November 8 in Space History

11 events

1. 1895 131 years ago astronomy instrument

   Röntgen discovers X-rays

   Wilhelm Röntgen detected penetrating radiation later fundamental to high-energy astronomy.

   • NASA HEASARC — 1800–1899 (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary; source attribution retained.

2. 1965 61 years ago launch

   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 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. 1966 60 years ago launch

   CORONA 113/1037 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: CORONA 113/1037

   • Space transportation

   Thorad SLV-2G Agena D launched on the CORONA 113/1037 flight from Vandenberg AFB, California, pad SLC1W. 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

   Pioneer 9 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Pioneer 9

   • Space transportation

   Thor Delta E1 launched on the Pioneer 9 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC17B. 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. 1969 57 years ago launch

   Azur — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Azur

   • Space transportation

   Scout B launched on the Azur 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)

6. 1984 42 years ago launch

   HS-376 Rescue/PAM-D — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: HS-376 Rescue/PAM-D

   • Space transportation

   Space Shuttle launched on the HS-376 Rescue/PAM-D 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)

7. 2006 20 years ago launch

   Arabsat 4A — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Arabsat 4A

   • Space transportation

   Proton-M/Briz-M (I) launched on the Arabsat 4A flight from GIK-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC200/39. 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. 2015 11 years ago launch

   Yaogan 28 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Yaogan 28

   • Space transportation

   Chang Zheng 4B launched on the Yaogan 28 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)

9. 2017 9 years ago launch

   Mohammed VI-A — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Mohammed VI-A

   • Space transportation

   Vega (1) launched on the Mohammed VI-A flight from Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, Guyane Francaise, pad ZLV. 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. 2023 3 years ago launch

    Starlink-122 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-122

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-122 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)

11. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Shiyan 32 01-03 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Shiyan 32 01-03

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 11 (H) launched on the Shiyan 32 01-03 flight from Huang Hai CZ-11 launch zone, pad LP2. 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)