# 1956 in spaceflight

This is a list of spaceflight related events which occurred in 1956.
* Crewed orbital spaceflight studied
* First nuclear warhead launched on a missile
* Atlas, Titan, Redstone programs going strong
* China begins missile development
* The race to launch a satellite heats up
* Japan's first substantial sounding rocket launched, the Kappa-1, but nation wouldn't go to space until the Kappa-8 in 1960
* First spaceflight launches from Canadian facility at Churchill

## Launches

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

### January

January 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 January | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 11 January | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 January | Successful |
| 17 January | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 17 January | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 January | Successful |
| 20 January | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 20 January | | | ARDC | Suborbital | Test flight | 20 January | Successful |
| Apogee: 132 kilometres (82 mi) ||||||
| 21 January | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 21 January | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 January | Successful |
| 21 January | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 21 January | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 January | Successful |
| 24 January | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 24 January | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 January | Successful |
| 24 January | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 24 January | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 January | Launch failure |

### 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 | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 2 February | | Baykal | MVS | Suborbital | Nuclear weapon test | 2 February | Successful |
| First launch of a missile carrying a live nuclear warhead ||||||
| 6 February | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 6 February | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 February | Successful |
| 13 February | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 13 February | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 13 February | Successful |
| 14 February | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 14 February | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 February | Successful |
| 16 February | R-5RD | R-5RD | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 16 February | | | MVS | Suborbital | R-7 component test | 16 February | Successful |
| Maiden flight of the R-5RD (or M5RD) ||||||
| 17 February | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 17 February | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 February | Successful |

### 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 ||||||
| 5 March | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 5 March | | | ARDC | Suborbital | Test flight | 5 March | Successful |
| Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi) ||||||
| 7 March | R-5RD | R-5RD | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 7 March | | | MVS | Suborbital | R-7 component test | 7 March | Successful |
| 9 March | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 9 March | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 March | Successful |
| 12 March 21:15 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 62 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 12 March 21:15 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 12 March | Successful |
| Apogee: 95 kilometres (59 mi)$^{:166–167}$ ||||||
| 14 March 08:45 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 63 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 14 March 08:45 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 14 March | Successful |
| Apogee: 106 kilometres (66 mi)$^{:168–169}$ ||||||
| 15 March | R-5RD | R-5RD | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 15 March | | | MVS | Suborbital | R-7 component test | 15 March | Successful |
| 17 March | R-5RD | R-5RD | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 17 March | | | MVS | Suborbital | R-7 component test | 17 March | Successful |
| 23 March | R-5RD | R-5RD | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 23 March | | | MVS | Suborbital | R-7 component test | 23 March | Successful |
| 28 March | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 28 March | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 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 | HJ-Nike | HJ-Nike | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NACA | NACA |
| 9 April | | | NACA | Suborbital | Test flight | 9 April | Successful |
| Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) ||||||
| 12 April 02:05 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 64 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 12 April 02:05 | | Sodium Release 3 | AFCRC | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Aeronomy | 12 April | Successful |
| Apogee: 106 kilometres (66 mi)$^{:170–171}$ ||||||
| 16 April | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 16 April | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 April | Successful |
| 17 April | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 17 April | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 17 April | Successful |
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) ||||||
| 29 April | R-2 | R-2 | | 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 ||||||
| 1 May 22:05 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | NRL 39 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 1 May 22:05 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Test flight | 1 May | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13a ||||||
| 8 May | R-1UK | R-1UK | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 8 May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Project T-3 | 8 May | Successful |
| 8 May | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 8 May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 8 May | Successful |
| 8 May 14:54 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | USAF 65 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 8 May 14:54 | | | AFCRC / University of Colorado | Suborbital | Solar UV | 8 May | Successful |
| Apogee: 143 kilometres (89 mi), maiden flight of the Aerobee AJ10-34$^{:172–173}$ ||||||
| 8 May 15:15 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | NRL 42 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 8 May 15:15 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Test flight | 8 May | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 188 kilometres (117 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13a ||||||
| 10 May | R-1UK | R-1UK | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 10 May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Project T-3 | 10 May | Successful |
| 14 May | R-1E | R-1E | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 14 May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Biological | 14 May | Successful |
| Carried dogs, all recovered ||||||
| 16 May | R-1UK | R-1UK | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 16 May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Project T-3 | 16 May | Successful |
| 16 May 15:40 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | USAF 66 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 16 May 15:40 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Test flight | 16 May | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi)$^{:174–175}$ ||||||
| 31 May 02:57 | R-1E | R-1E | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 31 May 02:57 | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Biological / Solar UV | 31 May | Successful |
| Carried dogs, all recovered ||||||
| 31 May | R-5R | R-5R | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 31 May | | | MVS | Suborbital | Radio guidance test | 31 May | Successful |
| Maiden flight of the R-5R ||||||

### 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 ||||||
| 4 June 14:13 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | NRL 46 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 4 June 14:13 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV | 4 June | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 58 kilometres (36 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13a ||||||
| 6 June | R-1UK | R-1UK | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 6 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Project T-3 | 6 June | Successful |
| 7 June | R-1E | R-1E | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 7 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Biological | 7 June | Successful |
| Final flight of the R-1E; carried dogs, all recovered ||||||
| 7 June | R-5R | R-5R | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 7 June | | | MVS | Suborbital | Radio guidance test | 7 June | Successful |
| 7 June | Nike-Nike-T40-T55 | Nike-Nike-T40-T55 | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NACA | NACA |
| 7 June | | | NACA | Suborbital | REV test | 7 June | Successful |
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), final flight of the Nike-Nike-T40-T55 ||||||
| 8 June | R-1UK | R-1UK | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 8 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Project T-3 | 8 June | Successful |
| 12 June | R-1UK | R-1UK | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 12 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Project T-3 | 12 June | Successful |
| 12 June | R-1UK | R-1UK | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 12 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Project T-3 | 12 June | Successful |
| 13 June 20:51 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | USAF 67 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 13 June 20:51 | | | AFCRC / University of Utah | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 13 June | Successful |
| Apogee: 137.8 kilometres (85.6 mi)$^{:176–177}$ ||||||
| 15 June | R-5R | R-5R | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 15 June | | | MVS | Suborbital | Radio guidance test | 15 June | Successful |
| Final flight of the R-5R ||||||
| 18 June | R-1UK | R-1UK | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 18 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Project T-3 | 18 June | Successful |
| 18 June 20:42 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | USAF 68 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 18 June 20:42 | | | AFCRC / University of Utah | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 18 June | Successful |
| Apogee: 137 kilometres (85 mi)$^{:178–179}$ ||||||
| 20 June | R-1UK | R-1UK | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 20 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Project T-3 | 20 June | Successful |
| 21 June | R-1UK | R-1UK | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 21 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Project T-3 | 21 June | Successful |
| Final flight of the R-1UK ||||||
| 21 June 18:48 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | USAF 69 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 21 June 18:48 | | | AFCRC / University of Utah | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 21 June | Successful |
| Apogee: 146 kilometres (91 mi)$^{:180–181}$ ||||||
| 22 June 19:42 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | NRL 22 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 22 June 19:42 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 22 June | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) ||||||
| 26 June | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 26 June | | | ARDC | Suborbital | Test flight | 26 June | Successful |
| Apogee: 140 kilometres (87 mi) ||||||
| 26 June 18:26 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | USAF 70 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 26 June 18:26 | | | AFCRC / University of Utah | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 26 June | Successful |
| Apogee: 111 kilometres (69 mi)$^{:182–183}$ ||||||
| 29 June 19:09 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | NRL 50 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 29 June 19:09 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 29 June | Successful |
| Apogee: 264 kilometres (164 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13b ||||||
| 30 June | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 30 June | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 June | Successful |

### 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 ||||||
| 5 July 07:52 | Aerobee RTV-N-10c | Aerobee RTV-N-10c | NRL 33 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 5 July 07:52 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Airglow / Aeronomy | 5 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 162 kilometres (101 mi) ||||||
| 6 July 18:00 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | AM6.01 | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NACA | NACA |
| 6 July 18:00 | | | NACA / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 6 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi), maiden flight of the Nike-Cajun ||||||
| 12 July | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 12 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 July | Successful |
| 17 July | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 17 July | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 17 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 142 kilometres (88 mi) ||||||
| 17 July 15:40 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NN5.27 | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | US Navy | US Navy |
| 17 July 15:40 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 17 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) ||||||
| 18 July 15:46 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NN5.28 | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | US Navy | US Navy |
| 18 July 15:46 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 18 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) ||||||
| 19 July 15:21 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NN5.29 | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | US Navy | US Navy |
| 19 July 15:21 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 19 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) ||||||
| 20 July | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 20 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 20 July | Launch failure |
| 20 July | R-5RD | R-5RD | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 20 July | | | MVS | Suborbital | R-7 component test | 20 July | Successful |
| 20 July 19:15 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NN5.30 | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | US Navy | US Navy |
| 20 July 19:15 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 20 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) ||||||
| 21 July 17:18 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NN5.31 | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | US Navy | US Navy |
| 21 July 17:18 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 21 July | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) ||||||
| 22 July 17:57 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NN5.32 | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | US Navy | US Navy |
| 22 July 17:57 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 22 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 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 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | US Navy | US Navy |
| 24 July | | HUGO | US Navy | Suborbital | Hurricane Photography / Aeronomy | 24 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 112 kilometres (70 mi) ||||||
| 24 July 14:07 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NN5.33 | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | US Navy | US Navy |
| 24 July 14:07 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 24 July | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) ||||||
| 25 July 15:15 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NN5.34 | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | US Navy | US Navy |
| 25 July 15:15 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 25 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) ||||||
| 26 July | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 26 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 July | Successful |
| 26 July 15:28 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NN5.35 | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | US Navy | US Navy |
| 26 July 15:28 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 26 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) ||||||
| 27 July | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 27 July | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 27 July | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 0 kilometres (0 mi) ||||||
| 27 July 15:30 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NN5.36 | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego | US Navy | US Navy |
| 27 July 15:30 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar UV / X-ray | 27 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi), final flight of the Deacon rockoon ||||||
| 28 July | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 28 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 July | Successful |
| 28 July | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 28 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 July | Successful |
| 28 July | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 28 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 July | Successful |
| 31 July 00:56 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | USAF 71 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 31 July 00:56 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Airglow | 31 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)$^{:184–185}$ ||||||

### 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 ||||||
| 3 August 12:56 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 72 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 3 August 12:56 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Solar UV | 3 August | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi), fail safe cutoff at 4.6 seconds$^{:186–187}$ ||||||
| 7 August | R-5RD | R-5RD | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 7 August | | | MVS | Suborbital | R-7 component test | 7 August | Successful |
| 8 August 22:00 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | AM6.30 | White Sands | White Sands | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 8 August 22:00 | | | University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 8 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) ||||||
| 9 August 15:53 | Aerobee XASR-SC-1 | Aerobee XASR-SC-1 | SC 34 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Army | US Army |
| 9 August 15:53 | | | SCEL / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 9 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 85.5 kilometres (53.1 mi)$^{:255–256}$ ||||||
| 9 August 22:47 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | OB6.00 | White Sands | White Sands | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 9 August 22:47 | | | BRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 9 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 164 kilometres (102 mi) ||||||
| 10 August | R-5RD | R-5RD | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 10 August | | | MVS | Suborbital | R-7 component test | 10 August | Successful |
| 10 August 15:22 | Aerobee XASR-SC-1 | Aerobee XASR-SC-1 | SC 35 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Army | US Army |
| 10 August 15:22 | | | SCEL / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 10 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 85.9 kilometres (53.4 mi), final flight of the Aerobee XASR-SC-1$^{:257–258}$ ||||||
| 18 August | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 18 August | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 18 August | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 0 kilometres (0 mi) ||||||
| 23 August | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 23 August | | | ARDC / NACA | Suborbital | REV test | 23 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 142 kilometres (88 mi) ||||||
| 25 August | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 25 August | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 August | Successful |
| 28 August | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 28 August | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 28 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) ||||||

### 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 ||||||
| 8 September | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 8 September | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 8 September | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 394 kilometres (245 mi) ||||||
| 16 September | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 16 September | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 September | Successful |
| 19 September | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 19 September | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 September | Successful |
| 20 September 06:45 | Jupiter-C | Jupiter-C | | Cape Canaveral LC-5 | Cape Canaveral LC-5 | ABMA | ABMA |
| 20 September 06:45 | | | ABMA | Suborbital | REV test | 20 September | Successful |
| Apogee: 1,094 kilometres (680 mi), maiden flight of the Jupiter-C, carried a 39.2 kilograms (86 lb) payload in a three-stage configuration ||||||
| 21 September | Terrapin | Terrapin | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NACA / NSA | NACA / NSA |
| 21 September | | | University of Maryland | Suborbital | Test flight | 21 September | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 16 kilometres (9.9 mi), maiden flight of the Terrapin ||||||
| 21 September | Terrapin | Terrapin | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NACA / NSA | NACA / NSA |
| 21 September | | | University of Maryland | Suborbital | Test flight | 21 September | Successful |
| Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) ||||||
| 25 September | R-5RD | R-5RD | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 25 September | | | MVS | Suborbital | R-7 component test | 25 September | Successful |
| 26 September | R-5RD | R-5RD | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 26 September | | | MVS | Suborbital | R-7 component test | 26 September | Successful |
| Final flight of the R-5RD ||||||
| 29 September | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 29 September | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 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 | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 1 October | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 1 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi) ||||||
| 5 October | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 5 October | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 5 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi) ||||||
| 11 October | HJ-Nike | HJ-Nike | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NACA | NACA |
| 11 October | | | NACA | Suborbital | REV test | 11 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 70 kilometres (43 mi) ||||||
| 13 October | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 13 October | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 13 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 102 kilometres (63 mi) ||||||
| 18 October | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 18 October | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 18 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 155 kilometres (96 mi) ||||||
| 20 October 22:01 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | AM6.31 | Churchill | Churchill | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 20 October 22:01 | | | University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 20 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi), first spaceflight launched from Canadian soil ||||||
| 23 October 08:40 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | AM2.21 | Churchill | Churchill | US Army | US Army |
| 23 October 08:40 | | | SCEL / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 23 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi) ||||||
| 24 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 24 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 October | Successful |
| 25 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 25 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 October | Successful |
| 25 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 25 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 October | Successful |
| 25 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 25 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 October | Successful |
| 26 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 26 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 October | Successful |
| 25 October | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 25 October | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 25 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 124 kilometres (77 mi) ||||||
| 27 October 21:24 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | AM6.08 | USS Rushmore, Atlantic Ocean, near New York City | USS Rushmore, Atlantic Ocean, near New York City | US Air Force / US Navy | US Air Force / US Navy |
| 27 October 21:24 | | | University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 27 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 161 kilometres (100 mi) ||||||

### 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 ||||||
| 1 November 12:57 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | USAF 73 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 1 November 12:57 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 1 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 66 kilometres (41 mi) ||||||
| 2 November 05:39 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | Aerobee AJ10-34 | USAF 74 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 2 November 05:39 | | Sodium Release 4 | AFCRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 2 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 146 kilometres (91 mi) ||||||
| 2 November 18:40 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | AM6.09 | USS Rushmore, Atlantic Ocean, east of Newfoundland | USS Rushmore, Atlantic Ocean, east of Newfoundland | US Air Force / US Navy | US Air Force / US Navy |
| 2 November 18:40 | | | University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 2 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 131 kilometres (81 mi) ||||||
| 3 November | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 3 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 3 November | Successful |
| 3 November | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 3 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 3 November | Successful |
| 4 November 18:54 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | AM6.10 | USS Rushmore, Labrador Sea | USS Rushmore, Labrador Sea | US Air Force / US Navy | US Air Force / US Navy |
| 4 November 18:54 | | | University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 4 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 162 kilometres (101 mi) ||||||
| 5 November | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 5 November | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 5 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 118 kilometres (73 mi) ||||||
| 5 November 07:50 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | NRL 45 | Churchill | Churchill | US Navy | US Navy |
| 5 November 07:50 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Auroral | 5 November | Unknown |
| Navy variant designation: RV-N-13b; Altitude not reported, possible failure ||||||
| 7 November 15:02 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | AM6.11 | USS Rushmore, Davis Strait | USS Rushmore, Davis Strait | US Air Force / US Navy | US Air Force / US Navy |
| 7 November 15:02 | | | University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 7 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi) ||||||
| 10 November 15:17 | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | AM6.12 | USS Rushmore, Davis Strait | USS Rushmore, Davis Strait | US Air Force / US Navy | US Air Force / US Navy |
| 10 November 15:17 | | | University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 10 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 161 kilometres (100 mi) ||||||
| 12 November | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 12 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 November | Successful |
| 12 November 11:47 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | SM1.01 | Churchill | Churchill | US Army | US Army |
| 12 November 11:47 | | Grenades | SCEL / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 12 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 67 kilometres (42 mi) ||||||
| 13 November | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 13 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 13 November | Successful |
| 15 November 19:32 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | NRL 47 | Churchill | Churchill | US Navy | US Navy |
| 15 November 19:32 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 15 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13b ||||||
| 16 November | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 16 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 November | Successful |
| 16 November | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 16 November | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 16 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 107 kilometres (66 mi) ||||||
| 17 November 16:48 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | NRL 43 | Churchill | Churchill | US Navy | US Navy |
| 17 November 16:48 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Solar UV / Solar X-Ray | 17 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 209 kilometres (130 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13b ||||||
| 21 November 05:21 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | NRL 48 | Churchill | Churchill | US Navy | US Navy |
| 21 November 05:21 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric / Auroral | 21 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13c ||||||
| 23 November | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 23 November | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 23 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 143 kilometres (89 mi) ||||||
| 24 November | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 24 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | ABM target | 24 November | Successful |
| First R-5 to launch as an anti-ballistic missile target for the V-1000 system ||||||

### 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 ||||||
| 3 December | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 3 December | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 3 December | Successful |
| Apogee: 125 kilometres (78 mi) ||||||
| 6 December | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 6 December | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 December | Successful |
| 6 December | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 6 December | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 December | Successful |
| 7 December | Nike-Cajun | Nike-Cajun | | Wallops Island | Wallops Island | NACA | NACA |
| 7 December | | | NACA | Suborbital | REV test | 7 December | Successful |
| Apogee: 30 kilometres (19 mi) ||||||
| 8 December 06:03 | Viking (second model) | Viking (second model) | | Cape Canaveral LC-18A | Cape Canaveral LC-18A | US Navy | US Navy |
| 8 December 06:03 | | Vanguard TV-0 | NRL | Suborbital | Test flight | 8 December | Successful |
| Apogee: 203.6 kilometres (126.5 mi), first Project Vanguard test flight using a single-stage Viking (No. 13) ||||||
| 11 December | X-17 | X-17 | | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | Cape Canaveral LC-3 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 11 December | | | ARDC | Suborbital | REV test | 11 December | Successful |
| Apogee: 144 kilometres (89 mi) ||||||
| 12 December | R-5M | R-5M | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 12 December | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | ABM target | 12 December | Successful |
| 13 December 21:44 | Aerobee Hi | Aerobee Hi | USAF 75 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 13 December 21:44 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Test flight | 13 December | Successful |
| Apogee: 193 kilometres (120 mi) ||||||
| 20 December | A-1 | A-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 20 December | | | MVS | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 20 December | Successful |
* ← Jan
* Feb
* Mar
* Apr
* May
* Jun
* Jul
* Aug
* Sep
* Oct
* Nov
* Dec →

## Suborbital launch summary
### By country

Launches by country :
| Country | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Unknown |
| | United States | 76 | 63 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| | Soviet Union | 69 | 67 | 2 | 0 | 0 |

### By rocket

* Viking (second model)
* Aerobee RTV-N-10
* Aerobee RTV-N-10c
* Aerobee Hi (NRL)
* Aerobee XASR-SC-1
* Aerobee RTV-A-1a
* Aerobee Hi (USAF)
* Aerobee AJ10-34
* Deacon rockoon (NRL)
* Nike-Nike-T40-T55
* Nike-Cajun
* Terrapin
* X-17
* HJ-Nike
* Jupiter-C
* R-1
* A-1
* R-1E
* R-1UK
* R-2
* R-5M
* R-5RD
* R-5R
Launches by rocket :
| Rocket | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Unknown | Remarks |
| Viking (second model) | United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Aerobee RTV-N-10 | United States | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Aerobee RTV-N-10c | United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Aerobee Hi (NRL) | United States | 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Aerobee XASR-SC-1 | United States | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Retired |
| Aerobee RTV-A-1a | United States | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Aerobee Hi (USAF) | United States | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Aerobee AJ10-34 | United States | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Deacon rockoon (NRL) | United States | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Retired |
| Nike-Nike-T40-T55 | United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Retired |
| Nike-Cajun | United States | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Terrapin | United States | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| X-17 | United States | 20 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| HJ-Nike | United States | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Jupiter-C | United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| R-1 | Soviet Union | 17 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| A-1 | Soviet Union | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| R-1E | Soviet Union | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Retired |
| R-1UK | Soviet Union | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight, retired |
| R-2 | Soviet Union | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| R-5M | Soviet Union | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| R-5RD | Soviet Union | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight, retired |
| R-5R | Soviet Union | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight, retired |