December 16 in Space History

29 events

1. 1965 61 years ago launch

   Pioneer 6 — launch

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

   Mission: Pioneer 6

   • Space transportation

   Thor Delta E launched on the Pioneer 6 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. (CC BY 4.0)

2. 1967 59 years ago launch

   Kosmos-195 — launch

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

   Mission: Kosmos-195

   • Space transportation

   Voskhod 11A57 launched on the Kosmos-195 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC41/1. 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)

3. 1968 58 years ago launch

   Kosmos-260 — launch

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

   Mission: Kosmos-260

   • Space transportation

   Molniya 8K78M launched on the Kosmos-260 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)

4. 1970 56 years ago launch

   Kosmos-387 — launch

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

   Mission: Kosmos-387

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-387 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)

5. 1971 55 years ago launch

   Kosmos-466 — launch

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

   Mission: Kosmos-466

   • Space transportation

   Voskhod 11A57 launched on the Kosmos-466 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)

6. 1973 53 years ago launch

   Explorer 51 — launch

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

   Mission: Explorer 51

   • Space transportation

   Delta 1900 launched on the Explorer 51 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. (CC BY 4.0)

7. 1975 51 years ago launch

   JSSW 701-06 — launch

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

   Mission: JSSW 701-06

   • Space transportation

   Feng Bao 1 launched on the JSSW 701-06 flight from Jiuquan Space Center, Nei Monggol Zizhiqu, China, pad LA2B. 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. 1975 51 years ago launch

   Kosmos-786 — launch

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

   Mission: Kosmos-786

   • Space transportation

   Voskhod 11A57 launched on the Kosmos-786 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)

9. 1977 49 years ago launch

   Kosmos-968 — launch

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

   Mission: Kosmos-968

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-968 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)

10. 1978 48 years ago launch

    Anik B — launch

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

    Mission: Anik B

    • Space transportation

    Delta 3914 launched on the Anik B 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. (CC BY 4.0)

11. 1979 47 years ago launch

    Soyuz T — launch

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

    Mission: Soyuz T

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Soyuz T 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)

12. 1980 46 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1227 — launch

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

    Mission: Kosmos-1227

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1227 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)

13. 1982 44 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1424 — launch

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

    Mission: Kosmos-1424

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1424 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)

14. 1986 40 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1807 — launch

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

    Mission: Kosmos-1807

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1807 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC41/1. 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)

15. 1988 38 years ago launch

    Kosmos-1984 — launch

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

    Mission: Kosmos-1984

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1984 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. (CC BY 4.0)

16. 1991 35 years ago launch

    Inmarsat 2F3/Tel. 2A — launch

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

    Mission: Inmarsat 2F3/Tel. 2A

    • Space transportation

    Ariane 44L (44L) launched on the Inmarsat 2F3/Tel. 2A 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. 1994 32 years ago launch

    Luch — launch

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

    Mission: Luch

    • Space transportation

    Proton-K/DM-2 launched on the Luch 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. 2004 22 years ago mission operations

    Voyager 1 crosses the termination shock

    Voyager 1 entered the heliosheath beyond the solar wind’s termination shock.

    • NASA — Voyager 1 (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary; source attribution retained.

19. 2015 11 years ago launch

    TeLEOS-1 — launch

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

    Mission: TeLEOS-1

    • Space transportation

    PSLV (CA) launched on the TeLEOS-1 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. (CC BY 4.0)

20. 2018 8 years ago launch

    This One's For Pickering — launch

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

    Mission: This One's For Pickering

    • Space transportation

    Electron launched on the This One's For Pickering flight from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, pad LC1A. 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. 2019 7 years ago launch

    Beidou DW52/53 — launch

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

    Mission: Beidou DW52/53

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 3B/YZ-1 (G3Z) launched on the Beidou DW52/53 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. (CC BY 4.0)

22. 2022 4 years ago launch

    Shiyan-21 — launch

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

    Mission: Shiyan-21

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 11 launched on the Shiyan-21 flight from Xichang Space Center (Songlin), Sichuan, China, pad LC4. 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. 2022 4 years ago launch

    SWOT — launch

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

    Mission: SWOT

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the SWOT 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. 2022 4 years ago launch

    O3b mPOWER 1/2 — launch

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

    Mission: O3b mPOWER 1/2

    • Space transportation

    Falcon 9 (FT5) launched on the O3b mPOWER 1/2 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)

25. 2023 3 years ago launch

    Arktika-M No. 2 — launch

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

    Mission: Arktika-M No. 2

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-2-1B (Fregat) launched on the Arktika-M No. 2 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)

26. 2024 2 years ago launch

    WHDW 01 — launch

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

    Mission: WHDW 01

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 5B/YZ-2 launched on the WHDW 01 flight from Wenchang Space Center, Hainan, pad LC101. 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)

27. 2024 2 years ago launch

    PIESAT-2 09-12 — launch

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

    Mission: PIESAT-2 09-12

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 2D launched on the PIESAT-2 09-12 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)

28. 2025 1 year ago launch

    ZY3-04 — launch

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

    Mission: ZY3-04

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 4B launched on the ZY3-04 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)

29. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Amazon Leo LA-04 — launch

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

    Mission: Amazon Leo LA-04

    • Space transportation

    Atlas V 551 (G) launched on the Amazon Leo LA-04 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. (CC BY 4.0)