On March 17 in Space History
Chronology
117 events
1909 March 17
- Birth of Vladimir Pavlovich Barmin - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Barmin. Russian chief designer. Chief Designer 1941-1993 of GSKB SpetsMash; pre-eminent Soviet designer of rocket launch complexes..
1930 March 17
- Birth of James Benson 'Jim' Irwin - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Irwin. American test pilot astronaut 1966-1972. Eighth person to walk on the moon. 1 spaceflight, 12.3 days in space. Flew to orbit on Apollo 15 (1971)..
1936 March 17
- Birth of Thomas Kenneth II 'Ken' Mattingly - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Mattingly. American test pilot astronaut 1966-1985. 3 spaceflights, 21.2 days in space. Flew to orbit on Apollo 16 (1972), STS-4, STS-51C..
1938 March 17
Launch Site: Roswell. LV Family: Goddard. Launch Vehicle: Goddard L-C.- Flight of Goddard series L section C rocket - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Goddard. Apogee: 0.66 km (0.41 mi). Rocket reached altitude 2170 ft; duration 15 sec; vertical to 800 ft, then leaned to right; landed 3000 ft from tower; little smoke. .
1942 March 17
Launch Vehicle: EA 1941.- EA 1941 engine run. - .
Nation: France.
Related Persons: Barre.
The engine runs for 5 seconds before exploding, producing a thrust of 719 kgf. A second test the following day produces 650 kgf for only four seconds before exploding. Thermal transfer from the engine to the missile structure is found to be the cause, and changes are made.
1944 March 17
Launch Site: Heidelager. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: V-2.1945 March 17
Launch Site: V-2 Battery SS Abt 500. Launch Vehicle: V-2.- V-2 attack on Remagen. - . Nation: Germany. The SS Werfer Battery 500, on orders from Himmler, fired 11 rockets at the Remagen bridgehead, which had recently been captured by the Allies, in an attempt to disrupt the advancing American troops crossing over the Rhine..
1945 March 17
08:10 GMT - . Launch Site: V-2 Battery 485. Launch Pad: 1./485. Launch Vehicle: V-2.- V-2 combat launch from The Hague to Woolwich - . Nation: Germany. The Hague, Statenkwartier, rocket fired, impacted Woolwich. 12 Dead..
1945 March 17
09:48 GMT - . Launch Site: V-2 Battery SS Abt 500. Launch Vehicle: V-2. FAILURE: Failure.- V-2 combat launch from Hellendoorn to Remagen - .
Nation: Germany.
Batt. SS Abt. 500, Hellendoorn, Eelerberg, rocket fired, Target Remagen. Disintegrated in the air near Kasbach. Part of the rocket penetrated the roof of a house; other parts fell on a farm 800m from the Ludendorff Rail Bridge injuring 18 farm animals. Warhead impacted 300m from the bridge, shaking it very strongly. Three American soldiers killed.
1945 March 17
12:16 GMT - . Launch Site: V-2 Battery SS Abt 500. Launch Vehicle: V-2.- V-2 combat launch from Hellendoorn to Remagen - . Nation: Germany. Hellendoorn, Eelerberg, rocket fired, Target Remagen. Impacted in the western district of Remagen. The command post of the 1159th Engineer Combat Group was hit, killing three soldiers and injuring thirty-one others..
1945 March 17
13:17 GMT - . Launch Site: V-2 Battery 485. Launch Pad: 1./485. Launch Vehicle: V-2.- V-2 combat launch from The Hague to Stepney - . Nation: Germany. The Hague, Statenkwartier , rocket fired, impacted Stepney. 4 Dead..
1949 March 17
23:20 GMT - . Launch Pad: Pacific Ocean, 11.1 S x 88.4 W. Launch Platform: AVM1. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-N-8.- Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: APL. Apogee: 105 km (65 mi). Cosmic radiation, magnetic field research. Reached 104.6 km. Launched from from vessel ACM1 at Atlantic Ocean Launch Site 1-1 - Latitude: 10.80 S, Longitude:89.23 W..
1953 March 17
- Mach 5 achieved by rocket. - . Nation: USA. Single-stage, air-launched rocket research vehicle exceeded Mach 5 in NACA Lewis Laboratory flight test..
1954 March 17
Launch Vehicle: Buran M, Burya La-350.- Baikonur and Vladimirovka launch site plans. - . Nation: Russia. Program: Navaho. Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On selection of launch area for the R-7, 40 Buran, and 350 Burya' was issued..
1958 March 17
- NACA Special Committee on Space Technology second meeting. - .
Nation: USA.
The NACA Special Committee on Space Technology held its second meeting at the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, and preliminary reports were presented by the committee working groups on objectives and vehicular programs. The committee as a whole was briefed on the work that had been accomplished by the former NACA Committee on Aerodynamics over the past 6 years. It was stated that between 1952 and 1956, approximately 10 percent of NACA's research efforts were applicable directly or indirectly to astronautics. In 1957, the percentage of space flight research rose to 23; and at the time of the meeting, 30 percent of the aerodynamic effort and 20 percent of propulsion research was applicable to astronautics problems. The committee also heard special papers on research being conducted in fluid mechanics, satellite studies, spacecraft design proposals, boost-glide and hypersonic vehicle studies, and missiles.
1958 March 17
12:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC18A. Launch Pad: LC18A. Launch Vehicle: Vanguard.- Vanguard 1 - . Payload: Vanguard 1C / Vanguard Test Satellite. Mass: 2.00 kg (4.40 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Program: Vanguard. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Vanguard 1. USAF Sat Cat: 5 . COSPAR: 1958-Beta-2. Apogee: 3,868 km (2,403 mi). Perigee: 654 km (406 mi). Inclination: 34.20 deg. Period: 133.20 min. Transmitted pear-shaped earth data. Life expectancy of perhaps a 1,000 years. The satellite had a mass of 1.6 kg and a diameter of 175 cm..
1959 March 17
Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island.- Second spherical rocket motor test. - . Nation: USA. First flight launching of a spin-stabilized 20-inch-diameter spherical rocket, by NASA Langley's PARD at Wallops Station, Va..
1959 March 17
Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Honest John. Launch Vehicle: HJ Nike Nike 20-inch SM.1959 March 17
01:46 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. Launch Vehicle: R-7.- GCh No. 13 (III-2) test - . Nation: Russia. Agency: MVS. Apogee: 1,350 km (830 mi). First test flight serial production model..
1960 March 17
Launch Vehicle: Vanguard.- Vanguard second anniversary. - . Nation: USA. Program: Vanguard. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Vanguard 1. VANGUARD I still in orbit and transmitting on its second anniversary after traveling 131,318,211 miles. NASA reported that VANGUARD I orbit was being altered by solar pressure..
1960 March 17
16:31 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Rosamund Dry Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008.- X-15A SAS Eval/Stability test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA, USAF. Spacecraft: X-15A. Apogee: 16 km (9 mi). Maximum Speed - 2283 kph. Maximum Altitude - 16045 m. 6G maneuver test. Air dropped in Rosamund Dry Lake DZ..
1960 March 17
23:55 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: R-7A.1961 March 17
Launch Vehicle: Vanguard.- Vanguard third anniversary. - .
Nation: USA.
Program: Vanguard.
Class: Technology.
Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Vanguard 1.
Vanguard I completed third year in orbit and was still transmitting. Vanguard I provided much useful data on orbits, including the slight pear-shape of the Earth and the effect of solar pressure. Vanguard also provided the second stage for the Able, Delta, and Able-Star, as well as the third stage of Scout, pioneering solid-propellant stages used in Polaris and Minuteman.
1964 March 17
- Progress report on Apollo lunar surface experiments study - .
Nation: USA.
Program: Apollo.
Spacecraft Bus: Apollo LM.
Spacecraft: Apollo ALSEP.
Texas Instruments, Inc., presented a progress report on their lunar surface experiments study to the MSC Lunar Surface Experiments Panel. Thus far, the company had been surveying and rating measurements to be made on the lunar surface. Areas covered included soil mechanics, mapping, geophysics, magnetism, electricity, and radiation. Equipment for gathering information, such as hand tools, sample return containers, dosimeters, particle spectrometers, data recording systems, seismometers, gravity meters, cameras, pentrometers, and mass spectrometers had been considered. The next phase of the study involved integrating and defining the measurements and instruments according to implementation problems, mission needs, lunar environment limitations, and relative importance to a particular mission. Texas Instruments would recommend a sequence for performing the experiments.
1965 March 17
15:10 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150.1965 March 17
21:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant II.1966 March 17
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 616. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A2.1966 March 17
Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC60/7. LV Family: R-16. Launch Vehicle: R-16U.1966 March 17
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 616. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A2.1966 March 17
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF08. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2. FAILURE: Failure.- Force modification test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi). The first flight test of the General Electric Mark 12 reentry vehicle was made aboard a Minuteman II (LGM-30F) booster fired from Vandenberg. .
1966 March 17
10:28 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92.- Cosmos 112 - . Payload: Zenit-2 11F61 s/n 37. Mass: 4,720 kg (10,400 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Vostok. Spacecraft: Zenit-2 satellite. Duration: 8.00 days. Decay Date: 1966-03-25 . USAF Sat Cat: 2107 . COSPAR: 1966-021A. Apogee: 664 km (412 mi). Perigee: 214 km (132 mi). Inclination: 72.00 deg. Period: 93.30 min. Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite..
1966 March 17
22:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC67/21. LV Family: R-36. Launch Vehicle: R-36O 8K69.- OGCh No. 03L - .
Mass: 1,700 kg (3,700 lb). Nation: Russia.
Agency: RVSN.
Spacecraft: OGCh.
COSPAR: U660316A. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi).
Last of three suborbital flight tests of the FOBS system. The second stage of the booster placed the third stage and dummy warhead on a depressed trajectory with a range of 8500 km but an altitude of only 220 km (versus 800 to 1200 km for an optimum ballistic trajectory). The third stage than executed a 180 degree turn and its engines were fired to further brake the warhead to an impact on the Kamchatka peninsula. The second stage meanwhile continued on to reentry over the Pacific Ocean.
1967 March 17
Launch Site: Malmstrom AFB. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2, Minuteman 1A.- Malmstrom AFB - . The 1,000th Minuteman missile, an LGM-30F, was shipped to Squadron 20 at Malmstrom AFB and emplaced on 23 March. Squadron 20 would add an additional 50 Minuteman II silos to the 150 Minuteman 1A already emplaced..
1967 March 17
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg.- AFWTR assumed operational control of Vanguard - . Nation: USA. AFWTR assumed operational control of the range Instrumentation Ship, Vanguard.
1967 March 17
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg 395-C. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan II.1967 March 17
Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Hammaguira Blandine. LV Family: Veronique. Launch Vehicle: Veronique AGI.- FU-174 Solar corona Solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: France. Agency: CNES. Apogee: 32 km (19 mi). FU174 Solar corona (UV) / Ptr mission..
1967 March 17
Launch Site: Green River. Launch Complex: Green River Pad 2. LV Family: Athena RTV. Launch Vehicle: Athena RTV.1967 March 17
Launch Site: Green River. Launch Complex: Green River Pad 3. LV Family: Athena RTV. Launch Vehicle: Athena RTV.1967 March 17
03:48 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150.- NRL NB3.191 / FUIIS Ultraviolet astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA, NRL. Apogee: 193 km (119 mi).
1968 March 17
06:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.1968 March 17
07:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.1968 March 17
09:28 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.1968 March 17
18:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.1968 March 17
19:18 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.1969 March 17
- Russian military space management changes - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Vershinin. Program: Soyuz. There is a management shuffle in the VVS head shed. Vershinin, a good supporter of Kamanin's attempts to obtain more VVS control of the space programme, is finished. .
1969 March 17
00:04 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Vehicle: Petrel.1969 March 17
12:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: Kourou ALFS. LV Family: Belier. Launch Vehicle: Dragon 1.- FU-172 Solar EUV 1 Solar extreme ultraviolet mission - . Nation: France. Agency: CNES. Apogee: 410 km (250 mi).
1969 March 17
12:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Complex: Poker Flat LC1. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.1969 March 17
16:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC132/1. Launch Pad: LC132/2. LV Family: R-14. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M.- Cosmos 272 - . Mass: 600 kg (1,320 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Spacecraft Bus: KAUR-1. Spacecraft: Sfera. USAF Sat Cat: 3818 . COSPAR: 1969-024A. Apogee: 1,208 km (750 mi). Perigee: 1,178 km (731 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 109.30 min. Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space. .
1969 March 17
18:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiruna. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.- DLR K-NA-18 Aeronomy / ionosphere / Fields mission - . Nation: Germany. Agency: DFVLR. Apogee: 231 km (143 mi).
1969 March 17
18:23 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Vehicle: Petrel.1969 March 17
18:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.1970 March 17
11:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92M.- Meteor 1-03 - . Payload: Meteor M no. 3. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Meteor. Spacecraft: Meteor M 11F614. Decay Date: 1983-11-18 . USAF Sat Cat: 4349 . COSPAR: 1970-019A. Apogee: 635 km (394 mi). Perigee: 537 km (333 mi). Inclination: 81.20 deg. Period: 96.40 min. Acquisition of meteorological information needed for use by the weather service. .
1971 March 17
- State Commission on DOS. - . Nation: Russia. Program: Salyut. Flight: Soyuz 10, Soyuz 11, Soyuz 12 / DOS 1. Spacecraft Bus: Almaz. Spacecraft: Salyut 1. The crews, station, and Soyuz spacecraft are all ready..
1971 March 17
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF06. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1B.- SSTTP M1-13 Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi). Safeguard System Test Target..
1971 March 17
10:57 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.1971 March 17
16:55 GMT - . Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Aeronomy mission - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).
1972 March 17
05:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: Woomera LA2. Launch Pad: LA2 SL. LV Family: Skylark. Launch Vehicle: Skylark 6 AC.1972 March 17
07:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150.1972 March 17
09:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Sandhawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Sandhawk.- Aurora mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). Solar eclipse observations..
1972 March 17
15:31 GMT - . Launch Site: Green River. LV Family: Athena RTV. Launch Vehicle: Athena H.- SAMAST 1B re-entry vehicle test flight - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: USAF.
Spacecraft: ABRES.
Apogee: 281 km (174 mi).
The third Athena H rocket was launched from the Green River, Utah, launch complex. The flight test completed qualification of the vehicle for operational use in the Advanced Ballistic Reentry Vehicle (ABRES) program managed by SAMSO's Deputy for Reentry Systems (RS).
1972 March 17
16:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Aeronomy/Plasma mission - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 168 km (104 mi).
1972 March 17
17:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC4W. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan 24B.- OPS 1678 - . Payload: KH-8 no. 34 / Agena D. Mass: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NRO, USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-8. Decay Date: 1972-04-11 . USAF Sat Cat: 5888 . COSPAR: 1972-016A. Apogee: 409 km (254 mi). Perigee: 131 km (81 mi). Inclination: 111.00 deg. Period: 89.90 min. KH-8 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A)..
1972 March 17
17:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Aeronomy/Plasma mission - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 189 km (117 mi).
1972 March 17
19:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Aeronomy/Plasma mission - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 173 km (107 mi).
1972 March 17
20:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Aeronomy mission - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 176 km (109 mi).
1972 March 17
21:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA0A. Launch Pad: LA0 ARC. LV Family: Terrier. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Recruit.1974 March 17
19:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Super Chief. Launch Vehicle: Super Chief II.1975 March 17
15:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC43. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Rocketsonde.1976 March 17
- Complete premate MPTA test structure. - . Nation: USA. Program: STS. Complete premate MPTA test structure, Downey, and deliver to Palmdale.
1976 March 17
Launch Site: Kourou. LV Family: Arcas. Launch Vehicle: Super Arcas.1976 March 17
20:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Aeronomy/Chemical release/Plasma mission - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).
1977 March 17
Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC105. LV Family: R-36M. Launch Vehicle: R-36M 15A14.1977 March 17
03:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Ionosphere/Fields mission - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 170 km (100 mi).
1977 March 17
08:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U.- Cosmos 898 - . Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Vostok. Spacecraft: Zenit-2M satellite. Duration: 13.00 days. Decay Date: 1977-03-30 . USAF Sat Cat: 9871 . COSPAR: 1977-020A. Apogee: 230 km (140 mi). Perigee: 216 km (134 mi). Inclination: 81.40 deg. Period: 89.00 min. Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; separated science capsule..
- Nauka Cosmos 898 - . Payload: Nauka?. Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Spacecraft: Nauka. Decay Date: 1977-04-03 . USAF Sat Cat: 9887 . COSPAR: 1977-020D. Apogee: 219 km (136 mi). Perigee: 208 km (129 mi). Inclination: 81.30 deg. Period: 88.77 min.
1978 March 17
10:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U.- Cosmos 995 - . Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Vostok. Spacecraft: Zenit-2M satellite. Duration: 13.00 days. Decay Date: 1978-03-30 . USAF Sat Cat: 10735 . COSPAR: 1978-030A. Apogee: 227 km (141 mi). Perigee: 209 km (129 mi). Inclination: 81.30 deg. Period: 88.80 min. Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule..
1979 March 17
- SSME 2005, flight engine delivered for acceptance - . Nation: USA. Program: STS. Space shuttle main engine 2005, first flight engine delivered to NSTL for acceptance test firings.
1979 March 17
17:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Aeronomy/Ionosphere/Plasma mission - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 187 km (116 mi).
1980 March 17
21:37 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC132/1. LV Family: R-14. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M.- Cosmos 1168 - . Mass: 810 kg (1,780 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: KAUR-1. Spacecraft: Tsikada. USAF Sat Cat: 11735 . COSPAR: 1980-022A. Apogee: 1,009 km (626 mi). Perigee: 958 km (595 mi). Inclination: 83.00 deg. Period: 104.80 min. Civilian naval navigation satellite..
1981 March 17
08:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC31. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U.- Cosmos 1259 - . Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Vostok. Spacecraft: Zenit-6U. Duration: 14.00 days. Decay Date: 1981-03-31 . USAF Sat Cat: 12341 . COSPAR: 1981-026A. Apogee: 379 km (235 mi). Perigee: 204 km (126 mi). Inclination: 70.30 deg. Period: 90.40 min. Photo surveillance; returned film capsule..
1982 March 17
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 658. LV Family: Trident. Launch Vehicle: Trident C-4.1982 March 17
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 658. LV Family: Trident. Launch Vehicle: Trident C-4.1982 March 17
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 658. LV Family: Trident. Launch Vehicle: Trident C-4.1982 March 17
10:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U.- Cosmos 1343 - . Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Vostok. Spacecraft: Zenit-6U. Duration: 14.00 days. Decay Date: 1982-03-31 . USAF Sat Cat: 13096 . COSPAR: 1982-021A. Apogee: 284 km (176 mi). Perigee: 194 km (120 mi). Inclination: 72.80 deg. Period: 89.30 min. Photo surveillance; returned film capsule; maneuverable..
1982 March 17
10:34 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 658. LV Family: Trident. Launch Vehicle: Trident C-4.1986 March 17
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF03. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1B.- RSLP IPA-3 re-entry vehicle test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi).
1987 March 17
17:25 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC46. LV Family: Trident. Launch Vehicle: Trident D-5.1988 March 17
06:43 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC31. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92M.- IRS-1A - .
Payload: IRS 1A. Mass: 975 kg (2,149 lb). Nation: India.
Agency: ISRO.
Class: Earth.
Type: Earth resources satellite. Spacecraft: IRS.
USAF Sat Cat: 18960 . COSPAR: 1988-021A. Apogee: 917 km (569 mi). Perigee: 897 km (557 mi). Inclination: 99.00 deg. Period: 103.10 min.
Indian remote sensing; 1st Soviet commercial launch. Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS-1A). Operational remote sensing of the Earth for natural resources management applications. Also registered by the USSR as object no. 2387 in ST/SG/SER.E/182 and orbital parameters 102.7 min, 863 x 917 km x 99.01 deg.
1988 March 17
20:25 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC36. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.1988 March 17
20:55 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.- Molniya 1-72 - . Payload: Molniya-1T. Mass: 1,800 kg (3,900 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Program: Molniya. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: KAUR-2. Spacecraft: Molniya-1T. Decay Date: 2001-07-04 . USAF Sat Cat: 18980 . COSPAR: 1988-022A. Apogee: 38,228 km (23,753 mi). Perigee: 2,121 km (1,317 mi). Inclination: 64.80 deg. Period: 717.70 min. Operation of the long-range telephone and telegraph radio communications system in the USSR; transmission of USSR Central Television programmes to stations in the Orbita network. .
1989 March 17
- STS-29 - Wakeup Song: Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, It's Off To Work We Go - . Flight: STS-29. "Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, It's Off To Work We Go" from movie"Snow White" - Discovery crew woke up Mission Control with this song. Mission Control replied with"Stars and Stripes Forever". CAPCOM: G. David Low.
1990 March 17
04:30 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC36. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.1992 March 17
10:54 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U2.- Soyuz TM-14 - . Call Sign: Vityaz (Knight ). Crew: Flade, Kaleri, Viktorenko. Backup Crew: Avdeyev, Ewald, Solovyov. Payload: Soyuz TM s/n 64. Mass: 7,150 kg (15,760 lb). Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Avdeyev, Ewald, Flade, Kaleri, Solovyov, Viktorenko. Agency: MOM. Program: Mir. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Soyuz TM-12 Mir LD-3, Soyuz TM-13, Soyuz TM-14, Soyuz TM-14 Mir 92. Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz. Spacecraft: Soyuz TM. Duration: 145.59 days. Decay Date: 1992-08-10 . USAF Sat Cat: 21908 . COSPAR: 1992-014A. Apogee: 394 km (244 mi). Perigee: 373 km (231 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 92.20 min. Mir Expedition EO-11. Joint flight with Germany. Docked at the Kvant rear port at 12:33 GMT on March 19..
1993 March 17
- Death of Robert Aitken Rushworth at Camarillo, California. Died of natural causes, Camarillo, California. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Rushworth. American test pilot 1958 - 1966. Selected as X-15 pilot in 1958, he made the most X-15 flights and obtained astronaut wings on X-15 Flight 87. Flew 187 combat missions in Vietnam. 1 suborbital spaceflight on the X-15, 0.2 hours in space..
1993 March 17
15:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC47. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Rocketsonde.1994 March 17
- STS-62 - Wakeup Song: Living in Paradise - . Flight: STS-62. "Living in Paradise" by Brothers Cazimero.
1994 March 17
16:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. Launch Pad: LC43/3. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.- Cosmos 2274 - .
Mass: 6,600 kg (14,500 lb). Nation: Russia.
Agency: MOM.
Class: Surveillance.
Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Yantar.
Spacecraft: Yantar-4K1.
Duration: 65.00 days. Decay Date: 1994-05-21 . USAF Sat Cat: 23033 . COSPAR: 1994-018A. Apogee: 372 km (231 mi). Perigee: 176 km (109 mi). Inclination: 67.00 deg. Period: 89.70 min.
This space object is intended for assignments on behalf of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. High resolution photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.
1995 March 17
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF04. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 3.- FOT GT159GM Follow-on Test launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSPC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi).
1998 March 17
- Mir News 413: Progress-M38 - .
Nation: Russia.
Program: Mir.
Flight: Soyuz TM-27,
STS-89 Mir NASA-6.
Successful docking at Mir; The docking took place on 17.03.1998 at 00.31.17 UTC. The last 20 Meters and the docking itself were manually executed by Musabayev with the system TORU. From 0000 UTC the operation could be monitored via Altair-2. Musabayev observed the manoeuvres of the Progress-M38. All went according to calculations. The system Kurs was in use, but Musabayev and Budarin were at the control panel of the TORU system ready to take over if necessary. The crew followed the operation via several systems: the monitor of the TORU, the LIV-camera, via a camera on board of the Progress-M38 and also visually.
Andy Thomas made images with a video-camera. Musabayev reported all distances, approach speeds, deviations along the 3-axes and also that there were no 'emergency instructions' so Kurs was STILL functioning well. At 0015 UTC the link via Altair-2 ceased and a few minutes later the VHF window opened. At 0024 UTC just before LOS for my position the distance to Mir was still 150 Meters with an approach speed of 4 CM/sec. All went well until the distance of 40 Meters. Then Kurs showed fluctuations which might be an indication that the Kurs system was no longer reliable.
Musabayev decided to switch over to the manual guidance by TORU and from 20 Meters he steered Progress-M38 to the aft docking port (+X-axis) and accomplished a perfect docking. During the pass in the next orbit the air seal checks were still going on. Via VHF-2 (130.165 mc) Andy Thomas spoke with his leads and he said that there had been no surprises. When Progress-M38 was docking he had felt a slight bump. At 0206 UTC the crew was opening the hatch.
Progress-M37:
This old freighter separated from Mir on 15.03.1998 at 19.16.01 UTC and burned up in the atmosphere east of New-Zealand at 23.03.46 UTC. 1st Spacewalk (EVA) crew 25th Main Expedition. For the time being on schedule for 1.04.1998. A final decision will be made soon.
Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202.
2000 March 17
Launch Site: Sriharikota. LV Family: RH. Launch Vehicle: RH-200.2001 March 17
- STS-102 Mission Status Report #19 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Gidzenko, Helms, Kelly, James, Richards, Paul, Shepherd, Thomas, Andrew, Voss, Wetherbee. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-102, STS-102 ISS EO-2. The crews of Discovery and the International Space Station spent their day carefully packing the Leonardo cargo transfer module and reboosting the station's orbit.. Additional Details: here....
2001 March 17
- STS-102 - Wakeup Song: Notre Dame Victory March - . Flight: STS-102. "Notre Dame Victory March" by"Flight Room Singers" Four Flight Controllers - Chris McKenna, Mark Ferring, Pete Hasbrook and Fisher Reynolds.
2002 March 17
09:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC133/1. Launch Pad: LC133/pad?. LV Family: UR-100N. Launch Vehicle: Rokot.- GRACE 1 - .
Payload: ESSP-2A, 'Tom'. Mass: 432 kg (952 lb). Nation: Germany.
Agency: DLR,
NASA.
Manufacturer: Friedrichshafen.
Class: Earth.
Type: Seismology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: CHAMP.
Spacecraft: GRACE.
Decay Date: 2018-03-10 . USAF Sat Cat: 27391 . COSPAR: 2002-012A. Apogee: 464 km (288 mi). Perigee: 446 km (277 mi). Inclination: 89.00 deg. Period: 93.70 min.
First commercial flight of Rokot booster. Launch delayed from November 23-30, 2001, February 27, March 15 and 16. The Briz-KM upper stage ignited 5 minutes after launch and after a ten minute burn reached a 300 x 500 km orbit at about 0936 UTC. A second burn at 1042 UTC placed the satellites in a 483 x 506 km x 89 deg orbit; the two GRACE gravimetric satellites separated from the dispenser at 1047 UTC. A third Briz burn then lowered the rocket stage orbit to 146 x 487 km x 89 deg so that it would reenter quickly.
- GRACE 2 - . Mass: 432 kg (952 lb). Nation: Germany. Agency: DLR, NASA. Manufacturer: Friedrichshafen. Class: Earth. Type: Seismology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: CHAMP. Spacecraft: GRACE. Decay Date: 2017-12-24 . USAF Sat Cat: 27392 . COSPAR: 2002-012B. Apogee: 464 km (288 mi). Perigee: 445 km (276 mi). Inclination: 89.00 deg. Period: 93.70 min. Gravimetry, Climatology first commercial flight delayed from November23-30, 2001, February27, March15 and 16. .
2004 March 17
Launch Site: Barents Sea Launch Area. Launch Pad: 69.5 N x 34.2 E. Launch Platform: K-407. LV Family: R-29. Launch Vehicle: Sineva.2004 March 17
Launch Site: Barents Sea Launch Area. Launch Pad: 69.5 N x 34.2 E. Launch Platform: K-407. LV Family: R-29. Launch Vehicle: Sineva.2006 March 17
- International Space Station Status Report: SS06-011 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: McArthur, Pontes, Tokarev, Vinogradov, Williams, Jeffrey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-7, Soyuz TMA-8, Soyuz TMA-8 ISS EP-10. Expedition 12 Commander Bill McArthur and Flight Engineer Valery Tokarev plan to move their Soyuz capsule from the Earth-facing docking port of the station's Zarya module to an aft port on the Zvezda module on Monday, March 20.. Additional Details: here....
2008 March 17
- EVA STS-123-3 - .
Crew: Behnken,
Linnehan.
EVA Duration: 0.31 days. Nation: USA.
Related Persons: Behnken,
Linnehan.
Program: ISS.
Flight: Soyuz TMA-11,
STS-123.
The astronauts completed assembly of the Dextre robotic manipulator, installed the LWAPA adapter plate on the External Payload Facility of the Columbus module, and transferred spare equipment from Endeavour's payload bay to the station's External Stowage Platform 2. They were unable to complete the planned installation of the MISSE 6 sample exposure experiment on the LWAPA.
2008 March 17
- STS-123 - Wakeup Song: Sharing the World - . Flight: STS-123. "Sharing the World" ” a song written by Pilot Gregory H. Johnson's brother..
2009 March 17
- STS-119 - Wakeup Song: Radio Exercise - . Flight: STS-119. "Radio Exercise" ” performed by the Tokyo Broadcast Children's Choir. The song traditionally accompanies exercise for Japanese schoolchildren, and was played for astronaut Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency..
2009 March 17
14:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC133/3. LV Family: UR-100N. Launch Vehicle: Rokot.- GOCE - . Mass: 1,100 kg (2,400 lb). Nation: Europe. Agency: KVR. Class: Earth. Type: Climate satellite. Spacecraft: GOCE. Decay Date: 2013-11-11 . USAF Sat Cat: 34602 . COSPAR: 2009-013A. Apogee: 276 km (171 mi). Perigee: 256 km (159 mi). Inclination: 96.60 deg. Period: 89.80 min. Gravity-Field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer. Carried a gravity gradiometer..
2010 March 17
- Death of Robert Michael White - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: White, Robert. American test pilot 1960-1962. First person to reach space in a rocketplane on X-15 Flight 62. 1 suborbital spaceflight on the X-15, 0.2 hours in space..
2012 March 17
Launch Site: Jiuquan. LV Family: DF-21. Launch Vehicle: Kuaizhou.2015 March 17
09:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiruna. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Improved Orion.- REXUS 17 - . Nation: Sweden. Apogee: 81 km (50 mi). Microgravity payload..
2016 March 17
20:55 GMT - . Launch Site: Sukchon. Launch Vehicle: Nodong 1.- Nodong RV - . Nation: Korea North. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). Test mission. Impacted in Sea of Japan..
2017 March 17
Launch Site: Anhueng. LV Family: Hyunmoo-2B. Launch Vehicle: Hyunmoo-2C.- RV - . Nation: Korea South. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). Test mission. Impacted in Yellow Sea..
2017 March 17
01:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Tanegashima. LV Family: H-2. Launch Vehicle: H-IIA 202.- IGS Radar 5 - . Nation: Japan. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military Radarsat. Spacecraft: IGS. USAF Sat Cat: 42072 . COSPAR: 2017-015A. Apogee: 510 km (310 mi). Perigee: 500 km (310 mi). Inclination: 97.50 deg. See IGS-Radar 5. Japan launched the Joho shushu eisei Reda 5-goki (IGS Radar 5) spy satellite into polar orbit..