Home 1963 Spacecrafts
1962 Summary 1964 Summary
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Table of the 96 Spacecrafts Launched in 1963
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# Spacecraft Sponsor Launch Date Class Mission Type Categories
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1) “Luna” / Ye-6 #1 Soviet Union  4 Jan 63 C-Large Planetary Exploration
(Moon)		 USSR, Fail,
2) Discoverer 58 / KH-4 18 / CORONA 59  U.S. NRO 7 Jan 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA, Fail,
3) Ferret 3 / Samos-F2 #3 U.S. NRO 16 Jan 63 M-Large Electronic Intelligence USA,
4) “Luna” / Ye-6 #2 Sivuet Union 3 Feb 63 C-Large Planetary Exploration
(Moon)		 USSRFail,
5) Syncom 1 NASA 14 Feb 63 C-Small Communications 
(R&D)		 USA, Geo, Fail,
6) P-35-3 / DAPP 3 U.S. DOD 19 Feb 63 M-Small Meteorology USA,
7) Discoverer 59 / KH-4 19 / CORONA 60 U.S. NRO 28 Feb 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA, Fail,
8) KH-6 1 / Lanyard 1 / Corona 61 1 U.S. NRO 18 Mar 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA, Fail,
9) Hitchhiker / P-11 1 U.S. NRO 18 Mar 63 M-Small Electronic Intelligence USA, Fail,
10) Kosmos 13 / Zenit-2 #8 Soviet 
Defense Ministry		 21 Mar 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USSR,
11) Discoverer 60 / KH-4 20 / CORONA 62 U.S. NRO 1 Apr 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA,
12) Luna 4 / Ye-6 #3 Soviet Union  2 Apr 63 C-Large Planetary Exploration
(Moon)		 USSR, Fail,
13) Explorer 17 / AE-A NASA 3 Apr 63 C-Medkum Earth/Space ScienceS USA, 
14) Transit vA2 U.S. Navy 5 Apr 63 M-Small Navigation USA, Fail,
15) Kosmos / DS-P1 #2 Soviet
Defense Ministry		 6 Apr 63 M-Medium Science & Technology USSR, Fail,
16) Kosmos 14 / Omega-1 #1 1) Soviet Union 13 Apr 63 C-Medkum Technology
(Meteorology)		 USSR,
17) Kosmos 15 / Zenit-2 #9 Soviet
Defense Ministry		 22 Apr 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USSR,
18) P-35-4 / DAPP 4 U.S. DOD 26 Apr 63 M-Small Meteorology USA,
19) Discoverer 61 / KH-5 8 / CORONA 63 / ARGON 8 U.S. NRO 26 Apr 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA, Fail,
20) Kosmos 16 / Zenit-2 #10 Soviet
Defense Ministry		 28 Apr 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USSR,
21) Telstar 2 AT&T 7 May 63 C-Small Communications Commer,
22) Midas 7 U.S. DOD. 9 May 63 M-Large Missile Early Warning USA,
23) ERS 5 / TRS 2 U.S. Air Force 9 May 63 M-Small
(very)		 Science & Technology USA,
24) ERS 6 / TRS 3 U.S. Air Force 9 May 63 M-Small
(very)		 Science & Technology USA,
25) DASH 1 U.S. Air Force 9 May 63 M-Small
(very)		 Science & Technology USA,
26) Westfort 2 U.S. DOD 9 May 63 M-Small Communications
(Technology)		 USA,
27) Mercury 9 (MA-9 / Mercury-Atlas 9) NASA 15 May 63 C-Large Piloted Spaceship USA,
28) Flashing Light Unit NASA 15 May 63 C-Small
(very)		 Technology USA,
29) MA-9 Balloon Subsatellite NASA 15 May 63 C-Small
(very)		 Technology USA,
30) KH-6 2 / Lanyard 2 / Corona 64 U.S. NRO 18 May 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA, Fail,
31) Kosmos 17 / DS-A1 #2 Soviet
Defense Ministry		 22 May 63 M-Large Science & Technology USSR,
32) Kosmos 18 / Zenit-2 #11 Soviet
Defense Ministry		 24 May 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USSR,
33) Kosmos / DS-MT #1 Soviet Union 1 Jun 63 C-Large Earth/space Sciences USSR, Fail,
34) Discoverer 62 / KH-4 21 / CORONA 65 U.S. NRO 12 Jun 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA,
35) Midas 8 U.S. DOD 13 Jun 63 M-Large Missile Early Warning USA, Fail,
36) TRS 7 / ERS 7 U.S. DOD 13 Jun 63 M-Small
(very)		 Science & Technology USA, Fail,
37) ERS 8 / TRS 8 U.S. DOD 13 Jun 63 M-Large
(very)		 Science & Technology USA, Fail,
38) Vostok 5 Soviet  (Korolev's OKB-1) 14 Jun 63 C-Large Piloted Spaceship USSR,
39) Lofti 2A U.S. Navy 15 Jun 63 M-Small Communications USA,
40) Solrad 6A / POPPY 2 SV1 U.S. Navy 15 Jun 63 M-Small Electronic Intelligence USA,
41) Radose 112 / POPPY 2 SV2 U.S. Navy 15 Jun 63 M-Small Electronic Intelligence USA,
42) Ferret 130 / POPPY 2 SV3 U.S. Navy 15 Jun 63 M-Small Electronic Intelligence USA,
43) Surcal 1C-133 U.S. Air Force
U.S. Navy		 15 Jun 63 M-Small Radar Calibration USA,
44) Transit 5A3 U.S. Navy 16 Jun 63 M-Small Navigation USA,
45) Vostok 6 Soviet  (Korolev's OKB-1) 16 Jun 63 C-Large Earth Surveillance USSR,
46) Tiros 7 NASA 19 Jun 63 C-Medkum Meteorology USA,
47) Discoverer 63 / KH-4 22 / CORONA 66 U.S. NRO 27 Jun 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA,
48) Hitchhiker 1 / P-11 2 U.S. Air Force 27 Jun 63 M-Small Electronic Intelligence USA,
49) GRS U.S. Air Force 28 Jun 63 M-Small Science & Technology USA, Fail,
50) Ferret 4 / Samos-F2 #4 U.S. NRO 29 Jun 63 M-Large Electronic Intelligence USA,
51) Kosmos / Zenit-2 #12 Soviet 
Defense Ministry		 10 Jul 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USSRFail,
52) KH-7 1 / Gambit-1 1 U.S. NRO 12 Jul 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA,
53) Discoverer 64 / KH-4 23 / CORONA 67 U.S. NRO 19 Jul 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA,
54) Midas 9 U.S. DOD. 19 Jul 63 M-Large Missile Early Warning USA,
55) TRS 10 / ERS 10  U.S. Air Force 19 Jul 63 M-Small
(very)		 Science & Technology USA, Fail,
56) TRS 4 / ERS 9 U.S. Air Force 19 Jul 63 M-Small
(very)		 Science & Technology USA,
57) DASH 2 U.S. Air Force 19 Jul 63 M-Small
(very)		 Science & Technology USA,
58) Syncom 2 NASA 26 Jul 63 C-Small Communications USA, Geo (1st),
59) KH-6 3 / Lanyard 3 / Corona 68 U.S. NRO 31 Jul 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA,
60) Kosmos 19 / DS-P1 #3  Soviet 
Defense Ministry		 6 Aug 63 M-Medium Radar Calibration USSR,
61) Kosmos / DS-A1 #3 Soviet 
Defense Ministry		 22 Aug 63 M-Medium Science & Technology USSR, Fail,
62) Discoverer 65 / KH-4A 1 / CORONA 69 U.S. NRO 25 Aug 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA,
63) Discoverer 66 / KH-5 9 / CORONA 70 / ARGON 9 U.S. NRO 29 Aug 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance  USA,
64) LAMPO U.S. Air Force 29 Aug 63 M-Small
(very)		 Radar Calibration USA,
65) KH-7 2 / Gambit-1 2 U.S. NRO 6 Sep 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA,
66) Discoverer 67 / KH-4A 2 / CORONA 71 U.S. NRO 23 Sep 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA, Fail,
67) P-35-5 / DAPP 5 U.S. DOD. 27 Sep 63 M-Small Meteorology USA,
68) Transit 5E 1 U.S. Navy 28 Sep 63 M-Small Navigation USA,
69) Transit 5BN1 U.S. Navy 28 Sep 63 M-Small Navigation USA,
70) APL SN 39 U.S. Navy 28 Sep 63 M-Small Science & Technology USA,
71) Vela Hotel 1 / Vela 1A U.S. DOD 17 Oct 63 M-Medium Nuclear Tests Monitoring USA,
72) Vela Hotel 2 / Vela 1B U.S. DOD 17 Oct 63 M-Medium Nuclear Tests Monitoring USA,
73) ERS 12 / TRS 5 U.S. DOD 17 Oct 63 M-Small
(very)		 Science & Technology USA,
74) Kosmos 20 / Zenit-2 #13 Soviet 
Defense Ministry		 18 Oct 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USSR,
75) Kosmos / DS-A1 #4 Soviet 
Defense Ministry		 24 Oct 63 M-Medium Science & Technology USSR, Fail,
76) KH-7 3 / Gambit-1 3 U.S. NRO 25 Oct 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA,
77) Subsatellite U.S. Air Force 25 Oct 63 M-Small? Science & Technology USA,
78) Discoverer 68 / KH-5 10 / CORONA 72 / ARGON 1 U.S. NRO 29 Oct 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA,
79) Hitchhiker 2 U.S. Air Force 29 Oct 63 M-Small Electronic Inteliigence USA,
80) Poliot 1 (Polet or Polyot) Soviet Union 1 Nov 63 M-Large Science & Technology USSR,
81) Discoverer 69 / KH-4 24 / CORONA 73 U.S. NRO 9 Nov 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA, Fail,
82) Kosmos 21 / 3MV-1 #1 Soviet Union  11 Nov 63 C-Medium Planetary Exploration
(Venus)		 USSR, Fail,
83) Kosmos 22 / Zenit-4 #1 Soviet 
Defense Ministry		 16 Nov 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USSR,
84) Explorer 18 / IMP A NASA 27 Nov 63 C-Medium Earth/space ScienceS USA,
85) AC-2 / Atlas-Centaur 2 NASA 27 Nov 63 C-Large Technology
(Launch vehicle test)		 USA,
86) Discoverer 70 / KH-4 25 / CORONA 74 U.S. NRO 27 Nov 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA, Fail,
87) Kosmos / Zenit-2 #14 Soviet 
Defense Ministry		 28 Nov 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USSR, Fail,
88) Transit 5BN2 U.S. Navy 5 Dec 63 M-Small Navigation USA,
89) Transit 5E 3 U.S. Navy 5 Dec 63 M-Small Navigation USA,
90) Kosmos 23 / Omega-1 #2 Soviet Union 13 Dec 63 C-Medium Technology
(Meteorology)		 USSR,
91) KH-7 4 / Gambit-1 4 U.S. NRO 18 Dec 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA,
92) Kosmos 24 / Zenit-2 #15 Soviet 
Defense Ministry		 19 Dec 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USSR,
93) Explorer 19 / AD-A NASA 19 Dec 63 C-Small
(very)		 Earth/space Sciences USA,
94) Tiros 8 NASA 21 Dec 63 C-Medium Meteorology USA,
95) Discoverer 71 / KH-4 26 / CORONA 75 U.S. NRO 21 Dec 63 M-Large Earth Surveillance USA,
96) Hitchhiker 3 / P-11 4 U.S. Air Force 21 Dec 63 M-Small Electronic Inteliigence USA,
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Note: Small spacecraft = less than 100 kg; medium spacecraft = less than 1,000 kg; large spacecraft = 1,000 kg and more. (Very small = less than 10 kg; very large = more than 10,000 kg.)
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Table – Summary of 1963 Launches


No. .. Soviet
Success		  T  Soviet 
failures		 No.  .. American 
success		  T  American 
failures
1) C Ye-6 #1 1) KH-4 18 M
2) C Ye-6 #2 2) Samos-F2 #3 M
3) 13 / Zenit-2 #8 M 3) C Syncom 1
4) Luna 4 C 4) P-35-3 M
5) M DS-P1 #2 5) M KH-4 19
6) 14 / Omega-1 #1 C 6) M Lanyard 1
7) 15 / Zenit-2 #9 M 7) M P-11 1
8) 16 / Zenit-2 #10 M 8) KH-4 20 M
9) 17 / DS-A1 #2 M 9) Explorer 17 C
10) 18 / Zenit-2 #11 M 10) M Transit VA-2
11) C DS-MT #1 11) M P-35-4
12) Vostok 5 C 12) M KH-5 8
13) Vostok 6 C 13) Telstar 2 C
14) M Zenit-2 #12 14) Midas 7 M
15) 19 / DS-P1 #3 M 15) ERS 5 / TRS 2 M
16) M DS-A1 #3 16) ERS 6 / TRS 3 M
17) 20 / Zenit-2 #13 M 17) DASH 1 M
18) M DS-A1 #4 18) Westford 2 M
19) Poliot 1 C 19) Mercury 9 C
20) C 21 / 3MV-1 #1 20) Flashlight C
21) 22 / Zenit-4 #1 M 21) MA-9 Balloon C
22) M Zenit-2 #14 22) Lanyard 2 M
23) 23 / Omega-1 #2 C 23) KH-4 21 M
24) 24 / Zenit-2 #15 M 24) M Midas 8
25) M ERS 7 / TRS 7
26) M ERS 8 / TRS 8
27) LOFTI 2A M
28) POPPY 2 SV1 M
29) POPPY 2 SV2 M
30) POPPY 2 SV3 M
31) Surcal 1C-133 M
32) Transit 5A3 M
33) Tiros 7 C
34) KH-4 22 M
35) P-11 2 M
36) GRS M
37) Samos-F2 #4 M
38) KH-7 1 M
39) KH-4 23  M
40) Midas 9 M
41) TRS 10 / ERS 10 M
42) TRS 9 / ERS 9 M
43) DASH 2 M
44) Syncom 2 C
45) Lanyard 3 M
46) KH-4A 1 M
47) KH-5 9 M
48) LAMPO M
49) KH-7 2 M
50) KH-4A 2 M
51) M P-35-5
52) Transit 5E 1 M
53) Transit 5BN1 M
54) APL SN 39 M
55) Vela 1A M
56) Vela 1B M
57) ERS 12 / TRS 5 M
58) KH-7 3 M
59) Subsatellite M
60) KH-5 10 M
61) Hitchhiker 2 M
62) M KH-4 24
63) Explorer 18 C
64) AC-2 C
65) KH-4 25 M
66) Transit 5BN2 M
67) Transit 5E 3 M
68) KH-7 4 M
69) Explorer 19 C
70) Tiros 8 C
71) KH-4 26 M
72) P-11 3 M
Total 15 Soviet 
launch success		 9 Soviet 
launch failures		 60 American 
launch success		 12 American launch 
failures
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62.5 % launch success (15 in 24)
(10 Civilian, 14 Military)		 83 % launch success (60 in 72)
(12 Civilian, 60 Military)
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1962 Summary All Summaries 1964 Summar
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© Claude Lafleur, 2004, 2014 Mes sites web: claudelafleur.qc.ca
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