| Launch date and time |
Rocket |
Launch
site |
Launch contractor |
Payload |
Operator |
Orbit |
Mission
function |
Re-entry or
destruction |
Outcome |
Remarks |
| January 26 |
Thor DM-18 |
LC-17B, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Failure |
Exploded on pad. |
March 1
21:51 GMT |
Jupiter |
LC-5, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Failure |
Maiden flight of Jupiter IRBM.
Overheated and disintegrated. |
April 20
04:33 GMT |
Thor DM-18 |
LC-17B, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Failure |
Maiden flight of Thor IRBM.
Tracking error led flight controllers to incorrectly believe rocket was off course, self-destruct activated. |
April 26
20:12 GMT |
Jupiter |
LC-5, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Failure |
|
May 1
06:29 GMT |
Viking |
LC-18, Cape Canaveral |
US Navy |
Vanguard third stage |
US Navy |
Sub-orbital |
Test Vanguard third stage |
May 1, 1957 |
Successful |
Final flight of Viking sounding rocket. |
May 15
07:55 GMT |
Jupiter C (Juno) |
LC-6, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Failure |
Gyro failure at T+134 seconds. |
May 15
16:01 GMT |
R-7 |
LC-1, Baikonur |
MVS |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
Test flight |
N/A |
Failure |
Maiden flight of R-7 rocket.
Booster rocket tore away at T+98 seconds.
Engine fire. |
May 22
03:00 GMT |
Thor DM-18 |
LC-17B, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Failure |
Valve malfunction resulted in high internal pressure and ultimately explosion. |
May 31
18:08 GMT |
Jupiter |
LC-5, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Successful |
|
June 11
19:37 GMT |
Atlas A |
LC-14, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
ICBM research and development |
N/A |
Failure |
Maiden flight of Atlas.
Fuel system malfunction. |
July 12
12:53 GMT |
R-7 |
LC-1, Baikonur |
MVS |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
Test flight |
N/A |
Failure |
Loss of control.
Boosters jettisoned prematurely at T+33 seconds. |
August 8
06:59 GMT |
Jupiter C (Juno) |
LC-6, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Successful |
Nosecone recovered, proving re-entry system worked. |
August 21
12:25 GMT |
R-7 |
LC-1, Baikonur |
MVS |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
Test flight |
N/A |
Successful |
World's first successful ICBM flight. |
August 28
21:02 GMT |
Jupiter |
LC-26A, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Successful |
|
| August 30 |
Thor DM-18 |
LC-17A, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Failure |
Disintegrated at T+92 seconds. |
September 7
11:39 GMT |
R-7 |
LC-1, Baikonur |
MVS |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
Test flight |
N/A |
Successful |
|
| September 20 |
Thor DM-18 |
LC-17B, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Successful |
|
September 25
19:57 GMT |
Atlas A |
LC-14, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
ICBM research and development |
N/A |
Failure |
Fuel system malfunction. |
October 3
17:13 GMT |
Thor DM-18 |
LC-17A, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Failure |
Exploded on pad. |
October 4
19:28 GMT |
R-7 8K71PS |
LC-1, Baikonur |
RVSN |
Sputnik 1 |
RVSN |
LEO |
Demonstrate orbital launch capability |
January 3, 1958 |
Successful |
First successful orbital satellite. |
October 11
16:29 GMT |
Thor DM-18 |
LC-17B, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Partial Failure |
Pump gearbox failure, still met test objectives. |
October 23
01:07 GMT |
Jupiter |
LC-26B, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Successful |
|
October 23
19:22 GMT |
Vanguard Test Article |
LC-18, Cape Canaveral |
US Navy |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
Test first stage of Vanguard rocket |
N/A |
Successful |
Battleship 2nd and 3rd stages. |
October 24
16:32 GMT |
Thor DM-18 |
LC-17A, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Successful |
|
November 3
02:30 GMT |
R-7 8K71PS |
LC-1, Baikonur |
RVSN |
Sputnik 2, 1 dog (Laika) |
RVSN |
LEO |
Test effects of spaceflight on a living organism |
April 14, 1958 |
Partial Failure |
First living organism in orbit.
Animal died prior to completion of experiments. |
November 13
01:51 GMT |
Skylark |
LA-2, Woomera |
RAE/WRE |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
Test sounding rocket
Aeronomy experiments |
N/A |
Successful |
|
November 27
02:10 GMT |
Jupiter |
LC-26B, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Failure |
Pump failure at T+202 seconds resulted in complete loss of thrust. |
December 6
16:44 GMT |
Vanguard |
LC-18, Cape Canaveral |
US Navy |
Vanguard 1A |
US Navy |
Intended: LEO |
Demonstrate orbital launch capability |
T+2 seconds |
Failure |
First flight of Vanguard rocket in full configuration.
Lost thrust and exploded on pad. |
December 7
22:11 GMT |
Thor DM-18 |
LC-17B, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Successful |
|
December 17
17:39 GMT |
Atlas A |
LC-14, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
ICBM research and development |
N/A |
Successful |
|
December 19
00:07 GMT |
Jupiter |
LC-26B, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Failure |
Pump failure at T+116 seconds resulted in complete loss of thrust. |
December 19
20:12 GMT |
Thor DM-18 |
LC-17A, Cape Canaveral |
US Air Force |
(none) |
N/A |
N/A |
IRBM research and development |
N/A |
Successful |
|
