1958 in spaceflight

Explorer 1 was the first American satellite to reach orbit on 31 January 1958.

1958 in spaceflight

Timeline of spaceflight ← 1957 1959 →

1958 in spaceflight

A Juno I launches the first American satellite, Explorer 1
Orbital launches
First	1 February
Last	18 December
Total	28
Successes	6
Failures	20
Partial failures	2
Catalogued	8
National firsts
Spaceflight	Canada
Satellite	United States
Orbital launch	United States
Rockets
Maiden flights	Juno I Sputnik 8A91 Pilot Thor-Able Luna Juno II Atlas B
Retirements	Sputnik 8A91 Pilot Juno I
v t e

Overview

Orbital and Suborbital flights

Main articles: 1958 in spaceflight (January–June) and 1958 in spaceflight (July–December)

Orbital launch statistics

By country

Country		Launches	Successes	Failures	Partial failures
	Soviet Union	5	1	4	0
	United States	23	5[a]	16	2

By rocket

By type and configuration

Rocket	Country	Type	Family	Launches	Successes	Failures	Partial failures	Remarks
Atlas B	United States	SM-65 Atlas	Atlas	1	1	0	0	Maiden flight, only orbital launch
Juno I	United States	Jupiter-C	Redstone	6	3	3	0	Maiden flight
Juno II	United States	Juno	Jupiter	1	0	0	1	Maiden flight
Luna	Soviet Union	Vostok	R-7	3	0	3	0	Maiden flight
Pilot II	United States	Pilot	NOTS-EV	6	0	6	0	Only flights
Sputnik 8A91	Soviet Union	Sputnik	R-7	2	1	1	0	Only flights
Thor DM-18 Able-I	United States	Thor-Able	Thor	3	0	2	1	Maiden flight
Vanguard	United States	Vanguard	Viking	6	1	5	0

By family

Family	Country	Launches	Successes	Failures	Partial failures	Remarks
Atlas	United States	1	1	0	0	First orbital launch
Redstone	United States	6	3	3	0	First orbital launch
Jupiter	United States	1	0	0	1	Maiden flight
NOTS-EV	United States	6	0	6	0	Only orbital launches
R07R-7	Soviet Union	5	1	4	0
Thor	United States	3	0	2	1	Maiden flight
Viking	United States	6	1	5	0

By launch site

Site	Country	Launches	Successes	Failures	Partial failures	Remarks
Baikonur	Soviet Union	5	1	4	0
Cape Canaveral	United States	17	5	10	2
Point Mugu	United States	6	0	6	0

By orbit

Orbital regime	Launches	Successes	Failures	Accidentally achieved	Remarks
Catalogued suborbital	N/A	N/A	N/A	2	Pioneer 1 and Pioneer 3 went more than 100000 km on their way to the Moon but were ultimately suborbital due to insufficient velocity.
Low Earth	4	2	2	0
Medium Earth	17	4	13	0
Heliocentric	7	0	7	0

See also

• Timeline of spaceflight