On December 12 in Space History
Chronology
109 events
1914 December 12
- Birth of Herbert Hans Guendel - . Nation: Germany, USA. Related Persons: Guendel. German-American engineer in WW2, member of the Rocket Team in the United States thereafter. German expert in guided missiles during WW2. As of January 1947, working at Fort Bliss, Texas. Died at Boston, New York..
1918 December 12
- Birth of Oleg Georgyevich Gazenko - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Gazenko. Russian physician. Director of IMBP 1969-1988. Performed early work on space medicine..
1942 December 12
Launch Site: Peenemuende. Launch Complex: Peenemuende P7. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: V-2. FAILURE: Steam generator explosion at T+4 seconds. Range 0.1 km.1946 December 12
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC33. LV Family: WAC. Launch Vehicle: WAC B.1946 December 12
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC33. LV Family: WAC. Launch Vehicle: WAC B.1948 December 12
- Birth of Abdul Moshin Hamad Al-Bassam - . Nation: Saudi Arabia. Related Persons: Al-Bassam. Saudi Air Force pilot, alternate payload specialist to Al-Saud for STS-51G in April 1985. Graduated from King Faisal Air Academy, Riyadh. RSAF attache at the Saudi embassy in London..
1950 December 12
- Birth of Yuri Alekseyevich Loktionov - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Loktionov. Russian scientist cosmonaut, 2000-on..
1950 December 12
07:04 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC33. Launch Pad: ALA1. Launch Vehicle: Viking sounding rocket. FAILURE: Failure.- Viking 6 Ionosphere-solar mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 64 km (39 mi). Upper-air pressure, density and composition; solar radiation; ionosphere research. Fin tore loose. Launched at 0004 local time. Reached 64.8 km..
1950 December 12
18:26 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-A-1.- UM T / p Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 106 km (65 mi). Pressure, temperature research. Launched at 1126 local time. Reached 108.2 km..
1951 December 12
- Birth of Dr Steven Alan Hawley - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Hawley. American astronomer mission specialist astronaut 1978-2008. Was married to astronaut Sally Ride. 5 spaceflights, 32.1 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-41D (1984), STS-61C, STS-31, STS-82, STS-93..
1952 December 12
19:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. Launch Complex: Holloman A. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee RTV-A-1.- Colorado / UVS? Solar ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 88 km (54 mi). Solar radiation research. Launched at 1238 local time. Reached 88.5 km..
1953 December 12
- X-1A Flight 10 - . Crew: Yeager. Payload: X-1A flight 10. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Yeager. Class: Manned. Type: Manned rocketplane. Spacecraft Bus: XS-1. Spacecraft: X-1A. AF flight 4. Plane attained mach 2.44, but met violent instability above mach 2.3. Tumbled 15250 m, wound up in subsonic inverted spin. Yeager recovered to upright spin, then normal flight at 7625 m..
1955 December 12
- X-1E Flight 2 - . Crew: Walker, Joseph. Payload: X-1E flight 2. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Walker, Joseph. Class: Manned. Type: Manned rocketplane. Spacecraft Bus: XS-1. Spacecraft: X-1E. NACA flight 1. Glide flight for pilot check-out and low speed evaluation..
1957 December 12
04:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee.1958 December 12
- Mercury technical proposal assessment - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Mercury. Space Task Group personnel began technical assessment of manned spacecraft development proposals submitted by industry. Charles Zimmermann headed the technical assessment team..
1959 December 12
- Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space - .
Nation: International.
The General Assembly of the United Nations unanimously approved Resolution 1472 (XIV), establishing the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to replace the Ad Hoc Committee. There were no meetings of the Committee until November 27, 1961, because of failure to agree on the composition of the Committee.
1959 December 12
- Birth of Scott Duane Vangen - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Vangen. American engineer payload specialist astronaut, 1993-1995..
1959 December 12
17:11 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC16. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan I. FAILURE: Exploded just above pad. Failed Stage: 1.- RVX-3 Re-entry Vehicle test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi). The first flight testing of Titan staging and second stage engine ignition was unsuccessful when Titan C-3 exploded at liftoff due to a faulty relay in the command destruct system. First Titan ICBM launching testing second stage was unsuccessful at AMR..
1960 December 12
22:36 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Honest John. Launch Vehicle: Javelin.1961 December 12
20:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC11. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas F. FAILURE: Failure. Failed Stage: 1.1961 December 12
20:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC1W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Agena B.- Discoverer 36 - . Payload: KH-3 s/n 9029 / Agena B 1119. Mass: 1,150 kg (2,530 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-3. Decay Date: 1962-03-08 . USAF Sat Cat: 213 . COSPAR: 1961-A-Kappa-1. Apogee: 173 km (107 mi). Perigee: 131 km (81 mi). Inclination: 89.50 deg. Period: 87.50 min. KH-3; film capsule recovered 4.1 days later. Best mission to date..
- Oscar 1 - .
Mass: 5.00 kg (11.00 lb). Nation: USA.
Agency: USAF.
Program: Oscar.
Class: Communications.
Type: Amateur radio communications satellite. Spacecraft: Oscar.
Decay Date: 1962-01-31 . USAF Sat Cat: 214 . COSPAR: 1961-A-Kappa-2. Apogee: 474 km (294 mi). Perigee: 245 km (152 mi). Inclination: 81.20 deg. Period: 91.80 min.
The first Oscar Phase I amateur satellite was launched piggyback with Discover 36. A group of enthusiasts in California formed Project OSCAR and persuaded the United States Air Force to replace ballast on the Agena upper stage with the 4.5 kg OSCAR I package. The satellite was box shaped with a single monopole antenna and battery powered. The 140 mW transmitter onboard discharged its batteries after three weeks. 570 Amateurs in 28 countries reported receiving its simple 'HI-HI' morse code signals on the VHF 2 meter band (144.983 MHz) until January 1, 1962. The speed of the HI-HI message was controlled by a temperature sensor inside the spacecraft. OSCAR I re-entered the atmosphere January 31, 1962 after 312 revolutions. Additional Details: here....
1962 December 12
- Apollo spacecraft systems modifications to achieve a 100-day Earth- orbital capability. - .
Nation: USA.
Related Persons: Maynard.
Spacecraft Bus: Apollo CSM.
Spacecraft: Apollo X.
Owen E. Maynard, Head of MSC's Spacecraft Integration Branch, reported on his preliminary investigation of the feasibility of modifying Apollo spacecraft systems to achieve a 100-day Earth- orbital capability. His investigation examined four basic areas: (1) mission, propulsion, and flight time; (2) rendezvous, reentry, and landing; (3) human factors; and (4) spacecraft command and communications. Although modifications to some systems might be extensive- and would involve a considerable weight increase for the vehicle-such a mission using Apollo hardware was indeed feasible.
1962 December 12
Launch Site: Ile du Levant. Launch Pad: CERES. LV Family: Belier. Launch Vehicle: Centaure.1962 December 12
Launch Site: Ile du Levant. Launch Pad: CERES. LV Family: Belier. Launch Vehicle: Centaure.1962 December 12
Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC41/4. LV Family: R-16. Launch Vehicle: R-16U.1962 December 12
11:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg 576A3. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas D.- NTMP K-6 Target mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). K-6 Nike-Zeus intercept of Atlas ICBM..
1962 December 12
12:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.- K-6 Atlas Intercept - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). K-6 Nike-Zeus intercept of Atlas ICBM..
1962 December 12
23:46 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. LV Family: Honest John. Launch Vehicle: HJ Nike Nike.1963 December 12
Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC41/3. LV Family: R-16. Launch Vehicle: R-16U.1963 December 12
01:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: EAG-154. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A3. FAILURE: Failure.1963 December 12
08:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Kagoshima. LV Family: Kappa. Launch Vehicle: Kappa 8L.1963 December 12
16:50 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150.- Extreme ultraviolet Mon / XR / RPA Solar extreme ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 325 km (201 mi).
1963 December 12
19:06 GMT - . Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: Woomera LA2. LV Family: Lupus. Launch Vehicle: HAD.1963 December 12
20:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC15. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan II.- Research and development / Pod T test / plume study mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi).
1964 December 12
LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas SLV-3 Agena D.- Deletion of the eighth Agena from the Gemini Agena target vehicle program. - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Gemini Agena Target Vehicle. Gemini Program Office (GPO) reported that it had initiated contractual action to delete the eighth Agena from the Gemini Agena target vehicle program. On March 6, 1965, GPO reported its decision to eliminate the seventh Agena as well..
1964 December 12
- Birth of Kenneth Todd Ham - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Ham. American test pilot astronaut 1998-2012. 2 spaceflights, 25.5 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-124 (2008), STS-132..
1964 December 12
LV Family: Saturn I.- First 156-inch solid rocket motor fired - .
Thiokol Chemical Corporation's Wasatch Division fired its first 156-inch, one-segment, solid rocket motor (156-1-T) with gimballed nozzle thrust vector control. The motor produced approximately 1.3 million pounds of thrust for two minutes. This was the third test firing of a 156-inch solid rocket motor in Space Systems Division's Large Solid Rocket Motor Program (Program 623A).
1965 December 12
LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan II.- Gemini 6 launch aborted. - .
Nation: USA.
Flight: Gemini 6,
Gemini 7.
Spacecraft: Gemini.
The Titan 2 engines shut down a moment after ignition. The fault that caused the Titan to shut down saved the astronaut's lives; the quick thinking of the astronauts in not pulling the abort handles saved the mission. The scheduled launch of Gemini VI-A was aborted when the Master Operations Control Set automatically shut down the Gemini launch vehicle a second after engine ignition because an electrical umbilical connector separated prematurely. The launch was canceled at 9:54 a.m., e.s.t. Emergency procedures delayed raising the erector until 11:28, so the crew was not removed until 11:33 a.m. Launch was rescheduled for December 15. Routine analysis of the engine data, begun immediately after shutdown, revealed decaying thrust in one first stage engine subassembly before shutdown had been commanded. The problem was diagnosed as a restriction in the gas generator circuit of the subassembly, which would have caused shutdown about 1 second later than it actually occurred as a result of the umbilical disconnect. Source of the restriction proved to be a protective dust cap inadvertently left in place in the gas generator oxidizer injector inlet port. The anomalies were corrected and recycling, based on long-prepared contingency plans, proceeded without incident through launch on December 15.
1965 December 12
04:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.1966 December 12
17:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.1966 December 12
19:19 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant III.1966 December 12
20:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar LC86/1. LV Family: R-12. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K63.- Cosmos 135 - . Payload: DS-U2-MP s/n 1. Mass: 355 kg (782 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: DS. Class: Earth. Type: Micrometeoroid satellite. Spacecraft Bus: DS. Spacecraft: DS-U2-MP. Completed Operations Date: 1967-04-12 . Decay Date: 1967-04-12 . USAF Sat Cat: 2612 . COSPAR: 1966-112A. Apogee: 648 km (402 mi). Perigee: 253 km (157 mi). Inclination: 48.40 deg. Period: 93.60 min. Studied cosmic dust particles in near-Earth space..
1967 December 12
Launch Site: Malmstrom AFB. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2, Minuteman 1A.- Malmstrom AFB - . The first flight of the first Wing I squadron to complete Force Modernization to the LGM-30F, the 12th Strategic Missile Squadron, was. returned to SAC's 341st Strategic Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB..
1967 December 12
Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC41/4. LV Family: R-16. Launch Vehicle: R-16U. FAILURE: Failure.1967 December 12
21:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Cajun.1968 December 12
Launch Vehicle: Spiral 50-50.- Kamanin catalogues the reasons the Soviet Union is losing the moon race - .
Nation: Russia.
Related Persons: Biryuzov,
Ustinov.
Program: Lunar L1,
Lunar L3.
Spacecraft: LK,
Soyuz 7K-L1,
Soyuz 7K-LOK.
- Fighting between the VVS and its 'enemies' (Ustinov etc.)
- No single state organisation is responsible for civilian spaceflight.
- Various entities are responsible for various aspects of military spaceflight (RSVN, VMF, General Staff, VVS). Kamanin notes that the state has poured 10 billion roubles into the N1 without visible effect. He believes reusable systems are needed to reduce the cost of spaceflight. The death of General Biryuzov in a plane crash meant that the Soviet Union lost a strong supporter of a robust military space program.
- Kamanin believes the VVS should be in charge of piloted spacecraft, not the RVSN.
- Furthermore the entire design approach to manned spacecraft is incorrect -- what is needed is piloted spacecraft, not cosmonauts flying as passengers in automated spacecraft. The result of the automated philosophy was that the Soyuz was not man-rated until 1968. While the qualification process was going on, the American Gemini flew ten times. The Apollo-Saturn V has flown twice, while the L3 was still just a mock-up. In effect, the Soviet Union gave the Americans a two to three year lead, allowing them to beat the Russians.
1968 December 12
02:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Nike Iroquois.1968 December 12
18:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: Woomera LA2. Launch Vehicle: Aero High.1968 December 12
22:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thorad SLV-2G Agena D.- KH-4A 1049 - . Payload: KH-4A s/n 1049 / Agena D 1648 / OPS 4740. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: CIA, NRO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4A. Decay Date: 1968-12-28 . USAF Sat Cat: 3604 . COSPAR: 1968-112A. Apogee: 248 km (154 mi). Perigee: 169 km (105 mi). Inclination: 81.00 deg. Period: 88.70 min. KH-4A. Degraded film.
- OPS 7684 - . Payload: EHH C1 / OPS 7684. Mass: 60 kg (132 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft Bus: P 11. Spacecraft: SSF. USAF Sat Cat: 3605 . COSPAR: 1968-112B. Apogee: 1,466 km (910 mi). Perigee: 1,378 km (856 mi). Inclination: 80.40 deg. Period: 114.30 min. ABM monitoring..
- SRV 751 - . Payload: SRV 1049-1. Nation: USA. Agency: NRO, USAF. Spacecraft Bus: WS-117. Spacecraft: KH-4A. COSPAR: 1968-112xx. Apogee: 248 km (154 mi). Perigee: 169 km (105 mi). Inclination: 81.00 deg. Period: 88.70 min.
1969 December 12
- HL-10 Flight 31 - . Crew: Dana. Payload: HL-10 flight 31. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Dana. Program: NASA Lifting Body. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft: HL-10. Maximum Speed - 1401 kph. Maximum Altitude - 24370 m. Flight Time - 428 sec..
1969 December 12
Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC142/34. LV Family: R-36. Launch Vehicle: R-36 8K67.1969 December 12
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg 576A3. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas F/Trident.- RMP-B-14 re-entry vehicle test flight - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,400 km (800 mi).
1969 December 12
02:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. Launch Vehicle: Nike Iroquois.1970 December 12
Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC142/34. LV Family: R-36. Launch Vehicle: R-36 8K67.1970 December 12
10:53 GMT - . Launch Site: San Marco. LV Family: Scout. Launch Vehicle: Scout B.- Explorer 42 - . Payload: SAS A. Mass: 143 kg (315 lb). Nation: Italy. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Program: Explorer. Class: Astronomy. Type: Solar satellite. Spacecraft: SAS. Decay Date: 1979-04-05 . USAF Sat Cat: 4797 . COSPAR: 1970-107A. Apogee: 570 km (350 mi). Perigee: 521 km (323 mi). Inclination: 3.00 deg. Period: 95.50 min. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). .
1970 December 12
13:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC132/2. LV Family: R-14. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M.- Cosmos 385 - . Mass: 680 kg (1,490 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft Bus: KAUR-1. Spacecraft: Tsiklon satellite. USAF Sat Cat: 4799 . COSPAR: 1970-108A. Apogee: 980 km (600 mi). Perigee: 973 km (604 mi). Inclination: 74.00 deg. Period: 104.60 min. Military navigation satellite..
1970 December 12
13:04 GMT - . Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: Kourou Diamant. LV Family: Diamant. Launch Vehicle: Diamant B.- Peole - . Mass: 70 kg (154 lb). Nation: France. Agency: CNES. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Peole. Decay Date: 1980-06-16 . USAF Sat Cat: 4801 . COSPAR: 1970-109A. Apogee: 750 km (460 mi). Perigee: 634 km (393 mi). Inclination: 15.00 deg. Period: 98.60 min. Gathered data from meteorological balloon system. .
1972 December 12
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF26. Launch Pad: LF26?. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 3.1972 December 12
Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF25. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 3.1972 December 12
06:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.- Molniya 2-04 - . Payload: Molniya-2. 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-2. Decay Date: 1975-01-22 . USAF Sat Cat: 6308 . COSPAR: 1972-098A. Apogee: 39,284 km (24,409 mi). Perigee: 507 km (315 mi). Inclination: 65.30 deg. Period: 706.40 min. Continued operation of the long-range telephone and telegraph radio-communication system; transmission of USSR central television programmes to stations in the Orbita network and international cooperation. .
1972 December 12
23:54 GMT - .- EVA Apollo 17-1 - . Crew: Cernan, Schmitt. EVA Duration: 0.30 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cernan, Schmitt. Program: Apollo. Class: Moon. Type: Manned lunar lander. Flight: Apollo 17. Spacecraft: Apollo LM. Explored lunar surface near LM and deployed ALSEP unmanned scientific station equipment..
1973 December 12
- Kamanin makes his first diary entry in two years. - .
Nation: Russia.
Related Persons: Brezhnev,
Khrushchev,
Ustinov.
Program: Salyut.
Since Soyuz 11 and his subsequent 'retirement', the Soviet Union has launched two space stations that failed in orbit, and made only one two-day Soyuz flight. Meanwhile the Americans had run successfully their entire Skylab program. The fourth N1 exploded on 23 November 1972. Ustinov has thrown away tens of billions of roubles on that useless project. Soyuz 13 landed yesterday - the first Soviet manned spaceflight not under Kamanin's command. Khrushchev made many mistakes, but Brezhnev continues to make even more. Kamanin feels his country is however not fit for democracy, that it needs discipline - otherwise there will be anarchy.
1973 December 12
- X-24 Flight 35 - . Crew: Manke. Payload: X-24B flight 7. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Manke. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: X-24. Spacecraft: X-24B. Maximum Speed - 1038 kph. Maximum Altitude - 19080 m. Flight Time - 434 sec..
1973 December 12
Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Athena RTV. Launch Vehicle: Athena RTV.1973 December 12
Launch Site: Kourou. LV Family: Arcas. Launch Vehicle: Super Arcas.1974 December 12
Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Temp-2S.1974 December 12
Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Temp-2S.1975 December 12
05:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg PLC-C. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Ute Tomahawk.1975 December 12
12:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC90/19. Launch Pad: LC90/pad?. LV Family: R-36. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon-2.- Cosmos 785 - . 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: 1976-02-05 . USAF Sat Cat: 8480 . COSPAR: 1975-116C. Apogee: 1,004 km (623 mi). Perigee: 907 km (563 mi). Inclination: 65.10 deg. Period: 104.20 min. Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered; failed immediately after reaching orbit..
1976 December 12
Launch Vehicle: Buran.- Buran draft project completed. - . Nation: Russia. Program: Buran. Spacecraft: Buran. The MKS draft project was completed on 12 December 1976.The military assigned the system the index number 1K11K25 and the launch vehicle the article number 11K25..
1977 December 12
- Start modification of Enterprise for ground vibe tests - . Nation: USA. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Enterprise. Start removal for mated vertical ground vibration test modification at Edwards, Enterprise (OV-101).
1977 December 12
Launch Site: El Arenosillo. LV Family: Belier. Launch Vehicle: Centaure 1.1977 December 12
09:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. Launch Pad: LC1 or LC31. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U.- Cosmos 966 - . Mass: 6,000 kg (13,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Vostok. Spacecraft: Zenit-2M satellite. Duration: 12.00 days. Decay Date: 1977-12-24 . USAF Sat Cat: 10510 . COSPAR: 1977-115A. Apogee: 296 km (183 mi). Perigee: 204 km (126 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 89.50 min. Area survey photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; separated science capsule..
- Nauka Cosmos 966 - . Payload: Nauka. Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Spacecraft: Nauka. Decay Date: 1978-01-07 . USAF Sat Cat: 10538 . COSPAR: 1977-115D. Apogee: 276 km (171 mi). Perigee: 198 km (123 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 89.24 min.
1978 December 12
LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas F.- SAMSO released a draft RFP for a more powerful stage vehicle to be used on the Atlas F in launching GPS satellites. - . Spacecraft: Navstar. SAMSO released a draft RFP for a more powerful stage vehicle to be used on the Atlas F in launching GPS satellites..
1978 December 12
15:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Loki. Launch Vehicle: Loki Dart.1979 December 12
01:05 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150.1979 December 12
12:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U.- Cosmos 1147 - . 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: 1979-12-26 . USAF Sat Cat: 11638 . COSPAR: 1979-102A. Apogee: 377 km (234 mi). Perigee: 192 km (119 mi). Inclination: 72.90 deg. Period: 90.20 min. Photo surveillance; returned film capsule..
1980 December 12
01:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Energy Budget Aeronomy / ionosphere mission - . Nation: Russia. Agency: GMS. Apogee: 166 km (103 mi).
1980 December 12
01:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Energy Budget Aeronomy / ionosphere mission - . Nation: Russia. Agency: GMS. Apogee: 166 km (103 mi).
1980 December 12
07:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Kheysa. Launch Vehicle: MR-12.- Energy Budget Aeronomy / ionosphere mission - . Nation: Russia. Agency: GMS. Apogee: 166 km (103 mi).
1980 December 12
17:19 GMT - . Launch Site: Siple. Launch Complex: Siple RAG. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.1980 December 12
23:11 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. Launch Complex: Eglin A-15. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Tomahawk.- PLACES JAN Plasma / ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: DNA, Sandia. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).
1980 December 12
23:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Eglin. Launch Complex: Eglin A-15. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Tomahawk.- PLACES PPPE Plasma / ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: DNA, Sandia. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).
1981 December 12
Launch Site: Tawiwa. Launch Vehicle: OTRAG.1983 December 12
20:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Andoya. LV Family: Viper. Launch Vehicle: Viper 3A.1984 December 12
10:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas E.- NOAA 9 - . Payload: NOAA F. Mass: 1,712 kg (3,774 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NOAA. Program: Tiros. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft: Advanced Tiros N. USAF Sat Cat: 15427 . COSPAR: 1984-123A. Apogee: 855 km (531 mi). Perigee: 833 km (517 mi). Inclination: 99.10 deg. Period: 101.80 min. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). .
1985 December 12
15:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC32. Launch Pad: LC32/1. LV Family: R-36. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon-3.- Cosmos 1707 - . Payload: Tselina-D no. 52. Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Tselina. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Tselina-D. USAF Sat Cat: 16326 . COSPAR: 1985-113A. Apogee: 623 km (387 mi). Perigee: 596 km (370 mi). Inclination: 82.50 deg. Period: 96.90 min. Replaced Cosmos 1515..
1986 December 12
18:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC43/4. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M.- Cosmos 1806 - . Payload: Oko #52. Mass: 1,800 kg (3,900 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Early warning satellite. Spacecraft: Oko. USAF Sat Cat: 17213 . COSPAR: 1986-098A. Apogee: 32,850 km (20,410 mi). Perigee: 7,495 km (4,657 mi). Inclination: 67.90 deg. Period: 717.60 min. Replaced Cosmos 1729. Covered Oko constellation plane 5 - 73 degree longitude of ascending node..
1986 December 12
21:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiruna. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Taurus Orion.1987 December 12
05:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC90/19. Launch Pad: LC90/pad?. LV Family: R-36. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon-2.- Cosmos 1900 - . Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: RORSAT. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval Radarsat. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: US-A. USAF Sat Cat: 18665 . COSPAR: 1987-101A. Apogee: 735 km (456 mi). Perigee: 696 km (432 mi). Inclination: 66.10 deg. Period: 99.10 min. Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered..
- Cosmos 1900 - . Mass: 4,300 kg (9,400 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: UNKS. Program: RORSAT. Class: Surveillance. Type: Naval Radarsat. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: US-A. COSPAR: 1987-101xx. Ocean surveillance; nuclear powered..
1993 December 12
- STS-61 - Wakeup Song: I Can See For Miles - . Flight: STS-61. "I Can See For Miles" by The Who.
1994 December 12
- Death of Stuart Allen 'Stu' Roosa - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Roosa. American test pilot astronaut 1966-1976. 1 spaceflight, 9.0 days in space. Flew to orbit on Apollo 14 (1971). Died of viral pneumonia, a complication of pancreatitis.
1998 December 12
- STS-88 Mission Status Report # 20 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Barry, Jernigan, Newman, Ross. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-88. Endeavour's astronauts awoke at 10:36 a.m. CST today, to the sounds of Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog," and began preparing for the third and final scheduled space walk of the mission.. Additional Details: here....
1998 December 12
- STS-88 - Wakeup Song: Hound Dog - . Flight: STS-88. "Hound Dog" - Elvis Presley CAPCOM: Bob Curbeam.
1999 December 12
17:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC4W. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan II SLV.- USA 147 - . Payload: DMSP 5D-3 F-15. Mass: 1,154 kg (2,544 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: RCA. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: TIROS N. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D-3. USAF Sat Cat: 25991 . COSPAR: 1999-067A. Apogee: 846 km (525 mi). Perigee: 830 km (510 mi). Inclination: 98.50 deg. Period: 101.70 min. First launch of the Block 5D-3 military weather satellite. Satellite F-15 was placed in an initial suborbital trajectory. The Star 37S kick motor on the satellite fired 13 minutes after launch for orbit insertion..
2000 December 12
20:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC20. Launch Vehicle: Super Loki.2001 December 12
- STS-108 - Wakeup Song: Fly Me to the Moon - . Flight: STS-108. "Fly Me to the Moon" , sung by Oliver"Ollie" O'Regin for Dan Tani..
2001 December 12
05:11 GMT - . Launch Site: Balasore. LV Family: S-75. Launch Vehicle: Prithvi.2003 December 12
- International Space Station Status Report #03-63 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Foale, Kaleri, Walz. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-3. Aboard the International Space Station this week the Expedition 8 crew served as scientists, engineers, mechanics and investigators as it approaches two months of life in space aboard the orbiting outpost.. Additional Details: here....
2006 December 12
- STS-116 MCC Status Report 06 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Curbeam, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Lopez-Alegria, Oefelein, Patrick, Polansky, Reiter, Tyurin, Williams. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-9, STS-116, STS-117 ISS EO-15, STS-121 Astrolab. The first spacewalk by Discovery's crew members, an excursion that will install a new, two-ton segment on the port side of the International Space Station's girder-like truss, will highlight today's work on mission STS-116.. Additional Details: here....
2006 December 12
- STS-116 - Wakeup Song: Waterloo - . Flight: STS-116. "Waterloo" ” performed by ABBA for Christer Fuglesang who is from Sweden. “Nice music this morning,” Fuglesang said from the Quest airlock, where he spent the night preparing for the spacewalk with Curbeam..
2007 December 12
- ISS On-Orbit Status 12/12/07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Love, Malenchenko, Tani, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TMA-11, STS-120 ISS EO-16. Dan Tani continued his work on the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) facility.. Additional Details: here....
2010 December 12
06:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Andoya. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant XII.- NASA 40.026UE - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). Aurora payload..
2010 December 12
15:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Alcantara. LV Family: Sonda. Launch Vehicle: VSB-30.- MICROG 1A - . Nation: Brazil. Apogee: 242 km (150 mi). Microgravity payload..
2011 December 12
01:21 GMT - . Launch Site: Tanegashima. LV Family: H-2. Launch Vehicle: H-IIA 202.- IGS 7A - . Mass: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). Nation: Japan. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military Radarsat. Spacecraft: IGS. USAF Sat Cat: 37954 . COSPAR: 2011-075A. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). Perigee: 500 km (310 mi). Inclination: 97.00 deg. Military surveillance radarsat..
2012 December 12
00:49 GMT - . Launch Site: Tongchang-ri. LV Family: Unha. Launch Vehicle: Unha-3.- Kwangmyongsong-3F2 - .
Mass: 100 kg (220 lb). Nation: Korea North.
Class: Technology.
Type: Technology satellite. Spacecraft: Kwangmyongsong.
USAF Sat Cat: 39026 . COSPAR: 2012-072A. Apogee: 581 km (361 mi). Perigee: 498 km (309 mi). Inclination: 97.40 deg. Period: 95.40 min.
First successful North Korean satellite launch. Amateur observations showed the satellite to be tumbling, and no signals were picked up at the announced 470 MHZ frequency - it was assumed the spacecraft never functioned or failed shortly after orbital insertion.
2015 December 12
Launch Site: Barents Sea Launch Area. Launch Platform: K-51. LV Family: R-29. Launch Vehicle: Sineva.- RV x 4? - . Nation: Russia. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Test mission. Impacted in Kura, Kamchatka..
2017 December 12
16:59 GMT - . Launch Site: West Texas. Launch Vehicle: New Shepard.- New Shepard CC2 - . Nation: USA. Apogee: 99 km (61 mi). Test mission. Impacted West Texas..
2017 December 12
18:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: Kourou ELA3. LV Family: Ariane 5. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5ES.- GalileoSat-19 - . Payload: Galileo FOC FM15; GALILEO 19 (2C5). Nation: Europe. USAF Sat Cat: 43055 . COSPAR: 2017-079A. Apogee: 23,226 km (14,431 mi). Perigee: 23,218 km (14,426 mi). Inclination: 56.66 deg. Period: 844.71 min. See Galileo 19 (Galileo-FOC FM15, Nicole). ..
- GalileoSat-20 - . Payload: Galileo FOC FM16; GALILEO 20 (2C6). Nation: Europe. USAF Sat Cat: 43056 . COSPAR: 2017-079B. Apogee: 23,232 km (14,435 mi). Perigee: 23,213 km (14,423 mi). Inclination: 56.67 deg. Period: 844.70 min. See Galileo 20 (Galileo-FOC FM16, Zofia). .. Additional Details: here....
- GalileoSat-21 - . Payload: Galileo FOC FM17; GALILEO 21 (2C7). Nation: Europe. USAF Sat Cat: 43057 . COSPAR: 2017-079C. Apogee: 23,231 km (14,435 mi). Perigee: 23,213 km (14,423 mi). Inclination: 56.67 deg. Period: 844.71 min. See Galileo 21 (Galileo-FOC FM17, Alexandre). .. Additional Details: here....
- GalileoSat-22 - . Payload: Galileo FOC FM18; GALILEO 22 (2C8). Nation: Europe. USAF Sat Cat: 43058 . COSPAR: 2017-079D. Apogee: 23,233 km (14,436 mi). Perigee: 23,212 km (14,423 mi). Inclination: 56.66 deg. Period: 844.70 min. See Galileo 22 (Galileo-FOC FM18, Irina). .. Additional Details: here....