See also Born on this Day On this day in: 1952 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Corporal. Model: Corporal. LV Configuration: Corporal 17-14R. -
Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA?. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi).
1957 - -
Test Pilot Jack Ridley dies at age of 41 -- Killed as passenger aboard C-47 transport that crashed into a mountain in Japan. Nation: USA.
1958 - -
The NACA staff completed a program outline for conducting the manned satellite program. Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. At that time, NACA was already actively engaged in research and study of several phases. For example, in the basic studies category effort had been expended on the study of orbits and orbit control, space physical characteristics, configuration studies, propulsion system research, human factors, structures and materials, satellite instrumentation, range requirements, and noise and vibration during reentry and exit. In addition, NACA outlined the complete program covering full-scale studies of mockups, simulators, and detail designs; full-scale vertical and orbiting flights involving unmanned, animal, and manned flights and recovery; and exploitation of the program to increase the payloads. As to the design concepts for such a program, NACA believed that the Atlas launch vehicle was adequate to meet launch-vehicle requirements for manned orbital flights; that retrograde and vernier controllable thrust could be used for orbital control; that heat-sink or lighter material could be used against reentry heating; that guidance should be ground programed with provisions for the pilot to make final adjustments; that recovery should be accomplished at sea with parachutes used for letdown; that a network of radar stations should be established to furnish continuous tracking; and that launchings be made from Cape Canaveral. It was estimated that with a simple ballistic shape accelerations would be within tolerable limits for the pilot. Temperature control, oxygen supply, noise, and vibration were considered engineering development problems, which could be solved without any special breakthroughs.
1959 - 05:44 GMT - Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Blandine. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Veronique. LV Configuration: Veronique AGI16. -
Sodium release Aeronomy mission Nation: France. Agency: FR. Apogee: 174 km (108 mi).
1959 - 10:50 GMT - Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: LA5A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Knight. Model: Black Knight 201. LV Configuration: Black Knight-201 BK.03.
1959 - 15:44 GMT - Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: A. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee Hi. -
Solar extreme ultraviolet mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 210 km (130 mi).
1962 - -
Apollo program moved to Houston Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Primary MSC activities for the Apollo program were relocated from Langley Field, Va., to the Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Tex.
1963 - 05:21 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas D. LV Configuration: Atlas D 64D. -
Operational missile test Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).
1963 - 09:50 GMT - Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: LA2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: HAD. LV Configuration: HAD 116. -
Aeronomy mission Nation: Australia. Agency: WRE. Apogee: 124 km (77 mi).
1964 -
1964 - -
Project Development Plan for the Manned Orbital Research Laboratory. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Apollo X, MORL, LORL. Edward Z. Gray, Advanced Manned Missions Director in the Office of Manned Space Flight, asked LaRC Director Charles J. Donlan to prepare a Project Development Plan for the Manned Orbital Research Laboratory, studies for which were already underway at the Center and under contract. This plan was needed as documentation for any possible decision to initiate an orbital research laboratory project. (Gray had also asked MSC to submit similar plans for an Apollo X, an Apollo Orbital Research Laboratory, and a Large Orbital Research Laboratory.) In addition to the Project Development Plan, Gray asked for system specifications for each candidate orbital laboratory system; both of these would form the basis for a project proposal with little delay 'should a climate exist in which a new project can be started.'
1964 - 02:07 GMT - Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: LA2. Launch Pad: LA2 SL. Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Model: Skylark 7C. LV Configuration: Skylark-7C SL128. -
Gamma / B / Solar X-rays / SpE Gamma ray astronomy mission Nation: Australia. Agency: WRE/RAE. Apogee: 176 km (109 mi).
1964 - 02:58 GMT - Launch Site: Andoya. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Apache. Model: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache Ferdinand 6. -
Ferdinand 6 Aurora / plasma / solar mission Nation: Norway. Agency: NDRE. Apogee: 146 km (90 mi).
1965 - Launch Site: Barking Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. Model: Nike Tomahawk. LV Configuration: Nike Tomahawk-9 Sandia 152-79. -
ACS Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 280 km (170 mi).
1965 - 09:30 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Molniya 8K78/E6. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78/E6 R103-25. FAILURE: The escape stage Block L's engine failed to ignite due to failure of a transformer in the power supply of the control system.
1965 - 13:30 GMT - Launch Site: Pacific Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 11.4 S x 81.3 W. Launch Vehicle: Apache. Model: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache NASA 14.07UE.
1965 - 16:00 GMT - Launch Site: Pacific Ocean. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 11.4 S x 81.3 W. Launch Vehicle: Apache. Model: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache NASA 14.84UE.
1965 - 19:25 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4W. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: SLV-3 Agena D. LV Configuration: SLV-3 Agena D 7104 / Agena D 7104.
1965 - 23:21 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576B3. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Model: Atlas D. LV Configuration: Atlas D 154D. -
ABRES MTV-2 re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi).
1966 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Titan. Model: Titan 3C.
1966 - -
Voskhod/Soyuz crews Nation: USSR. Program: Voskhod. Flight: Voskhod 4, Voskhod 5, Soyuz 1, Soyuz 2A. Tyulin and Mozzhorin review with Kamanin crewing plans. Even though the missions of Voskhod 4 and 5 are not yet clear, Tyulin wants to settle on Beregovoi and Katys for Voskhod 4, and Ponomaryova and Solovyova for Voskhod 5. Since October 1965 six crews have been in training for Soyuz flights: Gagarin -Voronov, Nikolayev-Gorbatko, Bykovsky-Matinchenko, Komarov-Kolodin, Zaikin-Khrunov, and Popovich-Artyukhin. But these are just nominal groupings, and firm crew assignments by mission have not yet been made.
1966 - 00:42 GMT - Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: LE2. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Model: Thor DSV-2J. LV Configuration: Thor DSV-2J 196. -
AFP-437(AP) interceptor mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 472 km (293 mi).
1967 - -
Spiral and Soyuz training Nation: USSR. Program: Soyuz. Spacecraft: Spiral OS, Soyuz 7K-OK. Flight: Soyuz 1, Soyuz 2A. Titov visits Kamanin on leave from test pilot duties at Vladimirovka. Titov will spend a year training as a test pilot on MiG-21, Su-7, and Su-9 aircraft. He flies well, and has matured and changed for the better over the last two years. Kamanin has talked to him 3 or 4 times about his future plans. Titov has bound his future with the Spiral spaceplane programme.
- Additional details.
1967 - 13:27 GMT - Launch Site: Thumba. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Apache. Model: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache NASA 14.163IA-II. -
ISRO 10.11 Ionosphere mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 168 km (104 mi).
1967 - 17:00 GMT - Launch Site: Thumba. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Apache. Model: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache NASA 14.206IA. -
ISRO 10.12 Ionosphere / aeronomy / chemica mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 155 km (96 mi).
1968 - -
Cosmonaut meeting at Yevpatoriya. Nation: USSR. Program: Lunar L1. Spacecraft: Soyuz 7K-L1. Gagarin wants better organisation of the TsPK for the L1 circumlunar manned flights, including: better training in manual navigation in case of failure of automated systems; improved training in survival of 20 G re-entries if the automated SUS capsule guidance system fails. The cosmonauts review material for the Seventh International UFO Conference in Mainz (!).
1969 - 09:00 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. -
Aeronomy mission Nation: USSR. Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 173 km (107 mi).
1969 - 11:20 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LF04. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2. LV Configuration: Minuteman 2 FTM-2642. -
GIANT FIST 3 demonstration and shakedown operations launch Nation: USA. Agency: SAC 1STRAD. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi).
1971 - 04:13 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Nike. Model: Nike Iroquois. LV Configuration: Nike Iroquois CRL A07.015-3. -
Sphere Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: AFCRL. Apogee: 280 km (170 mi).
1971 - 06:55 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Nike. Model: Nike Iroquois. LV Configuration: Nike Iroquois CRL A07.913-3. -
Sphere Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: AFCRL. Apogee: 283 km (175 mi).
1971 - 21:49 GMT - Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Petrel. Model: Petrel 1. LV Configuration: Petrel P69K. -
Auroral electrons Aurora mission Nation: UK. Agency: SRC. Apogee: 153 km (95 mi).
1972 - 01:55 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC2E. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Delta. Model: Thor Delta N. LV Configuration: Thor Delta N 573/D88.
1973 - 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).
1974 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LF05. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2. -
ERCS GIANT MOON 5 Communications mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi).
1975 - 02:32 GMT - Launch Site: Fort Churchill. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Apache. Model: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache NASA 14.416GA. -
Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 138 km (85 mi).
1975 - 07:48 GMT - Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Sergeant. Model: Sergeant Hydac. LV Configuration: Sergeant Hydac IC519.07-1B. -
ICECAP 75A Auroral mission Nation: USA. Agency: DNA/AFCRL. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).
1975 - 08:55 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Pad: LC1 or LC31. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Voskhod 11A57.
1976 - Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
1976 - Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
1976 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC173. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: MR-UR-100. Model: MR-UR-100. -
State trials flight Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1976 - 13:30 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132/1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Model: Kosmos 11K65M. LV Configuration: Kosmos 11K65M 53746-310.
1977 - 03:30 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Astrobee. Model: Astrobee F. LV Configuration: Astrobee F NASA 25.20UG. -
Astronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 225 km (139 mi).
1978 - Launch Vehicle: Shuttle. -
Shuttle Enterprise delivered. Nation: USA.
1979 - 05:47 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC31. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Soyuz 11A511U. -
Progress 5 Nation: USSR. Program: Salyut 6. Payload: Progress s/n 104. Mass: 7,014 kg (15,463 lb). Class: Manned. Type: Logistics. Spacecraft: Progress. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 183 km (113 mi). Apogee: 256 km (159 mi). Inclination: 51.70 deg. Period: 88.80 min. COSPAR: 1979-022A. USAF Sat Cat: 11292. Duration: 23.77 days. Completed Operations Date: 1979-04-05 00:09:54. Decay Date: 1979-04-05 00:09:54. Flight: Salyut 6 EO-3. Unmanned supply vessel to Salyut 6. Delivery of fuel, consumable materials and equipment to the Salyut 6 station. Docked with Salyut 6 on 14 Mar 1979 07:19:21 GMT. Undocked on 3 Apr 1979 16:10:00 GMT. Destroyed in reentry on 5 Apr 1979 00:10:22 GMT. Total free-flight time 3.40 days. Total docked time 20.37 days.
1981 - 04:30 GMT - Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Sergeant. Model: Sergeant Hydac. -
HAVE SLED test Nation: USA. Agency: USAF BMO. Apogee: 400 km (240 mi).
1981 - 19:00 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Soyuz 11A511U.
1983 - 14:00 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC200/40. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Proton. Model: Proton-K/DM. LV Configuration: Proton-K/DM 304-02.
1983 - 15:35 GMT - Launch Site: Punta Lobos. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Honest John. Model: Taurus Orion. LV Configuration: Taurus Orion NASA 33.27UE. -
Project Condor Plasma mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).
1983 - 17:09 GMT - Launch Site: Punta Lobos. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hawk. Model: Nike Orion. LV Configuration: Nike Orion NASA 31.29UE. -
Project Condor Plasma mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 140 km (80 mi).
1988 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Jubilee. Launch Pad: -.
1990 - Launch Site: ETR Launch Area. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Trident. Model: Trident D-5. -
DASO-3 demonstration and shakedown operations launch Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1991 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LF02. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Peacekeeper. LV Configuration: Peacekeeper 05PA. -
Operational test Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1991 - 19:29 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC133/3. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Model: Kosmos 11K65M. LV Configuration: Kosmos 11K65M 65048-406. -
Nadezhda 3 Nation: USSR. Payload: Tsikada-Kospas. Mass: 825 kg (1,818 lb). Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: Nadezhda. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 955 km (593 mi). Apogee: 1,016 km (631 mi). Inclination: 82.90 deg. Period: 104.80 min. COSPAR: 1991-019A. USAF Sat Cat: 21152. Civilian navigation satellite. Positioned in plane 12 of constellation. Maritime navigation. Signals at 150,00 MHz and 400.00 MHz. Carried COSPAS search and rescue package. Location of vessels in the Soviet merchant marine and fishing fleet; work within the international space search and rescue system for locating vessels and aircraft in distress (COSPAS-SARSAT).
1992 - 22:42 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hawk. Model: Nike Orion. LV Configuration: Nike Orion NASA 31.83UU. -
CWAS 21 Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 140 km (80 mi).
1998 - Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -.
1999 - -
Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary join NATO Nation: USA.
1999 -
2000 - 04:07 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC200/39. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Proton. Model: Proton-K/DM-2M. LV Configuration: Proton-K/DM-2M 399-01. -
Ekspress 6A Nation: Russia. Payload: Ekspress A No. 2. Mass: 2,600 kg (5,700 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Ekspress. Manufacturer: NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki, Zhelenogorsk. Agency: Intersputnik. Perigee: 35,776 km (22,230 mi). Apogee: 35,798 km (22,243 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. COSPAR: 2000-013A. USAF Sat Cat: 26098. GO Kosmicheskaya Svyaz geosynchronous communications satellite, to be assigned to the Ekspress 6A slot at 80E. Replaced the first Ekspress A, lost in a launch failure in 1999. Russian satellite bus with a ommunications payload from Alcatel France. Stationed at 80 deg E. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 80 deg E in 2000. As of 5 September 2001 located at 80.02 deg E drifting at 0.008 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 102.77E drifting at 0.018W degrees per day.
2000 - 09:29 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 576E. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Taurus. Model: Taurus 1110. LV Configuration: Taurus 1110 T5.
2000 - 14:49 GMT - Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Vehicle: Zenit. Model: Zenit-3SL. FAILURE: Second stage shut down prematurely due to a valve software command mistake. The satellite fell in the South Pacific, south of Pitcairn Island.
2002 -
2003 - 09:29 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LF05. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Peacekeeper. LV Configuration: Peacekeeper 32PA.
Born on this day in:
- 1949 - John Harrison Konrad. American Payload Specialist Astronaut. Birth City: Pontiac. Birth State: Illinois. Birth Country: USA.
Died on this day in: . American Pilot Test Pilot. Cause of Death: Killed as passenger aboard C-47 transport that crashed into a mountain in Japan.
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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.
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