A technical origin with a tragic legacy
The V-2 was a ballistic missile, not a crewed vehicle. Its propulsion technology influenced early space rockets after 1945.
Developed for Nazi Germany, the A4 completed a major successful test in October 1942. Its engine burned alcohol and liquid oxygen, while its guidance system controlled a ballistic trajectory.
Used against European cities from 1944, the V-2 was a terror weapon. Production relied heavily on forced labour, including prisoners from Mittelbau-Dora, with many lives lost.
Selected representative missions; crew names belong to the flight shown.
Successful Peenemünde test: a missile development milestone, not a crewed exploration mission.
American research launches carried instruments and cameras into the upper atmosphere.
Dates follow the days reported by the source agencies, generally in local time; the UTC day can differ. Crews belong to the selected missions, not every flight in the family.
Understanding this technical lineage also requires remembering the programme’s crimes and victims.
First flight or first test of the family, including unsuccessful or suborbital attempts.
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