Chronology - Quarter 4 1953

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Previous Home Next 1953 October 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 October 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 October 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 October 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 October - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Teapot Committee's first output Nation: USA. ICBM could use smaller warhead References: 4460. 1953 October 5 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hermes. Model: Hermes A-3A. LV Configuration: Hermes A-3A 4. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). References: 2. 1953 October 7 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D18 F8U-1 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 2. 1953 October 7 - 17:00 GMT - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee RTV-A-1a. LV Configuration: Aerobee RTV-A-1a USAF 43. Solar spectrum Solar mission Nation: USA. Agency: ARDC. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Solar radiation research. Launched at 1000 local time. Reached 99.8 km. References: 2. 1953 October 10 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 October 14 - Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho X-10. LV Configuration: X-10 s/n 1 GM-19307. Navaho X-10 flight 1 Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. Main landing gear doors failed to close; ground control of aircraft lost (ET-33 aircraft took over control of the X-10); main gear failed to lock on contact with runway; pilot drag chute deployed late; brake failure caused damage to two tires. But the drone was recovered. References: 2, 17. 1953 October 15 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Model: Deacon Sidewinder. Sidewinder test Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 2. 1953 October 16 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 820. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 October 17 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 520. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 October 19 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 320. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 October 20 - Test Pilot Walter P. Jones dies at age of 29 -- Crash of the YF-89D prototype interceptor Nation: USA. 1953 October 20 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 620. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 October 21 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hermes. Model: Hermes A-3A. LV Configuration: Hermes A-3A 5. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). References: 2. 1953 October 26 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 720. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 October 27 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 1020. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 October 28 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 920. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 October 28 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 1220. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 October 30 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5. State trials Phase 2 launch Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). Through December 1953 there were 7 Phase II launches, one of which was unsuccessful. A maximum range of 1185 km was reached. References: 2. 1953 November 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 November 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 November 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 November 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 November 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5. Phase 2 state trials launch Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 2. 1953 November 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5. Phase 2 state trials launch Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 2. 1953 November 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5. Phase 2 state trials launch Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 2. 1953 November 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5. Phase 2 state trials launch Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 2. 1953 November 2 - 18:32 GMT - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee RTV-A-1a. LV Configuration: Aerobee RTV-A-1a USAF 44. AF / Utah Ionosphere 5 Ionosphere mission Nation: USA. Agency: ARDC. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). Ionosphere research. Launched at 1132 local time. Reached 120.7 km. References: 2. 1953 November 3 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: HVAR. D37 model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). References: 2. 1953 November 3 - 18:15 GMT - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee RTV-A-1a. LV Configuration: Aerobee RTV-A-1a USAF 45. AF / Utah Ionosphere 6 Ionosphere mission Nation: USA. Agency: ARDC. Apogee: 121 km (75 mi). Ionosphere research. Launched at 1115 local time. Reached 121.5 km. References: 2. 1953 November 12 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 1120. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 November 15 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 1320. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 November 15 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 November 19 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Model: Nike Deacon. F40 Hypersonic test Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). First launching of a Nike-Deacon two-stage rocket for heat transfer studies at NACA Wallops Island. References: 2. 1953 November 19 - 22:40 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC35. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee RTV-N-10. LV Configuration: Aerobee RTV-N-10 NRL 14. Oxygen content Solar x-ray / ultraviolet / aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 112 km (69 mi). Solar spectrum research. Launched at 1540 local time. Reached 112.6 km. References: 2. 1953 November 20 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hermes. Model: Hermes A-3A. LV Configuration: Hermes A-3A 6. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). References: 2. 1953 November 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 November 21 - X-1A Flight 7 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1A flight 7. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1A. Crew: Yeager. AF flight 1. Reached mach 1.15. Familiarization purposes. References: 49, 97. 1953 November 24 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 1520. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1953 November 28 - Launch Vehicle: G-4. Groettrup and last Germans return to Germany. Nation: USSR. References: 86. 1953 December 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5. Phase 2 state trials launch Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 2. End of 1953 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2, R-11. Khrushchev and Ustinov decide to create additional independent missile design bureaux Nation: USSR. Khrushchev desired to decentralise the missile industry, since a single nuclear bomb on Moscow would wipe out Korolev’s factories. Ustinov was requested to draw up a plan for two additional completely independent missile design bureaux, one in the south of the Soviet Union, the other in the Urals. It was also envisioned a third bureau would be built in the east, in Siberia, but this was never done. This effort cost tens of billions of roubles. While the managers and lead technical staff would be taken from Korolev’s bureau, the working engineers, technicians, and workers for the bureau and associated factories would be recruited locally at each site. This would avoid the additional expense of building extra housing. Korolev fought to keep control, wanting to make the new bureaux just branches of his own, but Khrushchev was adamant that only completely autonomous organisations would be acceptable. Yangel was easily selected for the southern bureau, and the young Makeyev was a more contentious selection for the Ural bureau. References: 539. 1953 December 1 - 15:30 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC35. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee RTV-N-10. LV Configuration: Aerobee RTV-N-10 NRL 16. Oxygen content Solar x-ray / ultraviolet / aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 129 km (80 mi). Solar spectrum research. Launched at 0830 local time. Reached 129.6 km. References: 2. 1953 December 2 - X-1A Flight 8 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1A flight 8. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1A. Crew: Yeager. AF flight 2. Mach 1.5. References: 49, 97. 1953 December 3 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Convair leases test facility. Nation: USA. A five-year Pt. Loma lease was approved. References: 4460. 1953 December 5 - Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho X-10. LV Configuration: X-10 s/n 1 GM-19307. Navaho X-10 flight 2 Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. Landing gear again failed to retract. It was discovered the drag from the airflow exceeded the hydraulic retraction force over 320 kph. References: 2, 17. 1953 December 8 - X-1A Flight 9 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1A flight 9. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1A. Crew: Yeager. AF flight 3. First high-mach flight attempt by X-1A. Mach 1.9 attained at 18300 m during slight climb. References: 49, 97. 1953 December 9 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5. Phase 2 state trials launch Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 2. 1953 December 12 - X-1A Flight 10 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1A flight 10. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1A. Crew: Yeager. AF flight 4. Plane attained mach 2.44, but met violent instability above mach 2.3. Tumbled 15250 m, wound up in subsonic inverted spin. Yeager recovered to upright spin, then normal flight at 7625 m. References: 49, 97. 1953 December 13 - Launch Vehicle: R-11. R-11 production decree Nation: USSR. A government decree was issued for SKB-385 in the Urals to be responsible for series production of the R-11 and its S2.253 engine. SKB-385 had not distinguished itself in 1949-1951 when it was responsible for the first abortive attempt to put the R-1 rocket into production. 1953 December 15 - Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho X-10. LV Configuration: X-10 s/n 1 GM-19307. Navaho X-10 flight 3 Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. Planned transonic flight aborted when telemetry power failed. References: 2, 17. 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.