Chronology - Quarter 3 1956

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Previous Home Next 1956 July 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. LV Configuration: R-5M M-5RD. R-7 component test Nation: USSR. Agency: MVS. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). References: 2. 1956 July - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: R-7. OKB-1 completed draft project for the first earth satellite Nation: USSR. Spacecraft: Sputnik 3. Tikhonravov's unit of OKB-1 completed the preliminary design of the ISZ satellite (launched as Sputnik 3). The Fourth Scientific Research Institute of the Ministry of Defence had meanwhile completed a draft project for the KIK ground control system. Tikhonravov's 1.4 tonne ISZ satellite was to have been launched by the new R-7 ICBM as the Soviet Union's first satellite, but the R-7 was ready before the satellite, so it was preceded by Sputnik 1 and Sputnik 2. The ISZ was a miniature physics laboratory, but was launched with a known faulty recorder, limiting data to that received when the spacecraft was over Soviet tracking stations. As a result, the Van Allen radiation belts were discovered by the United States rather than Russia. 1956 July 5 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Model: HJ Nike T40. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 27 km (16 mi). References: 2. 1956 July 5 - 07:52 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 33. Night airglow / B Magnetosphere / aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 162 km (100 mi). Magnetic belt, night airglow research. Launched at 0052 local time. Reached 162 km. References: 2. 1956 July 6 - 18:00 GMT - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Model: Nike Cajun. LV Configuration: Nike Cajun N-C 1. UM AM6.01 Sphere Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 129 km (80 mi). First Nike-Cajun research rocket successfully fired at Wallops Island, a cooperative NACA-University of Michigan project, attaining an altitude of 425,000 feet. References: 2. 1956 July 11 - Launch Vehicle: R-11. Sounding rocket variant of the R-11 authorised. Nation: USSR. Decree 'On approval of work on the R-11A missile for the IGY' was issued. References: 474. 1956 July 12 - X-2 Flight 12 Nation: USA. Payload: X-2 # 1 flight 12. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-2 . Crew: Everest. Eighth powered flight, premature engine shutdown. References: 49, 97. 1956 July 17 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC3. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: X-17. LV Configuration: X-17 R-2 4203-3. Re-entry vehicle test Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 142 km (88 mi). References: 2. 1956 July 17 - 15:40 GMT - Launch Site: Pacific Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 29.7 N x 121.6 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Deacon Rockoon. NRL NN5.27 Solar ultraviolet and x-ray mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). Launched on 1956 NRL Cruise Launch Point 1 - Latitude: 29.68 N, Longitude:121.57 W. References: 2. 1956 July 18 - 15:46 GMT - Launch Site: Pacific Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 29.7 N x 121.6 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Deacon Rockoon. NRL NN5.28 Solar ultraviolet and x-ray mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). Launched on 1956 NRL Cruise Launch Point 2 - Latitude: 29.70 N, Longitude:121.58 W. References: 2. 1956 July 19 - 08:45 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC5. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Model: Jupiter A. LV Configuration: Jupiter A CC-13. FAILURE: ST-80 malfunction at theta switch operation - 310 sec. Jupiter A Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). CC-13 was launched at 0345 hours EST from AMR. The flight was successful. The actual range was 142.457 nm; .780 nm over the intended impact point. This was the first Chrysler fabricated and assembled missile. Missed aimpoint by 1,071 m. References: 2. 1956 July 19 - 15:21 GMT - Launch Site: Pacific Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 30.3 N x 121.7 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Deacon Rockoon. NRL NN5.29 Solar ultraviolet and x-ray mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). Launched on 1956 NRL Cruise Launch Point 3 - Latitude: 30.25 N, Longitude:121.67 W. References: 2. 1956 July 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 5301. FAILURE: Failure. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). References: 2. 1956 July 20 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. LV Configuration: R-5M M-5RD. R-7 component test Nation: USSR. Agency: MVS. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). References: 2. 1956 July 20 - 19:15 GMT - Launch Site: Pacific Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 29.7 N x 121.5 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Deacon Rockoon. LV Configuration: Deacon Rockoon 8. NRL NN5.30 Solar ultraviolet and x-ray mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). Launched on 1956 NRL Cruise Launch Point 4 - Latitude: 29.72 N, Longitude:121.53 W. References: 2. 1956 July 22 - 17:57 GMT - Launch Site: Pacific Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 30.2 N x 121.8 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Deacon Rockoon. NRL NN5.32 Solar ultraviolet and x-ray mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). Launched on 1956 NRL Cruise Launch Point 6 - Latitude: 30.17 N, Longitude:121.82 W. References: 2. 1956 July 23 - X-2 Flight 13 Nation: USA. Payload: X-2 # 1 flight 13. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-2 . Crew: Everest. Ninth powered flight, Lt. Col. Frank K. Everest (USAF) flew the Bell X-2 rocket-powered research plane at a record speed of Mach 2.87, ust over 1,900 mph, at 20,802 m. References: 49, 97. 1956 July 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 0409. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1956 July 24 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Model: Nike Cajun. LV Configuration: Nike Cajun N-C 4 (HUGO-1). Hurricane photo Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: USN?. Apogee: 112 km (69 mi). References: 2. 1956 July 25 - 15:15 GMT - Launch Site: Pacific Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 29.7 N x 121.6 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Deacon Rockoon. NRL NN5.34 Solar ultraviolet and x-ray mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). Launched on 1956 NRL Cruise Launch Point 8 - Latitude: 29.67 N, Longitude:121.58 W. References: 2. 1956 July 26 - X-1E Flight 9 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1E flight 9. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1E. Crew: Walker Joseph. NACA flight 8. Subsonic because cylinders 3 and 4 world not fire. References: 49, 97. 1956 July 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 0311. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1956 July 26 - 15:28 GMT - Launch Site: Pacific Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 29.7 N x 121.5 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Deacon Rockoon. LV Configuration: Deacon Rockoon NN5.35. NRL NN5.35 Solar ultraviolet and x-ray mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). Launched on 1956 NRL Cruise Launch Point 9 - Latitude: 29.72 N, Longitude:121.50 W. References: 2. 1956 July 27 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC3. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: X-17. LV Configuration: X-17 R-3 4203-4. FAILURE: Failure. Re-entry vehicle test Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). References: 2. 1956 July 27 - 15:30 GMT - Launch Site: Pacific Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 29.5 N x 121.6 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Deacon Rockoon. LV Configuration: Deacon Rockoon NN5.36. NRL NN5.36 Solar ultraviolet and x-ray mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). Launched on 1956 NRL Cruise Launch Point 10 - Latitude: 29.53 N, Longitude:121.62 W. References: 2. 1956 July 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 0307. Operational test Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1956 July 31 - 00:56 GMT - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee AJ10-34. LV Configuration: Aerobee AJ10-34 USAF 71. Airglow Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 129 km (80 mi). Day airglow research. Launched at 1756 local time. Reached 128.8 km. References: 2. 1956 August 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. LV Configuration: R-5M M-5RD. R-7 component test Nation: USSR. Agency: MVS. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). References: 2. 1956 August 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. LV Configuration: R-5M M-5RD. R-7 component test Nation: USSR. Agency: MVS. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). References: 2. 1956 August - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: R-7. First ground equipment installed at Tyuratam Nation: USSR. References: 78. 1956 August - Soviet military completes draft project for satellite systems Nation: USSR. MO 4-NII (Fourth Scientific Research Institute of the Ministry of Defence) completed the draft project for the KIK satellite tracking and control system and use of satellites for military purposes. 1956 August - Soviet decree authorised design of a military reconnaissance satellite Nation: USSR. Spacecraft: Zenit. The decree formally authorised design of a military reconnaissance satellite. In October the specification was issued for a comprehensive research program leading to manoeuvrable spacecraft. By April 1957 the military issued a requirements document for experimental solar cell panels. Design bureau work on the reconnaissance satellite began in 1957 in Section 3 of OKB-1 (Tikhonravov and Ryazanov). This spacecraft was initially sized at 1.5 tonnes total for launch by the basic R-7 rocket. 1956 August - Launch Vehicle: RS. Tsybin RS rescoped to RSR concept Nation: USSR. The RS design was modified to the more modest RSR configuration, which was air launched, cruised at 2800 km/hour at 26,700 m with a 1700 km radius of action. 1956 August 3 - X-2 Flight 14 Nation: USA. Payload: X-2 # 1 flight 14. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-2 . Crew: Kincheloe. 10th powered flight, mach 2.5+, 26764 m. References: 49, 97. 1956 August 8 - Launch Vehicle: Jupiter. Jupiter test stand completed. Nation: USA. Largest U.S. test stand for rocket motors was completed at Redstone Arsenal, slated for Jupiter IRBM. References: 17. 1956 August 8 - X-2 Flight 15 Nation: USA. Payload: X-2 # 1 flight 15. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-2 . Crew: Kincheloe. 11th powered flight, premature engine shutdown. References: 49, 97. 1956 August 8 - 08:25 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC6. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Model: Jupiter A. LV Configuration: Jupiter A RS-20. Jupiter A Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). RS-20 was launched at 0325 hours EST from AMR. The flight was successful. The actual range was 139.72 nm; 0.3 nm over the intended impact point. The primary teat objectives were to test the accuracy of the guidance system and to acquire data for the establishment of design criteria for the Jupiter. This was the first time that the combustion chamber pressure was controlled. Missed aimpoint by 175 m. References: 2. 1956 August 8 - 22:00 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Model: Nike Cajun. LV Configuration: Nike Cajun N-C 2 (770A/5656). UM AM6.30 Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1956 August 9 - 22:47 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Model: Nike Cajun. LV Configuration: Nike Cajun N-C 3 (5651/BRL). BRL OB6.00 Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 164 km (101 mi). References: 2. 1956 August 14 - X-1B Flight 12 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1B flight 11. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1B. Crew: McKay. NACA flight 1. Pilot check; nose landing gear failed on landing, minor damage. References: 49, 97. 1956 August 14 - OKB-1 made an independent design bureau. Nation: USSR. Decree 310 'On separation of OKB-1 from NII-88' was issued. References: 474. 1956 August 18 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M. LV Configuration: R-5M M-5RD. R-7 component test Nation: USSR. Agency: MVS. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). The R-5RD or M5RD was flown 10 times to test subsystems for the R-7 ICBM. References: 2. 1956 August 18 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC3. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: X-17. LV Configuration: X-17 R-4 4203-2. FAILURE: Failure. Re-entry vehicle test Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). References: 2. 1956 August 23 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC3. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: X-17. LV Configuration: X-17 R-5 4203-5. 4203-5 re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 142 km (88 mi). A five-stage, solid-fuel rocket test vehicle, the world's first, was launched to a speed of mach 15 from Wallops Island, Va. by the NACA Langley Aeronautical Laboratory's Pilotless Aircraft Research Division. References: 2. 1956 August 24 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Model: HJ Nike Nike Recruit T55. FAILURE: Failure. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). References: 2. 1956 August 27 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Model: Thor. Thor engine first static test. Nation: USA. First static firing of Thor rocket engine at AFFTC, Edwards AFB. References: 17. 1956 August 28 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC3. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: X-17. LV Configuration: X-17 R-6 4203-6. Re-entry vehicle test Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1956 August 31 - X-1E Flight 10 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1E flight 10. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1E. Crew: Walker Joseph. NACA flight 9. Mach 2.0 at 18300 m. Sideslips, pulses, rolls. References: 49, 97. 1956 August 31 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: R-7. State Commission formed to oversee R-7 flight test. Nation: USSR. Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On creation of the State Commission for the R-7' was issued. References: 474. 1956 September - Launch Vehicle: Burya. Burya redesign Nation: USSR. Program: Navaho. Lavochkin experienced a major setback in when the payload requirement for the nuclear warhead was increased from 2,100 to 2,350 kg. 1956 September - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. Atlas 1A Nation: USA. Missile 1A delivered to Sycamore for captive tests References: 4460. 1956 September 3 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: R-7. Soviet space and ballistic missile tracking network established. Nation: USSR. Spacecraft: Sputnik 3. Decree 1241-632 '0n creation or the Command Measurement Complex' was issued. The decree marked the beginning of development of the KIK satellite tracking system. This network was put together using a combination of PVO (Air Defence) and ICBM tracking systems. Trajectory information was fed into the KIK Centre for orbital calculations. The Centre was staffed by 680 officers and 151 civilian scientists of the Soviet Army in four sections. References: 474. 1956 September 7 - X-1B Flight 13 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1B flight 13. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1B. Crew: McKay. NACA flight 3. Speed run to 17080 m and mach 1.8. Limited heating data gathered. References: 49, 97. 1956 September 7 - X-2 Flight 16 Nation: USA. Payload: X-2 # 1 flight 16. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-2 . Crew: Kincheloe. 12th powered flight. Capt. Iven C. Kincheloe (USAF) set new unofficial altitude record for manned flight at Edwards AFB, Calif., piloting a Bell X-2 rocket-powered aircraft to a height of 38,491 m, top speed Mach 1.7. References: 49, 97. 1956 September 8 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC3. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: X-17. LV Configuration: X-17 R-7 4203-7. FAILURE: Failure. Re-entry vehicle test Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 394 km (244 mi). References: 2. 1956 September 10 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Nike. Model: Nike T40 T55. Heat Transfer Re-entry Vehicle test Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). References: 2. 1956 September 13 - Launch Vehicle: DF-1, R-1, R-2. Russian agrees to sell China two R-1 missiles Nation: China. Program: Long March. They were delivered in December 1956. Tsien is disgusted to find that the missiles are nothing but copies of the V-2. Something more advanced is needed, he argues to the Russians. References: 87. 1956 September 14 - X-1E Flight 11 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1E flight 11. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1E. Crew: Walker Joseph. NACA flight 10. Mach 2.1 at 18910 m. Stabilizer, rudder, and aileron pulses. References: 49, 97. 1956 September 18 - X-1B Flight 14 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1B flight 14. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1B. Crew: McKay. NACA flight 4. Glide flight, due to erratic engine start. References: 49, 97. 1956 September 20 - X-1E Flight 12 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1E flight 12. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1E. Crew: Walker Joseph. NACA flight 11. Brief engine power only; flight aborted, unspecified engine malfunction. References: 49, 97. 1956 September 20 - 06:45 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC5. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Model: Jupiter C. LV Configuration: Jupiter C RS-27. FAILURE: Early cut-off due to human error in tanking . Jupiter C re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 1,097 km (681 mi). First Jupiter C (a three-stage ABMA-JPL Redstone missile) was launched at Cape Canaveral, Fla., attained an altitude of 1096 km and traveled 5,300 km downrange. The first three-stage re-entry missile, was fired at 0145 hours EST from AMR. This missile attained an estimated range of 3,335 ST miles, an altitude of 682 ST miles, and reached Mach 18 velocity. The primary objective of the firing was the propulsion and separation tart of a multi-stage vehicle. The missile was a four-stage configuration with the last stage inactive. The first stage was an elongated Redstone missile, the second and third stages were up of 11 and 3 six-inch scaled SERGEANT rockets, respectively. The payload consisted of approximately 20 pounds of instrumentation attached to the inactive fourth stage. The flight was successful and the sequence of operations occurred as programmed. This vehicle could have obtained sufficient velocity to place it in orbit, if the last stage had been activated. First deep penetration of space. Serial number coding for early Redstones and related vehicles used the following substitution cipher: 1234567890 = HUNTSVILLEX References: 2. 1956 September 21 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Model: Terrapin. LV Configuration: Terrapin M1. FAILURE: Second stage did not ignite. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA/NSA. Apogee: 16 km (9 mi). First Terrpain launch attempt. References: 2. 1956 September 21 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Deacon. Model: Terrapin. LV Configuration: Terrapin M2. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NACA/NSA. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi). First successful flight of a Terrapin sounding rocket at Wallops Island, which consisted of a Deacon and T55 rocket and carried a payload of 3 kg to a 120 km altitude. References: 2. 1956 September 24 - 00:02 GMT - Launch Site: Akita. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Kappa. Model: Kappa 1. LV Configuration: Kappa 1 K-1-1. K-I-S-1 test Nation: Japan. Agency: ISAS. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi). References: 2. 1956 September 27 - X-2 reaches Mach 3. Nation: USA. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-2. After having been launched from a B-50 bomber over the Mojave Desert in California, Capt. Milburn G. Apt (USAF), flying an X-2 rocket-powered plane on its 13th powered flight, set a record speed of 2,094 mph, or Mach 3.196. In the course of the flight the aircraft crashed and the pilot was killed. References: 17. 1956 September 27 - X-2 Flight 17 Nation: USA. Payload: X-2 # 1 flight 17. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-2 . Crew: Apt Milburn. After having been launched from a B-50 bomber over the Mojave Desert in California, Capt. Milburn G. Apt (USAF), flying an X-2 rocket-powered plane on its 13th powered flight, set a record speed of 3,377 kph, or Mach 3.196 at 19,977 m. Subsequent loss of control from inertial coupling led to the destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot. References: 49, 97. 1956 September 27 - Test Pilot Milburn Apt dies at age of 32 -- Killed in explosion of X-2 number 1. Nation: USA. 1956 September 28 - X-1B Flight 15 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1B flight 15. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1B. Crew: McKay. NACA flight 5. Three-chamber engine run to 18300 m to obtain heating data. References: 49, 97. 1956 September 30 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: R-7. Sputnik 3 draft project approved. Nation: USSR. Spacecraft: Sputnik 3. Decree 'On approval of the draft project for Object D' was issued. The decree gave the go-ahead for Tikhonravov's 1.4 tonne ISZ physics satellite to be launched by the new R-7 ICBM during the International Geophysical Year . The ISZ, a miniature physics laboratory,.was to have been the first artificial satellite of the earth. In the event, it was preceded by Sputniks 1 and 2. References: 474. 1956 September 30 - Launch Vehicle: N1, Proton. First official plan for future Soviet spaceflight Nation: USSR. Spacecraft: Sputnik 3, Vostok, Zenit-2. This set forth the following objectives: orbiting of satellites of 1.8 to 2.5 tonnes mass by 1958; one week flight of a manned spacecraft by 1964; unmanned reconnaissance satellite by 1970; rocket capable of 12 tonne escape velocity payload by 1970; rocket with 100 tonne low earth orbit payload to be developed, capable of placing 2 to 3 men on the moon (no date set). References: 367. Previous Home Next Contact us with any corrections, additions, or comments. 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