Chronology - Quarter 3 1951

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Previous Home Next 1951 July 2 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2. LV Configuration: R-2 II-1. Second series test launch Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). First launch in second test series. References: 2. 1951 July 9 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D27 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). References: 2. 1951 July 10 - Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Hermes work transferred to Redstone arsenal. Nation: USA. The Office, Chief of Ordnance formally transferred the responsibility for conducting the research and development phase of the HERMES Cl project to Redstone Arsenal 1951 July 12 - XS-1 Flight 147 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 66. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Crossfield. NACA flight 46. Wing loads and aileron effectiveness. Aileron rolls at mach 1.07. References: 49, 97. 1951 July 12 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Corporal. Model: Corporal E. LV Configuration: Corporal E 9R. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA OR. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi). References: 2. 1951 July 17 - 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 July 18 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Model: Double Deacon. LV Configuration: Double Deacon Double Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. X-2 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). References: 2. 1951 July 20 - XS-1 Flight 148 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 67. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Crossfield. NACA flight 47. Wing loads and aileron effectiveness. Abrupt rudder fixed aileron rolls left and right, from mach 0.70 to mach 0.88. References: 49, 97. 1951 July 20 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LA. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Lark. LV Configuration: Lark 239. FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). References: 2. 1951 July 22 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1V. LV Configuration: R-1V 1. Test / biology mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). First Soviet rocket flight with animals (dogs Dezik and Zhegan). Maximum Altitude - 100 km. Payload, instruments, left and right animal containers all recovered. Smoke container failed. References: 2. 1951 July 24 - X-1D Flight 1 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1D flight 1. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1D. Crew: Ziegler. Bell flight 1. Glide flight for familiarization. Nose landing gear broken on landing. Following repairs, plane turned over to the Air Force. References: 49, 97. 1951 July 27 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2. LV Configuration: R-2 II-13. Second series test launch Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). Thirteenth and last launch of the second series. 12 of the 13 reached their targets. References: 2. 1951 July 27 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: HVAR. Hermes A3A model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). References: 2. 1951 July 29 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1B. LV Configuration: R-1B 1. Test / biology mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Electrical failure. No payload recovery. Carried dogs. References: 2. 1951 July 31 - XS-1 Flight 149 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 68. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Crossfield. NACA flight 48. Wing loads and aileron effectiveness. References: 49, 97. 1951 August - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Atlas to be accelerated. Nation: USA. AF Gen. John Sessums proposes Atlas acceleration References: 4460. 1951 August - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Atlas XB-65 configuration. Nation: USA. MX-1593 named "Project Atlas" as XB-65; 120 feet long, 12-foot diameter, 7 engines, 8000-pound warhead, CEP 1 nautical mile References: 4460. 1951 August 3 - XS-1 Flight 150 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 69. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Crossfield. NACA flight 49. Wing loads and aileron effectiveness. References: 49, 97. 1951 August 7 - 18:00 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: ALA1. Launch Vehicle: Viking. LV Configuration: Viking 7. Viking 7 Ionosphere-solar mission Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 219 km (136 mi). Upper-air pressure, density; solar and cosmic radiation research. Launched at 1100 local time. Reached 219 km. A Navy Viking 7 rocket set an altitude record for single-stage rockets and reaching a speed of 6,600 kph. This was the highest flight of the original airframe design. References: 2. 1951 August 8 - XS-1 Flight 151 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 70. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Crossfield. NACA flight 50. Wing loads and aileron effectiveness. Elevator and stabilizer pull-ups. References: 49, 97. 1951 August 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 August 10 - XS-1 Flight 152 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 71. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Crossfield. NACA flight 51. Wing loads and aileron effectiveness. Elevator and stabilizer pull-ups, clean stalls. References: 49, 97. 1951 August 15 - Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. D-558 reaches record altitude. Nation: USA. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: D-558-2. Crew: Bridgeman. William Bridgeman flew the D-558-II Skyrocket to 79,494 feet, highest altitude attained by a human being to date. References: 17. 1951 August 15 - First flight of the 346-3 rocketplane. Nation: USSR. Spacecraft: 346. Ziese resumed flight with the final version of the 346, the 346-3. 1951 August 15 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1B. LV Configuration: R-1B 2. Test / solar ultraviolet / biology mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Payload, instruments, left and right animal containers all recovered. Smoke container failed. Carried dogs. References: 2. 1951 August 19 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1V. LV Configuration: R-1V 1. Test / biology mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Payload, instruments, left and right animal containers all recovered. Smoke container functioned. Carried dogs. References: 2. 1951 August 21 - 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 August 22 - X-1D Flight 2 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1D flight 2. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1D. Crew: Everest. AF flight 1. Launch aborted, but X-1D suffered low-order explosion during pressurization for fuel jettison. Plane jettisoned from B-50. X-1D exploded on impact with desert. Everest managed to get into B-50 bomb bay before drop. References: 49, 97. 1951 August 22 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D32 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). References: 2. 1951 August 22 - 19:00 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: V-2. LV Configuration: V-2 TF1. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA/SCEL. Apogee: 213 km (132 mi). TF-1 was the first V-2 launched by an all US Army team that was taking over from the General Electric crew as GE's contract to assemble, test and launch the missiles was coming to a close. It was the 'Final Exam' for this new team to prove were capable of handling the program from then on. Since no experiments were to be on board it was decided to shoot for an altitude record, and various modifications were made to this end. TF-1 was launched 12:00 local time. and reached 213.9 km. References: 2. 1951 August 27 - XS-1 Flight 153 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 72. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Walker Joseph. NACA flight 52. Pilot familiarization. Reached mach 1.16 at 13420 m during four-cylinder run. References: 49, 97. 1951 August 28 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1B. LV Configuration: R-1B 3. Test / biology mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Smoke container functioned; Instruments recovered. References: 2. 1951 August 30 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. PARD test. Nation: USA. First successful launching of NACA Langley's PARD of an underslung or "piggyback" rocket booster system, at Wallops Island, Va. References: 17. 1951 August 30 - 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 September 1 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Atlas project to concentrate on ballistic missile. Nation: USA. MX-1593 glide missile cancelled. USAF directed all work in Project MX-1593 (Atlas) be for development of a rocket-powered ballistic missile. References: 17, 278. 1951 September - Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho X-10. X-10 detailed design drawings released to the shop Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. References: 221. 1951 September 2 - Second flight of the 346-3 rocketplane. Nation: USSR. Spacecraft: 346. Ziese was at the controls again. 1951 September 3 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1B. LV Configuration: R-1B 4. Test / biology mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Payload, instruments, left and right animal containers all recovered. Smoke container failed. Carried dogs. References: 2. 1951 September 5 - XS-1 Flight 154 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 73. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Crossfield. NACA flight 53. Fuselage pressure distribution survey. Number 1 cylinder failed to fire. Stabilizer pull-ups at mach 1.07. References: 49, 97. 1951 September 12 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: HVAR. E2 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). References: 2. 1951 September 13 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LA. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Lark. LV Configuration: Lark 593. FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). References: 2. 1951 September 14 - Final flight of the 346-3 rocketplane. Nation: USSR. Spacecraft: 346. The aircraft went out of control and Ziese bailed out of the aircraft. The destruction of this rocketplane resulted in further tests being abandoned. 1951 September - Second International Congress on Astronautics Nation: USA. The uses of rendezvous techniques in space were discussed in a paper read to the Second International Congress on Astronautics in London, England. The problems involved in refueling in space might be simplified considerably if astronauts could maneuver freely, perhaps using a gas-jet pistol and a lifeline. The construction of a space station might then be possible. Mechanical linkage of objects in space was described as the most difficult task of all. While computing the position of an object in orbit might be comparatively easy, linking up with the object without damage by impact would require human intelligence to anticipate error in the attitude of approach. References: 16. 1951 September 25 - Launch Vehicle: Eole. Eole successful engine test Nation: France. The liquid oxygen/alcohol engine produces 9.59 tonnes thrust and an exhaust velocity of 2110 m/s. 1951 September 25 - 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. 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.