View source for 1952 in spaceflight

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{{Use American English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox Year in spaceflight
|year = 1952
|image = Viking 9.jpg
|caption = Launch of Viking 9, 15 December 1952
|alt = Launch of Viking 9, 15 December 1952
|maidens = {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1c]]<br/>{{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Viking (rocket)|Viking (second model)]]<br/>{{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Deacon (rocket)|Deacon]] [[rockoon]]
|retired = {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|Nazi}} [[V-2]]<br/>{{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1]]<br/>{{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1c]]
}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| programme          = [[Timeline of spaceflight]]
| previous_mission   = [[1951 in spaceflight|1951]]
| next_mission       = [[1953 in spaceflight|1953]]
}}

{{TLS-L|alignment=right|fixed=on}}

In 1952, several branches of the United States' military, often in partnership with civilian organizations, continued their programs of [[sounding rocket]] research beyond the {{convert|100|km}} boundary of [[Outer space|space]] (as defined by the [[World Air Sports Federation]])<ref name=ScienceJul2018>{{cite journal|title=Outer space may have just gotten a bit closer|author=Paul Voosen|date=24 July 2018|access-date=1 April 2019|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/outer-space-may-have-just-gotten-bit-closer|journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]]|doi=10.1126/science.aau8822|archive-date=21 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921004024/https://www.science.org/content/article/outer-space-may-have-just-gotten-bit-closer|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> using the [[Aerobee]] rocket. The [[University of Iowa]] launched its first series of [[rockoon]] flights, demonstrating the validity of the balloon-launched rocket, a comparatively inexpensive way to explore the upper atmosphere. The launch of Viking 9 at the end of the year to an altitude of {{cvt|135|mi}}, by the [[Naval Research Laboratory]] team under the management of [[Milton Rosen]], represented the pinnacle of contemporary operational rocket design.

The same year, groundwork was laid for the launch of the first artificial satellite when, in October, the General Assembly of the [[International Council of Scientific Unions]] (ICSU) scheduled the [[International Geophysical Year]] for 1957–58. This scientific endeavor would involve 67 nations in a global investigation of physical phenomena, on the ground and in space.

No new models of [[ballistic missile]] were added to the arsenals of either the United States or the [[Soviet Union]] in 1952. However, work continued on large rocket development, particularly the US Army's [[PGM-11 Redstone|Redstone]] and the Soviet [[R-5 (missile)|R-5]] missile. Both the [[R-1 (missile)|R-1]] and [[R-2 (missile)|R-2]] missiles had operational test runs during the year.

{{toclimit|limit=2}}

==Space exploration highlights==

===US Navy===

In the late spring of 1952, the [[Naval Research Laboratory]] team, under the management of [[Milton Rosen]], prepared to launch the first second-generation [[Viking (rocket)|Viking]] rocket, Viking 8, from the [[White Sands Missile Range]] in [[New Mexico]]. The new Viking design was nearly one-and-a-half times as wide as its precursor, with the highest fuel-to-weight ratio of any rocket yet developed. The tail fins no longer supported the weight of the rocket, which had been the case with the first-generation design. Now, the Viking rocket rested on the base of its [[fuselage]]. This allowed the tail fins to be made much lighter, allowing the rocket to carry a heavier tank without weighing more than the first Viking design.<ref name=vikingstory>{{cite book|author=Milton W. Rosen|title=The Viking Rocket Story|publisher=Harper & Brothers|location=New York|date=1955|oclc=317524549 }}</ref>{{rp|172–173}}

On 6 June 1952, Viking 8 broke loose of its moorings during a static firing test. After it was allowed to fly for 55 seconds in the hope that it would clear the immediate area and thus pose no danger to ground crew, Nat Wagner, head of the "Cutoff group", delivered a command to the rocket to cease its thrust. 65 seconds later, the rocket crashed {{convert|4|to|5|mi|km|sigfig=1}} downrange to the southeast.<ref name=vikingstory/>{{rp|180–181}}

With lessons learned from the Viking 8 failure, the successful 9 December static firing of Viking 9 was followed on 15 December by a successful launch from White Sands. The rocket reached an altitude of {{convert|135|miles}}, roughly the same as that of the first-generation Viking 7 in 1950. In addition to cameras that photographed the Earth during flight, Viking 9 carried a full suite of [[cosmic ray]], [[ultraviolet]], and [[X-ray]] detectors, including sixteen plates of [[emulsion]] gel for tracking the path of individual high energy particles. The experiment package was recovered intact after it had secured measurements high above the Earth's atmosphere.<ref name=vikingstory/>{{rp|185–203}}

===US Army===

The final flight of the [[V-2]] rocket occurred on 19 September 1952 with an unsuccessful [[aeronomy]] mission conducted jointly by the [[Signal Corps Laboratories|Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories]] and [[University of Michigan]] from [[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] [[Launch Complex 33]]. The rocket reached an [[apogee]] of {{convert|7.1|km}} before its tail exploded 27 seconds into the flight.<ref name=NRL4276>{{cite book |author=Charles P. Smith Jr. |date=April 1958 |title=Naval Research Laboratory Report No. 4276: Upper Atmosphere Research Report No. XXI, Summary of Upper Atmosphere Rocket Research Firings |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADB957191 |format=pdf |location=Washington D.C. |publisher=Naval Research Laboratory |access-date=10 November 2022 |archive-date=4 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104034039/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADB957191 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|469–470}}

===American civilian efforts===

1952 saw the first [[rockoon]] flights. These balloon-mounted rockets were significantly cheaper than sounding rocket flights: $1800 per launch versus $25,000 for each Aerobee launch and $450,000 for each Viking launch. A series of seven ship-launched tests conducted by a [[University of Iowa]] team under [[James Van Allen]] achieved considerable success, with one flight grazing the edge of space with an apogee of {{convert|55|miles}}.<ref name=Ludwig>{{cite book|title=Opening Space Research|author=George Ludwig|publisher=geopress|location=Washington D.C.|date=2011|oclc=845256256}}</ref>{{rp|10–18}}

==Spacecraft development==

===US Air Force===

Progress remained slow throughout 1952 on the [[SM-65_Atlas|Atlas]], the nation's first [[intercontinental ballistic missile]] (ICBM), the contract for which had been awarded to [[Convair|Consolidated Vultee]] in January 1951 by the US Air Force's [[Air Research and Development Command]]. Conservative development policies and daunting technical problems were the official causes, but the Air Force's apparent lack of enthusiasm for the project, along with a limited budget and resources, were factors as well. It was not until [[Ivy Mike|the first successful H-bomb test at Elugelab]] in November 1952 that development of the Atlas, potentially capable of delivering such a weapon, garnered more support.<ref name=Atlas>{{cite book|title=Atlas The Story of a Missile|author=John L. Chapman|publisher=Harper & Brothers|location=New York|date=1960|oclc=492591218}}</ref>{{rp|59–71}}

===US Army===

On 8 April 1952, [[Redstone Arsenal]] in [[Alabama]] officially gave the name of "[[PGM-11 Redstone|Redstone]]" to the surface-to-surface missile, capable of delivering nuclear or conventional warheads to a range of {{convert|200|miles}}, which they had started developing on 10 July 1951. The office of the Chief of Ordnance of the Army (OCO) tasked [[Chrysler|Chrysler Corporation]] to proceed with active work as the prime contractor on the missile by a letter order contract in October 1952; this contract definitized on 19 June 1953.<ref name=redstone>{{cite web|url=https://history.redstone.army.mil/miss-redstone.html|title=Installation History 1950 – 1952|publisher=US Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command|date=2017|access-date=1 February 2021|archive-date=16 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016102246/https://history.redstone.army.mil/miss-redstone.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Soviet military===

In 1952, the Soviet Union focused its strategic rocket development on the [[R-5 (missile)|R-5]] missile, which superseded the overambitious {{convert|3000|km}} range R-3, previously canceled on 20 October 1951.<ref name=ranp>{{cite book|author=Boris Chertok|title=Rockets and People, Volume II: Creating a Rocket Industry|publisher=NASA|location=Washington D.C.|date=June 2006|oclc=946818748}}</ref>{{rp|275–6}} [[OKB-1]] under [[Sergei Korolev]] completed the conceptual design for the R-5, able to carry the same {{convert|1000|kg}} payload as the R-1 and R-2 but over a distance of {{convert|1200|km}},<ref name=ranp/>{{rp|242}} by 30 October 1951.<ref name=challenge>{{cite book|url=https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4408pt1.pdf|title=Challenge to Apollo: The Soviet Union and the Space Race, 1945–1974|author=Asif A. Siddiqi|publisher=NASA|location=Washington D.C.|oclc=1001823253|access-date=6 January 2021|archive-date=16 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916023444/https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4408pt1.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|97}} 

This dramatic increase in performance of the R-5 over its predecessors was made possible through development of the RD-103 engine, an evolution of the RD-101 used in the R-2 missile, and by reducing the weight of the rocket through use of integrated tankage (while at the same time increasing propellant load by 60% over the R-2). The military had much more confidence in this incremental design than the radical leap forward that was the R-3, and work proceeded apace. Other innovations over the R-1 and R-2 included small aerodynamic rudders run by servomotors to replace the big fins of the R-1/R-2, and longitudinal acceleration integrators to improve the precision of engine cutoff and thus accuracy.<ref name=challenge/>{{rp|99–100}} Two of the first ten R-5s produced underwent stand tests through February 1952,<ref name=astror5>{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/r/r-5.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820192143/http://www.astronautix.com/r/r-5.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 August 2016|title=R-5|author=Mark Wade|website=[[Encyclopedia Astronautica]]|date=7 January 2021}}</ref> and the sleek, cylindrical R-5, "the first Soviet strategic rocket", would be ready for its first launch March 1953.<ref name=challenge/>{{rp|99–100}}

Also in 1952, the design bureau OKB-486, under [[Valentin Glushko]], began developing the RD-105 and RD-106 engines for an even more powerful rocket: the five engine R-6 ICBM. Using an integrated solder-welded configuration, developed by engineer [[Aleksei Isaev]], these [[LOX]]/[[kerosene]] engines would be more powerful single chamber engines than those used in earlier rockets. Four {{convert|539.37|kN|abbr=on}} RD-105 would power the R-6's four strap-on engines while a {{convert|519.75|kN|abbr=on}} RD-106 would power the central booster.<ref name=challenge/>{{rp|108–109}}

That same year, there was also a series of fourteen test launches of the mass-produced version of [[R-2 (missile)|R-2]] missile, with a range of {{convert|600|km}}.<ref name=ranp/>{{rp|48–9}} Twelve of the missiles reached their targets.<ref name=ranp/>{{rp|266}} The [[R-1 (missile)|R-1]] also was test-launched seven times.<ref name=astror-18a11>{{cite web|website=[[Encyclopedia Astronautica]]|url=http://www.astronautix.com/r/r-18a11.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228003429/http://astronautix.com/r/r-18a11.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 December 2016|title=R-1 8A11|author=Mark Wade|access-date=7 January 2021}}</ref>

===Civilian efforts===

In October 1952, the General Assembly of the [[International Council of Scientific Unions]] (ICSU) adopted a proposal to undertake a third [[International Polar Year]]. This endeavor would involve both a wider scope, encompassing simultaneous observations of geophysical phenomena over the entire surface of the Earth including the [[Arctic]] and [[Antarctica]], as well as a longer period, lasting 18 months. The [[International Geophysical Year]] (IGY), set for 1957–58, ultimately would involve the participation of 67 countries. To coordinate this massive effort, the ICSU formed the {{Langx|fr|Comité Speciale de l'Année Géophysique Internationale (CSAGI)|lit=International Geophysical Year Special Committee|label=none}}, which would hold four major meetings with representation from all participating countries over the next four years.<ref name=Ludwig/>{{rp|69}}<ref name="Vanguard">{{cite book|title=''Vanguard — a History''|author=Constance Green and Milton Lomask|publisher=NASA|location=Washington, D.C.|date=1970|id=SP-4202|isbn=978-1-97353-209-5|url=https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4202/begin.html|access-date=6 April 2021|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213422/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4202/begin.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{rp|19–21}}

In 1951, the [[University of Maryland]]'s [[Fred Singer]] gave a series of lectures to the [[British Interplanetary Society]] in London espousing the use of small artificial satellites to conduct scientific observations. In 1952 Singer expanded his audience through publications and public presentations on his proposals for "MOUSE" (Minimum Orbiting Unmanned Satellite of the Earth). Though dismissed by many as too radical and/or in conflict with human exploration of space, the proposal catalyzed serious discussion of the use of satellites for scientific research.<ref name=Ludwig/>{{rp|73}}

==Launches==
{{TLS-M|1952|mar=off|jul=off}}

===January===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|January launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 30 January | time = 20:45
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1a]]
|flight = USAF 21
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Holloman Air Force Base|Holloman]] [[Holloman Air Force Base#Missile testing sites|LC-A]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[United States Air Force|US Air Force]]
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|0|km}}, rocket exploded in tower<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|85}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = Ionosphere 1
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]] / [[University of Utah]]
 |orbit = [[Suborbital]]
 |function = [[Ionosphere|Ionospheric]]
 |d-date = 30 January
 |outcome = Launch failure
 }}
}}
|}

===February===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|February launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 19 February | time = 14:49
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1c]]
|flight = USAF 22
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Holloman Air Force Base|Holloman]] [[Holloman Air Force Base#Missile testing sites|LC-A]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Air Force
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|0|km}}, maiden (and only) flight of the RTV-A-1c, which was an unboosted version of the RTV-A-1a. There was a thrust chamber explosion in the tower, but the instrumentation was recovered intact.<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|86}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]] / [[University of Utah]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = [[Airglow]]
 |d-date = 19 February
 |outcome = Launch failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 19 February | time = 17:00
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-N-10]]
|flight = NRL 7
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|81.3|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|303–304}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[United States Naval Research Laboratory|NRL]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation / Solar Radiation
 |d-date = 19 February
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 29 February | time = 14:40
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1]]
|flight = USAF 23
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Holloman LC-A
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Air Force
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|89.3|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|87–88}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = AFCRC / University of Utah
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Airglow
 |d-date = 29 February
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
|}

===April===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|April launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 22 April | time = 17:28
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1]]
|flight = USAF 24
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Holloman Air Force Base|Holloman]] [[Holloman Air Force Base#Missile testing sites|LC-A]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Air Force
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|113|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|89–90}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]] / [[Boston University]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Ionospheric
 |d-date = 22 April
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 30 April | time = 13:30
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-N-10]]
|flight = NRL 8
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|127.8|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|305}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[United States Naval Research Laboratory|NRL]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation / Solar Radiation
 |d-date = 30 April
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
|}

===May===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|May launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 1 May | time = 14:59
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-N-10]]
|flight = NRL 9
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|126.0|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|305}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[United States Naval Research Laboratory|NRL]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation / Solar Radiation
 |d-date = 1 May
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 1 May | time = 15:42
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1]]
|flight = USAF 25
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Holloman Air Force Base|Holloman]] [[Holloman Air Force Base#Missile testing sites|LC-A]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Air Force
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|91|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|91–92}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]] / [[University of Rhode Island]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Solar UV
 |d-date = 1 May
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 5 May | time = 13:44
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Aerobee RTV-N-10
|flight = NRL 10
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}White Sands LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|127.0|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|305}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = NRL
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation / Solar Radiation
 |d-date = 5 May
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 15 May | time = 01:15
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee XASR-SC-1]]
|flight = SC 23
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}White Sands LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Army
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|76.1|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|233–234}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Sphere
 |user = [[Signal Corps Laboratories|SCEL]] / [[University of Michigan]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 15 May
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 20 May | time = 02:07
|flight = SC 24
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Aerobee XASR-SC-1
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}White Sands LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Army
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|89.5|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|235–236}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Grenades
 |user = USASC
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 20 May
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 20 May | time = 16:06
|rocket = {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|Nazi}}[[V-2]]
|flight = V-2 No. 59 / TF-2
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}White Sands [[Launch Complex 33|LC-33]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Army
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|103.5|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|455–456,464}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = SCEL / University of Michigan
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy / Photography
 |d-date = 20 May
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 21 May |time = 15:15
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Aerobee RTV-A-1
|flight = USAF 26
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Holloman LC-A
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Air Force
|remarks = Carried 2 Philippine monkeys, Pat and Mike, and 2 mice; all recovered. Apogee: {{convert|61|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|93–94}} Flight tested requirement of restraints: one mouse was given a shelf to cling to; the other bounced from side to side of its smooth-sided plastic compartment. Acceleration was 15 gees for <1 second and 3-4 gees for 35 seconds. The two monkeys were strapped to their seats and anaesthetized. Mission demonstrated that pilot injury in rocket flight could be avoided with appropriate seats and straps.<ref>{{cite news|title=Believe Humans Can Fare Well 38 Miles Above Earth|publisher=The Times|location=Hammond, Indiana |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-believe-humans-can-fare-well-3/170127725/|date=September 28, 1952|access-date=April 11, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Aeromed 3
 |user = AFCRL / [[Wright Air Development Center|WADC]] Aero-Medical Laboratory
 |function = Biological
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |d-date = 21 May
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
|}

===June===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|June launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 6 June | time = 17:30
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Viking (rocket)|Viking (second model)]]
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] [[Launch Complex 33|LC-33]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|6|km}}, accidentally launched during static fire ground test<ref name=astroviking>{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/v/vikingsoundingrocket.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228051243/http://astronautix.com/v/vikingsoundingrocket.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 December 2016|title=Viking Sounding Rocket|author=Mark Wade|website=[[Encyclopedia Astronautica]]|access-date=7 January 2021}}</ref>
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Viking 8
 |user = [[United States Naval Research Laboratory|NRL]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Accidental launch
 |d-date = 6 June
 |outcome = Launch failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 18 June | time = 17:50
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1]]
|flight = USAF 27
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Holloman Air Force Base|Holloman]] [[Holloman Air Force Base#Missile testing sites|LC-A]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Air Force
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|105|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|95–96}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]] / [[University of Denver]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Solar UV
 |d-date = 18 June
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 30 June | time = 14:32
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Aerobee RTV-A-1
|flight = USAF 28
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Holloman LC-A
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Air Force
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|101|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|97–98}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Airglow 1
 |user = AFCRC
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Sky Brightness
 |d-date = 30 June
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
|}

===August===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|August launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 8 August
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-2 (missile)|R-2]]
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[Kapustin Yar]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[OKB-1]]
|remarks = First of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target<ref name=astror2>{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/r/r-2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820191943/http://www.astronautix.com/r/r-2.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 August 2016|title=R-2|website=[[Encyclopedia Astronautica]]|author=Mark Wade|access-date=7 October 2021}}</ref><ref name=ranp/>{{rp|266}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 8 August
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = August
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-2
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks = Second of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target<ref name=astror2/><ref name=ranp/>{{rp|266}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = Same day
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = August
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-2
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks = Third of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target<ref name=astror2/><ref name=ranp/>{{rp|266}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = Same day
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = August
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-2
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks = Fourth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target<ref name=astror2/><ref name=ranp/>{{rp|266}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = Same day
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = August
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-2
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks = Fifth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target<ref name=astror2/><ref name=ranp/>{{rp|266}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = Same day
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = August
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-2
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks = Sixth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target<ref name=astror2/><ref name=ranp/>{{rp|266}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = Same day
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = August
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-2
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks = Seventh of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target<ref name=astror2/><ref name=ranp/>{{rp|266}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = Same day
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = August
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-2
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks = Eighth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target<ref name=astror2/><ref name=ranp/>{{rp|266}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = Same day
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 20 August
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-1 (missile)|R-1]]
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks =
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 20 August
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 21 August
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-1
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks =
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 21 August
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 21 August |time = 06:25
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Deacon (rocket)|Deacon]] [[rockoon]]
|flight = SUI 1
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}{{USCGC|Eastwind|WAGB-279|6}}, [[Kane Basin]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[United States Coast Guard|US Coast Guard]]
|remarks = Maiden flight of the Deacon Rockoon, (balloon) apogee: {{convert|21.4|km}}, rocket failed to fire<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|312}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[University of Iowa]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 21 August
 |outcome = Partial failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 22 August | time = 07:33
|rocket = {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|Nazi}}[[V-2]]
|flight = TF-3
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] [[Launch Complex 33|LC-33]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Army
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|78.1|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|465–466}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[United States Naval Research Laboratory|NRL]] / [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]] / [[National Institutes of Health]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy / Cosmic Radiation / Solar X-Ray / Magnetic Field / Sky Brightness
 |d-date = 22 August
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 24 August | time = 03:34
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon rockoon
|flight = SUI 2
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USCGC ''Eastwind'', northern [[Baffin Bay]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Coast Guard
|remarks = (Balloon) Apogee: {{convert|21.4|km}},<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|312}} rocket failed to fire, but instrument package worked<ref name=Ludwig/>{{rp|17}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 24 August
 |outcome = Partial failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 25 August
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-1
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks =
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 25 August
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 26 August | time = 18:53
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1a]]
|flight = USAF 29
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Holloman Air Force Base|Holloman]] [[Holloman Air Force Base#Missile testing sites|LC-A]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Air Force
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|32|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|99–100}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Ionosphere 2
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]] / [[University of Utah]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Ionospheric
 |d-date = 26 August
 |outcome = Launch failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 29 August | time = 00:26
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon rockoon
|flight = SUI 3
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USCGC ''Eastwind'', northern Baffin Bay
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Coast Guard
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|61.0|km}},<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|312}} first successful firing of balloon-launched rocket, instruments failed to return data<ref name=Ludwig/>{{rp|18}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 29 August
 |outcome = Spacecraft failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 29 August | time = 07:36
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon rockoon
|flight = SUI 4
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USCGC ''Eastwind'', northern Baffin Bay
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Coast Guard
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|59.4|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|312}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 29 August
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 29 August | time = 18:15
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon rockoon
|flight = SUI 5
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USCGC ''Eastwind'', northern Baffin Bay
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Coast Guard
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|76.1|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|312}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 29 August
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 31 August | time = 21:10
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon rockoon
|flight = SUI 6
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USCGC ''Eastwind'', northern Baffin Bay
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Coast Guard
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|64.1|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|313}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 31 August
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
|}

===September===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|September launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = September
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-2 (missile)|R-2]]
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[Kapustin Yar]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[OKB-1]]
|remarks = Ninth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target<ref name=astror2/><ref name=ranp/>{{rp|266}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = Same day
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = September
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-2
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks = Tenth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target<ref name=astror2/><ref name=ranp/>{{rp|266}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = Same day
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = September
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-2
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks = Eleventh of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target<ref name=astror2/><ref name=ranp/>{{rp|266}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = Same day
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = September
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-2
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks = Twelfth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target<ref name=astror2/><ref name=ranp/>{{rp|266}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = Same day
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = September
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-2
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks = Thirteenth of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target<ref name=astror2/><ref name=ranp/>{{rp|266}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = Same day
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 3 September | time = 14:49
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-N-10]]
|flight = NRL 11
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|99.0|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|305}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[United States Naval Research Laboratory|NRL]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Solar Radiation
 |d-date = 3 September
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 4 September | time = 09:17
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Deacon (rocket)|Deacon]] [[rockoon]]
|flight = SUI 7
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}{{USCGC|Eastwind|WAGB-279|6}}, northern [[Baffin Bay]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Coast Guard
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|64.1|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|313}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[University of Iowa]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 4 September
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 18 September
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-2
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks = Last of fourteen test launches of mass-produced version; twelve reached their target<ref name=astror2/><ref name=ranp/>{{rp|266}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 18 September
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 19 September | time = 15:49
|rocket = {{flagicon|Nazi Germany|Nazi}}[[V-2]]
|flight = TF-5
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] [[Launch Complex 33|LC-33]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Army
|remarks = Final flight of the V-2, apogee: {{convert|7.1|km}}, tail exploded at 27 seconds<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|469–470}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[Signal Corps Laboratories|SCEL]] / [[University of Michigan]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 19 September
 |outcome = Launch failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 25 September | time = 03:50
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee XASR-SC-1]]
|flight = SC 25
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}White Sands LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Army
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|117|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|239}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Grenades
 |user = SCEL
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 25 September
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
|}

===October===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|October launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 10 October | time = 14:24
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1]]
|flight = USAF 30
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Holloman Air Force Base|Holloman]] [[Holloman Air Force Base#Missile testing sites|LC-A]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Air Force
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|110|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|102–103}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]] / [[University of Denver]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Solar UV
 |d-date = 10 October
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 22 October | time = 14:35
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Aerobee RTV-A-1
|flight = USAF 31
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Holloman LC-A
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Air Force
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|100|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|104–105}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = AFCRC / [[University of Michigan]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 22 October
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 23 October | time = 03:45
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee XASR-SC-2]]
|flight = SC 26
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Army
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|112.0|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|237–238}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Grenades
 |user = [[Signal Corps Laboratories|SCEL]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 23 October
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 29 October
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-1 (missile)|R-1]]
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[Kapustin Yar]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[OKB-1]]
|remarks =
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 29 October
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 30 October
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-1
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks =
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 30 October
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 30 October
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-1
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks =
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 30 October
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
|}

===November===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|November launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 6 November | time = 15:56
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1]]
|flight = USAF 32
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Holloman Air Force Base|Holloman]] [[Holloman Air Force Base#Missile testing sites|LC-A]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Air Force
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|76|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|106–107}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = Airglow 2
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Sky Brightness
 |d-date = 6 November
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 21 November
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-1 (missile)|R-1]]
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[Kapustin Yar]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[OKB-1]]
|remarks =
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 21 November
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
|}

===December===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|December launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 11 December | time = 23:47
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee XASR-SC-1]]
|flight = SC 29
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Army
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|105.1|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|244–245}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Sphere
 |user = [[Signal Corps Laboratories|SCEL]] / [[University of Michigan]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy / Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 11 December
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 12 December | time = 19:38
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1]]
|flight = USAF 33
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Holloman Air Force Base|Holloman]] [[Holloman Air Force Base#Missile testing sites|LC-A]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Air Force
|remarks = Final flight of the RTV-A-1, apogee: {{convert|89|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|108–109}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]] / [[University of Colorado Boulder|University of Colorado]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Solar UV
 |d-date = 12 December
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 15 December | time = 21:38
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Viking (rocket)|Viking (second model)]]
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] [[Launch Complex 33|LC-33]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|219|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|494}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Viking 9
 |user = [[United States Naval Research Laboratory|NRL]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Solar Radiation / Cosmic Radiation / Photography
 |d-date = 15 December
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
|}

{{TLS-M|1952|mar=off|jul=off}}

==Suborbital launch statistics==

===By country===
{{Pie chart
| radius = 120
| legend = false
| thumb = left
| [ 
 {"value":350, "color":"#484785", "label": "United States: 35 (62.50%)"},
 {"value":210, "color":"#a52a2a", "label": "Soviet Union: 21 (37.50%) "},
]
}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ {{sronly|Launches by country}}
! scope=col colspan=2 | Country
! scope=col | Launches
! scope=col | Successes
! scope=col | Failures
! scope=col | Partial<br/>failures
|-
! scope=row style="background:brown;" | || style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USSR|1936}}
| 21 || 19 || 0 || 2
|-
! scope=row style="background:#484785;" | || style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USA|1912}}
| 35 || 27 || 5 || 3
|-
! colspan="2" | World 
| {{sum|21|35}} || {{sum|19|27}} || {{sum|0|5}} || {{sum|2|3}}
|}
{{clear}}

=== By rocket ===
{{ #invoke:Chart | bar chart
| float = center
| width = 850
| height = 400
| stack = 1
| group 1 = 3:0:0:0:0:0 <!-- V-2 (American) -->
| group 2 = 0:2:0:0:0:0 <!-- Viking (second model)-->
| group 3 = 0:0:5:0:0:0 <!-- Aerobee RTV-N-10 -->
| group 4 = 0:0:4:0:0:0 <!-- Aerobee XASR-SC-1 -->
| group 5 = 0:0:1:0:0:0 <!-- Aerobee XASR-SC-2 -->
| group 6 = 0:0:10:0:0:0 <!-- Aerobee RTV-A-1 -->
| group 7 = 0:0:2:0:0:0 <!-- Aerobee RTV-A-1a -->
| group 8 = 0:0:1:0:0:0 <!-- Aerobee RTV-A-1c -->
| group 9 = 0:0:0:7:0:0 <!-- Deacon rockoon -->
| group 10 = 0:0:0:0:7:0 <!-- R-1 -->
| group 11 = 0:0:0:0:0:14 <!-- R-2 -->
| colors = #9090c0 <!-- V-2 -->
: blue <!-- Viking -->
: #363663 <!-- Navy Aerobee -->
: #646e2b : #a7b847 <!-- Army Aerobee -->
: #25a7da : #1e85ae : #7ccae9 <!-- USAF Aerobee -->
: #80daeb <!-- Rockoon -->
: #7a1f1f <!-- R-1 -->
: #ff7700 <!-- R-2 -->
| group names = [[V-2|V-2 (American)]]
: [[Viking (rocket)|Viking (second model)]]
: [[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee RTV-N-10]]
: [[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee XASR-SC-1]]
: [[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee XASR-SC-2]]
: [[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee RTV-A-1]]
: [[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee RTV-A-1a]]
: [[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee RTV-A-1c]]
: [[Deacon (rocket)|Deacon]] [[rockoon]]
: [[R-1 (missile)|R-1]]
: [[R-2 (missile)|R-2]]
| x legends = [[V-2]] : [[Viking (rocket)|Viking]] : [[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee]] : [[Deacon (rocket)|Deacon]] [[rockoon]] : [[R-1 (missile)|R-1]] : [[R-2 (missile)|R-2]]
| units suffix = _launches
| y tick marks = 5
}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ {{sronly|Launches by rocket}}
! scope=col | Rocket
! scope=col | Country
! scope=col | Launches
! scope=col | Successes
! scope=col | Failures
! scope=col | Partial<br/>failures
! scope=col | Remarks
|-
! scope=row | [[V-2]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USA|1912}}  ||  3 ||  2 || 1 || 0 || style="text-align:left;" | Retired
|-
! scope=row | [[Viking (rocket)|Viking (second model)]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USA|1912}}  ||  2 ||  1 || 1 || 0 || style="text-align:left;" | Maiden flight
|-
! scope=row | [[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee RTV-N-10]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USA|1912}}  ||  5 ||  5 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
! scope=row | [[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee XASR-SC-1]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USA|1912}}  ||  4 ||  4 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
! scope=row | [[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee XASR-SC-2]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USA|1912}}  ||  1 ||  1 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
! scope=row | [[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee RTV-A-1]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USA|1912}}  || 10 || 10 || 0 || 0 || style="text-align:left;" | Retired
|-
! scope=row | [[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee RTV-A-1a]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USA|1912}}  ||  2 ||  0 || 2 || 0 ||
|-
! scope=row | [[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee RTV-A-1c]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USA|1912}}  ||  1 ||  0 || 1 || 0 || style="text-align:left;" | Maiden flight, retired
|-
! scope=row | [[Deacon (rocket)|Deacon]] [[rockoon]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USA|1912}}  ||  7 ||  4 || 0 || 3 || style="text-align:left;" | Maiden flight
|-
! scope=row | [[R-1 (missile)|R-1]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USSR|1936}} ||  7 ||  7 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
! scope=row | [[R-2 (missile)|R-2]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USSR|1936}} || 14 || 12 || 0 || 2 ||
|}

==See also==
*[[Timeline of spaceflight]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

<br/>
{{TLS-L|year=1952|nav=on}}

[[Category:1952 in spaceflight]]
[[Category:Spaceflight by year]]