September 12 in Space History

19 events

1. 1921 105 years ago

   Stanisław Lem: birth

   Category: Organizations and People › Type: Birth

   • Science fiction
   • Science fiction literature

   Role: Science fiction writer

   Stanisław Lem: birth.

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

2. 1961 65 years ago launch

   Discoverer 30 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Discoverer 30

   • Space transportation

   Thor Agena B launched on the Discoverer 30 flight from Vandenberg AFB, California, pad 75-3-5. 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. 1962 64 years ago launch

   2MV-2 No. 1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: 2MV-2 No. 1

   • Space transportation

   Venera 2MV-2 No.1, also known as Sputnik 21 in the West, was a Soviet spacecraft, which was launched in 1962 as part of the Venera programme, and was intended to make a flyby of Venus.

   • 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 — Sputnik 21 (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/Sputnik_21 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
   • Original Wikipedia link from NSE timeline (opens in a new tab) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
   • Timeline of Space Exploration Missions 1957 to 2031 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA — Sputnik 21 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA NSSDCA — Sputnik 21 (opens in a new tab)

4. 1967 59 years ago launch

   Kosmos-176 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-176

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K63 launched on the Kosmos-176 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. (CC BY 4.0)

5. 1970 56 years ago launch

   Luna-16 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Luna-16

   • Space transportation

   Luna 16 was an uncrewed 1970 space mission, part of the Soviet Luna program.

   • 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 — Luna 16 (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/Luna_16 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
   • Timeline of Space Exploration Missions 1957 to 2031 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA — Luna 16 (opens in a new tab)
   • NASA NSSDCA — Luna 16 (opens in a new tab)

6. 1975 51 years ago launch

   Kosmos-759 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-759

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-759 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)

7. 1984 42 years ago launch

   FSW — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: FSW

   • Space transportation

   Chang Zheng 2C launched on the FSW flight from Jiuquan Space Center, Nei Monggol Zizhiqu, China, pad LA2B. 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. 1985 41 years ago launch failure

   ECS 3/Spacenet 3 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: ECS 3/Spacenet 3

   • Space transportation

   Ariane 3 launched on the ECS 3/Spacenet 3 flight from Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, Guyane Francaise, pad ELA1. 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)

9. 1991 35 years ago launch

   UARS — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: UARS

   • Space transportation

   Space Shuttle launched on the UARS 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)

10. 1992 34 years ago launch

    Spacelab J — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Spacelab J

    • Space transportation

    Space Shuttle launched on the Spacelab J 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)

11. 1993 33 years ago launch

    ACTS/Orfeus — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: ACTS/Orfeus

    • Space transportation

    Space Shuttle launched on the ACTS/Orfeus 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)

12. 2002 24 years ago launch

    METSAT — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: METSAT

    • Space transportation

    PSLV (C) launched on the METSAT 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)

13. 2006 20 years ago launch

    ZX-22A — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: ZX-22A

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 3A launched on the ZX-22A 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. (CC BY 4.0)

14. 2015 11 years ago launch

    Tongxing Jishu Shiyan 1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Tongxing Jishu Shiyan 1

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 3B (G2) launched on the Tongxing Jishu Shiyan 1 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. (CC BY 4.0)

15. 2017 9 years ago launch

    Soyuz MS-06 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Soyuz MS-06

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-FG launched on the Soyuz MS-06 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)

16. 2019 7 years ago launch

    ZY1-02D — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: ZY1-02D

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 4B launched on the ZY1-02D 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)

17. 2023 3 years ago launch

    Starlink-107 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-107

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-107 flight from South Base, Vandenberg Space Force Base, 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)

18. 2024 2 years ago launch

    BlueBird 1-1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: BlueBird 1-1

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the BlueBird 1-1 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)

19. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Nusantara-5 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Nusantara-5

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Nusantara-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)