See also Born on this Day On this day in: 1941 - Launch Vehicle: JATO. -
Ercoupe first flight. Nation: USA. An Ercoupe light aircraft, impelled by 12 powder rockets of 50 pounds thrust each, piloted by Lt. Homer A. Boushey, first flew on rocket power alone after an initial boost from a towing automobile.
1952 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Corporal. Model: Corporal. LV Configuration: Corporal 29R. -
Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA?. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi).
1953 - Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M.
1954 - Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho X-10. LV Configuration: X-10 s/n 4 GM-19310.
1954 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5. -
Phase 3 state trials launch Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).
1957 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC10. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho G-26. LV Configuration: Navaho II SM-64 09. -
Navaho G-26 Flight 5 Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 25 km (15 mi). After a 15 hour 18 minute countdown G-26 number four finally left the pad. The boost phase was completed successfully; but then a guidance system malfunction prevented the cruise stage from separating from the booster until an altitude of 25 km was reached. However the autopilot successfully overcome drastic pitch oscillations created by the lofted trajectory, and the ramjets were successfully ignited. The stage cruised at Mach 2.93 for 280 km. However then the vehicle began drifting off course. The ground pilot banked, but the fuselage screened the airflow to the left ramjet intake, resulting in that engine flaming out. The vehicle lost speed and altitude, and the right engine flamed out a minute later. The missile was ordered into a terminal dive, impacting 425 km downrange.
1957 - 07:48 GMT - Launch Site: Atlantic Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 64.7 N x 54.0 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Loki Rockoon. LV Configuration: Loki Rockoon II5.12F. FAILURE: Failure.
1957 - 13:55 GMT - Launch Site: Atlantic Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 63.1 N x 53.7 W. Launch Vehicle: Rockoon. Model: Loki Rockoon. LV Configuration: Loki Rockoon II5.13F.
1958 - Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Asp. Model: Ascamp. FAILURE: Failure. -
Hardtack Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1958 - Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Asp. Model: Ascamp. -
Hardtack Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1958 - Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Asp. Model: Ascamp. -
Hardtack Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1958 - Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Asp. Model: Ascamp. -
Hardtack Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1958 - Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Asp. Model: Ascamp. -
Hardtack Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1958 - Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Asp. Model: Ascamp. -
Hardtack Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1958 - Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Asp. Model: Ascamp. -
Hardtack Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1958 - Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Asp. Model: Ascamp. -
Hardtack Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1958 - Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Asp. Model: Ascamp. -
Hardtack Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1958 - Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Asp. Model: Ascamp. -
Hardtack Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1958 - Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Asp. Model: Ascamp. -
Hardtack Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1958 - Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Asp. Model: Ascamp. -
Hardtack Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1958 - Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Asp. Model: Ascamp. -
Hardtack Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1958 - Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Asp. Model: Ascamp. -
Hardtack Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1958 - Launch Site: Santa Barbara Channel DZ. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 34.2 N x 120.0 W. Launch Vehicle: Project Pilot. LV Configuration: Project Pilot 2. FAILURE: Vehicle exploded at ignition. -
Pilot 2 Nation: USA. Payload: Diagnostic Payload 2. Class: Technology. Spacecraft: Pilot. Agency: USN. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi). COSPAR: F580812A. Decay Date: 1958-08-12.
1958 - 09:27 GMT - Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: LC2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Model: Redstone. LV Configuration: Redstone CC-51. FAILURE: Guidance system malfunction at 70 seconds which did not preclude subsequent system operations and successful mission accomplishment.
1959 - -
NASA's future manned space program Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft: Apollo CSM. The STG New Projects Panel (proposed by H. Kurt Strass in June) held its first meeting to discuss NASA's future manned space program. Present were Strass, Chairman, Alan B. Kehlet, William S. Augerson, Jack Funk, and other STG members. Strass summarized the philosophy behind NASA's proposed objective of a manned lunar landing : maximum utilization of existing technology in a series of carefully chosen projects, each of which would provide a firm basis for the next step and be a significant advance in its own right.
- Additional details.
1959 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Terrier. Model: Terrier ASROC Cajun. LV Configuration: Terrier ASROC Cajun Terasca. FAILURE: Failure. -
Ultraviolet Scanner test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).
1960 - Launch Vehicle: DF-1, DF-2, Kosmos 2, R-2. -
Soviet/China break. Nation: China. In the preceding months relations between the Soviet advisors and Chinese engineers had been strained by increasing Soviet secrecy. The Russians catch Chinese students at the Moscow Aviation Institute stealing restricted missile data. Finally Khrushchev declared the suspension of military assistance to China. All 1,343 Soviet specialists are withdrawn from the Fifth Academy in Beijing and return to Russia. They leave behind 343 uncompleted contracts. A total of 257 technical development projects were cancelled as a result.
1960 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LC-B. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hopi. Model: Kiva/Hopi. -
Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: AFCRL. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).
1960 - 09:39 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Model: Thor Delta. LV Configuration: Thor Delta 270/D2.
1960 - 13:00 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC11. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas D. LV Configuration: Atlas D 66D. -
Research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).
1960 - 16:48 GMT - Launch Site: Silver Lake DZ. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 35.3 N x 116.1 W. Launch Vehicle: X-15. LV Configuration: X-15 1-10-19. -
X-15A High Alt test Nation: USA. Agency: NASA/USAF. Apogee: 41 km (25 mi). Maximum Speed - 2851 kph. Maximum Altitude - 41605 m. Established a new altitude record for a manned vehicle of 136,500 feet. This topped Captain Kincheloe's record altitude of 126,200 feet attained on September 7, 1956, in the X-2 rocket research aircraft.
1960 - 18:28 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC25A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Polaris. Model: Polaris A1. LV Configuration: Polaris A1X-47. -
Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).
1961 - Launch Site: ETR Launch Area. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Polaris. Model: Polaris A1. LV Configuration: Polaris A1E-36. -
Operational test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).
1961 - Launch Site: ETR Launch Area. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Polaris. Model: Polaris A1. LV Configuration: Polaris A1E-37. -
Operational test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).
1961 - Launch Site: ETR Launch Area. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Polaris. Model: Polaris A1. LV Configuration: Polaris A1E-42. -
Operational test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).
1961 - Launch Site: ETR Launch Area. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Polaris. Model: Polaris A1. LV Configuration: Polaris A1E-34. -
Operational test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).
1961 - Launch Site: ETR Launch Area. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Polaris. Model: Polaris A1. LV Configuration: Polaris A1E-35. -
Operational test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).
1961 - Launch Site: ETR Launch Area. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Polaris. Model: Polaris A1. LV Configuration: Polaris A1E-43. -
Operational test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).
1961 - 10:57 GMT - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee 150A. LV Configuration: Aerobee 150A NASA 04.42NP. -
LeRC LH2 test Technology test Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 153 km (95 mi).
1962 - 08:02 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Vostok 8K72K. -
Vostok 4 Nation: USSR. Program: Vostok. Payload: Vostok 3KA s/n 6. Mass: 4,728 kg (10,423 lb). Class: Manned. Type: Spacecraft. Spacecraft: Vostok. Agency: RVSN. Perigee: 159 km (98 mi). Apogee: 211 km (131 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 88.20 min. COSPAR: 1962-A-Nu-1. USAF Sat Cat: 365. Duration: 2.96 days. Decay Date: 1962-08-15. Crew: Popovich. Flight: Vostok 4. Joint flight with Vostok 3. Acquisition of experimental data on the possibility of establishing a direct link between two space ships; coordination of astronauts' operations; study of the effects of identical spaceflight conditions on the human organism. The launch of Popovich proceeds exactly on schedule, the spacecraft launching with 0.5 seconds of the planned time, entering orbit just a few kilometers away from Nikolayev in Vostok 3. Popovich had problems with his life support system, resulting in the cabin temperature dropping to 10 degrees Centigrade and the humidity to 35%. The cosmonaut still managed to conduct experiments, including taking colour motion pictures of the terminator between night and day and the cabin interior.
Despite the conditions, Popovich felt able to go for the full four days scheduled. But before the mission, Popovich had been briefed to tell ground control that he was 'observing thunderstorms' if he felt the motion sickness that had plagued Titov and needed to return on the next opportunity. Unfortunately he actually did report seeing thunderstorms over the Gulf of Mexico, and ground control took this as a request for an early return. He was ordered down a day early, landing within a few mintutes of Nikolayev. Only on the ground was it discovered that he was willing to go the full duration, and that ground control had thought he had given the code.
1964 - -
Voskhod State Commission Nation: USSR. Program: Voskhod. Spacecraft: Voskhod. Flight: Voskhod 1. The readiness of two crews is certified (the prime crew of Volynov, Katys, and Yegorov and backup crew of Komarov, Feoktistov, and Sorokin). Korolev presses for Feoktistov to be included in the prime crew, citing his unequalled technical knowledge of the spacecraft. Kamanin and the VVS doctors oppose this, citing his poor medical condition which makes him uncertifiable for flight. A very heated discussion ensues, with the final decision to continue training all seven cosmonauts, with the first candidates for flight being Volynov, Katys, and Yegorov, with Komarov, Lazarev, and Sorokin being reserve cosmonauts. The question of Feoktistov's flight certification will be taken up by a special panel of physicians.
1964 - 00:43 GMT - Launch Site: Kronogard. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Apache. Model: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache NASA 14.56DA. -
K64-S-2 Air sampling Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 121 km (75 mi).
1964 - 01:49 GMT - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Model: Nike Cajun. LV Configuration: Nike Cajun NASA 10.84GA. -
Grenades Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 114 km (70 mi).
1964 - 02:15 GMT - Launch Site: Fort Churchill. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Model: Nike Cajun. LV Configuration: Nike Cajun NASA 10.105GA. -
Grenades Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 126 km (78 mi).
1964 - 18:12 GMT - Launch Site: Hidden Hills DZ. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 36.1 N x 116.0 W. Launch Vehicle: X-15. LV Configuration: X-15 3-32-53.
1965 -
1965 - 17:15 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC35. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee 150. LV Configuration: Aerobee 150 CRL AE3.519. -
Extreme ultraviolet Mon Solar extreme ultraviolet mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 241 km (149 mi).
1966 -
1966 - 18:25 GMT - Launch Site: Delamar Dry Lake DZ. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 37.3 N x 114.9 W. Launch Vehicle: X-15. LV Configuration: X-15 2-48-85.
1967 - 06:30 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC35. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee 150. LV Configuration: Aerobee 150 NRL NC3.187. -
Ion Composition Aeronomy / ionosphere mission Nation: USA. Agency: NRL. Apogee: 222 km (137 mi).
1968 - Launch Vehicle: Saturn V. -
Apollo 8 lunar mission scheduled for December 20. Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft: Apollo LTA, Apollo CSM. Flight: Apollo 8. On August 12 Kraft informed Low that December 20 was the day if they wanted to launch in daylight. With everyone agreeing to a daylight launch, the launch was planned for December 1 with a "built-in hold" until the 20th, which would have the effect of giving assurance of meeting the schedule. LTA (LM test article)-B was considered as a substitute; it had been through a dynamic test vehicle program, and all except Kotanchik agreed this would be a good substitute. Grumman suggested LTA-4 but Low decided on LTA-B.
1968 - 07:00 GMT - Launch Site: Natal. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Nike. Model: Nike Iroquois. LV Configuration: Nike Iroquois CRL AG07.275. -
Meteorites Meteorites mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 153 km (95 mi).
1968 - 08:38 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Apache. Model: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache NASA 14.336UA. -
Pandora D Meteorites mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 155 km (96 mi).
1969 -
1969 - 11:01 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC36A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: SLV-3C Centaur. LV Configuration: SLV-3C Centaur AC-18 / Centaur D-1A 5402C. -
ATS 5 Nation: USA. Program: ATS. Payload: ATS E. Mass: 821 kg (1,809 lb). Class: Technology. Type: Comsat. Spacecraft: ATS-5. Agency: NASA GSF. Perigee: 35,992 km (22,364 mi). Apogee: 36,024 km (22,384 mi). Inclination: 14.50 deg. Period: 1,447.40 min. COSPAR: 1969-069A. USAF Sat Cat: 4068. Completed Operations Date: 1984-01-01. Applications Technology Satellite; communications tests. Launch vehicle successfully put the payload into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The spacecraft maneuvered into geostationary orbit at 108 degrees W. The purpose of this flight was to demonstrate North-South Stationkeeping of a geosynchronous satellite. ATS-5 was equipped with an ion engine package identical to that on ATS-4. Once in geosynchronous orbit the spacecraft could not be despun as planned, and thus the spacecraft gravity gradient stabilization could not be implemented. The spacecraft spin rate was about 76 revolutions per minute, and this caused an effective 4g acceleration on the cesium feed system. The high g-loading on the cesium feed system caused flooding of the discharge chamber, and normal operation of the thruster with ion beam extraction could not be performed. The IPS was instead be operated as a neutral plasma source, without high-voltage ion extraction, along with the wire neutralizer to examine spacecraft charging effects. The neutralizer was also operated by itself to provide electron injection for the spacecraft charging experiments. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit over the Americas at 105 deg W in 1969-1977; over the Americas at 70 deg W in 1977-1983. As of 1 September 2001 located at 15.48 deg E drifting at 2.807 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 111.70E drifting at 2.819W degrees per day.
1970 - 18:26 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC35. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee 150. LV Configuration: Aerobee 150 CRL A03.903-2. -
Extreme ultraviolet Solar ultraviolet mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 222 km (137 mi).
1970 - 18:52 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee 170. LV Configuration: Aerobee 170 CRL A04.002-1. -
Extreme ultraviolet Solar extreme ultraviolet mission Nation: USA. Agency: AFCRL. Apogee: 246 km (152 mi).
1971 - 05:30 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC31. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Soyuz 11A511L. -
Cosmos 434 Nation: USSR. Program: Lunar L3. Payload: Lunar Craft T2K no. 3. Mass: 5,500 kg (12,100 lb). Class: Manned. Type: Lunar lander. Spacecraft: LK. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 193 km (119 mi). Apogee: 1,253 km (778 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 99.30 min. COSPAR: 1971-069A. USAF Sat Cat: 5407. Duration: 8,296.77 days. Decay Date: 1981-08-22. Final LK moon lander test using the T2K version. Maneuver Summary: 188km X 267km orbit to 190km X 1261km orbit. Delta V: 266 m/s 188km X 1262km orbit to 180km X 11384km orbit. Delta V: 1333 m/s Total Delta V: 1599 m/s. Ten years later the spacecraft was due to re-enter over Australia soon after the Skylab scare. The Soviet Union told the people of Australia not to worry, it was only an experimental lunar cabin - the first inadvertent admission that their manned lunar project even existed!
1971 - 15:30 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4W. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Model: Titan 24B. LV Configuration: Titan 24B 24B-1 (3B-32).
1971 - 21:14 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee 170. LV Configuration: Aerobee 170 NASA 13.62DS. -
NRL NE4.251 Solar mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).
1972 - 02:15 GMT - Launch Site: Thumba. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Belier. Model: Centaure. LV Configuration: Centaure ISRO 5.14. -
ISRO 5.14 Ionosphere mission Nation: India. Agency: ISRO. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).
1972 - 09:25 GMT - Launch Site: Green River. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Athena RTV. Model: Athena H. LV Configuration: Athena H H004. -
RVTO-3B-2 re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).
1974 - 06:25 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC31. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Soyuz 11A511U. -
Cosmos 672 Nation: USSR. Program: ASTP. Payload: Soyuz ASTP s/n 72-EPSA. Mass: 6,570 kg (14,480 lb). Class: Manned. Type: Spacecraft. Spacecraft: Soyuz 7K-TM. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 222 km (137 mi). Apogee: 226 km (140 mi). Inclination: 51.70 deg. Period: 88.90 min. COSPAR: 1974-064A. USAF Sat Cat: 7413. Duration: 5.94 days. Decay Date: 1974-08-18. ASTP precursor. Recovered August 18, 1974 5:02 GMT. Soyuz ASTP test. Maneuver Summary: 195km X 305km orbit to 195km X 221km orbit. Delta V: 24 m/s 195km X 221km orbit to 223km X 223km orbit. Delta V: 8 m/s 231km X 231km orbit to 231km X 231km orbit. Delta V: 1 m/s 223km X 223km orbit to 231km X 231km orbit. Delta V: 4 m/s 231km X 231km orbit to 227km X 237km orbit. Delta V: 2 m/s Total Delta V: 39 m/s. Officially: Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space.
1975 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC173. 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).
1975 - 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).
1976 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC173. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: MR-UR-100. Model: MR-UR-100. -
Operational test launch Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1976 - 13:30 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Soyuz 11A511U.
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Nauka Cosmos 848 Nation: USSR. Payload: Nauka. Spacecraft: Nauka. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 199 km (123 mi). Apogee: 280 km (170 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 89.29 min. COSPAR: 1976-082D. USAF Sat Cat: 9374. Decay Date: 1976-09-01.
1976 - 15:54 GMT - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. Model: Nike Tomahawk. LV Configuration: Nike Tomahawk NASA 18.168UE. -
NASA 18.1006UE Plasma mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 148 km (91 mi).
1977 - Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle. -
Enterprise flight 4 Nation: USA. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Spaceplane. Spacecraft: Enterprise. Crew: Fullerton, Haise. Conduct first free flight, ALT, tail cone on, Edwards (5 minutes, 21 seconds), Enterprise (OV-101), lake bed Runway 17
1977 - 06:29 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC36B. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: SLV-3D Centaur. LV Configuration: SLV-3D Centaur AC-45 / Centaur D-1AR 5025.
1978 - 15:12 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17B. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Model: Delta 2914. LV Configuration: Delta 2914 633/D144. -
ISEE 3 Nation: USA. Payload: ISEE C. Mass: 479 kg (1,056 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere. Spacecraft: ISEE. Agency: NASA GSF. Perigee: 181 km (112 mi). Apogee: 1,089,200 km (676,700 mi). Inclination: 1.00 deg. Period: 67,852.90 min. COSPAR: 1978-079A. USAF Sat Cat: 11004. International Sun-Earth Explorer; later renamed the International Cometary Explorer. Measured interaction between solar wind and Earth; rendezvoused with comet Giacobini-Zinner September 11, 1985. After several passes through the Earth's magnetotail, with gravity assists from lunar flybys in March, April, September and October of 1983, a final close lunar flyby (119.4 km above the moon's surface) on December 22, 1983, ejected the spacecraft out of the Earth-Moon system and into a heliocentric orbit ahead of the Earth, on a trajectory intercepting that of Comet Giacobini-Zinner. A total of fifteen propulsive maneuvers (four of which were planned) and five lunar flybys were needed to carry out the transfer from the halo orbit to an escape trajectory from the earth-moon system into a heliocentric orbit. The primary scientific objective of ICE was to study the interaction between the solar wind and a cometary atmosphere. As planned, the spacecraft traversed the plasma tail of Comet Giacobini-Zinner on September 11, 1985, and made in situ measurements of particles, fields, and waves. It also transited between the Sun and Comet Halley in late March 1986, when other spacecraft (Giotto, Planet-A, MS-T5, VEGA) were also in the vicinity of Comet Halley on their comet rendezvous missions. ICE became the first spacecraft to directly investigate two comets. An update to the ICE mission was approved by NASA headquarters in 1991. It defined a Heliospheric mission for ICE consisting of investigations of coronal mass ejections in coordination with ground-based observations, continued cosmic ray studies, and special period observations such as when ICE and Ulysses are on the same solar radial line. As of January 1990, ICE was in a 355 day heliocentric orbit with an aphelion of 1.03 AU, a perihelion of 0.93 AU and an inclination of 0.1 degree. This will bring it back to the vicinity of the earth-moon system in August, 2014. Termination of operations of ISEE 3 was authorized May 5, 1997.
- Additional details.
1979 -
1980 - 11:50 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Soyuz 11A511U.
1981 - 05:46 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Model: Kosmos 11K65M. LV Configuration: Kosmos 11K65M 47198-324.
1982 - 00:30 GMT - Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hawk. Model: Nike Orion. LV Configuration: Nike Orion SSC S37 SOAP/2. -
CAMP / SOAP-2 Aeronomy mission Nation: Sweden. Agency: SSC. Apogee: 135 km (83 mi).
1985 - 15:09 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC16/2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Molniya 8K78M. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78M-2BL.
1986 - 20:45 GMT - Launch Site: Tanegashima. Launch Complex: N. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Model: H-1. LV Configuration: H-1 H-15(F).
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Oscar 12 Nation: Japan. Program: Oscar. Payload: JAS-1. Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Amateur Radio. Spacecraft: Oscar. Agency: JARL. Perigee: 1,479 km (919 mi). Apogee: 1,497 km (930 mi). Inclination: 50.00 deg. Period: 115.70 min. COSPAR: 1986-061B. USAF Sat Cat: 16909. Japanese Amateur Satellite. JAS-1 (Fuji). Amateur satellite communications. Development of amateur satellite technology. Launch vehicle H-I (two-stage) test flight no. 1. Launch time 2045 GMT. Launching organization NASDA. Fuji-OSCAR 12 was launched piggyback with a Japanese experimental geodetic satellite Ajisai (EGS). Weight 50 kg. 26-sided polyhedron, 40 x 40 x 47 cm. FO-12 was the first Japanese amateur satellite developed by the Japan Amateur Radio League (English version) with system design and integration performed at NEC. FO-12 was taken out of service November 5, 1989 because of battery failure.
1988 - 12:53 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Molniya 8K78M. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78M-ML.
1992 - 05:44 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Model: Kosmos 11K65M. LV Configuration: Kosmos 11K65M 65078-421. -
Cosmos 2208 Nation: Russia. Program: Strela. Mass: 900 kg (1,980 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-2M. Agency: MO RF. Perigee: 785 km (487 mi). Apogee: 803 km (498 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 100.80 min. COSPAR: 1992-053A. USAF Sat Cat: 22080. Still operating in 1995.
1993 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC39B. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle. -
Shuttle Discovery Pad Abort Nation: USA. Program: STS. Spacecraft: Discovery. Flight: STS-51. The countdown for Discovery's third launch attempt ended at the T-3 second mark
when on-board computers detected the failure of one of four sensors in main engine #2
which monitor the flow of hydrogen fuel to the engine. All of Discovery's main engines
were ordered replaced on the launch pad, delaying the Shuttle's fourth launch attempt
until September 12, 1993.
1994 - 00:53 GMT - Launch Site: Andoya. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hawk. Model: Nike Orion. LV Configuration: Nike Orion DLR A-NO-212. -
Echo 94 F-101 CONE Ionosphere mission Nation: Germany. Agency: DLR. Apogee: 140 km (80 mi).
1996 - 18:58 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hawk. Model: Nike Orion. LV Configuration: Nike Orion NASA 31.114UP. -
HOMER Aeronomy / education mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1997 - 12:10 GMT - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Loki. Model: Super Loki. LV Configuration: Super Loki Falling Sphere. -
CRISTA Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 111 km (68 mi).
1997 - 12:15 GMT - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Viper. Model: Viper 3A. LV Configuration: Viper 3A Falling Sphere. -
CRISTA Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 124 km (77 mi).
1997 - 12:26 GMT - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Loki. Model: Super Loki. LV Configuration: Super Loki Falling Sphere. -
CRISTA Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 118 km (73 mi).
1997 - 21:41 GMT - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Loki. Model: Super Loki. LV Configuration: Super Loki Falling Sphere. -
CRISTA Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 112 km (69 mi).
1998 - 11:30 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC41. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Model: Titan 401A/Centaur. LV Configuration: Titan 401A/Centaur 4A-20/TC-9 (K-17). FAILURE: Due to guidance system loss of heading after power interrupt, booster pitched over 40 seconds after launch, and was destroyed by range safety.
1999 - 22:52 GMT - Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: ELA2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Ariane. Model: Ariane 42P. LV Configuration: Ariane 42P-3 V118.
2003 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC47. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Loki. Model: Super Loki. -
Shadow Education mission Nation: USA. Agency: FLASPACE. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).
2003 - 14:20 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC31. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Soyuz-U. -
Cosmos 2399 Nation: Russia. Mass: 6,750 kg (14,880 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Orlets-1. Agency: VKS. Perigee: 180 km (110 mi). Apogee: 289 km (179 mi). Inclination: 64.90 deg. Period: 89.20 min. COSPAR: 2003-035A. USAF Sat Cat: 27856. Decay Date: 2003-12-09. Originally to have launched September 2002; June 2003. A Russian newspaper report (Kommersant, 13 August) stated that Cosmos 2399 was a Neman (Yantar-4KS1M) imaging satellite, which used data relay satellites to return CCD imagery rather than physically recovering film. However some Western observors, when Cosmos 2399 raised its perigee on August 14 to 205 km and lowered the apogee to 330 km, believed this was more like the standard operational orbit for an Orlets-1 Don 17F12 film-return capsule imaging satellite. This seemed confirmed when debris was tracked around the satellite later on, which was then said to be due to a failed film capsule recovery attempt. Destroyed in orbit on December 9 after completing its mission.
2003 - 18:23 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant 9. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX NASA 36.205UE. -
LASP / CU-9 (SEE) Plasma mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).
2005 - 11:43 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC41. Launch Pad: SLC41. Launch Vehicle: Atlas V. Model: Atlas V 401. LV Configuration: Atlas V 401 AV-007.
Born on this day in: - 1951 - Charles Eldon Brady Jr. American Mission Specialist Astronaut. Birth City: Pinehurst. Birth State: North Carolina. Birth Country: USA.
Died on this day in: - 2001 - Robert Everett Stevenson
. American Payload Specialist Astronaut. Cause of Death: Cancer, Princeville, Hawaii.
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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.
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