| astronautix.com | August 24 |
1924 - Nation: USA.
1944 - Nation: USA.
1945 - Nation: USA. Launch Site: Wallops Island .
First successful use of a telemetry system in a rocket-propelled flight research model, the two-stage Tiamat at NACA Wallops Island, Va. References: 17 .
1946 - Nation: USA.
1949 - Nation: USA.
1955 - Nation: USA. Launch Vehicle: Jupiter C.
Research and development Policy Council (DOD) unanimously recommended that the time-risk factor in the scientific satellite program be brought to the attention of the Secretary of the Defense for determination as to whether a Redstone backup program was indicated. References: 17 .
1956 - Nation: USA. Launch Vehicle: X-17.
A five-stage, solid-fuel rocket test vehicle, the world's first, was launched to a speed of mach 15 from Wallops Island, Va. by the NACA Langley Aeronautical Laboratory's Pilotless Aircraft Research Division. References: 483 .
1958 - - 06:17 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Complex: LC05. Launch Vehicle: Jupiter C. LV Configuration: Redstone s/n RS/CC-47. FAILURE: First Stage collided with upper stages. Second Stage ignited in wrong direction.
1959 - Nation: USA. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Complex: LC12. Launch Vehicle: Atlas C. LV Configuration: Atlas 11C.
1960 - Nation: USA.
1960 - Nation: USA.
McDonnell Aircraft Corporation proposed a one-man space station comprising a Mercury capsule plus a cylindrical space laboratory capable of supporting one astronaut in a shirtsleeve environment for 14 days in orbit. Gross weight of the combined vehicle at launch would be 7259 pounds (Mercury, as of October 25, 1960, was 4011 pounds), which would provide an 1100-pound, laboratory-test payload in a 150-nautical-mile orbit, boosted by an Atlas-Agena B. The result would be a 'minimum cost manned space station.'
1961 - Nation: USA. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Saturn V, Nova 8L.
After considering Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral-Merritt Island, Mayaguana-Bahamas, Cumberland-Georgia, Brownville-Texas, Christmas Island, Hawaii, and White Sands, Merritt Island selected as launch site for manned lunar flights and other missions requiring Saturn and Nova class vehicles. Based upon national space goals announced by the President in May, NASA plans called for acquisition of 80,000 acres north and west of AFMTC, to be administered by the USAF as agent for NASA and as a part of the Atlantic Missile Range. Additional Details: Merritt Island selected for Saturn V launch site.. References: 18 , 27 .
1962 - Nation: USA.
1963 - Nation: USA. Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Atlas E. LV Configuration: Atlas 72E.
1965 - Nation: USSR. Launch Vehicle: R-36-O, Tsyklon, Tsyklon 2, UR-200.
Decree 'On Creation of an R-36 Based Carrier Rocket for Launching the IS and US KA--start of work on an R-36-based launch vehicle for the IS and US programs' was issued. After Khrushchev was ousted from power, Chelomei's projects were examined by an expert commission under M V Keldysh. It was found that Yangel�s R-36 rocket was superior to Chelomei�s UR-200. The UR-200 was cancelled; the IS and US satellites would be launched by the R-36 11K67. The Tsyklon 2 definitive operational version replaced the 11K67 launch vehicle from 1969. References: 474 .
1965 - Nation: USSR.
Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On expansion of military space research and on 7K-VI Zvezda' was issued. In June 1965 Gemini 4 began the first American experiments in military space. At the same time the large military Manned Orbital Laboratory space station was on the verge of being given its final go-ahead. These events caused a bit of a panic among the Soviet military, where the Soyuz-R and Almaz projects were in the very earliest stages of design and would not fly until 1968 at the earliest. VPK head Leonid Smirnov ordered that urgent measures be taken to test manned military techniques in orbit at the earliest possible date. Modifications were to be made to the Voskhod and Soyuz 7K-OK spacecraft to assess the military utility of manned visual and photographic reconnaissance; of inspection of enemy satellites from orbit; attacking enemy spacecraft; and obtaining early warning of nuclear attack. The decree instructed Kozlov to fly by 1967 a military research variant of the Soyuz 7K-OK 11F615. References: 474 .
1966 - Nation: USA.
Maximum Speed - 718 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 241 sec. References: 49 , 97 .
1966 - - 08:03 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78M s/n N103-43.
Automatic station Luna 11. Further development of artificial lunar satellite systems and conduct of scientific experiments in circumlunar space. Lunar orbit 160 km x 1200 km x 27 degrees. Luna 11 was launched towards the Moon from an earth-orbiting platform and entered lunar orbit on August 28, 1966. The objectives of the mission included the study of: (1) lunar gamma- and X-ray emissions in order to determine the Moon's chemical composition; (2) lunar gravitational anomalies; (3) the concentration of meteorite streams near the Moon; and, (4) the intensity of hard corpuscular radiation near the Moon. A total of 137 radio transmissions and 277 orbits of the Moon were completed before the batteries failed on October 1, 1966. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 64 , 296 .
1967 - Nation: USA.
An interagency agreement on protecting the earth's biosphere from lunar sources of contamination was signed by James E. Webb, NASA; John W. Gardiner, HEW; Orville L. Freeman, Department of Agriculture; Stewart L. Udall, Department of Interior; and Frederick Seitz, National Academy of Sciences. The agreement established a committee to advise the NASA Administrator on back contamination and the protection of the biological and chemical integrity of lunar samples, on when and how astronauts and lunar samples might be released from quarantine, and on policy matters. References: 16 .
1967 - - 05:00 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Complex: LC133/1. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K63.
Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 99 .
1972 - Nation: USA.
Maximum Speed - 1344 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 376 sec. References: 49 , 97 .
1973 - Nation: USA.
Replaced solar camera film cartridges; installed replacement gyroscopes. References: 66 .
1973 - - 11:16 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Vehicle: Voskhod 11A57.
High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .
1977 - - 07:12 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC90. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean monitoring. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
1977 - - 14:38 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U.
High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .
1977 - - 18:14 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. LV Configuration: Kosmos 11K65M s/n 53716-326.
Eight satellites launched by a single carrier rocket. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
1981 - - 16:33 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC90. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
1984 - - 08:09 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78M / ML.
Replaced Molniya 1-54. Operation of the long-range telephone and telegraph radio communications system in the USSR; transmission of USSR Central Television programmes to stations in the Orbita network. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
1984 - - 19:50 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC200L. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S86. LV Configuration: Proton 8K82K s/n 324-01 / 11S86 s/n 51L.
Stationed at 99 deg E. Transmission of Central Television programmes to a network of receivers for collective use. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 67 , 274 .
1985 - - 22:33 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC90. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
1993 - - 10:48 GMT. Nation: Russia. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Complex: LC16/2. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U.
Investigation of the natural resources of the Earth in the interests of various branches of the national economy; solution of problems relating to ecology and international cooperation. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .