August 23 in Space History

16 events

1. 1961 65 years ago launch

   Ranger 1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Ranger 1

   • Space transportation

   Ranger 1 was a prototype spacecraft launched as part of the Ranger program of uncrewed space missions.

   • 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 — Ranger 1 (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/Ranger_1 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
   • Timeline of Space Exploration Missions 1957 to 2031 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA — Ranger 1 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA NSSDCA — Ranger 1 (opens in a new tab)

2. 1962 64 years ago launch

   FTV 3502 (AF-2) — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: FTV 3502 (AF-2)

   • Space transportation

   Scout X-2M launched on the FTV 3502 (AF-2) flight from Naval Missile Facility, Point Arguello, California, pad LC-D. 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. 1973 53 years ago launch

   Intelsat 4 F-7 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Intelsat 4 F-7

   • Space transportation

   Atlas SLV-3D Centaur launched on the Intelsat 4 F-7 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC36A. 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. 1983 43 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1493 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1493

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1493 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)

5. 1985 41 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1677 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1677

   • Space transportation

   Tsiklon-2 launched on the Kosmos-1677 flight from NIIP-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC90. 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. 1988 38 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1964 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1964

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1964 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)

7. 1988 38 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1965 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1965

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1965 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)

8. 1989 37 years ago launch

   Progress M — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Progress M

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U2 launched on the Progress M 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)

9. 1990 36 years ago launch

   Kosmos-2096 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-2096

   • Space transportation

   Tsiklon-2 launched on the Kosmos-2096 flight from GIK-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC90. 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. 1994 32 years ago launch

    Molniya-3 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Molniya-3

    • Space transportation

    Molniya 8K78M (ML) launched on the Molniya-3 flight from GNIIP, VKS section, Plesetsk, Rossiya, 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)

11. 2000 26 years ago launch

    DM-F3 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: DM-F3

    • Space transportation

    Delta 8930 launched on the DM-F3 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad SLC17B. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

12. 2020 6 years ago launch

    Gao Fen 9-05 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Gao Fen 9-05

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 2D launched on the Gao Fen 9-05 flight from Jiuquan Space Center, Nei Monggol Zizhiqu, China, pad LC43/94. 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. 2023 3 years ago launch

    Progress MS-24 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Progress MS-24

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-2-1A launched on the Progress MS-24 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)

14. 2023 3 years ago launch

    We Love The Nightlife — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: We Love The Nightlife

    • Space transportation

    Electron launched on the We Love The Nightlife 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)

15. 2023 3 years ago lunar landing

    Chandrayaan-3 lands on the Moon

    Category: Mission Operations and Milestones › Type: Landing

    Mission: Chandrayaan-3

    India’s Vikram lander reached the Moon’s southern high latitudes.

    • ISRO — Chandrayaan-3 science archive (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary; source attribution retained.

16. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Live, Laugh, Launch — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Live, Laugh, Launch

    • Space transportation

    Electron launched on the Live, Laugh, Launch 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. (CC BY 4.0)