1953 in spaceflight

This is a list of spaceflight related events which occurred in 1953.

Launch of a Deacon Rockoon, several such launches occurred in 1953

Launches

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket	Flight number	Launch site		LSP
	Payload (⚀ = CubeSat)	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
	Remarks
February
10 February 21:09	Aerobee		White Sands LC-35		NRL
		NRL	Suborbital	Mass spectrometry	10 February	Successful
	Apogee: 137 kilometres (85 mi)
12 February 07:09	Aerobee		White Sands LC-35		NRL
		NRL	Suborbital	Mass spectrometry	12 February	Successful
	Apogee: 137 kilometres (85 mi)
18 February 06:50	Aerobee		White Sands LC-35		US Air Force
	GRENADES	US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	18 February	Successful
	Apogee: 109 kilometres (68 mi)
18 February 06:50	Aerobee		Holloman LC-A		ARDC
		ARDC	Suborbital	Test	18 February	Successful
	Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi)
March
1 March	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	1 March	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
5 March	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	5 March	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
15 March	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	15 March	Launch failure
	Maiden flight of R-5 Pobeda
18 March	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	18 March	Launch failure
19 March	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	19 March	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
April
2 April	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	2 April	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
8 April	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	8 April	Launch failure
14 April 15:47	Aerobee		Holloman LC-A		ARDC
		ARDC	Suborbital	Test	14 April	Successful
	Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi)
18 April	R-11 Zemlya		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	18 April	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), maiden flight of R-11
23 April 19:33	Aerobee		White Sands LC-35		US Air Force
	SPHERE	US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	23 April	Successful
	Apogee: 124 kilometres (77 mi)
24 April 10:19	Aerobee		White Sands LC-35		US Air Force
	GRENADES	US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	24 April	Successful
	Apogee: 108 kilometres (67 mi)
April	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
May
11 May	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	19 March	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
20 May 14:04	Aerobee		Holloman LC-A		ARDC
	Airglow-3	ARDC	Suborbital	Aeronomy	20 May	Successful
	Apogee: 114 kilometres (71 mi)
21 May 15:47	Aerobee		Holloman LC-A		ARDC
	Airglow-4	ARDC	Suborbital	Aeronomy	21 May	Successful
	Apogee: 114 kilometres (71 mi)
23 May	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	23 May	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
May	R-11 Zemlya		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
May	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
May	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
June
3 June	R-11 Zemlya		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	3 June	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
26 June 19:10	Aerobee		Holloman LC-A		ARDC
		ARDC	Suborbital	Ionospheric	26 June	Successful
	Apogee: 135 kilometres (84 mi)
July
1 July 17:52	Aerobee		Holloman LC-A		ARDC
		ARDC	Suborbital	Ionospheric	1 July	Successful
	Apogee: 138 kilometres (86 mi)
6 July	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	6 July	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
14 July 15:30	Aerobee		Holloman LC-A		ARDC
		ARDC	Suborbital	Solar UV	14 July	Successful
	Apogee: 103 kilometres (64 mi)
18 July 22:27	Deacon Rockoon		USS Staten Island, AO-11 LP-1		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Aeronomy/Ionospheric	18 July	Launch failure
	Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi)
19 July 10:30	Deacon Rockoon		USS Staten Island, AO-11 LP-2		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Aeronomy/Ionospheric	19 July	Launch failure
	Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi)
19 July 15:53	Deacon Rockoon		USS Staten Island, AO-11 LP-3		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Aeronomy/Ionospheric	19 July	Launch failure
	Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi)
19 July 21:57	Deacon Rockoon		USS Staten Island, AO-11 LP-4		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Aeronomy/Ionospheric	19 July	Launch failure
	Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi)
24 July 16:40	Deacon Rockoon		USS Staten Island, AO-11 LP-5		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Aeronomy/Ionospheric	24 July	Launch failure
	Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi)
August
3 August 18:28	Deacon Rockoon		USS Staten Island, AO-11 LP-7		US Navy
	SUI-14	US Navy	Suborbital	Aeronomy/Ionospheric	3 August	Launch failure
	Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi)
6 August 15:07	Deacon Rockoon		USS Staten Island, AO-11 LP-8		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Aeronomy/Ionospheric	6 August	Launch failure
	Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi)
9 August 05:54	Deacon Rockoon		USS Staten Island, AO-11 LP-10		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Aeronomy/Ionospheric	9 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
9 August 19:15	Deacon Rockoon		USS Staten Island, AO-11 LP-23		US Navy
		NRL	Suborbital	Aeronomy	9 August	Launch failure
	Apogee: 38 kilometres (24 mi)
30 August 14:00	Deacon Rockoon		USS Eastwind, AO-11 LP-11		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Aeronomy/Ionospheric	30 August	Launch failure
	Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi)
30 August 16:20	Deacon Rockoon		USS Eastwind, AO-11 LP-12		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Aeronomy/Ionospheric	30 August	Launch failure
	Apogee: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi)
30 August 20:46	Deacon Rockoon		USS Eastwind, AO-11 LP-13		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Aeronomy/Ionospheric	30 August	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
September
1 September 05:05	Aerobee		White Sands LC-35		US Air Force
	GRENADES	US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	1 September	Successful
	Apogee: 108 kilometres (67 mi)
3 September 11:51	Deacon Rockoon		USS Eastwind, AO-11 LP-15		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Aeronomy/Ionospheric	3 September	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
3 September 14:05	Deacon Rockoon		USS Eastwind, AO-11 LP-16		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Aeronomy/Ionospheric	3 September	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
5 September 05:36	Aerobee		White Sands LC-35		US Air Force
	GRENADES	US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	5 September	Successful
	Apogee: 114 kilometres (71 mi)
15 September 15:02	Aerobee		Holloman LC-A		ARDC
	Airglow-5	ARDC	Suborbital	Aeronomy	15 September	Launch failure
	Apogee: 32 kilometres (20 mi)
October
7 October 17:00	Aerobee		Holloman LC-A		ARDC
		ARDC	Suborbital	Solar	7 October	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
10 October	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	10 October	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
16 October	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	16 October	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
17 October	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	17 October	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
19 October	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	19 October	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
20 October	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	20 October	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
26 October	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	26 October	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
27 October	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	27 October	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
28 October	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	28 October	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
28 October	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	28 October	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
30 October	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	30 October	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
October	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
October	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
October	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
October	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
November
2 November 18:32	Aerobee		Holloman LC-A		ARDC
		ARDC	Suborbital	Ionospheric	2 November	Successful
	Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)
3 November 18:15	Aerobee		Holloman LC-A		ARDC
		ARDC	Suborbital	Ionospheric	3 November	Successful
	Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi)
12 November	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	12 November	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
15 November	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	15 November	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
15 November	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	15 November	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
19 November 22:40	Aerobee		White Sands LC-35		NRL
		NRL	Suborbital	Aeronomy/Solar	19 November	Successful
	Apogee: 112 kilometres (70 mi)
24 November	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	24 November	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
November	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
November	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
November	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
November	R-1		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
November	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
November	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
November	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
November	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
December
1 December 15:30	Aerobee		White Sands LC-35		NRL
		NRL	Suborbital	Aeronomy/Solar	1 December	Successful
	Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
9 December	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	9 December	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
December	R-5 Pobeda		Kapustin Yar		OKB-1
		OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)

References

Generic references:
 Spaceflight portal

• Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
• Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
• Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.
• Krebs, Gunter. "Chronology of Space Launches".
• Kyle, Ed. "Space Launch Report".
• McDowell, Jonathan. "Jonathan's Space Report".
• Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive".
• Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica".
• Webb, Brian. "Southwest Space Archive".
• Zak, Anatoly. "Russian Space Web".
• "ISS Calendar". Spaceflight 101.
• "NSSDCA Master Catalog". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
• "Space Calendar". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
• "Space Information Center". JAXA.
• "Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).

Footnotes