1961 Space Launch Chronology
Every orbital and deep-space launch attempt of 1961, successes and failures alike, drawn from the GCAT launch catalog.
Data current as of 2026-07-19.
50
Launch attempts
32
Successes
18
Failures
64%
Success rate
Launches by vehicle family
Thor
23
Atlas
11
Vostok
5
Scout
3
Juno II
3
Molniya
2
Kosmos
2
Blue Scout II
1
| Date | Designator | Payloads | Vehicle | Site / Pad | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1961 (1) | |||||
| Jan 31 | 1961 ALP | 70D/2102 : SAMOS F-1 No. 2, SAMOS E-1 No. 2, Agena A 2102 +3 more, Atlas D Booster, Atlas D 70D, Samos Fairing | Atlas Agena A | PA / LC1-1 | Success |
| February 1961 (7) | |||||
| Feb 04 | 1961 BET | L1-7V : 1VA No. 1, 8K78I, BOZ +7 more, Blok-L, 8K74B, 8K74V, 8K74G, 8K74D, 8K74A, Molniya Fairing | Molniya 8K78 | NIIP-5 / LC1 | Failure |
| Feb 12 | 1961 GAM | L1-6V : 1VA No. 2, 8K78I, BOZ +8 more, deb Tyazhyoliy Sputnik, Blok-L, 8K74B, 8K74V, 8K74G, 8K74D, 8K74A, Molniya Fairing | Molniya 8K78 | NIIP-5 / LC1 | Success |
| Feb 16 | 1961 DEL | ST-4 : NASA S-56A, Altair X-248-A5S SV-118, S-56A Canister part +8 more, deb Explorer IX, [UNID097] RCS 0.02, [UNID125] RCS 0.01, S-56A Canister, Algol 1C ST-4, Castor, Antares, Altair Fairing | Scout X-1 | WI / LA3 | Success |
| Feb 17 | 1961 EPS | 298/1104 : ARGON 1, SRV, Transit-On-Discoverer +4 more, Star 12, SRV heat shield, Agena B, Thor DM-21 298 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-3-4 | Success |
| Feb 18 | 1961 ZET | 261/1102 : CORONA RM-2, Agena B, Thor DM-21 261 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-3-5 | Success |
| Feb 22 | 1961 ETA | 313/AB007 : Transit 3B, Lofti, AJ10-104 +3 more, Transit 3B despin weight, Thor DM-18A 313, Ablestar Fairing | Thor Ablestar | CC / LC17B | Success |
| Feb 25 | 1961-F01 | AM-19F : NASA S-45, RTV Motor, Jupiter AM-19F +3 more, Cluster Stage 2, Cluster Stage 3, Juno II Fairing | Juno II | CC / LC26B | Failure |
| March 1961 (4) | |||||
| Mar 09 | 1961 THE | E103-14 : Vostok-3 No. 1, 8K72KE No. E103-14, deb Korabl'-Sputnik-4 +7 more, PO, 8K71B, 8K71V, 8K71G, 8K71D, 8K71A E103-14, Vostok Fairing | Vostok 8K72 | NIIP-5 / LC1 | Success |
| Mar 25 | 1961 IOT | E103-15 : Vostok-3 No. 2, 8K72KE No. E103-15, deb Korabl'-Sputnik-5 +7 more, PO, 8K71B, 8K71V, 8K71G, 8K71D, 8K71A E103-15, Vostok Fairing | Vostok 8K72 | NIIP-5 / LC1 | Success |
| Mar 25 | 1961 KAP | 295/D004 : NASA P-14, Altair X-248-A5, Thor DM-18A 295 +3 more, Fairing, AJ10-118 S/N 2015, P-14 | Thor Delta | CC / LC17A | Success |
| Mar 30 | 1961-F02 | 300/1105 : CORONA C'-4, SRV, AFTRACK 5 (SOCTOP) +3 more, Agena B, Star 12, Thor DM-21 300 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-3-4 | Failure |
| April 1961 (4) | |||||
| Apr 08 | 1961 LAM | 307/1106 : ARGON 2, SRV, Transit-On-Discoverer +3 more, Star 12, Agena B, Thor DM-21 307 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-3-5 | Success |
| Apr 12 | 1961 MU | E103-16 : Vostok-3A No. 3, 8K72KE No. E103-16, PO +6 more, 8K71B, 8K71V, 8K71G, 8K71D, 8K71A E103-16, Vostok Fairing | Vostok 8K72 | NIIP-5 / LC1 | Success |
| Apr 25 | 1961-F03 | 100D : Mercury SC8, Atlas 100D, Mercury Retro +2 more, Atlas D Booster, Mercury LES | Atlas D | CC / LC14 | Failure |
| Apr 27 | 1961 NU | AM-19E : NASA S-15, Explorer XI meteoroid shield, RTV Motor +4 more, Jupiter AM-19E, Cluster Stage 2, Cluster Stage 3, Juno II Fairing | Juno II | CC / LC26B | Success |
| May 1961 (1) | |||||
| May 24 | 1961-F04 | AM-19G : NASA S-45A, RTV Motor, Jupiter AM-19G +3 more, Cluster Stage 2, Cluster Stage 3, Juno II Fairing | Juno II | CC / LC26B | Failure |
| June 1961 (4) | |||||
| Jun 08 | 1961-F05 | 302/1108 : ARGON 3, SRV, Agena B +2 more, Star 12, Thor DM-21 302 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-3-4 | Failure |
| Jun 16 | 1961 XI | 303/1107 : CORONA C'-5, Module 101, SRV +6 more, AFTRACK 6 (SOCTOP), AFTRACK 7 (TAKI), deb Discoverer XXV, Agena B, Star 12, Thor DM-21 303 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-1-1 | Success |
| Jun 29 | 1961 OMI | 315/AB008 : Transit 4A, Injun 1, GRAB SV3 +18 more, AJ10-104S S/N 008, deb Ablestar 008, Transit 4A despin weight, High drag debris, deb Ablestar, deb Ablestar 008 [], [UNID096] RCS 0.02, UNID, [TLEs 1992-1995], deb Ablestar 008 Mistag TLEs, SSN00412 reassigned, SSN00550 reassigned, SSN00660 reassigned, SSN00662 reassigned, deb Ablestar 008 Mistag TlEs, SSN05876 reassigned, Thor DM-18A 315, Ablestar Fairing | Thor Ablestar | CC / LC17B | Success |
| Jun 30 | 1961-F06 | ST-5 : NASA S-55, Altair X-248A5 SV-112, Algol 1B ST-5 +3 more, Castor, Antares, Altair Fairing | Scout X-1 | WI / LA3 | Failure |
| July 1961 (4) | |||||
| Jul 07 | 1961 PI | 308/1109 : CORONA C'-6, Module 102, SRV +5 more, AFTRACK 8 (SOCTOP), AFTRACK 9 (WILD BILL), Agena B, Star 12, Thor DM-21 308 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-3-5 | Success |
| Jul 12 | 1961 RHO | 286/D005 : NASA A-3, Altair X-248-A5 S/N 3014, Despin weight +3 more, Thor DM-18A 286, Fairing, AJ10-118 S/N 2014 | Thor Delta | CC / LC17A | Success |
| Jul 12 | 1961 SIG | 97D/1201 : Midas ETS-II F1, Lockheed Package, Agena Fairing +5 more, Strongback, Midas 3 debris, Agena B 1201, Atlas D Booster, Atlas D 97D | Atlas Agena B | PA / LC1-2 | Success |
| Jul 21 | 1961-F07 | 322/1110 : ARGON 4, SRV, Agena B +2 more, Star 12, Thor DM-21 322 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-3-4 | Failure |
| August 1961 (6) | |||||
| Aug 04 | 1961-F08 | 309/1111 : CORONA C'-7, SRV, AFTRACK 10 (SOCTOP) +4 more, AFTRACK 11 (TAKI), Agena B, Star 12, Thor DM-21 309 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-1-1 | Failure |
| Aug 06 | 1961 TAU | E103-17 : Vostok-3A No. 4, 8K72KE No. E103-17, PO +6 more, 8K71B, 8K71V, 8K71G, 8K71D, 8K71A E103-17, Vostok Fairing | Vostok 8K72 | NIIP-5 / LC1 | Success |
| Aug 16 | 1961 UPS | 312/D006 : NASA S-3, Altair X-248-A5, Explorer 12 despin weight +3 more, Thor DM-18A 312, Fairing, AJ10-118 S/N 2016 | Thor Delta | CC / LC17A | Success |
| Aug 23 | 1961 PHI | 111D/6001 (AA1) : NASA P-32, Agena B 6001, Atlas D Booster +2 more, Atlas D 111D, Ranger Fairing | Atlas Agena B | CC / LC12 | Failure |
| Aug 25 | 1961 CHI | ST-6 : NASA S-55A, Altair X-248A5 BSB-43, Algol 1B ST-6 +3 more, Castor, Antares, Altair Fairing | Scout X-1 | WI / LA3 | Success |
| Aug 30 | 1961 PSI | 323/1112 : CORONA C'''-1, Module 103, Vela Hotel A1 +5 more, SRV, AFTRACK 12 (TEXAS PINT), Agena B, Star 12, Thor DM-21 323 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-3-4 | Success |
| September 1961 (4) | |||||
| Sep 09 | 1961-F09 | 106D/2120 : SAMOS E-2 No. 1, Agena B, Atlas D Booster +2 more, Atlas D 106D, Samos Fairing | Atlas Agena B | PA / LC1-1 | Failure |
| Sep 12 | 1961 OME | 310/1113 : CORONA C'''-2, Horizon Sensor Experiment, SRV +5 more, AFTRACK 13 (TOPSOC), deb Discoverer XXX, Agena B, Star 12, Thor DM-21 310 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-3-5 | Success |
| Sep 13 | 1961 A ALP | 88D : Mercury SC8A, Atlas D 88D, MA-4 clamp band segment +3 more, Mercury Retro, Atlas D Booster, Mercury LES | Atlas D | CC / LC14 | Success |
| Sep 17 | 1961 A BET | 324/1114 : CORONA C'''-3, Module 105, Vela Hotel A2 +5 more, SRV, AFTRACK 14 (TOPSOC), Agena B, Star 12, Thor DM-21 324 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-1-1 | Success |
| October 1961 (4) | |||||
| Oct 13 | 1961 A GAM | 328/1115 : CORONA C'''-4, Module 106, SRV +5 more, AFTRACK 15 (TOPSOC), Sensor cover, Agena B, Star 12, Thor DM-21 328 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-3-4 | Success |
| Oct 21 | 1961 A DEL | 105D/1202 : Midas ETS-II F2, West Ford, Lockheed Package +9 more, Midas Fairing, Strongback, West Ford 1 package part, [dup of A DEL 7], Agena B, (40000 objects), Westford Needles deployer, Atlas D Booster, Atlas D 105D | Atlas Agena B | PA / LC1-2 | Success |
| Oct 23 | 1961-F10 | 329/1116 : CORONA C'-8, SRV, Agena B +2 more, Star 12, Thor DM-21 329 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-3-5 | Failure |
| Oct 27 | 1961-F11 | 1LK : DS-1 No. 1, S1, R-12 +1 more, Fairing | Kosmos 63S1 | GTsP-4 / Mayak-2 | Failure |
| November 1961 (7) | |||||
| Nov 01 | 1961-F12 | D-8 : Mercury MS-1, Altair X-248, Algol 1 D-8 +3 more, Castor, Antares, Altair Fairing | Blue Scout II | CC / LC18B | Failure |
| Nov 05 | 1961 A EPS | 330/1117 : CORONA C'-9, SRV, Module 107 +6 more, Vela Hotel B1, AFTRACK 16 (TOPSOC), deb Discoverer XXXIV, Agena B, Star 12, Thor DM-21 330 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-1-1 | Success |
| Nov 15 | 1961 A ZET | 326/1118 : CORONA C'-10, SRV, deb Discoverer XXXV +3 more, Agena B, Star 12, Thor DM-21 326 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-3-4 | Success |
| Nov 15 | 1961 A ETA | 305/AB009 : Transit 4B, Traac, AJ10-104 +3 more, deb Transit IVB, Thor DM-18A 305, Ablestar Fairing | Thor Ablestar | CC / LC17B | Success |
| Nov 18 | 1961 A THE | 117D/6002 (AA2) : NASA P-33, Agena B 6002, Atlas D Booster +2 more, Atlas D 117D, Ranger Fairing | Atlas Agena B | CC / LC12 | Failure |
| Nov 22 | 1961-F13 | 108D/2202 : SAMOS E-5 No. 1, Agena B, Samos 4 (E-5) adapter +3 more, Samos 4 Reflector, Atlas D Booster, Atlas D 108D | Atlas Agena B | PA / LC1-1 | Failure |
| Nov 29 | 1961 A IOT | 93D : Mercury SC9, Atlas D 93D, MA-5 clamp band segment +3 more, Mercury Retro, Atlas D Booster, Mercury LES | Atlas D | CC / LC14 | Success |
| December 1961 (4) | |||||
| Dec 11 | 1961-F14 | E103-21 : Zenit-2 No. 1L, 8K72KE No. E103-21, PO +6 more, 8K71B, 8K71V, 8K71G, 8K71D, 8K71A, 11S512 Fairing | Vostok 8K72 | NIIP-5 / LC1 | Failure |
| Dec 12 | 1961 A KAP | 325/1119 : CORONA C'''-5, OSCAR 1, Module 108 +7 more, Vela Hotel B2, SRV, AFTRACK 17 (GRAPE JUICE), Discoverer XXXVI inst cover, Agena B, Star 12, Thor DM-21 325 | Thor Agena B | V / 75-3-4 | Success |
| Dec 21 | 1961-F15 | 2LK : DS-1 No. 2, S1, R-12 +1 more, Fairing | Kosmos 63S1 | GTsP-4 / Mayak-2 | Failure |
| Dec 22 | 1961 A LAM | 114D/2203 : AFTRACK 18 (S.T. LOW), SAMOS E-5 No. 2, Samos 5 Reflector +4 more, Agena B 2203, Samos E-5, Atlas D Booster, Atlas D 114D | Atlas Agena B | PA / LC1-2 | Success |