1960 in spaceflight (September–December)

This is a list of spaceflights launched between September and December 1960. For launches between January and April, see 1960 in spaceflight (January–April), for launches between May and August, see 1960 in spaceflight (May–August). For an overview of the whole year, see 1960 in spaceflight.^[1][2]

Orbital launches

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

October

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload (⚀ = CubeSat)	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
September
13 September 22:14[3]	Thor DM-18 Agena-A			Vandenberg LC-75-3-5		US Air Force
		Discoverer 15 (KH-1 10/9010)	CIA DST	Low Earth (Polar)	Optical imaging	18 October	Successful
		SRV 106	CIA DST	Intended: Low Earth (Polar)	Film return	16 September	Spacecraft failure
		Mid-air recovery unsuccessful, capsule sank prior to recovery from sea. It Carried Scotop-2 (Aftrak-2) ELINT Payload and the Discoverer Optical Beacon.
25 September 15:13	Atlas-D Able			Cape Canaveral LC-12		US Air Force
		Pioneer P-30 (Able VA)	US Air Force	Intended: Selenocentric	Lunar probe	25 September	Launch failure
		Second stage exploded during ascent.
4 October 17:50	Thor DM-21 Ablestar			Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force
		Courier 1B	US Army	Low Earth	Communication	In orbit	Successful
		First active communications satellite.
10 October 14:27:49	Molniya (8K78)		L1-4M	Baikonur Site 1/5		RVSN
		Mars 1M №1	RVSN	Intended: Heliocentric	Mars probe	10 October	Launch failure
		Maiden flight of Molniya, first launch of a spacecraft to fly past Mars. Loss of control 301 seconds after launch due to resonance problem.
11 October 20:33	Atlas LV-3A Agena-A			Point Arguello LC-1-1		US Air Force
		Samos E-1 1 (Samos 1)	US Air Force	Intended: Sun-synchronous	Optical reconnaissance	11 October	Launch failure
		Samos F-1 1	US Air Force	Intended: Sun-synchronous	Optical reconnaissance	11 October	Launch failure
		Upper stage malfunction.
14 October 13:51:03	Molniya (8K78)		L1-5M	Baikonur Site 1/5		RVSN
		Mars 1M №2	RVSN	Intended: Heliocentric	Mars probe	14 October	Launch failure
		Second stage failed to ignite.
26 October 20:26	Thor DM-21 Agena-B			Vandenberg LC-75-3-4		US Air Force
		Discoverer 16 (KH-2 1/9011)	CIA DST	Low Earth (Polar)	Optical imaging	26 October	Launch failure
		SRV 506	CIA DST	Intended: Low Earth (Polar)	Film return
		Maiden flight of Thor-Agena B, second stage failed to separate. It Carried Scotop-3 (Aftrak-3) ELINT Payload and the TOD-5 Navigation Payload.
← Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec → November
3 November 05:23:10	Juno II		AM-19D	Cape Canaveral LC-26B		ABMA
		Explorer 8 (S-30)	NASA	Medium Earth	Ionospheric	28 March 2012	Successful
		Batteries expired on 27 December.
12 November 20:43	Thor DM-21 Agena-B			Vandenberg LC-75-3-5		US Air Force
		Discoverer 17 (KH-2 2/9012)	CIA DST	Low Earth (Polar)	Optical imaging	29 December	Spacecraft failure
		SRV 507	CIA DST	Low Earth (Polar)	Film return	14 November	Successful
		Film jettisonned before camera started taking images. It Carried Scotop-4 (Aftrak-4) ELINT Payload and the TOD-6 Navigation Payload.
23 November 11:13:03	Thor DM-19 Delta		D003	Cape Canaveral LC-17A		US Air Force
		TIROS-2 (Tiros-B)	NASA/NOAA	Low Earth	Weather	18 May 2014	Successful
30 November 19:50	Thor DM-21 Ablestar			Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force
		Transit 3A	US Navy	Intended: Low Earth	Navigation Technology	30 November	Launch failure
		SOLRAD 2 (GRAB-2)	US Navy/NRL	Intended: Low Earth	Radiation research ELINT
		Destroyed by range safety following premature cutoff of first stage.
← Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec → December
1 December 07:30:04	Vostok-L (8K72)		L1-13	Baikonur Site 1/5		RVSN
		Korabl-Sputnik 3 (Sputnik 6/Vostok-1K №3)	RVSN	Low Earth	Test flight	2 December 07:15	Partial spacecraft failure
		Engine failed to cut off after deorbit burn leading to steeper descent than planned, burned up in atmosphere during re-entry.
4 December 21:14	Scout X-1		ST-3	Wallops Island LA-3		NASA
		S-56	US Air Force	Intended: Medium Earth	Aeronomy	4 December	Launch failure
		First orbital launch attempt to use a Scout rocket, second stage malfunctioned, failed to reach orbit.
7 December 20:20:58	Thor DM-21 Agena-B			Vandenberg LC-75-3-4		US Air Force
		Discoverer 18 (KH-2 3/9013)	CIA DST	Low Earth (Polar)	Optical imaging	2 April 1961	Successful
		SRV 508	CIA DST	Low Earth (Polar)	Film return	10 December	Successful
		It Carried TOD-7 Navigation Payload.
15 December 09:10	Atlas-D Able			Cape Canaveral LC-12		US Air Force
		Pioneer P-31 (Able VB)	US Air Force	Intended: Selenocentric	Lunar probe	15 December	Launch failure
		Final flight of Atlas-Able, first stage exploded during ascent.
20 December 20:32	Thor DM-21 Agena-B			Vandenberg LC-75-3-5		US Air Force
		Discoverer 19 (MIDAS RM-1 prototype)	ARPA	Low Earth (Polar)	Technology	23 January 1961	Successful
22 December 07:45:19	Vostok-K (8K72K)			Baikonur Site 1/5		RVSN
		Vostok-1K №4	RVSN	Low Earth	Test flight	22 December	Launch failure
		Maiden flight of Vostok-K, second stage engine failure, spacecraft separated and recovered. Two dogs aboard, both survived.
← Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec →

Suborbital flights

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload (⚀ = CubeSat)	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
1 October	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	1 October	Launch failure
4 October 15:23	Scout X-1			Wallops Island LA-3		NASA
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Plasma research	4 October	Successful
		Apogee: 5,600 kilometres (3,500 mi)
5 October 19:52	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Fort Churchill		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	Remote sensing	5 October	Successful
		Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi)
5 October 16:04	UGM-27 Polaris A1			Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	5 October	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
7 October 15:50	HGM-30A Titan I			Cape Canaveral LC-20		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	RV test	7 October	Successful
		Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
7 October	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	7 October	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
8 October 14:45	Black Brant I			Fort Churchill		CARDE
			DRTE	Suborbital	Auroral	8 October	Successful
		Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi)
10 October	UGM-27 Polaris A1			Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	10 October	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
11 October 19:15	SM-65E Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-13		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	11 October	Launch failure
		Maiden flight of Atlas E, apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
11 October 21:53	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A			Vandenberg LC-75-2-8		Royal Air Force
			Royal Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	11 October	Successful
		Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
12 October 16:37	Black Brant II			Fort Churchill		CARDE
			CARDE	Suborbital	Test flight	12 October	Successful
		Apogee: 196 kilometres (122 mi)
12 October 21:27	Black Brant II			Fort Churchill		CARDE
			CARDE	Suborbital	Test flight	12 October	Successful
		Apogee: 216 kilometres (134 mi)
12 October	Kiva-Hopi			Point Arguello LC-B		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	12 October
		Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
13 October 04:53:49	SM-65D Atlas			Vandenberg LC-576B-3		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	13 October	Launch failure
		Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi)
13 October 09:34	SM-65D Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-11		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	13 October	Successful
		Apogee: 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi), carried three black mice
15 October	UGM-27 Polaris A1			USS Patrick Henry, ETR		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	15 October	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
15 October	UGM-27 Polaris A1			USS Patrick Henry, ETR		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	15 October	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
16 October	UGM-27 Polaris A1			USS Patrick Henry, ETR		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	16 October	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
17 October 21:04	Nike-Cajun			Fort Churchill		US Air Force
			UMI	Suborbital	Aeronomy	17 October	Successful
		Apogee: 132 kilometres (82 mi)
17 October	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	17 October	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
18 October 14:17	Iris			Wallops Island LA-1		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	18 October	Successful
		Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi)
18 October	UGM-27 Polaris A1			USS Patrick Henry, ETR		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	18 October	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
18 October	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	18 October	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
18 October	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	18 October	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
19 October	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	19 October	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
20 October 16:02	PGM-19 Jupiter			Cape Canaveral LC-26A		ABMA
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	20 October	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
20 October 19:50	Black Brant I			Fort Churchill		DRTE
			DRTE	Suborbital	Ionospheric	20 October	Successful
		Apogee: 137 kilometres (85 mi)
20 October	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	20 October	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
21 October	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	21 October	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
22 October 03:09	Trailblazer 1			Wallops Island		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	RV test	22 October	Successful
		Apogee: 260 kilometres (160 mi)
22 October 05:13	SM-65D Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-14		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	22 October	Successful
		Apogee: 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi)
24 October 23:16	HGM-30A Titan I			Cape Canaveral LC-19		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	RV test	24 October	Successful
		Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
24 October	NOTS-EV-2 Caleb			F4D, Point Arguello		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Test flight	24 October	Launch failure
		Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi), second stage failed to ignite
27 October	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	27 October	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
27 October	Kiva-Hopi			Point Arguello LC-B		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	27 October
		Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
28 October 12:21	Black Brant I			Fort Churchill		DRTE
			DRTE	Suborbital	Ionospheric	28 October	Successful
		Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
October	Nike-Zeus			White Sands LC-38		US Army
			US Army	Suborbital	Test flight	October	Successful
		Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
October	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	October	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
October	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	October	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
October	R-14 Chusovaya			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	October	Successful
		Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
October	R-14 Chusovaya			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	October	Successful
		Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
1 November	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	1 November	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
2 November 22:25	Nike-Cajun			Wallops Island		NASA
			UMI	Suborbital	Aeronomy	2 November	Successful
		Apogee: 109 kilometres (68 mi)
3 November 21:19	Nike-Asp			Wallops Island		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	Test flight	3 November	Successful
		Apogee: 193 kilometres (120 mi)
4 November 20:52	Nike-Cajun			Eglin		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Test flight	4 November	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
4 November	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	4 November	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
4 November	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	4 November	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
4 November	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	4 November	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
5 November 01:00	Dong Feng 1			Jiuquan LA-3		PLA
			PLA	Suborbital	Missile test	5 November	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
5 November	R-5 Pobeda			Chelkar		OKB-30
			OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	5 November	Launch failure
		Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
7 November 19:00	UGM-27 Polaris A1			Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	7 November	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
8 November 13:18	XRM-91 Blue Scout Junior			Cape Canaveral LC-18A		US Air Force
		HETS	US Air Force	Suborbital	Magnetospheric	8 November	Launch failure
		Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
10 November 01:44	Javelin			Wallops Island		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	10 November	Successful
		Apogee: 975 kilometres (606 mi)
10 November 02:35	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			White Sands LC-35		NRL
				Suborbital	Aeronomy	10 November	Successful
		Apogee: 211 kilometres (131 mi)
10 November 16:22	UGM-27 Polaris A2			Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	10 November	Successful
		Maiden flight of Polaris A2, apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
11 November 11:22	Nike-Cajun			Fort Churchill		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	Magnetospheric	11 November	Successful
		Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
11 November 12:11	Nike-Cajun			Fort Churchill		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	Magnetospheric	11 November	Successful
		Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
12 November 18:40	Nike-Cajun			Fort Churchill		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	Magnetospheric	12 November	Successful
		Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
12 November 23:32	Nike-Cajun			Fort Churchill		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	Magnetospheric	12 November	Successful
		Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
12 November	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	12 November	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
13 November 16:03	Nike-Cajun			Fort Churchill		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	Magnetospheric	13 November	Successful
		Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
15 November 05:54	SM-65D Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-12		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	15 November	Successful
		Apogee: 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi)
15 November 16:41	Aerobee-150A			Wallops Island		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	15 November	Successful
		Apogee: 227 kilometres (141 mi)
16 November 11:02	Skylark-2			Woomera LA-2		RAE
			WRE/RAE	Suborbital	Test flight	16 November	Successful
		Apogee: 105 kilometres (65 mi)
16 November 17:37	Nike-Cajun			Wallops Island		NASA
			UMI	Suborbital	Aeronomy	16 November	Successful
		Apogee: 152 kilometres (94 mi)
16 November 18:25	MGM-31 Pershing I			Cape Canaveral LC-30A		US Army
			US Army	Suborbital	Missile test	16 November	Successful
		Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
16 November 19:51	Nike-Cajun			Fort Churchill		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	Magnetospheric	16 November	Successful
		Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
17 November 06:00	Nike-Cajun			Fort Churchill		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	Magnetospheric	17 November	Successful
		Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
17 November 10:06	Nike-Cajun			White Sands
				Suborbital	Aeronomy	17 November	Successful
		Apogee: 152 kilometres (94 mi)
17 November 10:40	Skylark-2C			Woomera LA-2		RAE
			UCL/QUB	Suborbital	Aeronomy	17 November	Successful
		Apogee: 247 kilometres (153 mi)
17 November 13:40	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			White Sands LC-35		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	17 November	Successful
		Apogee: 217 kilometres (135 mi)
17 November 19:00	UGM-27 Polaris A1			Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	17 November	Launch failure
		Apogee: 10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
17 November	R-5A Pobeda			Chelkar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Target	17 November	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
18 November 03:39	Nike-Cajun			Fort Churchill		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	Magnetospheric	18 November	Successful
		Apogee: 128 kilometres (80 mi)
18 November 23:39	Nike-Cajun			Fort Churchill		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	Magnetospheric	18 November	Successful
		Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
21 November 14:00	Redstone MRLV			Cape Canaveral LC-5		US Air Force
		Mercury-Redstone 1	NASA	Intended: Suborbital	Test flight	+2 seconds	Launch failure
		Engine failure one second after launch, rocket settled back onto launch pad without exploding, spacecraft later reflown as Mercury-Redstone 1A using different rocket. Apogee: 10 centimetres (3.9 in)
21 November	Nike-Cajun			Point Arguello LC-B		AEC
			AEC	Suborbital	Aeronomy	21 November
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
22 November 08:42	Aerobee-150A			Wallops Island		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	UV Astronomy	22 November	Successful
		Apogee: 183 kilometres (114 mi)
22 November	Nike-Cajun			Point Arguello LC-B		AEC
			AEC	Suborbital	Aeronomy	22 November
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
23 November 23:55	Skylark-2			Woomera LA-2		RAE
			RAE	Suborbital	Ionospheric	23 November	Successful
		Apogee: 160 kilometres (99 mi)
24 November	R-5A Pobeda			Chelkar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Target	24 November	Launch failure
25 November	Antares (OPd-56-39-22D)			CERES		ONERA
			ONERA	Suborbital	RV test	25 November	Successful
		Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
29 November 11:16	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			White Sands LC-35		NRL
				Suborbital	UV Astronomy	29 November	Successful
		Apogee: 197 kilometres (122 mi)
30 November 01:12	SM-65E Atlas			Cape Canaveral LC-13		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	30 November	Launch failure
		Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
30 November 05:01	Aerobee-150 (Hi)			Fort Churchill		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Ionospheric	30 November	Successful
		Apogee: 241 kilometres (150 mi)
30 November	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	30 November	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
30 November	Antares (OPd-56-39-22D)			CERES		ONERA
			ONERA	Suborbital	RV test	30 November	Successful
		Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
1 December	Nike-Zeus			White Sands LC-38		US Army
			US Army	Suborbital	Test flight	1 December	Successful
		Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
5 December	UGM-27 Polaris A2			Cape Canaveral LC-25A		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	5 December	Successful
		Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
6 December 18:44	Kiva-Hopi			Point Arguello LC-B		US Air Force
		Phoenix	US Air Force	Suborbital	Ionospheric	6 December	Successful
		Apogee: 367 kilometres (228 mi)
7 December 00:20	Skylark-2			Woomera LA-2		RAE
			RAE	Suborbital	Ionospheric	7 December	Launch failure
		Apogee: 35 kilometres (22 mi)
8 December 16:52:09	Nike-Cajun			Wallops Island		NASA
			GCA	Suborbital	Ionospheric	8 December	Successful
		Apogee: 152 kilometres (94 mi)
8 December	R-5 Pobeda			Chelkar		OKB-30
			OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	8 December	Launch failure
		Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
9 December 11:20	Nike-Cajun			Wallops Island		NASA
			GCA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	9 December	Successful
		Apogee: 146 kilometres (91 mi)
9 December 22:15	Nike-Cajun			Wallops Island		NASA
			GCA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	9 December	Launch failure
		Apogee: 24 kilometres (15 mi)
10 December 22:30	Javelin			Wallops Island		NASA
			GCA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	10 December	Successful
		Apogee: 716 kilometres (445 mi)
10 December	R-5 Pobeda			Chelkar		OKB-30
			OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	10 December	Successful
		Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
11 December	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	11 December	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
12 December 18:42	MGM-31 Pershing I			Cape Canaveral LC-30A		US Army
			US Army	Suborbital	Missile test	12 December	Successful
		Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
12 December 22:36	Javelin			Wallops Island		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	Magnetospheric	12 December	Successful
		Apogee: 1,140 kilometres (710 mi)
12 December	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	12 December	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
13 December 20:08	PGM-17 Thor DM-18A			Vandenberg LC-75-2-8		Royal Air Force
			Royal Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	13 December	Successful
		Apogee: 520 kilometres (320 mi)
14 December 16:52	Nike-Cajun			Wallops Island		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	Aeronomy	14 December	Successful
		Apogee: 110 kilometres (68 mi)
14 December	Kiva-Hopi			Point Arguello LC-B		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	14 December
		Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
14 December	Kiva-Hopi			Point Arguello LC-B		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	14 December
		Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
15 December	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	15 December	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
15 December	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	15 December	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
16 December 20:35:33	SM-65D Atlas			Vandenberg LC-576B-3		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	16 December	Successful
		Apogee: 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi)
16 December	Kiva-Hopi			Point Arguello LC-B		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	16 December
		Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
16 December	Kiva-Hopi			Point Arguello LC-B		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	16 December
		Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
17 December	R-5 Pobeda			Chelkar		OKB-30
			OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	17 December	Successful
		Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
19 December 16:15	Redstone MRLV			Cape Canaveral LC-5		US Air Force
		Mercury-Redstone 1A	NASA	Suborbital	Test flight	17:00	Successful
		Reflight of Mercury-Redstone 1, apogee: 210 kilometres (130 mi)
20 December	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	20 December	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
20 December	HGM-30A Titan I			Cape Canaveral LC-20		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	RV test	20 December	Launch failure
22 December 18:34	UGM-27 Polaris A1			USS Robert E. Lee, ETR		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	22 December	Successful
		Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
22 December	R-5 Pobeda			Chelkar		OKB-30
			OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	22 December	Successful
		Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
22 December	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	22 December	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
22 December	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	22 December	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
23 December	R-5 Pobeda			Chelkar		OKB-30
			OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	23 December	Successful
		Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
23 December	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	23 December	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
24 December	R-5 Pobeda			Chelkar		OKB-30
			OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	24 December	Successful
		Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
24 December	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	24 December	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
24 December	R-14 Chusovaya			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	24 December	Successful
		Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
26 December	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	26 December	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
29 December	R-12 Dvina			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	29 December	Successful
		Apogee: 402 kilometres (250 mi)
31 December	R-14 Chusovaya			Kapustin Yar		RVSN
			RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	31 December	Successful
		Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
31 December	R-5 Pobeda			Chelkar		OKB-30
			OKB-30	Suborbital	Target	31 December	Successful
		Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
December	Dong Feng 1			Jiuquan LA-3		PLA
			PLA	Suborbital	Missile test	December	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
December	Dong Feng 1			Jiuquan LA-3		PLA
			PLA	Suborbital	Missile test	December	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
December	Nike-Zeus			White Sands LC-38		US Army
			US Army	Suborbital	Test flight	December	Successful
		Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
December	Nike-Nike-Recruit			Wallops Island		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	RV test	December	Successful
		Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)
Unknown	Nike-Nike-Recruit			Wallops Island		NASA
			NASA	Suborbital	RV test	Unknown	Successful
		Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)
Unknown	Jaguar			B-57, White Sands		US Air Force
			US Air Force	Suborbital	Aeronomy	Unknown	Successful
		Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi)
Unknown	Sparoair I			F3H-2, Point Mugu		US Navy
			US Navy	Suborbital	Test flight	Unknown	Successful
		Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)