1996 in spaceflight

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

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

Launches

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

January

10 January ChinaDF-21 ChinaTaiyuan China
Suborbital Missile test 10 January Successful
11 January
09:41
United StatesSpace Shuttle Endeavour United StatesKennedy LC-39B United StatesUnited Space Alliance
United StatesSTS-72 NASA Low Earth Satellite retrieval 20 January
07:41
Successful
United StatesOAST-Flyer NASA Low Earth Technology development
Crewed orbital flight with six astronauts
Retrieved Space Flyer Unit
12 January
23:10
European UnionAriane 4 (44L) FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
United StatesPAS-3R PanAmSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
MalaysiaMeasat-1 Binariang Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Measat-1 is the first Malaysian satellite
14 January
11:10
United StatesDelta II 7925 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B United StatesBoeing IDS
South KoreaKoreasat-2 Korea Telecom Current: Graveyard
Operational: Geosynchronous
Communications In orbit Successful
Koreasat-2 retired on 8 April 2000
16 January
15:33
RussiaKosmos-3M RussiaPlesetsk Site 132/1 Russia
RussiaKosmos 2327 (Parus) MO RF Low Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
25 January
09:56
RussiaProton-K/DM-2 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 200/39 Russia
RussiaGorizont 31 MOM Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful
27 January IndiaPrithvi II IndiaBalasore IndiaDRDO
DRDO Suborbital Missile test 27 January Successful
Maiden flight of Prithvi II missile

February

1 February
01:15
United StatesAtlas IIAS United StatesCape Canaveral LC-36B United StatesRussiaInternational Launch Services
IndonesiaPalapa C1 Telkom Indonesia Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful
5 February
07:19
European UnionAriane 4 (44P) FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
JapanN-STAR b NTT Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
11 February
23:00
JapanS-310 JapanUchinoura LA-K JapanISAS
JapanNTV-1 ISAS Suborbital Aeronomy research 11 February Successful
11 February
23:00
JapanJ-I JapanTanegashima LA-N JapanNASDA
JapanHYFLEX NASDA Suborbital Test flight 11 February Successful
Only flight of J-I
14 February
19:01
ChinaLong March 3B ChinaTaiyuan LC-2 ChinaCASC
United NationsIntelsat 708 Intelsat Intended: Geosynchronous Communications +22 seconds Launch Failure
Maiden flight of Long March 3B
Loss of control at T+2 seconds, exploded 20 seconds later; Six to hundred fatalities on the ground
17 February
20:43
United StatesDelta II 7925-8 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesNEAR NASA Erosian
via Heliocentric
Asteroid probe 12 February 2001
20:01
Successful
Flyby of 253 Mathilde, entered orbit around and landed on 433 Eros; First probe to orbit and land on an asteroid
Final contact received on 28 February 2001, and unsuccessfully attempted on 10 December 2002
19 February
00:58
UkraineTsyklon-3 RussiaPlesetsk Site 32 Russia
RussiaGonets-D1 Roskosmos Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
RussiaGonets-D1 Roskosmos Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
RussiaGonets-D1 Roskosmos Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
RussiaKosmos 2328 (Strela-3) MO RF Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
RussiaKosmos 2329 (Strela-3) MO RF Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
RussiaKosmos 2330 (Strela-3) MO RF Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
19 February
08:19
RussiaProton-K/DM-2 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 200/39 Russia
RussiaRaduga 44L MOM Intended: Geosynchronous
Actual: Geosynchronous transfer
Communications In orbit Launch Failure
Upper stage failed to ignite for second burn due to blocked valve
21 February
12:34
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaSoyuz TM-23 Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Mir EO-21 2 September
07:41
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with two cosmonauts
22 February
20:18
United StatesSpace Shuttle Columbia United StatesKennedy LC-39B United StatesUnited Space Alliance
United StatesSTS-75 NASA Low Earth USMP-3 9 March
13:58
Successful
United StatesTSS-1R NASA Low Earth Tether satellite 19 March Failure
United StatesEDO Pallet NASA Low Earth (Columbia) Cryogenic mission extension pallet 9 March
13:58
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with seven astronauts
TSS-1R tether snapped during deployment; Intended to be returned to Earth by Columbia, but could not be recovered
23 February
19:17
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Technology development 23 February Successful
23 February
19:44
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Ionosphere research 23 February Successful
24 February
11:24
United StatesDelta II 7925-10 United StatesVandenberg SLC-2W United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesPolar NASA High Earth (elliptical) Auroral research In orbit Successful
Mission concluded in April 2008

March

2 March
10:00
United KingdomSkylark 7 SwedenEsrange Area S GermanyDLR
GermanyTEXUS 34 DASA Suborbital Microgravity research 2 March Successful
6 March
03:35
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Astronomy 6 March Successful
6 March
20:01
United StatesLGM-30G Minuteman III United StatesVandenberg LF-09 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesFOT GT161GM US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 6 March Successful
9 March
01:53
United StatesPegasus-XL United StatesStargazer, Vandenberg United StatesOrbital Sciences
United StatesREX 2 US Air Force Low Earth Ionosphere research In orbit Operational
14 March
07:11
European UnionAriane 4 (44LP) FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
United NationsIntelsat 707 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
14 March
17:40
RussiaSoyuz-U RussiaPlesetsk Site 43/4 Russia
RussiaKosmos 2331 (Yantar-4K1) MOM Low Earth Reconnaissance 11 June Successful
21 March
04:53
IndiaPSLV IndiaSriharikota FLP IndiaISRO
IndiaIRS-P3 ISRO Sun-synchronous Remote sensing In orbit Successful
22 March United StatesHera United StatesWhite Sands LC-94 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital ABM target 22 March Successful
22 March United StatesTHAAD United StatesWhite Sands United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital ABM Test 22 March Successful
22 March
08:13
United StatesSpace Shuttle Atlantis United StatesKennedy LC-39B United StatesUnited Space Alliance
United StatesSTS-76 NASA Low Earth (Mir) Shuttle-Mir flight 31 March
13:28
Successful
United StatesSpaceHab LSM NASA/SpaceHab Low Earth (Atlantis) Logistics
Crewed orbital flight with six astronauts
28 March
00:21
United StatesDelta II 7925-9.5 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesUSA-117 (GPS IIA-16) US Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational

April

3 April
15:59
CanadaBlack Brant 9CM1 United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy and microgravity research 3 April Successful
3 April
23:01
United StatesAtlas IIA United StatesCape Canaveral LC-36A United StatesRussiaInternational Launch Services
United KingdomInmarsat 3F1 Inmarsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
8 April
23:09
RussiaProton-K/DM-2M KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/23 United StatesRussiaInternational Launch Services
LuxembourgAstra 1F SES Astra Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
17 April
07:00
RussiaRT-2PM Topol RussiaPlesetsk Site 158 RussiaRVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 17 April Successful
20 April
22:36
European UnionAriane 4 (42P) FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
CanadaMSAT-1 TMI Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
21 April United StatesUGM-133 Trident II United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 21 April Successful
21 April United StatesUGM-133 Trident II United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 21 April Successful
21 April
11:48
RussiaProton-K KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/23 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaPriroda Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Mir module 23 March 2001
05:50
Successful
24 April
12:27
United StatesDelta II 7920-10 United StatesVandenberg SLC-2W United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesMSX BMDO Sun-synchronous Infrared astronomy In orbit Successful
Member of the Space Surveillance Network
24 April
13:00
RussiaKosmos-3M RussiaPlesetsk Site 132/1 Russia
RussiaKosmos 2332 (Taifun) MO RF Low Earth Radar calibration 28 January 2005 Successful
24 April
23:37
United StatesTitan IVA (401)/Centaur United StatesCape Canaveral LC-41 United StatesLockheed Martin
United StatesUSA-118 (Mercury-2) NRO Geosynchronous ELINT In orbit Operational
30 April
04:31
United StatesAtlas I United StatesCape Canaveral LC-36B United StatesRussiaInternational Launch Services
ItalyBeppoSAX ASI Low Earth X-ray astronomy 30 April 2003 Successful

May

3 May
04:16
United KingdomSkylark 7 SwedenEsrange Area S GermanyDLR
SwedenMaser 7 SSC Suborbital Microgravity research 3 May Successful
5 May
07:04
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaProgress M-31 Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Logistics 1 August
20:33
Successful
8 May
08:01
United StatesLGM-118 Peacekeeper United StatesVandenberg LF-05 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 8 May Successful
12 May
21:32
United StatesTitan IVA (403) United StatesVandenberg SLC-4E United StatesLockheed Martin
United StatesUSA-119 (NOSS 2–3) NRO Low Earth SIGINT In orbit Operational
United StatesUSA-120 (NOSS 2–3) NRO Low Earth SIGINT In orbit Operational
United StatesUSA-121 (NOSS 2–3) NRO Low Earth SIGINT In orbit Operational
United StatesUSA-122 (NOSS 2–3) NRO Low Earth SIGINT In orbit Operational
United StatesUSA-123 (TiPS) NRL Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesUSA-124 (TiPS) NRL Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
14 May
08:55
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 31/6 Russia
RussiaYantar-1KFT VKS Intended: Low Earth Reconnaissance + 49 seconds Launch Failure
Payload fairing disintegrated
16 May United StatesUGM-96 Trident I United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 16 May Successful
16 May United StatesUGM-96 Trident I United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 16 May Successful
16 May United StatesUGM-96 Trident I United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 16 May Successful
16 May United StatesUGM-96 Trident I United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 16 May Successful
16 May
01:56
European UnionAriane 4 (44L) FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
IndonesiaPalapa C2 Telkom Indonesia Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
IsraelAMOS 1 Spacecom Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
17 May
02:44
United StatesPegasus-H United StatesStargazer, Vandenberg United StatesOrbital Sciences
United StatesMSTI-3 BMDO Low Earth Technology development 11 December 1997 Successful
19 May
10:30
United StatesSpace Shuttle Endeavour United StatesKennedy LC-39B United StatesUnited Space Alliance
United StatesSTS-77 NASA Low Earth Microgravity research 29 May
11:10
Successful
United StatesSpaceHab LSM NASA/SpaceHab Low Earth (Endeavour) Scientific experiments
United StatesSPARTAN-207 NASA Low Earth Technology demonstration
United StatesIAE NASA Low Earth Technology demonstration 22 May Successful
United StatesPAMS NASA Low Earth Technology demonstration 26 October Successful
Crewed orbital flight with six astronauts
SPARTAN used to deploy the IAE satellite on 20 May; PAMS deployed on 22 May
24 May
01:09
United StatesDelta II 7925 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesGalaxy 9 PanAmSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
25 May
02:05
RussiaProton-K/DM-2 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 200/39 Russia
RussiaGorizont 32 MOM Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
30 May
08:01
United StatesLGM-118 Peacekeeper United StatesVandenberg LF-02 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 30 May Successful

June

4 June
05:06
CanadaBlack Brant VIIIC United StatesWhite Sands United StatesNASA
United StatesXQC NASA Suborbital X-ray astronomy 4 June Successful
4 June
12:34
European UnionAriane 5G FranceKourou ELA-3 FranceArianespace
European UnionCluster F1 ESA Intended: High Earth (elliptical) Magnetosphere research +37 seconds Launch Failure
European UnionCluster F2 ESA Intended: High Earth (elliptical) Magnetosphere research
European UnionCluster F3 ESA Intended: High Earth (elliptical) Magnetosphere research
European UnionCluster F4 ESA Intended: High Earth (elliptical) Magnetosphere research
Maiden flight of Ariane 5G; Ariane 5 Flight 501
Programming error led to rocket going off course
6 June RussiaUR-100N KazakhstanBaikonur RussiaRVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 6 June Successful
6 June RussiaRT-2PM Topol RussiaPlesetsk Site 158 RussiaRVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 6 June Successful
15 June
06:55
European UnionAriane 4 (44P) FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
United NationsIntelsat 709 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
17 June
05:50
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Radio astronomy 17 June Successful
20 June
14:40
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Test rocket 20 June Successful
20 June
14:49
United StatesSpace Shuttle Columbia United StatesKennedy LC-39B United StatesUnited Space Alliance
United StatesSTS-78 NASA Low Earth Microgravity research 7 July
12:36
Successful
United StatesSpacelab Long Module 2 NASA Low Earth (Columbia) Spacelab LMS-1
United StatesEDO Pallet NASA Low Earth (Columbia) Cryogenic mission extension pallet
Crewed orbital flight with seven astronauts
20 June
18:45
RussiaSoyuz-U RussiaPlesetsk Site 16/2 Russia
RussiaYantar-4K1 VKS Intended: Low Earth Reconnaissance +50 seconds Launch Failure
Payload fairing disintegrated
26 June
12:17
United StatesLGM-30G Minuteman III United StatesVandenberg LF-10 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 26 June Successful
26 June
14:59
United StatesLGM-30G Minuteman III United StatesVandenberg LF-04 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 26 June Successful
26 June
19:00
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Solar observation 26 June Successful
28 June RussiaR-29 Vysota RussiaSubmarine, Sea of Okhotsk RussiaRussian Navy
Russian Navy Suborbital Missile test 28 June Successful
28 June RussiaR-29 Vysota RussiaSubmarine, Sea of Okhotsk RussiaRussian Navy
Russian Navy Suborbital Missile test 28 June Successful
28 June RussiaR-29 Vysota RussiaSubmarine, Sea of Okhotsk RussiaRussian Navy
Russian Navy Suborbital Missile test 28 June Successful

July

2 July
07:48
United StatesPegasus-XL United StatesStargazer, Vandenberg United StatesOrbital Sciences
United StatesTOMS-EP NASA Low Earth Ozone mapping In orbit Operational
3 July
00:31
United StatesTitan IVA (405) United StatesCape Canaveral LC-40 Lockheed Martin
United StatesUSA-125 (SDS 2–4) US Air Force High Earth (elliptical) Communications In orbit Operational
3 July
10:47
ChinaLong March 3 ChinaXichang LC-1 China
ChinaApstar 1A APT Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
9 July United StatesAries United StatesWallops Island United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Tracking demonstration 9 July Successful
9 July
22:24
European UnionAriane 4 (44L) FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
Saudi ArabiaArabsat 2A Arabsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
TurkeyTurksat 1C Türksat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
14 July
07:15
CanadaBlack Brant 9CM1 United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
United StatesNUVIEWS 1 NASA Suborbital Ultraviolet astronomy 14 July Successful
15 July RussiaR-29 Vysota RussiaSubmarine, Barents Sea RussiaRussian Navy
Russian Navy Suborbital Missile test 15 July Successful
15 July RussiaR-29 Vysota RussiaSubmarine, Barents Sea RussiaRussian Navy
Russian Navy Suborbital Missile test 15 July Successful
15 July
11:28
United StatesHera United StatesWhite Sands LC-94 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital ABM Target 15 July Successful
15 July
11:31
United StatesTHAAD United StatesWhite Sands United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital ABM test 15 July Successful
15 July
18:21
United StatesCastor 4B United StatesWake Island United StatesOrbital Sciences
Orbital Sciences Suborbital Re-entry test 15 July Successful
16 July
00:50
United StatesDelta II 7925-9.5 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesUSA-126 (GPS IIA-17) US Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
19 July United StatesUGM-133 Trident II United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 19 July Successful
19 July United StatesUGM-133 Trident II United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 19 July Successful
25 July RussiaRT-2PM Topol RussiaPlesetsk Site 158 RussiaRVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 25 July Successful
25 July
12:42
United StatesAtlas II United StatesCape Canaveral LC-36A United States
United StatesUSA-127 (UHF F/O F7) US Air Force Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
26 July
09:40
CanadaBlack Brant 9CM1 United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 26 July Successful
31 July
20:00
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaProgress M-32 Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Logistics 20 November
22:42
Successful

August

8 August
22:49
European UnionAriane 4 (44L) FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
ItalyItalsat F2 ASI Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
FranceTelecom 2D France Télécom Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
12 August
18:58
United StatesNike Orion United StatesWhite Sands United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 12 August Successful
14 August
22:20
RussiaMolniya-M RussiaPlesetsk Site 43/3 Russia
Russia Molniya 1-89 MOM Molniya Communications 7 April 2012 Successful
17 August
01:58
JapanH-II JapanTanegashima LA-Y1 JapanNASDA
JapanADEOS (Midori) NASDA Low Earth Atmospheric research In orbit Operational
JapanJAS-2 (Fuji-2) JARL Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
17 August
13:18
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaSoyuz TM-24 Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Mir EO-22 2 March 1997
06:44
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with three cosmonauts
18 August
10:27
ChinaLong March 3 ChinaXichang LC-1 China
ChinaChinasat 7 Chinasat Intended: Geosynchronous
Actual: High Earth (elliptical)
Communications In orbit Launch Failure
Third stage failure left satellite in useless orbit
20 August
15:30
JapanS-310 JapanUchinoura Area K JapanISAS
JapanSEEK ISAS Suborbital Plasma research 20 August Successful
20 August
16:00
CanadaBlack Brant 9CM1 United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Solar research 20 August Successful
21 August
09:47
United StatesPegasus-XL United StatesStargazer, Vandenberg United StatesOrbital Sciences
United StatesFAST NASA Low Earth Magnetosphere research In orbit Operational
26 August
14:00
JapanS-310 JapanUchinoura Area K JapanISAS
JapanSEEK ISAS Suborbital Plasma research 26 August Successful
29 August CanadaBlack Brant VC United StatesWallops Island United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Test rocket 29 August Successful
29 August
05:22
RussiaMolniya-M RussiaPlesetsk Site 43/3 Russia
ArgentinaMUSAT CONAE Molniya Magnetosphere research 12 November 1999 Successful
RussiaInterbol 2 Roskosmos Molniya Auroral research In orbit Operational
Czech RepublicMagion 5 Molniya Auroral research In orbit Successful
31 August
15:41
United StatesSTARS United StatesBarking Sands United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesODES/MSX MDT-2 US Air Force Suborbital Target 31 August Successful

September

4 September
09:01
UkraineZenit-2 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 45/1 Russia
United StatesKosmos 2333 (Tselina-2) MO RF Low Earth ELINT In orbit Operational
5 September
12:47
RussiaKosmos-3M RussiaPlesetsk Site 132/1 Russia
RussiaKosmos 2334 (Parus) MO RF Low Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
MexicoOscar 30 UNAMSAT Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
6 September
17:37
RussiaProton-K/DM-2 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/23 United StatesRussiaInternational Launch Services
United KingdomInmarsat 3F2 Inmarsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
8 September
21:49
United StatesAtlas IIA United StatesCape Canaveral LC-36B United StatesRussiaInternational Launch Services
United StatesGE 1 GE Americom Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
11 September
00:00
European UnionAriane 4 (42P) FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
United StatesEchostar II EchoStar Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful
Retired after malfunction on 14 July 2008
11 September
08:01
United StatesLGM-118 Peacekeeper United StatesVandenberg LF-05 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 11 September Successful
12 September
08:49
United StatesDelta II 7925-9.5 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesUSA-128 (GPS IIA-18) US Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
16 September
08:54
United StatesSpace Shuttle Atlantis United StatesKennedy LC-39A United StatesUnited Space Alliance
United StatesSTS-79 NASA Low Earth Shuttle-Mir flight 26 September
12:13
Successful
United StatesSpaceHab LDM NASA/SpaceHab Low Earth (Atlantis) Logistics
Crewed orbital flight with six astronauts
24 September
22:00
JapanTR-1 JapanTanegashima LA-T JapanNASDA
NASDA Suborbital Microgravity research 24 September Successful
26 September
17:50
RussiaProton-K/DM-2M KazakhstanBaikonur Site 200/39 Russia
RussiaEkspress-6 RSCSC Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
27 September
16:51
United StatesLGM-30F Minuteman II United StatesVandenberg LF-03 United StatesUS Air force
US Air Force Suborbital Target 27 September Successful

October

2 October United StatesUGM-96 Trident I United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 2 October Successful
3 October RussiaRT-2PM Topol RussiaPlesetsk Site 158 RussiaRVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 3 October Successful
3 October RussiaR-29 Vysota RussiaSubmarine, Barents Sea RussiaRussian Navy
Russian Navy Suborbital Missile test 3 October Successful
9 October United StatesHera United StatesWhite Sands LC-94 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital ABM target 9 October Successful
9 October United StatesTHAAD United StatesWhite Sands United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital ABM test 9 October Successful
16 October
10:41
United StatesLCLV United StatesWallops Island United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesRed Tigress 3 US Air Force Suborbital Target 16 October Successful
16 October
16:02
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Technology development 16 October Successful
20 October
07:20
ChinaLong March 2D ChinaJiuquan China
ChinaFSW-2-3 CASC Low Earth Reconnaissance 4 November Successful
21 October
03:00
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Astronomy 21 October Successful
24 October
11:37
RussiaMolniya-M RussiaPlesetsk Site 43/4 Russia
RussiaMolniya 3–48 MOM Molniya Communications 18 October 2007
03:51
Successful
28 October United StatesUGM-133 Trident II United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 28 October Successful
28 October United StatesUGM-133 Trident II United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 28 October Successful
29 October
03:30
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Aeronomy 29 October Successful

November

4 November
17:08
United StatesPegasus-XL United StatesStargazer, Wallops Island United StatesOrbital Sciences
United StatesHETE NASA Low Earth Astronomy 7 April 2002 Launch Failure
ArgentinaSAC-B CONAE Low Earth Technology development
Both payloads failed to separate from the launch vehicle and each other
6 November
13:06
United StatesLGM-118 Peacekeeper United StatesVandenberg LF-02 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 6 November Successful
7 November
17:00
United StatesDelta II 7925 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesMars Global Surveyor NASA Areocentric Mars orbiter In orbit Successful
Contact lost on 2 November 2006 and mission declared complete on 10 January 2007 after numerous troubleshooting attempts to regain contact.
9 November
08:50
RussiaRT-2PM Topol RussiaPlesetsk Site 158 RussiaRVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 9 November Successful
13 November
18:30
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
United StatesSERTS-96 NASA Suborbital Solar observation 13 November Successful
13 November
22:40
European UnionAriane 4 (44L) FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
Saudi ArabiaArabsat 2B Arabsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
MalaysiaMeasat-2 Binariang Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
16 November
20:48
RussiaProton-K/D-2 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 200/39 RussiaVKS
RussiaMars 96 (Mars-8) VKS Intended: Areocentric
Actual: Low Earth
Mars orbiter 17 November Failure
Upper stage failed to re-ignite for Earth orbit departure; re-entered the following day
17 November
13:30
United StatesTerrier-Orion United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Test rocket 17 November Successful
19 November
19:55
United StatesSpace Shuttle Columbia United StatesKennedy LC-39B United StatesUnited Space Alliance
United StatesSTS-80 NASA Low Earth Microgravity research 7 December
11:49
Successful
United StatesORFEUS-SPAS NASA Low Earth Ultraviolet astronomy
United StatesWake Shield Facility NASA Low Earth Materials research
United StatesEDO Pallet NASA Low Earth (Columbia) Cryogenic mission extension pallet
Crewed orbital flight with five astronauts; All EVAs cancelled due to airlock malfunction; Longest-duration Space Shuttle flight in history
Story Musgrave becomes the only American astronaut to fly on all five Space Shuttle orbiters
ORFEUS-SPAS deployed on 20 November and retrieved on 4 December; WSF deployed on 22 November and retrieved on 26 November
19 November
23:20
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaProgress M-33 Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Logistics 12 March 1997
03:23
Partial Failure
Failed to redock after free-flight in February–March 1997
21 November
20:47
United StatesAtlas IIA United StatesCape Canaveral LC-36A United StatesRussiaInternational Launch Services
FranceHot Bird 2 Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
24 November
11:05
United KingdomSkylark 7 SwedenEsrange Area S GermanyDLR
GermanyTEXUS 35 DASA Suborbital Microgravity research 24 November Successful
29 November RussiaRT-2PU Topol RussiaPlesetsk Site 158 RussiaRVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 29 November Successful

December

4 December
06:58
United StatesDelta II 7925 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesMars Pathfinder NASA Heliocentric Mars lander 4 July 1997
16:57
Successful
United StatesSojourner NASA Heliocentric Mars rover
First Mars rover; landing site: Ares Vallis
Final contact with Sojourner received on 27 September 1997 and the mission was terminated on 10 March 1998
11 December
12:00
UkraineTsyklon-2 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 90/20 Russia
RussiaKosmos 2335 (EORSAT) MO RF Low Earth Reconnaissance 1 January 1999 Successful
18 December
01:57
United StatesAtlas IIA United StatesCape Canaveral LC-36B United StatesRussiaInternational Launch Services
United KingdomInmarsat 3F3 Inmarsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
20 December
06:43
RussiaKosmos-3M RussiaPlesetsk Site 132/1 Russia
RussiaKosmos 2336 (Parus) MO RF Low Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
20 December
18:04
United StatesTitan IVA (404) United StatesVandenberg SLC-4E United StatesLockheed Martin
United StatesUSA-129 (KH-12) NRO Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Operational
NRO Launch 2
24 December
13:50
RussiaSoyuz-U RussiaPlesetsk Site 43/4 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaBion 11 Roskosmos Low Earth Biological research 7 January 1997 Successful
28 December ChinaDF-21 ChinaTaiyuan China
Suborbital Missile test 28 December Successful

Deep-space rendezvous

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

EVAs

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

References

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

External links

Generic references:
 Spaceflight portal

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