1985 in spaceflight

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1985 in spaceflight
National firsts
Space traveller Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Rockets
Maiden flights Space Shuttle Atlantis
M-3SII
Crewed flights
Orbital11
Total travellers63

The following is an outline of 1985 in spaceflight.

Contents

First Atlantis flight

Atlantis in orbit in 2010, during STS-132 STS132 Atlantis undocking2 (cropped).jpg
Atlantis in orbit in 2010, during STS-132
Space Shuttle Atlantis (Orbiter Vehicle designation: OV‑104) is a retired Space Shuttle orbiter vehicle which belongs to NASA, the spaceflight and space exploration agency of the United States. [1] Atlantis was manufactured by the Rockwell International company in Southern California and was delivered to the Kennedy Space Center in Eastern Florida in April 1985. Atlantis is also the fourth operational and the second-to-last Space Shuttle built. [2] [3] Its maiden flight was STS-51-J made from October 3 to 7, 1985.

Launches

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

January

7 January
19:26
Flag of Japan.svg M-3SII M-3SII-1 Flag of Japan.svg Kagoshima Space Center, LP-M Flag of Japan.svg ISAS
Flag of Japan.svg Sakigake (MS-T5)ISAS Heliocentric 1P/Halley comet flybyIn orbitSuccessful
Maiden flight of M-3SII. First Japanese deep space probe
24 January
19:50
Flag of the United States.svg Space Shuttle Discovery Flag of the United States.svg Kennedy LC-39A Flag of the United States.svg United Space Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg STS-51-C NASA Low Earth Satellite deployment27 January
21:23
Successful
Flag of the United States.svg USA-8 (Magnum 1) NRO Geosynchronous ELINT In orbitSuccessful
Crewed orbital flight with five astronauts

February

8 February
06:10
Flag of the United States.svg Titan 34B Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-4W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg USA-9 (SDS)US Air force Molniya CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
8 February
23:22
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 3 Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Arabsat-1A Arabsat GeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of Brazil.svg Brasilsat-A1 Embratel GeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Arabsat 1A failed in March 1992

March

13 March
02:00
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas E/OIS Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-3W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Geosat US Navy Sun-synchronous Earth observation In orbitSuccessful
Mission ended in January 1990
22 March
23:55
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas G Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral LC-36B Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United Nations.svg Intelsat 510 Intelsat GeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful

April

12 April
13:59
Flag of the United States.svg Space Shuttle Discovery Flag of the United States.svg Kennedy LC-39A Flag of the United States.svg United Space Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg STS-51-D NASALow EarthSatellite deployment19 April
13:54
Successful
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Anik C1 Telesat Canada Current: Graveyard
Operational: Geosynchronous
CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg Leasat 3 US Navy Current: Graveyard
Operational: Geosynchronous
CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Crewed orbital flight with seven astronauts including the first sitting member of the United States Congress to fly in space (Senator Jake Garn).
Anik C1 was retired on 5 May 2003.
Leasat 3 failed to maneuver to geosynchronous orbit and was re-captured by mission STS-51-I in August, repaired and subsequently maneuvered to geosynchronous orbit.
Discovery suffered extensive brake and tyre damage upon landing at Kennedy Space Center.
29 April
16:02
Flag of the United States.svg Space Shuttle Challenger Flag of the United States.svg Kennedy LC-39A Flag of the United States.svg United Space Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg STS-51-B NASALow EarthMicrogravity research6 May
16:11
Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Europe.svg Spacelab Long Module 1 NASA/ESRO Low Earth (Challenger)Microgravity researchSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg GLOMAR Intended: Low Earth Getaway Special Deployment failure
Flag of the United States.svg NUSAT Low EarthGetaway Special15 DecemberSuccessful
Crewed orbital flight with seven astronauts; GLOMAR failed to deploy from its GAS canister

May

8 May
01:15
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 3 Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of the United States.svg GStar 1 GTE Spacenet GeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of France.svg Telecom 1B France Télécom GeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful

June

6 June
06:39
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz-U2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz T-13 Low Earth (Salyut 7) Salyut 7 EO-4 26 September
09:51
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with two cosmonauts
17 June
11:33
Flag of the United States.svg Space Shuttle Discovery Flag of the United States.svg Kennedy LC-39A Flag of the United States.svg United Space Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg STS-51-G NASALow EarthSatellite deployment24 June
13:11
Successful
Flag of Mexico.svg Morelos 1 Morelos GeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Arabsat-1B ArabsatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg Telstar 303 AT&T GeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg Spartan 101 NASALow EarthAstronomy24 June
13:11
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with seven astronauts including the first Saudi Arabian space traveller and member of royalty to fly in space (Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud)
Arabsat 1B retired in 1993.
21 June
00:39
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 Progress 24 Low Earth (Salyut 7)Logistics15 July
22:33
Successful
30 June
00:44
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas G Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral LC-36B Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United Nations.svg Intelsat 511 IntelsatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful

July

2 July
11:23
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 1 Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Europe.svg Giotto ESA Heliocentric Flyby of Halley's Comet In orbitSuccessful
Closest approach of Halley's Comet (596 kilometres (370 mi)) achieved on 13 March 1986
Closest approach of 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup (200 kilometres (120 mi)) achieved on 10 July 1992
19 July
13:05
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 Kosmos 1669 (Progress)Low Earth (Salyut 7)Logistics30 August
01:20
Successful
29 July
21:00
Flag of the United States.svg Space Shuttle Challenger Flag of the United States.svg Kennedy LC-39A Flag of the United States.svg United Space Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg STS-51-F NASALow EarthAstronomical experiments6 August
19:45
Successful
Flag of the United States.svg PDP NASALow EarthPlasma researchSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Europe.svg Spacelab 2 (three pallets)NASA/ESROLow Earth (Challenger)AstronomySuccessful
Crewed orbital flight with seven astronauts; A main engine shut-down during ascent caused an Abort to Orbit, the first (and only) abort of the Space Shuttle program.

August

27 August
10:58
Flag of the United States.svg Space Shuttle Discovery Flag of the United States.svg Kennedy LC-39A Flag of the United States.svg United Space Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg STS-51-I NASALow EarthSatellite deployment and repair3 September
13:15
Successful
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Aussat 1 Aussat Pty Ltd GeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg ASC-1 ASC GeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg Leasat 4 US NavyGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSpacecraft failure
Crewed orbital flight with five astronauts
Leasat 4 failed in orbit after becoming operational for a short period
Retrieved Leasat 3, deployed by STS-51-D in April and repaired the malfunctioning perigee motor to allow the satellite to reach geosynchronous orbit.
28 August
21:20
Flag of the United States.svg Titan 34D Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-4E Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg KH-11-7 NRO Intended: Sun-synchronousReconnaissance28 AugustLaunch Failure
First stage propellant feed malfunction

September

12 September
23:26
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 3 Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of France.svg Eutelsat 1F3 Eutelsat Intended: GeosynchronousCommunications12 SeptemberLaunch Failure
Flag of the United States.svg Spacenet F3 Spacenet Intended: GeosynchronousCommunications
Third stage failed to ignite
13 September Flag of the United States.svg ASM-135 ASAT Flag of the United States.svg Celestial Eagle, Vandenberg Flag of the United States.svg US Air Force
US Air ForceSuborbital Anti-satellite weapon 13 SeptemberSuccessful
Successful intercept and destruction of Solwind P78-1.
17 September
12:38
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz-U2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz T-14 Low Earth (Salyut 7) Salyut 7 EP-5 21 November
10:31
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with three cosmonauts
27 September
08:41
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Proton-K Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 200/39 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 1686 (TKS)Low Earth (Salyut 7)Logistics7 February 1991Successful
TKS-4; remained docked with Salyut 7 through that station's re-entry
28 September
23:17
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas G Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral LC-36B Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United Nations.svg Intelsat 512 IntelsatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful

October

3 October
15:15
Flag of the United States.svg Space Shuttle Atlantis Flag of the United States.svg Kennedy LC-39A Flag of the United States.svg United Space Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg STS-51-J NASALow EarthSatellite deployment7 October
17:00
Successful
Flag of the United States.svg USA-11 (DSCS-III)US Air ForceGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg USA-12 (DSCS-III)US Air ForceGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Crewed orbital flight with five astronauts; Maiden flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis
9 October
02:53
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas E/SGS-2 Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-3W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg USA-10 (GPS-11)US Air Force Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitSuccessful
30 October
17:00
Flag of the United States.svg Space Shuttle Challenger Flag of the United States.svg Kennedy LC-39A Flag of the United States.svg United Space Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg STS-61-A NASALow EarthMicrogravity research6 November
17:44
Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Spacelab Long Module 2 NASALow Earth (Challenger) Spacelab D1 Successful
Flag of Germany.svg GLOMAR DLR Low EarthGetaway Special26 December 1986Successful
Crewed orbital flight with eight astronauts
Maiden flight of Spacelab Long Module #2

November

27 November
00:29
Flag of the United States.svg Space Shuttle Atlantis Flag of the United States.svg Kennedy LC-39A Flag of the United States.svg United Space Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg STS-61-B NASALow EarthSatellite deployment2 December
21:33
Successful
Flag of Mexico.svg Morelos 2 MorelosGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Aussat A2 Aussat Pty LtdGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg Satcom K2 RCA Americom GeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg OEX Target NASALow Earth2 March 1987Successful
Flag of the United States.svg EASE/ACCESS NASALow Earth (Atlantis)Structure assembly experiment2 December
21:33
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with seven astronauts including the first Mexican space traveller.

Deep Space Rendezvous

Date (GMT)SpacecraftEventRemarks
11 June Vega 1 delivered lander and balloon on Venus
15 June Vega 2 delivered lander and balloon on Venus
11 SeptemberISEE-3/ICE Flyby of 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

EVAs

Start Date/TimeDurationEnd TimeSpacecraftCrewRemarks
16 April3 hours
6 minutes
STS-51-D
Discovery
Flag of the United States.svg Jeffrey A. Hoffman
Flag of the United States.svg S. David Griggs
Installed an improvised switch-pulling tool, called the Flyswatter, on the RMS robotic arm. The Flyswatter was used in an effort to push the sequencer start lever on the Leasat-3 in the proper position for deployment. [4] This attempted repair was the first unplanned spacewalk in NASA history. [5]
2 August
07:15
5 hours12:15 Salyut 7 EO-4 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Vladimir Dzhanibekov
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Viktor Savinykh
Installed a third pair of solar arrays on exterior of Salyut 7.
31 August7 hours
20 minutes
STS-51-I
Discovery
Flag of the United States.svg William Fisher
Flag of the United States.svg James van Hoften
Van Hoften rode the RMS to capture the Leasat 3 satellite and pulled it into payload bay. Fisher and Van Hoften secured and started repairs on the satellite in the payload bay. The retrieval was complicated by a malfunction of the RMS that made operation of the arm more complicated. [6]
1 September4 hours
26 minutes
STS-51-I
Discovery
Flag of the United States.svg William Fisher
Flag of the United States.svg James van Hoften
Completed repairs on the Leasat 3 satellite. Then Van Hoften, riding the RMS, heaved the satellite out of the payload bay, imparting the required spin needed to fire the perigee motor. [6]
29 November5 hours
32 minutes
STS-61-B
Atlantis
Flag of the United States.svg Jerry L. Ross
Flag of the United States.svg Sherwood C. Spring
Practiced construction techniques in the payload bay and assembled and disassembled the two experimental EASE/ACCESS structures. [7]
1 December6 hours
41 minutes
STS-61-B
Atlantis
Flag of the United States.svg Jerry L. Ross
Flag of the United States.svg Sherwood C. Spring
Conducted supplementary experiments on the EASE and ACCESS structures, including a test of the RMS to aid in the construction experiments. [7]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 in spaceflight</span>

This article outlines notable events occurring in 2006 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs. 2006 saw Brazil, Iran, and Sweden all get a national into space for the first time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 in spaceflight</span>

The year 2007 contained several significant events in spaceflight, including a Chinese ASAT test, the launches of the US Phoenix and Dawn missions to study Mars and Asteroid belt respectively, Japan's Kaguya Lunar orbiter, and the first Chinese Lunar probe, Chang'e 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 in spaceflight</span>

This article outlines notable events occurring in 2003 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 in spaceflight</span>

This article outlines notable events occurring in 2001 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 in spaceflight</span>

This article outlines notable events occurring in 1997 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 in spaceflight</span>

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995 in spaceflight</span>

This article outlines notable events occurring in 1995 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.

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

The following is an outline of 1981 in spaceflight.

The following is an outline of 1983 in spaceflight.

The following is an outline of 1984 in spaceflight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1986 in spaceflight</span>

The year 1986 saw the destruction of Space Shuttle Challenger shortly after lift-off, killing all seven aboard, the first in-flight deaths of American astronauts. This accident followed the successful flight of Columbia just weeks earlier, and dealt a major setback to the U.S. crewed space program, suspending the Shuttle program for 32 months.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 in spaceflight</span>

This article outlines notable events occurring in 1994 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1993 in spaceflight</span>

The following is an outline of 1993 in spaceflight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 in spaceflight</span>

The following is an outline of 1992 in spaceflight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1991 in spaceflight</span>

This was the final year of the Soviet Union, and thus the end of the Cold War competition between the two space superpowers. The number of launches subsequently declined in the 1990s, and 2018 was the first year since 1990 to have more than 100 orbital launches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1977 in spaceflight</span>

Spaceflight in 1977 included some important events such as the roll out of the Space Shuttle orbiter, Voyager 1 and Voyager space probes were launched. NASA received the Space Shuttle orbiter later named Enterprise, on 14 January. This unpowered sub-orbital space plane was launched off the top of a modified 747 and was flown uncrewed until 13 August until a human crew landed the Enterprise for the first time.

References

Generic references:
RocketSunIcon.svg Spaceflightportal

Footnotes

  1. "Space Shuttle Overview: Atlantis (OV-104)". NASA. 2007. Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2007.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. Justin Ray (11 May 2010). "Respecting Atlantis as the shuttle faces retirement". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  3. Peter W. Merlin (20 May 2010). "Space Shuttle Atlantis Wraps Up 25-year Career". NASA. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2010.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. "Space Shuttle Mission Archives". NASA. 2007. Archived from the original on 2 March 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  5. Becker, Joachim; Janssen, Heinz Hermann (2009). "Human Spaceflights - STS-51D". Space Facts. Archived from the original on 29 July 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  6. 1 2 "Space Shuttle Flight 20 (STS-51A)". Space Shuttle Video Library. National Space Society. July 2008. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  7. 1 2 Rumerman, Judith; Gamble, Chris; Okolski, Gabriel (2007). "Human Spaceflight" (PDF). NASA History Division. p. 45. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 February 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2009.