Skip to content
79,433 pages · 13,741 images · since 1994 Browse A–Z Today in space history
Encyclopedia Astronautica The full story of spaceflight
Space history chronology

1953 Chronology

Chronology

172 events

1953 January

LV Family: R-12. Launch Vehicle: EKR.
  • Expert commission examined the EKR design - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Korolev, Lavochkin, Myasishchev. Program: Navaho. Spacecraft Bus: Buran M. Spacecraft: Buran M-42.

    In 1951 to 1953 Korolev's design bureau had prepared an experimental trisonic ramjet design, the EKR.The expert commission ifelt that there were still many technical problems to be solved, most of which were better handled by an aircraft designer rather than Korolev. Further, Korolev had to place the highest priority on development of the R-7 ICBM. Therefore a final government decree on 20 May 1954 authorised the Lavochkin and Myasishchev aircraft design bureaux to proceed in parallel with full-scale development of trisonic intercontinental cruise missiles.

1953 January

Launch Vehicle: Navaho.
  • REAP Program - . Nation: USA. Program: Navaho.

    North American's rocket group begins the Rocket Engine Advancement Program, to identify improved rocket technology. One early conclusion was that the performance and logistics could be significantly improved by shifting from alcohol to kerosene fuel, using a new specification RP-1. The decision is made to change the propellants for the Navaho G-38 production version booster. The LR71 engine, modified to burn kerosene, would be designated LR83. This in turn was the basic engine that would power the Thor, Jupiter, Atlas, Saturn I, and Delta rockets into the next century.

1953 January

LV Family: Atlas.
  • Millikan Committee Report - . Nation: USA. Millikan Committee report issued, saying Atlas could be operational by 1963.

1953 January 14

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Quad Deacon.
  • Test launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1953 January 20

  • Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower inaugurated president of United States - . Nation: USA.

1953 January 30

  • Birth of Carol Lynn Belt Weaver - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Weaver. American meteorologist payload specialist astronaut, 1988-1989..

1953 February 1

Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg.
  • Camp Cooke again inactivated. (Future Vandenberg) - . Nation: USA.

1953 February 10

21:09 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-N-10.
  • Mass spectrometer Aeronomy / chemical / chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 137 km (85 mi). Composition, cosmic radiation research. Launched at 1409 local time. Reached 137 km..

1953 February 11

  • Birth of Steven Douglas Thorne - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Thorne. German test pilot mission specialist astronaut, 1985-1986. Died in an airplane crash..

1953 February 11

Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. LV Family: Wasserfall. Launch Vehicle: Hermes A-2.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

1953 February 12

07:09 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-N-10.
  • Mass spectrometer Aeronomy / chemical / chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 137 km (85 mi). Composition, cosmic radiation research. Launched at 0009 local time. Reached 137.3 km..

1953 February 13

LV Family: R-12. Launch Vehicle: EKR.
  • Authorisation for development of Soviet intermediate and intercontinental range missiles. - . Nation: Russia.

    Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On approval of work on themes T1 and T2, on approval of work on the R-5, R-11, and EKR missiles, and on transferring draft project work for the R-12 from NII-88 to SKB-586' was issued. The decree set forth three phases of state trials tests for the R-5 missile.

1953 February 14

  • X-1A Flight 1 - . Crew: Ziegler. Payload: X-1A flight 1. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Ziegler. Class: Manned. Type: Manned rocketplane. Spacecraft Bus: XS-1. Spacecraft: X-1A. Bell flight 1. Pilot familiarization. Fuel jettison test. Glide flight only..

1953 February 14

  • X-1A Flight 2 - . Crew: Ziegler. Payload: X-1A flight 2. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Ziegler. Class: Manned. Type: Manned rocketplane. Spacecraft Bus: XS-1. Spacecraft: X-1A. Bell flight 2. Planned as powered flight, but completed as glide flight following propellant-system difficulties..

1953 February 16

  • Birth of Michael Ray Mantz - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Mantz. American engineer military spaceflight engineer astronaut, 1982-1987..

1953 February 18

  • USSR commission for upper atmosphere research. - . Nation: Russia. Academy of Sciences Decree 'On formation of AN USSR Commission for Research on the Upper Layers of the Atmosphere' was issued..

1953 February 18

06:50 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee XASR-SC-2.
  • Grenades Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 109 km (67 mi). Temperature, winds research. Launched at 2350 local time. Reached 106.2 km..

1953 February 18

17:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-A-1a.
  • Heating / beacon test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 117 km (72 mi). Rocket performance test. Launched at 1042 local time. Reached 117.5 km..

1953 February 19

  • Chelomei's cruise missile design bureau dissolved and transferred to MiG. - . Nation: Russia. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 533-271 'On dissolution of OKB-51 and its transfer to OKB-155' was issued..

1953 February 21

  • X-1A Flight 3 - . Crew: Ziegler. Payload: X-1A flight 3. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Ziegler. Class: Manned. Type: Manned rocketplane. Spacecraft Bus: XS-1. Spacecraft: X-1A. Bell flight 3. First powered flight. False fire warning..

1953 March

Launch Vehicle: Saturn V.
  • Research on 1 million lb thrust engine begun. - . Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Research on 1-million-pound thrust plus engine begun at Rocketdyne, the feasibility of which was established in March 1955..

1953 March 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.

1953 March 3

  • Birth of Dr Aleksandr Viktorovich Borodin - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Borodin. Russian physician cosmonaut, 1978-1993. Civilian Physician, Institute of Medical Biological Problems. Cosmonaut training from October 1979 - July 1980. Worked again at IMBP..

1953 March 4

Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. LV Family: Wasserfall. Launch Vehicle: Hermes A-2.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

1953 March 5

  • Stalin dies - . Nation: Russia.

1953 March 5

  • Birth of Valeri Grigoryevich Korzun - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Korzun. Russian pilot cosmonaut 1987-2003. 381 cumulative days in space. Call sign: Fregat (Frigate). 2 spaceflights, 381.7 days in space. Flew to orbit on Soyuz TM-24 (1996), STS-111..

1953 March 5

  • Death of losif Vissarionovich Stalin - . Nation: Georgia, Russia. Related Persons: Stalin. Georgian-Russian politician. Leader of the Soviet Union, 1924-1953..

1953 March 5

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.

1953 March 10

Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. LV Family: Snark. Launch Vehicle: MX-775.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1953 March 13

Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC33. LV Family: Wasserfall. Launch Vehicle: Hermes A-3A.
  • RV-A-8 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi).

1953 March 15

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-5. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Phase I state trials launch - . Nation: Russia. Agency: Korolev bureau. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi).

    Unsuccessful. First Phase I trials launch of the 8 remaining rockets of the first production lot were fired, of which 6 reached the target area. The first launch was on 15 March 1953. The first successful flight was on 2 April 1953. The first full range flight came on 19 April 1953.

1953 March 16

  • Reorganization of Soviet missile bureaucracy. - . Nation: Russia. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On uniting the First and Second Chief Directorates of Council of Ministers' was issued..

1953 March 17

  • Mach 5 achieved by rocket. - . Nation: USA. Single-stage, air-launched rocket research vehicle exceeded Mach 5 in NACA Lewis Laboratory flight test..

1953 March 18

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-5. FAILURE: Failure.

1953 March 19

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.

1953 March 20

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Double Deacon. FAILURE: Failure.
  • B-58 Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi).

1953 March 25

Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. LV Family: Wasserfall. Launch Vehicle: Hermes A-2.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

1953 March 25

Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. LV Family: Wasserfall. Launch Vehicle: Hermes A-2.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

1953 March 26

  • X-1A Flight 4 - . Crew: Ziegler. Payload: X-1A flight 4. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Ziegler. Class: Manned. Type: Manned rocketplane. Spacecraft Bus: XS-1. Spacecraft: X-1A. Bell flight 4. Plane demonstrated successful 4-cylinder engine operation..

1953 March 27

  • Ministry of Defence Industry created. - . Nation: Russia. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On renaming the Ministry of Armaments to the Ministry of Defence Industry' was issued..

Spring 1953

LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Proposed Atlas.
  • Atlas size reduced. - . Nation: USA. Atlas 12-foot diameter, 110 feet long, 440,000 pounds, 3000-pound warhead, 5500 nautical mile range, 1500-foot CEP.

1953 April

Launch Vehicle: Buran M, Burya La-350.
  • USSR Council of Ministers approve R-7 ICBM, Buran and Burya intercontinental cruise missiles - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Korolev, Lavochkin, Myasishchev. Program: Navaho. Informal go-ahead was given for Korolev to start design work on the R-7. In parallel, Myasishchev OKB-23 and Lavochkin OKB-301 began design of intercontinental ramjet cruise missiles..

1953 April 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-5.
  • Phase I state trials launch - . Nation: Russia. Agency: Korolev bureau. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). Of the 8 rockets of the first production lot fired, 6 reached the target area..

1953 April 2

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-5.

1953 April 8

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-5. FAILURE: Failure.

1953 April 10

  • X-1A Flight 5 - . Crew: Ziegler. Payload: X-1A flight 5. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Ziegler. Class: Manned. Type: Manned rocketplane. Spacecraft Bus: XS-1. Spacecraft: X-1A. Bell flight 5. Pilot noted low-frequency elevator buzz at mach 0.93, did not proceed above this speed, pending buzz investigation..

1953 April 14

  • Birth of Irina Rudolfovna Pronina - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Pronina. Russian engineer cosmonaut, 1980-1992..

1953 April 14

15:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-A-1a.
  • Heating test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 122 km (75 mi). Rocket performance test. Launched at 0847 local time. Reached 122.3 km..

1953 April 18

  • Reorganization of Soviet missile bureaucracy. - . Nation: Russia. Ministry of Armed Forces Decree 'On formation of UZKA of GAU' was issued..

1953 April 18

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Vehicle: R-11.
  • Nation: Russia. Agency: Korolev bureau. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

    Massive problems were encountered in the difficult test series - with poor-quality kerosene fuel, handling and leakage of the propellants, and reliable start of the engine. But the Red Army saw much more promise in the design than in Korolev's cumbersome liquid oxygen rockets.

1953 April 18

Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Hammaguira Bechar. Launch Vehicle: Veronique. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Test mission - . Nation: France. Agency: LRBA. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi).

1953 April 21

Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Hammaguira Bechar. Launch Vehicle: Veronique.
  • Test mission - . Nation: France. Agency: LRBA. Apogee: 45 km (27 mi).

1953 April 23

19:33 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee XASR-SC-2.
  • Sphere Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 124 km (77 mi).

1953 April 24

10:19 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee XASR-SC-2.
  • Grenade Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 108 km (67 mi). Temperature, winds research. Launched at 0319 local time. Reached 107.8 km..

1953 April 25

  • X-1A Flight 6 - . Crew: Ziegler. Payload: X-1A flight 6. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Ziegler. Class: Manned. Type: Manned rocketplane. Spacecraft Bus: XS-1. Spacecraft: X-1A. Bell flight 6. Buzz again noted at mach 0.93. Turbopump overspeeding caused pilot to terminate power and jettison remaining fuel..

1953 April 27

  • Birth of Ellen Louise Shulman Baker - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Baker. American physician mission specialist astronaut 1984-2012. Physician. 3 spaceflights, 28.6 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-34 (1989), STS-50, STS-71..

1953 April 29

  • Birth of Nikolai Mikhailovich Budarin - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Budarin. Russian engineer cosmonaut 1989-2004. 444 cumulative days in space. Civilian Engineer, Energia NPO 3 spaceflights, 444.1 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-71 (1995), Soyuz TM-27, STS-113..

1953 May

Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.
  • First X-10 delivered to Edwards AFB. - . Nation: USA. Program: Navaho.

    The crane dropped the aircraft at Edwards; but the damage could be repaired there. The autopilot and radio control systems had already been verified at Edwards in flights conducted with F-86D fighters and a QF-80 drone aircraft since December. An ET-33 flight control aircraft had been modified to control the X-10 in flight.

1953 May 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Vehicle: R-11.

1953 May 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-5.
  • Phase I state trials launch - . Nation: Russia. Agency: Korolev bureau. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). Range achieved 270 km. First test launch of R-5..

1953 May 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-5.

1953 May 8

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Triple Deacon.
  • Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). First launching of a cluster of three Deacon rockets as a booster at NACA's Wallops Island..

1953 May 11

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.

1953 May 12

  • X-2 explodes in air - . Crew: Ziegler. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Ziegler. Class: Manned. Type: Manned rocketplane. Spacecraft Bus: XS-1. Spacecraft: X-2 .

    During a Bell captive-carry flight test over Lake Ontario, X-2 number 46-675 suddenly exploded, killing Bell test pilot Jean Ziegler and observer Frank Wolko. The EB-50A mothership managed to land, although damaged. Only after several other mysterious X-plane losses was the cause found to be a rocket engine gasket made of Ulmer leather, which decomposed and became explosively unstable after sustained exposure to liquid oxygen.

1953 May 12

  • Death of Jean 'Skip' Ziegler. Killed in explosion of X-2 during captive-carry flight. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Ziegler. American test pilot. Flew the X-1A and X-1D. X-1A and X-1D test pilot. Killed in the explosion of an X-2 during a captive-carry flight..

1953 May 20

14:04 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-A-1a.
  • AF Airglow 3 Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 114 km (70 mi). Sky brightness, day airglow research. Launched at 0704 local time. Reached 114.3 km..

1953 May 21

15:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-A-1a.
  • AF Airglow 4 Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 114 km (70 mi). Sky brightness, day airglow research. Launched at 0847 local time. Reached 114.3 km..

1953 May 23

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-5.
  • Phase I state trials launch - . Nation: Russia. Agency: Korolev bureau. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). Completion of first series of 8 R-5 flight tests. 2 achieved 270 km range, 5, 1200 km range, and one, 550 km range..

1953 June 1

Launch Vehicle: Corporal.
  • Corporal I development complete. - . Nation: USA.

    Jet Propulsion Laboratory completed development of the Corporal I, the first U.S. surface-to-surface ballistic missile, and continued with Corporal II development. Army Ordnance also asked JPL to study application of large-scale solid propellant rockets for use as surface-to-surface guided missiles.

1953 June

LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-2.
  • First R-2 production delivery - . Nation: Russia.

    The first production rocket was rolled out at Dnepropetrovsk (only six months after the first all-Dnepropetrovsk R-1). Following receipt of production missiles, divisions were deployed to Zhitomir; Kolomoaya; Medved, Novgorod oblast; Kamyshin, Volgograd oblast; Shyalya, Lithuania; Dzhambul, Kazakhstan; and Ordzhonikidze, in the Far East.

1953 June

LV Family: Atlas.
  • US guided missile status review - . Nation: USA. Defense Secretary Wilson institutes reviews of guided missiles' status.

1953 June 3

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Vehicle: R-11.

1953 June 18

Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC33. LV Family: Wasserfall. Launch Vehicle: Hermes A-3A.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi).

1953 June 20

  • Birth of Brian J Duffy - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Duffy. American test pilot astronaut 1985-2001. 4 spaceflights, 40.7 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-45 (1992), STS-57, STS-72, STS-92..

1953 June 25

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Triple Deacon.
  • F23 Ramjet test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 41 km (25 mi).

1953 June 26

19:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-A-1a.
  • AF / Utah Ionosphere 3 Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 135 km (83 mi). Ionosphere research. Launched at 1210 local time. Reached 135.2 km..

1953 July 1

  • Ministry of Medium Machine Building formed. - . Nation: Russia. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On unification of the First and Third Chief Directorates of Council of Ministers into the new Ministry of Medium Machine Building' was issued..

1953 July

LV Family: Atlas.
  • J.R. Dempsey joins Convair - . Nation: USA.

1953 July 1

17:52 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-A-1a.
  • AF / Utah Ionosphere 4 Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 138 km (85 mi). Ionosphere research. Launched at 1052 local time. Reached 138.4 km..

1953 July 6

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.

1953 July 9

  • Birth of Irina Dmitriyevna Latysheva - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Latysheva. Russian scientist cosmonaut, 1980-1993..

1953 July 14

15:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-A-1a.
  • Solar flux Solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 103 km (64 mi). Solar radiation research. Launched at 0830 local time. Reached 103 km..

1953 July 18

22:27 GMT - . Launch Pad: Atlantic Ocean, 42.4 N x 70.4 W. Launch Platform: AGB-5. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Deacon Rockoon. FAILURE: Failure.
  • SUI 8 Chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: SUI. Apogee: 11 km (6 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 11 Launch Point 1 - - Latitude: 42.43 N - Longitude: 70.37 W..

1953 July 19

15:53 GMT - . Launch Pad: Atlantic Ocean, 43.7 N x 63.5 W. Launch Platform: AGB-5. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Deacon Rockoon. FAILURE: Failure.
  • SUI 10 Chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: SUI. Apogee: 11 km (6 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 11 Launch Point 3 - - Latitude: 43.68 N - Longitude: 63.47 W..

1953 July 24

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: HPAG Deacon.
  • F-102 Model test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1953 July 27

  • Korean armistice signed - . Nation: USA.

1953 July 29

  • Ministry of Medium Machine Building made responsible for all Soviet missile research. - . Nation: Russia. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On transferring all missile work on guided missiles to the Ministry of Medium Machine Building' was issued..

1953 July 30

  • Langley study of the problems of manned space flight. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: X-15A.

    Preliminary studies were completed by C. E. Brown, W. J. O'Sullivan, Jr., and C. H. Zimmerman at the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory relative to the study of the problems of manned space flight and a suggested test vehicle to investigate these problems. One of the possibilities considered from the outset of the effort in mid-1952 was modification of the X-2 airplane to attain greater speeds and altitudes of the order of 200,000 feet. It was believed that such a vehicle could not only resolve some of the aerodynamic heating problems, but also that the altitude objective would provide an environment with a minimum atmospheric density, representing many problems of outer space flight. However, there was already a feeling among many NACA scientists that the speed and altitude exploratory area should be raised. In fact, a resolution to this effect, presented as early as July 1952, stated that '. . . the NACA devote . . . effort to problems of unmanned and manned flights at altitudes from 50 miles to infinity and at speeds from mach 10 to the velocity of escape from the earth's gravity.' The Executive Committee of NACA actually adopted this resolution as an objective on July 14, 1952.

1953 July 30

  • Birth of Aleksandr Nikolayevich Balandin - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Balandin. Russian engineer cosmonaut 1978-1994. Left cosmonaut corps for medical reasons and returned to NPO Energia until departing in 1994. Then President of Lendint-Association until 2000. 1 spaceflight, 179.1 days in space. Flew to orbit on Soyuz TM-9 (1990)..

1953 August 3

18:28 GMT - . Launch Pad: Atlantic Ocean, 62.8 N x 66.3 W. Launch Platform: AGB-5. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Deacon Rockoon.
  • SUI 14 Chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: SUI. Apogee: 11 km (6 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 11 Launch Point 7 - - Latitude: 62.75 N - Longitude: 66.25 W..

1953 August 5

21:54 GMT - . Launch Pad: Atlantic Ocean, 62.1 N x 63.9 W. Launch Platform: AGB-5. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Deacon Rockoon.
  • NRL Rockoon 1 Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 80 km (49 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 11 Launch Point 21 - - Latitude: 62.07 N - Longitude: 63.92 W..

1953 August 6

Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LA. Launch Pad: LA?. Launch Vehicle: Snark.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). First test flight N-69A version of Snark..

1953 August 8

15:09 GMT - . Launch Pad: Atlantic Ocean, 73.6 N x 63.9 W. Launch Platform: AGB-5. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Deacon Rockoon.
  • NRL Rockoon 2 Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 80 km (49 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 11 Launch Point 22 - - Latitude: 73.62 N - Longitude: 63.92 W..

1953 August 9

05:54 GMT - . Launch Pad: Atlantic Ocean, 74.4 N x 71.9 W. Launch Platform: AGB-5. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Deacon Rockoon.
  • SUI 17 Chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: SUI. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 11 Launch Point 10 - - Latitude: 74.38 N - Longitude: 71.93 W..

1953 August 12

LV Family: R-5. Launch Vehicle: R-5M.
  • Test of 400 kiloton lightweight thermonuclear warhead - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Korolev. The explosion of the RD5-6 400 kiloton warhead at Semiplatinsk proved the design of a lightweight thermonuclear warhead. Korolev began work in 1953 to develop a re-entry vehicle for this warhead..

1953 August 13

Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC33. LV Family: Wasserfall. Launch Vehicle: Hermes A-3A.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi).

1953 August 17

  • Birth of Dr Robert Brent Thirsk - . Nation: Canada. Related Persons: Thirsk. Canadian physician mission specialist astronaut 1983-2012. 2 spaceflights, 204.8 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-78 (1996), Soyuz TMA-15..

1953 August 20

  • Moscow announces explosion of hydrogen bomb - . Nation: Russia.

1953 August 20

14:37 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC4. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. FAILURE: Control System malfunction followed by Power Plant malfunction at approximately 80 sec. Ground cut-off command given... Failed Stage: G.
  • Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 6.00 km (3.70 mi). Redstone missile No. 1 was fired by Army Redstone Arsenal personnel at AFMTC, Cape Canaveral. Missile test failure. Missed aimpoint by 240,000 m..

1953 August 21

Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards.
  • D-558 record altitude. - . Nation: USA. Class: Manned. Type: Manned rocketplane. Spacecraft Bus: D-558-1. Spacecraft: D-558-2. Flying Douglas D-558-II (No. 2) Skyrocket research aircraft which had been launched from a B-29 Superfortress at an altitude of 34,000 feet, Lt. Col. Marion E. Carl, USMC, attained an altitude of 83,235 feet at Edwards AFB, Calif..

1953 August 28

Launch Vehicle: Navaho.
  • Navaho engine reaches 890 kN thrust. - . Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. At Santa Susana, Calif., a complete liquid-rocket engine assembly (Navaho) having a thrust in excess of 200,000 pounds was fired for the first time..

1953 August 30

20:46 GMT - . Launch Pad: Atlantic Ocean, 53.1 N x 54.8 W. Launch Platform: WYG-279. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Deacon Rockoon.
  • SUI 20 Chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: SUI. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 11 Launch Point 13 - - Latitude: 53.13 N - Longitude: 54.75 W..

1953 August 31

  • Birth of Pavel Vladimirovich Vinogradov - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Vinogradov. Russian engineer cosmonaut 1992-on. 546 cumulative days in space. Civilian Engineer, Energia NPO. 3 spaceflights, 546.9 days in space. Flew to orbit on Soyuz TM-26 (1997), Soyuz TMA-8, Soyuz TMA-08M..

1953 September

LV Family: Atlas.
  • Von Neumann's "Teapot Committee" established - . Nation: USA.

1953 September 1

05:05 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee XASR-SC-2.
  • Grenades Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 108 km (67 mi). Density research. Launched at 2205 local time. Reached 107.8 km..

1953 September 2

  • Birth of Gerhard Julius Paul Thiele - . Nation: Germany. Related Persons: Thiele. German physicist mission specialist astronaut 1987-2005. DARA. 1 spaceflight, 11.2 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-99 (2000)..

1953 September 3

LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.
  • First X-10 taxi test. - . Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. Three taxi tests were conducted through the end of September before the vehicle was considered ready for its first flight..

1953 September 3

  • Birth of Munir Habib Habib - . Nation: Syria. Related Persons: Habib. Arab-Syrian pilot cosmonaut, 1985-1987. Graduated from Military Pilot School, Aleppo, 1973 Pilot and Lieutenant Colonel, Syrian Air Force. Resumed military service..

1953 September 3

11:51 GMT - . Launch Pad: Atlantic Ocean, 44.8 N x 57.2 W. Launch Platform: WYG-279. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Deacon Rockoon.
  • SUI 22 Chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: SUI. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 11 Launch Point 15 - - Latitude: 44.75 N - Longitude: 57.17 W..

1953 September 3

14:05 GMT - . Launch Pad: Atlantic Ocean, 44.6 N x 57.1 W. Launch Platform: WYG-279. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Deacon Rockoon.
  • SUI 23 Chemical release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: SUI. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 11 Launch Point 16 - - Latitude: 44.55 N - Longitude: 57.05 W..

1953 September 5

05:36 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee XASR-SC-1.
  • Grenades Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 114 km (70 mi). Density research. Launched at 2236 local time. Reached 105.5 km..

1953 September 23

  • Reorganization of Soviet missile development process. - . Nation: Russia. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 2498-1031 'On order of scientific-design work on new weapons systems' was issued..

1953 October

LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Contracted Atlas.
  • Teapot Committee's first output - . Nation: USA. ICBM could use smaller warhead.

1953 October 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-2.

1953 October 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1.

1953 October 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1.

1953 October 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-2.

1953 October 5

Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC33. LV Family: Wasserfall. Launch Vehicle: Hermes A-3A.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi).

1953 October 7

17:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-A-1a.
  • Solar spectrum Solar mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Solar radiation research. Launched at 1000 local time. Reached 99.8 km..

1953 October 10

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-2.

1953 October 14

  • Birth of Dr Olga Nikolayevna Klyushnikova - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Klyushnikova. Russian physician cosmonaut, 1979-1986. Civilian Physician, Institute of Medical Biological Problems. Cosmonaut training from October 1979 - July 1980. Did not complete training, when the government commission did not confirm his selection..

1953 October 14

Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.
  • Navaho X-10 flight 1 - . Nation: USA. Program: Navaho.

    Main landing gear doors failed to close; ground control of aircraft lost (ET-33 aircraft took over control of the X-10); main gear failed to lock on contact with runway; pilot drag chute deployed late; brake failure caused damage to two tires. But the drone was recovered.

1953 October 15

Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Deacon Sidewinder.
  • Sidewinder test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1953 October 16

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.

1953 October 17

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.

1953 October 19

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.

1953 October 20

  • Test Pilot Walter P. Jones dies at age of 29 -- Crash of the YF-89D prototype interceptor - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Jones, Walter. American test pilot, flew the D-558-1, D-558-2, X-4, and X-5. Died in crash of the YF-89D prototype interceptor..

1953 October 20

  • Birth of Stanley Norbert Jr Koszelak - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Koszelak. American biologist payload specialist astronaut, 1989-1992..

1953 October 20

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.

1953 October 21

Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC33. LV Family: Wasserfall. Launch Vehicle: Hermes A-3A.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi).

1953 October 23

Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Nike. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Navaho Model test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). First single-stage Nike sounding rocket / test vehicle flight..

1953 October 26

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.

1953 October 27

  • Birth of Michael Allen 'Mike' Baker - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Baker, Mike. American test pilot astronaut 1985-2008. 4 spaceflights, 40.2 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-43 (1991), STS-52, STS-68, STS-81..

1953 October 27

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.

1953 October 28

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.

1953 October 28

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.

1953 October 30

  • Birth of Aleksandr Fyodorovich Polishchuk - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Poleshchuk. Russian engineer cosmonaut 1989-2004. Civilian Engineer, Energia NPO 1 spaceflight, 179.0 days in space. Flew to orbit on Soyuz TM-16 (1993)..

1953 October 30

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-5.
  • State trials Phase 2 launch - . Nation: Russia. Agency: Korolev bureau. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). Through December 1953 there were 7 Phase II launches, one of which was unsuccessful. A maximum range of 1185 km was reached..

1953 November 1

  • Birth of Dr Nancy Jan Davis - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Davis. American engineer mission specialist astronaut 1987-1999. Engineer, was married to astronaut Mark Lee, part of first married couple to fly in space together. 3 spaceflights, 28.1 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-47 (1992), STS-60, STS-85..

1953 November 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1.

1953 November 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1.

1953 November 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1.

1953 November 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1.

1953 November 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-5.

1953 November 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-5.

1953 November 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-5.

1953 November 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-5.

1953 November 2

18:32 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-A-1a.
  • AF / Utah Ionosphere 5 Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). Ionosphere research. Launched at 1132 local time. Reached 120.7 km..

1953 November 3

18:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-A-1a.
  • AF / Utah Ionosphere 6 Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 121 km (75 mi). Ionosphere research. Launched at 1115 local time. Reached 121.5 km..

1953 November 12

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.

1953 November 15

  • Birth of Yuri Victorovich Prikhodko - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Prikhodko. Tajik-Russian test pilot cosmonaut, 1989-1994..

1953 November 15

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1.

1953 November 15

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.

1953 November 19

22:40 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-N-10.
  • Oxygen content Solar x-ray / ultraviolet / aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 112 km (69 mi). Solar spectrum research. Launched at 1540 local time. Reached 112.6 km..

1953 November 20

Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC33. LV Family: Wasserfall. Launch Vehicle: Hermes A-3A.
  • Test mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi).

1953 November 21

  • X-1A Flight 7 - . Crew: Yeager. Payload: X-1A flight 7. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Yeager. Class: Manned. Type: Manned rocketplane. Spacecraft Bus: XS-1. Spacecraft: X-1A. AF flight 1. Reached mach 1.15. Familiarization purposes..

1953 November 24

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.

1953 November 28

LV Family: Groettrup. Launch Vehicle: G-4.
  • Groettrup and last Germans return to Germany. - . Nation: Russia.

End of 1953

LV Family: R-12. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2.
  • Khrushchev and Ustinov decide to create additional independent missile design bureaux - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Khrushchev, Korolev, Makeyev, Ustinov, Yangel.

    Khrushchev desired to decentralise the missile industry, since a single nuclear bomb on Moscow would wipe out Korolev's factories. Ustinov was requested to draw up a plan for two additional completely independent missile design bureaux, one in the south of the Soviet Union, the other in the Urals. It was also envisioned a third bureau would be built in the east, in Siberia, but this was never done. This effort cost tens of billions of roubles. While the managers and lead technical staff would be taken from Korolev's bureau, the working engineers, technicians, and workers for the bureau and associated factories would be recruited locally at each site. This would avoid the additional expense of building extra housing. Korolev fought to keep control, wanting to make the new bureaux just branches of his own, but Khrushchev was adamant that only completely autonomous organisations would be acceptable. Yangel was easily selected for the southern bureau, and the young Makeyev was a more contentious selection for the Ural bureau.

1953 December 1

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-5.

1953 December 1

15:30 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-N-10.
  • Oxygen content Solar x-ray / ultraviolet / aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 129 km (80 mi). Solar spectrum research. Launched at 0830 local time. Reached 129.6 km..

1953 December 2

  • X-1A Flight 8 - . Crew: Yeager. Payload: X-1A flight 8. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Yeager. Class: Manned. Type: Manned rocketplane. Spacecraft Bus: XS-1. Spacecraft: X-1A. AF flight 2. Mach 1.5..

1953 December 3

LV Family: Atlas.
  • Convair leases test facility. - . Nation: USA. A five-year Pt. Loma lease was approved..

1953 December 5

Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.
  • Navaho X-10 flight 2 - . Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. Landing gear again failed to retract. It was discovered the drag from the airflow exceeded the hydraulic retraction force over 320 kph..

1953 December 8

  • X-1A Flight 9 - . Crew: Yeager. Payload: X-1A flight 9. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Yeager. Class: Manned. Type: Manned rocketplane. Spacecraft Bus: XS-1. Spacecraft: X-1A. AF flight 3. First high-mach flight attempt by X-1A. Mach 1.9 attained at 18300 m during slight climb..

1953 December 9

Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-5.

1953 December 12

  • X-1A Flight 10 - . Crew: Yeager. Payload: X-1A flight 10. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Yeager. Class: Manned. Type: Manned rocketplane. Spacecraft Bus: XS-1. Spacecraft: X-1A. AF flight 4. Plane attained mach 2.44, but met violent instability above mach 2.3. Tumbled 15250 m, wound up in subsonic inverted spin. Yeager recovered to upright spin, then normal flight at 7625 m..

1953 December 13

Launch Vehicle: R-11.
  • R-11 production decree - . Nation: Russia.

    A government decree was issued for SKB-385 in the Urals to be responsible for series production of the R-11 and its S2.253 engine. SKB-385 had not distinguished itself in 1949-1951 when it was responsible for the first abortive attempt to put the R-1 rocket into production.

1953 December 15

Launch Site: Edwards. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.
  • Navaho X-10 flight 3 - . Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. Planned transonic flight aborted when telemetry power failed..

1953 December 23

  • Death of Lavrenti Pavlovich Beria - . Nation: Georgia, Russia. Related Persons: Beria. Georgian-Russian officer. Soviet security apparatus chief until toppled after death of Stalin 1953. In charge of Soviet development of nuclear weapons and rocketry, 1944-1953..

1953 December 26

  • Birth of Valeri Yuriyevich Sharov - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Sharov. Russian journalist cosmonaut, 1990-1992..

1953 December 30

  • Birth of Dr Daniel Thomas Barry - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Barry. American physician mission specialist astronaut 1992-2005. 3 spaceflights, 30.6 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-72 (1996), STS-96, STS-105..

Spotted an error? Let us know