May 8 in Space History

6 events

1. 1985 41 years ago launch

   Gstar 1/Telecom 1B — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Gstar 1/Telecom 1B

   • Space transportation

   Ariane 3 launched on the Gstar 1/Telecom 1B flight from Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, Guyane Francaise, pad ELA1. 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)

2. 1988 38 years ago

   Robert A. Heinlein: death

   Category: Organizations and People › Type: Death

   • Science fiction
   • Science fiction literature

   Role: Science fiction writer

   Robert A. Heinlein: death.

   • The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction: Robert A. Heinlein (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction: Robert A. Heinlein. Original source retains its rights.

3. 2003 23 years ago launch

   GSAT-2 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: GSAT-2

   • Space transportation

   GSLV Mk I (a) launched on the GSAT-2 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)

4. 2018 8 years ago launch

   Gao Fen 5 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Gao Fen 5

   • Space transportation

   Chang Zheng 4C launched on the Gao Fen 5 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. (CC BY 4.0)

5. 2023 3 years ago launch

   Rocket Like A Hurricane — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Rocket Like A Hurricane

   • Space transportation

   Electron launched on the Rocket Like A Hurricane 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. (CC BY 4.0)

6. 2024 2 years ago launch

   Starlink-164 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Starlink-164

   • Space transportation

   Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-164 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)