Space history on March 31

28 events

1. 1727 299 years ago

   Isaac Newton: death

   Category: Organizations and People › Type: Death

   • Astronomy
   • Mathematics

   Role: Scientist, Mathematician

   Isaac Newton: death.

   • MacTutor History of Mathematics: Isaac Newton (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on MacTutor History of Mathematics: Isaac Newton. Original source retains its rights.

2. 1966 60 years ago launch

   Luna-10 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Luna-10

   • Space transportation

   Luna 10 or Lunik 10 was a 1966 Soviet lunar robotic spacecraft mission in the Luna program.

   • 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 — Luna 10 (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_10
   • Timeline of Space Exploration Missions 1957 to 2031 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA — Luna 10 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA NSSDCA — Luna 10 (opens in a new tab)

3. 1972 54 years ago launch

   Kosmos-482 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-482

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 482 was an attempted Soviet Venus probe.

   • 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 — Cosmos 482 (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/Kosmos_482
   • Original Wikipedia link from NSE timeline (opens in a new tab) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
   • Timeline of Space Exploration Missions 1957 to 2031 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA — Cosmos 482 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA NSSDCA — Cosmos 482 (opens in a new tab)

4. 1976 50 years ago launch

   Kosmos-811 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-811

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz 11A511M launched on the Kosmos-811 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.

5. 1978 48 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1000 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1000

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-1000 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.

6. 1978 48 years ago launch

   Intelsat 4A F-6 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Intelsat 4A F-6

   • Space transportation

   Atlas SLV-3D Centaur launched on the Intelsat 4A F-6 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC36B. 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. 1979 47 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1090 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1090

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1090 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.

8. 1981 45 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1261 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1261

   • Space transportation

   Molniya 8K78M (2BL) launched on the Kosmos-1261 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.

9. 1982 44 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1345 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1345

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-1345 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.

10. 1982 44 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1346 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1346

    • Space transportation

    Vostok 8A92M launched on the Kosmos-1346 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, 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.

11. 1983 43 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1449 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1449

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1449 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, 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.

12. 1987 39 years ago launch

    Kvant — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kvant

    • Space transportation

    Proton-K launched on the Kvant flight from NIIP-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC200/39. 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. 1988 38 years ago launch

    Gorizont — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Gorizont

    • Space transportation

    Proton-K/DM launched on the Gorizont flight from NIIP-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.

14. 1991 35 years ago launch

    Almaz-1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Almaz-1

    • Space transportation

    Proton-K launched on the Almaz-1 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.

15. 1993 33 years ago launch

    Progress M-17 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Progress M-17

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U2 launched on the Progress M-17 flight from GIK-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.

16. 1999 27 years ago

    The Matrix: film release

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Science fiction film release

    • Science fiction
    • Film and television

    The Matrix (Film) by Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski

    The Matrix: film release.

    • American Film Institute Catalog (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on American Film Institute Catalog. Original source retains its rights.

17. 2003 23 years ago launch

    USA 168 (GPS IIR-9) — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: USA 168 (GPS IIR-9)

    • Space transportation

    Delta 7925-9.5 launched on the USA 168 (GPS IIR-9) flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad SLC17A. 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.

18. 2012 14 years ago launch

    Apstar 7 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Apstar 7

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 3B (G2) launched on the Apstar 7 flight from Xichang Space Center (Songlin), Sichuan, China, pad LC2. 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. 2014 12 years ago launch

    SJ-11-06 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: SJ-11-06

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 2C (b) launched on the SJ-11-06 flight from Jiuquan Space Center, Nei Monggol Zizhiqu, China, pad LC603 ?. 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.

20. 2015 11 years ago launch

    Gonets-M Blok 14/K-2504 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Gonets-M Blok 14/K-2504

    • Space transportation

    Rokot launched on the Gonets-M Blok 14/K-2504 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.

21. 2016 10 years ago launch

    Progress MS-02 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Progress MS-02

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-2-1A launched on the Progress MS-02 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.

22. 2018 8 years ago launch

    Gao Fen 1-02/03/04 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Gao Fen 1-02/03/04

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 4C launched on the Gao Fen 1-02/03/04 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.

23. 2019 7 years ago launch

    Tianlian 2 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Tianlian 2

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 3B (G2) launched on the Tianlian 2 flight from Xichang Space Center (Songlin), Sichuan, China, pad LC2. 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.

24. 2022 4 years ago

    NS-20 — private and commercial crew participation

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

    Mission: NS-20 · Programme: New Shepard

    • Human spaceflight
    • Commercial human spaceflight
    • Space tourism

    Role: Commercial astronaut, Space tourist

    6 participants; see description and linked people.

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

25. 2023 3 years ago launch

    YG-34 04 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: YG-34 04

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 4C launched on the YG-34 04 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.

26. 2024 2 years ago launch

    Starlink-152 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-152

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-152 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.

27. 2024 2 years ago launch

    Resurs-P No. 4 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Resurs-P No. 4

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-2-1B launched on the Resurs-P No. 4 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.

28. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Starlink-246 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-246

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-246 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.