Previous Spaceflight Launches

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Atlas-Able | P-30 (Able VA)

Convair | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Sept. 25, 1960, 3:13 p.m.
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:

An intended lunar orbiter probe. The vehicle failed during launch.

Lunar Orbit
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Blue Scout Jr | Blue Scout D-1

Vought | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Sept. 21, 1960, 1:01 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

The flight planned to make radiation and magnetic field measurements at 26700km from Earth. While the rocket achieved this altitude the telemetry system failed so no data was received.

Suborbital
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Thor Agena A | Discoverer 15

McDonnell Douglas | United States of America
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Sept. 13, 1960, 10:13 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Discoverer 15 was an American optical reconnaissance satellite. The orbital mission was successful but when the capsule was returned it failed to be captured and sank into the ocean.

Low Earth Orbit
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Vostok 8K72 | Korabl'-Sputnik-2

RKK Energiya | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Aug. 19, 1960, 8:44 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

A test of the Vostok capsule which carried dogs Belka and Stelka (amonst other animals) the flight was successful and all animals were recovered successfully.

Low Earth Orbit
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Thor DM-21 Ablestar | Courier 1A

United States Air Force | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Aug. 18, 1960, 7:58 p.m.
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:

An active repeater communications satellite. The vehicle failed during liftoff.

Low Earth Orbit
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Thor Agena A | Discoverer 14

McDonnell Douglas | United States of America
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Aug. 18, 1960, 7:57 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Discoverer 14 was an American optical reconnaissance satellite. It was the first fully successful flight of the Discoverer series which returned film. The capsule was recovered mid air by an aircraft

Low Earth Orbit
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Thor Delta | Echo 1

McDonnell Douglas | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Aug. 12, 1960, 9:39 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

The Echo 1A spacecraft was a 30.48 m diameter balloon of mylar polyester film 0.0127 mm thick. The spacecraft was designed as a passive communications reflector for transcontinental and intercontinental telephone (voice), radio, and television signals. It had 107.9 MHz beacon transmitters for telemetry purposes. These transmitters were powered by five nickel-cadmium batteries that were charged by 70 solar cells mounted on the balloon. Because of the large area-to-mass ratio of the spacecraft, data for the calculation of atmospheric density and solar pressure could be acquired. The spacecraft was also used to evaluate the technical feasibility of satellite triangulation during the latter portion of its life. Echo 1 failed during the coast period after launch, as the attitude control jets on the second stage failed and the spacecraft did not achieve orbit. Echo 1A was a successful relaunch.

Elliptical Orbit
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Thor Agena A | Discoverer 13

McDonnell Douglas | United States of America
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Aug. 10, 1960, 8:37 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Discoverer 13 was an American optical reconnaissance satellite. The lastof five test flights of the Corona KH-1 spy satellite series. It was the first fully successfuly flight of the Discoverer series. It successfuly jetissoned its payload which was recovered in the Ocean by the Navy.

Low Earth Orbit
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Atlas LV-3B | Mercury-Atlas 1

National Aeronautics and Space Administration | United States of America
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
July 29, 1960, 1:13 p.m.
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:

Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1) was the first attempt to launch a Mercury capsule and occurred on July 29, 1960 at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft was unmanned and carried no launch escape system. The Atlas rocket suffered a structural failure 58 seconds after launch at an altitude of approximately 30,000 feet (9.1 km) and 11,000 feet (3.4 km) down range.

Suborbital
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Vostok 8K72 | Korabl-Sputnik (2)

RKK Energiya | Russia
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
July 28, 1960, 9:31 a.m.
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:

A test of the Vostok capsule carrying a pair of dogs. Unfortunately this failed after a failure of the booster.

Low Earth Orbit
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