May 1 in Space History

6 events

1. 1959 67 years ago observatory institution

   Goddard Space Flight Center established

   Category: Organizations and People › Type: Organisation founded

   National

   NASA established a space-science center named for rocket pioneer Robert Goddard.

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

2. 1968 58 years ago launch

   CORONA 125/1103 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: CORONA 125/1103

   • Space transportation

   Thorad SLV-2G Agena D launched on the CORONA 125/1103 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. (CC BY 4.0)

3. 2013 13 years ago launch

   Zhongxing-11 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Zhongxing-11

   • Space transportation

   Chang Zheng 3B (G2) launched on the Zhongxing-11 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. (CC BY 4.0)

4. 2017 9 years ago launch

   USA 276 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: USA 276

   • Space transportation

   Falcon 9 (FT3/4) launched on the USA 276 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)

5. 2023 3 years ago launch

   Viasat-3.1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Viasat-3.1

   • Space transportation

   Falcon Heavy launched on the Viasat-3.1 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)

6. 2026 launch

   Starlink-387 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Starlink-387

   • Space transportation

   Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-387 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. (CC BY 4.0)