January 19 home
topic index

See also Born on this Day
On this day in:

1840 -

  • Discovery of Antarctica Nation: UK.

1919 -
  • Goddard resumes teaching at Clark University Nation: USA.

    From 1919 to 1930 he resumed full-time teaching at Clark University, and could devote only spare time and summers to rocket research.

1946 -
  • XS-1 Flight 1 Nation: USA. Payload: XS-1 # 1 flight 1. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. Crew: Woolams.

    Bell flight 1. First glide flight of AAF-NACA XS-1 rocket research airplane (No.1 of the original three X-1's built), by Jack Woolams, Bell Aircraft test pilot, at Pinecastle Army Air Base, Fla.

1956 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-11. Model: R-11M.
  • Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: NII-88. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1956 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Sergeant. Model: Sounding Rocket. LV Configuration: Sergeant 1.
  • Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi).

1957 - Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: V-2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: R-5. Model: R-5M.
  • Nuclear test Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

1957 - 01:37 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC6. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Model: Jupiter A. LV Configuration: Jupiter A CC-16. FAILURE: Platform roll control malfunction at 310 sec.
  • Jupiter A Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

    Launched at 2037 hours EST from AMR. The flight was successful. Actual range was 61.6 nm; 400 meters left; and 0.21 nm over the intended impact point. The primary objective was to test the accuracy of the guidance system when the missile is fired in a short range trajectory at an extreme attitude to range ratio. The missile closely followed the predicted trajectory for a successful flight which terminated 70 meters beyond and 360 meters to the Left of the expected impact point at 61.553 nm range. The short range trajectory was programmed with an extreme altitude-to-range ratio so the guidance system would be subjected to the most difficult short range expected in future tactical application. Missed aimpoint by 400 m.

1959 - Launch Vehicle: Nova, Saturn V.
  • Contract with Rocketdyne for development of the F-1 engine Nation: USA. Program: Apollo.

    NASA signed a definitive contract with Rocketdyne Division, NAA, for $102 million covering the design and development of a single-chamber, liquid-propellant rocket engine in the 1- to l.5-million-pound-thrust class (the F-1, to be used in the Nova superbooster concept). NASA had announced the selection of Rocketdyne on December 12.

1959 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC36. Launch Pad: ALA3. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Model: Redstone. LV Configuration: Redstone 1010. FAILURE: Human error in connecting separation system.
  • Nation: USA. Agency: USA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi).

    Missile test failure. Missed aimpoint by 1,189 m.

1960 - 18:18 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC35. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee 150. LV Configuration: Aerobee 150 AA3.124C.
  • Extreme ultraviolet monochromator Solar extreme ultraviolet mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 210 km (130 mi).

1961 -
  • Hughes to build Surveyor spacecraft Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Surveyor.

    After evaluating preliminary design studies, NASA selected the Hughes Aircraft Company to build seven Surveyor spacecraft. This 750-pound, three-legged, unmanned spacecraft would carry 200 pounds of instruments, including zoom television cameras, a drill to sample the lunar soil, chemical analysis equipment, and a seismometer. The first Surveyor was scheduled to be launched in 1963.

1961 -
  • Studies of manned lunar and interplanetary expeditions Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Spacecraft: Apollo CSM.

    The Marshall Space Flight Center awarded contracts to the Douglas Aircraft Company and Chance Vought Corporation to study the launching of manned exploratory expeditions into lunar and interplanetary space from earth orbits.

1961 - 12:42 GMT - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: LA1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Iris. LV Configuration: Iris NASA 5.03GT. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Aeronomy / test Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 138 km (85 mi).

1964 -
  • George M Low assigned to the position of Deputy Director of MSC Nation: USA. Program: Apollo.

    NASA assigned George M. Low to the position of Deputy Director of MSC. He would replace James C. Elms, who had resigned on January 17 to return to private industry. Although Low continued as Deputy Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight at NASA Headquarters until May 1, he assumed his new duties at MSC the first part of February.

1964 - 10:59 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2W. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Model: Thor SLV-2 Agena D. LV Configuration: Thor SLV-2 Agena D 384 / Agena D 2303.
  • OPS 3367A Nation: USA. Payload: DAPP. Mass: 130 kg (280 lb). Class: Technology. Type: Military. Spacecraft: AFP-43. Agency: USAF. Perigee: 789 km (490 mi). Apogee: 810 km (500 mi). Inclination: 99.00 deg. Period: 100.90 min. COSPAR: 1964-002B. USAF Sat Cat: 734.

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

  • OPS 3367B Nation: USA. Payload: DAPP. Mass: 130 kg (280 lb). Class: Technology. Type: Military. Spacecraft: AFP-43. Agency: USAF. Perigee: 791 km (491 mi). Apogee: 815 km (506 mi). Inclination: 99.00 deg. Period: 100.90 min. COSPAR: 1964-002C. USAF Sat Cat: 735.

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

1965 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Model: Titan 2.
  • Built-in holds in the GLV/Gemini countdown. Nation: USA.

    The study of 325 missile countdowns, 205 missile launches, as well as all Titan scrubs and holds, indicated that GLV launching would be considerably improved and a great many scrubs precluded by the addition of such holds.

1965 - 05:03 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC10W. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Model: Thor MG-18. LV Configuration: Thor MG-18 224.
  • DMSP-Block-4A F1 Nation: USA. Program: DMSP. Payload: DAPP 10. Mass: 150 kg (330 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Weather. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 4A. Agency: USAF. Perigee: 462 km (287 mi). Apogee: 833 km (517 mi). Inclination: 98.80 deg. Period: 97.60 min. COSPAR: 1965-003A. USAF Sat Cat: 973. Decay Date: 1979-07-13.

    Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. Launch date was January 18, 1965. The launch was successful and correct orbit was achieved. However, the heat shield on the second stage did not deploy correctly and the mission objectives were not fully realized. This first Burner I bird is distinguishable in photos by its black second stage.

1965 - 14:04 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC19. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Model: Titan II GLV. LV Configuration: Titan II GLV GT-2.
  • Gemini 2 Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 169 km (105 mi).

    During the countdown for Gemini-Titan (GT) 2, the fuel cell hydrogen inlet valve failed to open. Efforts to correct the problem continued until it was determined that freeing the valve would delay the countdown. Work on the fuel cell ceased, and it was not activated for the flight. The fuel cell installed in spacecraft No. 2 was not a current flight design. When fuel cell design was changed in January 1964, several cells of earlier design were available. Although these cells were known to have some defects, flight testing with the reactant supply system was felt to be extremely desirable. Accordingly, it was decided to fly the entire system on GT-2, but only on a "non-interference with flight" basis. When it became clear that correcting the problem that emerged during the GT-2 countdown would cause delay, fuel cell activation for the flight was called off.

1966 - 20:10 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4E. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: SLV-3 Agena D. LV Configuration: SLV-3 Agena D 7114 / Agena D 7114.
  • KH 7-24 Nation: USA. Payload: KH-7 no. 24. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: KH-7. Agency: NRO/USAF. Perigee: 138 km (85 mi). Apogee: 259 km (160 mi). Inclination: 93.80 deg. Period: 88.40 min. COSPAR: 1966-002A. USAF Sat Cat: 1939. Decay Date: 1966-01-25.

    KH-7 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A).

  • OPS 3179/Agena D Nation: USA. Payload: Agena Pickaback. Mass: 60 kg (132 lb). Class: Sigint. Spacecraft: SSF. Agency: USAF. Perigee: 120 km (70 mi). Apogee: 149 km (92 mi). Inclination: 93.80 deg. Period: 87.20 min. COSPAR: 1966-002B. USAF Sat Cat: 1940. Decay Date: 1966-01-23.

    Not identified as a subsatellite ferret by McDowell.

1967 - Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Brigitte. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Diamant. Model: Saphir. LV Configuration: Saphir VE231 G5.
  • Re-entry Vehicle test Nation: France. Agency: ONERA. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1967 - 12:39 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC41/1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Vostok 8A92.
  • Cosmos 138 Nation: USSR. Payload: Zenit-2 11F61 s/n 43. Mass: 4,720 kg (10,400 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Zenit-2. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 190 km (110 mi). Apogee: 273 km (169 mi). Inclination: 64.60 deg. Period: 89.10 min. COSPAR: 1967-004A. USAF Sat Cat: 2646. Duration: 8.00 days. Decay Date: 1967-01-27.

    Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite.

1967 - 23:22 GMT - Launch Site: Eglin. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Nike. Model: Nike Iroquois. LV Configuration: Nike Iroquois CRL AF07.655.
  • Release Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: AFCRL. Apogee: 107 km (66 mi).

1968 -
  • Gagarin and Titov visit Tereshkova in the hospital. Nation: USSR.

    In 1967, the average cosmonaut who had already flown in space spent 50 days on public relations activities and tours - a serious loss to them in terms of training for future missions.

1968 - 02:24 GMT - Launch Site: Fort Churchill. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant 2. LV Configuration: Black Brant II AAF-2-108.
  • Te / ne Aeronomy / ionosphere / Fields mission Nation: Canada. Agency: NRCC. Apogee: 142 km (88 mi).

1968 - 21:59 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/1. Launch Pad: LC132/pad?. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Model: Kosmos 11K65M.
  • Cosmos 200 Nation: USSR. Program: Tselina. Class: Sigint. Spacecraft: Tselina-O. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 518 km (321 mi). Apogee: 539 km (334 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 95.20 min. COSPAR: 1968-006A. USAF Sat Cat: 3100. Decay Date: 1973-02-24.

    Possible navigation satellite.

1968 - 23:10 GMT - Launch Site: Fort Churchill. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Nike. Model: Nike Iroquois. LV Configuration: Nike Iroquois CRL AG07.633.
  • Atmospheric / TMA Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: AFCRL. Apogee: 191 km (118 mi).

1969 -
  • State Commission on Soyuz 4/5 Nation: USSR. Program: Soyuz. Spacecraft: Soyuz 7K-OK, Yastreb. Flight: Soyuz 4, Soyuz 5, Soyuz 4/5.

    At 10:00 a State Commission convenes at Area 17. The mistakes made during the Soyuz 4/5 flight are reviewed. The EVA began with a closed valve on Khrunov's suit. The film camera was not activated, resulting in loss of one of the key propaganda points of the exercise.

1969 - 12:00 GMT - Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Kappa. Model: Kappa 9M. LV Configuration: Kappa 9M K-9M-24.
  • Gryo-plasma probe Aeronomy / ionosphere / fields / mission Nation: Japan. Agency: ISAS. Apogee: 340 km (210 mi).

1970 -
  • HL-10 Flight 32 Nation: USA. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Payload: HL-10 flight 32. Class: Manned. Type: Spaceplane. Spacecraft: HL-10. Crew: Hoag.

    Maximum Speed - 1398 kph. Maximum Altitude - 26410 m. Flight Time - 410 sec.

1970 -
  • Soviet leadership interest in manned spaceflight has collapsed. Nation: USSR. Program: Salyut, Almaz, Skylab. Spacecraft: Almaz OPS, Salyut 1, Soyuz 7K-S.

    Kamanin notes that interest of the leadership in manned spaceflight has collapsed with the end of the moon race. Brezhnev has declared that his primary interest is in earth orbital space stations. Both Mishin and Chelomei have stations in development, but the work is progressing slowly. There will be no launch of either of their projects until 1972 - which means the Soviets will be beaten by the US Skylab. Kamanin believes the Americans can never be beaten in space unless all space projects are guided firmly by a single Ministry of Defence and Civilian Space office. Meanwhile the Hong Kong flu epidemic is hitting many at the cosmodrome - Moroz, Popovich, and Bykovsky are all seriously ill.

1971 - 19:43 GMT - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Astrobee. Model: Astrobee D. LV Configuration: Astrobee D Robin.
  • AFCRL 71-1 Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 146 km (90 mi).

1973 - Launch Vehicle: Saturn V.
  • Plan for storage of unassigned Saturn hardware and phaseout of Saturn V. Nation: USA. Program: Skylab.

    MSFC began implementation of a plan for preparation and storage of unassigned Saturn hardware, phaseout of the Saturn V production capability, and amendment of the facility operations contract at the Michoud Assembly Facility for minimum surveillance of stored hardware.

1973 - 09:00 GMT - Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Kappa. Model: Kappa 9M. LV Configuration: Kappa 9M K-9M-41.
  • VLF Ionosphere / active plasma mission Nation: Japan. Agency: ISAS. Apogee: 330 km (200 mi).

1974 - 01:38 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17B. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Model: Delta 2313. LV Configuration: Delta 2313 587/D100. FAILURE: Partial Failure. Failed to reach planned orbit.
  • Skynet 2A Nation: UK. Program: Skynet. Mass: 129 kg (284 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Skynet. Agency: UK MoD. Perigee: 104 km (64 mi). Apogee: 1,803 km (1,120 mi). Inclination: 37.50 deg. Period: 104.10 min. COSPAR: 1974-002A. USAF Sat Cat: 7096. Decay Date: 1974-01-25.

    Partial Failure. Failed to reach planned orbit.

1974 - 11:34 GMT - Launch Site: El Arenosillo. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Skua. Model: Skua 4. LV Configuration: Skua 4 M4SCL-7401.
  • Ionosphere mission Nation: UK. Agency: INTA/DLR. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).

1975 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC162/36. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Model: R-36 8K67.
  • Svilets test Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1975 - 11:12 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LF03. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1. Model: Minuteman 1B.
  • Trident SFT-4 re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi).

1976 -
  • Almaz / TKS flight tests approved. Nation: USSR. Spacecraft: Almaz OPS, Almaz OPS-2, TKS.

    Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 46-13 'On course of work on Almaz and the TKS' was issued.

1979 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LF06. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1. Model: Minuteman 1B.
  • ABRES STREP-1 re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi).

1979 - 08:50 GMT - Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: S. Model: S-310. LV Configuration: S-310-6.
  • Aeronomy / ionosphere mission Nation: Japan. Agency: ISAS. Apogee: 212 km (131 mi).

1980 -
  • Voyager 1's Discovery of Saturn Moon Janus Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Voyager.

1981 - 03:37 GMT - Launch Site: Fort Churchill. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant 5B. LV Configuration: Black Brant VB AED-VB-54.
  • Upper atmosphere Composition Aeronomy mission Nation: Canada. Agency: NRCC. Apogee: 263 km (163 mi).

1983 - 02:25 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Model: Kosmos 11K65M. LV Configuration: Kosmos 11K65M 53793-481.
  • Cosmos 1429 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Payload: Strela-1M no. 249. Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-1M. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 1,467 km (911 mi). Apogee: 1,518 km (943 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 115.80 min. COSPAR: 1983-002A. USAF Sat Cat: 13761.

    Eight satellites launched by a single carrier rocket.

  • Cosmos 1430 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Payload: Strela-1M no. 250. Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-1M. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 1,467 km (911 mi). Apogee: 1,499 km (931 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 115.60 min. COSPAR: 1983-002B. USAF Sat Cat: 13762.

  • Cosmos 1431 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Payload: Strela-1M no. 251. Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-1M. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 1,466 km (910 mi). Apogee: 1,483 km (921 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 115.40 min. COSPAR: 1983-002C. USAF Sat Cat: 13763.

  • Cosmos 1432 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Payload: Strela-1M no. 252. Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-1M. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 1,463 km (909 mi). Apogee: 1,468 km (912 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 115.20 min. COSPAR: 1983-002D. USAF Sat Cat: 13764.

  • Cosmos 1433 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Payload: Strela-1M no. 253. Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-1M. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 1,446 km (898 mi). Apogee: 1,468 km (912 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 115.00 min. COSPAR: 1983-002E. USAF Sat Cat: 13765.

  • Cosmos 1434 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Payload: Strela-1M no. 254. Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-1M. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 1,431 km (889 mi). Apogee: 1,467 km (911 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 114.90 min. COSPAR: 1983-002F. USAF Sat Cat: 13766.

  • Cosmos 1435 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Payload: Strela-1M no. 255. Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-1M. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 1,415 km (879 mi). Apogee: 1,468 km (912 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 114.70 min. COSPAR: 1983-002G. USAF Sat Cat: 13767.

  • Cosmos 1436 Nation: USSR. Program: Strela. Payload: Strela-1M no. 256. Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military Store-dump. Spacecraft: Strela-1M. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 1,399 km (869 mi). Apogee: 1,467 km (911 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 114.50 min. COSPAR: 1983-002H. USAF Sat Cat: 13768.

1983 - 23:12 GMT - Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant 9. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX SSC S36.
  • AURELD-HIGH Auroral mission Nation: Sweden. Agency: SSC. Apogee: 494 km (306 mi).

1988 - 08:40 GMT - Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant 10. LV Configuration: Black Brant X NASA 35.017UE.
  • TOPAZ II Plasma mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 926 km (575 mi).

1993 - 14:49 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC43/3. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Soyuz 11A511U.
  • Cosmos 2231 Nation: Russia. Mass: 6,600 kg (14,500 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Yantar-4K1. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 163 km (101 mi). Apogee: 342 km (212 mi). Inclination: 67.20 deg. Period: 89.60 min. COSPAR: 1993-004A. USAF Sat Cat: 22317. Duration: 65.00 days. Decay Date: 1993-03-25.

    High resolution photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission.

1993 -
  • Landing of STS-54 Nation: USA. Program: STS. Flight: STS-54.

    STS-54 landed at 13:33 GMT.

1995 - Launch Site: ETR Launch Area. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Trident. Model: Trident D-5. LV Configuration: Trident D-5 FCET-12.
  • Operational test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1995 - Launch Site: ETR Launch Area. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Trident. Model: Trident D-5. LV Configuration: Trident D-5 FCET-12.
  • Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

1995 - 20:01 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LF02. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Peacekeeper. LV Configuration: Peacekeeper 17PA.
  • Operational test Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSPC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

2000 - 02:19 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LF03. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2. LV Configuration: Minuteman 2 MSLS IFT-4.
  • MSLS IFT-4 Target mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFMC. Apogee: 1,600 km (900 mi).

    The only decoy used was the single large balloon from the previous tests. Smaller balloons originally had been planned to be a part of IFT-4, but were dropped in an attempt to simplify the test.

2000 - 02:40 GMT - Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Meck. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Payload Launch Vehicle. LV Configuration: Minuteman 2 PLV PLV.
  • IFT-4 EKV ABM test Nation: USA. Agency: USA SSDC. Apogee: 230 km (140 mi).

    Unsuccessful ABM test. First end-to-end system test (intercept attempt) using NMD prototype elements (except the IFICS) and range assets to approximate the objective system. The EKV was again successfully delivered by a surrogate booster and separated into the deployment basket. The failure to intercept was directly traceable to the cryogenic cooling system of the EKV, which failed to cool the IR sensors down to their operating temperatures in time because of an obstructed cooling line.

2006 - 19:00 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC41. Launch Pad: SLC41. Launch Vehicle: Atlas V. Model: Atlas V 551. LV Configuration: Atlas V 551 AV-010 / Star-48.
  • New Horizons Nation: USA. Mass: 478 kg (1,053 lb). Class: Planetary. Type: Pluto. Spacecraft: New Horizons. Manufacturer: JHU-APL. Agency: NASA/JPL. COSPAR: 2006-001A. USAF Sat Cat: 28928.

    Last robotic mission to an unexplored planet in our solar system. New Horizons was due to receive a gravity boost from Jupiter in February 2007, then fly by Pluto in 2015. During launch toward Jupiter it reached a higher velocity than any manmade object, and was the first to be boosted directly to solar escape velocity. The trajectory had a perihelion of 0.98 AU, an inclination of 0.87 deg and an eccentricity of 1.03. After the Jupiter encounter it was to have a perihelion of 2.2 AU, an inclination of 2.3 deg and an eccentricity of 1.40. At encounter with Pluto on July 14, 2015, the spacecraft would be 1.1 AU above the ecliptic plane and 32.9 AU from the Sun, leaving the solar system toward the star Xi Sgr.

2007 - 12:29 GMT - Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant 9. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX NASA 36.234UE.
  • JOULE II Aurora mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

2007 - 12:30 GMT - Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Terrier. Model: Terrier Improved Orion. LV Configuration: Terrier Improved Orion NASA 41.064UE.
  • JOULE II Aurora mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

2007 - 12:45 GMT - Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant 5C. LV Configuration: Black Brant VC NASA 21.138UE.
  • JOULE II Aurora mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

2007 - 12:46 GMT - Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Terrier. Model: Terrier Improved Orion. LV Configuration: Terrier Improved Orion NASA 41.065UE.
  • JOULE II Aurora mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).


Born on this day in:

Contact us with any corrections, additions, or comments.
Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site..
To contact astronauts or cosmonauts.

© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.