| astronautix.com | March 15 |
1932 - Nation: USA.
1934 - Nation: USA.
1946 - Nation: USA. Launch Site: White Sands . Launch Complex: LC33. Launch Vehicle: V-2. LV Configuration: V-2 number 1.
1947 - Nation: USSR.
1950 - Nation: USSR.
1953 - Nation: Russia. Launch Vehicle: R-5.
Unsuccessful. First Phase I trials launch of the 8 remaining rockets of the first production lot were fired, of which 6 reached the target area. The first launch was on 15 March 1953. The first successful flight was on 2 April 1953. The first full range flight came on 19 April 1953.
Following completion of the trials the missile was accepted for military service. It seems very limited numbers or no R-5's at all actually entered service. The R-5M version with nuclear warhead was deployed instead. Special variants of the R-5 were used until well into the 1970's for test of equipment, scientific research. These included the R-5A, R-5B, R-5V, and Vertikal.
The R-5 was generally built of Amr3 aluminium-magnesium alloy. The tail section was initially built of steel, later being changed to D16T aluminium alloy. Spetsmash built the mobile launch system, similar to that for the V-2. It took two hours to prepare an R-5 for launch.
1959 - Nation: USA. Launch Site: White Sands . Launch Complex: ALA3. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. LV Configuration: Redstone s/n CC-1016.
Successful missile test. Army Redstone ejected miniature TV camera which transmitted pictures of its target impact area. Missed aimpoint by 144 m. References: 439 .
1960 - Nation: USA. Launch Site: White Sands . Launch Complex: ALA3?. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. LV Configuration: Redstone s/n CC-2014.
Successful missile test. Missed aimpoint by 295 m. References: 439 .
1960 - Nation: USA. Launch Vehicle: Saturn I.
The Army Ballistic Missile Agency's Development Operations Division and the Saturn program were transferred to NASA after the expiration of the 60-day limit for congressional action on the President's proposal of January 14. (The President's decision had been made on October 21, 1959.) By Executive Order, the President named the facilities the "George C. Marshall Space Flight Center." Formal transfer took place on July 1. References: 17 , 27 .
1961 - Nation: USA.
United States and United Kingdom signed formal agreement covering Mercury tracking stations on Bermuda. References: 18 .
1962 - Nation: USA. Launch Vehicle: Atlas D.
NASA Headquarters publicly announced that Scott Carpenter would pilot the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) manned orbital mission replacing Donald Slayton. The latter, formerly scheduled for the flight, was disqualified because of a minor erratic heart rate. References: 483 .
1963 - Nation: USA. Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Vehicle: Atlas F. LV Configuration: Atlas 63F.
1965 - - 11:02 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC41. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 65S3.
1967 - Nation: USSR.
Military-Industrial Commission (VPK) Decree 42 'On search service for returning missions from the Moon' was issued. References: 474 .
1967 - Nation: USSR. Launch Vehicle: N1.
CIA reports accurately development of N-1, Almaz, Proton, etc.... even states 100,000 kg large space station in development for launch by N-1 by 1969. CIA does not expect lunar landing until early 1970's. References: 77 .
1968 - Nation: USA.
Maximum Speed - 684 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 243 sec. References: 49 , 97 .
1969 - - 12:14 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Voskhod 11A57.
High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule References: 1 , 2 , 6 .
1970 - Nation: USA.
Definition studies for a second Orbital Workshop (Skylab II) were under study. Mission objectives would respond to the following major objectives: continued development and expansion of the ability to live, work, and operate effectively in space; exploitation of space for practical benefits through the observation of Earth and its environment; and the use of space for scientific research.
1972 - - 12:57 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Voskhod 11A57.
High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .
1973 - Nation: USA.
A Lunar Programs Office, under which the Lunar Data Analysis and Synthesis Program would be conducted, was established in the Office of Space Science, NASA Hq. The office was responsible for continued operation and collection of data from the Apollo lunar surface experiment packages and the Apollo 15 subsatellite; Apollo surface and orbital science data analysis by principal investigators; development of selenodetic, cartographic, and photographic products; continued lunar laser ranging experiment; continued lunar sample analysis; lunar supporting research and technology; and advanced program studies. References: 16 .
1976 - Nation: USA.
Start functional checkout, Enterprise (OV-101). References: 15 .
1976 - - 01:25 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Complex: LC40. Launch Vehicle: Titan 3C. LV Configuration: Titan 3C s/n 23C-12.
Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication. Also tested pulsed plasma engines. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
Solar radiation data. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
Solar radiation data. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication. Also tested pulsed plasma engines. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
1978 - - 15:50 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. LV Configuration: Kosmos 11K65M s/n 53746-315.
Military navigation satellite. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
1979 - - 02:52 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. LV Configuration: Kosmos 11K65M s/n 47168-312.
Eight satellites launched by a single carrier rocket. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .
1982 - - 04:39 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC200L. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S86. LV Configuration: Proton 8K82K s/n 305-02 / 11S86 s/n 35L.
Stationed at 53 deg E. Provision of telephone and telegraph radiocommunications and transmission of television programmes. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 67 , 111 , 274 .
1984 - - 17:02 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Complex: LC32. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 3.
1985 - Nation: USSR. Launch Vehicle: Energia.
From March-October 1985 the Ts core stage was back on the UKSS test/launch stand for cold flow tests. A total of nine cryogenic fuelling cycle were completed with the 4M Energia mock-up, representing the first operational use in the world of super-chilled hydrogen.
1988 - - 18:43 GMT. Nation: USSR. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Complex: LC32. Launch Vehicle: Tsyklon 3.
1996 - Nation: Russia.
Telescopic boom installed. References: 66 .
1999 - - 03:06 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U / Ikar. LV Configuration: Soyuz 11A511U / Ikar s/n ST02/059?.
In the second Soyuz/Ikar launch four Globalstar satellites were delivered with the Ikar upper stage into a 235 km x 899 km x 52.0 degree transfer orbit. The Ikar stage then placed itself and its payload into a 897 km x 950 km x 52.0 degree deployment orbit. Satellite M022 was separated first from the top of the dispenser, followed by ejection of the other three satellites from the sides at 06:37 GMT. After dispensing the satellites, the Ikar deorbited itself on March 16.