Space history on May 17

33 events

1. 1966 60 years ago launch failure

   Zenit-4 No. 18 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Zenit-4 No. 18

   • Space transportation

   Voskhod 11A57 launched on the Zenit-4 No. 18 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC41/1. 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.

2. 1967 59 years ago launch

   Kosmos-160 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-160

   • Space transportation

   R-36O 8K69 launched on the Kosmos-160 flight from NIIP-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC161/35. 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. 1968 58 years ago launch

   ESRO 2B — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: ESRO 2B

   • Space transportation

   Scout B launched on the ESRO 2B flight from South Vandenberg AFB, California, pad SLC5. 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

   Kosmos-490 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-490

   • Space transportation

   Voskhod 11A57 launched on the Kosmos-490 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.

5. 1973 53 years ago launch

   Kosmos-558 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-558

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K63 launched on the Kosmos-558 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.

6. 1974 52 years ago launch

   Kosmos-654 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-654

   • Space transportation

   Tsiklon-2 launched on the Kosmos-654 flight from NIIP-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC90/19. 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. 1974 52 years ago launch

   SMS 1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: SMS 1

   • Space transportation

   Delta 2914 launched on the SMS 1 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC17B. Partial launch success/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.

8. 1974 52 years ago launch

   Interkosmos-11 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Interkosmos-11

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Interkosmos-11 flight from GTsP-4, Kapustin Yar, Volgograd, Rossiya, pad LC107/1. 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. 1977 49 years ago launch

   Kosmos-908 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-908

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-908 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.

10. 1978 48 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1008 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1008

    • Space transportation

    Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-1008 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.

11. 1979 47 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1099 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1099

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1099 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.

12. 1982 44 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1366 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1366

    • Space transportation

    Proton-K/DM launched on the Kosmos-1366 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.

13. 1983 43 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1462 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1462

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1462 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.

14. 1984 42 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1553 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1553

    • Space transportation

    Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-1553 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.

15. 1985 41 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1650/52 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1650/52

    • Space transportation

    Proton-K/DM-2 launched on the Kosmos-1650/52 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.

16. 1988 38 years ago launch

    Intelsat 513 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Intelsat 513

    • Space transportation

    Ariane 2 launched on the Intelsat 513 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.

17. 1989 37 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2020 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2020

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-2020 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.

18. 1995 31 years ago launch

    Intelsat 706 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Intelsat 706

    • Space transportation

    Ariane 44LP (44LP-3) launched on the Intelsat 706 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.

19. 1998 28 years ago launch

    Iridium MS-9 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Iridium MS-9

    • Space transportation

    Delta 7920-10C launched on the Iridium MS-9 flight from Vandenberg AFB, California, pad SLC2W. 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.

20. 2012 14 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2480 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2480

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U-PVB launched on the Kosmos-2480 flight from 1-y Gosudarstvenniy Ispitatelniy Kosmodrom MO RF, 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.

21. 2012 14 years ago launch

    GCOM-W1/KOMPSAT-3 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: GCOM-W1/KOMPSAT-3

    • Space transportation

    H-IIA 202 (1) launched on the GCOM-W1/KOMPSAT-3 flight from Tanegashima Space Center, Tanegashima, Nippon, pad Y. 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.

22. 2012 14 years ago launch

    Nimiq 6 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Nimiq 6

    • Space transportation

    Proton-M/Briz-M (III) launched on the Nimiq 6 flight from GIK-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.

23. 2014 12 years ago launch

    GPS IIF-6 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: GPS IIF-6

    • Space transportation

    Delta 4M+(4,2) launched on the GPS IIF-6 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad SLC37B. 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. 2014 12 years ago

    If You Were a Dinosaur, My Love: Best Short Story

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    If You Were a Dinosaur, My Love (Short story) by Rachel Swirsky · Award: Nebula Award — Best Short Story

    If You Were a Dinosaur, My Love won Best Short Story.

    • SFWA: 2013 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 2013 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

25. 2014 12 years ago

    Gravity: Ray Bradbury Nebula Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Film and television

    Gravity (Film) by Alfonso Cuarón, Jonás Cuarón · Award: Ray Bradbury Award — Ray Bradbury Nebula Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation

    Gravity won Ray Bradbury Nebula Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation.

    • SFWA: 2013 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 2013 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

26. 2014 12 years ago

    The Waiting Stars: Best Novelette

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    The Waiting Stars (Novella) by Aliette de Bodard · Award: Nebula Award — Best Novelette

    The Waiting Stars won Best Novelette.

    • SFWA: 2013 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 2013 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

27. 2014 12 years ago

    Sister Mine: Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    Sister Mine (Novel) by Nalo Hopkinson · Award: Andre Norton Award — Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction

    Sister Mine won Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction.

    • SFWA: 2013 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 2013 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

28. 2014 12 years ago

    Ancillary Justice — 2013 Nebula Award, Best Novel

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    Ancillary Justice (Novel) by Ann Leckie · Award: Nebula Award — Best Novel · Role: Science fiction writer

    Ancillary Justice — 2013 Nebula Award, Best Novel (2014-05-17).

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

29. 2014 12 years ago

    The Weight of the Sunrise: Best Novella

    Category: Science Fiction › Type: Award win

    • Science fiction
    • Science fiction literature

    The Weight of the Sunrise (Novella) by Vylar Kaftan · Award: Nebula Award — Best Novella

    The Weight of the Sunrise won Best Novella.

    • SFWA: 2013 Nebula Awards (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on SFWA: 2013 Nebula Awards. Original source retains its rights.

30. 2019 7 years ago launch

    Beidou DW45 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Beidou DW45

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 3C (G2?) launched on the Beidou DW45 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.

31. 2020 6 years ago launch

    X-37B OTV FLT-6 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: X-37B OTV FLT-6

    • Space transportation

    Atlas V 501 (C) launched on the X-37B OTV FLT-6 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad SLC41. 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.

32. 2023 3 years ago launch

    Beidou DW56 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Beidou DW56

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 3B (G2) launched on the Beidou DW56 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.

33. 2025 1 year ago launch

    The Sea God Sees — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: The Sea God Sees

    • Space transportation

    Electron launched on the The Sea God Sees 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.