On April 24 in Space History
Chronology
92 events
1913 April 24
- Birth of Dieter Grau - . Nation: Germany, USA. Related Persons: Grau. German engineer in WW2, member of the Rocket Team in the United States thereafter, serving in Quality Assurance positions..
1915 April 24
- Birth of George W Hoover - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Hoover, George. American naval officer and early space enthusiast, who, at ONR, became a driving force behind the Skyhook, D-558-1, and a supporter of von Braun's Project Orbiter..
1942 April 24
- Birth of Valeri Abramovich Voloshin - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Voloshin. Russian pilot cosmonaut, 1965-1969..
1947 April 24
Launch Site: Hammaguira. Launch Complex: Hammaguira.- Colomb Bechar rocket test range established. - . Nation: France. French Government established rocket test range at Colomb Bechar, Algeria..
1947 April 24
Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: HVAR. Launch Vehicle: HVAR FFAR.1953 April 24
10:19 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee XASR-SC-2.- Grenade Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 108 km (67 mi). Temperature, winds research. Launched at 0319 local time. Reached 107.8 km..
1954 April 24
Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar V-2. LV Family: V-2. Launch Vehicle: R-1 8A11.- Operational test - . Nation: Russia. Agency: Korolev bureau. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).
1956 April 24
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral RW30/12. LV Family: Navaho. Launch Vehicle: Navaho X-10.- Navaho X-10 flight 21 - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: Navaho. Ground control system failure resulted in missile crashing at sea at Mach 1.25 200 km from the Cape..
1957 April 24
Launch Vehicle: X-17.- X-17 reaches 9,000 mph. - . Nation: USA. Lockheed X-17 research rocket reached 9,000 mph at Patrick AFB, Fla..
1958 April 24
- Rocket sled reached 2827 mph. - . Nation: USA. Navy rocket sled attained speed of 2,827.5 mph at China Lake, Calif..
1958 April 24
Launch Site: Wallops Island. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Cajun.- Beacon Test 1 Balloon test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Cleveland. Apogee: 122 km (75 mi).
1958 April 24
00:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17A. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor Able. FAILURE: Thor turbopump gearbox failed T+146 sec.. Failed Stage: 1.- Able RTV re-entry vehicle test flight - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: USAF.
Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest.
Apogee: 80 km (49 mi).
The first Thor/Able missile, a special test vehicle designed to examine an improved General Electric lightweight, ablative nose cone at full ICBM ranges failed. Mouse 'Mia' not recovered. 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.)
1958 April 24
16:44 GMT - . Launch Site: Holloman. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Cajun.1959 April 24
- All three military services studying a base on the moon - .
Nation: USA.
Related Persons: Schriever.
Spacecraft: Horizon Lunar Outpost,
Lunex,
Navy SLV,
,
Man-In-Space-Soonest.
Testifying before the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, Maj. Gen. Bernard A. Schriever, Commander of the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, stated that all three military services should be studying the possibility of a base on the moon. Up to that point, he felt, all such studies had been "in the blue thinking."
1959 April 24
- Birth of Yvonne Darlene Cagle - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cagle. African-American physician mission specialist astronaut, 1996-on..
1959 April 24
LV Family: Minuteman.- Thiokol Chemical Corporation fired its first Stage II test engine for Minuteman. - .
1959 April 24
Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. LV Family: R-11. Launch Vehicle: R-11M.1961 April 24
Launch Vehicle: R-14.- R-14 missile accepted into military service. - . Nation: Russia. Central Committee of the Communist Party and Council of Soviet Ministers Decree 'On adoption of the R-14 missile into armaments' was issued..
1961 April 24
02:53 GMT - . Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: Woomera LA2. LV Family: Lupus. Launch Vehicle: HAD.1962 April 24
- Indecision on the lunar mission mode causing delays in Apollo program - .
Nation: USA.
Program: Apollo.
Spacecraft: Apollo LM,
Apollo Lunar Landing,
LM Mode Debate,
LM Source Selection.
MSC Associate Director Walter C. William reported to the Manned Space Flight Management Council that the lack of a decision on the lunar mission mode was causing delays in various areas of the Apollo spacecraft program, especially the requirements for the portions of the spacecraft being furnished by NAA.
1962 April 24
LV Family: Nova. Launch Vehicle: Nova 8L.- Delay in award of a Nova launch vehicle study contract - .
Nation: USA.
Program: Apollo.
The Manned Space Flight Management Council decided to delay the awarding of a Nova launch vehicle study contract until July 1 at the earliest to allow time for an in-house study of bids submitted and for further examination of the schedule for a manned lunar landing using the direct ascent technique.
1962 April 24
Launch Vehicle: Proton.- Approval to proceed with the UR-500 (8K82) was provided in a Central Committee decree - .
Nation: Russia.
Spacecraft Bus: TKS.
Spacecraft: LK-1.
Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 'On start of work on the UR-500 missile and carrier-rocket' was issued. The rocket was to be built initially for the GR-2 requirement - a heavy rocket that could be used to launch large military payloads into space as well as act as a ballistic missile for multiple nuclear warheads up to 100 MT in yield. The decree ordered development of this powerful new rocket to be completed within three years. This was a difficult task, considering the factory and launch facilities that would have to be built to allow testing of the rocket to begin. The draft project UR-500 was completed in 1963.
1962 April 24
04:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar Mayak-2. LV Family: R-12. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 63S1.- Cosmos 3 - . Payload: 2MS s/n 1. Mass: 330 kg (720 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: RVSN. Program: MS. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: MS. Spacecraft: 2MS. Decay Date: 1962-10-17 . USAF Sat Cat: 281 . COSPAR: 1962-Nu-1. Apogee: 707 km (439 mi). Perigee: 216 km (134 mi). Inclination: 49.00 deg. Period: 93.80 min. Cosmic ray, radiation data. Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space; development of elements in the design of space craft. .
1963 April 24
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1963 April 24
20:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg OSTF1. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas E.- Research and development test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1,600 km (900 mi). First successful E missile from OSTF-1, SMS 576.
1964 April 24
- Deletion of the Apollo LEM's front docking capability - .
Nation: USA.
Related Persons: See,
White.
Program: Apollo.
Spacecraft: Apollo LM,
LM Ascent Propulsion,
LM Descent Propulsion,
LM ECS,
LM Hatch.
Representatives from a number of elements within MSC (including systems and structural engineers, advanced systems and rendezvous experts, and two astronauts, Edward H. White II and Elliot M. See, Jr.) discussed the idea of deleting the LEM's front docking capability (an idea spawned by the recent TM-1 mockup review). Rather than nose-to-nose docking, the LEM crew might be able to perform the rendezvous and docking maneuver, docking at the spacecraft's upper (transfer) hatch, by using a window above the LEM commander's head to enable him to see his target. Additional Details: here....
1964 April 24
- Voskhod plans - .
Nation: Russia.
Related Persons: Biryuzov,
Korolev.
Program: Voskhod,
Vostok.
Flight: Voskhod 1,
Voskhod 2,
Vostok 10,
Vostok 7,
Vostok 8,
Vostok 9.
Spacecraft: Berkut,
Voskhod.
Kamanin receives the directive issued by Biryuzov to implement the Voskhod Party resolutions. Four spacecraft will be completed, two in a three-man configuration, to be flown in the second half of 1964, and two in a configuration that will provide an airlock and allow one cosmonaut to exit into open space. Less than a year is allowed to develop the new spacecraft version for the spacewalk, as well as develop the space suit. This will be a crash priority program, and allow Korolev no resources to complete and launch five Vostok spacecraft on manned and life sciences missions beginning in May.
1964 April 24
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC31B. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1B.1965 April 24
Launch Site: Makat. Launch Vehicle: R-12.1967 April 24
- Death of Vladimir Mikhailovich Komarov. Crash of Soyuz 1 spacecraft. - .
Nation: Russia.
Related Persons: Komarov.
Russian pilot cosmonaut 1960-1967. First person to die during spaceflight when the parachute lines of Soyuz 1 tangled and it crashed to earth. Cosmonaut training March 1960 - 3 April 1961. Call sign: Rubin (Ruby). 2 spaceflights, 2.1 days in space. Flew to orbit on Voskhod (1964), Soyuz 1.
1967 April 24
15:20 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150.- OSO-3 calibration Solar x-ray / extreme ultraviolet mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 181 km (112 mi).
1967 April 24
- Crash of Soyuz 1. Cosmonaut Vladimir Mikhailovich Komarov is killed at age 40. - .
Return Crew: Komarov.
Nation: Russia.
Related Persons: Komarov.
Program: Soyuz.
Flight: Soyuz 1.
The decision was made to bring Komarov back due to an undeployed solar panel which reduced electrical power and blocked orientation sensors. Re-entry was successful and the drag chute deployed. However due to a flaw during manufacture, the parachute compartment housing was too rough and the main parachute would not deploy. Komarov released the reserve chute, but it became tangled with the drag chute. The descent module crashed into a field near Orenburg at 03:24 GMT. Additional Details: here....
1968 April 24
03:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg LF06. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1B.1968 April 24
15:44 GMT - . Launch Site: Thumba. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.1968 April 24
16:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC90/20. LV Family: R-36. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon-2A.- Cosmos 217 - . Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: PKO. Class: Military. Type: Anti-satellite system target. Spacecraft Bus: Kosmoplan. Spacecraft: IS-P. Decay Date: 1968-04-26 . USAF Sat Cat: 3216 . COSPAR: 1968-036A. Apogee: 179 km (111 mi). Perigee: 140 km (80 mi). Inclination: 62.30 deg. Period: 87.70 min. Unsuccessful launch of ASAT target. Satellite did not separate from last rocket stage. Planned launch of interceptor cancelled..
1970 April 24
LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: Chang Zheng 1.- DFH-1 satellite launch authorised. - . Nation: China. Related Persons: Tsien. Spacecraft: DFH-1. Mao personally authorises the launch..
1970 April 24
Launch Site: Johnston Island. Launch Complex: Johnston Island LE2. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Thor DSV-2J. FAILURE: Failure. Failed Stage: 4.- SDP test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi). ASAT test, Thor collided with satellite.
1970 April 24
00:52 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Churchill. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant VB.- Aurora / ionosphere mission Aurora / ionosphere mission - . Nation: Canada. Agency: NRCC. Apogee: 288 km (178 mi).
1970 April 24
07:30 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 24
08:53 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC35. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 150.1970 April 24
13:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Jiuquan. Launch Complex: Jiuquan LA2A. LV Family: DF-3. Launch Vehicle: Chang Zheng 1.- DFH Mao 1 - .
Payload: DFH 1. Mass: 173 kg (381 lb). Nation: China.
Agency: MAI.
Class: Technology.
Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: DFH-1.
USAF Sat Cat: 4382 . COSPAR: 1970-034A. Apogee: 2,162 km (1,343 mi). Perigee: 434 km (269 mi). Inclination: 68.40 deg. Period: 111.60 min.
The final campaign to launch China's first satellite began on April 1, 1970, when two DFH-1 satellites and the CZ-1 rocket arrived by train at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. This was over a year after the first attempt in 1969. Ren Xinmin was project leader and Qi Faren was leader of the DFH-1 experiment team. On April 2 Premier Zhou Enlai called a special meeting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing for a final readiness review of the satellite and the launch vehicle. Zhou wanted special guarantees that the satellite would transmit the march 'The East is Red' from orbit.
On the morning of April 24, 1970, the first and second stages of CZ-1 were loaded with propellant and stacked. The satellite was mated to the spin-stabilized solid-propellant third stage, and the launcher entered the final eight hours of launch preparation. Weather forecast for the launch at 9:30 p.m. called for clouds at above 7,000 meters and a wind speed of less than 4 to 5 meters per second.
The historic launch came at 9:35 p.m. local time (13:35 UTC). Upon hearing the command "ignition", a launch controller pressed the button to start the rocket engines. The three-stage CZ-1, which was 29.46 meters tall and had a maximum diameter of 2.25 meters, lifted off the launch pad with a thrust of 104 tonnes. Liftoff weight of the CZ-1 was 81.5 tonnes. Rocket expert Shen Jianan recounted that "..as soon as I saw the liftoff on the TV screen inside the bunker, I ran outside. I could only see the beautiful rocket lighting up the night sky and streaking towards the southeast. I ran back inside to listen to the transmissions. Broadcasting on the speaker were status reports like 'capturing target', 'nominal tracking', 'nominal flight', 'nominal second and third stage separation'..." Thirteen minutes after launch, at 9:48 p.m., mission control announced "...satellite and rocket stage separation, satellite enters orbit...the bunker was filled with cheers".
China became the fifth nation after the former Soviet Union, the United States, France and Japan to achieve an indigenous space launch capability. At 9:50 p.m., the National Broadcasting Bureau announced the acquisition of the tune 'East is Red' from the satellite loud and clear. In the following days, the People's Central Broadcasting radio and newspapers in Beijing announced and printed worldwide times of DFH-1 and CZ-1 third stage passages, and directions of travel in the sky. Senior officials in Beijing dispatched a chartered plane to JSLC to bring back Qi and other scientists. In the International Labour Day celebration on May 1, Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou warmly welcomed them at the Tiananmen Square.
1970 April 24
22:24 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar LC86/4. LV Family: R-12. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K63.- Cosmos 335 - . Payload: DS-U1-R s/n 1. Mass: 295 kg (650 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: DS. Class: Earth. Type: Atmosphere satellite. Spacecraft Bus: DS. Spacecraft: DS-U1-R. Completed Operations Date: 1970-06-20 . Decay Date: 1970-06-22 . USAF Sat Cat: 4380 . COSPAR: 1970-035A. Apogee: 401 km (249 mi). Perigee: 250 km (150 mi). Inclination: 48.40 deg. Period: 91.00 min. Studied spectral range of the UF..
1971 April 24
- Landing of Soyuz 10 - .
Return Crew: Rukavishnikov,
Shatalov,
Yeliseyev.
Nation: Russia.
Related Persons: Chertok,
Mishin,
Rukavishnikov,
Shatalov,
Yeliseyev.
Program: Salyut.
Flight: Soyuz 10.
Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz.
Spacecraft: Soyuz 7KT-OK.
Only a night landing on Soviet territory was possible, which meant the spacecraft could not be oriented for retrofire. The landing commission started planning for an emergency landing in South America, Africa, or Australia. But Shatalov reported the gyroscopes and orientation sensors were functioning well. He proposed that he orient on the dayside, spin up the gyro platform, and let the gyros orient the spacecraft on the nightside for retrofire. The plan is followed and the spacecraft was targeted for a landing area 80-100 km southwest of Karaganda.
PVO radars pick up the capsule as it soars over the Caspian Sea, and a Mi-4 helicopter sights the parachute even before it thumps down, upright, on the steppes. During the landing, the Soyuz air supply became toxic, and Rukavishnikov was overcome and became unconscious. Nevertheless the crew safely landed at 23:40 GMT, 120 km NW of Karaganda. At the cosmodrome, Chertok is assigned to head a special commission to find the cause of the docking failure and correct it before the next mission can be launched. The VVS aircraft leaves at 07:00 for Moscow. Mishin was to accompany the VPK on their aircraft back, but he is drunk and has to go separately at 15:00. The Soyuz 10 crew reaches Chkalovsky Air Base at 14:00 on 26 April and proceed to Star City for further debriefings. Film and photos indicated that the docking system on the Salyut was not damaged, setting the stage for the Soyuz 11 mission.
1971 April 24
07:32 GMT - . Launch Site: San Marco. LV Family: Scout. Launch Vehicle: Scout B.- San Marco 3 - . Payload: San Marco C. Mass: 164 kg (361 lb). Nation: Italy. Agency: CRS. Class: Earth. Type: Atmosphere satellite. Spacecraft: San Marco satellite. Decay Date: 1971-11-29 . USAF Sat Cat: 5176 . COSPAR: 1971-036A. Apogee: 707 km (439 mi). Perigee: 222 km (137 mi). Inclination: 3.20 deg. Period: 93.80 min. Atmospheric research. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). .
1971 April 24
11:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC133/1. LV Family: R-12. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K63.- Cosmos 408 - . Payload: DS-P1-Yu s/n 37. Mass: 250 kg (550 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: DS. Class: Military. Type: Military target satellite. Spacecraft Bus: DS. Spacecraft: DS-P1-Yu. Completed Operations Date: 1971-12-22 . Decay Date: 1971-12-29 . USAF Sat Cat: 5177 . COSPAR: 1971-037A. Apogee: 1,488 km (924 mi). Perigee: 212 km (131 mi). Inclination: 81.80 deg. Period: 102.00 min. Development of systems for air defence and the control of outer space..
1971 April 24
23:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Kiruna. Launch Vehicle: Petrel.1972 April 24
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 599. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Polaris A3.- Demonstration and shakedown operations launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1972 April 24
20:57 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Aerobee. Launch Vehicle: Aerobee 170.1973 April 24
LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Safeguard.- Safeguard System Test Targets Program continuation. - . The Boeing Company was awarded a contract to continue launch services and integration support for the Army's Safeguard System Test Targets Program (SSTTP)..
1973 April 24
04:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Fort Sherman. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Rocketsonde.1974 April 24
11:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Vostok 8A92M.- Meteor 1-17 - . Payload: Meteor M no. 17. Mass: 3,800 kg (8,300 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Meteor. Spacecraft: Meteor M 11F614. USAF Sat Cat: 7274 . COSPAR: 1974-025A. Apogee: 879 km (546 mi). Perigee: 855 km (531 mi). Inclination: 81.20 deg. Period: 102.30 min. Acquisition of meteorological information needed for use by the weather service. .
1974 April 24
13:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Sriharikota. LV Family: RH. Launch Vehicle: RH-560.1975 April 24
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 633. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Poseidon C3.1975 April 24
Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC106. LV Family: R-36M. Launch Vehicle: R-36M 15A14.1975 April 24
08:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Voskhod 11A57.- Cosmos 730 - . Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Surveillance. Type: Military surveillance satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Vostok. Spacecraft: Zenit-4MK. Duration: 12.00 days. Decay Date: 1975-05-06 . USAF Sat Cat: 7770 . COSPAR: 1975-035A. Apogee: 234 km (145 mi). Perigee: 210 km (130 mi). Inclination: 81.30 deg. Period: 89.00 min. High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable..
1976 April 24
00:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Rocketsonde.1978 April 24
- Start precombined systems test, Columbia (OV-102) - . Nation: USA. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Columbia.
1978 April 24
09:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 645. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Poseidon C3.1978 April 24
09:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 645. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Poseidon C3.1978 April 24
09:36 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 645. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Poseidon C3.1978 April 24
09:36 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 645. LV Family: Polaris. Launch Vehicle: Poseidon C3.1979 April 24
Launch Site: Whiteman AFB. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2.- Minuteman Wing IV Update delayed. - . The Program Management Responsibility Transfer Working Group (PMRTWG) extended the completion dates of seven residual tasks related to the Minuteman Wing IV Update Program..
1980 April 24
14:00 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Rocketsonde.1981 April 24
21:32 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC4W. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan 34B.- Jumpseat 6 - . Mass: 700 kg (1,540 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NRO, USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Jumpseat. USAF Sat Cat: 12418 . COSPAR: 1981-038A. Apogee: 708 km (439 mi). Perigee: 188 km (116 mi). Inclination: 62.70 deg. Period: 93.00 min. SDS 4 not deployed..
1982 April 24
17:52 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 643. LV Family: Trident. Launch Vehicle: Trident C-4.- DASO-12 demonstration and shakedown operations launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
1983 April 24
Launch Site: Fort Bliss. Launch Complex: Fort Bliss MCG. LV Family: Pershing. Launch Vehicle: Pershing 2.1984 April 24
15:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC47. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Rocketsonde.1985 April 24
16:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Primrose Lake. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Rocketsonde.1987 April 24
12:42 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC200/40. LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K/DM-2. FAILURE: Block DM-2 failure, remained in LEO.. Failed Stage: U.- Cosmos 1838 - . Payload: Glonass s/n 30L. Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft: Glonass . Decay Date: 1991-05-15 . USAF Sat Cat: 17902 . COSPAR: 1987-036A. Apogee: 10,401 km (6,462 mi). Perigee: 140 km (80 mi). Inclination: 64.80 deg. Period: 208.50 min. Glonass; upper stage failure; unusable orbit. Fourth stage failure .
- Cosmos 1839 - . Payload: Glonass s/n 31L. Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft: Glonass. Decay Date: 1991-05-08 . USAF Sat Cat: 17903 . COSPAR: 1987-036B. Apogee: 9,694 km (6,023 mi). Perigee: 137 km (85 mi). Inclination: 64.70 deg. Period: 199.10 min. Glonass; upper stage failure; unusable orbit. Fourth stage failure.
- Cosmos 1840 - . Payload: Glonass s/n 32L. Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Navigation. Type: Navigation satellite. Spacecraft: Glonass. Decay Date: 1991-09-13 . USAF Sat Cat: 17904 . COSPAR: 1987-036C. Apogee: 4,362 km (2,710 mi). Perigee: 125 km (77 mi). Inclination: 64.50 deg. Period: 132.80 min. Glonass; upper stage failure; unusable orbit. Fourth stage failure.
1987 April 24
16:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC41/1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.- Cosmos 1841 / Foton 3 - . Payload: Foton s/n 3L. Mass: 6,300 kg (13,800 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MOM. Class: Materials. Type: Materials science satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Vostok. Spacecraft: Foton. Duration: 13.17 days. Decay Date: 1987-05-08 . USAF Sat Cat: 17907 . COSPAR: 1987-037A. Apogee: 380 km (230 mi). Perigee: 217 km (134 mi). Inclination: 62.90 deg. Period: 90.50 min. Materials processing tests. Conduct of experiments on the production of semi-conducting materials and super-pure biological preparations in micro-gravity. .
1990 April 24
12:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.- STS-31 - .
Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Bolden,
Hawley,
McCandless,
Shriver,
Sullivan.
Payload: Discovery F10 / Hubble Space Telescope. Mass: 13,005 kg (28,671 lb). Nation: USA.
Related Persons: Bolden,
Hawley,
McCandless,
Shriver,
Sullivan.
Agency: NASA Houston.
Program: STS.
Class: Manned.
Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-31.
Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle.
Spacecraft: Discovery.
Duration: 5.05 days. Decay Date: 1990-04-29 . USAF Sat Cat: 20579 . COSPAR: 1990-037A. Apogee: 615 km (382 mi). Perigee: 585 km (363 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 96.70 min.
Deployed HST (Hubble Space Telescope). Payloads: Deployment of Hubble Space Telescope, IMAX camera in payload bay and in crew compartment, Protein Crystal Growth III-03, Investigation Into Polymer Membrane Process-ing- 01, Air Force Maui Optical Site-05, Radiation Monitoring Equipment III-01, Student Experiment 82-16, and Ascent Particle Monitor 01.
- HST Hubble Space Telescope - . Payload: Hubble Space Telescope. Mass: 10,863 kg (23,948 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Class: Astronomy. Type: Astronomy satellite. Spacecraft: HST. USAF Sat Cat: 20580 . COSPAR: 1990-037B. Apogee: 596 km (370 mi). Perigee: 590 km (360 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 96.50 min. Hubble Space Telescope; deployed from STS-31 4/25/90. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B)..
1991 April 24
01:37 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC32. Launch Pad: LC32/2. LV Family: R-36. Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon-3.- Meteor 3-04 - . Payload: Meteor-3 s/n 6. Mass: 2,150 kg (4,730 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Class: Earth. Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Meteor. Spacecraft: Meteor-3. USAF Sat Cat: 21232 . COSPAR: 1991-030A. Apogee: 1,209 km (751 mi). Perigee: 1,187 km (737 mi). Inclination: 82.50 deg. Period: 109.40 min. Testing data-measuring equipment and methods for remote sensing of the atmosphere and Earth's surface to benefit the Soviet economy and science. First completely operational version of the spacecraft..
1995 April 24
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC32. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Hera.1996 April 24
12:27 GMT - . Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC2W. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7920-10.- MSX - . Mass: 2,700 kg (5,900 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: BMDO. Class: Military. Type: Strategic defense satellite. Spacecraft: MSX. USAF Sat Cat: 23851 . COSPAR: 1996-024A. Apogee: 907 km (563 mi). Perigee: 897 km (557 mi). Inclination: 99.40 deg. Period: 103.10 min. LEO. Midcourse Space eXperiment; missile detection technology tests; also used for auroral and atmospheric studies .
1996 April 24
13:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Complex: Plesetsk LC132/1. LV Family: R-14. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M.- Cosmos 2332 - . Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Class: Surveillance. Type: Radar calibration target. Spacecraft: Taifun-1Yu. Decay Date: 2005-01-28 . USAF Sat Cat: 23853 . COSPAR: 1996-025A. Apogee: 1,548 km (961 mi). Perigee: 294 km (182 mi). Inclination: 82.90 deg. Period: 102.70 min. Radar calibration mission..
1996 April 24
23:37 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC41. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan 401A/Centaur.- USA 118 - . Payload: Mercury ELINT 2. Nation: USA. Agency: NRO, USAF. Class: Surveillance. Type: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Mercury ELINT. USAF Sat Cat: 23855 . COSPAR: 1996-026A. Apogee: 35,790 km (22,230 mi). Perigee: 35,780 km (22,230 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.00 min. Second launch of Mercury ELINT satellite..
1997 April 24
- Senate, 74–26, approves chemical-weapons treaty - . Nation: USA.
1998 April 24
- Cosmonaut Mikhail Fedorovich Rebrov dies at age of 66 -- Natural causes. - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Rebrov. Russian journalist cosmonaut, 1965-1974..
1998 April 24
- STS-90 - Wakeup Song: She Drives Me Crazy - . Flight: STS-90. "She Drives Me Crazy" by The Fine Young Cannibals CAPCOM: Bill McArthur.
1998 April 24
22:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC17A. LV Family: Thor. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7420-10C.- Globalstar FM6 - . Payload: Globalstar s/n FM6. Mass: 222 kg (489 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Globalstar. Manufacturer: Alenia, Palo Alto. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Globalstar. USAF Sat Cat: 25306 . COSPAR: 1998-023A. Apogee: 1,523 km (946 mi). Perigee: 1,503 km (933 mi). Inclination: 52.00 deg. Period: 116.30 min. Plane 2. Ascending node 90.4 degrees..
- Globalstar FM14 - . Payload: Globalstar s/n FM14. Mass: 222 kg (489 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Globalstar. Manufacturer: Alenia, Palo Alto. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Globalstar. USAF Sat Cat: 25308 . COSPAR: 1998-023C. Apogee: 1,414 km (878 mi). Perigee: 1,413 km (877 mi). Inclination: 52.00 deg. Period: 114.10 min. Plane 2. Ascending node 90.2 degrees..
- Globalstar FM8 - . Payload: Globalstar s/n FM8. Mass: 222 kg (489 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Globalstar. Manufacturer: Alenia, Palo Alto. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Globalstar. USAF Sat Cat: 25307 . COSPAR: 1998-023B. Apogee: 1,414 km (878 mi). Perigee: 1,413 km (877 mi). Inclination: 52.00 deg. Period: 114.10 min. Plane 2. Ascending node 88.9 degrees..
- Globalstar FM15 - . Payload: Globalstar s/n FM15. Mass: 222 kg (489 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: Globalstar. Manufacturer: Alenia, Palo Alto. Class: Communications. Type: Civilian communications satellite. Spacecraft: Globalstar. USAF Sat Cat: 25309 . COSPAR: 1998-023D. Apogee: 1,414 km (878 mi). Perigee: 1,413 km (877 mi). Inclination: 52.00 deg. Period: 114.10 min. Plane 2. Ascending node 88.0 degrees..
2001 April 24
- STS-100 - Wakeup Song: What A Wonderful World - . Flight: STS-100. "What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. The song was played for Parazynski in honor of today's spacewalk..
2001 April 24
12:32 GMT - .- EVA STS-100-2 - .
Crew: Hadfield,
Parazynski.
EVA Duration: 0.32 days. Nation: USA.
Related Persons: Hadfield,
Parazynski.
Program: ISS.
Class: Manned.
Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-100.
The astronauts removed a temporary communications antenna from Unity, and connected up power to the Canadarm-2. Susan Helms aboard Destiny then used the arm's LEE A manipulator to remove the SLP Spacelab Pallet from Destiny at 1825 GMT. Meanwhile the EVA crew moved the DCSU switching unit from a sidewall carrier on the port side of Endeavour's cargo bay to the ESP (External Stowage Platform) on Destiny, next to the PFCS (Pump Flow Control System) which was installed on the ESP on the previous mission.
2002 April 24
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 743. LV Family: Trident. Launch Vehicle: Trident D-5.2002 April 24
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral ETR. Launch Platform: SSBN 743. LV Family: Trident. Launch Vehicle: Trident D-5.2002 April 24
Launch Site: Kodiak. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: M56A1.2003 April 24
04:23 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC81/24. LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-K/DM-2.- Cosmos 2397 - . Payload: US-KMO (Prognoz 2). Mass: 2,155 kg (4,750 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: VKS. Manufacturer: Lavochkin bureau. Class: Surveillance. Type: Early warning satellite. Spacecraft: Prognoz SPRN. USAF Sat Cat: 27775 . COSPAR: 2003-015A. Apogee: 35,928 km (22,324 mi). Perigee: 35,886 km (22,298 mi). Inclination: 2.20 deg. Period: 1,442.30 min. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 60.65W drifting at 0.723E degrees per day..
2005 April 24
- Landing of Soyuz TMA-5 - .
Return Crew: Chiao,
Sharipov,
Vittori.
Nation: Russia.
Related Persons: Chiao,
Sharipov,
Vittori.
Program: ISS.
Flight: Soyuz TMA-5,
Soyuz TMA-6,
Soyuz TMA-6 Eneide.
The EO-10 crew, having handed over the ISS to EO-11, boarded Soyuz TMA-5 together with EP-8 astronaut Vittori. They undocked from the ISS Zarya module at 18:45 GMT, made retrofire on schedule at 21:17, and landed on muddy ground at 51 deg 03" N / 67 deg 18" E at 22:07
2006 April 24
16:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U-PVB.- Progress M-56 - . Payload: Progress M s/n 356. Mass: 7,250 kg (15,980 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: RAKA. Manufacturer: Korolev bureau. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned logistics spacecraft. Flight: Soyuz TMA-8. Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz. Spacecraft: Progress M. Duration: 157.35 days. Decay Date: 2006-09-19 . USAF Sat Cat: 29057 . COSPAR: 2006-013A. Apogee: 349 km (216 mi). Perigee: 336 km (208 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 91.40 min. Progress M-56 docked at the Zvezda port of the International Space Station on 26 April at 17:41 GMT. It undocked at 00:28 GMT on 29 September and was then commanded to a destructive reentry over the south Pacific Ocean..
2007 April 24
06:48 GMT - . Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Complex: Wallops Island LA0B. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minotaur 1.- NFIRE - .
Payload: SA-200B. Mass: 494 kg (1,089 lb). Nation: USA.
Manufacturer: Gilbert.
Class: Technology.
Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: SA-200.
Decay Date: 2015-11-04 . USAF Sat Cat: 31140 . COSPAR: 2007-014A. Apogee: 497 km (308 mi). Perigee: 489 km (303 mi). Inclination: 48.20 deg. Period: 94.50 min.
Near Field Infrared Experiment conducted by the US Missile Defense Agency. Its Track Sensor Payload included visible and short, medium and long wave infrared sensors to observe missiles launched from the ground, and obtain basic data to distinguish between the missile and its hot rocket exhaust plume for application to anti-ballistic missile systems. Secondary payloads included Tesat, a German laser communications terminal, and its hydrazine propulsion system. This was used to maneuver the satellite from its initial 255 km x 465 km x 48.2 deg orbit to 489 km x 497 km by 18 May. The orbit was changed to 243 km x 487 km on 9 August and by 23 August was 219 km x 450 km. The satellite had a dry mass of 380 kg dry, was 2.7 m long and 1.3 m in diameter.
The first major sensor test occurred when Minotaur II rocket TLV-7, was fired at 08:30 GMT on 23 August from Vandenberg in NFIRE Mission 2a. The Minotaur II was aimed to pass within 4 and 20 km of the NFIRE satellite while its third stage motor burning, to allow NFIRE to get a close look at the rocket and its exhaust. The Missile Defense Agency reported that the experiment was successful.
2008 April 24
- ISS On-Orbit Status 04/24/08 - .
Nation: USA.
Related Persons: Kononenko,
Reisman,
Volkov, Sergey,
Yi Soyeon.
Program: ISS.
Flight: Soyuz TMA-12,
Soyuz TMA-12 ISS EP-14,
STS-123,
STS-123 ISS EO-16.
Before breakfast and exercise, CDR Volkov and FE-1 Kononenko completed their first session with the periodic Russian MedOps test "Hematokrit" (MO-10), which measures the red cell count of the blood, with FE-2 Reisman acting as CMO (Crew Medical Officer, Russian: Examiner). Additional Details: here....
2010 April 24
11:19 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. LV Family: Proton. Launch Vehicle: Proton-M/Briz-M.- SES 1 - . Payload: Star-2.4. Mass: 2,560 kg (5,640 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: ILS. Class: Communications. Type: Communications satellite. Spacecraft: Star bus. USAF Sat Cat: 36516 . COSPAR: 2010-016A. Apogee: 35,793 km (22,240 mi). Perigee: 35,780 km (22,230 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. Communications satellite. Replaced AMC-2 and AMC-4 with Ku and C band services to the United States from 101 deg W..
2013 April 24
10:12 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz-U.- Progress M-19M - .
Payload: Progress M s/n 419 / ISS-51P. 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: 56.00 days. Decay Date: 2013-06-19 . USAF Sat Cat: 39148 . COSPAR: 2013-017A. Apogee: 418 km (259 mi). Perigee: 360 km (220 mi). Inclination: 51.65 deg. Period: 92.34 min.
Although one of the spacecraft's rendezvous antennae did not deploy, it docked successfully with the aft port of the ISS Zvezda module at 12:25 GMT on 26 April. Undocked from the Zvezda module at 13:58 GMT on 11 June to clear the port for the ATV resupply vehicle. Maneuvered to a 416 km x 456 km orbit for Radar-Progress ionospheric experiments.