Chronology - Quarter 2 1957

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Previous Home Next 1957 April 1 - Van Allen heads research panel. Nation: USA. Upper Atmosphere Rocket Research Panel was renamed the Rocket and Satellite Research Panel. Its chairman was James A. Van Allen of the State university of Iowa. References: 17. 1957 April 1 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-11. Model: R-11M. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). References: 2. 1957 April - Launch Vehicle: Saturn I. Studies of a large clustered-engine booster Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. The U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., began studies of a large clustered-engine booster to generate 1.5 million pounds of thrust, as one of a related group of space vehicles. During 1957-1958, approximately 50,000 man-hours were expended in this effort. References: 16. 1957 April 11 - Launch Vehicle: Vanguard. Vanguard payload tested on sounding rocket. Nation: USA. Program: Vanguard. U.S.-IGY scientific satellite equipment, including a radio transmitter and instruments for measuring temperature, pressure, cosmic rays, and meteoric dust encounters, was tested above earth for the first time, as a rocket containing this equipment was fired by the Navy to a 126-mile altitude. References: 17. 1957 April 11 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-11. Model: R-11M. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). References: 2. 1957 April 11 - 16:31 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC35. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee Hi. LV Configuration: Aerobee Hi NRL 40 (RV-N-13c). Vanguard test Satellite test Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 204 km (126 mi). Vanguard test. Rocket performance, satellite instrumentation test. Launched at 0931 local time. Reached 204 km. References: 2. 1957 April 12 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2A. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1957 April 13 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC3. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: X-17. LV Configuration: X-17 VI-1 4-204-1A?. 4-204-1A? re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1957 April 14 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2A. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1957 April 20 - 04:33 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17B. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Model: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 102. FAILURE: Console wiring error resulted in erroneous tracking indication; destroyed by range safety. Series I research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555 ATW. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). Douglas Thor IRBM (XSM-75) was launched at Cape Canaveral, Fla., destroyed by range safety officer. The missile was actually on course throughout its flight. The console wiring error led the range safety officer to believe it was headed inland rather than out to sea, so he hit the destruct button. References: 2. 1957 April 23 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Vandenberg AFB established by ARDC Nation: USA. Vandenberg AFB established by Air Research and Development Command (ARDC) on the north 64,047 acres (approximately 100 square miles) of what was then Camp Cooke. References: 88. 1957 April 23 - Launch Vehicle: X-15. Model: X-15A. X-15 first public details announced. Nation: USA. Program: X-15. Class: Manned. Type: Spaceplane. Spacecraft: X-15A. Details of X-15 rocket research airplane were publicly revealed for the first time. References: 17. 1957 April 24 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 reaches 9,000 mph. Nation: USA. Lockheed X-17 research rocket reached 9,000 mph at Patrick AFB, Fla. References: 17. 1957 April 25 - X-1E Flight 15 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1E flight 15. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1E. Crew: Walker Joseph. NACA flight 14. Mach 1.71 at 20435 m. Aileron and rudder pulses. References: 49, 97. 1957 April 25 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC9. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho G-26. LV Configuration: Navaho II SM-64 07. FAILURE: Booster shut down 1 m over the pad due to incorrect shutdown timer signal - exploded on pad. Navaho G-26 Flight 3 Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). Vehicle 4 was still not ready for the first Broomstick flight, so vehicle 5 was substituted. It took five attempts before a 15.6 second static test cleared the booster for launch on 29 March. 8 hours and 42 minutes of hold stretched the five-hour countdown out into the evening. The booster ignited, rose 1.3 m, then shut down. The vehicle fell back onto the pad, exploding. Cause was a 15-second timer that was supposed to shut the engines down 15 seconds after the vehicle hold-downs released if a lanyard had not been pulled free of the vehicle as it rose off the ground. The 15 seconds had been reached before the lanyard pulled free, but by then the vehicle had risen off the pad. This made 15 attempts to launch a Navaho, with only two booster ignitions, both resulting in loss of the vehicle. The Northrop crews at the Cape dubbed their competitor the "Never-Go Navaho" to counter jibes directed at them about the "Snark-infested waters" off the launch area. The Air Force was not amused, and had a tiger-team review of the G-26 on a system-basis which recommended several procedures. Meanwhile G-38 launch plans were further delayed over internal USAF wrangles over launch facility construction. References: 2. 1957 April 26 - 20:12 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC5. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Jupiter. LV Configuration: Jupiter IRBM AM-1B. FAILURE: Failure. Research and development test Nation: USA. Agency: USAF/ABMA. Fired from AMR at 1512 hours EST to test the design version of the airframe and rocket engine. The flight terminated at 93 seconds because of propellant slosh. The missile achieved an altitude of 60,000 feet. The flight was partially successful. References: 2. 1957 April 30 - Development plan encompassing all hypersonic weapon systems. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Dynasoar, Hywards, Bomi, Brass Bell, Robo. Air Force headquarters directed the Air Research and Development Command to formulate a development plan encompassing all hypersonic weapon systems. 1957 April 30 - Launch Site: Akita. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Kappa. Model: Kappa 2. LV Configuration: Kappa 2 K-2-1. Test mission Nation: Japan. Agency: ISAS. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). References: 2. 1957 April 30 - 15:10 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC35. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee Hi. LV Configuration: Aerobee Hi NRL 41 (RV-N-13c). RV-N-13c test / meteorites mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 289 km (179 mi). Rocket performance flight test. Launched at 0810 local time. Reached 289 km. References: 2. 1957 May 1 - Launch Vehicle: Vanguard. Vanguard suborbital test. Nation: USA. Program: Vanguard. Class: Technology. Spacecraft: Vanguard 1. Vanguard Test Vehicle (TV-1), a modified Martin Viking first-stage and Vanguard solid-propellant third-stage Grand Central Rocket as second-stage, launched with instrumented nose cone to an altitude of 121 miles and met all test objectives. References: 17. 1957 May 1 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Asp. FAILURE: Failure. Plumbob test Nation: USA. Agency: LRL. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). References: 2. 1957 May 1 - 06:29 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18A. Launch Pad: LC18A. Launch Vehicle: Viking. Model: Viking Type 9. LV Configuration: Viking Type 9 14/TV1. Vanguard TV1 test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 195 km (121 mi). Test of Vanguard third-stage separation and firing at altitude.Launched at 0129 local time. References: 2. 1957 May 3 - 14:04 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC35. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee Hi. LV Configuration: Aerobee Hi NRL 44 (RV-N-13c). Sunfollower / UVS Solar ultraviolet mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 204 km (126 mi). Sunfollower spectrograph. Launched at 0704 local time. Reached 204 km. References: 2. 1957 May 5 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: R-7. 1st R-7 rolled out to pad Nation: USSR. References: 78. 1957 May 9 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Start of new construction. Nation: USA. Start of new construction and major rehabilitation at Camp Cooke. References: 88. 1957 May 10 - Reorganisation of Soviet defence industry bureaucracy. Nation: USSR. USSR Supreme Soviet Decree 'On Future Improvements in the Organisational Control of Industry and Construction-- abolishing the branch ministry system' was issued. References: 474. 1957 May 15 - X-1E Flight 16 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1E flight 16. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1E. Crew: Walker Joseph. NACA flight 15. Mach 2.0 at 22,265 m. Aileron pulses and rolls, sideslips, and wind-up turns. Plane severely damaged upon landing. References: 49, 97. 1957 May 15 - 07:55 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC6. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Model: Jupiter C. LV Configuration: Jupiter C RS-34. FAILURE: Loss of instrument compartment pressure at 134 seconds causing failure of pitch gyro prior to cut-off. Jupiter re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 655 km (406 mi). The second three-stage re-entry missile, was launched at 0255 hours EST from AMR to test the thermal behaviour of a scaled-down version of the Jupiter nose cone during re-entry. The separated nose cone, which weighed 314 pounds, should have reached a nominal range of 1,212 nm. The missile began. to pitch up at 134 seconds, and impact was 420 nm short of the intended impact point. The composite missile consisted of three stages. The first stage was an elongated Redstone using alcohol and liquid oxygen as propellant. The second and third stages were made up of clusters of 11 and 3 scaled-down Sergeant solid propellant rockets, respectively. The nose cone was not recovered; however, instrument contact with the nose cone through re-entry indicated that the ablative-type heat protection for warheads was successful. Nose Cone Recovery Test References: 2. 1957 May 15 - 16:01 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: R-7. LV Configuration: R-7 No. 5L. FAILURE: Failure of Block D strap on, which tore away from the core 98 seconds after liftoff. The booster crashed 400 km from the pad. A fuel leak in the pump outlet led to a fire in the engine compartment from the time of liftoff. M1-5 (I-1) test Nation: USSR. Agency: MVS. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). R-7 test flight. (M1-5 (I-1)) References: 2. 1957 May 16 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2A. First operational R-2A launch; carried dogs. Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 212 km (131 mi). References: 2, 283. 1957 May 16 - 02:14 GMT - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2A. LV Configuration: R-2A No. 1. Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). References: 2. 1957 May 16 - 03:18 GMT - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2A. Test / biology mission Nation: USSR. Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). References: 2. 1957 May 22 - X-1B Flight 17 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1B flight 17. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1B. Crew: McKay. NACA flight 7. Control pulses at mach 1.45 at 18300 m. Flight for instrumentation check. References: 49, 97. 1957 May 22 - 03:00 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17B. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Model: Thor DM-18. LV Configuration: Thor DM-18 103. Research and development Series I (padex) test Nation: USA. Agency: USAF 6555 ATW. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). References: 2. 1957 May 24 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2A. Second operational R-2A launch Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 212 km (131 mi). References: 2, 283. 1957 May 24 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-2. Model: R-2A. LV Configuration: R-2A No. 2. Test / biology mission Nation: USSR. Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). References: 2. 1957 May 27 - Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: SE.4400. LV Configuration: SE4400 F77. FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Nation: France. Agency: STA. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). References: 2. 1957 May 31 - 18:08 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC5. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Jupiter. LV Configuration: Jupiter IRBM AM-1. Research and development test Nation: USA. Agency: USAF/ABMA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). Army Jupiter IRBM was fired 1,500 miles, limit of its designed range, and to an altitude of 250-300 miles, the first successful launching of an IRBM. Fired from AMR at 1308 hours EST to test the range capability and performance of rocket engine and control system. Although the missile was 253 nm short of its estimated 1,400 nm impact point, this was the first successful flight of the Jupiter. All phases of the test were successful during this first firing of the IRBM in the western world References: 2. 1957 June 1 - Launch Vehicle: Saturn C-3, Saturn I, Saturn V. NERVA advanced concepts studied. Nation: USA. Program: NERVA. Research on tungsten nuclear rocket propulsion systems initiated by NACA Lewis Laboratory, and other feasible systems for practical nuclear rocket systems, such as 1958 concept of coaxial jet gaseous reactor, followed. References: 17. 1957 June - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. WDD renamed Ballistic Missiles Division (BMD) Nation: USA. References: 4460. 1957 June 2 - Manhigh I Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Man-high. Manhigh I balloon reached 97,000 feet (29,600 m) with Captain Joseph Kittinger aboard. 1957 June 7 - X-1B Flight 18 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1B flight 18. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1B. Crew: McKay. NACA flight 8. Supersonic maneuvers to mach 1.5 at 18300 m to determine the dynamic and static stability and control characteristics. References: 49, 97. 1957 June 11 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: R-7. LV Configuration: R-7 8K71 M1-6. R-7 launch attempt Nation: USSR. After third attempt in three days to launch R-7 8K71 M1-6, the rocket is pulled from the pad. It is found that a nitrogen scavenging valve was installed backwards. 1957 June 11 - 19:37 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC14. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas A. LV Configuration: Atlas A 4A. FAILURE: Failure in the booster fuel system. Research and development test Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi). First test flight of prototype WS-107A Atlas was detonated by command signal at 10,000 feet following a failure in the booster fuel system. The 23-second flight was considered a partial success. References: 2. 1957 June 18 - 14:00 GMT - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee Hi. LV Configuration: Aerobee Hi USAF 78. AU4.26 Ionosphere mission Nation: USA. Agency: ARDC. Apogee: 171 km (106 mi). Ionosphere research. Launched at 0700 local time. Reached 171 km. References: 2. 1957 June 20 - Two NACA groups focused their efforts on the problems involved in manned space flight. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Dynasoar. One group concerned themselves with performance of aircraft at high speeds and altitudes and with rocket research; the other group, with problems associated with hypersonic flight and reentry. References: 483. 1957 June 20 - Robo evaluation committee. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Dynasoar, Robo. A committee, with representation from ARDC headquarters, the Wright Air Development Center, the Cambridge Air Force Research Center, and the Air Materiel Command, was formed to evaluate contractor studies on Robo. 1957 June 20 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Snark. LV Configuration: Snark N-69E N-3321. FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). References: 2. 1957 June 22 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. Model: R-12. LV Configuration: R-12 63M No. 1 (LKI1-1). Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: MVS. Apogee: 402 km (249 mi). References: 2. 1957 June 24 - X-1B Flight 19 Nation: USA. Payload: X-1B flight 19. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-1B. Crew: McKay. NACA flight 9. Supersonic maneuvers to mach 1.5 at 18300 m to determine the dynamic and static stability and control characteristics. References: 49, 97. 1957 June 25 - 14:07 GMT - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee Hi. LV Configuration: Aerobee Hi USAF 79. AU4.27 Ionosphere mission Nation: USA. Agency: ARDC. Apogee: 202 km (125 mi). Ionosphere research. Launched at 0707 local time. Reached 202 km. References: 2. 1957 June 26 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC9. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho G-26. LV Configuration: Navaho II SM-64 08. FAILURE: One booster engine failed during ascent; did not achieve speed/altitude required for cruise stage ignition. Navaho G-26 Flight 4 Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi). The missile launched from the repaired LC-9 on the third attempt. At T+42 seconds, Mach 1.63, and 7,000 m altitude, a fire occurred in the engine compartment after a failure of a regenerative cooling valve to the gas generator. The turbopump shut down, and one engine went out. Nevertheless the vehicle continued, first on one engine, then coasting, to 12,000 m altitude, and the booster separated successfully. But the cruise stage was below ramjet ignition velocity. Again ground control could bring the cruise stage under control as a glider, flying it to an impact 87 km downrange References: 2. 1957 June 26 - 11:09 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC6. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Model: Jupiter A. LV Configuration: Jupiter A CC-31. FAILURE: Human error in calculation of takeoff weight. Jupiter A Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). Launched at 0609 hours EST from AMR to test performance of the inertial guidance system, angle-of-attack meters, separation of explosive screws, and impact and radar fusing systems. Range instrumentation difficulties and deteriorating weather delayed the firing from the initially scheduled time of 0230 hours EST. The flight was successful. Actual range was 135.425 nm; 0.42 nm over; and 389 meters left of the intended impact point. Missed aimpoint by 785 m. References: 2. 1957 June 27 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC3. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: X-17. LV Configuration: X-17 4-204-1 4-204-1B?. 4-204-1B? re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2. 1957 June 30 - First serious manned winged spacecraft design Nation: USSR. Class: Manned. Type: Spaceplane. Spacecraft: VKA Myasishchev 1957. Myasishchev OKB-23 sketches first serious manned winged spacecraft design. References: 83. 1957 July - August - Semiballistic design for a manned reentry spacecraft. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: X-24A, HL-10. Alfred J. Eggers, Jr., of the NACA Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, worked out a semiballistic design for a manned reentry spacecraft. References: 483. Previous Home Next Contact us with any corrections, additions, or comments. 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