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March 17
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See also Born on this Day On this day in: 1938 - Launch Vehicle: Goddard L-C.
1942 - Launch Vehicle: EA 1941. -
EA 1941 engine run. Nation: France. The engine runs for 5 seconds before exploding, producing a thrust of 719 kgf. A second test the following day produces 650 kgf for only four seconds before exploding. Thermal transfer from the engine to the missile structure is found to be the cause, and changes are made.
1945 - Launch Site: V-2 Gruppe Nord. Launch Vehicle: V-2. -
11 V-2's launched at Remagen Bridge Nation: Germany. Agency: V-2 Bty SS 500. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). At least 11 V-2 rockets were fired at the bridge across the Rhine at Remagen, which had been captured by American forces. The missiles missed the aiming point by as much as 40 km, but one did explode 300 metres from the bridge, killing 3 American soldiers. Launched from Zwolle-Hellendoorn-Enchede launch area.
1949 - 23:20 GMT - Launch Complex: AVM1 USS. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee. Model: Aerobee RTV-N-8. LV Configuration: Aerobee RTV-N-8 A10.
1952 - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: Corporal. LV Configuration: Corporal 15R. -
Corporal Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USA?. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi).
1953 -
1954 - Launch Vehicle: R-7, Buran, Burya.
1958 - -
NACA Special Committee on Space Technology second meeting. Nation: USA. The NACA Special Committee on Space Technology held its second meeting at the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, and preliminary reports were presented by the committee working groups on objectives and vehicular programs. The committee as a whole was briefed on the work that had been accomplished by the former NACA Committee on Aerodynamics over the past 6 years. It was stated that between 1952 and 1956, approximately 10 percent of NACA's research efforts were applicable directly or indirectly to astronautics. In 1957, the percentage of space flight research rose to 23; and at the time of the meeting, 30 percent of the aerodynamic effort and 20 percent of propulsion research was applicable to astronautics problems. The committee also heard special papers on research being conducted in fluid mechanics, satellite studies, spacecraft design proposals, boost-glide and hypersonic vehicle studies, and missiles.
1958 - 12:15 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Pad: LC18A. Launch Vehicle: Vanguard. Model: Vanguard. LV Configuration: Vanguard TV-4.
1959 - Launch Site: Wallops Island.
1959 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: HJ Nike Nike 20"SM. -
HJ Nike Nike 20"SM 20" SM Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 1,380 km (850 mi).
1959 - 01:46 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: R-7. LV Configuration: R-7 No. 81.
1960 - Launch Vehicle: Vanguard.
1960 - Launch Site: Fort Churchill. Launch Vehicle: Nike-Asp. Model: Nike Asp. LV Configuration: Nike Asp NASA 03.10UI. FAILURE: Failure. -
Nike-Asp Ionosphere mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA.
1960 - 16:31 GMT - Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Vehicle: X-15A. LV Configuration: X-15 2-6-13.
1960 - 23:55 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: R-7A. LV Configuration: R-7A L1-5. -
R-7A I-4 Test mission Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1961 - Launch Vehicle: Vanguard. -
Vanguard third anniversary. Nation: USA. Program: Vanguard. Class: Technology. Spacecraft: Vanguard 1. Vanguard I completed third year in orbit and was still transmitting. Vanguard I provided much useful data on orbits, including the slight pear-shape of the Earth and the effect of solar pressure. Vanguard also provided the second stage for the Able, Delta, and Able-Star, as well as the third stage of Scout, pioneering solid-propellant stages used in Polaris and Minuteman.
1965 - 15:10 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC35. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150. Model: Aerobee 150. LV Configuration: Aerobee 150 NASA 04.63GS. -
Aerobee 150 Solar mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 156 km (96 mi).
1965 - 21:13 GMT - Launch Site: Fort Churchill. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant II. LV Configuration: Black Brant II AE-2A-24. -
Black Brant Aeronomy mission Nation: Canada. Agency: NRCC. Apogee: 153 km (95 mi).
1966 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LF08. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2. LV Configuration: Minuteman 2 2049. FAILURE: Failure. -
Minuteman 2 Force Mod test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi).
1966 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC60. Launch Pad: LC60/7. Launch Vehicle: R-16. Model: R-16U. -
R-16 Military training launch Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1966 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: ETR. Launch Pad: SLBM Launch Area. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A2. LV Configuration: Polaris A2 A2. -
Polaris A2 Operational Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1966 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: ETR. Launch Pad: SLBM Launch Area. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A2. LV Configuration: Polaris A2 A2. -
Polaris A2 Operational Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1966 - 10:28 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC41. Launch Pad: LC41/1. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92. Model: Vostok 8A92.
1966 - 22:00 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC67. Launch Pad: LC67/21. Launch Vehicle: R-36-O. Model: R-36O 8K69. LV Configuration: R-36O 8K69 U22502 No. 03L.
1967 - Launch Site: Vandenberg.
1967 - Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Blandine. Launch Vehicle: Veronique. Model: Veronique AGI. LV Configuration: Veronique AGI AGI 64.
1967 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: 395. Launch Pad: 395-C. Launch Vehicle: Titan 2. Model: Titan II. LV Configuration: Titan 2 s/n M68B-76 / 63-7731.
1967 - Launch Site: Green River. Launch Complex: Pad 3. Launch Vehicle: Athena. LV Configuration: Athena D040. -
Athena USAF D040 re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).
1967 - Launch Site: Green River. Launch Complex: Pad 2. Launch Vehicle: Athena. LV Configuration: Athena D051. -
Athena USAF D051 re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).
1967 - 03:48 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC35. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150. Model: Aerobee 150. LV Configuration: Aerobee 150 NASA 04.194DG. -
Aerobee 150 NRL NB3.191 Ultraviolet Astronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA/NRL. Apogee: 193 km (119 mi).
1968 - Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk. LV Configuration: Nike Tomahawk NASA 18.49GA.
1968 - 06:59 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache NASA 14.344UM.
1968 - 07:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk. LV Configuration: Nike Tomahawk NASA 18.53GA.
1968 - 18:45 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache NASA 14.345UM.
1968 - 19:18 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk. LV Configuration: Nike Tomahawk NASA 18.52GA.
1969 -
1969 - 00:04 GMT - Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Vehicle: Petrel. LV Configuration: Petrel P29K. -
Petrel Ionosphere mission Nation: UK. Agency: SRC. Apogee: 151 km (93 mi).
1969 - 12:09 GMT - Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: ALFS. Launch Vehicle: Dragon. LV Configuration: Dragon D-29. -
Dragon Solar mission Nation: France. Agency: CNES. Apogee: 410 km (250 mi).
1969 - 12:38 GMT - Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk. LV Configuration: Nike Tomahawk NASA 18.15UE. -
Nike Tomahawk Magnetospheric mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 216 km (134 mi).
1969 - 16:40 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132. Launch Pad: LC132. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Model: Kosmos 11K65M.
1969 - 18:10 GMT - Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache K-NA-18. -
Nike Apache DLR K-NA-18 Aeronomy/Ionosphere/Fields mission Nation: Germany. Agency: DFVLR. Apogee: 231 km (143 mi).
1969 - 18:23 GMT - Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Vehicle: Petrel. LV Configuration: Petrel P25K. -
Petrel Ionosphere mission Nation: UK. Agency: SRC. Apogee: 148 km (91 mi).
1969 - 18:35 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. -
MR-12 Aeronomy/Plasma mission Nation: USSR. Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 169 km (105 mi).
1970 - 11:10 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92M. Model: Vostok 8A92M.
1971 -
1971 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LF06. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1. Model: Minuteman 1B. -
Minuteman 1 SSTTP M1-13 Target mission Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi).
1971 - 10:57 GMT - Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk. LV Configuration: Nike Tomahawk NASA 18.95UA. -
Nike Tomahawk Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).
1971 - 16:55 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. LV Configuration: MR-12 MR-12. -
MR-12 Aeronomy mission Nation: USSR. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).
1972 - Launch Site: Green River. Launch Vehicle: Athena H. LV Configuration: Athena H H003. -
Athena H SAMAST 1B re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).
1972 - Launch Site: Fort Churchill. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150. Model: Aerobee 150. LV Configuration: Aerobee 150 NASA 04.320UA. -
Aerobee 150 Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).
1972 - 05:10 GMT - Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: LA2. Launch Pad: LA2 SL. Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Model: Skylark 6 AC. LV Configuration: Skylark 6 AC SL1009. -
Skylark UK SL1009 Solar Ultraviolet mission Nation: UK. Agency: BAC. Apogee: 237 km (147 mi).
1972 - 09:39 GMT - Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Sandhawk. LV Configuration: Terrier Sandhawk Sandia 281-25.
1972 - 16:56 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. LV Configuration: MR-12 MR-12. -
MR-12 Aeronomy/Plasma mission Nation: USSR. Apogee: 168 km (104 mi).
1972 - 17:00 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC4. Launch Pad: SLC4W. Launch Vehicle: Titan 3B. Model: Titan 24B. LV Configuration: Titan 24B 3B-34 (24B-3?).
1972 - 17:40 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. LV Configuration: MR-12 MR-12. -
MR-12 Aeronomy/Plasma mission Nation: USSR. Apogee: 189 km (117 mi).
1972 - 19:01 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. LV Configuration: MR-12 MR-12. -
MR-12 Aeronomy/Plasma mission Nation: USSR. Apogee: 173 km (107 mi).
1972 - 20:03 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. LV Configuration: MR-12 MR-12. -
MR-12 Aeronomy mission Nation: USSR. Apogee: 176 km (109 mi).
1976 -
1976 - 20:35 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. LV Configuration: MR-12 MR-12. -
MR-12 Aeronomy/Chemical release/Plasma mission Nation: USSR. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).
1977 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC105. Launch Vehicle: R-36M. Model: R-36M 15A14. -
R-36M Joint flight trials launch Nation: USSR. Agency: RVSN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1977 - 03:59 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. LV Configuration: MR-12 MR-12. -
MR-12 Ionosphere/Fields mission Nation: USSR. Apogee: 170 km (100 mi).
1977 - 08:30 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Model: Soyuz 11A511U.
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Nauka Cosmos 898 Nation: USSR. Payload: Nauka?. Spacecraft: Nauka. Agency: MOM. Perigee: 208 km (129 mi). Apogee: 219 km (136 mi). Inclination: 81.30 deg. Period: 88.77 min. COSPAR: 1977-020D. USAF Sat Cat: 9887. Decay Date: 1977-04-03.
1978 - 10:50 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Model: Soyuz 11A511U.
1979 -
1979 - 17:42 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. LV Configuration: MR-12 MR-12. -
MR-12 Aeronomy/Ionosphere/Plasma mission Nation: USSR. Apogee: 170 km (100 mi).
1980 - 21:37 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC132. Launch Pad: LC132/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Model: Kosmos 11K65M. LV Configuration: Kosmos 11K65M 65098-314.
1981 - 08:40 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC31. Launch Pad: LC31. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Model: Soyuz 11A511U.
1982 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: ETR. Launch Pad: SLBM Launch Area. Launch Vehicle: Trident C-4. -
Trident C-4 Operational missile test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1982 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: ETR. Launch Pad: SLBM Launch Area. Launch Vehicle: Trident C-4. -
Trident C-4 Operational missile test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1982 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: ETR. Launch Pad: SLBM Launch Area. Launch Vehicle: Trident C-4. -
Trident C-4 Operational missile test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1982 - 10:30 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Model: Soyuz 11A511U.
1982 - 10:34 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: ETR. Launch Pad: SLBM Launch Area. Launch Vehicle: Trident C-4. -
Trident C-4 Operational missile test Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1986 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LF03. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1. Model: Minuteman 1B. -
Minuteman 1 RSLP IPA-3 re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi).
1987 - 17:25 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC46. Launch Vehicle: Trident D-5. LV Configuration: Trident D-5 D5X-2. -
Trident D-5 Research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1988 - 06:43 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC31. Launch Pad: LC31. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92M. Model: Vostok 8A92M. -
IRS-1A Nation: India. Payload: IRS 1A. Mass: 975 kg (2,149 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Landsat. Spacecraft: IRS. Agency: ISRO. Perigee: 897 km (557 mi). Apogee: 917 km (569 mi). Inclination: 99.00 deg. Period: 103.10 min. COSPAR: 1988-021A. USAF Sat Cat: 18960. Indian remote sensing; 1st Soviet commercial launch. Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS-1A). Operational remote sensing of the Earth for natural resources management applications. Also registered by the USSR as object no. 2387 in ST/SG/SER.E/182 and orbital parameters 102.7 min, 863 x 917 km x 99.01 deg.
1988 - 20:25 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC36. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant IX. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX NASA 36.36US. -
Black Brant Solar mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).
1988 - 20:55 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. Model: Molniya 8K78M. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78M ML.
1990 - 04:30 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: LC36. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant IX. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX NASA 36.34UH. -
Black Brant X-ray Astronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).
1992 - 10:54 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Pad: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U2. Model: Soyuz 11A511U2.
1994 - 16:30 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC43. Launch Pad: LC43/4?. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Model: Soyuz 11A511U.
1995 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LF04. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 3. LV Configuration: Minuteman 3 GT159GM. -
Minuteman 3 FOT GT159GM Follow-on Test launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSPC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi).
2002 - 09:21 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC133. Launch Pad: LC133. Launch Vehicle: Rokot. Model: Rokot. -
GRACE 1 Nation: Germany. Payload: ESSP-2A, 'Tom'. Mass: 432 kg (952 lb). Class: Earth. Spacecraft: GRACE. Manufacturer: Astrium. Agency: DLR (Germany), NASA (U.S.). Perigee: 483 km (300 mi). Apogee: 506 km (314 mi). Inclination: 89.00 deg. COSPAR: 2002-012A. USAF Sat Cat: 27391. First commercial flight of Rokot booster. Launch delayed from November 23-30, 2001, February 27, March 15 and 16. The Briz-KM upper stage ignited 5 minutes after launch and after a ten minute burn reached a 300 x 500 km orbit at about 0936 UTC. A second burn at 1042 UTC placed the satellites in a 483 x 506 km x 89 deg orbit; the two GRACE gravimetric satellites separated from the dispenser at 1047 UTC. A third Briz burn then lowered the rocket stage orbit to 146 x 487 km x 89 deg so that it would reenter quickly.
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GRACE 2 Nation: Germany. Mass: 432 kg (952 lb). Class: Earth. Spacecraft: GRACE. Manufacturer: Astrium. Agency: DLR (Germany), NASA (U.S.). Perigee: 483 km (300 mi). Apogee: 506 km (314 mi). Inclination: 89.00 deg. COSPAR: 2002-012B. USAF Sat Cat: 27392. Gravimetry, Climatology first commercial flight delayed from November23-30, 2001, February27, March15 and 16.
2004 - Launch Site: Barents Sea. Launch Vehicle: R-29. Model: R-29RM. LV Configuration: Shtil' VMF RF. -
R-29 Operational Test mission Nation: Russia. Agency: VMF RF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). SLBM Test
2004 - 12:08 GMT - Launch Site: Barents Sea. Launch Vehicle: R-29. Model: R-29RM. LV Configuration: Shtil' VMF RF. -
R-29 Operational Test mission Nation: Russia. Agency: VMF RF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). SLBM Test
Born on this day in:
- 1930 - James Benson 'Jim' Irwin. American Pilot Astronaut. Birth City: Pittsburgh. Birth State: Pennsylvania. Birth Country: USA.
Died on this day in: - 1993 - Robert Aitken Rushworth
. American Pilot Test Pilot. Cause of Death: Died of natural causes, Camarillo, California.
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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2007 except where otherwise noted.
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