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Space history on January 4
6 events
Isaac Newton: birth
Category: Organizations and PeopleType: Birth
Role: Scientist, Mathematician
Isaac Newton: birth.
- MacTutor History of Mathematics: Isaac Newton (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on MacTutor History of Mathematics: Isaac Newton. Original source retains its rights.
Sputnik 1 reenters
Category: Returns and Mission EndingsType: Re-entry
Mission: Sputnik 1
The first artificial satellite reentered Earth’s atmosphere.
- NASA HEASARC — 1900–1959 (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary; source attribution retained.
E-6 No. 2 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: E-6 No. 2
Luna E-6 No.2, also identified as No.1, and sometimes known in the West as Sputnik 25, was a Soviet spacecraft which launched in 1963, but was placed into a useless orbit due to a problem with the upper stage of…
- Jonathan McDowell — General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects (opens in a new tab) — Data from GCAT (J. McDowell, planet4589.org/space/gcat), CC BY 4.0. Adapted into anniversary records.
- Wikipedia — Sputnik 25 (opens in a new tab) — Adapted from Wikipedia contributors; selected sentences retained and edited for length, reference markers and pronunciation glosses. CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Article and edit history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_25
- Original Wikipedia link from NSE timeline (opens in a new tab) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Timeline of Space Exploration Missions 1957 to 2031 (opens in a new tab)
- NASA — Sputnik 25 (opens in a new tab)
- NASA NSSDCA — Sputnik 25 (opens in a new tab)
Spirit lands on Mars
Category: Mission Operations and MilestonesType: Landing
Mission: Spirit
Spirit landed at Gusev Crater.
- NASA — mission history (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary; source attribution retained.
Thuraya-4-NGS — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: Thuraya-4-NGS
Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Thuraya-4-NGS flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC40. Launch vehicle success.
- Jonathan McDowell — General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects (opens in a new tab) — Data from GCAT (J. McDowell, planet4589.org/space/gcat), CC BY 4.0. Adapted into anniversary records.
Starlink-345 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: Starlink-345
Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-345 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC40. Launch vehicle success.
- Jonathan McDowell — General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects (opens in a new tab) — Data from GCAT (J. McDowell, planet4589.org/space/gcat), CC BY 4.0. Adapted into anniversary records.