1961 in spaceflight (January–June)

none January 2014 December 2019 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. 2 Orbital launches 1961 yes |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| January |- 2 31 January 20:21:19https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/2749 Atlas-LV3 Agena-A - Samos 2 Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USA Atlas LV-3A Agena-A USA Vandenberg SLC-3W USAUS Air Force Electro-optical satellite. USA Samos E-1 2 (Samos 2) US Air Force Low Earth Optical imaging 21 October 1973 Successful USA Samos F-1 2 US Air Force Low Earth Optical imaging 21 October 1973 Successful |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| 1961 yes February |- 1 4 February 01:18:03https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/3810 Molniya - 1VA n°1 (Venera 1) Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USSR 1955 Molniya USSR 1955 Baikonur Site 1/5 USSR 1955 RVSN First Probe built to fly over Venus. The Block-I third stage failed to ignite. USSR 1955 Tyazhely Sputnik (Venera-1VA №1/Sputnik 7) RVSN Intended: HeliocentricAchieved: Low Earth Venus flyby 26 February Launch failure 1 12 February 00:43:46https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/3811 Molniya - Venera 1 Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USSR 1955 Molniya USSR 1955 Baikonur Site 1/5 USSR 1955 RVSN First probe to fly past Venus, contact lost before flyby. USSR 1955 Venera 1 (Venera-1VA №2/Sputnik 8) RVSN Heliocentric Venus flyby Spacecraft failure 1 16 February 13:05https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/4602 Scout X-1 - Explorer 9 (S-56A) Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USA Scout X-1 USA Wallops Island LA-3 USA NASA USA Explorer 9 (S-56A) NASA Medium Earth Air density 9 April 1964 Successful 2 17 February 20:25https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/4626 Thor DM-21 Agena-B - KH-5 1 (Discoverer 20) Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USA Thor DM-21 Agena-B USA Vandenberg LC-75-3-4 USA US Air Force Film recovery failed. USADiscoverer 20 (KH-5 1/9014A) US Air Force Low Earth Optical imaging 28 July 1962 Successful USA SRV 520 US Air Force Low Earth Film return 31 October Spacecraft failure 1 18 February 22:58https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/4627 Thor DM-21 Agena-B - RM 2 (Discoverer 21) Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USA Thor DM-21 Agena-B USA Vandenberg LC-75-3-5 USA US Air Force USA Discoverer 21 (MIDAS RM-2) US Air Force Low Earth TechnologyMissile defence 20 April 1962 Successful 2 22 February 20:25https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/4628 Thor DM-21 Ablestar - Transit 3B & Lofti 1 Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USA Thor DM-21 Ablestar USA Cape Canaveral LC-17B USA US Air Force Spacecraft failed to separate from upper stage, some data still returned. USA Transit 3B US Navy Low Earth NavigationTechnology 30 March Partial launch failure 2 2 USA LOFTI-1 NRL Low Earth TechnologyIonospheric inherit inherit 1 25 February 00:13:16https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6738 Juno II - Explorer 10a Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USA Juno II USA Cape Canaveral LC-26B USA ABMA Third stage failed to ignite. USA S-45 NASA Intended: Highly elliptical Ionospheric 25 February Launch failure |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| 1961 yes March |- 1 9 March 06:29:00https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/1259 Vostok - Korabl-Sputnik 4 Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USSR 1955 Vostok-K USSR 1955 Baikonur Site 1/5 USSR 1955 RVSN First launch of improved Vostok-3KA spacecraft, same design that would carry the first human to space. Carried a dog named Chernushka and a mannequin. USSR 1955 Korabl-Sputnik 4 (Vostok-3KA №1/Sputnik 9) RVSN Low Earth Test flight 08:09:54 Successful 1 25 March 05:54:00https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/1288 Vostok - Korabl-Sputnik 5 Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USSR 1955 Vostok-K USSR 1955 Baikonur Site 1/5 USSR 1955 RVSN Carried a dog named Zvezdochka and a mannequin. USSR 1955 Korabl-Sputnik 5 (Vostok-3KA №2/Sputnik 10) RVSN Low Earth Test flight 07:40 Successful 1 25 March 15:17:04https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/4629 Thor DM-19 Delta - Explorer 10 (P 14) Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USA Thor DM-19 Delta USA Cape Canaveral LC-17A USA US Air Force Successfully completed operations fifty-two hours after launch. USA Explorer 10 (P-14) NASA Highly elliptical MagnetosphericPlasma research Successful 2 30 March 20:34:43https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/4630 Thor DM-21 Agena-B - KH-2 4 (Discoverer 22) Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USA Thor DM-21 Agena-B USA Vandenberg LC-75-3-4 USA US Air Force Second stage attitude control system failure.http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/Programs/corona.html Corona Program Mission and Spacecraft Library NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory 15 May 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090519162314/http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/Programs/corona.html 19 May 2009 dead USA Discoverer 22 (KH-2 4/9015) US Air Force Intended: Low Earth Optical imaging 30 March Launch failure 2 2 USA SRV 509 US Air Force Intended: Low Earth Film return inherit inherit |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| 1961 yes April |- 2 8 April 19:21:08https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/4632 Thor DM-21 Agena-B - KH-5 2 (Discoverer 23) Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USA Thor DM-21 Agena-B USA Vandenberg SLC-1E USA US Air Force SRV raised orbit during deorbit burn. USA Discoverer 23 (KH-5 2/9016A) US Air Force Low Earth Optical imaging 16 April 1962 Successful USA SRV 521 US Air Force Low Earth Film return 23 May 1962 Spacecraft failure 1 12 April 06:07:00https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/1126 Vostok - Vostok 1 Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USSR 1955 Vostok-K USSR 1955 Baikonur Site 1/5 USSR 1955 RVSN Yuri Gagarin, first crewed spaceflight in history to orbit the Earth. Equipment module did not fully separate until reentry was underway. Gagarin ejected from the spacecraft following reentry due to a predicted hard landing, and landed separately at 08:05. USSR 1955 Vostok 1 RVSN Low Earth Test flight 07:55 Successful 1 25 April 16:15https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/2886 Atlas-D Mercury - Mercury-Atlas 3 (MA-3) Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USA Atlas LV-3B USA Cape Canaveral LC-14 USA US Air Force 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 km downrange, reaching an apogee of 7.2 km. USA Mercury-Atlas 3 NASA Intended: Low Earth Test flight 16:23 Launch failure 1 27 April 14:16:38https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6739 Juno II - Explorer 11 (S 15) Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USA Juno II USA Cape Canaveral LC-26B USA ABMA Onboard recorder failed during or immediately after launch, data returned through direct transmission. USA Explorer 11 (S-15) NASA Low Earth GR astronomy Partial spacecraft failure |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| 1961 yes May |- 1 24 May 19:48:05https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6740 Juno II - Explorer 12a Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USA Juno II USA Cape Canaveral LC-26B USA ABMA Second stage failed to ignite, final flight of Juno II. USA Explorer S-45A NASA Intended: Highly elliptical Ionospheric 27 April Launch failure |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| 1961 yes June |- 2 8 June 21:16https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/4633 Thor DM-21 Agena-B - KH-5 3 (Discoverer 24) Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USA Thor DM-21 Agena-B USA Vandenberg LC-75-3-4 USA US Air Force Failed to orbit. USA Discoverer 24 (KH-5 3/9018A) US Air Force Intended: Low Earth Optical imaging 8 June Launch failure 2 2 USA SRV 541 US Air Force Intended: Low Earth Film return inherit inherit 2 16 June 23:02https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/4634 Thor DM-21 Agena-B - KH-2 5 (Discoverer 25) Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USA Thor DM-21 Agena-B USA Vandenberg LC-75-1-1 USA US Air Force USA Discoverer 25 (KH-2 5/9017) US Air Force Low Earth Optical imaging Successful 12 July USA SRV 510 US Air Force Low Earth Film return 19 June Successful 3 29 June 04:22https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/4635 Thor DM-21 Ablestar - Transit 4A, Injun 1 & GRAB-3 Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USA Thor DM-21 Ablestar USA Cape Canaveral LC-17B USA US Air Force 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.http://ston.jsc.nasa.gov/collections/TRS/_techrep/TP-1999-208856.pdf Orbital Debris: A Chronology 18 NASA JSC January 1999 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. dead https://web.archive.org/web/20000901071135/http://ston.jsc.nasa.gov/collections/TRS/_techrep/TP-1999-208856.pdf 1 September 2000 USA Transit 4A US Navy Low Earth NavigationTechnology Successful USA Injun-1 Iowa Low Earth Ionospheric Partial spacecraft failure USA Solrad 3 (GRAB-3) US Navy/NRL Low Earth RadiationELINT Partial spacecraft failure 1 30 June 17:09https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/4603 Scout X-1 - Explorer (S-55) Next Spaceflight 1 March 2025 USA Scout X-1 USA Wallops Island LA-3 USA NASA Third stage failed to ignite. USA Explorer S-55 NASA Intended: Low Earth TechnologyMeteorite research 30 June Launch failure |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| 1961 yes |- |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| For flights after 30 June, see 1961 in spaceflight (July–December) |} Suborbital launches 1961 yes |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| January |- 1 6 January 00:10 USAMGM-31 Pershing I USACape Canaveral LC-30 USAUS Army US Army Suborbital Missile test 6 January Launch failure 1 7 January 17:33:42 USARM-89 Blue Scout I USACape Canaveral LC-18B USAUS Air Force Apogee: 1600 km HCO Suborbital Plasma researchAstronomy 7 January Successful 1 10 January 17:15 USAUGM-27 Polaris A2 USACape Canaveral LC-29A USAUS Navy Apogee: 1000 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 10 January Successful 1 10 January USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 10 January Successful 1 11 January 18:40 USAUGM-27 Polaris A1 USARobert E. Lee SSBN-601 6, ETR USAUS Navy Apogee: 20 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 11 January Launch failure 1 12 January 16:54 USANike-Cajun ITASalto di Quirra ITACRA Apogee: 160 km, first Italian spaceflight ROSAP Suborbital Aeronomy 12 January Successful 1 13 January USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 13 January Successful 1 13 January USSR 1955R-5 Pobeda USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955OKB-30 Apogee: 300 km OKB-30 Suborbital Target 13 January Successful 1 14 January 01:19:04 USSR 1955R-7A Semyorka USSR 1955Baikonur Site 31/6 USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 1350 km, first launch from Site 31 RVSN Suborbital Missile test 14 January Successful 1 14 January USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 14 January Successful 1 14 January USSR 1955R-5 Pobeda USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955OKB-30 Apogee: 300 km OKB-30 Suborbital Target 14 January Successful 1 14 January USAUGM-27 Polaris A1 USAUSS Robert E. Lee, ETR USAUS Navy Apogee: 20 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 14 January Launch failure 1 17 January 21:25 USANike-Asp USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 209 km NASA Suborbital Test flight 17 January Successful 1 18 January 04:00 USATrailblazer 1 USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 260 km NASA Suborbital REV Test 18 January Successful 1 19 January 12:42 USAIris USAWallops Island LA-1 USANASA Apogee: 138 km NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 19 January Launch failure 1 20 January 20:53 USAHGM-25A Titan I USACape Canaveral LC-19 USAUS Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 20 January Launch failure 1 23 January 21:02 USASM-65D Atlas USACape Canaveral LC-12 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 1800 km US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 23 January Successful 1 24 January 21:55 USASM-65E Atlas USACape Canaveral LC-13 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 500 km, went out of control US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 24 January Launch failure 1 26 January 00:30 USAMGM-31 Pershing I USACape Canaveral LC-30A USAUS Army Apogee: 250 km US Army Suborbital Missile test 26 January Successful 1 30 January 23:20 USAAerobee-150 (Hi) USAEglin USAUS Air Force Apogee: 204 km US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 30 January Successful 1 31 January 16:54:51 USARedstone MRLV USACape Canaveral LC-5 USANASA Apogee: 251 km, carried Ham, a chimpanzee USAMercury-Redstone 2 NASA Suborbital Test flight 31 January Successful 1 January USSR 1955R-14 Chusovaya USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 675 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test January Successful 1 January USSR 1955R-14 Chusovaya USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 675 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test January Successful 1 January USSR 1955R-14 Chusovaya USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 675 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test January Successful 1 January USSR 1955R-14 Chusovaya USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 675 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test January Successful 1 January USSR 1955R-14 Chusovaya USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 675 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test January Successful 1 January USAKisha-Judi USATonopah USASandia Apogee: 100 km Sandia Suborbital Test flight January Successful |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| February |- 1 1 February 15:59 USALGM-30A Minuteman IA USACape Canaveral LC-31A USAUS Air Force Apogee: 1300 km US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 1 February Successful 1 1 February USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 1 February Successful 1 2 February 19:00 USSR 1955R-16 USSR 1955Baikonur Site 41 USSR 1955RVSN RVSN Suborbital Missile test 2 February Launch failure 1 5 February 13:48 USAAerobee-150A USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 152 km NASA Suborbital Technology 5 February Successful 1 6 February 21:40 USAUGM-27 Polaris A2 USACape Canaveral LC-25A USAUS Navy US Navy Suborbital Missile test 6 February Launch failure 1 7 February 12:46 UKBlack Knight 201 AUSWoomera LA-5A UKRAE Apogee: 687 km RAE Suborbital REV Test 7 February Successful 1 8 February USSR 1955R-14 Chusovaya USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 675 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test 8 February Successful 1 10 February 05:55 USAHGM-25A Titan I USACape Canaveral LC-20 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 1000 km US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 10 February Successful 1 10 February USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 10 February Successful 1 10 February USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 10 February Successful 1 13 February 04:39 USSR 1955R-7A Semyorka USSR 1955Baikonur Site 31/6 USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 1350 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test 13 February Successful 1 13 February 13:58 UKSkylark-2 AUSWoomera LA-2 UKRAE Apogee: 146 km UCL Suborbital Aeronomy 13 February Successful 1 13 February FRAVéronique FRAHammaguira Blandine FRACASDN LPA Suborbital Aeronomy 13 February Launch failure 1 14 February 23:50 USANike-Cajun USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 130 km NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 14 February Successful 1 14 February USAStrongarm USAWallops Island USABallistic Research Laboratory Apogee: 100 km US Air Force/BRL Suborbital Test flight 14 February Launch failure 1 15 February 22:01 FRAVéronique FRAHammaguira Blandine FRACASDN Apogee: 150 km LPA Suborbital Aeronomy 15 February Successful 1 16 February 01:27 USAMGM-31 Pershing I USACape Canaveral LC-30 USAUS Army Apogee: 250 km US Army Suborbital Missile test 16 February Successful 1 17 February 07:17 USANike Apache USAWallops Island USAUS Air Force Apogee: 200 km US Air Force Suborbital Test flight 17 February Successful 1 17 February 19:04 USAAerobee-150 (Hi) USAEglin USAUS Air Force Apogee: 275 km US Air Force Suborbital Solar 17 February Successful 1 18 February USAStrongarm USAWallops Island USABRL Apogee: 2027 km US Air Force/BRL Suborbital Test flight 18 February Successful 1 18 February USSR 1955R-5 Pobeda USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955OKB-30 Apogee: 300 km OKB-30 Suborbital Target 18 February Successful 1 18 February FRAVéronique FRAHammaguira Blandine FRACASDN Apogee: 16 km LPA Suborbital Aeronomy 18 February Launch failure 1 20 February USAHGM-25A Titan I USACape Canaveral LC-19 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 1000 km US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 20 February Successful 1 21 February 14:12 USAAtlas LV-3B USACape Canaveral LC-14 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 182 km USAMercury-Atlas 2 NASA Suborbital Test flight 14:28 Successful 1 22 February 07:00 FRAVéronique FRAHammaguira Blandine FRACASDN Apogee: 110 km CERMA Suborbital Biological research 22 February Successful 1 22 February USSR 1955R-5 Pobeda USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955OKB-30 Apogee: 300 km OKB-30 Suborbital Target 22 February Successful 1 24 February 00:19 USANike-Cajun USAEglin USAUS Air Force Apogee: 133 km US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 24 February Successful 1 24 February 18:29 USASM-65E Atlas USACape Canaveral LC-13 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 1500 km US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 24 February Successful 1 27 February 00:52 USSR 1955R-7 Semyorka USSR 1955Baikonur Site 31/6 USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 1350 km, final flight of R-7 Semyorka RVSN Suborbital Missile test 27 February Successful 1 February USSR 1955R-14 Chusovaya USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 675 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test February Successful 1 February USSR 1955R-14 Chusovaya USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 675 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test February Successful |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| March |- 1 1 March 15:42 USANike-Asp USAEglin USAUS Air Force Apogee: 200 km US Air Force Suborbital Solar 1 March Successful 1 1 March 18:19 USAUGM-27 Polaris A2 USAObservation Island T-AGM-23 6, ETR USAUS Navy Apogee: 1000 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 1 March Successful 1 2 March 05:07 USAMGM-31 Pershing I USACape Canaveral LC-30A USAUS Army Apogee: 250 km US Army Suborbital Missile test 2 March Successful 1 2 March USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Makat USSR 1955OKB-30 Apogee: 402 km OKB-30 Suborbital Target 2 March Successful 1 3 March 03:39 USANike-Cajun USAEglin USAUS Air Force Apogee: 100 km US Air Force Suborbital Ionospheric 3 March Launch failure 1 3 March 13:59:19 USSR 1955R-16 USSR 1955Baikonur Site 41 USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 1210 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test 3 March Successful 1 3 March 16:02 USARM-90 Blue Scout II USACape Canaveral LC-18B USAUS Air Force Apogee: 2540 km US Air Force Suborbital Plasma research 3 March Successful 1 3 March FRAAntares (OPd-56-39-22D) FRACERES FRAONERA Apogee: 150 km ONERA Suborbital REV Test 3 March Successful 1 3 March USAHGM-25A Titan I USACape Canaveral LC-20 USAUS Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 3 March Launch failure 1 4 March USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Makat USSR 1955OKB-30 Apogee: 460 km OKB-30 Suborbital Target 4 March Successful 1 6 March 09:56 UKSkylark-2C AUSWoomera LA-2 UKRAE Apogee: 231 km UCL/QUB Suborbital Aeronomy 6 March Successful 1 6 March FRAAntares (OPd-56-39-22D) FRACERES FRAONERA Apogee: 150 km ONERA Suborbital REV Test 6 March Successful 1 7 March FRAAntares (OPd-56-39-22D) FRACERES FRAONERA Apogee: 150 km ONERA Suborbital REV Test 7 March Successful 1 8 March 16:53 USAAerobee-300 USAEglin USAUS Air Force Apogee: 400 km US Air Force Suborbital Ionospheric 8 March Successful 1 8 March 17:53 USAAstrobee-1500 USAEglin USAUS Air Force Apogee: 431 km US Air Force Suborbital Ionospheric 8 March Successful 1 9 March USAUGM-27 Polaris A2 USAUSNS Observation Island, ETR USAUS Navy Apogee: 1000 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 9 March Successful 1 10 March USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 10 March Successful 1 11 March USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 11 March Successful 1 14 March 04:17 USASM-65E Atlas USACape Canaveral LC-13 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 500 km, propellant system malfunctioned US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 14 March Launch failure 1 14 March 21:52 USANike-Cajun USAEglin USAUS Air Force Apogee: 118 km US Air Force Suborbital Ionospheric 14 March Successful 1 15 March 17:47 USANike-Cajun USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 130 km NASA Suborbital Test flight 15 March Successful 1 15 March USAUGM-27 Polaris A2 USACape Canaveral LC-29A USAUS Navy Apogee: 1000 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 15 March Successful 1 16 March 01:19 USAMGM-31 Pershing I USACape Canaveral LC-30A USAUS Army Apogee: 250 km US Army Suborbital Missile test 16 March Successful 1 17 March USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 17 March Successful 1 23 March 16:25 USAUGM-27 Polaris A1 USATheodore Roosevelt SSBN-600 6, ETR USAUS Navy Apogee: 10 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 23 March Launch failure 1 23 March 19:25 USAUGM-27 Polaris A1 USAUSS Theodore Roosevelt, ETR USAUS Navy Apogee: 500 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 23 March Successful 1 23 March 22:41 USAUGM-27 Polaris A1 USAUSS Theodore Roosevelt, ETR USAUS Navy Apogee: 10 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 23 March Launch failure 1 24 March 17:30 USARedstone MRLV USACape Canaveral LC-5 USANASA Apogee: 181 km USAMercury-Redstone BD NASA Suborbital Test flight 24 March Successful 1 24 March 19:17 USANike-Cajun USAEglin USAUS Air Force Apogee: 100 km US Air Force Suborbital Ionospheric 24 March Successful 1 25 March 01:49 USASM-65E Atlas USACape Canaveral LC-13 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 1000 km, electrical system malfunctioned US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 25 March Launch failure 1 25 March USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 25 March Successful 1 26 March 16:54 USAAerobee-300A USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 386 km Michigan Suborbital Ionospheric 26 March Successful 1 26 March USSR 1955R-5 Pobeda USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955OKB-30 Apogee: 300 km OKB-30 Suborbital Target 26 March Successful 1 27 March 04:08 JPN 1870Kappa-8 JPN 1870Akita JPN 1870ISAS Apogee: 172 km ISAS/RRL Suborbital Ionospheric 27 March Successful 1 28 March USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 28 March Successful 1 28 March USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 28 March Successful 1 28 March USAHGM-25A Titan I USACape Canaveral LC-19 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 1000 km US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 28 March Successful 1 30 March 05:13:43 USAPGM-17 Thor DM-18A USAVandenberg LC-75-2-7 UKRoyal Air Force Apogee: 520 km Royal Air Force Suborbital Missile test 30 March Successful 1 31 March 19:42 USAHGM-25A Titan I USACape Canaveral LC-20 USAUS Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 31 March Launch failure 1 March USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS MVS Suborbital Missile test March Launch failure 1 1st Quarter USANike Zeus USAWhite Sands LC-38 USAUS Army Apogee: 150 km US Army Suborbital Missile test 1st Quarter Successful |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| April |- 1 1 April 03:25 JPN 1870Kappa-9L JPN 1870Akita JPN 1870ISAS Apogee: 350 km ISAS Suborbital Test flight 1 April Successful 1 2 April 14:06 USSR 1955R-16 USSR 1955Baikonur Site 41 USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 1210 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test 2 April Successful 1 3 April USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 3 April Successful 1 4 April USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 4 April Successful 1 5 April 10:56 UKSkylark-2 AUSWoomera LA-2 UKRAE Apogee: 158 km UCL Suborbital Aeronomy 5 April Successful 1 5 April 12:57 USANike-Cajun USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 116 km NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 5 April Successful 1 6 April USAUGM-27 Polaris A1 USAUSS Theodore Roosevelt, ETR USAUS Navy Apogee: 500 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 6 April Successful 1 7 April USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 7 April Successful 1 9 April 09:16 USSR 1955R-9 Desna USSR 1955Baikonur Site 51 USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 1160 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test 9 April Successful 1 10 April USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 10 April Successful 1 11 April 15:40 USAUGM-27 Polaris A2 USACape Canaveral LC-29A USAUS Navy Apogee: 50 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 11 April Launch failure 1 11 April 15:40 USAUGM-27 Polaris A2 USACape Canaveral LC-29A USAUS Navy Apogee: 50 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 11 April Launch failure 1 12 April 06:07 USARM-90 Blue Scout II USACape Canaveral LC-18B USAUS Air Force Apogee: 1931 km US Air Force Suborbital Plasma research 12 April Successful 1 14 April 17:15 USAAerobee-150A USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 206 km NASA Suborbital Test flight 14 April Successful 1 14 April USSR 1955R-7A Semyorka USSR 1955Baikonur Site 31/6 USSR 1955RVSN RVSN Suborbital Missile test 14 April Launch failure 1 15 April 13:58:29 USSR 1955R-16 USSR 1955Baikonur Site 41 USSR 1955RVSN RVSN Suborbital Missile test 15 April Launch failure 1 18 April 04:40 USAAerobee-150 (Hi) USAWhite Sands LC-35 USANRL Apogee: 242 km NRL Suborbital UV Astronomy 18 April Successful 1 18 April 12:27 JPN 1870Kappa-8 JPN 1870Akita JPN 1870ISAS Apogee: 150 km TAO/TOK Suborbital Ionospheric 18 April Successful 1 19 April 09:36 USANike-Asp USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 164 km GCA Suborbital Aeronomy 19 April Successful 1 19 April 18:37 USANike-Asp ITASalto di Quirra ITACRA Apogee: 200 km ROSAP Suborbital Aeronomy 19 April Successful 1 19 April USAUGM-27 Polaris A1 USAUSS Robert E. Lee, ETR USAUS Navy Apogee: 500 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 19 April Successful 1 19 April USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 19 April Successful 1 20 April 03:46 USANike-Asp ITASalto di Quirra ITACRA Apogee: 190 km ROSAP Suborbital Aeronomy 20 April Successful 1 20 April 18:39 USANike-Asp ITASalto di Quirra ITACRA Apogee: 188 km ROSAP Suborbital Aeronomy 20 April Successful 1 20 April 18:43 USANike-Asp ITASalto di Quirra ITACRA Apogee: 190 km ROSAP Suborbital Aeronomy 20 April Successful 1 21 April 00:12 USANike-Asp USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 180 km GCA Suborbital Aeronomy 21 April Launch failure 1 21 April 02:26:14 USSR 1955R-9 Desna USSR 1955Baikonur Site 51 USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 1160 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test 21 April Successful 1 21 April 05:56:20 USATrailblazer 1 USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 280 km US Air Force Suborbital REV Test 21 April Successful 1 21 April 09:34 USANike-Asp USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 200 km GCA Suborbital Aeronomy 21 April Launch failure 1 21 April 09:39 USANike-Asp USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 165 km GCA Suborbital Aeronomy 21 April Successful 1 21 April 12:00 USAAerobee-150A USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 154 km NASA Suborbital Technology 21 April Successful 1 21 April 15:53 USAMGM-31 Pershing I USACape Canaveral LC-30A USAUS Army Apogee: 250 km US Army Suborbital Missile test 21 April Successful 1 21 April USSR 1955R-16 USSR 1955Baikonur Site 41 USSR 1955RVSN RVSN Suborbital Missile test 21 April Launch failure 1 22 April USAPGM-19 Jupiter USACape Canaveral LC-26A USAUS Army Apogee: 500 km US Army Suborbital Missile test 22 April Successful 1 25 April 02:26 USSR 1955R-9 Desna USSR 1955Baikonur Site 51 USSR 1955RVSN RVSN Suborbital Missile test 25 April Launch failure 1 27 April 20:02 USAJavelin USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 724 km NASA Suborbital Ionospheric 27 April Successful 1 27 April 22:32 USANike-Cajun USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 18 km NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 27 April Launch failure 1 27 April USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 27 April Successful 1 28 April USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 28 April Successful |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| May |- 1 1 May 12:10 UKSkylark-2 AUSWoomera LA-2 UKRAE Apogee: 155 km UCL Suborbital UV Astronomy 1 May Successful 1 1 May USAUGM-27 Polaris A2 USACape Canaveral LC-29A USAUS Navy Apogee: 1000 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 1 May Successful 1 3 May 17:00 USAUGM-27 Polaris A1 USAAbraham Lincoln SSBN-602 6, ETR USAUS Navy Apogee: 500 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 3 May Successful 1 5 May 14:34 USARedstone MRLV USACape Canaveral LC-5 USANASA Carried Alan Shepard, first American in space, apogee 187 km USAMercury-Redstone 3 NASA Suborbital Crewed flight 14:49 Successful 1 5 May 23:00 USANike-Cajun USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 117 km NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 5 May Successful 1 6 May 04:54 USANike-Cajun USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 117 km NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 6 May Successful 1 8 May 17:10 USAUGM-27 Polaris A2 USACape Canaveral LC-29A USAUS Navy Apogee: 1000 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 8 May Successful 1 9 May 11:53 USANike-Cajun USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 117 km NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 9 May Successful 1 9 May 12:07 UKBlack Knight 201 AUSWoomera LA-5B UKRAE Apogee: 415 km RAE Suborbital REV Test 9 May Launch failure 1 9 May 16:00:22 USARM-89 Blue Scout I USACape Canaveral LC-18B USAUS Air Force Apogee: 10 km US Air Force Suborbital Plasma research 9 May Launch failure 1 10 May USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 10 May Successful 1 13 May 02:00 USASM-65E Atlas USACape Canaveral LC-11 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 1500 km US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 13 May Successful 1 13 May FRAAntares (OPd-56-39-22D) FRAHammaguira FRAONERA Apogee: 280 km ONERA Suborbital Ionospheric 13 May Successful 1 16 May 15:45 USAAerobee-150 (Hi) USAWhite Sands LC-35 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 294 km US Air Force Suborbital Solar 16 May Successful 1 16 May 17:00 USAAerobee-150 (Hi) USAWhite Sands LC-35 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 312 km US Air Force Suborbital Solar 16 May Successful 1 16 May 19:23:27 USSR 1955R-16 USSR 1955Baikonur Site 41 USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 1210 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test 16 May Successful 1 17 May USAUGM-27 Polaris A1 USAUSS Abraham Lincoln, ETR USAUS Navy Apogee: 500 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 17 May Successful 1 17 May USAUGM-27 Polaris A1 USAUSS Abraham Lincoln, ETR USAUS Navy Apogee: 500 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 17 May Successful 1 17 May USAUGM-27 Polaris A1 USAUSS Abraham Lincoln, ETR USAUS Navy Apogee: 500 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 17 May Successful 1 17 May USAUGM-27 Polaris A1 USAUSS Abraham Lincoln, ETR USAUS Navy Apogee: 500 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 17 May Successful 1 17 May USAUGM-27 Polaris A1 USAUSS Abraham Lincoln, ETR USAUS Navy Apogee: 500 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 17 May Successful 1 18 May 06:10 USATrailblazer 1 USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 260 km NASA Suborbital REV Test 18 May Successful 1 19 May 02:00 USAMGM-31 Pershing I USACape Canaveral LC-30 USAUS Army Apogee: 250 km US Army Suborbital Missile test 19 May Successful 1 19 May 14:18 USALGM-30A Minuteman IA USACape Canaveral LC-31A USAUS Air Force Apogee: 100 km US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 19 May Launch failure 1 23 May USAHGM-25A Titan I USACape Canaveral LC-20 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 1000 km US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 23 May Successful 1 24 May 03:18:06 USSR 1955R-16 USSR 1955Baikonur Site 41/4 USSR 1955RVSN RVSN Suborbital Missile test 24 May Launch failure 1 24 May 21:50:38 USASM-65D Atlas USAVandenberg LC-576B-2 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 1800 km US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 24 May Successful 1 25 May 17:03 USANike-Apache USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 116 km NASA Suborbital Test flight 25 May Successful 1 25 May USAAerobee-150 (Hi) USAWhite Sands LC-35 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 200 km US Air Force Suborbital Solar 25 May Successful 1 25 May USANike Zeus USAWhite Sands LC-38 USAUS Army Apogee: 150 km US Army Suborbital Missile test 25 May Successful 1 25 May USAUGM-27 Polaris A2 USAUSNS Observation Island, ETR USAUS Navy US Navy Suborbital Missile test 25 May Launch failure 1 26 May 02:26 USASM-65E Atlas USACape Canaveral LC-13 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 1500 km US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 26 May Successful 1 27 May FRACentaure FRAHammaguira Bacchus FRACNES Apogee: 130 km CNET Suborbital Test flight 27 May Successful 1 29 May 01:44:23 USSR 1955R-9 Desna USSR 1955Baikonur Site 51 USSR 1955RVSN RVSN Suborbital Missile test 29 May Launch failure 1 29 May USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 29 May Successful 1 29 May FRACentaure FRAHammaguira Bacchus FRACNES Apogee: 130 km CNET Suborbital Test flight 29 May Successful 1 30 May 05:15 UKSkylark-2 AUSWoomera LA-2 UKRAE Apogee: 149 km RAE/WRE Suborbital Test flight 30 May Successful 1 May USAKiva-Hopi USAWallops Island USAUS Air Force Apogee: 273 km US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy May Successful |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| June |- 1 2 June 05:12:14 USSR 1955R-9 Desna USSR 1955Baikonur Site 51 USSR 1955RVSN RVSN Suborbital Missile test 2 June Launch failure 1 2 June 17:24:30 USSR 1955R-16 USSR 1955Baikonur Site 41/4 USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 1210 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test 2 June Successful 1 4 June USSR 1955R-14 Chusovaya USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 675 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test 4 June Successful 1 6 June 12:31 USAAerobee-150 (Hi) USAWhite Sands LC-35 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 165 km US Air Force Suborbital Meteorite research 6 June Successful 1 6 June 18:00 USSR 1955R-16 USSR 1955Baikonur Site 41/4 USSR 1955RVSN RVSN Suborbital Missile test 6 June Launch failure 1 6 June 21:48 USANike-Cajun USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 150 km Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 6 June Successful 1 7 June 00:40 UKSkylark-2 AUSWoomera LA-2 UKRAE Apogee: 184 km RAE/WRE Suborbital Test flight 7 June Successful 1 7 June 11:20 UKBlack Knight 201 AUSWoomera LA-5 UKRAE Apogee: 583 km UCL Suborbital REV testIonospheric 7 June Launch failure 1 7 June 21:37:31 USASM-65E Atlas USAVandenberg OSTF-1 USAUS Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 7 June Launch failure 1 9 June 05:11 USAMGM-31 Pershing I USACape Canaveral LC-30 USAUS Army Apogee: 250 km US Army Suborbital Missile test 9 June Successful 1 9 June 18:02 USANike-Cajun USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 142 km Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 9 June Successful 1 9 June USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 9 June Successful 1 9 June USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Makat USSR 1955OKB-30 Apogee: 402 km OKB-30 Suborbital Target 9 June Successful 1 10 June FRAVéronique ALGHammaguira Blandine FRACRS Apogee: 100 km CNRS Suborbital Aeronomy 10 June Successful 1 12 June 15:53 USAUGM-27 Polaris A2 USACape Canaveral LC-25A USAUS Navy Apogee: 1000 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 12 June Successful 1 13 June 05:12 USAJavelin USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 867 km NASA Suborbital Ionospheric 13 June Successful 1 15 June 00:02:59 USAJavelin USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 901 km DRTE/CRC Suborbital Ionospheric 15 June Successful 1 15 June 05:45 USSR 1955R-7A Semyorka USSR 1955Baikonur Site 31/6 USSR 1955RVSN Apogee: 1350 km RVSN Suborbital Missile test 15 June Successful 1 15 June USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 15 June Successful 1 16 June 07:47:23 USSR 1955R-16 USSR 1955Baikonur Site 41/4 USSR 1955RVSN RVSN Suborbital Missile test 16 June Launch failure 1 17 June 07:29 USAAerobee-150 (Hi) USAWhite Sands LC-35 USANRL Apogee: 197 km NRL Suborbital Aeronomy 17 June Successful 1 18 June 04:35 JPN 1870Kappa-4 JPN 1870Obachi JPN 1870ISAS Apogee: 105 km TOK Suborbital Cosmic ray research 18 June Successful 1 20 June 23:54 USAPGM-17 Thor DM-18A USAVandenberg LC-75-2-7 UKRoyal Air Force Apogee: 520 km Royal Air Force Suborbital Missile test 20 June Successful 1 21 June 14:45 USAAerobee-150 (Hi) USAWhite Sands LC-35 USANRL Apogee: 271 km NRL Suborbital Solar 21 June Successful 1 23 June 03:00 USASM-65E Atlas USACape Canaveral LC-11 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 10 km, went out of control US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 23 June Launch failure 1 23 June 15:00 USANike-Cajun USAEglin USAUS Air Force Apogee: 157 km US Air Force Suborbital Meteorite research 23 June Successful 1 23 June 23:40 USANike-Zeus USAWhite Sands LC-38 USAUS Army Apogee: 150 km US Army Suborbital Missile test 23 June Successful 1 24 June 03:28 USAHGM-25A Titan I USACape Canaveral LC-19 USAUS Air Force Apogee: 10 km US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 24 June Launch failure 1 24 June 23:17 USAJavelin USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 1018 km CRPL Suborbital Ionospheric 24 June Successful 1 24 June USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Makat USSR 1955OKB-30 Apogee: 402 km OKB-30 Suborbital Target 24 June Successful 1 26 June 15:15 USAAerobee-150A USAWallops Island USANASA Apogee: 187 km NASA Suborbital Test flight 26 June Successful 1 26 June USAUGM-27 Polaris A2 USAUSNS Observation Island, ETR USAUS Navy Apogee: 500 km US Navy Suborbital Missile test 26 June Launch failure 1 29 June USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS Apogee: 402 km MVS Suborbital Missile test 29 June Successful 1 30 June 17:20 USAAstrobee-200 USAEglin USAUS Air Force Apogee: 29 km US Air Force Suborbital Test flight 30 June Launch failure 1 30 June USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Makat USSR 1955OKB-30 Apogee: 402 km OKB-30 Suborbital Target 30 June Successful |} 1961 yes References External links 1961 on Spaceflight Category:1961 in spaceflight Category:Spaceflight by year Spaceflight