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Type: Orbital Launch Site. Operator: USA. Country: USA. Latitude: 37.84621 deg. Longitude: -75.47938 deg. Altitude: 12 m (39 ft). Minimum Inclination: 37.0 degrees. Maximum Inclination: 70.0 degrees. Small NASA launch site for sounding rocket launches and occasional Scout launches to orbit. Air launches are conducted from the Drop Zone Wallops Island, 37.00 N 72.0 W. With the last orbital launch in 1985 and the decline in sounding rocket launches, Wallops fell into near-disuse as a launch center. Then the FAA-certified Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport was created by the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority. Two orbital launch pads, payload processing and integration facility vehicle storage and assembly buildings, on-site and downrange telemetry and tracking, and payload recovery capability were established in the existing facilities. Significant upgrades to Pad 0B were completed in 2005 to make it fully compatible with liquid as well as solid fueled launch vehicles. The Movable Service Structure on Pad 0B was validated in 2005 to support Minuteman and Peacekeeper-derived launch vehicles. Phase I development of new Multipurpose Processing Facility (MPF) and Liquid Fueling Facility (LFF) were completed in 2005. In 2006 a Minotaur booster made the first orbital launch from Wallops in over 20 years. NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), built facilities at Wallops to conduct aeronautical research using rocket-propelled vehicles. Wallops launched its first rocket on July 4, 1945. By the year 2000, the facility had launched more than 14,000 rockets. By that time the launch range had grown to include six launch pads, assembly facilities and range instrumentation. Wallops also maintained mobile launch facilities enabling scientists and engineers to launch rockets around the world. At any launch location required for a particular scientific task, Wallops could provide the expertise and instrumentation to launch, track, acquire data and recover the payload. Wallops' earlier history can be put into the following phases: 1945 - 1957: Pilotless Aircraft Research Station - For the first 12 years, Wallops helped provide a foundation for aerodynamic and heat transfer research. Its high-speed aeronautical launch site used rockets to propel unmanned aircraft models. This facility enabled researchers to overcome the limited capabilities offered by the wind tunnels of the day. 1958 - 1974: Wallops Station - 1958 marked the birth of NASA and the civilian space program. At Wallops, researchers developed components of the human space program, such as capsule escape techniques, maximum pressure tests and recovery systems. Wallops led the way in range support for research in re-entry and life-support systems, Scout small orbital launch vehicles and mobile research projects. 1975 - 1981: Wallops Flight Center - While continuing to act as a launch site for suborbital and orbital vehicles, Wallops expanded its horizons to include Earth studies of ocean processes and used its research airport for runway surface and aircraft noise reduction studies. 1982 - 2004: Wallops Flight Facility - After consolidating with the Goddard Space Flight Center in 1982, Wallops Flight Facility became NASA's primary facility for suborbital programs. Its customer base diversified to include more commercial users for the research airport, tracking facilities and launch range. Wallops continued to support academic and government programs and projects using sounding rockets, balloons and scientific aircraft to facilitate research of the Earth, all regions of the atmosphere and the near-Earth and space environment. Tasks assigned to Wallops included:
As of 2007 over 4247 launches had been made from Wallops Island since 1946. Launch Pads
General / Launch Complex Unknown Chronology 1945 April 1 - Wallops Island authorized. Supplemental appropriation passed by Congress authorized expanded research on guided missiles at NACA Langley Laboratory, including establishment of a rocket launch facility at Wallops Island, Va. 1945 July 1 - First launch from Wallops Island. First launching of a two-stage rocket-propelled research model, the Tiamat missile, which employed six rockets as boosters, had automatic stabilization, its maneuvers were programed, and its testing was the first research program of the NACA's Wallops Island Station. 1945 August 24 - First successful launch from Wallops Island. First successful use of a telemetry system in a rocket-propelled flight research model, the two-stage Tiamat at NACA Wallops Island, Va. 1946 May 1 - Launch Vehicle: FFAR. RM-5 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1946 July 1 - Launch Vehicle: FFAR. RM-5 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1947 February 11 - Launch Vehicle: FFAR. RM-10 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1947 April 1 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Test launch Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). First Deacon rocket launched at Wallops Island, which achieved a velocity of 4,200 feet per second. 1947 April 24 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. RM-10 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1947 April 25 - First airplane scale model rocket test. NACA Langley's PARD launched its first rocket-propelled model of a complete airplane for performance evaluation (AF XF-91), at Wallops Island. This was followed by flight tests of models of practically all Air Force and Navy supersonic airplanes. 1947 April 28 - Launch Vehicle: FFAR. RM-5 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1947 April 28 - Launch Vehicle: FFAR. XF-91 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1947 May 1 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. FR-2 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1947 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Test launch Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1947 November 14 - Launch Vehicle: FFAR. D-558-II model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1948 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E15 Model test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1948 June 1 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. Rascal Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1948 July 8 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. Rascal Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1948 August 19 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Sparrow model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1948 September 1 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. Rascal Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1948 September 24 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Convair XF-92 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1948 October 1 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. E14 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1948 October 13 - First flying wind tunnel test. First launching of a rocket-propelled "flying wind tunnel" model by NACA Langley's PARD at Wallops Island, to measure roll damping of wings at transonic speeds. 1948 December 23 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. D3 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). 1949 January 11 - First canted rocket nozzle test. First launching of a rocket model employing known but nonaerodynamic torque from canted rocket nozzles, for determining damping in roll of wings, at NACA's Wallops Island, Va. 1949 January 11 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D13 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1949 February 2 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E15 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1949 March 28 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. XF-91 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1949 March 29 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. D3 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1949 March 30 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D8 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1949 April 1 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D4 Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1949 April 1 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D4 Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1949 April 8 - Launch Vehicle: RM-10. First successful rocket-propelled RM-10 rocket. First successful rocket-propelled RM-10 research missile for drag and heat transfer studies at transonic and supersonic speeds, making use of skin calorimeter techniques, at Wallops Island, Va. 1949 April 21 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E17 Drag Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1949 May 12 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. F25 Drag Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1949 May 24 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D4 Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1949 June 9 - Pulse rocket tests. First use of small pulse rockets in flight as disturbing impulse for evaluation of dynamic stability in a model of the Rascal missile, at NACA's Wallops Island. 1949 August 23 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D3 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1949 September 21 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. X-3 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1949 November 16 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. F23 Ramjet test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). 1949 December 23 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D4 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1950 January 11 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F26 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1950 January 25 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. X-3 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1950 March 24 - Ramjet test. First successful ramjet research model flown at Wallops Island by NACA Langely's PARD. 1950 March 24 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F23 Ramjet test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 17 km (10 mi). 1950 May 12 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. X-2 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1950 May 18 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. E2 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1950 May 23 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F26 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1950 June 6 - Ramjet reaches Mach 3.1. Ramjet missile launched which accelerated under ramjet power to Mach 3.1 at 67,200-feet altitude, at NACA Wallops Island. 1950 June 6 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F23 Ramjet test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 48 km (29 mi). 1950 July 18 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. F25 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1950 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Hermes Ramjet Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1950 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. Hermes Ramjet Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1950 August 18 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D4 Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1950 August 24 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D28 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1950 August 31 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. XF-92 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1950 September 8 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E17 Drag Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1950 September 15 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D27 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1950 October 2 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. FAILURE: Failure. D35 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1950 October 2 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D8 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1950 October 10 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. F25 Drag Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1950 November 2 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Sparrow model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1950 November 9 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. F25 Drag Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1950 November 15 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Snark Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1950 November 16 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. X-3 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1950 December 1 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. Rascal Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1950 December 7 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. X-3 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1950 December 19 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D35 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1951 February 6 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. RM-10 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1951 March 1 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. FAILURE: Failure. F25 Drag Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1951 March 23 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. XF4D-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1951 May 7 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E2 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1951 May 17 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. X-5 E17 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1951 June 25 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. X-3 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1951 June 27 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. XF4D-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1951 July 9 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D27 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1951 July 18 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Double Deacon Double Deacon FAILURE: Failure. X-2 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). 1951 July 27 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. Hermes A3A model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1951 August 2 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Boojum model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1951 August 17 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E15 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1951 August 22 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D32 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1951 August 30 - PARD test. First successful launching of NACA Langley's PARD of an underslung or "piggyback" rocket booster system, at Wallops Island, Va. 1951 September 5 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E7 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1951 September 12 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. E2 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1951 November 8 - Helium gun catapult. First successful launching of a research model propelled by the helium gun catapult, by Langley's PARD at Wallops Island. 1951 November 29 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D3 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1951 December 19 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Falcon Missile test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1951 December 19 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. XF10F-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 January 1 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Double Deacon Double Deacon FAILURE: Failure. X-2 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). 1952 January 23 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. X-3 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 March 5 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. XF3H-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 March 13 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. XF4D-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 March 18 - Solid fuel ramjet. First successful solid-fuel ramjet research model flown at NACA's Wallops Island. 1952 March 18 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F29 ramjet test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 March 19 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Navaho Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 April 1 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Rigel Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 April 23 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. D109/FFAR seeker test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). 1952 May 16 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D18 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1952 May 16 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E15 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 May 22 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F29 ramjet test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 May 22 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Navaho Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 June 3 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. F12 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1952 June 13 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. X-3 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 July 8 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. B-58 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). 1952 August 5 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Hermes Ramjet Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 August 6 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. B-58 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 August 6 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D-558-II model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 September 1 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Hermes Ramjet Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 September 5 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. Rascal Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1952 September 5 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Rigel Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 September 11 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. B-58 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 September 19 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D109/HPAG seeker test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 September 24 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D35 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 September 25 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. F-100 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 October 3 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. E39 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). 1952 October 3 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. E39 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 2.00 km (1.20 mi). 1952 October 30 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. B-58 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 October 31 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. Navaho Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 November 1 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Rigel Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 November 7 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F-100 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 November 12 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. XF2Y-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 November 14 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. E31 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1952 November 19 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. XF10F-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 November 24 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D32 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1952 December 12 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D109/HPAG seeker test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 December 18 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D18 F100 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1952 December 18 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D28 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D32 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1953 January 1 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D35 Model Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F-100 Model Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 January 14 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Test launch Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 January 22 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. B-58 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 March 5 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Falcon Missile test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 March 20 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. B-58 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). 1953 April 10 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F36 Ramjet model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 May 8 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). First launching of a cluster of three Deacon rockets as a booster at NACA's Wallops Island. 1953 June 10 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. XF3H-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 June 18 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F29 ramjet test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 8.00 km (4.90 mi). 1953 June 25 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F23 Ramjet test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 41 km (25 mi). 1953 July 15 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E25 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 July 24 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F-102 Model test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 August 4 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Rascal Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 August 19 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D18 F100 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 August 19 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F29 ramjet test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 August 20 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E10 Hypersonic test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). 1953 October 7 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D18 F8U-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 October 7 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F8U-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 October 15 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Sidewinder test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 October 23 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. FAILURE: Failure. Navaho Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). 1953 October 26 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Pogo model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 November 1 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. B-58 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 November 3 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D37 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1953 November 19 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F40 Hypersonic test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). First launching of a Nike-Deacon two-stage rocket for heat transfer studies at NACA Wallops Island. 1953 November 20 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E10 Hypersonic test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). 1953 December 2 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. X-2 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 December 7 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E15 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 December 16 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. X-3 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1953 December 17 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F11F-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954? - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. E14 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1954? - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Nike Deacon-1 Test mission Agency: USA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 January 4 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F-104 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 January 7 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F8U-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 January 21 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. Turbojet study test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1954 January 27 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. MX-1712 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 January 29 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F-102 Model test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 February 3 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Navaho Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 February 9 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F11F-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 February 24 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F29 ramjet test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 March 1 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E17 Drag Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 March 1 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. FAILURE: Failure. Navaho Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). 1954 March 2 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D18 F8U-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 March 19 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. XF2Y-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). First launching of a cluster of four Deacon rockets as a booster vehicle, at NACA Wallops Island. 1954 March 24 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Regulus II Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 March 26 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Drag model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 April 21 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D35 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 April 22 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Regulus II Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 April 29 - First 3 stage rocket. First launching of a three-stage rocket vehicle consisting of two Nike boosters in tandem and a Deacon rocket as a third stage, and also a first launching of a rocket booster system consisting of three "peelaway" Deacons as the first stage wrapped around a fourth Deacon as a second stage, and a HPAG rocket as a third stage, by NACA Langley's PARD at Wallops Island. 1954 April 29 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F40 Hypersonic test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 13 km (8 mi). 1954 April 29 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Test launch Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 June 3 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Inlet model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 June 4 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Snark Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 June 28 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. MX-1712 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 July 27 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. AGARD Model 2 test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 August 11 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F11F-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 September 2 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D4 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 September 23 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. F-101A Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 September 24 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. F23 Ramjet test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 October 14 - First American four-stage rocket The first American four-stage rocket was launched by the Pilotless Aircraft Research Division of NACA's Langley Laboratory at Wallops Island. NACA's PARD four-stage, solid-fuel rocket obtained heat transfer data to Mach 10.4. 1954 October 14 - 20:24 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Stability test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 October 14 - 21:20 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Hypersonic Test re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 352 km (218 mi). 1954 October 14 - 22:12 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike. F40 Heat Transfer test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi). 1954 October 22 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. B-58 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 December 16 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Sidewinder test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1954 December 20 - Launch Vehicle: FFAR. D37 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1955 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. XF3H-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. XF3H-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 January 5 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. F23 Ramjet test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 January 11 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Falcon Missile test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 January 12 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Wing drag model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 January 17 - Rocket-towed model. First launching of a test model towed by a rocket vehicle with a flexible towline, by Langley Laboratory's PARD at Wallops Island, Va. 1955 January 28 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Delta-wing model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 March 10 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. F-101A Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 March 23 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F29 ramjet test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 6.00 km (3.70 mi). 1955 March 28 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E39 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 April 8 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 18 km (11 mi). 1955 April 8 - 15:19 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. DAN-1 test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 108 km (67 mi). 1955 April 21 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Turbojet study test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 May 11 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. D22 Ramjet test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 May 26 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. 10 deg nosecone test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 June 20 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E5 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 June 23 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. FAILURE: Failure. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1955 June 24 - 18:04 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. DAN-2 Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 105 km (65 mi). First Nike-Deacon sounding rocket launched at Wallops Island in cooperative USAF-NACA program of upper air density measurements. 1955 June 28 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D35 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 September 1 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. FAILURE: Failure. Navaho Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). 1955 September 15 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. FAILURE: Failure. Test launch Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 September 27 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Hemi-Cyl re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1955 October 1 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D35 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 October 7 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1955 October 11 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. SMOKE Aeronomy release mission Agency: NACA/USN. Apogee: 8.00 km (4.90 mi). 1955 October 11 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. SMOKE Aeronomy release mission Agency: NACA/USN. Apogee: 8.00 km (4.90 mi). 1955 November 16 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Regulus II Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 December 13 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. F5D-1 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 December 14 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. B-58 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1955 December 21 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. FAILURE: Failure. Test launch Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1956 January 26 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E15 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1956 February 1 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Delta-wing model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1956 February 21 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E42 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1956 March 9 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. FAILURE: Failure. Test launch Agency: NACA. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). 1956 April 9 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Test launch Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1956 May 9 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Avro Arrow Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1956 May 15 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Avro Arrow Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1956 May 15 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. F4H-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1956 June 7 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. E41 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1956 June 7 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). 1956 June 8 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Test launch Agency: NACA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1956 June 20 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. First Cajun research rocket. First Cajun research rocket successfully launched at NACA Wallops Island, Va. 1956 June 22 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Inlet model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1956 June 27 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. MW-2 Model/T-40 test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1956 July 5 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 27 km (16 mi). 1956 July 6 - 18:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun N-C 1 UM AM6.01 Sphere Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 129 km (80 mi). First Nike-Cajun research rocket successfully fired at Wallops Island, a cooperative NACA-University of Michigan project, attaining an altitude of 425,000 feet. 1956 July 24 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun N-C 4 (HUGO-1) Hurricane photo Aeronomy mission Agency: USN?. Apogee: 112 km (69 mi). 1956 August 24 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. FAILURE: Failure. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). 1956 September 10 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1956 September 21 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Terrapin M1 FAILURE: Second stage did not ignite. Test mission Agency: NACA/NSA. Apogee: 16 km (9 mi). First Terrpain launch attempt. 1956 September 21 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Terrapin M2 Test mission Agency: NACA/NSA. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). First successful flight of a Terrapin sounding rocket at Wallops Island, which consisted of a Deacon and T55 rocket and carried a payload of 3 kg to a 120 km altitude. 1956 October 2 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. F4H-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1956 October 3 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. B-58 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1956 October 5 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi). 1956 October 9 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. F23 Ramjet test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1956 October 11 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Polished Cone re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 70 km (43 mi). 1956 November 6 - Launch Vehicle: Recruit. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NASA LeRC. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi). 1956 November 27 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. AGARD Model 2 test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1956 December 7 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Hemi-Cyl re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1956 December 20 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1957 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Chemical release mission Agency: NSA. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). 1957 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Chemical release mission Agency: NSA. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). 1957 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Chemical release mission Agency: NSA. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). 1957 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Chemical release mission Agency: NSA. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). 1957 - Launch Vehicle: Recruit. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NASA LeRC. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi). 1957 January 24 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Cone re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1957 February 7 - Launch Vehicle: RM-10. First RM-10 2 stage test. First of a series of two-stage test vehicles (RM-10) to make heat transfer studies at high speed in free flight, was launched from NACA's Pilotless Aircraft Reserach Station at Wallops Island, Va. Vehicle was developed by PARD of Langley Laboratory. 1957 February 13 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Delta-wing model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1957 February 15 - Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D27 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1957 March 18 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Reentry blackout re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1957 April 10 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1957 May 2 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Slender missile test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1957 May 23 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. MW-2 Model/T-40 test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1957 June 19 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Copper re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1957 June 19 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. F4H-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1957 August 2 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Flat re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1957 August 7 - Launch Vehicle: Recruit. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NASA LeRC. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi). 1957 August 13 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1957 August 29 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Glide Rocket Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 27 km (16 mi). 1957 October 8 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Glide Rocket Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1957 October 10 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1957 October 25 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. GE RV Model test flight Agency: USAF. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1957 November 20 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. MW-2 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1957 December 13 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1957 December 23 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun HUGO FAILURE: Failure. Hurricane photo Aeronomy mission Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1958 January 23 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1958 January 31 - Launch Vehicle: Recruit. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NASA LeRC. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi). 1958 February 28 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. GE RV Model test flight Agency: USAF. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 March 24 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. F4H-1 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1958 March 28 - Launch Vehicle: Recruit. Test mission Agency: NASA LeRC. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi). 1958 April 7 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Hi Ball 1 Balloon test Agency: NACA LaRC. Apogee: 244 km (151 mi). 1958 April 14 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. D3/D18 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1958 April 24 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Beacon Test 1 Balloon test Agency: NACA LaRC. Apogee: 122 km (75 mi). 1958 April 24 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. GE RV Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 April 25 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Beacon Test 1R Balloon test Agency: NACA LaRC. Apogee: 73 km (45 mi). First successful launching and erection in space of a 12-foot inflatable sphere for air density measurements, using a Nike-Cajun booster system, by NACA Langley's PARD at Wallops Island, Va. 1958 May 1 - Second space balloon test. Four-stage rocket launched a 9-pound inflatable sphere to 50-mile altitude at NACA Wallops Island. 1958 May 16 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. E41 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1958 May 22 - 00:57 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Hi Ball 2 Balloon test Agency: NACA LaRC. Apogee: 240 km (140 mi). 1958 May 25 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Beacon Test 2 Balloon test Agency: NACA LaRC. Apogee: 122 km (75 mi). 1958 June 5 - Launch Vehicle: Nike Ajax. Control test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). 1958 June 26 - Launch Vehicle: Exos. Model 1 test Agency: NACA/AFCRL. Apogee: 370 km (220 mi). 1958 June 27 - Mach 18 5 stage test. First successful launching by NACA Langley's Aircraft Research Division of a Mach 18 five-stage rocket vehicle at Wallops Island, Va. 1958 June 27 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. GE RV Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 June 27 - Launch Vehicle: Sergeant. Mercury-type Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 34 km (21 mi). 1958 July 8 - First spherical rocket motor test. First launching of a 10-inch-diameter spherical rocket motor with spin stabilization, at NACA Wallops Island. 1958 July 11 - Launch Vehicle: Jason. Jason J-A FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF AFSWC. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). 1958 July 15 - Launch Vehicle: Recruit. Test mission Agency: NASA LeRC. Apogee: 14 km (8 mi). 1958 July 16 - Launch Vehicle: Arcon. Arcon NRL-1 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: NRL. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). 1958 July 17 - Launch Vehicle: Jason. Jason J-B FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). 1958 July 21 - Launch Vehicle: Arcon. Arcon SEL-1 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USA SRDL. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). 1958 July 22 - Launch Vehicle: Arcon. FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: NRL?. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). 1958 July 24 - Launch Vehicle: Recruit. Test mission Agency: NASA LeRC. Apogee: 14 km (8 mi). 1958 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Jason. Jason J-CX Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 750 km (460 mi). In 3-week period, 19 five-stage Argo E5 sounding rockets were launched in USAF-NACA program to measure radiation caused by Project Argus, rockets reaching 500-mile altitude and were launched from Wallops Island, AMR, and Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico. 1958 August 14 - Launch Vehicle: Loki. Oriole Aeronomy / test Agency: NACA/UMd. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 August 14 - Launch Vehicle: Loki. Oriole Aeronomy / test Agency: NACA/UMd. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 August 14 - Launch Vehicle: Loki. Oriole Aeronomy / test Agency: NACA/UMd. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 August 15 - Launch Vehicle: Loki. Oriole Aeronomy / test Agency: NACA/UMd. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 August 15 - Launch Vehicle: Loki. Oriole Aeronomy / test Agency: NACA/UMd. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 August 15 - Launch Vehicle: Loki. Oriole Aeronomy / test Agency: NACA/UMd. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 August 25 - 18:17 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Jason. Jason Jason 1859 Nuclear test observation mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 800 km (490 mi). 1958 August 27 - 07:29 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Jason. Jason Jason 1913 J-15 Nuclear test observation mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 800 km (490 mi). 1958 August 30 - 03:48 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Jason. Jason Jason 2019 J-16 Nuclear test observation mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 817 km (507 mi). 1958 August 30 - 05:18 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Jason. Jason Jason 2021 J-17 Nuclear test observation mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 830 km (510 mi). 1958 August 30 - 07:21 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Jason. Jason Jason 2024 J-18 Nuclear test observation mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 815 km (506 mi). 1958 August 30 - 22:02 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Jason. Jason Jason 2027 J-19 Nuclear test observation mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 745 km (462 mi). 1958 September 2 - 20:03 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Jason. Jason Jason 2042 J-20 Nuclear test observation mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 789 km (490 mi). 1958 September 8 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. FAILURE: Failure. E15 Model/Loki test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1958 September 8 - Launch Vehicle: Deacon. E15 Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1958 September 11 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Beacon Test 3 Balloon test Agency: NACA LaRC. Apogee: 122 km (75 mi). 1958 September 12 - Launch Vehicle: Recruit. Test mission Agency: NASA LeRC. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi). 1958 September 18 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Polaris model re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NACA/USN. Apogee: 9.00 km (5.50 mi). 1958 September 22 - Launch Vehicle: Loki. Oriole Aeronomy / test Agency: NACA/UMd. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 September 22 - Launch Vehicle: Loki. Oriole Aeronomy / test Agency: NACA/UMd. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 September 22 - Launch Vehicle: Loki. Oriole Aeronomy / test Agency: NACA/UMd. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 September 25 - Launch Vehicle: Exos. Model 2 test Agency: NACA/AFCRL. Apogee: 460 km (280 mi). 1958 September 25 - Launch Vehicle: Loki. Oriole Aeronomy / test Agency: NACA/UMd. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 September 25 - Launch Vehicle: Loki. Oriole Aeronomy / test Agency: NACA/UMd. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 October 6 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Polaris Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: USN. Apogee: 26 km (16 mi). 1958 October 7 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Hi Ball 3 Balloon test Agency: NACA LaRC. Apogee: 244 km (151 mi). 1958 October 13 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. E41 model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1958 November 6 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Corvus Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1958 November 20 - Launch Vehicle: Sergeant. FAILURE: Failure. Mercury-type Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 November 20 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Telemetry test re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 December 1 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Polaris Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: USN. Apogee: 26 km (16 mi). 1958 December 5 - Launch Vehicle: Terrier. First Terrier sounding flight. Modified Navy Terrier rocket with camera launched to an altitude of 86 miles from Wallops Island, providing a 1,000-mile composite photograph of a frontal cloud formation. 1958 December 9 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Hurricane photo Aeronomy mission Agency: NACA. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). 1958 December 9 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Hurricane photo Aeronomy mission Agency: NACA. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). 1958 December 17 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1958 December 18 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Corvus Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1959 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 25 km (15 mi). 1959 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 25 km (15 mi). 1959 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 25 km (15 mi). 1959 - Launch Vehicle: Recruit. Blunt cone Stab. test Agency: NASA LaRC. Apogee: 6.00 km (3.70 mi). 1959 - Launch Vehicle: Recruit. Ogive Stab. test Agency: NASA LaRC. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi). 1959 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Polaris Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: USN. Apogee: 26 km (16 mi). 1959 January 28 - Third space balloon test. Nike-Cajun successfully launched 12-foot-diameter test inflatable sphere to a height of 75 miles over NASA Wallops Island, the sphere inflating satisfactorily. 1959 January 28 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Beacon Test 4 Satellite test Agency: NASA LaRC. Apogee: 122 km (75 mi). 1959 February 5 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Corvus Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1959 March 3 - Launch Vehicle: Trailblazer. Trailblazer 1 TB I alpha? D58 re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NASA. Apogee: 260 km (160 mi). 1959 March 17 - Second spherical rocket motor test. First flight launching of a spin-stabilized 20-inch-diameter spherical rocket, by NASA Langley's PARD at Wallops Station, Va. 1959 March 17 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. FAILURE: Failure. GE Ablative reentry vehicle Re-entry vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1959 March 17 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 1,380 km (850 mi). 1959 March 24 - 3,300th launch from Wallops. NASA announced that Wallops Station had made over 3,300 rocket firings since 1945. 1959 April 1 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Nike Cajun F40 F40 Heat transfer test Agency: NASA LaRC. Apogee: 45 km (27 mi). 1959 May 14 - 17:55 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Arcon. Arcon NASA 2.01GT Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 68 km (42 mi). 1959 May 15 - 17:10 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Arcon. Arcon NASA 2.02GT Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 60 km (37 mi). 1959 May 15 - 22:10 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Arcon. Arcon NASA 2.03GT FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). 1959 May 21 - 01:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun II6.20F Fields mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 73 km (45 mi). 1959 May 23 - 14:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun II6.21F Fields mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 73 km (45 mi). 1959 May 25 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Glide Rocket Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1959 May 27 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Corvus Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1959 June 5 - 04:15 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trailblazer. Trailblazer 1 TB I beta? Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 260 km (160 mi). 1959 June 18 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Mercury model test flight Agency: NASA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1959 June 30 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun ABME6.208 Dumbbell probe Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi). 1959 July 1 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun ABME6.209 Tetrahedron probe Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 99 km (61 mi). 1959 July 7 - 11:15 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Javelin JV-1 Test / particles mission Agency: USAF AFSWC. Apogee: 1,045 km (649 mi). Four-stage Argo D4 rocket with an ARDC Javelin payload fired from Wallops Island to an altitude of 750 miles, first in a series of USAF-NASA launchings to measure natural radiation surrounding the earth. 1959 July 12 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. GE Ablative reentry vehicle? Re-entry vehicle test Agency: NACA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1959 July 21 - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Javelin JV-2 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF AFSWC. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). 1959 July 31 - Launch Vehicle: Arcas. FAILURE: Failure. Aeronomy mission Agency: BRL. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1959 July 31 - Launch Vehicle: Arcas. FAILURE: Failure. Aeronomy mission Agency: BRL. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1959 August 4 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Mercury model test flight Agency: NASA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1959 August 7 - Launch Vehicle: Arcas. Aeronomy mission Agency: BRL. Apogee: 55 km (34 mi). 1959 August 7 - Launch Vehicle: Arcon. Arcon NASA 2.04GT FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). 1959 August 7 - Launch Vehicle: Arcon. Arcon NASA 2.05GT FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi). 1959 August 7 - Launch Vehicle: Arcon. Arcon NASA 2.06GT FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 104 km (64 mi). 1959 August 17 - 09:18 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.13CA Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 236 km (146 mi). NIKE-ASP sounding rocket provided geophysical information on wind activity between 80 and 300 km high was launched successfully from NASA Wallops Station. 1959 August 19 - 00:34 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.14CA FAILURE: Failure. Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). 1959 September 2 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Corvus Model test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). 1959 September 9 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Mercury model test flight Agency: NASA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1959 September 21 - 20:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Nike Smoke 002 Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi). 1959 October 28 - Prototype Echo balloon launched. 100-foot-diameter inflatable sphere launched on a suborbital test flight from NASA Wallops Station, Va., to an altitude of 250 miles by a first Sergeant-Delta rocket; aluminum-coated Mylar-plastic sphere to be used as passive electronic reflector in Echo was developed by NASA Langley's Space Vehicle Group under the direction of William J. O'Sullivan. 1959 October 28 - 22:40 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Sergeant. Shotput 1 E60 Echo spacecraft test Agency: NASA LaRC. Apogee: 400 km (240 mi). 1959 November 10 - 5 stage sounding rocket. Five-stage sounding rocket launched from NASA Wallops Island to an altitude of 1,050 miles to measure density of electrons in upper atmosphere. 1959 November 10 - 12:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Strongarm. Strongarm OB11.01 Ion density Test / ionosphere mission Agency: USA BRL. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). 1959 November 18 - Launch Vehicle: Strongarm. Strongarm OB11.02 FAILURE: Failure. Ion density Test / ionosphere mission Agency: USA BRL. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). 1959 November 18 - 22:17 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.15CA Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi). Nike-Asp sounding rocket fired from NASA Wallops Station emitted sodium vapor at 80 km to 250 km altitude, revealing powerful windshear effects. 1959 November 19 - 10:51 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.16CA Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 255 km (158 mi). Second sodium-vapor-trail experiment in Nike-Asp launch from Wallops Island was not successful. 1959 November 20 - 10:51 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.17CA Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 236 km (146 mi). 1959 November 25 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. F131 Heat Transfer re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NASA. Apogee: 26 km (16 mi). 1959 November 25 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Paraglider test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 45 km (27 mi). 1959 December 1 - Launch Vehicle: Trailblazer. Trailblazer 1 TB I gamma? Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 260 km (160 mi). 1959 December 4 - Mercury Little Joe 2 (LJ-2) Spacecraft: Mercury. LJ-2 was launched from Wallops Island to determine the motions of the spacecraft escape tower combination during a high-altitude abort, entry dynamics without a control system, physiological effects of acceleration on a small primate, operation of the drogue parachute, and effectiveness of the recovery operation. Telemetry was set up to record some 80 bits of information on the flight. The abort sequence was initiated by timers after 59 seconds of elapsed flight time at an altitude of about 96,000 feet and a speed of Mach 5.5. Escape motor firing occurred as planned and the spacecraft was whisked away at a speed of about Mach 6 to an apogee of 53.03 statute miles. All other sequences operated as planned, and spacecraft recovery was effected in about 2 hours from lift-off. The primate passenger, 'Sam,' an American-born rhesus monkey, withstood the trip and the recovery in good condition. All objectives of the mission were met. 1959 December 22 - 07:56 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Javelin NASA 8.01GT X248 test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 901 km (559 mi). In a United States-Canadian cooperative project, NASA launched the first four-stage Javelin sounding rocket from Wallops Station to an altitude of 560 miles to measure the intensity of galactic radio noise. 1960? - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Teflon nose Re-entry vehicle test Agency: NASA LaRC. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). 1960 January 8 - Launch Vehicle: Sergeant. Mercury model Re-entry vehicle test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 34 km (21 mi). 1960 January 15 - 04:52 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Javelin JV-3 Test / lyra-alpha mission Agency: USAF AFSWC. Apogee: 1,200 km (700 mi). 1960 January 16 - 22:35 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Sergeant. Shotput 2 E60 Echo spacecraft test Agency: NASA LaRC. Apogee: 413 km (256 mi). 1960 January 26 - 05:42 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Javelin NASA 8.02GT X248 test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 951 km (590 mi). 1960 February 16 - 20:48 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 150 NASA 04.01GT FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi). 1960 February 27 - Third Echo balloon test. 100-foot-diameter inflatable sphere successfully launched on third suborbital test to an altitude of 225 miles, from NASA Wallops Station, Va. Radio transmissions were reflected via the sphere from Holmdel, N.J., to Round Hill, Mass. 1960 February 27 - 23:20 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Sergeant. Shotput 3 E60 Echo spacecraft test Agency: NASA LaRC. Apogee: 400 km (240 mi). 1960 March 1 - 22:11 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.01GS Solar ultraviolet mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 212 km (131 mi). 1960 March 3 - 22:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.02GS Solar ultraviolet mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 212 km (131 mi). 1960 March 24 - Launch Vehicle: Sergeant. Mercury model Re-entry vehicle test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 34 km (21 mi). 1960 March 25 - 18:40 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 150A NASA 04.12GT Test / meteorites mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 212 km (131 mi). Aerobee 150-A, a new type, fired from new launch tower at Wallops Station, reached an altitude of 140 km and achieved rocket performance objectives as well as micrometeorite impact counts. 1960 March 29 - Launch Vehicle: Trailblazer. Trailblazer 1 TB Ia? D58 Trailblazer re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NASA. Apogee: 260 km (160 mi). 1960 April 1 - Launch Vehicle: Sergeant. Shotput 4 E60 Echo spacecraft test Agency: NASA LaRC. Apogee: 400 km (240 mi). 1960 April 23 - 21:45 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 150A NASA 04.10GT Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 246 km (152 mi). NASA fired first of five Aerobee-Hi sounding rockets from Wallops Station in program to measure ultraviolet radiation. 1960 April 26 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. FAILURE: Failure. Porous re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NASA. Apogee: 43 km (26 mi). 1960 April 27 - 04:18 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 150 NASA 04.04GG Ultraviolet star photometer Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). 1960 April 27 - 21:56 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.03GS FAILURE: Failure. Solar ultraviolet mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 24 km (14 mi). 1960 April 29 - 15:47 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 150A NASA 04.09GA Composition Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 242 km (150 mi). 1960 May 9 - Beach Abort 1 Spacecraft: Mercury. First production model of Project Mercury spacecraft was successfully launched from NASA Wallops Station to test escape, landing, and recovery systems. Known as the "beach abort" shot, the Mercury capsule reached 775 m before parachute landing and pickup by Marine helicopter returned it to Wallops' hangar 17 minutes after launch. 1960 May 18 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Test launch Agency: USN?. Apogee: 80 km (49 mi). 1960 May 19 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Test launch Agency: USN?. Apogee: 80 km (49 mi). 1960 May 24 - 08:57 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.23CA FAILURE: Failure. Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 24 km (14 mi). 1960 May 25 - 00:48 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.24CA Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 199 km (123 mi). 1960 May 25 - 22:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.04GS Solar ultraviolet mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 193 km (119 mi). 1960 May 27 - 05:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 150A NASA 04.05GG Ultraviolet star photometer Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 215 km (133 mi). 1960 May 31 - Echo development flight. 100-foot inflatable sphere launched from NASA Wallops Station to an altitude of 210 miles to test payload configuration carrying two beacon transmitters, a development flight of Project Echo. 1960 May 31 - Launch Vehicle: Sergeant. Shotput 5 E60 Echo spacecraft test Agency: NASA LaRC. Apogee: 400 km (240 mi). 1960 June 16 - 05:29 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.03GA FAILURE: Failure. Grenade Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1960 June 24 - 06:25 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 150A NASA 04.06GG Ultraviolet star photometer Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 211 km (131 mi). 1960 June 26 - 06:17 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trailblazer. Trailblazer 1 TB Ib D58 Trailblazer re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NASA. Apogee: 294 km (182 mi). 1960 June 30 - 20:25 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Javelin NASA 8.07GE FAILURE: Failure. Magnetic fields Magnetosphere mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 65 km (40 mi). 1960 July 9 - 04:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.04GA Grenade Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 105 km (65 mi). 1960 July 13 - 14:47 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Strongarm. Strongarm OB11.03 FAILURE: Failure. Ionosphere mission Agency: USA BRL. Apogee: 670 km (410 mi). 1960 July 14 - 00:44 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.01GA FAILURE: Failure. Grenade Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 28 km (17 mi). 1960 July 14 - 02:43 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Strongarm. Strongarm OB11.04 FAILURE: Failure. Ionosphere mission Agency: USA BRL. Apogee: 710 km (440 mi). 1960 August 2 - 03:14 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Strongarm. FAILURE: Failure. Ionosphere mission Agency: USA BRL. Apogee: 550 km (340 mi). 1960 August 3 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Glide Rocket Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NASA LaRC. Apogee: 27 km (16 mi). 1960 August 3 - 15:26 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 300A NASA 06.03UI UM ionospheric Ionosphere mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 415 km (257 mi). First Sparrowbee sounding rocket launched from Wallops Station, lifting 25 kg University of Michigan payload to 415 km altitude. 1960 August 9 - 20:10 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.28GT Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 26 km (16 mi). 1960 August 22 - 17:40 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.12CI FAILURE: Failure. Langmuir Probe Ionosphere mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 23 km (14 mi). 1960 August 23 - 17:01 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 150A NASA 04.16UE Cosmic rays mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 190 km (110 mi). 1960 August 29 - 03:38 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trailblazer. Trailblazer 1 TB Ic D58 Trailblazer re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NASA. Apogee: 260 km (160 mi). 1960 August 29 - 06:13 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trailblazer. Trailblazer 1 TB Id D58 Trailblazer re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NASA. Apogee: 260 km (160 mi). 1960 September 8 - 18:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Nike Smoke 005 Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 9.00 km (5.50 mi). 1960 September 20 - 20:18 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.05GA Grenade Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). 1960 September 23 - 16:10 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Nike Smoke 006 Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 13 km (8 mi). 1960 October 1 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. E48 Re-entry vehicle Stability test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1960 October 11 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Glide Rocket Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1960 October 19 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. E48 Re-entry vehicle Stability test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1960 October 22 - 03:09 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trailblazer. Trailblazer 1 TB Ie D58 Trailblazer re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NASA. Apogee: 260 km (160 mi). 1960 November 2 - 22:25 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.09UA Composition Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 109 km (67 mi). 1960 November 3 - 21:19 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.29GT Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 193 km (119 mi). 1960 November 10 - 01:44 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Javelin NASA 8.04CA Ionosphere Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 975 km (605 mi). 1960 November 15 - 16:41 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 150A NASA 04.14GA Composition Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 227 km (141 mi). 1960 November 16 - 17:37 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.10UA Composition Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 152 km (94 mi). 1960 November 22 - 08:42 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 150A NASA 04.11GG Ultraviolet Spectrograph Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 183 km (113 mi). 1960 December 1 - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 26 km (16 mi). 1960 December 1 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Teflon nose Re-entry vehicle test Agency: NASA LaRC. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). 1960 December 7 - High altitude sodium tests. Series of upper atmosphere sounding rockets from NASA Wallops Station, sodium vapor being ejected at about 212 miles altitude and a lithium flare released near peak altitude of about 450 miles to measure wind velocities and temperatures. 1960 December 8 - 16:52 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.25CI Langmuir Probe Ionosphere mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 152 km (94 mi). 1960 December 9 - 11:20 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.12CA Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 146 km (90 mi). 1960 December 9 - 22:15 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.11CA FAILURE: Failure. Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 24 km (14 mi). 1960 December 10 - 22:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Javelin NASA 8.05CA Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 716 km (444 mi). 1960 December 12 - 22:36 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Javelin NASA 8.08GE Magnetic fields Magnetosphere mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 1,140 km (700 mi). 1960 December 14 - 16:52 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.06GA Grenade Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi). 1961 January 17 - 21:25 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.36GT Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 209 km (129 mi). 1961 January 18 - 04:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trailblazer. Trailblazer 1 TB If D58 Trailblazer re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NASA. Apogee: 260 km (160 mi). 1961 February 5 - 13:48 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 150A NASA 04.38NP LeRC LH2 test Technology test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 152 km (94 mi). 1961 February 6 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Liquid hydrogen tests. NASA Aerobee-Hi successfully reached 96 miles above Wallops Station in test of behavior of liquid hydrogen in zero gravity for Lewis Research Center hydrogen propulsion development. 1961 February 14 - Launch Vehicle: Strongarm. Strongarm E22-H1-1 FAILURE: Failure. Geodetic Flares test Agency: USA BRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). 1961 February 14 - 23:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.07GA Grenade Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi). NASA Nike-Cajun rocket launched from Wallops Station, carrying 60-pound payload ejecting explosive charges, which fired at intervals from 20- to 80-mile altitude to provide data on density of the atmosphere. 1961 February 15 - 18:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Nike Smoke 007 Smoke Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1961 February 16 - First satellite launch from Wallops Island. NASA Explorer IX placed in orbit by four-stage Scout booster from Wallops Station, the first satellite launching from Wallops, and the first satellite boosted by a solid-fuel rocket. Explorer IX was a 12-foot diameter sphere after inflation at orbital altitude. 1961 February 17 - 02:26 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.08CA Grenade Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 85 km (52 mi). 1961 February 17 - 07:17 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Apache. Nike Apache AA5.391 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). 1961 February 18 - Launch Vehicle: Strongarm. Strongarm E22-H1-2 Geodetic Flares test Agency: USA BRL. Apogee: 2,027 km (1,259 mi). 1961 March 15 - 17:47 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.49GT Cajun fin test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi). 1961 March 26 - 16:54 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 300A NASA 06.04UI UM ionospheric Ionosphere mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 386 km (239 mi). NASA Aerobee research rocket with University of Michigan payload shot to 406-km altitude from Wallops Station. 1961 March 31 - 02:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 150A NASA 04.34GG Ultraviolet star photometer Ultraviolet astronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 72 km (44 mi). 1961 April 5 - 12:57 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.33GA Grenade Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 116 km (72 mi). 1961 April 6 - 19:35 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Nike Smoke 009 Smoke Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi). 1961 April 7 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Reentry Stability re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1961 April 14 - 15:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Nike Smoke 010 Smoke Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1961 April 14 - 17:15 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 150A NASA 04.19GT Attitude control test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 206 km (128 mi). 1961 April 14 - 19:35 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Nike Smoke 012 Smoke Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi). 1961 April 19 - 09:36 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.05CA Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 164 km (101 mi). 1961 April 21 - 00:12 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.06CA FAILURE: Failure. Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 180 km (110 mi). 1961 April 21 - 05:56 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trailblazer. Trailblazer 1 TB Ig Re-entry vehicle test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 280 km (170 mi). 1961 April 21 - 09:34 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.07CA FAILURE: Failure. Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). 1961 April 21 - 09:39 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Nike Asp NASA 03.08CA Sodium release Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 165 km (102 mi). 1961 April 21 - 12:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 150A NASA 04.39NP LeRC LH2 test Technology test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 154 km (95 mi). 1961 April 27 - 20:02 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Javelin NASA 8.10GI Ionosphere mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 724 km (449 mi). 1961 April 27 - 22:32 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.34GA FAILURE: Failure. Grenade Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 18 km (11 mi). 1961 May 1 - Launch Vehicle: Hopi. PHOENIX Chaff Aeronomy mission Agency: AFCRL. Apogee: 273 km (169 mi). 1961 May 2 - 21:15 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Nike NASA 12.01GT Cone test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 14 km (8 mi). 1961 May 5 - 23:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.02GA Grenade Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 117 km (72 mi). 1961 May 6 - 04:54 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.28GA Grenade Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 117 km (72 mi). 1961 May 9 - 11:53 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.29GA Grenade Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 117 km (72 mi). 1961 May 18 - 06:10 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trailblazer. Trailblazer 1 TB Ih Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 260 km (160 mi). 1961 May 25 - 17:03 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Apache. Nike Apache NASA 14.01GT Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 116 km (72 mi). 1961 June 1 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Nike Yardbird Test Flight 1 FAILURE: Failure. Sphere Test / aeronomy mission Agency: UM. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1961 June 6 - 21:48 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.50UA Sphere / Inflating Sphere 1 Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). 1961 June 9 - 18:02 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.56UA Composition Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 142 km (88 mi). 1961 June 13 - 05:12 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Javelin NASA 8.09GI Ionosphere mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 867 km (538 mi). 1961 June 15 - 00:02 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Javelin NASA 8.13II Antenna deploy test Ionosphere mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 901 km (559 mi). 1961 June 24 - 23:17 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Javelin NASA 8.15AI Topside Sounder Ionosphere mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 1,018 km (632 mi). 1961 June 26 - 15:15 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 150A NASA 04.20GT Attitude control test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 187 km (116 mi). 1961 July 13 - 22:07 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.30GA Grenade Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 119 km (73 mi). Two Nike-Cajun rockets launched University of New Hamsphire-Goddard Space Flight Center payloads from NASA Wallops Station. 1961 July 14 - 02:57 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Apache. Nike Apache NASA 14.03UE Magnetic Fields Magnetosphere mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 196 km (121 mi). 1961 July 14 - 15:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Apache. Nike Apache NASA 14.04UE Magnetic Fields Magnetosphere mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). 1961 July 14 - 16:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Nike Smoke 014 Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 14 km (8 mi). 1961 July 14 - 16:02 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.31GA Grenades Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 101 km (62 mi). 1961 July 14 - 21:20 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Nike Smoke 015 Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 14 km (8 mi). 1961 July 14 - 21:20 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Nike Smoke 016 Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 14 km (8 mi). 1961 July 20 - 10:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.32GA Grenades Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 124 km (77 mi). 1961 July 20 - 13:12 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Apache. Nike Apache NASA 14.05UE Magnetic Fields Magnetosphere mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 193 km (119 mi). 1961 July 21 - 03:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.35GA Grenades Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 68 km (42 mi). 1961 July 26 - Launch Vehicle: Nike. Nike Yardbird Test Flight 2 FAILURE: Failure. Sphere Test / aeronomy mission Agency: UM. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). 1961 July 26 - 19:22 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.57UA Composition Aeronomy mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 143 km (88 mi). 1961 August 12 - 10:57 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Aerobee 150A NASA 04.42NP LeRC LH2 test Technology test Agency: NASA. Apogee: 153 km (95 mi). 1961 August 16 - 20:27 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Apache. Nike Apache NASA 14.02GT Test mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 182 km (113 mi). 1961 August 18 - 03:06 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun NASA 10.51CI Langmuir Probe Ionosphere mission Agency: NASA. Apogee: 141 km (87 mi). 1961 August 30 - Launch Vehicle: Arcas. Arcas Robin Aeronomy mission |