Rocket launches in1959

The Soviet Union turns its Luna programme toward the Moon: Luna 1 misses in January but becomes the first object to escape Earth's gravity; Luna 2 strikes the lunar surface in September; Luna 3 loops around in October and returns the first photographs of the far side.

Monthly Cadencecomplete

AUGpeak14 launches↑90%vs 1958

launches: 120
success · 85/120: 71%
provider: 1

1959 launch leaders

Countries

100

USA

02 Russia 20

Countries

100

USA

02 Russia 20

Rockets

Thor

1959 highlights

Jan 2Luna

partial failure

Luna 1 is first to escape Earth and fly past the Moon

Luna 1 became the first spacecraft to escape Earth's gravity. The guidance error sent it past the Moon, 6,000 km from its surface.

Mar 3Juno II

Success

Pioneer 4 becomes the first US spacecraft to escape Earth

Pioneer 4 flew past the Moon and became the first American spacecraft to escape Earth's gravity.

Oct 4Luna

Success

Luna 3 photographs the Moon's far side for the first time

Luna 3 returned the first photographs of a hemisphere hidden from every telescope on Earth.

All 1959 launches

Quick filters

120 launches


January
Jan 2, 195916:41:00 UTCPartial failure	Luna 1 Russia • Luna	-	Luna	partial failure
Jan 16, 195904:00:00 UTCFailure	ICBM test USA • Atlas B	-	Atlas B	Failure
Jan 22, 195900:00:00 UTC	CM-21 USA • Jupiter	-	Jupiter	Success
Jan 23, 195900:00:00 UTCFailure	RVX test USA • Thor DM-18 Able-II	-	Thor DM-18 Able-II	Failure
Jan 27, 195923:34:00 UTCPartial failure	ICBM test USA • Atlas C	-	Atlas C	partial failure
Jan 30, 195923:53:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
February
Feb 4, 195908:01:00 UTC	ICBM test USA • Atlas B	-	Atlas B	Success
Feb 6, 195921:22:00 UTC	A-3 USA • Titan I	-	Titan I	Success
Feb 17, 195915:55:00 UTC	Vanguard SLV-4 USA • Vanguard	-	Vanguard	Success
Feb 20, 195905:38:00 UTCFailure	ICBM test USA • Atlas C	-	Atlas C	Failure
Feb 25, 195919:45:00 UTC	A-5 USA • Titan I	-	Titan I	Success
Feb 27, 195900:00:00 UTC	CM-22 USA • Jupiter	-	Jupiter	Success
Feb 28, 195907:58:00 UTC	RVX test USA • Thor DM-18 Able-II	-	Thor DM-18 Able-II	Success
Feb 28, 195921:49:16 UTCFailure	Discoverer 1 USA • Thor DM-18 Agena-A	-	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Failure
March
Mar 3, 195900:00:00 UTC	Pioneer 4 USA • Juno II	-	Juno II	Success
Mar 17, 195901:46:00 UTC	041081 Russia • R-7	-	R-7	Success
Mar 19, 195900:59:00 UTCFailure	ICBM test USA • Atlas C	-	Atlas C	Failure
Mar 21, 195906:19:00 UTC	RVX test USA • Thor DM-18 Able-II	-	Thor DM-18 Able-II	Success
Mar 22, 195900:58:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Mar 25, 195905:25:00 UTC	I3-18 Russia • R-7	-	R-7	Success
Mar 27, 195904:02:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Mar 30, 195922:53:00 UTCFailure	I3-20 Russia • R-7	-	R-7	Failure
April
Apr 3, 195917:11:00 UTC	A-4 USA • Titan I	-	Titan I	Success
Apr 4, 195900:00:00 UTC	CM-22A USA • Jupiter	-	Jupiter	Success
Apr 8, 195906:35:00 UTC	RVX test USA • Thor DM-18 Able-II	-	Thor DM-18 Able-II	Success
Apr 13, 195921:18:39 UTC	Discoverer 2 USA • Thor DM-18 Agena-A	-	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Success
Apr 14, 195902:49:00 UTCFailure	Vanguard SLV-5 USA • Vanguard	-	Vanguard	Failure
Apr 14, 195921:46:00 UTCFailure	ICBM test USA • Atlas D	-	Atlas D	Failure
Apr 16, 195920:46:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Apr 23, 195905:30:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Apr 25, 195905:00:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
May
May 4, 195918:30:00 UTC	A-6 USA • Titan I	-	Titan I	Success
May 7, 195900:00:00 UTC	AM-12 USA • Jupiter	-	Jupiter	Success
May 9, 195918:59:00 UTC	I3-21 Russia • R-7	-	R-7	Success
May 12, 195917:35:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
May 14, 195900:00:00 UTC	AM-17 USA • Jupiter	-	Jupiter	Success
May 19, 195904:30:00 UTCFailure	ICBM test USA • Atlas D	-	Atlas D	Failure
May 21, 195906:40:00 UTC	RVX test USA • Thor DM-18 Able-II	-	Thor DM-18 Able-II	Success
May 23, 195902:42:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
May 28, 195900:00:00 UTC	AM-18 USA • Jupiter	-	Jupiter	Success
May 30, 195921:42:00 UTCFailure	I3-22 Russia • R-7	-	R-7	Failure
June
Jun 3, 195920:09:20 UTCFailure	Discoverer 3 USA • Thor DM-18 Agena-A	-	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Failure
Jun 6, 195917:39:00 UTCFailure	ICBM test USA • Atlas D	-	Atlas D	Failure
Jun 9, 195920:34:00 UTCFailure	I3-23 Russia • R-7	-	R-7	Failure
Jun 11, 195906:44:00 UTC	RVX test USA • Thor DM-18 Able-II	-	Thor DM-18 Able-II	Success
Jun 16, 195921:45:00 UTCFailure	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Failure
Jun 18, 195908:08:00 UTCFailure	Luna 1959A Russia • Luna	-	Luna	Failure
Jun 22, 195920:16:00 UTCFailure	Vanguard SLV-6 USA • Vanguard	-	Vanguard	Failure
Jun 25, 195922:47:45 UTCFailure	Discoverer 4 USA • Thor DM-18 Agena-A	-	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Failure
Jun 26, 195900:00:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Jun 30, 195902:37:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
July
Jul 16, 195900:00:00 UTCFailure	Explorer 6 USA • Juno II	-	Juno II	Failure
Jul 18, 195918:15:00 UTC	I3-24 Russia • R-7	-	R-7	Success
Jul 21, 195905:22:00 UTC	ICBM test USA • Atlas C	-	Atlas C	Success
Jul 21, 195907:33:00 UTCFailure	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Failure
Jul 24, 195912:47:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Jul 29, 195904:10:00 UTC	ICBM test USA • Atlas D	-	Atlas D	Success
Jul 30, 195904:00:00 UTC	041082 Russia • R-7	-	R-7	Success
August
Aug 3, 195921:41:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Aug 6, 195902:48:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Aug 7, 195914:24:20 UTC	Explorer 6 USA • Thor DM-18 Able-III	-	Thor DM-18 Able-III	Success
Aug 11, 195918:01:00 UTC	ICBM test USA • Atlas D	-	Atlas D	Success
Aug 13, 195919:00:08 UTC	Discoverer 5 USA • Thor DM-18 Agena-A	-	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Success
Aug 13, 195923:14:00 UTC	I3-25 Russia • R-7	-	R-7	Success
Aug 14, 195900:00:00 UTCFailure	Beacon 2 USA • Juno II	-	Juno II	Failure
Aug 14, 195909:00:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Aug 14, 195916:00:00 UTCFailure	B-5 USA • Titan I	-	Titan I	Failure
Aug 14, 195919:36:04 UTCPartial failure	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	partial failure
Aug 19, 195919:24:44 UTC	Discoverer 6 USA • Thor DM-18 Agena-A	-	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Success
Aug 24, 195915:53:00 UTC	ICBM test USA • Atlas C	-	Atlas C	Success
Aug 27, 195900:00:00 UTC	AM-19 USA • Jupiter	-	Jupiter	Success
Aug 27, 195912:30:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
September
Sep 9, 195908:19:00 UTCPartial failure	Big Joe 1 USA • Atlas D	-	Atlas D	partial failure
Sep 9, 195917:50:42 UTC	ICBM test USA • Atlas D	-	Atlas D	Success
Sep 12, 195900:00:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Sep 12, 195906:39:00 UTC	Luna 2 Russia • Luna	-	Luna	Success
Sep 15, 195900:00:00 UTCFailure	Biological nose cone USA • Jupiter	-	Jupiter	Failure
Sep 17, 195902:09:00 UTC	ICBM test USA • Atlas D	-	Atlas D	Success
Sep 17, 195914:34:00 UTCFailure	Transit 1A USA • Thor DM-18 Able-II	-	Thor DM-18 Able-II	Failure
Sep 17, 195921:09:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Sep 18, 195905:20:07 UTC	Vanguard SLV-7 USA • Vanguard	-	Vanguard	Success
Sep 18, 195916:02:00 UTC	I1-1T Russia • R-7	-	R-7	Success
Sep 22, 195918:00:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
October
Oct 1, 195900:00:00 UTC	AM-24 USA • Jupiter	-	Jupiter	Success
Oct 4, 195900:43:00 UTC	Luna 3 Russia • Luna	-	Luna	Success
Oct 6, 195905:55:00 UTC	ICBM test USA • Atlas D	-	Atlas D	Success
Oct 6, 195916:41:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Oct 6, 195918:26:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Oct 10, 195903:10:00 UTC	ICBM test USA • Atlas D	-	Atlas D	Success
Oct 13, 195900:00:00 UTC	Explorer 7 USA • Juno II	-	Juno II	Success
Oct 14, 195904:15:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Oct 21, 195922:57:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Oct 22, 195900:00:00 UTC	AM-31 USA • Jupiter	-	Jupiter	Success
Oct 22, 195917:30:00 UTC	267432 Russia • R-7	-	R-7	Success
Oct 25, 195917:32:00 UTC	267434 Russia • R-7	-	R-7	Success
Oct 29, 195902:12:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Oct 29, 195907:20:00 UTCPartial failure	ICBM test USA • Atlas D	-	Atlas D	partial failure
November
Nov 1, 195921:23:00 UTC	267431 Russia • R-7	-	R-7	Success
Nov 3, 195900:00:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Nov 4, 195921:37:00 UTCPartial failure	ICBM test USA • Atlas D	-	Atlas D	partial failure
Nov 5, 195900:00:00 UTC	CM-33 USA • Jupiter	-	Jupiter	Success
Nov 7, 195920:28:41 UTC	Discoverer 7 USA • Thor DM-18 Agena-A	-	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Success
Nov 12, 195919:24:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Nov 19, 195900:00:00 UTC	AM-25 USA • Jupiter	-	Jupiter	Success
Nov 19, 195900:00:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Nov 20, 195919:25:24 UTCFailure	Discoverer 8 USA • Thor DM-18 Agena-A	-	Thor DM-18 Agena-A	Failure
Nov 20, 195921:06:00 UTC	I2-1T Russia • R-7	-	R-7	Success
Nov 24, 195919:48:00 UTC	ICBM test USA • Atlas D	-	Atlas D	Success
Nov 26, 195907:26:00 UTCFailure	Pioneer P-3 USA • Atlas Able	-	Atlas Able	Failure
Nov 27, 195901:12:00 UTC	267433 Russia • R-7	-	R-7	Success
December
Dec 1, 195917:00:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Dec 2, 195905:29:00 UTCFailure	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Failure
Dec 9, 195900:10:00 UTC	ICBM test USA • Atlas D	-	Atlas D	Success
Dec 10, 195900:00:00 UTC	AM-32 USA • Jupiter	-	Jupiter	Success
Dec 12, 195917:11:00 UTCFailure	RVX-3 USA • Titan I	-	Titan I	Failure
Dec 15, 195902:14:00 UTCFailure	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Failure
Dec 17, 195900:00:00 UTC	AM-26 USA • Jupiter	-	Jupiter	Success
Dec 17, 195900:00:00 UTC	Missile test USA • Thor DM-18A	-	Thor DM-18A	Success
Dec 19, 195900:48:00 UTC	ICBM test USA • Atlas D	-	Atlas D	Success
Dec 23, 195919:05:00 UTCFailure	I1-1 Russia • R-7 A	-	R-7 A	Failure