See also Born on this Day 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 -
1946 - Launch Vehicle: Hermes.
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.
1957 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: R-7.
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 -
1960 -
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.
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.
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: -.
1967 - Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Blandine. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Veronique. Model: Veronique 61. LV Configuration: Veronique 61 VA84.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
1984 - 12:20 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Soyuz 11A511U.
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.
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.
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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.
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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