# 1957 in spaceflight

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
The first orbital flight of an artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched in October 1957, by the Soviet Union. In November, the second orbital flight took place. The Soviet Union launched the first animal to orbit the Earth, a dog, Laika, who died in orbit a few hours after launch.
* Thor, Atlas, and R-7 rocket families all have maiden flights this year, all three of which will have long legacies for the next 50+ years
* Australia and the UK go to space with sounding rockets; first space launches from Australia
* The R-12 makes its maiden flight
* The US makes its first orbital attempt and fails (Vanguard TV-3)

## Orbital launches

* ← Jan
* Feb
* Mar
* Apr
* May
* Jun
* Jul
* Aug
* Sep
* Oct
* Nov
* Dec →
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| October ||||||||
| 4 October 19:28:34 | Sputnik-PS (8K71PS) | Sputnik-PS (8K71PS) | M1-PS | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Baikonur Site 1/5 | MVS | MVS |
| 4 October 19:28:34 | | Sputnik 1 (PS-1 №1) | OKB-1 | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 4 January 1958 | Successful |
| First orbital launch, first artificial satellite of Earth, maiden flight of the Sputnik rocket ||||||
| ← Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec → November ||||||||
| 3 November 02:30:42 | Sputnik-PS (8K71PS) | Sputnik-PS (8K71PS) | M1-2PS | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Baikonur Site 1/5 | MVS | MVS |
| 3 November 02:30:42 | | Sputnik 2 (PS-2 №1) | OKB-1 | Low Earth | Biological research | 14 April 1958 | Partial spacecraft failure |
| Carried Laika, the first animal in orbit. Laika died prior to completion of experiments. Final flight of the Sputnik-PS. ||||||
| ← Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec → December ||||||||
| 6 December 16:44:35 | Vanguard | Vanguard | TV-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-18A | Cape Canaveral LC-18A | US Navy | US Navy |
| 6 December 16:44:35 | | Vanguard (Test Satellite F) | NRL | Intended: Medium Earth | Geodesy | 6 December | Launch failure |
| First all up Vanguard flight, first US orbital launch attempt, and first orbital launch attempt failure. Lost thrust and exploded on launch pad after 2 seconds. ||||||
| ← Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec → ||||||||
* ← Jan
* Feb
* Mar
* Apr
* May
* Jun
* Jul
* Aug
* Sep
* Oct
* Nov
* Dec →

## Suborbital flights

| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| 8 January | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 8 January | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 8 January | Successful |
| Apogee: 140 kilometres (87 mi) ||||||
| 13 January | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 13 January | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 13 January | Successful |
| 14 January | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 14 January | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 January | Successful |
| 15 January | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 15 January | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 15 January | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) ||||||
| 19 January | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 19 January | | | MVS | Suborbital | Nuclear weapon test | 19 January | Successful |
| 24 January | HJ-Nike | HJ-Nike | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NACA | NACA |
| 24 January | | | NACA | Suborbital | Cone REV test | 24 January | Successful |
| Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) ||||||
| 26 January | XSM-75 Thor | XSM-75 Thor | 101 | Cape Canaveral LC-17B | Cape Canaveral LC-17B | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 26 January | | | ARDC | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 January | Launch failure |
| Maiden launch of the SM-75 Thor missile, designated XSM-75 to indicate it was an experimental R&D launch; exploded on launch pad ||||||
| 29 January | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 29 January | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 29 January | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 0 kilometres (0 mi) ||||||
| 2 February 08:05 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | USAF 76 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 2 February 08:05 | | Firefly | AFCRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 2 February | Successful |
| Apogee: 143 kilometres (89 mi) ||||||
| 7 February | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 7 February | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 7 February | Successful |
| Apogee: 107 kilometres (66 mi) ||||||
| 12 February 20:30 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | II5.097 | Guam | Guam | University of Iowa | University of Iowa |
| 12 February 20:30 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Fields | 12 February | Successful |
| Apogee: 75 kilometres (47 mi) ||||||
| 13 February 01:51 | Skylark (Raven 1) | Skylark (Raven 1) | SL01 | Woomera LA-2 SL | Woomera LA-2 SL | WRE / RAE | WRE / RAE |
| 13 February 01:51 | | | WRE / RAE | Suborbital | Test flight | 13 February | Successful |
| Apogee: 12 kilometres (7.5 mi), maiden flight of the Skylark ||||||
| 14 February 20:05 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | II5.098 | Guam | Guam | University of Iowa | University of Iowa |
| 14 February 20:05 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Fields | 14 February | Successful |
| Apogee: 75 kilometres (47 mi) ||||||
| 14 February | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 14 February | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 14 February | Successful |
| Apogee: 141 kilometres (88 mi) ||||||
| 17 February 21:36 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | II5.099 | Guam | Guam | University of Iowa | University of Iowa |
| 17 February 21:36 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Fields | 17 February | Successful |
| Apogee: 75 kilometres (47 mi) ||||||
| 19 February | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 19 February | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 February | Successful |
| 28 February | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 28 February | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 February | Successful |
| 1 March | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 1 March | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 1 March | Successful |
| Apogee: 151 kilometres (94 mi) ||||||
| 1 March 21:51 | SM-78 Jupiter | SM-78 Jupiter | | Cape Canaveral LC-5 | Cape Canaveral LC-5 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 1 March 21:51 | | | ABMA | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 March | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 14 kilometres (8.7 mi), maiden flight of the SM-78 Jupiter missile; overheated and disintegrated ||||||
| 11 March | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 11 March | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 March | Successful |
| 11 March | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 11 March | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 11 March | Successful |
| Apogee: 134 kilometres (83 mi) ||||||
| 18 March | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 18 March | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 18 March | Successful |
| 18 March | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 18 March | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 18 March | Successful |
| Live warhead used ||||||
| 21 March | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 21 March | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 March | Successful |
| 21 March | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 21 March | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 21 March | Successful |
| Apogee: 103 kilometres (64 mi) ||||||
| 28 March | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 28 March | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 March | Successful |
| 29 March 04:51 | Aerobee RTV-N-10c | Aerobee RTV-N-10c | NRL 31 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 29 March 04:51 | | | NRL | Suborbital | UV Astronomy | 29 March | Successful |
| Apogee: 135 kilometres (84 mi), final flight of the Aerobee RTV-N-10c ||||||
| 10 April | HJ-Nike | HJ-Nike | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NACA | NACA |
| 10 April | | | NACA | Suborbital | Heat transfer REV test | 10 April | Successful |
| 11 April 16:31 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | NRL 40 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 11 April 16:31 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Vanguard instrumentation test | 11 April | Successful |
| Apogee: 204 kilometres (127 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13c; tested equipment for the Vanguard rocket ||||||
| 12 April | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 12 April | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Test flight | 12 April | Successful |
| Maiden flight of the R-2A, a scientific variant of the R-2 ||||||
| 13 April | Polaris FTV-5 | Polaris FTV-5 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 13 April | | | USNSPO | Suborbital | REV test | 13 April | Launch failure |
| Technology test for development of the UGM-27 Polaris; maiden flight of the Polaris FTV-5 ||||||
| 14 April | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 14 April | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Test flight | 14 April | Successful |
| 20 April 04:31 | XSM-75 Thor | XSM-75 Thor | 102 | Cape Canaveral LC-17B | Cape Canaveral LC-17B | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 20 April 04:31 | | | ARDC | Suborbital | Missile test | 20 April | Launch failure |
| Destroyed by range safety officer after console error gave erroneous indications that the missile was off course ||||||
| 26 April 20:12 | SM-78 Jupiter | SM-78 Jupiter | | Cape Canaveral LC-5 | Cape Canaveral LC-5 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 26 April 20:12 | | | ABMA | Suborbital | Test flight | 26 April | Partial failure |
| Apogee: 18 kilometres (11 mi) ||||||
| 30 April 15:10 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | NRL 41 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 30 April 15:10 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Meteorite research | 30 April | Successful |
| Apogee: 289 kilometres (180 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13c ||||||
| 1 May 06:29 | Viking (second model) | Viking (second model) | | Cape Canaveral LC-18A | Cape Canaveral LC-18A | US Navy | US Navy |
| 1 May 06:29 | | Vanguard TV-1 | NRL | Suborbital | Vanguard third stage test | 1 May | Successful |
| Apogee: 195 kilometres (121 mi), final flight of the Viking; a second stage tested the future Vanguard third stage ||||||
| 3 May 14:04 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | NRL 44 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 3 May 14:04 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV | 3 May | Successful |
| Apogee: 204 kilometres (127 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13c ||||||
| 15 May 07:55 | Jupiter-C | Jupiter-C | | Cape Canaveral LC-6 | Cape Canaveral LC-6 | ABMA | ABMA |
| 15 May 07:55 | | | ABMA | Suborbital | Nose cone re-entry test | 15 May | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 655 kilometres (407 mi); gyroscope malfunctioned 134 seconds after launch and the nose cone was not recovered, but instruments indicated that the test may have been successful ||||||
| 15 May 16:01 | R-7 | R-7 | | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Baikonur Site 1/5 | MVS | MVS |
| 15 May 16:01 | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 May | Launch failure |
| Maiden flight of the R-7 and first launch of an ICBM. Engine fire in Block D booster rocket at liftoff, followed by premature separation 98 seconds after launch. ||||||
| 16 May 02:14 | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 16 May 02:14 | | | OKB-1 / RAS | Suborbital | Test flight | 16 May | Successful |
| 16 May 03:18 | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 16 May 03:18 | | | RAS | Suborbital | Biological | 16 May | Successful |
| Apogee: 212 kilometres (132 mi), carried dogs ||||||
| 22 May 05:20 | Skylark (Raven 1) | Skylark (Raven 1) | SL02 | Woomera LA-2 SL | Woomera LA-2 SL | WRE / RAE | WRE / RAE |
| 22 May 05:20 | | | WRE / RAE | Suborbital | Test flight | 22 May | Successful |
| Apogee: 75 kilometres (47 mi) ||||||
| 22 May | XSM-75 Thor | XSM-75 Thor | 103 | Cape Canaveral LC-17B | Cape Canaveral LC-17B | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 22 May | | | ARDC | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 May | Launch failure |
| Exploded on pad after valve malfunction caused pressure build up ||||||
| 24 May | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 24 May | | | RAS | Suborbital | | 24 May | Successful |
| 29 May | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 29 May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 May | Successful |
| 31 May 18:08 | SM-78 Jupiter | SM-78 Jupiter | | Cape Canaveral LC-5 | Cape Canaveral LC-5 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 31 May 18:08 | | | ABMA | Suborbital | Missile test | 31 May | Successful |
| Apogee: 402 to 482 kilometres (250 to 300 mi), first successful IRBM launched in the western world ||||||
| June | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | Same day | Successful |
| June | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | Same day | Successful |
| 5 June | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 5 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 5 June | Successful |
| 7 June | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 7 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 June | Successful |
| 7 June | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 7 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | ABM target | 7 June | Successful |
| 10 June | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 10 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | ABM target | 10 June | Successful |
| 11 June 19:37 | XSM-65A Atlas | XSM-65A Atlas | 4A | Cape Canaveral LC-14 | Cape Canaveral LC-14 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 11 June 19:37 | | | ARDC | Suborbital | Test flight | 11 June | Partial failure |
| Apogee: 3 kilometres (1.9 mi), maiden flight of the XSM-65A Atlas missile; destroyed by range safety after fuel system malfunction, but succeeded at other primary mission goals including launch mechanisms, airframe integrity, subsystems performance, and operating procedures ||||||
| 14 June | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 14 June | | Vibrator | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 June | Successful |
| The Vibrator system was a non-contact explosive device ||||||
| 18 June 14:00 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | USAF 78 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 18 June 14:00 | | | AFCRC / University of Utah | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 18 June | Successful |
| Apogee: 171 kilometres (106 mi) ||||||
| 22 June | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 22 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | ABM target | 22 June | Successful |
| 22 June | R-12 | R-12 | LKI1-1 | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 22 June | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 June | Successful |
| Maiden flight of the R-12 missile ||||||
| 23 June | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 23 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | ABM target | 23 June | Successful |
| 25 June 14:07 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | USAF 79 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 25 June 14:07 | | | AFCRC / University of Utah | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 25 June | Successful |
| Apogee: 202 kilometres (126 mi) ||||||
| 28 June | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 28 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | ABM target | 28 June | Successful |
| 28 June | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 28 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 June | Successful |
| 28 June | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 28 June | | Vibrator | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 June | Successful |
| The Vibrator system was a non-contact explosive device ||||||
| 29 June | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 29 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | ABM target | 29 June | Successful |
| 1 July 19:00 | Nike-Deacon | Nike-Deacon | NN7.37F | San Nicolas | San Nicolas | US Navy | US Navy |
| 1 July 19:00 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 1 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 93 kilometres (58 mi) ||||||
| 3 July 16:29 | Nike-Deacon | Nike-Deacon | NN7.38F | San Nicolas | San Nicolas | US Navy | US Navy |
| 3 July 16:29 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 3 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi) ||||||
| 4 July | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 4 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | ABM target | 4 July | Successful |
| 4 July | R-12 | R-12 | LKI1-2 | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 4 July | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 July | Successful |
| 4 July 18:15:40 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | NN3.08F | Churchill | Churchill | US Navy | US Navy |
| 4 July 18:15:40 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 4 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 237 kilometres (147 mi) ||||||
| 5 July | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 5 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | ABM target | 5 July | Successful |
| 5 July 06:17:56 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | NN3.09F | Churchill | Churchill | US Navy | US Navy |
| 5 July 06:17:56 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 5 July | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) ||||||
| 7 July | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 7 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 July | Successful |
| 8 July | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 8 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 8 July | Successful |
| 9 July | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 9 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 July | Successful |
| 9 July | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 9 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 July | Successful |
| 9 July | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 9 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 July | Successful |
| 10 July | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 10 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 July | Successful |
| 10 July | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 10 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 July | Successful |
| 12 July 12:53 | R-7 | R-7 | | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Baikonur Site 1/5 | MVS | MVS |
| 12 July 12:53 | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 July | Launch failure |
| Control system short-circuited resulting in loss of control, boosters fell off 33 seconds after launch ||||||
| 13 July | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 13 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 13 July | Successful |
| 13 July | R-12 | R-12 | LKI1-3 | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 13 July | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 13 July | Successful |
| 15 July 21:23 | Nike-Deacon | Nike-Deacon | NN7.39F | San Nicolas | San Nicolas | US Navy | US Navy |
| 15 July 21:23 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 15 July | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 28 kilometres (17 mi) ||||||
| 16 July 13:30 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a$^{:43}$ | Aerobee RTV-A-1a$^{:43}$ | USAF 80 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 16 July 13:30 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Meteorite research | 16 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi), final known flight of the Aerobee RTV-A-1a ||||||
| 18 July | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 18 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 18 July | Successful |
| 18 July | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 18 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 18 July | Successful |
| 18 July 14:30 | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | USAF 81 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 18 July 14:30 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Meteorite research | 18 July | Launch failure |
| 19 July | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 19 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 July | Successful |
| 19 July | Polaris FTV-3 | Polaris FTV-3 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 19 July | | | USNSPO | Suborbital | REV test | 19 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi), technology test for development of the UGM-27 Polaris; maiden flight of the Polaris FTV-3 ||||||
| 22 July | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 22 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 July | Successful |
| 22 July 04:16:28 | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | SM1.02 | Churchill | Churchill | US Army | US Army |
| 22 July 04:16:28 | | Grenades | SCEL / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 22 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 92 kilometres (57 mi) ||||||
| 22 July | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 22 July | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 22 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 114 kilometres (71 mi) ||||||
| 23 July 03:02 | Skylark (Raven 1) | Skylark (Raven 1) | SL03 | Woomera LA-2 SL | Woomera LA-2 SL | WRE / RAE | WRE / RAE |
| 23 July 03:02 | | | RAE / QUB | Suborbital | Test flight / Airglow | 23 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 85 kilometres (53 mi) ||||||
| 23 July 23:31:52 | Nike-Deacon | Nike-Deacon | NN7.40F | San Nicolas | San Nicolas | US Navy | US Navy |
| 23 July 23:31:52 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 23 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi) ||||||
| 24 July | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 24 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 July | Successful |
| 24 July | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 24 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 July | Successful |
| 24 July | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 24 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 July | Successful |
| 24 July 05:29:50 | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | SM1.03 | Churchill | Churchill | US Army | US Army |
| 24 July 05:29:50 | | Grenades | SCEL / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 24 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 88 kilometres (55 mi) ||||||
| 27 July | R-12 | R-12 | LKI1-4 | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 27 July | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 July | Successful |
| 29 July | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 29 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 July | Successful |
| 29 July 21:59 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | NN3.13F | Churchill | Churchill | US Navy | US Navy |
| 29 July 21:59 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 29 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 210 kilometres (130 mi) ||||||
| 30 July 18:10:02 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | AM6.32 | Churchill | Churchill | University of Michigan / US Army | University of Michigan / US Army |
| 30 July 18:10:02 | | | University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 30 July | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 25 kilometres (16 mi) ||||||
| 2 August | R-12 | R-12 | LKI1-5 | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 2 August | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 2 August | Launch Failure |
| 2 August | HJ-Nike | HJ-Nike | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NACA | NACA |
| 2 August | | | NACA | Suborbital | Flat REV test | 2 August | Successful |
| 5 August | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 5 August | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 5 August | Successful |
| 5 August 19:10 | Nike-Deacon | Nike-Deacon | NN7.41F | San Nicolas | San Nicolas | US Navy | US Navy |
| 5 August 19:10 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 5 August | Launch Failure |
| Apogee: 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) ||||||
| 5 August 13:22 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 56 | USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea | USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 5 August 13:22 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Chemical Release | 5 August | Successful |
| 5 August 16:59 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 57 | USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea | USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 5 August 16:59 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Fields | 5 August | Successful |
| 6 August | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 6 August | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 August | Successful |
| 6 August 13:13 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 58 | USS Plymouth Rock, southern Davis Strait | USS Plymouth Rock, southern Davis Strait | US Navy | US Navy |
| 6 August 13:13 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release | 6 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi) ||||||
| 6 August 15:30 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | USAF 82 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 6 August 15:30 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Solar UV | 6 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi) ||||||
| 6 August 17:23 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 59 | USS Plymouth Rock, Davis Strait | USS Plymouth Rock, Davis Strait | US Navy | US Navy |
| 6 August 17:23 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 6 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi) ||||||
| 7 August 03:28 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 60 | USS Plymouth Rock, northern Davis Strait | USS Plymouth Rock, northern Davis Strait | US Navy | US Navy |
| 7 August 03:28 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Chemical Release | 7 August | Launch failure |
| 7 August | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 7 August | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 August | Successful |
| 7 August 22:04 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 61 | USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay | USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay | US Navy | US Navy |
| 7 August 22:04 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Fields | 7 August | Launch failure |
| 8 August | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 8 August | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 8 August | Successful |
| 8 August 06:59 | Jupiter-C | Jupiter-C | | Cape Canaveral LC-6 | Cape Canaveral LC-6 | ABMA | ABMA |
| 8 August 06:59 | | | ABMA | Suborbital | REV test | 8 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 460 kilometres (290 mi), re-entry nose cone recovered ||||||
| 8 August 07:17 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 62 | USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay | USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay | US Navy | US Navy |
| 8 August 07:17 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Chemical Release | 8 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 132 kilometres (82 mi) ||||||
| 9 August | Polaris FTV-3 | Polaris FTV-3 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 9 August | | | USNSPO | Suborbital | REV test | 9 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi), technology test for development of the UGM-27 Polaris ||||||
| 10 August 06:29 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 63 | USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay | USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay | US Navy | US Navy |
| 10 August 06:29 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release | 10 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi) ||||||
| 10 August 23:36 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 64 | USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay | USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay | US Navy | US Navy |
| 10 August 23:36 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release | 10 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 77 kilometres (48 mi) ||||||
| 11 August 05:16 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 65 | USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay | USS Plymouth Rock, Baffin Bay | US Navy | US Navy |
| 11 August 05:16 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Chemical Release | 11 August | Launch failure |
| 11 August 20:30 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 66 | USS Plymouth Rock, Davis Strait | USS Plymouth Rock, Davis Strait | US Navy | US Navy |
| 11 August 20:30 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Chemical Release | 11 August | Successful |
| 12 August 07:48 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 67 | USS Plymouth Rock, Davis Strait | USS Plymouth Rock, Davis Strait | US Navy | US Navy |
| 12 August 07:48 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release | 12 August | Launch failure |
| 12 August 15:15 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 68 | USS Plymouth Rock, Davis Strait | USS Plymouth Rock, Davis Strait | US Navy | US Navy |
| 12 August 15:15 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Auroral / Fields | 12 August | Successful |
| 12 August 15:59:31 | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | SM1.04 | Churchill | Churchill | US Army | US Army |
| 12 August 15:59:31 | | Grenades | SCEL / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 12 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 74 kilometres (46 mi) ||||||
| 13 August 01:58 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 69 | USS Plymouth Rock, southern Davis Strait | USS Plymouth Rock, southern Davis Strait | US Navy | US Navy |
| 13 August 01:58 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release | 13 August | Successful |
| 13 August | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 13 August | | SOI | RAS | Suborbital | Solar UV | 13 August | Successful |
| 14 August 09:24 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 70 | USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea | USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 14 August 09:24 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release | 14 August | Successful |
| 14 August 15:07 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 71 | USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea | USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 14 August 15:07 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Auroral / Fields | 14 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 97 kilometres (60 mi) ||||||
| 14 August 21:19 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 72 | USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea | USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 14 August 21:19 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release | 14 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) ||||||
| 15 August 00:11 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 73 | USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea | USS Plymouth Rock, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 15 August 00:11 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Auroral / Chemical Release | 15 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 97 kilometres (60 mi) ||||||
| 15 August | R-12 | R-12 | LKI1-6 | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 15 August | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 August | Successful |
| 16 August | Polaris FTV-5 | Polaris FTV-5 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 16 August | | | USNSPO | Suborbital | REV test | 16 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi), technology test for development of the UGM-27 Polaris; final flight of the Polaris FTV-5 ||||||
| 19 August | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | USAF 83 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 19 August | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 19 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 178 kilometres (111 mi) ||||||
| 20 August 02:29:51 | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | SM1.05 | Churchill | Churchill | US Army | US Army |
| 20 August 02:29:51 | | Grenades | SCEL / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 20 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 88 kilometres (55 mi) ||||||
| 20 August | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 20 August | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 20 August | Successful |
| 20 August 16:50:04 | Nike-Deacon | Nike-Deacon | NN7.42F | San Nicolas | San Nicolas | US Navy | US Navy |
| 20 August 16:50:04 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 20 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 96 kilometres (60 mi) ||||||
| 21 August 12:25 | R-7 | R-7 | | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Baikonur Site 1/5 | MVS | MVS |
| 21 August 12:25 | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 August | Successful |
| First successful R-7 launch ||||||
| 21 August | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | USAF 84 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 21 August | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 21 August | Successful |
| 22 August | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 22 August | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 August | Successful |
| 23 August | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 23 August | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 August | Successful |
| 23 August 21:54:05 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | RP6.X1 | Churchill | Churchill | University of Michigan / US Army | University of Michigan / US Army |
| 23 August 21:54:05 | | | BRL | Suborbital | Test flight | 23 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 114 kilometres (71 mi) ||||||
| 24 August 06:00 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | SS6.38 | Churchill | Churchill | University of Michigan / US Army | University of Michigan / US Army |
| 24 August 06:00 | | | USASC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 24 August | Launch failure |
| 25 August 02:23 | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 25 August 02:23 | | | NIIAM | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Biological | 25 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 206 kilometres (128 mi) ||||||
| 25 August 02:29 | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | SM2.05 | Churchill | Churchill | US Army | US Army |
| 25 August 02:29 | | | SCEL / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 25 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 51 kilometres (32 mi) ||||||
| 25 August 03:27 | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 25 August 03:27 | | | RAS | Suborbital | Test flight | 25 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 208 kilometres (129 mi) ||||||
| 25 August 14:08:05 | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | SM2.06 | Churchill | Churchill | US Army | US Army |
| 25 August 14:08:05 | | Grenades | SCEL / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 25 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) ||||||
| 27 August | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 27 August | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 August | Successful |
| 27 August | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 27 August | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 August | Successful |
| 27 August | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 27 August | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 August | Successful |
| 27 August 15:54 | Nike-Deacon | Nike-Deacon | NN7.43F | San Nicolas | San Nicolas | US Navy | US Navy |
| 27 August 15:54 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 27 August | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) ||||||
| 28 August 04:15:03 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | II6.22F | Churchill | Churchill | University of Michigan | University of Michigan |
| 28 August 04:15:03 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Auroral particles | 28 August | Successful |
| 28 August 20:21:40 | Nike-Deacon | Nike-Deacon | NN7.44F | San Nicolas | San Nicolas | US Navy | US Navy |
| 28 August 20:21:40 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 28 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 96 kilometres (60 mi) ||||||
| 28 August 21:02 | SM-78 Jupiter | SM-78 Jupiter | | Cape Canaveral LC-26A | Cape Canaveral LC-26A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 28 August 21:02 | | | ABMA | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 August | Successful |
| 29 August | R-12 | R-12 | LKI1-7 | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 29 August | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 August | Successful |
| 29 August 21:12:25 | Nike-Deacon | Nike-Deacon | NN7.45F | San Nicolas | San Nicolas | US Navy | US Navy |
| 29 August 21:12:25 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 29 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi) ||||||
| 30 August 20:10 | XSM-75 Thor | XSM-75 Thor | 104 | Cape Canaveral LC-17A | Cape Canaveral LC-17A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 30 August 20:10 | | | ARDC | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 August | Launch failure |
| Disintegrated 96 seconds after launch ||||||
| 31 August 04:57 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | II6.23F | Churchill | Churchill | University of Michigan / US Air Force | University of Michigan / US Air Force |
| 31 August 04:57 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Auroral particles | 31 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 115 kilometres (71 mi) ||||||
| 31 August 05:30 | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 31 August 05:30 | | | NIIAM | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Biological | 31 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 185 kilometres (115 mi) ||||||
| 1 September 22:28 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | AM4.001 | Churchill | Churchill | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 1 September 22:28 | | | AFCRC / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 1 September | Successful |
| Apogee: 160 kilometres (99 mi) ||||||
| 5 September | R-5M | R-5M | M1-1 | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 5 September | | Generator-5 | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 5 September | Successful |
| 7 September 11:39 | R-7 | R-7 | | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Baikonur Site 1/5 | MVS | MVS |
| 7 September 11:39 | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 September | Successful |
| 9 September 15:50 | R-2A | R-2A | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 9 September 15:50 | | | RAS | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Biological | 9 September | Successful |
| Apogee: 212 kilometres (132 mi) ||||||
| 12 September | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 12 September | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 September | Successful |
| 12 September 15:19:30 | Nike-Deacon | Nike-Deacon | NN7.46F | San Nicolas | San Nicolas | US Navy | US Navy |
| 12 September 15:19:30 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 12 September | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) ||||||
| 14 September | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 14 September | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 September | Successful |
| 15 September 20:43 | Nike-Deacon | Nike-Deacon | NN7.47F | San Nicolas | San Nicolas | US Navy | US Navy |
| 15 September 20:43 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 15 September | Launch failure |
| 17 September 14:04 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | NRL 21 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 17 September 14:04 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV | 17 September | Successful |
| Apogee: 51 kilometres (32 mi), final flight of the RTV-N-10 ||||||
| 18 September 17:42 | Nike-Deacon | Nike-Deacon | NN7.48F | San Nicolas | San Nicolas | US Navy | US Navy |
| 18 September 17:42 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 18 September | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 21 kilometres (13 mi) ||||||
| 18 September 17:54 | Nike-Deacon | Nike-Deacon | NN7.49F | San Nicolas | San Nicolas | US Navy | US Navy |
| 18 September 17:54 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 18 September | Successful |
| Apogee: 77 kilometres (48 mi), final flight of the Nike-Deacon ||||||
| 19 September 16:30 | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 19 September 16:30 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 19 September | Successful |
| Released caesium ||||||
| 20 September 14:25 | XSM-75 Thor | XSM-75 Thor | 105 | Cape Canaveral LC-17B | Cape Canaveral LC-17B | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 20 September 14:25 | | | ARDC | Suborbital | Missile test | 20 September | Successful |
| First successful Thor launch ||||||
| 21 September | R-2 | R-2 | | Urda, Kazakhstan | Urda, Kazakhstan | MVS | MVS |
| 21 September | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 September | Successful |
| Launched with tactical launcher ||||||
| 21 September | R-2 | R-2 | | Urda, Kazakhstan | Urda, Kazakhstan | MVS | MVS |
| 21 September | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 September | Successful |
| Launched with tactical launcher ||||||
| 22 September | R-2 | R-2 | | Urda, Kazakhstan | Urda, Kazakhstan | MVS | MVS |
| 22 September | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 September | Successful |
| Launched with tactical launcher ||||||
| 23 September | R-2 | R-2 | | Urda, Kazakhstan | Urda, Kazakhstan | MVS | MVS |
| 23 September | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 September | Successful |
| Launched with tactical launcher ||||||
| 25 September | Farside | Farside | Shot 1 | Eniwetok | Eniwetok | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 25 September | | | AFOSR | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 25 September | Launch failure |
| Maiden flight of the Farside, stage zero (balloon) malfunction ||||||
| 25 September 19:57 | XSM-65A Atlas | XSM-65A Atlas | 6A | Cape Canaveral LC-14 | Cape Canaveral LC-14 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 25 September 19:57 | | | ARDC | Suborbital | Test flight | 25 September | Partial failure |
| Apogee: 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), destroyed by range safety following fuel system malfunction, flight considered partial success ||||||
| 26 September | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 26 September | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 September | Successful |
| 26 September 18:21 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 74 | USS Glacier, Atlantic Ocean | USS Glacier, Atlantic Ocean | US Navy | US Navy |
| 26 September 18:21 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Test flight | 26 September | Successful |
| 26 September 20:00 | Nike-Asp | Nike-Asp | NN8.50F | San Nicolas | San Nicolas | US Navy | US Navy |
| 26 September 20:00 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Test flight | 26 September | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 16 kilometres (9.9 mi), maiden flight of the Nike-Asp ||||||
| 27 September 14:27 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 75 | USS Glacier, east of The Bahamas | USS Glacier, east of The Bahamas | US Navy | US Navy |
| 27 September 14:27 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Chemical release | 27 September | Successful |
| Apogee: 119 kilometres (74 mi) ||||||
| 29 September | R-2 | R-2 | | Urda, Kazakhstan | Urda, Kazakhstan | MVS | MVS |
| 29 September | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 September | Successful |
| Launched with tactical launcher ||||||
| 30 September | R-2 | R-2 | | Urda, Kazakhstan | Urda, Kazakhstan | MVS | MVS |
| 30 September | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 September | Successful |
| Launched with tactical launcher ||||||
| October | Long Tom | Long Tom | LT1 | Woomera LA-2 SL | Woomera LA-2 SL | WRE | WRE |
| October | | | WRE | Suborbital | Test flight | Same Day | Successful |
| Maiden flight of the Long Tom and first Australian spaceflight ||||||
| 1 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 1 October | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 October | Successful |
| 2 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 2 October | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 2 October | Successful |
| 3 October | Farside | Farside | Shot 2 | Eniwetok | Eniwetok | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 3 October | | | AFOSR | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 3 October | Launch failure |
| 3 October | XSM-75 Thor | XSM-75 Thor | 107 | Cape Canaveral LC-17A | Cape Canaveral LC-17A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 3 October | | | ARDC | Suborbital | Missile test | 3 October | Launch failure |
| 4 October 20:36 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 76 | USS Glacier, Pacific Ocean, Southwest of Costa Rica | USS Glacier, Pacific Ocean, Southwest of Costa Rica | US Navy | US Navy |
| 4 October 20:36 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Chemical release | 4 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi) ||||||
| 6 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 6 October | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 October | Successful |
| 6 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 6 October | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 October | Successful |
| 7 October | Farside | Farside | Shot 3 | Eniwetok | Eniwetok | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 7 October | | | AFOSR | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 7 October | Launch failure |
| 11 October | Farside | Farside | Shot 4 | Eniwetok | Eniwetok | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 11 October | | | AFOSR | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 11 October | Launch failure |
| 11 October 16:33 | XSM-75 Thor | XSM-75 Thor | 108 | Cape Canaveral LC-17B | Cape Canaveral LC-17B | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 11 October 16:33 | | | ARDC | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 October | Partial launch failure |
| Turbopump gearbox malfunctioned, still met primary test objectives ||||||
| 12 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 12 October | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 October | Successful |
| 12 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 12 October | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 October | Successful |
| 13 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 13 October | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 13 October | Successful |
| 13 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 13 October | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 13 October | Successful |
| 13 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 13 October | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 13 October | Successful |
| 13 October 18:15 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 77 | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, east of Kiribati | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, east of Kiribati | US Navy | US Navy |
| 13 October 18:15 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Chemical release | 13 October | Successful |
| 14 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 14 October | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 October | Successful |
| 14 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 14 October | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 October | Successful |
| 14 October 15:08 | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | USAF 87 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 14 October 15:08 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Meteorite research | 14 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 146 kilometres (91 mi) ||||||
| 14 October 22:31 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 78 | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, east of Kiribati | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, east of Kiribati | US Navy | US Navy |
| 14 October 22:31 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Fields | 14 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi) ||||||
| 16 October 21:17 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 79 | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | US Navy | US Navy |
| 16 October 21:17 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Fields | 16 October | Successful |
| 17 October 00:09 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 80 | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | US Navy | US Navy |
| 17 October 00:09 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Fields | 17 October | Launch failure |
| 17 October 02:18 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 81 | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | US Navy | US Navy |
| 17 October 02:18 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Fields | 17 October | Launch failure |
| 17 October 05:05 | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | USAF 88 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 17 October 05:05 | | Artificial Meteor | AFCRC / Caltech | Suborbital | Meteorite research | 17 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 114 kilometres (71 mi) ||||||
| 17 October 21:16 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 82 | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | US Navy | US Navy |
| 17 October 21:16 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Fields | 17 October | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 44 kilometres (27 mi) ||||||
| 18 October 00:59 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 83 | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | US Navy | US Navy |
| 18 October 00:59 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Fields | 18 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 127 kilometres (79 mi) ||||||
| 18 October 09:35 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 84 | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | US Navy | US Navy |
| 18 October 09:35 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Chemical release | 18 October | Successful |
| 18 October 20:58 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 85 | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | US Navy | US Navy |
| 18 October 20:58 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Fields | 18 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi) ||||||
| 19 October 00:59 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 86 | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | US Navy | US Navy |
| 19 October 00:59 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Fields | 19 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi) ||||||
| 19 October 20:07 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 87 | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | US Navy | US Navy |
| 19 October 20:07 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Fields | 19 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi) ||||||
| 20 October | Farside | Farside | Shot 5 | Eniwetok | Eniwetok | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 20 October | | | AFOSR | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 20 October | Spacecraft failure |
| Apogee: 3,200 to 5,000 kilometres (2,000 to 3,100 mi), returned no data due to transmitter malfunction ||||||
| 20 October 02:19 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 88 | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | US Navy | US Navy |
| 20 October 02:19 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Fields | 20 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 104 kilometres (65 mi) ||||||
| 20 October 03:57 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 89 | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, near Kiribati | US Navy | US Navy |
| 20 October 03:57 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Chemical release | 20 October | Successful |
| 20 October 20:11 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 90 | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, southwest of Kiribati | USS Glacier, Central Pacific Ocean, southwest of Kiribati | US Navy | US Navy |
| 20 October 20:11 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Chemical release | 20 October | Successful |
| 22 October | Farside | Farside | Shot 6 | Eniwetok | Eniwetok | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 22 October | | | AFOSR | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 22 October | Spacecraft failure |
| Apogee: 3,200 to 5,000 kilometres (2,000 to 3,100 mi), returned no data due to transmitter malfunction ||||||
| 22 October 22:31 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 91 | USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, near the Cook Islands | USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, near the Cook Islands | US Navy | US Navy |
| 22 October 22:31 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Chemical release | 22 October | Successful |
| 23 October 01:07 | SM-78 Jupiter | SM-78 Jupiter | | Cape Canaveral LC-26B | Cape Canaveral LC-26B | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 23 October 01:07 | | | ABMA | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 October | Successful |
| 23 October | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 23 October | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 23 October | Successful |
| 23 October 19:22:54 | Vanguard | Vanguard | TV-2 | Cape Canaveral LC-18A | Cape Canaveral LC-18A | US Navy | US Navy |
| 23 October 19:22:54 | | Vanguard TV-2 | NRL | Suborbital | Test flight | 23 October | Successful |
| Maiden flight of the Vanguard, battleship upper stages, apogee: 175 kilometres (109 mi) ||||||
| 24 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 24 October | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 October | Successful |
| 24 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 24 October | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 October | Successful |
| 24 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 24 October | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 October | Successful |
| 24 October 14:30 | Polaris FTV-3 | Polaris FTV-3 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 24 October 14:30 | | | USNSPO | Suborbital | REV test | 24 October | Successful |
| Technology test for development of the UGM-27 Polaris ||||||
| 24 October 16:38 | XSM-75 Thor | XSM-75 Thor | 109 | Cape Canaveral LC-17A | Cape Canaveral LC-17A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 24 October 16:38 | | | ARDC | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 October | Successful |
| Final flight of R&D Series I; long range test ||||||
| 25 October | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 25 October | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 25 October | Successful |
| 25 October | HJ-Nike-Nike | HJ-Nike-Nike | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 25 October | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 25 October | Successful |
| Maiden flight of the HJ-Nike-Nike, although it wouldn't go to space until 1962 ||||||
| 26 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 26 October | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 October | Successful |
| 26 October 19:47 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 92 | USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, east of New Zealand | USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, east of New Zealand | US Navy | US Navy |
| 26 October 19:47 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Chemical release | 26 October | Successful |
| 27 October 02:46 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 93 | USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, east of New Zealand | USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, east of New Zealand | US Navy | US Navy |
| 27 October 02:46 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Chemical release | 27 October | Launch failure |
| 27 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 27 October | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 October | Successful |
| 29 October 00:13 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 94 | USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, southeast of New Zealand | USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, southeast of New Zealand | US Navy | US Navy |
| 29 October 00:13 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Chemical release | 29 October | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) ||||||
| 30 October 22:50 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 95 | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand | US Navy | US Navy |
| 30 October 22:50 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Chemical release | 30 October | Successful |
| 31 October 01:44 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 96 | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand | US Navy | US Navy |
| 31 October 01:44 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Chemical release | 31 October | Successful |
| 31 October 19:51 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 97 | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand | US Navy | US Navy |
| 31 October 19:51 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Fields | 31 October | Successful |
| 1 November 01:00 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 98 | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand | US Navy | US Navy |
| 1 November 01:00 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Fields | 1 November | Launch failure |
| 3 November | R-5M | R-5M | M1-2 | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 3 November | | Generator-5 | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 3 November | Successful |
| 3 November 20:08 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 99 | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | US Navy | US Navy |
| 3 November 20:08 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Fields | 3 November | Launch failure |
| 4 November 00:39 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 100 | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | US Navy | US Navy |
| 4 November 00:39 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Chemical release | 4 November | Successful |
| 4 November 02:50 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 101 | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | US Navy | US Navy |
| 4 November 02:50 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Fields | 4 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi) ||||||
| 4 November 03:47 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 102 | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | US Navy | US Navy |
| 4 November 03:47 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Fields | 4 November | Launch failure |
| 4 November 07:16 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 103 | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | US Navy | US Navy |
| 4 November 07:16 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Chemical release | 4 November | Launch failure |
| 4 November | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 4 November | | | MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 November | Successful |
| 4 November 18:52 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 104 | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | US Navy | US Navy |
| 4 November 18:52 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Fields | 4 November | Successful |
| 5 November 01:25 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 105 | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | US Navy | US Navy |
| 5 November 01:25 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Chemical release | 5 November | Successful |
| 5 November 20:23 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 106 | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | US Navy | US Navy |
| 5 November 20:23 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Fields | 5 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 97 kilometres (60 mi) ||||||
| 5 November 23:17 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 107 | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | USS Glacier, Southern Ocean, north of McMurdo Station | US Navy | US Navy |
| 5 November 23:17 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Fields | 5 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) ||||||
| 7 November 16:05 | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | USAF 89 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 7 November 16:05 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 7 November | Successful |
| 8 November | Polaris FTV-3 | Polaris FTV-3 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 8 November | | | USNSPO | Suborbital | REV test | 8 November | Successful |
| Technology test for development of the UGM-27 Polaris, final flight of the Polaris FTV-3 ||||||
| 8 November 14:57 | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | USAF 90 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 8 November 14:57 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 8 November | Launch failure |
| 8 November 22:00 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 108 | USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, near New Zealand | USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, near New Zealand | US Navy | US Navy |
| 8 November 22:00 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Chemical release | 8 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi) ||||||
| 9 November 00:00 | Loki Rockoon | Loki Rockoon | SUI 109 | USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, near New Zealand | USS Glacier, South Pacific Ocean, near New Zealand | US Navy | US Navy |
| 9 November 00:00 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Chemical release | 9 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi), final flight of the Loki Rockoon ||||||
| 9 November 16:54 | A-1 | A-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | MVS | MVS |
| 9 November 16:54 | | | RAS | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 9 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 330 kilometres (210 mi) ||||||
| 10 November | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 10 November | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 10 November | Successful |
| 13 November 11:52 | Skylark (Raven 1) | Skylark (Raven 1) | SL04 | Woomera LA-2 SL | Woomera LA-2 SL | WRE / RAE | WRE / RAE |
| 13 November 11:52 | | | University College London | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 13 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 127 kilometres (79 mi), first British spaceflight ||||||
| 19 November 16:29:56 | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 19 November 16:29:56 | | Smoke Puff | AFCRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 19 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi), released potassium nitrate and aluminium to create a temporary 'radio mirror' ||||||
| 26 November 12:55 | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 26 November 12:55 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 26 November | Successful |
| 27 November 02:10 | SM-78 Jupiter | SM-78 Jupiter | | Cape Canaveral LC-26B | Cape Canaveral LC-26B | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 27 November 02:10 | | | ABMA | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 November | Partial failure |
| Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi), mechanical failure of turbo-pump caused loss of thrust and missile exploded. Other primary and secondary flight objectives were considered successful. ||||||
| 30 November | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 30 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 November | Successful |
| 7 December 22:11 | XSM-75 Thor | XSM-75 Thor | 112 | Cape Canaveral LC-17B | Cape Canaveral LC-17B | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 7 December 22:11 | | | ARDC | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 December | Successful |
| Start of R&D Series II ||||||
| 10 December 17:35 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | OB6.02F | White Sands | White Sands | University of Michigan / US Army | University of Michigan / US Army |
| 10 December 17:35 | | | BRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Fields | 10 December | Successful |
| Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi) ||||||
| 10 December 18:12 | Nike-Asp | Nike-Asp | NN8.51F | San Nicolas | San Nicolas | US Navy | US Navy |
| 10 December 18:12 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Test flight | 10 December | Successful |
| Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi) ||||||
| 10 December 21:36 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | SS6.39 | Churchill | Churchill | University of Michigan / US Army | University of Michigan / US Army |
| 10 December 21:36 | | | USASC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 10 December | Launch failure |
| 12 December 04:00 | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | SM1.07 | Churchill | Churchill | US Army | US Army |
| 12 December 04:00 | | Grenades | AFCRC / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 12 December | Successful |
| Apogee: 80 kilometres (50 mi) ||||||
| 14 December 21:00 | Aerobee (unknown type) | Aerobee (unknown type) | SM1.08 | Churchill | Churchill | US Army | US Army |
| 14 December 21:00 | | Grenades | USASC / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 14 December | Successful |
| Apogee: 97 kilometres (60 mi) ||||||
| 15 December 00:38 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | AM6.34 | Churchill | Churchill | University of Michigan / US Army | University of Michigan / US Army |
| 15 December 00:38 | | | University of Michigan / ARDC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 15 December | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) ||||||
| 17 December 17:39 | XSM-65A Atlas | XSM-65A Atlas | 12A | Cape Canaveral LC-14 | Cape Canaveral LC-14 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 17 December 17:39 | | | ARDC | Suborbital | Test flight | 17 December | Successful |
| First successful Atlas launch ||||||
| 19 December 00:07 | SM-78 Jupiter | SM-78 Jupiter | | Cape Canaveral LC-26B | Cape Canaveral LC-26B | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 19 December 00:07 | | | ABMA | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 December | Partial failure |
| Apogee: 92 kilometres (57 mi), mechanical failure of turbo-pump caused loss of thrust at 116.87 seconds. Other primary and secondary flight objectives were considered successful. ||||||
| 19 December 19:57 | XSM-75 Thor | XSM-75 Thor | 113 | Cape Canaveral LC-17A | Cape Canaveral LC-17A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 19 December 19:57 | | | ARDC | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 December | Successful |
| 23 December | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NACA | NACA |
| 23 December | | HUGO 2 | New Mexico State University | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Hurricane photography | 23 December | Launch failure |
| 26 December | R-5M | R-5M | M1-3 | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 26 December | | Generator-5 | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 December | Successful |
| Unknown | Terrapin | Terrapin | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NSA | NSA |
| Unknown | | | University of Maryland | Suborbital | Chemical Release | Same day | Successful |
| Unknown | Terrapin | Terrapin | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NSA | NSA |
| Unknown | | | University of Maryland | Suborbital | Chemical Release | Same day | Successful |
| Unknown | Terrapin | Terrapin | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NSA | NSA |
| Unknown | | | University of Maryland | Suborbital | Chemical Release | Same day | Successful |
| Unknown | Terrapin | Terrapin | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NSA | NSA |
| Unknown | | | University of Maryland | Suborbital | Chemical Release | Same day | Successful |
| Final flight of the Terrapin ||||||

## Orbital launch summary
### By country

Launches by country :
| Country | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
| | Soviet Union | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | First orbital launch |
| | United States | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |

### By rocket

| Rocket | Country | Type | Family | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
| Sputnik-PS (8K71PS) | Soviet Union | Sputnik | R-7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Maiden flight, first Soviet orbital flight and satellite, retired |
| Vanguard | United States | Vanguard | Viking | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight, first US orbital attempt |

### By launch site

| Site | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
| Baikonur | Soviet Union | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Cape Canaveral | United States | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |

### By orbit

| Orbital regime | Launches | Successes | Failures | Accidentally Achieved | Remarks |
| Low Earth | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Medium Earth | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |

## Launch summary
### By country

Launches by country :
| Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures |
| United States | 170 | 119 | 46 | 5 |
| Soviet Union | 106 | 102 | 3 | 1 |
| United Kingdom | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |

### By rocket

* Viking (second model)
* Vanguard
* Aerobee RTV-N-10
* Aerobee RTV-N-10c
* Aerobee Hi (NRL)
* Aerobee RTV-A-1a
* Aerobee Hi (USAF)
* Aerobee AJ10-34
* Aerobee (Unknown)
* Loki rockoon
* Farside
* Nike-Deacon
* Nike-Cajun
* Terrapin
* Nike-Asp
* X-17
* Polaris FTV-5
* Polaris FTV-3
* HJ-Nike
* HJ-Nike-Nike
* Jupiter-C
* SM-78 Jupiter
* XSM-75 Thor
* XSM-65A Atlas
* R-1
* A-1
* R-2
* R-2A
* R-5M
* R-7
* Sputnik-PS (8K71PS)
* R-12
* Skylark (Raven 1)
* Long Tom
Launches by rocket :
| Rocket | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
| Viking (second model) | United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Retired |
| Vanguard | United States | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight, first US orbital attempt |
| Aerobee RTV-N-10 | United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Retired |
| Aerobee RTV-N-10c | United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Retired |
| Aerobee Hi (NRL) | United States | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | |
| Aerobee RTV-A-1a | United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Retired |
| Aerobee Hi (USAF) | United States | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Aerobee AJ10-34 | United States | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Aerobee (Unknown Type) | United States | 21 | 19 | 2 | 0 | |
| Loki rockoon | United States | 57 | 44 | 13 | 0 | Retired |
| Farside | United States | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | Maiden flight, retired |
| Nike-Deacon | United States | 13 | 7 | 6 | 0 | Retired |
| Nike-Cajun | United States | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | |
| Terrapin | United States | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Retired |
| Nike-Asp | United States | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| X-17 | United States | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | |
| Polaris FTV-5 | United States | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight, retired |
| Polaris FTV-3 | United States | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight, retired |
| HJ-Nike | United States | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| HJ-Nike-Nike | United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Jupiter-C | United States | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| SM-78 Jupiter | United States | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | Maiden flight |
| XSM-75 Thor | United States | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | Maiden flight |
| XSM-65A Atlas | United States | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | Maiden flight |
| R-1 | Soviet Union | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | |
| A-1 | Soviet Union | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| R-2 | Soviet Union | 37 | 37 | 0 | 0 | |
| R-2A | Soviet Union | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| R-5M | Soviet Union | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | |
| R-7 | Soviet Union | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Sputnik-PS (8K71PS) | Soviet Union | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Maiden flight, first Soviet orbital flight and satellite, retired |
| R-12 | Soviet Union | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Skylark (Raven 1) | United Kingdom | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight, first British spaceflight |
| Long Tom | Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight, first Australian spaceflight |