Back to the calendar (December)
Space history on December 13
21 events
POPPY 1/NRL Comp 2 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: POPPY 1/NRL Comp 2
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.
Relay 1 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: Relay 1
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.
Kosmos-23 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: Kosmos-23
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.
UN adopts the Declaration of Legal Principles on outer space
Category: Programs, Policy, and GovernanceType: UN resolution or principles
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.
NNS O-2 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: NNS O-2
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.
Pioneer 8 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: Pioneer 8
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.
Kosmos-615 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: Kosmos-615
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.
DSCS II 3/4 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: DSCS II 3/4
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.
Kosmos-697 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: Kosmos-697
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.
Satcom 1 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: Satcom 1
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.
Kosmos-967 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: Kosmos-967
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.
Kosmos-1708 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: Kosmos-1708
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.
UN adopts resolution 51/122
Category: Programs, Policy, and GovernanceType: UN resolution or principles
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.
USA 259 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: USA 259
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.
Kosmos-2513 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: Kosmos-2513
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.
VSS Unity VP-03 — private and commercial crew participation
Category: Human Spaceflight ActivitiesType: Private astronaut or space tourist flight
Mission: VSS Unity VP-03 · Programme: Virgin Galactic
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.
SXM-7 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: SXM-7
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.
Ekspress-AMU3/AMU7 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: Ekspress-AMU3/AMU7
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.
Tian Lian 2-02 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: Tian Lian 2-02
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.
Galaxy 35/36/MTG-I1 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: Galaxy 35/36/MTG-I1
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.
Starlink-219 — launch
Category: Launches and Flight TestsType: Orbital launch
Mission: Starlink-219
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.