May 25 in Space History

26 events

1. 1961 65 years ago space policy

   Kennedy sets a lunar-landing goal

   President John F. Kennedy called for a crewed lunar landing and safe return before the decade ended.

   • NASA — 60 moments in NASA history (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary; source attribution retained.

2. 1965 61 years ago launch

   AS-108/Pegasus 2 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: AS-108/Pegasus 2

   • Space transportation

   Saturn I (Blk2) launched on the AS-108/Pegasus 2 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC37B. 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. 1965 61 years ago launch

   Kosmos-67 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-67

   • Space transportation

   Voskhod 11A57 launched on the Kosmos-67 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)

4. 1966 60 years ago launch

   Explorer 32 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Explorer 32

   • Space transportation

   Thor Delta C1 launched on the Explorer 32 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC17B. 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. 1972 54 years ago launch

   Kosmos-491 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-491

   • Space transportation

   Voskhod 11A57 launched on the Kosmos-491 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)

6. 1972 54 years ago launch

   CORONA 145/1117 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: CORONA 145/1117

   • Space transportation

   Thorad SLV-2H Agena D launched on the CORONA 145/1117 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)

7. 1973 53 years ago launch

   Skylab 2 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Skylab 2

   • Space transportation

   Saturn IB launched on the Skylab 2 flight from NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida, pad LC39B. 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)

8. 1973 53 years ago launch

   Kosmos-561 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-561

   • Space transportation

   Voskhod 11A57 launched on the Kosmos-561 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)

9. 1973 53 years ago launch failure

   Zaliv — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests

   Mission: Zaliv

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Zaliv flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC132/1. 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)

10. 1977 49 years ago launch

    Kosmos-911 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-911

    • Space transportation

    Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-911 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. (CC BY 4.0)

11. 1978 48 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1012 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1012

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1012 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)

12. 1979 47 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1102 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1102

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1102 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. 1982 44 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1369 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1369

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1369 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. 1984 42 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1558 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1558

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1558 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, 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. (CC BY 4.0)

15. 1989 37 years ago launch

    Resurs-F — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Resurs-F

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U-PVB launched on the Resurs-F 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)

16. 1994 32 years ago launch failure

    Tselina-D — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests

    Mission: Tselina-D

    Tsiklon-3 launched on the Tselina-D flight from GNIIP, VKS section, Plesetsk, Rossiya, pad LC32/2. 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)

17. 1996 30 years ago launch

    Gorizont — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Gorizont

    • Space transportation

    Proton-K/DM-2 launched on the Gorizont 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)

18. 2004 22 years ago launch

    Progress M-49 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Progress M-49

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U-PVB launched on the Progress M-49 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. (CC BY 4.0)

19. 2007 19 years ago launch

    Yaogan 2 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Yaogan 2

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 2D launched on the Yaogan 2 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)

20. 2012 14 years ago berthing

    Dragon makes the first commercial ISS berthing

    Category: Mission Operations and Milestones › Type: Docking or berthing

    Mission: Dragon C2+

    SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft was berthed to the International Space Station.

    • NASA — First commercial berthing at ISS (opens in a new tab) — Original factual summary; retain attribution to NASA.

21. 2013 13 years ago launch

    WGS 5 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: WGS 5

    • Space transportation

    Delta 4M+(5,4) launched on the WGS 5 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. (CC BY 4.0)

22. 2017 9 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2518 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2518

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-2-1B (Fregat) launched on the Kosmos-2518 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)

23. 2017 9 years ago launch failure

    It's A Test — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests

    Mission: It's A Test

    Electron launched on the It's A Test flight from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, pad LC1A. 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)

24. 2022 4 years ago launch

    Transporter-5 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Transporter-5

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Transporter-5 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)

25. 2024 2 years ago launch

    Ready, Aim, Prefire — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Ready, Aim, Prefire

    • Space transportation

    Electron launched on the Ready, Aim, Prefire 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)

26. 2026 launch

    Starlink-391 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-391

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-391 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)