1959_in_spaceflight

1959 in spaceflight
Orbital launches
First	2 January
Last	26 November
Total	23
Successes	10
Failures	11
Partial failures	2
Catalogued	14
Rockets
Maiden flights	Thor-Agena; Atlas-Able; Atlas D (suborbital test)
Retirements	Vanguard
	v; t; e;

1959 in spaceflight

Spaceflight-related events of 1959

Luna 1 was the first spacecraft to leave the gravitational influence of Earth. Also in 1959, Luna 2 was the first spacecraft to reach the surface of another celestial body, impacting the Moon, and Luna 3 returned the first images of the far side of the Moon.

Quick Facts Orbital launches, First ...

Orbital launches

January-December

More information Date and time (UTC), Rocket ...

January-December launches
Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
2 January 16:41:21	Luna 8K72			Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS

		Mechta (Luna 1/E1-4)	MVS	Intended: HEO to Lunar impact Achieved: Heliocentric	Lunar impactor	In orbit	Launch failure
		Missed Moon due to premature cutoff of upper stage caused by control system malfunction. First spacecraft to be placed in Heliocentric orbit.
21 January	Thor-DM18 Agena-A			Vandenberg LC-75-3-4		US Air Force

		Discoverer 1	ARPA	Low Earth (Polar)	Technology demonstration	In orbit	Launch Precluded
17 February 15:55	Vanguard			Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Navy

		Vanguard 2 (20in Cloud Cover 2)^[1]	NRL	Medium Earth	Atmospheric	In orbit	Partial spacecraft failure
		Transmitted data for 19 days, poor quality data returned due to uncontrolled rotation of spacecraft
28 February 21:41:16	Thor DM-18 Agena-A			Vandenberg LC-75-3-4		US Air Force

		Discoverer 1 (KH-1 prototype)	CIA DST	Low Earth (Polar)	Technology	6 March	Successful
		Maiden flight of Thor-Agena, first spacecraft to be placed in polar orbit
3 March 05:10:56	Juno II			Cape Canaveral LC-5		ABMA

		Pioneer 4	NASA/ABMA	Heliocentric	Lunar flyby	In orbit	Partial launch failure
		Second stage burned for longer than planned, resulting in more distant flyby than planned^[2]
13 April 21:18:39	Thor DM-18 Agena-A			Vandenberg LC-75-3-4		US Air Force

		Discoverer 2 (KH-1 prototype)	CIA DST	Low Earth	Technology	26 April	Partial spacecraft failure
		Capsule recovery failed due to timer error. May have been recovered by the Soviet Union, inspiring plot of 1963 Alistair MacLean novel Ice Station Zebra
14 April 02:49:46	Vanguard			Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Navy

		20in Radiation Balance 1^[1]	NRL	Intended: Medium Earth	Radiation	14 April	Launch failure
		Vanguard Balloon^[1]	NRL	Intended: Medium Earth	Air density	14 April	Launch failure
		Second stage damaged during separation, failed to reach orbit, first launch of multiple satellites on a single rocket
3 June 20:09:20	Thor DM-18 Agena-A			Vandenberg LC-75-3-4		US Air Force

		Discoverer 3 (KH-1 Prototype)	CIA DST	Intended: Low Earth	Technology	3 June	Launch failure
		Loss of signal after upper stage ignition
18 June 08:08	Luna 8K72			Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS

		Luna E-1A No.1	MVS	Intended: Heliocentric	Lunar impactor	18 June	Launch failure
		Internal guidance system failed 153 seconds after launch
22 June 20:16:09	Vanguard			Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Navy

		20in Radiation Balance^[1]	NRL	Intended: Medium Earth	Radiation	22 June	Launch failure
		Second stage propulsion system malfunctioned, failed to reach orbit
25 June 22:47:45	Thor DM-18 Agena-A			Vandenberg LC-75-3-5		US Air Force

		Discoverer 4 (KH-1) 9001	CIA DST	Intended: Low Earth	Optical imaging	25 June	Launch failure
		Upper stage underperformed, failed to reach orbit
16 July 17:37:03	Juno II			Cape Canaveral LC-5		ABMA

		Explorer S-6	NASA	Intended: Low Earth	Scientific	+5.5 seconds	Launch failure
		Destroyed by range safety after rocket went out of control
7 August 14:24:20	Thor DM-18 Able-III			Cape Canaveral LC-17A		US Air Force

		Explorer 6	US Air Force	Highly elliptical	Radiation Imaging	30 June 1961	Successful
13 August 19:00:08	Thor DM-18 Agena-A			Vandenberg LC-75-3-4		US Air Force

		Discoverer 5 (KH-1 9002)	CIA DST	Low Earth	Optical imaging	11 February 1961	Spacecraft failure
		Electrical system malfunction. Deorbit burn conducted in incorrect direction, raising orbit
15 August 00:31:00	Juno II			Cape Canaveral LC-26B		ABMA

		Beacon 2	NASA/US Army	Intended: Low Earth	Technology	15 August	Launch failure
		Premature cutoff of first stage, failed to reach orbit
19 August 19:24:44	Thor DM-18 Agena-A			Vandenberg LC-75-3-5		US Air Force

		Discoverer 6 (KH-1 9003)	CIA DST	Low Earth	Optical imaging	20 October	Spacecraft failure
		Retrorocket malfunctioned
12 September 06:39:42	Luna 8K72			Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS

		Luna 2 (E-1A-2)	MVS	Heliocentric	Lunar impactor	14 September 22:02	Successful
		First spacecraft to reach the surface of the Moon
17 September 14:34	Thor DM-18 Able-II			Cape Canaveral LC-17A		US Air Force

		Transit 1A	US Air Force	Intended: Low Earth	Navigation Technology	17 September	Launch failure
		Third stage malfunctioned
18 September 05:20:07	Vanguard/Altair			Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Navy

		Vanguard 3 (20in MXE)^[1]	NRL	Medium Earth	Scientific	In orbit	Partial launch failure
		Final flight of Vanguard rocket, satellite failed to separate from carrier rocket, otherwise successful, spacecraft operated until 11 December
24 September	Atlas-C Able			Cape Canaveral LC-14

		Pioneer P1	NASA	Selenocentric	Scientific	In orbit	Launch Precluded
4 October 00:43:39	Luna 8K72			Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS

		Luna 3 (E-2A-1)	MVS	High Earth	Lunar flyby	29 April 1960	Successful
		Placed on a circumlunar trajectory, returned first images of the far side of the Moon
13 October 15:30:04	Juno II			Cape Canaveral LC-5		ABMA

		Explorer 7 (S-1A)	NASA	Low Earth	Scientific	In orbit	Successful
		Broadcast data until 24 August 1961
7 November 20:28:41	Thor DM-18 Agena-A			Vandenberg LC-75-3-4		US Air Force

		Discoverer 7 (KH-1 9004)	CIA DST	Low Earth	Optical imaging	26 November	Spacecraft failure
		Satellite tumbled out of control
20 November 19:25:24	Thor DM-18 Agena-A			Vandenberg LC-75-3-5		US Air Force

		Discoverer 8 (KH-1 9005)	CIA DST	Low Earth	Optical imaging	8 March 1960	Launch failure
		Inserted into useless orbit with greater eccentricity than planned
26 November 07:26	Atlas-Able			Cape Canaveral LC-14		US Air Force

		Pioneer P-3	NASA	Intended: Selenocentric	Lunar orbiter	+45 seconds	Launch failure
		Payload fairing separated prematurely, rocket disintegrated

Suborbital launches

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[Vanguard_PL-1] [1]
Krebs, Gunter. "Vanguard". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009.

[2] [2]
Lafleur, Claude. "Pioneer 4". Spacecrafts [sic] launched in 1959. The Spacecraft Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2009.

[3] [3]
Eleazer, Wayne (31 January 2011). "Launch failures: the "Oops!" factor". The Space Review. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2011.

[GFL-128-4] [4]
Powell, Joel W.; LeBrun, Art (2006). Go For Launch: An Illustrated History of Cape Canaveral. Canada: Apogee Books. p. 128. ISBN 1-894959-43-4.

[GFL-T1-5] [5]
Powell, Joel W.; LeBrun, Art (2006). Go For Launch: An Illustrated History of Cape Canaveral. Canada: Apogee Books. pp. 81–85. ISBN 1-894959-43-4.

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Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
10 January 11:00	A-1			Ostrov Kheysa		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Ionospheric Aeronomy	10 January	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
16 January 04:00	SM-65B Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-14		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	16 January	Launch failure
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
19 January 15:42	UGM-27 Polaris AX			Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy

			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	19 January	Launch failure
		Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
22 January 00:10	PGM-19 Jupiter			Cape Canaveral LC-5		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	22 January	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
23 January	Thor DM-18 Able-II			Cape Canaveral LC-17A		US Air Force

		RVX-1	US Air Force	Suborbital	REV test	23 January	Launch failure
27 January 17:00	Daniel			CERES		ONERA

			ONERA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	27 January	Successful
		Apogee: 127 kilometres (79 mi)
27 January 23:34	SM-65C Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-12		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	27 January	Successful
		Apogee: 990 kilometres (620 mi)
28 January	Nike-Cajun			Wallops Island		ARPA

		Beacon Test 4	ARPA/NASA	Suborbital	Technology	28 January	Successful
		Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi)
30 January 22:53	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A			Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	30 January	Successful
		Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
3 March	Trailblazer 1			Wallops Island		NASA

			NASA	Suborbital	REV test	3 March	Successful
		Apogee: 260 kilometres (160 mi)
4 March 11:14	Skylark-2			Woomera LA-2		RAE

			RAE UCL Queen's	Suborbital	Aeronomy	4 March	Launch failure
		Apogee: 30 kilometres (19 mi)
7 March 19:34	Véronique			Hammaguir Blandine		CASDN

			CASDN	Suborbital	Aeronomy	7 March	Launch failure
		Apogee: 35 kilometres (22 mi), released sodium
10 March 18:40	Véronique			Hammaguir Blandine		CASDN

			CASDN	Suborbital	Aeronomy	10 March	Successful
		Apogee: 124 kilometres (77 mi), released sodium
12 March 05:44	Véronique			Hammaguir Blandine		CASDN

			CASDN	Suborbital	Aeronomy	12 March	Successful
		Apogee: 174 kilometres (108 mi), released sodium
12 March 10:50	Black Knight 201			Woomera LA-5A		RAE

			RAE	Suborbital	Test flight	12 March	Successful
		Apogee: 537 kilometres (334 mi)
12 March 15:44	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital		12 March	Successful
		Apogee: 210 kilometres (130 mi)
13 March 13:50	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			White Sands LC-35		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital		13 March	Successful
		Apogee: 170 kilometres (110 mi)
17 March 01:46	R-7 Semyorka			Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	17 March	Successful
		Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
17 March	Honest John-Nike-Nike-20"SM			Wallops Island		NASA

			NASA	Suborbital	Test flight	17 March	Successful
		Apogee: 1,380 kilometres (860 mi)
19 March 00:59	SM-65C Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-12		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	19 March	Launch failure
		Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
21 March 06:19	Thor DM-18 Able-II			Cape Canaveral LC-17A		US Air Force

		RVX-1	US Air Force	Suborbital	REV test	21 March	Successful
		Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
22 March 00:58	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A			Cape Canaveral LC-18B		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	22 March	Successful
		Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
25 March 05:25	R-7 Semyorka			Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	25 March	Successful
		Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
27 March 04:02	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A			Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	27 March	Successful
		Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
30 March 15:01	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital		30 March	Successful
		Apogee: 201 kilometres (125 mi)
30 March 16:45	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			White Sands LC-35		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital		30 March	Successful
		Apogee: 238 kilometres (148 mi)
30 March 22:53	R-7 Semyorka			Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	30 March	Launch failure
		Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
30 March	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	30 March	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
1 May	Terrier-ASROC-Cajun			Point Arguello		US Navy

			US Navy	Suborbital	Test flight	1 May	Launch failure
2 May	OPd-56-39-22D (Antares)			CERES		ONERA

			ONERA	Suborbital	REV test	2 May	Successful
		Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
4 May 18:30	HGM-25A Titan I			Cape Canaveral LC-15		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	4 May	Successful
		Battleship second stage, apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
5 May 01:45	Aerobee AJ10-34			White Sands LC-35		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	5 May	Successful
		Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi)
7 May 01:47	PGM-19 Jupiter			Cape Canaveral LC-26B		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	7 May	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
8 May 19:28	UGM-27 Polaris AX			Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy

			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	8 May	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
9 May 18:59	R-7 Semyorka			Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	9 May	Launch failure
		Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
12 May 11:39	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital		12 May	Successful
		Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi)
12 May 17:35	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A			Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	12 May	Successful
		Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
12 May	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	12 May	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
14 May 05:52	PGM-19 Jupiter			Cape Canaveral LC-5		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	14 May	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
14 May	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	14 May	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
15 May 22:10	Arcon			Wallops Island		NASA

			NASA	Suborbital	Test flight	15 May	Launch failure
		Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi)
15 May	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	15 May	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
18 May 23:16	UGM-27 Polaris AX			Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy

			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	18 May	Launch failure
		Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
19 May 04:30	SM-65D Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-14		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	19 May	Launch failure
		Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi)
21 May 06:40	Thor DM-18 Able-II			Cape Canaveral LC-17A		US Air Force

		RVX-1	US Air Force	Suborbital	REV test	21 May	Successful
		Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
22 May 11:15	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital		22 May	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
23 May 02:42	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A			Cape Canaveral LC-18B		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	23 May	Successful
		Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
27 May 04:51	Nike-Cajun			White Sands		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	27 May	Successful
		Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi)
27 May 19:55	Nike-Cajun			White Sands		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	27 May	Successful
		Apogee: 177 kilometres (110 mi)
28 May 07:35:02	PGM-19 Jupiter			Cape Canaveral LC-26B		US Air Force

		Bioflight 2	US Air Force	Suborbital	Biological Missile test	28 May	Successful
		Apogee: 483 kilometres (300 mi)
30 May 21:42	R-7 Semyorka			Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	30 May	Launch failure
		Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
30 May	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	30 May	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
May	Long Tom			Woomera LA-2		WRE

			WRE	Suborbital	Aeronomy		Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
2 June	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	2 June	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
5 June 04:15	Trailblazer 1			Wallops Island		NASA

			NASA	Suborbital	REV test	6 June	Successful
		Apogee: 260 kilometres (160 mi)
6 June 17:39	SM-65D Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-13		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	6 June	Launch failure
		Apogee: 80 kilometres (50 mi)
8 June	WS-199B Bold Orion I			B-47, Cape Canaveral		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	8 June	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
9 June 20:34	R-7 Semyorka			Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	9 June	Launch failure
		Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
10 June 16:40	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital		10 June	Successful
		Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi)
11 June 06:44	Thor DM-18 Able-II			Cape Canaveral LC-17A		US Air Force

		RVX-1	US Air Force	Suborbital	REV test	11 June	Successful
		Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
11 June 13:03	Black Knight 201			Woomera LA-5A		RAE

			RAE	Suborbital	Test flight	11 June	Successful
		Apogee: 803 kilometres (499 mi)
12 June 18:57	UGM-27 Polaris AX			Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy

			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	12 June	Launch failure
		Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
15 June	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	15 June	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
16 June 21:45	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A			Vandenberg LC-75-2-7		Royal Air Force

			Royal Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	16 June	Launch failure
		Guidance system failed to engage as remove before flight safety wires had not been removed. Vehicle ascended vertically before being destroyed by range safety.^[3]
17 June	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	17 June	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
19 June	WS-199B Bold Orion I			B-47, Cape Canaveral		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	19 June	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
21 June	R-5V Pobeda			Kapustin Yar		AN

			AN	Suborbital	Solar	21 June	Successful
		Apogee: 400 kilometres (250 mi)
22 June 14:32	Aerobee			Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Solar	22 June	Successful
		Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi)
23 June 01:26	Skylark-1			Woomera LA-2		RAE

			RAE	Suborbital	Test flight	23 June	Launch failure
		Apogee: 91 kilometres (57 mi)
24 June 12:10	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital		24 June	Successful
		Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
26 June	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A			Cape Canaveral LC-18B		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	26 June	Successful
		Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
26 June	Terrier-ASROC-Cajun			Point Arguello		US Navy

			US Navy	Suborbital		26 June	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
29 June 11:33	Black Knight 201			Woomera LA-5A		RAE

			RAE	Suborbital	Test flight	29 June	Successful
		Apogee: 442 kilometres (275 mi)
30 June 02:37	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A			Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	30 June	Successful
		Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
29 June 15:42	UGM-27 Polaris AX			Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy

			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	29 June	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
June	R-13			Kapustin Yar		VMF

			VMF	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
		Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
2 July 06:40	R-2			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital		2 July	Successful
		Apogee: 220 kilometres (140 mi)
7 July 11:15	Javelin			Wallops Island		US Air Force

			AFSWC	Suborbital	Test flight	7 July	Successful
		Apogee: 1,045 kilometres (649 mi)
10 July 01:01	PGM-19 Jupiter			Cape Canaveral LC-26B		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	10 July	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
10 July 04:47	R-2			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital		10 July	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
14 July 03:40	R-2			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital		14 July	Successful
		Apogee: 203 kilometres (126 mi)
14 July 17:45	Nike-Asp			Point Arguello LC-A		US Navy

			NASA	Suborbital	Solar	14 July	Successful
		Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
15 July 16:59	UGM-27 Polaris AX			Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy

			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	15 July	Launch failure
		Apogee: 2 kilometres (1.2 mi)
17 July 17:40	Nike-Asp			Point Arguello LC-A		US Navy

			US Navy	Suborbital		17 July	Launch failure
		Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
18 July 18:15	R-7 Semyorka			Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	18 July	Successful
		Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
20 July	R-11A Zemlya			Kapustin Yar		AN

			AN	Suborbital		20 July	Successful
		Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
21 July 02:00	R-11A Zemlya			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital		21 July	Successful
		Apogee: 105 kilometres (65 mi)
21 July 05:22	SM-65C Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-12		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	21 July	Successful
		Apogee: 900 kilometres (560 mi)
21 July 07:33	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A			Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	21 July	Launch failure
		Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi)
21 July 14:00	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			White Sands LC-35		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital		21 July	Successful
		Apogee: 197 kilometres (122 mi)
21 July 14:00	R-11A Zemlya			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital		21 July	Successful
		Apogee: 105 kilometres (65 mi)
21 July	R-2			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital		21 July	Successful
		Apogee: 105 kilometres (65 mi)
21 July	Javelin			Wallops Island		US Air Force

			AFSWC	Suborbital	Test flight	21 July	Launch failure
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
22 July 01:14	R-11A Zemlya			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital		22 July	Successful
		Apogee: 211 kilometres (131 mi)
24 July 12:47	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A			Cape Canaveral LC-18B		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	24 July	Successful
		Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
24 July 16:34	Nike-Asp			Point Arguello LC-A		US Navy

			US Navy	Suborbital	Solar	24 July	Successful
		Apogee: 227 kilometres (141 mi)
24 July	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	24 July	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
25 July	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	25 July	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
26 July	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	26 July	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
28 July	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	28 July	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
29 July 04:10	SM-65D Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-11		US Air Force

			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	29 July	Successful
		Apogee: 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi)
30 July 04:00	R-7 Semyorka			Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	30 July	Successful
		Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
31 July	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS

			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	31 July	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)

1959_in_spaceflight

1959 in spaceflight

Orbital launches

January-December

Suborbital launches

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Deep Space Rendezvous

Orbital launch summary

By country

By rocket

By orbit

See also

References

Footnotes

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Date (GMT)	Spacecraft	Event	Remarks
4 January	Luna 1	First Lunar flyby	Failed impactor, closest approach: 6,000 kilometres (3,700 mi)
4 March	Pioneer 4	Lunar flyby	Closest approach: 60,200 kilometres (37,400 mi)
14 September	Luna 2	First Lunar impact	Landed in Mare Imbrium, first spacecraft to reach the surface of a celestial body
6 October	Luna 3	Lunar flyby	First Circumlunar flight, returned 29 pictures including first images of the far side of the Moon; closest approach 6,200 kilometres (3,900 mi)

Rocket	Country	Launches	Successes	Failures	Partial failures	Remarks
Atlas-Able	United States	1	0	1	0	Maiden flight
Juno II	United States	4	1	2	1
Luna 8K72	Soviet Union	4	2	2	0
Thor DM-18 Agena-A	United States	8	5	3	0	Maiden flight
Thor DM-18 Able-II	United States	1	0	1	0
Thor DM-18 Able-III	United States	1	1	0	0
Vanguard	United States	4	1	2	1	Final flight