October 8 in Space History

17 events

1. 1920 106 years ago

   Frank Herbert: birth

   Category: Organizations and People › Type: Birth

   • Science fiction
   • Science fiction literature

   Role: Science fiction writer

   Frank Herbert: birth.

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

2. 1964 62 years ago launch failure

   AFP-206 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: AFP-206

   • Space transportation

   Atlas SLV-3 Agena D launched on the AFP-206 flight from South Vandenberg AFB, California, pad PALC2-4. 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)

3. 1970 56 years ago launch

   Kosmos-368 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-368

   • Space transportation

   Voskhod 11A57 launched on the Kosmos-368 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. 1970 56 years ago launch

   Kosmos-369 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-369

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K63 launched on the Kosmos-369 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. 1975 51 years ago launch

   Kosmos-775 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-775

   • Space transportation

   Proton-K/DM launched on the Kosmos-775 flight from NIIP-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC81/23. 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. 1992 34 years ago launch

   Foton — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Foton

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Foton 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)

7. 1993 33 years ago launch

   FSW-1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: FSW-1

   • Space transportation

   Chang Zheng 2C launched on the FSW-1 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. 1994 32 years ago launch

   Thaicom 2/Solid. 2 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Thaicom 2/Solid. 2

   • Space transportation

   Ariane 44L (44L+) launched on the Thaicom 2/Solid. 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)

9. 1995 31 years ago launch

   Progress M-29 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Progress M-29

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Progress M-29 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)

10. 2009 17 years ago launch

    WorldView-2 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: WorldView-2

    • Space transportation

    Delta 7920-10C launched on the WorldView-2 flight from Vandenberg AFB, California, pad SLC2W. 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. 2012 14 years ago launch

    Dragon CRS-1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Dragon CRS-1

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 launched on the Dragon CRS-1 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC40. 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. 2015 11 years ago launch

    NROL-55 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: NROL-55

    • Space transportation

    Atlas V 401 (C) launched on the NROL-55 flight from South Vandenberg AFB, California, pad SLC3E. 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. 2018 8 years ago launch

    SAOCOM-1A — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: SAOCOM-1A

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the SAOCOM-1A 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)

14. 2022 4 years ago launch

    Galaxy 33/34 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Galaxy 33/34

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Galaxy 33/34 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)

15. 2022 4 years ago launch

    Kuafu-1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kuafu-1

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 2D launched on the Kuafu-1 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)

16. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Starlink-313 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-313

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-313 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)

17. 2025 1 year ago

    NS-36 — private and commercial crew participation

    Category: Human Spaceflight Activities › Type: Private astronaut or space tourist flight

    Mission: NS-36 · Programme: New Shepard

    • Human spaceflight
    • Commercial human spaceflight
    • Space tourism

    Role: Space tourist

    6 participants; see description and linked people.

    • Blue Origin (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on Blue Origin. Original source retains its rights.