1959 in spaceflight (January–June)

This article lists orbital and suborbital launches during the first half of the year 1959.

For all other spaceflight activities, see 1959 in spaceflight. For launches in the second half of 1959 see List of spaceflight launches in July–December 1959.[1][2]

Orbital launches

[edit]
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat) 		Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks

January

[edit]
2 January
16:41:21 		Soviet Union Luna (8K72) B1-6 Soviet Union Baikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union MVS
Soviet Union Luna 1 (Mechta/Ye-1 №4) MVS Intended: HEO to Lunar impact
Achieved: Heliocentric 		Lunar impactor In orbit Launch failure
Missed Moon due to premature cutoff of upper stage caused by control system malfunction. First spacecraft to be placed in Heliocentric orbit.
21 January United States Thor-DM18 Agena-A United States Vandenberg LC-75-3-4 United States US Air Force
United States Discovery (KH-1 Prototype) ARPA Planned: Low Earth Technology demonstration N/A Destroyed prior to launch
Destroyed prior to launch.

February

[edit]
17 February
15:55 		United States Vanguard SLV-4 United States Cape Canaveral LC-18A United States US Navy
United States Vanguard 2 (Cloud Cover Satellite 2)[3] NRL Medium Earth Atmospheric In orbit Partial spacecraft failure
Transmitted data for 19 days, poor quality data returned due to uncontrolled rotation of spacecraft.
28 February
21:41:16 		United States Thor DM-18 Agena-A United States Vandenberg LC-75-3-4 United States US Air Force
United States Discoverer 1 (KH-1 prototype) CIA DST Low Earth (Polar) Technology 6 March Successful
Maiden flight of Thor-Agena, first spacecraft to be placed in polar orbit.

March

[edit]
3 March
05:10:56 		United States Juno II AM-14 United States Cape Canaveral LC-5 United States ABMA
United States Pioneer 4 NASA/ABMA Heliocentric Lunar flyby In orbit Partial launch failure
Second stage burned for longer than planned, resulting in more distant flyby than planned.[4]

April

[edit]
13 April
21:18:39 		United States Thor DM-18 Agena-A United States Vandenberg LC-75-3-4 United States US Air Force
United States Discoverer 2 (KH-1 prototype) CIA DST Low Earth Technology 26 April Partial spacecraft failure
United States SRV CIA DST Low Earth Technology 26 April Partial spacecraft failure
Capsule recovery failed due to timer error. May have been recovered by the Soviet Union, inspiring plot of 1963 Alistair MacLean novel Ice Station Zebra.
14 April
02:49:46 		United States Vanguard SLV-5 United States Cape Canaveral LC-18A United States US Navy
United States Vanguard (Magnetometer Satellite)[3] NRL Intended: Medium Earth Radiation 14 April Launch failure
United States Vanguard (30-inch sphere)[3] NRL Intended: Medium Earth Air density
Second stage damaged during separation, failed to reach orbit, first launch of multiple satellites on a single rocket.

June

[edit]
3 June
20:09:20 		United States Thor DM-18 Agena-A United States Vandenberg LC-75-3-4 United States US Air Force
United States Discoverer 3 (KH-1 Prototype) CIA DST Intended: Low Earth Technology 3 June Launch failure
United States SRV CIA DST Low Earth Technology 3 June Launch failure
Loss of signal after upper stage ignition.
18 June
08:08 		Soviet Union Luna (8K72) I1-7 Soviet Union Baikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union MVS
Soviet Union Luna E-1A №1 (Luna 1959A/Ye-1A №5) MVS Intended: Heliocentric Lunar impactor 18 June Launch failure
Internal guidance system failed 153 seconds after launch.
22 June
20:16:09 		United States Vanguard SLV-6 United States Cape Canaveral LC-18A United States US Navy
United States Vanguard (Radiation Balance Satellite)[3] NRL Intended: Medium Earth Radiation 22 June Launch failure
Second stage propulsion system malfunctioned, failed to reach orbit.
25 June
22:47:45 		United States Thor DM-18 Agena-A United States Vandenberg LC-75-3-5 United States US Air Force
United States Discoverer 4 (KH-1 1/9001) CIA DST Intended: Low Earth Optical imaging 25 June Launch failure
United States SRV 102 CIA DST Low Earth Technology 25 June Launch failure
Upper stage underperformed, failed to reach orbit.
For flights after 30 June, see 1959 in spaceflight (July-December)

Suborbital flights

[edit]
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat) 		Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
10 January
11:00 		Soviet UnionA-1 Soviet UnionOstrov Kheysa Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Ionospheric
Aeronomy		 10 January Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
16 January
04:00 		United StatesSM-65B Atlas United StatesCape Canaveral LC-14 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 16 January Launch failure
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
19 January
15:42 		United StatesUGM-27 Polaris AX United StatesCape Canaveral LC-25A United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 19 January Launch failure
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
22 January
00:10 		United StatesPGM-19 Jupiter United StatesCape Canaveral LC-5 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 22 January Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
23 January United StatesThor DM-18 Able-II United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesRVX-1 US Air Force Suborbital REV test 23 January Launch failure
27 January
17:00 		FranceDaniel FranceCERES FranceONERA
ONERA Suborbital Aeronomy 27 January Successful
Apogee: 127 kilometres (79 mi)
27 January
23:34 		United StatesSM-65C Atlas United StatesCape Canaveral LC-12 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 27 January Successful
Apogee: 990 kilometres (620 mi)
28 January United StatesNike-Cajun United StatesWallops Island United StatesARPA
United StatesBeacon Test 4 ARPA/NASA Suborbital Technology 28 January Successful
Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi)
30 January
22:53 		United StatesPGM-17 Thor DM-18A United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 30 January Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
4 February
08:01 		United StatesSM-65B Atlas United StatesCape Canaveral LC-11 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 4 February Successful
Apogee: 990 kilometres (620 mi), final flight of Atlas B
5 February
14:45 		United StatesAerobee-150 (Hi) United StatesHolloman LC-A United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital 5 February Successful
Apogee: 212 kilometres (132 mi)
6 February
21:22 		United StatesHGM-25A Titan I United StatesCape Canaveral LC-15 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 6 February Successful
Maiden flight of Titan I, battleship second stage, apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
20 February
05:38 		United StatesSM-65C Atlas United StatesCape Canaveral LC-12 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 20 February Launch failure
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
25 February
19:45 		United StatesHGM-25A Titan I United StatesCape Canaveral LC-15 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 25 February Successful
Battleship second stage, apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
27 February
15:44 		United StatesAerobee United StatesHolloman LC-A United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Solar 27 February Successful
Apogee: 210 kilometres (130 mi)
27 February
19:16 		United StatesUGM-27 Polaris AX United StatesCape Canaveral LC-25A United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 27 February Launch failure
Apogee: 2 kilometres (1.2 mi)
27 February
23:50 		United StatesPGM-19 Jupiter United StatesCape Canaveral LC-26B United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 28 February Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
28 February
07:58 		United StatesThor DM-18 Able-II United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesRVX-1 US Air Force Suborbital REV test 28 February Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
3 March United StatesTrailblazer 1 United StatesWallops Island United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital REV test 3 March Successful
Apogee: 260 kilometres (160 mi)
4 March
11:14 		United KingdomSkylark-2 AustraliaWoomera LA-2 United KingdomRAE
RAE
UCL
Queen's 		Suborbital Aeronomy 4 March Launch failure
Apogee: 30 kilometres (19 mi)
7 March
19:34 		FranceVéronique FranceHammaguir Blandine FranceCASDN
CASDN Suborbital Aeronomy 7 March Launch failure
Apogee: 35 kilometres (22 mi), released sodium
10 March
18:40 		FranceVéronique FranceHammaguir Blandine FranceCASDN
CASDN Suborbital Aeronomy 10 March Successful
Apogee: 124 kilometres (77 mi), released sodium
12 March
05:44 		FranceVéronique FranceHammaguir Blandine FranceCASDN
CASDN Suborbital Aeronomy 12 March Successful
Apogee: 174 kilometres (108 mi), released sodium
12 March
10:50 		United KingdomBlack Knight 201 AustraliaWoomera LA-5A United KingdomRAE
RAE Suborbital Test flight 12 March Successful
Apogee: 537 kilometres (334 mi)
12 March
15:44 		United StatesAerobee-150 (Hi) United StatesHolloman LC-A United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital 12 March Successful
Apogee: 210 kilometres (130 mi)
13 March
13:50 		United StatesAerobee-150 (Hi) United StatesWhite Sands LC-35 United StatesUS Navy
NRL Suborbital 13 March Successful
Apogee: 170 kilometres (110 mi)
17 March
01:46 		Soviet UnionR-7 Semyorka Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5 Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 17 March Successful
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
17 March United StatesHonest John-Nike-Nike-20"SM United StatesWallops Island United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Test flight 17 March Successful
Apogee: 1,380 kilometres (860 mi)
19 March
00:59 		United StatesSM-65C Atlas United StatesCape Canaveral LC-12 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 19 March Launch failure
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
21 March
06:19 		United StatesThor DM-18 Able-II United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesRVX-1 US Air Force Suborbital REV test 21 March Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
22 March
00:58 		United StatesPGM-17 Thor DM-18A United StatesCape Canaveral LC-18B United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 22 March Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
25 March
05:25 		Soviet UnionR-7 Semyorka Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5 Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 25 March Successful
Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
27 March
04:02 		United StatesPGM-17 Thor DM-18A United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 27 March Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
30 March
15:01 		United StatesAerobee-150 (Hi) United StatesHolloman LC-A United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital 30 March Successful
Apogee: 201 kilometres (125 mi)
30 March
16:45 		United StatesAerobee-150 (Hi) United StatesWhite Sands LC-35 United StatesUS Navy
NRL Suborbital 30 March Successful
Apogee: 238 kilometres (148 mi)
30 March
22:53 		Soviet UnionR-7 Semyorka Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5 Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 30 March Launch failure
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
30 March Soviet UnionR-12 Dvina Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 30 March Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
3 April
17:11 		United StatesHGM-25A Titan I United StatesCape Canaveral LC-15 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 3 April Successful
Battleship second stage, apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
4 April
00:34 		United StatesPGM-19 Jupiter United StatesCape Canaveral LC-26B United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 4 April Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
4 April United StatesWS-199B Bold Orion II United StatesB-47, Cape Canaveral United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 4 April Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
7 April
14:46 		United StatesAerobee-150 (Hi) United StatesWhite Sands LC-35 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital 7 April Launch failure
Apogee: 317 kilometres (197 mi)
8 April
06:35 		United StatesThor DM-18 Able-II United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesRVX-1 US Air Force Suborbital REV test 8 April Successful
Apogee: 1,230 kilometres (760 mi)
11 April Soviet UnionR-12 Dvina Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 11 April Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
14 April
21:46 		United StatesSM-65D Atlas United StatesCape Canaveral LC-13 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 14 April Launch failure
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi)
14 April Soviet UnionR-12 Dvina Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 14 April Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
15 April
14:46 		United StatesAerobee-150 (Hi) United StatesHolloman LC-A United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital 15 April Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
16 April
20:46 		United StatesPGM-17 Thor DM-18A United StatesVandenberg LC-75-2-8 United KingdomRoyal Air Force
Royal Air Force Suborbital Missile test 16 April Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
20 April
15:30 		United StatesUGM-27 Polaris AX United StatesCape Canaveral LC-25A United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 20 April Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
21 April
01:05 		United StatesAerobee-150 (Hi) United StatesHolloman LC-A United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital 21 April Successful
Apogee: 235 kilometres (146 mi)
22 April
19:29 		United StatesNike-Cajun United StatesHolloman United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Ionospheric 22 April Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
23 April
05:30 		United StatesPGM-17 Thor DM-18A United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 23 April Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
25 April
05:00 		United StatesPGM-17 Thor DM-18A United StatesCape Canaveral LC-18B United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 25 April Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
29 April Soviet UnionR-12 Dvina Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 29 April Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
1 May United StatesTerrier-ASROC-Cajun United StatesPoint Arguello United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Test flight 1 May Launch failure
2 May FranceOPd-56-39-22D (Antares) FranceCERES FranceONERA
ONERA Suborbital REV test 2 May Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
4 May
18:30 		United StatesHGM-25A Titan I United StatesCape Canaveral LC-15 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 4 May Successful
Battleship second stage, apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
5 May
01:45 		United StatesAerobee AJ10-34 United StatesWhite Sands LC-35 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 5 May Successful
Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi)
7 May
01:47 		United StatesPGM-19 Jupiter United StatesCape Canaveral LC-26B United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 7 May Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
8 May
19:28 		United StatesUGM-27 Polaris AX United StatesCape Canaveral LC-25A United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 8 May Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
9 May
18:59 		Soviet UnionR-7 Semyorka Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5 Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 9 May Launch failure
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
12 May
11:39 		United StatesAerobee-150 (Hi) United StatesHolloman LC-A United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital 12 May Successful
Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi)
12 May
17:35 		United StatesPGM-17 Thor DM-18A United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 12 May Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
12 May Soviet UnionR-12 Dvina Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 12 May Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
14 May
05:52 		United StatesPGM-19 Jupiter United StatesCape Canaveral LC-5 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 14 May Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
14 May Soviet UnionR-12 Dvina Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 14 May Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
15 May
22:10 		United StatesArcon United StatesWallops Island United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Test flight 15 May Launch failure
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi)
15 May Soviet UnionR-12 Dvina Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 15 May Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
18 May
23:16 		United StatesUGM-27 Polaris AX United StatesCape Canaveral LC-25A United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 18 May Launch failure
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
19 May
04:30 		United StatesSM-65D Atlas United StatesCape Canaveral LC-14 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 19 May Launch failure
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi)
21 May
06:40 		United StatesThor DM-18 Able-II United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesRVX-1 US Air Force Suborbital REV test 21 May Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
22 May
11:15 		United StatesAerobee-150 (Hi) United StatesHolloman LC-A United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital 22 May Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
23 May
02:42 		United StatesPGM-17 Thor DM-18A United StatesCape Canaveral LC-18B United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 23 May Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
27 May
04:51 		United StatesNike-Cajun United StatesWhite Sands United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 27 May Successful
Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi)
27 May
19:55 		United StatesNike-Cajun United StatesWhite Sands United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 27 May Successful
Apogee: 177 kilometres (110 mi)
28 May
07:35:02 		United StatesPGM-19 Jupiter United StatesCape Canaveral LC-26B United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesBioflight 2 US Air Force Suborbital Biological
Missile test		 28 May Successful
Apogee: 483 kilometres (300 mi)
30 May
21:42 		Soviet UnionR-7 Semyorka Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5 Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 30 May Launch failure
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
30 May Soviet UnionR-12 Dvina Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 30 May Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
May AustraliaLong Tom AustraliaWoomera LA-2 AustraliaWRE
WRE Suborbital Aeronomy   Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
2 June Soviet UnionR-12 Dvina Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 2 June Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
5 June
04:15 		United StatesTrailblazer 1 United StatesWallops Island United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital REV test 6 June Successful
Apogee: 260 kilometres (160 mi)
6 June
17:39 		United StatesSM-65D Atlas United StatesCape Canaveral LC-13 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 6 June Launch failure
Apogee: 80 kilometres (50 mi)
8 June United StatesWS-199B Bold Orion I United StatesB-47, Cape Canaveral United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 8 June Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
9 June
20:34 		Soviet UnionR-7 Semyorka Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5 Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 9 June Launch failure
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
10 June
16:40 		United StatesAerobee-150 (Hi) United StatesHolloman LC-A United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital 10 June Successful
Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi)
11 June
06:44 		United StatesThor DM-18 Able-II United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesRVX-1 US Air Force Suborbital REV test 11 June Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
11 June
13:03 		United KingdomBlack Knight 201 AustraliaWoomera LA-5A United KingdomRAE
RAE Suborbital Test flight 11 June Successful
Apogee: 803 kilometres (499 mi)
12 June
18:57 		United StatesUGM-27 Polaris AX United StatesCape Canaveral LC-25A United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 12 June Launch failure
Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
15 June Soviet UnionR-12 Dvina Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 15 June Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
16 June
21:45 		United StatesPGM-17 Thor DM-18A United StatesVandenberg LC-75-2-7 United KingdomRoyal Air Force
Royal Air Force Suborbital Missile test 16 June Launch failure
Guidance system failed to engage as remove before flight safety wires had not been removed. Vehicle ascended vertically before being destroyed by range safety.[5]
17 June Soviet UnionR-12 Dvina Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Soviet UnionMVS
MVS Suborbital Missile test 17 June Successful
Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
19 June United StatesWS-199B Bold Orion I United StatesB-47, Cape Canaveral United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 19 June Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
21 June Soviet UnionR-5V Pobeda Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Soviet UnionAN
AN Suborbital Solar 21 June Successful
Apogee: 400 kilometres (250 mi)
22 June
14:32 		United StatesAerobee United StatesHolloman LC-A United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Solar 22 June Successful
Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi)
23 June
01:26 		United KingdomSkylark-1 AustraliaWoomera LA-2 United KingdomRAE
RAE Suborbital Test flight 23 June Launch failure
Apogee: 91 kilometres (57 mi)
24 June
12:10 		United StatesAerobee-150 (Hi) United StatesHolloman LC-A United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital 24 June Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
26 June United StatesPGM-17 Thor DM-18A United StatesCape Canaveral LC-18B United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 26 June Successful
Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
26 June United StatesTerrier-ASROC-Cajun United StatesPoint Arguello United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital 26 June Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
29 June
11:33 		United KingdomBlack Knight 201 AustraliaWoomera LA-5A United KingdomRAE
RAE Suborbital Test flight 29 June Successful
Apogee: 442 kilometres (275 mi)
30 June
02:37 		United StatesPGM-17 Thor DM-18A United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 30 June Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
29 June
15:42 		United StatesUGM-27 Polaris AX United StatesCape Canaveral LC-25A United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 29 June Successful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
June Soviet UnionR-13 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Soviet UnionVMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test   Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)

Reference

[edit]
  1. ^ "Worldwide Space Launches". Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Orbital Launches of 1959". Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Krebs, Gunter. "Vanguard". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  4. ^ Lafleur, Claude. "Pioneer 4". Spacecrafts [sic] launched in 1959. The Spacecraft Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
  5. ^ Eleazer, Wayne (31 January 2011). "Launch failures: the "Oops!" factor". The Space Review. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
[edit]
Generic references:

Spaceflight portal
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