On April 20 in Space History
Chronology
93 events
1935 April 20
- Birth of Yuri Pavlovich Semenov - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Semenov, Yuri. Russian engineer. General Designer of RKK Energia 1989 to 2005.
1938 April 20
Launch Site: Roswell. LV Family: Goddard. Launch Vehicle: Goddard L-C.- Flight of Goddard series L section C rocket - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Goddard. Apogee: 1.26 km (0.78 mi). Rocket reached altitude 4215 ft; duration of propulsion 25.3 sec; landed 6960 ft from tower; carried official NAA barograph. .
1944 April 20
Launch Site: Heidelager. Launch Vehicle: V-2. FAILURE: Airburst.- V-2 A02 G1 - . Nation: Germany. Airburst 6.5 km to the left of the planned trajectory..
1945 April 20
- Birth of Gregory Hammond 'Greg' Olsen - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Olsen. American scientist cosmonaut 2005. Space tourist 1 spaceflight, 9.9 days in space. Flew to orbit on Soyuz TMA-7 (2005)..
1950 April 20
Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Nike Ajax. Launch Vehicle: Nike-484.1951 April 20
- XS-1 Flight 144 - . Crew: Crossfield. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 63. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Crossfield. Class: Manned. Type: Manned rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. NACA flight 43. Pilot familiarization. Reached mach 1.07..
1954 April 20
Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Vehicle: R-11.- Test mission - . Nation: Russia. Agency: Korolev bureau. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).
1955 April 20
- Birth of Donald Roy Pettit - .
Nation: USA.
Related Persons: Pettit.
American chemical engineer mission specialist astronaut 1996-on. 369 cumulative days in space. First NASA astronaut to return to earth in a Russian spacecraft. 369 cumulative days in space. 3 spaceflights, 369.7 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-113 (2002), STS-126, Soyuz TMA-03M.
1955 April 20
06:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC6. Launch Vehicle: Redstone. FAILURE: Guidance system malfunction at 310 sec due to air pressure loss. ST-80 lateral guidance only..- Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). Missile test failure. Missed aimpoint by 7,000 m..
1957 April 20
04:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor DM-18. FAILURE: Console wiring error resulted in erroneous tracking indication; destroyed by range safety.. Failed Stage: G.- Series I research and development launch - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: USAF.
Apogee: 0 km (0 mi).
The second Thor flight test missile launched on the Atlantic Missile Range (AMR) was successful until the Range Safety Officer (RSO) accidentally destroyed the missile. Douglas Thor IRBM (XSM-75) was launched at Cape Canaveral, Fla., destroyed by range safety officer. The missile was actually on course throughout its flight. The console wiring error led the range safety officer to believe it was headed inland rather than out to sea, so he hit the destruct button.
1959 April 20
- Canada-NASA sounding rocket agreement. - . Nation: Canada. NASA announced acceptance of proposals by the Canadian Defense Research Telecommunications Establishment for continuing joint rocket and satellite ionospheric experiments of a nonmilitary nature..
1959 April 20
15:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC25A. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris AX.1960 April 20
Launch Site: Santa Barbara Channel DZ. Launch Pad: EAFB. Launch Platform: F-104. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: ALSOR. FAILURE: Failure.- Model A (F4) test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 70 km (43 mi). Air dropped in Santa Barbara Channel DZ..
1961 April 20
- Prospector vs Apollo program - .
Nation: USA.
Program: Apollo.
Spacecraft: Prospector.
A conference was held at NASA Headquarters on the relationship between the Prospector and Apollo programs. Representatives of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and STG discussed the possible redirection of Prospector planning to support more directly the manned space program. The Prospector spacecraft was intended to soft-land about 2,500 pounds on the lunar surface with an accuracy of +/-1 kilometer anywhere on the visible side of the moon. An essential feature of Prospector was the development of an automatic roving vehicle weighing about 1500 pounds which would permit detailed reconnaissance of the lunar surface over a wide area. Additional Details: here....
1961 April 20
03:46 GMT - . Launch Site: Salto di Quirra. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.1961 April 20
18:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Salto di Quirra. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.1961 April 20
18:43 GMT - . Launch Site: Salto di Quirra. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.1962 April 20
Launch Vehicle: N1.- OP -Orbital Belt - .
Nation: Russia.
Related Persons: Korolev.
Spacecraft Bus: OS.
Spacecraft: OP.
Korolev's fantastic 'Orbitalniy Poyas' (OP -Orbital Belt) scheme anticipated Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defence Initiative by 25 years. Two to three large N-I launched military manned stations would control a constellation of strategic assets. Geosynchronous nuclear-powered satellites would provide secure communications. Piloted reconnaissance spacecraft would surprise the enemy, observing military preparations without warning. The orbital stations would provide continuous observations of the territory of the imperialist block.
1962 April 20
Launch Site: Baikonur. LV Family: R-9. Launch Vehicle: R-9A. FAILURE: Failure.1962 April 20
19:26 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Mud Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008.- X-15A MH-96, M=5 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA, USAF. Spacecraft: X-15A. Apogee: 63 km (39 mi). Maximum Speed - 6097 kph. Maximum Altitude - 63250 m. Air dropped in Mud Lake DZ..
1963 April 20
- Birth of Sergei Valerievich Kostenko - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Kostenko. Russian businessman, cosmonaut training 2005, backup to Gregory Olsen for the space tourist seat on Soyuz TMA-7..
1963 April 20
Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Sergeant. Launch Vehicle: Shotput.1963 April 20
10:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Hammaguira Blandine. Launch Vehicle: Veronique.1964 April 20
- IBM to build the instrument units for the Saturn launch vehicles - .
Nation: USA.
Program: Apollo.
NASA selected IBM, Federal Systems Division, to develop and build the instrument units (IU) for the Saturn IB and Saturn V launch vehicles. (IBM had been chosen by NASA in October 1963 to design and build the IU data adapters and digital guidance computers and to integrate and check out the IUs.) Under this new contract, expected to be worth over $175 million, IBM would supply the structure and the environmental control system. NASA would furnish the telemetry system and the stabilized platform (ST-124M) of the guidance system. MSFC would manage the contract.
1964 April 20
Launch Site: Whiteman AFB. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1B.- Whiteman AFB - . The first squadron of Minuteman Wing IV, the 508th Strategic Missile Squadron of the 351st Strategic Missile Wing at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, was turned over to SAC..
1964 April 20
Launch Site: Ile du Levant. Launch Pad: CERES. Launch Vehicle: Agate.1964 April 20
08:08 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78. FAILURE: Power failure caused upper stage shutdown at T+340 seconds.. Failed Stage: U.- Luna failure - . Payload: E-6 s/n 5. Mass: 1,422 kg (3,134 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN. Program: Luna. Class: Moon. Type: Lunar probe. Spacecraft: Luna E-6. Decay Date: 1964-04-20 . The upper stages broke up on re-entry into the atmosphere...
1964 April 20
16:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 625. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A2.1964 April 20
17:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 625. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A2.1965 April 20
Launch Site: Lincoln AFB. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas F.- The final Atlas F missile departed Lincoln AFB, Nebraska (551st Strategic Missile Squadron), for retirement and storage. - . The final Atlas F missile departed Lincoln AFB, Nebraska (551st Strategic Missile Squadron), for retirement and storage..
1965 April 20
15:40 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150.1966 April 20
- L1 accelerated program plan for 14 L1 and 6 7K-OK podsadka spacecraft. - .
Related Persons: Mishin.
Spacecraft: Soyuz,
Soyuz 7K-L1,
Soyuz 7K-OK.
A VPK Military-Industrial Commission resolution on the L1 program plan was issued and included the total accelerated program for build of 14 L1 and 6 7K-OK podsadka spacecraft. The schedule:
7K-L1:
1 unit 3rd quarter 66
4 units 4th quarter 66
3 units 1st quarter 67
3 units 2nd quarter 67
3 units 3rd quarter 67
7K-OK for delivery of crews to L1:
3 units 4th quarter 66
3 units 1st quarter 67. (Mishin Diaries 1-234)
1966 April 20
02:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: Woomera LA2. Launch Pad: LA2 SL. LV Family: Skylark. Launch Vehicle: Skylark 2.- Test mission - . Nation: Australia. Agency: Royal Aerospace Establishment, WRE. Apogee: 172 km (106 mi).
1966 April 20
08:44 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg 395-B. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan II.- Long Light operational test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi). A SAC crew launched the 19th, and final, Titan II Operational Test (OT) missile (#62-12298) from Vandenberg. .
1966 April 20
10:48 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC31. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92.- Cosmos 115 - . Payload: Zenit-2 11F61 s/n 35. Mass: 4,720 kg (10,400 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Vostok. Spacecraft: Zenit-2 satellite. Duration: 8.00 days. Decay Date: 1966-04-28 . USAF Sat Cat: 2147 . COSPAR: 1966-033A. Apogee: 283 km (175 mi). Perigee: 189 km (117 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 89.20 min. . Program partially completed. Abnormal operation of SA-10 camera..
1966 April 20
12:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Kagoshima. LV Family: Kappa. Launch Vehicle: Kappa 8.1967 April 20
- Soyuz 1/2 State Commission. - .
Nation: Russia.
Related Persons: Mishin.
Program: Soyuz.
Flight: Soyuz 1,
Soyuz 2A.
Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz.
Spacecraft: Soyuz 7K-OK.
150 people attend. The readiness of the spacecraft and launch vehicles are confirmed. The final responsibilities and schedule are approved. Everything is go. Afterwards there is a meeting with Mishin. He is mainly worried about two things that could cause them to scrub the launch of the second Soyuz: a failure of the Igla automatic docking system or the solar panels on Soyuz 1.
1967 April 20
01:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3E. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas SLV-3.- Prime 3 - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: USAF AFSC.
Apogee: 1,500 km (900 mi).
The third and last SV-5D Precision Recovery Including Maneuvering Entry (PRIME) flight vehicle, essentially a small maneuverahle reentry spacecraft, successfully performed cross-range maneuvers after being launched from Vandenberg on an Atlas booster. The series of three flights was so successful in demonstrating that a maneuverable spacecraft could survive reentry that the planned fourth flight test was cancelled. The full design 1145 km cross range was demonstrated, and the X-23A SV-5D lifting body vehicle was successfully snatched at 3700 m altitude, 8 km from the target point. With this success the rest of the project was cancelled, and the two remaining unflown X-22A's were sent to the USAF Museum at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.
1967 April 20
11:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2E. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Delta E.- ESSA 5 - . Payload: TOS C. Mass: 145 kg (319 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: ESSA. Program: Tiros. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: TOS. USAF Sat Cat: 2757 . COSPAR: 1967-036A. Apogee: 1,422 km (883 mi). Perigee: 1,355 km (841 mi). Inclination: 102.00 deg. Period: 113.50 min. Replaced ESSA 3. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C)..
1967 April 20
17:32 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Cajun. FAILURE: Failure.1967 April 20
22:36 GMT - . Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: Woomera LA2. Launch Pad: LA2 SL. LV Family: Skylark. Launch Vehicle: Skylark 3.- X-ray survey / ne Solar x-ray / ionosphere mission - . Nation: Australia. Agency: Royal Aerospace Establishment, WRE. Apogee: 218 km (135 mi).
1968 April 20
- Cosmos 213 landing/L1 preparations - . Nation: Russia. Program: Lunar L1, Soyuz. Spacecraft: Soyuz 7K-L1, Soyuz 7K-OK. Unfuelled tests of the Proton rocket on the pad are completed successfully. The K-100 star sensor on the L1 is a special concern..
1968 April 20
10:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC31. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Voskhod 11A57.- Cosmos 216 - . Payload: Zenit-2 11F61 s/n 62. Mass: 4,720 kg (10,400 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Vostok. Spacecraft: Zenit-2 satellite. Duration: 8.00 days. Decay Date: 1968-04-28 . USAF Sat Cat: 3207 . COSPAR: 1968-034A. Apogee: 267 km (165 mi). Perigee: 198 km (123 mi). Inclination: 51.00 deg. Period: 89.20 min. Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite. Unsuccessful mission. Spacecraft landed in River Volga 1 km from shore and sank after 42 minutes. 85% of the data was ruined..
1968 April 20
17:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA2. Launch Pad: LA2A?. LV Family: Astrobee. Launch Vehicle: Astrobee 1500.1969 April 20
04:15 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: Super Loki.1969 April 20
13:04 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.1969 April 20
15:24 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.1970 April 20
Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC162/36. LV Family: R-36. Launch Vehicle: R-36 8K67.1970 April 20
Launch Site: Biscarosse. Launch Complex: Biscarosse BLB. LV Family: MSBS. Launch Vehicle: SSBS S02.1970 April 20
17:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Cajun Dart.- Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Huntsville. Apogee: 75 km (46 mi).
1971 April 20
- DOS State Commission. - .
Nation: Russia.
Program: Salyut.
Flight: Soyuz 10,
Soyuz 11,
Soyuz 12 / DOS 1.
Spacecraft Bus: Almaz.
Spacecraft: Salyut 1.
Six of eight fans in the ECS have failed. There are only two back-ups, which are not enough for the 90-day active mission life planed. But it is decided the problem could actually be failed sensors, and in any case the first crew can easily repair the fans. At 17:00 the State Commission meets publicly (radio and television coverage) to approve the launch of Soyuz 10. Launch is set for 22 April at 03:30.
1972 April 20
00:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Greely. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Rocketsonde.1973 April 20
23:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Delta 1914.- Anik A2 - .
Payload: Telesat 2. Mass: 272 kg (599 lb). Nation: Canada.
Agency: Telesat.
Program: Anik.
Class: Communications.
Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: HS 333.
Completed Operations Date: 1982-10-28 . USAF Sat Cat: 6437 . COSPAR: 1973-023A. Apogee: 35,952 km (22,339 mi). Perigee: 35,886 km (22,298 mi). Inclination: 13.70 deg. Period: 1,442.90 min.
Anik I and Anik II also registered as United States objects. .The satellites, act as space repeaters capable of receiving transmissions from earth stations and retransmitting them to other earth stations in Canada. The antenna coverage of the satellite pr ovides the capability of serving virtually all of Canada. Anik I and II had weights of 1240.59 lb and 1246.48 lb. Each satellite has 12 RF channels each capable of transmitting a color television signal or up to 900 one-way voice channels. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit over the Americas at 109 deg W in 1973-1979; over the Americas at 106 deg W in 1979-1981; over the Americas at 114 deg W in 1981-1982 As of 26 August 2001 located at 0.59 deg E drifting at 1.690 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 150.94E drifting at 1.684W degrees per day.
1974 April 20
20:53 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.- Molniya 1-27 - . Payload: Molniya-1. Mass: 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Program: Molniya. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft Bus: KAUR-2. Spacecraft: Molniya-1. Decay Date: 1983-11-17 . USAF Sat Cat: 7260 . COSPAR: 1974-023A. Apogee: 39,752 km (24,700 mi). Perigee: 606 km (376 mi). Inclination: 63.00 deg. Period: 717.80 min. Uncertain if Molniya-1T model was Molniya-1 or Molniya-1T. Operation of a system of long range telephone-telegraph radiocommunication, and transmission of USSR Central Television programmes to the stations of the Orbita network..
1976 April 20
20:08 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 656. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Poseidon C3.1976 April 20
20:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 656. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Poseidon C3.1977 April 20
09:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. Launch Pad: LC1 or LC31. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U.- Cosmos 904 - . Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Vostok. Spacecraft: Zenit-2M satellite. Duration: 14.00 days. Decay Date: 1977-05-04 . USAF Sat Cat: 9930 . COSPAR: 1977-028A. Apogee: 328 km (203 mi). Perigee: 203 km (126 mi). Inclination: 71.40 deg. Period: 89.80 min. Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule..
1977 April 20
10:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17B. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Delta 2914.- ESA-Geos 1 - . Payload: ESA GEOS 1. Mass: 573 kg (1,263 lb). Nation: Europe. Agency: ESA. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft: ESA-Geos. USAF Sat Cat: 9931 . COSPAR: 1977-029A. Apogee: 38,214 km (23,745 mi). Perigee: 2,939 km (1,826 mi). Inclination: 26.60 deg. Period: 734.00 min. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). .
1978 April 20
15:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U.- Cosmos 1003 - . Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Vostok. Spacecraft: Zenit-4MKM. Duration: 14.00 days. Decay Date: 1978-05-04 . USAF Sat Cat: 10811 . COSPAR: 1978-040A. Apogee: 328 km (203 mi). Perigee: 178 km (110 mi). Inclination: 62.80 deg. Period: 89.50 min. High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable..
1979 April 20
Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC81/24.- TKS VA s/n 008 - .
Payload: TKS VA s/n 008. Mass: 4,250 kg (9,360 lb). Nation: Russia.
Program: Almaz.
Class: Manned.
Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: TKS VA s/n 008.
Spacecraft Bus: TKS.
Spacecraft: TKS VA .
On 20 April 1979 LVI-4 VA (VA s/n 103 and s/n 008) was awaiting launch. The booster ignited, but then shut down on the pad. This triggered the launch escape system, which pulled the top capsule away from the booster. The parachute system failed and the capsule crashed to the ground. The lower capsule remained in the rocket. The top capsule was to have been manned, but the inability to demonstrate two consecutive failure-free launches of the Proton/TKS-VA combination made that (luckily) impossible.
1979 April 20
- TKS VA s/n 103 - . Payload: TKS VA s/n 103. Mass: 4,250 kg (9,360 lb). Nation: Russia. Program: Almaz. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: TKS. Spacecraft: TKS VA .
1979 April 20
Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC81/24. LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K. FAILURE: Engines ignited but immediately shut down on launch pad. Booster could be reused with new payload.. Failed Stage: 1.- Payload: TKS VA s/n 008. Nation: Russia. Program: Almaz. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: TKS. Spacecraft: TKS VA . Decay Date: 1979-05-23 . USAF Sat Cat: 11362 . Apogee: 223 km (138 mi). Perigee: 193 km (119 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 88.70 min.
1979 April 20
11:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U.- Cosmos 1095 - . Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Vostok. Spacecraft: Zenit-6U. Duration: 14.00 days. Decay Date: 1979-05-04 . USAF Sat Cat: 11335 . COSPAR: 1979-034A. Apogee: 379 km (235 mi). Perigee: 199 km (123 mi). Inclination: 72.80 deg. Period: 90.30 min. Photo surveillance; returned film capsule..
1981 April 20
20:55 GMT - . Launch Site: Barking Sands. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Rocketsonde.1982 April 20
06:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Poker Flat. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant X.1983 April 20
13:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U.- Soyuz T-8 - . Call Sign: Okean (Ocean ). Crew: Serebrov, Strekalov, Titov, Vladimir. Backup Crew: Aleksandrov, Lyakhov, Savinykh. Payload: Soyuz T s/n 13L. Mass: 6,850 kg (15,100 lb). Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Aleksandrov, Lyakhov, Savinykh, Serebrov, Strekalov, Titov, Vladimir. Agency: MOM. Program: Salyut 7. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Soyuz T-8. Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz. Spacecraft: Soyuz T. Duration: 2.01 days. Decay Date: 1983-04-22 . USAF Sat Cat: 14014 . COSPAR: 1983-035A. Apogee: 213 km (132 mi). Perigee: 196 km (121 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 88.60 min. Manned three crew. Unsuccessful mission. Failed to rendezvous with Salyut 7. Recovered April 22, 1983 13:29 GMT. Landed 113 km SE Arkalyk..
1984 April 20
21:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Barking Sands. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Rocketsonde.1985 April 20
07:50 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant 8C.1988 April 20
Launch Site: Balasore. LV Family: RH. Launch Vehicle: RH-200.1988 April 20
05:48 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC31. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92M.- Cosmos 1939 - . Payload: Resurs-O1 no. 2. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Program: Resurs. Class: Earth. Type: Earth resources satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Meteor. Spacecraft: Resurs-O1. Decay Date: 2014-10-29 . USAF Sat Cat: 19045 . COSPAR: 1988-032A. Apogee: 602 km (374 mi). Perigee: 570 km (350 mi). Inclination: 97.70 deg. Period: 96.40 min. Investigation of the natural resources of the earth in the interests of various branches of the national economy of the USSR and international cooperation. Stayed in operation for six years, six months, far beyond its rated life of 3 to 5 years..
1989 April 20
18:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.- Cosmos 2018 - . Mass: 6,600 kg (14,500 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Yantar. Spacecraft: Yantar-4K1. Duration: 60.00 days. Decay Date: 1989-06-19 . USAF Sat Cat: 19938 . COSPAR: 1989-031A. Apogee: 327 km (203 mi). Perigee: 185 km (114 mi). Inclination: 62.90 deg. Period: 89.60 min. High resolution photo reconnaissance; returned film in two small SpK capsules during the mission and with the main capsule at completion of the mission..
1990 April 20
18:41 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC133/3. Launch Pad: LC133/3?. LV Family: R-14. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M.- Cosmos 2074 - . Mass: 825 kg (1,818 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: KAUR-1. Spacecraft: Parus. USAF Sat Cat: 20577 . COSPAR: 1990-036A. Apogee: 1,005 km (624 mi). Perigee: 963 km (598 mi). Inclination: 82.90 deg. Period: 104.80 min. Military navigation satellite. Positioned in plane 2 of constellation..
1994 April 20
02:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Ryori. LV Family: MT-135. Launch Vehicle: MT-135P.1994 April 20
- Landing of STS-59 - . Return Crew: Apt, Chilton, Clifford, Godwin, Gutierrez, Jones. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Apt, Chilton, Clifford, Godwin, Gutierrez, Jones. Program: STS. Flight: STS-59. STS-59 landed at 16:54 GMT. .
1995 April 20
- Mir News 251: GFZ-1 launched by Mir-crew - .
Nation: Russia.
Program: Mir.
Flight: Soyuz TM-21.
On 19.04.1995 at 1912 UTC this spherical microsat (21 CM diameter, mass 20 KG) has been pushed into space from an airlock of Mir's base block. GFZ-1 moved off with a speed of 1.2 M/sec. The traffic in which the reports of data and images of the autonomous GFZ-1 could be monitored via Altair. The same operation had taken place some days before: On 17.04.1995 at 08Hrs 19Mins 50Secs the crew launched a container with garbage to be sure that the system would work well. This object is now in space under catalogue number 23557. GFZ-1 has been built by the German firm Kayser-Threde. The co-ordination of the observations of GFZ-1 will be done by the Geoforschungszentrum Potsdam. Abt 25 observatories all over the world will execute measurements by laser reflections. Stations are among others: London, Grasse (France), Potsdam, Easterisland, Graz (Austria) and even one in Kirgizie. The stations can 'catch' GFZ-1 with a beamwidth of 200 Meters. During the first pass London and Graz did not get reflections, but during the 2d pass Graz caught GFZ-1 and was able to pick the first geodetic and ballistic measurements. During the launch the Mir-crew acted independently.
Planning for the near future:
Some crucial operations had to be put back by the Russians (launch module Spektr, EVA-s, a.s.o.) and this forced the Americans to put back the launch of the Atlantis to the second half of June. Therefore the flight of Discovery has been put forward and will now begin at abt 8.06.1995.
Cargo Progress-M27: An antenna for radio-amateur purposes, delivered by Progress-M27, has been damaged due an improper packing. The crew showed this antenna via Altair and discussed this problem with the well known radio-amateur Sergey Samburov.
Chris v.d. Berg, NL-9165/A-UK3202
1996 April 20
22:36 GMT - . Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: Kourou ELA2. LV Family: Ariane. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 42P.- M-SAT 1 - . Mass: 2,830 kg (6,230 lb). Nation: Canada. Agency: TMI. Program: M-SAT. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: HS 601. USAF Sat Cat: 23846 . COSPAR: 1996-022A. Apogee: 35,794 km (22,241 mi). Perigee: 35,777 km (22,230 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. Geostationary at 106.5W. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 106 deg W in 1996-1999 As of 3 September 2001 located at 106.55 deg W drifting at 0.004 deg W per day. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 106.48W drifting at 0.004W degrees per day..
1997 April 20
- Failed FSW Launch - .
Nation: China.
Spacecraft: FSW.
Repeated rumours appeared that a Chinese military satellite was launched or suffered a failure on this date. The story was first carried by Reuters in May 1997. In December 2000 it was again reported in a Chinese professional magazine that China launched its last recoverable satellite on April 20, 1997. The last official launch of the series was in October 1996.
1998 April 20
- STS-90 - Wakeup Song: Doctor My Eyes - . Flight: STS-90. "Doctor My Eyes" by Jackson Browne CAPCOM: Chris Hadfield.
2000 April 20
- ISS Status Report: ISS 00-16 - .
Nation: USA.
Related Persons: Halsell,
Helms,
Horowitz,
Voss,
Weber, Mary,
Williams, Jeffrey.
Program: ISS.
If all goes as planned, this time next week the International Space Station will house visitors for the first time since the visit by the crew of STS-96 last year. All continues to go smoothly with preparations for the launch of Atlantis to start the STS-101 mission on Monday. Additional Details: here....
2001 April 20
- STS-100 Mission Status Report #03 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Ashby, Guidoni, Hadfield, Helms, Lonchakov, Parazynski, Phillips, Rominger, Voss. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-100, STS-102 ISS EO-2. The day on orbit was one of preparations as Endeavour's seven astronauts got ready for tomorrow morning's scheduled arrival at the International Space Station, and Sunday's planned space walk by Mission Specialists Chris Hadfield and Scott Parazynski.. Additional Details: here....
2001 April 20
- STS-100 - Wakeup Song: Then the Morning Comes - . Flight: STS-100. "Then the Morning Comes" by the musical group Smash Mouth. It was chosen for Phillips, making his first spaceflight..
2002 April 20
- ISS Port Cleared - . Nation: USA. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-110. At 0916 UTC on April 20 Soyuz TM-33 undocked from the Zarya nadir port carrying the Expedition-4 crew. It redocked with the Pirs nadir port at 0937 UTC. This cleared the port Zarya port for the pending Soyuz TM-34 launch..
2004 April 20
16:57 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7920-10C.- Gravity Probe B - .
Mass: 3,145 kg (6,933 lb). Nation: USA.
Agency: NASA.
Class: Astronomy.
Type: X-ray astronomy satellite. Spacecraft: Gravity Probe-B.
USAF Sat Cat: 28230 . COSPAR: 2004-014A. Apogee: 646 km (401 mi). Perigee: 640 km (390 mi). Inclination: 90.00 deg. Period: 97.60 min.
Gravity Probe B's mission was to confirm a prediction of Einstein's theory of relativity. The physics experiment, developed by Stanford University and Lockheed Martin, was to observe the magnitude 5 star IM Pegasi for over a year, attempting to measure the tiny shifts in the spacecraft gyroscopes' orientation caused by the Lense-Thirring gravitomagnetic (or `frame-dragging') effect. To accomplish this the spacecraft carried four gyroscopes kept at 1.8 deg Kelvin by a liquid helium dewar, laser retroreflectors and two GPS receivers for orbit determination, a drag compensation system, and a 14 cm aperture quartz telescope. The satellite was also to make an accurate measurement of the already-established gravitostatic warping of spacetime due to the Earth's mass.
2004 April 20
17:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: Topol'. Launch Vehicle: Topol'-M 15Zh55.2006 April 20
20:27 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC41. Launch Pad: SLC41. LV Family: Atlas V. Launch Vehicle: Atlas V 411.- Astra 1KR - .
Payload: A2100AXS. Mass: 4,332 kg (9,550 lb). Nation: Luxembourg.
Agency: SES.
Manufacturer: Lockheed.
Program: Astra.
Class: Communications.
Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: AS 2100.
USAF Sat Cat: 29055 . COSPAR: 2006-012A. Apogee: 35,696 km (22,180 mi). Perigee: 35,631 km (22,140 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,429.80 min.
The first Centaur upper stage burn placed the stack into a 167 km x 22442 km x 24.8 deg transfer orbit. After a second burn the Centaur released the satellite into a 6470 km x 36240 km x 23.8 deg orbit, from which it would use its own engine to achieve final geosynchronous orbit. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 19.18E drifting at 0.022W degrees per day.
2007 April 20
- International Space Station Status Report #07-21 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Kotov, Lopez-Alegria, Simonyi, Tyurin, Williams, Yurchikhin. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-10, Soyuz TMA-10 ISS EP-12, Soyuz TMA-9, STS-117 ISS EO-15. The crew members aboard the International Space Station spent this week finalizing handover operations, conducting experiments and preparing for the departure of the Expedition 14 crew.. Additional Details: here....
2008 April 20
- ISS On-Orbit Status 04/20/08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Drew, Kononenko, Love, Malenchenko, Reisman, Volkov, Sergey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, Soyuz TMA-12, STS-122, STS-123 ISS EO-16. Ahead: Week 1 of Increment 17 (with CDR Sergei Volkov, FE-1 Oleg Kononenko, FE-2 Garrett Reisman).. Additional Details: here....
2009 April 20
01:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Sriharikota. Launch Complex: Sriharikota SLP. Launch Vehicle: PSLV.- Risat-2 - . Mass: 340 kg (740 lb). Nation: India. Agency: ISRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military Radarsat. Spacecraft: Tecsar. USAF Sat Cat: 34807 . COSPAR: 2009-019A. Apogee: 552 km (342 mi). Perigee: 446 km (277 mi). Inclination: 41.20 deg. Period: 94.60 min. Tecsar-class radar imaging satellite bought by India from Israel..
- Anusat - . Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Nation: India. Agency: ISRO. Class: Earth. Type: Earth resources satellite. Spacecraft: Anusat. Decay Date: 2012-04-18 . USAF Sat Cat: 34808 . COSPAR: 2009-019B. Apogee: 551 km (342 mi). Perigee: 401 km (249 mi). Inclination: 41.20 deg. Period: 94.10 min. 40 kg imaging satellite from Anna University, Chennai, India..
2009 April 20
08:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Platform: Odyssey. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL.- Sicral 1B - . Payload: Italsat-3000. Mass: 3,038 kg (6,697 lb). Nation: Italy. Agency: SeaLaunch. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: Italsat. USAF Sat Cat: 34810 . COSPAR: 2009-020A. Apogee: 35,787 km (22,236 mi). Perigee: 35,785 km (22,235 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.00 min. Second Italian military communications satellite. Dry mass 1680 kg..
2011 April 20
04:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Sriharikota. Launch Complex: Sriharikota PSLV. Launch Vehicle: PSLV.- Resourcesat 2 - .
Mass: 1,200 kg (2,600 lb). Nation: India.
Program: IRS.
Class: Surveillance.
Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft: IRS.
USAF Sat Cat: 37387 . COSPAR: 2011-015A. Apogee: 825 km (512 mi). Perigee: 820 km (500 mi). Inclination: 98.80 deg. Period: 101.30 min.
Surveillance satellite. Carried the LISS-4 camera, a 6-meter-resolution imager, which was to be used for both military reconnaissance and civilian remote sensing. It also carried the lower resolution LISS-3 (23 m resolution) and AWIFS (56 m resolution), and an AIS Automatic Identification System payload for Comdev of Canada for tracking ships at sea.
- Youthsat - . Mass: 92 kg (202 lb). Nation: India. Class: Science. Type: Science satellite. Spacecraft: Youthsat. USAF Sat Cat: 37388 . COSPAR: 2011-015B. Apogee: 823 km (511 mi). Perigee: 803 km (498 mi). Inclination: 98.80 deg. Period: 101.20 min. Joint Indian-Russian student satellite. Carried experiments to study solar-terrestrial relationships..
- X-Sat - . Mass: 105 kg (231 lb). Nation: India. Class: Earth. Type: Earth resources satellite. Spacecraft Bus: SI-100. Spacecraft: X-Sat. USAF Sat Cat: 37389 . COSPAR: 2011-015C. Apogee: 822 km (510 mi). Perigee: 803 km (498 mi). Inclination: 98.80 deg. Period: 101.10 min. Nanyang Technological University Singapore satellite; carried a 10-meter-resolution multispectral imager..
2012 April 20
12:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC31. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.- Progress M-15M - .
Payload: Progress M s/n 415 / ISS-47P. Mass: 7,250 kg (15,980 lb). Nation: Russia.
Agency: RKA.
Program: ISS.
Class: Manned.
Type: Manned logistics spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz.
Spacecraft: Progress M.
Duration: 122.00 days. Decay Date: 2012-08-20 . USAF Sat Cat: 38222 . COSPAR: 2012-015A. Apogee: 406 km (252 mi). Perigee: 392 km (243 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 92.50 min.
Docked at the Pirs module of the International Space Station on 22 April at 14:39 GMT. Undocked and after three weeks of independent flight involving Radar-Progress experiments using thruster burns to study the ionosphere, was deorbited over the Pacific on 20 August.
2017 April 20
07:13 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-FG.- Soyuz MS-04 - .
Call Sign: Olympus. Crew: Yurchikhin,
Fischer.
Backup Crew: Ryazansky,
Bresnik.
Return Crew: Yurchikhin,
Fischer,
Whitson.
Nation: Russia.
Program: ISS.
Class: Manned.
Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Soyuz MS-04.
Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz.
Spacecraft: Soyuz MS.
Decay Date: 2017-09-03 . USAF Sat Cat: 42682 . COSPAR: 2017-020A. Apogee: 409 km (254 mi). Perigee: 399 km (247 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 92.66 min.
See Soyuz-MS 04. Soyuz MS-04 docked with the ISS Poisk module 6hr 4min after launch. Soyuz commander was Fyodor Yurchikin and flight engineer was Jack Fischer. This was the first two-person Soyuz mission in 14 years (Soyuz TMA-2 in Apr 2003), as Russia scaled back its ISS crew pending completion of the delayed Nauka module.
2017 April 20
11:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Wenchang. Launch Complex: Wenchang LC201. LV Family: CZ-NGLV. Launch Vehicle: Chang Zheng 7.- Silu-1 - . Nation: China. USAF Sat Cat: 42903 . COSPAR: 2017-021F. Apogee: 311 km (193 mi). Perigee: 289 km (179 mi). Inclination: 42.77 deg. Period: 90.52 min. See SilkRoad-1 01 (Silu 1). ..
- Tianzhou-1 - .
Nation: China.
Class: Manned.
Type: Manned logistics spacecraft. Spacecraft Bus: Shenzhou.
Spacecraft: Tianzhou.
Decay Date: 2017-09-22 . USAF Sat Cat: 42684 . COSPAR: 2017-021A. Apogee: 369 km (229 mi). Perigee: 311 km (193 mi). Inclination: 42.80 deg. Period: 92.36 min.
See Tianzhou 1 (TZ 1). China's first space station cargo resupply ship. Tianzhou-1 had a mass of 12910 kg. It flew on the second Chang Zheng 7 rocket, launched from Wenchang space centre on Hainan island. Tianzhou-1 docked with the Tiangong-2 space lab, then unoccupied. This mission was mainly for technology development; the Tianzhou frieghters were to be used operationally to resupply China's future large space station. Tianzhou 1 was inserted into a 198 x 372 km x 42.8 deg initial orbit, which was then raised to 311 x 369 km. The second stage ejected the usual four motor separation covers into 200 x 550 km orbits.