December 8 in Space History

20 events

1. 1977 49 years ago launch

   Kosmos-965 — launch

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

   Mission: Kosmos-965

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-965 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. 1977 49 years ago launch

   OPS 8781 [NOSS2] — launch

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

   Mission: OPS 8781 [NOSS2]

   • Space transportation

   Atlas F/MSD launched on the OPS 8781 [NOSS2] flight from South Vandenberg AFB, California, pad SLC3W. 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. 1978 48 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1060 — launch

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

   Mission: Kosmos-1060

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1060 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. 1982 44 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1423 — launch

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

   Mission: Kosmos-1423

   • Space transportation

   Molniya 8K78M (ML) launched on the Kosmos-1423 flight from NIIP-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC1. 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)

5. 1983 43 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1513 — launch

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

   Mission: Kosmos-1513

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-1513 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)

6. 1988 38 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1983 — launch

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

   Mission: Kosmos-1983

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U-PVB launched on the Kosmos-1983 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. 1990 36 years ago launch

   Kosmos-2109/2111 — launch

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

   Mission: Kosmos-2109/2111

   • Space transportation

   Proton-K/DM-2 launched on the Kosmos-2109/2111 flight from GIK-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)

8. 1997 29 years ago launch

   Iridium 42/44 — launch

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

   Mission: Iridium 42/44

   • Space transportation

   Chang Zheng 2C-III/SD launched on the Iridium 42/44 flight from Taiyuan weixing fashe zhongxin, pad LC7. 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. 2006 20 years ago launch

   FY-2D — launch

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

   Mission: FY-2D

   • Space transportation

   Chang Zheng 3A launched on the FY-2D 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)

10. 2006 20 years ago launch

    WildBlue 1/AMC 18 — launch

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

    Mission: WildBlue 1/AMC 18

    • Space transportation

    Ariane 5ECA launched on the WildBlue 1/AMC 18 flight from Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, Guyane Francaise, pad ELA3. 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. 2010 16 years ago launch

    Dragon C1 — launch

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

    Mission: Dragon C1

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 launched on the Dragon C1 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)

12. 2012 14 years ago launch

    Yamal 402 — launch

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

    Mission: Yamal 402

    • Space transportation

    Proton-M/Briz-M (III) launched on the Yamal 402 flight from GIK-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC200/39. 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)

13. 2013 13 years ago launch

    Inmarsat 5F1 — launch

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

    Mission: Inmarsat 5F1

    • Space transportation

    Proton-M/Briz-M (III) launched on the Inmarsat 5F1 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)

14. 2021 5 years ago launch

    Soyuz MS-20 — launch

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

    Mission: Soyuz MS-20

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-2-1A launched on the Soyuz MS-20 flight from GIK-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)

15. 2022 4 years ago launch

    Gaofen 5-01A — launch

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

    Mission: Gaofen 5-01A

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 2D launched on the Gaofen 5-01A 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)

16. 2022 4 years ago launch

    OneWeb-1 — launch

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

    Mission: OneWeb-1

    • Space transportation

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

17. 2023 3 years ago launch

    Starlink-129 — launch

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

    Mission: Starlink-129

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-129 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

    Starlink-218 — launch

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

    Mission: Starlink-218

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-218 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

    WHDW 15 — launch

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

    Mission: WHDW 15

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 6A launched on the WHDW 15 flight from Taiyuan weixing fashe zhongxin, pad LC9A. 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. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Starlink-338 — launch

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

    Mission: Starlink-338

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-338 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)