Space history on December 11

27 events

1. 1961 65 years ago launch failure

   Zenit-2 No. 1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Zenit-2 No. 1

   • Space transportation

   Vostok 8K72 (K) launched on the Zenit-2 No. 1 flight from NIIP-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC1. 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.

2. 1964 62 years ago launch

   Surveyor Model — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Surveyor Model

   • Space transportation

   Atlas Centaur launched on the Surveyor Model flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC36A. 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.

3. 1966 60 years ago launch

   OV1-9/10 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: OV1-9/10

   • Space transportation

   Atlas D launched on the OV1-9/10 flight from Vandenberg AFB, California, pad ABRESB3. 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.

4. 1969 57 years ago launch

   Kosmos-314 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-314

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K63 launched on the Kosmos-314 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.

5. 1970 56 years ago launch

   NOAA 1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: NOAA 1

   • Space transportation

   Thor Delta N6 launched on the NOAA 1 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.

6. 1971 55 years ago launch

   Ariel 4 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Ariel 4

   • Space transportation

   Scout B-1 (F) launched on the Ariel 4 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.

7. 1972 54 years ago launch

   Nimbus 5 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Nimbus 5

   • Space transportation

   Delta 0900 launched on the Nimbus 5 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.

8. 1972 54 years ago landing

   Apollo 17: lunar landing

   Category: Mission Operations and Milestones › Type: Landing

   Mission: Apollo 17

   Moon landing.

   • NASA — mission history (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary; source attribution retained.

9. 1975 51 years ago launch

   Interkosmos-14 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Interkosmos-14

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Interkosmos-14 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.

10. 1977 49 years ago launch

    OPS 4258 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: OPS 4258

    • Space transportation

    Atlas SLV-3A Agena D launched on the OPS 4258 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC13. 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.

11. 1978 48 years ago launch

    GPS 4 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: GPS 4

    • Space transportation

    Atlas F/SVS launched on the GPS 4 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.

12. 1985 41 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1706 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1706

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1706 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, 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.

13. 1988 38 years ago launch

    Skynet 4B/Astra 1A — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Skynet 4B/Astra 1A

    • Space transportation

    Ariane 44LP (44LP) launched on the Skynet 4B/Astra 1A 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.

14. 1996 30 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2335 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2335

    • Space transportation

    Tsiklon-2 launched on the Kosmos-2335 flight from GIK-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.

15. 1998 28 years ago launch

    Mars Climate Orbiter — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Mars Climate Orbiter

    • Space transportation

    The Mars Climate Orbiter (formerly the Mars Surveyor '98 Orbiter) was a robotic space probe launched by NASA on December 11, 1998, to study the Martian climate, Martian atmosphere, and surface changes and to act as the communications relay in…

    • 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.
    • Wikipedia — Mars Climate Orbiter (opens in a new tab) — Adapted from Wikipedia contributors; selected sentences retained and edited for length, reference markers and pronunciation glosses. CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Article and edit history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Climate_Orbiter
    • Timeline of Space Exploration Missions 1957 to 2031 (opens in a new tab)
    • NASA — Mars Climate Orbiter (opens in a new tab)
    • NASA NSSDCA — Mars Climate Orbiter (opens in a new tab)

16. 2002 24 years ago launch failure

    Hot Bird 7/Stentor — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Hot Bird 7/Stentor

    • Space transportation

    Ariane 5ECA launched on the Hot Bird 7/Stentor flight from Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, Guyane Francaise, pad ELA3. 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.

17. 2006 20 years ago launch

    Measat 3 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Measat 3

    • Space transportation

    Proton-M/Briz-M (I) launched on the Measat 3 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.

18. 2011 15 years ago launch

    Luch-5A/Amos-5 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Luch-5A/Amos-5

    • Space transportation

    Proton-M/Briz-M (III) launched on the Luch-5A/Amos-5 flight from GIK-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC81/24. 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.

19. 2012 14 years ago launch

    X-37B OTV FLT-3 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: X-37B OTV FLT-3

    • Space transportation

    Atlas V 501 launched on the X-37B OTV FLT-3 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad SLC41. 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.

20. 2017 9 years ago

    Space Policy Directive 1 signed

    Category: Programs, Policy, and Governance › Type: Space policy or directive

    • Space policy

    National: Space Policy Directive 1

    Space Policy Directive 1 signed (2017-12-11).

    • NASA: New Space Policy Directive (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on NASA: New Space Policy Directive. Original source retains its rights.

21. 2019 7 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2544 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2544

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-2-1B (Fregat) launched on the Kosmos-2544 flight from 1-y Gosudarstvenniy Ispitatelniy Kosmodrom MO RF, 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.

22. 2019 7 years ago launch

    RISAT-2BR1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: RISAT-2BR1

    • Space transportation

    PSLV-QL launched on the RISAT-2BR1 flight from Satish Dhawan Space Ctr, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India, pad FLP. 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.

23. 2020 6 years ago launch

    USA 311 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: USA 311

    • Space transportation

    Delta 4H (A) launched on the USA 311 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad SLC37B. 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.

24. 2021 5 years ago

    NS-19 — private and commercial crew participation

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

    Mission: NS-19 · 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.

25. 2022 4 years ago launch

    Hakuto-R M1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Hakuto-R M1

    • Space transportation

    Hakuto-R Mission 1 was a failed private Japanese uncrewed lunar landing mission built and operated by ispace, which was launched in December 2022 for an attempted lunar landing in April 2023.

    • 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.
    • Wikipedia — Hakuto-R M1 (opens in a new tab) — Adapted from Wikipedia contributors; selected sentences retained and edited for length, reference markers and pronunciation glosses. CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Article and edit history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakuto-R_Mission_1
    • Original Wikipedia link from NSE timeline (opens in a new tab) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
    • Timeline of Space Exploration Missions 1957 to 2031 (opens in a new tab)
    • NASA — Hakuto-R M1 (opens in a new tab)
    • NASA NSSDCA — Hakuto-R M1 (opens in a new tab)

26. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Starlink-340 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-340

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-340 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.

27. 2025 1 year ago launch

    WHDW 16 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: WHDW 16

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 12 launched on the WHDW 16 flight from Hainan Shangye Hangtian Fashe Chang (Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site), 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.