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Orbital Launches of 1959

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ID Date Payload(s) Launch Vehicle Site Remark
January
1959 μ* (001) 02.01.1959 Luna 1 (Ye-1 4, Mechta, AMS) Vostok-L Ba LC-1/5
1959-E01 21.01.1959 Discoverer (1) (Corona (1)) Thor-DM18 Agena-A Va 75-3-4 Failure before launch
February
1959 α (002) 17.02.1959 Vanguard 2 (Cloud Cover Satellite 1) Vanguard CC LC-18A
1959 β (003)† 28.02.1959 Discoverer 1 (Corona 1) Thor-DM18 Agena-A Va 75-3-4 Failure
March
1959 ν* (004) 03.03.1959 Pioneer 4 Juno-2 CC LC-5
April
1959 γ (005) 13.04.1959 Discoverer 2 (Corona 2) Thor-DM18 Agena-A Va 75-3-4
1959-F01 14.04.1959 Vanguard (Magnetometer Satellite)
Vanguard Balloon
Vanguard CC LC-18A Failure
May
June
1959-F02 03.06.1959 Discoverer 3 (Corona 3) Thor-DM18 Agena-A Va 75-3-4 Failure
1959-F03 18.06.1959 Luna (2) (Ye-1A #5) Vostok-L Ba LC-1/5 Failure
1959-F04 22.06.1959 Vanguard (Radiation Balance Satellite) Vanguard CC LC-18A Failure
1959-F05 25.06.1959 KH-1 1 (Corona 4, Mission 9001, Discoverer 4) Thor-DM18 Agena-A Va 75-3-5 Failure
July
1959-F06 16.07.1959 Explorer (6) (S 1) Juno-2 CC LC-5 Failure
August
1959 δ (006) 07.08.1959 Explorer 6 (S 2) Thor-DM18 Able-3 CC LC-17A
1959 ε (007) 13.08.1959 KH-1 2 (Corona 5, Mission 9002, Discoverer 5) Thor-DM18 Agena-A Va 75-3-4
1959-F07 15.08.1959 Beacon 2 Juno-2 (3 St.) CC LC-26B Failure
1959 ζ (008) 19.08.1959 KH-1 3 (Corona 6, Mission 9003, Discoverer 6) Thor-DM18 Agena-A Va 75-3-5
September
1959 ξ* (009) 12.09.1959 Luna 2 (Ye-1A #6) Vostok-L Ba LC-1/5
1959-F08 17.09.1959 Transit 1A Thor-DM18 Able-2 (mod.) CC LC-17A Failure
1959 η (010) 18.09.1959 Vanguard 3 (Magne-Ray Satellite) Vanguard (mod.) CC LC-18A Partial Failure
1959-E02 24.09.1959 [Pioneer (P 1)] Atlas-C Able CC LC-14 Failure before launch
October
1959 θ (011) 04.10.1959 Luna 3 (Ye-2A #1) Vostok-L Ba LC-1/5
1959 ι (012) 13.10.1959 Explorer 7 (S 1a) Juno-2 CC LC-5
November
1959 κ (013) 07.11.1959 KH-1 4 (Corona 7, Mission 9004, Discoverer 7) Thor-DM18 Agena-A Va 75-3-4
1959 λ (014) 20.11.1959 KH-1 5 (Corona 8, Mission 9005, Discoverer 8) Thor-DM18 Agena-A Va 75-3-5 Partial Failure
1959-F09 26.11.1959 Pioneer (P 3) Atlas-D Able CC LC-14 Failure
December

† = Discoverer 1 most likely did not reach orbit, but was announced a success at the time.
* = COSPAR designator assigned out of chronological sequence

Launch sites:

Ba = Baikonur (Tyuratam, NIIP-5, GIK-5), Tyuratam, USSR USSR
CC = Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Eastern Test Range, Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA USA
Va = Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, USA USA
1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 195719581959   •   1960196119621963196419651966196719681969
1970197119721973197419751976197719781979   •   1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
1990199119921993199419951996199719981999   •   2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
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