See also Born on this Day On this day in: 1840 - -
Discovery of Antarctica Nation: UK.
1919 -
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.
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.
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 -
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.
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.
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.
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 -
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.
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 -
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 -
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.
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 -
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
1993 -
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.
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).
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