| astronautix.com | December 24 |
1950 - Nation: USA.
1958 - Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: R-7 8K71. LV Configuration: 8K71. FAILURE: Failure.
1963 - Nation: USSR. Launch Vehicle: N1.
Decree 'On ensuring the manufacture of ground equipment for the N1' was issued. References: 474 .
1965 - - 21:06 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Complex: LC75-3-4. Launch Vehicle: TA Thor Agena D. LV Configuration: Thor 2C s/n 451 / Agena D SS-01B s/n 1610.
KH-4A. Cameras operated satisfactorily. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
1968 - Nation: USA.
ASPO Manager George M. Low apprised Program Director Samuel C. Phillips of MSC's plans for television cameras aboard remaining Apollo missions. With the exception of spacecraft 104 (scheduled for flight as Apollo 9), television cameras were to be flown in all CMs. Also, cameras would be included in all manned LMs (LM-3 through LM-14). References: 16 .
1969 - Nation: Russia.
1974 - - 11:02 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC90. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 2.
Ocean monitoring; exploded 4/17/75. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
1979 - - 17:14 GMT. Nation: Europe. Launch Site: Kourou . Launch Complex: ELA1. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 1. LV Configuration: Ariane 1 s/n LO1.
Launch vehicle test. Technological Capsule (CAT). ESA registration number: ESA/79/2. Principal mission of the technological capsule (with ballast), which was equipped with batteries having a lifetime of approximately 8 orbits, was to transmit back to earth technological data on the first developmental flight L01 of the ARIANE launch vehicle. When the batteries were exhausted, the capsule ended its radio transmissions, and it is now inoperative but still in orbit. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
1980 - - 22:48 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Complex: LC132. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. LV Configuration: Kosmos 11K65M s/n 47198-318.
Eight satellites launched by a single carrier rocket. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
1982 - - 12:00 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC200L. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S86. LV Configuration: Proton 8K82K s/n 314-01 / 11S86 s/n 33L. FAILURE: Stage 1 - vehicle failed at launch.
1985 - - 19:12 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Complex: LC43/4. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78M / ML.
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 and within the framework of international cooperation. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
1996 - - 13:50 GMT. Nation: Russia. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Complex: LC43/4. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. LV Configuration: Soyuz 11A511U s/n PVB15000-050.
Biological research. Carried monkeys Lalik and Multik. References: 4 , 104 , 297 .
1997 - - 13:32 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Svobodniy . Launch Vehicle: Start-1.
1997 - - 23:19 GMT. Nation: China. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC81L. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / DM3. LV Configuration: Proton 8K82K s/n 394-01 / DM3 s/n 5L. FAILURE: DM-3 Stage failed, leaving spacecraft in geosynchronous transfer orbit.
The spacecraft was left in a high inclination useless orbit by a failure of the DM-3 stage and became an insurance writeoff. Two trips around the Moon to remove the inclination under its new owner (Hughes) saw it back into very limited service (as HGS-1) by August 1998 over the Indian Ocean and available for sale at bargain rates. References: 4 , 274 .
1998 - - 20:03 GMT. Nation: Russia. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Complex: LC132. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M.
A Parus navigation satellite in the same orbital plane as Cosmos 2233.
1999 - Nation: USA.
Completed part of the installation of new insulation to the Hubble space telescope. The rest was deferred to the next servicing mission.