Korabl-Sputnik 3 or Vostok-1K No. 3 (Sputnik 6), is launched with dogs Pchyolka and Mushka who spend a day in orbit, but their craft is intentionally destroyed due to a navigation error.
2
56 years ago, in 1915:
Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity is published.
This year:
Mars 3 (USSR) successfully lands on Mars and though its instruments fail after 20 seconds, it does transmit part of the first surface picture of Mars.
3
67 years ago, in 1904:
At the Lick Observatory, Charles D. Perrine discovers Himalia, the largest irregular satellite of Jupiter.
13 years ago, in 1958:
Control of JPL is transferred from the US Army to NASA.
6 years ago, in 1965:
Luna 8 is launched to the Moon.
4
13 years ago, in 1958:
Intended for a lunar impact, the Soviets launch Luna E-1 No.3 (Luna 1958C), but the rocket disintegrates 245 seconds after launch due to a hydrogen peroxide pump seizure.
6 years ago, in 1965:
Gemini VII is launched; stays aloft for 14 days, does rendezvous with Gemini VI-A.
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6
181 years ago, in 1790:
William Herschel discovers NGC 12, a spiral galaxy in the Pisces constellation.
14 years ago, in 1957:
Vanguard TV-3, the first U.S. attempt to launch a satellite into orbit, blows up just four feet after lift-off.
13 years ago, in 1958:
Pioneer 3 is launched for a lunar orbit, but fails and burns up in Earths atmosphere.
10 years ago, in 1961:
Last contact is made with Explorer 12.
6 years ago, in 1965:
Luna 8 crashes into the Moon instead of a soft landing as planned, due to a punctured airbag.
7
5 years ago, in 1966:
ATS-1 is launched, with experiments in communications and weather data collection.
3 years ago, in 1968:
OAO-2 (Orbiting Astronomical Observatory 2) is launched with 11 ultraviolet telescopes.
8
9
10
8 years ago, in 1963:
After 6 years (and US$660 million), the Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar program is cancelled.
11
This year:
Ariel 4, a British ionospheric research satellite, is successfully launched.
12
10 years ago, in 1961:
OSCAR 1, the first amateur radio satellite, is launched.
1 year ago, in 1970:
The Uhuru X-ray Explorer Satellite (SAS 1) is launched.
13
13 years ago, in 1958:
A Jupiter IRBM is launched with a South American squirrel monkey named Gordo on board, but the parachute fails to open and Gordo and the craft are lost at sea.
9 years ago, in 1962:
Relay 1, an experimental communications satellite, is launched.
4 years ago, in 1967:
Pioneer 8 is launched to obtain measurements of interplanetary phenomena.
14
9 years ago, in 1962:
Mariner 2 flies by Venus, becoming the first successful mission to another planet.
15
180 years ago, in 1791:
Caroline Herschel discovers her fifth comet, Comet C/1791 X1 (Herschel).
11 years ago, in 1960:
Pioneer P-31 (Atlas-Able 5B, Pioneer Z) is launched for a lunar orbit, but the mission fails due to the third stage breaking up.
7 years ago, in 1964:
The first Italian satellite, San Marco 1, is successfully launched.
6 years ago, in 1965:
Gemini VI-A is launched; completes rendezvous with Gemini VII at distances of 1 to 300 feet.
5 years ago, in 1966:
Audouin Dollfus discovers one of Saturn's moons, Janus.
1 year ago, in 1970:
Venera 7 becomes the first craft to make a soft landing on Venus, returning 23 minutes of data.
16
9 years ago, in 1962:
Explorer 16 is launched to obtain data on the near-Earth meteoroid environment.
6 years ago, in 1965:
Gemini VI-A lands back on Earth.
6 years ago, in 1965:
Pioneer 6 is launched to obtain measurements of interplanetary phenomena.
17
68 years ago, in 1903:
The Wright brothers make the first powered flight.
14 years ago, in 1957:
The U.S. successfully test-fires the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time.
18
13 years ago, in 1958:
Project SCORE is launched by DARPA, becoming the world’s first communications satellite.
6 years ago, in 1965:
Gemini VII lands back on Earth.
5 years ago, in 1966:
Richard Walker discovers one of Saturn's moons, Epimetheus.
19
188 years ago, in 1783:
Thinking it to be a globular cluster, William Herschel discovers the spiral galaxy NGC 2775 in the constellation of Cancer.
8 years ago, in 1963:
Explorer 19, a balloon satellite, is launched, and is the second satellite for air density research to reach orbit after Explorer 9.
20
71 years ago, in 1900:
Michel Giacobini discovers comet Giacobini–Zinner, which was later a target for the ICE spacecraft.
21
183 years ago, in 1788:
Caroline Herschel discovers her second comet, Comet 35P/Herschel-Rigollet.
6 years ago, in 1965:
OSCAR 4, the fourth amateur radio satellite, is launched.
5 years ago, in 1966:
Luna 13 is launched to the Moon.
3 years ago, in 1968:
Launch of the first manned mission to orbit the Moon (Apollo 8 test flight - no LM).
22
1003 years ago, in 968:
The first clear description of the corona seen during a total eclipse is given by a chronicler in Constantinople.
11 years ago, in 1960:
The Soviet dogs Damka and Krasavka are launched aboard an R2-A for an orbital flight; but the mission fails, though both dogs survive.
6 years ago, in 1965:
OSCAR 4, an amateur radio satellite, delivers the first direct satellite communication between the United States and the USSR.
5 years ago, in 1966:
Apollo 2 is cancelled; deemed unnecessary.
23
299 years ago, in 1672:
Giovanni Cassini discovers one of Saturn's moons, Rhea.
12 years ago, in 1959:
The maiden flight of the Soviet R-7A Semyorka ICBM is successfully launched.
24
5 years ago, in 1966:
Luna 13 makes the second survivable landing on the Moon for the Soviets.
3 years ago, in 1968:
Apollo 8 goes into lunar orbit, and the crew read the first 10 verses from the Book of Genesis.
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26
27
11 years ago, in 1960:
Last contact is made with Explorer 8.
3 years ago, in 1968:
Apollo 8 splashes down in the northern Pacific Ocean and is retrieved by the USS Yorktown .
28
5 years ago, in 1966:
The Luna 13 mission ends when contact is lost.
29
3 years ago, in 1968:
The Apollo 8 CM is offloaded from the U.S.S. Yorktown at Ford Island, Hawaii for evaluation and deactivation procedures.
30
6 years ago, in 1965:
Explorer 18 reenters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up.
It's been 3961 days
