Snark Credit - © Mark Wade

Intercontinental cruise missile. IOC: 1960. Family:

Intercontinental subsonic cruise missile.

Historical Essay © Andreas Parsch

Northrop SSM-A-3/B-62/SM-62 Snark

The Snark was the only intercontinental surface-to-surface cruise missile ever deployed by the U.S. Air Force, but was operational for only a very short time because it was already made obsolete by the new ICBMs.

In October 1945 the U.S. Army Air Force began an ambitious long-term program to study and develop a large family of guided missiles, and in January 1946, Northrop submitted designs for turbojet-powered long-range cruise missiles. In March 1946, the USAAF awarded Northrop a development contract for project MX-775, covering the subsonic Snark (MX-775A) and the supersonic Boojum (MX-775B). In late 1947, the missile designator SSM-A-3 was assigned to the Snark, while Boojum possibly became the SSM-A-5. Initially the first flight tests of the XSSM-A-3 (Northrop Model N-25) were scheduled for 1949, but because of a reduced project priority and technical difficulties, the first successful launch (after two failures) did not occur before April 1951.

The XSSM-A-3 was powered by an Allison J33-A-31 turbojet, and launched from a rocket-powered sled. It had a radio-command guidance system, and was controlled in flight by commands from a DB-45 director aircraft. The XSSM-A-3 could be recovered with the help of a skid-type landing gear and a drag chute.

During its flight test program in 1951, the XSSM-A-3 validated the basic aerodynamic design of the Snark. However, by that time the USAF had significantly increased range and payload requirements for Snark, which lead to a revised and enlarged design, the Northrop Model N-69. The N-69 was powered by an Allison J71 turbojet, and launched from the ground by two solid-propellant rocket boosters. Also in 1951, the Air Force started to assign aircraft designations to its guided missiles, and the Snark became the B-62. The initial XB-62 models (N-69A and N-69B) were performance test missiles, which validated the basic flight characteristics of the new Snark design. These tests began in August 1953, and although a similar recovery system as in the XSSM-A-3 was used, only few N-69A/Bs survived their missions to fly again. The XB-62 warhead delivery test vehicle (N-69C) began to test the terminal dive characteristics in September 1954. However, initial tests showed that the planned supersonic dive was unfeasable because of control and stability problems. The alternative was to use a detachable nose section which would be separated from the main airframe for a supersonic ballistic drop on the target. Modified N-69C vehicles first tested the new delivery method in September 1955.

In early 1955, the Air Force introduced a new designation system for its guided missiles, and the XB-62 was redesignated as XSM-62. The projected XRB-62 reconnaissance version, which was later cancelled, became the XRSM-62.

The J71 turbojet of the N-69A/B/C showed to be troublesome and not up to specifications. It was therefore replaced by a Pratt & Whitney J57 in subsequent N-69D/E models, which were designated XSM-62A. The N-69D (which was recoverable like the N-69A/B), tested the Snark's guidance system, and first flew in November 1955. The SM-62 was to use a 24-hour (day/night) stellar-inertial navigation system, where the INS information is updated by tracking the relative position of bright stars. The N-69D was the first model to use underwing fuel tanks to test the guidance system at full range. However, the system had numerous reliability and accuracy problems, and all Snark test flights over a distance of more than 3400 km (2100 miles) averaged a CEP of no less than 20 miles! Even the most accurate shot came down more than 7.5 km (4.7 miles) from the target, which was barely acceptable even for a missile with a thermonuclear warhead in the megaton class.

The last test model was the N-69E (possibly designated YSM-62A), which served as the prototype of the production Snark. The N-69E flight program ran from June 1957 to September 1958, and included the first Snark flight to a range of more than 8000 km (5000 miles). Further guidance test flights of N-69D missiles followed until the test program ended in December 1959.

In early 1959, the USAF activated its first (and eventually only) Snark missile wing, and the first SM-62A production missiles, fitted with a W-39 thermonuclear warhead (4 MT), were delivered in May that year. The first SM-62A launch occurred in November 1959, and in February 1961, the unit was declared fully operational with 30 deployed missiles.

The severe reliability and accuracy limitations of the SM-62A, together with its significantly larger vulnerability to air defenses when compared to ballistic missiles, meant that the Snark could never be more than an interim emergency weapon. However, in 1961 the SM-65/CGM-16 Atlas ICBM was already operational and the larger SM-68/HGM-25 Titan in advanced development, making the Snark an obsolete system. Therefore the USAF's only Snark unit was deactivated in June 1961. About 100 N-69/SM-62 missiles of all versions were built.

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for XSSM-A-3, SM-62A:

[1] James N. Gibson: "Nuclear Weapons of the United States", Schiffer Publishing Ltd, 1996
[2] Bill Gunston: "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rockets and Missiles", Salamander Books Ltd, 1979
[3] Kenneth P.Werrell: "The Evolution of the Cruise Missile", Air University Press, 1985
[4] Fred Anderson: "Northrop. An Aeronautical History", Northrop, 1976

Manufacturer: Northrop. Launches: 118. Failures: 4. Success Rate: 96.61%. First Launch Date: 1950-12-21. Last Launch Date: 1960-12-05. Launch data is: complete. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). Liftoff Thrust: 1,156.200 kN (259,924 lbf). Total Mass: 27,177 kg (59,915 lb). Core Diameter: 1.37 m (4.49 ft). Total Length: 20.70 m (67.90 ft). Span: 12.90 m (42.30 ft). Standard warhead mass: 2,700 kg (5,900 lb). Maximum range: 10,200 km (6,300 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 1. Standard warhead: W39. Standard warhead yield: 3,750 KT. Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Cruise Propulsion: Turbojet. Cruise Thrust: 66.600 kN (14,972 lbf). Guidance: Inertial+Stellar. Maximum speed: 990 kph (610 mph). Ceiling: 19,800 m (64,900 ft). Development Cost $: 400.000 million. in: 1955 average dollars. Recurring Price $: 9.233 million. Total Number Built: 30. Total Production Built: 30. Flyaway Unit Cost $: 1.468 million. in: 1961 unit dollars.

• Stage1: 1 x Snark-1. Motor: 2 x ABL Snark JATO. Propellants: Solid.

• Stage1: 1 x MX-775-1. Propellants: Air/Kerosene.

1945 October 31 - US Strategic Missile Programs Begin Request For Proposals were issued to 17 contractors by the US Army Air Force for studies of a 10-year R&D program of four missile types. The missiles were to be air-, rail-, road-, or ship- transportable, and fit in three range categories: 280 to 800 km; 800 to 2400 km; and 2400 to 8000 km. Minimum speed was 970 kph, requiring turbojet, ramjet, or rocket propulsion.

March to April 1946 - Army Air Force awards nine one-year missile study contracts. The MX-770 contract for an 800-km range boost-glide missile derived from the German A9 concept went to North American; this would evolve into the Navaho triple-sonic intercontinental cruise missile. Martin received a contract for development of the MX-771, a subsonic ground-launched cruise missile with an 800-km range; it would evolve into the Matador and Mace missiles. Curtiss-Wright and Republic received contracts for the MX-772 and MX-773 surface-to-surface missiles; they never advanced beyond the initial study stage. Convair received the contract for long-range rocket-powered missiles; this evolved into the Atlas ICBM. Northrtop received the MX-775 contract for a 5000-km range cruise missile; this eventually flew as the Snark. Bell receives a contract to develop the MX-776, a 160-km range rocket-powered supersonic missile to be launched from B-29 bombers. This would evolve into the Rascal. McDonnell received a study contract for the MX-777 air-to-surface missile; this evolved into the anti-submarine 'hydrobomb' concept and was eventually transferred to the Navy. Goodyear received contracts for the MX-778 and MX-779 air-to-surface missiles; these never advanced beyond the preliminary study stage. Concurrently, the USAAF had the GARPA surface-to-air missile project underway, which would evolve into Bomarc; the USA Army the Corporal and Hermes (later Redstone) surface-to-surface missiles and the Nike and Hermes A1 surface-to-air missiles; and the Navy a range of missile technology development projects (Regulus, Bat, Kingfisher, Little Joe, Lark, Bumblebee, Gorgon, Dove).

1947 September 15 - US Army Air Corps assigned control of surface-to-surface strategic missiles

1947 September 18 - U.S. Army Air Corps becomes U.S. Air Force The Air Force was now a separate service from the US Army. The agreement was made that the Air Force would only handle missiles with ranges over 1600 km. So the range requirement for the MX-770 (later the Navaho) was increased to 1600 km, while carrying a 1350-kg payload with an 800 m CEP, and it became an Air Force missile. The 800-km MX-771 (later Matador) became an Army missile. The MX-775 Snark already had an intercontinental range requirement, and became an Air Force missile.

1948 August - Spaatz calls for American ICBM. General Spaatz (Tooey Spaatz) calls for US development of missile with 10,200 km range

1949 September - Cold War intensifies - US missile programs given higher priority Reacting to Russia's explosion of an atomic bomb, and the Communist victory in China's civil war, the US military begins increasing funding to the low-priority missile development programs begun in 1946. The Martin MX-771 tactical cruise missile is reinstated; additional funds are plowed into the Rascal and Snark programs; and the Corporal tactical missile is modified to carry a nuclear warhead. The Navaho aerodynamic design is frozen so that fabrication of the XSSM-A-2 flight articles can begin.

1950 December 21 - Holloman SLED. FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1951 March 8 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1951 April 16 - Holloman SLED. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). First successful sled-launched Snark airframe.

1951 May 8 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1951 May 24 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1951 June 26 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1951 July 17 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1951 August 8 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1951 August 21 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1951 August 30 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1951 September 25 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1951 October 2 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1951 October 16 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1951 October 24 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1951 November 15 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1951 November 29 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1951 December 14 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1952 January 25 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1952 February 1 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1952 February 20 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1952 March 28 - Holloman SLED. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1952 August 29 - Cape Canaveral LA. MX-775 Dyn Model #2 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1952 October 1 - Cape Canaveral LA. MX-775 Dyn Model #1 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1952 October 30 - Cape Canaveral LA. MX-775 Dyn Model #3 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1952 November 26 - Cape Canaveral LA. MX-775 N-25 GM-246 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1952 December 19 - Cape Canaveral LA. MX-775 N-25 GM-972 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1953 February 6 - Cape Canaveral LA. MX-775 N-25 GM-974 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1953 March 10 - Cape Canaveral LA. MX-775 N-25 GM-2337 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1953 August 6 - Cape Canaveral LA. Snark N-69A GM-3391 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1953 October 15 - Cape Canaveral LA. Snark N-69A GM-3393 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1954 February 2 - Cape Canaveral LA. Snark N-69A GM-3395 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1954 February 18 - Cape Canaveral LC2. Snark N-69A GM-3396 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1954 April 26 - Cape Canaveral LC2. Snark N-69A GM-11111 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1954 June 3 - Cape Canaveral LA. Snark N-69A GM-3394-1 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1954 July 21 - Cape Canaveral LA. Snark N-69A GM-3392-1 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1954 September 21 - Cape Canaveral LA. Snark N-69B GM-11113 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1954 October 12 - Cape Canaveral LA. Snark N-69B GM-11114 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1954 November 12 - Cape Canaveral LA. Snark N-69B GM-11116 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1954 December 10 - Cape Canaveral LA. Snark N-69B GM-11115 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1955 January 13 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69B GM-13097 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1955 February 10 - Cape Canaveral LC2. Snark N-69C GM-13106 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1955 April 6 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69C GM-13107 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1955 April 26 - Cape Canaveral LC2. Snark N-69C GM-13108 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1955 May 13 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69A GM-11112 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1955 July 13 - Cape Canaveral LC2. Snark N-69C GM-13112 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1955 August 9 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69C GM-13113 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1955 October 26 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69C 52-10972 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1955 November 26 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69C 52-10977 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1955 December 9 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69C 52-10973 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1955 December 16 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69C 52-10974 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1956 January 13 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark Missile test. USAF Northrop Snark launched from Cape Canaveral on 2,000-mile flight.

1956 January 27 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69C 52-10971 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1956 February 8 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69C 52-10978 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1956 February 17 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69C 52-10975 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1956 July 10 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69C 51-17577 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1956 July 26 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69C 52-10976 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1956 August 31 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69C 51-17571 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1956 September 13 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69C 52-10961 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1956 September 26 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69C 52-17578 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1956 October 2 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69C 52-10979 Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). Full-scale test version of the Snark guided missile (XSM62) successfully recovered for the first time after a flight from Cape Canaveral.

1956 October 31 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69C 51-17572 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1956 November 14 - Cape Canaveral LC2. Snark N-69D 52-10982 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1956 December 5 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D 53-8172 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1956 December 20 - Cape Canaveral LC2. Snark N-69D 53-8171 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 January 11 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D 52-10983 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 January 23 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D 53-8173 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 February 5 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D 52-10983? Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 February 18 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D 53-8175 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 March 12 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D 53-8174 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 March 13 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D Inertial 1 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 April 15 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D Inertial 2 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 April 16 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D 53-8176 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 May 3 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D 53-8178 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 May 28 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D 53-8177 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 June 20 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69E N-3321 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1957 July 17 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D N-3313 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 August 16 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69E N-3323 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 August 27 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D N-3317 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 September 19 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69E N-3322 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 October 1 - Cape Canaveral LC2. Snark N-69D N-3316 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 October 31 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69E N-3324 Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi). Snark intercontinental missile launched from Cape Canaveral first flew 5,000 miles, to a target near Ascension Island.

1957 November 20 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D N-3316-2 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1957 December 5 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69E N-3326 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1958 January 25 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69E N-3327 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1958 February 14 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69E N-3328 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1958 March 8 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69E N-3330 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1958 April 3 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69E N-3329 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1958 May 6 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69E N-3409 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1958 May 28 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69E N-3410 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1958 June 27 - Cape Canaveral LC2. Snark N-69E N-3413 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1958 August 25 - Cape Canaveral LC2. Snark N-69E N-3411 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1958 August 30 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69E N-3412 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1958 September 19 - Cape Canaveral LC2. Snark N-69E N-3414 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1958 October 23 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D N-3318 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1958 November 8 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D N-3317 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1958 December 11 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D N-3319 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1958 December 16 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D N-3308 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1959 February 12 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D N-3312-2 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1959 March 10 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D N-3320 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1959 April 6 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark SM-62A N-3422 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1959 April 21 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D N-3320-1 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1959 May 5 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark SM-62A N-3423 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1959 May 26 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark SM-62A N-3424 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1959 July 2 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D N-3320 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1959 September 25 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark SM-62A N-3415 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1959 November 6 - Cape Canaveral LC2. Snark SM-62A N-3417 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1959 December 11 - Cape Canaveral LC2. Snark SM-62A N-3416 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1959 December 16 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark N-69D N-3317-3 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1960 February 12 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark SM-62A N-3425 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1960 March 3 - Cape Canaveral LC2. Snark SM-62A N-3426 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1960 April 6 - Cape Canaveral LC2. Snark SM-62A N-3427 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1960 May 16 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark SM-62A N-3444 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1960 June 16 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark SM-62A N-3445 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1960 July 8 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark SM-62A N-3446 Category IIE-6, Sta12 operational test launch Agency: USAF 702SMW. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1960 August 26 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark SM-62A N-3448 Category IIE-7, Sta12 operational test launch Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1960 September 26 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark SM-62A N-3452 Category IIE-8, Sta12 operational test launch Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1960 October 14 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark SM-62A N-3454 Category IIE-9 operational test launch Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1960 November 14 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark SM-62A N-3460 Category IIE-10 operational test launch Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1960 December 5 - Cape Canaveral LC1. Snark SM-62A N-3458 Category IIE-11, Sta12 operational test launch Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).