1968 in spaceflight
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The United States National Space Science Data Center catalogued 157 spacecraft placed into orbit by launches which occurred in 1968.[1] The first crewed Apollo missions occurred in 1968. It was also the year in which Earth lifeforms first left low Earth orbit, during the successful Zond 5 mission to the Moon and the Zond 6 lunar mission which crashed upon return, and the year that humans first left low Earth orbit, during the successful Apollo 8 mission to the Moon.
Deep space lunar missions
Date (UTC) | Spacecraft | Event | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
10 January | Surveyor 7 | Lunar landing | in the debris from Tycho crater |
31 January | Lunar Orbiter 5 | Lunar impact | |
10 April | Luna 14 | Lunar orbit insertion | |
18 September | Zond 5 | Flyby of the Moon; first return to Earth after flight to Moon; first Earth life forms to travel around the Moon (two Russian tortoises) | Closest approach: 1,950 kilometres (1,210 mi) |
14 November | Zond 6 | Flyby of the Moon, with turtles, flies, and bacteria | Closest approach: 2,420 kilometres (1,500 mi) |
24 December | Apollo 8 | Lunar orbit insertion; first humans to travel around the Moon | |
25 December | Apollo 8 | Leaves lunar orbit | Completed 10 orbits |
Orbital launches
- Key
January
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
7 January 06:30 | Atlas-SLV3 Centaur-D | AC-15 | Cape Canaveral SLC-36A | ||||
Surveyor 7 | NASA | Selenocentric | Lunar lander | 10 January (on Moon) | Successful | ||
11 January 16:16 | Delta E1 | D-56 | Vandenberg SLC-2E | ||||
Explorer 36 (GEOS-B) | NASA | Low Earth | Research | In orbit | Successful | ||
16 January 12:00 | Voskhod | Plesetsk Site 41/1 | |||||
Kosmos 199 (Zenit-2 #58) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
17 January 10:12 | Thor SLV-2A Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-2W | |||||
OPS 1965 Multigroup 3&Setter 1B-2 | USAF | Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Successful | ||
18 January 19:04 | Titan IIIB Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-4W | |||||
OPS 5028 KH-8 4311 | USAF | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
19 January 22:00 | Kosmos-3M | Plesetsk Site 132/2 | |||||
Kosmos 200 (Tselina O #2) | Low Earth Orbit | SIGINT | In orbit | Successful | |||
22 January 22:48:09 | Saturn IB (C-1B) | Cape Canaveral LC-37B | NASA | ||||
Apollo 5 | NASA | LEO | Test Lunar Module | 12 February 1968 09:59 | successful | ||
Minor malfunction of LM descent stage engine, otherwise successful | |||||||
24 January 22:26 | Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-1E | |||||
OPS 5028 KH-4A 1045 | CIA | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
Tivoli 1 | USAF | Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Successful |
February
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
6 February 08:00 | Voskhod | Baikonur Site 31/6 | |||||
Kosmos 201 (Zenit-4 #38) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
7 February 10:43 | Molniya-M / Blok L | Baikonur Site 1/5 | |||||
(Ye-6LS No 112) | Selenocentric | Lunar Orbiter | 7 February | Failure | |||
20 February 10:03 | Kosmos-2 | Kapustin Yar Site 86/1 | |||||
Kosmos 202 (DS-U2-V #4) | Low Earth Orbit | Ionospheric research | 24 March | Successful | |||
20 February 16:00 | Kosmos-3M | Plesetsk Site 132/2 | |||||
Kosmos 203 (Sfera #1) | Low Earth Orbit | Geodesy | In orbit | Successful |
March
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
2 March 03:55 | Scout-A | Vandenberg SLC-5 | |||||
OPS 7034 Transit-O 18 | USN | Low Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Successful | ||
2 March 18:29 | Proton K / Blok D | Baikonur Site 81/23 | MOM | ||||
Zond 4 (L1 6) | MOM | Lunar free-return | Prototype Soyuz 7K-L1P/Zond | 9 March | Successful | ||
4 March 13:06 | Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D | Cape Canaveral LC-13 | |||||
OGO 5 (EGO 3) | NASA | Low Earth | Research | In orbit | Successful | ||
5 March 11:20 | Kosmos-2 | Plesetsk Site 133/1 | |||||
Kosmos 204 (DS-P1-I #3) | Low Earth Orbit | Radar calibration | 2 March 1969 | Successful | |||
5 March 12:30 | Voskhod | Plesetsk Site 41/1 | |||||
Kosmos 205 (Zenit-2 #59) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
5 March 18:28 | Scout-B | Wallops LA-3 | |||||
Explorer 37 (Solrad 9) | NASA | Low Earth | Research | 16 November 1990 | Successful | ||
6 March 11:02 | Kosmos-2 | Kapustin Yar Site 86/1 | |||||
(DS-U1-Ya #1) | Low Earth Orbit | Magnetosphere research | 6 March | Failure | |||
13 March 19:51 | Titan IIIB Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-4W | |||||
OPS 5057 KH-8 4312 | USAF | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
14 March 09:34 | Vostok-2M | Plesetsk Site 41/1 | |||||
Kosmos 206 (Meteor-1 #9) | Low Earth Orbit | Meteorology | 22 April 1989 | Successful | |||
14 March 22:00 | Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-1E | |||||
OPS 4849 KH-4A 1046 | CIA | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
OPS 7076 Lampan 1 / Sampan 2 | USAF | Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Successful | ||
16 March 12:30 | Voskhod | Plesetsk Site 41/1 | |||||
Kosmos 207 (Zenit-4 #39) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
21 March 09:50 | Voskhod | Baikonur Site 1/5 | |||||
Kosmos 208 (Zenit-2M #1,Gektor #1) & Nauka-1KS 1L | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
22 March 09:30 | Tsyklon-2A | Baikonur Site 90/19 | |||||
Kosmos 209 (US-AO #4) | Low Earth Orbit | US-A prototype | In orbit | Successful |
April
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
3 April 11:00 | Voskhod | Plesetsk Site 41/1 | |||||
Kosmos 210 (Zenit-2 #60) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
4 April 12:00:02 | Saturn V (C-5) | LC-39A, Kennedy | NASA | ||||
Apollo 6 | NASA | Low Earth (achieved) TLI to direct return abort (planned) | Test CSM heat shield at Lunar return speeds. Test S-IVB re-ignition in LEO. | 4 April 1968 21:57:26 | Partial failure | ||
Experienced Pogo oscillation during S-IC first stage ascent. S-IVB failed restart test. | |||||||
6 April 09:59 | Atlas F OV1 | Vandenberg LC-576A2 | |||||
OV1 13 | USAF | Low Earth | Radiation belt research | In orbit | Successful | ||
OV1 14 | USAF | Low Earth | Radiation belt research | In orbit | Successful | ||
7 April 10:09 | Molniya-M / Blok L | Baikonur Site 1/5 | |||||
Luna 14 | Selenocentric | Lunar Orbiter | In orbit | Successful | |||
9 April 11:26 | Kosmos-2 | Plesetsk Site 133/1 | |||||
Kosmos 211 (DS-P1-Yu #12) | Low Earth Orbit | Radar calibration | In orbit | Successful | |||
14 April 10:00 | Soyuz | Baikonur Site 31/6 | |||||
Kosmos 212 (Soyuz Test #5) | Low Earth Orbit | Test spacecraft | In orbit | Successful | |||
15 April 09:34 | Soyuz | Baikonur Site 1/5 | |||||
Kosmos 213 (Soyuz Test #6) | Low Earth Orbit | Test spacecraft | In orbit | Successful | |||
17 April 17:00 | Titan IIIB Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-4W | |||||
OPS 5105 KH-8 4313 | USAF | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
18 April 10:30 | Voskhod | Plesetsk Site 41/1 | |||||
Kosmos 214 (Zenit-4 #40) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
18 April 22:29 | Kosmos-2 | Kapustin Yar Site 86/1 | |||||
Kosmos 215 (DS-U1-A #1) | Low Earth Orbit | Aeronomy | 30 June | Successful | |||
20 April 10:30 | Voskhod | Baikonur Site 31/6 | |||||
Kosmos 216 (Zenit-2 #61) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
21 April 04:20 | Molniya-M / Blok ML | Baikonur Site 1/5 | |||||
Molniya-1 08 | Molniya orbit | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
22 April 23:01 | Proton K / Blok D | Pad 81/23, Baikonur | MOM | ||||
Zond (L1 7) | MOM | Lunar Free-return | Prototype Soyuz 7K-L1P/Zond | 22 April | Failure | ||
24 April 16:00 | Tsyklon-2A | Baikonur Site 90/19 | |||||
Kosmos 217 (I2M #1) | Low Earth Orbit | ASAT target | 26 April | Partial failure | |||
The satellite did not separate from the upper stage and was placed into lower than planned orbit | |||||||
25 April 00:45 | R-36-O | Baikonur Site 162/36 | |||||
Kosmos 218 (OGCh #17) | RVSN | Low Earth Orbit | FOBS test | 25 April | Successful | ||
26 April 04:42 | Kosmos-2 | Kapustin Yar Site 86/1 | |||||
Kosmos 219 (DS-U2-D #2) | Low Earth Orbit | Magnetosphere research | 2 March 1969 | Successful |
May
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
1 May 21:31 | Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-3W | |||||
OPS 1413 KH-4B 1103 | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | |||
7 May 13:57 | Kosmos 3M | Plesetsk Site 132/2 | |||||
Kosmos 220 (Zaliv #2) | Low Earth Orbit | Navigation | In orbit | Successful | |||
17 May 02:06 | Scout B | Vandenberg SLC-5 | |||||
ESRO 2B (Iris 2) | ESRO | Low Earth Orbit | Research | In orbit | Successful | ||
18 May 08:23 | Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-2E | |||||
Nimbus B | NASA/NOAA | Low Earth | Meteorology | 18 May | Failure | ||
SECOR 10 | US Army | Low Earth | Geodesy | 18 May | Failure | ||
23 May 04:38 | Thor LV-2F Burner 2 | Vandenberg SLC-10W | |||||
OPS 7869 DMSP-4B F1 | USAF | Low Earth | Meteorology | In orbit | Successful | ||
24 May 07:04 | Kosmos-2 | Kapustin Yar Site 86/1 | |||||
Kosmos 221 (DS-P1-Yu #13) | Low Earth Orbit | Radar calibration | In orbit | Successful | |||
30 May 20:29 | Kosmos-2 | Plesetsk Site 133/1 | |||||
Kosmos 222 (DS-P1-Yu #14) | Low Earth Orbit | Radar calibration | In orbit | Successful |
June
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
1 June 10:50 | Voskhod | Plesetsk Site 41/1 | |||||
Kosmos 223 (Zenit-2 #62) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
4 June 06:45 | Voskhod | Baikonur Site 31/6 | |||||
Kosmos 224 (Zenit-4 #41) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
4 June 18:45 | Kosmos-3M | Plesetsk Site 132/2 | |||||
Sfera #2 | Low Earth Orbit | Geodesy | 4 June | Failure | |||
5 June 17:33 | Titan IIIB Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-4W | |||||
OPS 5138 KH-8 4314 | USAF | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
11 June 21:29 | Kosmos-2 | Kapustin Yar Site 86/1 | |||||
Kosmos 225 (DS-U1-Ya #2) | Low Earth Orbit | Magnetosphere research | In orbit | Successful | |||
12 June 13:14 | Vostok-2M | Plesetsk Site 41/1 | |||||
Kosmos 226 (Meteor-1 #10) | Low Earth Orbit | Meteorology | In orbit | Successful | |||
13 June 14:03:00 | Titan IIIC | Cape Canaveral Air Force Station LC-41 | USAF | ||||
OPS 9341 IDCSP 20 | USAF | Sub-GSO | Military communications | In orbit | Success | ||
OPS 9342 IDCSP 21 | USAF | Sub-GSO | Military communications | In orbit | Success | ||
OPS 9343 IDCSP 22 | USAF | Sub-GSO | Military communications | In orbit | Success | ||
OPS 9344 IDCSP 23 | USAF | Sub-GSO | Military communications | In orbit | Success | ||
OPS 9345 IDCSP 24 | USAF | Sub-GSO | Military communications | In orbit | Success | ||
OPS 9346 IDCSP 25 | USAF | Sub-GSO | Military communications | In orbit | Success | ||
OPS 9347 IDCSP 26 | USAF | Sub-GSO | Military communications | In orbit | Success | ||
OPS 9348 IDCSP 27 | USAF | Sub-GSO | Military communications | In orbit | Success | ||
15 June 12:25 | Kosmos-3 | Plesetsk Site 41/15 | |||||
(Strela-2 #4) | Low Earth Orbit | Military communications | 15 June | Failure | |||
18 June 06:15 | Voskhod | Baikonur Site 31/6 | |||||
Kosmos 227 (Zenit-4 #42) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
20 June 21:46 | Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-1E | |||||
OPS 5343 KH-4A 1047 | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | |||
OPS 5259 Tripos 3/Sousea 2 | USAF | Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Successful | ||
21 June 12:00 | Voskhod | Baikonur Site 31/6 | |||||
Kosmos 228 (Zenit-2M #2,Gektor #2&Nauka-1KS 2L) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
26 June 11:00 | Voskhod | Plesetsk Site 41/1 | |||||
Kosmos 229 (Zenit-4 #43) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful |
July
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
4 July 17:26 | Delta J | D-57 | Vandenberg SLC-2E | ||||
Explorer 38 (RAE A) | NASA | Low Earth | Research | In orbit | Successful | ||
5 July 06:59 | Kosmos-2 | Kapustin Yar Site 86/1 | |||||
Kosmos 230 (DS-U3-S #2) | Low Earth Orbit | Solar research | 2 November | Successful | |||
5 July 15:25 | Molniya-M / Blok ML | Baikonur Site 1/5 | |||||
Molniya-1 09 | Molniya | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
10 July 19:49 | Voskhod | Baikonur Site 31/6 | |||||
Kosmos 231 (Zenit-2 #63) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
11 July 19:30 | Atlas F OV1 | Vandenberg LC576A2 | |||||
OV1 15 (SPADES) | USAF | Low Earth | Technology Demonstration | In orbit | Successful | ||
OV1 16 (LOADS 1) | USAF | Low Earth | Technology Demonstration | In orbit | Successful | ||
16 July 13:10 | Voskhod | Plesetsk Site 41/1 | |||||
Kosmos 232 (Zenit-4 #44) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
18 July 19:59 | Kosmos-2 | Plesetsk Site 133/1 | |||||
Kosmos 233 (DS-P1-Yu #15) | Low Earth Orbit | Radar calibration | In orbit | Successful | |||
30 July 07:00 | Voskhod | Baikonur Site 31/6 | |||||
Kosmos 234 (Zenit-4 #45) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful |
August
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
6 August 11:08 | Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D | Cape Canaveral LC-13 | |||||
OPS 2222 Canyon 1 | USAF | Low Earth | SIGINT | In orbit | Successful | ||
6 August 16:30 | Titan IIIB Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-4W | |||||
OPS 5187 KH-8 4315 | USAF | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
7 August 21:36 | Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-3W | |||||
OPS 5955 KH-4B 1104 | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | |||
8 August 20:12 | Scout B | Vandenberg SLC-5 | |||||
Explorer 39 (AD C) | NASA | Low Earth | Research | 22 June 1981 | Successful | ||
Explorer 40 (Injun 5) | NASA | Low Earth | Research | In orbit | Successful | ||
9 August 07:00 | Voskhod | Baikonur Site 31/6 | |||||
Kosmos 235 (Zenit-2 #64) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
10 August 22:33 | Atlas-SLV3 Centaur-D | AC-17 | Cape Canaveral SLC-36A | ||||
ATS-4 | NASA | Geosynchronous (planned) Low Earth orbit (achieved) | Communications/Meteorology | 17 October | Partial failure | ||
Centaur failed to restart, payload inserted into lower than planned orbit | |||||||
16 August 11:24 | Delta N | D-58 | Vandenberg SLC-2E | ||||
ESSA-7 | ESSA | Low Earth | Meteorology | In orbit | Successful | ||
16 August 20:57 | Atlas SLV-3 Burner-2 | Vandenberg SLC-3E | |||||
Orbiscal 1 | USAF | Low Earth | Technology Demonstration | 16 August | Failure | ||
OV5 8 (ERS 19) | USAF | Low Earth | Technology Demonstration | ||||
Gridsphere 1 | USAF | Low Earth | Technology Demonstration | ||||
Gridsphere 2 | USAF | Low Earth | Technology Demonstration | ||||
MylarBalloon | USAF | Low Earth | Technology Demonstration | ||||
Rigidsphere | USAF | Low Earth | Technology Demonstration | ||||
LCS 3 | MIT Lincoln Laboratory | Low Earth | Calibration | ||||
LIDOS | USAF | Low Earth | Geodesy | ||||
SECOR 11 | US Army | Low Earth | Geodesy | ||||
SECOR 12 | US Army | Low Earth | Geodesy | ||||
Radcat | Low Earth | Calibration | |||||
RM 18 & UVR | USAF | Low Earth | Technology Demonstration | ||||
Payload fairing failed to separate | |||||||
27 August 11:29 | Kosmos-3 | Baikonur Site 41/15 | |||||
Kosmos 236 (Strela-2 #5) | Low Earth Orbit | Military communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
27 August 12:29 | Voskhod | Plesetsk Site 41/1 | |||||
Kosmos 237 (Zenit-4 #46) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
28 August 10:04 | Soyuz | Baikonur Site 31/6 | |||||
Kosmos 238 (Soyuz Test #7) | Low Earth Orbit | Test spacecraft | 1 September 09:03 | Successful |
September
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
5 September 07:00 | Voskhod | Baikonur Site 31/6 | |||||
Kosmos 239 (Zenit-4 #47) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
10 September 18:30 | Titan IIIB Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-4W | |||||
OPS 5247 KH-8 4316 | USAF | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
14 September 06:50 | Voskhod | Baikonur Site 31/6 | |||||
Kosmos 240 (Zenit-2 #65) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
14 September 21:42 | Proton K / Blok D | Pad 81/23, Baikonur | MOM | ||||
Zond 5 (L1 9) | MOM | Lunar Free-return | Prototype Soyuz 7K-L1P/Zond | 21 September 16:08 | Successful | ||
16 September 12:30 | Voskhod | Site 41/1, Plesetsk | |||||
Kosmos 241 (Zenit-4 #48) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
18 September 21:32 | Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-1E | |||||
OPS 0165 KH-4A 1048 | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | |||
OPS 8595 Vampan 1 | USAF | Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Successful | ||
19 September 00:09 | Delta M | D-59 | Cape Canaveral LC-17A | ||||
Intelsat III F1 | Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | 19 September | Failure | ||
20 September 14:39 | Kosmos-2 | Plesetsk Site 133/1 | |||||
Kosmos 242 (DS-P1-I #4) | Low Earth Orbit | Radar calibration | In orbit | Successful | |||
23 September 07:39 | Voskhod | Baikonur Site 1/5 | |||||
Kosmos 243 (Zenit-2M #3,Gektor #3 & Nauka-2KS 1L) | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | |||
26 September 07:37 | Titan IIIC | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 | |||||
LES 6 | USAF | Geosynchronous | Technology Demonstration | In orbit | Successful | ||
OV2 5 | USAF | Low Earth | Technology Demonstration | In orbit | Successful | ||
OV5 2 (ERS 21) | USAF | Low Earth | Technology Demonstration | In orbit | Successful | ||
OV5 4 (ERS 28) | USAF | Low Earth | Technology Demonstration | In orbit | Successful |
October
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
2 October 13:35 | R-36-O | Baikonur Site 161/35 | |||||
Kosmos 244 (OGCh #20) | RVSN | Low Earth Orbit | FOBS test | 2 October | Successful | ||
3 October 12:58 | Kosmos-2 | Plesetsk Site 133/1 | |||||
Kosmos 245 (DS-P1-Yu #16) | Low Earth Orbit | Radar calibration | In orbit | Successful | |||
3 October 20:49 | Scout-B | Vandenberg SLC-5 | |||||
ESRO 1A (Aurorae) | ESRO | Low Earth | Technology Demonstration | In orbit | Successful | ||
5 October 00:32 | Molniya-M / Blok ML | Baikonur Site 1/5 | |||||
Molniya-1 10 | Molniya | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
5 October 11:16 | Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-1W | |||||
OPS 0964 Strawman 1 | USAF | Low Earth | ELINT, SIGINT | In orbit | Successful | ||
7 October 12:05 | Voskhod | Plesetsk Site 41/1 | |||||
Kosmos 246 (Zenit-4 #49) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
11 October 12:05 | Voskhod | Plesetsk Site 41/1 | |||||
Kosmos 247 (Zenit-2 #66) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
11 October 1968 15:02 | Saturn IB (C-1B) | LC-34, Cape Canaveral | NASA | ||||
Apollo 7 | NASA | LEO | Crewed orbital flight | 22 October 1968 11:11:48 | Successful | ||
First crewed Apollo flight | |||||||
19 October 04:20 | Tsyklon-2A | Baikonur Site 90/19 | |||||
Kosmos 248 (I2M #2) | Low Earth Orbit | ASAT target | In orbit | Successful | |||
20 October 04:02 | Tsyklon-2A | Site 90/20, Baikonur | |||||
Kosmos 249 (I2P #1) | Low Earth Orbit | ASAT test | In orbit | Successful | |||
23 October 04:34 | Thor LV-2F Burner 2 | Vandenberg SLC-10W | |||||
OPS 4078 DSMP-4B F2 | Low Earth (SSO) | Meteorology | In orbit | Successful | |||
25 October 09:00 | Soyuz | Baikonur Site 1/5 | RVSN | ||||
Soyuz 2 | Low Earth orbit | Docking target for Soyuz 3 | 28 October 1968 07:21 | Successful | |||
Soyuz 3 failed to dock | |||||||
26 October 08:34 | Soyuz | Baikonur Site 31/6 | RVSN | ||||
Soyuz 3 | Low Earth orbit | Crewed orbital flight | 30 October 1968 07:25:03 | Partial Failure | |||
Failed to dock with Soyuz 2 | |||||||
30 October 22:00 | Kosmos-3M | Plesetsk Site 132/2 | |||||
Kosmos 250 (Tselina-O #3) | Low Earth Orbit | SIGINT | In orbit | Successful | |||
31 October 09:14 | Voskhod | Baikonur Site 1/5 | |||||
Kosmos 251 (Zenit-4M #1,Rotor #1) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful |
November
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
1 November 00:27 | Tsyklon-2A | Baikonur Site 90/20 | |||||
Kosmos 252 (I2P #2) | Low Earth Orbit | ASAT | In orbit | Successful | |||
3 November 21:30 | Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-3W | |||||
OPS 1315 KH-4B 1105 | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | |||
6 November 19:10 | Titan IIIB Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-4W | |||||
OPS 5296 KH-8 4317 | USAF | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
8 November 09:46 | Delta E1 | D-60 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17B | ||||
Pioneer 9 | NASA | Heliocentric | Solar Orbiter | In orbit | Successful | ||
TTS 2 | NASA | Low Earth | Technology Demonstration | In orbit | Successful | ||
10 November 19:11 | Proton K / Blok D | Baikonur Site 81/23 | MOM | ||||
Zond 6 (L1 12) | MOM | Lunar Free-return | Prototype Soyuz 7K-L1P/Zond | 17 November 14:10 | Successful | ||
13 November 12:00 | Voskhod | Plesetsk Site 41/1 | |||||
Kosmos 253 (Zenit-2 #67) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
16 November 11:40 | Proton K | Baikonur Site 81/24 | MOM | ||||
Proton 4 | MOM | Low Earth | Cosmic ray research | 24 July 1969 | Successful | ||
21 November 12:10 | Voskhod | Plesetsk Site 41/1 | |||||
Kosmos 254 (Zenit-4 #50) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
29 November 12:40 | Voskhod | Plesetsk Site 41/1 | |||||
Kosmos 255 (Zenit-2 #68) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
29 November 23:12 | Europa 1 | F7 | Woomera Test Range LA-6A | ||||
STV 1 | ELDO | Low Earth Orbit | Dummy Payload | 29 November | Failure | ||
Third stage failure after separation | |||||||
30 November 12:00 | Kosmos-3M | Plesetsk Site 132/2 | |||||
Kosmos 256 (Sfera #3) | Low Earth Orbit | Geodesy | In orbit | Successful |
December
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
3 December 14:52 | Kosmos-2 | Plesetsk Site 133/1 | |||||
Kosmos 257 (DS-P1-Yu #17) | Low Earth Orbit | Radar calibration | 5 March 1969 | Successful | |||
4 December 19:23 | Titan IIIB Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-4W | |||||
OPS 6518 KH-8 4318 | USAF | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Failure | ||
5 December 18:55 | Delta E1 | D-61 | Cape Canaveral LC-17B | ||||
HEOS 1 | ESRO | Low Earth | Research | 28 October 1975 | Successful | ||
7 December 08:40 | Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D | AC-16 | Cape Canaveral LC-36B | ||||
OAO 2 | NASA | Low Earth | UV astronomy | In orbit | Successful | ||
10 December 08:25 | Voskhod | Baikonur Site 31/6 | |||||
Kosmos 258 (Zenit-2 #69) | GRU | Low Earth Orbit | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
12 December 22:22 | Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D | Vandenberg SLC-3W | |||||
OPS 4740 KH-4A 1049 | CIA | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Successful | ||
OPS 7684 P-801 1 | USAF | Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Successful | ||
14 December 05:09 | Kosmos-2 | Kapustin Yar Site 86/1 | |||||
Kosmos 259 (DS-U2-I #3) | Low Earth Orbit | Ionosphere research | 5 May 1969 | Successful | |||
15 December 17:21 | Delta N | Vandenberg SLC-2E | |||||
ESSA-8 | ESSA | SSO | Meteorology | In orbit | Successful | ||
16 December 09:15 | Molniya-M / Blok ML | Site 1/5, Baikonur | |||||
Kosmos 260 (Molniya-1 Yu 15L) | Molniya | Technology Demonstration | In orbit | Successful | |||
19 December 00:32 | Delta M | D-63 | Cape Canaveral LC-17A | ||||
Intelsat III F2 | Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Successful | ||
19 December 23:55 | Kosmos-2 | Plesetsk Site 133/1 | |||||
Kosmos 261 (DS-U2-GK #1) | Low Earth Orbit | Aeronomy, auroral research | 12 February 1969 | Successful | |||
21 December 12:51 | Saturn V (C-5) | LC-39A, Kennedy | NASA | ||||
Apollo 8 | NASA | Selenocentric | Crewed lunar orbiter | 27 December 1968 15:51:42 | Successful | ||
LTA B | NASA | Selenocentric | Mass Model | In orbit | Successful | ||
First crewed mission to the Moon | |||||||
26 December 09:45 | Kosmos-2 | Kapustin Yar Site 86/1 | |||||
Kosmos 262 (DS-U2-GF #1) | Low Earth Orbit | Solar research | 18 July 1969 | Successful |
Suborbital Launches
January-December
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
28 March | Kosmos-3 | Baikonur Site 41/15 | |||||
VKZ #2 | Suborbital | Aeronomy, ionosphere and radiation belt research | 28 March | Successful | |||
Launched on the strictly vertical trajectory. Apogee: about 4,000 km | |||||||
20 May 22:05 | R-36-O | Baikonur Site 162/36 | RVSN | ||||
OGCh #18 | RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 20 May | Successful | ||
27 May 23:15 | R-36-O | Baikonur Site 161/35 | RVSN | ||||
OGCh #19 | RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 May | Successful | ||
8 August[2] | T-7/GF-01A | Jiuquan | |||||
CAST | Suborbital | Test flight | 8 August | Successful | |||
Test of high-altitude ignition of the FG-02 solid rocket motor. Apogee: 311 km | |||||||
20 August[2] | T-7/GF-01A | Jiuquan | |||||
CAST | Suborbital | Test flight | 20 August | Successful | |||
Test of high-altitude ignition of the FG-02 solid rocket motor. Apogee: 311 km |
Orbital launch summary
References
- Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
- Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
- Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.[dead link]
- Krebs, Gunter. "Chronology of Space Launches".
- Kyle, Ed. "Space Launch Report". Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "GCAT Orbital Launch Log".
- Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive".
- Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica".
- Webb, Brian. "Southwest Space Archive".
- Zak, Anatoly. "Russian Space Web".
- "ISS Calendar". Spaceflight 101.
- "NSSDCA Master Catalog". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
- "Space Calendar". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.[dead link]
- "Space Information Center". JAXA.[dead link]
- "Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).
Generic references:
Spaceflight portal
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- edit
Spaceflight portal
Footnotes
- ^ "Spacecraft Query Results". Master Catalog Search. NASA NSSDC. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ a b Wade, Mark. "T-7". astronautix.com. Retrieved 15 August 2024.