Space history on January 26

17 events

1. 1962 64 years ago launch

   Ranger 3 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Ranger 3

   • Space transportation

   Ranger 3 was a space exploration mission conducted by NASA to study the Moon.

   • 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 — Ranger 3 (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/Ranger_3
   • Timeline of Space Exploration Missions 1957 to 2031 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA — Ranger 3 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA NSSDCA — Ranger 3 (opens in a new tab)

2. 1967 59 years ago launch

   ESSA 4 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: ESSA 4

   • Space transportation

   Thor Delta E launched on the ESSA 4 flight from Vandenberg AFB, California, pad SLC2E. 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.

3. 1971 55 years ago launch

   Intelsat 4 F-2 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Intelsat 4 F-2

   • Space transportation

   Atlas SLV-3C Centaur launched on the Intelsat 4 F-2 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC36A. 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.

4. 1971 55 years ago launch

   Kosmos-393 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-393

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K63 launched on the Kosmos-393 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.

5. 1973 53 years ago launch

   Kosmos-546 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-546

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-546 flight from GTsP-4, Kapustin Yar, Volgograd, Rossiya, pad LC107/1. 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.

6. 1978 48 years ago launch

   FSW — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: FSW

   • Space transportation

   Chang Zheng 2C launched on the FSW flight from Jiuquan Space Center, Nei Monggol Zizhiqu, China, pad LA2B. 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.

7. 1978 48 years ago launch

   IUE — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: IUE

   • Space transportation

   Delta 2914 launched on the IUE 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.

8. 1983 43 years ago launch

   IRAS — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: IRAS

   • Space transportation

   Delta 3910 launched on the IRAS flight from Vandenberg AFB, California, pad SLC2W. 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.

9. 1984 42 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1533 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1533

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U2 launched on the Kosmos-1533 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.

10. 1984 42 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1534 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1534

    • Space transportation

    Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-1534 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.

11. 1988 38 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1915 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1915

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1915 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.

12. 1989 37 years ago launch

    Gorizont — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Gorizont

    • Space transportation

    Proton-K/DM-2 launched on the Gorizont flight from GIK-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC200/40. 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.

13. 1989 37 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1992 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1992

    • Space transportation

    Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-1992 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.

14. 1993 33 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2232 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2232

    • Space transportation

    Molniya 8K78M (2BL) launched on the Kosmos-2232 flight from GNIIP, VKS section, Plesetsk, Rossiya, pad LC16/2. 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.

15. 2023 3 years ago launch

    IGS R-7 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: IGS R-7

    • Space transportation

    H-IIA 202 (1) launched on the IGS R-7 flight from Tanegashima Space Center, Tanegashima, Nippon, pad Y. 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.

16. 2023 3 years ago launch

    Starlink-71 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-71

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-71 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.

17. 2024 2 years ago

    Galactic 06 — private and commercial crew participation

    Category: Human Spaceflight Activities › Type: Private astronaut or space tourist flight

    Mission: Galactic 06 · Programme: Virgin Galactic

    • Human spaceflight
    • Commercial human spaceflight
    • Space tourism

    Role: Commercial astronaut, Space tourist

    6 participants; see description and linked people.

    • Virgin Galactic (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on Virgin Galactic. Original source retains its rights.