| astronautix.com | January 07 |
1935 - Nation: Russia.
1941 - Nation: USA.
1961 - Nation: USA. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Complex: LC18. Launch Vehicle: Blue Scout 1.
Suborbital. References: 5 .
1963 - - 21:09 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Complex: LC75-1-1. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena D. LV Configuration: Thor s/n 369 / Agena D s/n 1157.
KH-4. Erratic vehicle attitude. Frame ephemeris not created. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
1965 - Nation: USA.
William A. Lee, chief of ASPO's Operations Planning Division, announced a revised Apollo launch schedule for 1966 and 1967. In 1968, a week-long earth orbital flight would be a dress rehearsal for the lunar mission. "Then the moon," Lee predicted. "We have a fighting chance to make it by 1970," he said, "and also stay within the 20 billion price tag set . . . by former President Kennedy." References: 16 .
1966 - - 08:24 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC31. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92.
Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite. Program not completely met. Spacecraft put into incorrect orbit by abnormal function of second and third stages of booster. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 93 .
1968 - - 06:30 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Complex: LC36A. Launch Vehicle: Atlas Centaur SLV-3C. LV Configuration: Atlas SLV-3C s/n AC-15 / Centaur D-1A s/n 5903C.
Soft landed on lunar Moon; photographed lunar surface; sampled lunar soil. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 278 .
1970 - Nation: USA.
NASA issued instructions for deletion of the Apollo 20 mission from the program. MSC was directed to take immediate action to:
1976 - - 15:36 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Voskhod 11A57.
High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .
1977 - - 23:16 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92M.
Acquisition of meteorological information needed for use by the weather service. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
1978 - - 00:15 GMT. Nation: International. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Complex: LC36B. Launch Vehicle: Atlas Centaur SLV-3D. LV Configuration: Atlas SLV-3D s/n AC-46 / Centaur-D1AR s/n AC-46.
Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 278 .
Vietnam and Vietnam-backed Cambodian insurgents announce fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodian capital, and collapse of Pol Pot regime
1979 - Nation: China. Launch Site: Wuzhai .
1982 - - 15:36 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. LV Configuration: Kosmos 11K65M s/n 53755-102.
Replaced Cosmos 1302. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
1985 - - 19:12 GMT. Nation: Japan. Launch Site: Kagoshima . Launch Complex: M. Launch Vehicle: Mu-3S. LV Configuration: Mu-3S-II s/n M-3S2-1.
Sakigake ('Pioneer') was a test spacecraft similar to Suisei (Planet-A). Objectives were :verification of fundamental technology related to interplanetary missions, including deep-space communication, attitude control, attitude determination; study and observation of solar wind and plasma waves and interplanetary magnetic field. It carried three instruments to measure plasma wave spectra, solar wind ions, and interplanetary magnetic fields. The spacecraft was spin-stabilized at two different rates (5 and 0.2 rpm). It was equipped with hydrazine thrusters for attitude and velocity control, star and sun sensors for attitude determination, and a mechanically despun off-set parabolic dish for long-range communication. Launched into an initial heliocentric orbit with a period of 318.8 days, at 151.4 x 121.9 million km (0.815 x 1.012 AU), 1.439 degree inclination. Flew by Comet Halley on its sunward side at a distance of about 7 million kilometers on March 11, 1986. It later made an Earth swingby on January 8, 1992 with a closest approach of 88,997 km. This was the first planet-swingby for a Japanese spacecraft. During the approach, Sakigake observed the geotail, with passage occurring at 290 Re on 14 June 1993 before ISTP's multi-spacecraft investigation of that region. The second Earth swingby was on June 14, 1993 at 40 Re, and the third on October 28, 1994 at 86 Re. Almost no hydrazine remained so no further maneuvers were accomplished. Telemetry contact was lost on 15 November 1995 at a distance of 106 million km. Future mission planning had included a 23.6 km/s, 10,000 km flyby of Comet Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova on Feb 3, 1996 (approaching the nucleus along the tail) some 0.17 AU from the Sun, and a 14 million km passage of Comet Giacobini-Zinner on Nov 29, 1998. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 296 .
1991 - Nation: USSR.
Completed repair of Kvant 2 hatch. References: 66 .
1998 - - 02:28 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Complex: LC46. Launch Vehicle: Athena-2. LV Configuration: Athena-2 s/n LM-004.
The Lunar Prospector was designed for a low polar orbit investigation of the Moon, including mapping of surface composition and possible polar ice deposits, measurements of magnetic and gravity fields, and study of lunar outgassing events. Data from the 1 to 3 year mission will allow construction of a detailed map of the surface composition of the Moon, and will improve understanding of the origin, evolution, current state, and resources of the Moon. After launch, the Lunar Prospector had a 105 hour cruise to the Moon, followed by insertion into a near-circular 100 km altitude lunar polar orbit with a period of 118 minutes. The nominal mission duration was one year. A two year extended mission following this was possible, during which the orbit was to be lowered to 50 km and then 10 km altitude to obtain higher resolution measurements. References: 4 , 296 .