Chronology - Quarter 1 1951

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Previous Home Next 1951 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Atlas tracking system. Nation: USA. Azusa tracking system reaching advanced stage of development References: 4460. 1951 - During the year - The Exploration of Space by Arthur C. Clarke Nation: UK. Arthur C. Clarke's The Exploration of Space was first published in England in 1951, and became a US Book of the Month Club selection the following year. The book included an alternative to the direct ascent technique: assembling or refueling the space vehicle in earth orbit before injection into translunar trajectory, to be followed, possibly, by rendezvous in lunar orbit with fuel tanker rockets launched from the earth. 1951 During the Year - Nonweiler Waverider Nation: UK. Spacecraft: Nonweiler Waverider. The Nonweiler Waverider was a caret wing hypersonic waverider concept developed by Professor Terence R.F. Nonweiler, of Queen`s University, Belfast. 1951 September - Die Aussenstation Nation: Germany. Spacecraft: Aussenstation. At the second annual congress of the International Astronautical Federation in London, H. H. Koelle described 'Die Aussenstation' as part of a paper on 'Der Einfluss der Konstruktiven Gestaltung der Aussenstation auf die Gesamtkosten des Projektes (The Influence of the Layout of the Satellite on the Overall Cost of the Project).' Koelle's paper represented the most realistic appraisal so far of the problems of design and construction of a space station. He dealt with problems of payload limitation, orbital assembly, limitations on the crew in the space environment, and national and economic factors behind space station growth. In Koelle's view, such a station might be used for scientific investigations of Earth's upper atmosphere, weather observation, astrophysical research, and human and chemical research in a zero-gravity environment. Also, such a station might serve as a communications and navigation link with the ground and as a station for launching more distant space missions. He suggested a large circular structure consisting of 36 separate 5-m spheres arranged around a central hub, the whole structure rotating to provide an artificial gravity environment to offset physiological effects of prolonged weightlessness on the crew. One of the unique elements in Koelle's scheme was assembly of various parts of the station launched via separate rockets, with each segment being a complete structure. In this way the station could be made operational before fabrication was completed, and subsequent expansion of the structure could take place whenever desired. Total personnel complement of the station would range from 50 to 65 people. Koelle even estimated the cost of such a project: $518 million for construction and $620 million over an operational lifetime of six months. 1951 January 16 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Project MX-1593 (Project Atlas) begins. Nation: USA. Air Force established Project MX-1593 (Project Atlas), study phase for an intercontinental missile. Requirements included 8000-pound warhead, 5000 nautical mile range, to hit within 1500 ft. CEP. $1.5 million study contract was awarded to Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft on January 23. This was the follow-on to Project MX-774 terminated in 1947. Several test vehicles had been fired using residual funds in 1948 and 1949, after which the Convair MX-774 (Atlas) missile project had been shelved. The company, however, had continued to fund a research program. References: 17, 278. 1951 January 16 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Corporal. Model: Corporal E. LV Configuration: Corporal E 7R. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA OR. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi). References: 2. 1951 January 18 - 20:14 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: V-2. LV Configuration: V-2 54. FAILURE: Failure. Solar ultraviolet / x-ray / chemical release mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA/NRL. Apogee: 2.00 km (1.20 mi). Launched 13:14 local time. Reached 1.6 km. Carried cosmic and solar radiation experiments for Naval Research Lab. References: 2. 1951 January 29 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 IIIA-1. Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). First launch in winter test series. Carried dogs. References: 2. 1951 January 30 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 IIIA-5. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1951 January 31 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 IIIA-2. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1951 February 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 IIIA-6. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1951 February 2 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. LV Configuration: R-1 IIIA-3. Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Last launch in winter test series. References: 2. 1951 February 8 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hermes. Model: Hermes A-1. LV Configuration: Hermes A-1 4. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 24 km (14 mi). References: 2. 1951 March 1 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: HVAR. Model: HVAR FFAR. FAILURE: Failure. F25 Drag Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). References: 2. 1951 March 8 - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: SLED. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Snark. Model: MX-775. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 2. 1951 March 9 - 03:16 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: V-2. LV Configuration: V-2 57. FAILURE: Failure. Blossom IVE Ionosphere/Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA/ARDC. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi). Launched 20:16 local time. Reached 3.1 km. Carried composition, air glow, sky brightness, ionosphere experiments for Air Research and Development Command. References: 2. 1951 March 15 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hermes. Model: Hermes A-1. LV Configuration: Hermes A-1 5. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 24 km (14 mi). References: 2. 1951 March 19 - Julius and Ethel Rosenberg sentenced to death for passing atomic secrets to Russians Nation: USSR. 1951 March 21 - Launch Vehicle: G-4. First Germans returned to Germany. Nation: USSR. First Germans sent back to Germany. Were not used to generate new designs after the G-4 References: 86. 1951 March 22 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Corporal. Model: Corporal E. LV Configuration: Corporal E 8R. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA OR. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi). References: 2. 1951 March 24 - Launch Vehicle: Buran. Central Committee decree created the OKB-23 Myasishchev design bureau. Nation: USSR. Program: Navaho. Myasishchev was tasked with building an intercontinental jet-powered bomber, something veteran aircraft designer Tupolev said was impossible. Myasishchev managed to complete the first prototype 103M (called M-4 Bear in the West) bomber ten months after go-ahead. Myasishchev would later play a key role in Soviet spaceplane development. Previous Home Next Contact us with any corrections, additions, or comments. Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site.. 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