The Soviet Vostok-2 carrier rocket makes its maiden flight, only to come down and blow up 1.8 seconds into launch.
149 years ago, in 1968:
After just over three years in orbit, Explorer 10 reenters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up.
147 years ago, in 1970:
Soyuz 9 is launched for an 18 day mission in orbit.
127 years ago, in 1990:
Germany's X-ray satellite, ROSAT, is launched.
112 years ago, in 2005:
The Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS) is brought out of hibernation to support the Deep Impact mission at Comet 9P/Tempel.
109 years ago, in 2008:
Cassini completes its primary mission at Saturn.
2
259 years ago, in 1858:
The Italian astronomer Giovanni Donati discovers Comet Donati (C/1858 L1), the first comet to be photographed.
163 years ago, in 1954:
The Soviet dogs Lisa and Ryzhik are launched aboard an R1 to an altitude of 100km (60mi), and survive.
155 years ago, in 1962:
OSCAR 2, the second amateur radio satellite, is launched.
151 years ago, in 1966:
Surveyor 1 is the first craft to make a soft landing on the Moon.
143 years ago, in 1974:
Luna 22 (USSR) goes into orbit around the Moon, returning data for the next 15 months.
138 years ago, in 1979:
Ariel 6, a British and American satellite, is launched for X-ray astronomy and the detection of cosmic rays.
134 years ago, in 1983:
Venera 15 is launched to Venus to map its surface using radar.
114 years ago, in 2003:
The European Mars Express and Beagle 2 lander are launched from the Baikonur launch pad in Kazakhstan.
3
152 years ago, in 1965:
Gemini IV is launched and orbits for three days; first EVA by an American, Ed White for 22 minutes.
151 years ago, in 1966:
Gemini IX-A is launched; completes three types of rendezvous, two hours of EVA, and 44 orbits.
148 years ago, in 1969:
The final episode of Star Trek is broadcast.
144 years ago, in 1973:
The Soviet news agency (TAS) announces the Lunokhod 2 moon rover mission to be over.
104 years ago, in 2013:
10199 Chariklo, a centaur, is the first minor planet discovered to have rings.
103 years ago, in 2014:
The Mars rover Curiosity observes the planet Mercury transiting the Sun.
100 years ago, in 2017:
SpaceX CRS-11 is launched to the ISS, becoming first reuse of a CRS Dragon cargo vessel (previously flown on CRS-4).
100 years ago, in 2017:
The Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer Mission (NICER) is launched aboard a Falcon 9 to study neutron stars through soft X-ray timing.
4
153 years ago, in 1964:
Molniya-1 No.2 (Zond 1964A) is the first Soviet communications satellite to be launched, but fails to reach orbit.
143 years ago, in 1974:
Contruction begins on the shuttle Enterprise (OV-101).
121 years ago, in 1996:
The maiden flight of the Ariane 5 rocket with the Cluster constellation (four ESA spacecraft) is lost due to running dead code, and has become known as one of the most expensive software bugs in history (US$370 million).
117 years ago, in 2000:
The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory burns up in Earth's atmosphere.
107 years ago, in 2010:
SpaceX makes its first launch from a NASA spaceport, Falcon 9 v1.0 Flight 1 carrying the Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit.
5
137 years ago, in 1980:
Soyuz T-2 is launched to Salyut 6, the main purpose being to test the new Soyuz-T in manned flight.
126 years ago, in 1991:
Millie Hughes-Fulford becomes the first female payload specialist, aboard the shuttle Columbia (STS-40).
126 years ago, in 1991:
The eleventh launch of the shuttle Columbia, STS-40, is the first spaceflight with three women astronauts aboard.
115 years ago, in 2002:
The shuttle Endeavour (STS-111) is launched with the Mobile Base System (MBS) for the Canadarm2 on the ISS.
110 years ago, in 2007:
Messenger makes its second Venus flyby.
104 years ago, in 2013:
After 29 years of operating in space, Landsat 5 is decommissioned, and sets a record for the longest-operating Earth-observing satellite mission in history.
6
151 years ago, in 1966:
Gemini IX-A lands back on Earth.
146 years ago, in 1971:
Soyuz 11 is launched to Salyut 1, where it docks for 23 days.
115 years ago, in 2002:
At the Palomar Observatory, Chad Trujillo and Michael Brown discover 50000 Quaoar, a non-resonant trans-Neptunian object.
99 years ago, in 2018:
NASA announces that the Juno mission at Jupiter will be extended through to at least July 2021.
7
152 years ago, in 1965:
Gemini IV lands back on Earth.
148 years ago, in 1969:
Echo 2 re-enters Earth's atmosphere and burns up.
134 years ago, in 1983:
Venera 16 is launched to Venus to map its surface using radar.
129 years ago, in 1988:
Soyuz TM-5, the fifth cosmonaut-carrying spacecraft to visit the Mir Space Station, is launched.
125 years ago, in 1992:
NASA's Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE), a space telescope for short-wave ultraviolet astronomy, is launched.
8
152 years ago, in 1965:
Luna 6 is launched to the Moon, but misses it by 161,000 km (100,040 miles).
144 years ago, in 1973:
SAS-2 (Explorer 48), a gamma ray telescope, completes its observations.
142 years ago, in 1975:
Venera 9 is launched for Venus.
110 years ago, in 2007:
The shuttle Atlantis (STS-117) is launched to the ISS with the second starboard truss segment (S3/S4), and a set of solar arrays.
109 years ago, in 2008:
New Horizons passes the orbit of Saturn on its way to Pluto.
106 years ago, in 2011:
Chang'e 2, an unmanned Chinese lunar probe, leaves lunar orbit for the Earth–Sun L2 Lagrangian point.
9
165 years ago, in 1952:
The Abee meteorite lands in Alberta, Canada; the only enstatite chondrite with petrologic type 4 ever found.
137 years ago, in 1980:
Soyuz T-2 undocks from Salyut 6 and returns to Earth.
132 years ago, in 1985:
The Soviet Vega 1 probe releases its balloon and lander for descent on Venus, then continues on to Halley's Comet.
10
141 years ago, in 1976:
MARISAT F2, the second of three maritime telecommunications satellites for commercial shipping and the U.S. Navy, is launched.
114 years ago, in 2003:
Mars Rover "Spirit" is launched.
113 years ago, in 2004:
Saturn's moon Phoebe becomes the first moon flyby of the Cassini probe.
108 years ago, in 2009:
After a successful mission, Japan's second lunar orbiter, SELENE (Kaguya), is deliberately crashed into the moon .
99 years ago, in 2018:
The Opportunity rover falls silent as a planet-wide dust storm encircles Mars.
11
169 years ago, in 1948:
The first primate astronaut, a rhesus macaque named Albert, is launched aboard a U.S. launched V-2, but dies of suffocation in flight.
132 years ago, in 1985:
The Soviet Vega 1 probe lander touches down successfully on Venus; the balloon travels 11,600 km (7200 miles).
109 years ago, in 2008:
The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (FGST) is launched.
104 years ago, in 2013:
Shenzhou 10, the final mission to Tiangong-1, is launched aboard a Long March 2Frocket.
12
298 years ago, in 1819:
Jean Louis Pons is the first 'discoverer' of comet 7P/Pons–Winnecke.
155 years ago, in 1962:
An Aerobee 150 rocket is launched with an X-ray detector, and finds the first extra-solar X-ray source, Scorpius X-1.
154 years ago, in 1963:
Project Mercury, America's first manned space flight program, comes to a close after 4 years, 8 months, and 1 week.
150 years ago, in 1967:
Venera 4 is launched for Venus.
13
134 years ago, in 1983:
Pioneer 10 crosses the orbit of Neptune.
132 years ago, in 1985:
The Soviet Vega 2 probe releases its balloon and lander for descent on Venus, then continues on to Halley's Comet.
107 years ago, in 2010:
The Japanese Hayabusa spacecraft releases its sample from asteroid Itokawa before burning up in Earth's atmosphere.
105 years ago, in 2012:
The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) is launched to study the universe in high energy X-rays.
104 years ago, in 2013:
Shenzhou 10 successfully docks with Tiangong-1.
14
347 years ago, in 1770:
Charles Messier discovers Comet D/1770 L1, also known as Lexell's Comet after its orbit computer, Anders Lexell.
168 years ago, in 1949:
Albert II becomes the first monkey in space aboard a U.S. launched V-2, but dies on impact after the parachute fails.
154 years ago, in 1963:
Vostok 5 is launched into orbit to meet up with Vostok 6.
150 years ago, in 1967:
Mariner 5 is launched to Venus.
142 years ago, in 1975:
Venera 10 is launched for Venus.
124 years ago, in 1993:
The Japanese probe Sakigake makes its second Earth swingby.
100 years ago, in 2017:
The Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT, Insight), a Chinese X-ray space observatory, is launched.
15
157 years ago, in 1960:
Communication is lost with Tiros 1.
132 years ago, in 1985:
The Soviet Vega 2 probe lander touches down successfully on Venus; the balloon travels 11,100 km (7200 miles).
107 years ago, in 2010:
The French PICARD Solar Satellite is launched from Dombarovskiy Cosmodrome, Russia, to study the Sun.
16
311 years ago, in 1806:
Jose Joaquin de Ferrer (Spain), observing at Kinderhook, New York, gives the name corona to the glow of the faint outer atmosphere of the Sun seen during a total eclipse.
154 years ago, in 1963:
Aboard Vostok 6, Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space, orbiting Earth 48 times.
128 years ago, in 1989:
Neptune's second largest moon, Proteus, is discovered by Voyager 2.
105 years ago, in 2012:
Shenzhou 9 is launched aboard a Long March 2F rocket to dock with Tiangong-1, and carries the first Chinese female astronaut, Liu Yang.
17
150 years ago, in 1967:
Cosmos 167 (Kosmos 167) is launched to land on Venus, but fails to leave low Earth orbit.
132 years ago, in 1985:
On board shuttle Discovery (STS-51-G), Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud becomes the first Arab, first Muslim, and the first member of a royal family to visit space; also the youngest person (28) to fly on the shuttle.
132 years ago, in 1985:
Mexico's first communications satellite, Morelos I, is launched from shuttle Discovery (STS-51-G).
18
158 years ago, in 1959:
Intended for a lunar impact, the Soviets launch Luna E-1A No.1 (Luna 1959A), but the guidance system fails and the rocket is destroyed by ground command 152 seconds after launch.
141 years ago, in 1976:
Gravity Probe A (GP-A) is launched into space for 1 hour and 55 minutes to test the equivalence principle, a feature of Einstein's theory of relativity.
140 years ago, in 1977:
The shuttle Enterprise makes its first crewed captive flight atop a Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.
134 years ago, in 1983:
Canada's Anik C2 communications satellite is deployed from shuttle Challenger (STS-7).
134 years ago, in 1983:
Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space aboard the shuttle Challenger (STS-7).
115 years ago, in 2002:
2002 MS4, a large classical Kuiper belt object, is discovered by Chad Trujillo and Michael Brown.
108 years ago, in 2009:
The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) are launched together aboard an Atlas V.
105 years ago, in 2012:
Controlled from the ground, Shenzhou 9 docks with Tiangong-1, becoming China's first manned spacecraft rendezvous and docking.
19
154 years ago, in 1963:
The Soviet Mars 1(2MV-4)makes its closest approach to Mars.
154 years ago, in 1963:
After successful communication with each other, Vostok 5 and 6 return home.
147 years ago, in 1970:
After 18 days in orbit, Soyuz 9 returns to Earth.
141 years ago, in 1976:
Viking 1 arrives at Mars.
113 years ago, in 2004:
99942 Apophis, a near-Earth asteroid, is discovered at the Kitt Peak National Observatory.
108 years ago, in 2009:
NASA's Kepler space telescope sends its first science data back to Earth.
101 years ago, in 2016:
Blue Origin's New Shepard (NS2) makes its fourth sub-orbital spaceflight, with a successful fourth time reused booster launch and landing.
20
173 years ago, in 1944:
A German V-2 rocket becomes the first vehicle to cross the Kármán line, the border at which outer space begins.
155 years ago, in 1962:
OSCAR 2, the second amateur radio satellite, ceases communication.
99 years ago, in 2018:
RemoveDEBRIS, a satellite for testing space debris removal technologies, is deployed from the ISS, becoming the heaviest satellite ever deployed from the station.
21
155 years ago, in 1962:
OSCAR 2, the second amateur radio satellite, burns up in re-entry.
142 years ago, in 1975:
The eighth and last Orbiting Solar Observatory, OSO-8 (OSO-I) is launched successfully to investigate the Sun and other celestial X-ray sources brighter than a few milliCrab.
113 years ago, in 2004:
The Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne achieves its first spaceflight, becoming the first privately funded human spaceflight.
107 years ago, in 2010:
NASA's Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) takes its last image after 12 successful years in orbit.
22
157 years ago, in 1960:
SOLRAD 1, the world's first orbiting astronomical observatory, and GRAB 1, America's first intelligence satellite, are launched together.
144 years ago, in 1973:
The three Skylab 2 astronauts become the first space station occupants ever to return safely to Earth.
141 years ago, in 1976:
Salyut 5, third and last of a series of the highly classified Almaz military space station program, is launched.
139 years ago, in 1978:
James W. Christy discovers Pluto's largest moon, Charon.
23
108 years ago, in 2009:
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) goes into orbit around the moon.
104 years ago, in 2013:
Shenzhou 10 undocks from Tiangong-1 and performs a manual re-docking.
24
144 years ago, in 1973:
Explorer 35 is shut down after six years of successful operation studying space beyond the Moon.
135 years ago, in 1982:
On board the Soyuz T-6 mission to Salyut 7, Jean-Loup Chretien becomes the first Frenchman and the first western European to visit space.
118 years ago, in 1999:
The Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) space-based telescope is launched.
118 years ago, in 1999:
Cassini makes its second pass by Venus for a gravity assist to Saturn.
105 years ago, in 2012:
Shenzhou 9 undocks with Tiangong-1 for the first time after a stay of 3 days and 21 hours.
105 years ago, in 2012:
Shenzhou 9 redocks manually with Tiangong-1 one hour and 30 minutes after undocking, and becomes the first manual docking for China.
104 years ago, in 2013:
The French Space Agency, CNES, announces that the CoRoT exoplanet-hunting space telescope has been retired and will be lowered in orbit to burn up in the atmosphere.
25
143 years ago, in 1974:
Salyut 3, second of a series of the highly classified Almaz military space station program, is launched.
127 years ago, in 1990:
Spherical aberration is discovered in Hubble's primary mirror.
120 years ago, in 1997:
While under manual control, Progress M-34 collides with the Mir space station, damaging the Spektr module and a solar panel.
104 years ago, in 2013:
Shenzhou 10 undocks with Tiangong-1 and heads back to Earth.
101 years ago, in 2016:
The Long March 7 makes a successful maiden flight.
26
387 years ago, in 1730:
Charles Messier is born in Badonviller, France.
190 years ago, in 1927:
Comet 7P/Pons–Winnecke approaches within 0.0394 AUs of Earth.
144 years ago, in 1973:
A Kosmos 3M explodes on the pad at Plesetsk Cosmodrome during a propellant loading accident, killing nine people.
103 years ago, in 2014:
2014 MU69 (Ultima Thule) is discovered by Marc Buie using the Hubble Space Telescope.
27
159 years ago, in 1958:
Explorer 3 burns up in the atmosphere.
139 years ago, in 1978:
On board the Soyuz 30 mission to Salyut 6, Miroslaw Hermaszewski become the first and only Polish national to visit space.
135 years ago, in 1982:
The shuttle Columbia (STS-4) launches with the first Department of Defense mission.
122 years ago, in 1995:
The launch of Atlantis (STS-71) to Mir marks the 100th human space launch from Cape Canaveral by the U.S.
121 years ago, in 1996:
Galileo is the first probe to visit Ganymede, one of Jupiters moons.
120 years ago, in 1997:
The NEAR Shoemaker probe flies by asteroid 253 Mathilde on its way to NEA Eros.
104 years ago, in 2013:
The Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), a NASA solar observation satellite, is launched.
99 years ago, in 2018:
The Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa2 successfully reaches the asteroid Ryugu.
28
206 years ago, in 1911:
The Nakhla meteorite, the prototypical example of the Nakhlite type meteorite of the SNC Group of Mars meteorites, falls to Earth in the Abu Hommos district in Egypt.
152 years ago, in 1965:
Intelsat I (Early Bird), begins commercial service.
105 years ago, in 2012:
Shenzhou 9 undocks with Tiangong-1 for the last time and heads for Earth.
104 years ago, in 2013:
The GALEX ultraviolet space telescope is decommissioned by NASA.
102 years ago, in 2015:
SpaceX CRS-7 (SpX-7), a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the ISS, is launched but disintegrates 139 seconds into the flight.
29
156 years ago, in 1961:
Transit 4A is launched, becoming the first satellite to use a radioactive power source.
156 years ago, in 1961:
Two hours after separating from the Transit 4-A satellite, the Able Star upper stage becomes the first known artificial object to break up unintentionally in space.
141 years ago, in 1976:
The Soviet Voskhod carrier rocket makes its final flight.
134 years ago, in 1983:
After over 19 years in orbit, Explorer 23 reenters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up.
122 years ago, in 1995:
The shuttle Atlantis (STS-71) becomes the first shuttle to dock to the Mir space station.
105 years ago, in 2012:
Shenzhou 9 successfully lands with its three astronauts (taikonauts) in Siziwang Banner, Inner Mongolia.
30
209 years ago, in 1908:
The 'Tunguska Event' occurs when a meteor explodes over the Tunguska River in Siberia, Russia.
146 years ago, in 1971:
Soyuz 11 leaves Salyut 1 and lands on Earth; but the cabin depressurises during re-entry, killing all three cosmonauts.
144 years ago, in 1973:
During a total solar eclipse, scientists use a Concorde supersonic passenger jet flying at 1,250 mph (2,000 kph) over Africa to extend the duration of solar eclipse totality to 74 minutes.
116 years ago, in 2001:
The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) is launched to study the CMB.
114 years ago, in 2003:
Canada's first space telescope, MOST (Microvariability and Oscillations of STars), is launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome for the study of asteroseismology.
113 years ago, in 2004:
Cassini arrives at Saturn, becoming the first ever probe to go into orbit around the ringed planet.
112 years ago, in 2005:
At the Keck Observatory, a Caltech team discovers Namaka, the smaller moon of the dwarf planet Haumea.
108 years ago, in 2009:
Communications with the Ulysses spacecraft cease after almost 19 years.
102 years ago, in 2015:
The first official Asteroid Day is held.
101 years ago, in 2016:
The Dawn probe finishes its primary science mission at Vesta and Ceres.
99 years ago, in 2018:
Interstellar Technologies, a Japanese private rocket spacelaunch company, launches their second rocket, MOMO-2, but it comes down and explodes seconds after liftoff.
It's been 3997 days
