Stalin gives the go-ahead for production of the Bereznyak-Isayev BI-1 high speed rocket plane.

Launched 12:30 local time. Reached 134.7 km. Carried cosmic radiation, ionosphere (Naval Research Lab) experiments for General Electric.

After 2 years' study of problems that might be encountered in manned space flight, a joint group - NACA, Air Force, and Navy - met in Washington to discuss the need for a hypersonic research vehicle and to decide on the type of aircraft that could attain these objectives. The NACA proposal was accepted in December 1954, and a formal memorandum of understanding was signed to initiate the X-15 project. Technical direction of the project was assigned to the NACA. On November 9, 1961, the X-15 reached its design speed of over 4,000 miles per hour and achieved partial space conditions on July 17, 1962, when it reached an altitude of 314,750 feet. By the latter date, the Mercury spacecraft had made two manned orbital flights. References: 483 .

Decree 'On appointment of M. K. Yangel as Chief Designer of OKB-586' was issued. References: 474 .

NACA met with USAF and Navy BuAer representatives to propose the X-15 as an extension of the cooperative rocket research aircraft program. The NACA proposal was accepted as a joint effort and a memorandum of understanding was signed on December 23 naming NACA as technical director of the project, with advice from a joint Research Airplane Committee. References: 17 .

General Electric Company personnel presented a briefing at NACA headquarters on studies related to manned space flight. The company held contracts let by the Wright Air Development Center for study and mock-up of a manned spacecraft. NACA made no official comment. References: 483 .

First full-powered flight of USAF Atlas ICBM using both the sustainer and booster engines. 'Marginally successful'.

Fired from AMR at 2001 hours EST to test missile accuracy. All primary and secondary missions were successfully accomplished and impact was well within 1 nm of the pre-selected point, approximately 1,302 nm downrange -- a miss distance of only 0.48 nm short and 0.09 nm to the right. References: 439 .

NASA Lewis Research Center operated a research model of an ion rocket in a newly completed electric-rocket test facility designed for basic investigations into the problems associated with a reliable ion rocket with a minimum life of 1 year. References: 17 .

After reviewing proposals by 37 companies, NASA awarded contracts to the Hughes Aircraft Company, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, North American Aviation, Inc., and Space Technology Laboratories, Inc., for preliminary competitive design studies of an instrumented soft-landing lunar spacecraft, the Surveyor. The companies were scheduled to submit their reports in December. References: 16 .

Successful high-altitude test of a Thor IRBM with a live nuclear warhead. The payload included test instrumentation and a W-49 warhead/Mk-4 re-entry vehicle. The 1.45 megaton bomb exploded at an altitude of 400 km. The explosion was visible 2,600 km away, at Kwajalein Atoll; an artificial aurora lasted seven minutes. The unforeseen and most militarily significant effect was the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) generated by the test. This caused power mains surges in Oahu, knocking out street lights, blowing fuses and circuit breakers, and triggering burglar alarms (and this in the days before microelectronics). The explosion supercharged the Van Allen radiation belts, resulting in several satellites malfunctioning.

Attempted test of the Thor IRBM with a live W-49 nuclear warhead / Mk. 4 Re-entry vehicle. The rocket's engines shut down 59 seconds after launch. Range safety destroyed the vehicle six seconds later at an altitude of 10 km. The warhead's one-point safe high explosive detonated as designed without producing nuclear yield. Large pieces of the missile fell back on Johnston Island. Other wreckage was found on Sand Island, which was also contaminated by plutonium from the warhead.

Maximum Speed - 5842 kph. Maximum Altitude - 69010 m. References: 38 , 49 , 97 .

George M. Low expressed his reservations about the validity of planning a synchronous-orbit mission for AAP. In a note to Maxime A. Faget, Low commented on the recent interest in such a mission and voiced his own doubt concerning either the need for or the desirability of such a flight. Low stated that such things as synoptic views of terrain or weather phenomena could be done just as well from low Earth orbit using mosaic techniques. Moreover, low orbits afforded simpler operations, much greater payload capabilities, and minimal radiation hazards. Low asked Faget to have his organization prepare an analysis of low Earth-orbit versus synchronous- orbit operations in preparation for upcoming AAP planning discussions in Washington at the end of the month.

Maximum Speed - 634 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 245sec. References: 49 , 97 .

Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

Conducted experimental work in studying the natural resources of the earth. Also tested plasma engine References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

ASAT target for Cosmos 843 interceptor. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 272 .

Eight satellites launched by a single carrier rocket. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Photo surveillance; returned film capsule; maneuverable. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

High resolution photo reconnaissance. Engine failure prematurely depleted fuel supply. Blown up in orbit on July 26. References: 1 , 2 , 6 , 179 .

Military cartographic satellite; returned film capsule. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

22 Ku band and 12 C band transponders. References: 4 , 6 .

Geostationary at 26.0E. References: 4 , 6 .

Plane 6. Ascending node 325.7 degrees. Failed. References: 4 .

Plane 6. Ascending node 325.8 degrees. References: 4 .

Plane 6. Ascending node 325.8 degrees. References: 4 .

Plane 6. Ascending node 310.4 degrees. Failed in low orbit. References: 4 .

Plane 6. Ascending node 325.8 degrees. References: 4 .