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March 20
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See also Born on this Day On this day in: 1953 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Double Deacon. FAILURE: Failure. -
Double Deacon B-58 Model test flight Nation: USA. Agency: NACA.
1956 - Launch Vehicle: R-7.
1956 -
1958 -
1958 - Launch Vehicle: Luna 8K72.
1959 - -
Army task force to plan a manned lunar outpost Nation: USA. Program: Horizon. An Army task force was formed to develop a plan for establishing a manned lunar outpost by the quickest practical means. The effort was called Project Horizon. The first phase of the project was to make a limited feasibility study, with estimated time and costs. The task force worked under the direction of Maj. Gen. John B. Medaris of the Army Ordnance Missile Command and in full collaboration with the von Braun team. The report was completed on June 8.
1961 - -
Phase III of the Mercury spacecraft airdrop program Nation: USA. Program: Mercury. Spacecraft: Mercury. Primary objectives of the drops were to study further the spacecraft suitability and flotation capability after water impact. Six drops were made, but later (April 24-28, 1961) the tests were extended for two additional drops to monitor hard-surface landing effects. In the water phase of the program, spacecraft components under particular scrutiny were the lower pressure bulkhead and its capability to withstanding heat shield recontact without impairing flotation capability. Helicopters were used to make the drops.
1963 - -
Soyuz draft project was submitted to the expert commission Nation: USSR. Spacecraft: Soyuz A, Soyuz B, Soyuz V, Soyuz P, Soyuz R. Aside from the baseline Soyuz-B circumlunar mission, the draft project also proposed the Soyuz-P space interceptor and the Soyuz-R command-reconnaissance spacecraft. The military projects Soyuz-P and Soyuz-R were ‘subcontracted’ to OKB-1 Filial Number 3, based in Samara. The Soyuz B circumlunar version did not receive the same level of financial support.
1964 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC31. Launch Pad: LC31B. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1. Model: Minuteman 1B. LV Configuration: Minuteman 1B 442. -
Minuteman 1 Research and development launch Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi).
1964 - 05:23 GMT - Launch Site: Fort Churchill. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache NASA 14.152UE. -
Nike Apache Auroral mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 140 km (80 mi).
1965 - -
Voskhod 2 crew contacted Nation: USSR. Program: Voskhod. Spacecraft: Voskhod. Flight: Voskhod 2. The crew spent the night in the forest. Only at dawn can a helicopter fly over the landing point again. He reports he sees the two crew, one felling wood, the other building a bonfire. During the night, neither the two crew from the helicopter that landed 5 km away or the searchers from the PVO regiment were able to find the crew in the dense forest. Finally at 07:30 a Colonel Sibiryakov, physician Tumanov, and a technician are lowered from a Mi-4 helicopter to a point 1500 meters from the capsule. Several others are lowered to begin chopping down trees to create a clearing where the helicopter can land. Sibiyakov's party depart at 08:30, skiing toward the capsule, finally reaching the crew after three hours of arduous travel at 11:30. The crew is in fine condition - helicopters had dropped supplies and warm underwear the night before. The recovery forces want to have a helicopter pick up the cosmonauts from the landing site, meaning hoisting them from a hover at an altitude of 5 to 6 m. Rudenko vetoes this idea due to the poor visibility, insisting they must be evacuated in snowmobiles. When he is told this is impossible, he becomes adamant that they must wait for conditions to improve. This is ridiculous. Kamanin believes there will be hell to pay if the cosmonauts have to spend a second night in the forest at a landing point only 70-80 km from the capital of the oblast.
1965 - 05:42 GMT - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 300. Model: Aerobee 300. LV Configuration: Aerobee 300 NASA 06.11GA. -
Aerobee 300 Aeronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 326 km (202 mi).
1965 - 13:20 GMT - Launch Complex: CVE-25 U. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache NASA 14.228UI.
1965 - 16:28 GMT - Launch Complex: CVE-25 U. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache AE5.293.
1965 - 17:04 GMT - Launch Complex: CVE-25 U. Launch Vehicle: Nike-Cajun. Model: Nike Cajun. LV Configuration: Nike Cajun AE6.252.
1966 - 12:15 GMT - Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Vehicle: Kappa 9. Model: Kappa 9M. LV Configuration: Kappa 9M K-9M-15. -
Kappa 9 X-ray Astronomy mission Nation: Japan. Agency: ISAS. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).
1967 - -
MOL project delays, cost growth. Nation: USA. Spacecraft: MOL. Weight growth of the MOL station forced the Air Force to consider upgrading of the Titan booster. Stretching of the booster core or use of 156 inch solid rocket motors was considered. The Air Force also dithered as to whether to compete the Titan booster contract. Eight months were spent making the decision, and at the end of it all the first manned MOL flight was delayed to 1970 and the projected total cost increased from $ 1.5 billion to $ 2.2 billion.
1967 -
1967 -
1967 - Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Vehicle: Dauphin. LV Configuration: Dauphin DA001. -
Dauphin Test mission Nation: France. Agency: CNES. Apogee: 110 km (60 mi).
1968 - -
Lunar spacesuit review. Nation: USSR. Program: Lunar L3. Spacecraft: Krechet, Orlan, LK, Luna Ye-8. Meeting with Gay Ilyich Severin. Two spacesuits are being developed for the L3 program: the Krechet-94 and Orlan. Both have been in development for two years. The Krechet-94 will allow six hours of lunar surface activity, the Orlan, 2.5 hours. Both weigh about 90 kg. There are consumables for a total of 52 hours of life support in the LK and the LT Lunar Cart. Kamanin feels the suits are too heavy, due to Mishin's demand for a 5 km range from the LK over a three day traverse with the LT. Severin could have instead developed the spacesuit used by Leonov to have a four hour autonomous operation, but Mishin insisted on doubling of the capacity.
1968 - 04:57 GMT - Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: LA2. Launch Pad: LA2 SL. Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Model: Skylark 3. LV Configuration: Skylark 3 SL408. -
Skylark UK SL408 Solar X-ray/Ultraviolet mission Nation: Australia. Agency: WRE/RAE. Apogee: 217 km (134 mi).
1968 - 18:33 GMT - Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache. LV Configuration: Nike Apache K-NA-8. -
Nike Apache DLR K-NA-8 (EXP-34) Aeronomy/Ionosphere mission Nation: Germany. Agency: DLR. Apogee: 207 km (128 mi).
1968 - 19:55 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Iris. Model: Hydra-Iris. LV Configuration: Hydra-Iris BAR-1.
1968 - 20:25 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. -
MR-12 Aeronomy mission Nation: USSR. Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 174 km (108 mi).
1968 - 21:09 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. -
MR-12 Aeronomy mission Nation: USSR. Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 182 km (113 mi).
1968 - 21:36 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. -
MR-12 Aeronomy mission Nation: USSR. Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 175 km (108 mi).
1969 - Launch Vehicle: N1. -
Soviet of military officers meets to review manned space plans. Nation: USSR. Program: Lunar L3, Lunar L1, Soyuz, Almaz. Spacecraft: Soyuz 7K-OK, Soyuz 7K-L1, Soyuz 7K-LOK, LK, Soyuz OB-VI, Almaz OPS, Spiral OS. A 50 minute presentation is given on space plans. Russia plans to fly no less than six different types of manned spacecraft in 1969-1970 - the Soyuz, L1, L3, Almaz, Soyuz VI, and Spiral. This will result in a decisive answer to the American Apollo programme within two to three years. No N1 launch with the complete L3 lunar landing spacecraft is planned until 1970. Approval is sought for the VVS to buy 10 Soyuz spacecraft for continued manned military flights in low earth orbit. Otherwise between the second half of 1970 and during all of 1971 there will be no spacecraft available for manned flights - Additional details.
1969 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC25. Launch Pad: LC25C. Launch Vehicle: Poseidon. LV Configuration: Poseidon C3 C3XD-5. -
Poseidon Test mission Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).
1969 - 05:37 GMT - Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Sandhawk. -
Terrier Sandhawk Hemlock Ba Aeronomy/Fields mission Nation: USA. Agency: ARPA. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).
1969 - 17:50 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. -
MR-12 Aeronomy mission Nation: USSR. Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 169 km (105 mi).
1969 - 18:30 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. -
MR-12 Aeronomy/Plasma mission Nation: USSR. Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 171 km (106 mi).
1969 - 20:30 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. -
MR-12 Aeronomy/Plasma mission Nation: USSR. Agency: AN SSSR. Apogee: 169 km (105 mi).
1970 - 23:52 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17A. Launch Vehicle: Delta M. Model: Thor Delta M. LV Configuration: Thor Delta M 558/D77.
1971 - -
DOS crews arrives in Baikonur. Nation: USSR. Program: Salyut. Spacecraft: Salyut 1. Flight: Soyuz 10, Soyuz 11, Soyuz 12 / DOS 1. Shatalov's crew arrived at 09:00 aboard a Tu-104 and were ensconced in Room 14 of the Hotel Kosmonavt. Two further Tu-104's arrived 20 and 30 minutes later with the second and third crews. At 18:00 they all went to the MIK assembly hall to view the two Soyuz spacecraft and the station. There were electrical problems with the station, and they finally returned to the hotel at 24:00 without the problem having been resolved. Kamanin notes two films are to be screened tomorrow - a Bulgarian movie and the Soviet film 'Diplomat'.
1971 - Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk. LV Configuration: Nike Tomahawk NASA 18.124GE. -
Nike Tomahawk Plasma mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 270 km (160 mi). Launched from FOX-MAIN DEW site, Hall Beach, Nunavut, Canada - Latitude: 68.70 N - Longitude: 81.20 W.
1971 - 03:24 GMT - Launch Site: Fort Churchill. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant II. LV Configuration: Black Brant II AMF-2-125?. -
Black Brant Test/Auroral/Ionosphere mission Nation: Canada. Apogee: 151 km (93 mi).
1971 - 05:30 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 170. Model: Aerobee 170. LV Configuration: Aerobee 170 NASA 13.21UG. FAILURE: Failure. -
Aerobee 170 Astronomy mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).
1971 - 08:15 GMT - Launch Site: Poker Flat. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk. LV Configuration: Nike Tomahawk NASA 18.17UE. -
Nike Tomahawk Plasma mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).
1972 - 09:45 GMT - Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12. LV Configuration: MR-12 MR-12. -
MR-12 Aeronomy mission Nation: USSR. Apogee: 192 km (119 mi).
1973 - 03:41 GMT - Launch Site: South Uist. Launch Vehicle: Petrel. LV Configuration: Petrel P43H. -
Petrel Ionosphere mission Nation: UK. Agency: SRC. Apogee: 129 km (80 mi).
1973 - 03:52 GMT - Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: LA2. Launch Pad: LA2 SL. Launch Vehicle: Skylark. Model: Skylark 6 AC. LV Configuration: Skylark 6 AC SL1102. -
Skylark UK SL1102 Solar Ultraviolet mission Nation: UK. Agency: BAC. Apogee: 242 km (150 mi).
1973 - 11:20 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92M. Model: Vostok 8A92M.
1974 - 08:30 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Model: Soyuz 11A511U.
1975 -
1977 - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Athena. LV Configuration: Athena Athena D. -
Athena MSV-3 re-entry vehicle test flight Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).
1977 - Launch Site: Barents Sea. Launch Vehicle: R-29. Model: Vysota.
1977 - 19:22 GMT - Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Complex: A. Launch Vehicle: Aries. LV Configuration: Aries NASA 24.02IE. -
Aries DLR K-AR-82 Porc. F2 Magnetospheric mission Nation: Germany. Agency: NASA/DLR. Apogee: 460 km (280 mi).
1979 - -
Ferry flight, Edwards to El Paso Nation: USA. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Spaceplane. Spacecraft: Columbia. Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Columbia (OV-102) from Edwards to Biggs Army Air Base, El Paso, Texas (3 hours, 20 minutes)
1979 - Launch Site: Biscarosse. Launch Complex: BLB. Launch Vehicle: SSBS. LV Configuration: SSBS S3 V8. -
SSBS Test mission Nation: France. Agency: DMA. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1981 - 23:45 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC90. Launch Pad: LC90. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2. Model: Tsiklon-2. -
Cosmos 1260 Nation: USSR. Program: EORSAT. Mass: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). Class: Sigint. Type: Naval reconnaisance. Spacecraft: US-P. Agency: MO SSSR. Perigee: 425 km (264 mi). Apogee: 444 km (275 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 93.30 min. COSPAR: 1981-028A. USAF Sat Cat: 12364. Decay Date: 1982-05-22. Ocean monitoring.
1985 - 22:34 GMT - Launch Site: Sonde Stromfjord. Launch Vehicle: Taurus Tomahawk. LV Configuration: Taurus Tomahawk NASA 34.06UE. -
Taurus Tomahawk Plasma mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).
1985 - 22:44 GMT - Launch Site: Sonde Stromfjord. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk. LV Configuration: Nike Tomahawk NASA 18.219UE. -
Nike Tomahawk Plasma mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).
1987 - 22:22 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: LC17B. Launch Vehicle: Delta 3000. Model: Delta 3920/PAM. LV Configuration: Delta 3920/PAM D182.
1990 - 00:25 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: LC133. Launch Pad: LC133/3. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. Model: Kosmos 11K65M. LV Configuration: Kosmos 11K65M 47161-245.
1998 -
2000 - 18:28 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC31. Launch Pad: LC31. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. Model: Soyuz 11A511U. LV Configuration: Soyuz 11A511U /Fregat ST08.
2004 - 17:53 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7000. Model: Delta 7925-9.5.
2006 -
Born on this day in:
- 1960 - Yuri Georgiyevich Shargin. Russian Engineer Cosmonaut. Birth City: Engelstown. Birth State: Saratov. Birth Country: Russia.
Died on this day in: . Chinese Engineer.
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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2007 except where otherwise noted.
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