Oct 4 Sputnik PS
Success
Sputnik 1 becomes the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth
The Soviet Union orbited an 83-kilogram metal ball with a beeping radio. The launch opened the space age and alarmed the United States.
Rocket launches in1957
A month after Sputnik 1 reaches orbit, the Soviet Union flies again: Sputnik 2 carries Laika, a stray Moscow dog, into orbit on November 3 — the first living creature ever to orbit Earth. The USA's answer — a Vanguard attempt on December 6 — lifts a metre off the pad, loses thrust, and falls back in a fireball the press dubs “Kaputnik”.
Monthly Cadence complete
OCT peak 5 launches ↑ 27 launches vs 1956
- launches
- 28
- success · 14/28
- 50%
- provider
- 1
1957 launch leaders
1957 highlights
Aug 8 Jupiter C
Success
A Jupiter-C nose cone comes back from space intact and is recovered at sea
A ceramic coating protected it from re-entry heat. Eisenhower showed the cone on television as proof that a missile warhead could survive the trip back.
Aug 21 R-7
Success
Soviet R-7 makes the first successful flight of an intercontinental missile
The missile flew about 6,000 km from Baikonur to Kamchatka. A modified R-7 launched Sputnik 1 six weeks later.
Nov 3 Sputnik PS
Success
Laika the dog becomes the first animal to orbit Earth
Sputnik 2 had no way to bring her home. She is believed to have died of overheating within hours of launch.
Dec 6 Vanguard
Failure
America's first satellite launch attempt explodes on the pad
The Vanguard rocket rose about a metre before falling back in flames. Newspapers called it Flopnik.
All 1957 launches
Quick filters
28 launches
| January | ||||
Jan 26, 1957Failure | Missile test USA • Thor DM-18 | |||
| March | ||||
Mar 1, 1957Failure | AM-1A USA • Jupiter | |||
| April | ||||
Apr 20, 1957Failure | Missile test USA • Thor DM-18 | |||
Apr 26, 1957Failure | AM-1B USA • Jupiter | |||
| May | ||||
May 15, 1957 | Jupiter nose cone USA • Jupiter C | |||
May 15, 1957Failure | M1-5 Russia • R-7 | |||
May 31, 1957 | AM-1 USA • Jupiter | |||
| June | ||||
Jun 11, 1957Failure | ICBM test USA • Atlas A | |||
| July | ||||
Jul 12, 1957Failure | M1-7 Russia • R-7 | |||
| August | ||||
Aug 8, 1957 | Jupiter nose cone (1/3 scale) USA • Jupiter C | |||
Aug 21, 1957 | M1-8 Russia • R-7 | |||
Aug 28, 1957 | AM-2 USA • Jupiter | |||
Aug 30, 1957Failure | Missile test USA • Thor DM-18 | |||
| September | ||||
Sep 7, 1957 | M1-9 Russia • R-7 | |||
Sep 20, 1957 | Missile test USA • Thor DM-18 | |||
Sep 25, 1957Failure | ICBM test USA • Atlas A | |||
| October | ||||
Oct 3, 1957Failure | Missile test USA • Thor DM-18 | |||
Oct 4, 1957 | Sputnik 1 Russia • Sputnik PS | |||
Oct 11, 1957Failure | Missile test USA • Thor DM-18 | |||
Oct 23, 1957 | AM-3 USA • Jupiter | |||
Oct 24, 1957 | Missile test USA • Thor DM-18 | |||
| November | ||||
Nov 3, 1957 | Sputnik 2 Russia • Sputnik PS | |||
Nov 27, 1957Failure | AM-3A USA • Jupiter | |||
| December | ||||
Dec 6, 1957Failure | Vanguard TV3 USA • Vanguard | |||
Dec 7, 1957 | Missile test USA • Thor DM-18 | |||
Dec 17, 1957 | ICBM test USA • Atlas A | |||
Dec 19, 1957Failure | AM-4 USA • Jupiter | |||
Dec 19, 1957 | Missile test USA • Thor DM-18 | |||