Chronology - Quarter 1 1955

home topic index

Previous Home Next 1955 January - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2R. Experimental flight test, plume effect on telemetry transmission. Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). R-3 development work. References: 2, 283. 1955 January 4 - ARDC headquarters issued System Requirement 12. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Dynasoar, Bomi. ARDC headquarters issued System Requirement 12, which called for studies of a reconnaissance aircraft or missile possessing a range of 3,000 nautical miles and capable of reaching 100,000 feet. 1955 January 11 - Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho G-26. Navaho G-26 second production contract Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. This added 12 more cruise stages, 21 boosters, and 6 N6 navigation systems, bringing the total procured to 22 cruise stages, 34 boosters, and 11 navigation systems. References: 221. 1955 January 12 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: R-7. Tyuratam selected for ICBM test range. Nation: USSR. Council of Ministers selects Tyuratam for ICBM test site. The first 30 construction workers arrive at Tyuratam. The town founded at the rail staion is called Zarya (Dawn). The name will be changed to Leninsk in January 1958, but Zarya will remain the call sign of Soviet ground control. References: 89. 1955 January 13 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Nike Hercules. Test launch Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 2. 1955 January 17 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Rocket-towed model. Nation: USA. First launching of a test model towed by a rocket vehicle with a flexible towline, by Langley Laboratory's PARD at Wallops Island, Va. References: 17. 1955 January 20 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. ZI test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). References: 2. 1955 January 25 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1E. LV Configuration: R-1E 1. Test / biology mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Payload section deployed at 22 seconds. Left animal container recovered. Carried dogs. References: 2. 1955 January 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 720. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1955 January 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 920. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1955 February 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. 1955 February 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. ZI test launch Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). The first phase of flight trials were conducted from 21 January to July 1955. Of the 14 launches, 13 were successful. References: 2. 1955 February 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. ZI test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). References: 2. 1955 February - Launch Vehicle: R-11. Model: R-11FM. Tests of the R-11FM SLBM begun at Kapustin Yar Nation: USSR. Tests began with three experimental launches of the missile from a standard R-11 launch stand. This was followed by launches from a special stand simulating a ship's motion, developed by A P Abramov. Early 1955 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Atlas fabrication begins Nation: USA. References: 4460. 1955 February 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 820. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1955 February 4 - 21:55 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Pad: NLA. Launch Vehicle: Viking. Model: Viking Type 9. LV Configuration: Viking Type 9 12. Viking 12 re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 231 km (143 mi). Re-entry nose-cone heat transfer experiment; photography; atmosphere research. Launched at 1455 local time. Reached 232 km. References: 2. 1955 February 5 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1E (A-1). LV Configuration: R-1E (A-1) 2. Test / biology mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). No recovery. Carried dogs. References: 2. 1955 February 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 1020. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1955 February 7 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5. Phase 3 state trials launch Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 2. 1955 February 7 - 18:51 GMT - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee RTV-A-1a. LV Configuration: Aerobee RTV-A-1a USAF 52. AF / Utah D-layer Ionosphere mission Nation: USA. Agency: ARDC. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). Ionosphere research. Launched at 1151 local time. Reached 120.4 km. References: 2. 1955 February 9 - 20:15 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC4. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Model: Redstone. LV Configuration: Redstone RS-8. FAILURE: Separation bolt No. 3 failure. Inverter frequency shift. Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). Missile test failure. Missed aimpoint by 23,400 m. References: 2. 1955 February 21 - 18:25 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC35. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee RTV-N-10c. LV Configuration: Aerobee RTV-N-10c NRL 29. Sunfollower / UVS Solar mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 115 km (71 mi). Solar spectrum research. Launched at 1125 local time. Reached 115 km. References: 2. 1955 February 22 - Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho X-10. LV Configuration: X-10 s/n 5 GM-19311. Navaho X-10 flight 13 Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. Supersonic flight aborted when afterburners failed. Automated landing failed. Chute deployed during radio controlled approach, causing the vehicle to auger into the desert and be destroyed. References: 2, 17. 1955 March 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. ZI test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). References: 2. 1955 March 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. ZI test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). References: 2. 1955 March - Launch Vehicle: Saturn V. Feasibility of million-pound-thrust liquid-fueled rocket engine established Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. The feasibility of a million-pound-thrust liquid-fueled rocket engine established by the Rocketdyne Division of North American Aviation, Inc. References: 17, 27. 1955 March - Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho G-26. Navaho G-26 static test article ruptures Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. During simulated propellant loading (with water) at Downey, a crack opened at one of the cruise stage mounting points. The water drained out of the tank, creating a vacuum, followed by implosion of the oxygen tank. References: 221. 1955 March - Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho G-38. USAF inspects Navaho G-38 mockup. Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. References: 221. 1955 March 6 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Atlas given top development priority. Nation: USA. USAF Chief of Staff, Nathan F. Twining, reported that ICBM's were receiving priority in the AF program because of known Soviet progress. Navaho, Snark, and Atlas programs accelerated. References: 17, 278. 1955 March 8 - X-2 Flight 2 Nation: USA. Payload: X-2 # 1 flight 2. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-2 . Crew: Everest. Second glide flight. Propellant system check. Minor damage on landing. References: 49, 97. 1955 March 9 - Man in Space televised. Nation: USA. Walt Disney's weekly television series aired the first of three programs related to spaceflight. 'Man in Space,' with Wernher Von Braun as technical adviser, drew an estimated audience of 42 million. 1955 March 11 - Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho X-10. LV Configuration: X-10 s/n 3 GM-19309. Navaho X-10 flight 14 Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. First flight of refitted s/n 3, the static test article. Vehicle exploded on gear retraction - it was found that the destruct package was wired to the gear circuit instead of the engine circuit. References: 2, 17. 1955 March 16 - Man and the Moon televised. Nation: USA. The second Walt Disney / Wernher Von Braun program presented the powerful image of a wheelike space station as a launching point for a mission to the Moon. 1955 March 19 - Launch Vehicle: Vanguard. Plan for a United States satellite in the International Geophysical Year Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Vanguard 2. Dr. Alan T. Waterman of the National Science Foundation presented President Dwight Eisenhower with a plan to implement the United States' portion of the International Geophysical Year satellite experiment. References: 483. 1955 March 19 - 06:00 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 26. Airglow Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 115 km (71 mi). Night airglow research. Launched at 2300 local time. Reached 114.3 km. References: 2. 1955 March 24 - 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 15 Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. Successful test of automated landing system, certifying the X-10 for operation from the Cape Canaveral skid strip. References: 2, 17. 1955 March 29 - 16:47 GMT - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee RTV-A-1a. LV Configuration: Aerobee RTV-A-1a USAF 54. Solar far ultraviolet / Lyra Alpha Solar / aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 112 km (69 mi). Solar radiation research. Launched at 0947 local time. Reached 112.7 km. 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.