1959 Rocket Launch Statistics
In 1959, there were 23 orbital launch attempts worldwide, and 13 of them reached orbit. That is 5 fewer than in 1958. By country, the United States launched 19 and the Soviet Union 4. Together they put 2 tonnes of payload in orbit.
Statistics summary
Payload to orbit
1959
2 t
vs 1 t in 1958
Per week
40 kg
vs 28 kg in 1958
Reached orbit
1959
57%
13 of 23; 10 failures
1958
25%
7 of 28; 20 failures, 1 partial
Who flew in 1959
Company1959 launches1959Share
1959 against 1958. Drawings at one true scale.
Country1959 launches1959Share
1959 against 1958. Drawings at one true scale.
Every company, as a table
| Company | Launches | Share | Payload to orbit | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonnell Douglas | 10 | 43% | 1 t | 63% |
| Chrysler | 4 | 17% | 48 kg | 2% |
| Lockheed Martin | 4 | 17% | 33 kg | 2% |
| RKK Energia | 4 | 17% | 688 kg | 33% |
| Convair | 1 | 4% | – |
Launches and payload by week
Orbital launch attempts per week, 1959
SpaceX, and the rest of the world by region.
Show as table
| Week of | SpaceX | Rest of US | Europe | China | Russia | India | Rest of World | All | Payload to orbit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Nov 1959 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – |
| 15 Nov 1959 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 245 kg |
| 1 Nov 1959 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 330 kg |
| 11 Oct 1959 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 41 kg |
| 4 Oct 1959 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 278 kg |
| 13 Sep 1959 | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 23 kg |
| 6 Sep 1959 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 205 kg |
| 16 Aug 1959 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 220 kg |
| 9 Aug 1959 | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 280 kg |
| 2 Aug 1959 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 42 kg |
| 12 Jul 1959 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – |
| 21 Jun 1959 | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | – |
| 14 Jun 1959 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – |
| 31 May 1959 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – |
| 12 Apr 1959 | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 198 kg |
| 1 Mar 1959 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 7 kg |
| 22 Feb 1959 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – |
| 15 Feb 1959 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 10 kg |
| 28 Dec 1958 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 205 kg |
Year against year
Orbital launch attempts, year against year, 1957 to 1959
Added up through each year.
Show as table
| By the end of | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0 · 0 t | 0 · 0 t | 1 · 205 kg |
| February | 0 · 0 t | 2 · 8 kg | 3 · 215 kg |
| March | 0 · 0 t | 5 · 18 kg | 4 · 222 kg |
| April | 0 · 0 t | 7 · 18 kg | 6 · 420 kg |
| May | 0 · 0 t | 9 · 1 t | 6 · 420 kg |
| June | 0 · 0 t | 10 · 1 t | 10 · 420 kg |
| July | 0 · 0 t | 12 · 1 t | 11 · 420 kg |
| August | 0 · 0 t | 19 · 1 t | 15 · 962 kg |
| September | 0 · 0 t | 21 · 1 t | 18 · 1 t |
| October | 1 · 84 kg | 24 · 1 t | 20 · 2 t |
| November | 2 · 602 kg | 25 · 1 t | 23 · 2 t |
| December | 3 · 602 kg | 28 · 1 t | 23 · 2 t |
Busiest rockets in 1959
Launches and payload by country in 1959
Orbital launch attempts by country, 1959
By the country of the rocket.
Show as table
| Country | Launches | Share | Payload to orbit | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 19 | 83% | 1 t | 67% |
| Soviet Union | 4 | 17% | 688 kg | 33% |