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1934 - Launch Vehicle: ARS.

  • American Rocket Society named. Nation: USA.

    American Interplanetary Society renamed the American Rocket Society (ARS).

1945 - Launch Vehicle: V-2.
  • American tanks reach Bleicherode at Bad Sachsen. Nation: Germany.

    Just ahead of the troops the rocket team's documentation was moved in a truck convoy to the south. Kammler, Dornberger, and Von Braun hold their last meeting. In Bavaria, spring is just emerging from the snow.

1948 -
  • XS-1 Flight 81 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 1 flight 46. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Fitzgerald.

    AF flight 24. Pilot-check flight. Mach 1.1, during 4-cylinder run at 12505 m.

1951 -
  • XS-1 Flight 143 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 62. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Yeager.

    NACA flight 42. Flight for RKO film Jet Pilot. Slight engine fire but no damage.

1955 -
  • X-2 Flight 3 Nation: USA. Payload: X-2 # 1 flight 3. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: X-2 . Crew: Everest.

    Third glide flight. Damaged on landing. Following flight, plane returned to Bell plant for extensive modifications to landing gear system to prevent further landing accidents and for installation of its rocket engine.

1960 - Launch Vehicle: Saturn I.
  • Four H-1's fired together. Nation: USA. Program: Apollo.

    Four of the eight H-1 engines of the Saturn C-1 first-stage booster were successfully static-fired at Redstone Arsenal for seven seconds.

1961 - Launch Vehicle: Saturn V.
  • 1,640 million pounds of thrust achieved in static- firing of the F-1 engine Nation: USA. Program: Apollo.

    The Marshall Space Flight Center announced that 1.640 million pounds of thrust was achieved in a static- firing of the F-1 engine thrust chamber at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. This was a record thrust for a single chamber.

1961 - Launch Site: ETR Launch Area. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Polaris. Model: Polaris A1. LV Configuration: Polaris A1E-19.
  • Operational test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

1962 -
  • Thiokol selected for Apollo launch escape tower jettison motors Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft: Apollo CSM.

    The Thiokol Chemical Corporation was selected by NAA to build the solid-fuel rocket motor to be used to jettison the Apollo launch escape tower following a launch abort or during a normal mission.

1962 - Launch Vehicle: Little Joe II.
  • Request for proposal for the Little Joe II launch vehicle Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft: Apollo CSM.

    The request for a proposal on the Little Joe II test launch vehicle was submitted to bidders by a letter from MSC, together with a Work Statement. Five launches, which were to test boilerplate models of the Apollo spacecraft command module in abort situations, were called for: three in 1963 and two in 1964. - Additional details.

1962 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas D.
  • Symposium on the results of Mercury MA-6 Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

    NASA sponsored a 1-day symposium in Washington on the results of the Mercury-Atlas 6 (MA-6) three-orbit flight of John Glenn. One of the items of particular interest was Glenn's 'fire-flies,' or luminous particles, and their possible origin.

1962 - 17:15 GMT - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Mayak-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. Model: Kosmos 63S1. LV Configuration: Kosmos 63S1 5LK.
  • Cosmos 2 Nation: USSR. Program: MS. Payload: 1MS s/n 1. Mass: 285 kg (628 lb). Class: Technology. Spacecraft: 1MS. Agency: RVSN. Perigee: 207 km (128 mi). Apogee: 1,485 km (922 mi). Inclination: 49.00 deg. Period: 101.80 min. COSPAR: 1962-Iota-1. USAF Sat Cat: 269. Decay Date: 1963-08-20.

    Radiation, cosmic ray data. Decay date suspect Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space; development of elements in the design of space craft.

1963 -
  • The General Staff considers the topic of spaceflight and is opposed to greater VVS participation. Nation: USSR. Flight: Vostok 5, Vostok 6.

    They are not against the flight of four Vostoks in 1963, though.

1963 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Mayak-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. Model: Kosmos 63S1. FAILURE: First stage failed.
  • DS-P1 s/n 2 Nation: USSR. Program: DS. Payload: DS-P1. Class: Military. Type: Target. Spacecraft: DS-P1. Agency: RVSN. COSPAR: F630406A.

    Prototype ABM radar target; supported developmental experiments for ABM systems.

1963 - 04:03 GMT - Launch Site: Fort Churchill. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant 1. LV Configuration: Black Brant I AD-1-26.
  • Ionosphere / fields Aurora / aeronomy / ionosphere mission Nation: Canada. Agency: NRCC. Apogee: 144 km (89 mi).

1963 - 07:25 GMT - Launch Site: Fort Churchill. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant 1. LV Configuration: Black Brant I AD-1-23.
  • Aurora / ionosphere / fields mission Nation: Canada. Agency: NRCC. Apogee: 140 km (80 mi).

1964 - 16:30 GMT - Launch Site: ETR Launch Area. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Polaris. Model: Polaris A2. LV Configuration: Polaris A2P-320.
  • Operational test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1965 - 13:34 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas D. LV Configuration: Atlas D 150D.
  • ABRES WAC-4 re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).

1965 - 16:34 GMT - Launch Site: Pacific Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 35.2 S x 74.3 W. Launch Vehicle: Apache. Model: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache NASA 14.26UA.
  • UM Pitot 11 Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 142 km (88 mi).

    Launched at 1965 Croatan MRF Expedition LP35 - - Latitude: 35.23 S - Longitude: 74.25 W.

1965 - 23:47 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Model: Delta D. LV Configuration: Thor Delta D 426/D30.
  • Intelsat 1 F-1 Nation: International. Program: Intelsat. Payload: Early Bird. Mass: 39 kg (85 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Intelsat 1. Agency: INTELSAT. Perigee: 35,746 km (22,211 mi). Apogee: 35,819 km (22,256 mi). Inclination: 11.70 deg. Period: 1,435.90 min. COSPAR: 1965-028A. USAF Sat Cat: 1317. Completed Operations Date: 1971-01-01.

    Over Atlantic. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 28 deg W in 1965; 38 deg W in 1965-1966. As of 27 July 2001 located at 92.54 deg W drifting at 0.324 deg W per day. As of 2007 Jan 13 located at 47.74W drifting at 0.017E degrees per day.

1966 - 11:40 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC41/1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Voskhod 11A57. LV Configuration: Voskhod 11A57 U15001-02.
  • Cosmos 114 Nation: USSR. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Zenit-4. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 202 km (125 mi). Apogee: 337 km (209 mi). Inclination: 72.80 deg. Period: 89.80 min. COSPAR: 1966-028A. USAF Sat Cat: 2133. Duration: 8.00 days. Decay Date: 1966-04-14.

    High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule

1966 - 15:30 GMT - Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Blandine. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Veronique. Model: Veronique AGI. LV Configuration: Veronique AGI AGI/57.
  • FU-126 Solar corona Solar ultraviolet mission Nation: France. Agency: FR. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

    FU126 Solar corona (UV) / Ptr mission.

1967 - Launch Site: Green River. Launch Complex: Pad 1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Athena RTV. LV Configuration: Athena B031.
  • USN B031 re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1967 - Launch Site: Green River. Launch Complex: Pad 1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Athena RTV. LV Configuration: Athena D043.
  • USN D043 re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1967 - 03:23 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC12. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: SLV-3 Agena D. LV Configuration: SLV-3 Agena D 5102 (AA21) / Agena D 6152. FAILURE: Partial Failure.
  • ATS 2 Nation: USA. Program: ATS. Payload: ATS A. Mass: 370 kg (810 lb). Class: Technology. Type: Comsat. Spacecraft: ATS-2. Agency: NASA GSF. Perigee: 177 km (109 mi). Apogee: 11,119 km (6,909 mi). Inclination: 28.40 deg. Period: 218.80 min. COSPAR: 1967-031A. USAF Sat Cat: 2743. Decay Date: 1969-09-02.

    Launch vehicle failure left in useless orbit; communications tests.

  • Research Payload Module 481 Nation: USA. Program: ATS. Payload: Module 481. Agency: NASA LeR. Perigee: 160 km (90 mi). Apogee: 10,732 km (6,668 mi). Inclination: 28.40 deg. Period: 213.28 min. COSPAR: 1967-031B. USAF Sat Cat: 2744. Decay Date: 1968-06-29.

1968 -
  • Joint meeting of the VPK and the Academy of Sciences. Nation: USSR.

    There is, to the disappointment of Kamanin, no discussion of moving manned spacecraft management from TsUKOS to VVS.

1968 - 01:15 GMT - Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Apache. Model: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache K-NA-10.
  • DLR K-NA-10 Aurora mission Nation: Germany. Agency: DLR. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1968 - 02:45 GMT - Launch Site: Fort Churchill. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant 4A. LV Configuration: Black Brant IVA AKF-4-10.
  • Calgary CR / ionos Ionosphere / chemical release mission Nation: Canada. Agency: NRCC. Apogee: 862 km (535 mi).

1968 - 09:59 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576A2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas F. LV Configuration: Atlas F 107F / OV-1 (2x).
  • OV1-13 Nation: USA. Mass: 107 kg (235 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere. Spacecraft: OV1. Agency: USAF OAR. Perigee: 587 km (364 mi). Apogee: 9,214 km (5,725 mi). Inclination: 100.00 deg. Period: 198.70 min. COSPAR: 1968-026A. USAF Sat Cat: 3173.

    Radiation, engineering experiments. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

  • OV1-14 Nation: USA. Mass: 101 kg (222 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere. Spacecraft: OV1. Agency: USAF OAR. Perigee: 568 km (352 mi). Apogee: 9,858 km (6,125 mi). Inclination: 100.00 deg. Period: 207.00 min. COSPAR: 1968-026B. USAF Sat Cat: 3174.

    Radiation data. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

1971 -
  • DOS cosmonauts fly to Tyuratam. Nation: USSR. Program: Salyut. Spacecraft: Salyut 1. Flight: Soyuz 10, Soyuz 11, Soyuz 12 / DOS 1.

    Kamanin, the DOS crews, and 40 VVS specialists fly to Tyuratam. VVS medical officers have to battle outbreaks of measles, rabies, and dysentery at the cosmodrome. The crews are medically isolated in the Hotel Kosmonavt. In the evening they watch the film '300 Spartans'.

1971 - 18:00 GMT - Launch Site: Thule AFB. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Arcas. Model: Sparrow Arcas. LV Configuration: Sparrow Arcas PCA.
  • Ionosphere mission Nation: USA. Agency: AFCRL. Apogee: 108 km (67 mi).

1972 - 08:00 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Voskhod 11A57.
  • Cosmos 484 Nation: USSR. Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Zenit-2M. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 194 km (120 mi). Apogee: 223 km (138 mi). Inclination: 81.00 deg. Period: 88.60 min. COSPAR: 1972-026A. USAF Sat Cat: 5933. Duration: 12.00 days. Decay Date: 1972-04-18.

    Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; separated cosmic ray experiment capsule.

  • Nauka Cosmos 484 Nation: USSR. Payload: Nauka. Spacecraft: Nauka. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 168 km (104 mi). Apogee: 177 km (109 mi). Inclination: 81.30 deg. Period: 87.94 min. COSPAR: 1972-026C. USAF Sat Cat: 6002. Decay Date: 1972-04-18.

1973 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC177. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: MR-UR-100. Model: MR-UR-100.
  • State trials missile test Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1973 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC104. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-36M.
  • State trials missile test Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1973 - 02:11 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC36B. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: SLV-3D Centaur. LV Configuration: SLV-3D Centaur AC-30 / Centaur D-1AR 5011D.
  • Pioneer 11 Nation: USA. Program: Pioneer. Payload: Pioneer G. Mass: 259 kg (570 lb). Class: Planetary. Type: Outer Planets. Spacecraft: Pioneer 10-11. Agency: NASA ARC. COSPAR: 1973-019A. USAF Sat Cat: 6421.

    Jupiter flyby December 1974; Saturn flyby September 1979. Solar system escape trajectory. Pioneer 11 was the second mission to investigate Jupiter and the outer solar system and the first to explore the planet Saturn and its main rings. Pioneer 11, like Pioneer 10, used Jupiter's gravitational field to alter its trajectory radically. It passed close to Saturn and then it followed an escape trajectory from the solar system. During its closest approach, December 4, 1974, Pioneer 11 passed to within 34,000 km of Jupiter's cloud tops. It passed by Saturn on September 1, 1979, at a distance of 21,000 km from Saturn's cloud tops. The spacecraft has operated on a backup transmitter since launch. Instrument power sharing began in February 1985 due to declining RTG power output. Science operations and daily telemetry ceased on September 30, 1995 when the RTG power level was insufficient to operate any experiments. As of the end of 1995 the spacecraft was located at 44.7 AU from the Sun at a nearly asymptotic latitude of 17.4 degrees above the solar equatorial plane and was heading outward at 2.5 AU/year. Routine tracking and project data processing operations were terminated on March 31, 1997 for budget reasons.

1974 - 04:10 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee 350. LV Configuration: Aerobee 350 NASA 17.12CG.
  • Astronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 237 km (147 mi).

1976 - 04:14 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Model: Kosmos 11K65M. LV Configuration: Kosmos 11K65M 53731-280.
  • Cosmos 812 Nation: USSR. Program: Tselina. Mass: 900 kg (1,980 lb). Class: Sigint. Spacecraft: Tselina-O. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 508 km (315 mi). Apogee: 548 km (340 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 95.20 min. COSPAR: 1976-031A. USAF Sat Cat: 8794. Decay Date: 1980-10-30.

    Replaced Cosmos 544. Possible ELINT satellite.

1977 -
  • Vertical stabilizer on dock, Palmdale (STA-099) Nation: USA. Program: STS.

1977 - 01:55 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.
  • Ionosphere/Chemical release/Plasma/Fields mission Nation: USSR. Apogee: 174 km (108 mi).

1977 - 03:01 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.
  • Aeronomy/Ionosphere mission Nation: USSR. Apogee: 171 km (106 mi).

1978 - 09:10 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Pad: LC1 or LC31. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Soyuz 11A511U.
  • Cosmos 1002 Nation: USSR. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Zenit-2M. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 205 km (127 mi). Apogee: 283 km (175 mi). Inclination: 65.10 deg. Period: 89.40 min. COSPAR: 1978-037A. USAF Sat Cat: 10785. Duration: 13.00 days. Decay Date: 1978-04-19.

    Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule.

1979 -
  • Complete Phase I qualification tests, aft RCS Nation: USA. Program: STS.

1980 - 03:33 GMT - Launch Site: Fort Churchill. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant 8B. LV Configuration: Black Brant 8B AAF-NVB-07.
  • Waterhole 1 Aurora / aeronomy / ionosphere mission Nation: Canada. Agency: NRCC. Apogee: 317 km (196 mi).

1983 - 12:00 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/1. Launch Pad: LC132?/pad?. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Model: Kosmos 11K65M. LV Configuration: Kosmos 11K65M 53719-512.
  • Cosmos 1450 Nation: USSR. Class: Calibration. Spacecraft: Taifun-1. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 357 km (221 mi). Apogee: 385 km (239 mi). Inclination: 65.80 deg. Period: 92.00 min. COSPAR: 1983-027A. USAF Sat Cat: 13972. Decay Date: 1990-05-30.

    Possibly ASAT related. Radar calibration mission.

1984 - 13:58 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC39A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle. LV Configuration: Space Shuttle STS-13/41-C.
  • STS-41-C Nation: USA. Program: STS. Payload: Challenger F05 / LDEF 1 / MMU 3. Mass: 17,357 kg (38,265 lb). Class: Manned. Type: Spaceplane. Spacecraft: Challenger. Agency: NASA JSC. Perigee: 222 km (137 mi). Apogee: 468 km (290 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 91.40 min. COSPAR: 1984-034A. USAF Sat Cat: 14897. Duration: 6.99 days. Decay Date: 1984-04-13. Crew: Crippen, Hart, Nelson, Scobee, van Hoften. Flight: STS-41-C.

    Manned five crew. First repair on orbit of a satellite, Solar Maximum Mission, by James van Hoften and George Nelson. Deployed LDEF. Payloads:Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) repair, manned maneuvering unit (MMU) satellite support, deployment of Long-Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) in earth orbit free drift. LDEF contained 57 experiments and weighed about 10,000 kg. Cinema 360 and IMAX 70-mm cameras.

  • LDEF Nation: USA. Payload: Challenger F5 / LDEF 1. Mass: 3,625 kg (7,991 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Micrometeoroid. Spacecraft: LDEF. Agency: NASA LaR. Perigee: 344 km (213 mi). Apogee: 348 km (216 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 91.50 min. COSPAR: 1984-034B. USAF Sat Cat: 14898. Decay Date: 1990-01-20.

    Long Duration Exposure Facility; deployed from STS 41C 7 April 1984; retrieved by STS-32 20 January 1990. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).

  • MMU 3 Nation: USA. Program: STS. Agency: NASA. COSPAR: 1984-034xx. USAF Sat Cat: 14897. Decay Date: 1984-04-13.

  • MMU 2 Nation: USA. Program: STS. Agency: NASA. COSPAR: 1984-034xx. USAF Sat Cat: 14897. Decay Date: 1984-04-13.

  • SMRM-FSS Nation: USA. Program: STS. Agency: NASA. COSPAR: 1984-034xx. USAF Sat Cat: 14897. Decay Date: 1984-04-13.

1989 - 14:00 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Soyuz 11A511U.
  • Cosmos 2017 Nation: USSR. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Landsat. Spacecraft: Zenit-8. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 244 km (151 mi). Apogee: 260 km (160 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 89.60 min. COSPAR: 1989-029A. USAF Sat Cat: 19923. Duration: 13.00 days. Decay Date: 1989-04-19.

    Military cartographic satellite; returned film capsule.

1990 - 03:13 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC133/3. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Model: Kosmos 11K65M. LV Configuration: Kosmos 11K65M 65061-259.
  • Cosmos 2064 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Payload: Strela-1M no. 337. Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-1M. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 1,463 km (909 mi). Apogee: 1,490 km (920 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 115.50 min. COSPAR: 1990-029A. USAF Sat Cat: 20549.

    Eight satellites launched by a single carrier rocket.

  • Cosmos 2065 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Payload: Strela-1M no. 338. Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-1M. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 1,462 km (908 mi). Apogee: 1,475 km (916 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 115.30 min. COSPAR: 1990-029B. USAF Sat Cat: 20550.

  • Cosmos 2066 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Payload: Strela-1M no. 339. Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-1M. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 1,386 km (861 mi). Apogee: 1,463 km (909 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 114.30 min. COSPAR: 1990-029C. USAF Sat Cat: 20551.

  • Cosmos 2067 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Payload: Strela-1M no. 340. Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-1M. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 1,401 km (870 mi). Apogee: 1,463 km (909 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 114.50 min. COSPAR: 1990-029D. USAF Sat Cat: 20552.

  • Cosmos 2068 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Payload: Strela-1M no. 341. Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-1M. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 1,415 km (879 mi). Apogee: 1,463 km (909 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 114.60 min. COSPAR: 1990-029E. USAF Sat Cat: 20553.

  • Cosmos 2069 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Payload: Strela-1M no. 342. Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-1M. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 1,429 km (887 mi). Apogee: 1,463 km (909 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 114.80 min. COSPAR: 1990-029F. USAF Sat Cat: 20554.

  • Cosmos 2070 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Payload: Strela-1M no. 343. Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-1M. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 1,443 km (896 mi). Apogee: 1,464 km (909 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 115.00 min. COSPAR: 1990-029G. USAF Sat Cat: 20555.

  • Cosmos 2071 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Payload: Strela-1M no. 344. Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-1M. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 1,458 km (905 mi). Apogee: 1,464 km (909 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 115.10 min. COSPAR: 1990-029H. USAF Sat Cat: 20556.

1993 - 19:07 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC43/4. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Molniya 8K78M. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78M-2BL.
  • Cosmos 2241 Nation: Russia. Payload: Oko #73. Mass: 1,900 kg (4,100 lb). Class: Early Warning. Spacecraft: Oko. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 3,564 km (2,214 mi). Apogee: 36,804 km (22,868 mi). Inclination: 66.00 deg. Period: 718.00 min. COSPAR: 1993-022A. USAF Sat Cat: 22594.

    Covered Oko constellation plane 7 - 161 degree longitude of ascending node.

1997 - 03:45 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC36. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant 9CM1. LV Configuration: Black Brant 9CM1 NASA 36.156UG.
  • JHU FOT 13 Ultraviolet astronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1997 - 16:04 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Soyuz 11A511U.
  • Progress M-34 Nation: Russia. Program: Mir. Payload: Progress M s/n 234. Mass: 7,156 kg (15,776 lb). Class: Manned. Type: Logistics. Spacecraft: Progress M. Manufacturer: RKK Energiya im. S.P. Korolyov, Kaliningrad-Korolyov. Agency: RKA. Perigee: 375 km (233 mi). Apogee: 393 km (244 mi). Inclination: 51.70 deg. Period: 92.20 min. COSPAR: 1997-014A. USAF Sat Cat: 24757. Duration: 86.60 days. Completed Operations Date: 1997-07-02 06:31:45. Decay Date: 1997-07-02 06:31:45. Flight: Mir NASA-3, Mir EO-23.

    Unmanned resupply vessel to Mir. It carried supplies for the Mir station and repair equipment for Mir's oxygen generators, replacement oxygen-generating 'candles' and a pair of new spacesuits. Docked with Mir at the rear Kvant module port on 8 Apr 1997 17:30:03 GMT. The Mir complex raised its orbit by 5 km on 15 Apr 1997 at 12:00 GMT, using Progress M-34's engine. Undocked on 24 Jun 1997 10:22:50 GMT. It was then used to perform a redocking test using newly developed remote-control procedures which were to replace the automatic system that Russia could no longer afford to buy from Ukraine. At 25 Jun 1997 09:18 GMT Mir commander Tsibliev was remotely commanding the approach of Progress to the Kvant module. This involved guiding the Progress via a television monitor. The Progress was difficult to see against the cloudy earth background at the time of the attempted docking. It went off course and collided with a solar array on the Spektr module and then the module itself. A large hole was made in a solar panel, one of the radiators was buckled, a hole was punched into Spektr's hull, and the module began to depressurize. This was not a slow leak - the crew heard a hissing sound and felt their ears pop. They disconnected the power cables leading from Mir to the main station and closed the hatch on the core module transfer section that led to Spektr. The Spektr module became fully depressurized, remaining docked to Mir with its docking hatch open. The loss of electrical connection between Spektr's solar panels and the main station cut the available power supply to the station, crippling its operations until later repairs reconnected the electrical lines. Tsibliev was also the pilot on a previous orbital collision, when he banged Soyuz TM-17 into Mir in Jan 1994. After the return of the crew to earth he was found to be to blame for the incident, although the fines assessed were later dismissed. The Progress M-34 cargo ship was backed to a safe distance from the station and was destroyed in reentry on 2 Jul 1997 06:31:50 GMT. Total free-flight time 9.90 days. Total docked time 76.70 days.

1998 - Launch Site: Tilla. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Ghauri.
  • Test mission Nation: Pakistan. Agency: Pakistan. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1998 - Launch Site: Sriharikota. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: RH. Model: RH-560/300 Mk II.
  • Aeronomy mission Nation: India. Agency: ISRO. Apogee: 464 km (288 mi).

1998 - 13:35 GMT -
  • EVA Mir EO-25-3 Nation: Russia. Program: Mir. Class: Manned. Type: Space station. Spacecraft: Mir. Crew: Musabayev, Budarin. Flight: Mir NASA-6, Mir EO-25. EVA Duration: 0.18 days.

    The crew succeeded in completing repair of the damaged Spektr solar panel. However the EVA was cut short when Mission Control in error commanded the Mir to drift. This was then misdiagnosed as a depletion of fuel of the VDU orientation engine, and the crew was ordered back into the station.

2000 -
  • Lockheed charged on rocket technology transfer to China Nation: China.

    Lockheed Martin was charged with violating the Arms Export Control Act by assisting China in redesigning their apogee kick motor (EPKM) for the Asiasat-2 communications satellite. This was denied by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, which said that the EPKM was of totally indigenous design.

2000 - Launch Site: Negev. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Jericho. Model: Jericho 1.
  • Operational test Nation: Israel. Agency: IDF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

2000 - Launch Site: Barents Sea Launch Area. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 69.5 N x 34.2 E. Launch Vehicle: R-29. Model: Shtil.
  • Operational test Nation: Russia. Agency: VMF RF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

2002 -
  • HETE-1 Spacecraft Re-Enters Earth's Atmosphere Nation: USA. Spacecraft: HETE.


Born on this day in:
  • 1935 - Thomas C McMurtry.  American Pilot Test Pilot. Birth City: Crawfordsville. Birth State: Indiana. Birth Country: USA.
  • 1957 - Paolo Alberto Nespoli.  Italian Mission Specialist Astronaut. Birth City: Milan. Birth Country: Italy.

Died on this day in:
  • 1992 - Isaac Asimov.  American Writer.

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