July 8 in Space History

18 events

1. 1842 184 years ago solar science

   Solar corona interpreted as an atmosphere

   Francis Baily’s eclipse observations supported interpreting the corona as part of the Sun.

   • NASA — Solar science timeline (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary; source attribution retained.

2. 1966 60 years ago launch

   Kosmos-123 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-123

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 63S1 launched on the Kosmos-123 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)

3. 1975 51 years ago launch

   Molniya-2 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Molniya-2

   • Space transportation

   Molniya 8K78M (ML) 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)

4. 1976 50 years ago launch

   HEXAGON SV12 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: HEXAGON SV12

   • Space transportation

   Titan IIID launched on the HEXAGON SV12 flight from South Vandenberg AFB, 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)

5. 1976 50 years ago launch

   Palapa A1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Palapa A1

   • Space transportation

   Delta 2914 (C) launched on the Palapa A1 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)

6. 1976 50 years ago launch

   Kosmos-839 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-839

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-839 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. (CC BY 4.0)

7. 1977 49 years ago launch

   Kosmos-926 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-926

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-926 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. (CC BY 4.0)

8. 1983 43 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1481 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1481

   • Space transportation

   Molniya 8K78M (2BL) launched on the Kosmos-1481 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)

9. 1985 41 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1666 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1666

   • Space transportation

   Tsiklon-3 launched on the Kosmos-1666 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC32/2. 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)

10. 1987 39 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1865 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1865

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1865 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)

11. 1994 32 years ago launch

    Spacelab IML-2 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Spacelab IML-2

    • Space transportation

    Space Shuttle launched on the Spacelab IML-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)

12. 1994 32 years ago launch

    BS-3N/PAS 2 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: BS-3N/PAS 2

    • Space transportation

    Ariane 44L (44L+) launched on the BS-3N/PAS 2 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. (CC BY 4.0)

13. 2002 24 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2390/2391 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2390/2391

    • Space transportation

    Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-2390/2391 flight from 1-y Gosudarstvenniy Ispitatelniy Kosmodrom MO RF, 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. (CC BY 4.0)

14. 2003 23 years ago launch

    MER-B — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: MER-B

    • Space transportation

    Opportunity, also known as MER-B (Mars Exploration Rover – B) or MER-1, and nicknamed Oppy, is a robotic rover that was active on Mars from 2004 until 2018.

    • 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)
    • Wikipedia — Opportunity (MER-B) (opens in a new tab) — Adapted from Wikipedia contributors; selected sentences retained and edited for length, reference markers and pronunciation glosses. CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Article and edit history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunity_(rover) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
    • Timeline of Space Exploration Missions 1957 to 2031 (opens in a new tab)
    • NASA — Opportunity (MER-B) (opens in a new tab)
    • NASA NSSDCA — Opportunity (MER-B) (opens in a new tab)

15. 2011 15 years ago launch

    ISS ULF-7 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: ISS ULF-7

    • Space transportation
    • Space stations

    Station: International Space Station

    Space Shuttle launched on the ISS ULF-7 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)

16. 2014 12 years ago launch

    Meteor-M No. 2 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Meteor-M No. 2

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-2-1B (Fregat) launched on the Meteor-M No. 2 flight from GIK-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)

17. 2024 2 years ago launch

    Turksat 6A — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Turksat 6A

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Turksat 6A 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)

18. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Starlink-284 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-284

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-284 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)