Space history on March 13

19 events

1. 1781 245 years ago astronomical discovery

   Uranus discovered

   Category: Discoveries and Scientific Results › Type: Discovery

   William Herschel observed the object subsequently recognized as the planet Uranus.

   • NASA HEASARC — 1700–1799 (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary; source attribution retained.

2. 1967 59 years ago launch

   Kosmos-147 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-147

   • Space transportation

   Vostok 8A92 launched on the Kosmos-147 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.

3. 1968 58 years ago launch

   KH-8 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: KH-8

   • Space transportation

   Titan IIIB launched on the KH-8 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.

4. 1970 56 years ago launch

   Kosmos-326 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-326

   • Space transportation

   Voskhod 11A57 launched on the Kosmos-326 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.

5. 1971 55 years ago launch

   Explorer 43 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Explorer 43

   • Space transportation

   Thor Delta M6 launched on the Explorer 43 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.

6. 1977 49 years ago launch

   KH-8A — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: KH-8A

   • Space transportation

   Titan 24B 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.

7. 1986 40 years ago launch

   Soyuz T-15 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Soyuz T-15

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U2 launched on the Soyuz T-15 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.

8. 1987 39 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1827/1832 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1827/1832

   • Space transportation

   Tsiklon-3 launched on the Kosmos-1827/1832 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC32/2. 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.

9. 1989 37 years ago launch

   TDRS-D — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: TDRS-D

   • Space transportation

   Space Shuttle launched on the TDRS-D flight from NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida, pad LC39B. 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. 1992 34 years ago space policy

    NSPD-6: Space exploration initiative

    Category: Programs, Policy, and Governance › Type: Space policy or directive

    • Space policy

    National: NSPD-6

    NSPD-6: Space exploration initiative.

    • NASA: Key Documents in the History of Space Policy (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on NASA: Key Documents in the History of Space Policy. Original source retains its rights.

11. 2008 18 years ago launch

    USA 200 [JS12] — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: USA 200 [JS12]

    • Space transportation

    Atlas V 411 launched on the USA 200 [JS12] flight from South Vandenberg AFB, California, pad SLC3E. 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. 2013 13 years ago observatory milestone

    ALMA inaugurated in Chile

    Category: Facilities and Infrastructure › Type: Observatory opening

    The ALMA observatory was formally inaugurated at its site in the Chilean Andes.

    • ESO — ALMA inauguration (opens in a new tab) — Original factual summary; retain attribution to ESO.

13. 2015 11 years ago launch

    MMS — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: MMS

    • Space transportation

    Atlas V 421 launched on the MMS 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.

14. 2016 10 years ago launch

    Resurs-P No. 3 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Resurs-P No. 3

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-2-1B launched on the Resurs-P No. 3 flight from GIK-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.

15. 2021 5 years ago launch

    Yaogan 31 04 zu — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Yaogan 31 04 zu

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 4C launched on the Yaogan 31 04 zu 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.

16. 2023 3 years ago launch

    Helusi 2 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Helusi 2

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 2C launched on the Helusi 2 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.

17. 2024 2 years ago launch

    DRO-A/DRO-B — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: DRO-A/DRO-B

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 2C/YZ-1S launched on the DRO-A/DRO-B flight from Xichang Space Center (Songlin), Sichuan, China, pad LC3. Partial launch success/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.

18. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Starlink-242 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-242

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-242 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.

19. 2026 launch

    Starlink-369 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-369

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-369 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.