January 15 in Space History

21 events

1. 1965 61 years ago launch

   CORONA 91/1016 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: CORONA 91/1016

   • Space transportation

   Thor SLV-2A Agena D launched on the CORONA 91/1016 flight from Vandenberg AFB, California, pad 75-3-5. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

2. 1969 57 years ago launch

   Soyuz-5 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Soyuz-5

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz 11A511 launched on the Soyuz-5 flight from NIIP-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC1. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

3. 1970 56 years ago launch

   Intelsat III F-6 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Intelsat III F-6

   • Space transportation

   Thor Delta M launched on the Intelsat III F-6 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC17A. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

4. 1970 56 years ago launch

   Kosmos-319 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-319

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K63 launched on the Kosmos-319 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC133/3. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

5. 1973 53 years ago landing

   Luna 21: lunar landing

   Category: Mission Operations and Milestones › Type: Landing

   Mission: Luna 21

   Moon landing.

   • NASA — mission history (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary; source attribution retained.

6. 1976 50 years ago launch

   Helios 2 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Helios 2

   • Space transportation

   Titan IIIE launched on the Helios 2 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC41. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

7. 1985 41 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1617/1622 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1617/1622

   • Space transportation

   Tsiklon-3 launched on the Kosmos-1617/1622 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC32/1. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

8. 1986 40 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1724 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1724

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1724 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC41/1. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

9. 1987 39 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1813 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1813

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1813 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC43/3. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

10. 1988 38 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1909/1914 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1909/1914

    • Space transportation

    Tsiklon-3 launched on the Kosmos-1909/1914 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC32/1. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

11. 1991 35 years ago launch

    Italsat 1/Eut. 2F2 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Italsat 1/Eut. 2F2

    • Space transportation

    Ariane 44L (44L) launched on the Italsat 1/Eut. 2F2 flight from Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, Guyane Francaise, pad ELA2. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

12. 2006 20 years ago sample return

    Stardust returns comet samples

    Category: Returns and Mission Endings › Type: Sample return

    Mission: Stardust

    • Sample return

    Stardust delivered collected material from comet Wild 2 to Earth.

    • NASA — 60 moments in NASA history (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary; source attribution retained.

13. 2013 13 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2482/3/4 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2482/3/4

    • Space transportation

    Rokot launched on the Kosmos-2482/3/4 flight from 1-y Gosudarstvenniy Ispitatelniy Kosmodrom MO RF, pad LC133/3. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

14. 2016 10 years ago launch

    Belintersat-1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Belintersat-1

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 3B (G2) launched on the Belintersat-1 flight from Xichang Space Center (Songlin), Sichuan, China, pad LC3. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

15. 2020 6 years ago launch

    Jilin-1 Kuanfu 1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Jilin-1 Kuanfu 1

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 2D launched on the Jilin-1 Kuanfu 1 flight from Taiyuan weixing fashe zhongxin, pad LC9. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

16. 2023 3 years ago launch

    Jilin/Qilu — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Jilin/Qilu

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 2D launched on the Jilin/Qilu flight from Taiyuan weixing fashe zhongxin, pad LC9. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

17. 2023 3 years ago launch

    USSF-67 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: USSF-67

    • Space transportation

    Falcon Heavy launched on the USSF-67 flight from NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida, pad LC39A. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

18. 2024 2 years ago launch

    Starlink-136 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-136

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-136 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. (CC BY 4.0)

19. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Blue Ghost 1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Blue Ghost 1

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Blue Ghost 1 flight from NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida, pad LC39A. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

20. 2025 1 year ago mission operations

    Gaia ends science observations

    Gaia completed its science observing phase after more than a decade of measurements.

    • ESA — Gaia mission (opens in a new tab) — Original factual summary; retain attribution to ESA.

21. 2026 launch

    Alsat-3A — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Alsat-3A

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 2C launched on the Alsat-3A flight from Jiuquan Space Center, Nei Monggol Zizhiqu, China, pad LC43/94. 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. (CC BY 4.0)