1918 Goddard demonstrates tube-launched solid propellant rockets. 1942 Launch of the first A-4/V-2 rocket to an altitude of 53 miles (85 km). 1946 The US Army establishes the first radar contact with Moon, Belmar, New Jersey. 1946 US V-2 rocket reaches 183 km, White Sands Proving Grounds, NM. 1950 The first congress of Internat'l Astronautical Federation opens in Paris. 1952 Wernher von Braun discusses the technical details of a manned exploration of Mars in The Mars Project. 1955 Construction begins on Soviet cosmodrome launch facilities at Baikonur in Kazachstan. 4 Oct 1957 The USSR launches Sputnik 1 the first artificial earth satellite and in response the US forms the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). 3 Nov 1957 USSR launches Sputnik 2, the second artificial Earth satellite with the first animal in space, the dog Laika. 1957 The first test firing of the Vanguard satellite launch vehicle, TV-3, fails when the Vanguard rocket blows up. 1957 The Vanguard TV-1 booster test reaches 195 km. Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 1
4 Jan 1958 Sputnik 1 reenters atmosphere & burns up 31 Jan 1958 The first US satellite (Explorer I) launched with a payload of approximately 1 kg 1 Oct 1958 National Advisory Council on Aeronautics renamed NASA 1958 The second US Moon probe, Pioneer 1, reaches 113,810 km, and falls back to Earth. 1958 Explorer 2 fails to reach Earth orbit. 1958 The US Navy launches Vanguard 1, the first US artificial satelite, into orbit. It was designed to measure the Earth's shape. 1958 The first voice from space; a recorded Christmas message by Eisenhower. 1958 The US Army launches Explorer 3, America's third successful satellite. It discovered the Earth's radiation belt. 1958 US lunar probe Pioneer 3 reaches 107,269 km, falls back 1958 US manned space-flight project renamed Project Mercury 1958 USSR launches Sputnik III 1958 Vanguard Project transferred from military to NASA Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 2
1958 Vanguard SLV-1 launched for Earth orbit (failed) 1958 Vanguard SLV-2 launched for Earth orbit (failed) 1958 Vanguard TV-3 back-up launches into Earth orbit; reaches 6 km 1958 Vanguard TV-5 launched for Earth orbit (failed) 1958 World's 1st Moon probe, US's Thor-Able, explodes at T +77 sec 3 Mar 1959 US Pioneer 4, which performed a distant luner flyby and became the first US probe to enter solar orbit, is launched. 13 Sep 1959 USSR Luna 2, the hard lander, is the first human-made device to impact the Moon east of Mare Serenitatis. 4 Oct 1959 USSR Luna 3 performs luner flyby and sends back the first photos of Moon's far side. 1959 Congressional Committee of Astronautics meets Project 7 astronauts. 1959 Explorer 6 transmits 1st TV photo of Earth from space 1959 Explorer VI reveals an intense radiation belt around the Earth 1959 Far side of Moon seen for 1st time by USSR's Luna 3 Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 3
1959 Farthest man made radio signal heard from Pioneer IV at 400,000 miles. 1959 Launch of Discoverer 1 (WTR)-1st polar orbit 1959 Luna 1 (Mechta) becomes 1st craft to leave Earth's gravity 1959 Monkeys Able & Baker zoom 300 miles (500 km) into space on Jupiter missile, became 1st animals retrieved from a space mission 1959 NASA names 1st 7 astronauts for Project Mercury 1959 Soviet Luna 3, 1st successful photographic spacecraft, impacts Moon 1959 The first weather satellite launched, Vanguard 2, 9.8 kg 1959 Transit 1A, 1st navigational satellite launched; failed to orbit 1959 USAF launches Discover II into polar orbit 1959 USSR launches Mechta (Luna 1) for 1st lunar fly-by, 1st solar orbit 1959 Vanguard 3 launched into Earth orbit 1959 Vanguard SLV-5 launched for Earth orbit (failed) Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 4
1959 Vanguard SLV-6 launched for Earth orbit (failed) 11 Mar 1960 US Pioneer 5 is launched into solar orbit between Earth and Venus. 1960 Courier 1B Launched; 1st active repeater satellite in orbit. 1960 Disaster on USSR launch pad, kills missile expert Nedelin & team (unconfirmed). The USSR claimed he was killed in plane crash. 1960 Discoverer 13 launched into orbit. It returned the first object from space. 1960 Echo 1, the first communications satellite, was launched. 1960 Explorer 8 fails to reach Earth orbit. 1960 Mercury-Redstone 1 test launch fails at 10 cm altitude 1960 Mercury-Redstone 1A reaches 210 km in test flight 1960 RCA (TV & Infra-Red Observation 'weather' Satellite) I launched 1960 Soviet Sputnik 4 launched into Earth orbit; later recovery failed 1960 Soviet Sputnik 5 carries 2 dogs, 3 mice into orbit (later recovered alive) Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 5
1960 The first launch of Delta satellite launching vehicle; it failed 1960 The first weather satellite was launched (Tiros 1) 1960 Tiros 2, a weather satellite is launched 1960 Transit 1B, 1st navigational satellite, placed in Earth orbit 1960 USSR launch 1st (unmanned) space capsule 1960 USSR recovers 2 dogs, the first living organisms to return from space. 12 Feb 1961 Soviet Venera 1 launches toward Venus for a Venus flyby. 12 Apr 1961 Soviet Yuri Gagarin is the first man in space in Vostok 1. 25 May 1961 John F Kennedy sets goal of putting a man on Moon before the end of decade. 1961 Alan Shepard becomes the first American in space (aboard Freedom 7). 1961 Alan Shepard receives NASA Distinguished Service Medal, Washington. 1961 Cosmonaut Gherman Titov circles Earth for a full day in Vostok 2. 1961 Explorer (10) fails to reach Earth orbit. Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 6
1961 Explorer (12) fails to reach Earth orbit. 1961 Gherman S Titov, 2nd Russian in space aboard Vostok 2 (17 orbits), first case of motion sickness in space reported. 1961 Ham is first primate in space (158 miles) aboard Mercury/Redstone 2. 1961 Ham radio satellite Oscar 1 launched with military Discoverer 36. 1961 Launch of Transit 4a, with first nuclear power supply (SNAP-3). 1961 Mercury/Atlas rocket lifted off with an electronic mannequin. 1961 Mercury-Atlas 2 reentry test reaches 172 km. 1961 Mercury-Atlas 5 carries a chimp (Enos) to orbit. 1961 NASA launches Explorer 11 into Earth orbit to study gamma rays. 1961 Soviet Sputnik 10 carries a dog into Earth orbit; later recovered. 1961 Soviet Sputnik 7 launches into Earth orbit; probable Venus probe failure. 1961 Soviet Sputnik 9 carries Chernushka (dog) into orbit. Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 7
1961 Soviet Union fires a rocket from Sputnik V to Venus. 1961 The first all-solid-propellant rocket put in orbit, Wallops Island VA. 1961 The first animal returned from space, dog named Blackie aboard Sputnik 9. 1961 The first Saturn launch vehicle makes an unmanned flight test. 1961 Unmanned Mercury test explodes on launch pad. 1961 Unmanned Mercury-Atlas 4 launched into Earth orbit. 1961 US lunar probe Ranger 1 reaches 190 km from Earth, falls back. 1961 US Ranger 2 launched to Moon; failed. 1961 US satellite Explorer 9 is launched. 1961 US Air Force launches Samos spy satellite to replace U-2 flights. 23 Apr 1962 US Ranger 4, 1the first US satellite to impact the Moon launched from Cape Canaveral. 27 Aug 1962 US Mariner 2 is launched, and makes the first US visit to another planet when it performs a flyby of Venus on 14 December 1 1962. It went off air on 3 January 1963 and is now in a solar orbit. Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 8
18 Oct 1962 US Ranger 5 launches for the Moon. It was to be a lander but became a flyby because of a spacecraft failure. 1962 Andrian G Nikolayev, becomes 3rd Russian in space aboard Vostok 3. 1962 John Glenn is first American to orbit Earth (Friendship 7). 1962 Launch of Alouette 1, first Canadian satellite (on US Delta rocket). 1962 Launch of OSO 1, first astronomy satellite (solar flare data). 1962 M Scott Carpenter aboard Aurora 7 launched into earth orbit. 1962 Oscar 2, an amateur radio satellite, is launched into Earth orbit. 1962 Russia launches Vostok 4, Pavel Popovich, who lands safely. 1962 Scott Carpenter orbits Earth 3 times in US Aurora 7. 1962 The first launching of Titan 2-rocket. 1962 Transit 5A1, first operational navigational satellite, launched. 1962 US launches Ranger 3, misses Moon by 22,000-mile (37,000-km). Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 9
1962 US Ranger 4 spacecraft crash lands on the Moon. 1962 US space officials announce selection of 9 new astronauts. 1962 US/UK launch Ariel; first international payload. 1962 USSR launches Mars 1; radio contact lost before arrival at Mars. 1962 Wally Schirra in Sigma 7 launched into Earth orbit. 2 Apr 1963 Soviet Luna 4 launches. It was intended to be a lunar lander but missed the Moon and is now in an Earth Moon orbit. 1963 2 Russian space missions return to Earth 1963 Explorer 17 attains Earth orbit (254/914 km) 1963 Gordon Cooper completes 22 orbits in Faith 7, ends US Project Mercury 1963 Last Project Mercury flight, L Gordon Cooper in Faith 7, launched 1963 SETC Telstar 2 launched (apogee 6,700 miles (10,800 km)) 1963 Soviet Luna (4) reaches Earth orbit but fails to reach Moon Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 10
1963 Soviet lunar probe failure 1963 US launches communications satellite Syncom 1 1963 Valentina Tereshkova 1st woman in space returns to Earth 1963 Valentina Tereshkova becomes 1st woman in space, aboard Vostok 6 1963 Valery Bykovsky in Vostok 5 orbits earth 81 times in 5 days 5 Nov 1964 US Mariner 3 launched toward Mars in a Mars flyby attempt. The solar panels did not open, preventing the flyby. No data returned and it is now in a solar orbit. 1964 Astronaut John Glenn withdraws from Ohio senate race 1964 Centaur 3 launch vehicle fails to make Earth orbit 1964 Echo 2, US communications satellite launched 1964 ESRO established, European Space Research Organization 1964 Launch of Voskhod 1, 1st 3 man crew (Komarov, Feokistov, Yegorov) 1964 Mariner 4 launched; 1st probe to fly by Mars Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 11
1964 NASA launches its 1st Orbital Geophysical Observatory (OGO-1) 1964 Ranger 6 launched; makes perfect flight to Moon, but cameras fail 1964 Unmanned Apollo 1 Saturn launcher test attains Earth orbit 1964 Unmanned Apollo 2 Saturn test launched into Earth orbit 1964 Unmanned Gemini 1 launched 1964 USSR launches Zond 1 to Venus; no data returned 1964 USSR launches Zond 2 towards Mars; no data returned 1964 Voskhod 1 crew returns 1965 Astronauts Cooper & Conrad complete 120 Earth orbits in Gemini 5 1965 Borman & Lovell Splash down in Atlantic ends 2 week Gemini VII mission 1965 Early Bird satellite goes into commercial service 1965 France launches 1st satellite, 92 lb (42 kg) A1-capsule (Asterix) 1965 Gemini 3 launched, 1st US 2-man space flight (Grissom & Young) Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 12
1965 Gemini 4 completes 62 orbits 1965 Gemini 4 launched; 2nd US 2-man flight (McDivitt & White) 1965 Gemini 5 launched into Earth orbit (2 astronauts) 1965 Gemini 6 launched; makes 1st rendezvous in space (with Gemini 7) 1965 Gemini 6 returns to Earth 1965 Gemini 7 launched with 2 astronauts 1965 Intelsat 1 ("Early Bird") 1st coml geosynchronous comm satellite 1965 JPL proposes modified Apollo flight to fly around Mars & return 1965 Orbiting Solar Observatory 2 launches into Earth orbit (552/636 km) 1965 Pioneer 6 launched into solar orbit 1965 Ranger 8 makes hard landing on the Moon, returns photos, other data 1965 Syncom 3, 1st geosynchronous communications satellite, passes from civilian to military control Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 13
1965 The first atomic powered spacecraft (snap) launched 1965 The first French satellite launched, France becomes 3rd nation in space 1965 The first ground station-to-aircraft radio communication via satellite 1965 US launches TIROS 9 weather satellite 1965 US Ranger 8 launched, will transmit 7,137 lunar pictures 1965 US Ranger 9 launched; takes 5,814 pictures before lunar impact 1965 US Ranger 9 strikes Moon, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of crater Alphonsus 1965 USSR launches Kosmos 57 into earth orbit (Voskhod Test) 1965 USSR launches Luna 5; later impacts on Moon 1965 USSR launches Luna 6; missed Moon 1965 USSR launches Luna 7; crash lands on Moon 1965 USSR launches Luna 8; crashes on Moon 1965 USSR launches Voshkod 2; Alexei Leonov makes 1st spacewalk (20 minutes) Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 14
1965 Venera 2 launched by Soviet Union toward Venus 1965 Venera 3 launched, 1st to land on another planet (crashes into Venus) 1966 French satellite Diapason D-1A launch into Earth orbit 1966 Gemini 12 launched on 4-day flight 1966 Gemini 8 launched with Armstrong & Scott, aborted after 6.5 orbits 1966 Gemini 9 launched; 7th US 2-man flight (Stafford & Cernan) 1966 Gemini XI launched for 71-hour flight 1966 Gemini XI returns to Earth 1966 Gemini XII returns to Earth 1966 Kosmos 122, 1st Soviet weather satellite, launched 1966 Luna 13 lands on Moon 1966 Lunar Orbiter 1 takes 1st photograph of Earth from Moon 1966 Lunar Orbiter 2 launched by US Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 15
1966 Pioneer 7 launched into solar orbit 1966 Soviet Union's Luna 10 becomes 1st spacecraft to orbit Moon 1966 Soviets launch Kosmos 110 with Veterok & Ugolek, 1st 2-dog crew 1966 The first lunar orbiter launched by US 1966 The first operational weather satellite, ESSA-1 launched (US) 1966 The first Pacific communications satellite launched, Intelsat 2 1966 The first soft landing on the Moon (Soviet Luna 9) 1966 The first US lunar orbiter begins orbiting the Moon 1966 US launches Surveyor 1 to the Moon 1966 US Surveyor 1 lands in Oceanus Procellarum; 1st lunar soft-landing 1966 US Surveyor B launched toward Moon; crashed Sept 23 1966 USSR launches Luna 10, 1st lunar orbiter 1966 USSR launches Luna 11 for orbit around Moon Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 16
1966 USSR launches Luna 12 for orbit around Moon 1966 USSR launches Luna 13; soft-landed in Oceanus Procellarum 1966 USSR launches Luna 9 toward the Moon 1966 Venera 3 becomes 1st man-made object to impact on a planet (Venus) 1967 Apollo 1 fire kills astronauts Grissom, White & Chaffee 1967 ATS II launched but fails to reach orbit 1967 ATS-3 launched by US to take 1st pictures of full Earth disk 1967 French Diadème 1-D satellite launches into Earth orbit 1967 French Diadème D-1C satellite launches into Earth orbit 1967 Kosmos 140 (Soyuz test) launches into Earth orbit 1967 Launch of Mariner V for Venus fly-by 1967 Lunar Orbiter 4 launched by US; begins orbiting Moon May 7 1967 Mariner 5 makes fly-by of Venus Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 17
1967 Soviet Venera 4 becomes the 1st probe to send data back from Venus 1967 Soyuz 1 launched; Vladimir Komarov becomes 1st in-flight casualty 1967 Surveyor 3 launched; soft lands on Moon, April 20 1967 Surveyor 5 launched; makes soft landing on Moon Sept 10 1967 Surveyor 6 becomes 1st man-made object to lift off the Moon 1967 The first successful test flight of a Saturn V 1967 The first unmanned Saturn V flight to test Apollo 4 reentry module 1967 US launches Lunar Orbiter 3 1967 US launches Pioneer 8 into solar orbit 1967 US launches Surveyor 6; makes soft landing on Moon Nov 9 1967 US Lunar Orbiter 5 launched; enters lunar orbit Aug 5 1967 US Surveyor 3 lands on Moon 1967 US Surveyor 5 makes 1st chemical analysis of lunar material Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 18
1967 USSR Kosmos 186 & 188 make 1st automatic docking & Venmera 13 launch 1967 USSR launches Kosmos 166 for observation of Sun from Earth orbit 1967 USSR launches Venera 4 for parachute landing on Venus 1967 USSR's Kosmos 186 & 188 complete the 1st automatic docking 21 Dec 1968 Apollo 8, the first manned Moon voyage, launches for moon orbit. The crew were: Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders. 23 Dec 1968 Borman, Lovell & Anders become 1st men to orbit Moon 24 Dec 1968 Frank Borman transmits a Christmas reading from Apollo 8, while orbiting Moon. 1968 Apollo 5 launched to Moon; unmanned lunar module tests made 1968 Apollo 6 launched atop Saturn V; unmanned 1968 Apollo 7 (Schirra, Eisele & Cunningham) made 163 orbits in 260 hours 1968 Apollo 7 returns to Earth 1968 Apollo 8 astronauts read passages from Book of Genesis Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 19
1968 Apollo 8 returns to Earth 1968 European Space Research Organization launches 1st satellite 1968 Explorer 36 (GEOS-B) launched into earth orbit (1080/1570 km) 1968 Launch of Zond 5, the 1st lunar flyaround with Earth reentry. Probable test flight for a manned fly-around (scooped by Apollo 8) 1968 Launch of Zond 6, 2nd unmanned circumlunar & return flight 1968 Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 2 launched into Earth orbit 1968 Orbiting Geophysical Observatory 5 launched 1968 Soyuz 3 launched 1968 Soyuz 4 & 5 completed 1st docking of 2 manned spacecraft 1968 Surveyor 7 (last of series) launched by US for soft-landing on Moon 1968 Surveyor 7 lands on the Moon 1968 Surveyor 7 space probe soft lands on the Moon Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 20
1968 The first live telecast from a manned US spacecraft (Apollo 7) 1968 The first US case of space motion sickness 1968 US launches Solar Explorer 2 to study the Sun 1968 US Surveyor 7 lands near lunar crater Tycho 1968 USSR launches space probe Zond 4; fails to leave Earth orbit 1968 USSR's Zond 5 is launched on 1st circumlunar flight 1968 Zond 5 completes circumnavigation of the Moon 1968 Zond 5 completes flight 20 Jul 1969 Apollo 11 astronaut Neil A. Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. Fellow astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin becomes the second to walk on the moon. 31 Jul 1969 Mariner 6 flys-by Mars and returns high resolution pictures. 5 Aug 1969 Mariner 7 flies past Mars and returns picture of the surface. 14 Nov 1969 Apollo 12 launches for the moon; beoming the 2nd manned Moon landing. The Crew were: Charles Conrad, Richard F. Gordon and Alan L. Bean. Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 21
Nov 1969 Charles Conrad and Alan L. Bean become 3rd and 4th humans to walk on the Moon. 1969 Astronauts send first live photographs from the moon. 1969 Apollo 10 (Stafford/Cernan/Young) launched toward lunar orbit 1969 Apollo 10 astronauts returned to Earth 1969 Apollo 10 transmit 1st color pictures of Earth from space 1969 Apollo 12 returns to Earth 1969 Apollo 9 launched into 151 Earth orbits (10 days) 1969 Apollo 9 returns to Earth 1969 Launch of Mariner 7, flies 2,190 miles above southern Mars 1969 Mariner 6 launched for fly-by of Mars 1969 Orbiting Solar Observatory 5 launched into earth orbit 1969 Russian probe Venera 6 landed on Venus 1969 Soviet Soyuz 4 & Soyuz 5 perform 1st transfer of crew in space Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 22
1969 Soviet weather satellite Meteor 1 launched 1969 Soyuz 4 launched; rendezvous with Soyuz 5 two days later 1969 Soyuz 5 launched by Soviet Union 1969 Soyuz 6 launched; Soyuz 7 & 8 follow in next 2 days 1969 Soyuz 7 is launched 1969 Soyuz 8 is launched 1969 Stafford & Cernan pilot Apollo 10 LEM 9.4 miles (15km) above lunar surface 1969 The first launching of heavy N-1 rocket at Baikonur Kazachstan (explodes) 1969 US/Canada ISIS 1 launched to study ionosphere 1969 USSR Venera 5 launched for 1st successful planet landing (Venus) 1969 USSR's Venera 6 launched for parachute landing on Venus 1969 Venera 5 lands on Venus, returns data on atmosphere 11 Apr 1970 Apollo 13 launches for the Moon but is unable to land and returns in 6 days. Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 23
1970 A Nikolayev & V Sevastyanov return after 18 days in Soyuz 9 1970 Apollo 13 limps back safely, Beech-built oxygen tank no help 1970 Australia's 1st amateur radio satellite (Oscar 5) launched (California). 1970 British expedition climbs south face of Annapurna I 1970 China PR launches its 1st satellite transmitting song "East is Red" 1970 Japan becomes 4th nation to put a satellite (Osumi) in orbit 1970 Luna 16 lands on Moon's Mare Fecunditatis, drills core sample 1970 Luna 16 leaves the Moon 1970 Luna 17, with unmanned self-propelled Lunokhod 1, is launched 1970 Russia lands Lunokhod 1 unmanned remote-controlled vehicle on Moon 1970 Small Astronomy Satellite Explorer 42 launched to study X-rays 1970 Soviet Venera 7 is 1st spacecraft to land on another planet (Venus) 1970 Soyuz 9 launched into Earth orbit for 18 days Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 24
1970 The first Automated return of lunar sample by Luna 16 1970 The first successful landing on Venus (USSR) 1970 US launches 2nd generation weather satellite, ITOS 1 1970 USSR launches Luna 16; returns samples from lunar Sea of Fertility 1970 USSR launches Sputnik 52 & Molniya 1-13 communications satellite 1970 Venera 7 launched by USSR for soft landing on Venus Feb 1971 Apollo 14 lander Antares lands on Moon (Shepard & Mitchell). Feb 1971 Apollo 14, 3rd US manned Moon expedition, lands near Fra Mauro. Alan Shepard and Edward Mitchell walk on Moon for 4 hours. Feb 1971 The first time a golf ball is hit on the Moon (by Alan Shepard). Jul 1971 Apollo 15 astronaut Dave Scott becomes 1st person to drive a car on the Moon. 1971 Apollo 14 launched, 1st landing in lunar highlands 1971 Apollo 14 returns to Earth Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 25
1971 Apollo 15 returns to Earth 1971 Boeing receives contract for Mariner 10, Mercury exploration 1971 Mariner 9, 1st to orbit another planet (Mars) 1971 NASA launches Intelsat 4 F-3 for COMSAT Corp 1971 Russia launches its 1st Salyut space station 1971 Soviet Mars 2 becomes 1st spacecraft to crash land on Mars 1971 Soviet Mars 3 is 1st to soft land on Mars 1971 Soviet Soyuz 11 crew completes 1st transfer to orbiting Salyut 1971 Soyuz 10 launched; cosmonauts become 1st in Salyut 1 space station 1971 Soyuz 11 takes 3 cosmonauts to Salyut 1 space station 1971 US launches 1st satellite into lunar orbit from manned spacecraft 1971 US Mariner 9 1st satellite to orbit Mars launched 1971 US/Canada ISIS 2 launched to study ionosphere Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 26
1971 USSR launches Mars 2, 1st spacecraft to crash land on Mars 1971 USSR Mars 3 launched, 1st spacecraft to soft land on Mars 1971 USSR Salyut 1 launched; 1st manned lab in orbit Apr 1972 Apollo 16 astronauts John W. Young and Charles M. Duke land on Moon and explore with with Boeing Lunar Rover #2. Apr 1972 Apollo 16 astronauts John Young and Charles Duke explore the Moon. 7 Dec 1972 Apollo 17, the last of Apollo Moon series, is launched for the moon. 19 Dec 1972 Apollo 17, the last of Apollo Moon landing series, returns safely to Earth. Dec 1972 Apollo 17 astronauts Eugene A. Cernan and Harrison H. Schmit become 11th & 12th humans to walk on the Moon. 1972 Landsat I 'eye-in-the-sky' satellite is launched 1972 Apollo 16 launched; 5th manned lunar landing (Decartes Highlands) 1972 Apollo 16 returns to Earth 1972 Luna 20 (Russia) launched to orbit & soft landing on Moon Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 27
1972 Mariner 9 begins mapping Mars 1972 Mariner 9 takes pictures of Martian north pole 1972 NASA announces development of space shuttle 1972 NASA selects 3 part configuration for Space Shuttle 1972 Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 4 (Copernicus) launched 1972 Pioneer 10 launched for Jupiter flyby 1972 Rockwell receives NASA contract to construct the Space Shuttle 1972 Small Astronomy Satellite Explorer 48 launched to study gamma rays 1972 Spaceflight 71-2 launched; 1st flexible substrate photovoltaic flown 1972 US launches HEOS A-2 for interplanetary observations (396/244,998) 1972 USSR launches Prognoz 2 into earth orbit (549/200,000 km) 1972 Venera 8 launched to Venus 1973 2 Skylab 3 astronauts walk in space for a record 7 hours Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 28
1973 3-man crew of Skylab II make safe splashdown in Pacific after 59 days 1973 Canadian ANIK A2 becomes 1st commercial satellite in orbit 1973 Intelsat communications satellite launched 1973 Luna 21 launched, to Moon 1973 NASA launches Radio Astronomy Explorer 49 into lunar orbit 1973 Pioneer 10 passes Jupiter (1st fly-by of an outer planet) 1973 Pioneer 11 launched toward Jupiter & Saturn 1973 Skylab 2's astronauts land 1973 Skylab 4 launched into Earth orbit 1973 Skylab launched, the 1st Space Station 1973 Soyuz 12 carries 2 cosmonauts into Earth orbit (2 days) 1973 Soyuz 13 launched into Earth orbit for 8 days 1973 The first picture of a comet from space (Comet Kohoutek-Skylab) Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 29
1973 US launches 1st Skylab; crew Kerwin, Conrad, Weitz 1973 USSR launches Luna 21 for Moon landing 1973 USSR launches Mars 6 1973 USSR launches Mars 7 1973 USSR launches Prognoz 3 to study sun (589/200,300 km) 1973 USSR's Lunakhod 2 begins radio-controlled exploration of the Moon 1974 Helios 1 launched by US, Germany; later makes closest flyby of Sun 1974 Mariner 10's, 1st fly-by of Mercury, returns photos 1974 Skylab 4's astronauts land 1974 Soyuz 14 returns to Earth 1974 Soyuz 15 carries 2 cosmonauts to space station Salyut 3 1974 Soyuz 16 launched into Earth orbit for 6 days 1974 The first intentional interstellar radio message sent, Arecibo telescope towards M 41, a cluster of stars some 25,000 light years away Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 30
1974 Titan-Centaur test launch fails 1974 US Mariner 10 makes 2nd fly-by of Mercury 1974 US Mariner 10 returns 1st close-up photos of Venus' cloud structure 1975 European Space Agency (ESA) forms 1975 India launches 1st satellite with help of USSR 1975 Landsat 2, an Earth Resources Technology Satellite, launched 1975 NASA launches space vehicle S-195 1975 NASA launches space vehicle S-196, it failed 1975 Rollout of 1st space shuttle orbiter Enterprise (OV-101) 1975 Salyut 4 with crew of 2 is launched for 30 days 1975 Small Astronomy Satellite Explorer 53 launched to study X-rays 1975 Soviet spacecraft Venera 9 soft-lands on Venus 1975 Soyuz 17 carries 2 cosmonauts to space station Salyut 4 Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 31
1975 Soyuz 18 launches 1975 Soyuz 18A launch aborted short of orbit; cosmonauts return safely 1975 Soyuz 18B carries 2 cosmonauts to space station Salyut 4 1975 Soyuz 19 returns to Earth 1975 The first Space Shuttle main engine test at Natl Space Tech Labs, Miss 1975 US Mariner 10 makes 3rd & final fly-by of Mercury 1975 USSR launches Venera 10 for Venus landing 1975 USSR launches Venera 9 for Venus landing 1975 USSR's Venera 10 makes day-side Venus landing 1975 Venera 9, first craft to orbit the planet Venus launched 1975 Viking 1 launched toward orbit around Mars, soft landing 1975 Viking 2 launched toward orbit around Mars, soft landing 1976 Viking I and Viking II land on Mars Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 32
1976 4th Space Shuttle Enterprise, approach & land test (ALT) flight 1976 5th Enterprise, approach & lands test (ALT) flight 1976 Hermes rocket launched by European Space Agency 1976 NASA launches space vehicle S-179 1976 NASA launches space vehicle S-197 1976 NASA publicly unveils space shuttle Enterprise in Palmdale, Calif 1976 Scientists in Pasadena, Calif, announce Viking I found strongest indications to date of possible life on Mars 1976 Soyuz 21 returns to Earth 1976 Soyuz 22 carries 2 cosmonauts into Earth orbit for 8 days 1976 Soyuz 23 carries 2 to Salyut 6, but returns without docking 1976 The first approach & lands test (ALT) of orbiter Enterprise 1976 US Viking 1 goes into Martian orbit after 10-month flight from Earth Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 33
1976 US Viking 2 goes into Martian orbit after 11-month flight from Earth 1976 US-German Helios B solar probe launched into solar orbit 1976 USSR launches Luna 24, last Lunar flight to date from Earth 1976 USSR's Luna 24 soft-lands on Moon 1976 Viking 1 radio signal from Mars help prove general theory of relativity. 1976 Viking 2 soft lands on Mars (Utopia), returns photos Aug 1977 The Voyager 2 spacecraft is launched carrying a 12-inch copper phonograph record containing greetings in every language and the spacecraft. 1977 2nd test of the Space Shuttle Enterprise 1977 3rd test of Space Shuttle Enterprise 1977 4th test of the space shuttle Enterprise 1977 5th & final test of space shuttle Enterprise 1977 Burn up of Salyut 4 Space Station (USSR) Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 34
1977 European weather satellite Meteosat 1 launched from Cape Canaveral 1977 High Energy Astronomy Observatory 1 launched into Earth orbit 1977 International Sun-Earth Explorers 1 & 2 launched into Earth orbit 1977 NASA launches space vehicle S-200 1977 NASA launches Voyager 2 towards Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus & Neptune 1977 Shuttle Enterprise makes 1st test flight atop a 747 jetliner 1977 Soviet space station Salyut 6 launched into Earth orbit 1977 Soyuz 24 launches with 2 cosmonauts 1977 Soyuz 25 launched to Saluyt 6, but returned after failing to dock 1977 Soyuz 26 carries 2 cosmonauts to Salyut 6 space station 1977 Space shuttle Enterprise makes 1st atmospheric flight 1977 Space Shuttle test model "Enterprise" carries a crew aloft for 1st time, It was fixed to a modified Boeing 747 Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 35
1977 The first flight of Space Shuttle (atop a Boeing 747) 1977 The first Space walk made by G Grechko from Salyut 1977 The first test glide of the shuttle 1977 US Voyager I takes 1st space photograph of Earth & Moon together 1977 Voyager 1 (US) launched toward fly-by of Jupiter, Saturn 1977 Voyager 2 launched for fly-by of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune 1978 Crew of Soyuz 29 returns to Earth aboard Soyuz 31 1978 Crew of Soyuz 31 returns to Earth aboard Soyuz 29 1978 International Ultraviolet Explorer placed in Earth orbit 1978 Landsat 3 launched from Vandenberg AFB, California 1978 NASA launches HEAO 1978 NASA launches space vehicle S-201 1978 Pioneer Venus 1 begins orbiting Venus Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 36
1978 Pioneer Venus 1 goes into orbit around Venus 1978 Pioneer Venus 2 drops 5 probes into atmosphere of Venus 1978 Pioneer-Venus 2 with 5 atmospheric probes launched toward Venus 1978 Soyuz 27 links with Salyut 6 & Soyuz 26 (1st time 3 spacecraft link) 1978 Soyuz 28 carries 2 cosmonauts (1 Czechoslovakian) to Salyut 6 1978 Soyuz 29 carries 2 cosmonauts to Salyut 6; they stay 139 days 1978 Soyuz 30 carries 2 cosmonauts (1 Polish) to Salyut 6 space station 1978 Soyuz 31 carries 2 cosmonauts (1 East German) to Salyut 6 1978 Thiokol conducts 2nd test firing of space shuttle's SRB 1978 Tiros N, US's 1st 3rd generation weather satellite, is launched 1978 US launches Pioneer Venus 1; produces 1st global radar map of Venus 1978 US Seasat 1, 1st oceanographic satellite, launched into polar orbit 1978 USSR launches Kosmos 1000 navigational satellite Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 37
1979 Bhaskara 1, Indian Earth resources/meteorology satellite, launched 1979 Columbia flies on Shuttle carrier aircraft to Kennedy Space Center 1979 Columbia flown on aircraft carrier lands at Kennedy Space Center 1979 Crew of Soyuz 32 returns to Earth aboard Soyuz 34 aft 175 d flight 1979 Japan launches Hakucho x-ray satellite & Corsa-B (550/580 km) 1979 Kosmos 1076, 1st Soviet oceanographic satellite, launched 1979 NASA launches Fltsatcom-2 1979 NASA launches HEAO 1979 NASA launches space vehicle S-198 1979 NASA launches space vehicle S-203 1979 Pioneer 11 launched towards Jupiter 1979 Pioneer 11 makes 1st fly-by of Saturn, discovers new moon, rings 1979 Shuttle Columbia (OV-102) transported 38 miles overland from Palmdale Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 38
1979 Soyuz 32 carries 2 cosmonauts to Salyut 6 space station 1979 Soyuz 33 launched with a Russian & a Bulgarian 1979 The first space shuttle SRB qualification test firing; 122 seconds 1979 US Voyager I photo reveals Jupiter's rings 1979 Voyager 1 passes Jupiter 1979 Voyager I's closest approach to Jupiter (172,000 miles) 1980 Voyager 1 sends back images of Saturn and its system 1980 Columbia mated to SRBs & external tank at Vehicle Assembly Building 1980 Cosmonauts Popov & Ryumin set space endurance record of 184 days 1980 Cosmonauts Ryumin & Popov break space endurance record of 176 days 1980 Crew of Soyuz 35 returns to Earth aboard Soyuz 37 1980 Crew of Soyuz 36 returns to Earth aboard Soyuz 35 1980 NASA launches Flt Satcom-4 Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 39
1980 NASA launches Fltsatcom-3 1980 NASA launches Intelsat V 1980 Reinhold Messner of Italy is 1st to solo ascent Mt Everest 1980 Shuttle STS-1 moves from Vandenberg AFB to Launch Complex 39A 1980 Soyuz 35 carries 2 cosmonauts to Salyut 6 1980 Soyuz 36 carries 2 cosmonauts (1 Hungarian) to Salyut 6 1980 Soyuz 38 carries 2 cosmonauts (1 Cuban) to Salyut 6 space station 1980 Soyuz T-2 carries 2 cosmonauts to Salyut 6 space station 1980 Soyuz T-3 carries 3 cosmonauts to Salyut 6 space station, launched 1980 Titan II missile explosion (Damascus, AR) 1980 US launches Solar Maximum Mission Observatory to study solar flares 1980 US space probe Voyager I approaches 77,000-mi (124,000 km) of Saturn 1980 Vostok rocket exploded on launch pad while being refueled, killing 50 Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 40
1980 Voyager 1 space probe discovers 15th moon of Saturn 1981 First flight of the space shuttle 'Columbia' 1981 Voyager 2 sends back images of Saturn and its system 1981 2 workers killed in space shuttle Columbia accident 1981 2nd shuttle mission-1st time spacecraft launched twice (Columbia 2) 1981 2nd Space Shuttle Mission-Columbia 2-returns to Earth 1981 Columbia mated with SRBs & external tank for STS-2 mission 1981 Columbia shuttle launch scrubbed with 31 secs remaining 1981 Columbia space shuttle returns [04/24] 1981 Computer glitch keeps Space Shuttle Columbia grounded 1981 European Space Agency's Ariane carries 2 satellites into orbit 1981 Flight readiness firing of Columbia's main engines; 20 seconds 1981 India's APPLE satellite, 1st to be stabilized on 3 axes, launched Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 41
1981 Japan launches Hinotori satellite to study solar flares (580/640 k) 1981 Maiden voyage Space Transit System-space shuttle Columbia launched 1981 NASA launches Comstar D-4 1981 NASA launches Fltsatcom-5, it failed 1981 NASA launches Intelsat V 1981 NASA launches space vehicle S-192 1981 Satellites China 10 & 11 launched into Earth orbit by B-1 rocket 1981 Soyuz 39 carries 2 cosmonauts (1 Mongolian) to Salyut 6 1981 Soyuz 40 carries 2 cosmonauts (1 Rumanian) to Salyut 6 1981 Soyuz T-4 carries 2 cosmonauts to Salyut 6 space station 1981 Space Shuttle vehicle moves to Launch Complex 39A for STS-2 mission 1981 Spacelab I arrives at Kennedy Space Center 1981 The first Space Shuttle-Columbia 1-returns to Earth Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 42
1981 Voyager 2's closest approach to Saturn (63,000 miles/100,000 km) 1982 3rd space shuttle mission-columbia 3 lands at White Sands NM 1982 3rd Space Shuttle Mission-Columbia 3 launched 1982 4th Space Shuttle Mission-Columbia 4 launched 1982 5th Space Shuttle Mission-Columbia 5-lands at Edwards AFB 1982 5th space shuttle mission-columbia 5-launched 1st commercial flight 1982 Assembled STS-3 vehicle moves from Vandenberg AFB to launch pad 1982 Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB and mated for STS-6 1982 Columbia mated with SRBs & external tank in preparation for STS-5 1982 Columbia moves to Vandenberg Air Force Base for mating in preparation for STS-4 1982 Columbia returns to Kennedy Space Center from White Sands 1982 Columbia returns to Kennedy Space Center via Kelly AFB, Texas 1982 Columbia Shuttle moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating for STS-3 mission Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 43
1982 Conestoga 1, 1st private commercial rocket, makes suborbital flight 1982 Flight readiness firing of Challenger's main engines; 20 seconds 1982 Jean-Loup Chretien and 2 others, lift off (Soyuz T-16) 1982 Launch of STS-3-Lousma & Fullerton [03/23] 1982 NASA launches Intelsat V 1982 NASA launches RCA-E 1982 NASA launches Telesat-F 1982 Orbiter Challenger (OV-099) rolled out at Palmdale 1982 Russian spacecraft Venera 14 lands on Venus and sends back data 1982 Soyuz T-5 is launched-berezovoi & Lebedev for 211 days in space 1982 Soyuz T-7 launched, Svetlana Savtiskaya 2nd woman in space 1982 STS-4 vehicle moves to launch pad 1982 STS-5 vehicle moves to launch pad Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 44
1982 STS-6 vehicle moves to launch pad 1982 Unmanned rocket sled reaches 9,851 kph at White Sands, NM 1982 USSR Salyut 7 space station put into orbit 2nd flight readiness firing of Challenger's main engines; 22 seconds 6th space shuttle mission, Challenger 1 launched 6th Space Shuttle Mission-Challenger 1 returns to Earth 7th Shuttle Mission-Challenger 2 launched-sally Ride 1st US woman 7th Space Shuttle Mission-Challenger 2 lands at Edwards AFB 8th Space Shuttle Mission-Challenger 3-lands at Edwards AFB 8th Space Shuttle Mission-Challenger 3-launched (6 days) 9th Space Shuttle Mission-Columbia 6-is launched 9th Space Shuttle Mission-Columbia 6-lands at Edwards AFB Challenger flies back to Kennedy Space Center via Kelly AFB Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 45
Challenger moves to launch pad for STS-7 Challenger moves to Vandenberg Air Force Base, for mating for STS-7 mission Challenger returns to Kennedy Space Center via Sheppard AFB, Texas Columbia flies to Kennedy Space Center via El Paso, Kelly AFB Columbia moves to Orbiter Processing Facility Columbia moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating in preparation of STS-9 Cosmonauts Titov & Strekalov are saved from exploding Soyuz T-10 Discovery flies from Vandenberg AFB to Kennedy Space Center Discovery transported to Vandenberg AFB, California Dutch/British infrared satellite IRAS launched from California European Space Agency launches European Comm Satellite 1, Oscar 10 India entered space age launching SLV-3 rocket Infrared telescope satellite launched into polar orbit Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 46
Japan launches Tenma satellite to study x-rays (450/570 km) NASA launches Exosat NASA launches Galaxy-A NASA launches Galaxy-B NASA launches Goes-F NASA launches Intelsat V NASA launches RCA-6 NASA launches RCA-F NASA launches space vehicle S-205 Orbiter Discovery (OV-103) moves overland to Dryden Pioneer 10 becomes 1st man-made object to leave Solar System Russian radioactive satellite falls into Indian Ocean Soyuz T-8 launched; mission aborted when capsule fails to dock Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 47
Soyuz T-9 carries 2 cosmonauts to Salyut 7 space station, in space for 149 days STS-6 specialist Story Musgrave & Don Peterson 1st STS spacewalk STS-8 vehicle moves to launch pad STS-9 vehicle again moves to launch pad STS-9 vehicle moves to launch pad STS-9 vehicle moves to Vandenberg AFB due to SRB nozzle problem The first time a satellite is retrieved from orbit by Space Shuttle 10th Space Shuttle Mission (41B)-Challenger 4 launched 10th space shuttle mission (41-B)-Challenger 4-returns to Earth 11th Space Shuttle Mission (41-C)-Challenger 5 is launched 11th Space Shuttle Mission (41C)-Challenger 5-returns to Earth 12th Space Shuttle Mission (41-D) -Discovery 1- lands at Edwards AFB 12th Space Shuttle Mission (41-D)-Discovery 1-launched (6 days) Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 48
13th Space Shuttle Mission (41-G)-Challenger 6-launched 14th Shuttle Mission (51A) -Discovery 2- lands at Kennedy Center 3 cosmonauts return after a record 237 days in orbit Anna Fisher becomes the 1st "mom" to go into orbit Astronauts aboard "Discovery" pluck a 2nd satellite from orbit Bruce McCandless makes 1st untethered space walk (US) Challenger astronauts complete 1st in space satellite repair Challenger flies back to Kennedy Space Center via Kelly AFB Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS 41 B mission Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS 41-C mission Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS 41G mission Damaged Solar Max satellite snared by Challenger shuttle Discovery moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS 51A mission Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 49
Discovery moves to Vandenberg Air Force Base for mating of STS 41-D Discovery returns to Kennedy Space Center via Altus AFB, Okla Flight readiness firing of Discovery's main engines Intelsat 5 re-enters Earth's atmosphere 5 months after it failed Kathy Sullivan becomes 1st US woman to walk in space NASA launches Ampte NASA launches Galaxy-C NASA launches Intelsat V, it failed NASA launches Landsat-D Prime (Landsat 5) to thematic map the Earth NASA launches NATO-3D NASA launches space vehicle S-208 Soyuz T-10 launches with crew of 3 to Salyut 7 Soyuz T-11 carries 3 cosmonauts (1 Indian-Rakesh Sharma) to Salyut 7 Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 50
Space Shuttle 41-B (STS-11) Challenger launched Space shuttle astronauts snared a satellite 1st space salvage STS 41-B vehicle moves to launch pad STS 41-C vehicle moves to launch pad STS 41-D launch attempt scrubbed because of computer problem STS 41-D vehicle again moves out to the launch pad STS 41-D vehicle moves to launch pad STS 41-G launch vehicle moves to launch pad STS 41-G mission; lands at Kennedy Space Center STS 51-A launch scrubbed because of high shear winds STS 51-A launch vehicle moves to launch pad STS 51-A mission; launch The first flight of Shuttle Discovery (41-D) scrubbed at T -4s Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 51
The first time 8 people in space USSR launches Vega 1 for rendezvous with Halley's Comet USSR launches Vega 2 for fly-by of Halley's Come 15th Space Shuttle (51-C) Mission-Discovery 3 is launched 15th Space Shuttle (51-C) Mission-Discovery 3 returns to Earth 16th Shuttle Mission (51D)-Discovery 4 launched-with Senator Jake Garn 16th Space Shuttle Mission (51-D)-Discovery 4 returns to Earth 17th Space Shuttle Mission (51-B)-Challenger 7 lands at Edwards Air Force Base 17th space shuttle mission (51-B)-Challenger 7 launched 18th Space Shuttle Mission (51-G)-Discovery 5 launched 18th Space Shuttle Mission (51-G)-Discovery 5 returns to Earth 19th space shuttle mission (51-F), Challenger 8, lands at Edwards AFB 20th Space Shuttle Mission (51-I)-Discovery 6-launched Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 52
20th Space Shuttle Mission (51-I)-Discovery 6-returns to Earth 21st Shuttle Mission (51J)-Atlantis 1-all-military flight launched 21st Space Shuttle Mission (51-J)-Atlantis 1 lands at Edwards AFB 22nd Space Shuttle Mission (61A) -Challenger 9- lands at Edwards AFB 22nd Space Shuttle Mission (61-A)-Challenger 9-launched 23rd Shuttle Mission (61-B)-Atlantis 2-lands at Edwards AFB 23rd Space Shuttle Mission (61-B)-Atlantis 2-is launched Atlantis (OV-104) rollout at Palmdale Atlantis ferried to Kennedy Space Center via Ellington AFB, Texas Atlantis moves to launch pad for the 51-J mission Atlantis moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS 61-B mission Atlantis returns to Kennedy Space Center via Kelly AFB Challenger flies back to Kennedy Space Center via Davis-Monthan AFB Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 53
Challenger flies to Kennedy Space Center via Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz Challenger moves to launch pad for 51-B missing Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS 51-B mission Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS 51-E mission Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS 51-F Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS 51-L mission Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS 61A mission Challenger transports back to Kennedy Space Center via Kelly Air Force Base Challenger vehicle moves to the launch pad for STS 61A mission Columbia moves to the Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS 61-C Discovery ferried back to Kennedy Space Center via Bergstrom AFB, Tx Discovery flies back to Kennedy Space Center via Kelly AFB Discovery moves to launch pad for STS 51-C mission Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 54
Discovery moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS 51-D mission Discovery moves to Vandenberg Air Force Base for mating of STS 51-G En route to Halley's Comet, USSR's Vega 2 drops lander on Venus Enterprise (OV-101) flies from Kennedy Space Center to Dulles Airport Washington, DC, & turned over to the Smithsonian Institution Flight readiness firing of Atlantis' main engines; 20 seconds Japan launches its 2nd probe of Halley's Comet, Suisei Japan launches Planet A, a probe to Halley's comet Japan launches Sakigake space probe to Halley's Comet Japanese space probe Sakigake launched to Halley's comet Kosmos 1700 communications satellite placed in geostationary orbit NASA launches Intelsat VA NASA launches space vehicle S-207 Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 55
NASA launches space vehicle S-209 Shuttle Columbia carries Spacelab into orbit Soyuz T-13 carries 2 cosmonauts to Salyut 7 space station Soyuz T-14 carries 3 cosmonauts to Salyut 7 space station STS 51-D vehicle moves to launch pad STS 51-E vehicle moves to launch pad STS 51-E vehicle rolls back to Vandenberg AFB; mission cancelled STS 51-F vehicle moves to the launch pad STS 51-G vehicle moves to the launch pad STS 51-I mission scrubbed at T -5m because of bad weather STS 51-I scrubbed at T -9m because of an onboard computer problem STS 51-I vehicle moves to the launch pad STS 51-L vehicle moves to Launch Pad 39B Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 56
STS 61-B vehicle moves to the launch pad STS 61-C scrubbed at T -13s because of SRB auxiliary power problem STS 61-C vehicle moves to launch pad US-French expedition locates wreckage of Titanic off Newfoundland USSR's Vega 1 deposits lander on surface of Venus 1986 The Challenger spacecraft exploded shortly after takeoff killing the seven astronauts aboard 1986 Voyager 2 sends back images of Uranus and its system and discovers 6 new moons 1986 24th space shuttle (61-C) mission-columbia 7-launched 1986 24th Space Shuttle (61-C) Mission-Columbia 7-returns to Earth 1986 25th Space Shuttle (51L)-Challenger 10 explodes 73 seconds after liftoff 1986 Ariane-2 (ESA) launched 1986 Columbia returns to Kennedy Space Center via Davis-Monthan AFB Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 57
1986 Discovery moves to OPF where more than 200 modification are made 1986 European Space Agency's Giotto flies by Halley's Comet (605 km) 1986 Giotto encounters Comet Halley 1986 Japanese probe Sakigake flies by Halley's Comet at 6.8 millionkm 1986 Japanese probe Suisei passes Halley's Comet at 109,800 km 1986 NASA announces searchers found remains of Challenger astronauts 1986 NASA announces tests designed to verify ignition pressure dynamics 1986 NASA launches DOD-1 1986 NASA launches Fltsatcom-7 1986 NASA launches Goes-G, it failed to achieve orbit 1986 NASA launches space vehicle S-199 1986 NASA publishes "Strategy for Safely Returning the Space Shuttle to Flight Status" 1986 Rogers Comm report on Challenger disaster blames Morton Thiokol Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 58
1986 Soviet probe Vega 2 flies by Halley's Comet at 8,030 km 1986 Soyuz T-15 carries 2 cosmonauts to Soviet space station Mir 1986 Space probe Giotto encounters Halley's Comet 1986 STS 61-C mission scrubbed at T -9m because of weather problems 1986 STS 61-C mission scrubbed T -9m because of bad weather at Kennedy 1986 STS 61-C scrubbed at T-31 seconds because of liquid oxygen valve problem 1986 US President Reagan announces formation of Committee on Challenger Accident 1986 USSR launches Mir space station into Earth orbit 1986 USSR's Vega 1 flies by Halley's Comet at 8,889 km 1986 Voyager 2 makes 1st fly-by of Uranus (81,593 km), finds new moons 1986 Voyager 2, 1st Uranus fly-by 1986 Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, took off from Edwards AFB, CA on 1st non-stop, non-refueled flight around world Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 59
1987 4th full-duration test firing of redesigned SRB motor 1987 Discovery in Orbital Processing Facility is powered up for STS-26 1987 Discovery rolls over from OPF to Vandenberg AFB 1987 Discovery's SRBs and External Tank are mated 1987 Flight Readiness Firing of Discovery's main engines is successful 1987 NASA launches Fltsatcom-6, it failed to reach orbit 1987 NASA launches GEOS-H 1987 NASA launches Palapa B2P 1987 NASA launches space vehicle S-209 1987 Soyuz TM-2 launches 1987 Soyuz TM-4 carries 3 cosmonauts to space station Mir 1987 Vladimir Titov and Musa Manarov launched 1988 26th Space Shuttle mission, Discovery 7 launched Copyright (c) 1999-2010, HistoryMole.com, All rights reserved. Page 60