April 26 in Space History

29 events

1. 1920 106 years ago astronomy theory

   Shapley–Curtis debate held

   Harlow Shapley and Heber Curtis debated the scale of the universe and the nature of spiral nebulae.

   • NASA HEASARC — 1900–1959 (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary; source attribution retained.

2. 1962 64 years ago launch failure

   GRAB/SR 4B — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests

   Mission: GRAB/SR 4B

   Scout X-2 launched on the GRAB/SR 4B flight from Naval Missile Facility, Point Arguello, California, pad LC-D. 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. 1962 64 years ago launch

   Ariel 1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Ariel 1

   • Space transportation

   Thor Delta launched on the Ariel 1 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. (CC BY 4.0)

4. 1962 64 years ago launch

   FTV 2401 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

   Mission: FTV 2401

   • Space transportation

   Atlas Agena B launched on the FTV 2401 flight from Naval Missile Facility, Point Arguello, California, pad LC1-1. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

5. 1962 64 years ago launch

   Kosmos-4 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-4

   • Space transportation

   Vostok 8K72 (K) launched on the Kosmos-4 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. (CC BY 4.0)

6. 1962 64 years ago impact

   Ranger 4: lunar impact

   Moon impact.

   • NASA — mission history (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary; source attribution retained.

7. 1963 63 years ago launch failure

   OPS 1298 (AF-4) — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests

   Mission: OPS 1298 (AF-4)

   Scout X-2M launched on the OPS 1298 (AF-4) flight from Naval Missile Facility, Point Arguello, California, pad LC-D. 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)

8. 1963 63 years ago launch failure

   CORONA 63/9055A — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests

   Mission: CORONA 63/9055A

   Thor Agena D launched on the CORONA 63/9055A flight from Vandenberg AFB, California, pad 75-1-1. 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)

9. 1966 60 years ago launch

   Kosmos-116 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-116

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K63 launched on the Kosmos-116 flight from GTsP-4, Kapustin Yar, Volgograd, Rossiya, pad LC86/1. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

10. 1967 59 years ago launch failure

    KH-8 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests

    Mission: KH-8

    Titan IIIB launched on the KH-8 flight from South Vandenberg AFB, California, pad SLC4W. 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)

11. 1968 58 years ago launch

    Kosmos-219 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-219

    • Space transportation

    Kosmos 11K63 launched on the Kosmos-219 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. (CC BY 4.0)

12. 1974 52 years ago launch

    Molniya-2 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Molniya-2

    • Space transportation

    Molniya 8K78M launched on the Molniya-2 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. (CC BY 4.0)

13. 1977 49 years ago launch

    Kosmos-905 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-905

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-905 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC43/3. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

14. 1983 43 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1457 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1457

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1457 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)

15. 1985 41 years ago launch

    Prognoz-10-IK — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Prognoz-10-IK

    • Space transportation

    Molniya 8K78M (SOL) launched on the Prognoz-10-IK 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)

16. 1988 38 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1940 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1940

    • Space transportation

    Proton-K/DM-2 launched on the Kosmos-1940 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. (CC BY 4.0)

17. 1989 37 years ago launch

    Foton — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Foton

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Foton 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. (CC BY 4.0)

18. 1990 36 years ago launch

    Molniya-1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Molniya-1

    • Space transportation

    Molniya 8K78M (ML) launched on the Molniya-1 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)

19. 1993 33 years ago launch

    Spacelab D-2 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Spacelab D-2

    • Space transportation

    Space Shuttle launched on the Spacelab D-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. (CC BY 4.0)

20. 1994 32 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2279 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2279

    • Space transportation

    Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-2279 flight from GNIIP, VKS section, Plesetsk, Rossiya, 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. (CC BY 4.0)

21. 2004 22 years ago launch

    Ekspress AM-11 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Ekspress AM-11

    • Space transportation

    Proton-K/DM-2M (DM-2M) launched on the Ekspress AM-11 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. (CC BY 4.0)

22. 2006 20 years ago launch

    Yaogan 1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Yaogan 1

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 4C launched on the Yaogan 1 flight from Taiyuan weixing fashe zhongxin, pad LC7. 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)

23. 2012 14 years ago launch

    RISAT-1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: RISAT-1

    • Space transportation

    PSLV-XL launched on the RISAT-1 flight from Satish Dhawan Space Ctr, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India, pad FLP. 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)

24. 2013 13 years ago launch

    GaoFen 1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: GaoFen 1

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 2D launched on the GaoFen 1 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. (CC BY 4.0)

25. 2013 13 years ago launch

    Glonass-M47 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Glonass-M47

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-2-1B (Fregat) launched on the Glonass-M47 flight from 1-y Gosudarstvenniy Ispitatelniy Kosmodrom MO RF, 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)

26. 2015 11 years ago launch

    Sicral 2/Thor 7 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Sicral 2/Thor 7

    • Space transportation

    Ariane 5ECA launched on the Sicral 2/Thor 7 flight from Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, Guyane Francaise, pad ELA3. 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)

27. 2018 8 years ago launch

    Zhuhai-1 02 zu — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Zhuhai-1 02 zu

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 11 launched on the Zhuhai-1 02 zu flight from Jiuquan Space Center, Nei Monggol Zizhiqu, China, pad LC43/95. 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)

28. 2021 5 years ago launch

    USA 314 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: USA 314

    • Space transportation

    Delta 4H (A) launched on the USA 314 flight from South Vandenberg AFB, California, pad SLC6. 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)

29. 2026 launch

    Starlink-385 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-385

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-385 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)