February 1. Communist China and Soviet Union split in conflict over Communist ideology. / March 21, China. First DF-2 launch. A failure. Redesigned for reduced thrust.  April 6, Kapustin Yar. "Kosmos-2" was launched. Perigee: 207 km. Apogee: 1,485 km. Inclination: 49.0 deg.     April 28. First flight of the RT-1 solid propellant missile. September, 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. 

In the beginning of 1962, Galaktion Alpaidze was assigned by the Ministry of Defense to led a search team for the new proving ground for two major projects: to test solid-fuel ballistic missiles and to provide access to high-inclination orbits for space launches. Existing infrastructure in Tyuratam was overloaded with current programs, while Kapustin Yar wouldn't allow launches for intercontinental range. None of the existing sites was suitable for launches into polar orbits. In December 1962, after intensive search from the air and from the ground, Alpaidze, proposed two potential sites to the Commander of Strategic Missile Forces Marshal Biruzov. Biruzov approved the site near the town of Velsk, which is about 300 km southeast of Plesetsk. 

At 1 p.m. September 11, 1962, as events around Cuba were evolving, Plesetsk was declared at the high state of alert. A curfew was implemented in the town and lights had to be turned off after darkness. Powerful sirens installed in residential areas played regularly, bringing officers to their positions, who could only wonder if it was "real" this time. High alert was officially called off only on November 21, 1962 at 9 a.m. The nuclear war had been averted. If it wasn't, four R-7A and four R-16 surface launchers each could've fired their only missile, before imminent strike by the incoming U.S. warheads.