi), maiden flight of Jason
12 July 20:30	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy Imaging	12 July	Successful
	Apogee: 114 kilometres (71 mi)
13 July 06:36	PGM-17 Thor DM-18		Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	13 July	Successful
	Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
15 July 20:07	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	15 July	Successful
	Apogee: 126 kilometres (78 mi)
16 July 22:40	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital		16 July	Successful
	Apogee: 142 kilometres (88 mi)
16 July	Arcon		Wallops Island		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Test flight	16 July	Launch failure
	Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi)
17 July 07:21	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	17 July	Successful
	Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi)
17 July 09:04	PGM-19 Jupiter		Cape Canaveral LC-26B		ABMA
		US Air Force	Suborbital	REV test	17 July	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), carried a Gaslight re-entry vehicle which was recovered
17 July 17:48	Nike-Asp		Point Mugu		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital		17 July	Successful
	Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi)
17 July	Jason (Argo-E5)		Wallops Island		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Test flight	17 July	Launch failure
	Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi)
18 July	WS-199B Bold Orion I		B-47, Cape Canaveral		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	18 July	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
21 July	Arcon		Wallops Island		US Army
		SRDL	Suborbital	Test flight	21 July	Launch failure
	Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi)
22 July	Arcon		Wallops Island		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Test flight	22 July	Launch failure
	Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi)
23 July 22:13	Thor DM-18 Able		Cape Canaveral LC-17A		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	REV test	23 July	Successful
	Apogee: 1,600 kilometres (990 mi), REV carried Wickie, a mouse
24 July	X-17		USS Norton Sound, San Clemente		US Navy
	Winder 4	US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	24 July	Successful
	Apogee: 560 kilometres (350 mi), delivery test ahead of Operation Argus
25 July 05:01	Nike-Asp		Point Mugu		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital		25 July	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
25 July	NOTS-EV-1 Pilot II		F4D, Point Mugu		US Navy
	Pilot-1 (D1)	US Navy	Intended: Medium Earth Achieved: Unknown	Technology	25 July (presumed)	Launch failure
	Maiden flight of Pilot II. Unexpected loss of signal during ascent. Unclear if spacecraft reached orbit, but no confirmed contact was made with it, and no objects from the launch were catalogued.
26 July 06:40	PGM-17 Thor DM-18		Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force
26 July 06:40		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	26 July	Successful
26 July 15:00:57	Juno I		Cape Canaveral LC-5		ABMA
26 July 15:00:57	Explorer 4	ARPA	Initial: Medium Earth Decayed to: Low Earth	Magnetospheric	23 October 1959	Successful
29 July 05:03	Nike-Asp		Point Mugu		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital		29 July	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
31 July	R-2A		Kapustin Yar SP-2		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Target	31 July	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
July	X-17		USS Norton Sound, San Clemente		US Navy
	Winder 2	US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test		Launch failure
	Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), delivery test ahead of Operation Argus
July	X-17		USS Norton Sound, San Clemente		US Navy
	Winder 3	US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test		Launch failure
	Delivery test ahead of Operation Argus

1 August	Jason (Argo-E5)		Wallops Island		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Test flight	1 August	Successful
	Apogee: 750 kilometres (470 mi)
1 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		1 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects
1 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		1 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects
1 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		1 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects
1 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		1 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects
1 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		1 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects
1 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		1 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects
1 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		1 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects
1 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		1 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects
1 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		1 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects
1 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		1 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects
1 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		1 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects
1 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		1 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects
1 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		1 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Teak nuclear explosion or its effects
2 August 05:47	R-2A		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital		2 August	Successful
	Apogee: 211 kilometres (131 mi)
2 August 22:16	SM-65B Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-13		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	2 August	Successful
	Apogee: 900 kilometres (560 mi)
6 August	PGM-17 Thor DM-18		Cape Canaveral LC-18B		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	6 August	Successful
	Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
7 August	R-2A		Kapustin Yar SP-2		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Target	7 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
12 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		12 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects
12 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		12 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects
12 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		12 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects
12 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		12 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects
12 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		12 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects
12 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		12 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects
12 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		12 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects
12 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		12 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects
12 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		12 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects
12 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		12 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects
12 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		12 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects
12 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		12 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects
12 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		12 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), observed Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects
12 August	ASCAMP		Johnston		US Navy
		NRDL	Suborbital		12 August	Launch failure
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), intended to observe Hardtack Orange nuclear explosion or its effects
12 August	NOTS-EV-1 Pilot II		F4D, Point Mugu		US Navy
	Pilot-2 (D2)	US Navy	Intended: Medium Earth	Technology	+0 seconds	Launch failure
	Exploded during first stage ignition
13 August 02:00	R-2A		Kapustin Yar		AN
		AN	Suborbital		13 August	Successful
	Apogee: 212 kilometres (132 mi)
13 August	Aerobee		Holloman LC-A		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Ionospheric	13 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
14 August 00:40	A-1		Ernst Krenkel Observatory		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Ionospheric Aeronomy	14 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
14 August 13:28	Nike-Cajun		White Sands		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital		14 August	Successful
	Apogee: 132 kilometres (82 mi)
15 August 04:16	Jason (Argo-E5)		Cape Canaveral LC-10		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	15 August	Successful
	Apogee: 693 kilometres (431 mi), part of Operation Argus
15 August 15:45	Aerobee		Holloman LC-A		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Ionospheric	15 August	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
17 August 12:18	Thor DM-18 Able-I		Cape Canaveral LC-17A		US Air Force
	Pioneer (Pioneer 0)	US Air Force	Intended: Selenocentric	Lunar probe	+77 seconds	Launch failure
	Maiden flight of Thor-Able I, exploded at an altitude of 16 kilometres (9.9 mi)
17 August	R-2A		Kapustin Yar SP-2		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Target	17 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
20 August 11:27	Jason (Argo-E5)		Ramey		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	20 August	Successful
	Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), part of Operation Argus
22 August	NOTS-EV-1 Pilot II		F4D, Point Mugu		US Navy
	Pilot-3 (D3)	US Navy	Intended: Medium Earth Achieved: Unknown	Technology	22 August (presumed)	Launch failure
	Unexpected loss of signal during ascent. Unclear if spacecraft reached orbit, but no confirmed contact was made with it, and no objects from the launch were catalogued.
24 August 06:17:22	Juno I		Cape Canaveral LC-5		ABMA
	Explorer 5	ARPA	Intended: Medium Earth	Magnetospheric	24 August	Launch failure
	Loss of control after recontact between first and second stages
25 August 18:17	Jason (Argo-E5)		Wallops Island		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	25 August	Successful
	Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), part of Operation Argus
25 August	NOTS-EV-1 Pilot II		F4D, Point Mugu		US Navy
	Pilot-4 (R1)	US Navy	Intended: Medium Earth	Radiation	+0 seconds	Launch failure
	Exploded during first stage ignition
26 August	NOTS-EV-1 Pilot II		F4D, Point Mugu		US Navy
	Pilot-5 (R2)	US Navy	Intended: Medium Earth	Radiation	26 August	Launch failure
	Failed to ignite
27 August 02:20	X-17		USS Norton Sound, AO-7		US Navy
	Argus I	US Navy	Suborbital	Nuclear test	02:28	Successful
	Apogee: 160 kilometres (99 mi)
27 August 03:33	Jason (Argo-E5)		Cape Canaveral LC-10		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	27 August	Successful
	Apogee: 937 kilometres (582 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus I test or its effects
27 August 04:06	R-2A		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital		27 August	Successful
	Apogee: 209 kilometres (130 mi)
27 August 04:24	Jason (Argo-E5)		Ramey		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	27 August	Successful
	Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus I test or its effects
27 August 06:05	R-5A Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		AN
		AN	Suborbital		27 August	Successful
	Apogee: 450 kilometres (280 mi)
27 August 06:42	Jason (Argo-E5)		Ramey		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	27 August	Successful
	Apogee: 817 kilometres (508 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus I test or its effects
27 August 07:29	Jason (Argo-E5)		Wallops Island		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	27 August	Successful
	Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus I test or its effects
27 August 12:40	R-5A Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		AN
		AN	Suborbital		27 August	Successful
	Apogee: 450 kilometres (280 mi)
27 August 23:15	PGM-19 Jupiter		Cape Canaveral LC-26A		ABMA
		US Air Force	Suborbital	REV test	27 August	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
27 August	R-2A		Kapustin Yar SP-2		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Target	27 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
28 August	NOTS-EV-1 Pilot II		F4D, Point Mugu		US Navy
	Pilot-6 (R3)	US Navy	Intended: Medium Earth	Radiation	28 August	Launch failure
	One second stage engine failed to ignite, final flight of Pilot
29 August 04:30	SM-65B Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-11		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	29 August	Successful
	Apogee: 900 kilometres (560 mi)
30 August 03:10	X-17		USS Norton Sound, AO-8		US Navy
	Argus II	US Navy	Suborbital	Nuclear test	03:18	Successful
	Apogee: 293 kilometres (182 mi)
30 August 03:48	Jason (Argo-E5)		Wallops Island		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	30 August	Successful
	Apogee: 817 kilometres (508 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects
30 August 04:31	Jason (Argo-E5)		Cape Canaveral LC-10		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	30 August	Successful
	Apogee: 878 kilometres (546 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects
30 August 05:18	Jason (Argo-E5)		Wallops Island		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	30 August	Successful
	Apogee: 830 kilometres (520 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects
30 August 05:52	Jason (Argo-E5)		Ramey		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	30 August	Successful
	Apogee: 825 kilometres (513 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects
30 August 06:36	Jason (Argo-E5)		Cape Canaveral LC-10		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	30 August	Successful
	Apogee: 699 kilometres (434 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects
30 August 07:21	Jason (Argo-E5)		Wallops Island		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	30 August	Successful
	Apogee: 815 kilometres (506 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects
30 August 22:02	Jason (Argo-E5)		Wallops Island		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	30 August	Successful
	Apogee: 745 kilometres (463 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects
30 August 23:03	Jason (Argo-E5)		Ramey		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	30 August	Successful
	Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects
31 August 00:07	Jason (Argo-E5)		Cape Canaveral LC-10		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	31 August	Successful
	Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), part of Operation Argus, observed Argus II test or its effects
August	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
August	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)

2 September 19:03	Jason (Argo-E5)		Ramey		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	2 September	Successful
	Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), part of Operation Argus
2 September 20:03	Jason (Argo-E5)		Wallops Island		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	2 September	Successful
	Apogee: 7,897 kilometres (4,907 mi), part of Operation Argus
2 September 22:15	Jason (Argo-E5)		Cape Canaveral LC-10		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Radiation	2 September	Successful
	Apogee: 89 kilometres (55 mi), part of Operation Argus
6 September 22:05	X-17		USS Norton Sound, AO-9		US Navy
	Argus III	US Navy	Suborbital	Nuclear test	22:13	Successful
	Apogee: 750 kilometres (470 mi), final flight of X-17
6 September	R-11FM Zemlya		B-62, Beloye More		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	6 September	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
7 September 10:33	Black Knight		Woomera LA-5A		RAE
		RAE	Suborbital	Test flight	7 September	Successful
	Apogee: 255 kilometres (158 mi), maiden flight of Black Knight
11 September	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		ARPA
	Beacon Test 3	ARPA	Suborbital	Technology	11 September	Successful
	Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi)
14 September 05:24	SM-65B Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-14		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	14 September	Successful
	Apogee: 900 kilometres (560 mi)
18 September 21:27	SM-65B Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-13		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	18 September	Launch failure
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
19 September 00:48	R-5A Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		AN
		AN	Suborbital		19 September	Successful
	Apogee: 430 kilometres (270 mi)
23 September	Luna 8K72		Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
	Luna E-1 #1	MVS	Planned: Heliocentric	Lunar probe	+92 seconds	Launch failure
	Maiden flight of Luna 8K72, rocket disintegrated
24 September 17:15	UGM-27 Polaris AX		Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	24 September	Launch failure
	Apogee: 12 kilometres (7.5 mi)
25 September	WS-199B Bold Orion I		B-47, Cape Canaveral		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	25 September	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
25 September	Exos		Wallops Island		NACA/AFCRL
		NACA/AFCRL	Suborbital	Test flight	25 September	Successful
	Apogee: 460 kilometres (290 mi), maiden flight of Exos
26 September 15:38	Vanguard		Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Navy
	20in Cloud Cover 1^[1]	NRL	Intended: Medium Earth	Atmospheric	26 September	Launch failure
	Second stage underperformed
28 September 19:42	Nike-Asp		USS Point Defiance, PO-13		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Solar	28 September	Successful
	Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi)
September	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
September	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)

4 October 14:00	A-1		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Ionospheric Solar	4 October	Successful
	Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi)
4 October 15:08	R-11A Zemlya		Kapustin Yar		AN
		AN	Suborbital	Aeronomy	4 October	Successful
	Apogee: 103 kilometres (64 mi)
7 October	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		ARPA
	Hi Ball 3	ARPA	Suborbital	Technology	7 October	Successful
	Apogee: 244 kilometres (152 mi)
10 October 03:49	PGM-19 Jupiter		Cape Canaveral LC-26B		ABMA
		US Air Force	Suborbital	REV test	+49 seconds	Launch failure
	Fire burned through fuel and oxidiser transducer lines resulting in loss of control, destroyed by range safety
10 October 13:50	A-1		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Ionospheric Solar	10 October	Successful
	Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi)
10 October	WS-199B Bold Orion I		B-47, Cape Canaveral		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	10 October	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
10 October	R-11A Zemlya		Kapustin Yar		AN
		AN	Suborbital	Aeronomy	10 October	Successful
	Apogee: 103 kilometres (64 mi)
11 October 08:42:13	Thor DM-18 Able-I		Cape Canaveral LC-17A		NASA
	Pioneer 1	NASA	Intended: Selenocentric	Lunar probe	13 October 03:46	Launch failure
	Third stage underperformed, failed to reach the Moon, catalogued despite being on a suborbital trajectory. Returned data on radiation between the Earth and Moon.
11 October	Luna 8K72		Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
	Luna E-1 #2	MVS	Intended: Heliocentric	Lunar probe	+104 seconds	Launch failure
	Rocket disintegrated
12 October 08:32:06	Nike-Asp		USS Point Defiance, PO-13		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Solar	12 October	Successful
	Apogee: 222 kilometres (138 mi)
12 October 08:42:03	Nike-Asp		USS Point Defiance, PO-13		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Solar	12 October	Successful
	Apogee: 236 kilometres (147 mi)
12 October 08:43:18	Nike-Asp		USS Point Defiance, PO-13		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Solar	12 October	Successful
	Apogee: 242 kilometres (150 mi)
12 October 08:52:49	Nike-Asp		USS Point Defiance, PO-13		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Solar	12 October	Successful
	Apogee: 240 kilometres (150 mi)
13 October 19:40	Nike-Asp		USS Point Defiance, PO-13		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital		13 October	Successful
	Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi)
14 October 12:00	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Meteorite research	14 October	Successful
	Apogee: 137 kilometres (85 mi)
15 October 01:04	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Test flight	15 October	Successful
	Apogee: 156 kilometres (97 mi)
15 October 04:00	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Meteorite research	15 October	Successful
	Apogee: 151 kilometres (94 mi)
15 October	UGM-27 Polaris AX		Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	15 October	Launch failure
	Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi)
15 October	R-2A		Kapustin Yar SP-2		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Target	15 October	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
18 October 03:25	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Meteorite research	18 October	Successful
	Apogee: 143 kilometres (89 mi)
20 October 22:01	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Ionospheric	20 October	Successful
	Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
22 October 03:45	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Meteorite research	22 October	Successful
	Apogee: 158 kilometres (98 mi)
22 October 14:22	Nike-Asp		White Sands		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital		22 October	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
22 October 16:47	Aerobee-300		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Meteorite research	22 October	Successful
	Apogee: 177 kilometres (110 mi)
23 October 03:21:04	Juno I		Cape Canaveral LC-5		ABMA
	Beacon 1	US Army	Intended: Low Earth	Atmospheric	+149 seconds	Launch failure
	Structural failure, final flight of Juno I
25 October 19:27	Aerobee-300		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Meteorite research	25 October	Successful
	Apogee: 418 kilometres (260 mi)
31 October 11:54	R-5A Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		AN
		AN	Suborbital		31 October	Successful
	Apogee: 410 kilometres (250 mi)
31 October 19:59	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Fort Churchill		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Aeronomy	31 October	Successful
	Apogee: 188 kilometres (117 mi)
31 October 20:46	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Weather Imaging	31 October	Successful
	Apogee: 119 kilometres (74 mi)
31 October	R-11A Zemlya		Ernst Krenkel Observatory		AN
		AN	Suborbital	Aeronomy	31 October	Successful
	Apogee: 103 kilometres (64 mi)
October	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
October	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)

1 November	R-5M Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Nuclear test	1 November	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
3 November 06:20	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Fort Churchill		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Aeronomy Ionospheric	3 November	Successful
	Apogee: 211 kilometres (131 mi)
3 November	R-5M Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Nuclear test	3 November	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
3 November	R-5A Pobeda		Chelkar		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Target	3 November	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
4 November 16:50	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Weather Imaging	4 November	Successful
	Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi)
4 November	R-5A Pobeda		Chelkar		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Target	4 November	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
5 November 08:53	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A		Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	5 November	Successful
	Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
5 November	R-5A Pobeda		Chelkar		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Target	5 November	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
6 November	R-11A Zemlya		Ostrov Kheysa		AN
		AN	Suborbital	Aeronomy	6 November	Successful
	Apogee: 103 kilometres (64 mi)
8 November 01:53	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		CARDE
		CARDE	Suborbital	Aeronomy	8 October	Successful
	Apogee: 139 kilometres (86 mi), first Canadian spaceflight
8 November 07:30:21	Thor DM-18 Able-I		Cape Canaveral LC-17A		NASA
	Pioneer 2	NASA	Intended: Selenocentric	Lunar probe	8 November	Launch failure
	Third stage failed to ignite
13 November 08:59	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		CARDE
		CARDE	Suborbital	Aeronomy	13 November	Successful
	Apogee: 142 kilometres (88 mi)
13 November 17:34	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Weather Imaging	13 November	Successful
	Apogee: 119 kilometres (74 mi)
16 November 06:56	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Fort Churchill		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Auroral	16 November	Successful
	Apogee: 163 kilometres (101 mi)
17 November	WS-199B Bold Orion I		B-47, Cape Canaveral		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	17 November	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
18 November 04:00	SM-65B Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-11		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	18 November	Successful
	Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi)
18 November 16:47	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Weather Imaging	18 November	Successful
	Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi)
19 November 21:51	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital		19 November	Successful
	Apogee: 140 kilometres (87 mi)
19 November	R-11A Zemlya		Ostrov Kheysa		AN
		AN	Suborbital	Aeronomy	19 November	Successful
	Apogee: 103 kilometres (64 mi)
21 November 06:08	R-5A Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		AN
		AN	Suborbital		27 August	Successful
	Apogee: 460 kilometres (290 mi)
23 November 22:02	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	23 November	Successful
	Apogee: 131 kilometres (81 mi)
24 November 06:25:00	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Fort Churchill		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Auroral	24 November	Successful
	Apogee: 207 kilometres (129 mi)
24 November 08:00	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	24 November	Launch failure
	Apogee: 13 kilometres (8.1 mi)
26 November 09:09	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A		Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	26 November	Successful
	Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
29 November 02:27	SM-65B Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-14		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	29 November	Successful
	Apogee: 900 kilometres (560 mi)
29 November 16:30	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Fort Churchill		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Aeronomy Ionospheric	29 November	Successful
	Apogee: 202 kilometres (126 mi)
30 November 18:36:36	Aerobee-300		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Ionospheric	30 November	Successful
	Apogee: 304 kilometres (189 mi)
30 November 22:27	Nike-Cajun		Fort Churchill		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital		30 November	Successful
	Apogee: 152 kilometres (94 mi)
November	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)

1 December 19:35	Aerobee-300		Fort Churchill		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric	1 December	Launch failure
	Apogee: 97 kilometres (60 mi)
3 December 10:13	Skylark-1		Woomera LA-2		RAE
		RAE	Suborbital	Aeronomy	3 December	Successful
	Apogee: 126 kilometres (78 mi)
3 December 18:39	Aerobee-300		Fort Churchill		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric	3 December	Successful
	Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi)
4 December	Luna 8K72		Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
	Luna E-1 #3	MVS	Intended: Heliocentric	Lunar probe	+245 seconds	Launch failure
	Hydrogen peroxide pump failed due to loss of lubrication, shutting down core stage engine
6 December 00:41	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A		Cape Canaveral LC-18B		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	6 December	Successful
	Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
6 December 05:44:52	Juno II		Cape Canaveral LC-5		ABMA
	Pioneer 3	NASA	Intended: Heliocentric	Lunar flyby	7 December 19:51	Launch failure
	Maiden flight of Juno II, premature first stage cutoff and erroneous angle during orbital insertion resulted in failure to reach orbit. Catalogued despite being on a suborbital trajectory. Returned data on radiation between the Earth and Moon.
8 December	WS-199B Bold Orion II		B-47, Cape Canaveral		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	8 December	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
9 December	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		NACA
		NACA	Suborbital	Aeronomy Weather Imaging	9 December	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
9 December	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		NACA
		NACA	Suborbital	Aeronomy Weather Imaging	9 December	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
11 December	R-5A Pobeda		Chelkar		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Target	11 December	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
12 December	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	12 December	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
13 December 08:53:44	PGM-19 Jupiter		Cape Canaveral LC-26B		ABMA
	Bioflight 1	US Air Force	Suborbital	Biological	13 December	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), carried a monkey, Gordo. Mission completed but recovery failed
14 December	R-5A Pobeda		Chelkar		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Target	14 December	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
16 December 23:44:45	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A		Vandenberg LC-75-1-1		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	6 December	Successful
	Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
16 December	WS-199B Bold Orion II		B-47, Cape Canaveral		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	16 December	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
17 December 04:00	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A		Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	17 December	Successful
	Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
18 December 23:02	Atlas B		Cape Canaveral LC-11		US Air Force
	SCORE	ARPA	Low Earth	Communication	12 January 1959	Successful
	First communications satellite, only orbital launch of Atlas B
23 December 13:00	A-1		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Ionospheric Aeronomy	23 December	Successful
	Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi)
23 December	R-11A Zemlya		Ostrov Kheysa		AN
		AN	Suborbital	Aeronomy	23 December	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
24 December 04:45	SM-65C Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-12		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	24 December	Successful
	Apogee: 900 kilometres (560 mi), maiden flight of Atlas C
24 December 16:00	R-7 Semyorka		Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	24 December	Launch failure
	Apogee: 70 kilometres (43 mi)
24 December	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	24 December	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
25 December 13:10	A-1		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Ionospheric Aeronomy	25 December	Successful
	Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi)
25 December	R-11A Zemlya		Ostrov Kheysa		AN
		AN	Suborbital	Aeronomy	25 December	Successful
	Apogee: 102 kilometres (63 mi)
25 December	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	25 December	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
30 December 15:28	UGM-27 Polaris AX		Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	24 September	Launch failure
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
30 December	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	30 December	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
31 December 02:00	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A		Cape Canaveral LC-18B		US Air Force
31 December 02:00		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	31 December	Launch failure
December	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
December	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
Unknown	Long Tom		Woomera LA-2		WRE
		WRE	Suborbital	Test flight		Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
Unknown	Long Tom		Woomera LA-2		WRE
		WRE	Suborbital	Test flight		Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
Unknown	Long Tom		Woomera LA-2		WRE
		WRE	Suborbital	Test flight		Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
Unknown	Long Tom		Woomera LA-2		WRE
		WRE	Suborbital	Test flight		Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
Unknown	Long Tom		Woomera LA-2		WRE
		WRE	Suborbital	Test flight		Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)

Orbital launch summary

By country

	Soviet Union
	United States

Orbital launch attempts by country in 1958

Country	Launches	Successes	Failures	Partial failures	Remarks
Soviet Union	5	1	4	0
United States	23	5	18	0	First successful orbital launch

By rocket

By family

Family	Country	Launches	Successes	Failures	Remarks
Atlas	United States	1	1	0	First orbital launch
Redstone	United States	6	3	3	First orbital launch
Jupiter	United States	1	0	1	Maiden flight
NOTS-EV	United States	6	0	6	Only orbital launches
R07R-7	Soviet Union	5	1	4
Thor	United States	3	0	3	Maiden flight
Viking	United States	6	1	5

By type and configuration

Rocket	Country	Type	Family	Launches	Successes	Failures	Remarks
Atlas B	United States	SM-65 Atlas	Atlas	1	1	0	Maiden flight, only orbital launch
Juno I	United States	Jupiter-C	Redstone	6	3	3	Maiden flight
Juno II	United States	Juno	Jupiter	1	0	1	Maiden flight
Luna	Soviet Union	Vostok	R-7	3	0	3	Maiden flight
Pilot II	United States	Pilot	NOTS-EV	6	0	6	Only flights
Sputnik 8A91	Soviet Union	Sputnik	R-7	2	1	1	Only flights
Thor DM-18 Able-I	United States	Thor-Able	Thor	3	0	3	Maiden flight
Vanguard	United States	Vanguard	Viking	6	1	5

By launch site

Site	Country	Launches	Successes	Failures
Baikonur	Soviet Union	5	1	4
Cape Canaveral	United States	17	5	12
Point Mugu	United States	6	0	6

By orbit

Orbital regime	Launches	Successes	Failures	Accidentally Achieved
Catalogued Suborbital	0 N/A	0 N/A	0 N/A	2
Low Earth	4	2	2	0
Medium Earth	17	4	13	0
Heliocentric	7	0	7	0

References

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

Generic references:

Footnotes

1 2 3 4 5 6 Krebs, Gunter. "Vanguard". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-02.

Timeline of spaceflight
1940s					1944	1945	1946	1947	1948	1949
1950s	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958	1959
1960s	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969
1970s	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
1980s	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989
1990s	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
2000s	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
2010s	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018

← 1957 · Orbital launches in 1958 · 1959 →

Explorer 1 \| Unnamed \| Explorer 2 \| Vanguard 1 \| Explorer 3 \| ISZ D-1 No.1 \| Unnamed \| Sputnik 3 \| Unnamed \| Unnamed \| Pilot-1 \| Explorer 4 \| Pilot-2 \| Pioneer 0 \| Pilot-3 \| Explorer 5 \| Pilot-4 \| Pilot-5 \| Pilot-6 \| Luna E-1 No.1 \| Unnamed \| Pioneer 1 \| Luna E-1 No.2 \| Beacon \| Pioneer 2 \| Luna E-1 No.3 \| Pioneer 3 \| SCORE

Payloads are separated by bullets ( · ), launches by pipes ( \| ). Manned flights are indicated in bold text. Uncatalogued launch failures are listed in italics. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are denoted in brackets.

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