List of orbital rocket launches (1959)

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This list shows all 24 launchers starts and -startversuche of 1959 on, where an Earth orbit or escape path should be achieved. Atmospheric and suborbital test flights are not included. Manned missions and missile first flights are shown in bold .

Start list

January - February - March - April - June - July - August - September - October - November

Date ( UT ) Launcher Launch site payload annotation ID
January 1959
Jan 2, 1959
16:41
Soviet UnionSoviet Union Vostok (8K72) Baikonur 1 Lunik 1 ( moon probe ) Partial success 12A
Jan. 21, 1959
United StatesUnited States Thor-Agena VAFB 75-3-4 Discoverer (1) Failure
February 1959
Feb. 17, 1959
3:55 pm
United StatesUnited States Vanguard CCAFS 18A Vanguard 2 success 01A
Feb. 28, 1959
United StatesUnited States Thor-Agena VAFB 75-3-4 Discoverer 1 not clear 02A
March 1959
March 3, 1959
5:11 PM
United StatesUnited States Juno II CCAFS 5 Pioneer 4 (lunar probe) Partial success 13A
April 1959
April 13, 1959
United StatesUnited States Thor-Agena VAFB 75-3-4 Discoverer 2 success 03A
April 14, 1959
2:49 am
United StatesUnited States Vanguard CCAFS 18A Vanguard SLV5 u. Vanguard Balloon Failure
June 1959
June 3, 1959
United StatesUnited States Thor-Agena VAFB 75-3-4 Discoverer 3 Failure
June 18, 1959
Soviet UnionSoviet Union Vostok (8K72) Baikonur 1 Luna 1959A (moon probe) Failure
June 22, 1959
8:16 PM
United StatesUnited States Vanguard CCAFS 18A Vanguard SLV6 Failure
June 25, 1959
United StatesUnited States Thor-Agena VAFB 75-3-4 Discoverer 4 ( KH-1 ) Failure
July 1959
July 16, 1958
4:48 pm
United StatesUnited States Juno II CCAFS 5 Explorer S-1 ( research satellite ) Failure
August 1959
Aug 7, 1959
2:24 pm
United StatesUnited States Thor-DM18 Able-2 CCAFS 17A Explorer 6 (research satellite) success 04A
Aug 13, 1959
United StatesUnited States Thor-Agena VAFB 75-3-4 Discoverer 5 (KH-1) success 05A
Aug 15, 1959
12:31 AM
United StatesUnited States Juno II CCAFS 26B Beacon 2 ( balloon satellite ) Failure
Aug 19, 1959
United StatesUnited States Thor-Agena VAFB 75-3-4 Discoverer 6 (KH-1) success 06A
September 1959
Sep 12 1959
06:39
Soviet UnionSoviet Union Vostok (8K72) Baikonur 1 Lunik 2 (moon probe) success 14A
17 Sep 1959
United StatesUnited States Thor-DM18 Able-2 CCAFS 17A Transit 1A ( navigation satellite ) Failure
Sep 18 1959
05:20
United StatesUnited States Vanguard CCAFS 18A Vanguard 3 Partial success 07A
October 1959
Oct. 4, 1959
12:43 AM
Soviet UnionSoviet Union Vostok (8K72) Baikonur 1 Lunik 3 (moon probe) success 08A
Oct 13, 1959
United StatesUnited States Juno II CCAFS 5 Explorer 7 (research satellite) success 09A
November 1959
Nov 7, 1959
United StatesUnited States Thor-Agena VAFB 75-3-4 Discoverer 7 (KH-1) success 10A
Nov 20, 1959
United StatesUnited States Thor-Agena VAFB 75-3-4 Discoverer 8 (KH-1) Partial success 11A
Nov 26, 1959
7:26 am
United StatesUnited States Atlas Able CCAFS 14 Pioneer P-3 (lunar probe) Failure

Remarks

  1. According to a CIA report from 1960 ( PDF , 18 MB, PDF page 31) it is assumed that the satellite did not reach orbit and fell back to Earth. As recorded in the NSSDCA catalog of NASA he reached the other hand, the first satellite has a polar orbit .

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