Chronology - Quarter 4 1949

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Previous Home Next 1949 October 1 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Cape Canaveral activated. Nation: USA. Long-Range Proving Ground at Cape Canaveral was activated. References: 17. 1949 October 1 - Communist People's Republic of China formally proclaimed by Chairman Mao Zedong Nation: China. 1949 October - Launch Vehicle: G-4. Groettrup team briefs G-4 Nation: USSR. The Scientific-Technical Soviet of NII-88 receives a briefing on Groettrup's G-4 IRBM design: 23.7 m long, 2.74 m diameter, 70.800 kg takeoff mass, 7000 kg empty, 3,000 kg warhead, turbine exhaust for roll control (as in Jupiter), plywood RV, lox/alcohol propellants. References: 86. 1949 October - Launch Vehicle: Buran, Burya, EKR, G-3. Albring G-3 cruise missile Nation: USSR. Program: Navaho. German aerodynamicist Albring designed the G-3 missile for the Russians. This would use a rocket-powered Groettrup-designed G-1 as the first stage. The cruise stage would have an aerodynamic layout like that of the Saenger-Bredt rocket-powered antipodal bomber of World War II. Cruising at 13 km altitude, the supersonic missile would carry a 3000 kg warhead to a range of 2900 km. This was an alternate approach to Ustinov's 3000 kg over 3000 km range missile requirement of April 1949. This design would be elaborated at Korolev's bureau into the EKR ramjet design of 1953. 1949 October 2 - 11:00 GMT - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2E. LV Configuration: R-2e 3. FAILURE: Fire in tail compartment. Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Range achieved 324.1 km. Deviation from aim point -11.4 km. Launched at 1400 local time. References: 2. 1949 October 3 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 II-14. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1949 October 6 - XS-1 Flight 126 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 1 flight 73. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Fleming. AF flight 51. Pilot familiarization. References: 49, 97. 1949 October 6 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hermes. Model: Hermes B-1. LV Configuration: Hermes B-1 B-1 No. 2. FAILURE: Failure. Hermes II test Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 4.00 km (2.40 mi). References: 2. 1949 October 7 - German Democratic Republic (East Germany) established under Soviet rule Nation: Germany. 1949 October 8 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 II-16. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1949 October 8 - 06:05 GMT - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2E. LV Configuration: R-2e 4. Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Range achieved 569.8 km. Deviation from aim point -0.8 km. Launched at 0905 local time. References: 2. 1949 October 10 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 II-12. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1949 October 11 - 12:45 GMT - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2E. LV Configuration: R-2e 5. FAILURE: Fire in tail compartment. Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Range achieved 9 km. Deviation from aim point 1.7 km. Launched at 1545 local time. References: 2. 1949 October 12 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 II-7. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1949 October 13 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 II-17. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1949 October 13 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 II-13. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1949 October 15 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 II-19. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1949 October 18 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 II-23. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1949 October 19 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 II-22. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1949 October 22 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 II-20. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1949 October 23 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 II-3. Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Last and 20th launch in second R-1 test series. References: 2. 1949 October 26 - XS-1 Flight 127 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 1 flight 74. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Johnson. AF flight 52. Pilot familiarization. References: 49, 97. 1949 October 28 - Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Von Braun team moved to Huntsville. Nation: USA. The Secretary of the Army approved the transfer of the Ordnance Research and Development Division, Sub-Office (Rocket) at Fort Bliss, Texas, to Redstone Arsenal. Among those transferred were Dr. Wernher von Braun and his team of German scientists. 1949 November - Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho SSM-A-2. Navaho engine tests Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. North American tests a 135 kN subscale version of the Navaho's booster engine as an aid to developing the injector plate. References: 221. 1949 November 16 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Model: Double Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. F23 Ramjet test Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). References: 2. 1949 November 18 - 16:03 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: V-2. LV Configuration: V-2 56. UM Sampling,Grenades Aeronomy / Chemical release mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA/UM. Apogee: 124 km (77 mi). Launched 08:03 local time. Reached 124.2 km. Carried winds, composition, temperature; cosmic radiation (APL, John Hopkins); and solar radiation (Naval Research Lab) experiments for Signal Corps Engineering Lab, University of Michigan. References: 2. 1949 November 22 - Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. D-558 first supersonic flight. Nation: USA. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: D-558-2. D-558-II Skyrocket exceeded the speed of sound at Edwards AFB, Calif. It was powered by both a Westinghouse J-34 turbojet engine and a Reaction Motors, Inc. rocket motor. References: 17. 1949 November 29 - XS-1 Flight 128 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 1 flight 75. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Everest. AF flight 53. High-altitude wing-tail loads investigation. References: 49, 97. 1949 November 30 - XS-1 Flight 129 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 54. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Griffith. NACA flight 33. Mach 0.91. References: 49, 97. 1949 December - Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho SSM-A-2. Navaho ramjet design complete Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. Wright completes design of the Navaho's supersonic ramjets, the largest in the United States. References: 221. 1949 December 2 - XS-1 Flight 130 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 1 flight 76. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Everest. AF flight 54. High-altitude wing-tail loads investigation. References: 49, 97. 1949 December 7 - Launch Vehicle: Buran, Burya, G-4, R-11, R-3, R-3A, R-5, Soyuz. Groettrup G-4 IRBM evaluated against Korolev's R-3. R-3 project reformulated Nation: USSR. Program: Navaho. The NTS (Scientific-Technical Soviet) of NII-88 met in plenary session and subjected Korolev's proposal to withering criticism. The G-4 was found to be superior. After heated discussion, the Soviet approved further development of technology for the R-3, but not the missile itself. The decisions were: an R-3A technology demonstrator would be built and flown under Project N-1 (probably to prove G-4 concepts). Under Project N-2 both the RD-110 and D-2 engines would proceed into development test in order to prove Lox/Kerosene propellant technology. Packet rocket and lightweight structure research for use in an ICBM would continue under project N-3 / T-1. Winged intercontinental cruise missile studies would continue under project N-3 / T-2. Neither the G-4 or R-3 ended up in production, but the design concepts of the G-4 led directly to Korolev's R-7 ICBM (essentially a cluster of G-4's or R-3A's) and the N1 superbooster. Work on the G-4 continued through 1952. 1949 December 8 - 19:15 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: V-2. LV Configuration: V-2 31. Blossom IVD Solar/Biological mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA/ARDC. Apogee: 127 km (78 mi). Launched 12:14 local time. Reached 130.6 km. Carried Composition, ionosphere, meteorites, solar radiation, sky brightness experiments for Air Research and Development Command. Last monkey, Albert IV, launched in V-2 series. The successful flight indicated no ill effects on monkey until impact of V-2. References: 2. 1949 December 15 - 17:10 GMT - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee RTV-A-1. LV Configuration: Aerobee RTV-A-1 USAF 2. FAILURE: Failure. MX-1011 Solar x-ray / aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: ARDC. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). Solar radiation, pressure, temperature, photography research. Launched at 1010 local time. Reached 0.3 km. References: 2. 1949 December 27 - Decree for thermonuclear bomb development. Nation: USSR. Decree 5744-2162 'On creation of Second Chief Directorate of Council of Ministers to manage uranium mining' was issued. References: 474. 1949 December 30 - Launch Vehicle: R-1. R-1 sounding rocket variants authorised. Nation: USSR. Decree 'On work on geophysical variants of the R-1 missile' was issued. References: 474. Previous Home Next Contact us with any corrections, additions, or comments. Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site.. To contact astronauts or cosmonauts. © Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.