1958 in spaceflight (January–June)

None December 2020 December 2020 This article lists orbital and suborbital launches during the first half of the year 1958. For all other spaceflight activities, see 1958 in spaceflight. For launches in the second half of 1958 see List of spaceflight launches in July–December 1958.Orbital Launches of 1958 https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_chr/lau1958.htm 2025-08-31 space.skyrocket.de __TOC__ Orbital launches 1958 yes |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| February |- 1 1 February 03:48:56Juno I Explorer 1 https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/NextSpaceflight.com/launches/details/844 2025-08-31 nextspaceflight.com en icon USA Juno I RS-29 (UE) icon USA Cape Canaveral LC-26A icon USA ABMA First successful American satellite launch, discovered Van Allen belts. icon USA Explorer 1Explorer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/explorer-1.htm 2025-08-31 Gunter's Space Page en ARPA Initial: Medium EarthDecayed to: Low Earth Magnetospheric 31 March 1970 Successful 1 5 February 07:33Vanguard Vanguard TV3BU https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/NextSpaceflight.com/launches/details/846 2025-08-31 nextspaceflight.com en icon USA Vanguard TV-3BU icon USA Cape Canaveral LC-18A icon USA US Navy Loss of control 57 seconds after launch. icon USA Vanguard (Test Satellite G)Vanguard (6.5in) https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/vanguard-6in.htm 2025-08-31 Gunter's Space Page en NRL Intended: Medium Earth Geodesy 5 February Launch failure |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| 1958 yes March |- 1 5 March 18:27:57Juno I Explorer 2 https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/NextSpaceflight.com/launches/details/854 2025-08-31 nextspaceflight.com en icon USA Juno I RS/CC-26 (UV) icon USA Cape Canaveral LC-26A icon USA ABMA Fourth stage failed to ignite. icon USA Explorer 2Explorer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/explorer-1.htm 2025-08-31 Gunter's Space Page en ARPA Intended: Medium Earth Magnetospheric 5 March Launch failure 1 17 March 12:15:41Vanguard Vanguard 1 https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/NextSpaceflight.com/launches/details/847 2025-08-31 nextspaceflight.com en icon USA Vanguard TV-4 icon USA Cape Canaveral LC-18A icon USA US Navy First successful Vanguard launch. Oldest spacecraft still in orbit, in addition to its upper launch stage. icon USA Vanguard 1 (Test Satellite H)Vanguard (6.5in) https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/vanguard-6in.htm 2025-08-31 Gunter's Space Page en NRL Medium Earth Geodesy Successful 1 26 March 17:38:03Juno I Explorer 3 https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/NextSpaceflight.com/launches/details/855 2025-08-31 nextspaceflight.com en icon USA Juno I RS-24 (UT) icon USA Cape Canaveral LC-5 icon USA ABMA icon USA Explorer 3Explorer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/explorer-1.htm 2025-08-31 Gunter's Space Page en ARPA Initial: Medium EarthDecayed to: Low Earth Magnetospheric 27 June Successful |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| 1958 yes April |- 1 27 April 09:01Sputnik 8A91 D-1 n°01 https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/NextSpaceflight.com/launches/details/594 2025-08-31 nextspaceflight.com en icon USSR Sputnik B1-2 icon USSR Baikonur Site 1/5 icon USSR MVS First flight of upgraded Sputnik-PS, Sputnik rocket. At T+90 seconds, abnormal vibrations originating from the strap-ons boosters were detected, followed by breakup of the vehicle 7 seconds later. First Soviet Launch failure. icon USSR D-1 №1Sputnik 3 (D-1 #1, 2) https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sputnik_d1.htm 2025-08-31 Gunter's Space Page en MVS Intended: Low Earth Magnetospheric +88 seconds Launch failure 1 28 April 02:53:00Vanguard Vanguard TV5 https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/NextSpaceflight.com/launches/details/848 2025-08-31 nextspaceflight.com en icon USA Vanguard TV-5 icon USA Cape Canaveral LC-18A icon USA US Navy Third stage failed to ignite. icon USA Vanguard (X-ray/Environmental Satellite)Vanguard (20in X-Ray) https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/vanguard-20in_xr.htm 2025-08-31 Gunter's Space Page en NRL Intended: Medium Earth Solar 29 April Launch failure |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| 1958 yes May |- 1 15 May 07:00Sputnik 8A91 Sputnik 3 https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/NextSpaceflight.com/launches/details/597 2025-08-31 nextspaceflight.com en icon USSR Sputnik B1-1 icon USSR Baikonur Site 1/5 icon USSR MVS Last launch of Sputnik rocket. Faulty data recorder limited return of experimental results. icon USSR Sputnik 3 (D-1 №2)Sputnik 3 (D-1 #1, 2) https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sputnik_d1.htm 2025-08-31 Gunter's Space Page en OKB-1 Low Earth Magnetospheric 6 April 1960 Partial spacecraft failure 1 28 May 03:46:20Vanguard Vanguard SLV-1 https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/NextSpaceflight.com/launches/details/850 2025-08-31 nextspaceflight.com en icon USA Vanguard SLV-1 icon USA Cape Canaveral LC-18A icon USA US Navy 2nd stage attitude control failure prevented the 3rd stage from entering the correct angle for orbital insertion. icon USA Vanguard (Lyman-Alpha Satellite 1)Vanguard (20in Lyman-Alpha) https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/vanguard-20in_la.htm 2025-08-31 Gunter's Space Page en NRL Intended: Medium Earth Solar 28 May Launch failure |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| 1958 yes June |- 1 26 June 05:00:52Vanguard Vanguard SLV-2 https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/NextSpaceflight.com/launches/details/852 2025-08-31 nextspaceflight.com en icon USA Vanguard SLV-2 icon USA Cape Canaveral LC-18A icon USA US Navy 2nd stage lost thrust after only 8 seconds of burning due to fuel line obstruction. icon USA Vanguard (Lyman-Alpha Satellite 2)Vanguard (20in Lyman-Alpha) https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/vanguard-20in_la.htm 2025-08-31 Gunter's Space Page en NRL Intended: Medium Earth Solar 26 June Launch failure |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| 1958 yes |- |colspan=8 style="background:white;"| For flights after 30 June, see 1958 in spaceflight (July–December) |} Suborbital flights collapsed 8 January USA 1912Nike-Asp USA 1912White Sands USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital 8 January Successful Apogee: 145 km 10 January 15:48 USA 1912SM-65A Atlas USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-12 USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 10 January Successful Apogee: 120 km 11 January USA 1912UGM-27 Polaris TV USA 1912Point Mugu USA 1912US Navy US Navy Suborbital Missile test 11 January Successful Maiden flight of Polaris, apogee: 500 km 17 January USA 1912UGM-27 Polaris TV USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-3 USA 1912US Navy US Navy Suborbital Missile test 17 January Successful Apogee: 500 km 25 January 19:12 USA 1912Nike-Cajun CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 25 January Successful Apogee: 157 km 26 January 04:18:56 USA 1912Aerobee-150 (Hi) CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Navy NRL Suborbital Auroral 26 January Successful Apogee: 180 km 27 January 06:04 USA 1912Nike-Cajun CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 27 January Successful Apogee: 129 km 27 January 18:49 USA 1912Aerobee CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Army US Army Suborbital Aeronomy 27 January Successful Apogee: 143 km 28 January 20:16 USA 1912PGM-17 Thor DM-18 USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-17A USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 28 January Launch failure 29 January 19:06 USA 1912Nike-Cajun CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 29 January Successful Apogee: 170 km 29 January 22:15 USSR 1955R-7 Semyorka USSR 1955Baikonur Site 1/5 USSR 1955MVS MVS Suborbital Missile test 29 January Successful Apogee: 1350 km 3 February 18:02 USA 1912Aerobee-150 (Hi) CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Navy NRL Suborbital Ionospheric 3 February Successful Apogee: 138 km 4 February 06:17 USA 1912Aerobee-150 (Hi) CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Navy NRL Suborbital Ionospheric 4 February Successful Apogee: 234 km 7 February 19:37 USA 1912SM-65A Atlas USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-14 USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 7 February Launch failure Apogee: 120 km 13 February 06:37 USA 1912Nike-Cajun CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Auroral 13 February Successful Apogee: 129 km 16 February 06:17 USA 1912Nike-Cajun CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Auroral 16 February Successful Apogee: 121 km 20 February 17:46 USA 1912SM-65A Atlas USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-12 USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 20 February Launch failure Apogee: 90 km 21 February 07:40 USSR 1955R-5A Pobeda USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955AN AN Suborbital 21 February Successful Apogee: 470 km 21 February 08:42 USSR 1955R-5A Pobeda USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955AN AN Suborbital 21 February Successful Apogee: 400 km 21 February 09:40 GDRUSSR 1955A-1 USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS MVS Suborbital IonosphericSolar 21 February Successful Apogee: 206 km 21 February 15:20 USSR 1955R-5A Pobeda USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955AN AN Suborbital 21 February Successful Apogee: 473 km 22 February 02:02 USA 1912Aerobee-150 (Hi) CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Navy NRL Suborbital IonosphericAuroral 22 February Successful Apogee: 225 km 22 February 05:35 USA 1912Nike-Cajun CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Auroral 22 January Successful Apogee: 129 km 24 February 07:00 USA 1912Aerobee-150 (Hi) CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Navy NRL Suborbital Aeronomy 24 February Successful Apogee: 207 km 24 February 07:35 USA 1912Nike-Cajun CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 24 February Successful Apogee: 145 km 26 February 02:35 GDRUSSR 1955A-1 USSR 1955Ernst Krenkel Observatory USSR 1955MVS MVS Suborbital IonosphericAeronomy 26 February Successful Apogee: 100 km 26 February 05:49 USA 1912Nike-Cajun CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Auroral 26 February Successful Apogee: 129 km 26 February 22:18 USA 1912Nike-Cajun CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Army BRL Suborbital Technology 26 February Launch failure Apogee: 37 km, tested longer nosecone 28 February 13:08 USA 1912PGM-17 Thor DM-18 USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-17B USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 28 February Launch failure 4 March 06:02 USA 1912Nike-Cajun CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 4 March Successful Apogee: 100 km 4 March 19:30 USA 1912Nike-Cajun CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 4 March Successful Apogee: 181 km 16 March 04:54 USA 1912Aerobee-150 (Hi) CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Navy NRL Suborbital Auroral 16 March Successful Apogee: 144 km 18 March USA 1912Nike Apache USA 1912White Sands USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital 18 March Successful Apogee: 107 km 19 March 01:12 USA 1912Aerobee CAN 1957Holloman LC-A USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 19 March Successful Apogee: 100 km 21 March USA 1912Aerobee CAN 1957Holloman LC-A USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Ionospheric 21 March Successful Apogee: 100 km 22 March 06:41 USA 1912Aerobee-150 (Hi) CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Navy NRL Suborbital Auroral 22 March Successful Apogee: 168 km 23 March 18:07 USA 1912Aerobee-150 (Hi) CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Navy NRL Suborbital AuroralAeronomy 23 March Successful Apogee: 202 km 23 March USA 1912UGM-27 Polaris TV USA 1912San Clemente USA 1912US Navy US Navy Suborbital Missile test 23 March Successful Apogee: 500 km 24 March 18:30 USA 1912Nike-Cajun CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital AeronomyImaging 24 March Successful Apogee: 119 km 24 March 22:00 USA 1912Nike-Cajun CAN 1957Churchill USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 24 March Successful Apogee: 137 km 29 March 14:40 USSR 1955R-7 Semyorka USSR 1955Baikonur Site 1/5 USSR 1955MVS MVS Suborbital Missile test 29 March Successful Apogee: 1350 km 31 March USSR 1955R-11FM Zemlya USSR 1955B-67, Beloye More USSR 1955OKB-1 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 31 March Successful Apogee: 200 km 4 April 15:30 USSR 1955R-7 Semyorka USSR 1955Baikonur Site 1/5 USSR 1955MVS MVS Suborbital Missile test 4 April Successful Apogee: 1350 km 5 April 17:01 USA 1912SM-65A Atlas USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-14 USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 5 April Launch failure Apogee: 100 km 7 April USA 1912Nike-Cajun USA 1912Wallops Island USA 1912ARPA USA 1912Hi Ball 1 ARPA Suborbital Technology 7 April Successful Apogee: 244 km 11 April USA 1912UGM-27 Polaris TV USA 1912San Clemente USA 1912US Navy US Navy Suborbital Missile test 11 April Successful Apogee: 500 km 17 April 10:57 UKSkylark-1 AUSWoomera LA-2 UKRAE RAE Suborbital Test flightAeronomy 17 April Successful Apogee: 152 km 18 April USA 1912UGM-27 Polaris TV USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-25A USA 1912US Navy US Navy Suborbital Missile test 18 April Successful Apogee: 500 km 19 April 13:30 USA 1912PGM-17 Thor DM-18 USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-17B USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 19 April Launch failure 24 April 00:10 USA 1912Thor DM-18 Able USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-17A USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital REV test +150 seconds Launch failure Maiden flight of Thor-Able, turbopump gearbox failed. REV carried Mia, a mouse 24 April USA 1912Nike-Cajun USA 1912Wallops Island USA 1912ARPA USA 1912Beacon Test 1 ARPA Suborbital Technology 24 April Successful Apogee: 122 km 1 May USA 1912Nike-Cajun USA 1912Holloman USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Meteorite research 1 May Successful Apogee: 100 km 5 May 14:15 USA 1912Aerobee USA 1912White Sands LC-35 USA 1912US Navy NRL Suborbital Solar 5 May Successful Apogee: 214 km 8 May USA 1912UGM-27 Polaris TV USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-25A USA 1912US Navy US Navy Suborbital Missile test 8 May Successful Apogee: 500 km 18 May 05:05 USA 1912PGM-19 Jupiter USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-26B USA 1912ABMA US Air Force Suborbital REV test 05:21 Successful Apogee: 500 km, carried a Gaslight re-entry vehicle which was recovered 20 May 04:26 UKSkylark-2 AUSWoomera LA-2 UKRAE RAE Suborbital Test flightAeronomy 20 May Successful Apogee: 150 km 20 May 09:34:35 USA 1912Nike-Cajun USA 1912Holloman USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 20 May Successful Apogee: 101 km, released caesium and sodium 21 May 11:31:59 USA 1912Nike-Cajun USA 1912Holloman USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 21 May Successful Apogee: 128 km, released caesium and sodium 22 May 00:57 USA 1912Nike-Cajun USA 1912Wallops Island USA 1912ARPA USA 1912Hi Ball 2 ARPA Suborbital Technology 22 May Successful Apogee: 240 km 22 May 11:29:59 USA 1912Nike-Cajun USA 1912Holloman USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Aeronomy 22 May Successful Apogee: 116 km, released sodium 24 May 10:30 USSR 1955R-7 Semyorka USSR 1955Baikonur Site 1/5 USSR 1955MVS MVS Suborbital Missile test 24 May Launch failure Apogee: 1350 km 25 May USA 1912Nike-Cajun USA 1912Wallops Island USA 1912ARPA USA 1912Beacon Test 2 ARPA Suborbital Technology 25 May Successful Apogee: 122 km 25 May USSR 1955R-11FM Zemlya USSR 1955B-67, Beloye More USSR 1955OKB-1 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 25 May Successful Apogee: 200 km 26 May USSR 1955R-11FM Zemlya USSR 1955B-67, Beloye More USSR 1955OKB-1 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 26 May Successful Apogee: 200 km May USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS MVS Suborbital Missile test   Successful Apogee: 402 km 3 June 21:28 USA 1912SM-65A Atlas USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-12 USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 3 June Successful Apogee: 120 km, final flight of Atlas A 4 June 15:15 USA 1912Aerobee-150 (Hi) USA 1912Holloman LC-A USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Solar 4 June Successful Apogee: 200 km 4 June 21:17 USA 1912PGM-17 Thor DM-18 USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-18B USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 4 June Successful Apogee: 520 km 5 June 11:30 UKSkylark-1 AUSWoomera LA-2 UKRAE RAE Suborbital Test flight 5 June Successful Apogee: 153 km 6 June USA 1912X-17 USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-25A USA 1912US Navy US Navy Suborbital REV test 6 June Successful Apogee: 100 km 13 June 15:06 USA 1912PGM-17 Thor DM-18 USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-17B USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 13 June Successful Apogee: 520 km 18 June 10:35 UKSkylark-1 AUSWoomera LA-2 UKRAE RAE Suborbital Aeronomy 18 June Launch failure Apogee: 3 km 18 June 15:15 UKSkylark-2 AUSWoomera LA-2 UKRAE RAE Suborbital Aeronomy 18 June Successful Apogee: 144 km 19 June 21:15 UKSkylark-2 AUSWoomera LA-2 UKRAE RAE Suborbital Test flightAeronomy 19 June Successful Apogee: 154 km 24 June USA 1912X-17 USA 1912Cape Canaveral LC-25A USA 1912US Navy US Navy Suborbital REV test 24 June Successful Apogee: 100 km 26 June USA 1912Exos USA 1912Wallops Island USA 1912NACA/AFCRL NACA/AFCRL Suborbital Test flight 26 June Successful Apogee: 370 km, maiden flight of Exos 27 June USA 1912WS-199B Bold Orion I USA 1912B-47, Cape Canaveral USA 1912US Air Force US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 27 June Launch failure Apogee: 10 km June USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS MVS Suborbital Missile test   Successful Apogee: 402 km June USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS MVS Suborbital Missile test   Successful Apogee: 402 km June USSR 1955R-12 Dvina USSR 1955Kapustin Yar USSR 1955MVS MVS Suborbital Missile test   Successful Apogee: 402 km |} References External links 1958 on Spaceflight Category:1958 in spaceflight Category:Spaceflight by year Spaceflight