1969 in spaceflight
![]() Humanity's first crewed lunar landing (Apollo 11) | |
Rockets | |
---|---|
Maiden flights | |
Retirements |
|
Crewed flights | |
Orbital | 9 |
Total travellers | 22 |
1969 saw humanity step onto another world for the first time. On 20 July 1969, the Apollo 11 Lunar Module, Eagle, landed on the Moon's surface with two astronauts aboard. Days later the crew of three returned safely to Earth, satisfying U.S. President John F. Kennedy's 1962 challenge of 25 May 1961, that "this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth."[1][2]
There were four Apollo missions in total in 1969, three of which traveled to the Moon, with Apollo 12 also landing on the surface. The success of the Apollo program was a testament to the efforts of over 500,000 American engineers, scientists and technicians.
In 1969, the Soviet Union's space program had success with the docking of two crewed spacecraft as well as the success of their Venus and Lunar probes. The Soviets, however, suffered severe blows to their crewed Lunar aspirations when their N1 rocket failed twice during two 1969 launches.
Orbital launches[edit]
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
January[edit] | |||||||
5 January 06:28[3] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Heliocentric | Venus lander | 16 May 1969 | Successful | |||
Lander operated for 53 minutes in the atmosphere of Venus. | |||||||
10 January 05:51[3] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Heliocentric | Venus lander | 17 May 1969 | Successful | |||
Lander operated for 51 minutes in the atmosphere of Venus. | |||||||
12 January 12:10[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 20 January 1969[5] | Successful | |||
14 January 07:30 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | RVSN | Low Earth | Crewed orbital flight | 17 January 1969 | Successful | ||
First docking between two crewed spacecraft (with Soyuz 5) | |||||||
15 January 07:04 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | RVSN | Low Earth | Crewed orbital flight | 18 January 1969 | Successful | ||
First docking between two crewed spacecraft (with Soyuz 4) | |||||||
20 January 04:14[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Selenocentric | Test flight | 20 January 1969 | Failure | |||
One of the RD-0210 engines in the second stage failed, resulting in automatic shutdown of the vehicle. Capsule was successfully recovered after successful launch abort. | |||||||
22 January 16:48[7] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth | Astronomy | 2 April 1984[5] | Successful | ||
22 January 19:10[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NRO | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 3 February 1969[5] | Partial failure | ||
Apogee was too high as the Agena rocket stage failed to switch off at a correct time.[8] | |||||||
23 January 09:15[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 5 February 1969[5] | Successful | |||
25 January 11:10[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Naval surveillance | 23 January 1969 | Failure | |||
30 January 06:46[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CSA | Medium Earth | Science | In orbit | Successful | ||
February[edit] | |||||||
1 February 12:11[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | RVSN | Low Earth | Meteorology | 1 February 1969 | Failure | ||
5 February 06:46[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CIA | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 24 February 1969[5] | Successful | ||
![]() | USAF | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
6 February 00:39[7] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Intelsat | Geostationary | Communications | In orbit | Successful | ||
7 February 13:59[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | RVSN | Low Earth | Radar calibration | 1 May 1969[5] | Successful | ||
9 February 21:09[7] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | USAF | Geostationary | Communications | In orbit | Successful | ||
19 February 06:48[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Selenocentric | Lunar lander and rover | 19 February 1969 | Failure | |||
Engine failure in the first stage, rocket crashed 15 km from the pad. | |||||||
21 February 09:18 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | RVSN | Selenocentric | Test flight | 21 February | Failure | ||
![]() | RVSN | Selenocentric | Mass simulator | 21 February | Failure | ||
25 February 01:29[7] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Heliocentric | Mars flyby | In orbit | Successful | ||
25 February 10:20[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 5 March 1969[5] | Successful | |||
26 February 07:47[7] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ESSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Meteorology | In orbit | Successful | ||
26 February 08:30[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 6 March 1969[5] | Successful | |||
March[edit] | |||||||
3 March 16:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth | Crewed orbital flight | 13 March 1969 | Successful | ||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth | Test flight | 13 March 1969 | Successful | ||
First crewed orbital test of lunar module | |||||||
4 March 16:48[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | USAF | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 18 March 1969[5] | Successful | ||
Apogee was too high as the Agena rocket stage failed to switch off at a correct time.[8] | |||||||
5 March 13:04[10] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Radar calibration | 9 May 1970[5] | Successful | |||
5 March 17:25[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | ELINT | 21 October 1978[5] | Successful | |||
6 March 12:15[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 14 March 1969[5] | Successful | |||
15 March 12:15[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 23 March 1969[5] | Successful | |||
17 March 17:25[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Geodesy | In orbit | Successful | |||
18 March 07:40[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | USAF | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 5 March 1970[5] | Successful | ||
![]() | USAF | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 24 March 1969[5] | Successful | ||
![]() | USAF | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 28 August 1972[5] | Successful | ||
![]() | USAF | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Successful | ||
19 March 21:38[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CIA | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 24 March 1969[5] | Successful | ||
![]() | USAF | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | 6 December 1971[5] | Successful | ||
22 March 12:15[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 30 March 1969[5] | Successful | |||
24 March 10:10[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 1 April 1969[5] | Successful | |||
26 March 12:30[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Meteorology | 26 March 2012 | Successful | |||
27 March 10:40[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Areocentric | Mars orbiter | 27 March 1969 | Failure | |||
Payload fairing failed at T+51. Third stage failed to ignite. | |||||||
27 March 22:22[7] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Heliocentric | Mars flyby | In orbit | Successful | ||
28 March 16:00[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | RVSN | Low Earth | Radar calibration | 7 February 1970[5] | Successful | ||
April[edit] | |||||||
2 April 10:33[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Areocentric | Mars orbiter and lander | 2 April 1969 | Failure | |||
Rocket crashed near pad after 1st stage engine failure. | |||||||
4 April 10:20[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 11 April 1969[5] | Successful | |||
4 April 13:00[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Radar calibration | 6 July 1969[5] | Successful | |||
9 April 13:00[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 17 April 1969[5] | Successful | |||
11 April 02:30[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Molniya | Communications | 17 April 1974 | Successful | |||
13 April 02:24[7] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NRO | Geostationary | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
14 April 07:54[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA, NOAA | Low Earth | Meteorology | In orbit | Successful | ||
![]() | US Army | Low Earth | Geodesy | In orbit | Successful | ||
15 April 08:14[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 23 April 1969[5] | Successful | |||
15 April 17:30[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | USAF | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 30 April 1969[5] | Successful | ||
23 April 09:55[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 6 May 1969[5] | Successful | |||
May[edit] | |||||||
2 May 01:46[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CIA | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 23 May 1969[5] | Successful | ||
![]() | USAF | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | 16 February 1970[5] | Successful | ||
13 May 09:15[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 21 May 1969[5] | Successful | |||
18 May 16:49 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Selenocentric | Crewed Lunar orbital flight | 26 May 1969 | Successful | ||
![]() | NASA | Selenocentric | Test flight | In orbit | Successful | ||
First test of lunar module in lunar orbit. "Dress rehearsal" of Apollo 11 landing. | |||||||
20 May 08:40[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 28 May 1969[5] | Successful | |||
22 May 02:00[7] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Intelsat | Geostationary | Communications | In orbit | Successful | ||
23 May 07:57[7] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | USAF | High Earth | Nuclear detection | In orbit | Successful | ||
![]() | USAF | High Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Successful | ||
27 May 12:59[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Radar calibration | 10 December 1969[5] | Successful | |||
29 May 06:59[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 6 June 1969[5] | Successful | |||
June[edit] | |||||||
3 June 12:57[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Radar calibration | 7 October 1969[5] | Successful | |||
3 June 16:49[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | USAF | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 14 June 1969[5] | Successful | ||
5 June 14:42[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth | Research | 12 October 1979[5] | Successful | ||
14 June 04:00[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Selenocentric | Lunar sample return | 14 June 1969 | Failure | |||
Blok D upper stage failed to ignite, thus leaving the payload on a suborbital trajectory. | |||||||
15 June 08:59[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 23 June 1969[5] | Successful | |||
21 June 08:47[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Highly elliptical | Magnetospheric research | In orbit | Successful | ||
24 June 06:50[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 2 July 1969[5] | Successful | |||
27 June 06:59[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 5 July 1969[5] | Successful | |||
29 June 03:15[7] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth | Life science | 7 July 1969[5] | Successful | ||
July[edit] | |||||||
2 July 07:04 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ELDO | Test flight | 2 July 1969 | Failure | |||
3 July 20:18 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Selenocentric | Test flight | 3 July 1969 | Failure | |||
![]() | Selenocentric | Mass simulator | 3 July 1969 | Failure | |||
Exploded due to faulty engines and a bolt that was sucked into a fuel pump. | |||||||
10 July 09:00[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 15 July 1969[5] | Successful | |||
13 July 02:54[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Selenocentric | Lunar sample return | 20 July 1969 | Success | |||
Lander crashed to the surface of the Moon in an attempted landing. | |||||||
16 July 13:32 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Selenocentric | Crewed Lunar orbital flight | 24 July 1969 | Successful | ||
![]() | NASA | Selenocentric | Crewed Lunar landing | In orbit | Successful | ||
First crewed Moon landing. | |||||||
22 July 12:30[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 30 July 1969[5] | Successful | |||
22 July 12:55[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Molniya | Communications | 18 June 1971[5] | Successful | |||
23 July 04:39[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | USAF, NRO | Low Earth | Meteorology | In orbit | Successful | ||
23 July 09:00[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Radar calibration | 23 July 1969 | Failure | |||
Second stage failed at T+267 seconds. | |||||||
24 July 01:30[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CIA | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 23 August 1969[5] | Successful | ||
26 July 02:06[7] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Intelsat | Geostationary | Communications | 14 October 1988[5] | Failure | ||
Third stage failure left the spacecraft in an unusable orbit. | |||||||
31 July 10:19[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | USAF | Low Earth | ELINT | 4 January 1973[5] | Successful | ||
August[edit] | |||||||
6 August 05:40[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Mass simulator | 8 September 1969 | Successful | |||
First test flight of Tsyklon-2 booster. Flew with a dummy payload planned to be used as an ASAT target but the ASAT interceptor test flight was later cancelled. | |||||||
7 August 23:48[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | High Earth | Lunar flyby | 13 August 1969 | Successful | |||
The only successful test flight of Soyuz 7K-L1 spacecraft. Circumlunar flight, perilune 1,984 km. | |||||||
9 August 07:52[7] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth | Solar observatory | 7 March 1981[5] | Successful | ||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 28 April 1977[5] | Successful | ||
12 August 11:01[7] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Successful | ||
13 August 22:00[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Successful | |||
16 August 11:59[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 28 August 1969[5] | Successful | |||
19 August 13:00[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 27 August 1969[5] | Successful | |||
22 August 14:14[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Radar calibration | 1 December 1969[5] | Successful | |||
23 August 16:00[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | USAF | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 7 September 1969[5] | Successful | ||
27 August 21:59[7] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Heliocentric | Solar orbiter | 27 August 1969 | Failure | ||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth orbit | Technology demonstration | 27 August 1969 | Failure | ||
First flight of Delta L rocket. First stage hydraulics failure threw the second stage far off course and the vehicle was destroyed by range safety at T+383 seconds. | |||||||
29 August 09:05[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 6 September 1969[5] | Successful | |||
September[edit] | |||||||
2 September 11:00[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 10 September 1969[5] | Successful | |||
15 September 08:40[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Weapon test | 15 September 1969[5] | Successful | |||
18 September 08:40[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 22 September 1969[5] | Successful | |||
22 September 02:10[11] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ISAS | Low Earth | Test flight | 22 September 1969 | Failure | ||
22 September 21:11[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CIA | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 13 October 1969[5] | Successful | ||
![]() | USAF | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | 16 May 1971[5] | Successful | ||
23 September 14:07[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Selenocentric | Lunar sample return | 27 September 1969[5] | Failure | |||
Blok D stage failed due to valve defect and the probe failed to leave Earth orbit. | |||||||
24 September 12:15[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 2 October 1969[5] | Successful | |||
30 September 13:40[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NRL/US Navy | Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Successful | ||
![]() | NRL/US Navy | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Successful | ||
![]() | NRL/US Navy | Low Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Successful | ||
![]() | NRL | Low Earth | Calibration | In orbit | Successful | ||
![]() | USAF | Low Earth | Calibration | Cone: In orbit Cylinder: 14 February 2023[12] | Successful | ||
![]() | USAF | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
October[edit] | |||||||
1 October 22:29[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ESRO | Low Earth | Research | In orbit | Partial failure | ||
Orbit was lower than planned. | |||||||
6 October 01:45[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Meteorology | 20 August 2002[5] | Successful | |||
11 October 11:10 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | RVSN | Low Earth | Crewed orbital flight | 16 October 1969 | Partial failure | ||
Rendezvous with Soyuz 7 and 8 unsuccessful due to electronic failure. | |||||||
12 October 10:44 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | RVSN | Low Earth | Crewed orbital flight | 16 October 1969 | Partial failure | ||
Rendezvous with Soyuz 6 and 8 unsuccessful due to electronic failure. | |||||||
13 October 10:19 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | RVSN | Low Earth | Crewed orbital flight | 16 October 1969 | Partial failure | ||
Rendezvous with Soyuz 6 and 7 unsuccessful due to electronic failure. | |||||||
14 October[13] 13:19 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Interkosmos | Low Earth | Solar research | 2 January 1970[5] | Successful | ||
17 October 11:45[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 25 October 1969[5] | Successful | |||
18 October 10:00[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Radar calibration | 23 January 1970[5] | Successful | |||
21 October 12:49[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Successful | |||
22 October 14:09[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Selenocentric | Lunar sample return | In orbit | Failure | |||
Control system of the Blok D stage failed and the probe failed to leave Earth orbit. | |||||||
24 October 09:40[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 5 November 1969[5] | Successful | |||
24 October 13:01[10] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Radar calibration | 30 December 1970[5] | Successful | |||
24 October 18:10[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | USAF | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 8 November 1969[5] | Successful | ||
November[edit] | |||||||
4 November 11:59[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Radar calibration | 4 January 1970[5] | Successful | |||
8 November 01:52[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | BMWF/DLR | Medium Earth | Ionospheric research | In orbit | Successful | ||
12 November 11:30[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 20 November 1969[5] | Successful | |||
14 November 16:22 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Selenocentric | Crewed Lunar orbital flight | 24 November 1969 | Successful | ||
![]() | NASA | Selenocentric | Crewed Lunar landing | 20 November 1969 | Successful | ||
Second crewed Moon landing. | |||||||
15 November 08:30[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 23 November 1969[5] | Successful | |||
22 November 02:00[7] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | MoD | Geostationary | Communications (military) | In orbit | Successful | ||
24 November 11:00[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Radar calibration | 10 March 1970[5] | Successful | |||
24 November 16:49[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Geodesy | In orbit | Successful | |||
28 November 09:00[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Medium Earth | Flight test | In orbit | Failure | |||
First stage failure | |||||||
December[edit] | |||||||
3 December 13:20[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 15 December 1969[5] | Successful | |||
4 December 21:37[9] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CIA | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 10 January 1970[5] | Successful | ||
11 December 12:58[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Radar calibration | 22 March 1970[5] | Successful | |||
20 December 03:26[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | ELINT | 25 March 1979[5] | Successful | |||
23 December 09:25[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Dummy ASAT warhead | 28 August 1970[5] | Successful | |||
23 December 13:50[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 5 January 1970[5] | Successful | |||
25 December 09:59[10] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Interkosmos | Low Earth | Ionosphere research | 7 June 1970[5] | Successful | ||
27 December[4] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Low Earth | Ionosphere research | In orbit | Failure |
Suborbital flights[edit]
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
17 January[14] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() | NASA/RTG | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 17 January | Successful | ||
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi). | |||||||
21 January[15] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | RAE/WRE | Suborbital | Astronomy | 21 January | Failure | ||
23 January 20:00[15] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | RAE/WRE | Suborbital | Astronomy | 23 January | Successful | ||
Apogee: 149 kilometres (93 mi). | |||||||
23 January 23:00[14] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() | NASA/RTG | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 23 January | Successful | ||
Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi). | |||||||
25 January 21:00[14] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() | NASA/RTG | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 25 January | Successful | ||
Apogee: 118 kilometres (73 mi). | |||||||
3 February 21:05[14] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | SRC | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 3 February | Successful | ||
Apogee: 157 kilometres (98 mi). | |||||||
11 February 21:09[14] | ![]() |