Chronology - Quarter 4 2003
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2003 October 1 - 04:03 GMT - Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Complex: Odyssey. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL. LV Configuration: Zenit 3SL s/n 12.
  • Horizons 1 (Galaxy 13) Nation: USA. Payload: Boeing 601HP. Mass: 4,060 kg (8,950 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 601. Agency: PanAmSat. Perigee: 35,779 km (22,231 mi). Apogee: 35,794 km (22,241 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2003-044A. USAF Sat Cat: 27954. Delayed from late 2002, September 27 2003. The satellite carried both C-band and Ku-band communications payloads. The C-band payload was referred to as Galaxy 13; the Ku-band payload was jointly owned by Panamsat and the Japanese JSAT company and was called Horizons-1. Horizons-1 was to provide digital data services between the Americas and Asia via a relay station in Hawaii. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 127.00W drifting at 0.002E degrees per day.
2003 October 3 - 14:30 GMT - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Orion. Model: Terrier Improved Orion. LV Configuration: Terrier Improved Orion NASA 41.035UE.
  • Terrier Orion Aeronomy/release mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi). References: 1884.
2003 October 15 - 01:00 GMT - Launch Site: Jiuquan. Launch Complex: SLS. Launch Vehicle: CZ-2F.
  • Shenzhou 5 Orbital Module Nation: China. Mass: 1,100 kg (2,400 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Perigee: 338 km (210 mi). Apogee: 347 km (215 mi). Inclination: 42.40 deg. Period: 91.40 min. COSPAR: 2003-045G. USAF Sat Cat: 28049. Decay Date: 2004-05-30. The Shenzhou 5 orbital module was essential an unmanned military reconnaisance satellite. It was never entered by the astronaut during the mission, and was equipped with two high resolution (1.6 m) surveillance cameras. It was expected to operate until at least spring 2004.
  • Shenzhou 5 Nation: China. Mass: 7,840 kg (17,280 lb). Class: Manned. Type: Spacecraft. Spacecraft: Shenzhou. Manufacturer: CALT. Agency: PLAAF. Perigee: 332 km (206 mi). Apogee: 336 km (208 mi). Inclination: 42.42 deg. Period: 91.20 min. COSPAR: 2003-045A. USAF Sat Cat: 28043. Duration: 0.89 days. Decay Date: 2003-10-16. Crew: Yang Liwei. Flight: Shenzhou 5. China's first manned spaceflight began with the lift-off of the CZ-2F booster into the clear blue morning sky. All went according to plan and China's first man in space, Yang Liwei, entered an initial 200 km x 343 km orbit ten minutes after launch. The naval vessels standing buy for rescue in the Sea of Japan were called back to port.

    The highly conservative mission plan was for Yang to remain in the Shenzhou re-entry capsule for the entire 21-hour mission, and not to enter the orbital module. He had two rest periods of three hours each, and was scheduled to eat once or twice meals of what was said to be a superior form of Chinese space food. Frequent communications sessions, including colour television links to the spacecraft, were made possible by China's four tracking ships deployed in the oceans of the world.

    As the spacecraft was in its 21st orbit, the orbital module separated. It would stay in the 343 km orbit for a planned six-month military imaging reconnaissance mission. Retrofire was commanded via a tracking ship in the Atlantic off the coast of Africa. Shenzhou-5 landed only 4.8 km from the aim-point in Inner Mongolia with the parachute being sighted by the ground recovery forces prior to landing. Yang landed after 21 hours 23 minutes aloft.References: 434.

2003 October 15 - 10:03 GMT - Launch Site: Barents Sea. Launch Vehicle: R-29. Model: R-29RM. LV Configuration: R-29RM.
  • RSM-54 test launch Nation: Russia. Agency: VMF.
2003 October 17 - Launch Site: Mojave. Launch Vehicle: Tier One.
  • Tier One White Knight/SpaceShipOne Flight 38L/07G Nation: USA. Program: X-Prize. Spacecraft: SpaceShipOne. Crew: Melvill. Objectives: Fourth glide flight of SpaceShipOne. Primary purpose was to examine the effects of horizontal tail modifications at both forward and mid-range CG locations (obtained by dumping water from an aft ballast tank between test points). The tail modifications included a fixed strake bonded to the tail boom in front of the stabilator and a span-wise flow fence mounted on the leading edge of each stab at mid-span.Additional Details: White Knight/SpaceShipOne Flight 38L/07G(51880). References: 392.
2003 October 17 - 04:54 GMT - Launch Site: Sriharikota. Launch Complex: PSLV. Launch Pad: PSLV. Launch Vehicle: PSLV. LV Configuration: PSLV-C5.
  • ResourceSat 1 (IRS-P6) Nation: India. Mass: 1,360 kg (2,990 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Landsat. Spacecraft: IRS. Agency: Indian Space Research Organisation. Perigee: 813 km (505 mi). Apogee: 836 km (519 mi). Inclination: 98.80 deg. Period: 101.40 min. COSPAR: 2003-046A. USAF Sat Cat: 28051. The satellite was to replace IRS-1C and IRS-1D, and carried three cameras for remote sensing, the highest resolution one being the 6-meter LISS-4 imager. The sensors were designed for agricultural remote sensing applications.
2003 October 18 - 05:38 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz FG. LV Configuration: Soyuz FG ISS-7S FG no.7.
  • Soyuz TMA-3 Nation: Russia. Program: ISS. Payload: Soyuz TMA s/n 213. Mass: 7,250 kg (15,980 lb). Class: Manned. Type: Spacecraft. Spacecraft: Soyuz TMA. Manufacturer: RKK Energia. Agency: Rosaviakosmos. Perigee: 376 km (233 mi). Apogee: 384 km (238 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 92.20 min. COSPAR: 2003-047A. USAF Sat Cat: 28052. Decay Date: 2004-04-30. Crew: Foale, Kaleri, Duque. Flight: ISS EO-8, ISS Cervantes, ISS EO-7. The spacecraft carried the Expedition 8 crew of Mike Foale and Aleksandr Kaleri and the EP-5 (Cervantes) mission crewmember Pedro Duque. During the flight to the station spacecraft Commander was Aleksandr Kaleri . Soyuz TMA-3 docked with the Pirs module at 07:16 GMT on October 20. Once the EO-7 crew aboard the ISS was relieved, the roles switched, with Foale becoming the ISS Commander. Duque carried out out 24 experiments in the fields of life and physical sciences, Earth observation, education and technology. The experiments were sponsored by the European Space Agency and Spain. After ten days in space, Duque returned to earth with the EO-7 crew of Malenchenko and Lu aboard Soyuz TMA-2.
2003 October 18 - 16:17 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4. Launch Pad: SLC4W. Launch Vehicle: Titan 2. Model: Titan II SLV. LV Configuration: Titan 2 s/n M68B-107 / 66-4318 / 23G-9/Star 37XFP.
  • USA 172 Nation: USA. Payload: DMSP-16. Mass: 1,154 kg (2,544 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Weather. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D-3. Perigee: 843 km (523 mi). Apogee: 853 km (530 mi). Inclination: 98.90 deg. Period: 101.90 min. COSPAR: 2003-048A. USAF Sat Cat: 28054. Final Titan 2 launch, LV dubbed "Cindy Marie". Originally to have launched January 2001. Launch postponed 12 times due to spacecraft and launch vehicle problems.
2003 October 21 - 03:16 GMT - Launch Site: Taiyuan. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: CZ-4B. LV Configuration: CZ-4B.
  • ZY-1-2 (CBERS-2) Nation: China. Payload: Zi Yuan 1B. Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Landsat. Spacecraft: ZY. Agency: China Aerospace Corp. (China), INPE (Brazil). Perigee: 731 km (454 mi). Apogee: 750 km (460 mi). Inclination: 98.50 deg. Period: 99.60 min. COSPAR: 2003-049A. USAF Sat Cat: 28057. Delayed from late 2001, September 3 2002, March 14 and September 2003. Second China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS 2).
  • CX-1 Nation: China. Payload: Chuang Xin 1. Class: Technology, Data Gat. Agency: Chinese Academy of Sciences. Perigee: 686 km (426 mi). Apogee: 759 km (471 mi). Inclination: 98.50 deg. Period: 99.20 min. COSPAR: 2003-049B. USAF Sat Cat: 28058. Chuangxin-1 (or Innovation-1) was China's first experimental small satellite for store-and-forward short message data communications in low Earth orbit. With a mass less than 100 kg, the Chuangxin-1 was developed in light of national strategic demands. Starting from 1999 with support of the national Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the project was carried out jointly by researchers from the CAS Shanghai Institute of Microsystem Information Technology and the CAS Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics. The satellite used spread spectrum communication and subsystems included a communication transponder, onboard computer, attitude control, energy source, thermal control, and structure. The mission was to demonstrate data communications for such sectors as traffic and transportation, environment protection, oil and gas transportation, flood and drought control, detection of forest fire and earthquake monitoring.
2003 October 24 - 10:45 GMT - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Orion. LV Configuration: Terrier Mk 70 Orion NASA 12.053GT.
  • Terrier Orion NMACS Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi). References: 1884.
2003 October 28 -
  • Landing of Soyuz TMA-2 Nation: Russia. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-7, ISS EO-8. The spacecraft returned with US astronaut Edward Lu, Russian Yuri Malenchenko and Spaniard Pedro Duque. The three astronauts aboard Soyuz TMA-2 landed at 02:14 GMT, 35 kilometers south of Arkalyk. Transfer of the astronauts was delayed when a snowstorm in Kazakhstan's capital Astana and heavy fog forced all of the rescue party's helicopters.
2003 October 30 - 13:43 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Rokot. LV Configuration: Rokot KM.
  • Servis-1 Nation: Japan. Mass: 840 kg (1,850 lb). Class: Technology. Spacecraft: SERVIS. Agency: USEF. Perigee: 984 km (611 mi). Apogee: 1,016 km (631 mi). Inclination: 99.50 deg. Period: 105.10 min. COSPAR: 2003-050A. USAF Sat Cat: 28060. The mission of the 'Space Environment Reliability Verification of Integrated System' was to flight test a range of commerical-grade spacecraft components including a computer, star tracker, battery, and laser gyro. The objective was to lower the cost of future satellites.
2003 November 2 - 07:20 GMT - Launch Site: Jiuquan. Launch Complex: LC-2S. Launch Vehicle: CZ-2D.
  • FSW-3 No. 1 Nation: China. Payload: FSW-18, FSW-3.1, Jianbing 4. Mass: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: FSW. Agency: Shangai Academy of Space Technology. Perigee: 141 km (87 mi). Apogee: 165 km (102 mi). Inclination: 63.00 deg. Period: 87.50 min. COSPAR: 2003-051A. USAF Sat Cat: 28078. Decay Date: 2003-12-18. Expected to have been long-awaited 'seeds in space' mission but official announcements spoke only of photography.
2003 November 5 - Launch Site: Mojave. Launch Vehicle: Tier One.
  • White Knight Flight 39 Nation: USA. Program: X-Prize. Spacecraft: SpaceShipOne. Flight Time: 1.5 hours. White Knight Pilot: Siebold. White Knight Copilot: Binnie. Objectives: Avionics upgrade evaluation and landing pattern practice. Results: Satisfactory GPS-aided INS stability and position keeping through a normal launch and glide flight profile. Flight 36References: 392.
2003 November 5 -
  • Voyager 1 Reaches 90 AU From Sun Spacecraft: Voyager.
2003 November 14 - Launch Site: Mojave. Launch Vehicle: Tier One.
  • Tier One White Knight/SpaceShipOne Flight 40L/08G Nation: USA. Program: X-Prize. Spacecraft: SpaceShipOne. Crew: Siebold. Objectives: The fifth glide flight of SpaceShipOne. New pilot checkout flight. Stability and control testing with the new extended horizontal tails. Tests included stall performance at aft limit CG and evaluation of the increased pitch and roll control authority. Other objectives included additional testing of the motor controller (MCS) and handling qualities in feathered flight. Results: Launch conditions were 47,300 feet and 115 knots. Satisfactory stability and control at aft limit CG. A notable improvement in control power, particularly in roll. Handling qualities into and out of feather remained excellent with good nose pointing ability. Adjusted landing pattern altitudes resulted in a touchdown at the targeted runway aim-point.

    Flight Time: 1.4 hours / 19 mins 55 secs White Knight Pilot: Binnie White Knight Copilot: Stinemetze White Knight Flt Engineer: SpaceShipOne Pilot: Siebold High Chase-Starship Pilot: Karkow Low Chase-Duchess Pilot: Melvill/ ColemanReferences: 392.

2003 November 14 - 16:01 GMT - Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Vehicle: CZ-3A.
  • Zhongxing 20 Nation: China. Payload: Feng Huo 2. Mass: 2,300 kg (5,000 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military. Spacecraft: DFH-3. Perigee: 35,762 km (22,221 mi). Apogee: 35,811 km (22,251 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2003-052A. USAF Sat Cat: 28082. Military communications satellite. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 103.00E drifting at 0.010W degrees per day.
2003 November 19 - Launch Site: Mojave. Launch Vehicle: Tier One.
  • Tier One White Knight/SpaceShipOne Flight 41L/09G Nation: USA. Program: X-Prize. Spacecraft: SpaceShipOne. Crew: Melvill. Objectives: The sixth glide flight of SpaceShipOne. Test pilot Mike Melvill's first flight with the enlarged tails. Emergency aft CG handling qualities eval and simulated landing exercise with the new tail configuration. Airspeed and G envelop expansion and dynamic feather evaluation.Additional Details: White Knight/SpaceShipOne Flight 41L/09G(51878). References: 392.
2003 November 24 - 06:22 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC81. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S861-01. LV Configuration: Proton 8K82K 407-02 / 11S861-01 no.12L.
  • Yamal-200 KA-1 Nation: Russia. Mass: 1,360 kg (2,990 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Yamal. Agency: Gazprom. Perigee: 35,776 km (22,230 mi). Apogee: 35,799 km (22,244 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2003-053A. USAF Sat Cat: 28089. Two geosynchronous communications satellites launched for Gazprom. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 49.00E drifting at 0.012E degrees per day.
  • Yamal-200 KA-2 Nation: Russia. Mass: 1,320 kg (2,910 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Yamal. Agency: Gazprom. Perigee: 35,777 km (22,230 mi). Apogee: 35,797 km (22,243 mi). Inclination: 0.0300 deg. Period: 1,436.13 min. COSPAR: 2003-053F. USAF Sat Cat: 28094. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 90.00E drifting at 0.016W degrees per day.
2003 November 28 - 12:05 GMT - Launch Site: SvalRak. Launch Vehicle: Nike Orion.
  • Nike Orion ICI-1 Plasma mission Nation: Norway. Agency: NDRE. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 1875.
2003 November 29 - 04:33 GMT - Launch Site: Tanegashima. Launch Complex: Y. Launch Vehicle: H-2A. Model: H-IIA 2024. LV Configuration: H-IIA 2024 F6. FAILURE: Destroyed by range safety after solid booster nozzle burn-through resulted in motor not seperating from core.
  • IGS-2a Nation: Japan. Mass: 850 kg (1,870 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: IGS. COSPAR: F20031129A. The launch failure meant that Japan's planned intelligence satellite constellation was crippled. The system was already in trouble due to the reported poor performance of the first two elements launched.
  • IGS-2b Nation: Japan. Mass: 1,200 kg (2,600 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Radarsat. Spacecraft: IGS. COSPAR: F20031129B.
2003 December 2 - 10:04 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3. Launch Pad: SLC3E. Launch Vehicle: Atlas IIAS. Model: Atlas IIAS. LV Configuration: Atlas IIAS AC-164 / MLV-14.
  • USA 173 Nation: USA. Payload: NROL-18. Class: SIGINT. Type: Naval reconnaisance. Spacecraft: NOSS-3. Agency: NRO. Perigee: 1,010 km (620 mi). Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi). Inclination: 63.40 deg. COSPAR: 2003-054A. USAF Sat Cat: 28095. Second launch of new generation paired satellites used for tracking, characterisation, and intelligence on naval vessels and civilian shipping worldwide.
  • USA 173 companion Nation: USA. Payload: NROL-18. Class: SIGINT. Type: Naval reconnaisance. Spacecraft: NOSS-3. Agency: NRO. Perigee: 1,010 km (620 mi). Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi). Inclination: 63.40 deg. COSPAR: 2003-054C. USAF Sat Cat: 28097.
2003 December 4 - Launch Site: Mojave. Launch Vehicle: Tier One.
  • Tier One White Knight/SpaceShipOne Flight 42L / 10g Nation: USA. Program: X-Prize. Spacecraft: SpaceShipOne. Crew: Binnie. Objectives: The seventh glide flight of SpaceShipOne and new pilot check out. Full functional check of the propulsion system by cold flowing nitrous oxide. Completed airspeed and positive and negative G-envelope expansion. Results: Launch conditions were 48,400 feet and 115 knots. All propulsion components, displays and functionality performed as designed. The feather was extended after a 4G pull-up to the vertical at 24,500 feet and rudder used to induce sideslip and yaw rates while "going-over-the-top". The vehicle recovered to a stable attitude and descent after only a single oscillation. The landing pattern was flown following established procedures resulting in a satisfactory touchdown.

    Flight Time: 1.3 hours / 13 mins 14 secs White Knight Pilot: Siebold White Knight Copilot: Stinemetz White Knight Flt Engineer: SpaceShipOne Pilot: Binnie High Chase-Starship Pilot: Karkow Low Chase-Extra Pilot: Melvill / ColemanReferences: 392.

2003 December 5 - 06:00 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: UR-100N. Model: Strela.
  • Payload Mockup Nation: Russia. Perigee: 454 km (282 mi). Apogee: 460 km (280 mi). Inclination: 67.10 deg. Period: 93.70 min. COSPAR: 2003-055A. USAF Sat Cat: 28098. Originally reported as an ICBM test. A Reuters story, later confirmed, claimed it was the first orbital launch of the Strela version of the rocket.
2003 December 5 - 19:30 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant IX. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX NASA 36.211US.
  • Black Brant Solar mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 1884.
2003 December 5 - 20:00 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant IX. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX NASA 36.184DS.
  • Black Brant Solar mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 1884.
2003 December 10 - 17:42 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC81. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / Briz-M.
  • Cosmos 2402 Nation: Russia. Payload: Glonass 794. Mass: 1,415 kg (3,119 lb). Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: Glonass. Manufacturer: NPO Prikladnoy Mekhaniki. Agency: KNITs. Perigee: 19,018 km (11,817 mi). Apogee: 19,314 km (12,001 mi). Inclination: 65.10 deg. Period: 677.20 min. COSPAR: 2003-056A. USAF Sat Cat: 28112. Three navigation satellites of the GLONASS system were launched to replenish the constellation. This was the fourth end-of-year replenishment launch since 2000.
  • Cosmos 2403 Nation: Russia. Payload: Glonass 795. Mass: 1,415 kg (3,119 lb). Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: Glonass. Manufacturer: NPO Prikladnoy Mekhaniki. Agency: KNITs. Perigee: 18,963 km (11,783 mi). Apogee: 19,102 km (11,869 mi). Inclination: 65.10 deg. Period: 671.90 min. COSPAR: 2003-056B. USAF Sat Cat: 28113.
  • Cosmos 2404 Nation: Russia. Payload: Glonass-M 701. Mass: 1,480 kg (3,260 lb). Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: Glonass. Manufacturer: NPO Prikladnoy Mekhaniki. Agency: KNITs. Perigee: 18,961 km (11,781 mi). Apogee: 19,104 km (11,870 mi). Inclination: 65.10 deg. Period: 671.90 min. COSPAR: 2003-056C. USAF Sat Cat: 28114. Improved version of the Glonass satellite.
2003 December 11 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: BELA. Launch Pad: Submarine KT-208. Launch Vehicle: R-39. Model: R-39UTTKh.
  • RSM-52M (R-39UTTKh Grom) SLBM test Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN.
2003 December 11 - Launch Complex: White Se. Launch Vehicle: R-39. Model: Rif.
  • R-39UTTKh Grom test mission Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Launched from White Sea Launch Area, Beloye More, Archangel'sk Oblast' - Latitude: 65.50 N - Longitude: 38.00 E. References: 1823.
2003 December 11 - Launch Site: White Sea. Launch Vehicle: Bulava.
  • Bulava cold-launch test Nation: Russia. Agency: VMF. A mass replica of a the new Bulava SLBM was ejected from its launch tube from the surfaced SSBN Dmitry Donskoi.
2003 December 12 - 18:10 GMT - Launch Site: Barking Sands. Launch Vehicle: Aries. LV Configuration: Aries NTW Aegis Target.
  • Aries SMD FM-6 TTV-7 Target mission Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 1954.
2003 December 12 - 18:12 GMT - Launch Site: Barking Sands. Launch Complex: POA. Launch Pad: CG-70 USS Lake Erie. Launch Vehicle: Standard SM-3. Model: SM-3. LV Configuration: SM-3 LEAP FM-6.
  • Standard SM-3 Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 137 km (85 mi). References: 1954.
2003 December 14 -
  • Nozomi, Mars Flyby Spacecraft: Nozomi. The Japanese Mars probe, Nozomi, flew past the planet at a height of 1000 km. Attempts to operate the spacecraft's main propulsion system failed, and small thrusters were used to increase the flyby distance by about 100 km to ensure a clean miss. The mission was abandoned, and Nozomi entered a new orbit around the Sun.
2003 December 16 - 03:00 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant IX. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX NASA 36.208UG.
  • Black Brant Ultraviolet Astronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 1884.
2003 December 17 - 16:15 GMT - Launch Site: Mojave. Launch Vehicle: Tier One.
  • Tier One SpaceShipOne powered flight 1 Nation: USA. Program: X-Prize. Spacecraft: SpaceShipOne. Apogee: 21 km (13 mi). Duration: 0.0126 days. Crew: Binnie. White Knight/SpaceShipOne Flight 43L / 11P. Eighth flight of SpaceShipOne and first powered flight. 15 second burn of the rocket motor and supersonic flight. Motor light off at altitude and inflight engine performance. Vehicle handling qualities through transonics and feather performance from altitude. Launch conditions were 14.6 km and 207 kph. Motor light off was achieved at 13.5 km and 0.55M. Burnout occurred at 1.2M and apogee was 20.7 km. There was no noted flight control flutter or buzz during the climb. Feather recovery exhibited a +/-30 roll initially and then settled down into the familiar falling bathtub mode. The wing was de-feathered and locked by 10.6 km. A nominal landing pattern was flown but touchdown caused the left main gear to collapse and the vehicle rolled to a stop off the runway in the soft sand. Although the damage was not major, repairs were expected to take approximately three weeks to complete.
2003 December 18 - 02:30 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC36. Launch Pad: SLC36B. Launch Vehicle: Atlas IIIB. LV Configuration: Atlas IIIB AC-203.
  • USA 174 Nation: USA. Program: UHF. Payload: UFO F/O F11. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 601. Agency: USN. Perigee: 35,781 km (22,233 mi). Apogee: 35,798 km (22,243 mi). Inclination: 4.20 deg. Period: 1,436.20 min. COSPAR: 2003-057A. USAF Sat Cat: 28117. The last UHF Follow-On communications satellite for the US Navy. The satellite provided fleet communications from geostationary orbit.
2003 December 19 -
  • Beagle 2 Separation From Mars Express, Successful Spacecraft: Mars Express.
2003 December 21 - 08:05 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: SLC17A. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7000. Model: Delta 7925.
  • USA 175 Nation: USA. Program: Navstar. Payload: GPS 2R-10 / Navstar 53 / GPS SVN 47. Mass: 2,032 kg (4,479 lb). Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2R. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Space Systems. Agency: USAF. Perigee: 19,963 km (12,404 mi). Apogee: 20,328 km (12,631 mi). Inclination: 55.10 deg. Period: 716.50 min. COSPAR: 2003-058A. USAF Sat Cat: 28129. Tenth Navstar Block IIR (R = replenishment) launch.
2003 December 24 -
  • Stardust, Aerogel Grid Deployed, Successful Spacecraft: Stardust.
2003 December 25 - 2003 December 25 -
  • Mars Express, Mars Orbit Insertion, Successful Spacecraft: Mars Express.
2003 December 27 - 21:30 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC31. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz FG. LV Configuration: Soyuz FG/Fregat.
  • Amos-2 Nation: Israel. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: AMOS. Perigee: 4,408 km (2,738 mi). Apogee: 35,784 km (22,235 mi). Inclination: 23.60 deg. Period: 714.50 min. COSPAR: 2003-059A. USAF Sat Cat: 28132. Intermediate orbit shown. Fregat stage later placed Amos-2 in geostationary orbit. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 4.00W drifting at 0.003W degrees per day.
2003 December 28 - 23:00 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC200. Launch Pad: LC200/39. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S861-01. Model: Proton-K/DM-2M. LV Configuration: Proton-K 410-04 / Blok DM-2M 13L.
  • Ekspress AM-22 Nation: Russia. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Ekspress. Perigee: 242 km (150 mi). Apogee: 35,864 km (22,284 mi). Inclination: 48.60 deg. Period: 633.40 min. COSPAR: 2003-060A. USAF Sat Cat: 28134. The Ekspress AM-22 communications satellite was built by NPO PM and Alcatel Space for GPKS, the Russian Space Communications Company. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 52.99E drifting at 0.005W degrees per day.
2003 December 29 - 19:06 GMT - Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Vehicle: CZ-2C. LV Configuration: CZ-2C/SM.
  • Tan Ce 1 Nation: China. Payload: Double Star 1, DSP-E. Mass: 350 kg (770 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere. Spacecraft: Double Star. Perigee: 555 km (344 mi). Apogee: 78,051 km (48,498 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. COSPAR: 2003-061A. USAF Sat Cat: 28140. Equatorial member of a pair of Chinese-European magnetospheric research satellites carrying surplus instrumentation from the ESA Cluster program. First CZ-2C launch from Xichang.
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