1981 in spaceflight
 | This timeline of spaceflight may require cleanup to ensure consistency with other timeline of spaceflight articles. See Wikipedia:WikiProject Spaceflight/Timeline of spaceflight working group for guidelines on how to improve the article. Details |  |
 The launch of STS-1, the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle | |
| Orbital launches | |
|---|---|
| First | 6 January |
| Last | 23 December |
| Total | 126 |
| Successes | 119 |
| Failures | 6 |
| Partial failures | 1 |
| Catalogued | 123 |
| National firsts | |
| Satellite |  Bulgaria |
| Space traveller |  Mongolia Romania |
| Rockets | |
| Maiden flights | N-II Space Shuttle Columbia |
| Retirements | Feng Bao 1 |
| Crewed flights | |
| Orbital | 5 |
| Total travellers | 10 |
The following is an outline of 1981 in spaceflight.
STS-1
[edit]STS-1 (Space Transportation System-1) was the first orbital spaceflight of NASA's Space Shuttle program. The first orbiter, Columbia, launched on April 12, 1981,[1] and returned on April 14, 1981, 54.5 hours later, having orbited the Earth 37 times. Columbia carried a crew of two—commander John W. Young and pilot Robert L. Crippen. It was the first American crewed space flight since the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) in 1975. STS-1 was also the maiden test flight of a new American spacecraft to carry a crew, though it was preceded by atmospheric testing (ALT) of the orbiter and ground testing of the Space Shuttle system.
The launch occurred on the 20th anniversary of Vostok 1, the first human spaceflight, performed by Yuri Gagarin for the USSR. This was a coincidence rather than a celebration of the anniversary; a technical problem had prevented STS-1 from launching two days earlier, as was planned.Launches
[edit]| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
| Remarks | |||||||
January[edit] | |||||||
| 6 January 12:15 |
 Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1237 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 20 January | Successful | |||
| Film capsule recovered | |||||||
| 9 January 14:57 |
Molniya-M/ML
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Molniya-3 No.25
|
Molniya | Communications | 3 July 1999 | Successful | |||
| 10 January 18:22 |
 Nike-Tomahawk
|
 Siple Station
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Ionospheric research | 10 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 198 kilometres (123 mi) | |||||||
| 14 January 22:00 |
 TT-500A
|
Tanegashima LA-T
|
NASDA
| ||||
|
|
NASDA | Suborbital | Test flight | 14 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 320 kilometres (200 mi) | |||||||
| 16 January 09:00 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1238 (Taifun-1)
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 16 January 12:00 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1239 (Zenit-4MT)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 28 January | Successful | |||
| Film capsule recovered | |||||||
| 19 January 03:37:27 |
 Black Brant VB
|
Churchill
|
NRC
| ||||
|
|
NRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 19 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 263 kilometres (163 mi) | |||||||
| 20 January 04:50 |
Astrobee-F
|
White Sands
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Ultraviolet astronomy | 20 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 209 kilometres (130 mi) | |||||||
| 20 January 11:00 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1240 (Yantar-2K No.975)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 17 February | Successful | |||
| Returned three film capsules; two small and one large | |||||||
| 21 January 00:25 |
Black Brant VIII-C
|
White Sands
|
NASA
| ||||
| SPAR-9
|
NASA | Suborbital | Microgravity research | 21 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 209 kilometres (130 mi) | |||||||
| 21 January 08:29 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1241 (Lira)
|
Low Earth | ASAT Target | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Target for Kosmos 1243 and Kosmos 1258; both interceptors failed | |||||||
| 21 January 21:46 |
S-310
|
Kagoshima
|
ISAS
| ||||
|
|
ISAS | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 21 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 174 kilometres (108 mi) | |||||||
| 23 January 11:20 |
Tsyklon-3
|
Plesetsk Site 32/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Musson No.11
|
Intended: Low Earth | Geodesy | 23 January | Launch failure | |||
| Payload fairing failed to separate | |||||||
| 24 January 14:18:02 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 1/5
|
| ||||
| Progress 12
|
Low Earth (Salyut 6) | Station logistics | 20 March | Successful | |||
| Final resupply mission to Salyut 6 | |||||||
| 26 January 07:20:06 |
Black Brant IVB
|
Churchill
|
NRC
| ||||
|
|
NRC | Suborbital | Auroral research | 26 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 584 kilometres (363 mi) | |||||||
| 27 January 14:58 |
Vostok-2M
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1242 (Tselina-D)
|
Low Earth | ELINT | 8 May 2014 | Successful | |||
| 27 January | R-39 Rif
|
Nenoksa
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | 27 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), carried five reentry vehicles | |||||||
| 29 January 04:12 |
Astrobee-F
|
Churchill
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Auroral research | 29 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 189 kilometres (117 mi) | |||||||
| 29 January 07:00 |
S-520
|
Kagoshima LA-K
|
ISAS
| ||||
| TPE-2
|
ISAS | Suborbital | Ionospheric research Technology |
29 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 323 kilometres (201 mi) | |||||||
| 30 January 16:27 |
Molniya-M/ML
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Molniya 1-49
|
Molniya | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
February[edit] | |||||||
| 2 February 02:19 |
Tsyklon-2
|
Baikonur Site 90
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1243 (IS-A)
|
Low Earth | ASAT test | 2 February | Spacecraft failure | |||
| Failed to intercept Kosmos 1241; passed within 50 metres (160 ft) of target but explosive charge failed to detonate | |||||||
| 4 February 01:10 |
Aries
|
White Sands LC-36
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Technology | 4 February | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 387 kilometres (240 mi) | |||||||
| 4 February 05:00 |
 Centaure
|
 Thumba
|
|||||
|
|
ISRO | Suborbital | Ionospheric research | 4 February | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
| 4 February 15:00 |
MGM-31A Pershing
|
Cape Canaveral LC-16
|
US Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 4 February | |||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 4 February 15:33 |
MGM-31A Pershing
|
Cape Canaveral LC-16
|
US Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 4 February | |||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 4 February 15:53 |
MGM-31A Pershing
|
Cape Canaveral LC-16
|
US Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 4 February | |||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 5 February 11:25 |
MGM-29 Sergeant
|
Poker Flat
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Auroral research | 5 February | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
| 6 February 08:00 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/1
|
| ||||
| Interkosmos 21
|
Interkosmos | Low Earth | Technology | 7 July 1982 | Successful | ||
| Ceased operations on 2 June 1982 | |||||||
| 7 February 20:13:45 |
 Petrel 2
|
 Esrange
|
|||||
|
|
SRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 7 February | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 171 kilometres (106 mi) | |||||||
| 7 February 20:30:40 |
Nike-Orion
|
Esrange
|
SSC
| ||||
|
|
SSC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 7 February | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 145 kilometres (90 mi) | |||||||
| 9 February 14:31 |
LGM-30G Minuteman III
|
Vandenberg LF-08
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 9 February | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
| 9 February 16:38 |
LGM-30G Minuteman III
|
Vandenberg LF-09
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 9 February | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
| 11 February 08:30 |
N-II
|
Tanegashima Osaki
|
NASDA
| ||||
| Kiku 3 (ETS-IV)
|
NASDA | Geostationary transfer | Technology | In orbit | Successful | ||
| Maiden flight of N-II; satellite ceased operations on 24 December 1984 | |||||||
| 12 February 05:27 |
Centaure 2B
|
Thumba
|
|||||
|
|
ISRO | Suborbital | Ionospheric research | 12 February | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 158 kilometres (98 mi) | |||||||
| 12 February 18:21 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1244 (Parus)
|
Low Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 13 February 11:15 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1245 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 27 February | Successful | |||
| Film capsule recovered | |||||||
| 13 February 17:15 |
Black Brant VIII-C
|
White Sands
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Solar research | 13 February | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 265 kilometres (165 mi) | |||||||
| 17 February 17:15 |
MGM-31A Pershing
|
Cape Canaveral LC-16
|
US Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 17 February | |||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 17 February 17:51 |
MGM-31A Pershing
|
Cape Canaveral LC-16
|
US Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 17 February | |||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 17 February 19:17 |
MGM-31A Pershing
|
Cape Canaveral LC-16
|
US Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 17 February | |||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 18 February 09:00 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1246 (Yantar-1KFT No.1)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 13 March | Successful | |||
| 18 February |  INTA-300
|
El Arenosillo
|
INTA
| ||||
|
|
INTA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 18 February | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 285 kilometres (177 mi) | |||||||
| 18 February | LGM-30B Minuteman IB
|
Vandenberg LF-06
|
United States Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 18 February | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
| 19 February 10:00 |
Molniya-M/2BL
|
Plesetsk Site 16/2
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1247 (US-K)
|
Molniya | Missile defence | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 21 February 00:30 |
Mu-3S
|
Kagoshima LA-M
|
ISAS
| ||||
| Hinotori (ASTRO-A)
|
ISAS | Low Earth | Astronomy | 11 July 1991 | Successful | ||
| 21 February 23:23 |
Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1AR
|
Cape Canaveral LC-36A
|
NASA
| ||||
| Comstar D4
|
COMSAT SSC Parallax TongaSat |
Geostationary | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
| Transferred to SSC Parallax as Parallax 1 in 2001, to TongaSat as Esiafi 1 in 2002. | |||||||
| 21 February | LGM-30G Minuteman III
|
Vandenberg LF-26
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 21 February | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
| 25 February 17:20 |
Sergeant-Hydac
|
Poker Flat
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 25 February | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 400 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
| 28 February 19:10 |
Titan III(24)B
|
Vandenberg SLC-4W
|
US Air Force
| ||||
| OPS 1166 (KH-8)
|
NRO | Sun-synchronous | Optical imaging | 20 June | Successful | ||
March[edit] | |||||||
| 1 March 09:20 |
 OTRAG
|
 Seba Oasis
|
OTRAG
| ||||
|
|
OTRAG | Suborbital | Test flight | 1 March | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
| 5 March 15:00 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1248 (Yantar-2K No.940)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 4 April | Successful | |||
| Returned three film capsules; two small and one large | |||||||
| 5 March 16:48 |
Sergeant-Hydac
|
Poker Flat
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 5 March | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 400 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
| 5 March 18:09 |
Tsyklon-2
|
Baikonur Site 90
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1249 (US-A)
|
Low Earth | Radar imaging | 19 July | Successful | |||
| 6 March 11:31 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/2
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1250 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1251 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1252 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1253 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1254 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1255 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1256 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1257 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 7 March 08:09 |
Taurus-Orion
|
Poker Flat
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Auroral research | 7 March | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 156 kilometres (97 mi) | |||||||
| 7 March 08:09 |
Taurus-Orion
|
Poker Flat
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Aeronomy Auroral research |
7 March | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 203 kilometres (126 mi) | |||||||
| 7 March 08:26 |
Taurus-Orion
|
Poker Flat
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Auroral research | 7 March | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 169 kilometres (105 mi) | |||||||
| 7 March 08:38 |
Paiute-Tomahawk
|
Poker Flat
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Auroral research | 7 March | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 187 kilometres (116 mi) | |||||||
| 8 March 16:00 |
Nike-Orion
|
Churchill
|
NASA
| ||||
| CWAS-1
|
NASA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 8 March | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 140 kilometres (87 mi) | |||||||
| 12 March 04:30 |
Sergeant-Hydac
|
Poker Flat
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 12 March | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 400 kilometres (250 mi) | |||||||
| 12 March 19:00:11 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 1/5
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Soyuz T-4
|
Low Earth (Salyut 6) | Salyut 6 expedition | 26 May 12:37:34 |
Successful | |||
| Crewed flight with two cosmonauts, last long-duration crew of Salyut 6 | |||||||
| 13 March 16:00 |
Nike-Orion
|
Churchill
|
NASA
| ||||
| CWAS-2
|
NASA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 13 March | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 140 kilometres (87 mi) | |||||||
| 14 March 16:55 |
Tsyklon-2
|
Baikonur Site 90
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1258 (IS-A)
|
Low Earth | ASAT test | 14 March | Spacecraft failure | |||
| Failed to intercept Kosmos 1241 | |||||||
| 15 March | LGM-30B Minuteman IB
|
Vandenberg LF-03
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 15 March | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
| 16 March 19:24:00 |
Titan III(23)C
|
Cape Canaveral LC-40
|
US Air Force
| ||||
| OPS 7350 (DSP F-9)
|
US Air Force | Geostationary | Missile defence | In orbit | Successful | ||
| Operated until 1992 | |||||||
| 17 March 08:40 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1259 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 31 March | Successful | |||
| Film capsule recovered | |||||||
| 18 March 04:40 |
Proton-K/DM
|
Baikonur Site 200/40
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Gran' No.18L
|
Geosynchronous | Communications | |||||
| 20 March 23:45 |
Tsyklon-2
|
Baikonur Site 90
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1260 (US-P)
|
Low Earth | ELINT | 22 May 1982 | Successful | |||
| 22 March 14:58:55 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Soyuz 39
|
Low Earth (Salyut 6) | Salyut 6 visit | 30 March 11:40:58 |
Successful | |||
| Crewed flight with two cosmonauts, carried first Mongolian in space | |||||||
| 24 March 03:00 |
Black Brant VIII-C
|
White Sands
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Ultraviolet astronomy | 24 March | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 261 kilometres (162 mi) | |||||||
| 24 March 03:31 |
Molniya-M/ML
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Molniya-3 No.24
|
Molniya | Communications | 19 October 1992 | Successful | |||
| 25 March 08:05:16 |
Taurus Tomahawk
|
Poker Flat
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Plasma research | 25 March | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 28 March 01:54:06 |
Black Brant VB
|
Churchill
|
NRC
| ||||
|
|
NRC | Suborbital | Ionospheric research | 28 March | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 327 kilometres (203 mi) | |||||||
| 28 March 01:54 |
Black Brant IVB
|
Churchill
|
NRC
| ||||
|
|
NRC | Suborbital | Ionospheric research | 28 March | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
| 28 March 09:30 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Yantar-2K No.979
|
Intended: Low Earth | Optical imaging | 28 March | Launch failure | |||
| Failed to orbit | |||||||
| 30 March 05:52:55 |
Nike-Orion
|
Poker Flat
|
DNA
| ||||
|
|
DNA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 30 March | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 140 kilometres (87 mi) | |||||||
| 31 March 09:40 |
Molniya-M/2BL
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1261 (US-K)
|
Molniya | Missile defence | In orbit | Successful | |||
April[edit] | |||||||
| 1 April 09:04:35 |
Taurus-Tomahawk
|
Poker Flat
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Plasma research | 1 April | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 1 April 09:10 |
UGM-96 Trident I C4
|
USS Simon Bolivar, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 1 April | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| 1 April | LGM-30G Minuteman III
|
Vandenberg LF-04
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 1 April | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
| 1 April | R-39 Rif
|
Nenoksa
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | 1 April | Launch failure | ||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
| 2 April 09:48 |
Taurus-Orion
|
Wallops
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Plasma research | 2 April | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 220 kilometres (140 mi) | |||||||
| 3 April 06:20:55 |
Nike-Orion
|
Poker Flat
|
DNA
| ||||
|
|
DNA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 3 April | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 140 kilometres (87 mi) | |||||||
| 3 April 09:51 |
Taurus-Orion
|
Wallops
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Plasma research | 3 April | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 210 kilometres (130 mi) | |||||||
| 4 April | LGM-30B Minuteman IB
|
Vandenberg LF-06
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 4 April | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
| 7 April 10:51 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1262 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 21 April | Successful | |||
| Film capsule recovered | |||||||
| 7 April 14:00 |
MGM-31A Pershing
|
Cape Canaveral LC-16
|
US Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 7 April | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 7 April 14:19 |
MGM-31A Pershing
|
Cape Canaveral LC-16
|
US Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 7 April | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 7 April 14:40 |
MGM-31A Pershing
|
Cape Canaveral LC-16
|
US Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 7 April | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 9 April 12:00 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1263 (Taifun-1)
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 12 April 12:00:04 |
Space Shuttle Columbia
|
Kennedy LC-39A
|
NASA
| ||||
| STS-1
|
NASA | Low Earth | Test flight | 14 April | Successful | ||
| DFI
|
NASA | Low Earth (Columbia) | Flight recorder | Successful | |||
| Maiden flight of the Space Shuttle, carried two astronauts | |||||||
| 15 April 10:30 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1264 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 29 April | Successful | |||
| Film capsule recovered | |||||||
| 16 April 11:30 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1265 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 28 April | Successful | |||
| Film capsule recovered | |||||||
| 18 April | MR-UR-100U
|
Baikonur Site 172
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | 18 April | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| 21 April 03:45 |
Tsyklon-2
|
Baikonur Site 90
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1266 (US-A)
|
Low Earth | Radar imaging | 20 May | ||||
| Nuclear powered; reactor ejected and remains in orbit | |||||||
| 22 April | R-39 Rif
|
Nenoksa
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | 22 April | Launch failure | ||
| Failed to reach space; apogee: 30 kilometres (19 mi) | |||||||
| 24 April 21:32 |
Titan III(34)B
|
Vandenberg SLC-4W
|
US Air Force
| ||||
| OPS 7225 (Quasar)
|
NRO | Molniya | Communications | In orbit | Successful | ||
| 25 April 02:01 |
Proton-K
|
Baikonur Site 200/39
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1267 (TKS No.16301)
|
Low Earth (Salyut 6) | Technology | 29 July 1982 | Successful | |||
| Technology demonstration for modular space stations; permanently docked to Salyut 6 and used to deorbit station; return capsule separated prior to docking and recovered on 24 May 1981 | |||||||
| 27 April 23:15 |
Aries
|
White Sands LC-36
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Ultraviolet astronomy | 27 April | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 263 kilometres (163 mi) | |||||||
| 28 April 09:00 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1268 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 12 May | Successful | |||
| Film capsule recovered | |||||||
| 30 April 06:00 |
Skylark 7
|
Esrange
|
|||||
| TEXUS IIIB
|
DFVLR | Suborbital | Microgravity research | 30 April | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 253 kilometres (157 mi) | |||||||
| April | R-17 Elbrus
|
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Missile strike | |||||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), launched as part of the Iran–Iraq War | |||||||
| April | R-17 Elbrus
|
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Missile strike | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), launched as part of the Iran–Iraq War | |||||||
| April | R-17 Elbrus
|
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Missile strike | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), launched as part of the Iran–Iraq War | |||||||
| April | R-17 Elbrus
|
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Missile strike | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), launched as part of the Iran–Iraq War | |||||||
| April | R-17 Elbrus
|
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Missile strike | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), launched as part of the Iran–Iraq War | |||||||
May[edit] | |||||||
| 4 May 07:55 |
Black Brant VIII-C
|
White Sands
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | X-ray astronomy | 4 May | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 294 kilometres (183 mi) | |||||||
| 6 May 08:00 |
Black Brant VIII-C
|
White Sands
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 6 May | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 322 kilometres (200 mi) | |||||||
| 7 May 13:21 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1269 (Strela-2M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 8 May 05:27 |
Skylark 7
|
Esrange
|
|||||
| TEXUS IV
|
DFVLR | Suborbital | Microgravity research | 8 May | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 258 kilometres (160 mi) | |||||||
| 14 May 17:16:38 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 1/5
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Soyuz 40
|
Low Earth | Salyut 6 visit | 22 May 13:58:30 |
Successful | |||
| Crewed mission with two cosmonauts, carried first Romanian in space. Final crewed flight to Salyut 6, final flight of Soyuz 7K-T spacecraft | |||||||
| 14 May 21:45 |
Vostok-2M
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Meteor-2 No.8
|
Low Earth | Weather | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 15 May 06:07:17 |
Scout G-1
|
Vandenberg SLC-5
|
| ||||
| Nova-1 (NNS-30480)
|
US Navy | Low Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Successful | ||
| 18 May 11:50 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1270 (Yantar-2K No.980)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 17 June | Successful | |||
| 19 May 03:49 |
Vostok-2M
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1271 (Tselina-D)
|
Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 21 May 09:10 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1272 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 4 June | Successful | |||
| 22 May 07:10 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1273 (Zenit-4MKT No.17)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 4 June | Successful | |||
| 22 May 22:29 |
Delta 3914
|
Cape Canaveral LC-17A
|
NASA
| ||||
| GOES 5 (GOES-E)
|
NOAA | Geostationary | Weather | In orbit | Partial spacecraft failure | ||
| Primary instrument failed in 1984, satellite remained partially operable until decommissioned on 18 July 1990 | |||||||
| 23 May 22:42 |
Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1AR
|
Cape Canaveral LC-36B
|
NASA
| ||||
| Intelsat V F-1
|
Intelsat | Geostationary | Communications | In orbit | Successful | ||
| 27 May 04:25 |
Black Brant VC
|
White Sands LC-36
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
JHU | Suborbital | Ultraviolet astronomy | 27 May | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi) | |||||||
| 31 May 05:00 |
Satellite Launch Vehicle
|
Sriharikota SLV Pad
|
ISRO
| ||||
| Rohini RS-D1
|
ISRO | Low Earth | Technology | 8 June | Launch failure | ||
| Reached lower-than-planned orbit and quickly decayed | |||||||
| May | MR-12
|
Professor Zubov, Atlantic Ocean
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Aeronomy | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
| May | MR-12
|
Professor Zubov, Atlantic Ocean
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Aeronomy | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
| May | MR-12
|
Professor Zubov, Atlantic Ocean
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Aeronomy | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
| May | MR-12
|
Professor Zubov, Atlantic Ocean
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Aeronomy | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
June[edit] | |||||||
| 3 June 14:00 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1274 (Yantar-2K No.942)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 3 July | Successful | |||
| 3 June | S3
|
Biscarosse
|
DGA
| ||||
|
|
DGA | Suborbital | Test flight | 3 June | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| 4 June 15:41 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/2
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1275 (Parus)
|
Low Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 9 June 03:33 |
Molniya-M/ML
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Molniya-3 No.30
|
Molniya | Communications | 10 February 1998 | Successful | |||
| 12 June | LGM-30G Minuteman III
|
Vandenberg LF-09
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 12 June | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
| 12 June | Castor I
|
 Roi-Namur
|
US Air Force
| ||||
| DOT-4
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Technology | 12 June | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 303 kilometres (188 mi) | |||||||
| 16 June 07:00 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1276 (Zenit-4MKT No.18)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 29 June | Successful | |||
| 17 June 09:30 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1277 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 1 July | Successful | |||
| 19 June 01:15 |
UGM-73 Poseidon C3
|
USS Lewis and Clark, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 19 June | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 19 June 01:15 |
UGM-73 Poseidon C3
|
USS Lewis and Clark, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 19 June | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 19 June 01:16 |
UGM-73 Poseidon C3
|
USS Lewis and Clark, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 19 June | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 19 June 01:16 |
UGM-73 Poseidon C3
|
USS Lewis and Clark, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 19 June | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 19 June 12:32:59 |
 Ariane 1
|
Kourou ELA-1
|
Arianespace
| ||||
| Meteosat 2
|
EUMETSAT | Geosynchronous | Weather | In orbit | Successful | ||
| APPLE
|
ISRO | Geosynchronous | Communications Technology |
In orbit | Successful | ||
| CAT-3
|
European Space Agency | Geosynchronous transfer | Vehicle monitoring | In orbit | Successful | ||
| 19 June 19:37:04 |
Molniya-M/2BL
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1278 (US-K)
|
Molniya | Missile defence | 2 September 2000 | Successful | |||
| 23 June 10:52:59 |
Atlas E/F Star-37S-ISS
|
Vandenberg SLC-3W
|
US Air Force
| ||||
| NOAA-7 (NOAA-C)
|
NOAA | Sun-synchronous | Weather | In orbit | Successful | ||
| 24 June 17:47 |
Molniya-M/ML
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Molniya 1-50
|
Molniya | Communications | 14 December 1991 | Successful | |||
| 25 June 23:55 |
Proton-K/DM
|
Baikonur Site 200/40
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Ekran No.21L
|
Geostationary | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 26 June | LGM-30G Minuteman III
|
Vandenberg LF-26
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 26 June | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
| June | MR-12
|
Professor Zubov, Atlantic Ocean
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Aeronomy | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
| June | MR-12
|
Professor Zubov, Atlantic Ocean
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Aeronomy | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
| June | MR-12
|
Professor Zubov, Atlantic Ocean
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Aeronomy | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
| June | MR-12
|
Professor Zubov, Atlantic Ocean
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Aeronomy | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
| June | R-17 Elbrus
|
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Missile strike | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
| June | R-17 Elbrus
|
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Missile strike | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
| June | R-17 Elbrus
|
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Missile strike | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
July[edit] | |||||||
| 1 July 09:30 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1279 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 15 July | Successful | |||
| 2 July 07:10 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1280 (Resurs-F1 No.15L)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 16 July | Successful | |||
| 7 July 12:30 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1281 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 21 July | Successful | |||
| 10 July 05:14 |
Vostok-2M
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Meteor-Priroda 2-4
|
Sun-synchronous | Weather | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Iskra 1
|
Sun-synchronous | Microgravity research | 16 April 1990 | Successful | |||
| 11 July 14:48 |
UGM-73 Poseidon C3
|
USS George C. Marshall, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 11 July | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 11 July 14:48 |
UGM-73 Poseidon C3
|
USS George C. Marshall, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 11 July | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 11 July 14:49 |
UGM-73 Poseidon C3
|
USS George C. Marshall, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 11 July | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 11 July 14:49 |
UGM-73 Poseidon C3
|
USS George C. Marshall, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 11 July | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 15 July 13:00 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1282 (Yantar-2K No.951)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 14 August | Successful | |||
| 17 July 08:00 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1283 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 31 July | Successful | |||
| 29 July 11:55 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1284 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 12 August | Successful | |||
| 30 July 21:38 |
Proton-K/DM
|
Baikonur Site 200/39
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Gran' No.19L
|
Geostationary | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Operated until May 1986 | |||||||
| 31 July 10:50 |
Aries
|
White Sands LC-36
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Infrared astronomy | 31 July | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 395 kilometres (245 mi) | |||||||
| July | MR-12
|
Professor Zubov, Atlantic Ocean
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Aeronomy | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
| July | MR-12
|
Professor Zubov, Atlantic Ocean
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Aeronomy | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
| July | MR-12
|
Professor Zubov, Atlantic Ocean
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Aeronomy | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
August[edit] | |||||||
| 1 August 22:00 |
TT-500A
|
Tanegashima LA-T
|
NASDA
| ||||
|
|
NASDA | Suborbital | Test flight | 1 August | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 320 kilometres (200 mi) | |||||||
| 3 August 09:56 |
Delta 3913
|
Vandenberg SLC-2W
|
NASA
| ||||
| Dynamics Explorer 1 (Explorer 62)
|
NASA | Highly elliptical | Magnetospheric | In orbit | Partial launch failure | ||
| Dynamics Explorer 2 (Explorer 63)
|
NASA | Low Earth | Magnetospheric | 19 February 1983 | Partial launch failure | ||
| Both payloads deployed into low Earth orbit, with DE-1 raising itself into its operational orbit. Premature first-stage cutoff resulted in slightly lower orbit than had been planned, spacecraft were able to compensate and complete their missions. | |||||||
| 4 August 00:13 |
Molniya-M/2BL
|
Plesetsk Site 16/2
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1285 (US-K)
|
Molniya | Missile defence | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 4 August 08:28 |
Tsyklon-2
|
Baikonur Site 90
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1286 (US-PM)
|
Low Earth | ELINT | 16 October 1982 | Successful | |||
| 6 August 08:16:00 |
Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1AR
|
Cape Canaveral LC-36A
|
|||||
| FLTSATCOM 5
|
US Navy | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Launch failure | ||
| Payload fairing collapsed during ascent, resulting in damage which left satellite unusable after arrival in geosynchronous orbit | |||||||
| 6 August 11:49 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/2
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1287 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1288 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1289 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1290 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1291 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1292 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1293 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1294 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 7 August 13:35 |
Vostok-2M
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
|||||
| Bulgaria 1300 (Interkosmos 22)
|
IKIT | Low Earth | Operational | In orbit | Successful | ||
| First Bulgarian satellite, launched as part of the Interkosmos programme | |||||||
| 9 August | Taurus-Orion
|
Wallops
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Plasma research | 9 August | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 160 kilometres (99 mi) | |||||||
| 10 August 20:03 |
N-II
|
Tanegashima Osaki
|
NASDA
| ||||
| Himawari 2
|
JMA | Geostationary | Weather | In orbit | Successful | ||
| Operated until February 1988 | |||||||
| 12 August 05:46 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/2
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1295 (Parus)
|
Low Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 13 August 02:26 |
UGM-96 Trident I C4
|
USS John C. Calhoun, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 13 August | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| 13 August 02:46 |
UGM-96 Trident I C4
|
USS John C. Calhoun, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 13 August | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| 13 August 03:32 |
UGM-96 Trident I C4
|
USS John C. Calhoun, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 13 August | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| 13 August 03:32 |
UGM-96 Trident I C4
|
USS John C. Calhoun, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 13 August | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| 13 August 16:20 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1296 (Yantar-2K No.943)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 13 September | Successful | |||
| 14 August 07:43 |
Black Brant X
|
Wallops
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Test flight | 14 August | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 625 kilometres (388 mi) | |||||||
| 18 August 09:30 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1297 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 30 August | Successful | |||
| 18 August | R-36MUTTKh
|
Uzhur Site 2/2
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | 18 August | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| 21 August 10:20 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 1/5
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1298 (Yantar-4K2)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 2 October | Successful | |||
| 22 August 01:00 |
UGM-73 Poseidon C3
|
USS Nathanael Greene, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 22 August | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 24 August 12:00 |
S-310
|
Kagoshima
|
ISAS
| ||||
|
|
ISAS | Suborbital | Aeronomy Auroal research |
24 August | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 187 kilometres (116 mi) | |||||||
| 24 August 16:37 |
Tsyklon-2
|
Baikonur Site 90
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1299 (US-A)
|
Low Earth | Radar imaging | 27 September | ||||
| Nuclear-powered satellite, reactor ejected at end of mission and remains in orbit | |||||||
| 24 August 21:40 |
Tsyklon-3
|
Plesetsk Site 32/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1300 (Tselina-D)
|
Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 25 August | Taurus-Orion
|
White Sands LC-36
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 25 August | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
| 27 August 10:30 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1301 (Resurs-F1 No.16L)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 10 September | Successful | |||
| 28 August 00:03 |
UGM-96 Trident I C4
|
USS Simon Bolivar, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 28 August | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| 28 August 00:04 |
UGM-96 Trident I C4
|
USS Simon Bolivar, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 28 August | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| 28 August 00:04 |
UGM-96 Trident I C4
|
USS Simon Bolivar, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 28 August | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| 28 August 00:04 |
UGM-96 Trident I C4
|
USS Simon Bolivar, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 28 August | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| 28 August 02:40 |
R-5 Vertikal
|
Kapustin Yar
|
| ||||
| Vertikal 9
|
Suborbital | Solar research | 28 August | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi) | |||||||
| 28 August 16:18 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1302 (Strela-2M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| August | MR-12
|
Professor Zubov, Atlantic Ocean
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Aeronomy | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
| August | MR-12
|
Professor Zubov, Atlantic Ocean
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Aeronomy | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
| August | MR-12
|
Professor Zubov, Atlantic Ocean
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Aeronomy | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
| August | MR-12
|
Professor Zubov, Atlantic Ocean
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Aeronomy | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
September[edit] | |||||||
| 3 September 18:29 |
Titan III(32)D
|
Vandenberg SLC-4E
|
US Air Force
| ||||
| OPS 3984 (KH-11)
|
NRO | Sun-synchronous | Optical imaging | 23 November 1984 | Successful | ||
| 4 September 08:00 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1303 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 18 September | Successful | |||
| 4 September 11:06 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1304 (Tsikada)
|
Low Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 5 September 01:00 |
S-520
|
Kagoshima LA-K
|
ISAS
| ||||
|
|
ISAS | Suborbital | Technology | 5 September | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 224 kilometres (139 mi), payload recovered | |||||||
| 7 September 09:38 |
S-310
|
Kagoshima
|
ISAS
| ||||
|
|
ISAS | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 7 September | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 193 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
| 8 September | UR-100N
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | 8 September | Launch failure | ||
| 11 September 08:43 |
Molniya-M/ML
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1305 (Molniya-3 No.28)
|
Intended: Molniya Achieved: Medium Earth |
Communications | In orbit | Launch failure | |||
| Placed into unusable, lower-than-planned, orbit due to upper stage malfunction | |||||||
| 12 September | LGM-30B Minuteman IB
|
Vandenberg LF-06
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 12 September | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
| 14 September 20:31 |
Tsyklon-2
|
Baikonur Site 90
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1306 (US-PM)
|
Low Earth | ELINT | 12 July 1982 | Successful | |||
| 15 September 11:30 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1307 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 29 September | Successful | |||
| 18 September 03:34 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1308 (Parus)
|
Low Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 18 September 09:30 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1309 (Zenit-4MT)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 1 October | Successful | |||
| 18 September 17:59:58 |
Vertikal-4
|
Kapustin Yar Site 107
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Plasma research | 18 September | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,514 kilometres (941 mi) | |||||||
| 19 September 21:28:40 |
 Feng Bao 1
|
Jiuquan LA-2B (Site 138)
|
| ||||
| Shijian 2
|
Low Earth | Micrometeoroid research, electromagnetic background research | 17 August 1982 | Successful | |||
| Shijian 2A
|
Low Earth | Ionosphere research | 6 October 1982 | Successful | |||
| Shijian 2B
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 26 September | Successful | |||
| Final flight of the Feng Bao 1 | |||||||
| 21 September 13:10 |
Tsyklon-3
|
Plesetsk Site 32/1
|
| ||||
| Oreol 3
|
Low Earth | Magnetospheric research | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 22 September 16:15 |
MGM-31A Pershing
|
Fort Bliss
|
United States Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 22 September | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 22 September 16:48 |
MGM-31A Pershing
|
Fort Bliss
|
US Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 22 September | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 23 September 08:00 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/2
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1310 (Taifun-1)
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 3 April 1989 | Successful | |||
| 24 September 23:09 |
Delta 3910/PAM-D
|
Cape Canaveral LC-17A
|
NASA
| ||||
| SBS-2
|
SBS | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Successful | ||
| Operated until September 1996 | |||||||
| 28 September 21:00 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/2
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1311 (Taifun-2)
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 28 August 1983 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 1
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 27 February 1982 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 2
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 26 February 1982 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 3
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 5 December 1982 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 4
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 5 December 1982 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 5
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 17 December 1982 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 6
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 16 December 1982 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 7
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 22 December 1982 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 8
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 23 December 1982 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 9
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 24 December 1982 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 10
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 18 December 1982 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 11
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 17 December 1982 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 12
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 17 December 1982 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 13
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 16 December 1982 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 14
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 31 December 1982 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 15
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 31 December 1982 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 16
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 31 December 1982 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 17
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 28 February 1983 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 18
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 28 February 1983 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 19
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 28 February 1983 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 20
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 28 February 1983 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 21
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 28 February 1983 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 22
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 28 February 1983 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 23
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 28 February 1983 | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1311 Subsatellite 24
|
Low Earth | Radar calibration | 28 February 1983 | Successful | |||
| 29 September | RT-2PM Topol
|
Plesetsk Site 167
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | 29 September | Successful | ||
| Maiden flight of Topol missile, apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| 29 September | MGM-31A Pershing
|
Fort Bliss
|
US Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 29 September | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 29 September | MGM-31A Pershing
|
Fort Bliss
|
US Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 29 September | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 30 September 08:00 |
Tsyklon-3
|
Plesetsk Site 32/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1312 (Musson No.12)
|
Low Earth | Geodesy | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 30 September 23:20:00 |
Black Brant VIII-C
|
Esrange
|
SSC
| ||||
|
|
SSC | Suborbital | Infrared astronomy | 30 September | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 270 kilometres (170 mi) | |||||||
| 30 September | Black Brant VC
|
White Sands LC-36
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Solar research | 30 September | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 243 kilometres (151 mi) | |||||||
October[edit] | |||||||
| 1 October 09:00 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1313 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 15 October | Successful | |||
| 4 October | LGM-30B Minuteman IB
|
Vandenberg LF-03
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | REV test | 4 October | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
| 6 October 11:27 |
Delta 2310
|
Vandenberg SLC-2W
|
NASA
| ||||
| Solar Mesosphere Explorer (Explorer 64)
|
NASA | Sun-synchronous | Atmospheric research | 5 March 1991 | Successful | ||
| UoSAT-1
|
Surrey | Sun-synchronous | Technology Amateur radio |
13 October 1989 | Successful | ||
| 9 October 10:40 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1314 (Zenit-4MKT)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 22 October | Successful | |||
| 9 October 16:59 |
Proton-K/DM
|
Baikonur Site 200/39
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Gran' No.20L
|
Geostationary | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 13 October 23:01 |
Vostok-2M
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1315 (Tselina-D)
|
Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 13 October | MGM-31A Pershing
|
Fort Bliss
|
US Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 13 October | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 13 October | MGM-31A Pershing
|
Fort Bliss
|
US Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 13 October | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 14 October 05:47 |
Nike-Orion
|
Wallops
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Plasma research | 14 October | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 197 kilometres (122 mi) | |||||||
| 15 October 09:15 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1316 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 29 October | Successful | |||
| 16 October | Nike-Tomahawk
|
White Sands
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 16 October | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 270 kilometres (170 mi) | |||||||
| 17 October 05:59 |
Molniya-M/ML
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Molniya-3 No.31
|
Molniya | Communications | 9 January 1997 | Successful | |||
| 17 October | Astrobee-F
|
White Sands
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | X-ray astronomy | 17 October | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
| 21 October | MGM-31A Pershing
|
Fort Bliss
|
US Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 21 October | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 21 October | MGM-31A Pershing
|
Fort Bliss
|
US Army
| ||||
|
|
US Army | Suborbital | Test flight | 21 October | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi) | |||||||
| 25 October 19:01:00 |
Nike-Tomahawk
|
 Andøya
|
NDRE
| ||||
|
|
NDRE | Suborbital | Auroral research | 25 October | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 184 kilometres (114 mi) | |||||||
| 30 October 06:04 |
Proton-K/D-1
|
Baikonur Site 200/40
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Venera 13
|
Heliocentric | Venus lander | 1 March 1982 03:20 |
Successful | |||
| 31 October 09:22:00 |
Titan III(23)C
|
Cape Canaveral LC-40
|
US Air Force
| ||||
| OPS 4029 (Vortex)
|
NRO | High Earth | SIGINT | In orbit | Successful | ||
| 31 October 22:54 |
Molniya-M/2BL
|
Plesetsk Site 16/2
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1317 (US-K)
|
Molniya | Missile defence | In orbit | Successful | |||
November[edit] | |||||||
| 3 November 13:00 |
Soyuz-U
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1318 (Yantar-2K No.944)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 4 December | Successful | |||
| 4 November 05:31 |
Proton-K/D-1
|
Baikonur Site 200/39
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Venera 14
|
Heliocentric | Venus lander | 5 March 1982 | Partial spacecraft failure | |||
| Surface sampler failed due to ejection of camera lens cap into its path | |||||||
| 7 November 12:03:40 |
MGM-29 Sergeant
|
Poker Flat
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Auroral research | 7 November | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
| 9 November | Taurus-Orion
|
White Sands LC-36
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 9 November | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
| 12 November 15:10:00 |
Space Shuttle Columbia
|
Kennedy LC-39A
|
NASA
| ||||
| STS-2
|
NASA | Low Earth | Test flight | 14 November | Partial spacecraft failure | ||
| DFI
|
NASA | Low Earth (Columbia) | Vehicle monitoring | Unknown | Successful | ||
| OFTP
|
Low Earth (Columbia) | Remote sensing | Successful | ||||
| OSTA-1
|
Low Earth (Columbia) | Technology | Successful | ||||
| Crewed flight with two astronauts, first spacecraft to make two orbital flights. Mission truncated due to fuel cell failure | |||||||
| 13 November 09:30 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1319 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 27 November | Successful | |||
| 15 November 17:50 |
UGM-96 Trident I C4
|
USS Benjamin Franklin, Eastern Test Range
|
US Navy
| ||||
|
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 15 November | Launch failure | ||
| Apogee: 20 kilometres (12 mi), failed to reach space | |||||||
| 17 November 15:25 |
Molniya-M/ML
|
Plesetsk Site 41/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Molniya 1-51
|
Molniya | Communications | 2 November 1993 | Successful | |||
| 17 November | Black Brant VIII-B
|
White Sands
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | X-ray astronomy | 17 November | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 253 kilometres (157 mi) | |||||||
| 17 November | Black Brant VIII-B
|
White Sands
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | X-ray astronomy | 17 November | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 253 kilometres (157 mi) | |||||||
| 20 November 01:37 |
Delta 3910/PAM-D
|
Cape Canaveral LC-17A
|
NASA
| ||||
| Satcom 3R
|
RCA Satcom | Geostationary | Communications | In orbit | Successful | ||
| Decommissioned on 10 April 1991 | |||||||
| 20 November 08:30 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Kapustin Yar Site 107/2
|
| ||||
| Bhaskara 2
|
ISRO | Low Earth | Remote sensing | 30 November 1991 | Successful | ||
| 23 November 18:35 |
Black Brant VIII-C
|
White Sands
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Solar research | 23 November | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 322 kilometres (200 mi) | |||||||
| 24 November | LGM-30G Minuteman III
|
Vandenberg LF-09
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 24 November | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
| 27 November | R-39 Rif
|
Nenoksa
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | 27 November | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| 28 November 18:08 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/2
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1320 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1321 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1322 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1323 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1324 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1325 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1326 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Kosmos 1327 (Strela-1M)
|
Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| November | R-17 Elbrus
|
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Missile strike | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
| November | R-17 Elbrus
|
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Missile strike | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
December[edit] | |||||||
| 1 December 01:38 |
Black Brant X
|
Cape Parry
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Plasma research | 1 December | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 612 kilometres (380 mi) | |||||||
| 1 December 15:50:00 |
Petrel 1
|
Esrange
|
SRC
| ||||
|
|
SRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 1 December | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 187 kilometres (116 mi) | |||||||
| 3 December 11:47 |
Tsyklon-3
|
Plesetsk Site 32/1
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1328 (Tselina-D)
|
Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 4 December 09:50 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1329 (Zenit-6U)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 18 December | Successful | |||
| 6 December 23:14:58 |
Black Brant IVB
|
Cape Parry
|
NRC
| ||||
|
|
NRC | Suborbital | Auroral research | 6 December | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 615 kilometres (382 mi) | |||||||
| 7 December 00:00:40 |
Terrier-Malemute
|
Cape Parry
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Plasma research | 7 December | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 451 kilometres (280 mi) | |||||||
| 7 December | Dongfeng 5
|
Jiuquan LA-2/138
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Test flight | 7 December | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| 8 December | Aerobee-150
|
White Sands LC-35
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Magnetospheric research | 8 December | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
| 9 December 17:17:00 |
Petrel 2
|
Esrange
|
SRC
| ||||
|
|
SRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 9 December | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 188 kilometres (117 mi) | |||||||
| 9 December 21:25:35 |
Skylark 7
|
Esrange
|
DFVLR
| ||||
|
|
DFVLR | Suborbital | Ionospheric research | 9 December | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 237 kilometres (147 mi) | |||||||
| 9 December | LGM-30G Minuteman III
|
Vandenberg LF-26
|
US Air Force
| ||||
|
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 9 December | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
| 10 December |  Sonda 3
|
Barreira do Inferno
|
IAE
| ||||
|
|
IAE | Suborbital | Ionospheric research | 10 December | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 239 kilometres (149 mi) | |||||||
| 13 December 21:31:38 |
Black Brant IVB
|
Cape Parry
|
NRC
| ||||
|
|
NRC | Suborbital | Auroral research | 13 December | Launch failure | ||
| Apogee: 50 kilometres (31 mi), failed to reach space | |||||||
| 13 December 22:54:25 |
Black Brant X
|
Cape Parry
|
NASA
| ||||
|
|
NASA | Suborbital | Plasma research | 13 December | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 662 kilometres (411 mi) | |||||||
| 15 December 23:35 |
Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1AR
|
Cape Canaveral LC-36A
|
NASA
| ||||
| Intelsat V F-3
|
Intelsat | Geostationary | Communications | In orbit | Successful | ||
| 16 December 14:10:00 |
Petrel 1
|
Esrange
|
SRC
| ||||
|
|
SRC | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 16 December | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 187 kilometres (116 mi) | |||||||
| 17 December 11:00 |
Kosmos-3M
|
Plesetsk Site 132/2
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Radio Sputnik 3
|
Low Earth | Amateur radio | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Radio Sputnik 4
|
Low Earth | Amateur radio | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Radio Sputnik 5
|
Low Earth | Amateur radio | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Radio Sputnik 6
|
Low Earth | Amateur radio | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Radio Sputnik 7
|
Low Earth | Amateur radio | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Radio Sputnik 8
|
Low Earth | Amateur radio | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 19 December 01:10 |
Atlas E/F SVS-1
|
Vandenberg SLC-3E
|
US Air Force
| ||||
| Navstar 7
|
US Air Force | Intended: Medium Earth | Navigation | +20 seconds | Launch failure | ||
| Incorrect repair to booster unit engine resulted in coolant line blockage. Rocket lost thrust within eight seconds of launch, destroyed by range safety. | |||||||
| 19 December 11:50 |
Soyuz-U
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Kosmos 1330 (Yantar-2K No.952)
|
Low Earth | Optical imaging | 19 January 1982 | Successful | |||
| 19 December 20:00 |
Petrel 1
|
El Arenosillo
|
INTA
| ||||
|
|
INTA | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 19 December | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 106 kilometres (66 mi) | |||||||
| 20 December 01:29:00 |
Ariane 1
|
Kourou ELA-1
|
Arianespace
| ||||
| MARECS-1
|
Inmarsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Successful | ||
| CAT-4 (Thesee)
|
ESA | Geosynchronous transfer | Vehicle monitoring Technology |
In orbit | Successful | ||
| 21 December 18:37 |
Vertikal-4
|
Kapustin Yar Site 107
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Vertikal-10
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Aeronomy Ionospheric research |
21 December | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) | |||||||
| 22 December | R-39 Rif
|
Nenoksa
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | 22 December | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| 23 December 13:15 |
Molniya-M/ML
|
Baikonur Site 1/5
|
RVSN
| ||||
| Molniya-1 No.55
|
Molniya | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 27 December | R-39 Rif
|
Nenoksa
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | 27 December | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| December | R-17 Elbrus
|
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Missile strike | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
| December | R-17 Elbrus
|
|
| ||||
|
|
Suborbital | Missile strike | Successful | ||||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
Unknown date[edit] | |||||||
| Unknown | Perimetr
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | M4
|
Biscarosse
|
DGA
| ||||
|
|
DGA | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | M4
|
Biscarosse
|
DGA
| ||||
|
|
DGA | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | M4
|
Biscarosse
|
DGA
| ||||
|
|
DGA | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | M4
|
Biscarosse
|
DGA
| ||||
|
|
DGA | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Launch failure | ||
| Unknown | Kosmos-3MR
|
Kapustin Yar Site 107
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | REV test | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | Kosmos-3MR
|
Kapustin Yar Site 107
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | REV test | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | Kosmos-3MR
|
Kapustin Yar Site 107
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | REV test | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | Kosmos-3MR
|
Kapustin Yar Site 107
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | REV test | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | Kosmos-3MR
|
Kapustin Yar Site 107
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | REV test | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | Kosmos-3MR
|
Kapustin Yar Site 107
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | REV test | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | Kosmos-3MR
|
Kapustin Yar Site 107
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | REV test | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | Kosmos-3MR
|
Kapustin Yar Site 107
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | REV test | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | Kosmos-3MR
|
Kapustin Yar Site 107
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | REV test | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | Kosmos-3MR
|
Kapustin Yar Site 107
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | REV test | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | Kosmos-3MR
|
Kapustin Yar Site 107
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | REV test | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | Kosmos-3MR
|
Kapustin Yar Site 107
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | REV test | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | Vertikal-4
|
Kapustin Yar Site 107
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Ionospheric research | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Apogee: 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-27 Zyb
|
Submarine, Okhotsk
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 620 kilometres (390 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-27 Zyb
|
Submarine, Okhotsk
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 620 kilometres (390 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-27 Zyb
|
Submarine, Okhotsk
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 620 kilometres (390 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-27 Zyb
|
Submarine, Okhotsk
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 620 kilometres (390 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-27 Zyb
|
Submarine, Okhotsk
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 620 kilometres (390 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-27 Zyb
|
Submarine, Okhotsk
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 620 kilometres (390 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-27 Zyb
|
Submarine, Okhotsk
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 620 kilometres (390 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-27 Zyb
|
Submarine, Okhotsk
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 620 kilometres (390 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-29R Volna
|
Submarine, Okhotsk
|
VMF
| ||||
|
|
VMF | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-29R Volna
|
Submarine, Okhotsk
|
VMF
| ||||
|
|
VMF | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-29R Volna
|
Submarine, Okhotsk
|
VMF
| ||||
|
|
VMF | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-29 Vysota
|
Submarine, Okhotsk
|
VMF
| ||||
|
|
VMF | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-29 Vysota
|
Submarine, Okhotsk
|
VMF
| ||||
|
|
VMF | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-29 Vysota
|
Submarine, Okhotsk
|
VMF
| ||||
|
|
VMF | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-29 Vysota
|
Submarine, Okhotsk
|
VMF
| ||||
|
|
VMF | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-36MUTTKh
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-36MUTTKh
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-36MUTTKh
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | R-36MUTTKh
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | UR-100N
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | UR-100N
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | UR-100N
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | UR-100N
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | UR-100N
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | UR-100NUTTKh
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | UR-100NUTTKh
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | UR-100NUTTKh
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | UR-100NUTTKh
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | UR-100NUTTKh
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
| Unknown | UR-100NUTTKh
|
Baikonur
|
RVSN
| ||||
|
|
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | Unknown | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
Deep-space rendezvous
[edit]| Date (UTC) | Spacecraft | Event | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 August | Voyager 2 | Flyby of Saturn | Gravity assist; Closest approach: 101,000 kilometres (63,000 mi) |
References
[edit]- Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
- Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
- Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.[dead link]
- Krebs, Gunter. "Chronology of Space Launches".
- Kyle, Ed. "Space Launch Report". Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "GCAT Orbital Launch Log".
- Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive".
- Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica".
- Webb, Brian. "Southwest Space Archive".
- Zak, Anatoly. "Russian Space Web".
- "ISS Calendar". Spaceflight 101.
- "NSSDCA Master Catalog". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
- "Space Calendar". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.[dead link]
- "Space Information Center". JAXA.[dead link]
- "Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).
Footnotes
[edit] | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (March 2022) |
- ^ "'Yeeeow!' and 'Doggone!' Are Shouted on Beaches as Crowds Watch Liftoff". The New York Times.