August 4, 1961 at 00:01 UTC · Launch Failure Why: Second stage control system malfunction. Thor DM-21 Agena-B — United States Air Force Space Launch Complex 1W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA The world's 118th orbital launch attempt, and 25th of 1961. Data: Launch Library 2, The Space Devs. Image by USAF via The Space Devs.