Chronology - Quarter 4 1996 Previous Home Next 1996 October 2 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: ETR. Launch Pad: SLBM Launch Area. Launch Vehicle: Trident C-4. LV Configuration: Trident C-4 DASO-35. Trident C-4 Operational Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 797. 1996 October 3 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC158. Launch Vehicle: Topol. Model: Topol'. Topol Test mission Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN RF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 1964. 1996 October 3 - Launch Site: Barents Sea. Launch Vehicle: R-29. Model: Shtil. R-29 Operational Test mission Nation: Russia. Agency: VMF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Launched from a Russian submarine. References: 1830. 1996 October 9 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC94. Launch Pad: FIX. Launch Vehicle: Hera. LV Configuration: Hera 6. Hera BRV/THAAD RST-1 Target mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 480 km (290 mi). References: 1541. 1996 October 16 - 10:41 GMT - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: LCLV Sounding Rocket. LV Configuration: LCLV Red Tigress 3. LCLV Sounding Rocket Target mission Nation: USA. Agency: BMDO. Apogee: 400 km (240 mi). References: 1508. 1996 October 16 - 16:02 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC36. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant IX. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX NASA 36.154NP. Black Brant Technology mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 1925. 1996 October 20 - 07:20 GMT - Launch Site: Jiuquan. Launch Vehicle: CZ-2D. Model: Chang Zheng 2D. LV Configuration: Chang Zheng 2D CZ2D-3 (43). FSW-2 No. 3 Nation: China. Payload: FSW-2 No. 03. Mass: 2,600 kg (5,700 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: FSW. Agency: CASC. Perigee: 121 km (75 mi). Apogee: 133 km (82 mi). Inclination: 63.00 deg. Period: 87.00 min. COSPAR: 1996-059A. USAF Sat Cat: 24634. Duration: 15.00 days. Decay Date: 1996-12-03. Final launch in the FSW series. Landed in China on November 4 after 15 days in orbit. References: 4, 276. 1996 October 21 - 03:00 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC36. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant IX. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX NASA 36.115UG. Black Brant Astronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 1925. 1996 October 24 - 11:37 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC43. Launch Pad: LC43/4. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Model: Molniya 8K78M. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78M ML PVB71612-697. Molniya-3-48 Nation: Russia. Program: Molniya. Payload: Molniya-3 s/n 62. Mass: 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Molniya-3. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 1,837 km (1,141 mi). Apogee: 38,520 km (23,930 mi). Inclination: 64.90 deg. Period: 717.80 min. COSPAR: 1996-060A. USAF Sat Cat: 24640. References: 4. 1996 October 28 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: ETR. Launch Pad: SLBM Launch Area. Launch Vehicle: Trident D-5. LV Configuration: Trident D-5 FCET-16. Trident D-5 Operational Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 797. 1996 October 28 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: ETR. Launch Pad: SLBM Launch Area. Launch Vehicle: Trident D-5. LV Configuration: Trident D-5 FCET-16. Trident D-5 Operational Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 797. 1996 October 29 - 03:30 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC36. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant IX. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX NASA 36.149UL. Black Brant Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 1925. 1996 November - X-38 Rollout Nation: USA. Program: ISS. Spacecraft: X-38. Roll out of first of two slightly subscale 7.31 m long atmospheric test vehicles for use in parafoil landing tests was in November 1996. 1996 November 4 - Galileo, Callisto 3 Flyby Spacecraft: Galileo. 1996 November 4 - 17:08 GMT - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: RW04. Launch Pad: L-1011. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL. Model: Pegasus XL. LV Configuration: Pegasus XL F14. FAILURE: The rocket functioned perfectly but the seperation system failed to release the payload. SAC-B Nation: Argentina. Program: SAC. Class: Technology. Spacecraft: SAC-B. Agency: CONAE. Perigee: 487 km (302 mi). Apogee: 555 km (344 mi). Inclination: 38.00 deg. Period: 95.00 min. COSPAR: 1996-061A. USAF Sat Cat: 24645. Decay Date: 2002-04-07. References: 4. HETE Nation: USA. Program: STEDI. Class: Astronomy. Spacecraft: HETE. Agency: NASA-GSF. Perigee: 487 km (302 mi). Apogee: 555 km (344 mi). Inclination: 38.00 deg. Period: 95.00 min. COSPAR: 1996-061A. USAF Sat Cat: 24645. Decay Date: 2002-04-07. The High Energy Transient Experiment (HETE) was an international mission led by The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Its prime objective was to carry out the first multiwavelength study of gamma ray bursts (GRBs) with UV, X-ray, and gamma ray instruments. A unique feature of the mission was its capability to localise bursts with several arcsecond accuracy, in near real-time aboard the spacecraft. These positions were to be transmitted to the ground, and picked up by a global network of primary and secondary ground stations (SGS), enabling sensitive follow-up studies. However the satellite was never released from its payload fitting. Although signals were received, the solar panels could not deploy, and it went silent after a few days when its batteries ran down.References: 4. 1996 November 6 - 13:06 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LF02. Launch Vehicle: Peacekeeper. LV Configuration: Peacekeeper 23PA. Peacekeeper Operational Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSPC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 1903. 1996 November 7 - 17:00 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17A. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7000. Model: Delta 7925. LV Configuration: Delta 7925 D239. Mars Global Surveyor Nation: USA. Program: Mars Surveyor. Payload: MGS / Leros 1B LAE. Class: Planetary. Type: Mars. Spacecraft: Mars Global Surveyor. Agency: NASA/JPL. COSPAR: 1996-062A. USAF Sat Cat: 24648. Mars Global Surveyor entered a 258 x 54021 km x 93.3 deg polar orbit around Mars on 12 September 1997 after a 22 minute burn of its main engine. After a long aerobraking phase to a lower circular orbit, the spacecraft began its primary mission of photographing and observing changes on the Martian surface in March 1999. After nearly ten years of service, the last signals from MGS were received on 3 November 2006. The spacecraft went silent after an incorrect software upload caused its solar arrays to lose power.References: 4. 1996 November 9 - 08:50 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC158. Launch Vehicle: Topol. Model: Topol'. LV Configuration: Topol' 52. Topol Test mission Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 1823. 1996 November 13 - 18:30 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC36. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant IX. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX NASA 36.142GS. Black Brant SERTS-96 Solar Extreme ultraviolet mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 1925. 1996 November 13 - 22:40 GMT - Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: ELA2. Launch Pad: ELA2. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 44L. Model: Ariane 44L. LV Configuration: Ariane 44L V92. Arabsat 2B Nation: Arab States. Program: Arabsat. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Spacebus 3000. Manufacturer: Aerospatiale, Cannes, France. Agency: Arabsat. Perigee: 35,785 km (22,235 mi). Apogee: 35,788 km (22,237 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 1996-063A. USAF Sat Cat: 24652. Geostationary at 21.9E. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 30 deg E in 1997-1999 As of 4 September 2001 located at 30.46 deg E drifting at 0.009 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 30.52E drifting at 0.005E degrees per day. References: 4. Measat 2 Nation: Malaysia. Program: Measat. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 376. Agency: Binarian. Perigee: 35,781 km (22,233 mi). Apogee: 35,792 km (22,240 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 1996-063B. USAF Sat Cat: 24653. Geostationary at 148.0E. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 148 deg E in 1996-1999 As of 5 September 2001 located at 148.00 deg E drifting at 0.011 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 147.98E drifting at 0.007W degrees per day. References: 4. 1996 November 15 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Hyperion FPDP. Model: Hyperion. LV Configuration: Hyperion FPDP 1. Hyperion FPDP LA-1 Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA MSFC. Apogee: 8.00 km (4.90 mi). References: 1858. 1996 November 16 - 20:48 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC200. Launch Pad: LC200/39. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S824F. Model: Proton-K/D-2. LV Configuration: Proton-K/D-2/11S824F 392-02. FAILURE: No second Block D-2 ignition. Mars-96 (Mars 8) Nation: Russia. Program: Mars. Payload: M1 s/n 520. Class: Planetary. Type: Mars. Spacecraft: Mars M1. Agency: VKS. Perigee: 110 km (60 mi). Apogee: 340 km (210 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. COSPAR: 1996-064A. USAF Sat Cat: 24656. Decay Date: 1996-11-18. The Mars 96 spacecraft was launched into Earth orbit, but failed to achieve insertion into Mars cruise trajectory and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere at about 00:45 to 01:30 GMT on 17 November 1996 and crashed within a presumed 320 km by 80 km area which includes parts of the Pacific Ocean, Chile, and Bolivia. The Russian Mars 96 mission was designed to send an orbiter, two small autonomous stations, and two surface penetrators to Mars.References: 4, 67, 118, 274, 296. MAS 1 Nation: Russia. Program: Mars. Payload: MAS s/n 520/1. Spacecraft: Mars M1. Agency: VKS. COSPAR: 1996-064xx. References: 279. Penetrator 2 Nation: Russia. Program: Mars. Payload: PN s/n 520/5. Spacecraft: Mars M1. Agency: VKS. COSPAR: 1996-064xx. References: 279. Penetrator 1 Nation: Russia. Program: Mars. Payload: PN s/n 520/4. Spacecraft: Mars M1. Agency: VKS. COSPAR: 1996-064xx. References: 279. MAS 2 Nation: Russia. Program: Mars. Payload: MAS s/n 520/2. Spacecraft: Mars M1. Agency: VKS. COSPAR: 1996-064xx. References: 279. 1996 November 17 - 13:30 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC36. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Orion. Model: Terrier Improved Orion. LV Configuration: Terrier Improved Orion NASA 41.005GP. Terrier Orion Test mission? Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 1925. 1996 November 19 - 19:55 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC39. Launch Pad: LC39B. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle. Model: Space Shuttle. LV Configuration: Space Shuttle STS-80. STS-80 Nation: USA. Program: STS. Payload: Columbia F21 / Orfeus / WSF. Class: Manned. Type: Spaceplane. Spacecraft: Columbia. Agency: NASA JSC. Perigee: 318 km (197 mi). Apogee: 375 km (233 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 91.50 min. COSPAR: 1996-065A. USAF Sat Cat: 24660. Duration: 17.66 days. Decay Date: 1996-12-07. Crew: Cockrell, Rominger, Musgrave, Jernigan, Jones. Flight: STS-80. Mission STS-80 carried the Orfeus astronomy satellite, the Wake Shield Facility, and spacewalk equipment. The Orfeus satellite was deployed on November 20. It carried an ultraviolet telescope and spectrographs. Wake Shield Facility was deployed on November 22 and retrieved on November 26 . On 1996 Nov 29, crewmembers Tamara Jernigan and Thomas Jones were to conduct the first of several planned EVAs. However the shuttle's exit hatch would not open and NASA cancelled this and the other planned spacewalks of the mission. On December 4 at the astronauts retrieved the Orfeus satellite using the RMS arm. Reentry attempts on Dec 5 and Dec 6 were called off due to bad weather. Columbia finally landed at 11:49 GMT December 7 on Runway 33 at Kennedy Space Center, making STS-80 the longest shuttle mission to that date .References: 4, 7, 276. ORFEUS Nation: USA. Payload: ASTRO-SPAS. Class: Astronomy. Spacecraft: ORFEUS. Agency: DLR. Perigee: 346 km (214 mi). Apogee: 359 km (223 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 91.60 min. COSPAR: 1996-065B. USAF Sat Cat: 24661. Decay Date: 1996-12-07. Retrieved Dec 4 References: 4, 276. WSF Nation: USA. Payload: Wake Shield Facility. Class: Materials. Spacecraft: WSF. Agency: SII. Perigee: 347 km (215 mi). Apogee: 359 km (223 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 91.60 min. COSPAR: 1996-065C. USAF Sat Cat: 24662. Decay Date: 1996-12-07. Retrieved Nov 26 References: 4, 276. EDO Nation: USA. Program: STS. Agency: NASA. COSPAR: 1996-065xx. USAF Sat Cat: 24660. Decay Date: 1996-12-07. References: 279. 1996 November 19 - 23:20 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Pad: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Model: Soyuz 11A511U. Progress M-33 Nation: Russia. Program: Mir. Payload: Progress M s/n 233. Mass: 7,190 kg (15,850 lb). Class: Manned. Type: Logistics. Spacecraft: Progress M. Agency: RKA. Perigee: 361 km (224 mi). Apogee: 387 km (240 mi). Inclination: 51.70 deg. Period: 92.00 min. COSPAR: 1996-066A. USAF Sat Cat: 24663. Duration: 112.17 days. Completed Operations Date: 1997-03-12 03:22:59. Decay Date: 1997-03-12 03:22:59. Flight: Mir NASA-2, Mir EO-22. Unmanned resupply vessel to Mir. Docked with Mir on 22 Nov 1996 01:01:30 GMT. Undocked on 6 Feb 1997 12:13:53 GMT. Thereafter in independent orbital flight in a 377 x 395 km x 51.65 deg orbit. Failed to redock with Mir on 4 Mar 1996. Destroyed in reentry on 12 Mar 1997 03:23:37 GMT. Total free-flight time 35.70 days. Total docked time 76.47 days.References: 4, 275, 276. 1996 November 21 - 20:47 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC36. Launch Pad: LC36A. Launch Vehicle: Atlas IIA. Model: Atlas IIA. LV Configuration: Atlas IIA AC-124 / Centaur II. Hot Bird 2 Nation: France. Program: Eutelsat. Payload: Eutelsat HB2. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Eurostar 2000. Manufacturer: Matra Marconi Space-France, Toulouse. Agency: Eutelsat. Perigee: 35,768 km (22,225 mi). Apogee: 35,803 km (22,246 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 1996-067A. USAF Sat Cat: 24665. Geostationary at 13.0E. Launch vehicle put payload into supersynchronous earth orbit with IFR/MRS trajectory option. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 13 deg E in 1997-1999 As of 3 September 2001 located at 12.95 deg E drifting at 0.024 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 4 located at 13.07E drifting at 0.011E degrees per day.References: 4, 278. 1996 November 24 - 11:05 GMT - Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Complex: S. Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Model: Skylark 7. LV Configuration: Skylark 7 DLR K-GR-222. Skylark TEXUS 35 Microgravity mission Nation: USA. Agency: DASA. Apogee: 267 km (165 mi). References: 1582. 1996 November 29 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: RT-23. Model: RT-23U 15Zh61. LV Configuration: RT-23U 15Zh61 15Zh61. RT-23 Rail Test mission Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 1964. 1996 December 2 - EVA Mir EO-22-1 Nation: Russia. Program: Mir. Class: Manned. Type: Space station. Spacecraft: Mir. Crew: Korzun, Kaleri. Flight: Mir NASA-2, Mir EO-22. EVA Duration: 0.25 days. Began installation of MCSA solar array cables. References: 66. 1996 December 4 - 06:58 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7000. Model: Delta 7925. LV Configuration: Delta 7925 D240. Mars Pathfinder Nation: USA. Program: Discovery. Payload: Discovery 2. Class: Planetary. Type: Mars. Spacecraft: Mars Pathfinder. Agency: NASA/JPL. COSPAR: 1996-068A. USAF Sat Cat: 24667. Decay Date: 1997-07-04. En route Mars References: 4. MPF Cruise Stage Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mars Pathfinder. Agency: MDSSC. COSPAR: 1996-068xx. References: 279. Sojourner Nation: USA. Payload: MFEX Rover. Spacecraft: Mars Pathfinder. Agency: MDSSC. COSPAR: 1996-068xx. References: 279. 1996 December 7 - Landing of STS-80 Nation: USA. Program: STS. Flight: STS-80. STS-80 landed at 11:49 GMT. 1996 December 9 - EVA Mir EO-22-2 Nation: Russia. Program: Mir. Class: Manned. Type: Space station. Spacecraft: Mir. Crew: Korzun, Kaleri. Flight: Mir NASA-2, Mir EO-22. EVA Duration: 0.28 days. Completed external cable installation for MCSA solar array. Installed antenna. References: 66. 1996 December 11 - 12:00 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC90. Launch Pad: LC90L. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2. Model: Tsiklon-2. Cosmos 2335 Nation: Russia. Program: EORSAT. Payload: US-PM s/n 8. Mass: 3,150 kg (6,940 lb). Class: Sigint. Type: Naval reconnaisance. Spacecraft: US-PU. Agency: MO RF. Perigee: 403 km (250 mi). Apogee: 418 km (259 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 92.80 min. COSPAR: 1996-069A. USAF Sat Cat: 24670. Decay Date: 1999-01-01. EORSAT, second of three to be stationed at 120 degree intervals on the same orbit with a 143 degree ascending node. However cutbacks in program resulted in the constellation not being completed. Still in operation as of December 1997. References: 4, 69. 1996 December 18 - 01:57 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC36. Launch Pad: LC36B. Launch Vehicle: Atlas IIA. Model: Atlas IIA. LV Configuration: Atlas IIA AC-129 / Centaur II. Inmarsat 3 F3 Nation: International. Program: Inmarsat. Mass: 1,021 kg (2,250 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: AS 4000. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin. Agency: Inmarsat. Perigee: 35,764 km (22,222 mi). Apogee: 35,807 km (22,249 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.00 min. COSPAR: 1996-070A. USAF Sat Cat: 24674. Geostationary at 157.6E. Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit with RAAN Cntl trajectory option. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 178 deg E in 1997-1999 As of 5 September 2001 located at 178.02 deg E drifting at 0.006 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 178.19E drifting at 0.002E degrees per day.References: 4, 278. 1996 December 20 - 06:43 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132. Launch Pad: LC132/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Model: Kosmos 11K65M. Cosmos 2336 Nation: Russia. Mass: 825 kg (1,818 lb). Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: Parus. Agency: MO RF. Perigee: 979 km (608 mi). Apogee: 1,012 km (628 mi). Inclination: 82.90 deg. Period: 105.00 min. COSPAR: 1996-071A. USAF Sat Cat: 24677. Military navigation satellite. Positioned in plane 4 of constellation. Signals at 149.97 and 399.92 MHz. References: 4, 107. 1996 December 20 - 18:04 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4. Launch Pad: SLC4E. Launch Vehicle: Titan 4. Model: Titan 404A. LV Configuration: Titan 404A K-13 (45J-5). USA 129 Nation: USA. Mass: 19,600 kg (43,200 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Improved Crystal. Agency: NRO/USAF. Perigee: 153 km (95 mi). Apogee: 949 km (589 mi). Inclination: 97.90 deg. COSPAR: 1996-072A. USAF Sat Cat: 24680. Optical reconnaisance satellite built for the US National Reconnaissance Office. References: 4. 1996 December 24 - 13:50 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC43. Launch Pad: LC43/4. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Model: Soyuz 11A511U. LV Configuration: Soyuz 11A511U PVB15000-050. Bion No. 11 Nation: Russia. Payload: Bion No. 11. Class: Biology. Spacecraft: Bion. Agency: RKA. Perigee: 216 km (134 mi). Apogee: 375 km (233 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 90.40 min. COSPAR: 1996-073A. USAF Sat Cat: 24701. Duration: 15.00 days. Decay Date: 1997-01-07. Biological research. Carried monkeys Lalik and Multik. References: 4, 104, 297. 1996 December 28 - Launch Site: Taiyuan. Launch Vehicle: DF-21. DF-21 Test mission Nation: China. Agency: PRC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 1864. Previous Home Next                   Contact us with any corrections, additions, or comments. Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site.. To contact astronauts or cosmonauts. © Mark Wade, 1997 - 2007 except where otherwise noted.

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