Chronology - Quarter 3 1953

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Previous Home Next 1953 July 1 - Ministry of Medium Machine Building formed. Nation: USSR. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On unification of the First and Third Chief Directorates of Council of Ministers into the new Ministry of Medium Machine Building' was issued. References: 474. 1953 July - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. J.R. Dempsey joins Convair Nation: USA. References: 4460. 1953 July 1 - 17:52 GMT - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee RTV-A-1a. LV Configuration: Aerobee RTV-A-1a USAF 39. AF / Utah Ionosphere 4 Ionosphere mission Nation: USA. Agency: ARDC. Apogee: 138 km (85 mi). Ionosphere research. Launched at 1052 local time. Reached 138.4 km. References: 2. 1953 July 6 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 420. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 July 14 - 15:30 GMT - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee RTV-A-1a. LV Configuration: Aerobee RTV-A-1a USAF 40. Solar flux Solar ultraviolet mission Nation: USA. Agency: ARDC. Apogee: 103 km (64 mi). Solar radiation research. Launched at 0830 local time. Reached 103 km. References: 2. 1953 July 24 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Model: HPAG Deacon. F-102 Model test Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 2. 1953 July 27 - Korean armistice signed Nation: USA. 1953 July 29 - Ministry of Medium Machine Building made responsible for all Soviet missile research. Nation: USSR. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On transferring all missile work on guided missiles to the Ministry of Medium Machine Building' was issued. References: 474. 1953 July 30 - Langley study of the problems of manned space flight. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: X-15A. Preliminary studies were completed by C. E. Brown, W. J. O'Sullivan, Jr., and C. H. Zimmerman at the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory relative to the study of the problems of manned space flight and a suggested test vehicle to investigate these problems. One of the possibilities considered from the outset of the effort in mid-1952 was modification of the X-2 airplane to attain greater speeds and altitudes of the order of 200,000 feet. It was believed that such a vehicle could not only resolve some of the aerodynamic heating problems, but also that the altitude objective would provide an environment with a minimum atmospheric density, representing many problems of outer space flight. However, there was already a feeling among many NACA scientists that the speed and altitude exploratory area should be raised. In fact, a resolution to this effect, presented as early as July 1952, stated that '. . . the NACA devote . . . effort to problems of unmanned and manned flights at altitudes from 50 miles to infinity and at speeds from mach 10 to the velocity of escape from the earth's gravity.' The Executive Committee of NACA actually adopted this resolution as an objective on July 14, 1952. References: 483. 1953 August 6 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LA. Launch Pad: LA?. Launch Vehicle: Snark. LV Configuration: Snark N-69A GM-3391. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 2. 1953 August 9 - 05:54 GMT - Launch Site: Atlantic Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 74.4 N x 71.9 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Deacon Rockoon. SUI 17 Chemical release mission Nation: USA. Agency: SUI. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 11 Launch Point 10 - - Latitude: 74.38 N - Longitude: 71.93 W. References: 2. 1953 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. Test of 400 kiloton lightweight thermonuclear warhead Nation: USSR. The explosion of the RD5-6 400 kiloton warhead at Semiplatinsk proved the design of a lightweight thermonuclear warhead. Korolev began work in 1953 to develop a re-entry vehicle for this warhead. 1953 August 13 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hermes. Model: Hermes A-3A. LV Configuration: Hermes A-3A 3. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). References: 2. 1953 August 20 - Moscow announces explosion of hydrogen bomb Nation: USSR. 1953 August 20 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Model: Triple Deacon HPAG. E10 Hypersonic test Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). References: 2. 1953 August 20 - 14:37 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC4. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Model: Redstone. LV Configuration: Redstone RS-1. FAILURE: Control System malfunction followed by Power Plant malfunction at approximately 80 sec. Ground cut-off command given.. Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 6.00 km (3.70 mi). Redstone missile No. 1 was fired by Army Redstone Arsenal personnel at AFMTC, Cape Canaveral. Missile test failure. Missed aimpoint by 240,000 m. References: 2. 1953 August 21 - Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. D-558 record altitude. Nation: USA. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: D-558-2. Flying Douglas D-558-II (No. 2) Skyrocket research aircraft which had been launched from a B-29 Superfortress at an altitude of 34,000 feet, Lt. Col. Marion E. Carl, USMC, attained an altitude of 83,235 feet at Edwards AFB, Calif. References: 17. 1953 August 28 - Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Navaho engine reaches 890 kN thrust. Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. At Santa Susana, Calif., a complete liquid-rocket engine assembly (Navaho) having a thrust in excess of 200,000 pounds was fired for the first time. References: 17, 278. 1953 August 30 - 20:46 GMT - Launch Site: Atlantic Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 53.1 N x 54.8 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Deacon Rockoon. SUI 20 Chemical release mission Nation: USA. Agency: SUI. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 11 Launch Point 13 - - Latitude: 53.13 N - Longitude: 54.75 W. References: 2. 1953 September - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Von Neumann's "Teapot Committee" established Nation: USA. References: 4460. 1953 September 1 - 05:05 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC35. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee XASR-SC-2. LV Configuration: Aerobee XASR-SC-2 SC 32. Grenades Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 108 km (67 mi). Density research. Launched at 2205 local time. Reached 107.8 km. References: 2. 1953 September 3 - Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho X-10. First X-10 taxi test. Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. Three taxi tests were conducted through the end of September before the vehicle was considered ready for its first flight. References: 221. 1953 September 3 - 11:51 GMT - Launch Site: Atlantic Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 44.8 N x 57.2 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Deacon Rockoon. SUI 22 Chemical release mission Nation: USA. Agency: SUI. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 11 Launch Point 15 - - Latitude: 44.75 N - Longitude: 57.17 W. References: 2. 1953 September 3 - 14:05 GMT - Launch Site: Atlantic Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 44.6 N x 57.1 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Deacon Rockoon. SUI 23 Chemical release mission Nation: USA. Agency: SUI. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 11 Launch Point 16 - - Latitude: 44.55 N - Longitude: 57.05 W. References: 2. 1953 September 5 - 05:36 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC35. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee XASR-SC-1. LV Configuration: Aerobee XASR-SC-1 SC 33. Grenades Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 114 km (70 mi). Density research. Launched at 2236 local time. Reached 105.5 km. References: 2. 1953 September 23 - Reorganization of Soviet missile development process. Nation: USSR. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 2498-1031 'On order of scientific-design work on new weapons systems' 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.