1962 in spaceflight

For launches in the first quarter of the year, see 1962 in spaceflight (January–March), for launches in the second quarter, see 1962 in spaceflight (April–June), for the third quarter see 1962 in spaceflight (July–September) and for the fourth quarter see 1962 in spaceflight (October–December).

1962 in spaceflight

The launch of Ariel 1, the first satellite not to be operated by the Soviet Union or United States
Orbital launches
First	13 January
Last	22 December
Total	81
Successes	65
Failures	15
Partial failures	1
Catalogued	72
National firsts
Spaceflight	Turkey Norway Lebanon Pakistan
Satellite	United Kingdom Canada
Rockets
Maiden flights	Delta A Delta B Scout X-2 Scout X-2M Scout X-3 Thor DM-21 Agena-D Vostok-2
Retirements	Scout X-2 Thor DM-19 Delta Thor DM-21 Ablestar
Crewed flights
Orbital	5
Total travellers	5

← Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec →

Deep space rendezvous

Date (GMT)	Spacecraft	Event	Remarks
28 January	Ranger 3	Flyby of the Moon	Failed impactor, closest approach: 36,793 kilometres (22,862 mi)
26 April	Ranger 4	Lunar impact	Impacted far side, no data returned
21 October	Ranger 5	Flyby of the Moon	Failed impactor, closest approach: 724 kilometres (450 mi)
14 December	Mariner 2	Flyby of Venus	Closest approach: 34,773 kilometres (21,607 mi)

Orbital launch summary

By country

		Soviet Union   United States
Orbital launch attempts by country in 1962

Country	Launches	Successes	Failures	Partial failures	Remarks
Soviet Union	22	15	7	0
United States	59	50	8	1

By rocket

Rocket	Country	Launches	Successes	Failures	Partial failures	Remarks
Atlas LV-3A Agena-B	United States	13	10	3	0
Atlas LV-3B	United States	3	3	0	0
Delta A	United States	2	2	0	0	Only flights
Delta B	United States	1	1	0	0	Maiden flight
Kosmos-2I 63S1	Soviet Union	8	7	1	0
Molniya 8K78	Soviet Union	6	1	5	0
Scout X-2	United States	1	0	1	0	Only flights
Scout X-2M	United States	2	1	1	0	Maiden flight
Scout X-3	United States	2	2	0	0	Maiden flight
Thor DM-21 Ablestar	United States	3	1	2	0	Retired
Thor DM-21 Agena-B	United States	18	16	1	1
Thor DM-21 Agena-D	United States	8	8	0	0	Maiden flight
Thor DM-19 Delta	United States	6	6	0	0	Retired
Vostok-K 8K72K	Soviet Union	3	3	0	0
Vostok-2 8A92	Soviet Union	5	4	1	0	Maiden flight

By orbit

Orbital regime	Launches	Successes	Failures	Accidentally Achieved	Remarks
Low Earth	62	55	7	5
Medium Earth	7	6	1	0
High Earth	1	1	0	0	Including Highly elliptical orbits
Heliocentric	11	5	6	0

References

• Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
• Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
• Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.
• Krebs, Gunter. "Chronology of Space Launches".
• Kyle, Ed. "Space Launch Report". Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
• McDowell, Jonathan. "GCAT Orbital Launch Log".
• Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive".
• Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica".
• Webb, Brian. "Southwest Space Archive".
• Zak, Anatoly. "Russian Space Web".
• "ISS Calendar". Spaceflight 101.
• "NSSDCA Master Catalog". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
• "Space Calendar". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
• "Space Information Center". JAXA.
• "Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).

Generic references:
Spaceflight portal