1958 in spaceflight (January–June)

This article lists orbital and suborbital launches during the first half of the year 1958.

For all other spaceflight activities, see 1958 in spaceflight. For launches in the second half of 1958 see List of spaceflight launches in July–December 1958.^[1][2]

Orbital launches

← Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec →

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload (⚀ = CubeSat)	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
February
1 February 03:48:56[3]	Juno I		RS-29 (UE)	Cape Canaveral LC-26A		ABMA
		Explorer 1	ARPA	Initial: Medium Earth Decayed to: Low Earth	Magnetospheric	31 March 1970	Successful
		First successful American satellite launch, discovered Van Allen belts.
5 February 07:33[4]	Vanguard		TV-3BU	Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Navy
		Vanguard (Test Satellite G)[5]	NRL	Intended: Medium Earth	Geodesy	5 February	Launch failure
		Loss of control 57 seconds after launch.
← Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec → March
5 March 18:27:57[6]	Juno I		RS/CC-26 (UV)	Cape Canaveral LC-26A		ABMA
		Explorer 2	ARPA	Intended: Medium Earth	Magnetospheric	5 March	Launch failure
		Fourth stage failed to ignite.
17 March 12:15:41[7]	Vanguard		TV-4	Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Navy
		Vanguard 1 (Test Satellite H)[5]	NRL	Medium Earth	Geodesy	In orbit	Successful
		Oldest spacecraft still in orbit, in addition to its upper launch stage.
26 March 17:38:03[8]	Juno I		RS-24 (UT)	Cape Canaveral LC-5		ABMA
		Explorer 3	ARPA	Initial: Medium Earth Decayed to: Low Earth	Magnetospheric	27 June	Successful
← Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec → April
27 April 09:01[9]	Sputnik (8A91)		B1-2	Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
		ISZ-D1 №1	MVS	Intended: Low Earth	Magnetospheric	+88 seconds	Launch failure
		Rocket disintegrated during ascent.
28 April 02:53:00[10]	Vanguard		TV-5	Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Navy
		Vanguard (X-ray/Environmental Satellite)[5]	NRL	Intended: Medium Earth	Solar	29 April	Launch failure
		Third stage failed to ignite.
← Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec → May
15 May 07:00[11]	Sputnik (8A91)		B1-1	Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
		Sputnik 3 (ISZ-D1 №2)	OKB-1	Low Earth	Magnetospheric	6 April 1960	Partial spacecraft failure
		Faulty data recorder limited return of experimental results.
28 May 03:46:20[12]	Vanguard		SLV-1	Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Navy
		Vanguard (Lyman-Alpha Satellite 1)[5]	NRL	Intended: Medium Earth	Solar	28 May	Launch failure
		Loss of control before or during third stage burn.
← Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec → June
26 June 05:00:52[13]	Vanguard		SLV-2	Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Navy
		Vanguard (Lyman-Alpha Satellite 2) [5]	NRL	Intended: Medium Earth	Solar	26 June	Launch failure
		Premature cutoff of second stage.
← Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec →
For flights after 30 June, see 1958 in spaceflight (July–December)

Suborbital flights

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload (⚀ = CubeSat)	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
8 January	Nike-Asp			White Sands		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital		8 January	Successful
		Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi)
10 January 15:48	SM-65A Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-12		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	10 January	Successful
		Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)
11 January	UGM-27 Polaris TV			Point Mugu		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	11 January	Successful
		Maiden flight of Polaris, apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
17 January	UGM-27 Polaris TV			Cape Canaveral LC-3		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	17 January	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
25 January 19:12	Nike-Cajun			Churchill		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	25 January	Successful
		Apogee: 157 kilometres (98 mi)
26 January 04:18:56	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Churchill		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Auroral	26 January	Successful
		Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi)
27 January 06:04	Nike-Cajun			Churchill		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	27 January	Successful
		Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
27 January 18:49	Aerobee			Churchill		US Army
			US Army	Suborbital	Aeronomy	27 January	Successful
		Apogee: 143 kilometres (89 mi)
28 January 20:16	PGM-17 Thor DM-18			Cape Canaveral LC-17A		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	28 January	Launch failure
29 January 19:06	Nike-Cajun			Churchill		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	29 January	Successful
		Apogee: 170 kilometres (110 mi)
29 January 22:15	R-7 Semyorka			Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	29 January	Successful
		Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
3 February 18:02	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Churchill		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric	3 February	Successful
		Apogee: 138 kilometres (86 mi)
4 February 06:17	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Churchill		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric	4 February	Successful
		Apogee: 234 kilometres (145 mi)
7 February 19:37	SM-65A Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-14		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	7 February	Launch failure
		Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)
13 February 06:37	Nike-Cajun			Churchill		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Auroral	13 February	Successful
		Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
16 February 06:17	Nike-Cajun			Churchill		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Auroral	16 February	Successful
		Apogee: 121 kilometres (75 mi)
20 February 17:46	SM-65A Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-12		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	20 February	Launch failure
		Apogee: 90 kilometres (56 mi)
21 February 07:40	R-5A Pobeda			Kapustin Yar		AN
			AN	Suborbital		21 February	Successful
		Apogee: 470 kilometres (290 mi)
21 February 08:42	R-5A Pobeda			Kapustin Yar		AN
			AN	Suborbital		21 February	Successful
		Apogee: 400 kilometres (250 mi)
21 February 09:40	A-1			Kapustin Yar		MVS
			MVS	Suborbital	Ionospheric Solar	21 February	Successful
		Apogee: 206 kilometres (128 mi)
21 February 15:20	R-5A Pobeda			Kapustin Yar		AN
			AN	Suborbital		21 February	Successful
		Apogee: 473 kilometres (294 mi)
22 February 02:02	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Churchill		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Ionospheric Auroral	22 February	Successful
		Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi)
22 February 05:35	Nike-Cajun			Churchill		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Auroral	22 January	Successful
		Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
24 February 07:00	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Churchill		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Aeronomy	24 February	Successful
		Apogee: 207 kilometres (129 mi)
24 February 07:35	Nike-Cajun			Churchill		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	24 February	Successful
		Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi)
26 February 02:35	A-1			Ernst Krenkel Observatory		MVS
			MVS	Suborbital	Ionospheric Aeronomy	26 February	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
26 February 05:49	Nike-Cajun			Churchill		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Auroral	26 February	Successful
		Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
26 February 22:18	Nike-Cajun			Churchill		US Army
			BRL	Suborbital	Technology	26 February	Launch failure
		Apogee: 37 kilometres (23 mi), tested longer nosecone
28 February 13:08	PGM-17 Thor DM-18			Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	28 February	Launch failure
4 March 06:02	Nike-Cajun			Churchill		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	4 March	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
4 March 19:30	Nike-Cajun			Churchill		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	4 March	Successful
		Apogee: 181 kilometres (112 mi)
16 March 04:54	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Churchill		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Auroral	16 March	Successful
		Apogee: 144 kilometres (89 mi)
18 March	Nike Apache			White Sands		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital		18 March	Successful
		Apogee: 107 kilometres (66 mi)
19 March 01:12	Aerobee			Holloman LC-A		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	19 March	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
21 March	Aerobee			Holloman LC-A		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Ionospheric	21 March	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
22 March 06:41	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Churchill		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Auroral	22 March	Successful
		Apogee: 168 kilometres (104 mi)
23 March 18:07	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Churchill		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Auroral Aeronomy	23 March	Successful
		Apogee: 202 kilometres (126 mi)
23 March	UGM-27 Polaris TV			San Clemente		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	23 March	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
24 March 18:30	Nike-Cajun			Churchill		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy Imaging	24 March	Successful
		Apogee: 119 kilometres (74 mi)
24 March 22:00	Nike-Cajun			Churchill		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	24 March	Successful
		Apogee: 137 kilometres (85 mi)
29 March 14:40	R-7 Semyorka			Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	29 March	Successful
		Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
31 March	R-11FM Zemlya			B-67, Beloye More		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	31 March	Successful
		Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
4 April 15:30	R-7 Semyorka			Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	4 April	Successful
		Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
5 April 17:01	SM-65A Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-14		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	5 April	Launch failure
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
7 April	Nike-Cajun			Wallops Island		ARPA
		Hi Ball 1	ARPA	Suborbital	Technology	7 April	Successful
		Apogee: 244 kilometres (152 mi)
11 April	UGM-27 Polaris TV			San Clemente		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	11 April	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
17 April 10:57	Skylark-1			Woomera LA-2		RAE
			RAE	Suborbital	Test flight Aeronomy	17 April	Successful
		Apogee: 152 kilometres (94 mi)
18 April	UGM-27 Polaris TV			Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	18 April	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
19 April 13:30	PGM-17 Thor DM-18			Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	19 April	Launch failure
24 April 00:10	Thor DM-18 Able			Cape Canaveral LC-17A		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	REV test	+150 seconds	Launch failure
		Maiden flight of Thor-Able, turbopump gearbox failed. REV carried Mia, a mouse
24 April	Nike-Cajun			Wallops Island		ARPA
		Beacon Test 1	ARPA	Suborbital	Technology	24 April	Successful
		Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi)
1 May	Nike-Cajun			Holloman		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Meteorite research	1 May	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
5 May 14:15	Aerobee			White Sands LC-35		US Navy
			NRL	Suborbital	Solar	5 May	Successful
		Apogee: 214 kilometres (133 mi)
8 May	UGM-27 Polaris TV			Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	8 May	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
18 May 05:05	PGM-19 Jupiter			Cape Canaveral LC-26B		ABMA
			US Air Force	Suborbital	REV test	05:21	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), carried a Gaslight re-entry vehicle which was recovered
20 May 04:26	Skylark-2			Woomera LA-2		RAE
			RAE	Suborbital	Test flight Aeronomy	20 May	Successful
		Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
20 May 09:34:35	Nike-Cajun			Holloman		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	20 May	Successful
		Apogee: 101 kilometres (63 mi), released caesium and sodium
21 May 11:31:59	Nike-Cajun			Holloman		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	21 May	Successful
		Apogee: 128 kilometres (80 mi), released caesium and sodium
22 May 00:57	Nike-Cajun			Wallops Island		ARPA
		Hi Ball 2	ARPA	Suborbital	Technology	22 May	Successful
		Apogee: 240 kilometres (150 mi)
22 May 11:29:59	Nike-Cajun			Holloman		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	22 May	Successful
		Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi), released sodium
24 May 10:30	R-7 Semyorka			Baikonur Site 1/5		MVS
			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test	24 May	Launch failure
		Apogee: 1,350 kilometres (840 mi)
25 May	Nike-Cajun			Wallops Island		ARPA
		Beacon Test 2	ARPA	Suborbital	Technology	25 May	Successful
		Apogee: 122 kilometres (76 mi)
25 May	R-11FM Zemlya			B-67, Beloye More		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	25 May	Successful
		Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
26 May	R-11FM Zemlya			B-67, Beloye More		OKB-1
			OKB-1	Suborbital	Missile test	26 May	Successful
		Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
May	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS
			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
3 June 21:28	SM-65A Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-12		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	3 June	Successful
		Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi), final flight of Atlas A
4 June 15:15	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Holloman LC-A		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Solar	4 June	Successful
		Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
4 June 21:17	PGM-17 Thor DM-18			Cape Canaveral LC-18B		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	4 June	Successful
		Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
5 June 11:30	Skylark-1			Woomera LA-2		RAE
			RAE	Suborbital	Test flight	5 June	Successful
		Apogee: 153 kilometres (95 mi)
6 June	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	REV test	6 June	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
13 June 15:06	PGM-17 Thor DM-18			Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	13 June	Successful
		Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
18 June 10:35	Skylark-1			Woomera LA-2		RAE
			RAE	Suborbital	Aeronomy	18 June	Launch failure
		Apogee: 3 kilometres (1.9 mi)
18 June 15:15	Skylark-2			Woomera LA-2		RAE
			RAE	Suborbital	Aeronomy	18 June	Successful
		Apogee: 144 kilometres (89 mi)
19 June 21:15	Skylark-2			Woomera LA-2		RAE
			RAE	Suborbital	Test flight Aeronomy	19 June	Successful
		Apogee: 154 kilometres (96 mi)
24 June	X-17			Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	REV test	24 June	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
26 June	Exos			Wallops Island		NACA/AFCRL
			NACA/AFCRL	Suborbital	Test flight	26 June	Successful
		Apogee: 370 kilometres (230 mi), maiden flight of Exos
27 June	WS-199B Bold Orion I			B-47, Cape Canaveral		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	27 June	Launch failure
		Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
June	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS
			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
June	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS
			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
June	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		MVS
			MVS	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)