December 2 in Space History

24 events

1. 1970 56 years ago launch

   Kosmos-381 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-381

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-381 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC132/2. 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)

2. 1970 56 years ago launch

   Kosmos-382 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-382

   • Space transportation

   Proton-K/D launched on the Kosmos-382 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)

3. 1971 55 years ago launch

   Interkosmos-5 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Interkosmos-5

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K63 launched on the Interkosmos-5 flight from GTsP-4, Kapustin Yar, Volgograd, Rossiya, pad LC86/4. 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)

4. 1971 55 years ago launch

   Kosmos-461 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-461

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-461 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC132/1. 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)

5. 1972 54 years ago launch

   Molniya-1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Molniya-1

   • Space transportation

   Molniya 8K78M 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)

6. 1974 52 years ago launch

   Soyuz-16 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Soyuz-16

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Soyuz-16 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. 1976 50 years ago launch

   Kosmos-870 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-870

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-870 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC132/2. 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. 1976 50 years ago launch

   Molniya-2 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Molniya-2

   • Space transportation

   Molniya 8K78M (ML) launched on the Molniya-2 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)

9. 1986 40 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1803 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1803

   • Space transportation

   Tsiklon-3 launched on the Kosmos-1803 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC32/1. 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)

10. 1988 38 years ago launch

    USA 34 (LACROSSE 1) — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: USA 34 (LACROSSE 1)

    • Space transportation

    Space Shuttle launched on the USA 34 (LACROSSE 1) 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. 1990 36 years ago launch

    Spacelab Astro 1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Spacelab Astro 1

    • Space transportation

    Space Shuttle launched on the Spacelab Astro 1 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. 1990 36 years ago launch

    Soyuz TM-11 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Soyuz TM-11

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U2 launched on the Soyuz TM-11 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)

13. 1992 34 years ago launch

    Molniya-3 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Molniya-3

    • Space transportation

    Molniya 8K78M-PVB (ML) launched on the Molniya-3 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)

14. 1992 34 years ago launch

    USA 89 (QUASAR 10) — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: USA 89 (QUASAR 10)

    • Space transportation

    Space Shuttle launched on the USA 89 (QUASAR 10) 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)

15. 1993 33 years ago launch

    HST SM-1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: HST SM-1

    • Space transportation

    Space Shuttle launched on the HST SM-1 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)

16. 1997 29 years ago launch

    JCSAT-5/Equator-S — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: JCSAT-5/Equator-S

    • Space transportation

    Ariane 44P (44P-3) launched on the JCSAT-5/Equator-S 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)

17. 1997 29 years ago launch

    Astra 1G — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Astra 1G

    • Space transportation

    Proton-K/DM-2M (DM3) launched on the Astra 1G flight from GIK-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)

18. 2008 18 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2446 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2446

    • Space transportation

    Molniya 8K78M (2BL) launched on the Kosmos-2446 flight from 1-y Gosudarstvenniy Ispitatelniy Kosmodrom MO RF, pad LC16/2. 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. 2012 14 years ago launch

    Pleiades 1B — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Pleiades 1B

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-ST-A (Fregat) launched on the Pleiades 1B flight from Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, Guyane Francaise, pad ELS. 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)

20. 2017 9 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2524 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2524

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-2-1B launched on the Kosmos-2524 flight from 1-y Gosudarstvenniy Ispitatelniy Kosmodrom MO RF, 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)

21. 2020 6 years ago launch

    FalconEye 2 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: FalconEye 2

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-ST-A (Fregat) launched on the FalconEye 2 flight from Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, Guyane Francaise, pad ELS. 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)

22. 2021 5 years ago launch

    Starlink-34 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-34

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-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)

23. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Starlink-334 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-334

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-334 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)

24. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Starlink-335 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › , type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-335

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-335 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)