Chronology - Quarter 2 1954

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Previous Home Next 1954 April 1 - Bell contract for an advanced, bomber-reconnaissance weapon system. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Dynasoar, Bomi. The Air Force and the Bell Aircraft Company arranged a contract for the study of an advanced, bomber-reconnaissance weapon system. 1954 April 1 - 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 4 Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. First supersonic flight; reached Mach 1.47. References: 2, 17. 1954 April - Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Navaho navigation system change Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. The XN-1 inertial system had been replaced by the XN-2 stellar/inertial system in 1951. The XN-2 had been flight tested aboard a C-97 aircraft between April 1952 and May 1953. This is in turn was replaced by the XN-6. The XN-6 introduced paired counterrotating gyroscopes to compensate for the precession errors resulting from the single-gyro-per-axis XN-2 design; and introduced hydrodynamic bearing gyros in place of the XN-2's air bearings. N-6 flight testing began aboard a T-29 in May 1954. References: 221. 1954 April 4 - X-1A Flight 12 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1A flight 12. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1A. Crew: Murray. AF flight 6. Date estimated. References: 49, 97. 1954 April 9 - 21:12 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 18. Mass spectrometer Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 143 km (88 mi). Gas composition research. Launched at 1412 local time. Reached 143 km. References: 2. 1954 April 10 - Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. OKB-586 founded and nuclear-tipped R-5M IRBM development authorised. Nation: USSR. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On approval of work on the R-5M missile and on establishment of OKB-586 at Dnepropetrovsk Plant No. 586' was issued. Sadoviy and Kozlov were named to lead the project. Based substantially on the R-5, it used the 8U25 launch portable launch stand. References: 474. 1954 April 11 - X-1A Flight 13 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1A flight 13. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1A. Crew: Murray. AF flight 7. Date estimated. References: 49, 97. 1954 April 14 - Predecessor of military-industrial commission formed. Nation: USSR. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On creation of Special Committee for Armaments of the Army and VMF (later VPK) of Council of Ministers to manage missile programs' was issued. References: 474. 1954 April 20 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-11. Model: R-11. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 2. 1954 April 23 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 1720. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1954 April 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 1910. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1954 April 25 - X-1A Flight 14 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1A flight 14. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1A. Crew: Murray. AF flight 8. Date estimated. References: 49, 97. 1954 April 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 1912. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1954 April 29 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. First 3 stage rocket. Nation: USA. First launching of a three-stage rocket vehicle consisting of two Nike boosters in tandem and a Deacon rocket as a third stage, and also a first launching of a rocket booster system consisting of three "peelaway" Deacons as the first stage wrapped around a fourth Deacon as a second stage, and a HPAG rocket as a third stage, by NACA Langley's PARD at Wallops Island. References: 17. 1954 April 29 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 2120. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1954 April 29 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Model: Nike Nike Deacon. F40 Hypersonic test Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 13 km (8 mi). References: 2. 1954 April 29 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Model: Tri-Deacon Deacon HPAG. Test launch Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 2. 1954 May 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-11. Model: R-11. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 2. May 1954 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Atlas receives high priority. Nation: USA. Highest AF development priority (and accelerated schedule) assigned Atlas References: 4460. 1954 May - X-15 rocket aircraft specifications Nation: USA. Spacecraft: X-15A. The NACA determined the characteristics of what later became the X-15 rocket aircraft, one of the steps to manned space flight. References: 483. 1954 May - Launch Vehicle: Navaho. First wind tunnel tests of a full-sized Navaho ramjet engine Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. References: 221. 1954 May 3 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 1620. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1954 May 4 - Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho X-10. LV Configuration: X-10 s/n 2 GM-19308. Navaho X-10 flight 5 Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. Extended range test of radio control and telemetry in 72.5 minute flight. Supersonic flight not planned. References: 2, 17. 1954 May 4 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 1420. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1954 May 4 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 2020. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1954 May 5 - 17:28 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC4. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Model: Redstone. LV Configuration: Redstone RS-3. FAILURE: Ejector burnout immediately following lift-off. Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). Missile test failure. Missed aimpoint by 277,000 m. References: 2. 1954 May 7 - Dien Bien Phu, French military outpost in Vietnam, falls to Vietminh army Nation: France. 1954 May 7 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 220. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1954 May 7 - 17:00 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: NLA. Launch Vehicle: Viking. Model: Viking Type 9. LV Configuration: Viking Type 9 10. Viking 10 Aeronomy/Ionosphere mission Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 219 km (136 mi). Check power plant, controls, performance, and skin temperatures; upper-air pressure, density, winds, ionisation; cosmic rays; photography research. Launched at 1000 local time. Reached 219 km. References: 2. 1954 May 11 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hermes. Model: Hermes A-3B. LV Configuration: Hermes A-3B 1. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: GE. Apogee: 32 km (19 mi). References: 2. 1954 May 13 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-11. Model: R-11. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 2. 1954 May 14 - X-1A Flight 15 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1A flight 15. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1A. Crew: Murray. AF flight 9. Date estimated. References: 49, 97. 1954 May 17 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Ramo-Woolridge to manage Atlas. Nation: USA. Ramo-Wooldridge given letter contract as Technical Director and Systems Integrator for Atlas program References: 4460. 1954 May 20 - Launch Vehicle: Buran, Burya. Soviet government decree for full-scale development of trisonic intercontinental cruise missiles. Nation: USSR. Program: Navaho. Spacecraft: M-42, M-44. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 957-409 'On transfer of intercontinental cruise missile work to the Ministry of Aviation Industry' was issued. Korolev had to place the highest priority on development of the R-7 ICBM. Therefore the final government decree authorised the Lavochkin and Myasishchev aircraft design bureaux to proceed in parallel with full-scale development of trisonic intercontinental cruise missiles. Both missiles would use ramjet engines by Bondaryuk, astronavigation systems by R Chachikyan, inertial navigation systems by G Tolstoysov, and aerodynamics developed by TsAGI (Central Hydrodynamics Institute). Lavochkin's Burya would use rocket booster engines built by Glushko, while Myasishchev's Buran would use Isayev engines. Both missiles were to deliver a nuclear warhead over an 8,500 km range. But the warhead design specified for the Lavochkin missile had a total mass of 2,100 kg, while that for the Myasishchev missile weighed 3,500 kg. References: 474. 1954 May 20 - Launch Vehicle: R-5, Soyuz. R-7 full-scale development authorised. Nation: USSR. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 956-4088s 'On approval of work on the R-7 ICBM, R-5R, and M5RD missiles' was issued. References: 474. 1954 May 20 - Launch Vehicle: R-5. R-5 radiological warhead handling system demonstrated Nation: USSR. The Generator-S radiological warhead for the R-5 was developed in the early 1950's. In order to handle the warhead OKBT Kirov Factory built the shielded manipulator vehicle Objekt 805, which had a total mass of 72 tonnes. Following the demonstration the system was accepted by the military in 1955. 1954 May 21 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 120. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1954 May 24 - 17:00 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: NLA. Launch Vehicle: Viking. Model: Viking Type 9. LV Configuration: Viking Type 9 11. Viking 11 re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 254 km (157 mi). Re-entry nose-cone heat transfer experiment; photography research. Launched at 1000 local time. Reached 254 km. The rocket was turned by 180 degrees at apogee and the nose cone separated, diving back down into the atmosphere. References: 2. 1954 May 26 - Soviet decree authorising start of studies of satellite systems Nation: USSR. The technological basis was the N-3 project, which covered various engine and propulsion approaches. In 1955 a unit was formed within Tikhonravov's section of OKB-1 to develop the first satellite; this included Feoktistov, Bazhinov, Maksimov, and Soldatora. 1954 May 26 - 14:24 GMT - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: A-1. Ionosphere mission Nation: USSR. Agency: MVS. Apogee: 106 km (65 mi). References: 2. 1954 May 28 - X-1A Flight 16 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1A flight 16. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1A. Crew: Murray. AF flight 10. X-1A attained 26564 m, un-official world altitude record for manned aircraft. References: 49, 97. 1954 May 30 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: R-7. Go-ahead for R-7 ICBM by designers council Nation: USSR. Council of Chief designers approval to proceed with development of R-7. References: 89. 1954 June 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2. LV Configuration: R-2 Prod. missile. First production series test launch. Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 2. 1954 June 4 - X-1A Flight 17 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1A flight 17. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1A. Crew: Murray. AF flight 11. X-1A reached 27374 m. Encountered same instability Yeager had, but at mach 1.97. Murray recovered after tumbling 6100 m down to 20130 m. References: 49, 97. 1954 June 4 - Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho X-10. LV Configuration: X-10 s/n 2 GM-19308. Navaho X-10 flight 6 Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. Planned supersonic flight aborted. Left main tire blew on takeoff run. Flight achieved, but the gear could not be retracted. Ground loop on landing, the vehicle sustained repairable damage. References: 2, 17. 1954 June - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2. FAILURE: Failed to reach target. First production series test launch. Nation: USSR. References: 2, 283, 344. 1954 June 9 - Chelomei put in charge of special design group 10. Nation: USSR. Ministry of Aviation Industry (MAP) Decree 'On establishment of Special Design Group 10 at Plant No. 500 at Tushino under V. N. Chelomei' was issued. References: 474. 1954 June - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2. First production series test launch. Nation: USSR. References: 2, 283, 344. 1954 June 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 12. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1954 June 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 720. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1954 June 14 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No 14. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1954 June - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2. First production series test launch. Nation: USSR. References: 2, 283, 344. 1954 June 18 - X-1A Flight 18 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1A flight 18. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1A. Crew: Murray. AF flight 12. Date estimated. References: 49, 97. 1954 June 21 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Schriever named head of Atlas program. Nation: USA. Brigadier-General Bernard A. Schriever, ARDC, assigned to head Atlas program References: 4460. 1954 June 25 - Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Model: Jupiter C. Project Orbiter begun. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Explorer A. In a meeting, Dr. Wernher von Braun, Frederick C. Durant III, Alexander Satin, David Young, Dr. Fred L. Whipple, Dr. S. Fred Singer, and Commander George W. Hoover agreed that a Redstone rocket with a Loki cluster as the second stage could launch a satellite into a 200-mile orbit without major new developments. This became a joint Army-Navy study project after meeting at Redstone Arsenal on August 3. Project Orbiter was a later outgrowth of this proposal and resulted in the launching of Explorer I on January 31, 1958. References: 483. 1954 June 26 - 13:24 GMT - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1D. LV Configuration: R-1D 1. Test / biology / ionosphere / aeronomy mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 106 km (65 mi). References: 2. 1954 June 28 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: R-7. R-7 development plans. Nation: USSR. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On NIP Plan for Special Product--course of work on the R-7 ICBM' was issued. References: 474. 1954 June - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2. First production series test launch. Nation: USSR. 10th and last launch in production missile series, 8 successes References: 2, 283, 344. 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.