[chris]

Germany's A-4 ballistic rocket, later fielded as the V-2, failed twice in 1942 before it flew.

The first launch attempt at Peenemunde on June 13, 1942 climbed to about 15,000 feet before the guidance system failed and the rocket fell into the Baltic a short distance from the pad. The third vehicle broke up in flight on August 16, 1942.

The fourth flew on October 3, 1942. It reached Mach 4 and an apogee of 84.5 km, becoming the first man-made object to pass through the mesosphere and into the thermosphere.