January 31 in Space History

14 events

1. 1966 60 years ago launch

   Luna-9 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Luna-9

   • Space transportation

   Luna 9 (Луна-9), internal designation Ye-6 No.13, was an uncrewed space mission of the Soviet Union's Luna programme.

   • 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)
   • Wikipedia — Luna 9 (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/Luna_9 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
   • Timeline of Space Exploration Missions 1957 to 2031 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA — Luna 9 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA NSSDCA — Luna 9 (opens in a new tab)

2. 1967 59 years ago launch failure

   OV3-5 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: OV3-5

   • Space transportation

   Scout B launched on the OV3-5 flight from South Vandenberg AFB, California, pad SLC5. 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. 1971 55 years ago launch

   Apollo 14 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Apollo 14

   • Space transportation

   Apollo 14 (January 31 – February 9, 1971) was the eighth crewed mission in the United States Apollo program operated by NASA, the third to land on the Moon, and the first to land in the lunar highlands.

   • 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)
   • Wikipedia — Apollo 14 (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/Apollo_14 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
   • Timeline of Space Exploration Missions 1957 to 2031 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA — Apollo 14 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA NSSDCA — Apollo 14 (opens in a new tab)

4. 1972 54 years ago launch

   HEOS 2 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: HEOS 2

   • Space transportation

   Thor Delta L launched on the HEOS 2 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. (CC BY 4.0)

5. 1978 48 years ago launch

   Kosmos-987 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-987

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-987 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC43/4. 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. 1979 47 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1074 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1074

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1074 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)

7. 2013 13 years ago launch

   TDRS 11 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: TDRS 11

   • Space transportation

   Atlas V 401 launched on the TDRS 11 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)

8. 2015 11 years ago launch

   SMAP — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: SMAP

   • Space transportation

   Delta 7320-10C launched on the SMAP 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. (CC BY 4.0)

9. 2018 8 years ago launch

   GovSat-1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: GovSat-1

   • Space transportation

   Falcon 9 (FT3/4) launched on the GovSat-1 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)

10. 2020 6 years ago launch

    Birds of a Feather — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Birds of a Feather

    • Space transportation

    Electron launched on the Birds of a Feather 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)

11. 2022 4 years ago launch

    COSMO-Skymed SG FM2 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: COSMO-Skymed SG FM2

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the COSMO-Skymed SG FM2 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)

12. 2023 3 years ago launch

    Starlink-72 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-72

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-72 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)

13. 2024 2 years ago launch

    Four of a Kind — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Four of a Kind

    • Space transportation

    Electron launched on the Four of a Kind flight from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, pad LC1B. 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. 2026 launch

    Alsat-3B — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Alsat-3B

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 2C launched on the Alsat-3B 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)