1958 in spaceflight (January–June)
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This article lists orbital and suborbital launches during the first half of the year 1958.
For all other spaceflight activities, see 1958 in spaceflight. For launches in the second half of 1958 see List of spaceflight launches in July–December 1958.[1]
Orbital launches
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | |||
| Remarks | ||||||||
February | ||||||||
| 1 February 03:48:56[2] |
 Juno I |
RS-29 (UE) | Cape Canaveral LC-26A |
ABMA | ||||
| Explorer 1[3] |
ARPA | Initial: Medium Earth Decayed to: Low Earth |
Magnetospheric | 31 March 1970 | Successful | |||
| First successful American satellite launch, discovered Van Allen belts. | ||||||||
| 5 February 07:33[4] |
Vanguard |
TV-3BU | Cape Canaveral LC-18A |
US Navy | ||||
| Vanguard (Test Satellite G)[5] |
NRL | Intended: Medium Earth | Geodesy | 5 February | Launch failure | |||
| Loss of control 57 seconds after launch. | ||||||||
March | ||||||||
| 5 March 18:27:57[6] |
Juno I |
RS/CC-26 (UV) | Cape Canaveral LC-26A |
ABMA | ||||
| Explorer 2[7] |
ARPA | Intended: Medium Earth | Magnetospheric | 5 March | Launch failure | |||
| Fourth stage failed to ignite. | ||||||||
| 17 March 12:15:41[8] |
Vanguard |
TV-4 | Cape Canaveral LC-18A |
US Navy | ||||
| Vanguard 1 (Test Satellite H)[9] |
NRL | Medium Earth | Geodesy | In orbit | Successful | |||
| First successful Vanguard launch. Oldest spacecraft still in orbit, in addition to its upper launch stage. | ||||||||
| 26 March 17:38:03[10] |
Juno I |
RS-24 (UT) | Cape Canaveral LC-5 |
ABMA | ||||
| Explorer 3[11] |
ARPA | Initial: Medium Earth Decayed to: Low Earth |
Magnetospheric | 27 June | Successful | |||
April | ||||||||
| 27 April 09:01[12] |
 Sputnik |
B1-2 | Baikonur Site 1/5 |
MVS | ||||
| D-1 №1[13] |
MVS | Intended: Low Earth | Magnetospheric | +88 seconds | Launch failure | |||
| First flight of upgraded Sputnik-PS, Sputnik rocket. At T+90 seconds, abnormal vibrations originating from the strap-ons boosters were detected, followed by breakup of the vehicle 7 seconds later. First Soviet Launch failure. | ||||||||
| 28 April 02:53:00[14] |
Vanguard |
TV-5 | Cape Canaveral LC-18A |
US Navy | ||||
| Vanguard (X-ray/Environmental Satellite)[15] |
NRL | Intended: Medium Earth | Solar | 29 April | Launch failure | |||
| Third stage failed to ignite. | ||||||||
May | ||||||||
| 15 May 07:00[16] |
Sputnik |
B1-1 | Baikonur Site 1/5 |
MVS | ||||
| Sputnik 3 (D-1 №2)[17] |
OKB-1 | Low Earth | Magnetospheric | 6 April 1960 | Partial spacecraft failure | |||
| Last launch of Sputnik rocket. Faulty data recorder limited return of experimental results. | ||||||||
| 28 May 03:46:20[18] |
Vanguard |
SLV-1 | Cape Canaveral LC-18A |
US Navy | ||||
| Vanguard (Lyman-Alpha Satellite 1)[19] |
NRL | Intended: Medium Earth | Solar | 28 May | Launch failure | |||
| 2nd stage attitude control failure prevented the 3rd stage from entering the correct angle for orbital insertion. | ||||||||
June | ||||||||
| 26 June 05:00:52[20] |
Vanguard |
SLV-2 | Cape Canaveral LC-18A |
US Navy | ||||
| Vanguard (Lyman-Alpha Satellite 2)[21] |
NRL | Intended: Medium Earth | Solar | 26 June | Launch failure | |||
| 2nd stage lost thrust after only 8 seconds of burning due to fuel line obstruction. | ||||||||
For flights after 30 June, see 1958 in spaceflight (July–December) | ||||||||
Suborbital flights
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
| Remarks | |||||||
| 8 January |  Nike-Asp |
White Sands |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | 8 January | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi) | |||||||
| 10 January 15:48 |
SM-65A Atlas |
Cape Canaveral LC-12 |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 January | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) | |||||||
| 11 January | UGM-27 Polaris TV |
Point Mugu |
US Navy | ||||
| US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 January | Successful | |||
| Maiden flight of Polaris, apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 17 January | UGM-27 Polaris TV |
Cape Canaveral LC-3 |
US Navy | ||||
| US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 January | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 25 January 19:12 |
Nike-Cajun |
 Churchill |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 25 January | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 157 kilometres (98 mi) | |||||||
| 26 January 04:18:56 |
Aerobee-150 (Hi) |
Churchill |
US Navy | ||||
| NRL | Suborbital | Auroral | 26 January | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 27 January 06:04 |
Nike-Cajun |
Churchill |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 27 January | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi) | |||||||
| 27 January 18:49 |
Aerobee |
Churchill |
US Army | ||||
| US Army | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 27 January | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 143 kilometres (89 mi) | |||||||
| 28 January 20:16 |
PGM-17 Thor DM-18 |
Cape Canaveral LC-17A |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 January | Launch failure | |||
| 29 January 19:06 |
Nike-Cajun |
Churchill |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 29 January | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 170 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 29 January 22:15 |
R-7 Semyorka |
Baikonur Site 1/5 |
MVS | ||||
| MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 January | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi) | |||||||
| 3 February 18:02 |
Aerobee-150 (Hi) |
Churchill |
US Navy | ||||
| NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 3 February | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 138 kilometres (86 mi) | |||||||
| 4 February 06:17 |
Aerobee-150 (Hi) |
Churchill |
US Navy | ||||
| NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 4 February | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 234 kilometres (145 mi) | |||||||
| 7 February 19:37 |
SM-65A Atlas |
Cape Canaveral LC-14 |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 February | Launch failure | |||
| Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi) | |||||||
| 13 February 06:37 |
Nike-Cajun |
Churchill |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Auroral | 13 February | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi) | |||||||
| 16 February 06:17 |
Nike-Cajun |
Churchill |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Auroral | 16 February | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi) | |||||||
| 20 February 17:46 |
SM-65A Atlas |
Cape Canaveral LC-12 |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 20 February | Launch failure | |||
| Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi) | |||||||
| 21 February 07:40 |
R-5A Pobeda |
Kapustin Yar |
AN | ||||
| AN | Suborbital | 21 February | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 470 kilometres (290 mi) | |||||||
| 21 February 08:42 |
R-5A Pobeda |
Kapustin Yar |
AN | ||||
| AN | Suborbital | 21 February | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 400 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
| 21 February 09:40 |
 A-1 |
Kapustin Yar |
MVS | ||||
| MVS | Suborbital | Ionospheric Solar | 21 February | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 206 kilometres (128 mi) | |||||||
| 21 February 15:20 |
R-5A Pobeda |
Kapustin Yar |
AN | ||||
| AN | Suborbital | 21 February | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 473 kilometres (294 mi) | |||||||
| 22 February 02:02 |
Aerobee-150 (Hi) |
Churchill |
US Navy | ||||
| NRL | Suborbital | Ionospheric Auroral | 22 February | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi) | |||||||
| 22 February 05:35 |
Nike-Cajun |
Churchill |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Auroral | 22 January | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi) | |||||||
| 24 February 07:00 |
Aerobee-150 (Hi) |
Churchill |
US Navy | ||||
| NRL | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 24 February | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 207 kilometres (129 mi) | |||||||
| 24 February 07:35 |
Nike-Cajun |
Churchill |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 24 February | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi) | |||||||
| 26 February 02:35 |
A-1 |
Ernst Krenkel Observatory |
MVS | ||||
| MVS | Suborbital | Ionospheric Aeronomy | 26 February | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
| 26 February 05:49 |
Nike-Cajun |
Churchill |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Auroral | 26 February | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi) | |||||||
| 26 February 22:18 |
Nike-Cajun |
Churchill |
US Army | ||||
| BRL | Suborbital | Technology | 26 February | Launch failure | |||
| Apogee: 37 kilometres (23 mi), tested longer nosecone | |||||||
| 28 February 13:08 |
PGM-17 Thor DM-18 |
Cape Canaveral LC-17B |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 February | Launch failure | |||
| 4 March 06:02 |
Nike-Cajun |
Churchill |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 4 March | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
| 4 March 19:30 |
Nike-Cajun |
Churchill |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 4 March | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 181 kilometres (112 mi) | |||||||
| 16 March 04:54 |
Aerobee-150 (Hi) |
Churchill |
US Navy | ||||
| NRL | Suborbital | Auroral | 16 March | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 144 kilometres (89 mi) | |||||||
| 18 March | Nike Apache |
White Sands |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | 18 March | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 107 kilometres (66 mi) | |||||||
| 19 March 01:12 |
Aerobee |
Holloman LC-A |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 19 March | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
| 21 March | Aerobee |
Holloman LC-A |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Ionospheric | 21 March | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
| 22 March 06:41 |
Aerobee-150 (Hi) |
Churchill |
US Navy | ||||
| NRL | Suborbital | Auroral | 22 March | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 168 kilometres (104 mi) | |||||||
| 23 March 18:07 |
Aerobee-150 (Hi) |
Churchill |
US Navy | ||||
| NRL | Suborbital | Auroral Aeronomy | 23 March | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 202 kilometres (126 mi) | |||||||
| 23 March | UGM-27 Polaris TV |
San Clemente |
US Navy | ||||
| US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 March | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 24 March 18:30 |
Nike-Cajun |
Churchill |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy Imaging | 24 March | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 119 kilometres (74 mi) | |||||||
| 24 March 22:00 |
Nike-Cajun |
Churchill |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 24 March | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 137 kilometres (85 mi) | |||||||
| 29 March 14:40 |
R-7 Semyorka |
Baikonur Site 1/5 |
MVS | ||||
| MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 March | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi) | |||||||
| 31 March | R-11FM Zemlya |
B-67, Beloye More |
OKB-1 | ||||
| OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 31 March | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
| 4 April 15:30 |
R-7 Semyorka |
Baikonur Site 1/5 |
MVS | ||||
| MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 April | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi) | |||||||
| 5 April 17:01 |
SM-65A Atlas |
Cape Canaveral LC-14 |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 5 April | Launch failure | |||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
| 7 April | Nike-Cajun |
Wallops Island |
ARPA | ||||
| Hi Ball 1 |
ARPA | Suborbital | Technology | 7 April | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 244 kilometres (152 mi) | |||||||
| 11 April | UGM-27 Polaris TV |
San Clemente |
US Navy | ||||
| US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 April | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 17 April 10:57 |
 Skylark-1 |
 Woomera LA-2 |
RAE | ||||
| RAE | Suborbital | Test flight Aeronomy | 17 April | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 152 kilometres (94 mi) | |||||||
| 18 April | UGM-27 Polaris TV |
Cape Canaveral LC-25A |
US Navy | ||||
| US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 18 April | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 19 April 13:30 |
PGM-17 Thor DM-18 |
Cape Canaveral LC-17B |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 April | Launch failure | |||
| 24 April 00:10 |
Thor DM-18 Able |
Cape Canaveral LC-17A |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | +150 seconds | Launch failure | |||
| Maiden flight of Thor-Able, turbopump gearbox failed. REV carried Mia, a mouse | |||||||
| 24 April | Nike-Cajun |
Wallops Island |
ARPA | ||||
| Beacon Test 1 |
ARPA | Suborbital | Technology | 24 April | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi) | |||||||
| 1 May | Nike-Cajun |
Holloman |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Meteorite research | 1 May | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
| 5 May 14:15 |
Aerobee |
White Sands LC-35 |
US Navy | ||||
| NRL | Suborbital | Solar | 5 May | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 214 kilometres (133 mi) | |||||||
| 8 May | UGM-27 Polaris TV |
Cape Canaveral LC-25A |
US Navy | ||||
| US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 8 May | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 18 May 05:05 |
PGM-19 Jupiter |
Cape Canaveral LC-26B |
ABMA | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 05:21 | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), carried a Gaslight re-entry vehicle which was recovered | |||||||
| 20 May 04:26 |
Skylark-2 |
Woomera LA-2 |
RAE | ||||
| RAE | Suborbital | Test flight Aeronomy | 20 May | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
| 20 May 09:34:35 |
Nike-Cajun |
Holloman |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 20 May | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 101 kilometres (63 mi), released caesium and sodium | |||||||
| 21 May 11:31:59 |
Nike-Cajun |
Holloman |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 21 May | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 128 kilometres (80 mi), released caesium and sodium | |||||||
| 22 May 00:57 |
Nike-Cajun |
Wallops Island |
ARPA | ||||
| Hi Ball 2 |
ARPA | Suborbital | Technology | 22 May | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 240 kilometres (150 mi) | |||||||
| 22 May 11:29:59 |
Nike-Cajun |
Holloman |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 22 May | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi), released sodium | |||||||
| 24 May 10:30 |
R-7 Semyorka |
Baikonur Site 1/5 |
MVS | ||||
| MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 May | Launch failure | |||
| Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi) | |||||||
| 25 May | Nike-Cajun |
Wallops Island |
ARPA | ||||
| Beacon Test 2 |
ARPA | Suborbital | Technology | 25 May | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi) | |||||||
| 25 May | R-11FM Zemlya |
B-67, Beloye More |
OKB-1 | ||||
| OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 May | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
| 26 May | R-11FM Zemlya |
B-67, Beloye More |
OKB-1 | ||||
| OKB-1 | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 May | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
| May | R-12 Dvina |
Kapustin Yar |
MVS | ||||
| MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
| 3 June 21:28 |
SM-65A Atlas |
Cape Canaveral LC-12 |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 3 June | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi), final flight of Atlas A | |||||||
| 4 June 15:15 |
Aerobee-150 (Hi) |
Holloman LC-A |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Solar | 4 June | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
| 4 June 21:17 |
PGM-17 Thor DM-18 |
Cape Canaveral LC-18B |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 June | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
| 5 June 11:30 |
Skylark-1 |
Woomera LA-2 |
RAE | ||||
| RAE | Suborbital | Test flight | 5 June | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 153 kilometres (95 mi) | |||||||
| 6 June | X-17 |
Cape Canaveral LC-25A |
US Navy | ||||
| US Navy | Suborbital | REV test | 6 June | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
| 13 June 15:06 |
PGM-17 Thor DM-18 |
Cape Canaveral LC-17B |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 13 June | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi) | |||||||
| 18 June 10:35 |
Skylark-1 |
Woomera LA-2 |
RAE | ||||
| RAE | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 18 June | Launch failure | |||
| Apogee: 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) | |||||||
| 18 June 15:15 |
Skylark-2 |
Woomera LA-2 |
RAE | ||||
| RAE | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 18 June | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 144 kilometres (89 mi) | |||||||
| 19 June 21:15 |
Skylark-2 |
Woomera LA-2 |
RAE | ||||
| RAE | Suborbital | Test flight Aeronomy | 19 June | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 154 kilometres (96 mi) | |||||||
| 24 June | X-17 |
Cape Canaveral LC-25A |
US Navy | ||||
| US Navy | Suborbital | REV test | 24 June | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
| 26 June | Exos |
Wallops Island |
NACA/AFCRL | ||||
| NACA/AFCRL | Suborbital | Test flight | 26 June | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 370 kilometres (230 mi), maiden flight of Exos | |||||||
| 27 June | WS-199B Bold Orion I |
B-47, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 June | Launch failure | |||
| Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) | |||||||
| June | R-12 Dvina |
Kapustin Yar |
MVS | ||||
| MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
| June | R-12 Dvina |
Kapustin Yar |
MVS | ||||
| MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
| June | R-12 Dvina |
Kapustin Yar |
MVS | ||||
| MVS | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
