May 1942 - Launch Site: Peenemuende. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: V-1, V-2. -
 A4 reliability development Nation: Germany. The early failure rate of the A4 prototype missiles was extremely high, so the Peenemuende rocket team had to develop new measures to test and improve reliability down to the component level. This included improved quality control during manufacture, and test of the missile's components in all weathers, not just in heated laboratories. This resulted in the overall missile failure rate declining from 17% in the early test series to 4% in the final series. The V-1/Fi-103 cruise missile had a 28% higher failure rate, even though it was a simpler design.
References: 693.
1942 May 15 - -
 First powered flight of BI-1 rocketplane. Nation: USSR. Payload: BI-1 # 1 flight 1. Spacecraft: BI-1. Crew: Bakhchivangi. First glide flight was on 10 September 1941, but the factory had to be evacuated to Sverdlovsk. Accidents in ground runs of the rocket engine further delayed the first powered flight. First flight performance was: First flight BI-1. Maximum Speed - 400 kph. Maximum Altitude - 840 m. Flight Time - 189 sec.
References: 94.
1942 May 26 - Launch Vehicle: JATO. -
 JATO tests. Nation: USA. Jet-assisted takeoff of a Brewster F2A-3 using five British antiaircraft solid-propellant rockets demonstrated at NAS Anacostia, Comdr. C. Fink Fischer as pilot. References: 17.
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