Space history on April 19

27 events

1. 1610 416 years ago astronomy theory

   Kepler suggests a solar influence on comet tails

   In a letter to Galileo, Kepler proposed that a solar breeze pushes comet tails away from the Sun.

   • NASA — Solar science timeline (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary; source attribution retained.

2. 1966 60 years ago launch

   AFP-206 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: AFP-206

   • Space transportation

   Atlas SLV-3 Agena D launched on the AFP-206 flight from South Vandenberg AFB, California, pad PALC2-4. 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.

3. 1971 55 years ago launch

   Salyut — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Salyut

   • Space transportation

   Proton-K launched on the Salyut flight from NIIP-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC81/24. 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. 1972 54 years ago launch

   CORONA 144/1116 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: CORONA 144/1116

   • Space transportation

   Thorad SLV-2H Agena D launched on the CORONA 144/1116 flight from South Vandenberg AFB, California, pad SLC3W. 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-554 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-554

   • Space transportation

   Voskhod 11A57 launched on the Kosmos-554 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.

6. 1973 53 years ago launch

   IK-Kopernik-500 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: IK-Kopernik-500

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K63 launched on the IK-Kopernik-500 flight from GTsP-4, Kapustin Yar, Volgograd, Rossiya, pad LC86/4. 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.

7. 1975 51 years ago launch

   Aryabhata — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Aryabhata

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Aryabhata flight from GTsP-4, Kapustin Yar, Volgograd, Rossiya, pad LC107/2. 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.

8. 1982 44 years ago launch

   Salyut-7 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Salyut-7

   • Space transportation

   Proton-K launched on the Salyut-7 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.

9. 1983 43 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1453 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1453

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-1453 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. 1984 42 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1549 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1549

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1549 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. 1985 41 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1647 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1647

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1647 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. 1997 29 years ago

    Slow River — 1996 Nebula Award, Best Novel

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    Slow River (Novel) by Nicola Griffith · Award: Nebula Award — Best Novel · Role: Science fiction writer

    Slow River — 1996 Nebula Award, Best Novel (1997-04-19).

    • SFWA Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

13. 1997 29 years ago

    Da Vinci Rising: Best Novella

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    Da Vinci Rising (Novella) by Jack Dann · Award: Nebula Award — Best Novella

    Da Vinci Rising won Best Novella.

    • SFWA: 1996 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 1996 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

14. 1997 29 years ago

    Lifeboat on a Burning Sea: Best Novelette

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    Lifeboat on a Burning Sea (Novella) by Bruce Holland Rogers · Award: Nebula Award — Best Novelette

    Lifeboat on a Burning Sea won Best Novelette.

    • SFWA: 1996 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 1996 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

15. 1997 29 years ago

    A Birthday: Best Short Story

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    A Birthday (Short story) by Esther M. Friesner · Award: Nebula Award — Best Short Story

    A Birthday won Best Short Story.

    • SFWA: 1996 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 1996 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

16. 2000 26 years ago launch

    Galaxy 4R — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Galaxy 4R

    • Space transportation

    Ariane 42L (42L-3) launched on the Galaxy 4R flight from Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, Guyane Francaise, pad ELA2. 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. 2001 25 years ago launch

    ISS 6A — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: ISS 6A

    • Space transportation
    • Space stations

    Station: International Space Station

    Space Shuttle launched on the ISS 6A 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.

18. 2003 23 years ago

    Creature: Best Short Story

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    Creature (Short story) by Carol Emshwiller · Award: Nebula Award — Best Short Story

    Creature won Best Short Story.

    • SFWA: 2002 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 2002 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

19. 2003 23 years ago

    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Best Script

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Film and television

    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Film) by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson · Award: Nebula Award — Best Script

    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring won Best Script.

    • SFWA: 2002 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 2002 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

20. 2003 23 years ago

    Bronte’s Egg: Best Novella

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    Bronte’s Egg (Novella) by Richard Chwedyk · Award: Nebula Award — Best Novella

    Bronte’s Egg won Best Novella.

    • SFWA: 2002 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 2002 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

21. 2003 23 years ago

    Hell is the Absence of God: Best Novelette

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    Hell is the Absence of God (Novella) by Ted Chiang · Award: Nebula Award — Best Novelette

    Hell is the Absence of God won Best Novelette.

    • SFWA: 2002 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 2002 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

22. 2003 23 years ago

    American Gods — 2002 Nebula Award, Best Novel

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    American Gods (Novel) by Neil Gaiman · Award: Nebula Award — Best Novel · Role: Science fiction writer

    American Gods — 2002 Nebula Award, Best Novel (2003-04-19).

    • SFWA Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

23. 2004 22 years ago launch

    Soyuz TMA-4 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Soyuz TMA-4

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-FG launched on the Soyuz TMA-4 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.

24. 2013 13 years ago launch

    Bion-M No. 1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Bion-M No. 1

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-2-1A launched on the Bion-M No. 1 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.

25. 2021 5 years ago technology demonstration

    Ingenuity makes its first flight on Mars

    Category: Spacecraft and Technology Development › Type: Technology demonstration

    Mission: Ingenuity

    Ingenuity achieved powered, controlled flight in the atmosphere of another planet.

    • NASA — Ingenuity first flight (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary; source attribution retained.

26. 2023 3 years ago launch

    Starlink-81 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-81

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-81 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. 2026 launch

    Starlink-383 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-383

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-383 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.