1961 in spaceflight (January–June)

This is a list of spaceflights launched between January and June 1961. For launches between July and December, see 1961 in spaceflight (July–December). For an overview of the whole year, see 1961 in spaceflight.

Launches

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket	Flight number	Launch site		LSP
	Payload (⚀ = CubeSat)	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
	Remarks
January
6 January 00:10	MGM-31 Pershing I		Cape Canaveral LC-30		US Army
6 January 00:10		US Army	Suborbital	Missile test	6 January	Launch failure
7 January 17:33:42	RM-89 Blue Scout I		Cape Canaveral LC-18B		US Air Force
		HCO	Suborbital	Plasma research Astronomy	7 January	Successful
	Apogee: 1,600 kilometres (990 mi)
10 January 17:15	UGM-27 Polaris A2		Cape Canaveral LC-29A		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	10 January	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
10 January	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	10 January	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
11 January 18:40	UGM-27 Polaris A1		USS Robert E. Lee, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	11 January	Launch failure
	Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi)
12 January 16:54	Nike-Cajun		Salto di Quirra		CRA
		ROSAP	Suborbital	Aeronomy	12 January	Successful
	Apogee: 160 kilometres (99 mi), first Italian spaceflight
13 January	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	13 January	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
13 January	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-30
		OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	13 January	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
14 January 01:19:04	R-7A Semyorka		Baikonur Site 31/6		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	14 January	Successful
	Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi), first launch from Site 31
14 January	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	14 January	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
14 January	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-30
		OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	14 January	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
14 January	UGM-27 Polaris A1		USS Robert E. Lee, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	14 January	Launch failure
	Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi)
17 January 21:25	Nike-Asp		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Test flight	17 January	Successful
	Apogee: 209 kilometres (130 mi)
18 January 04:00	Trailblazer 1		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	REV Test	18 January	Successful
	Apogee: 260 kilometres (160 mi)
19 January 12:42	Iris		Wallops Island LA-1		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	19 January	Launch failure
	Apogee: 138 kilometres (86 mi)
20 January 20:53	HGM-25A Titan I		Cape Canaveral LC-19		US Air Force
20 January 20:53		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	20 January	Launch failure
23 January 21:02	SM-65D Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-12		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	23 January	Successful
	Apogee: 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi)
24 January 21:55	SM-65E Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-13		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	24 January	Launch failure
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), went out of control
26 January 00:30	MGM-31 Pershing I		Cape Canaveral LC-30A		US Army
		US Army	Suborbital	Missile test	26 January	Successful
	Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
30 January 23:20	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Eglin		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	30 January	Successful
	Apogee: 204 kilometres (127 mi)
31 January 16:54:51	Redstone MRLV		Cape Canaveral LC-5		NASA
	Mercury-Redstone 2	NASA	Suborbital	Test flight	31 January	Successful
	Apogee: 251 kilometres (156 mi), carried Ham the Chimp
31 January 20:21:19	Atlas LV-3A Agena-A		Point Arguello LC-1-1		US Air Force
	Samos 2	US Air Force	Low Earth	Optical imaging	21 October 1973	Successful
	Electro-optical satellite
January	R-14 Chusovaya		Kapustin Yar		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	January	Successful
	Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
January	R-14 Chusovaya		Kapustin Yar		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	January	Successful
	Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
January	R-14 Chusovaya		Kapustin Yar		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	January	Successful
	Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
January	R-14 Chusovaya		Kapustin Yar		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	January	Successful
	Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
January	R-14 Chusovaya		Kapustin Yar		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	January	Successful
	Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
January	Kisha-Judi		Tonopah		Sandia
		Sandia	Suborbital	Test flight	January	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
February
1 February 15:59	LGM-30A Minuteman IA		Cape Canaveral LC-31A		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	1 February	Successful
	Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
1 February	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	1 February	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
2 February 19:00	R-16		Baikonur Site 41		RVSN
2 February 19:00		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	2 February	Launch failure
4 February 01:18:03	Molniya		Baikonur Site 1/5		RVSN
	Venera-1VA 1	RVSN	Intended: Heliocentric Achieved: Low Earth	Venus flyby	26 February	Launch failure
	Upper stage failed to ignite
5 February 13:48	Aerobee-150A		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Technology	5 February	Successful
	Apogee: 152 kilometres (94 mi)
6 February 21:40	UGM-27 Polaris A2		Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
6 February 21:40		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	6 February	Launch failure
7 February 12:46	Black Knight 201		Woomera LA-5A		RAE
		RAE	Suborbital	REV Test	7 February	Successful
	Apogee: 687 kilometres (427 mi)
8 February	R-14 Chusovaya		Kapustin Yar		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	8 February	Successful
	Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
10 February 05:55	HGM-25A Titan I		Cape Canaveral LC-20		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	10 February	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
10 February	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	10 February	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
10 February	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	10 February	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
12 February 00:43:46	Molniya		Baikonur Site 1/5		RVSN
	Venera 1 (Venera-1VA 2)	RVSN	Heliocentric	Venus flyby	In orbit	Spacecraft failure
	First probe to fly past Venus, contact lost before flyby
13 February 04:39	R-7A Semyorka		Baikonur Site 31/6		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	13 February	Successful
	Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
13 February 13:58	Skylark-2		Woomera LA-2		RAE
		UCL	Suborbital	Aeronomy	13 February	Successful
	Apogee: 146 kilometres (91 mi)
13 February	Véronique		Hammaguira Blandine		CASDN
13 February		LPA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	13 February	Launch failure
14 February 23:50	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	14 February	Successful
	Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
14 February	Strongarm		Wallops Island		Ballistic Research Laboratory
		US Air Force/BRL	Suborbital	Test flight	14 February	Launch failure
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
15 February 22:01	Véronique		Hammaguira Blandine		CASDN
		LPA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	15 February	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
16 February 01:27	MGM-31 Pershing I		Cape Canaveral LC-30		US Army
		US Army	Suborbital	Missile test	16 February	Successful
	Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
16 February 13:05	Scout X-1		Wallops Island LA-3		NASA
16 February 13:05	Explorer 9 (S-56A)	NASA	Medium Earth	Air density	9 April 1964	Successful
17 February 07:17	Nike Apache		Wallops Island		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Test flight	17 February	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
17 February 19:04	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		Eglin		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Solar	17 February	Successful
	Apogee: 275 kilometres (171 mi)
17 February 20:25	Thor DM-21 Agena-B		Vandenberg LC-75-3-4		US Air Force
	Discoverer 20 (KH-5 9014A)	US Air Force	Low Earth	Optical imaging	28 July 1962	Successful
	SRV 520	US Air Force	Low Earth	Film return	31 October	Spacecraft failure
	Film recovery failed
18 February 22:58	Thor DM-21 Agena-B		Vandenberg LC-75-3-5		US Air Force
18 February 22:58	Discoverer 21 (MIDAS RM-2)	US Air Force	Low Earth	Technology Missile defence	20 April 1962	Successful
18 February	Strongarm		Wallops Island		BRL
		US Air Force/BRL	Suborbital	Test flight	18 February	Successful
	Apogee: 2,027 kilometres (1,260 mi)
18 February	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-30
		OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	18 February	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
18 February	Véronique		Hammaguira Blandine		CASDN
		LPA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	18 February	Launch failure
	Apogee: 16 kilometres (9.9 mi)
20 February	HGM-25A Titan I		Cape Canaveral LC-19		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	20 February	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
21 February 14:12	Atlas LV-3B		Cape Canaveral LC-14		US Air Force
	Mercury-Atlas 2	NASA	Suborbital	Test flight	14:28	Successful
	Apogee: 182 kilometres (113 mi)
22 February 07:00	Véronique		Hammaguira Blandine		CASDN
		CERMA	Suborbital	Biological research	22 February	Successful
	Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi)
22 February 20:25	Thor DM-21 Ablestar		Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force
	Transit 3B	US Navy	Low Earth	Navigation Technology	30 March	Partial launch failure
	LOFTI-1	NRL	Low Earth	Technology Ionospheric	30 March	Partial launch failure
	Spacecraft failed to separate from upper stage, some data still returned
22 February	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-30
		OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	22 February	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
24 February 00:19	Nike-Cajun		Eglin		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	24 February	Successful
	Apogee: 133 kilometres (83 mi)
24 February 18:29	SM-65E Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-13		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	24 February	Successful
	Apogee: 1,500 kilometres (930 mi)
25 February 00:13:16	Juno II		Cape Canaveral LC-26B		ABMA
	S-45	NASA	Intended: Highly elliptical	Ionospheric	25 February	Launch failure
	Third stage failed to ignite
27 February 00:52	R-7 Semyorka		Baikonur Site 31/6		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	27 February	Successful
	Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi), final flight of R-7 Semyorka
February	R-14 Chusovaya		Kapustin Yar		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	February	Successful
	Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
February	R-14 Chusovaya		Kapustin Yar		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	February	Successful
	Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
March
1 March 15:42	Nike-Asp		Eglin		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Solar	1 March	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
1 March 18:19	UGM-27 Polaris A2		USNS Observation Island, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	1 March	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
2 March 05:07	MGM-31 Pershing I		Cape Canaveral LC-30A		US Army
		US Army	Suborbital	Missile test	2 March	Successful
	Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
2 March	R-12 Dvina		Makat		OKB-30
		OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	2 March	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
3 March 03:39	Nike-Cajun		Eglin		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Ionospheric	3 March	Launch failure
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
3 March 13:59:19	R-16		Baikonur Site 41		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	3 March	Successful
	Apogee: 1,210 kilometres (750 mi)
3 March 16:02	RM-90 Blue Scout II		Cape Canaveral LC-18B		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Plasma research	3 March	Successful
	Apogee: 2,540 kilometres (1,580 mi)
3 March	Antares (OPd-56-39-22D)		CERES		ONERA
		ONERA	Suborbital	REV Test	3 March	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
3 March	HGM-25A Titan I		Cape Canaveral LC-20		US Air Force
3 March		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	3 March	Launch failure
4 March	R-12 Dvina		Makat		OKB-30
		OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	4 March	Successful
	Apogee: 460 kilometres (290 mi)
6 March 09:56	Skylark-2C		Woomera LA-2		RAE
		UCL/QUB	Suborbital	Aeronomy	6 March	Successful
	Apogee: 231 kilometres (144 mi)
6 March	Antares (OPd-56-39-22D)		CERES		ONERA
		ONERA	Suborbital	REV Test	6 March	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
7 March	Antares (OPd-56-39-22D)		CERES		ONERA
		ONERA	Suborbital	REV Test	7 March	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
8 March 16:53	Aerobee-300		Eglin		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Ionospheric	8 March	Successful
	Apogee: 400 kilometres (250 mi)
8 March 17:53	Astrobee-1500		Eglin		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Ionospheric	8 March	Successful
	Apogee: 431 kilometres (268 mi)
9 March 06:29:00	Vostok-K		Baikonur Site 1/5		RVSN
	Korabl'-Sputnik 4 (Vostok-3KA 1)	RVSN	Low Earth	Test flight	08:09:54	Successful
	Carried a dog and a mannequin
9 March	UGM-27 Polaris A2		USNS Observation Island, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	9 March	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
10 March	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	10 March	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
11 March	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	11 March	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
14 March 04:17	SM-65E Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-13		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	14 March	Launch failure
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), propellant system malfunctioned
14 March 21:52	Nike-Cajun		Eglin		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Ionospheric	14 March	Successful
	Apogee: 118 kilometres (73 mi)
15 March 17:47	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Test flight	15 March	Successful
	Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
15 March	UGM-27 Polaris A2		Cape Canaveral LC-29A		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	15 March	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
16 March 01:19	MGM-31 Pershing I		Cape Canaveral LC-30A		US Army
		US Army	Suborbital	Missile test	16 March	Successful
	Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
17 March	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	17 March	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
23 March 16:25	UGM-27 Polaris A1		USS Theodore Roosevelt, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	23 March	Launch failure
	Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
23 March 19:25	UGM-27 Polaris A1		USS Theodore Roosevelt, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	23 March	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
23 March 22:41	UGM-27 Polaris A1		USS Theodore Roosevelt, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	23 March	Launch failure
	Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
24 March 17:30	Redstone MRLV		Cape Canaveral LC-5		NASA
	Mercury-Redstone BD	NASA	Suborbital	Test flight	24 March	Successful
	Apogee: 181 kilometres (112 mi)
24 March 19:17	Nike-Cajun		Eglin		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Ionospheric	24 March	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
25 March 01:49	SM-65E Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-13		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	25 March	Launch failure
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), electrical system malfunctioned
25 March 05:54:00	Vostok-K		Baikonur Site 1/5		RVSN
	Korabl'-Sputnik 5 (Vostok-3KA 2)	RVSN	Low Earth	Test flight	07:40	Successful
	Carried a dog and a mannequin
25 March 15:17:04	Thor DM-19 Delta		Cape Canaveral LC-17A		US Air Force
	Explorer 10 (P-14)	NASA	Highly elliptical	Magnetospheric Plasma research	In orbit	Successful
	Successfully completed operations fifty two hours after launch
25 March	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	25 March	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
26 March 16:54	Aerobee-300A		Wallops Island		NASA
		Michigan	Suborbital	Ionospheric	26 March	Successful
	Apogee: 386 kilometres (240 mi)
26 March	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-30
		OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	26 March	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
27 March 04:08	Kappa-8		Akita		ISAS
		ISAS/RRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric	27 March	Successful
	Apogee: 172 kilometres (107 mi)
28 March	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	28 March	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
28 March	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	28 March	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
28 March	HGM-25A Titan I		Cape Canaveral LC-19		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	28 March	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
30 March 05:13:43	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A		Vandenberg LC-75-2-7		Royal Air Force
		Royal Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	30 March	Successful
	Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
30 March 20:34:43	Thor DM-21 Agena-B		Vandenberg LC-75-3-4		US Air Force
	Discoverer 22 (KH-2 9015)	US Air Force	Intended: Low Earth	Optical imaging	30 March	Launch failure
	SRV 509	US Air Force	Intended: Low Earth	Film return	30 March	Launch failure
	Second stage attitude control system failure[1]
31 March 19:42	HGM-25A Titan I		Cape Canaveral LC-20		US Air Force
31 March 19:42		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	31 March	Launch failure
March	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
March		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	March	Launch failure
1st Quarter	Nike Zeus		White Sands LC-38		US Army
		US Army	Suborbital	Missile test	1st Quarter	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
April
1 April 03:25	Kappa-9L		Akita		ISAS
		ISAS	Suborbital	Test flight	1 April	Successful
	Apogee: 350 kilometres (220 mi)
2 April 14:06	R-16		Baikonur Site 41		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	2 April	Successful
	Apogee: 1,210 kilometres (750 mi)
3 April	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	3 April	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
4 April	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	4 April	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
5 April 10:56	Skylark-2		Woomera LA-2		RAE
		UCL	Suborbital	Aeronomy	5 April	Successful
	Apogee: 158 kilometres (98 mi)
5 April 12:57	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	5 April	Successful
	Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi)
6 April	UGM-27 Polaris A1		USS Theodore Roosevelt, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	6 April	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
7 April	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	7 April	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
8 April 19:21:08	Thor DM-21 Agena-B		Vandenberg LC-75-3-5		US Air Force
	Discoverer 23 (KH-5 9016A)	US Air Force	Low Earth	Optical imaging	16 April 1962	Successful
	SRV 509	US Air Force	Low Earth	Film return	23 May 1962	Spacecraft failure
	SRV raised orbit during deorbit burn
9 April 09:16	R-9 Desna		Baikonur Site 51		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	9 April	Successful
	Apogee: 1,160 kilometres (720 mi)
10 April	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	10 April	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
11 April 15:40	UGM-27 Polaris A2		Cape Canaveral LC-29A		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	11 April	Launch failure
	Apogee: 50 kilometres (31 mi)
11 April 15:40	UGM-27 Polaris A2		Cape Canaveral LC-29A		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	11 April	Launch failure
	Apogee: 50 kilometres (31 mi)
12 April 06:07:00	Vostok-K		Baikonur Site 1/5		RVSN
	Vostok 1	RVSN	Low Earth	Test flight	07:55	Successful
	Carried Yuri Gagarin, first manned spaceflight. Equipment module did not fully separate until reentry was underway. Gagarin ejected from spacecraft following reentry due to predicted hard landing, and landed separately at 08:05.
12 April 06:07	RM-90 Blue Scout II		Cape Canaveral LC-18B		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Plasma research	12 April	Successful
	Apogee: 1,931 kilometres (1,200 mi)
14 April 17:15	Aerobee-150A		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Test flight	14 April	Successful
	Apogee: 206 kilometres (128 mi)
14 April	R-7A Semyorka		Baikonur Site 31/6		RVSN
14 April		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	14 April	Launch failure
15 April 13:58:29	R-16		Baikonur Site 41		RVSN
15 April 13:58:29		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	15 April	Launch failure
18 April 04:40	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		White Sands LC-35		NRL
		NRL	Suborbital	UV Astronomy	18 April	Successful
	Apogee: 242 kilometres (150 mi)
18 April 12:27	Kappa-8		Akita		ISAS
		TAO/TOK	Suborbital	Ionospheric	18 April	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
19 April 09:36	Nike-Asp		Wallops Island		NASA
		GCA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	19 April	Successful
	Apogee: 164 kilometres (102 mi)
19 April 18:37	Nike-Asp		Salto di Quirra		CRA
		ROSAP	Suborbital	Aeronomy	19 April	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
19 April	UGM-27 Polaris A1		USS Robert E. Lee, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	19 April	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
19 April	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	19 April	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
20 April 03:46	Nike-Asp		Salto di Quirra		CRA
		ROSAP	Suborbital	Aeronomy	20 April	Successful
	Apogee: 190 kilometres (120 mi)
20 April 18:39	Nike-Asp		Salto di Quirra		CRA
		ROSAP	Suborbital	Aeronomy	20 April	Successful
	Apogee: 188 kilometres (117 mi)
20 April 18:43	Nike-Asp		Salto di Quirra		CRA
		ROSAP	Suborbital	Aeronomy	20 April	Successful
	Apogee: 190 kilometres (120 mi)
21 April 00:12	Nike-Asp		Wallops Island		NASA
		GCA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	21 April	Launch failure
	Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi)
21 April 02:26:14	R-9 Desna		Baikonur Site 51		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	21 April	Successful
	Apogee: 1,160 kilometres (720 mi)
21 April 05:56:20	Trailblazer 1		Wallops Island		NASA
		US Air Force	Suborbital	REV Test	21 April	Successful
	Apogee: 280 kilometres (170 mi)
21 April 09:34	Nike-Asp		Wallops Island		NASA
		GCA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	21 April	Launch failure
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
21 April 09:39	Nike-Asp		Wallops Island		NASA
		GCA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	21 April	Successful
	Apogee: 165 kilometres (103 mi)
21 April 12:00	Aerobee-150A		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Technology	21 April	Successful
	Apogee: 154 kilometres (96 mi)
21 April 15:53	MGM-31 Pershing I		Cape Canaveral LC-30A		US Army
		US Army	Suborbital	Missile test	21 April	Successful
	Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
21 April	R-16		Baikonur Site 41		RVSN
21 April		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	21 April	Launch failure
22 April	PGM-19 Jupiter		Cape Canaveral LC-26A		US Army
		US Army	Suborbital	Missile test	22 April	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
25 April 02:26	R-9 Desna		Baikonur Site 51		RVSN
25 April 02:26		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	25 April	Launch failure
25 April 16:15	Atlas LV-3B		Cape Canaveral LC-14		US Air Force
	Mercury-Atlas 3	NASA	Intended: Low Earth	Test flight	16:23	Launch failure
	Carrier rocket destroyed by range safety 43.4 seconds after launch, following failure of guidance system to execute pitch and roll commands, spacecraft separated by launch escape system and travelled 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) downrange, reaching an apogee of 7.2 kilometres (4.5 mi)
27 April 14:16:38	Juno II		Cape Canaveral LC-26B		ABMA
	Explorer 11 (S-15)	NASA	Low Earth	GR astronomy	In orbit	Partial spacecraft failure
	Onboard recorder failed during or immediately after launch, data returned through direct transmission
27 April 20:02	Javelin		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Ionospheric	27 April	Successful
	Apogee: 724 kilometres (450 mi)
27 April 22:32	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	27 April	Launch failure
	Apogee: 18 kilometres (11 mi)
27 April	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	27 April	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
28 April	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	28 April	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
May
1 May 12:10	Skylark-2		Woomera LA-2		RAE
		UCL	Suborbital	UV Astronomy	1 May	Successful
	Apogee: 155 kilometres (96 mi)
1 May	UGM-27 Polaris A2		Cape Canaveral LC-29A		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	1 May	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
3 May 17:00	UGM-27 Polaris A1		USS Abraham Lincoln, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	3 May	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
5 May 14:34	Redstone MRLV		Cape Canaveral LC-5		NASA
	Mercury-Redstone 3	NASA	Suborbital	Manned flight	14:49	Successful
	Carried Alan Shepard, first American in space, apogee 187 kilometres (116 mi)
5 May 23:00	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	5 May	Successful
	Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi)
6 May 04:54	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	6 May	Successful
	Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi)
8 May 17:10	UGM-27 Polaris A2		Cape Canaveral LC-29A		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	8 May	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
9 May 11:53	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	9 May	Successful
	Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi)
9 May 12:07	Black Knight 201		Woomera LA-5B		RAE
		RAE	Suborbital	REV Test	9 May	Launch failure
	Apogee: 415 kilometres (258 mi)
9 May 16:00:22	RM-89 Blue Scout I		Cape Canaveral LC-18B		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Plasma research	9 May	Launch failure
	Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
10 May	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	10 May	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
13 May 02:00	SM-65E Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-11		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	13 May	Successful
	Apogee: 1,500 kilometres (930 mi)
13 May	Antares (OPd-56-39-22D)		Hammaguira		ONERA
		ONERA	Suborbital	Ionospheric	13 May	Successful
	Apogee: 280 kilometres (170 mi)
16 May 15:45	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		White Sands LC-35		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Solar	16 May	Successful
	Apogee: 294 kilometres (183 mi)
16 May 17:00	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		White Sands LC-35		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Solar	16 May	Successful
	Apogee: 312 kilometres (194 mi)
16 May 19:23:27	R-16		Baikonur Site 41		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	16 May	Successful
	Apogee: 1,210 kilometres (750 mi)
17 May	UGM-27 Polaris A1		USS Abraham Lincoln, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	17 May	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
17 May	UGM-27 Polaris A1		USS Abraham Lincoln, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	17 May	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
17 May	UGM-27 Polaris A1		USS Abraham Lincoln, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	17 May	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
17 May	UGM-27 Polaris A1		USS Abraham Lincoln, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	17 May	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
17 May	UGM-27 Polaris A1		USS Abraham Lincoln, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	17 May	Successful
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
18 May 06:10	Trailblazer 1		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	REV Test	18 May	Successful
	Apogee: 260 kilometres (160 mi)
19 May 02:00	MGM-31 Pershing I		Cape Canaveral LC-30		US Army
		US Army	Suborbital	Missile test	19 May	Successful
	Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
19 May 14:18	LGM-30A Minuteman IA		Cape Canaveral LC-31A		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	19 May	Launch failure
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
23 May	HGM-25A Titan I		Cape Canaveral LC-20		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	23 May	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
24 May 03:18:06	R-16		Baikonur Site 41/4		RVSN
24 May 03:18:06		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	24 May	Launch failure
24 May 19:48:05	Juno II		Cape Canaveral LC-26B		ABMA
	S-45A	NASA	Intended: Highly elliptical	Ionospheric	27 April	Launch failure
	Second stage failed to ignite, final flight of Juno II
24 May 21:50:38	SM-65D Atlas		Vandenberg LC-576B-2		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	24 May	Successful
	Apogee: 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi)
25 May 17:03	Nike-Apache		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Test flight	25 May	Successful
	Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi)
25 May	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		White Sands LC-35		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Solar	25 May	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
25 May	Nike Zeus		White Sands LC-38		US Army
		US Army	Suborbital	Missile test	25 May	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
25 May	UGM-27 Polaris A2		USNS Observation Island, ETR		US Navy
25 May		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	25 May	Launch failure
26 May 02:26	SM-65E Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-13		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	26 May	Successful
	Apogee: 1,500 kilometres (930 mi)
27 May	Centaure		Hammaguira Bacchus		CNES
		CNET	Suborbital	Test flight	27 May	Successful
	Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
29 May 01:44:23	R-9 Desna		Baikonur Site 51		RVSN
29 May 01:44:23		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	29 May	Launch failure
29 May	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	29 May	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
29 May	Centaure		Hammaguira Bacchus		CNES
		CNET	Suborbital	Test flight	29 May	Successful
	Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
30 May 05:15	Skylark-2		Woomera LA-2		RAE
		RAE/WRE	Suborbital	Test flight	30 May	Successful
	Apogee: 149 kilometres (93 mi)
May	Kiva-Hopi		Wallops Island		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	May	Successful
	Apogee: 273 kilometres (170 mi)
June
2 June 05:12:14	R-9 Desna		Baikonur Site 51		RVSN
2 June 05:12:14		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	2 June	Launch failure
2 June 17:24:30	R-16		Baikonur Site 41/4		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	2 June	Successful
	Apogee: 1,210 kilometres (750 mi)
4 June	R-14 Chusovaya		Kapustin Yar		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	4 June	Successful
	Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
6 June 12:31	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		White Sands LC-35		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Meteorite research	6 June	Successful
	Apogee: 165 kilometres (103 mi)
6 June 18:00	R-16		Baikonur Site 41/4		RVSN
6 June 18:00		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	6 June	Launch failure
6 June 21:48	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		NASA
		Michigan	Suborbital	Aeronomy	6 June	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
7 June 00:40	Skylark-2		Woomera LA-2		RAE
		RAE/WRE	Suborbital	Test flight	7 June	Successful
	Apogee: 184 kilometres (114 mi)
7 June 11:20	Black Knight 201		Woomera LA-5		RAE
		UCL	Suborbital	REV test Ionospheric	7 June	Launch failure
	Apogee: 583 kilometres (362 mi)
7 June 21:37:31	SM-65E Atlas		Vandenberg OSTF-1		US Air Force
7 June 21:37:31		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	7 June	Launch failure
8 June 21:16	Thor DM-21 Agena-B		Vandenberg LC-75-3-4		US Air Force
	Discoverer 24 (KH-5 9018A)	US Air Force	Intended: Low Earth	Optical imaging	8 June	Launch failure
	SRV 541	US Air Force	Intended: Low Earth	Film return	8 June	Launch failure
	Failed to orbit
9 June 05:11	MGM-31 Pershing I		Cape Canaveral LC-30		US Army
		US Army	Suborbital	Missile test	9 June	Successful
	Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
9 June 18:02	Nike-Cajun		Wallops Island		NASA
		Michigan	Suborbital	Aeronomy	9 June	Successful
	Apogee: 142 kilometres (88 mi)
9 June	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	9 June	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
9 June	R-12 Dvina		Makat		OKB-30
		OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	9 June	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
10 June	Véronique		Hammaguira Blandine		CRS
		CNRS	Suborbital	Aeronomy	10 June	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
12 June 15:53	UGM-27 Polaris A2		Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	12 June	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
13 June 05:12	Javelin		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Ionospheric	13 June	Successful
	Apogee: 867 kilometres (539 mi)
15 June 00:02:59	Javelin		Wallops Island		NASA
		DRTE/CRC	Suborbital	Ionospheric	15 June	Successful
	Apogee: 901 kilometres (560 mi)
15 June 05:45	R-7A Semyorka		Baikonur Site 31/6		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	15 June	Successful
	Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
15 June	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	15 June	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
16 June 07:47:23	R-16		Baikonur Site 41/4		RVSN
16 June 07:47:23		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	16 June	Launch failure
16 June 23:02	Thor DM-21 Agena-B		Vandenberg LC-75-1-1		US Air Force
	Discoverer 25 (KH-2 9017)	US Air Force	Low Earth	Optical imaging	12 July	Successful
	SRV 510	US Air Force	Low Earth	Film return	19 June	Successful
17 June 07:29	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		White Sands LC-35		NRL
		NRL	Suborbital	Aeronomy	17 June	Successful
	Apogee: 197 kilometres (122 mi)
18 June 04:35	Kappa-4		Obachi		ISAS
		TOK	Suborbital	Cosmic ray research	18 June	Successful
	Apogee: 105 kilometres (65 mi)
20 June 23:54	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A		Vandenberg LC-75-2-7		Royal Air Force
		Royal Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	20 June	Successful
	Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
21 June 14:45	Aerobee-150 (Hi)		White Sands LC-35		NRL
		NRL	Suborbital	Solar	21 June	Successful
	Apogee: 271 kilometres (168 mi)
23 June 03:00	SM-65E Atlas		Cape Canaveral LC-11		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	23 June	Launch failure
	Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), went out of control
23 June 15:00	Nike-Cajun		Eglin		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Meteorite research	23 June	Successful
	Apogee: 157 kilometres (98 mi)
23 June 23:40	Nike-Zeus		White Sands LC-38		US Army
		US Army	Suborbital	Missile test	23 June	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
24 June 03:28	HGM-25A Titan I		Cape Canaveral LC-19		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	24 June	Launch failure
	Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
24 June 23:17	Javelin		Wallops Island		NASA
		CRPL	Suborbital	Ionospheric	24 June	Successful
	Apogee: 1,018 kilometres (633 mi)
24 June	R-12 Dvina		Makat		OKB-30
		OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	24 June	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
26 June 15:15	Aerobee-150A		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Test flight	26 June	Successful
	Apogee: 187 kilometres (116 mi)
26 June	UGM-27 Polaris A2		USNS Observation Island, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	26 June	Launch failure
	Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
29 June 04:22	Thor DM-21 Ablestar		Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force
	Transit 4A	US Navy	Low Earth	Navigation Technology	In orbit	Successful
	Injun-1	Iowa	Low Earth	Ionospheric	In orbit	Partial spacecraft failure
	Solrad 3 (GRAB-3)	US Navy/NRL	Low Earth	Radiation ELINT	In orbit	Partial spacecraft failure
	Injun-1 and Solrad 3 failed to separate from each other, particularly affecting operations of the Injun satellite, Transit 4A carried a SNAP-3 nuclear reactor. After completing the mission, the Able upper stage exploded in orbit, creating hundreds of space debris.[2]
29 June	R-12 Dvina		Kapustin Yar		MVS
		MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	29 June	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
30 June 17:09	Scout X-1		Wallops Island LA-3		NASA
	S-55	NASA	Intended: Low Earth	Technology Meteorite research	30 June	Launch failure
	Third stage failed to ignite
30 June 17:20	Astrobee-200		Eglin		US Air Force
		US Air Force	Suborbital	Test flight	30 June	Launch failure
	Apogee: 29 kilometres (18 mi)
30 June	R-12 Dvina		Makat		OKB-30
		OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	30 June	Successful
	Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)

References

Generic references:

Spaceflight portal

Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.
Krebs, Gunter. "Chronology of Space Launches".
Kyle, Ed. "Space Launch Report".
McDowell, Jonathan. "Jonathan's Space Report".
Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive".
Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica".
Webb, Brian. "Southwest Space Archive".
Zak, Anatoly. "Russian Space Web".
"ISS Calendar". Spaceflight 101.
"NSSDCA Master Catalog". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
"Space Calendar". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
"Space Information Center". JAXA.
"Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).

Footnotes

"Corona Program". Mission and Spacecraft Library. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
Orbital Debris: A Chronology (PDF). NASA JSC. January 1999. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 September 2000. Retrieved 13 February 2016. Two hours after separating from the U.S. Transit 4-A satellite, its Able Star upper stage becomes the first known artificial object to break up unintentionally in space. The cause of the explosion is unknown. The event produces at least 294 trackable pieces, more than tripling the number of known satellites of Earth.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

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

[chronology-2] Orbital Debris: A Chronology (PDF). NASA JSC. January 1999. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 September 2000. Retrieved 13 February 2016. Two hours after separating from the U.S. Transit 4-A satellite, its Able Star upper stage becomes the first known artificial object to break up unintentionally in space. The cause of the explosion is unknown. The event produces at least 294 trackable pieces, more than tripling the number of known satellites of Earth.

1961 in spaceflight (January–June)

Launches

January

February

March

April

May

June

References

Footnotes