January 21 in Space History

16 events

1. 1964 62 years ago launch

   Relay 2 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Relay 2

   • Space transportation

   Thor Delta B launched on the Relay 2 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC17B. 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. 1965 61 years ago launch failure

   ABRES MTV-1/OV1-1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: ABRES MTV-1/OV1-1

   • Space transportation

   Atlas D launched on the ABRES MTV-1/OV1-1 flight from Vandenberg AFB, California, pad 576B3. Launch failure.

   • 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

   Kosmos-322 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-322

   • Space transportation

   Voskhod 11A57 launched on the Kosmos-322 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)

4. 1971 55 years ago launch

   Kosmos-392 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-392

   • Space transportation

   Voskhod 11A57 launched on the Kosmos-392 flight from NIIP-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC31. 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. 1971 55 years ago launch

   KH-8A — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: KH-8A

   • Space transportation

   Titan 23B launched on the KH-8A flight from South Vandenberg AFB, California, pad SLC4W. 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)

6. 1975 51 years ago launch

   Kosmos-703 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-703

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K63 launched on the Kosmos-703 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)

7. 1981 45 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1241 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1241

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-1241 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC132/1. 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. 1987 39 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1814 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1814

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-1814 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC132/2. 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. 2008 18 years ago launch

   Tecsar — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Tecsar

   • Space transportation

   PSLV (CA) launched on the Tecsar flight from Satish Dhawan Space Ctr, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India, pad FLP. 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. 2015 11 years ago launch

    MUOS 3 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: MUOS 3

    • Space transportation

    Atlas V 551 (C) launched on the MUOS 3 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad SLC41. 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. 2017 9 years ago launch

    SBIRS GEO-3 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: SBIRS GEO-3

    • Space transportation

    Atlas V 401 (C) launched on the SBIRS GEO-3 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad SLC41. 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. 2018 8 years ago launch

    Still Testing — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Still Testing

    • Space transportation

    Electron launched on the Still Testing flight from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, pad LC1A. 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)

13. 2019 7 years ago launch

    Jilin Guanpu 1,2 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Jilin Guanpu 1,2

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 11 launched on the Jilin Guanpu 1,2 flight from Jiuquan Space Center, Nei Monggol Zizhiqu, China, pad LC43/95. 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. 2022 4 years ago launch

    GSSAP 5/6 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: GSSAP 5/6

    • Space transportation

    Atlas V 511 (G) launched on the GSSAP 5/6 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad SLC41. 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. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Starlink-227 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-227

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-227 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)

16. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Starlink-228 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-228

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-228 flight from South Base, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, pad SLC4E. 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)