View source for 1953 in spaceflight

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox Year in spaceflight
|year = 1953
|image = Deacon Rockoon.jpg
|caption = Launch of a [[Deacon (rocket)|Deacon]] [[Rockoon]]; several such launches occurred in 1953
|maidens = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}} [[R-5 Pobeda]]
|retired = {{flagicon|USA|1912}} [[Aerobee|Aerobee XASR-SC-2]]
}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| programme          = [[Timeline of spaceflight]]
| previous_mission   = [[1952 in spaceflight|1952]]
| next_mission       = [[1954 in spaceflight|1954]]
}}

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

The year 1953 saw the [[rockoon]] join the stable of [[sounding rockets]] capable of reaching beyond the {{convert|100|km}} boundary of space (as defined by the [[World Air Sports Federation]]).<ref name=ScienceJul2018>{{cite journal|title=Outer space may have just gotten a bit closer|first=Paul|last=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|s2cid=126154837 |archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111231817/https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/07/outer-space-may-have-just-gotten-bit-closer|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Employed by both the [[University of Iowa]] and the [[Naval Research Laboratory]], 22 total were launched from the decks of the {{USS|Staten Island|AGB-5|6}} and the {{USCGC|Eastwind|WAGB-279|6}} this year. All branches of the United States military continued their program of [[Aerobee]] sounding rocket launches, a total of 23 were launched throughout 1953. The Soviet Union launched no sounding rockets in 1953; however, the Soviet Union did conduct several series of missile test launches.

Both the United States and the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]] continued their development of ballistic missiles: the [[United States Air Force]] with its [[SM-65 Atlas|Atlas]] [[ICBM]], the [[United States Army]] with its [[PGM-11 Redstone|Redstone]] [[SRBM]], the Soviet [[OKB-1]] with its [[R-5 (missile)|R-5]] [[IRBM]], and Soviet Factory 586 with its [[R-12 Dvina|R-12]] [[IRBM]]. None entered active service during 1953.

The first meeting of the Comité Speciale de l'Année Géophysique Internationale (CSAGI), a special committee of the [[International Council of Scientific Unions]] (ICSU), began preliminary coordination of the [[International Geophysical Year]] (IGY), scheduled for 1957–58.

{{TOC limit|2}}

==Space exploration highlights==

===US Navy===

On 25 May 1953, [[Viking 10]], originally planned to be the last of the [[Naval Research Laboratory]]-built [[Viking (rocket)|Viking]] rockets, arrived at [[White Sands Missile Range]] in [[New Mexico]]. A successful static firing on 18 June cleared the way for a 30 June launch date, a schedule that had been made months prior, before the rocket had even left the [[Glenn L. Martin Company]] plant where it had been built. At the moment of liftoff, the tail of Viking 10 exploded, setting the rocket afire. Water was immediately flooded into the rocket's base in an attempt to extinguish the fire, but flames continued to burn in the East Quadrant of the firing platform. Half an hour after launch, two of the launch team under manager [[Milton Rosen]] were dispatched to put out the fire to salvage what remained of the rocket.

Though successful, these efforts were then threatened by a slow leak in the propellant tank. The vacuum created by the departing fuel was causing the tank to dimple with the danger of implosion that would cause the rocket to collapse. Lieutenant Joseph Pitts, a member of the launch team, shot a rifle round into the tank, equalizing the pressure and saving the rocket. Three hours after the attempted launch, the last of the alcohol propellant had been drained from Viking 10. The launch team was able to salvage the instrument package of cameras, including X-ray detectors, cosmic ray emulsions, and a radio-frequency mass-spectrometer, valued at tens of thousands of dollars, although there was concern that the rocket was irreparable.

A thorough investigation of the explosion began in July, but a conclusive cause could not be determined. In a reported presented in September, Milton Rosen noted that a similar occurrence had not happened in more than 100 prior tests of the Viking motor. It was decided to rebuild Viking 10, and a program for closer monitoring of potential fail points was implemented for the next launch, scheduled for 1954.<ref name=vikingstory>{{cite book|author=Milton W. Rosen|title=The Viking Rocket Story|publisher=Harper & Brothers|location=New York|date=1955|pages=204–221|oclc=317524549}}</ref>

===American civilian efforts===

After [[1952 in spaceflight#American civilian efforts|the successful field tests]] of balloon-launched rockets ([[rockoon]]s) the previous year, a [[University of Iowa]] physics team embarked on a second rockoon expedition aboard the {{USS|Staten Island|AGB-5|6}} in summer 1953 with improved equipment. The new [[Skyhook balloon]]s increased the rocket firing altitude from {{convert|40000|ft}} to {{convert|50000|ft}} affording a peak rocket altitude of {{convert|57|mi}}. The total payload weights were increased by {{convert|2|lb}} to {{convert|30|lb}}. Between 18 July and 4 September, the Iowa team launched 16 rockoons from a variety of latitudes, 7 of which reached useful altitudes and returned usable data. An [[United States Naval Research Laboratory|NRL]] team aboard the same vessel launched six rockoons, of which half were complete successes. Data from these launches provided the first evidence of radiation associated with [[aurora borealis]].<ref name=Ludwig>{{cite book|title=Opening Space Research|author=George Ludwig|publisher=geopress|location=Washington D.C.|date=2011|oclc=845256256|pages=18–32}}</ref>

==Spacecraft development==

===US Air Force===

Development of the [[SM-65 Atlas|Atlas]], the nation's first [[Intercontinental ballistic missile|ICBM]] proceeded slowly throughout 1953. Without firm figures as to the weight and dimension of a [[Thermonuclear weapon|thermonuclear device]] (the US tested its first [[H-bomb]] in November 1952, the USSR announced their first successful test in August 1953), it was not known if the Atlas could deliver an atomic bomb payload.

In spring 1953, Colonel [[Bernard Schriever]], an assistant in development planning at [[The Pentagon]] and a proponent of long-ranged ballistic missiles, pushed to obtain accurate characteristics of a nuclear payload. [[Trevor Gardner]], special assistant for research and development to the new [[United States Secretary of the Air Force|Secretary of the Air Force]], [[Harold Talbott]], responded by organizing the Strategic Missiles Evaluation Committee or "[[Teapot Committee]]" comprising eleven of the top scientists and engineers in the country. Their goal would be to determine if a nuclear payload could be made small enough to fit on the Atlas rocket. If so, the importance of the committee's members would allow such findings to accelerate Atlas development. By October, committee member [[John von Neumann]] had completed his report on weights and figures indicating that smaller, more powerful warheads within Atlas' launch capability would soon be available. Pending test verification of von Neumann's theoretical results, the Air Force began revising the Atlas design for the projected nuclear payload.<ref name=Atlas>{{cite book|title=Atlas The Story of a Missile|author=John L. Chapman|publisher=Harper & Brothers|location=New York|date=1960|pages=71–73|oclc=492591218}}</ref>

===US Army===

The first production [[PGM-11 Redstone|Redstone]], a surface-to-surface missile capable of delivering nuclear or conventional warheads to a range of {{convert|200|miles}}, was delivered on 27 July 1953. A Redstone R&D missile was flight tested on 20 August 1953.<ref name=redstone53>{{cite web|url=https://history.redstone.army.mil/ihist-1953.html|title=Installation History 1953 – 1955|publisher=U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command|date=2017|access-date=1 February 2021|archive-date=2 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202195242/https://history.redstone.army.mil/ihist-1953.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Soviet Union===

The [[R-5 (missile)|R-5]] missile, able to carry the same {{convert|1000|kg}} payload as the [[R-1 (missile)|R-1]] and [[R-2 (missile)|R-2]] but over a distance of {{convert|1200|km}}<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|242}} underwent its first series of eight test launches from 15 March to 23 May 1953. After two failures, the third rocket, launched 2 April, marked the beginning of streak of success. Seven more missiles were launched between 30 October and December, all of which reached their targets. A final series of launches, designed to test modifications made in response to issues with the first series, was scheduled for mid-1954.<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=2 February 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|100–101}}

In his brief tenure as Director of [[TsNIIMash|NII-88]], responsible for the production of all Soviet ballistic missiles, engineer [[Mikhail Yangel]] chafed professionally with [[OKB-1]] (formerly NII-88 Section 3) Chief Designer, [[Sergei Korolev]], whom he had previously reported to as Deputy Chief Designer of the bureau. To relieve this tension, on 4 October 1953, Yangel was demoted to NII-88 Chief Engineer and assigned responsibility for production of missiles at State Union Plant No. 586 in [[Dnepropetrovsk]]. This plant under, Vasiliy Budnik, had been tasked on 13 February 1953 with developing the [[R-12 Dvina|R-12]] missile, possessing a performance similar to that of the [[R-5 (missile)|R-5]] (range of {{convert|2000|km}} vs. {{convert|1200|km}}) but using storable propellants so that it could be stored at firing readiness for extended periods of time.<ref name=challenge/>{{rp|113–114}}

At the end of 1953, at a meeting of the [[Presidium of the Supreme Soviet]], it was determined that a transportable thermonuclear device be developed (as opposed to the one detonated in August, which was stationary). It was further determined that an ICBM be developed to carry said bomb. As no ICBMs existed at the time, in reality or even in planning, development of a nuclear capable R-5 (dubbed the "R-5M") was ordered.<ref name="ranp" />{{rp|275}}

===The International Geophysical Year===

July 1953 saw the first meeting of the Comité Speciale de l'Année Géophysique Internationale (CSAGI), a special committee of the [[International Council of Scientific Unions]] (ICSU) tasked with coordinating the [[International Geophysical Year]] (IGY), set for 1957–58. This international effort would undertake simultaneous observations of geophysical phenomena over the entire surface of the Earth including such farflung regions as the [[Arctic]] and [[Antarctica]]. At its first meeting, CSAGI invited the world's nations to participate in the IGY. Response from most prominent nations was quick. The [[National Research Council (United States)|National Research Council]] of the US [[National Academy of Sciences]] set up a US National Committee for the IGY, with [[Joseph Kaplan]] serving as chairman and Hugh Odishaw as executive director. The only key nation slow in committing to the IGY was Soviet Union, which did not signal its involvement until spring 1955.<ref name=Ludwig/>{{rp|69–70}}

==Launches==
{{TLS-M|1953|jan=off}}

===February===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|February launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 10 February |time = 21:09
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-N-10]]
|flight = NRL 12
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[United States Navy|US Navy]]
|remarks = [[Apogee]]: {{convert|137.0|km}}<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=23 November 2022 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202195019/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADB957191 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|305}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[United States Naval Research Laboratory|NRL]]
 |orbit = [[Suborbital]]
 |function = [[Aeronomy]] / Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 10 February
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 12 February |time = 07:09
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Aerobee RTV-N-10
|flight = NRL 13
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}White Sands LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|137.3|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|305}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = NRL
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy / Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 12 February
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 18 February |time = 06:50
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee XASR-SC-2]]
|flight = SC 27
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}White Sands LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[United States Army|US Army]]
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|108.6|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|240–241}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Grenades
 |user = [[Signal Corps Laboratories|SCEL]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 18 February
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 18 February |time = 17:42
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1a]]
|flight = USAF 34
|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|117|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|111–112}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Rocket performance test
 |d-date = 18 February
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
|}

===March===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|March launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 1 March
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-1 (missile)|R-1]]
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[Kapustin Yar]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia|OKB-1]]
|remarks =
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 1 March
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11>{{cite web|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|last=Wade|first=Mark|access-date=10 October 2021}}</ref>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 5 March
|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 = 5 March
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 15 March
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-5 Pobeda|R-5]]
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks = Maiden flight of R-5<ref name=asifr-5>{{cite web|url=http://sdfo.org/stl/R-5%20Launches%201953-1959.docx|title=R-5 Launches 1953-1959|author=Asif Siddiqi|access-date=26 February 2021|date=2021|archive-date=2 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202195251/https://sdfo.org/stl/R-5%20Launches%201953-1959.docx|url-status=live}}</ref>
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 15 March
 |outcome = Partial failure <ref name=challenge/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 18 March
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-5
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 18 March
 |outcome = Partial failure <ref name=asifr-5/><ref name=challenge/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 19 March
|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 = 19 March
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
|}

===April===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|April launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 2 April
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-5 Pobeda|R-5]]
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[Kapustin Yar]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia|OKB-1]]
|remarks = First successful R-5 launch<ref name=asifr-5/>
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 2 April
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 8 April
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-5
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 8 April
 |outcome = Partial failure<ref name=asifr-5/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 14 April |time = 15:47
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1a]]
|flight = USAF 35
|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|122|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|113–114}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Rocket performance test
 |d-date = 14 April
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 19 April
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-5
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 19 April
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=asifr-5/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 23 April |time = 19:33
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee XASR-SC-2]]
|flight = SC 30
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Army
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|123.3|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|246–247}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Sphere
 |user = [[Signal Corps Laboratories|SCEL]] / [[University of Michigan]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 23 April
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 24 April |time = 10:19
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Aerobee XASR-SC-2
|flight = SC 28
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}White Sands LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Army
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|108|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|242–243}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Grenades
 |user = SCEL
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 24 April
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 24 April
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-5
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 24 April
 |outcome = Partial failure<ref name=asifr-5/>
 }}
}}
|}

===May===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|May launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 11 May
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-1 (missile)|R-1]]
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[Kapustin Yar]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia|OKB-1]]
|remarks =
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 11 May
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 13 May
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-5 Pobeda|R-5]]
|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 = 13 May
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=asifr-5/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 20 May |time = 14:04
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1a]]
|flight = USAF 36
|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|114|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|115–116}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Airglow 3
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Sky Brightness
 |d-date = 20 May
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 21 May |time = 15:57
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Aerobee RTV-A-1a
|flight = USAF 37
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Holloman LC-A
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Air Force
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|114|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|117–118}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Airglow 4
 |user = AFCRC
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Sky Brightness
 |d-date = 21 May
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 23 May
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-5
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks = Contained 4 supplementary combat compartments; end of 1st set of experimental launches<ref name=asifr-5/>
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 23 May
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
|}

===June===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|June launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 26 June |time = 19:10
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1a]]
|flight = USAF 38
|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|135|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|119–120}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Ionosphere 3
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]] / [[University of Utah]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = [[Ionosphere|Ionospheric]]
 |d-date = 26 June
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 30 June
|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|0|km}}, tail exploded on launch pad; rocket rebuilt and launched successfully on 7 May 1954
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Viking 10
 |user = [[United States Naval Research Laboratory|NRL]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy / Ionospheric
 |d-date = 30 June
 |outcome = Launch Failure
 }}
}}
|}

===July===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|July launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 1 July |time = 17:52
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1a]]
|flight = USAF 39
|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|138|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|121–122}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Ionosphere 4
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]] / [[University of Utah]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Ionospheric
 |d-date = 1 July
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 6 July
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-1 (missile)|R-1]]
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[Kapustin Yar]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia|OKB-1]]
|remarks =
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 6 July
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 14 July |time = 15:30
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Aerobee RTV-A-1a
|flight = USAF 40
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Holloman LC-A
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Air Force
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|103|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|123–124}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = AFCRC / [[University of Rhode Island]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = [[Sun|Solar]] [[Ultraviolet astronomy|UV]]
 |d-date = 14 July
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 18 July |time = 22:27
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Deacon (rocket)|Deacon]] [[Rockoon]]
|flight = SUI 8
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}{{USS|Staten Island|AGB-5|6}}, Atlantic Ocean, {{convert|50|km}} east of [[Boston]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = (Balloon) Apogee: {{convert|22.0|km}}, rocket failed to fire<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|313}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[University of Iowa]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 18 July
 |outcome = Launch failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 19 July |time = 10:30
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = SUI 9
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USS ''Staten Island'', Atlantic Ocean, near [[Nova Scotia]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = (Balloon) Apogee: {{convert|22.2|km}}, rocket failed to fire<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|313}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 19 July
 |outcome = Launch failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 19 July |time = 15:53
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = SUI 10
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USS ''Staten Island'', Atlantic Ocean, near Nova Scotia
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = (Balloon) Apogee: {{convert|22.2|km}}, rocket failed to fire<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|313}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 19 July
 |outcome = Launch failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 19 July |time = 21:57
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = SUI 11
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USS ''Staten Island'', Atlantic Ocean, near Nova Scotia
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = (Balloon) Apogee: {{convert|23.2|km}}, rocket failed to fire<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|314}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 19 July
 |outcome = Launch failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 22 July |time = 09:47
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Aerobee RTV-A-1a
|flight = USAF 41
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Holloman LC-A
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Air Force
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|95.6|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|125–126}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = AFCRC
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 23 July
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 24 July |time = 16:40
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = SUI 12
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USS ''Staten Island'', [[Labrador Sea]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Balloon cut down, rocket failed to fire<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|314}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 24 July
 |outcome = Launch failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 28 July |time = 09:41
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = SUI 13
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USS ''Staten Island'', southern [[Davis Strait]], near [[Baffin Island]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|88.4|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|314}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 28 July
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
|}

===August===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|August launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 3 August |time = 18:28
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Deacon (rocket)|Deacon]] [[Rockoon]]
|flight = SUI 14
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}{{USS|Staten Island|AGB-5|6}}, [[Frobisher Bay]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee uncertain<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|314}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[University of Iowa]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 3 August
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 5 August |time = 21:54
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = NRL Rockoon 1
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USS ''Staten Island'', southern [[Davis Strait]], near [[Baffin Island]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|79.2|km}};<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|311}} first of six 1953 NRL flights, three of which reached altitude and returned data<ref name=Ludwig/>
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[Naval Research Laboratory|NRL]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 5 August
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 6 August |time = 15:07
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = SUI 15
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USS ''Staten Island'', Davis Strait
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|65.5|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|314}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 6 August
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 6 August |time = 18:40
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = SUI 16
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USS ''Staten Island'', Davis Strait
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee uncertain<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|315}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 6 August
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 8 August |time = 15:09
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = NRL Rockoon 2
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USS ''Staten Island'', [[Baffin Bay]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee uncertain;<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|311}} second of six 1953 NRL flights, three of which reached altitude and returned data<ref name=Ludwig/>
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = NRL
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 8 August
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 9 August |time = 05:54
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = SUI 17
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USS ''Staten Island'', Baffin Bay
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|99.1|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|315}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 9 August
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 9 August |time = 19:15
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = NRL Rockoon 3
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USS ''Staten Island'', Baffin Bay
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|38.1|km}};<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|311}} third of six 1953 NRL flights, three of which reached altitude and returned data<ref name=Ludwig/>
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = NRL
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 9 August
 |outcome = Launch failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 11 August |time = 17:09
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = NRL Rockoon 4
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USS ''Staten Island'', Baffin Bay
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|80.8|km}};<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|311}} fourth of six 1953 NRL flights, three of which reached altitude and returned data<ref name=Ludwig/>
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = NRL
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 11 August
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 30 August |time = 14:00
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = SUI 18
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}{{USCGC|Eastwind|WAGB-279|6}}, [[Labrador Sea]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[United States Coast Guard|US Coast Guard]]
|remarks = (Balloon) Apogee: {{convert|13.4|km}}, rocket failed to fire<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|315}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 30 August
 |outcome = Launch failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 30 August |time = 16:20
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = SUI 19
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USCGC ''Eastwind'', Labrador Sea
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Coast Guard
|remarks = (Balloon) Apogee: {{convert|19.2|km}}, rocket failed to fire<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|315}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 30 August
 |outcome = Launch failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 30 August |time = 20:46
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = SUI 20
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USCGC ''Eastwind'', Labrador Sea
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Coast Guard
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|103.6|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|315}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 30 August
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
|}

===September===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|September launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 1 September |time = 05:10
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee XASR-SC-2]]
|flight = SC 32
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Army
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|107.3|km}}, final flight of the Aerobee XASR-SC-2<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|251–252}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Grenades
 |user = [[Signal Corps Laboratories|SCEL]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 1 September
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 3 September |time = 09:50
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Deacon (rocket)|Deacon]] [[Rockoon]]
|flight = SUI 21
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}{{USCGC|Eastwind|WAGB-279|6}}, Atlantic Ocean, east of [[Nova Scotia]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Coast Guard
|remarks = Apogee uncertain<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|316}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[University of Iowa]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 3 September
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 3 September |time = 11:51
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = SUI 22
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USCGC ''Eastwind'', Atlantic Ocean, east of Nova Scotia
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Coast Guard
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|103.6|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|316}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 3 September
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 3 September |time = 14:05
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = SUI 23
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USCGC ''Eastwind'', Atlantic Ocean, east of Nova Scotia
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Coast Guard
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|99.1|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|316}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = University of Iowa
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Cosmic Radiation
 |d-date = 3 September
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 4 September |time = 03:59
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = NRL Rockoon 5
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USCGC ''Eastwind'', Atlantic Ocean, east of Nova Scotia
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Coast Guard
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|67.1|km}};<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|311}} fifth of six 1953 NRL flights, three of which reached altitude and returned data<ref name=Ludwig/>
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[Naval Research Laboratory|NRL]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 4 September
 |outcome =
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 4 September |time = 15:51
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Deacon Rockoon
|flight = NRL Rockoon 6
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}USCGC ''Eastwind'', Atlantic Ocean, near Nova Scotia
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Coast Guard
|remarks = (Balloon) Apogee: {{convert|13.7|km}}, rocket failed to fire;<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|311}} sixth of six 1953 NRL flights, three of which reached altitude and returned data<ref name=Ludwig/>
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = NRL
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 4 September
 |outcome = Launch Failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 5 September |time = 05:35
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee XASR-SC-1]]
|flight = SC 33
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}White Sands LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Army
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|114|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|253–254}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Grenades
 |user = SCEL
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 5 September
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 15 September |time = 15:02
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1a]]
|flight = USAF 42
|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}}, early cut-off due to a thrust chamber burn-through<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|127–128}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Airglow 5
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Sky Brightness
 |d-date = 15 September
 |outcome = Launch failure
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 29 September |time = 20:50
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Aerobee RTV-A-1a
|flight = SC 31
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}White Sands LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Army
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|58|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|249–250}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Sphere
 |user = SCEL / [[University of Michigan]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Aeronomy
 |d-date = 29 September
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
|}

===October===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|October launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 1 October
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-1 (missile)|R-1]]
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[Kapustin Yar]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia|OKB-1]]
|remarks =
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 1 October
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror1>{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/r/r-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820192642/http://www.astronautix.com/r/r-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 August 2016|title=R-1|last=Wade|first=Mark|access-date=17 October 2021}}</ref>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 1 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 = 1 October
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror1/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 1 October
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-2 (missile)|R-2]]
|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 = 1 October
 |outcome = Successful<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|last=Wade|first=Mark|access-date=17 October 2021}}</ref>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 1 October
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-2
|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 = 1 October
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror2/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 7 October |time = 17:00
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1a]]
|flight = USAF 43
|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|100|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|129–130}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]] / [[University of Colorado Boulder|University of Colorado]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Solar UV
 |d-date = 7 October
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 10 October
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-2
|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 = 10 October
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror2/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 16 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 = 16 October
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 17 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 = 17 October
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 19 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 = 19 October
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 20 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 = 20 October
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 24 October
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-2
|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 = 24 October
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror2/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 26 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 = 26 October
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 27 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 = 27 October
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 28 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 = 28 October
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 28 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 = 28 October
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 30 October
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-5 Pobeda|R-5]]
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks = Beginning of 2nd stage of experimental launches<ref name=asifr-5/>
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 30 October
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
|}

===November===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|November launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 1 November
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-1 (missile)|R-1]]
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[Kapustin Yar]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia|OKB-1]]
|remarks =
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 1 November
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror1/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 1 November
|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 = 1 November
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror1/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 1 November
|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 = 1 November
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror1/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 1 November
|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 = 1 November
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror1/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 2 November |time = 18:32
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-A-1a]]
|flight = USAF 44
|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|121|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|131–132}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Ionosphere 5
 |user = [[Air Force Cambridge Research Center|AFCRC]] / [[University of Utah]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Ionospheric
 |d-date = 2 November
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 3 November
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-5 Pobeda|R-5]]
|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 = 3 November
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=asifr-5/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 3 November |time = 18:15
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Aerobee RTV-A-1a
|flight = USAF 45
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Holloman LC-A
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Air Force
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|121.5|km}}<ref name=NRL4276/>{{rp|133–134}}
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |name = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Ionosphere 6
 |user = AFCRC / University of Utah
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Ionospheric
 |d-date = 3 November
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 12 November
|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 = 12 November
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 15 November
|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 = 15 November
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror1/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 15 November
|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 = 15 November
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 17 November
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-5
|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 = 17 November
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=asifr-5/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 19 November |time = 22:40
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-N-10]]
|flight = NRL 14
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|112|km}}<ref name=gcat-aerobee>{{cite web |last1=McDowell |first1=Jonathan C. |title=General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects, Launches, Aerobee |url=https://planet4589.org/space/gcat/data/launch/AerobeeB.html |website=Jonathan's Space Report |access-date=20 November 2022 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202195027/https://planet4589.org/space/gcat/data/launch/AerobeeB.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[United States Naval Research Laboratory|NRL]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Solar X-Ray / Solar UV / Aeronomy
 |d-date = 19 November
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 21 November
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-5
|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=asifr-5/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 24 November
|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 = 24 November
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=astror-18a11/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 25 November |time = 15:46
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}Aerobee RTV-N-10
|flight = NRL 15
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}White Sands LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|95|km}}<ref name=gcat-aerobee/>
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = NRL
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Solar X-Ray / Solar UV / Aeronomy
 |d-date = 25 November
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 26 November
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-5
|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 = 26 November
 |outcome = Partial failure<ref name=asifr-5/>
 }}
}}
|}

===December===
{{TLS-H2|no-cubesat=yes|date-width=15em|caption={{sronly|December launches}}}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 1 December |time = 15:30
|rocket = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[Aerobee|Aerobee RTV-N-10]]
|flight = NRL 16
|site = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}[[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] LC-35
|LSP = {{flagicon|USA|1912}}US Navy
|remarks = Apogee: {{convert|129|km}}<ref name=gcat-aerobee/>
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = [[United States Naval Research Laboratory|NRL]]
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Solar X-Ray / Solar UV / Aeronomy
 |d-date = 1 December
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 5 December
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[R-5 Pobeda|R-5]]
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[Kapustin Yar]]
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}[[S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia|OKB-1]]
|remarks =
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 5 December
 |outcome = Successful<ref name=asifr-5/>
 }}
}}
{{TLS-RL
|date = 9 December
|rocket = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}R-5
|site = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}Kapustin Yar
|LSP = {{flagicon|USSR|1936}}OKB-1
|remarks = End of second experimental flight series<ref name=asifr-5/>
|payload = {{TLS-PL
 |user = OKB-1
 |orbit = Suborbital
 |function = Missile test
 |d-date = 9 December
 |outcome = Successful
 }}
}}
|}

{{TLS-M|1953|jan=off}}

==Suborbital launch statistics==

===By country===
{{Pie chart
| radius = 120
| legend = false
| thumb = left
| [ 
 {"value":460, "color":"#484785", "label": "United States: 46 (52.27%)"},
 {"value":420, "color":"#a52a2a", "label": "Soviet Union: 42 (47.73%) "},
]
}}

{| 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}}
| 42 || 37 ||  0 || 5
|-
! scope=row style="background:#484785;" | || style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USA|1912}}
| 46 || 34 || 12 || 0
|-
! colspan="2" | World 
| {{sum|42|46}} || {{sum|37|34}} || {{sum|0|12}} || {{sum|5|0}}
|}
{{clear}}

=== By rocket ===
{{ #invoke:Chart | bar chart
| float = center
| width = 850
| height = 400
| stack = 1
| group 1 = 1:0:0:0:0:0 <!-- Viking (second model) -->
| group 2 = 0:5:0:0:0:0 <!-- Aerobee RTV-N-10 -->
| group 3 = 0:1:0:0:0:0 <!-- Aerobee XASR-SC-1 -->
| group 4 = 0:4:0:0:0:0 <!-- Aerobee XASR-SC-2 -->
| group 5 = 0:13:0:0:0:0 <!-- Aerobee RTV-A-1a -->
| group 6 = 0:0:16:0:0:0 <!-- Deacon rockoon (SUI) -->
| group 7 = 0:0:6:0:0:0 <!-- Deacon rockoon (NRL) -->
| group 8 = 0:0:0:23:0:0 <!-- R-1 -->
| group 9 = 0:0:0:0:4:0 <!-- R-2 -->
| group 10 = 0:0:0:0:0:15 <!-- R-5 -->
| colors = blue <!-- Viking -->
: #363663 <!-- Navy Aerobee -->
: #646e2b : #a7b847 <!-- Army Aerobee -->
: #1e85ae <!-- USAF Aerobee -->
: #80daeb : #00cccc <!-- Rockoon -->
: #7a1f1f <!-- R-1 -->
: #ff7700 <!-- R-2 -->
: #665000 <!-- R-5 -->
| group names = [[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-1a]]
: [[Deacon (rocket)|Deacon]] [[rockoon]] ([[State University of Iowa|SUI]])
: [[Deacon (rocket)|Deacon]] [[rockoon]] ([[Naval Research Laboratory|NRL]])
: [[R-1 (missile)|R-1]]
: [[R-2 (missile)|R-2]]
: [[R-5 Pobeda|R-5]]
| x legends = [[Viking (rocket)|Viking]] : [[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee]] : [[Deacon (rocket)|Deacon]] [[rockoon]] : [[R-1 (missile)|R-1]] : [[R-2 (missile)|R-2]] : [[R-5 Pobeda|R-5]]
| 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 | [[Viking (rocket)|Viking (second model)]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USA|1912}}  ||  1 ||  0 || 1 || 0 ||
|-
! 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}}  ||  1 ||  1 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
! scope=row | [[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee XASR-SC-2]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USA|1912}}  ||  4 ||  4 || 0 || 0 || style="text-align:left;" | Retired
|-
! scope=row | [[Aerobee (rocket)|Aerobee RTV-A-1a]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USA|1912}}  || 13 || 12 || 1 || 0 ||
|-
! scope=row | [[Deacon (rocket)|Deacon]] [[rockoon]] ([[State University of Iowa|SUI]])
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USA|1912}}  || 16 ||  9 || 7 || 0 ||
|-
! scope=row | [[Deacon (rocket)|Deacon]] [[rockoon]] ([[Naval Research Laboratory|NRL]])
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USA|1912}}  ||  6 ||  3 || 3 || 0 ||
|-
! scope=row | [[R-1 (missile)|R-1]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USSR|1936}} || 23 || 23 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
! scope=row | [[R-2 (missile)|R-2]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USSR|1936}} ||  4 ||  4 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
! scope=row | [[R-5 Pobeda|R-5]]
| style="text-align:left;" | {{flagcountry|USSR|1936}} || 15 || 10 || 0 || 5 || style="text-align:left;" | Maiden flight
|}

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

==References==
{{TLS-R}}

===Footnotes===
{{Reflist}}

<br/>
{{TLS-L|year=1953|nav=on}}

[[Category:1953 in spaceflight]]
[[Category:Spaceflight by year]]