On April 21 in Space History
Chronology
106 events
1949 April 21
Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Deacon.1951 April 21
- Birth of Aleksandr Ivanovich Laveykin - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Laveykin. Russian engineer cosmonaut 1978-1994. 1 spaceflight, 174.1 days in space. Flew to orbit on Soyuz TM-2 (1987)..
1953 April 21
Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Hammaguira Bechar. Launch Vehicle: Veronique.1955 April 21
LV Family: Atlas.- Development Plan for Atlas - . The Western Development Division published the first Development Plan for Atlas (WS107A)..
1955 April 21
15:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee Hi.- AJ11-6 engine test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 198 km (123 mi). First launcing of USAF Aerobee-Hi sounding rocket. Rocket test, 98 kg payload. Launched at 0858 local time. Reached 198 km..
1958 April 21
Launch Vehicle: Thor.- Pentagon managers briefed on USAF manned Military Space System Development Plan - .
Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest.
Air Force Ballistic Missile Division presented briefings on the manned Military Space System Development Plan to higher Air Force and Department of Defense authorities in Washington. Also briefed were Air Research and Development Command headquarters, the Vice Chief of Staff, and R. W, Johnson, Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency. (Chronological Space Hist, 58.)
1958 April 21
- The Air Force launched a research test rocket which carried a mouse in the re-entry vehicle. - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest. This was the first small beginning of a research program to determine the requirements of a space life support system. (Msg SAFIS-3C 47151, SAF to AFBMD, 29 Apr 58.).
1959 April 21
01:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150.1960 April 21
- SAINT System Development Requirement issued. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: SAINT, SAINT II. It also allowed follow-on manned systems to be pursued..
1960 April 21
10:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: Woomera LA2. Launch Pad: LA2 SL. Launch Vehicle: Skylark.- Grenades / Chaff Aeronomy mission - . Nation: Australia. Agency: Royal Aerospace Establishment, WRE. Apogee: 141 km (87 mi).
1960 April 21
15:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150.1960 April 21
20:55 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC15. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan I.1961 April 21
Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC41/4. Launch Pad: LC41/pad?. Launch Vehicle: R-16. FAILURE: Failure.1961 April 21
00:12 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp. FAILURE: Failure.1961 April 21
02:26 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC51. LV Family: R-9. Launch Vehicle: R-9A.1961 April 21
09:34 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp. FAILURE: Failure.1961 April 21
09:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Asp. Launch Vehicle: Nike Asp.1961 April 21
12:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150A.1961 April 21
18:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Hidden Hills DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 003. FAILURE: Three hardware problems during flight..- X-15A Mach 4, Aero test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA, USAF. Spacecraft: X-15A. Apogee: 32 km (19 mi). Maximum Speed - 4946 kph. Maximum Altitude - 32000 m. Air dropped in Hidden Hills DZ..
1962 April 21
- Titov tour - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Johnson, Lyndon, Titov. Titov is to go to New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and meet Vice President Lyndon Johnson. He is to head back on 1 May..
1962 April 21
- Birth of Sergey Viktorovich Zalyotin - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Zalyotin. Russian pilot cosmonaut 1990-2014. 2 spaceflights, 83.7 days in space. Flew to orbit on Soyuz TM-30 (2000), Soyuz TMA-1..
1964 April 21
06:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: Johnston Island LE2. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor DSV-2J.1964 April 21
18:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2E. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Ablestar. FAILURE: Failure. Failed Stage: U.- Transit 5BN-3 - . Mass: 75 kg (165 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Program: Transit. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft: Transit. Decay Date: 1964-04-21 . COSPAR: F640421A. Carried SNAP-9A nuclear power source. After this launch failure it was decided that operational Transits would be solar-powered only..
- Transit 5E-4 - . Mass: 55 kg (121 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Program: Transit. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft: Transit. COSPAR: F640421B. Radiation monitoring..
1964 April 21
23:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant III.1965 April 21
11:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: Woomera LA5B. Launch Pad: LA5B?. Launch Vehicle: Black Knight.- Dazzle re-entry vehicle test - . Nation: UK. Agency: Royal Aerospace Establishment. Apogee: 651 km (404 mi).
1966 April 21
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 643. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A3.1966 April 21
Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: UR-100. FAILURE: Failure.1966 April 21
00:06 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: 193 km (119 mi).
1966 April 21
02:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Tonopah. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.1966 April 21
11:25 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150.- JHU UVT F1 (Venus) Ultraviolet astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 154 km (95 mi).
1966 April 21
16:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 643. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A3.1966 April 21
16:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 643. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A3.1967 April 21
Launch Site: Malmstrom AFB. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2, Minuteman 1A.- Malmstrom AFB - .
The final flight of Squadron 20 Minuteman III missiles was turned over to SAC. This brought the strength of the 341st Strategic Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB to 200 Minuteman missiles. The formal turnover on 3 May completed the deployment of the programmed 1,000 Minuteman missile launchers.
1967 April 21
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF03. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1B.- Follow-on operational missile test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi). The 100th Minuteman IB (LGM-30B) missile (#65-101) was launched from Vandenberg AFB, California. .
1967 April 21
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF22. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2.- ST Olympic Trials 1 operational test launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF SAC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi). The 100th Minuteman IB (LGM-30B) missile (#65-101) was launched from Vandenberg AFB, California. .
1968 April 21
- L1 on schedule; N1 in trouble. - .
Nation: Russia.
Related Persons: Mishin.
Program: Lunar L1,
Lunar L3.
Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz.
Spacecraft: Soyuz 7K-L1.
This was a reserve day in the L1 countdown, in case of problems in preparation. However all is on schedule for the launch. The same cannot be said for the N1. There are many delays. Mishin promised the first N1 rollout in the first half of March, but it is still in the assembly building, with no end in sight of preparations. The weather at the cosmodrome is -5 deg at night, clear pleasant days. The Hotel Kosmonavt was finished on 15 April. Although it has all of its furniture, it was not completely painted before the furniture was moved in!
1968 April 21
04:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. Launch Pad: LC1 or LC31. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.- Molniya 1-08 - . 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: 1974-01-29 . USAF Sat Cat: 3209 . COSPAR: 1968-035A. Apogee: 40,099 km (24,916 mi). Perigee: 405 km (251 mi). Inclination: 64.00 deg. Period: 720.80 min. Operation of a system of long range telephone-telegraph radiocommunication, and transmission of USSR Central Television programmes to the stations of the Orbita network..
1969 April 21
LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.- Space Shuttle Task Group formed - . Nation: USA. Program: STS. The Director of Apollo Test in the NASA Hq. Apollo Program Office, LeRoy E. Day, was detailed to head the MSF Space Shuttle Task Group. The group would provide NASA with material for a report on the Space Shuttle to the President's Space Task Group..
1969 April 21
- Birth of Andrei Nikolayevich Babkin - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Babkin. Russian engineer cosmonaut, 2010-on..
1969 April 21
13:06 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.1969 April 21
15:26 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.1970 April 21
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 608. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A2.1970 April 21
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF24. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2.1970 April 21
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 608. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A2.1970 April 21
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 608. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A2.1970 April 21
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 608. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A2.1970 April 21
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 608. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A2.1970 April 21
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 608. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A2.1970 April 21
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 608. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A2.1970 April 21
06:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Ionosphere mission - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 175 km (108 mi).
1970 April 21
20:42 GMT - . Launch Site: South Uist. Launch Vehicle: Petrel.1971 April 21
LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.- Shuttle SSME Protest - . Nation: USA. Pratt and Whitney filed a protest against NASA's award to Rocketdyne of the SSME contract. This action prevented further work on Rocketdyne's contract until the issue was adjudicated..
1971 April 21
- Rain at the cosmodrome jeopardises Soyuz 10 launch. - . Nation: Russia. Program: Salyut. Flight: Soyuz 10.
1971 April 21
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1971 April 21
18:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Vehicle: Petrel.1971 April 21
21:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Vehicle: Petrel.1971 April 21
23:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Vehicle: Petrel.1972 April 21
LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.- Shuttle SSME Contract - . Nation: USA. Rocketdyne finally receives the contact for development of the shuttle main engine. By the end of the century the total value will have exceeded $5.6 billion..
1972 April 21
11:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC133/1. LV Family: R-12. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K63.- Cosmos 487 - . Payload: DS-P1-Yu s/n 57. Mass: 325 kg (716 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: DS. Class: Military. Type: Military target satellite. Spacecraft Bus: DS. Spacecraft: DS-P1-Yu. Completed Operations Date: 1972-09-24 . Decay Date: 1972-09-24 . USAF Sat Cat: 6006 . COSPAR: 1972-033A. Apogee: 504 km (313 mi). Perigee: 269 km (167 mi). Inclination: 70.00 deg. Period: 92.20 min. Development of systems for air defence and the control of outer space..
1972 April 21
15:13 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150.1972 April 21
16:47 GMT - .- EVA Apollo 16-1 - . Crew: Duke, Young. EVA Duration: 0.30 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Duke, Young. Program: Apollo. Class: Moon. Type: Manned lunar lander. Flight: Apollo 16. Spacecraft: Apollo LM. Explored lunar surface near LM and deployed ALSEP unmanned scientific station equipment..
1975 April 21
08:11 GMT - . Launch Site: Thumba. LV Family: Belier. Launch Vehicle: Centaure 2B.1975 April 21
09:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Paiute Tomahawk.1975 April 21
09:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Paiute Tomahawk.1975 April 21
09:12 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Paiute Tomahawk.- AEOLUS Mass Spectrometer Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 222 km (137 mi).
1975 April 21
17:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Thumba. LV Family: Belier. Launch Vehicle: Centaure 2B.1976 April 21
10:00 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 200A.1976 April 21
18:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Viper. Launch Vehicle: Viper-Dart.1977 April 21
17:00 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 170.- Solar ultraviolet / solar extreme ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF GL. Apogee: 237 km (147 mi).
1978 April 21
LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.- Shuttle MPTA First test - . Nation: USA. For the first time three SSME engines are run on the MPTA test article mated to an external tank - for 2.5 seconds..
1978 April 21
LV Family: Peacekeeper, Trident.- Common missile could be used in place of both Trident II and the MX. - .
The Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering asked the Navy and Air Force to conduct a joint study to define a common missile which could be used in place of both Trident II and the MX. These were under separate development by the respective services. The study was also to formulate a management plan for development of the common missile and to estimate the potential savings from such a joint development.
1978 April 21
LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 3.- Mark 12A reentry system. - . SAMSO issued a request for technical proposals for production of carbon-carbon nosetips for the Mark 12A reentry system..
1978 April 21
LV Family: Shuttle, Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan 34D, Shuttle.- Cost growth in the Titan III 34D/IUS development program. - . SAMSO representatives briefed HQ AFSC officials on possible alternatives to deal with the cost growth problem in the Titan III 34D/IUS development program..
1978 April 21
- First static firing, MPTA-098 - . Nation: USA. Program: STS. First static firing, MPTA-098, NSTL (2.5 seconds; stub nozzles).
1978 April 21
05:29 GMT - . Launch Pad: Atlantic Ocean, 38.0 N x 75.0 W. Launch Platform: VISE. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Aeronomy/Plasma/Solar mission - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 170 km (100 mi).
1978 April 21
06:26 GMT - . Launch Pad: Atlantic Ocean, 38.0 N x 75.0 W. Launch Platform: VISE. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Aeronomy/Plasma/Solar mission - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 170 km (100 mi).
1978 April 21
07:52 GMT - . Launch Pad: Atlantic Ocean, 38.0 N x 75.0 W. Launch Platform: VISE. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Aeronomy/Plasma/Solar mission - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).
1978 April 21
17:40 GMT - . Launch Pad: Atlantic Ocean, 38.0 N x 75.0 W. Launch Platform: VISE. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Aeronomy/Plasma/Solar mission - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 170 km (100 mi).
1978 April 21
18:30 GMT - . Launch Pad: Atlantic Ocean, 38.0 N x 75.0 W. Launch Platform: VISE. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Aeronomy/Plasma/Solar mission - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 170 km (100 mi).
1979 April 21
10:10 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant 8C.1980 April 21
21:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 656. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Poseidon C3.1980 April 21
21:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 656. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Poseidon C3.1980 April 21
21:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 656. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Poseidon C3.1980 April 21
21:48 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 656. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Poseidon C3.1981 April 21
03:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC90/19. Launch Pad: LC90/pad?. LV Family: R-36. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon-2.- Cosmos 1266 - . Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: RORSAT. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval Radarsat. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: US-A. Decay Date: 1981-05-20 . USAF Sat Cat: 12429 . COSPAR: 1981-037B. Apogee: 941 km (584 mi). Perigee: 911 km (566 mi). Inclination: 64.80 deg. Period: 103.60 min. Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered..
1982 April 21
01:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar LC107/1. LV Family: R-14. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M.- Cosmos 1351 - . Mass: 550 kg (1,210 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Radar calibration target. Spacecraft Bus: AUOS. Spacecraft: Taifun-2. Decay Date: 1983-03-14 . USAF Sat Cat: 13142 . COSPAR: 1982-034A. Apogee: 548 km (340 mi). Perigee: 348 km (216 mi). Inclination: 50.70 deg. Period: 93.60 min. Released 25 Romb radar calibration subsatellites..
1982 April 21
09:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. Launch Pad: LC1 or LC31. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U.- Cosmos 1352 - . 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: 1982-05-05 . USAF Sat Cat: 13144 . COSPAR: 1982-035A. Apogee: 364 km (226 mi). Perigee: 204 km (126 mi). Inclination: 70.40 deg. Period: 90.10 min. Photo surveillance; returned film capsule..
1987 April 21
15:14 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U2.- Progress 29 - .
Payload: Progress s/n 127. Mass: 7,100 kg (15,600 lb). Nation: Russia.
Agency: MOM.
Program: Mir.
Class: Manned.
Type: Manned logistics spacecraft. Flight: Soyuz TM-2,
Soyuz TM-2 Mir LD-1.
Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz.
Spacecraft: Progress.
Duration: 19.72 days. Completed Operations Date: 1987-05-11 08:27:43 . Decay Date: 1987-05-11 08:27:43 . USAF Sat Cat: 17878 . COSPAR: 1987-034A. Apogee: 237 km (147 mi). Perigee: 189 km (117 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 88.80 min.
Unmanned supply vessel to Mir. Deorbited May 11, 1987. Docked with Mir at 343 X 363 1705 23 April at rear port of Kvant. Undocked May 11 03:10. Deorbited28 May 02:59 .
Officially: Transporting sundry cargoes to the Mir orbital station. Docked with Salyut 7 on 23 Apr 1987 17:04:51 GMT. Undocked on 11 May 1987 03:10:01 GMT. Destroyed in reentry on 11 May 1987 08:28:00 GMT. Total free-flight time 2.30 days. Total docked time 17.42 days.
1990 April 21
10:15 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC36. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.- JHU FOT 9 (C / Austin) Ultraviolet astronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).
1993 April 21
00:23 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.- Molniya 3-44 - . Payload: Molniya-3 s/n 57. 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-3. Decay Date: 2004-01-25 . USAF Sat Cat: 22633 . COSPAR: 1993-025A. Apogee: 39,603 km (24,608 mi). Perigee: 744 km (462 mi). Inclination: 62.90 deg. Period: 717.70 min. Operation of the long-range telephone and telegraph radio communications system, transmission of television programmes to stations in the Orbita network and international cooperation. Replaced Molniya 3-41..
1995 April 21
01:44 GMT - . Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: Kourou ELA2. LV Family: Ariane. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 40.- ERS 2 - . Mass: 2,516 kg (5,546 lb). Nation: Europe. Agency: ESA. Class: Earth. Type: Civilian Radarsat. Spacecraft: ERS 1-2. USAF Sat Cat: 23560 . COSPAR: 1995-021A. Apogee: 785 km (487 mi). Perigee: 784 km (487 mi). Inclination: 98.60 deg. Period: 100.50 min. European Remote Sensing; carried SAR; ocean, land, ice, and atmospheric observations..
1995 April 21
15:04 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: THAAD.1996 April 21
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 738. LV Family: Trident. Launch Vehicle: Trident D-5.1996 April 21
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 738. LV Family: Trident. Launch Vehicle: Trident D-5.1997 April 21
11:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Gando. Launch Complex: Gran Canaria DZ. Launch Pad: 27.0 N x 15.3 W. Launch Platform: L-1011. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL.- Minisat-01 - . Mass: 209 kg (460 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: INTA. Manufacturer: CASA. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Minisat. Decay Date: 2002-02-26 . USAF Sat Cat: 24779 . COSPAR: 1997-018A. Apogee: 580 km (360 mi). Perigee: 561 km (348 mi). Inclination: 151.00 deg. Period: 96.00 min. Minisat-01 carried the EURD extreme ultraviolet spectrograph to study interstellar gas, the LEGRI gamma ray burst detector, and the CPLM microacceleration in liquids experiment. Air dropped in Gran Canaria DZ..
- Celestis - . Payload: CPAC. Nation: USA. Agency: OSC. Manufacturer: Germantown. Program: Celestis. Class: Burial . Type: Burial satellite. Spacecraft: CPAC. Decay Date: 2002-05-21 . USAF Sat Cat: 24780 . COSPAR: 1997-018B. Apogee: 581 km (361 mi). Perigee: 553 km (343 mi). Inclination: 151.00 deg. Period: 96.00 min. Air dropped in Gran Canaria DZ..
1998 April 21
- Chinese Manned Spacecraft Launch Set for 1999 - .
Nation: China.
Spacecraft: Shenzhou.
Preparations for the first test launch of China's first manned spacecraft were underway at the launch site, a Shanghai newspaper reported. It said the first flight would be launched in late 1999. The space cabin, telemetry system and power system had been developed in Shanghai.
1998 April 21
- China Completed New Wind Tunnels For Space Development - .
Nation: China.
Two special wind tunnels in southwest China's Sichuan Province were nearing completion. The new tunnels would be used for testing China's future space shuttle, launch vehicles, and strategic missiles. A high-frequency plasma wind tunnel and a supersonic flow wind tunnel were being built by China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center and would be the most advanced in Asia.
1998 April 21
- STS-90 - Wakeup Song: Bad To the Bone - . Flight: STS-90. "Bad To the Bone" by George Thorogood and the Destroyers CAPCOM: Chris Hadfield.
1999 April 21
04:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC109. Launch Pad: LC109/95. LV Family: R-36M. Launch Vehicle: Dnepr.- UoSAT-12 - .
Mass: 325 kg (716 lb). Nation: UK.
Agency: Surrey.
Manufacturer: Surrey.
Class: Technology.
Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: MiniSat-400.
USAF Sat Cat: 25693 . COSPAR: 1999-021A. Apogee: 654 km (406 mi). Perigee: 639 km (397 mi). Inclination: 64.60 deg. Period: 97.70 min.
First launch of Russia's Dnepr launch vehicle, a converted R-36M2 ICBM. The Dnepr was launched from a silo. The third stage maneuvring bus (used on the ICBM for dispensing multiple warheads) placed UoSAT-12 into a 638 km x 652 km x 64.6 deg orbit. The third stage separated from the payload at 05:13 GMT and then made a burn into a 599 km x 1403 km x 64.6 deg orbit. UoSAT-12 was the first test of the Minibus platform, at 325 kg a larger spacecraft than earlier 50 kg Surrey UoSATs. It carried a mobile radio experiment (MERLION), a GPS receiver, and imaging cameras.
2001 April 21
- STS-100 Mission Status Report #04 - .
Nation: USA.
Related Persons: Ashby,
Guidoni,
Hadfield,
Helms,
Lonchakov,
Parazynski,
Phillips,
Rominger,
Voss.
Program: ISS.
Flight: STS-100,
STS-102 ISS EO-2.
Space Shuttle Endeavour and its seven crewmembers began rendezvous preparations shortly after 3 a.m. today, which should culminate in an 8:32 a.m. docking to the International Space Station, which will be northeast of Hong Kong at an altitude of 240 miles. The shuttle is bringing an advanced robotic arm, experiments and supplies to the ever-growing science outpost. Additional Details: here....
2001 April 21
- STS-100 - Wakeup Song: Danger Zone - . Flight: STS-100. "Danger Zone" - Kenny Loggins from the soundtrack to Top Gun..
2006 April 21
- International Space Station Status Report: SS06-018 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Reiter, Vinogradov, Williams, Jeffrey. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-8, STS-121, STS-121 Astrolab. The Expedition 13 crew this week focused on experiments, maintenance and preparations for the arrival of two and a half tons of food, supplies and equipment.. Additional Details: here....
2007 April 21
12:31 GMT - .- Landing of Soyuz TMA-9 - . Return Crew: Lopez-Alegria, Simonyi, Tyurin. Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Lopez-Alegria, Simonyi, Tyurin. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-10 ISS EP-12, Soyuz TMA-9.
2008 April 21
- ISS EO-16: Expedition 16 Crew Lands in Kazakhstan - . Commander Peggy Whitson and cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko of the 16th International Space Station crew landed on the steppes of Kazakhstan around 4:30 a.m. EDT Saturday after 192 days in space.. Additional Details: here....
2013 April 21
08:00 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.- SLICE - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 318 km (197 mi). Far Ultraviolet Astronomy mission.
2013 April 21
21:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LP0A. LV Family: Antares LV. Launch Vehicle: Antares 110.- Cygnus Mass Simulator - .
Mass: 4,000 kg (8,800 lb). Nation: USA.
Agency: NASA.
Manufacturer: OSC.
Program: ISS.
Class: Manned.
Type: Manned logistics spacecraft. Spacecraft: Cygnus.
Decay Date: 2013-04-27 . USAF Sat Cat: 39142 . COSPAR: 2013-016A. Apogee: 161 km (100 mi). Perigee: 153 km (95 mi). Inclination: 51.61 deg. Period: 87.63 min.
First launch of the Antares launch vehicle, combining surplus rocket engines from the Soviet N1 moon rocket program with US-built components. The mass simulator carried instrumentation to measure the launch vehicle environment in preparation for future launches of the Cygnus spacecraft designed to carry cargo to the International Space Station. It also released four cubesats into independent orbits.
- Dove-1 - . Mass: 3.00 kg (6.60 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Technology. Type: Technology satellite. Spacecraft: Cubesat. Decay Date: 2013-04-27 . USAF Sat Cat: 39143 . COSPAR: 2013-016B. Apogee: 169 km (105 mi). Perigee: 160 km (90 mi). Inclination: 51.62 deg. Period: 87.78 min. 3U cubesat, a demonstration satellite for Cosmogia, designed to return on-board system health data and validate the design for future Dove satellites, which will carry remote sensing payloads..
- Alexander - . Mass: 1.00 kg (2.20 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Technology. Type: Technology satellite. Spacecraft: Cubesat. Decay Date: 2013-04-27 . USAF Sat Cat: 39144 . COSPAR: 2013-016C. Apogee: 152 km (94 mi). Perigee: 134 km (83 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 87.35 min. 1U cubesat from NASA's Ames Research Center, designed to demonstrate use of a commercial Nexus S mobile phone as a spacecraft avionics/computer system, together with an S-band radio, solar panels, GPS receiver, magnetorquers and reaction wheels..
- Bell - . Mass: 1.00 kg (2.20 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Technology. Type: Technology satellite. Spacecraft: Cubesat. Decay Date: 2013-05-10 . USAF Sat Cat: 39145 . COSPAR: 2013-016D. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). Perigee: 144 km (89 mi). Inclination: 51.61 deg. Period: 87.42 min. 1U cubesat from NASA's Ames Research Center, designed to demonstrate use of a commercial Nexus One Android-based mobile phone as a spacecraft avionics/computer system..
- Graham - . Mass: 1.00 kg (2.20 lb). Nation: USA. Class: Technology. Type: Technology satellite. Spacecraft: Cubesat. Decay Date: 2013-04-26 . USAF Sat Cat: 39146 . COSPAR: 2013-016E. Apogee: 175 km (108 mi). Perigee: 161 km (100 mi). Inclination: 51.62 deg. Period: 87.85 min. 1U cubesat from NASA's Ames Research Center, designed to demonstrate use of a commercial Nexus One Android-based mobile phone as a spacecraft avionics/computer system..