The NACA Langley and Ames Aeronautical Laboratories developed high-temperature jets, wind tunnels, and other facilities for use in materials and structures research at hypersonic speeds. These facilities provided, among other things, data proving that ablation was an efficient heat-protection method for reentry vehicles. References: 483 .

The National Academy of Sciences established a Technical Panel for Earth Satellite Program, with Richard E. Porter serving as chairman. References: 483 .

Prime contract for Project Vanguard awarded the Martin Co. References: 17 .

Sodium studies research. Launched at 1800 local time. Reached 101.4 km.

Solar spectrum research. Launched at 1549 local time. Reached 150 km.

Solar spectrum research. Launched at 1720 local time. Reached 134.5 km.

Aborted powered flight attempt; became 4th glide flight. References: 49 , 97 .

First air-launched, multistage, solid-rocket-propelled vehicle flown to a Mach number greater than 8 by NACA Lewis Laboratory. References: 17 .

The Atomic Energy Commission approved, on the basis of a statement of interest by the Department of Defense, the proposed plans of the Los Alamos Scientific and the Radiation Laboratories of the University of California, for the study and development of nuclear power for rocket propulsion. References: 17 .

Solar spectrum research. Launched at 0830 local time. Reached 158 km.

Payload, instruments, left and right animal containers all recovered. Smoke container functioned. Carried dogs. References: 283 , 344 .

Secretary of Defense approved Jupiter and Thor IRBM programs, the first based on experience gained by Redstone Arsenal team from V-2 and Redstone, the latter on experience gained from Atlas program. References: 17 .

Night airglow, meteors research. Launched at 0200 local time. Reached 105 km.

First powered flight. Mach 0.992 at 10,675 m. Slight fire damage from engine bay fire. References: 49 , 97 .

Ion composition research. Launched at 1016 local time. Reached 132 km.

President Eisenhower assigned highest priority to ICBM and Thor and Jupiter IRBM programs. References: 17 .

Project Manhigh was established in December 1955 to obtain scientific data on the behavior of a balloon in an environment above 99% of the earth's atmosphere and to investigate cosmic rays and their effects on man. Three balloon flights to the edge of space were made during the program.

Captive flight. References: 49 , 97 .

RS-12 was launched from AMR at 1946 hours EST. The flight was successful. The actual range was 144.79 MM; .31 nm over; and 200 meters right of the intended impact point, The primary test objective was to test the complete guidance system. This was the first successful flight with the inertial guidance system. Missed aimpoint by 228,800 m. References: 439 .

Rocket performance test. Launched at 0750 local time.

Gas composition research. Launched at 2200 local time. Reached 142 km.

NACA flight 1. Glide flight for pilot check-out and low speed evaluation. References: 49 , 97 .

Lyman alpha, solar limb darkening research. Launched at 1058 local time. Reached 138.4 km.

NACA flight 2. First powered flight. Engine ran at excessive pressure, 4 overspeeds of turbopump and 2 automatic shutdowns. Power terminated by pilot. References: 49 , 97 .

First prototype of Asp (atmospheric sounding projectile) sounding rocket, capable of payloads up to 80 pounds, launched successfully at NAMTC at Point Mugu, Calif. References: 17 .