Chronology - Quarter 1 1952

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Previous Home Next 1952 January 1 - 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. 1952 - 1956 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. NACA research on reentry configurations. Nation: USA. Personnel of NACA Langley and Ames Aeronautical Laboratories were engaged in research on aerodynamic characteristics of reentry configurations. Knowledge acquired from these efforts along with those of industry and the military services was used in Project Mercury, proved the ablation theory for the Army's Jupiter missile development program, and was used in the Air Force intercontinental ballistic missile nose cone reentry program. References: 483. 1952 During the Year - Multistage, hypersonic solid-fuel, rocket vehicles development begun. Nation: USA. The NACA Langley Aeronautical Laboratory Pilotless Aircraft Research Division started the development of multistage, hypersonic-speed, solid-fuel, rocket vehicles. These vehicles were used primarily in aerodynamic heating tests at first and were then directed toward a reentry physics research program. References: 483. 1952 During the Year - Launch Vehicle: R-5. R-5 IRBM qualification and stand test begun Nation: USSR. Stand test of the missiles systems were conducted through February 1952. Ten rockets were built in the initial lot, of which two were used for stand tests. Trials of the two test rockets began in 1953 at Filial NII-2 at Zagorsk. During 1952 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Reduced thermonuclear warhead size will allow American ICBM's to be smaller. Nation: USA. Atlas 3000-pound warhead anticipated, 1500-foot CEP References: 4460. 1952 January 24 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Corporal. Model: Corporal. LV Configuration: Corporal 14-12R. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA?. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). References: 2. 1952 January 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. 1952 January 25 - Launch Site: Le Cardonnet. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Veronique. Model: Veronique P6. LV Configuration: Veronique P6 P6-1. Test mission Nation: France. Agency: FR. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). References: 2. 1952 January 26 - Launch Site: Le Cardonnet. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Veronique. Model: Veronique R. LV Configuration: Veronique R R7. Test mission Nation: France. Agency: FR. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). References: 2. 1952 January 28 - Launch Site: Le Cardonnet. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Veronique. Model: Veronique P6. LV Configuration: Veronique P6 P6-2. Test mission Nation: France. Agency: FR. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). References: 2. 1952 January 28 - Launch Site: Le Cardonnet. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Veronique. Model: Veronique R. LV Configuration: Veronique R R6. Test mission Nation: France. Agency: FR. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). References: 2. 1952 January 29 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Corporal. Model: Corporal. LV Configuration: Corporal 15-13 R. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA?. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). References: 2. 1952 January 30 - NACA study group to investigate the problems of space flight Nation: USA. Robert J. Woods of the Bell Aircraft Company recommended to the Committee on Aerodynamics of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) that a small study group be formed to investigate the problems of space flight. On June 24, the NACA Committee adopted a resolution (1) that NACA research effort on problems of manned and unmanned flight in the upper stratosphere at altitudes between 12 and 50 miles and at Mach numbers between 4 and 10 be increased, and (2) that NACA devote a modest effort to problems associated with manned and unmanned flight at altitudes from 50 miles to infinity and at speeds from Mach 10 to the velocity of escape from earth's gravity. Additional Details: NACA study group to investigate the problems of space flight. References: 16. 1952 January 30 - NACA manned space flight test vehicle within 2 years. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: X-15A. An NACA report was issued covering several projects and proposals for the flight of manned and unmanned vehicles to altitudes above the earth where atmospheric density was very low. The substance of these reports was presented at the June 24, 1952, meeting of the Committee on Aerodynamics. After the presentation, committee member Robert J. Woods recommended that basic research be initiated on the problems of space flight and stated that the NACA was the logical organization to carry on this work. To accomplish this task, a small working group was established to analyze the available information on the subject of space flight. The objective of this group was to arrive at a concept of a suitable manned test vehicle that could be constructed within 2 years. References: 483. 1952 January 30 - Launch Site: Le Cardonnet. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Veronique. Model: Veronique R. LV Configuration: Veronique R R8. Test mission Nation: France. Agency: FR. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). References: 2. 1952 January 30 - 20:45 GMT - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee RTV-A-1a. LV Configuration: Aerobee RTV-A-1a USAF 21. FAILURE: Failure. AF / Utah Ionosphere 1 Ionosphere mission Nation: USA. Agency: ARDC. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). Ionosphere research. Launched at 1345 local time. Failure. References: 2. 1952 February 1 - 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. 1952 February 11 - Launch Vehicle: Von Braun 1952. Collier's Man Will Conquer Space Soon Nation: USA. Collier's magazine published papers from First Symposium on Space Flight, under the title "Man Will Conquer Space Soon.". This was an important step in the popularization of the idea of manned space flight. 1952 February 12 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LA. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Lark. LV Configuration: Lark 604. FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). References: 2. 1952 February 19 - 14:49 GMT - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee RTV-A-1c. LV Configuration: Aerobee RTV-A-1c USAF 22. FAILURE: Failure. Airglow Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: ARDC. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). References: 2. 1952 February 20 - 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. 1952 February 28 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LA. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Lark. LV Configuration: Lark 596. FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). References: 2. 1952 March - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Gen. Joseph McNarney joins Convair Nation: USA. References: 4460. 1952 March 12 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Corporal. Model: Corporal. LV Configuration: Corporal 17-14R. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA?. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). References: 2. 1952 March 17 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Corporal. Model: Corporal. LV Configuration: Corporal 15R. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA?. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). References: 2. 1952 March 18 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Solid fuel ramjet. Nation: USA. First successful solid-fuel ramjet research model flown at NACA's Wallops Island. References: 17. 1952 March 21 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LA. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Lark. LV Configuration: Lark 594. FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). References: 2. 1952 March 21 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Corporal. Model: Corporal. LV Configuration: Corporal 16R. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA?. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). References: 2. 1952 March 22 - Collier's Magazine Articles on Manned Spaceflight Nation: USA. 1952 March 28 - 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.