1952 in spaceflight

none August 2021 January 2014 1952 Viking 9.jpg Launch of Viking 9, 15 December 1952 Launch of Viking 9, 15 December 1952 USA 1912 Aerobee RTV-A-1cUSA 1912 Viking (second model)USA 1912 Deacon rockoon Nazi Germany Nazi V-2USA 1912 Aerobee RTV-A-1USA 1912 Aerobee RTV-A-1c Timeline of spaceflight 1951 1953 In 1952, several branches of the United States' military, often in partnership with civilian organizations, continued their programs of sounding rocket research beyond the 100 km boundary of space (as defined by the World Air Sports Federation)Outer space may have just gotten a bit closer Paul Voosen 24 July 2018 1 April 2019 https://www.science.org/content/article/outer-space-may-have-just-gotten-bit-closer Science 10.1126/science.aau8822 21 September 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210921004024/https://www.science.org/content/article/outer-space-may-have-just-gotten-bit-closer live subscription using the Aerobee rocket. The University of Iowa launched its first series of rockoon flights, demonstrating the validity of the balloon-launched rocket, a comparatively inexpensive way to explore the upper atmosphere. The launch of Viking 9 at the end of the year to an altitude of 135 mi, by the Naval Research Laboratory team under the management of Milton Rosen, represented the pinnacle of contemporary operational rocket design. The same year, groundwork was laid for the launch of the first artificial satellite when, in October, the General Assembly of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) scheduled the International Geophysical Year for 1957–58. This scientific endeavor would involve 67 nations in a global investigation of physical phenomena, on the ground and in space. No new models of ballistic missile were added to the arsenals of either the United States or the Soviet Union in 1952. However, work continued on large rocket development, particularly the US Army's Redstone and the Soviet R-5 missile. Both the R-1 and R-2 missiles had operational test runs during the year. 2 Space exploration highlights US Navy In the late spring of 1952, the Naval Research Laboratory team, under the management of Milton Rosen, prepared to launch the first second-generation Viking rocket, Viking 8, from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The new Viking design was nearly one-and-a-half times as wide as its precursor, with the highest fuel-to-weight ratio of any rocket yet developed. The tail fins no longer supported the weight of the rocket, which had been the case with the first-generation design. Now, the Viking rocket rested on the base of its fuselage. This allowed the tail fins to be made much lighter, allowing the rocket to carry a heavier tank without weighing more than the first Viking design.Milton W. Rosen The Viking Rocket Story Harper & Brothers New York 1955 317524549 172–173 On 6 June 1952, Viking 8 broke loose of its moorings during a static firing test. After it was allowed to fly for 55 seconds in the hope that it would clear the immediate area and thus pose no danger to ground crew, Nat Wagner, head of the "Cutoff group", delivered a command to the rocket to cease its thrust. 65 seconds later, the rocket crashed 4 to 5 mi km 1 downrange to the southeast.180–181 With lessons learned from the Viking 8 failure, the successful 9 December static firing of Viking 9 was followed on 15 December by a successful launch from White Sands. The rocket reached an altitude of 135 miles, roughly the same as that of the first-generation Viking 7 in 1950. In addition to cameras that photographed the Earth during flight, Viking 9 carried a full suite of cosmic ray, ultraviolet, and X-ray detectors, including sixteen plates of emulsion gel for tracking the path of individual high energy particles. The experiment package was recovered intact after it had secured measurements high above the Earth's atmosphere.185–203 US Army The final flight of the V-2 rocket occurred on 19 September 1952 with an unsuccessful aeronomy mission conducted jointly by the Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories and University of Michigan from White Sands Launch Complex 33. The rocket reached an apogee of 7.1 km before its tail exploded 27 seconds into the flight.Charles P. Smith Jr. April 1958 Naval Research Laboratory Report No. 4276: Upper Atmosphere Research Report No. XXI, Summary of Upper Atmosphere Rocket Research Firings https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADB957191 pdf Washington D.C. Naval Research Laboratory 10 November 2022 4 November 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221104034039/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADB957191 live 469–470 American civilian efforts 1952 saw the first rockoon flights. These balloon-mounted rockets were significantly cheaper than sounding rocket flights: $1800 per launch versus $25,000 for each Aerobee launch and $450,000 for each Viking launch. A series of seven ship-launched tests conducted by a University of Iowa team under James Van Allen achieved considerable success, with one flight grazing the edge of space with an apogee of 55 miles.Opening Space Research George Ludwig geopress Washington D.C. 2011 84525625610–18 Spacecraft development US Air Force Progress remained slow throughout 1952 on the Atlas, the nation's first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the contract for which had been awarded to Consolidated Vultee in January 1951 by the US Air Force's Air Research and Development Command. Conservative development policies and daunting technical problems were the official causes, but the Air Force's apparent lack of enthusiasm for the project, along with a limited budget and resources, were factors as well. It was not until the first successful H-bomb test at Elugelab in November 1952 that development of the Atlas, potentially capable of delivering such a weapon, garnered more support.Atlas The Story of a Missile John L. Chapman Harper & Brothers New York 1960 49259121859–71 US Army On 8 April 1952, Redstone Arsenal in Alabama officially gave the name of "Redstone" to the surface-to-surface missile, capable of delivering nuclear or conventional warheads to a range of 200 miles, which they had started developing on 10 July 1951. The office of the Chief of Ordnance of the Army (OCO) tasked Chrysler Corporation to proceed with active work as the prime contractor on the missile by a letter order contract in October 1952; this contract definitized on 19 June 1953.https://history.redstone.army.mil/miss-redstone.html Installation History 1950 – 1952 US Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command 2017 1 February 2021 16 October 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211016102246/https://history.redstone.army.mil/miss-redstone.html live Soviet military In 1952, the Soviet Union focused its strategic rocket development on the R-5 missile, which superseded the overambitious 3000 km range R-3, previously canceled on 20 October 1951.Boris Chertok Rockets and People, Volume II: Creating a Rocket Industry NASA Washington D.C. June 2006 946818748275–6 OKB-1 under Sergei Korolev completed the conceptual design for the R-5, able to carry the same 1000 kg payload as the R-1 and R-2 but over a distance of 1200 km,242 by 30 October 1951.https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4408pt1.pdf Challenge to Apollo: The Soviet Union and the Space Race, 1945–1974 Asif A. Siddiqi NASA Washington D.C. 1001823253 6 January 2021 16 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080916023444/https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4408pt1.pdf live97 This dramatic increase in performance of the R-5 over its predecessors was made possible through development of the RD-103 engine, an evolution of the RD-101 used in the R-2 missile, and by reducing the weight of the rocket through use of integrated tankage (while at the same time increasing propellant load by 60% over the R-2). The military had much more confidence in this incremental design than the radical leap forward that was the R-3, and work proceeded apace. Other innovations over the R-1 and R-2 included small aerodynamic rudders run by servomotors to replace the big fins of the R-1/R-2, and longitudinal acceleration integrators to improve the precision of engine cutoff and thus accuracy.99–100 Two of the first ten R-5s produced underwent stand tests through February 1952,http://www.astronautix.com/r/r-5.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160820192143/http://www.astronautix.com/r/r-5.html dead 20 August 2016 R-5 Mark Wade Encyclopedia Astronautica 7 January 2021 and the sleek, cylindrical R-5, "the first Soviet strategic rocket", would be ready for its first launch March 1953.99–100 Also in 1952, the design bureau OKB-486, under Valentin Glushko, began developing the RD-105 and RD-106 engines for an even more powerful rocket: the five engine R-6 ICBM. Using an integrated solder-welded configuration, developed by engineer Aleksei Isaev, these LOX/kerosene engines would be more powerful single chamber engines than those used in earlier rockets. Four 539.37 kN on RD-105 would power the R-6's four strap-on engines while a 519.75 kN on RD-106 would power the central booster.108–109 That same year, there was also a series of fourteen test launches of the mass-produced version of R-2 missile, with a range of 600 km.48–9 Twelve of the missiles reached their targets.266 The R-1 also was test-launched seven times.Encyclopedia Astronautica http://www.astronautix.com/r/r-18a11.html https://web.archive.org/web/20161228003429/http://astronautix.com/r/r-18a11.html dead 28 December 2016 R-1 8A11 Mark Wade 7 January 2021 Civilian efforts In October 1952, the General Assembly of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) adopted a proposal to undertake a third International Polar Year. This endeavor would involve both a wider scope, encompassing simultaneous observations of geophysical phenomena over the entire surface of the Earth including the Arctic and Antarctica, as well as a longer period, lasting 18 months. The International Geophysical Year (IGY), set for 1957–58, ultimately would involve the participation of 67 countries. To coordinate this massive effort, the ICSU formed the fr Comité Speciale de l'Année Géophysique Internationale (CSAGI) International Geophysical Year Special Committee none, which would hold four major meetings with representation from all participating countries over the next four years.69Vanguard — a History Constance Green and Milton Lomask NASA Washington, D.C. 1970 SP-4202 978-1-97353-209-5 https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4202/begin.html 6 April 2021 3 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213422/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4202/begin.html dead19–21 In 1951, the University of Maryland's Fred Singer gave a series of lectures to the British Interplanetary Society in London espousing the use of small artificial satellites to conduct scientific observations. In 1952 Singer expanded his audience through publications and public presentations on his proposals for "MOUSE" (Minimum Orbiting Unmanned Satellite of the Earth). Though dismissed by many as too radical and/or in conflict with human exploration of space, the proposal catalyzed serious discussion of the use of satellites for scientific research.73 Launches 1952 off off January yes 15em January launches 30 January 20:45 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-A-1a USAF 21 USA 1912Holloman LC-A USA 1912US Air Force Apogee: 0 km, rocket exploded in tower85 Ionosphere 1 AFCRC / University of Utah Suborbital Ionospheric 30 January Launch failure |} February yes 15em February launches 19 February 14:49 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-A-1c USAF 22 USA 1912Holloman LC-A USA 1912US Air Force Apogee: 0 km, maiden (and only) flight of the RTV-A-1c, which was an unboosted version of the RTV-A-1a. There was a thrust chamber explosion in the tower, but the instrumentation was recovered intact.86 AFCRC / University of Utah Suborbital Airglow 19 February Launch failure 19 February 17:00 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-N-10 NRL 7 USA 1912White Sands LC-35 USA 1912US Navy Apogee: 81.3 km303–304 NRL Suborbital Cosmic Radiation / Solar Radiation 19 February Successful 29 February 14:40 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-A-1 USAF 23 USA 1912Holloman LC-A USA 1912US Air Force Apogee: 89.3 km87–88 AFCRC / University of Utah Suborbital Airglow 29 February Successful |} April yes 15em April launches 22 April 17:28 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-A-1 USAF 24 USA 1912Holloman LC-A USA 1912US Air Force Apogee: 113 km89–90 AFCRC / Boston University Suborbital Ionospheric 22 April Successful 30 April 13:30 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-N-10 NRL 8 USA 1912White Sands LC-35 USA 1912US Navy Apogee: 127.8 km305 NRL Suborbital Cosmic Radiation / Solar Radiation 30 April Successful |} May yes 15em May launches 1 May 14:59 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-N-10 NRL 9 USA 1912White Sands LC-35 USA 1912US Navy Apogee: 126.0 km305 NRL Suborbital Cosmic Radiation / Solar Radiation 1 May Successful 1 May 15:42 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-A-1 USAF 25 USA 1912Holloman LC-A USA 1912US Air Force Apogee: 91 km91–92 AFCRC / University of Rhode Island Suborbital Solar UV 1 May Successful 5 May 13:44 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-N-10 NRL 10 USA 1912White Sands LC-35 USA 1912US Navy Apogee: 127.0 km305 NRL Suborbital Cosmic Radiation / Solar Radiation 5 May Successful 15 May 01:15 USA 1912Aerobee XASR-SC-1 SC 23 USA 1912White Sands LC-35 USA 1912US Army Apogee: 76.1 km233–234 USA 1912Sphere SCEL / University of Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 15 May Successful 20 May 02:07 SC 24 USA 1912Aerobee XASR-SC-1 USA 1912White Sands LC-35 USA 1912US Army Apogee: 89.5 km235–236 USA 1912Grenades USASC Suborbital Aeronomy 20 May Successful 20 May 16:06 Nazi Germany NaziV-2 V-2 No. 59 / TF-2 USA 1912White Sands LC-33 USA 1912US Army Apogee: 103.5 km455–456,464 SCEL / University of Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy / Photography 20 May Successful 21 May 15:15 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-A-1 USAF 26 USA 1912Holloman LC-A USA 1912US Air Force Carried 2 Philippine monkeys, Pat and Mike, and 2 mice; all recovered. Apogee: 61 km93–94 Flight tested requirement of restraints: one mouse was given a shelf to cling to; the other bounced from side to side of its smooth-sided plastic compartment. Acceleration was 15 gees for <1 second and 3-4 gees for 35 seconds. The two monkeys were strapped to their seats and anaesthetized. Mission demonstrated that pilot injury in rocket flight could be avoided with appropriate seats and straps.Believe Humans Can Fare Well 38 Miles Above Earth The Times Hammond, Indiana https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-believe-humans-can-fare-well-3/170127725/ 28 September 1952 11 April 2025 Newspapers.com USA 1912Aeromed 3 AFCRL / WADC Aero-Medical Laboratory Biological Suborbital 21 May Successful |} June yes 15em June launches 6 June 17:30 USA 1912Viking (second model) USA 1912White Sands LC-33 USA 1912US Navy Apogee: 6 km, accidentally launched during static fire ground testhttp://www.astronautix.com/v/vikingsoundingrocket.html https://web.archive.org/web/20161228051243/http://astronautix.com/v/vikingsoundingrocket.html dead 28 December 2016 Viking Sounding Rocket Mark Wade Encyclopedia Astronautica 7 January 2021 USA 1912Viking 8 NRL Suborbital Accidental launch 6 June Launch failure 18 June 17:50 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-A-1 USAF 27 USA 1912Holloman LC-A USA 1912US Air Force Apogee: 105 km95–96 AFCRC / University of Denver Suborbital Solar UV 18 June Successful 30 June 14:32 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-A-1 USAF 28 USA 1912Holloman LC-A USA 1912US Air Force Apogee: 101 km97–98 USA 1912Airglow 1 AFCRC Suborbital Sky Brightness 30 June Successful |} August yes 15em August launches 8 August USSR 1936R-2 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 First of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their targethttp://www.astronautix.com/r/r-2.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160820191943/http://www.astronautix.com/r/r-2.html dead 20 August 2016 R-2 Encyclopedia Astronautica Mark Wade 7 October 2021266 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 8 August August USSR 1936R-2 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 Second of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target266 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test Same day August USSR 1936R-2 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 Third of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target266 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test Same day August USSR 1936R-2 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 Fourth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target266 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test Same day August USSR 1936R-2 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 Fifth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target266 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test Same day August USSR 1936R-2 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 Sixth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target266 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test Same day August USSR 1936R-2 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 Seventh of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target266 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test Same day August USSR 1936R-2 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 Eighth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target266 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test Same day 20 August USSR 1936R-1 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 20 August Successful 21 August USSR 1936R-1 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 21 August Successful 21 August 06:25 USA 1912Deacon rockoon SUI 1 USA 1912Eastwind WAGB-279 6, Kane Basin USA 1912US Coast Guard Maiden flight of the Deacon Rockoon, (balloon) apogee: 21.4 km, rocket failed to fire312 University of Iowa Suborbital Cosmic Radiation 21 August Partial failure 22 August 07:33 Nazi Germany NaziV-2 TF-3 USA 1912White Sands LC-33 USA 1912US Army Apogee: 78.1 km465–466 NRL / AFCRC / National Institutes of Health Suborbital Aeronomy / Cosmic Radiation / Solar X-Ray / Magnetic Field / Sky Brightness 22 August Successful 24 August 03:34 USA 1912Deacon rockoon SUI 2 USA 1912USCGC Eastwind, northern Baffin Bay USA 1912US Coast Guard (Balloon) Apogee: 21.4 km,312 rocket failed to fire, but instrument package worked17 University of Iowa Suborbital Cosmic Radiation 24 August Partial failure 25 August USSR 1936R-1 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 25 August Successful 26 August 18:53 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-A-1a USAF 29 USA 1912Holloman LC-A USA 1912US Air Force Apogee: 32 km99–100 USA 1912Ionosphere 2 AFCRC / University of Utah Suborbital Ionospheric 26 August Launch failure 29 August 00:26 USA 1912Deacon rockoon SUI 3 USA 1912USCGC Eastwind, northern Baffin Bay USA 1912US Coast Guard Apogee: 61.0 km,312 first successful firing of balloon-launched rocket, instruments failed to return data18 University of Iowa Suborbital Cosmic Radiation 29 August Spacecraft failure 29 August 07:36 USA 1912Deacon rockoon SUI 4 USA 1912USCGC Eastwind, northern Baffin Bay USA 1912US Coast Guard Apogee: 59.4 km312 University of Iowa Suborbital Cosmic Radiation 29 August Successful 29 August 18:15 USA 1912Deacon rockoon SUI 5 USA 1912USCGC Eastwind, northern Baffin Bay USA 1912US Coast Guard Apogee: 76.1 km312 University of Iowa Suborbital Cosmic Radiation 29 August Successful 31 August 21:10 USA 1912Deacon rockoon SUI 6 USA 1912USCGC Eastwind, northern Baffin Bay USA 1912US Coast Guard Apogee: 64.1 km313 University of Iowa Suborbital Cosmic Radiation 31 August Successful |} September yes 15em September launches September USSR 1936R-2 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 Ninth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target266 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test Same day September USSR 1936R-2 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 Tenth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target266 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test Same day September USSR 1936R-2 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 Eleventh of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target266 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test Same day September USSR 1936R-2 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 Twelfth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target266 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test Same day September USSR 1936R-2 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 Thirteenth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target266 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test Same day 3 September 14:49 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-N-10 NRL 11 USA 1912White Sands LC-35 USA 1912US Navy Apogee: 99.0 km305 NRL Suborbital Solar Radiation 3 September Successful 4 September 09:17 USA 1912Deacon rockoon SUI 7 USA 1912Eastwind WAGB-279 6, northern Baffin Bay USA 1912US Coast Guard Apogee: 64.1 km313 University of Iowa Suborbital Cosmic Radiation 4 September Successful 18 September USSR 1936R-2 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 Last of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target266 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 18 September 19 September 15:49 Nazi Germany NaziV-2 TF-5 USA 1912White Sands LC-33 USA 1912US Army Final flight of the V-2, apogee: 7.1 km, tail exploded at 27 seconds469–470 SCEL / University of Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 19 September Launch failure 25 September 03:50 USA 1912Aerobee XASR-SC-1 SC 25 USA 1912White Sands LC-35 USA 1912US Army Apogee: 117 km239 USA 1912Grenades SCEL Suborbital Aeronomy 25 September Successful |} October yes 15em October launches 10 October 14:24 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-A-1 USAF 30 USA 1912Holloman LC-A USA 1912US Air Force Apogee: 110 km102–103 AFCRC / University of Denver Suborbital Solar UV 10 October Successful 22 October 14:35 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-A-1 USAF 31 USA 1912Holloman LC-A USA 1912US Air Force Apogee: 100 km104–105 AFCRC / University of Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy 22 October Successful 23 October 03:45 USA 1912Aerobee XASR-SC-2 SC 26 USA 1912White Sands LC-35 USA 1912US Army Apogee: 112.0 km237–238 USA 1912Grenades SCEL Suborbital Aeronomy 23 October Successful 29 October USSR 1936R-1 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 29 October Successful 30 October USSR 1936R-1 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 30 October Successful 30 October USSR 1936R-1 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 30 October Successful |} November yes 15em November launches 6 November 15:56 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-A-1 USAF 32 USA 1912Holloman LC-A USA 1912US Air Force Apogee: 76 km106–107 Airglow 2 AFCRC Suborbital Sky Brightness 6 November Successful 21 November USSR 1936R-1 USSR 1936Kapustin Yar USSR 1936OKB-1 OKB-1 Suborbital Missile test 21 November Successful |} December yes 15em December launches 11 December 23:47 USA 1912Aerobee XASR-SC-1 SC 29 USA 1912White Sands LC-35 USA 1912US Army Apogee: 105.1 km244–245 USA 1912Sphere SCEL / University of Michigan Suborbital Aeronomy / Cosmic Radiation 11 December Successful 12 December 19:38 USA 1912Aerobee RTV-A-1 USAF 33 USA 1912Holloman LC-A USA 1912US Air Force Final flight of the RTV-A-1, apogee: 89 km108–109 AFCRC / University of Colorado Suborbital Solar UV 12 December Successful 15 December 21:38 USA 1912Viking (second model) USA 1912White Sands LC-33 USA 1912US Navy Apogee: 219 km494 USA 1912Viking 9 NRL Suborbital Solar Radiation / Cosmic Radiation / Photography 15 December Successful |} 1952 off off Suborbital launch statistics By country 120 false left [ {"value":350, "color":"#484785", "label": "United States: 35 (62.50%)"}, {"value":210, "color":"#a52a2a", "label": "Soviet Union: 21 (37.50%) "}, ] + Launches by country Country Launches Successes Failures Partialfailures USSR 1936 21 19 0 2 USA 1912 35 27 5 3 World 21 35 19 27 0 5 2 3 By rocket bar chart center 850 400 1 3:0:0:0:0:0 0:2:0:0:0:0 0:0:5:0:0:0 0:0:4:0:0:0 0:0:1:0:0:0 0:0:10:0:0:0 0:0:2:0:0:0 0:0:1:0:0:0 0:0:0:7:0:0 0:0:0:0:7:0 0:0:0:0:0:14 #9090c0 blue #363663 #646e2b : #a7b847 #25a7da : #1e85ae : #7ccae9 #80daeb #7a1f1f #ff7700 V-2 (American) Viking (second model) Aerobee RTV-N-10 Aerobee XASR-SC-1 Aerobee XASR-SC-2 Aerobee RTV-A-1 Aerobee RTV-A-1a Aerobee RTV-A-1c Deacon rockoon R-1 R-2 V-2 : Viking : Aerobee : Deacon rockoon : R-1 : R-2 _launches 5 + Launches by rocket Rocket Country Launches Successes Failures Partialfailures Remarks V-2 USA 1912 3 2 1 0 Retired Viking (second model) USA 1912 2 1 1 0 Maiden flight Aerobee RTV-N-10 USA 1912 5 5 0 0 Aerobee XASR-SC-1 USA 1912 4 4 0 0 Aerobee XASR-SC-2 USA 1912 1 1 0 0 Aerobee RTV-A-1 USA 1912 10 10 0 0 Retired Aerobee RTV-A-1a USA 1912 2 0 2 0 Aerobee RTV-A-1c USA 1912 1 0 1 0 Maiden flight, retired Deacon rockoon USA 1912 7 4 0 3 Maiden flight R-1 USSR 1936 7 7 0 0 R-2 USSR 1936 14 12 0 2 See also Timeline of spaceflight References 1952 on Category:Spaceflight by year