H. F. Pierce launched liquid propellant rocket to 250-foot altitude at Old Ferris Point, N.Y. References: 17 .

Decree 'On the Transfer of the Dnepropetrovsk Automobile Plant From the Ministry of Automobile and SM Tractor Industry to the Ministry of Armaments--transfer of Dnepropetrovsk Plant No. 586 into the Ministry of Armaments for missile production' was issued References: 474 .

Start of new construction and major rehabilitation at Camp Cooke. References: 88 .

Milton W. Rosen of NASA Headquarters proposed a plan for obtaining high-resolution photographs of the moon. A three-stage Vega would place the payload within a 500-mile diameter circle on the lunar surface. A stabilized retrorocket fired at 500 miles above the moon would slow the instrument package sufficiently to permit 20 photographs to be transmitted at a rate of one picture per minute. Additional Details: High-resolution photographs of the moon using Vega rocket. References: 16 .

McDonnell's first production spacecraft, with its escape rocket serving as the propulsion force, was launched from Wallops Island. Designated the beach-abort test, the objectives were a performance evaluation of the escape system, the parachute and landing system, and recovery operations in an off-the-pad abort situation. The test was successful. References: 483 .

Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On approval of work on the Elektron scientific satellite' was issued. The two spacecraft were designed to be deployed in a single launch of a Vostok booster. The spacecraft had the specific task of mapping the Van Alen radiation belts at higher inclinations than that achieved by US satellites of the time (60 degrees vs 30 degrees latitude). Design work began in July 1960. References: 474 .

First production model of Project Mercury spacecraft was successfully launched from NASA Wallops Station to test escape, landing, and recovery systems. Known as the "beach abort" shot, the Mercury capsule reached 775 m before parachute landing and pickup by Marine helicopter returned it to Wallops' hangar 17 minutes after launch. References: 17 .

Suborbital. References: 5 .

Senator Robert S. Kerr, chairman of the Senate Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee, told a group at the National Radio and Television Convention that President Kennedy accepted the views of NASA and congressional leaders in approving the manned Mercury-Redstone flight of May 5. References: 18 .

Twenty-four Arcas-Robin weather sounding rockets fired within 24 hours by AFPGC at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. References: 18 .

Solar cells damage data. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 278 .

Solar cells damage data. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 278 .

Missile Defense Alarm System. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 171 , 172 , 278 .

Soft lunar landing attempt. The retrorocket system failed, and the spacecraft impacted the lunar surface at the Sea of Clouds. Western observers, among them England's Sir Bernard Lovell, correctly speculated that the craft's mission was a soft landing. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 16 , 64 , 296 .

KH-4A. Due to the failure of the booster cut-off switch, the satellite went into a highly eccentric orbit. Significant image degradation. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Radar monitoring. Due to the failure of the booster cut-off switch, the satellite went into a highly eccentric orbit. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 172 .

3 chambers, first supersonic. Maximum Speed - 1197 kph. Maximum Altitude - 16250 m. Flight Time - 410 sec. References: 49 , 97 .

Intended Mars flyby. References: 5 , 126 , 278 .

Multiple Access Communications Satellite; global store and forward communications. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Multiple Access Communications Satellite; global store and forward communications. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Last Scout launch; BMDO technology tests. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .