On Oct. 3, 1942, Germany did the first-ever successful test launch of a ballistic missile. [‘On This Day in Space’ Video Series on Space.com](https://www.space.com/39251-on-this-day-in-space.html)

This missile was officially named Aggregat 4 (A4) but more commonly known as the V-2. The V-2 was designed by the famous German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun, and it proved to be a super deadly weapon during World War II. It launched from an island off the Baltic coast of Germany called Peenemünde and reached an altitude of 52.5 miles (84.5 kilometers) before safely landing right on target 118 miles (190 km) away.