# 1953 in spaceflight

The year 1953 saw the rockoon join the stable of sounding rockets capable of reaching beyond the 100 kilometres (62 mi) boundary of space (as defined by the World Air Sports Federation). Employed by both the University of Iowa and the Naval Research Laboratory, 22 total were launched from the decks of the USS Staten Island and the USCGC Eastwind this year. All branches of the United States military continued their program of Aerobee sounding rocket launches, a total of 23 were launched throughout 1953. The Soviet Union launched no sounding rockets in 1953; however, the Soviet Union did conduct several series of missile test launches.
Both the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics continued their development of ballistic missiles: the United States Air Force with its Atlas ICBM, the United States Army with its Redstone SRBM, the Soviet OKB-1 with its R-5 IRBM, and Soviet Factory 586 with its R-12 IRBM. None entered active service during 1953.
The first meeting of the Comité Speciale de l'Année Géophysique Internationale (CSAGI), a special committee of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU), began preliminary coordination of the International Geophysical Year (IGY), scheduled for 1957–58.

## Space exploration highlights
### US Navy

On 25 May 1953, Viking 10, originally planned to be the last of the Naval Research Laboratory-built Viking rockets, arrived at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. A successful static firing on 18 June cleared the way for a 30 June launch date, a schedule that had been made months prior, before the rocket had even left the Glenn L. Martin Company plant where it had been built. At the moment of liftoff, the tail of Viking 10 exploded, setting the rocket afire. Water was immediately flooded into the rocket's base in an attempt to extinguish the fire, but flames continued to burn in the East Quadrant of the firing platform. Half an hour after launch, two of the launch team under manager Milton Rosen were dispatched to put out the fire to salvage what remained of the rocket.
Though successful, these efforts were then threatened by a slow leak in the propellant tank. The vacuum created by the departing fuel was causing the tank to dimple with the danger of implosion that would cause the rocket to collapse. Lieutenant Joseph Pitts, a member of the launch team, shot a rifle round into the tank, equalizing the pressure and saving the rocket. Three hours after the attempted launch, the last of the alcohol propellant had been drained from Viking 10. The launch team was able to salvage the instrument package of cameras, including X-ray detectors, cosmic ray emulsions, and a radio-frequency mass-spectrometer, valued at tens of thousands of dollars, although there was concern that the rocket was irreparable.
A thorough investigation of the explosion began in July, but a conclusive cause could not be determined. In a reported presented in September, Milton Rosen noted that a similar occurrence had not happened in more than 100 prior tests of the Viking motor. It was decided to rebuild Viking 10, and a program for closer monitoring of potential fail points was implemented for the next launch, scheduled for 1954.

### American civilian efforts

After the successful field tests of balloon-launched rockets (rockoons) the previous year, a University of Iowa physics team embarked on a second rockoon expedition aboard the USS Staten Island in summer 1953 with improved equipment. The new Skyhook balloons increased the rocket firing altitude from 40,000 feet (12,000 m) to 50,000 feet (15,000 m) affording a peak rocket altitude of 57 miles (92 km). The total payload weights were increased by 2 pounds (0.91 kg) to 30 pounds (14 kg). Between 18 July and 4 September, the Iowa team launched 16 rockoons from a variety of latitudes, 7 of which reached useful altitudes and returned usable data. An NRL team aboard the same vessel launched six rockoons, of which half were complete successes. Data from these launches provided the first evidence of radiation associated with aurora borealis.

## Spacecraft development
### US Air Force

Development of the Atlas, the nation's first ICBM proceeded slowly throughout 1953. Without firm figures as to the weight and dimension of a thermonuclear device (the US tested its first H-bomb in November 1952, the USSR announced their first successful test in August 1953), it was not known if the Atlas could deliver an atomic bomb payload.
In spring 1953, Colonel Bernard Schriever, an assistant in development planning at The Pentagon and a proponent of long-ranged ballistic missiles, pushed to obtain accurate characteristics of a nuclear payload. Trevor Gardner, special assistant for research and development to the new Secretary of the Air Force, Harold Talbott, responded by organizing the Strategic Missiles Evaluation Committee or "Teapot Committee" comprising eleven of the top scientists and engineers in the country. Their goal would be to determine if a nuclear payload could be made small enough to fit on the Atlas rocket. If so, the importance of the committee's members would allow such findings to accelerate Atlas development. By October, committee member John von Neumann had completed his report on weights and figures indicating that smaller, more powerful warheads within Atlas' launch capability would soon be available. Pending test verification of von Neumann's theoretical results, the Air Force began revising the Atlas design for the projected nuclear payload.

### US Army

The first production Redstone, a surface-to-surface missile capable of delivering nuclear or conventional warheads to a range of 200 miles (320 km), was delivered on 27 July 1953. A Redstone R&D missile was flight tested on 20 August 1953.

### Soviet Union

The R-5 missile, able to carry the same 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb) payload as the R-1 and R-2 but over a distance of 1,200 kilometres (750 mi)$^{:242}$ underwent its first series of eight test launches from 15 March to 23 May 1953. After two failures, the third rocket, launched 2 April, marked the beginning of streak of success. Seven more missiles were launched between 30 October and December, all of which reached their targets. A final series of launches, designed to test modifications made in response to issues with the first series, was scheduled for mid-1954.$^{:100–101}$
In his brief tenure as Director of NII-88, responsible for the production of all Soviet ballistic missiles, engineer Mikhail Yangel chafed professionally with OKB-1 (formerly NII-88 Section 3) Chief Designer, Sergei Korolev, whom he had previously reported to as Deputy Chief Designer of the bureau. To relieve this tension, on 4 October 1953, Yangel was demoted to NII-88 Chief Engineer and assigned responsibility for production of missiles at State Union Plant No. 586 in Dnepropetrovsk. This plant under, Vasiliy Budnik, had been tasked on 13 February 1953 with developing the R-12 missile, possessing a performance similar to that of the R-5 (range of 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) vs. 1,200 kilometres (750 mi)) but using storable propellants so that it could be stored at firing readiness for extended periods of time.$^{:113–114}$
At the end of 1953, at a meeting of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, it was determined that a transportable thermonuclear device be developed (as opposed to the one detonated in August, which was stationary). It was further determined that an ICBM be developed to carry said bomb. As no ICBMs existed at the time, in reality or even in planning, development of a nuclear capable R-5 (dubbed the "R-5M") was ordered.$^{:275}$

### The International Geophysical Year

July 1953 saw the first meeting of the Comité Speciale de l'Année Géophysique Internationale (CSAGI), a special committee of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) tasked with coordinating the International Geophysical Year (IGY), set for 1957–58. This international effort would undertake simultaneous observations of geophysical phenomena over the entire surface of the Earth including such farflung regions as the Arctic and Antarctica. At its first meeting, CSAGI invited the world's nations to participate in the IGY. Response from most prominent nations was quick. The National Research Council of the US National Academy of Sciences set up a US National Committee for the IGY, with Joseph Kaplan serving as chairman and Hugh Odishaw as executive director. The only key nation slow in committing to the IGY was Soviet Union, which did not signal its involvement until spring 1955.$^{:69–70}$

## Launches

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

### February

February launches :
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| 10 February 21:09 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | NRL 12 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 10 February 21:09 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Cosmic Radiation | 10 February | Successful |
| Apogee: 137.0 kilometres (85.1 mi)$^{:305}$ ||||||
| 12 February 07:09 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | NRL 13 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 12 February 07:09 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Cosmic Radiation | 12 February | Successful |
| Apogee: 137.3 kilometres (85.3 mi)$^{:305}$ ||||||
| 18 February 06:50 | Aerobee XASR-SC-2 | Aerobee XASR-SC-2 | SC 27 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Army | US Army |
| 18 February 06:50 | | Grenades | SCEL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 18 February | Successful |
| Apogee: 108.6 kilometres (67.5 mi)$^{:240–241}$ ||||||
| 18 February 17:42 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 34 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 18 February 17:42 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Rocket performance test | 18 February | Successful |
| Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi)$^{:111–112}$ ||||||

### 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 ||||||
| 1 March | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 1 March | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 March | Successful |
| 5 March | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 5 March | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 5 March | Successful |
| 15 March | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 15 March | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 March | Partial failure |
| Maiden flight of R-5 ||||||
| 18 March | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 18 March | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 18 March | Partial failure |
| 19 March | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 19 March | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 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 ||||||
| 2 April | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 2 April | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 2 April | Successful |
| First successful R-5 launch ||||||
| 8 April | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 8 April | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 8 April | Partial failure |
| 14 April 15:47 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 35 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 14 April 15:47 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Rocket performance test | 14 April | Successful |
| Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi)$^{:113–114}$ ||||||
| 19 April | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 19 April | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 April | Successful |
| 23 April 19:33 | Aerobee XASR-SC-2 | Aerobee XASR-SC-2 | SC 30 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Army | US Army |
| 23 April 19:33 | | Sphere | SCEL / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 23 April | Successful |
| Apogee: 123.3 kilometres (76.6 mi)$^{:246–247}$ ||||||
| 24 April 10:19 | Aerobee XASR-SC-2 | Aerobee XASR-SC-2 | SC 28 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Army | US Army |
| 24 April 10:19 | | Grenades | SCEL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 24 April | Successful |
| Apogee: 108 kilometres (67 mi)$^{:242–243}$ ||||||
| 24 April | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 24 April | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 April | Partial failure |

### 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 ||||||
| 11 May | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 11 May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 May | Successful |
| 13 May | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 13 May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 13 May | Successful |
| 20 May 14:04 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 36 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 20 May 14:04 | | Airglow 3 | AFCRC | Suborbital | Sky Brightness | 20 May | Successful |
| Apogee: 114 kilometres (71 mi)$^{:115–116}$ ||||||
| 21 May 15:57 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 37 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 21 May 15:57 | | Airglow 4 | AFCRC | Suborbital | Sky Brightness | 21 May | Successful |
| Apogee: 114 kilometres (71 mi)$^{:117–118}$ ||||||
| 23 May | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 23 May | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 May | Successful |
| Contained 4 supplementary combat compartments; end of 1st set of experimental launches ||||||

### 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 ||||||
| 26 June 19:10 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 38 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 26 June 19:10 | | Ionosphere 3 | AFCRC / University of Utah | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 26 June | Successful |
| Apogee: 135 kilometres (84 mi)$^{:119–120}$ ||||||
| 30 June | Viking (second model) | Viking (second model) | | White Sands LC-33 | White Sands LC-33 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 30 June | | Viking 10 | NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy / Ionospheric | 30 June | Launch Failure |
| Apogee: 0 kilometres (0 mi), tail exploded on launch pad; rocket rebuilt and launched successfully on 7 May 1954 ||||||

### 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 ||||||
| 1 July 17:52 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 39 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 1 July 17:52 | | Ionosphere 4 | AFCRC / University of Utah | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 1 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 138 kilometres (86 mi)$^{:121–122}$ ||||||
| 6 July | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 6 July | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 July | Successful |
| 14 July 15:30 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 40 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 14 July 15:30 | | | AFCRC / University of Rhode Island | Suborbital | Solar UV | 14 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 103 kilometres (64 mi)$^{:123–124}$ ||||||
| 18 July 22:27 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 8 | USS Staten Island, Atlantic Ocean, 50 kilometres (31 mi) east of Boston | USS Staten Island, Atlantic Ocean, 50 kilometres (31 mi) east of Boston | US Navy | US Navy |
| 18 July 22:27 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Cosmic Radiation | 18 July | Launch failure |
| (Balloon) Apogee: 22.0 kilometres (13.7 mi), rocket failed to fire$^{:313}$ ||||||
| 19 July 10:30 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 9 | USS Staten Island, Atlantic Ocean, near Nova Scotia | USS Staten Island, Atlantic Ocean, near Nova Scotia | US Navy | US Navy |
| 19 July 10:30 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Cosmic Radiation | 19 July | Launch failure |
| (Balloon) Apogee: 22.2 kilometres (13.8 mi), rocket failed to fire$^{:313}$ ||||||
| 19 July 15:53 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 10 | USS Staten Island, Atlantic Ocean, near Nova Scotia | USS Staten Island, Atlantic Ocean, near Nova Scotia | US Navy | US Navy |
| 19 July 15:53 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Cosmic Radiation | 19 July | Launch failure |
| (Balloon) Apogee: 22.2 kilometres (13.8 mi), rocket failed to fire$^{:313}$ ||||||
| 19 July 21:57 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 11 | USS Staten Island, Atlantic Ocean, near Nova Scotia | USS Staten Island, Atlantic Ocean, near Nova Scotia | US Navy | US Navy |
| 19 July 21:57 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Cosmic Radiation | 19 July | Launch failure |
| (Balloon) Apogee: 23.2 kilometres (14.4 mi), rocket failed to fire$^{:314}$ ||||||
| 22 July 09:47 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 41 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 22 July 09:47 | | | AFCRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 23 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 95.6 kilometres (59.4 mi)$^{:125–126}$ ||||||
| 24 July 16:40 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 12 | USS Staten Island, Labrador Sea | USS Staten Island, Labrador Sea | US Navy | US Navy |
| 24 July 16:40 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Cosmic Radiation | 24 July | Launch failure |
| Balloon cut down, rocket failed to fire$^{:314}$ ||||||
| 28 July 09:41 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 13 | USS Staten Island, southern Davis Strait, near Baffin Island | USS Staten Island, southern Davis Strait, near Baffin Island | US Navy | US Navy |
| 28 July 09:41 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Cosmic Radiation | 28 July | Successful |
| Apogee: 88.4 kilometres (54.9 mi)$^{:314}$ ||||||

### 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 18:28 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 14 | USS Staten Island, Frobisher Bay | USS Staten Island, Frobisher Bay | US Navy | US Navy |
| 3 August 18:28 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Cosmic Radiation | 3 August | Successful |
| Apogee uncertain$^{:314}$ ||||||
| 5 August 21:54 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NRL Rockoon 1 | USS Staten Island, southern Davis Strait, near Baffin Island | USS Staten Island, southern Davis Strait, near Baffin Island | US Navy | US Navy |
| 5 August 21:54 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 5 August | |
| Apogee: 79.2 kilometres (49.2 mi);$^{:311}$ first of six 1953 NRL flights, three of which reached altitude and returned data ||||||
| 6 August 15:07 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 15 | USS Staten Island, Davis Strait | USS Staten Island, Davis Strait | US Navy | US Navy |
| 6 August 15:07 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Cosmic Radiation | 6 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 65.5 kilometres (40.7 mi)$^{:314}$ ||||||
| 6 August 18:40 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 16 | USS Staten Island, Davis Strait | USS Staten Island, Davis Strait | US Navy | US Navy |
| 6 August 18:40 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Cosmic Radiation | 6 August | Successful |
| Apogee uncertain$^{:315}$ ||||||
| 8 August 15:09 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NRL Rockoon 2 | USS Staten Island, Baffin Bay | USS Staten Island, Baffin Bay | US Navy | US Navy |
| 8 August 15:09 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 8 August | |
| Apogee uncertain;$^{:311}$ second of six 1953 NRL flights, three of which reached altitude and returned data ||||||
| 9 August 05:54 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 17 | USS Staten Island, Baffin Bay | USS Staten Island, Baffin Bay | US Navy | US Navy |
| 9 August 05:54 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Cosmic Radiation | 9 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 99.1 kilometres (61.6 mi)$^{:315}$ ||||||
| 9 August 19:15 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NRL Rockoon 3 | USS Staten Island, Baffin Bay | USS Staten Island, Baffin Bay | US Navy | US Navy |
| 9 August 19:15 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 9 August | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 38.1 kilometres (23.7 mi);$^{:311}$ third of six 1953 NRL flights, three of which reached altitude and returned data ||||||
| 11 August 17:09 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NRL Rockoon 4 | USS Staten Island, Baffin Bay | USS Staten Island, Baffin Bay | US Navy | US Navy |
| 11 August 17:09 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 11 August | |
| Apogee: 80.8 kilometres (50.2 mi);$^{:311}$ fourth of six 1953 NRL flights, three of which reached altitude and returned data ||||||
| 30 August 14:00 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 18 | USCGC Eastwind, Labrador Sea | USCGC Eastwind, Labrador Sea | US Coast Guard | US Coast Guard |
| 30 August 14:00 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Cosmic Radiation | 30 August | Launch failure |
| (Balloon) Apogee: 13.4 kilometres (8.3 mi), rocket failed to fire$^{:315}$ ||||||
| 30 August 16:20 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 19 | USCGC Eastwind, Labrador Sea | USCGC Eastwind, Labrador Sea | US Coast Guard | US Coast Guard |
| 30 August 16:20 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Cosmic Radiation | 30 August | Launch failure |
| (Balloon) Apogee: 19.2 kilometres (11.9 mi), rocket failed to fire$^{:315}$ ||||||
| 30 August 20:46 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 20 | USCGC Eastwind, Labrador Sea | USCGC Eastwind, Labrador Sea | US Coast Guard | US Coast Guard |
| 30 August 20:46 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Cosmic Radiation | 30 August | Successful |
| Apogee: 103.6 kilometres (64.4 mi)$^{:315}$ ||||||

### 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 ||||||
| 1 September 05:10 | Aerobee XASR-SC-2 | Aerobee XASR-SC-2 | SC 32 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Army | US Army |
| 1 September 05:10 | | Grenades | SCEL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 1 September | Successful |
| Apogee: 107.3 kilometres (66.7 mi), final flight of the Aerobee XASR-SC-2$^{:251–252}$ ||||||
| 3 September 09:50 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 21 | USCGC Eastwind, Atlantic Ocean, east of Nova Scotia | USCGC Eastwind, Atlantic Ocean, east of Nova Scotia | US Coast Guard | US Coast Guard |
| 3 September 09:50 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Cosmic Radiation | 3 September | Successful |
| Apogee uncertain$^{:316}$ ||||||
| 3 September 11:51 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 22 | USCGC Eastwind, Atlantic Ocean, east of Nova Scotia | USCGC Eastwind, Atlantic Ocean, east of Nova Scotia | US Coast Guard | US Coast Guard |
| 3 September 11:51 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Cosmic Radiation | 3 September | Successful |
| Apogee: 103.6 kilometres (64.4 mi)$^{:316}$ ||||||
| 3 September 14:05 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | SUI 23 | USCGC Eastwind, Atlantic Ocean, east of Nova Scotia | USCGC Eastwind, Atlantic Ocean, east of Nova Scotia | US Coast Guard | US Coast Guard |
| 3 September 14:05 | | | University of Iowa | Suborbital | Cosmic Radiation | 3 September | Successful |
| Apogee: 99.1 kilometres (61.6 mi)$^{:316}$ ||||||
| 4 September 03:59 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NRL Rockoon 5 | USCGC Eastwind, Atlantic Ocean, east of Nova Scotia | USCGC Eastwind, Atlantic Ocean, east of Nova Scotia | US Coast Guard | US Coast Guard |
| 4 September 03:59 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 4 September | |
| Apogee: 67.1 kilometres (41.7 mi);$^{:311}$ fifth of six 1953 NRL flights, three of which reached altitude and returned data ||||||
| 4 September 15:51 | Deacon Rockoon | Deacon Rockoon | NRL Rockoon 6 | USCGC Eastwind, Atlantic Ocean, near Nova Scotia | USCGC Eastwind, Atlantic Ocean, near Nova Scotia | US Coast Guard | US Coast Guard |
| 4 September 15:51 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 4 September | Launch Failure |
| (Balloon) Apogee: 13.7 kilometres (8.5 mi), rocket failed to fire;$^{:311}$ sixth of six 1953 NRL flights, three of which reached altitude and returned data ||||||
| 5 September 05:35 | Aerobee XASR-SC-1 | Aerobee XASR-SC-1 | SC 33 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Army | US Army |
| 5 September 05:35 | | Grenades | SCEL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 5 September | Successful |
| Apogee: 114 kilometres (71 mi)$^{:253–254}$ ||||||
| 15 September 15:02 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 42 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 15 September 15:02 | | Airglow 5 | AFCRC | Suborbital | Sky Brightness | 15 September | Launch failure |
| Apogee: 32 kilometres (20 mi), early cut-off due to a thrust chamber burn-through$^{:127–128}$ ||||||
| 29 September 20:50 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | SC 31 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Army | US Army |
| 29 September 20:50 | | Sphere | SCEL / University of Michigan | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 29 September | Successful |
| Apogee: 58 kilometres (36 mi)$^{:249–250}$ ||||||

### October

October launches :
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| 1 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 1 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 October | Successful |
| 1 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 1 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 October | Successful |
| 1 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 1 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 October | Successful |
| 1 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 1 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 October | Successful |
| 7 October 17:00 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 43 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 7 October 17:00 | | | AFCRC / University of Colorado | Suborbital | Solar UV | 7 October | Successful |
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)$^{:129–130}$ ||||||
| 10 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 10 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 October | Successful |
| 16 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 16 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 October | Successful |
| 17 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 17 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 October | Successful |
| 19 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 19 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 October | Successful |
| 20 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 20 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 20 October | Successful |
| 24 October | R-2 | R-2 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 24 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 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 |
| 27 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 27 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 October | Successful |
| 28 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 28 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 October | Successful |
| 28 October | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 28 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 October | Successful |
| 30 October | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 30 October | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 October | Successful |
| Beginning of 2nd stage of experimental launches ||||||

### 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 | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 1 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 November | Successful |
| 1 November | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 1 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 November | Successful |
| 1 November | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 1 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 November | Successful |
| 1 November | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 1 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 1 November | Successful |
| 2 November 18:32 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 44 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 2 November 18:32 | | Ionosphere 5 | AFCRC / University of Utah | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 2 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi)$^{:131–132}$ ||||||
| 3 November | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 3 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 3 November | Successful |
| 3 November 18:15 | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | Aerobee RTV-A-1a | USAF 45 | Holloman LC-A | Holloman LC-A | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 3 November 18:15 | | Ionosphere 6 | AFCRC / University of Utah | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 3 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 121.5 kilometres (75.5 mi)$^{:133–134}$ ||||||
| 12 November | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 12 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 November | Successful |
| 15 November | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 15 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 November | Successful |
| 15 November | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 15 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 November | Successful |
| 17 November | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 17 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 November | Successful |
| 19 November 22:40 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | NRL 14 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 19 November 22:40 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar X-Ray / Solar UV / Aeronomy | 19 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 112 kilometres (70 mi) ||||||
| 21 November | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 21 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 November | Successful |
| 24 November | R-1 | R-1 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 24 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 November | Successful |
| 25 November 15:46 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | NRL 15 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 25 November 15:46 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar X-Ray / Solar UV / Aeronomy | 25 November | Successful |
| Apogee: 95 kilometres (59 mi) ||||||
| 26 November | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 26 November | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 November | Partial failure |

### December

December launches :
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| 1 December 15:30 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | Aerobee RTV-N-10 | NRL 16 | White Sands LC-35 | White Sands LC-35 | US Navy | US Navy |
| 1 December 15:30 | | | NRL | Suborbital | Solar X-Ray / Solar UV / Aeronomy | 1 December | Successful |
| Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi) ||||||
| 5 December | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 5 December | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 5 December | Successful |
| 9 December | R-5 | R-5 | | Kapustin Yar | Kapustin Yar | OKB-1 | OKB-1 |
| 9 December | | | OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 December | Successful |
| End of second experimental flight series ||||||
* ← 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 |
| | United States | 46 | 34 | 12 | 0 |
| | Soviet Union | 42 | 37 | 0 | 5 |

### By rocket

* Viking (second model)
* Aerobee RTV-N-10
* Aerobee XASR-SC-1
* Aerobee XASR-SC-2
* Aerobee RTV-A-1a
* Deacon rockoon (SUI)
* Deacon rockoon (NRL)
* R-1
* R-2
* R-5
Launches by rocket :
| Rocket | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
| Viking (second model) | United States | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Aerobee RTV-N-10 | United States | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Aerobee XASR-SC-1 | United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Aerobee XASR-SC-2 | United States | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Retired |
| Aerobee RTV-A-1a | United States | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | |
| Deacon rockoon (SUI) | United States | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | |
| Deacon rockoon (NRL) | United States | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| R-1 | Soviet Union | 23 | 23 | 0 | 0 | |
| R-2 | Soviet Union | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| R-5 | Soviet Union | 15 | 10 | 0 | 5 | Maiden flight |