December 20 in Space History

27 events

1. 1961 65 years ago space policy

   UN adopts resolution 1721 (XVI)

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

   • Space law
   • International cooperation

   International: UN General Assembly resolution 1721 (XVI)

   International cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space: 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.

2. 1969 57 years ago launch

   Kosmos-315 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-315

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-315 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)

3. 1971 55 years ago launch

   Intelsat 4 F-3 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Intelsat 4 F-3

   • Space transportation

   Atlas SLV-3C Centaur launched on the Intelsat 4 F-3 flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad LC36A. 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. 1972 54 years ago launch

   AFP-827 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: AFP-827

   • Space transportation

   Atlas SLV-3A Agena D launched on the AFP-827 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. (CC BY 4.0)

5. 1977 49 years ago launch

   Kosmos-969 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-969

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-969 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. (CC BY 4.0)

6. 1978 48 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1064 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1064

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-1064 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC132/1. 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)

7. 1981 45 years ago launch

   Marecs 1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Marecs 1

   • Space transportation

   Ariane 1 launched on the Marecs 1 flight from Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, Guyane Francaise, pad ELA1. 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. 1984 42 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1615 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1615

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-1615 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)

9. 1989 37 years ago launch

   Progress M-2 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Progress M-2

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U2 launched on the Progress M-2 flight from GIK-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)

10. 1990 36 years ago launch

    Raduga — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Raduga

    • Space transportation

    Proton-K/DM-2 launched on the Raduga 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)

11. 1994 32 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2298 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2298

    • Space transportation

    Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-2298 flight from 1-y Gosudarstvenniy Ispitatelniy Kosmodrom MO RF, 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)

12. 1995 31 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2326 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2326

    • Space transportation

    Tsiklon-2 launched on the Kosmos-2326 flight from GIK-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC90/20. 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. 1996 30 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2336 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2336

    • Space transportation

    Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-2336 flight from 1-y Gosudarstvenniy Ispitatelniy Kosmodrom MO RF, 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)

14. 1997 29 years ago launch

    Iridium MS-6 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Iridium MS-6

    • Space transportation

    Delta 7920-10C launched on the Iridium MS-6 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)

15. 1999 27 years ago launch

    HST SM-3A — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: HST SM-3A

    • Space transportation

    Space Shuttle launched on the HST SM-3A flight from NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida, pad LC39B. 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. 2000 26 years ago launch

    Astra 2D/GE 8/LDREX — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Astra 2D/GE 8/LDREX

    • Space transportation

    Ariane 5G launched on the Astra 2D/GE 8/LDREX 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)

17. 2000 26 years ago launch

    Beidou — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Beidou

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 3A launched on the Beidou 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)

18. 2007 19 years ago launch

    USA 199 (GPS IIRM-5) — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: USA 199 (GPS IIRM-5)

    • Space transportation

    Delta 7925-9.5 launched on the USA 199 (GPS IIRM-5) flight from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, pad SLC17A. 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. 2008 18 years ago launch

    Hot Bird 9/Eut. W2M — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Hot Bird 9/Eut. W2M

    • Space transportation

    Ariane 5ECA launched on the Hot Bird 9/Eut. W2M 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)

20. 2009 17 years ago launch

    Soyuz TMA-17 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Soyuz TMA-17

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-FG launched on the Soyuz TMA-17 flight from GIK-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)

21. 2013 13 years ago launch

    Tupac Katari — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Tupac Katari

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 3B (G2) launched on the Tupac Katari 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)

22. 2016 10 years ago launch

    ERG — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: ERG

    • Space transportation

    Epsilon (2) launched on the ERG flight from Uchinoura Space Center, Kagoshima (formerly Kagoshima), pad EP. 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. 2019 7 years ago launch

    CBERS-4A — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: CBERS-4A

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 4B launched on the CBERS-4A 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)

24. 2019 7 years ago launch

    Starliner OFT — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Starliner OFT

    • Space transportation

    Atlas V N22 launched on the Starliner OFT 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)

25. 2024 2 years ago launch

    TJS 12 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: TJS 12

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 3B (G2) launched on the TJS 12 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)

26. 2025 1 year ago launch

    TJS 23 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: TJS 23

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 5 launched on the TJS 23 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. 2025 1 year ago

    NS-37 — private and commercial crew participation

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

    Mission: NS-37 · 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.