1975 in spaceflight

Last updated

1975 in spaceflight
Apollo-Soyuz-Test-Program-artist-rendering.jpg
Artist's impression of the ASTP docking
Orbital launches
First10 January
Last27 December
Total132
Catalogued 125
National firsts
Satellite Flag of India.svg  India
Rockets
Maiden flights Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1AR
Delta 3000
Diamant-BP4
Long March 2C
N-I
Scout F-1
Titan III(34)B
Retirements Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1A
Delta 1000
Diamant-BP4
Saturn IB
Scout F-1
Crewed flights
Orbital4
Suborbital1
Total travellers9

In 1975, several notable events occurred in spaceflight, including the launches of Venera 9 and 10 and their Venus arrivals, the launches of the Viking Mars missions, the joint American-Soviet Apollo–Soyuz Test Project (ASTP), the failure of Soyuz 7K-T 39, and the launch of Aryabhatta, India's first satellite.

Contents

Launches

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

January

10 January
21:43:37
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz 17 Low Earth (Salyut 4)Salyut expedition19 February
11:03
Successful
Crewed flight with two cosmonauts, first mission to Salyut 4
17 January
09:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 702 (Zenit-2M/Gektor #54) GRU Low Earth Reconnaissance 29 JanuarySuccessful
21 January
11:04
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 133/3 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 703 (DS-P1-Yu #74)Low Earth Radar calibration 20 NovemberSuccessful
22 January
17:55
Flag of the United States.svg Delta 2910 Delta 107 Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg AFB SLC-2W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Landsat 2 (ERTS B) NASA Sun-synchronous (SSO) Earth observation In orbitSuccessful
23 January
11:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 704 (Zenit-4MK/Germes #35)GRULow EarthReconnaissance6 FebruarySuccessful
28 January
12:05
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 133/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 705 (DS-P1-Yu #75)Low EarthRadar calibration18 NovemberSuccessful
30 January
15:02
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-M/Blok 2BL Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 706 (US-K #4) Molniya orbit Missile early warning In orbitSuccessful

February

5 February
13:15
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 132/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 707 (Tselina-O #26)Low Earth ELINT 7 September 1980Successful
6 February
04:49
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-M/Blok ML Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-2 12 Molniya orbit Communications 4 August 1985Successful
6 February
16:35
Flag of France.svg Diamant BP4 Flag of France.svg Guiana Space Centre ELD Flag of France.svg CNES
Flag of France.svg Starlette CNESLow EarthGeodesyIn orbitSuccessful
6 February
22:04
Flag of the United States.svg Delta 2914 Delta 108 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-17B Flag of the United States.svg USAF
Flag of the United States.svg SMS-2 NASA Geostationary Weather In orbitSuccessful
12 February
03:30
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 132/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 708 (Sfera #13)Low EarthGeodesyIn orbitSuccessful
12 February
14:30
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 709 (Zenit-4MK/Germes #36)GRULow Earth Reconnaissance 25 FebruarySuccessful
20 February
23:35
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1A AC-33Flag placeholder.svgFlag placeholder.svg
Flag of the United Nations.svg Intelsat IV F-6 Intelsat Intended: GeostationaryCommunications20 FebruaryLaunch failure
Error during booster separation caused a reset of the guidance computer, leading to the loss of control. [1] Range safety sent the flight termination command at T+413 seconds.
24 February
05:25
Flag of Japan.svg M-3C Flag of Japan.svg Kagoshima Space Center LP-M Flag of Japan.svg ISAS
Flag of Japan.svg SRATS (Taiyo)ISAS Highly elliptical orbit Ionosphere research29 June 1980Successful
26 February
09:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 710 (Zenit-4MK/Germes #37)GRULow EarthReconnaissance12 MarchSuccessful
14:01
28 February
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 132/2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 711 to 718 (Strela-1M × 8)Low EarthCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful

March

10 March
04:41
Flag of the United States.svg Titan III(34)B Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg AFB SLC-4W Flag of the United States.svg USAF
Flag of the United States.svg Jumpseat 4 (OPS 2439) NRO Molniya orbit SIGINT In orbitSuccessful
12 March
08:55
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 719 (Zenit-4MK/Germes #38)GRULow EarthReconnaissance25 MarchSuccessful
21 March
06:50
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz-U Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 43/3 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 720 (Zenit-4MT/Orion #8)GRULow EarthReconnaissance, test spacecraft3 AprilSuccessful
26 March
08:50
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 721 (Zenit-2M/Gektor #55) and Nauka-5KSA 1LGRU, AN SSSR Low EarthReconnaissance, research7 AprilSuccessful
Nauka research payload carried inside Zenit-2M reentry capsule.
27 March
08:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 722 (Zenit-4MK/Germes #39)GRULow EarthReconnaissance9 AprilSuccessful
27 March
14:30
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 132/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the United Nations.svg Interkosmos 13 (DS-U2-IK #6) Interkosmos Low Earth Radiation belts and upper atmosphere research2 September 1980Successful
Cooperative project of Czechoslovakia and the USSR

April

1 April
12:30
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Vostok-2M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Meteor-1 21Low EarthWeatherIn orbitSuccessful
2 April
11:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Tsyklon-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 90/20 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 723 (US-A #9)Low EarthRadar ocean surveillanceIn orbitSuccessful
5 April
11:04:54
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz 7K-T #39 Intended: Low Earth (Salyut 4)Salyut expedition11:26Launch failure
Crewed flight with two cosmonauts, first and second core stages failed to separate, flight aborted and crew returned on suborbital trajectory
7 April
11:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Tsyklon-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 90/20 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 724 (US-A #10)Low EarthRadar ocean surveillanceIn orbitSuccessful
8 April
18:29
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 133/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 725 (DS-P1-Yu #76)Low Earth Radar calibration 6 January 1976Successful
9 April
23:58:02
Flag of the United States.svg Delta 1410 Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-2W Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg GEOS-3 NASALow Earth Geodesy In orbitSuccessful
19 April Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Interkosmos
Flag of India.svg Aryabhatta ISROLow EarthX-ray astronomy, aeronomics, and solar physics studies11 February 1992Launch success, payload partial failure
First Indian satellite; payload failed 4–5 days after launch

May

7 May
22:45:01
Flag of the United States.svg Scout F-1 Flag of Italy.svg San Marco mobile range, Kenya Flag of Italy.svg CRS
Flag of the United States.svg SAS 3 NASA Low Earth X-ray astronomy 9 April 1979Successful
24 May
14:58:10
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz 18 Low Earth (Salyut 4)Salyut expedition26 July
14:18
Successful
Crewed flight with two cosmonauts, final mission to Salyut 4

June

3 June
09:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar, Site 107/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the United Nations.svg DS-U3-IK #5 Interkosmos Intended: Low EarthSolar radiation research3 JuneFailure
3 June
13:20
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 43/3 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 742 (Zenit-4MK/Germes #43)GRULow EarthReconnaissance15 JuneSuccessful
5 June
01:37
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-M/Blok ML Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-1K 30 (Molniya-1K 37L)Molniya orbitCommunications25 September 1987Successful
Flag of France.svg SRET  [ fr ] 2CNESMolniya orbitTechnology test10 July 1988Successful
8 June
02:37
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Proton-K/Blok D Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site 81/24 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Venera 9 (4V1 #1) orbiter Cytherocentric Venus orbiterIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Venera 9 (4V1 #1) landerCytherocentricVenus lander22 October
05:13 (on Venus)
Successful
First spacecraft to orbit Venus, first spacecraft to return images from the surface of another planet
8 June
18:30
Flag of the United States.svg Titan IIID3D-10 Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg AFB, SLC-4E Flag of the United States.svg US Air Force
Flag of the United States.svg KH-9 10 (Hexagon, OPS 6381)NROLow EarthReconnaissance5 NovemberSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg P-226 1 (SSU 1, OPS 6381)Low EarthELINTIn orbitSuccessful
12 June
08:12
Flag of the United States.svg Delta 2910Delta 111 Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg AFB, SLC-2W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Nimbus 6 NASA, NOAALow EarthWeatherIn orbitSuccessful
12 June
12:30
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz-U Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 43/3 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 743 (Zenit-4MK/Germes #44)GRULow EarthReconnaissance25 JuneSuccessful
14 June
03:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Proton-K/Blok D Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site 81/24 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Venera 10 (4V1 #2) orbiterCytherocentricVenus orbiterIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Venera 10 (4V1 #2) landerCytherocentricVenus lander25 October
02:17 (on Venus)
Successful
18 June
09:00
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas SLV-3A Agena-D 5506A Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral AFS, LC-13 Flag of the United States.svg US Air Force
Flag of the United States.svg Canyon 6 (AFP-827, OPS 4966)NRO High Earth orbit SIGINTIn orbitSuccessful
20 June
06:54
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Vostok-2M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 744 (Tselina-D #7)Low EarthELINT11 October 1991Successful
11:43
21 June
Flag of the United States.svg Delta 1910Delta 112 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral AFS, LC-17B Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg OSO 8 NASALow EarthSolar research, UV and X-ray astronomy9 July 1986Successful
24 June
12:04
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 133/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 745 (DS-P1-Yu #77)Low EarthRadar calibration12 March 1976Successful
25 June
12:59
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 43/3 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 746 (Zenit-4MK/Germes #45)GRULow EarthReconnaissance9 JulySuccessful
27 June
13:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 747 (Zenit-2M/Gektor #58)GRULow EarthReconnaissance9 JulySuccessful
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Nauka-22KS 1LLow EarthHosted research payload

July

15 July
14:58:10
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz-U Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz 19 Low Earth (Apollo)International docking21 July
10:50
Successful
Crewed flight with two cosmonauts, Soviet contribution to the Apollo Soyuz Test Project
15 July
19:50:01
Flag of the United States.svg Saturn IB Flag of the United States.svg Kennedy LC-39B Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg Apollo NASALow Earth (Soyuz 19)International docking24 July
21:18
Successful
Flag of the United States.svg DM-2 NASALow Earth (Apollo)Docking adaptor2 AugustSuccessful
Crewed flight with three astronauts, American contribution to the Apollo Soyuz Test Project, final flight of the Apollo programme and the Saturn rocket
26 July
13:28
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Feng Bao 1 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiquan Satellite Launch Center, LA-2B (Site 138)
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg JSSW 1 (CK 1)Low EarthUnknown14 SeptemberSuccessful
First successful orbital launch of Feng Bao 1.

August

20 August
21:22:00
Flag of the United States.svg Titan IIIE Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral LC-41 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Viking 1 OrbiterNASA Areocentric Mars orbiter In orbitSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg Viking 1 LanderNASAAreocentric Mars lander 20 July 1976
11:53:06
Successful
Lander landed in Chryse Planitia, becoming the first US spacecraft to land on Mars. It operated until 11 November 1982 when communications were lost due to an erroneous command being sent to the spacecraft. Orbiter was deactivated on 17 August 1980.

September

9 September
05:30
Flag of Japan.svg Flag of the United States.svg N-I N1F Flag of Japan.svg Tanegashima Space Center LP-N (LA-Y1) Flag of Japan.svg NASDA
Flag of Japan.svg ETS 1 (Kiku 1)NASDALow EarthTechnology testIn orbitSuccessful
First flight of N-I, first satellite launched by NASDA
9 September
18:39:00
Flag of the United States.svg Titan IIIE Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral LC-41 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Viking 2 OrbiterNASAAreocentricMars orbiterIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg Viking 2 LanderNASAAreocentricMars lander3 September 1976
22:58:20
Successful
Lander landed in Utopia Planitia and operated until its batteries failed on 11 April 1980. Orbiter was deactivated on 25 July 1978.
27 September
08:37
Flag of France.svg Diamant BP4 Flag of France.svg Guiana Space Centre ELD Flag of France.svg CNES
Flag of France.svg Aura  [ fr ] (D-2B)CNESLow EarthUltraviolet astronomy30 September 1982Successful
Last flight of Diamant

October

16 October
22:40:00
Flag of the United States.svg Delta 2914 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-17B Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg GOES 1 NOAA Geostationary Meteorology In orbitSuccessful
First operational geostationary weather satellite. Deactivated on 7 March 1985

November

4 November
10:12
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Comodrome, Site 132/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 778 (Parus #4)Low EarthNavigation, data relayIn orbitSuccessful
4 November
15:19
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 43/3Flag placeholder.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 779 (Zenit-4MK/Germes #52)GRULow EarthReconnaisance18 NovemberSuccessful
14 November
19:13
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-M/Blok ML Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 43/3 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-3 3 (Molniya-3 13L)Molniya orbitCommunications19 November 2017Successful
17 November
14:36:37
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz-U Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site 1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz 20 Low Earth (Salyut 4)Uncrewed test flight, biology16 February 1976
02:24
Successful
Last Soyuz flight to the Salyut 4 station
20 November
02:06:48
Flag of the United States.svg Delta 2910 Delta 117 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral AFS, LC-17B Flag of the United States.svg US Air Force
Flag of the United States.svg Explorer 55 (AE E)NASAElliptical low EarthAtmosphere research10 June 1981Successful
21 November
09:20
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site 31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 780 (Zenit-2M #62/Gektor #62)GRULow EarthReconnaissance3 DecemberSuccessful
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Nauka-20KS 2LLow EarthResearch
21 November
17:11
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 781 (Tselina-O #28)Low EarthELINT26 November 1980Successful
25 November
17:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz-U Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 43/3 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Flag of the United Nations.svg Kosmos 782 (Bion #3) Institute of Biomedical Problems Low EarthBiology15 December
04:48
Successful
26 November
03:27
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 2A Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiquan Satellite Launch Center, LA-2B (Site 138) Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg MASI
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg FSW-0 1Low EarthReconnaissance29 DecemberSuccessful
First successful launch of Long March 2.
28 November
00:10
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 783 (Strela-2M #11)Low EarthCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful

December

3 December
10:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 43/3 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 784 (Zenit-2M/Gektor #63)GRULow EarthReconnaissance15 DecemberSuccessful
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Nauka-22KS 2LLow EarthHosted research payload
4 December
20:38
Flag of the United States.svg Titan IIID3D-10 Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg AFB, SLC-4E Flag of the United States.svg US Air Force
Flag of the United States.svg KH-9 11 (Hexagon, OPS 4428)NROLow EarthReconnaissance1 April 1976Successful
Flag of the United States.svg S3 2 (S73-6, OPS 5547) STP Elliptical low EarthResearch1 May 1978Successful
6 December
03:35
Flag of the United States.svg Scout-F1 196C Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg AFB, SLC-5 Flag of the United States.svg US Air Force
Flag of the United States.svg DADE-A Intended: Low polar EarthAtmosphere density research6 DecemberFailure
Flag of the United States.svg DADE-B Intended: Low polar EarthAtmosphere density research
11 December
17:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the United Nations.svg Interkosmos 14 (DS-U2-IK #7)InterkosmosMagnetosphere, ionosphere, micrometeorites research27 February 1983Successful
Cooperative project of the Hungarian People's Republic, People's Republic of Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and the USSR
12 December
12:45
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Tsyklon-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site 90/19 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 785 (US-A #11)Low EarthRadar ocean surveillanceIn orbitSuccessful
13 December
01:56
Flag of the United States.svg Delta 3914 Delta 118 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral AFS, LC-17A Flag of the United States.svg US Air Force
Flag of the United States.svg Satcom 1 RCA Americom GeostationaryCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Maiden flight of Delta 3914
14 December
05:15
Flag of the United States.svg Titan III(23)C3C-29 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral AFS, SLC-40 Flag of the United States.svg US Air Force
Flag of the United States.svg DSP 5 (OPS 3165)USAFGeostationaryMissile early warningIn orbitSuccessful
16 December
09:19
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Feng Bao 1 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiquan Satellite Launch Center, LA-2B (Site 138)
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg JSSW 2 (CK 2)Low EarthUnknown27 January 1976Successful
16 December
09:50
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site 31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 786 (Zenit-4MK/Germes #53)GRULow EarthReconnaissance29 DecemberSuccessful
17 December
11:06
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-M/Blok ML Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 43/3 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-2 15Molniya orbitCommunications28 June 1990Successful
19 December
14:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 132/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg DS-P1-M #7Intended: Low Earth ASAT target19 DecemberFailure
22 December
02:08
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-M/Blok SO-L Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site 31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Prognoz 4Highly elliptical orbitSolar and magnetosphere research18 December 1977Successful
22 December
13:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Proton-K/Blok DM Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site 81/24 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Raduga 1 (Gran 11L)GeostationaryCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
25 December
19:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Vostok-2M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Meteor-1 23Low EarthWeatherIn orbitSuccessful
27 December
10:22
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-M/Blok ML Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Site 43/3 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-3 4 (Molniya-3 15L)Molniya orbitCommunications17 October 1986Successful

Deep space rendezvous

DateSpacecraftEventRemarks
16 March Mariner 10 3rd flyby of Mercury Closest approach: 327 kilometres (203 mi)
20 October Venera 9 Cytherocentric orbit insertionFirst orbiter of Venus
22 October Venera 9 lander Venerian landingLanded at 05:13 UTC; first images from Venus surface
23 October Venera 10 Cytherocentric orbit insertion
25 October Venera 10 landerVenerian landingLanded at 05:17 UTC

EVAs

Start Date/TimeDurationEnd TimeSpacecraftCrewRemarks

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S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation "Energia" is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components. Its name is derived from the Russian word for energy and is also named for Sergei Pavlovich Korolev, the first chief of its design bureau and the driving force behind early Soviet accomplishments in space exploration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lander (spacecraft)</span> Type of spacecraft

A lander is a spacecraft that descends towards, then comes to rest on the surface of an astronomical body other than Earth. In contrast to an impact probe, which makes a hard landing that damages or destroys the probe upon reaching the surface, a lander makes a soft landing after which the probe remains functional.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soviet space program</span> Space exploration program conducted by the Soviet Union from 1951 to 1991

The Soviet space program was the state space program of the Soviet Union, active from 1951 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Contrary to its American, European, and Chinese competitors, which had their programs run under single coordinating agencies, the Soviet space program was divided between several internally competing design bureaus led by Korolev, Kerimov, Keldysh, Yangel, Glushko, Chelomey, Makeyev, Chertok and Reshetnev. Several of these bureaus were subordinated to the Ministry of General Machine-Building. The Soviet space program served as an important marker of claims by the Soviet Union to its superpower status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1968 in spaceflight</span>

The United States National Space Science Data Center catalogued 157 spacecraft placed into orbit by launches which occurred in 1968. The first crewed Apollo missions occurred in 1968. It was also the year in which Earth lifeforms first left low Earth orbit, during the successful Zond 5 mission to the Moon and the Zond 6 lunar mission which crashed upon return, and the year that humans first left low Earth orbit, during the successful Apollo 8 mission to the Moon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1969 in spaceflight</span>

1969 saw humanity step onto another world for the first time. On 20 July 1969, the Apollo 11 Lunar Module, Eagle, landed on the Moon's surface with two astronauts aboard. Days later the crew of three returned safely to Earth, satisfying U.S. President John F. Kennedy's 1962 challenge of 25 May 1961, that "this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth."

Japan and China each launched their first satellites in 1970, bringing the total number of nations with independent launch capability to five.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1972 in spaceflight</span>

1972 saw humanity's last crewed mission to the Moon of the 20th century, Apollo 17.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of spaceflight</span>

Spaceflight began in the 20th century following theoretical and practical breakthroughs by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Robert H. Goddard, and Hermann Oberth, each of whom published works proposing rockets as the means for spaceflight. The first successful large-scale rocket programs were initiated in Nazi Germany by Wernher von Braun. The Soviet Union took the lead in the post-war Space Race, launching the first satellite, the first animal, the first human and the first woman into orbit. The United States landed the first men on the Moon in 1969. Through the late 20th century, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, and China were also working on projects to reach space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of space exploration</span> Overview of and topical guide to space exploration

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to space exploration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1981 in spaceflight</span>

The following is an outline of 1981 in spaceflight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978 in spaceflight</span>

1978 saw the launch of the Pioneer Venus missions launched by the United States, on 20 May and 8 August. The Pioneer Venus Multiprobe landed four spacecraft on the planet, one of which transmitted data for 67 minutes before being destroyed by atmospheric pressure. ISEE-C, which was launched on 8 December, flew past comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner in 1985, and Halley's Comet in 1986.

With the advent of robotic and human spaceflight a new era of American history had presented itself. Keeping with the tradition of honoring the country's history on U.S. postage stamps, the U.S. Post Office began commemorating the various events with its commemorative postage stamp issues. The first U.S. Postage issue to depict a U.S. space vehicle was issued in 1948, the Fort Bliss issue. The first issue to commemorate a space project by name was the ECHO I communications satellite commemorative issue of 1960. Next was the Project Mercury issue of 1962. As U.S. space exploration progressed a variety of other commemorative issues followed, many of which bear accurate depictions of satellites, space capsules, Apollo Lunar Modules, space suits, and other items of interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 in spaceflight</span>

In 2014, the maiden flight of the Angara A5, Antares 120 and Antares 130 took place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020s in spaceflight</span>

This article documents expected notable spaceflight events during the 2020s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soyuz 7K-L1E</span>

Soyuz 7K-L1E was a Soviet uncrewed modified Soyuz 7K-L1 spacecraft. Also called a dummy Soyuz 7K-LOK. Two were built, one Soyuz 7K-L1E was successfully launched into Low Earth Orbit on Proton rocket and is known as Kosmos 382. The other Soyuz 7K-L1E was placed on a N1 rocket, which failed at launch. The Soyuz spacecraft was first used in 1967 as the main crewed spacecraft and is still in use. Many Soyuz variations have been built and the Soyuz 7K-L1E was an uncrewed variation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2029 in spaceflight</span>

This article documents expected notable spaceflight events during the year 2029.

References

Generic references:
RocketSunIcon.svg Spaceflightportal

Footnotes

  1. "Atlas-SLV3D Centaur-D1A | Intelsat 4 F6". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 28 September 2024.