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_5 t_XSA HISTORICAL REPORT CHBOI_IOGY OF MAJOR NASA [AUNCHINGS, OCTOBER i, 1958 PH_OU_ DECEMBER 31, 1962 (i)

Date Name NASA General Mission Launch performnnce I_4i _s: m Remarks Code Vehicle V, *I¢le Pa_ 19j d- _ s_ is ISite) S P U 2J U U_ S I P U

Oct 11 PIONE_ I -- Scientific lunar probe Thor-Able x x Uneven separation of 2nd and 3rd stages; (AMR) reached 70,700 miles. Verified Van Allen Belt.

Oct 22 Beacon -- Scientific earth Satollltc Ju --_)i_er C x x x Premature upper-stage separation. x Nov 8 PIONEER II -- Scientific lunar probe Thor-Able x x 3rd-stage failure; reached 963 miles; (AMR) its brief data Indicated equatorial region had hi6her flux and energy levels than previously thought. l J Dec 6 PlO_ 711 -- Scientific lunar probe Juno !I x x Premature cutoff on Ist stage; reached (A_) I 63,580 miles. Radiation belt discov- I] cries. Feb IY VANGUARD II -- Scientific earth Batellite Vanguard x x x I Excess satellite wobble. Cloud cover (AMR) data not used.

Mar 3 PION_ IV (A_) malfunction. Communicated to 407,000 miles.

Apt 13 Van &_ard -- Scientific earth satelli_e Vanguard x x _d-stage failure.

-- Scientific lunar probe Juno II x x 2rid and 3rd stage propulsion and pitch

Z8 See * below7

May 28, 1959. Included in the nose cone of an Army-]_unched (from AMR) Jupiter IR_4 were medical experiments sponsored by NASA. Two monkeys, Able and Baker, were successfully recovered after a 1700-m/le flight. (2)

D:_te Name I_SA I General Mission Launch Performancc Mission Remarks 3ode Vehicle V, hi_ l e Pa io •l Rc sults 1 _!__v._. _2_ __

--l_cont,d)

Jim 22 Vanguard Scientific earth satellite Vanguard x x x 2nd-stage failure.

Jul 16 Explorer S-I ' Scientific earth satellite Juno II x x x Destroyed after _1 seconds. (AX.m) .

A',/g7 EX_LOREIR Vi S-2 Scientific earth satellite Thor-Able X x l_pped Van Allen belt. photographed (A_) cloud cover.

Aug 14 Beacon Scientific earth satellite Juno II x x x Premature fuel lepletior ",n Ist stage; (A_) upper -sta_ malfunction. = _ug 21 See * below_7 I i Sep 9 Big Joe Suborbital Mercury capsule Atlas-Big x Capsule recovered after re-entry test. I test Joe (A_m) #ep _ S_ _ belo#

Sep 18 VAN_JARD IIT Scientific earth satellite v_em_,'a x Magnetic fields, radiation belt, and (AM_) micrometeorite findings. #,p 2_ See_ bel0_

Oct _ Little Joe i Suborbital Mercury capsule Little x Qualify booster for use with Mercury test Joe (ws) test program. i * Aug 21, 1959. While a Little Joe was belng readied for firing (at WS) a malfunction caused the Mercury escape rocket to fire. The vehicle was tmdamaged but the capsule was lost in the ocean.

*_ Sep 16, 1959. An Army Jupiter IR_, containing a NASA biological experiment, was destroyed by the Range Safety Officer shortly after launch (from ANR).

*** Sep 21,, 1959. An Atlas-Able vehicle, scheduled to launch a Pioneer lunar-orbit payload, exploded on the launching pad (at AI_) while being static-tested. (3)

Remarks Date Name General Mi ssion LaUnch f'orfo_nne_ ,sl n I Code Vehl cle VJ NASA Ls_L_ _ _v I _cont'd)

Radiation and ma_etic storm findlnss. Oct13 EI?LORERVII S-la Scientific earth satellite Juno ll x

Oct 28 Shotput I Suborbital co_uunleations Augmented x x x Canister ejection sueeesstal, 100-foot test Sergeant sphere inflation unsuccessful. Suc- (WS) cessful test of Delta Gtage.

NOV _ Little Joe 2 Suborbital Mercury c_psule Little Joe x x x Capsule escape test. Escape rocket had a delayed thrust buildup.

Nov 26 Pioneer Scientlflc lunar probe Atlas-Able x x Shroud 9ailure after 45 seconds. (A_)

Dec 4 Little Joe 3 Suborbital Mercury capsule Little Joe x Escape system and biomedical test; test (ws) monkey (Sam) used. i_o

Jan 19 Shotput II .- Suborbital co_mmnications Augmented x x x Canister ejection successful, sphere test Sergeant inflation unsuccessful. (ws)

Jan 21 Little Joe 4 Suborbital Mercury capsule Ll+.tle Joe x Escape system and biomedical test; test monkey (Miss Sam) used.

x Canister ejection successful, sphere Feb 57 Shotput III Suborbital communications Augmented x :t test Sergeant inflation unsuccessful.

Mar 11 PION_ V Scientiflc des? space prob_ Thor-Able x Conm_Anieated data from 17,7OO,000 mi., position signal from 22,500,000 mi.

Failure in upper stages. Mar 23 Explorer S-_ Scientific earth satellite Juno II x x (A_) (4)

Date Name :_n< ral ).!ission Launch P !r_ _nce Remarks • Vehlcio-'___,%- -- (Site) S P U P U Un_

i 0 _co°nt 'd)

Apt 1 Shotput IV Suborbital co_mmnications Augnented x Twelve-sentende voice message test Sergeant relayed successfully.

Apr 1 TIROS I Meteorological earth Thor-Able x First true meteorological satellite; satellite (_,S) photographed cloud cover.

Apr 18 Scout Launch vehicla develop- Scout X x Structural failure prevented 3rd-stage ment test ignition. (2rid and hth stages w_re du_es). _y 9 see*he___7

May 13 Echo A 0 Communications earth Thor-Delta x Failure in upper stages. satellite I May3i' shotitv Suborbital cor_unlcation8 Augmented Inflation successful despite excess i test Sergeant spin. (0)

Jul i Scout Launch vehicle development Scout x Ground tracking failure led to erroneous test (0) destruction by _uge Safety Officer.

Jul 29 Mercury M I Suborbital Mercury capsule Mercury- x x Atlas exploded; capsule re-entry test Atlas qualification test.

Aug 12 ECSD I A 1 Communications sarth Thor-Delta x First passive cc_m_Anications satellite; satellite iO0-foot sphere used for passive co_mm- nications mud air density experiments.

Sep 25 Pioneer P 0 Scientific lunar orbiter Atlas-Able x x 2nd-stage fai]_ ze.

* May 9, 1960. The first )roductlon model of the Mercury capsule was tested in a "pad abo_rt" test (at WS). The escape rocket was used rather than a launch vehicle. (5)

Remarks Datei Name NASA Genera] Misslon Launch Code Veh_ cle I 0 -_eoOnt,a)

Oct 4 Scout -- La_ch vehicle p_ent Scout Air Force Special Weapons Center pay- test load included.

Nov 3 E_D0_ S-30 Scientific eal_ satellite Juno II Ion, electron, and mlcrometeoroId VIII measurements.

Nov 8 Little Joe 5 LJ- 5 Suborbital Met< y Capsule Little Joe Mercury escape system qualdficetlon; test premature escape-rocket firing.

_ov 21 See * belo_

Nov 23 TIROS II A-2 Meteozolo_cal earth Thor-Delta Combined infrared measurements with satellite photography. Wide-angle photographs z-i substandard. Dec 4 Explorer S-56 Scientific ear satellite Scout x x 2ndzstage failure; combined vehicls (_) test and Beacon inflatable sphere.

DeC 15 Pioneer P-31 Scientific lu/% orbiter Atlas -Abl_ x x Exploded af%er 70 seconds.

Dee 19 Mercury MR-IA Suborbital Met 7 capsule Mercury- 235 -mile fl_@ht. test Redstone

I

Booster oversped; chimpanzee (Ham) in Jan 31 Mercury MR-S Suborbital Mer _ capsule Mercury- test Redstone 16 -minute flight.

Nov Sl, 1960. Upon being fired (from AMR), a Mereury-Redstone (MR-l) rose one inch, stopped firing, and settled back on the launching pad; was fired again on December 19. The Mercury capsule escape rocket also fired. The capsule was recovered and also reused on December 19. (6)

Na_e _I_qA1 Gencra_MJsslonLaumeh C c_Ic Vehicle a_" oa; s-] F_emark s I u_ 1 _clont,d) Feb16 EXPLORERIX scout x x Repeat of 12/h/60 shot. Satellite (WS) tracking transmitter did not function, S-56a Scientific earth satellite but optical tracking provided atmos- pheric density data.

Feb 21 Mercury MA-2 Suborbital _Mrcury capsule Mercury- x x l, 425 -mile flight. test Atlas

Feb 24 Explorer S-_5 1 blentlfic earth satellite Juno II x 2hal-stage malfunction prevented 3rd and 4th-stage firing.

Mar 18 Little Joe 5A LJ-SA suborbital _Mrcury capsule Little Joe x x Mercury escape system qu_lifieatlon; test (WS) premature escape-rocket firing.

Mar 24 Mercury _-BD Vehicle test for Mercury Mercury- x Booster development test necessitated flight _dsto_ by _-2 flight.

Mar 25 EXPLORER X P-I_ Scientific satelllte-probe _hor-Delta x x Magnetometer probe. _[Ighly eccentric orbit (145,0CC-mile apogee).

_pr 25 Mercury MA- 3 Orbital Mercury capsule Merc_ 7- x Failure in 1st stage. Abort successful. test Atlas

Apr 27 EXPLORER XI S-15 Scientific earth satellite Juno II x x Gamma- ray experiment. (A_)

Apr 28 Little Joe 5B LJ-SB Suborbital Mercury capsule Little Joe x One booster engine fired late. Repeat test (WS) of Mezcury escape system test.

May5 FREEDOM 7 _-3 1 Suborbital manned _rcury Mercury- x x First U. S. suborbital manned space- flight Redstone flight; _e_ard flight. Date Name I_ !.Sssion Launch Pe rform_uce Code ! General Vehicle _ Lic_ '_ ! _eolnt ,d) I M_v 24 Explorer S-45a Scientific earth satellite Juno II i

Jun 30 Explorer 8-55 Scientific earth satellite Scout 1 3rd-stage failure. Vehicle test and (WS) rolerometeorite experiment.

Jull_ TIROS [II A-3 Meteorological earth Thor-Delta x I One camera system failed by end of July, satellite

Jul 21 LIBERTY BELL _-4 Suborbital manned Mercury Mercury- x 7 flight Fedsto_e

AUg 15 EXPLORER XII S-3 Scientific earth satellite Thor-D_ita x x Various experiments including energetic II particles profile. AUg 23 RANGER I P-32 Scientific l_ar probe At las-Agen_ x x x First space test of Nanger instrumenta- C_,,m) tion only partial success, since Agen_ i failed _o re,tart. Nemained in parking orbit. Orientation, cemmuuications, _nd electronics _orked well for more than i00 orbits.

Aug 25 EXPLORER XII_ S.-55a Scientific earth satellite Scout x x Premature re_entry due to tip-off. (ws) Vehicle test and micrcmeteor_id experiment.

Sep 13 Mercury MA-4 Orbital Mercury capsule Mercury- x x _ne orbit. Capsule recovered. Tracking test Atlas network checked. (ma) I Oct 19 P-21 PROBE Scientific geoprobe Scout x x Reached _261 mile_. Ele_tron density I (WS) measurement, vehicle test_ oct 27 Saturn 8A-1 La_ch Vehicle develop- Saturn C-I x x 1st stage oaly_ ment test (A_) i (8)

Date JC_e _A i General Mission : La_mch -- . FeOrf rman_ec __ ss_ Dn ' Pemarks Ve _ic _ _±oad su] ts Code [ i I _nt'a) i

Novi ]Mercur_i_s-1 ! Orbital )Mrcury network ! Mere - x x Restroymd after 30 seconds; Air Fo_e- I check la-nched.

Nov18 RANGERII P-33 Scientific lunar probe Atlas-Agena x' x Space test of Renger instrumentation urn- successful si_ee Agena failed to re- start. RBmalned i_1 _arki_ orbit.

Nov 29 Mercury Orbital Mercury capsule Mercury. x x Two orbits. Enos, the chlm_an_ee, was test Atlas reeovored.

J,= 15 Echo (test) AVT-I Suborbital communications ! Thor x x ICanister ejection and opening successful, _st but 135-foot sphere ruptured. Jan 26 RANCER l"fl P-34 _ Scientific lunar lander xi x IFirst Ranger attempt at moon; Atlas over- BAt_ ena accelerated; missed moon by 22,862 miles;

Ig_ma-r_y sensor Worked. Feb 8 TIROS IV A-9 Meteorologic al earth x x Performed as _lanned. satellite

First U. S. manned orbital flight; Glenn Feb 20 FR_ 7 HA-6 Orbital manned Mercurj x x flight

Scout Mar I Pe -entry _. 28,000 ft/sec re-entry x x Re-entry speed lower than planned,. test x_ (WS) Thor-Delta Mar7 0S0 1 s-16 Scientific earth satellite x x Transmitted data on solar flares. ! (A_)

P-21 Scientific geoprobe SOout x x Reached 3,910 miles. (WS) _r 29 P-21A PROBE D_ta N_c C_ner_l Mission - Launch Performance Remarks .Vehicle lu3 (Site) isl)_

_cont'd) i Apr 23 BANGER IV P-35 Scientific lunar lander Atlas-AEena x First U. S. spacecraft to land on moon; crashed onto moon, timer failure causing I ! loss of control over s_acecr_ft; no mid- i I course correction, TV, or lunar-capsule separation.

SA-2 Launch vehicle development Saturn C-I x Apr 25 Saturn l_ t _ tdage_n_ r_s_ J_:. Highwate r utl- test C_m)

Apr 26 ARIEL I s-51 Scientific earth satellite Thor-Delta x First international satellite; explored

ionosphere (UK #i). May 8 Centaur F-I Launch vehicle develolmlent Atlas- x tes t Centaur x I Centaur ex_loded before separation. (me)

M_V 2_ Am_ORA Z K_-7 Orbital manned Mercury • Mercury- x Carpenter flight, 3 orbits flight Atlas

Orbit more elliptical t_ p_auned; Jun 19 TIROS V A-50 M_te orologic al earth Thor-Delta x satellite i I infrared system failed prior to launch.

Jul 10 TELSTAR I A-40 Communications earth Thor-Delta x I First acti_ comzumicatic_s satel- satellite lite; owned by AT_T, launched by NASA. Jul 18 _:ho (teBt) ART-2 Suborblt_l cov_mmic at ions Thor I Inflation successful; radar indicated test I sphere surface not as smooth as planned. Jul 22 MARINER I Scientific Venus probe - Atl_-Agerm ! x Atlas deviate_ from co%trse, _as dm- B (_) I , stroy_d by Ba_Ee Safety Officer. Aug 27 _R_ER II P-38 Scientific Venus probe Atlas-Agena I First spacecraft to scan another planet; I P-37 B (_) passed 21_ 1CO mi. from Venus on December 14; extended space ccm_mmlcatlons recor_ __ _ to 5_.7 million ml, Date N_r_ General Mission Lattuch P_mark s Code Vehicle PerformanCeo_ ] F

_cont'd)

Aug 31 Pc-entry 28,000 ft/sec re-ent_ test _out x Tardy 3rd-stage ignition; desired speed (ws) not achieved.

Sap 18 T_OS VI A-51 !Meteorological earth lhor-Delta x Performed as planned, satellite

Bep 28 ALOUETIE S-27 _ientific earth satellite _Ior-Agena x Ionosphere sounder satellite built by Canada. First NASA satellite launch from PMR.

Oct 2 EXFLO_ XIV 8-3a :ientific earth satellite Thor-Delta x Energetic particles satellite. Highly eccentric orb_ _.

i Oct 3 SIC_4A 7 MA-8 cbitalmanned Mercury Mercury- x Schlrra flight , 6 orbits; first astro- flight Atlas naut recovery in Pacific.

OctI8 RANGER V P-36 SCientific lunar lander Atlas-Agena x P_ioa_ including mid-course guidance, did not functlon because spacecraft failed to get power frum SOlar cells. Passed within hSO miles of the moon.

Oct 27 EXPLO_ XV S-3b Scientific earth satellite Thor-Delta Difficult to snalyme data _ 2 of y C_) experiments because of high spin rate. To stud_ artificial radiation belt,

Nov 16 Saturn SA-3 Launch vehicle develol_aent Saturn C-I x 1st stage only- Project Highwater utl- test (am) llzed dtm_ upper stages.

Dec 13 _SLAy A-15 Communications earth /" Thor-Delta First laur_h with uprated Delta. Pour satellite (am) supply volt_e origLnally too low for cc_%_nleatlons ex_erlments; volt_e built up and early in Jan. 63 %r_nsatlantlc TV I transmissions b_g_. J Dec 16 EXPLORER XV _55b Scientific earth satellite Scout x Mie rgme teoroid satellite.