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USSR
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10 January - First test of 400,000+ lb thrust engine. - First U.S.-built complete liquid-rocket engine having a thrust in excess of 400,000 pounds was fired for the first time at Santa Susana, Calif....
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1 February - USAF RFP - Manned Ballistic Rocket Research System - USAF issues request for industry proposals for Project 7969 Manned Ballistic Rocket Research System. Two year study period....
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1956 June - First studies by Korolev OKB of manned spacecraft - First studies by Korolev and Feoktistov of manned spacecraft. The first stage would be suborbital ballistic flights (like the US Mercury-Redstone flights) from Kapustin Yar using IRBM's. First flights not planned until 1964 - 1967....
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30 September - First official plan for future Soviet spaceflight - This set forth the following objectives: orbiting of satellites of 1.8 to 2.5 tonnes mass by 1958; one week flight of a manned spacecraft by 1964; unmanned reconnaissance satellite by 1970; rocket capable of 12 tonne escape velocity payload by 1970; ...
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1 November - Million pound thrust test stand activiated. - Rocket test stand capable of testing engines to 1 million pounds thrust activated at Edwards AFB, which became operational in March 1957....
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