Chronology - Quarter 4 2004
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2004 October 4 - 14:49 GMT - Launch Site: Mojave. Launch Vehicle: Tier One.
  • Tier One SpaceShipOne Flight 17P - X-Prize Flight 2 Nation: USA. Program: X-Prize. Spacecraft: SpaceShipOne. Apogee: 112 km (69 mi). Duration: 0.0167 days. Crew: Binnie. Flight: SpaceShipOne Flight 17P. Objectives of the flight were to win the Ansari X-Prize and break the rocketplane altitude record set by the X-15 in 1963. The Tier One (White Knight/SpaceShipOne) composite aircraft took off at 06:49 PST. Drop of the rockeplane was made exactly one hour later at 14.4 km altitude. Pilot Brian Binnie fired the hybrid rocket motor, which burned for 83 seconds. The engine cut off with SpaceShipOne at Mach 3.09 (3524 kph) at 65 km altitude. From there it coasted to 112 km altitude. Binnie experienced weightlessness for 3.5 minutes before re-entry began. The spacecraft reached Mach 3.25 during re-entry and a peak deceleration of 5.4 G's at 32 km altitude. Binnie reconfigured the vehicle to a glider at 15.5 km and then made an 18 minute glide to a landing at Mojave airport. SpaceShipOne thereby won the $10 million X-Prize. No anomalies were noted on the flight and SpaceShipOne returned with no maintenance squawks.
2004 October 6 - Launch Site: Thumba. Launch Vehicle: RH-200.
  • RH-200 Middle Atmosphere aeronomy mission Nation: India. Agency: ISRO. Apogee: 74 km (45 mi). References: 1576.
2004 October 6 - Launch Site: Wake Island. Launch Vehicle: Castor 4B.
  • Castor 4B CMP-4B Target mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA SMDC/MDA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). References: 1506.
2004 October 12 - Launch Site: Tilla. Launch Vehicle: Ghauri.
  • Ghauri test Nation: Pakistan. Agency: Pakistan. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 1823.
2004 October 14 - 03:06 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz FG.
  • Soyuz TMA-5 Nation: Russia. Program: ISS. Payload: Soyuz TMA s/n 215. Mass: 7,250 kg (15,980 lb). Class: Manned. Type: Spacecraft. Spacecraft: Soyuz TMA. Perigee: 353 km (219 mi). Apogee: 359 km (223 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 91.70 min. COSPAR: 2004-040A. USAF Sat Cat: 28444. Duration: 192.79 days. Decay Date: 2005-04-25. Crew: Chiao, Sharipov, Shargin. Flight: ISS EO-10. Soyuz TMA-5 docked with the Pirs module on October 16 at 0416 GMT. Aboard the spacecraft were the EO-10 crew of Sharipov and Chiao, and guest cosmonaut Shargin. After a week at the station, the EO-9 crew of Padalka and Fincke, together with Shargin, entered Soyuz TMA-4 at 18:14 GMT on October 23 and returned to earth. Chiao and Sharipov continued as the ISS skeleton station crew.References: 4.
2004 October 14 - 21:23 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC200. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82M.
  • AMC- 15 Nation: USA. Program: Americom. Mass: 4,021 kg (8,864 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: AS 2100. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Commercial Space. Agency: SES Americom. Perigee: 35,782 km (22,233 mi). Apogee: 35,790 km (22,230 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2004-041A. USAF Sat Cat: 28446. Communications satellite for SES Americom, equipped with Ku-band and Ka-band transponders. The Briz-M upper stage made three burns, then released the satellite on October 15 at 03:58 GMT into a 7132 x 35780 km x 18.6 deg orbit. AMC-15's on-board engine would be used to maneuver the spacecraft into its final geostationary orbit. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 105.02W drifting at 0.003W degrees per day.References: 4.
2004 October 15 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant IX. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX NASA 36.217UE.
  • Black Brant TIMED-SEE Cal Solar mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). References: 1884.
2004 October 18 -
  • Stardust at Aphelion Spacecraft: Stardust.
2004 October 19 - 01:20 GMT - Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Vehicle: CZ-3A.
  • FY-2C Nation: China. Mass: 1,380 kg (3,040 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Weather. Spacecraft: FY-2. Perigee: 35,786 km (22,236 mi). Apogee: 35,791 km (22,239 mi). Inclination: 0.70 deg. Period: 1,436.20 min. COSPAR: 2004-042A. USAF Sat Cat: 28451. Third Fengyun-2 weather satellite. The apogee motor placed the satellite into a drifting geostationary orbit. As of the date of the launch, four FY-2 satellites had been launched. FY-2 01 was destroyed in a ground fire 1994. FY-2 02 / FY-2A was placed in reserve in May 2000 86 deg E; and FY-2 03 / FY-2B was operational at 123 deg E. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 104.44E drifting at 0.026W degrees per day.References: 4.
2004 October 20 - Launch Site: Emamshahr. Launch Vehicle: Shahab 3.
  • Shahab 3 Test mission Nation: Iran. Agency: Iran. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). Missile demonstration flight. Stretched Shahab-3 launched into Dasht-E-Kavir desert. References: 1823.
2004 October 23 - 16:51 GMT - Launch Site: Alcantara. Launch Complex: S. Launch Vehicle: VSB-30. LV Configuration: VSB-30 V01.
  • VSB-30 flight test Nation: Brazil. Agency: SSC. Apogee: 259 km (160 mi). Unguided test launch. During the 45 seconds total burn time of both motors the vehicle was accelerated to a final velocity of 1676 m/s. The payload segment with an approximate weight of 400 kg was carried to an apogee height of almost 240 km, which was reached 252 seconds after lift-off. At T+650 seconds the payload landed 190 km northeast of the launch site in the ocean, only 700 meters from the nominal impact point.References: 1879.
2004 October 24 -
  • Landing of Soyuz TMA-4 Nation: Russia. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-10, ISS EO-9, ISS EP-7. At 1814 GMT on October 23 Padalka, Fincke and guest cosmonaut Shargin (delivered for a one week mission aboard Soyuz TMA-5), entered Soyuz TMA-4 and closed the hatches leaving Chiao and Sharipov as the EO-10 station crew. Soyuz TMA-4 undocked at 21:08 GMT and made a small separation burn at 21:11 GMT. At 23:42 GMT the deorbit burn lowered the orbit from 353 x 366 km to -23 x 355 km. The descent module separated at 00:08 GMT on October 24, with a landing at 50.47 deg N / 67.12 deg E near Arkalyk at 00:36 GMT.
2004 October 26 -
  • Cassini, first Targeted Titan Flyby, Successful Spacecraft: Cassini.
2004 October 29 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S861-01. Model: Proton-K/DM-2M. LV Configuration: Proton K/DM-2M.
  • Ekspress AM-1 Nation: Russia. Mass: 2,542 kg (5,604 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Ekspress. Perigee: 35,783 km (22,234 mi). Apogee: 35,792 km (22,240 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2004-043A. USAF Sat Cat: 28463. Russian Satellite Communications Company spacecraft, to be stationed at 40 deg E, providing 28 C, Ku, and L band transponders for a wide range of communications and data services. The Ekspress-AM uses an improved Ekspress-M or 727M bus, first used on the Sesat satellite, while the earlier models used the KAUR-4 MSO-2500 bus. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 39.98E drifting at 0.006W degrees per day.
2004 November 2 - Launch Site: Sea of Okhotsk. Launch Pad: SSBN Svyatoi Georgiy Pobedonosets. Launch Vehicle: R-29. Model: R-29RM.
  • RSM-54 test Nation: Russia. Agency: VMF.
2004 November 2 - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Topol.
  • Topol ICBM Test Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN.
2004 November 6 - 03:10 GMT - Launch Site: Taiyuan. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: CZ-4B.
  • ZY-2C Nation: China. Class: Earth. Type: Resources. Spacecraft: ZY. Perigee: 479 km (297 mi). Apogee: 504 km (313 mi). Inclination: 97.30 deg. Period: 94.40 min. COSPAR: 2004-044A. USAF Sat Cat: 28470. Zi Yuan 2-3 was a low earth orbit digital imaging spacecraft used by the Chinese government, probably for both civilian and military reconnaissance purposes.
2004 November 6 - 05:39 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: SLC17B. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7000. Model: Delta 7925-9.5.
  • USA 180 Nation: USA. Program: Navstar. Payload: GPS 2R-13 / Navstar 61. Mass: 2,032 kg (4,479 lb). Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2R. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Space Systems. Agency: USAF. Perigee: 19,810 km (12,300 mi). Apogee: 20,413 km (12,684 mi). Inclination: 54.90 deg. Period: 715.10 min. COSPAR: 2004-045A. USAF Sat Cat: 28474. Launch delayed from September 22, October 8, 25 and 30, November 5. Fired its apogee motor at around 02:40 GMT on November 9 to transfer from its initial 159 x 20380 km x 39.1 deg transfer orbit to its operational orbit in the GPS constellation.
2004 November 8 - 18:30 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC43/4. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz ST. LV Configuration: Soyuz 2-1A s/n 001.
  • Soyuz 2 flight test. Nation: Russia. Payload: Oblik dummy mass. Mass: 6,450 kg (14,210 lb). Spacecraft: Zenit-8. First flight test of a modernized version of the Soyuz ST equipped with a digital control system. Suborbital launch; carried an obsolete Zenit-8 reconnaisance satellite as a mass model and impacted in the Pacific Ocean. Launch delayed from October 15 and 29, November 6.
2004 November 11 - Launch Site: Fort Greely. Launch Vehicle: OBV.
  • GBI Deployment at Fort Greely Nation: USA. The sixth ballistic missile interceptor was installed in its silo at Fort Greely, Alaska, two months behind the mid-year schedule. An additional eight to ten were to be emplaced in 2005, for a total of 14-16.
2004 November 15 -
  • SMART-1, Moon Orbit Insertion, Successful Spacecraft: SMART-1.
2004 November 16 - 22:34 GMT - Launch Site: Edwards AFB. Launch Complex: RW04. Launch Pad: NB-52 008. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus. LV Configuration: HXLV.
  • HXLV Nation: USA. Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Class: Technology. Type: Spaceplane. Spacecraft: X-43. Manufacturer: ATK GASL. Agency: NASA. Delayed from September, November 9 and 15. Final test of NASA's X-43A-3 Hyper X hypersonic scramjet demonstrated air-frame integrated scramjet performance at speeds approaching Mach 10. Changes to the launch vehicle compared to Flight 2 included high-temperature thermal protection system tiles on the wing and fin leading edge, elimination of all ballast, a full propellant load on the ATK Orion 50S booster, lightweight aluminum structures, and updated control laws and aerodynamics.
2004 November 17 - 22:35 GMT - Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: RW04. Launch Pad: NB-52 003. Launch Vehicle: Hyper X. LV Configuration: Hyper X 3.
  • Hyper X X-43A Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: OSC. Apogee: 33 km (20 mi). References: 1852.
2004 November 18 - 10:45 GMT - Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Vehicle: CZ-2C.
  • Shiyan Weixing 2 Nation: China. Payload: TANSUO 2. Mass: 300 kg (660 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Resources. Manufacturer: Dongfanghong Satellite Co. Perigee: 694 km (431 mi). Apogee: 711 km (441 mi). Inclination: 98.20 deg. Period: 98.80 min. COSPAR: 2004-046A. USAF Sat Cat: 28479. Remote Sensing Technology.
2004 November 20 -
  • Cassini, Post Titan A Apoapsis Maneuver (OTM-6), Successful Spacecraft: Cassini.
2004 November 20 - 17:16 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: SLC17A. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7000. LV Configuration: Delta 7420-10C.
  • Swift Nation: USA. Payload: SA-200LL. Mass: 1,331 kg (2,934 lb). Class: Astronomy. Type: Gamma. Spacecraft: Swift. Manufacturer: Spectrum Astro. Agency: NASA. Perigee: 584 km (362 mi). Apogee: 604 km (375 mi). Inclination: 20.60 deg. Period: 96.60 min. COSPAR: 2004-047A. USAF Sat Cat: 28485. NASA Medium-class Explorer satellite dedicated to study of gamma ray bursts, the third after the IMAGE and WMAP satellites. Delayed from December 5 and 29, 2003, January 14, April 29, July 15, September 1, October 7 and 26, November 8, 11, 17, 18 and 19.
2004 November 22 - 08:35 GMT - Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Vehicle: Maxus. LV Configuration: Maxus MAXUS 6.
  • Maxus 6 Microgravity mission Nation: Europe. Agency: SSC/ESA. Apogee: 706 km (438 mi). Microgravity experiments. References: 1879.
2004 November 23 -
  • Cassini, Huygens Probe Checkout, Successful Spacecraft: Cassini.
2004 November 29 -
  • Soyuz TMA-5 moved Nation: Russia. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-10. The EO-10 crew entered Soyuz TMA-5, undocked it from the Pirs module of the International Space Station at 09:32 GMT and redocked it at the nearby Zarya module at 09:53 GMT. This cleared the Pirs docking port for the expected arrival of a Progress unmanned logistics spacecraft.
2004 December 2 - 10:30 GMT - Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Complex: S. Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Model: Skylark 7. LV Configuration: Skylark 7 TEXUS 41.
  • Skylark TEXUS 41 Microgravity mission Nation: Sweden. Agency: SSC. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi). References: 1879.
2004 December 10 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Vehicle: OBV.
  • GBI Deployment at Vandenberg Nation: USA. The first of two operational anti-ballistic missiles to be deployed during 2005 at Vandenberg AFB was lowered into its underground silo. This marked the first installation in the continental United States.
2004 December 13 -
  • Cassini, second Titan Flyby, Successful Spacecraft: Cassini.
2004 December 15 -
  • Cassini, Dione Flyby, Successful Spacecraft: Cassini.
2004 December 15 - 04:45 GMT - Launch Site: Kodiak. Launch Vehicle: STARS. LV Configuration: Polaris A3/Orbus 1.
  • STARS IFT-13c Target mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA SMDC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Target for ballistic missile defence intercept test. Launch successful, but anti-ballistic missile that was to intercept it never left silo. Impacted in Pacific Ocean. Delayed from January, August, November, December 9 and 12 References: 1823.
2004 December 15 - 06:01 GMT - Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Vehicle: OBV. FAILURE: Launch abort; anti-ballistic missile never left silo.
  • IFT-13C Launch Abort Nation: USA. Mass: 55 kg (121 lb). Agency: U.S. Missile Defense Agency. Launch abort - booster shut down in silo. Missile target, launched from Alaska, impacted in Pacific Ocean. Delayed from January, August, November, December 9 and 12. The failed attempt was later said to be due to a very minor software glitch which created a gap in the flow of electronic messages between the flight computer and the interceptor's thrust vector controller. Five flight tests of the system were scheduled for 2005, including at least two attempted intercepts. The IFT-13c test was expected to be repeated as early as mid-February. IFT-14 was planned for March or April.
2004 December 17 - 12:07 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC41. Launch Pad: SLC41. Launch Vehicle: Atlas V. LV Configuration: Atlas 5/521 s/n AV-005.
  • AMC-16 (GE-16) Nation: USA. Program: Americom. Payload: A2100AX. Mass: 4,200 kg (9,200 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: AS 2100. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Commercial Space. Agency: SES Americom. Perigee: 35,781 km (22,233 mi). Apogee: 35,791 km (22,239 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2004-048A. USAF Sat Cat: 28472. AMC-16, like AMC-15, was a hybrid Ku/Ka-band satellite built by Lockheed Martin and based on the A2100 spacecraft platform. The spacecraft was to become operational in early 2005 from 85º West with a 15 year design life. The satellite carried 24 x 36 MHz/140 W Ku-band transponders and 12 x 125MHz/75 W spot beams. Coverage included the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. Launch was delayed from December 6 and 16. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 118.75W drifting at 0.002W degrees per day.
2004 December 18 - 16:26 GMT - Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: ELA3. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5G. LV Configuration: Ariane 5G+ V165.
  • Helios 2A Nation: France. Mass: 4,200 kg (9,200 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Helios 2. Manufacturer: EADS Astrium. Agency: DGA. Perigee: 688 km (427 mi). Apogee: 690 km (420 mi). Inclination: 98.08 deg. Period: 98.39 min. COSPAR: 2004-049A. USAF Sat Cat: 28492. First of two new-generation French military surveillance satellites. Last flight of Ariane 5G model. Launch delayed from December 10.
  • Nanosat 01 Nation: Spain. Mass: 20 kg (44 lb). Class: Technology. Manufacturer: INTA. Agency: INTA. Perigee: 658 km (408 mi). Apogee: 666 km (413 mi). Inclination: 98.10 deg. Period: 98.00 min. COSPAR: 2004-049B. USAF Sat Cat: 28493. Experimental nanosat built by the Spanish space agency (INTA).
  • Essaim 1 Nation: France. Mass: 120 kg (260 lb). Class: ELINT. Spacecraft: Myriade. Manufacturer: EADS Astrium. Agency: DGA. Perigee: 663 km (411 mi). Apogee: 673 km (418 mi). Inclination: 98.08 deg. Period: 97.96 min. COSPAR: 2004-049C. USAF Sat Cat: 28494. The Essaim demonstrator was a system of several micro-satellites (Essaim means 'swarm' in French) for 'analysis of the electro-magnetic environment of the Earth's surface' (electronic intelligence). DGA, the French Ministry of Defence's procurement agency, developed the project. The system also comprised a ground control segment and a ground station for data processing. It was called a 'demonstrator' since the mission's objective was to assess the operational capability of such a system, paving the way for the next generation. The Essaim satellites were based on EADS Astrium's Myriade multipurpose micro-satellite. In early 2000, the DGA awarded the contract for the development, manufacturing of this turnkey system of micro-satellites and associated ground segment. Under the contract, EADS Astrium was also responsible for personnel training and system operations during the three-year life duration of the programme.
  • Essaim 2 Nation: France. Mass: 120 kg (260 lb). Class: ELINT. Spacecraft: Myriade. Manufacturer: EADS Astrium. Agency: DGA. Perigee: 657 km (408 mi). Apogee: 664 km (412 mi). Inclination: 98.10 deg. Period: 98.00 min. COSPAR: 2004-049D. USAF Sat Cat: 28495.
  • Essaim 3 Nation: France. Mass: 120 kg (260 lb). Class: ELINT. Spacecraft: Myriade. Manufacturer: EADS Astrium. Agency: DGA. Perigee: 654 km (406 mi). Apogee: 667 km (414 mi). Inclination: 98.10 deg. Period: 98.00 min. COSPAR: 2004-049E. USAF Sat Cat: 28496.
  • Essaim 4 Nation: France. Mass: 120 kg (260 lb). Class: ELINT. Spacecraft: Myriade. Manufacturer: EADS Astrium. Agency: DGA. Perigee: 651 km (404 mi). Apogee: 670 km (410 mi). Inclination: 98.10 deg. Period: 98.00 min. COSPAR: 2004-049F. USAF Sat Cat: 28497.
  • Parasol Nation: France. Mass: 125 kg (275 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Aeronomy. Spacecraft: Myriade. Manufacturer: EADS Astrium. Agency: CNES. Perigee: 659 km (409 mi). Apogee: 673 km (418 mi). Inclination: 98.08 deg. Period: 97.91 min. COSPAR: 2004-049G. USAF Sat Cat: 28498. Parasol carried a wide-field imaging radiometer/polarimeter called POLDER (Polarization and Directionality of the Earth’s Reflectances), designed in partnership with the LOA atmospheric optics laboratory in Lille (CNRS-USTL). POLDER was designed to improve the knowledge of the radiative and microphysical properties of clouds and aerosols by measuring the directionality and polarization of light reflected by the Earth-atmosphere system.
2004 December 21 - 21:50 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC37. Launch Pad: SLC37B. Launch Vehicle: Delta IV Heavy. LV Configuration: Delta 4H/4050H.
  • USA 181 Nation: USA. Payload: Demosat / HLVOLSDP. Mass: 5,993 kg (13,212 lb). Class: Technology. Agency: USAF. Perigee: 19,035 km (11,827 mi). Apogee: 36,413 km (22,625 mi). Inclination: 13.48 deg. Period: 1,044.23 min. COSPAR: 2004-050A. USAF Sat Cat: 28500. Mass model payload. First launch of a heavy EELV. The demonstration satellite was supposed to have been inserted into a sub-geosynchronous 36,350 km circular orbit but was instead deployed in a 19,035 km x 36,413 km orbit following a 5-hour and 50-minute flight. A shorter than expected first burn of the Centaur upper stage led to an orbit well below that planned. The Air Force EELV program office claimed that the primary flight objectives were accomplished. These included the heavy boost phase, flight of the new five-meter diameter Centaur upper stage and five-meter payload fairing, extended coast, upper stage third burn and payload separation, and activation and usage of Space Launch Complex 37B. Delayed from September 2003, July 3, September 10, November 18, December 10, 11 and 12.
  • 3CSat 1 Sparkie Nation: USA. Payload: Nanosat 2. Mass: 15 kg (33 lb). Class: Technology. Manufacturer: New Mexico State University. Agency: USAF. COSPAR: 2004-050x. One of a pair of student-built nanosats for stero cloud imagery. The satellites did not contact the ground after separation from the booster in a lower-than-planned orbit and their fate was unclear. It was believed that they separated but re-entered rapidly from the 105 km perigee orbit.
  • 3CSat 2 Ralphie Nation: USA. Payload: Nanosat 2. Mass: 15 kg (33 lb). Class: Technology. Manufacturer: University of Colorado in Boulder. Agency: USAF. COSPAR: 2004-050x.
2004 December 22 - Launch Site: Dombarovskiy. Launch Vehicle: R-36M2.
  • R-36M2 ICBM demonstration flight Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). The sixteen-year old missile was launched from an operational ICBM base and its dummy warheads impacted in the test range on the Kamchatka Peninsula after a 6,000 kilometer flight. The test was touted as a demonstration of use of the surplus ICBM's, launched directly from their silos, for launch of commerical orbital payloads, in lieu of more expensive decommissioning. Others saw it as the beginning of the development of Dombarovskiy into a new spaceport, on Russian soil, in replacement of Baikonur.
2004 December 23 - 22:19 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. LV Configuration: Soyuz 11A511U s/n 092 / ISS-16P.
  • Progress M-51 Nation: Russia. Program: ISS. Payload: Progress M s/n 251. Mass: 7,250 kg (15,980 lb). Class: Manned. Type: Logistics. Spacecraft: Progress M. Manufacturer: RKK Energia. Agency: RKA. Perigee: 316 km (196 mi). Apogee: 355 km (220 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 91.20 min. COSPAR: 2004-051A. USAF Sat Cat: 28503. Duration: 76.00 days. Decay Date: 2005-03-09. Flight: ISS EO-10. Launch delayed from November 24, December 22 . Progress M-51 docked with the Zvezda module of the International Space Station on December 25 at 23:58 GMT, bringing critical food supplies to the EO-10 crew. Press hype during the delays prior to the launch had portrayed the situation as one where failure of the Progress to dock would have required the crew to either return to earth or starve.

    Undocked from at 16:06 GMT on February 27, 2005, in order to clear the port for Progress M-52, which would launch the next day. Progress M-51 lowered its perigee at around 18:30 GMT and remained in orbit for several days. FInally an engine firing was commanded, bringing it down in a destructive re-entry over the Pacific Ocean on March 9.

2004 December 24 -
  • Cassini, Huygens Probe Release, Successful Spacecraft: Cassini.
2004 December 24 - 11:20 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC32. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 3. LV Configuration: Tsyklon 3 s/n 701. FAILURE: Launch vehicle control system failure during third stage apogee kick burn.
  • Sich-1M Nation: Ukraine. Program: Okean. Payload: Okean O1-N9. Mass: 2,263 kg (4,989 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Radarsat. Spacecraft: Okean-O1. Manufacturer: NPO Yuzhnoye. Agency: NKAU Ukraine. Perigee: 280 km (170 mi). Apogee: 650 km (400 mi). Inclination: 82.56 deg. COSPAR: 2004-052A. USAF Sat Cat: 28505. Ukranian-built remote sensing satellite. Originally tagged by USAF SpaceCom as Cosmos 2412. Third stage apogee kick burn was too short, raising the perigee of the orbit from 78 km to 280 km, rather than the 650 km planned.
  • Mikron Nation: Ukraine. Payload: MK-1TS. Mass: 66 kg (145 lb). Class: Technology. Spacecraft: MS-1. Manufacturer: NPO Yuzhnoye. Agency: NKAU Ukraine. Perigee: 280 km (170 mi). Apogee: 650 km (400 mi). Inclination: 82.56 deg. COSPAR: 2004-052C. USAF Sat Cat: 28507. Decay Date: 2005-09-30. The Mikron microsatellite was equipped with a small visible range video camera. The information from the satellite was to be used to provide remote sensing of topography and meteorology. However the main purpose of the experimental satellite was to test the MS-1 microsatellite bus created under the Ukrainian National Space Program. The satellites spectral range was from 0.45 to 0.90 mm; swath width was 253-391 km; resolution 124-191 m.
2004 December 25 -
  • Huygens separates from the Cassini orbiter and heads toward Titan The European Titan lander probe, Huygens, separated from the Cassini Saturn orbiter at 02:00 GMT. Huygens will enter the atmosphere of Titan on January 14.
2004 December 26 - 13:53 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC200. Launch Pad: LC200/39. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S861-01. LV Configuration: Proton K s/n 410-09 / 11S861 s/n 104L.
  • Cosmos 2411 Nation: Russia. Payload: Glonass 796. Mass: 1,415 kg (3,119 lb). Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: Glonass. Manufacturer: NPO Prikladnoy Mekhaniki. Agency: KNITs. Perigee: 19,141 km (11,893 mi). Apogee: 19,149 km (11,898 mi). Inclination: 64.85 deg. Period: 676.05 min. COSPAR: 2004-053A. USAF Sat Cat: 28508. Three Russian navigation satellites orbited in a single launch. Two of the satellites (s/n 796 and 797) were standard Uragan satellites, while s/n 712 had an uprated Glonass-M payload. This was the fifth end-of-year replenishment launch since 2000.
  • Cosmos 2412 Nation: Russia. Payload: Glonass 797. Mass: 1,415 kg (3,119 lb). Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: Glonass. Manufacturer: NPO Prikladnoy Mekhaniki. Agency: KNITs. Perigee: 19,143 km (11,894 mi). Apogee: 19,148 km (11,897 mi). Inclination: 64.85 deg. Period: 676.05 min. COSPAR: 2004-053B. USAF Sat Cat: 28509.
  • Cosmos 2413 Nation: Russia. Payload: Glonass-M 712. Mass: 1,480 kg (3,260 lb). Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: Glonass. Manufacturer: NPO Prikladnoy Mekhaniki. Agency: KNITs. Perigee: 19,142 km (11,894 mi). Apogee: 19,148 km (11,897 mi). Inclination: 64.85 deg. Period: 676.05 min. COSPAR: 2004-053C. USAF Sat Cat: 28510.
2004 December 31 -
  • Cassini, Iapetus Flyby, Successful Spacecraft: Cassini.
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