Chronology - Quarter 4 1955

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Previous Home Next 1955 October 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). References: 2. 1955 October 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). References: 2. 1955 October 2 - NAS Technical Panel for Earth Satellite Program Nation: USA. The National Academy of Sciences established a Technical Panel for Earth Satellite Program, with Richard E. Porter serving as chairman. References: 483. 1955 - 1956 - NACA develops hypersonic test facilities. Nation: USA. The NACA Langley and Ames Aeronautical Laboratories developed high-temperature jets, wind tunnels, and other facilities for use in materials and structures research at hypersonic speeds. These facilities provided, among other things, data proving that ablation was an efficient heat-protection method for reentry vehicles. References: 483. 1955 October 4 - 21:18 GMT - Launch Site: Atlantic Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 72.7 N x 75.4 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Loki Rockoon. SUI 50 Ionosphere / aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: SUI. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 13 Launch Point 13 - - Latitude: 72.68 N - Longitude: 75.35 W. References: 2. 1955 October 5 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No K1-17. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1955 October 6 - 19:10 GMT - Launch Site: Atlantic Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 65.1 N x 61.9 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Deacon Rockoon. SUI 51 Ionosphere / aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: SUI. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 13 Launch Point 14 - - Latitude: 65.12 N - Longitude: 61.85 W. References: 2. 1955 October 7 - Launch Vehicle: Vanguard. Vanguard contract awarded. Nation: USA. Program: Vanguard. Class: Technology. Spacecraft: Vanguard 1. Prime contract for Project Vanguard awarded the Martin Co. References: 17. 1955 October 8 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1 8A11. LV Configuration: R-1 8A11 No K1-19. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1955 October 13 - 01:00 GMT - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee RTV-A-1a. LV Configuration: Aerobee RTV-A-1a USAF 60. Sodium Release 2 Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 101 km (62 mi). Sodium studies research. Launched at 1800 local time. Reached 101.4 km. References: 2. 1955 October 13 - 12:44 GMT - Launch Site: Atlantic Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 56.8 N x 58.7 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Deacon Rockoon. SUI 53 Ionosphere / aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: SUI. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 13 Launch Point 16 - - Latitude: 56.78 N - Longitude: 58.70 W. References: 2. 1955 October 13 - 20:13 GMT - Launch Site: Atlantic Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 55.7 N x 57.3 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Deacon Rockoon. SUI 55 Ionosphere / aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: SUI. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Launched at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 13 Launch Point 18 - - Latitude: 55.72 N - Longitude: 57.30 W. References: 2. 1955 October 18 - 22:49 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 34. Solar La / airglow Solar ultraviolet and x-ray mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 101 km (62 mi). Solar spectrum research. Launched at 1549 local time. Reached 150 km. References: 2. 1955 October 22 - 00:20 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 35. Solar La / airglow Solar ultraviolet mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 185 km (114 mi). Solar spectrum research. Launched at 1720 local time. Reached 134.5 km. References: 2. 1955 October 25 - X-2 Flight 4 Nation: USA. Payload: X-2 # 1 flight 4. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-2 . Crew: Everest. Aborted powered flight attempt; became 4th glide flight. References: 49, 97. 1955 November 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). References: 2. 1955 November 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). References: 2. Late 1955 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Atlas program assigned top priority in the nation Nation: USA. Atlas program assigned top priority in the nation (was highest priority only for AF) References: 4460. 1955 November 2 - First Mach 8 rocket flight. Nation: USA. First air-launched, multistage, solid-rocket-propelled vehicle flown to a Mach number greater than 8 by NACA Lewis Laboratory. References: 17. 1955 November 2 - Launch Vehicle: Saturn C-3, Saturn I, Saturn V. NERVA go-ahead. Nation: USA. Program: NERVA. The Atomic Energy Commission approved, on the basis of a statement of interest by the Department of Defense, the proposed plans of the Los Alamos Scientific and the Radiation Laboratories of the University of California, for the study and development of nuclear power for rocket propulsion. References: 17. 1955 November 4 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-1. Model: R-1E. LV Configuration: R-1E 3. Biological mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Payload, instruments, left and right animal containers all recovered. Smoke container functioned. Carried dogs. References: 2. 1955 November 4 - 15:30 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 36. Solar La / airglow Solar ultraviolet mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 135 km (83 mi). Solar spectrum research. Launched at 0830 local time. Reached 158 km. References: 2. 1955 November 7 - Launch Vehicle: Navaho. North American reorganizes Nation: USA. Program: Navaho. With the growth of its missile products beyond the Navaho program, and emerging requirements for the Navaho's navigation and rocket engine systems on ballistic missiles, North American broke up the Navaho program into two new divisions. The Missile Development Division, in Downey, would handle the Navaho missile and Hound Dog air-launched cruise missile, a derivative of the X-10 Navaho test vehicle. The Autonetics Division, would handle inertial navigation and other avionics products, and move from Downey to Anaheim. The Rocketdyne division would handle North American's increasing line of liquid rocket motors, and move to a new facility in the western San Fernando Valley in Canoga Park, close to North American's rocket test facilities in the Santa Susanna mountains. References: 221. 1955 November 8 - Launch Vehicle: Jupiter. Thor and Jupiter projects approved. Nation: USA. Secretary of Defense approved Jupiter and Thor IRBM programs, the first based on experience gained by Redstone Arsenal team from V-2 and Redstone, the latter on experience gained from Atlas program. References: 17. 1955 November 17 - 09:15 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 25. Meteorites / ultraviolet astronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 105 km (65 mi). Night airglow, meteors research. Launched at 0200 local time. Reached 105 km. References: 2. 1955 November 18 - X-2 Flight 5 Nation: USA. Payload: X-2 # 1 flight 5. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-2 . Crew: Everest. First powered flight. Mach 0.992 at 10,675 m. Slight fire damage from engine bay fire. References: 49, 97. 1955 November 19 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). References: 2. 1955 November 29 - 17:16 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 24. Mass spectrometers Ionosphere mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 132 km (82 mi). Ion composition research. Launched at 1016 local time. Reached 132 km. References: 2. 1955 December 1 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Model: Thor. Missile programs get highest priority. Nation: USA. President Eisenhower assigned highest priority to ICBM and Thor and Jupiter IRBM programs. References: 17. 1955 December 1 - Launch Site: Point Mugu. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Asp. LV Configuration: Asp 2. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). References: 2. 1955 December 1 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC3. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: X-17. LV Configuration: X-17 D-3. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1955 December - Project Manhigh established. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Man-high. Project Manhigh was established in December 1955 to obtain scientific data on the behavior of a balloon in an environment above 99% of the earth's atmosphere and to investigate cosmic rays and their effects on man. Three balloon flights to the edge of space were made during the program. 1955 December 3 - X-1E Flight 1 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1E flight 1. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1E. Captive flight. References: 49, 97. 1955 December 6 - 00:46 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC6. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Model: Jupiter A. LV Configuration: Jupiter A RS-12. Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). RS-12 was launched from AMR at 1946 hours EST. The flight was successful. The actual range was 144.79 nm; .31 nm over; and 200 meters right of the intended impact point, The primary test objective was to test the complete guidance system. This was the first successful flight with the inertial guidance system. Missed aimpoint by 228,800 m. References: 2. 1955 December 9 - 14:50 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC35. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee Hi. LV Configuration: Aerobee Hi NRL 38. FAILURE: Failure. XRV-N-13 test Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). Rocket performance test. Launched at 0750 local time. References: 2. 1955 December 12 - X-1E Flight 2 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1E flight 2. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1E. Crew: Walker Joseph. NACA flight 1. Glide flight for pilot check-out and low speed evaluation. References: 49, 97. 1955 December 13 - 05:00 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC35. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee RTV-N-10a. LV Configuration: Aerobee RTV-N-10a NRL 28. Airglow / Mass spectrometer Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 142 km (88 mi). Gas composition research. Launched at 2200 local time. Reached 142 km. References: 2. 1955 December 13 - 17:58 GMT - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee AJ10-27. LV Configuration: Aerobee AJ10-27 USAF 61. Colorado UVS Solar ultraviolet mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 138 km (85 mi). Lyman alpha, solar limb darkening research. Launched at 1058 local time. Reached 138.4 km. References: 2. 1955 December 15 - X-1E Flight 3 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1E flight 3. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1E. Crew: Walker Joseph. NACA flight 2. First powered flight. Engine ran at excessive pressure, 4 overspeeds of turbopump and 2 automatic shutdowns. Power terminated by pilot. References: 49, 97. 1955 December 19 - US industry to investigate the feasibility of a manned, hypersonic, rocket-powered, bombardment and reconnaissance weapon system. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Dynasoar, Bomi. The Air Force requested the aviation industry to investigate the feasibility of developing a manned, hypersonic, rocket-powered, bombardment and reconnaissance weapon system. 1955 December 30 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-11. Model: R-11M. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 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.