This article outlines notable events occurring in 1996 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.

1996 in spaceflight
The first Long March 3B, carrying Intelsat 708, goes off-course immediately after launch. The rocket later came down over a village, reportedly killing several to hundred on the ground
Orbital launches
First11 January
Last24 December
Total77
Successes69
Failures4
Partial failures4
Catalogued73
National firsts
Satellite Malaysia
Rockets
Maiden flightsAriane 5G
J-I
Long March 3B
Crewed flights
Orbital9
Total travellers49

Intelsat 708 launch failure

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Orbital launches

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Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat)
Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks

January

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11 January
09:41
 Space Shuttle Endeavour  Kennedy LC-39B  United Space Alliance
 STS-72 NASA Low Earth Satellite retrieval 20 January
07:41
Successful
 OAST-Flyer NASA Low Earth Technology development
Crewed orbital flight with six astronauts
Retrieved Space Flyer Unit
12 January
23:10
 Ariane 4 (44L)  Kourou ELA-2  Arianespace
 PAS-3R PanAmSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
 Measat-1 Binariang Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Measat-1 is the first Malaysian satellite
14 January
11:10
 Delta II 7925  Cape Canaveral LC-17B  Boeing IDS
 Koreasat-2 Korea Telecom Current: Graveyard
Operational: Geosynchronous
Communications In orbit Successful
Koreasat-2 retired on 8 April 2000
16 January
15:33
 Kosmos-3M  Plesetsk Site 132/1  
 Kosmos 2327 (Parus) MO RF Low Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
25 January
09:56
 Proton-K/DM-2  Baikonur Site 200/39  
 Gorizont 31 MOM Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful

February

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1 February
01:15
 Atlas IIAS  Cape Canaveral LC-36B   International Launch Services
 Palapa C1 Telkom Indonesia Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful
5 February
07:19
 Ariane 4 (44P)  Kourou ELA-2  Arianespace
 N-STAR b NTT Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
14 February
19:01
 Long March 3B  Taiyuan LC-2  CASC
 Intelsat 708 Intelsat Intended: Geosynchronous Communications +22 seconds Launch Failure
Maiden flight of Long March 3B
Loss of control at T+2 seconds, exploded 20 seconds later; Six to hundred fatalities on the ground
17 February
20:43
 Delta II 7925-8  Cape Canaveral LC-17B  Boeing IDS
 NEAR NASA Erosian
via Heliocentric
Asteroid probe 12 February 2001
20:01
Successful
Flyby of 253 Mathilde, entered orbit around and landed on 433 Eros; First probe to orbit and land on an asteroid
Final contact received on 28 February 2001, and unsuccessfully attempted on 10 December 2002
19 February
00:58
 Tsyklon-3  Plesetsk Site 32  
 Gonets-D1 Roskosmos Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
 Gonets-D1 Roskosmos Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
 Gonets-D1 Roskosmos Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
 Kosmos 2328 (Strela-3) MO RF Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
 Kosmos 2329 (Strela-3) MO RF Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
 Kosmos 2330 (Strela-3) MO RF Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
19 February
08:19
 Proton-K/DM-2  Baikonur Site 200/39  
 Raduga 44L MOM Intended: Geosynchronous
Actual: Geosynchronous transfer
Communications In orbit Launch Failure
Upper stage failed to ignite for second burn due to blocked valve
21 February
12:34
 Soyuz-U  Baikonur Site 1/5  Roskosmos
 Soyuz TM-23 Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Mir EO-21 2 September
07:41
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with two cosmonauts
22 February
20:18
 Space Shuttle Columbia  Kennedy LC-39B  United Space Alliance
 STS-75 NASA Low Earth USMP-3 9 March
13:58
Successful
 TSS-1R NASA Low Earth Tether satellite 19 March Failure
 EDO Pallet NASA Low Earth (Columbia) Cryogenic mission extension pallet 9 March
13:58
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with seven astronauts
TSS-1R tether snapped during deployment; Intended to be returned to Earth by Columbia, but could not be recovered
24 February
11:24
 Delta II 7925-10  Vandenberg SLC-2W  Boeing IDS
 Polar NASA High Earth (elliptical) Auroral research In orbit Successful
Mission concluded in April 2008

March

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9 March
01:53
 Pegasus-XL  Stargazer, Vandenberg  Orbital Sciences
 REX 2 US Air Force Low Earth Ionosphere research In orbit Operational
14 March
07:11
 Ariane 4 (44LP)  Kourou ELA-2  Arianespace
 Intelsat 707 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
14 March
17:40
 Soyuz-U  Plesetsk Site 43/4  
 Kosmos 2331 (Yantar-4K1) MOM Low Earth Reconnaissance 11 June Successful
21 March
04:53
 PSLV  Sriharikota FLP  ISRO
 IRS-P3 ISRO Sun-synchronous Remote sensing In orbit Successful
22 March
08:13
 Space Shuttle Atlantis  Kennedy LC-39B  United Space Alliance
 STS-76 NASA Low Earth (Mir) Shuttle-Mir flight 31 March
13:28
Successful
 SpaceHab LSM NASA/SpaceHab Low Earth (Atlantis) Logistics
Crewed orbital flight with six astronauts
28 March
00:21
 Delta II 7925-9.5  Cape Canaveral LC-17B  Boeing IDS
 USA-117 (GPS IIA-16) US Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational

April

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3 April
23:01
 Atlas IIA  Cape Canaveral LC-36A   International Launch Services
 Inmarsat 3F1 Inmarsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
8 April
23:09
 Proton-K/DM-2M  Baikonur Site 81/23   International Launch Services
 Astra 1F SES Astra Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
20 April
22:36
 Ariane 4 (42P)  Kourou ELA-2  Arianespace
 MSAT-1 TMI Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
21 April
11:48
 Proton-K  Baikonur Site 81/23  Roskosmos
 Priroda Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Mir module 23 March 2001
05:50
Successful
24 April
12:27
 Delta II 7920-10  Vandenberg SLC-2W  Boeing IDS
 MSX BMDO Sun-synchronous Infrared astronomy In orbit Successful
Member of the Space Surveillance Network
24 April
13:00
 Kosmos-3M  Plesetsk Site 132/1  
 Kosmos 2332 (Taifun) MO RF Low Earth Radar calibration 28 January 2005 Successful
24 April
23:37
 Titan IVA (401)/Centaur  Cape Canaveral LC-41  Lockheed Martin
 USA-118 (Mercury-2) NRO Geosynchronous ELINT In orbit Operational
30 April
04:31
 Atlas I  Cape Canaveral LC-36B   International Launch Services
 BeppoSAX ASI Low Earth X-ray astronomy 30 April 2003 Successful
5 May
07:04
 Soyuz-U  Baikonur Site 1/5  Roskosmos
 Progress M-31 Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Logistics 1 August
20:33
Successful
12 May
21:32
 Titan IVA (403)  Vandenberg SLC-4E  Lockheed Martin
 USA-119 (NOSS 2–3) NRO Low Earth SIGINT In orbit Operational
 USA-120 (NOSS 2–3) NRO Low Earth SIGINT In orbit Operational
 USA-121 (NOSS 2–3) NRO Low Earth SIGINT In orbit Operational
 USA-122 (NOSS 2–3) NRO Low Earth SIGINT In orbit Operational
 USA-123 (TiPS) NRL Low Earth Space tether experiment In orbit Operational
 USA-124 (TiPS) NRL Low Earth Space tether experiment In orbit Operational
14 May
08:55
 Soyuz-U  Baikonur Site 31/6  
 Yantar-1KFT VKS Intended: Low Earth Reconnaissance + 49 seconds Launch Failure
Payload fairing disintegrated
16 May
01:56
 Ariane 4 (44L)  Kourou ELA-2  Arianespace
 Palapa C2 Telkom Indonesia Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
 AMOS 1 Spacecom Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
17 May
02:44
 Pegasus-H  Stargazer, Vandenberg  Orbital Sciences
 MSTI-3 BMDO Low Earth Technology development 11 December 1997 Successful
19 May
10:30
 Space Shuttle Endeavour  Kennedy LC-39B  United Space Alliance
 STS-77 NASA Low Earth Microgravity research 29 May
11:10
Successful
 SpaceHab LSM NASA/SpaceHab Low Earth (Endeavour) Scientific experiments
 SPARTAN-207 NASA Low Earth Technology demonstration
 IAE NASA Low Earth Technology demonstration 22 May Successful
 PAMS NASA Low Earth Technology demonstration 26 October Successful
Crewed orbital flight with six astronauts
SPARTAN used to deploy the IAE satellite on 20 May; PAMS deployed on 22 May
24 May
01:09
 Delta II 7925  Cape Canaveral LC-17B  Boeing IDS
 Galaxy 9 PanAmSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
25 May
02:05
 Proton-K/DM-2  Baikonur Site 200/39  
 Gorizont 32 MOM Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational

June

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4 June
12:34
 Ariane 5G  Kourou ELA-3  Arianespace
 Cluster F1 ESA Intended: High Earth (elliptical) Magnetosphere research +37 seconds Launch Failure
 Cluster F2 ESA Intended: High Earth (elliptical) Magnetosphere research
 Cluster F3 ESA Intended: High Earth (elliptical) Magnetosphere research
 Cluster F4 ESA Intended: High Earth (elliptical) Magnetosphere research
Maiden flight of Ariane 5G; Ariane 5 Flight 501
Programming error led to rocket going off course
15 June
06:55
 Ariane 4 (44P)  Kourou ELA-2  Arianespace
 Intelsat 709 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
20 June
14:49
 Space Shuttle Columbia  Kennedy LC-39B  United Space Alliance
 STS-78 NASA Low Earth Microgravity research 7 July
12:36
Successful
 Spacelab Long Module 2 NASA Low Earth (Columbia) Spacelab LMS-1
 EDO Pallet NASA Low Earth (Columbia) Cryogenic mission extension pallet
Crewed orbital flight with seven astronauts
20 June
18:45
 Soyuz-U  Plesetsk Site 16/2  
 Yantar-4K1 VKS Intended: Low Earth Reconnaissance +50 seconds Launch Failure
Payload fairing disintegrated

July

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2 July
07:48
 Pegasus-XL  Stargazer, Vandenberg  Orbital Sciences
 TOMS-EP NASA Low Earth Ozone mapping In orbit Operational
3 July
00:31
 Titan IVA (405)  Cape Canaveral LC-40 Lockheed Martin
 USA-125 (SDS 2–4) US Air Force High Earth (elliptical) Communications In orbit Operational
3 July
10:47
 Long March 3  Xichang LC-1  
 Apstar 1A APT Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
9 July
22:24
 Ariane 4 (44L)  Kourou ELA-2  Arianespace
 Arabsat 2A Arabsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
 Turksat 1C Türksat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
16 July
00:50
 Delta II 7925-9.5  Cape Canaveral LC-17A  Boeing IDS
 USA-126 (GPS IIA-17) US Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
25 July
12:42
 Atlas II  Cape Canaveral LC-36A  
 USA-127 (UHF F/O F7) US Air Force Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
31 July
20:00
 Soyuz-U  Baikonur Site 1/5  Roskosmos
 Progress M-32 Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Logistics 20 November
22:42
Successful

August

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8 August
22:49
 Ariane 4 (44L)  Kourou ELA-2  Arianespace
 Italsat F2 ASI Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
 Telecom 2D France Télécom Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
14 August
22:20
 Molniya-M  Plesetsk Site 43/3  
  Molniya 1-89 MOM Molniya Communications 7 April 2012 Successful
17 August
01:58
 H-II  Tanegashima LA-Y1  NASDA
 ADEOS (Midori) NASDA Low Earth Atmospheric research In orbit Operational
 JAS-2 (Fuji-2) JARL Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
17 August
13:18
 Soyuz-U  Baikonur Site 1/5  Roskosmos
 Soyuz TM-24 Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Mir EO-22 2 March 1997
06:44
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with three cosmonauts
18 August
10:27
 Long March 3  Xichang LC-1  
 Chinasat 7 Chinasat Intended: Geosynchronous
Actual: High Earth (elliptical)
Communications In orbit Launch Failure
Third stage failure left satellite in useless orbit
21 August
09:47
 Pegasus-XL  Stargazer, Vandenberg  Orbital Sciences
 FAST NASA Low Earth Magnetosphere research In orbit Operational
29 August
05:22
 Molniya-M  Plesetsk Site 43/3  
 MUSAT CONAE Molniya Magnetosphere research 12 November 1999 Successful
 Interbol 2 Roskosmos Molniya Auroral research In orbit Operational
 Magion 5 Molniya Auroral research In orbit Successful

September

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4 September
09:01
 Zenit-2  Baikonur Site 45/1  
 Kosmos 2333 (Tselina-2) MO RF Low Earth ELINT In orbit Operational
5 September
12:47
 Kosmos-3M  Plesetsk Site 132/1  
 Kosmos 2334 (Parus) MO RF Low Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
 Oscar 30 UNAMSAT Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
6 September
17:37
 Proton-K/DM-2  Baikonur Site 81/23   International Launch Services
 Inmarsat 3F2 Inmarsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
8 September
21:49
 Atlas IIA  Cape Canaveral LC-36B   International Launch Services
 GE 1 GE Americom Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
11 September
00:00
 Ariane 4 (42P)  Kourou ELA-2  Arianespace
 Echostar II EchoStar Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful
Retired after malfunction on 14 July 2008[1]
12 September
08:49
 Delta II 7925-9.5  Cape Canaveral LC-17A  Boeing IDS
 USA-128 (GPS IIA-18) US Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
16 September
08:54
 Space Shuttle Atlantis  Kennedy LC-39A  United Space Alliance
 STS-79 NASA Low Earth Shuttle-Mir flight 26 September
12:13
Successful
 SpaceHab LDM NASA/SpaceHab Low Earth (Atlantis) Logistics
Crewed orbital flight with six astronauts
26 September
17:50
 Proton-K/DM-2M  Baikonur Site 200/39  
 Ekspress-6 RSCSC Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational

October

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20 October
07:20
 Long March 2D  Jiuquan  
 FSW-2-3 CASC Low Earth Reconnaissance 4 November Successful
24 October
11:37
 Molniya-M  Plesetsk Site 43/4  
 Molniya 3–48 MOM Molniya Communications 18 October 2007
03:51
Successful

November

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4 November
17:08
 Pegasus-XL  Stargazer, Wallops Island  Orbital Sciences
 HETE NASA Low Earth Astronomy 7 April 2002 Launch Failure
 SAC-B CONAE Low Earth Technology development
Both payloads failed to separate from the launch vehicle and each other
7 November
17:00
 Delta II 7925  Cape Canaveral LC-17A  Boeing IDS
 Mars Global Surveyor NASA Areocentric Mars orbiter In orbit Successful
Contact lost on 2 November 2006 and mission declared complete on 10 January 2007 after numerous troubleshooting attempts to regain contact.
13 November
22:40
 Ariane 4 (44L)  Kourou ELA-2  Arianespace
 Arabsat 2B Arabsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
 Measat-2 Binariang Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
16 November
20:48
 Proton-K/D-2  Baikonur Site 200/39  VKS
 Mars 96 (Mars-8) VKS Intended: Areocentric
Actual: Low Earth
Mars orbiter 17 November Failure
Upper stage failed to re-ignite for Earth orbit departure; re-entered the following day
19 November
19:55
 Space Shuttle Columbia  Kennedy LC-39B  United Space Alliance
 STS-80 NASA Low Earth Microgravity research 7 December
11:49
Successful
 ORFEUS-SPAS NASA Low Earth Ultraviolet astronomy
 Wake Shield Facility NASA Low Earth Materials research
 EDO Pallet NASA Low Earth (Columbia) Cryogenic mission extension pallet
Crewed orbital flight with five astronauts; All EVAs cancelled due to airlock malfunction; Longest-duration Space Shuttle flight in history[2]
Story Musgrave becomes the only American astronaut to fly on all five Space Shuttle orbiters[3]
ORFEUS-SPAS deployed on 20 November and retrieved on 4 December; WSF deployed on 22 November and retrieved on 26 November
19 November
23:20
 Soyuz-U  Baikonur Site 1/5  Roskosmos
 Progress M-33 Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Logistics 12 March 1997
03:23
Partial Failure
Failed to redock after free-flight in February–March 1997
21 November
20:47
 Atlas IIA  Cape Canaveral LC-36A   International Launch Services
 Hot Bird 2 Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational

December

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4 December
06:58
 Delta II 7925  Cape Canaveral LC-17B  Boeing IDS
 Mars Pathfinder NASA Heliocentric Mars lander 4 July 1997
16:57
Successful
 Sojourner NASA Heliocentric Mars rover
First Mars rover; landing site: Ares Vallis
Final contact with Sojourner received on 27 September 1997 and the mission was terminated on 10 March 1998
11 December
12:00
 Tsyklon-2  Baikonur Site 90/20  
 Kosmos 2335 (EORSAT) MO RF Low Earth Reconnaissance 1 January 1999 Successful
18 December
01:57
 Atlas IIA  Cape Canaveral LC-36B   International Launch Services
 Inmarsat 3F3 Inmarsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
20 December
06:43
 Kosmos-3M  Plesetsk Site 132/1  
 Kosmos 2336 (Parus) MO RF Low Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
20 December
18:04
 Titan IVA (404)  Vandenberg SLC-4E  Lockheed Martin
 USA-129 (KH-12) NRO Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Operational
NRO Launch 2
24 December
13:50
 Soyuz-U  Plesetsk Site 43/4  Roskosmos
 Bion 11 Roskosmos Low Earth Biological research 7 January 1997 Successful

Suborbital launches

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Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat)
Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks

January-March

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10 January  DF-21  Taiyuan  
Suborbital Missile test 10 January Successful
27 January  Prithvi II  Balasore  DRDO
DRDO Suborbital Missile test 27 January Successful
Maiden flight of Prithvi II missile
11 February
23:00
 S-310  Uchinoura LA-K  ISAS
 NTV-1 ISAS Suborbital Aeronomy research 11 February Successful
11 February
23:00
 J-I  Tanegashima LA-N  NASDA
 HYFLEX NASDA Suborbital Test flight 11 February Successful
Only flight of J-I
23 February
19:17
 Black Brant IX  White Sands LC-36  NASA
NASA Suborbital Technology development 23 February Successful
23 February
19:44
 Black Brant IX  White Sands LC-36  NASA
NASA Suborbital Ionosphere research 23 February Successful
2 March
10:00
 Skylark 7  Esrange Area S  DLR
 TEXUS 34 DASA Suborbital Microgravity research 2 March Successful
6 March
03:35
 Black Brant IX  White Sands  NASA
NASA Suborbital Astronomy 6 March Successful
6 March
20:01
 LGM-30G Minuteman III  Vandenberg LF-09  US Air Force
 FOT GT161GM US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 6 March Successful
22 March  Hera  White Sands LC-94  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital ABM target 22 March Successful
22 March  THAAD  White Sands  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital ABM Test 22 March Successful

April-June

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3 April
15:59
 Black Brant 9CM1  White Sands LC-36  NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy and microgravity research 3 April Successful
17 April
07:00
 RT-2PM Topol  Plesetsk Site 158  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 17 April Successful
21 April  UGM-133 Trident II  Submarine, Eastern Range  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 21 April Successful
21 April  UGM-133 Trident II  Submarine, Eastern Range  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 21 April Successful
3 May
04:16
 Skylark 7  Esrange Area S  DLR
 Maser 7 SSC Suborbital Microgravity research 3 May Successful
8 May
08:01
 LGM-118 Peacekeeper  Vandenberg LF-05  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 8 May Successful
16 May  UGM-96 Trident I  Submarine, Eastern Range  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 16 May Successful
16 May  UGM-96 Trident I  Submarine, Eastern Range  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 16 May Successful
16 May  UGM-96 Trident I  Submarine, Eastern Range  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 16 May Successful
16 May  UGM-96 Trident I  Submarine, Eastern Range  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 16 May Successful
30 May
08:01
 LGM-118 Peacekeeper  Vandenberg LF-02  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 30 May Successful
4 June
05:06
 Black Brant VIIIC  White Sands  NASA
 XQC NASA Suborbital X-ray astronomy 4 June Successful
6 June  UR-100N  Baikonur  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 6 June Successful
6 June  RT-2PM Topol  Plesetsk Site 158  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 6 June Successful
17 June
05:50
 Black Brant IX  White Sands LC-36  NASA
NASA Suborbital Radio astronomy 17 June Successful
20 June
14:40
 Black Brant IX  White Sands LC-36  NASA
NASA Suborbital Test rocket 20 June Successful
26 June
12:17
 LGM-30G Minuteman III  Vandenberg LF-10  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 26 June Successful
26 June
14:59
 LGM-30G Minuteman III  Vandenberg LF-04  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 26 June Successful
26 June
19:00
 Black Brant IX  White Sands LC-36  NASA
NASA Suborbital Solar observation 26 June Successful
28 June  R-29 Vysota  Submarine, Sea of Okhotsk  Russian Navy
Russian Navy Suborbital Missile test 28 June Successful
28 June  R-29 Vysota  Submarine, Sea of Okhotsk  Russian Navy
Russian Navy Suborbital Missile test 28 June Successful
28 June  R-29 Vysota  Submarine, Sea of Okhotsk  Russian Navy
Russian Navy Suborbital Missile test 28 June Successful

July-September

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9 July  Aries  Wallops Island  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Tracking demonstration 9 July Successful
14 July
07:15
 Black Brant 9CM1  White Sands LC-36  NASA
 NUVIEWS 1 NASA Suborbital Ultraviolet astronomy 14 July Successful
15 July  R-29 Vysota  Submarine, Barents Sea  Russian Navy
Russian Navy Suborbital Missile test 15 July Successful
15 July  R-29 Vysota  Submarine, Barents Sea  Russian Navy
Russian Navy Suborbital Missile test 15 July Successful
15 July
11:28
 Hera  White Sands LC-94  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital ABM Target 15 July Successful
15 July
11:31
 THAAD  White Sands  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital ABM test 15 July Successful
15 July
18:21
 Castor 4B  Wake Island  Orbital Sciences
Orbital Sciences Suborbital Re-entry test 15 July Successful
19 July  UGM-133 Trident II  Submarine, Eastern Range  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 19 July Successful
19 July  UGM-133 Trident II  Submarine, Eastern Range  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 19 July Successful
25 July  RT-2PM Topol  Plesetsk Site 158  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 25 July Successful
26 July
09:40
 Black Brant 9CM1  White Sands LC-36  NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 26 July Successful
12 August
18:58
 Nike Orion  White Sands  NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 12 August Successful
20 August
15:30
 S-310  Uchinoura Area K  ISAS
 SEEK ISAS Suborbital Plasma research 20 August Successful
20 August
16:00
 Black Brant 9CM1  White Sands LC-36  NASA
NASA Suborbital Solar research 20 August Successful
26 August
14:00
 S-310  Uchinoura Area K  ISAS
 SEEK ISAS Suborbital Plasma research 26 August Successful
29 August  Black Brant VC  Wallops Island  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Test rocket 29 August Successful
31 August
15:41
 STARS  Barking Sands  US Air Force
 ODES/MSX MDT-2 US Air Force Suborbital Target 31 August Successful
11 September
08:01
 LGM-118 Peacekeeper  Vandenberg LF-05  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 11 September Successful
24 September
22:00
 TR-1  Tanegashima LA-T  NASDA
NASDA Suborbital Microgravity research 24 September Successful
27 September
16:51
 LGM-30F Minuteman II  Vandenberg LF-03  US Air force
US Air Force Suborbital Target 27 September Successful

October-December

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2 October  UGM-96 Trident I  Submarine, Eastern Range  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 2 October Successful
3 October  RT-2PM Topol  Plesetsk Site 158  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 3 October Successful
3 October  R-29 Vysota  Submarine, Barents Sea  Russian Navy
Russian Navy Suborbital Missile test 3 October Successful
9 October  Hera  White Sands LC-94  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital ABM target 9 October Successful
9 October  THAAD  White Sands  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital ABM test 9 October Successful
16 October
10:41
 LCLV  Wallops Island  US Air Force
 Red Tigress 3 US Air Force Suborbital Target 16 October Successful
16 October
16:02
 Black Brant IX  White Sands LC-36  NASA
NASA Suborbital Technology development 16 October Successful
21 October
03:00
 Black Brant IX  White Sands LC-36  NASA
NASA Suborbital Astronomy 21 October Successful
28 October  UGM-133 Trident II  Submarine, Eastern Range  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 28 October Successful
28 October  UGM-133 Trident II  Submarine, Eastern Range  US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 28 October Successful
29 October
03:30
 Black Brant IX  White Sands LC-36  NASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 29 October Successful
6 November
13:06
 LGM-118 Peacekeeper  Vandenberg LF-02  US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 6 November Successful
9 November
08:50
 RT-2PM Topol  Plesetsk Site 158  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 9 November Successful
13 November
18:30
 Black Brant IX  White Sands LC-36  NASA
 SERTS-96 NASA Suborbital Solar observation 13 November Successful
17 November
13:30
 Terrier-Orion  White Sands LC-36  NASA
NASA Suborbital Test rocket 17 November Successful
24 November
11:05
 Skylark 7  Esrange Area S  DLR
 TEXUS 35 DASA Suborbital Microgravity research 24 November Successful
29 November  RT-2PU Topol  Plesetsk Site 158  RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 29 November Successful
28 December  DF-21  Taiyuan  
Suborbital Missile test 28 December Successful

Deep-space rendezvous

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Date (GMT) Spacecraft Event Remarks
27 June Galileo 1st flyby of Ganymede
6 September Galileo 2nd flyby of Ganymede
4 November Galileo 1st flyby of Callisto
19 December Galileo 1st flyby of Europa

EVAs

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Start Date/Time Duration End Time Spacecraft Crew Remarks
15 January
05:35
6 hours
9 minutes
11:44 STS-72
Endeavour
 Leroy Chiao
 Daniel T. Barry
Practiced construction techniques for the upcoming International Space Station. The activities included installing a cable tray, hooking up cables and fluid lines, handling small screws and bolts in the screw, and grappling large objects at the end of the robotic arm.[4]
17 January
05:40
6 hours
54 minutes
12:34 STS-72
Endeavour
 Leroy Chiao
 Winston E. Scott
Continued testing of construction techniques with utility boxes, slidewires and a portable work stanchion attached to the robotic arm. Scott also tested the heating capabilities of his spacesuit by riding the robotic arm into a cold night zone while Endeavour's payload bay was oriented toward space.[5]
8 February
14:03
3 hours
5 minutes
17:08 Mir EO-20
Kvant-2
 Thomas Reiter
 Yuri Gidzenko
Moved a YMK maneuvering unit from the Kvant-2 airlock and secured it on the module exterior. Then collected experiments deployed earlier on the ESEF. The team was unable to remove an antenna from Kristall when they were unable to loosen some bolts on the antenna.
15 March
01:04
5 hours
51 minutes
06:55 Mir EO-21
Kvant-2
 Yury Onufriyenko
 Yury Usachov
To improve access to the outside of the Kristall module, Onufriyenko and Usachev installed a second Strela boom on the Mir base block. Also prepared cables and connectors for the future installation of the Mir Cooperative Solar Array.
27 March
06:34
6 hours
2 minutes
12:36 STS-76
Mir Atlantis
 Michael R. Clifford
 Linda M. Godwin
Added four canisters of experiments, called the Mir Environmental Effects Payload (MEEP), to the outside of docking module. Also tested new tethers and foot restraints for future use on Mir and the upcoming ISS assembly. First Shuttle-Mir EVA and EVA performed from a Space Shuttle docked at a space station.
20 May
22:50
6 hours
20 minutes
21 May
04:10
Mir EO-21
Kvant-2
 Yury Onufriyenko
 Yury Usachov
Moved the Mir Cooperative Solar Array (MCSA) from its stowage position on Kristal to a final location on Kvant-1, and prepared the array for complete deployment. Also released a balloon shaped like a large Pepsi can, and filmed it for a television commercial.
24 May
20:47
6 hours
43 minutes
25 May
02:30
Mir EO-21
Kvant-2
 Yury Onufriyenko
 Yury Usachov
Completed deployment of the Mir Cooperative Solar Array (MCSA) on the Kvant-1 module.
30 May
18:20
4 hours
20 minutes
22:40 Mir EO-21
Kvant-2
 Yury Onufriyenko
 Yury Usachov
Installed the German made Modular Optoelectronic Multispectral Scanner (MOMS) camera to the exterior of the Priroda module. Also installed a new handrail on the exterior of Kvant-2 to aid future spacewalks.
6 June
16:56
3 hours
34 minutes
20:30 Mir EO-21
Kvant-2
 Yury Onufriyenko
 Yury Usachov
Installed two American micrometeoroid detector experiments to the exterior of Kvant-2. Also replaced a cassette for the Komza experiment of the surface of Spektr.
13 June
12:45
5 hours
42 minutes
18:27 Mir EO-21
Kvant-2
 Yury Onufriyenko
 Yury Usachov
Installed the Rapana girder to the exterior of Kvant-1 in anticipation of mounting future experiments to the girder. Also manually deployed the Travers radar on the surface of Priroda.
2 December
15:54
5 hours
58 minutes
21:52 Mir EO-22
Kvant-2
 Valery Korzun
 Aleksandr Kaleri
Successfully connected electrical cables to the solar panels on surface installed on Kvant-1.[6]
9 December
13:50
6 hours
38 minutes
20:28 Mir EO-22
Kvant-2
 Valery Korzun
 Aleksandr Kaleri
Completed the construction of the Rapana truss structure and the installed the Kurs docking antenna. Also fixed an amateur radio antenna that had loosened.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Bergin, Chris (16 July 2008). "Sea Launch lofts EchoStar 11 – EchoStar 2 dies on orbit". NASASpaceflight.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  2. ^ "CNN Student News One-Sheet: Space Shuttle Facts". CNN. 11 March 2008. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  3. ^ Story Musgrave 6-time Space Shuttle Astronaut simulates Space Flight | Hubble Space Telescope | Space Exploration | Space Story Archived 30 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Dumoulin, Jim (2001). "STS-72 Day 5 Highlights". NASA Space Shuttle Launch Archive. NASA. Archived from the original on 21 March 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
  5. ^ Dumoulin, Jim (2001). "STS-72 Day 7 Highlights". NASA Space Shuttle Launch Archive. NASA. Archived from the original on 21 March 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
  6. ^ van der Berg, Chris (3 December 1996). "MIRNEWS 3 DECEMBER 1996 (337)". MirNews. SpaceOnLine. Archived from the original on 8 March 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
  7. ^ van der Berg, Chris (10 December 1996). "MIRNEWS 10 DECEMBER 1996 (338)". MirNews. SpaceOnLine. Archived from the original on 8 March 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
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Generic references:
  Spaceflight portal