On April 13 in Space History
Chronology
83 events
1948 April 13
21:41 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-N-8.- B field Magnetosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: APL. Apogee: 114 km (70 mi). Magnetic field research. Launched at 1551 local time. Reached 114.3 km..
1949 April 13
- Birth of Dr Jean-Jacques Favier - . Nation: France, Germany. Related Persons: Favier. French materials scientist cosmonaut 1985-1996. 1 spaceflight, 16.9 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-78 (1996)..
1956 April 13
LV Family: Titan, Atlas, Thor, Jupiter, .- Production funding for guided missiles increased. - . As per authority of the Air Force Ballistic Missile Committee (AF/BMC), Procurement Authorization 56-GM-20 increased the production funding for guided missiles to $279.05 million..
1957 April 13
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC3. LV Family: Sergeant. Launch Vehicle: Polaris FTV-5.1959 April 13
- Mercury small-scale escape-tower combinations launched - .
Nation: USA.
Spacecraft: Mercury,
Mercury Parachute.
Two small-scale spacecraft escape-tower combinations were launched successfully at Wallops Island. On the next day a full-scale spacecraft escape system was launched. The complete sequence of events - escape system firing, escape tower jettisoning, parachute deployment, landing, and helicopter recovery - was satisfactory.
1959 April 13
LV Family: Minuteman.- Largest solid-propellant engine in the world fired. - . The Thiokol Chemical Corporation tested a heavyweight Minuteman Stage I engine containing 44,000 pounds of propellant. This was the largest solid-propellant engine yet fired in the world..
1959 April 13
21:18 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena A.- Discoverer 2 - .
Payload: KH-1 prototype / Agena A 1022. Mass: 743 kg (1,638 lb). Nation: USA.
Agency: DARPA.
Class: Surveillance.
Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117.
Spacecraft: KH-1.
Decay Date: 1959-04-26 . USAF Sat Cat: 14 . COSPAR: 1959-Gamma-1. Apogee: 346 km (214 mi). Perigee: 239 km (148 mi). Inclination: 89.90 deg. Period: 90.40 min.
An Air Force Thor/Agena A booster vehicle lifted Discoverer II into orbit from Vandenberg AFB. Discoverer II became the world's first satellite to be stabilized in orbit in all three axes, to be maneuvered on command from earth, to separate a reentry vehicle on command, and to send its reentry vehicle back to earth. The capsule ejector system malfunctioned, causing the capsule to impact near Spitsbergen on 14 April rather than near Hawaii as planned. KH-1 prototype; tested capsule recovery techniques; did not carry camera; capsule recovery failed. Because of a timing error, the US believed that the capsule landed somewhere on the island of Spitsbergen, north of Norway, instead of landing in the recovery zone near Hawaii. The capsule was never found; and CIA officials suspect it may have been snatched by the Soviets. The search for this capsule formed the basis of the book and film 'Ice Station Zebra'.
In the winter of 1960/1961, a US Discovery spy satellite capsule was found by loggers near Kalinin, 200 km north of Moscow. The loggers cracked it open with an axe. Sergei Khrushchev believed this to be the Discoverer 2 capsule. What was left was examined by Soviet engineers but didn't reveal much information - it was a polished aluminium sphere, 30 cm in diameter, gilded on the exterior. Some said it was found as early as the winter of 1959.
1960 April 13
12:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Ablestar.- Transit 1B - .
Mass: 121 kg (266 lb). Nation: USA.
Agency: DARPA.
Program: Transit.
Class: Navigation.
Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft: Transit.
Duration: 89.00 days. Decay Date: 1967-10-05 . USAF Sat Cat: 31 . COSPAR: 1960-Gamma-2. Apogee: 644 km (400 mi). Perigee: 363 km (225 mi). Inclination: 51.20 deg. Period: 94.60 min.
The first Thor/Ablestar launched from Cape Canaveral placed the Navy's Transit IB navigation satellite into orbit. This was the first navigation satellite to be placed in orbit. The Ablestar upper stage demonstrated the first engine restart in space. The Able-Star second stage demonstrated the first engine restart in space and the feasibility of using satellites as navigational aids. The first experimental Transit satellite to achieve orbit operated for 89 days. It transmitted on two frequency pairs to test the technique for refraction correction and to determine if the transmitted frequencies should be close together or far apart. It also tested a magnetic torque device for spacecraft attitude control - the first satellite to do so.
- Dummy subsatellite - . Payload: GRAB dummy. Mass: 18 kg (39 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: GRAB. Decay Date: 1960-07-17 . USAF Sat Cat: 33 . COSPAR: 1960-Gamma-3. Apogee: 615 km (382 mi). Perigee: 285 km (177 mi). Inclination: 51.30 deg. Period: 93.60 min. Mass model of GRAB ELINT satellite..
1960 April 13
17:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Rosamund Dry Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 003.- X-15A test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA, USAF. Spacecraft: X-15A. Apogee: 14 km (8 mi). Maximum Speed - 2018 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14630 m. Air dropped in Rosamund Dry Lake DZ..
1961 April 13
- Vostok 1 State Commission - .
Nation: Russia.
Related Persons: Brezhnev,
Gagarin,
Vershinin.
Program: Vostok.
Flight: Vostok 1.
The commission meets from 09:30 to 12:00, making the official interview of Gagarin on his flight. There are unending questions. Afterwards Gagarin fields more questions by phone from the press. In the second half of the day he is readied for the return to Moscow. He has to make a half-hour speech to Khrushchev, but he hurries through the prepared text. Two or three trainers had noted this impatience of his, but Kamanin had already decided before the flight that Gagarin had the makings of a good orator. In the evening Brezhnev calls twice, and Vershinin several more times, coordinating things for Gagarin's return to Moscow. Bad weather is predicted for the next day and it is decided that Gagarin's airplane will arrive at Vnukovo. Gagarin is to exit the aircraft and walk alone to the reviewing stand. For this performance he is measured for a new uniform and great coat. He rehearses the speech twice, with Kamanin playing the part of Khrushchev in posing impromptu questions.
1962 April 13
Launch Vehicle: N1.- N1 development slowed. - . Nation: Russia. Decree 'On restriction of work on the N1' was issued..
1963 April 13
- At a meeting with the VVS, Korolev outlines his revised plans for the next fights. - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Korolev. Flight: Vostok 5, Vostok 6. He plans a male flight for 8 days, during which a woman would be sent aloft for 2 to 3 days..
1963 April 13
- Decree issued for four Vostok flights in 1963. - . Nation: Russia. Flight: Vostok 5, Vostok 6. Spacecraft: Vostok. Decree issued by the Soviet ministers and Central Committee setting out four Vostok flights in 1963. Two are to be launched by 15 June. .
1963 April 13
- Vostok plans in 1963. - . Nation: Russia. Spacecraft: Vostok. Decree 'On plans for Vostok launches in 1963' was issued..
1963 April 13
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg 395-A3. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan I.- NTMP K-21 Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). K-21 Nike-Zeus intercept of Titan I ICBM..
1963 April 13
Launch Site: Kwajalein. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.- K-21 Titan Intercept - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). K-21 Nike-Zeus intercept of Titan I ICBM..
1963 April 13
11:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar Mayak-2. LV Family: R-12. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 63S1.- Cosmos 14 - . Payload: DS-U / Omega-1. Mass: 347 kg (765 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: DS. Spacecraft: Omega. Decay Date: 1963-08-29 . USAF Sat Cat: 567 . COSPAR: 1963-010A. Apogee: 410 km (250 mi). Perigee: 250 km (150 mi). Inclination: 48.90 deg. Period: 91.10 min. Tested VNIIEM electric gyrodyne satellite orientation technology..
1964 April 13
- Construction of nine Voskhod spacecraft approved. - .
Nation: Russia.
Program: Voskhod.
Flight: Voskhod 1,
Voskhod 2.
Spacecraft Bus: Vostok.
Spacecraft: Voskhod.
Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On approval of work on four Voskhods and five EVA-equipped Vykhods' was issued. Work on the 3KV (three crew) and 3KD (two crew plus inflatable airlock) versions of the basic Vostok spacecraft began.
1964 April 13
Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Hammaguira Bacchus. LV Family: Belier. Launch Vehicle: Dragon 1.1964 April 13
Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Hammaguira Bacchus. LV Family: Belier. Launch Vehicle: Centaure 1.1964 April 13
19:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF07. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1B.1965 April 13
LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2.- Minuteman force of 1,000 missiles by the end of FY1967. - .
Headquarters USAF issued a Minuteman system program directive (SPD) that established an operational force of 1,000 missiles by the end of FY1967. It also directed implementation of the Force Modernization Program to configure the entire force with Minuteman II (LGM-30F) missiles by FY 1972.
1965 April 13
04:05 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 60.0 S x 78.0 W. Launch Platform: CVE-25. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.- UM Pitot 13 Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). Launched at 1965 Croatan MRF Expedition LP39 - - Latitude: 60.00 S - Longitude: 78.00 W..
1965 April 13
16:00 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 60.0 S x 78.0 W. Launch Platform: CVE-25. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.- UM Pitot 14 Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 146 km (90 mi). Launched at 1965 Croatan MRF Expedition LP39 - - Latitude: 60.00 S - Longitude: 78.00 W..
1965 April 13
17:10 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 60.0 S x 78.0 W. Launch Platform: CVE-25. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.- UNH Particles Plasma mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). Launched at 1965 Croatan MRF Expedition LP39 - - Latitude: 60.00 S - Longitude: 78.00 W..
1965 April 13
19:06 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 59.9 S x 78.0 W. Launch Platform: CVE-25. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.- Composition Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). Launched at 1965 Croatan MRF Expedition LP40 - - Latitude: 59.92 S - Longitude: 77.97 W..
1965 April 13
21:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF08. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1B.1965 April 13
21:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF02. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1B.1967 April 13
Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Complex: Kagoshima L. LV Family: Lambda. Launch Vehicle: Lambda 4S. FAILURE: Fourth stage failed to ignite.. Failed Stage: 4.- Ohsumi 3 - . Payload: L-4S-3. Mass: 26 kg (57 lb). Nation: Japan. Agency: ISAS. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Ohsumi. Decay Date: 1967-04-13 . Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).
1967 April 13
06:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Cajun.1967 April 13
07:24 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.1969 April 13
00:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Andoya. LV Family: Belier. Launch Vehicle: Dragon 2B.- FU-182 Ions / Electric field Ionosphere mission - . Nation: France. Agency: CNES. Apogee: 399 km (247 mi).
1969 April 13
02:24 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC13. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas SLV-3A Agena D.- Canyon 2 - . Payload: Canyon 2 / Agena D / OPS 3148. Mass: 700 kg (1,540 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Canyon. USAF Sat Cat: 3889 . COSPAR: 1969-036A. Apogee: 39,270 km (24,400 mi). Perigee: 32,670 km (20,300 mi). Inclination: 9.90 deg. Period: 1,445.00 min. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit over the Indian Ocean. Last known longitude (31 December 1969) 99.24 deg W drifting at 2.246 deg W per day..
1969 April 13
14:04 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.1970 April 13
- Tenth anniversary of the Gagarin Centre. - . Nation: Russia. A big celebration is held at Star City on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Gagarin Centre..
1970 April 13
Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC162/36. LV Family: R-36. Launch Vehicle: R-36 8K67P.1970 April 13
12:34 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150.1971 April 13
- Cosmodrome jammed for series of historic launches. - .
Nation: Russia.
Related Persons: Nikolayev,
Volynov.
Program: Salyut,
Lunar L3.
Flight: Soyuz 10.
Spacecraft Bus: Almaz.
Spacecraft: Salyut 1.
Nikolayev and others are flying to the cosmodrome. All of the cosmonauts except Volynov will be present for the historic launch of the first space station., the first crew to the station, and the N1 launch planned for 1 May. Kamanin has an argument with the cosmonauts on the necessity of working out on the KTF trainer during the mission.
1972 April 13
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF05. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2.1972 April 13
01:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. Launch Vehicle: Nike Iroquois.1972 April 13
01:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. Launch Vehicle: Nike Iroquois.1972 April 13
01:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.1972 April 13
01:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. Launch Vehicle: Nike Iroquois.1972 April 13
04:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. Launch Vehicle: Nike Iroquois.1972 April 13
04:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. Launch Vehicle: Nike Iroquois.1972 April 13
07:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. Launch Vehicle: Nike Iroquois.1972 April 13
09:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. Launch Vehicle: Nike Iroquois.1974 April 13
23:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Delta 2914.- Westar 1 - .
Mass: 500 kg (1,100 lb). Nation: USA.
Agency: WUTC.
Program: Westar.
Class: Communications.
Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: HS 333.
Completed Operations Date: 1983-05-02 . USAF Sat Cat: 7250 . COSPAR: 1974-022A. Apogee: 35,900 km (22,300 mi). Perigee: 35,886 km (22,298 mi). Inclination: 13.40 deg. Period: 1,441.50 min.
Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Positioned in geosynchronous orbit over the Americas at 99 deg W in 1974-1982; over the Americas at 100 deg W in 1982; over the Americas at 97 deg W in 1982; over the Americas at 79 deg W in 1982-1983 As of 5 September 2001 located at 85.83 deg W drifting at 1.372 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 89.54E drifting at 1.381W degrees per day.
1975 April 13
00:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas F. FAILURE: First stage failure due to explosion in flame pit at lift-off.. Failed Stage: 1.- P 72-2 - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: USAF.
Class: Technology.
Type: Military technology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: P.
Spacecraft: P 72.
Decay Date: 1975-04-12 .
Space Test Program flight P72-2 was launched; it carried two infrared radiometers and three other payloads. The launch failed when the Atlas F launch vehicle malfunctioned. A lack of deluge water and collection in the flame bucket of a kerosene/liquid oxygen gel led to the explosion of the gel on lift-off, damaging one of the Atlas engines and leading to complete engine failure during the ascent.
1975 April 13
08:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.1975 April 13
09:46 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Sergeant. Launch Vehicle: Castor.1975 April 13
10:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.1976 April 13
17:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC90/19. Launch Pad: LC90/pad?. LV Family: R-36. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon-2.- Cosmos 814 - . Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: PKO. Class: Military. Type: Anti-satellite system. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: IS-A. Decay Date: 1976-04-13 . USAF Sat Cat: 8806 . COSPAR: 1976-034A. Apogee: 480 km (290 mi). Perigee: 118 km (73 mi). Inclination: 65.10 deg. Period: 90.50 min. ASAT interceptor. After intercept with target deorbited using on-board engine..
1977 April 13
17:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Antigua. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Rocketsonde.1978 April 13
19:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiruna. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Orion.1979 April 13
22:05 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant 8C.1981 April 13
- STS-1 - Wakeup Song: Blast-Off Columbia - . Flight: STS-1. "Blast-Off Columbia" Roy McCall.
1981 April 13
15:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Rocketsonde.1983 April 13
09:06 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Vehicle: Sergeant.1984 April 13
- STS-41-C - Wakeup Song: Fight song from the University of Texas - . Flight: STS-41-C. "Fight song from the University of Texas" , for mission commander, Bob Crippen, and the University of Arizona for Pilot, Dick Scobee..
1984 April 13
13:14 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Super Loki.- Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Wallops. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).
1984 April 13
- Landing of STS-41-C - . Return Crew: Crippen, Hart, Nelson, Scobee, van Hoften. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Crippen, Hart, Nelson, Scobee, van Hoften. Program: STS. Flight: STS-41-C. STS-41-C landed at 13:38 GMT. .
1985 April 13
Launch Site: Baikonur. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2. FAILURE: Failure.1986 April 13
09:14 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant X.1988 April 13
Launch Site: Balasore. LV Family: RH. Launch Vehicle: RH-200.1989 April 13
Launch Site: Balasore. LV Family: RH. Launch Vehicle: RH-200.1990 April 13
18:53 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. Launch Pad: LC1 or LC31. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.- Cosmos 2072 - . Mass: 6,600 kg (14,500 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Yantar. Spacecraft: Yantar-4KS1. Duration: 225.00 days. Decay Date: 1990-11-21 . USAF Sat Cat: 20568 . COSPAR: 1990-033A. Apogee: 270 km (160 mi). Perigee: 232 km (144 mi). Inclination: 64.70 deg. Period: 89.50 min. Photo/digital surveillance..
1990 April 13
22:28 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Delta 6925-8.- Palapa B2R - .
Mass: 1,200 kg (2,600 lb). Nation: Indonesia.
Agency: Perumtel.
Program: Palapa.
Class: Communications.
Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: HS 376.
USAF Sat Cat: 20570 . COSPAR: 1990-034A. Apogee: 35,795 km (22,241 mi). Perigee: 35,784 km (22,235 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.30 min.
Refurbished Palapa B2 retrieved by STS-51A; 107.7 deg E. Communication services for Indonesia, the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Papua New Guinea. Launch time 2227:59.719 Z. Launch complex 17, ETR. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 108 deg E in 1990-1999 As of 29 August 2001 located at 42.49 deg E drifting at 0.002 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 163.55E drifting at 2.663W degrees per day.
1991 April 13
00:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7925.- ASC-2 / Spacenet F4 - .
Mass: 1,350 kg (2,970 lb). Nation: USA.
Agency: Contel.
Program: GTE.
Class: Communications.
Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: AS 3000.
Spacecraft: ASC.
USAF Sat Cat: 21227 . COSPAR: 1991-028A. Apogee: 35,794 km (22,241 mi). Perigee: 35,780 km (22,230 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.20 min.
Commercial business communications; stationed at 101 deg W. C, Ku band communications satellite. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 101 deg W in 1991-1999; 81 deg W in 2000. As of 6 September 2001 located at 172.04 deg E drifting at 0.007 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 34.51E drifting at 2.539W degrees per day.
1994 April 13
06:04 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC36B. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas I.- GOES 8 - .
Payload: GOES I. Mass: 2,105 kg (4,640 lb). Nation: USA.
Agency: NOAA.
Program: GOES.
Class: Earth.
Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: FS-1300.
Spacecraft: GOES-Next.
USAF Sat Cat: 23051 . COSPAR: 1994-022A. Apogee: 35,807 km (22,249 mi). Perigee: 35,770 km (22,220 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.20 min.
Geostationary Environmental Satellite. Stationed at 75 deg W. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). Launch vehicle put payload into supersynchronous earth orbit with MRS trajectory option. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 90 deg W in 1994-1995; 75 deg W in 1995-1999 As of 5 September 2001 located at 74.78 deg W drifting at 0.019 deg E per day. NASA announced that GOES-8 was "de-orbited" (presumably moved to a sub-synchronous orbit) on May 5, 2004 after 10 years of service. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 87.46E drifting at 4.935W degrees per day.
1999 April 13
- Mir News 459: Progress-M41 - .
Nation: Russia.
Program: Mir.
Flight: Soyuz TM-28 Mir EO-26/-27,
Soyuz TM-29.
This freighter linked up with the Mir-complex on 4.04.1999 at 12.46.49 UTC. The docking was executed in the automatic mode by the system Kurs. (More or less a tragedy for me was the fact that when this operation was going on I drove along the Yaroslavskoye Shosse in Korolyov in a short distance from the building of TsUP! Theoretically I could have been in time in TsUP, if I had been allowed to enter that building, but my arrival by KLM on Sheremetevo was delayed due to a nearly fatal landing attempt. Heavy turbulence and side wind within a few meters from touchdown forced our captain to execute an emergency restart. So Progress-M41 successfully arrived at the first attempt, I did this only on the 2nd ) Two days later I did manage to visit TsUP and to monitor 1 one of the communication sessions with Mir in which one of the subjects was the mini Sputnik which will be launched during the first EVA.
1st Spacewalk (EVA) crew 27th Main Expedition Mir:
This EVA to be executed by commander Afanasyev and CNES cosmonaut Haignere will start on 16.04.1999 at 0430 UTC, when they open the outer hatch of the airlock (Sh.S.O.) of Module-D. The planned duration of the EVA is 5 hours and 12 minutes. The cosmonauts will install experiments at the outer surface of the complex and retrieve experiments which had been installed in the past from there. The whole day of 13.04.1999 the crew was working on the spacesuits. They checked the air-tightness and all technical systems. The air-tightness gave no problems, but from the spacesuit of Afanasyev the medical data did not reach the telemetry. TsUP presumed that there was something wrong with the medical data processing unit in Afanasyev's suit. Afanasyev suggested not to bother about this problem, but the medical group was not willing to give permission for the EVA if the problem would not be solved. If such a failure might arise during the EVA they could bear this for it would be difficult to stop the EVA, but they needed medical data at the beginning. So the management ordered Afanasyev to use spacesuit number 5 for the EVA. This means that a part of the checks will have to be repeated and that there is little time to train for the EVA.
Communications:
On 12.04.1999 Viktor D. Blagov congratulated the crew with the Cosmonauts Day. He expressed the wish that Russian spaceflight would be able to survive and that he hoped the same with the Mir space station. He told the crew that the Service Module for the I.S.S. would be transported to Baykonur in May to enable the launch in late October \ begin November this year. Towards the end of the communication session he informed them about a message he just got from Krasnoyarsk in which was reported that the only geostationary satellite available for Mir-communications, the Luch-1/Gelios standing over 77 degrees East , was unserviceable due to a technical failure. Until the beginning of next year TsUP and Mir do not have such an in fact necessary facility. In the beginning of 2000 TsUP again hopes to be able to make use of a new Luch or Altair, which has to be placed over 16 degrees West.
During a meeting in the Russian Space agency (RKA) in which I took part I asked one of the deputies of Mr. Koptev whether there were plans for such a satellite. He confirmed my question. This geostationary communications satellite will be launched in November or December this year.
Private situation:
I did not cancel my tour to Moscow because of the fact that the doctors and other experts advised me to go and thus to gain strength and relax after the hectic months. And indeed they were right, I now feel better than before my trip. Regretfully the status of my wife who is still in hospital has not changed and predicting the near future is almost impossible.
Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.
2000 April 13
- ISS Status Report: ISS 00-15 - .
Nation: USA.
Related Persons: Halsell,
Helms,
Horowitz,
Voss,
Weber, Mary,
Williams, Jeffrey.
Program: ISS.
Atlantis' STS-101 mission remains scheduled for launch at about 4:15 p.m. Eastern time on April 24 with the mission's major goals to accomplish the complete restoration of the electrical power system on the Zarya module and raising the Station's altitude in preparation for Zvezda's arrival in late July. Additional Details: here....
2002 April 13
- Death of Aleksandr Yakovlevich Kramarenko at Mytishchi, Russia. Heart attack at a railway station. - . Nation: Ukraine. Related Persons: Kramarenko. Ukrainian pilot cosmonaut, 1965-1969..
2002 April 13
- STS-110 - Wakeup Song: Voodoo Chile - . Flight: STS-110. "Voodoo Chile" by Jimi Hendrix. It was played for Morin, who will be making his first spacewalk, at the request of his wife..
2002 April 13
14:09 GMT - .- EVA STS-110-2 - . Crew: Morin, Ross. EVA Duration: 0.32 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Morin, Ross. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-110. The spacewalk was from 1405 to 2139 UTC. The astronauts attached the aft MTS struts and deployed the second trailing umbilical..
2004 April 13
- Death of Joachim Wilhelm Muehlner - . Nation: Germany, USA. Related Persons: Muehlner. German-American radio engineer, at Peenemuende from 1939 . One of the few of von Braun's team that worked on all major programs, from the doppler transponder for the V-2 to the electronic landing systems for the Space Shuttle in 1978..
2004 April 13
03:30 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Mk 70 Orion.- NMACS test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 122 km (75 mi).
2006 April 13
Launch Site: Barking Sands. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: SR19/SR19.- CMCM-1 Target mission - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: MDA,
USA SMDC.
Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).
A two-stage SR19 rocket was flown from the Kaui Test Facility in the Pacific Missile Range Facility. The payload included the deployment of complex countermeasures, a mock reentry vehicle, an onboard sensor package. This series of radar certification flight was initially part of the Block 2004 effort.
2007 April 13
- International Space Station Status Report #07-20 - .
Nation: USA.
Related Persons: Kotov,
Lopez-Alegria,
Simonyi,
Tyurin,
Williams,
Yurchikhin.
Program: ISS.
Flight: Soyuz TMA-10,
Soyuz TMA-10 ISS EP-12,
Soyuz TMA-9,
STS-117 ISS EO-15.
Two Expedition 15 cosmonauts spent much of the week in handover activities with their Expedition 14 predecessors. Their new crewmate, Sunita Williams who has been aboard the International Space Station for more than three months, also is helping them learn the ropes. Additional Details: here....
2008 April 13
- ISS On-Orbit Status 04/13/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kononenko, Malenchenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey, Whitson, Yi Soyeon. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12, Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14, STS-123 ISS EO-16, STS-124. Day 4 of joint E16/E17 operations by CDR-16 Peggy Whitson, FE-1-16 Yuri Malenchenko, FE-2-17 Garrett Reisman, CDR-17 Sergei Volkov, FE-1-17 Oleg Kononenko and SFP/VC14 So-Yeon Yi.. Additional Details: here....
2008 April 13
- Death of Vladimir Mkrtychovich Gevorkyan at Moscow, Russia - . Nation: Armenia, Russia. Related Persons: Gevorkyan. Armenian-Russian engineer cosmonaut, 1978-1987. Graduated from Bauman Technical Higher School, Moscow, 1975 Civilian Engineer, Chelomei OKB. From 1991 General Director of Science Corporation "Terra"..
2010 April 13
- STS-131 - Wakeup Song: Miracle of Flight - . Flight: STS-131. "Miracle of Flight" by Mike Hyden, played for Mission Specialist Clayton Anderson..
2010 April 13
- EVA STS-131-3 - . Crew: Anderson, Clayton, Mastracchio. EVA Duration: 0.27 days. Nation: USA. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-17, Soyuz TMA-18, STS-131. The fluid lines were connected to the new ammonia tank and the old tank was moved to the shuttle's payload bay for return to Earth. Micro-meteoroid debris shields from the Quest airlock which were no longer necessary were brought inside the airlock for re.