Chronology - Quarter 1 1954

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Previous Home Next 1954 - Krafft Ehricke's four-man orbital station. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Ehricke 4-man orbital station. In 'Analysis of Orbital Systems,' a paper read at the fifth congress of the International Astronautical Federation in Innsbruck, Austria, Krafft Ehricke described a four-man orbital station. Arguing that a very large space station was neither necessary nor desirable, Ehricke postulated a four-man design that might serve a number of different purposes, depending upon altitude and orbital inclination. He suggested that such a station might be used for a multitude of scientific research, for orbital reconnaissance, for an observation platform, and as a launch site for more distant space ventures. The station would be launched initially by a large multistaged booster and subsequently visited by crews and resupplied by means of smaller ferry rockets. 1954 January - Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho G-26. Navaho G-26 static tests begin Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. Vehicle 3 is placed in a static test fixture at Downey. References: 221. 1954 January 15 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hermes. Model: Hermes A-3A. LV Configuration: Hermes A-3A 7. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). References: 2. 1954 January 21 - First atomic submarine Nautilus launched Nation: USA. 1954 January 21 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: HVAR. Turbojet study test Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). References: 2. 1954 January 22 - Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho G-38. Navaho Weapon System Optimization Study Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. Various nuclear warheads were considered for the Navaho. The G-26 would only be capable of carrying the XW-12, XW-5, or XW-13 fission warheads, or the XW-15 thermonuclear device. North American proposed that the production Navaho be enlarged to carry a 4500 kg payload in a 148 inch x 70 inch diameter envelope. This would allow a high-yield thermonuclear device to be carried. References: 221. 1954 January 26 - Launch Vehicle: R-11. Model: R-11FM. R-11FM authorised. Nation: USSR. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On approval of work on the R-11FM' was issued. References: 474. 1954 January 27 - 15:20 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC4. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Model: Redstone. LV Configuration: Redstone RS-2. Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). Successful missile test. Missed aimpoint by 8,400 m. References: 2. 1954 January 29 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Model: Double HPAG Deacon. F-102 Model test Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 2. 1954 February 2 - 18:35 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 20. Sunfollower UVS Solar ultraviolet mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 101 km (62 mi). Solar ultraviolet research. Launched at 1135 local time. Reached 101 km. References: 2. 1954 February 3 - Launch Vehicle: R-11. Model: R-11FM. R-11FM platform development authorised Nation: USSR. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On creation of the submerged submarine-launched ballistic missile' was issued. References: 474. 1954 February 10 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Teapot Report Nation: USA. The ICBM design feasible, as was acceleration of the program; Rand Corporation Report: Atlas ICBM could be operational by 1960-62 and should have crash project status References: 4460. 1954 February 12 - Baikonur launch site authorised. Nation: USSR. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 292-181 'On New Range for the USSR Ministry of Defence-establishment of NIIP-5 at Tyura-Tam' was issued. References: 474. 1954 February 20 - Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Bechar. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Veronique. LV Configuration: Veronique NA15. FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Nation: France. Agency: FR. Apogee: 29 km (18 mi). References: 2. 1954 February 21 - Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Bechar. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Veronique. LV Configuration: Veronique NA14. Test mission Nation: France. Agency: FR. Apogee: 135 km (83 mi). References: 2. 1954 March 1 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Atlas propulsion system work begins. Nation: USA. Work on MA-2 propulsion system for Atlas by Rocketdyne was begun, drawing upon the experience in developing the regeneratively cooled chamber developed for the Navaho. References: 17, 278. 1954 March - Launch Vehicle: RS. Tsybin RS draft project Nation: USSR. The design specified a twin ramjet vehicle that would cruise at 3,000 km/hr at 30 km altitude, over a 14,400 km range, with a takeoff mass of only 22 tonnes. 1954 March - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Operation Castle thermonuclear tests confirm feasibility of small warheads Nation: USA. References: 4460. 1954 March - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. First Atlas hardware. Nation: USA. 12-foot diameter Atlas tank completed by Solar References: 4460. 1954 March 2 - 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. 1954 March 8 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. First public indication that Project Atlas exists Nation: USA. References: 4460. 1954 March 11 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 1820. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1954 March 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 1920. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1954 March 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 1916. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1954 March 17 - Launch Vehicle: Buran, Burya, Soyuz. Baikonur and Vladimirovka launch site plans. Nation: USSR. Program: Navaho. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On selection of launch area for the R-7, 40 Buran, and 350 Burya' was issued. References: 474. 1954 March 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 1918. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1954 March 21 - X-1A Flight 11 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1A flight 11. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1A. Crew: Murray. AF flight 5. Date estimated. References: 49, 97. 1954 March 26 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Model: Quad Deacon. Drag model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. 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.