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1956 in spaceflight
	The Jupiter-C sounding rocket made its maiden flight in 1956
Rockets
Maiden flights	Aerobee AJ10-34; Nike-Cajun; Terrapin; Jupiter-C; R-1UK; R-5RD; R-5R
Retirements	Aerobee XASR-SC-1; Deacon rockoon; Nike-Nike-T40-T55; R-1E; R-1UK; R-5RD; R-5R
	v; t; e;

This is a list of spaceflight related events which occurred in 1956.

Crewed orbital spaceflight studied
First nuclear warhead launched on a missile
Atlas, Titan, Redstone programs going strong
China begins missile development
The race to launch a satellite heats up
Japan's first substantial sounding rocket launched, the Kappa-1, but nation wouldn't go to space until the Kappa-8 in 1960
First spaceflight launches from Canadian facility at Churchill

Launches

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

January

January launches
Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
11 January	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	11 January	Successful^[1]
17 January	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	17 January	Successful^[1]
20 January	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	Test flight	20 January	Successful
		Apogee: 132 kilometres (82 mi)^[2]
21 January	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	21 January	Successful^[3]
21 January	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	21 January	Successful^[1]
24 January	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	24 January	Successful^[3]
24 January	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	24 January	Launch failure^[3]

February

February launches
Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
2 February	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

		Baykal	MVS	Suborbital	Nuclear weapon test	2 February	Successful
		First launch of a missile carrying a live nuclear warhead^[1]
6 February	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	6 February	Successful^[1]
13 February	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	13 February	Successful^[3]
14 February	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	14 February	Successful^[3]
16 February	R-5RD			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			MVS	Suborbital	R-7 component test	16 February	Successful
		Maiden flight of the R-5RD (or M5RD)^[1]
17 February	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	17 February	Successful^[4]

March

March launches
Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
5 March	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	Test flight	5 March	Successful
		Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi)^[2]
7 March	R-5RD			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			MVS	Suborbital	R-7 component test	7 March	Successful^[1]
9 March	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	9 March	Successful^[4]
12 March 21:15	Aerobee RTV-A-1a		USAF 62	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			AFCRC	Suborbital	Ionospheric	12 March	Successful
		Apogee: 95 kilometres (59 mi)^[5]^{: 166–167}
14 March 08:45	Aerobee RTV-A-1a		USAF 63	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			AFCRC	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	14 March	Successful
		Apogee: 106 kilometres (66 mi)^[5]^{: 168–169}
15 March	R-5RD			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			MVS	Suborbital	R-7 component test	15 March	Successful^[1]
17 March	R-5RD			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			MVS	Suborbital	R-7 component test	17 March	Successful^[1]
23 March	R-5RD			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			MVS	Suborbital	R-7 component test	23 March	Successful^[1]
28 March	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	28 March	Successful^[3]

April

April launches
Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
9 April	HJ-Nike			Wallops Island		NACA

			NACA	Suborbital	Test flight	9 April	Successful
		Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)^[6]
12 April 02:05	Aerobee RTV-A-1a		USAF 64	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

		Sodium Release 3	AFCRC	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Aeronomy	12 April	Successful
		Apogee: 106 kilometres (66 mi)^[5]^{: 170–171}
16 April	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	16 April	Successful^[3]
17 April	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	REV test	17 April	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)^[2]
29 April	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	29 April	Successful^[4]

May

May launches
Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
1 May 22:05	Aerobee Hi		NRL 39	White Sands LC-35		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Test flight	1 May	Launch failure
		Apogee: 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13a^[7]
8 May	R-1UK			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Project T-3	8 May	Successful^[8]
8 May	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	8 May	Successful^[4]
8 May 14:54	Aerobee AJ10-34		USAF 65	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			AFCRC / University of Colorado	Suborbital	Solar UV	8 May	Successful
		Apogee: 143 kilometres (89 mi), maiden flight of the Aerobee AJ10-34^[5]^{: 172–173}
8 May 15:15	Aerobee Hi		NRL 42	White Sands LC-35		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Test flight	8 May	Launch failure
		Apogee: 188 kilometres (117 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13a^[7]
10 May	R-1UK			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Project T-3	10 May	Successful^[8]
14 May	R-1E			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Biological	14 May	Successful
		Carried dogs, all recovered^[9]
16 May	R-1UK			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Project T-3	16 May	Successful^[8]
16 May 15:40	Aerobee Hi		USAF 66	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			AFCRC	Suborbital	Test flight	16 May	Launch failure
		Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi)^[5]^{: 174–175}
31 May 02:57	R-1E			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Biological / Solar UV	31 May	Successful
		Carried dogs, all recovered^[9]
31 May	R-5R			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			MVS	Suborbital	Radio guidance test	31 May	Successful
		Maiden flight of the R-5R^[1]

June

June launches
Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
4 June 14:13	Aerobee Hi		NRL 46	White Sands LC-35		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Solar UV	4 June	Launch failure
		Apogee: 58 kilometres (36 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13a^[7]
6 June	R-1UK			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Project T-3	6 June	Successful^[8]
7 June	R-1E			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Biological	7 June	Successful
		Final flight of the R-1E; carried dogs, all recovered^[10]
7 June	R-5R			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			MVS	Suborbital	Radio guidance test	7 June	Successful^[1]
7 June	Nike-Nike-T40-T55			Wallops Island		NACA

			NACA	Suborbital	REV test	7 June	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), final flight of the Nike-Nike-T40-T55^[11]
8 June	R-1UK			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Project T-3	8 June	Successful^[8]
12 June	R-1UK			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Project T-3	12 June	Successful^[8]
12 June	R-1UK			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Project T-3	12 June	Successful^[8]
13 June 20:51	Aerobee AJ10-34		USAF 67	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			AFCRC / University of Utah	Suborbital	Ionospheric	13 June	Successful
		Apogee: 137.8 kilometres (85.6 mi)^[5]^{: 176–177}
15 June	R-5R			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			MVS	Suborbital	Radio guidance test	15 June	Successful
		Final flight of the R-5R^[1]
18 June	R-1UK			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Project T-3	18 June	Successful^[8]
18 June 20:42	Aerobee AJ10-34		USAF 68	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			AFCRC / University of Utah	Suborbital	Ionospheric	18 June	Successful
		Apogee: 137 kilometres (85 mi)^[5]^{: 178–179}
20 June	R-1UK			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Project T-3	20 June	Successful^[8]
21 June	R-1UK			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Project T-3	21 June	Successful
		Final flight of the R-1UK^[8]
21 June 18:48	Aerobee AJ10-34		USAF 69	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			AFCRC / University of Utah	Suborbital	Ionospheric	21 June	Successful
		Apogee: 146 kilometres (91 mi)^[5]^{: 180–181}
22 June 19:42	Aerobee RTV-N-10		NRL 22	White Sands LC-35		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric	22 June	Launch failure
		Apogee: 5 kilometres (3.1 mi)^[7]
26 June	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	Test flight	26 June	Successful
		Apogee: 140 kilometres (87 mi)^[2]
26 June 18:26	Aerobee AJ10-34		USAF 70	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			AFCRC / University of Utah	Suborbital	Ionospheric	26 June	Successful
		Apogee: 111 kilometres (69 mi)^[5]^{: 182–183}
29 June 19:09	Aerobee Hi		NRL 50	White Sands LC-35		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric	29 June	Successful
		Apogee: 264 kilometres (164 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13b^[7]
30 June	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	30 June	Successful^[3]

July

July launches
Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
5 July 07:52	Aerobee RTV-N-10c		NRL 33	White Sands LC-35		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Airglow / Aeronomy	5 July	Successful
		Apogee: 162 kilometres (101 mi)^[7]
6 July 18:00	Nike-Cajun		AM6.01	Wallops Island		NACA

			NACA / University of Michigan	Suborbital	Aeronomy	6 July	Successful
		Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi), maiden flight of the Nike-Cajun^[12]
12 July	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	12 July	Successful^[4]
17 July	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	REV test	17 July	Successful
		Apogee: 142 kilometres (88 mi)^[2]
17 July 15:40	Deacon Rockoon		NN5.27	USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Solar UV / X-ray	17 July	Successful
		Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)^[13]
18 July 15:46	Deacon Rockoon		NN5.28	USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Solar UV / X-ray	18 July	Successful
		Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)^[13]
19 July 15:21	Deacon Rockoon		NN5.29	USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Solar UV / X-ray	19 July	Successful
		Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)^[13]
20 July	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	20 July	Launch failure^[3]
20 July	R-5RD			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			MVS	Suborbital	R-7 component test	20 July	Successful^[1]
20 July 19:15	Deacon Rockoon		NN5.30	USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Solar UV / X-ray	20 July	Successful
		Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)^[13]
21 July 17:18	Deacon Rockoon		NN5.31	USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Aeronomy	21 July	Launch failure
		Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi)^[13]
22 July 17:57	Deacon Rockoon		NN5.32	USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Solar UV / X-ray	22 July	Successful
		Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)^[13]
24 July	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	24 July	Successful^[3]
24 July	Nike-Cajun			Wallops Island		US Navy

		HUGO	US Navy	Suborbital	Hurricane Photography / Aeronomy	24 July	Successful
		Apogee: 112 kilometres (70 mi)^[12]
24 July 14:07	Deacon Rockoon		NN5.33	USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Solar UV / X-ray	24 July	Launch failure
		Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi)^[13]
25 July 15:15	Deacon Rockoon		NN5.34	USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Solar UV / X-ray	25 July	Successful
		Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)^[13]
26 July	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	26 July	Successful^[3]
26 July 15:28	Deacon Rockoon		NN5.35	USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Solar UV / X-ray	26 July	Successful
		Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)^[13]
27 July	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	REV test	27 July	Launch failure
		Apogee: 0 kilometres (0 mi)^[2]
27 July 15:30	Deacon Rockoon		NN5.36	USS Colonial, Pacific Ocean, southwest of San Diego		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Solar UV / X-ray	27 July	Successful
		Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi), final flight of the Deacon rockoon^[13]
28 July	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	28 July	Successful^[3]
28 July	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	28 July	Successful^[4]
28 July	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	28 July	Successful^[4]
31 July 00:56	Aerobee AJ10-34		USAF 71	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			AFCRC	Suborbital	Airglow	31 July	Successful
		Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)^[5]^{: 184–185}

August

August launches
Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
3 August 12:56	Aerobee RTV-A-1a		USAF 72	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			AFCRC	Suborbital	Solar UV	3 August	Launch failure
		Apogee: 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi), fail safe cutoff at 4.6 seconds^[5]^{: 186–187}
7 August	R-5RD			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			MVS	Suborbital	R-7 component test	7 August	Successful^[1]
8 August 22:00	Nike-Cajun		AM6.30	White Sands		US Air Force

			University of Michigan	Suborbital	Aeronomy	8 August	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)^[12]
9 August 15:53	Aerobee XASR-SC-1		SC 34	White Sands LC-35		US Army

			SCEL / University of Michigan	Suborbital	Aeronomy	9 August	Successful
		Apogee: 85.5 kilometres (53.1 mi)^[5]^{: 255–256}
9 August 22:47	Nike-Cajun		OB6.00	White Sands		US Air Force

			BRL	Suborbital	Aeronomy	9 August	Successful
		Apogee: 164 kilometres (102 mi)^[12]
10 August	R-5RD			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			MVS	Suborbital	R-7 component test	10 August	Successful^[1]
10 August 15:22	Aerobee XASR-SC-1		SC 35	White Sands LC-35		US Army

			SCEL / University of Michigan	Suborbital	Aeronomy	10 August	Successful
		Apogee: 85.9 kilometres (53.4 mi), final flight of the Aerobee XASR-SC-1^[5]^{: 257–258}
18 August	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	REV test	18 August	Launch failure
		Apogee: 0 kilometres (0 mi)^[2]
23 August	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC / NACA	Suborbital	REV test	23 August	Successful
		Apogee: 142 kilometres (88 mi)^[2]
25 August	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	25 August	Successful^[1]
28 August	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	REV test	28 August	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)^[2]

September

September launches
Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
8 September	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	REV test	8 September	Launch failure
		Apogee: 394 kilometres (245 mi)^[2]
16 September	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	16 September	Successful^[1]
19 September	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	19 September	Successful^[1]
20 September 06:45	Jupiter-C			Cape Canaveral LC-5		ABMA

			ABMA	Suborbital	REV test	20 September	Successful
		Apogee: 1,094 kilometres (680 mi), maiden flight of the Jupiter-C, carried a 39.2 kilograms (86 lb) payload in a three-stage configuration^[14]
21 September	Terrapin			Wallops Island		NACA / NSA

			University of Maryland	Suborbital	Test flight	21 September	Launch failure
		Apogee: 16 kilometres (9.9 mi), maiden flight of the Terrapin^[15]
21 September	Terrapin			Wallops Island		NACA / NSA

			University of Maryland	Suborbital	Test flight	21 September	Successful
		Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)^[15]
25 September	R-5RD			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			MVS	Suborbital	R-7 component test	25 September	Successful^[1]
26 September	R-5RD			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			MVS	Suborbital	R-7 component test	26 September	Successful
		Final flight of the R-5RD^[1]
29 September	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	29 September	Successful^[4]

October

October launches
Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
1 October	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	REV test	1 October	Successful
		Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi)^[2]
5 October	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	REV test	5 October	Successful
		Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi)^[2]
11 October	HJ-Nike			Wallops Island		NACA

			NACA	Suborbital	REV test	11 October	Successful
		Apogee: 70 kilometres (43 mi)^[6]
13 October	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	REV test	13 October	Successful
		Apogee: 102 kilometres (63 mi)^[2]
18 October	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	REV test	18 October	Successful
		Apogee: 155 kilometres (96 mi)^[2]
20 October 22:01	Nike-Cajun		AM6.31	Churchill		US Air Force

			University of Michigan	Suborbital	Aeronomy	20 October	Successful
		Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi), first spaceflight launched from Canadian soil^[12]
23 October 08:40	Aerobee AJ10-34		AM2.21	Churchill		US Army

			SCEL / University of Michigan	Suborbital	Aeronomy	23 October	Successful
		Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi)^[7]
24 October	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	24 October	Successful^[3]
25 October	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	25 October	Successful^[3]
25 October	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	25 October	Successful^[4]
25 October	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	25 October	Successful^[4]
26 October	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	26 October	Successful^[3]
25 October	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	REV test	25 October	Successful
		Apogee: 124 kilometres (77 mi)^[2]
27 October 21:24	Nike-Cajun		AM6.08	USS Rushmore, Atlantic Ocean, near New York City		US Air Force / US Navy

			University of Michigan	Suborbital	Aeronomy	27 October	Successful
		Apogee: 161 kilometres (100 mi)^[12]

November

November launches
Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
1 November 12:57	Aerobee AJ10-34		USAF 73	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			AFCRC	Suborbital	Aeronomy	1 November	Successful
		Apogee: 66 kilometres (41 mi)^[7]
2 November 05:39	Aerobee AJ10-34		USAF 74	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

		Sodium Release 4	AFCRC	Suborbital	Aeronomy	2 November	Successful
		Apogee: 146 kilometres (91 mi)^[7]
2 November 18:40	Nike-Cajun		AM6.09	USS Rushmore, Atlantic Ocean, east of Newfoundland		US Air Force / US Navy

			University of Michigan	Suborbital	Aeronomy	2 November	Successful
		Apogee: 131 kilometres (81 mi)^[12]
3 November	R-2			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	3 November	Successful^[4]
3 November	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	3 November	Successful^[1]
4 November 18:54	Nike-Cajun		AM6.10	USS Rushmore, Labrador Sea		US Air Force / US Navy

			University of Michigan	Suborbital	Aeronomy	4 November	Successful
		Apogee: 162 kilometres (101 mi)^[12]
5 November	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	REV test	5 November	Successful
		Apogee: 118 kilometres (73 mi)^[2]
5 November 07:50	Aerobee Hi		NRL 45	Churchill		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Auroral	5 November	Unknown
		Navy variant designation: RV-N-13b; Altitude not reported, possible failure^[7]
7 November 15:02	Nike-Cajun		AM6.11	USS Rushmore, Davis Strait		US Air Force / US Navy

			University of Michigan	Suborbital	Aeronomy	7 November	Successful
		Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi)^[12]
10 November 15:17	Nike-Cajun		AM6.12	USS Rushmore, Davis Strait		US Air Force / US Navy

			University of Michigan	Suborbital	Aeronomy	10 November	Successful
		Apogee: 161 kilometres (100 mi)^[12]
12 November	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	12 November	Successful^[3]
12 November 11:47	Aerobee RTV-A-1a		SM1.01	Churchill		US Army

		Grenades	SCEL / University of Michigan	Suborbital	Aeronomy	12 November	Successful
		Apogee: 67 kilometres (42 mi)^[7]
13 November	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	13 November	Successful^[1]
15 November 19:32	Aerobee Hi		NRL 47	Churchill		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric	15 November	Successful
		Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13b^[7]
16 November	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	16 November	Successful^[1]
16 November	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	REV test	16 November	Successful
		Apogee: 107 kilometres (66 mi)^[2]
17 November 16:48	Aerobee Hi		NRL 43	Churchill		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Aeronomy / Solar UV / Solar X-Ray	17 November	Successful
		Apogee: 209 kilometres (130 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13b^[7]
21 November 05:21	Aerobee Hi		NRL 48	Churchill		US Navy

			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric / Auroral	21 November	Successful
		Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi), Navy variant designation: RV-N-13c^[7]
23 November	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	REV test	23 November	Successful
		Apogee: 143 kilometres (89 mi)^[2]
24 November	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	ABM target	24 November	Successful^[1]
		First R-5 to launch as an anti-ballistic missile target for the V-1000 system^[16]

December

December launches
Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
3 December	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	REV test	3 December	Successful
		Apogee: 125 kilometres (78 mi)^[2]
6 December	R-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	6 December	Successful^[3]
6 December	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	6 December	Successful^[1]
7 December	Nike-Cajun			Wallops Island		NACA

			NACA	Suborbital	REV test	7 December	Successful
		Apogee: 30 kilometres (19 mi)^[12]
8 December 06:03	Viking (second model)			Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Navy

		Vanguard TV-0	NRL	Suborbital	Test flight	8 December	Successful
		Apogee: 203.6 kilometres (126.5 mi), first Project Vanguard test flight using a single-stage Viking (No. 13)^[17]
11 December	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Air Force

			ARDC	Suborbital	REV test	11 December	Successful
		Apogee: 144 kilometres (89 mi)^[2]
12 December	R-5M			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			OKB-1	Suborbital	ABM target	12 December	Successful^[1]^[16]
13 December 21:44	Aerobee Hi		USAF 75	Holloman LC-A		US Air Force

			AFCRC	Suborbital	Test flight	13 December	Successful
		Apogee: 193 kilometres (120 mi)^[7]
20 December	A-1			Kapustin Yar		OKB-1

			MVS	Suborbital	Ionospheric	20 December	Successful^[18]

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

Suborbital launch summary

By country

Launches by country
Country		Launches	Successes	Failures	Partial failures	Unknown
	United States	76	63	12	0	1
	Soviet Union	69	67	2	0	0

By rocket

8

16

24

32

40

Launches by rocket
Rocket	Country	Launches	Successes	Failures	Unknown	Remarks
Viking (second model)	United States	1	1	0	0
Aerobee RTV-N-10	United States	1	0	1	0
Aerobee RTV-N-10c	United States	1	1	0	0
Aerobee Hi (NRL)	United States	8	4	3	1
Aerobee XASR-SC-1	United States	2	2	0	0	Retired
Aerobee RTV-A-1a	United States	5	4	1	0
Aerobee Hi (USAF)	United States	2	1	1	0
Aerobee AJ10-34	United States	9	9	0	0	Maiden flight
Deacon rockoon (NRL)	United States	10	8	2	0	Retired
Nike-Nike-T40-T55	United States	1	1	0	0	Retired
Nike-Cajun	United States	11	11	0	0	Maiden flight
Terrapin	United States	2	1	1	0	Maiden flight
X-17	United States	20	17	3	0
HJ-Nike	United States	2	2	0	0
Jupiter-C	United States	1	1	0	0	Maiden flight
R-1	Soviet Union	17	15	2	0
A-1	Soviet Union	1	1	0	0
R-1E	Soviet Union	3	3	0	0	Retired
R-1UK	Soviet Union	10	10	0	0	Maiden flight, retired
R-2	Soviet Union	11	11	0	0
R-5M	Soviet Union	14	14	0	0
R-5RD	Soviet Union	10	10	0	0	Maiden flight, retired
R-5R	Soviet Union	3	3	0	0	Maiden flight, retired

References

Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.^{[dead link]}
Krebs, Gunter. "Chronology of Space Launches".
Kyle, Ed. "Space Launch Report". Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
McDowell, Jonathan. "GCAT Orbital Launch Log".
Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive".
Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica".
Webb, Brian. "Southwest Space Archive".
Zak, Anatoly. "Russian Space Web".
"ISS Calendar". Spaceflight 101.
"NSSDCA Master Catalog". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
"Space Calendar". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.^{[dead link]}
"Space Information Center". JAXA.^{[dead link]}
"Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).

Generic references:

Spaceflight portal

Footnotes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa Asif Siddiqi (2021). "R-5 Launches 1953-1959". Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t Wade, Mark. "X-17". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q Wade, Mark. "R-1 8A11". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Wade, Mark. "R-2". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Charles P. Smith Jr. (April 1958). Naval Research Laboratory Report No. 4276: Upper Atmosphere Research Report No. XXI, Summary of Upper Atmosphere Rocket Research Firings (pdf). Washington D.C.: Naval Research Laboratory. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
^ ^a ^b Wade, Mark. "HJ Nike". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o McDowell, Jonathan C. "General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects, Launches, Aerobee". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Wade, Mark. "R-1UK". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b Wade, Mark. "R-1E". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
^ Wade, Mark. "R-1E (A-1)". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
^ Wade, Mark. "Nike Nike T40 T55". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Wade, Mark. "Nike Cajun". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Wade, Mark. "Deacon Rockoon". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
^ "Explorer-I and Jupiter-C". nasa.gov. Department of Astronautics, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b Wade, Mark. "Terrapin". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b Wade, Mark. "R-5". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
^ "Vanguard, A History – Early Test Firings". nasa.gov. NASA History Division. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
^ Wade, Mark. "A-1 (R-1)". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2021.

[asifr-5-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa Asif Siddiqi (2021). "R-5 Launches 1953-1959". Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2021.

[astrox17-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t Wade, Mark. "X-17". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2021.

[astror-18a11-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q Wade, Mark. "R-1 8A11". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2021.

[astror2-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Wade, Mark. "R-2". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2021.

[NRL4276-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Charles P. Smith Jr. (April 1958). Naval Research Laboratory Report No. 4276: Upper Atmosphere Research Report No. XXI, Summary of Upper Atmosphere Rocket Research Firings (pdf). Washington D.C.: Naval Research Laboratory. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2022.

[astrohjn-6] Wade, Mark. "HJ Nike". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2021.

[gcat-aerobee-7] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o McDowell, Jonathan C. "General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects, Launches, Aerobee". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2022.

[astror1uk-8] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Wade, Mark. "R-1UK". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2021.

[astror-1e-9] Wade, Mark. "R-1E". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2021.

[astror1ea1-10] Wade, Mark. "R-1E (A-1)". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2021.

[astronnt40t50-11] Wade, Mark. "Nike Nike T40 T55". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2021.

[astrocan-12] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Wade, Mark. "Nike Cajun". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2021.

[astrodeacon-13] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Wade, Mark. "Deacon Rockoon". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2021.

[14] "Explorer-I and Jupiter-C". nasa.gov. Department of Astronautics, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.

[astroterra-15] Wade, Mark. "Terrapin". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2021.

[astror5-16] Wade, Mark. "R-5". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2021.

[17] "Vanguard, A History – Early Test Firings". nasa.gov. NASA History Division. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2021.

[astroa1-18] Wade, Mark. "A-1 (R-1)". Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2021.

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1956 in spaceflight

Launches

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Suborbital launch summary

By country

By rocket

See also

References

Footnotes