# 1954 in spaceflight

The year 1954 saw the conception of Project Orbiter, the first practicable satellite launching project, utilizing the Redstone, a newly developed Short Range Ballistic Missile.
A variety of sounding rockets continued to return scientific data from beyond the 100 kilometres (62 mi) boundary of space (as defined by the World Air Sports Federation), including the Viking and Aerobee rockets, University of Iowa and Naval Research Laboratory ship-launched rockoons, and derivatives of the Soviet R-1 missile. The French also launched their first sounding rocket into space, the Véronique-NA.
1954 also marked a year of development of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). The United States prioritized the development of its Atlas while the Soviet Union authorized the draft proposal for the R-7 Semyorka, its first ICBM.

## Space exploration highlights
### US Navy

After ten months of salvage, testing, and troubleshooting following the failed launch of Viking 10 on 30 June 1953, a successful static firing of the rebuilt rocket took place at the end of April 1954. Launch was scheduled for 4 May. Control issues revealed in the static firing as well as gusty, sand-laden winds caused a delay of three days. At 10:00 AM local time, Viking 10 blasted off from its pad at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, reaching an altitude of 136 mi (219 km)—a tie with the highest altitude ever reached by a first-generation Viking (Viking 7 on 7 August 1951). Data was received from the rocket for all stages of the flight, and its scientific package returned the first measurement of positive ion composition at high altitudes.
Viking 11, which was ready for erection on 5 May, also had a successful static test and was ready for launch, 24 May 1954. Again, the countdown went without hold, and Viking 11, the heaviest rocket yet in the series, was launched at 10:00 AM. Forty seconds into the flight, several puffs of smoke issued from the vehicle, but these accidental excitations of the rocket's roll jets did no harm. Viking 11 ultimately reached 158 mi (254 km) in altitude, a record for the series, snapping the highest altitude photographs of the Earth to date. Both Vikings 10 and 11 carried successful emulsions experiments, measuring cosmic rays at high altitudes.
Three more Viking flights were scheduled, one of which would fly in 1955, the other two later incorporated into the subsequent Project Vanguard.

### American civilian efforts

For the third summer in a row, members of the State University of Iowa (SUI) physics department embarked 15 July 1954 on an Atlantic expedition to launch a series of balloon-launched Deacon rockets (rockoons), this time aboard the icebreaker, USS Atka. Once again, a Naval Research Laboratory team accompanied them to launch their own rockoons. Beginning with the fourth SUI launch on 21 July 1954 off the northern tip of Labrador, eleven rockoon launches (seven of them successful) over a five-day period probed the heart of the auroral zone at high altitude. Each rockoon carried two geiger counters with different thicknesses of shielding; two of the flights determined that aurorae produced detectable "soft" (lower energy/penetrative) radiation.

### Scientific results

By 1954, the array of Viking, Aerobee, V-2, Deacon Rockoon, and other high altitude sounding rocket flights had returned a bonanza of knowledge about the upper atmosphere. Previously, it had been believed that, at altitudes above 20 mi (32 km), Earth's atmosphere was highly stratified and peaceful, an indefinite continuation of the stratosphere. Rocket research discovered winds, turbulence, and mixing up to heights of 80 mi (130 km), and wind velocities of 180 mph (290 km/h) were measured 125 mi (201 km) above the Earth's surface. The density of the upper atmosphere was found to be thinner than expected: the estimated average distance an air atom or molecule must travel before colliding with another (mean free path) was refined to .5 mi (0.80 km). Ionized particles were discovered in what were previously thought to be distinct gaps between the E and F layers in the ionosphere.
Sounding rockets returned the first measurements of extraterrestrial X-rays, blocked from observation from the ground by the lower layers of the atmosphere. It was determined that these X-rays were one of the major producers of atmospheric ionization. Ultraviolet radiation was extensively observed as well as its contribution to the ozone layer. Solar radiation data determined that the Sun was hotter than had been calculated from strictly earthbound measurements. Cosmic rays were found to consist mainly of protons, alpha particles, and heavier atomic nuclei; the range of measured elements extended to iron, with greater abundance in even mass numbered elements.

## Vehicle development
### US Air Force

On February 1, 1954, the Strategic Missiles Evaluation Committee or 'Teapot Committee', comprising eleven of the top scientists and engineers in the country, issued a report recommending prioritization of the development of the Atlas, the nation's first ICBM. Trevor Gardner, special assistant for research and development to Secretary of the Air Force, Harold Talbott, selected Ramo Wooldridge (R-W) to handle the systems engineering and technical direction for the entire project, a considerable expansion of duties for the year-old company, which had hitherto been contracted by the Air Force to advise and perform research.$^{:178–9}$ From spring 1954 through the end of the year, R-W's work was confined to the evaluation of the project and the accumulation of personnel to handle development of the ICBM.$^{:185}$ Convair, which had been developing the Atlas for the prior eight years, remained the manufacturer of the missile proper.
The public first became aware of the Atlas project with the publication of the 8 March 1954 issue of Aviation Weekly, in which appeared the short item: "Convair is developing a long range ballistic missile known as the Atlas. Its development was begun in the era when Floyd Odlum's Atlas Corp. was the controlling stockholder in Convair."
Before the Teapot commission had determined the likely weight of a thermonuclear payload, the Atlas specification had called for a missile 90 ft (27 m) long and 10 ft (3.0 m) wide, carrying five rocket engines, and a full-scale wooden model as well as a metal test example of the tank were built in 1954. By the time the design was frozen at the end of the year, the specifications had been downscaled to 75 ft (23 m) long, retaining the same width, and the number of engines was reduced to three.

### Project Orbiter

By 1954, there was growing consensus in the United States that rocket technology had evolved to the point the launch of an Earth orbiting satellite was becoming feasible. A 16 March meeting in Washington D.C. involving several of the nation's leading space specialists was arranged by past president of the American Rocket Society Frederick C. Durant III. They included Fred Singer, proposer of the "MOUSE" (Minimum Orbiting Unmanned Satellite of the Earth), rocket scientist Wernher von Braun, David Young of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency, Commander George Hoover and Alexander Satin of the Air Branch of the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and noted astronomer, Fred Whipple. They determined that a slightly modified Redstone (a 200 miles (320 km) range surface-to-surface missile developed the prior year) combined with upper stages employing 31 Loki solid-propellant rockets could put a 5 lb (2.3 kg) satellite into orbit, which could be tracked optically.
Whipple approached the National Science Foundation (NSF) to sponsor a conference for further study of the idea, particularly to develop instrumentation for a satellite. The NSF took no immediate action. Hoover, however, was able to secure interest from the ONR, and by November 1954, a satellite-launching plan had been developed. Dubbed Project Orbiter, the "no-cost satellite" would be built largely from existing hardware; the Army would design and construct the booster system (using Redstone and Loki) while the Navy would handle creation of the satellite, tracking facilities, and the acquisition and analysis of data. By the end of the year, ONR had let $60,000 in three contracts for feasibility studies and initial design.

### Soviet Union

The R-5 missile, able to carry the same 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb) payload as the R-1 and R-2 but over a distance of 1,200 kilometres (750 mi)$^{:242}$ underwent its third series of test launches, beginning 12 August 1954 and continuing through 7 February 1955. These tests confirmed the soundness of the design and cleared the way for nuclear and sounding rocket variants.$^{:120,138}$
Paralleling developments in the United States, 1954 marked the authorization of the R-7 Semyorka ICBM (on 20 May). Mikhail Tikhonravov, whose team at had completed the ICBM studies that formed the conceptual framework for the R-7, on 27 May, at the urging of OKB-1 Chief Designer Sergei Korolev, submitted a memorandum entitled, "A Report on an Artificial Satellite of the Earth" to Deputy Minister of Medium Machine Building Vasiliy Rabikov and Georgiy Pashkov, Rabikov's department chief in charge of missiles. This memorandum, containing summaries of both Soviet research of recent years as well as translations of Western articles on satellites, served as the catalyst for the Soviet satellite program.$^{:139–144}$

## Launches

* ← Jan
* Feb
* Mar
* Apr
* May
* Jun
* Jul
* Aug
* Sep
* Oct
* Nov
* Dec →

### February

February launches :
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| 2 February 18:35 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | NRL 20 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 2 February 18:35 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV | 2 February | Successful |
| Apogee: 101 kilometres (63 mi) ||||||
| 20 February | Véronique-NA | Véronique-NA | | Hammaguir Bechar | Hammaguir Bechar | LRBA | LRBA |
| 20 February | | | LRBA | Suborbital | Test flight | 20 February | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 29 kilometres (18 mi), maiden flight of the Véronique-NA ||||||
| 21 February | Véronique-NA | Véronique-NA | | Hammaguir Bechar | Hammaguir Bechar | LRBA | LRBA |
| 21 February | | | LRBA | Suborbital | Test flight | 21 February | Successful |
| Apogee: 135 kilometres (84 mi), first French spaceflight ||||||

### March

March launches :
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| 11 March | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 11 March | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 March | Successful |
| 16 March | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 16 March | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 March | Successful |
| 16 March | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 16 March | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 March | Successful |
| 20 March | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 20 March | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 20 March | Successful |

### April

April launches :
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| 9 April 21:12 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | NRL 18 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 9 April 21:12 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Spectrometry | 9 April | Successful |
| Apogee: 143 kilometres (89 mi) ||||||
| 10 April 09:00 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | NRL 19 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 10 April 09:00 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Spectrometry | 10 April | Launch Failure |
| Apogee: 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) ||||||
| 23 April | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 23 April | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 April | Successful |
| 24 April | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 24 April | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 April | Successful |
| 26 April | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 26 April | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 April | Successful |
| 29 April | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 29 April | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 April | Successful |

### May

May launches :
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| May | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | Same Day | |
| First of ten production missile test launches, eight of which were successful ||||||
| May | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | Same Day | |
| Second of ten production missile test launches, eight of which were successful ||||||
| May | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | Same Day | |
| Third of ten production missile test launches, eight of which were successful ||||||
| May | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | Same Day | |
| Fourth of ten production missile test launches, eight of which were successful ||||||
| May | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | Same Day | |
| Fifth of ten production missile test launches, eight of which were successful ||||||
| May | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | Same Day | |
| Sixth of ten production missile test launches, eight of which were successful ||||||
| May | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | Same Day | |
| Seventh of ten production missile test launches, eight of which were successful ||||||
| May | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | Same Day | |
| Eighth of ten production missile test launches, eight of which were successful ||||||
| May | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | Same Day | |
| Ninth of ten production missile test launches, eight of which were successful ||||||
| May | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | Same Day | |
| Tenth of ten production missile test launches, eight of which were successful ||||||
| 3 May | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 3 May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 3 May | Successful |
| 4 May | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 4 May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 May | Successful |
| 4 May | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 4 May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 May | Successful |
| 7 May | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 7 May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 May | Successful |
| 7 May 17:00 | Viking (second model) | Viking (second model) | | White Sands LC-33 | White Sands LC-33 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 7 May 17:00 | | Viking 10 | NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 7 May | Successful |
| Apogee: 219 kilometres (136 mi) ||||||
| 11 May 15:00 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 46 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 11 May 15:00 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Beacon test | 11 May | Successful |
| Apogee: 98 kilometres (61 mi)$^{:135–136}$ ||||||
| 21 May | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 21 May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 May | Successful |
| 24 May 17:00 | Viking (second model) | Viking (second model) | | White Sands LC-33 | White Sands LC-33 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 24 May 17:00 | | Viking 11 | NRL | Suborbital | REV test / Photography | 24 May | Successful |
| Apogee: 254 kilometres (158 mi) ||||||
| 26 May 14:24 | A-1 | A-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 26 May 14:24 | | | MVS | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 26 May | Successful |
| Apogee: 106 kilometres (66 mi), maiden flight of the A-1 ||||||

### June

June launches :
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| 2 June 16:10 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 47 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 2 June 16:10 | | | AFCRC / University of Colorado | Suborbital | Solar UV | 2 June | Successful |
| Apogee: 93 kilometres (58 mi)$^{:137–138}$ ||||||
| 8 June | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 8 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 8 June | Successful |
| 9 June | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 9 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 June | Successful |
| 11 June | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 11 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 June | Successful |
| 12 June | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 12 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 June | Successful |
| 14 June | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 14 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 June | Successful |
| 26 June 13:24 | R-1D | R-1D | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 26 June 13:24 | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Biology / Ionosphere / Aeronomy | 26 June | Successful |
| Apogee: 106 kilometres (66 mi), maiden flight of R-1D ||||||

### July

July launches :
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| 2 July | R-1D | R-1D | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 2 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Biology / Ionosphere / Aeronomy | 2 July | Successful |
| Payload, instruments, left and right animal containers all recovered. Smoke container failed. Carried dogs Lyza and Ryjik. ||||||
| 7 July | R-1D | R-1D | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 7 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Biology / Ionosphere / Aeronomy | 7 July | Successful |
| Final flight of the R-1D ||||||
| 14 July 13:55 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 48 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 14 July 13:55 | | | AFCRC / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 14 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 92 kilometres (57 mi)$^{:139–140}$ ||||||
| 16 July 12:13 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 24 | USS Atka, Atlantic Ocean, 360 kilometres (220 mi) east of Boston | USS Atka, Atlantic Ocean, 360 kilometres (220 mi) east of Boston | US Navy | US Navy |
| 16 July 12:13 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 16 July | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) ||||||
| 16 July 21:58 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 25 | USS Atka, Atlantic Ocean, 360 kilometres (220 mi) east of Boston | USS Atka, Atlantic Ocean, 360 kilometres (220 mi) east of Boston | US Navy | US Navy |
| 16 July 21:58 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 16 July | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) ||||||
| 19 July 16:00 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NRL Rockoon 7 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 19 July 16:00 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 19 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 88 kilometres (55 mi) ||||||
| 19 July 20:30 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 26 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 19 July 20:30 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 19 July | Spacecraft failure |
| Apogee: 43 kilometres (27 mi) ||||||
| 20 July 02:55 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NRL Rockoon 8 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 20 July 02:55 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 20 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi) ||||||
| 21 July 09:03 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 27 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 21 July 09:03 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 21 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 60 kilometres (37 mi); first in series of 11 SUI flights, 7 of which were successful ||||||
| 21 July 12:45 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 28 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 21 July 12:45 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 21 July | |
| Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi); second in series of 11 SUI flights, 7 of which were successful ||||||
| 21 July 20:49 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 29 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 21 July 20:49 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 21 July | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 40 kilometres (25 mi); third in series of 11 SUI flights, 7 of which were successful ||||||
| 22 July | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 22 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 July | Successful |
| 23 July 14:46 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 30 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 23 July 14:46 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 23 July | |
| Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi); fourth in series of 11 SUI flights, 7 of which were successful ||||||
| 23 July 17:09 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NRL Rockoon 9 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 23 July 17:09 | | | Naval Research Laboratory | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 23 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi) ||||||
| 23 July 17:54 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 31 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 23 July 17:54 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 23 July | |
| Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi); fifth in series of 11 SUI flights, 7 of which were successful ||||||
| 23 July 19:37 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 32 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 23 July 19:37 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 23 July | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 23 kilometres (14 mi); sixth in series of 11 SUI flights, 7 of which were successful ||||||
| 24 July 08:57 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 33 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 24 July 08:57 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 24 July | |
| Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi); seventh in series of 11 SUI flights, 7 of which were successful ||||||
| 24 July 13:16 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 34 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 24 July 13:16 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 24 July | |
| Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi); eighth in series of 11 SUI flights, 7 of which were successful ||||||
| 25 July 06:51 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 35 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 25 July 06:51 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 25 July | |
| Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi); ninth in series of 11 SUI flights, 7 of which were successful ||||||
| 25 July 12:36 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 36 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 25 July 12:36 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 25 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi); tenth in series of 11 SUI flights, 7 of which were successful ||||||
| 25 July 15:30 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 37 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 25 July 15:30 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 25 July | |
| Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi); eleventh in series of 11 SUI flights, 7 of which were successful ||||||
| 25 July 18:45 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NRL Rockoon 10 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 25 July 18:45 | | | Naval Research Laboratory | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 25 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 85 kilometres (53 mi) ||||||
| 26 July 00:29 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NRL Rockoon 11 | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | USS Atka, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 26 July 00:29 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 26 July | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) ||||||
| 26 July 11:02 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NRL Rockoon 12 | USS Atka, southern Davis Strait | USS Atka, southern Davis Strait | US Navy | US Navy |
| 26 July 11:02 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 26 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi) ||||||

### August

August launches :
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| 2 August | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 2 August | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 2 August | Successful |
| 11 August 17:25 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 49 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 11 August 17:25 | | | AFCRC / University of Utah | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 11 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 92 kilometres (57 mi)$^{:141–142}$ ||||||
| 12 August | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 12 August | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 August | Partial failure |
| First flight of range test series ||||||
| 17 August | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 17 August | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 August | Successful |
| 19 August | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 19 August | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 August | Successful |
| 24 August | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 24 August | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 August | Successful |
| 25 August | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 25 August | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 August | Successful |
| 27 August | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 27 August | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 August | Successful |
| 27 August | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 27 August | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 August | Successful |

### September

September launches :
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| 5 September | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 5 September | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 5 September | Successful |
| 8 September | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 8 September | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 8 September | Successful |
| 17 September 14:31 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 50 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 17 September 14:31 | | | AFCRC / University of Rhode Island | Suborbital | Solar UV | 17 September | Successful |
| Apogee: 94.6 kilometres (58.8 mi)$^{:143–144}$ ||||||
| 30 September | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 30 September | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 September | Successful |

### October

October launches :
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| 1 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 1 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 October | Successful |
| 5 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 5 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 5 October | Successful |
| 5 October 18:15 | Aerobee RTV-N-10b | Aerobee RTV-N-10b | | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 5 October 18:15 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Remote sensing | 5 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 158 kilometres (98 mi); maiden (and only) flight of the RTV-N-10b; returned first images of a complete hurricane ||||||
| 9 October | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 9 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 October | Successful |
| Airborne destruction of warhead ||||||
| 14 October 21:20 | Nike-Nike-T40-T55 | Nike-Nike-T40-T55 | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NACA | NACA |
| 14 October 21:20 | | | NACA | Suborbital | Hypersonic research | 14 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 352 kilometres (219 mi), maiden flight of the Nike-Nike-T40-T55 ||||||
| 16 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 16 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 October | Successful |
| 17 October | Véronique-NA | Véronique-NA | | Hammaguir Bechar | Hammaguir Bechar | LRBA | LRBA |
| 17 October | | | LRBA | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 17 October | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 39 kilometres (24 mi) ||||||
| 19 October | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 19 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 October | Successful |
| End of range test series ||||||
| 29 October | Véronique-NA | Véronique-NA | | Hammaguir Bechar | Hammaguir Bechar | LRBA | LRBA |
| 29 October | | | LRBA | Suborbital | Test flight | 29 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi); final flight of the Véronique-NA ||||||
| 30 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 30 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 October | Successful |

### November

November launches :
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| 27 November | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 27 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 November | Successful |
| 30 November | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 30 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 November | Successful |

### December

December launches :
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| 1 December | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 1 December | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 December | Successful |
| 1 December | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 1 December | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 December | Successful |
| 6 December | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 6 December | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 December | Successful |
| 9 December | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 9 December | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 December | Successful |
| 23 December | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 23 December | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 December | Successful |
| 25 December | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 25 December | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 December | Successful |
| 30 December | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 30 December | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 December | Successful |
| Start of validity test series ||||||
* ← Jan
* Feb
* Mar
* Apr
* May
* Jun
* Jul
* Aug
* Sep
* Oct
* Nov
* Dec →

## Suborbital launch summary
### By country

Launches by country :
| Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures |
| United States | 32 | 23 | 9 | 0 |
| Soviet Union | 59 | 56 | 2 | 1 |
| France | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |

### By rocket

* Viking (second model)
* Aerobee RTV-N-10
* Aerobee RTV-N-10b
* Aerobee RTV-A-1a
* Deacon rockoon (SUI)
* Deacon rockoon (NRL)
* Nike-Nike-T40-T55
* R-1
* A-1
* R-1D
* R-2
* R-5
* Véronique-NA
Launches by rocket :
| Rocket | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
| Viking (second model) | United States | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Aerobee RTV-N-10 | United States | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
| Aerobee RTV-N-10b | United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight, retired |
| Aerobee RTV-A-1a | United States | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deacon rockoon (SUI) | United States | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | |
| Deacon rockoon (NRL) | United States | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | |
| Nike-Nike-T40-T55 | United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| R-1 | Soviet Union | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 | |
| A-1 | Soviet Union | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| R-1D | Soviet Union | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight, retired |
| R-2 | Soviet Union | 23 | 21 | 2 | 0 | |
| R-5 | Soviet Union | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | |
| Véronique-NA | France | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Maiden flight, first French Spaceflight, retired |