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On this day in:

1610 -

  • Galileo Galilei's Discovery of Jupiter Moon Ganymede Nation: Italy.

1787 -
  • William Herschel's Discovery of Uranus Moons Titania and Oberon Nation: UK.

1920 -
  • Smithsonian publishes Goddard's "A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes" Nation: USA.

    Goddard's work lays out the concept of using the multi-stage rocket for exploration of outer space and reaching the lunar surface. It spawns a nightmare of media interest and derision, making Goddard even more secretive of his dreams for space flight.

1946 - Launch Vehicle: Hermes.
  • Hermes Mach 3 ramjet proposed. Nation: USA.

    Von Braun briefs Hermes; V-2 first stage, ramjet second stage, cruise at 3400 kph at 19 km altitude.

1946 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas.
  • Strategic Missile Proposals Nation: USA.

    Bids were received in response to the USAAF request for proposal of the previous October. Vultee submitted proposals for two types (glide and ballistic) of 8000-km range missiles. North American proposed a three-year development program for a supersonic 800-km range missile, culminating in a production run of 50 missiles.

1949 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -.
  • First canted rocket nozzle test. Nation: USA.

    First launching of a rocket model employing known but nonaerodynamic torque from canted rocket nozzles, for determining damping in roll of wings, at NACA's Wallops Island, Va.

1949 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: HVAR.
  • D13 model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1955 - Launch Vehicle: Navaho. Model: Navaho G-26.
  • Navaho G-26 second production contract Nation: USA. Program: Navaho.

    This added 12 more cruise stages, 21 boosters, and 6 N6 navigation systems, bringing the total procured to 22 cruise stages, 34 boosters, and 11 navigation systems.

1957 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: R-7A.
  • First Soviet ICBM base at Plesetsk is authorised. Nation: USSR.

    Decree 61-39ss 'On creation of launch complex Angara at NIIP-53' was issued.

1957 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: R-7.
  • Flight test program for R-7 approved. Nation: USSR.

    Decree 'On approval of flight-testing program for the R-7 ICBM' was issued.

1958 - Launch Site: Point Mugu. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Polaris. Model: Polaris TV.
  • FBM Test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

1960 -
  • Star City cosmonaut training centre approved. Nation: USSR.

    Soviet Air Froce Decree 'On creation of the Cosmonaut Training Centre' was issued.

1960 -
  • Contract signed by NASA and the Western Electrice for the Mercury tracking network. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury.

    A contract (NAS 1-430) was signed by NASA and the Western Electric Company in the amount of $33,058,690 for construction and engineering of the Mercury tracking network.

1961 -
  • Progress made in mapping the moon Nation: USA. Program: Apollo.

    John Blake of the Air Force Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC) described to STG representatives the progress made by ACIC in mapping the moon. Lunar maps to the scale of 1: 5,000,000 and 1: 10,000,000 were later requested and received by STG. In addition, the first two sheets of a projected 144 sheet map coverage of the lunar surface on a 1:1,000,000 scale were forwarded to STG by the Center.

1961 - 18:40 GMT - Launch Site: ETR Launch Area. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Polaris. Model: Polaris A1. LV Configuration: Polaris A1E-15. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Operational test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1962 -
  • In State of the Union message Kennedy discusses moon program Nation: USA. Program: Apollo.

    In his State of the Union message to the Congress, President John F . Kennedy said: "With the approval of this Congress, we have undertaken in the past year a great new effort in outer space. Our aim is not simply to be first on the moon, any more than Charles Lindbergh's real aim was to be first to Paris. His aim was to develop the techniques and the authority of this country and other countries in the field of the air and the atmosphere, and our objective in making this effort, which we hope will place one of our citizens on the moon, is to develop in a new frontier of science, commerce and cooperation, the position of the United States and the free world. This nation belongs among the first to explore it. And among the first - if not the first - we shall be."

1962 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Model: R-14U.
  • Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 675 km (419 mi).

1963 -
  • Korolev lays out detailed plan for future Vostok flights Nation: USSR. Flight: Vostok 5, Vostok 6, Vostok 6A, Vostok 7, Vostok 8, Vostok 9, Vostok 10.

    Korolev and Kamanin meet to lay out Vostok flight plan. There were three variants possible for the March flights: 1) A single female flight of 2 to 3 days; 2) Two female flights launched one day apart, but landing at the same time; 3) An 'absurd' version: launch of a female cosmonaut for a three day flight, followed two days after her landing by a male cosmonaut on a 5 to 7 day flight. The planners selected the two female flight variant.

1964 -
  • Three U S Air Force test pilots in a simulated seven- day lunar landing mission Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft: Apollo CSM.

    Three U. S. Air Force test pilots began a five-week training period at the Martin Company leading to their participation in a simulated seven- day lunar landing mission. This was part of Martin's year-long study of crew performance during simulated Apollo missions (under a $771,000 contract from NASA).

1964 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC1E. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Model: Thor SLV-2 Agena D. LV Configuration: Thor SLV-2A Agena D 390 / Agena D 2354.
  • Agena D 2354 Nation: USA. Program: ELINT. Mass: 700 kg (1,540 lb). Spacecraft: Ferret. Agency: USAF. Perigee: 906 km (562 mi). Apogee: 937 km (582 mi). Inclination: 69.90 deg. Period: 103.50 min. COSPAR: 1964-001A. USAF Sat Cat: 727.

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

  • GGSE 1 Nation: USA. Mass: 39 kg (85 lb). Class: Technology. Type: Gravity gradient. Spacecraft: GGSE. Agency: NRL. Perigee: 899 km (558 mi). Apogee: 916 km (569 mi). Inclination: 69.90 deg. Period: 103.20 min. COSPAR: 1964-001B. USAF Sat Cat: 728.

    Gravity gradient stabilization tests. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

  • SECOR 1 Nation: USA. Payload: EGRS 1. Mass: 18 kg (39 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Geodetic. Spacecraft: SECOR. Agency: USA. Perigee: 904 km (561 mi). Apogee: 922 km (572 mi). Inclination: 69.90 deg. Period: 103.30 min. COSPAR: 1964-001C. USAF Sat Cat: 729.

    Located Pacific islands. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

  • Solrad 7A; NRL Solar Rad Nation: USA. Payload: GRAB 5. Mass: 45 kg (99 lb). Class: Sigint. Spacecraft: GRAB. Agency: NRL. Perigee: 902 km (560 mi). Apogee: 920 km (570 mi). Inclination: 69.90 deg. Period: 103.20 min. COSPAR: 1964-001D. USAF Sat Cat: 730.

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

  • Unidentified Nation: USA. Program: ELINT. Payload: NRL PL135. Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Class: Sigint. Spacecraft: NRL ELINT. Agency: NRL. Perigee: 902 km (560 mi). Apogee: 919 km (571 mi). Inclination: 69.90 deg. Period: 103.20 min. COSPAR: 1964-001E. USAF Sat Cat: 731.

    Identified by McDowell as probable NRL ELINT satellite.

1965 -
  • Dalmo-Victor to supply antennas for Apollo CSM's Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft: Apollo CSM.

    North American selected Dalmo-Victor to supply S-band high-gain antennas for Apollo CSM's. (The deployable antenna would be used beyond 14,816 km (8,000 nm) from the earth.) Dalmo-Victor would complete the antenna design and carry out the development work, and North American would procure production units under a supplemental contract.

1965 -
  • LC 16 to be converted to test stands for Apollo Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft: Apollo CSM.

    NASA announced that Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 16, a Titan missile facility, would be converted into static test stands for Apollo spacecraft. This decision eliminated the need for such a facility originally planned on Merritt Island and, it was predicted, would cost little more than a fourth of the $7 million estimated for the new site.

1965 - Launch Site: ETR Launch Area. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Polaris. Model: Polaris A3. LV Configuration: Polaris A3P-67.
  • Operational test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1965 - 09:36 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC31. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Vostok 8A92. LV Configuration: Vostok 8A92 R15002-03.
  • Cosmos 52 Nation: USSR. Payload: Zenit-2 11F61 s/n 26. Mass: 4,720 kg (10,400 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Zenit-2. Agency: NII-88. Perigee: 203 km (126 mi). Apogee: 298 km (185 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 89.50 min. COSPAR: 1965-001A. USAF Sat Cat: 968. Duration: 8.00 days. Decay Date: 1965-01-19.

    Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite.

1966 -
  • Female flight go-ahead Nation: USSR. Program: Voskhod. Spacecraft: Voskhod, Berkut. Flight: Voskhod 5.

    Tyulin has ordered the crew for the female Voskhod flight to enter final flight training and the preparation of all necessary space suits, cabin uniforms, crew couch liners, documentation, and other final preparations.

1967 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -.
  • First and only launch of a Castor/Scramjet Nation: USA.

    First and only launch of a Castor/Scramjet from Vandenberg AFB.

1967 - Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Blandine. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Veronique. Model: Veronique 61. LV Configuration: Veronique 61 VA84.
  • FU-161 Astronomy X-ray astronomy / ultraviolet astronomy mission Nation: France. Agency: FR. Apogee: 158 km (98 mi).

    FU161 X-ray and UV astronomy / Stab mission.

1967 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 4300C. Launch Pad: 4300C. Launch Vehicle: Sergeant. Model: Castor.
  • Marquardt Scramjet Technology mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 54 km (33 mi).

1967 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LF08. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2. LV Configuration: Minuteman 2 2073.
  • Force modification research and development mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi).

1967 - 10:55 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17B. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Model: Thor Delta E1. LV Configuration: Thor Delta E1 468/D44.
  • Intelsat 2 F-2 Nation: International. Program: Intelsat. Mass: 87 kg (191 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Intelsat 2. Agency: INTELSAT. Perigee: 35,769 km (22,225 mi). Apogee: 35,808 km (22,250 mi). Inclination: 1.60 deg. Period: 1,436.20 min. COSPAR: 1967-001A. USAF Sat Cat: 2639. Completed Operations Date: 1977-05-01.

    Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Positioned in geosynchronous orbit over the Pacific Ocean at 174 deg E in 1967-1969; over the Pacific Ocean 162-170 deg E in 1969-1970; over the Pacific Ocean 150-160 deg E in 1970-1975 As of 7 August 2001 located at 48.66 deg E drifting at 0.413 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 8 located at 63.48W drifting at 0.357W degrees per day.

1968 -
  • Apollo Parachute Test Vehicle failed Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft: Apollo CSM.

    A Parachute Test Vehicle (PTV) test failed at El Centro, Calif. The PTV was released from a B-52 aircraft at 15,240 meters and the drogue chute programmer was actuated by a static line connected to the aircraft. One drogue chute appeared to fail upon deployment, followed by failure of the second drogue seven seconds later. - Additional details.

1968 - Launch Site: Green River. Launch Complex: Pad 2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Athena RTV. LV Configuration: Athena B022.
  • USAF B022 re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1968 - 16:16 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2E. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Model: Thor Delta E1. LV Configuration: Thor Delta E1 454/D56.
  • Explorer 36 Nation: USA. Program: Explorer. Payload: GEOS B. Mass: 209 kg (460 lb). Class: Solar. Spacecraft: GEOS. Agency: NASA GSF. Perigee: 1,081 km (671 mi). Apogee: 1,574 km (978 mi). Inclination: 105.80 deg. Period: 112.20 min. COSPAR: 1968-002A. USAF Sat Cat: 3093.

    The geodetic instrumentation systems included (1) four optical beacons, (2) two C-band radar transponders, (3) a passive radar reflector, (4) a sequential collation of range radio range transponder, (5) a Goddard range and range rate transponder, (6) laser reflectors, and (7) Doppler beacons. Non-geodetic systems included a laser detector and a Minitrack interferometer beacon. The objectives of the spacecraft were to optimise optical station visibility periods and to provide complementary data for inclination-dependent terms established by the Explorer 29 (GEOS 1) gravimetric studies. The spacecraft was placed into a retrograde orbit to accomplish these objectives. Operational problems occurred in the main power system, optical beacon flash system, and the spacecraft clock, and adjustments in scheduling resulted in nominal operations.

1969 - Launch Vehicle: N1.
  • N1 state commission meeting. Nation: USSR. Program: Lunar L3, Lunar L1. Spacecraft: Soyuz 7K-L1A.

    The issues raised with the N1 have been cleared up and settled. Afanasyev approves the schedule leading to an 18 February first launch of the N1.

1970 -
  • Funeral arrangements for Belyayev Nation: USSR.

    Kamanin is making state funeral arrangements for Belyayev. The question is -- shall he be given the same send-off as Gagarin and Komarov, or less? Word comes down from the Kremlin - less. He is to be buried not in the Kremlin wall at Red Square, but in Novodevich Cemetary.

1971 - Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Meck. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Spartan. LV Configuration: Spartan ABM 800024.
  • SAFEGUARD M1-30 Interceptor mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1971 - Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Meck. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Spartan. LV Configuration: Spartan ABM 800021.
  • SAFEGUARD M1-30 Interceptor mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1971 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LF06. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1. Model: Minuteman 1B.
  • SSTTP M1-30 Target mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi).

1973 - 10:00 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Pad: LC1 or LC31. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Voskhod 11A57.
  • Cosmos 543 Nation: USSR. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Zenit-4M. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 191 km (118 mi). Apogee: 274 km (170 mi). Inclination: 64.90 deg. Period: 89.20 min. COSPAR: 1973-002A. USAF Sat Cat: 6339. Duration: 13.00 days. Decay Date: 1973-01-24.

    High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable.

1975 - 00:32 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Parry. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant 4B. LV Configuration: Black Brant IVB Tordo II.
  • Periquito Plasma / barium release mission Nation: Canada. Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 540 km (330 mi).

1975 - 10:53 GMT - Launch Site: Sonde Stromfjord. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant 4B.
  • DLR G-BB4-66 Ionosphere mission Nation: USA. Agency: DFVLR. Apogee: 280 km (170 mi).

1978 - 23:55 GMT - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.
  • STERETOP Active Plasma mission Nation: USSR. Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1979 - 15:00 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Soyuz 11A511U.
  • Cosmos 1070 Nation: USSR. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Zenit-2M. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 205 km (127 mi). Apogee: 293 km (182 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 89.50 min. COSPAR: 1979-001A. USAF Sat Cat: 11229. Duration: 9.00 days. Decay Date: 1979-01-20.

    Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule.

  • Nauka Cosmos 1070 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: 1979-001F. USAF Sat Cat: 11245. Decay Date: 1979-01-27.

1980 - 12:28 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Molniya 8K78M.
  • Molniya 1-46 Nation: USSR. Program: Molniya. Payload: Molniya-1T. Mass: 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Molniya-1T. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 103 km (64 mi). Apogee: 28,891 km (17,952 mi). Inclination: 63.20 deg. Period: 500.30 min. COSPAR: 1980-002A. USAF Sat Cat: 11662. Decay Date: 1992-10-22.

    Uncertain if Molniya-1T model was Molniya-1 or Molniya-1T. Operation of the long-range telephone and telegraph radiocommunications system in the USSR; transmission of television programmes to stations in the Orbita network.

1984 - 12:20 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Soyuz 11A511U.
  • Cosmos 1530 Nation: USSR. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Zenit-6U. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 189 km (117 mi). Apogee: 362 km (224 mi). Inclination: 72.90 deg. Period: 90.00 min. COSPAR: 1984-002A. USAF Sat Cat: 14622. Duration: 14.00 days. Decay Date: 1984-01-25.

    Photo surveillance; returned film capsule.

1984 - 18:08 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Model: Kosmos 11K65M. LV Configuration: Kosmos 11K65M 65039-546.
  • Cosmos 1531 Nation: USSR. Mass: 810 kg (1,780 lb). Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: Parus. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 980 km (600 mi). Apogee: 1,006 km (625 mi). Inclination: 82.90 deg. Period: 105.00 min. COSPAR: 1984-003A. USAF Sat Cat: 14624.

    Military navigation satellite. Replaced Cosmos 1386.

1990 - 18:01 GMT - 1992 - 03:40 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC36. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant 9. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX NASA 36.079UG.
  • Astronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 248 km (154 mi).

1996 - 09:41 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC39B. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle. LV Configuration: Space Shuttle STS-72.
  • STS-72 Nation: USA. Program: STS. Payload: Endeavour F10 / OAST / FSU. Mass: 6,510 kg (14,350 lb). Class: Manned. Type: Spaceplane. Spacecraft: Endeavour. Agency: NASA JSC. Perigee: 302 km (187 mi). Apogee: 310 km (190 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 90.60 min. COSPAR: 1996-001A. USAF Sat Cat: 23762. Duration: 8.92 days. Decay Date: 1996-01-20. Crew: Barry, Chiao, Duffy, Jett, Scott Winston, Wakata. Flight: STS-72.

    Deployed and retrieved OAST Flyer; retrieved SFU Space Flyer Unit. Beside the two satellite retrievals, the mission included two spacewalks.

  • OAST-Flyer Nation: USA. Class: Technology. Spacecraft: OAST-Flyer. Agency: NASA GSF. Perigee: 301 km (187 mi). Apogee: 311 km (193 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 90.60 min. COSPAR: 1996-001B. USAF Sat Cat: 23763. Decay Date: 1996-01-20.

    GPS receiver, amateur radio tests; examined effect of solar radiation on satellite explosive devices; deployed from STS 72 1/14/96; retrieved 1/16/96.

  • SLA-1/GAS Nation: USA. Program: STS. Agency: NASA. COSPAR: 1996-001xx. USAF Sat Cat: 23762. Decay Date: 1996-01-20.

2001 -
  • The release of the Congressionally-chartered Space Commission report set the stage for significant organizational and mission changes for Air Force Space Command. Nation: USA.

2004 - 04:13 GMT - Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Vehicle: Zenit. Model: Zenit-3SL. LV Configuration: Zenit-3SL 12.
  • Estrela do Sul 1 (Skynet Brazil 1, Telstar 14) Nation: Brazil. Mass: 4,694 kg (10,348 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: FS-1300. Agency: Loral Skynet do Brasil. Perigee: 35,779 km (22,231 mi). Apogee: 35,794 km (22,241 mi). Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2004-001A. USAF Sat Cat: 28137.

    Initially planned for launch on Delta 4M+ (4,2). Launch delayed from January 10. Placed in geosynchronous orbit but reports indicated there were problems deploying one of the solar panels. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 63.07W drifting at 0.006W degrees per day.

2007 - 22:28 GMT - Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: DF-21. LV Configuration: DF-21 ASAT 3.
  • Chinese ASAT destroys FY-1C target satellite. Nation: China. Agency: PRC. Apogee: 850 km (520 mi).

    The FY-1C satellite, launched on 10 May 1999, was presumably well past the end of its operational life. It was destroyed in a test of a Chinese ASAT weapon at an altitude of 850 km, 4 degrees west of Xichang. Launch vehicle was unknown, but a version of the DF-21 IRBM would be sufficient to reach that altitude. Reportedly the flight had been preceded by one to three earlier tests that were either failures or just aimed at a point in space. The program was apparently very secret, and the Chinese foreign ministry was caught by surprise by the test and the storm of international condemnation that followed. The FY-1C was blown into over 200 pieces of debris, adding immediately by 10% to the population of space junk that threatens lower-altitude satellites.


Born on this day in:
  • 1926 - Lev Stepanovich Demin.  Russian Engineer Cosmonaut. Birth City: Moscow. Birth State: Moscow. Birth Country: Russia.

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