Space history on December 13

21 events

1. 1962 64 years ago launch

   POPPY 1/NRL Comp 2 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: POPPY 1/NRL Comp 2

   • Space transportation

   Thor Agena D launched on the POPPY 1/NRL Comp 2 flight from Vandenberg AFB, California, pad 75-1-1. 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.

2. 1962 64 years ago launch

   Relay 1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Relay 1

   • Space transportation

   Thor Delta B launched on the Relay 1 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC17A. 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.

3. 1963 63 years ago launch

   Kosmos-23 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-23

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 63S1 launched on the Kosmos-23 flight from GTsP-4, Kapustin Yar, Volgograd, Rossiya, pad Mayak-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.

4. 1963 63 years ago

   UN adopts the Declaration of Legal Principles on outer space

   Category: Programs, Policy, and Governance › Type: UN resolution or principles

   • Space policy
   • Space law

   International: UN General Assembly resolution 1962 (XVIII)

   UN adopts the Declaration of Legal Principles on outer space (1963-12-13).

   • UNOOSA: Declaration of Legal Principles (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on UNOOSA: Declaration of Legal Principles. Original source retains its rights.

5. 1964 62 years ago launch

   NNS O-2 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: NNS O-2

   • Space transportation

   Thor Ablestar (2) launched on the NNS O-2 flight from Vandenberg AFB, California, pad 75-1-2. 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.

6. 1967 59 years ago launch

   Pioneer 8 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Pioneer 8

   • Space transportation

   Thor Delta E1 launched on the Pioneer 8 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.

7. 1973 53 years ago launch

   Kosmos-615 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-615

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K63 launched on the Kosmos-615 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.

8. 1973 53 years ago launch

   DSCS II 3/4 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: DSCS II 3/4

   • Space transportation

   Titan IIIC launched on the DSCS II 3/4 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.

9. 1974 52 years ago launch

   Kosmos-697 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-697

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-697 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.

10. 1975 51 years ago launch

    Satcom 1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Satcom 1

    • Space transportation

    Delta 3914 launched on the Satcom 1 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC17A. 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. 1977 49 years ago launch

    Kosmos-967 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-967

    • Space transportation

    Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-967 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.

12. 1985 41 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1708 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-1708

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1708 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.

13. 1996 30 years ago space policy

    UN adopts resolution 51/122

    Category: Programs, Policy, and Governance › Type: UN resolution or principles

    • Space law
    • International cooperation

    International: UN General Assembly resolution 51/122

    International cooperation benefits declaration: General Assembly adoption.

    • United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary based on United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law. Original source retains its rights.

14. 2014 12 years ago launch

    USA 259 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: USA 259

    • Space transportation

    Atlas V 541 (C) launched on the USA 259 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.

15. 2015 11 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2513 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2513

    • Space transportation

    Proton-M/Briz-M (I) launched on the Kosmos-2513 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.

16. 2018 8 years ago

    VSS Unity VP-03 — private and commercial crew participation

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

    Mission: VSS Unity VP-03 · Programme: Virgin Galactic

    • Human spaceflight
    • Commercial human spaceflight

    Role: Commercial astronaut

    2 participants; see description and linked people.

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

17. 2020 6 years ago launch

    SXM-7 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: SXM-7

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the SXM-7 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.

18. 2021 5 years ago launch

    Ekspress-AMU3/AMU7 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Ekspress-AMU3/AMU7

    • Space transportation

    Proton-M/Briz-M (I) launched on the Ekspress-AMU3/AMU7 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.

19. 2021 5 years ago launch

    Tian Lian 2-02 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Tian Lian 2-02

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 3B (G3) launched on the Tian Lian 2-02 flight from Xichang Space Center (Songlin), Sichuan, China, pad LC3. 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. 2022 4 years ago launch

    Galaxy 35/36/MTG-I1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Galaxy 35/36/MTG-I1

    • Space transportation

    Ariane 5ECA+ launched on the Galaxy 35/36/MTG-I1 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.

21. 2024 2 years ago launch

    Starlink-219 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starlink-219

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the Starlink-219 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.