On February 23 in Space History
Chronology
62 events
1924 February 23
- Birth of Ruben F Mettler - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Mettler. American engineer, at TRW 1955-1988, president and COO, 1969-1977; chairman of the board and CEO, 1977-1988..
1928 February 23
- Birth of Vasili Grigoryevich Lazarev - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Lazarev. Russian physician cosmonaut 1964-1985. Survived first manned spaceflight abort during launch. 2 spaceflights, 2.0 days in space. Flew to orbit on Soyuz 12 (1973)..
1936 February 23
Launch Vehicle: ARS.- US rocket mail test. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Ley. Apogee: 0.20 km (0.12 mi). Range: 0.30 km (0.19 mi). F. W. Kessler, W. Ley, and N. Carver launched two mail-carrying "rocket airplanes" at Greenwood Lake, N.Y., which traveled about 1,000 feet..
1945 February 23
03:28 GMT - . Launch Site: V-2 Battery SS Abt 500. Launch Vehicle: V-2.- V-2 combat launch from Dalfsen to Esbeek - . Nation: Germany. Dalfsen, Estate Mataram, rocket fired, impacted near Esbeek, Netherlands..
1945 February 23
09:42 GMT - . Launch Site: V-2 Battery 485. Launch Pad: 1./485. Launch Vehicle: V-2.- V-2 combat launch from The Hague to Sevenoaks - . Nation: Germany. The Hague, Statenkwartier, rocket fired, impacted Sevenoaks, Kent. 1 Dead, 4 injured..
1945 February 23
16:56 GMT - . Launch Site: V-2 Battery 485. Launch Pad: 1./485. Launch Vehicle: V-2.- V-2 combat launch from The Hague to Chelmsford - . Nation: Germany. The Hague, Statenkwartier, rocket fired, impacted Chelmsford. 1 Dead, 16 injured..
1949 February 23
- Birth of Dr Joseph Jean-Pierre Marc Garneau - . Nation: Canada. Related Persons: Garneau. Canadian engineer mission specialist astronaut 1983-2001. First Canadian astronaut. 3 spaceflights, 29.1 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-41G (1984), STS-77, STS-97..
1950 February 23
- Birth of Jerry Jerome Rij - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Rij. American engineer military spaceflight engineer astronaut, 1979-1985. Served at Onizuka AFB, California. Retired from the Air Force in 1995. Thereafter worked in private industry in Virginia..
1959 February 23
- Birth of Clayton Conrad Anderson - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Anderson, Clayton. American engineer mission specialist astronaut 1998-2011. 2 spaceflights, 166.9 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-117 (2007), STS-131..
1960 February 23
Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Hammaguira Blandine. Launch Vehicle: Veronique. FAILURE: Failure.1961 February 23
- Studies on the separation of the Mercury spacecraft during an emergency - .
Nation: USA.
Spacecraft: Mercury,
Mercury Escape Tower.
As of this date, the Space Task Group, Convair-Astronautics, Space Technology Laboratories, McDonnell, and the Marshall Space Flight Center had completed a number of extensive studies on the subject of the safe separation of the Mercury spacecraft from the launch vehicle during an emergency. The following papers include a report of these studies: NASA Project Mercury Working Paper No. 111, 'Mercury-Redstone Separation Distance ...'; NASA Project Mercury Working Paper No. 141, 'Dispersion Study of Separation Distance ...for Mercury-Redstone'; and NASA Working Paper No. 152, 'Determination of Mercury Escape Rocket Thrust Eccentricity ...from Mercury-Atlas Booster.'
1962 February 23
- Dyna-Soar limited to an orbital research system. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Dynasoar. Secretary of Defense, Robert S. McNamara, officially limited the objective of the Dyna-Soar program to the development of an orbital, research system. Now it is only a research and development program to demonstrate re-entry and landing of a spaceplane..
1962 February 23
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg 395-A1. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan I. FAILURE: Failure.- Research and development Cat II / operational test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).
1963 February 23
- Checkout of Mercury spacecraft 20 scheduled for completion - .
Nation: USA.
Spacecraft: Mercury.
Manned Spacecraft Center checkout and special hardware installation at Cape Canaveral on spacecraft 20 were scheduled for completion as of this date. However, work tasks were extended for a 2-week period because of the deletion of certain experimental hardware - zero g experiment and new astronaut couch. In addition, some difficulties were experienced while testing the space reaction control system and environmental control system.
1963 February 23
LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan IIIC.- First static firing of one segment version of the Titan III solid rocket motor. - .
United Technology Center (UTC), the contractor for the Titan III solid-rocket motors, successfully conducted the first static firing of one segment of the large-size, 120-inch diameter motor. This would be used as the first stage (Stage 0) booster. UTC was developing a single engine of five segments as the basic booster.
1965 February 23
14:36 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor DSV-2G.- ASSET 6 re-entry vehicle test flight - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: USAF.
Apogee: 70 km (43 mi).
The Aerothermodynamic/elastic Structural Systems Environmental Test (ASSET) program concluded when a Thor booster launched the last of the experimental vehicles from the Eastern Test Range. The payload reentered down range but was not recovered. Suborbital test of small scale spaceplane model to test materials for the X-20 Dynasoar. Reached 6,000 m/s and 4,350 km range. Tested twelve different kinds of refractory metals and covered with 2000 dots of heat-sensitive paint to characterize thermal profile on reentry. Telemetry indicated that the spacecraft survived reentry, but it evidently sank upon impacting the ocean and could not be recovered as planned.
1965 February 23
17:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Hydac. Launch Vehicle: Nike Javelin.1966 February 23
10:06 GMT - . Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: Woomera LA2. LV Family: Lupus. Launch Vehicle: HAD.1966 February 23
23:14 GMT - . Launch Site: Andoya. LV Family: Belier. Launch Vehicle: Centaure 1.1967 February 23
Launch Site: Green River. Launch Complex: Green River Pad 3. LV Family: Athena RTV. Launch Vehicle: Athena RTV.1968 February 23
05:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.1968 February 23
06:53 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.1970 February 23
13:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Aeronomy mission - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 163 km (101 mi).
1970 February 23
16:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Complex: Kiruna C. LV Family: Belier. Launch Vehicle: Centaure 2B.- ESRO C37 / 1 MPE Ba Ionosphere / barium release mission - . Nation: Europe. Agency: ESRO. Apogee: 210 km (130 mi).
1971 February 23
Launch Site: Biscarosse. LV Family: Berenice. Launch Vehicle: Tibere.1971 February 23
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF06. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1B.- SSTTP M1-28 Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi). Safeguard System Test Target..
1972 February 23
LV Family: N1. Launch Vehicle: N1F.- MOK technical proposal authorised. - . Nation: Russia. Spacecraft Bus: OS. Spacecraft: MKBS. Decree 'On work on the technical proposal for the creation of the MOK' was issued..
1972 February 23
10:06 GMT - . Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: Woomera LA2. LV Family: Lupus. Launch Vehicle: Cockatoo.1973 February 23
09:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Kagoshima. LV Family: Kappa. Launch Vehicle: Kappa 9M.1973 February 23
13:48 GMT - . Launch Site: South Uist. Launch Vehicle: Petrel.1976 February 23
16:14 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC43. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Rocketsonde.1977 February 23
08:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Tanegashima. Launch Complex: Tanegashima N. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: N-1.- Kiku 2 - .
Payload: ETS 2. Mass: 130 kg (280 lb). Nation: Japan.
Agency: NASDA.
Class: Technology.
Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: ETS.
Completed Operations Date: 1990-12-01 . USAF Sat Cat: 9852 . COSPAR: 1977-014A. Apogee: 35,860 km (22,280 mi). Perigee: 35,854 km (22,278 mi). Inclination: 11.90 deg. Period: 1,439.70 min.
Engineering test satellite. Engineering Test Satellite Type II (ETS II), Kiku 2. Launch by N launch vehicle no 3. Geographical longitude of the geostationary orbit: 130 deg E. Preliminary experiments to acquire technologies to launch,track, and control geostationary satellites. P ropagation experiment of millimetre and quasi-millimetre waves. Characteristics: Weight at launch 245 kg. Configuration: cylindrical. Height 191 cm including antenna. Diameter 141 cm. Attitude control: spin stabilization. Expected life at least 6 months. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit over the Pacific Ocean at 130 deg E in 1977-1990 As of 5 September 2001 located at 16.93 deg E drifting at 0.930 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 85.65W drifting at 0.986W degrees per day.
1977 February 23
13:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: Woomera LA8. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 200A.1979 February 23
Launch Site: Thumba. LV Family: RH. Launch Vehicle: RH-200.1979 February 23
14:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Aeronomy/Ionosphere/Chemical release/Plasma mission - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 187 km (116 mi).
1980 February 23
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF04. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2.1980 February 23
10:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Southend. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant VB.1983 February 23
09:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Super Loki.1984 February 23
12:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Orion.1984 February 23
20:34 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant VB.1988 February 23
Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur Jubilee.- Buran Analog BST-02 flight 18 - . Crew: Bachurin, Borodai. Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Bachurin, Borodai. Program: Buran. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Buran. Spacecraft: Buran Analogue. Time 22 minutes..
1989 February 23
15:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC47. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Rocketsonde.1990 February 23
07:31 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant 10CM1.1991 February 23
01:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Scud Batteries. Launch Pad: IRAQ-S. LV Family: R-11. Launch Vehicle: Al Hussein.- Dhahran - . Nation: Iraq. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1991 February 23
01:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Scud Batteries. Launch Pad: IRAQ-S. LV Family: R-11. Launch Vehicle: Al Hussein.- Dhahran - . Nation: Iraq. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1992 February 23
22:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7925.- USA 79 - . Payload: GPS 2A-12 / GPS SVN 25. Mass: 1,816 kg (4,003 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Program: Navstar. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Navstar. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. USAF Sat Cat: 21890 . COSPAR: 1992-009A. Apogee: 20,332 km (12,633 mi). Perigee: 20,032 km (12,447 mi). Inclination: 54.20 deg. Period: 718.00 min. Global Positioning System. Placed in Plane A Slot 2..
1996 February 23
19:17 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC36. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.- Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).
1996 February 23
19:44 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC36. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.- Microgravity mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).
1997 February 23
Launch Site: Balasore. LV Family: Prithvi. Launch Vehicle: Prithvi 2.1997 February 23
10:06 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Talos. Launch Vehicle: Space Data LCLV.1997 February 23
20:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC40. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan 402B/IUS.- USA 130 - . Payload: DSP-1 Block 18 F18. Mass: 2,380 kg (5,240 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: TRW. Class: Surveillance. Type: Early warning satellite. Spacecraft: DSP. USAF Sat Cat: 24737 . COSPAR: 1997-008A. Apogee: 35,790 km (22,230 mi). Perigee: 35,780 km (22,230 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. DSP-1 Block 14 ballistic missile launch detection satellite. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 70 deg E in 1999. Still in service as of March 2007..
1998 February 23
- Mir News 409: Progress-M37 redocked at Mir - .
Nation: Russia.
Program: Mir.
Flight: Soyuz TM-27,
STS-89 Mir NASA-6.
The docking took place on 23.02.1998 at 09.42.27 UTC (in my Progress-M37 message I wrote 09.43.27, sorry, slip of the finger!). Approach and docking were executed in the automatic mode with the system Kurs. During the final phase of the operation Musabayev was ready to take over the control manually with the system TORU. The window for traffic via Altair-2 was in use from 0857 UTC until the docking. Musabayev reported about what they did in relation to the approach operation. At 0858 UTC Musabayev reported that he could see the lights of the Progress-M37. Later on he reported what he could see via monitors of the Kurs and TORU systems. At 0859 UTC M. started a test of TORU. The system worked well and reacted faultlessly on all commands. When he switched off TORU at 0905 UTC he reported that the test results were positive. Hereafter he continued to follow the movements of Progress-M37 and he reported the distances and approach speeds.
At 0910 UTC audio communications via Altair-2 stopped and from that moment Altair-2 transmitted images of the Mir-complex seen via a camera in the Progress. At that moment the distance was 220 meters and the approach speed 0.8 M/sec. At 0930 UTC, Mir still could be seen via Altair-2, communications continued via VHF. Also the transmitters of Progress-M37 on 922.755 and in the 166 and 165 mc bands could be heard. TCA for my position was 09.30.40 UTC. During this VHF-window the crew got permission for the docking and at LOS at 0937 UTC the distance between Mir and Progress-M37 was 162 meters with an approach speed of 0.94 M/sec. Fortunately it was reported that the docking had been successful.
During the next window of Altair-2 the transponders were switched on at 1023 UTC and Musabayev tried to get in touch with TsUP. He repeatedly called TsUP, but did not get any reaction. Just before Altair-2 switched off there was a short link at 1047 UTC.
Smell: After the opening of the hatch of Progress-M37 some orbits later a strong terrible smell came out the freighter. Possibly a bag or container with garbage had gone open. The crew decided to set the hatch to the Progress ajar.
. Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.
1999 February 23
10:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7920-10.- ARGOS - . Payload: P91-1. Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SM. Manufacturer: Seal Beach. Class: Technology. Type: Ion engine technology satellite. Spacecraft: ARGOS. USAF Sat Cat: 25634 . COSPAR: 1999-008A. Apogee: 836 km (519 mi). Perigee: 821 km (510 mi). Inclination: 98.90 deg. Period: 101.50 min. ARGOS was a USAF Space Test Program P91-1 technology satellite, equipped with an ion engine, ionosphere, x-ray, and dust detectors. Much delayed, it finally was placed into orbit on the eleventh (!) launch attempt..
- Sunsat - . Nation: South Africa. Agency: Boeing. Manufacturer: Stellenbosch. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Sunsat. USAF Sat Cat: 25636 . COSPAR: 1999-008C. Apogee: 852 km (529 mi). Perigee: 641 km (398 mi). Inclination: 96.50 deg. Period: 99.80 min. Sunsat was built by students at Stellenbosch University, South Africa and carried a small imager and a message relay payload..
- Orsted - . Mass: 62 kg (136 lb). Nation: Denmark. Agency: DMI. Manufacturer: CRI. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft: Orsted. USAF Sat Cat: 25635 . COSPAR: 1999-008B. Apogee: 839 km (521 mi). Perigee: 638 km (396 mi). Inclination: 96.50 deg. Period: 99.60 min. Denmark's Orsted gravity gradient stabilised satellite was to map the Earth's magnetic field. It was managed and operated by the Danish Meteorological Institute in Copenhagen. The satellite's prime contractor was CRI , Copenhagen..
2000 February 23
- STS-101 - Wakeup Song: I Only Have Eyes for You - . Flight: STS-101. "I Only Have Eyes for You" by Flamingos -- a long distance dedication from Kathy Halsell to her husband, Mission Commander Jim Halsell.
2000 February 23
Launch Site: Sriharikota. LV Family: RH. Launch Vehicle: RH-200.2002 February 23
06:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: Kourou ELA2. LV Family: Ariane. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 44L.- Intelsat 904 - .
Mass: 4,680 kg (10,310 lb). Nation: International.
Agency: Intelsat.
Manufacturer: Palo Alto.
Program: Intelsat.
Class: Communications.
Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: FS-1300.
USAF Sat Cat: 27380 . COSPAR: 2002-007A. Apogee: 35,800 km (22,200 mi). Perigee: 35,772 km (22,227 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
Communications satellite. Launch delayed from February 14 and 20. The Ariane 44L placed the Loral FS-1300HL-class Intelsat 904 satellite in a 176 x 35812 km x 7.0 deg geostationary transfer orbit. The spacecraft was to be used for Indian Ocean region communications. Intelsat 904 had a dry mass of 2350 kg and carried 2330 kg of fuel. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 59.96E drifting at 0.000E degrees per day.
2006 February 23
16:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Kodiak. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: STARS.2007 February 23
Launch Site: Sonmiani. LV Family: DF-21. Launch Vehicle: Shaheen 2.- Nation: Pakistan. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).
2008 February 23
08:55 GMT - . Launch Site: Tanegashima. LV Family: H-2. Launch Vehicle: H-IIA 2024.- Kizuna - .
Payload: WINDS. Mass: 2,700 kg (5,900 lb). Nation: Japan.
Agency: Mitsubishi.
Class: Communications.
Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: Kizuna.
USAF Sat Cat: 32500 . COSPAR: 2008-007A. Apogee: 35,799 km (22,244 mi). Perigee: 35,775 km (22,229 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min.
WINDS, the Wide-band Internetworking Engineering Test and Demonstration Satellite, was designed to demonstrate delivery of high bandwidth Ka-band Internet service to remote areas of Japan and Southeast Asia from geostationary orbit at 143 deg E. Users with a small 45 cm in diameter antenna could receive data at up to 155 Mbps and transmit data at up to 6 Mbps.
2011 February 23
06:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Point Mugu. Launch Platform: MLP. Launch Vehicle: R-UNK.2011 February 23
06:32 GMT - . Launch Site: San Nicolas. LV Family: Arrow. Launch Vehicle: Arrow 2.2011 February 23
10:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiruna. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Improved Orion.- REXUS 10 - . Nation: Sweden. Apogee: 82 km (50 mi). Microgravity experiments..