This article outlines notable events occurring in 1996 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.
![]() 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 | |
---|---|
First | 11 January |
Last | 24 December |
Total | 77 |
Successes | 69 |
Failures | 4 |
Partial failures | 4 |
Catalogued | 73 |
National firsts | |
Satellite | ![]() |
Rockets | |
Maiden flights | Ariane 5G J-I Long March 3B |
Crewed flights | |
Orbital | 9 |
Total travellers | 49 |
Intelsat 708 launch failure
editOrbital launches
editDate and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
Januaryedit | |||||||
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 | ||
Februaryedit | |||||||
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 | |||||||
Marchedit | |||||||
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 | ||
Apriledit | |||||||
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 | ||
Mayedit | |||||||
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 | ||
Juneedit | |||||||
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 | |||||||
Julyedit | |||||||
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 | ||
Augustedit | |||||||
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 | |||
Septemberedit | |||||||
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 | ||
Octoberedit | |||||||
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 | ||
Novemberedit | |||||||
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 | ||
Decemberedit | |||||||
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
editDate and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
January-Marchedit | |||||||
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-Juneedit | |||||||
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-Septemberedit | |||||||
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-Decemberedit | |||||||
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
editDate (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
editStart 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
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ "CNN Student News One-Sheet: Space Shuttle Facts". CNN. 11 March 2008. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
- ^ 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
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
External links
edit- Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
- Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
- Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.[dead link]
- Krebs, Gunter. "Chronology of Space Launches".
- Kyle, Ed. "Space Launch Report". Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "GCAT Orbital Launch Log".
- Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive".
- Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica".
- Webb, Brian. "Southwest Space Archive".
- Zak, Anatoly. "Russian Space Web".
- "ISS Calendar". Spaceflight 101.
- "NSSDCA Master Catalog". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
- "Space Calendar". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.[dead link]
- "Space Information Center". JAXA.[dead link]
- "Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).