October 3 in Space History

18 events

1. 1958 68 years ago

   Committee on Space Research — formal establishment

   Category: Organizations and People › Type: Organisation founded

   • Space policy

   International

   Committee on Space Research — formal establishment (1958-10-03).

   • Committee on Space Research: institutional history (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on Committee on Space Research: institutional history. Original source retains its rights.

2. 1967 59 years ago launch

   Molniya-1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Molniya-1

   • Space transportation

   Molniya 8K78 (M) launched on the Molniya-1 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)

3. 1968 58 years ago launch

   Kosmos-245 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-245

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K63 launched on the Kosmos-245 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)

4. 1968 58 years ago launch

   ESRO 1A — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: ESRO 1A

   • Space transportation

   Scout B launched on the ESRO 1A 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. (CC BY 4.0)

5. 1970 56 years ago launch

   Kosmos-367 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-367

   • Space transportation

   Tsiklon-2 launched on the Kosmos-367 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. (CC BY 4.0)

6. 1973 53 years ago launch

   Kosmos-596 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-596

   • Space transportation

   Voskhod 11A57 launched on the Kosmos-596 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)

7. 1978 48 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1033 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1033

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1033 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)

8. 1978 48 years ago launch

   Progress-4 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Progress-4

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Progress-4 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)

9. 1979 47 years ago launch

   Ekran — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Ekran

   • Space transportation

   Proton-K/DM launched on the Ekran flight from NIIP-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC200/40. 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. 1980 46 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1213 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1213

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1213 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)

11. 1985 41 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1689 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1689

    • Space transportation

    Vostok 8A92M launched on the Kosmos-1689 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)

12. 1985 41 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 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)

13. 1985 41 years ago launch

    USA 11/12 [DSCS] — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: USA 11/12 [DSCS]

    • Space transportation

    Space Shuttle launched on the USA 11/12 [DSCS] 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)

14. 1986 40 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1783 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1783

    • Space transportation

    Molniya 8K78M (2BL) launched on the Kosmos-1783 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC41/1. 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)

15. 1988 38 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1974 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1974

    • Space transportation

    Molniya 8K78M (2BL) launched on the Kosmos-1974 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)

16. 1989 37 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2047 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2047

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-2047 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)

17. 1994 32 years ago launch

    Soyuz TM-20 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Soyuz TM-20

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U2 launched on the Soyuz TM-20 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)

18. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Starlink-311 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-311

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-311 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)