Space history on April 23

30 events

1. 1962 64 years ago launch

   Ranger 4 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Ranger 4

   • Space transportation

   Ranger 4 was a spacecraft of the Ranger program, launched in 1962.

   • 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 4 (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_4
   • Timeline of Space Exploration Missions 1957 to 2031 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA — Ranger 4 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA NSSDCA — Ranger 4 (opens in a new tab)

2. 1964 62 years ago launch

   AFP-206 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: AFP-206

   • Space transportation

   Atlas Agena D launched on the AFP-206 flight from Naval Missile Facility, Point Arguello, California, pad LC2-3. 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.

3. 1965 61 years ago launch

   Molniya-1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Molniya-1

   • Space transportation

   Molniya 8K78 launched on the Molniya-1 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.

4. 1967 59 years ago launch

   Soyuz-1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Soyuz-1

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz 11A511 launched on the Soyuz-1 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.

5. 1969 57 years ago launch

   Kosmos-280 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-280

   • Space transportation

   Voskhod 11A57 launched on the Kosmos-280 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.

6. 1970 56 years ago launch

   Intelsat III F-7 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Intelsat III F-7

   • Space transportation

   Thor Delta M launched on the Intelsat III F-7 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.

7. 1970 56 years ago launch

   Kosmos-334 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-334

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K63 launched on the Kosmos-334 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.

8. 1971 55 years ago launch

   Kosmos-407 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-407

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-407 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.

9. 1974 52 years ago launch

   Kosmos-641/648 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-641/648

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-641/648 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-1353 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1353

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1353 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.

11. 1983 43 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1455 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1455

    • Space transportation

    Tsiklon-3 launched on the Kosmos-1455 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.

12. 1983 43 years ago

    A Letter from the Clearys: Best Short Story

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    A Letter from the Clearys (Short story) by Connie Willis · Award: Nebula Award — Best Short Story

    A Letter from the Clearys won Best Short Story.

    • SFWA: 1982 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 1982 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

13. 1983 43 years ago

    Another Orphan: Best Novella

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    Another Orphan (Novella) by John Kessel · Award: Nebula Award — Best Novella

    Another Orphan won Best Novella.

    • SFWA: 1982 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 1982 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

14. 1983 43 years ago

    No Enemy but Time — 1982 Nebula Award, Best Novel

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    No Enemy but Time (Novel) by Michael Bishop · Award: Nebula Award — Best Novel · Role: Science fiction writer

    No Enemy but Time — 1982 Nebula Award, Best Novel (1983-04-23).

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

15. 1983 43 years ago

    Fire Watch: Best Novelette

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    Fire Watch (Novella) by Connie Willis · Award: Nebula Award — Best Novelette

    Fire Watch won Best Novelette.

    • SFWA: 1982 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 1982 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

16. 1986 40 years ago launch

    Progress-26 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Progress-26

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U2 launched on the Progress-26 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.

17. 1994 32 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2278 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2278

    • Space transportation

    Zenit-2 launched on the Kosmos-2278 flight from GIK-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC45/1. 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.

18. 1994 32 years ago

    Red Mars — 1993 Nebula Award, Best Novel

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    Red Mars (Novel) by Kim Stanley Robinson · Award: Nebula Award — Best Novel · Role: Science fiction writer

    Red Mars — 1993 Nebula Award, Best Novel (1994-04-23).

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

19. 1994 32 years ago

    Graves: Best Short Story

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    Graves (Short story) by Joe Haldeman · Award: Nebula Award — Best Short Story

    Graves won Best Short Story.

    • SFWA: 1993 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 1993 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

20. 1994 32 years ago

    Georgia on My Mind: Best Novelette

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    Georgia on My Mind (Novella) by Charles Sheffield · Award: Nebula Award — Best Novelette

    Georgia on My Mind won Best Novelette.

    • SFWA: 1993 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 1993 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

21. 1994 32 years ago

    The Night We Buried Road Dog: Best Novella

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    The Night We Buried Road Dog (Novella) by Jack Cady · Award: Nebula Award — Best Novella

    The Night We Buried Road Dog won Best Novella.

    • SFWA: 1993 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 1993 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

22. 1996 30 years ago launch

    Priroda — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Priroda

    • Space transportation

    Proton-K launched on the Priroda flight from GIK-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC81/23. 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. 2007 19 years ago launch

    AGILE/AAM — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: AGILE/AAM

    • Space transportation

    PSLV (CA) launched on the AGILE/AAM flight from Satish Dhawan Space Ctr, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India, pad SLP. 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. 2012 14 years ago launch

    Yahsat-1B — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Yahsat-1B

    • Space transportation

    Proton-M/Briz-M (III) launched on the Yahsat-1B flight from GIK-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.

25. 2021 5 years ago launch

    Dragon Crew-2 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Dragon Crew-2

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Dragon Crew-2 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.

26. 2024 2 years ago launch

    Starlink-160 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-160

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-160 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

    Beginning of the Swarm — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Beginning of the Swarm

    • Space transportation

    Electron launched on the Beginning of the Swarm 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.

28. 2026 launch

    Kakushin Rising — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kakushin Rising

    • Space transportation

    Electron launched on the Kakushin Rising 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.

29. 2026 launch

    Starlink-384 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-384

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-384 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.

30. 2026 launch

    Kosmos (x4) — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos (x4)

    • Space transportation

    Angara-1.2 launched on the Kosmos (x4) flight from 1-y Gosudarstvenniy Ispitatelniy Kosmodrom MO RF, pad LC35/1. 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.