December 25 in Space History

26 events

1. 1758 268 years ago astronomical observation

   Predicted return of Halley’s Comet observed

   Johann Georg Palitzsch detected the returning comet whose reappearance Halley had predicted.

   • NASA HEASARC — 1700–1799 (opens in a new tab) — Factual summary; source attribution retained.

2. 1969 57 years ago launch

   Interkosmos-2 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Interkosmos-2

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K63 launched on the Interkosmos-2 flight from GTsP-4, Kapustin Yar, Volgograd, Rossiya, pad LC86/4. 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)

3. 1970 56 years ago launch

   Molniya-1 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Molniya-1

   • Space transportation

   Molniya 8K78M launched on the Molniya-1 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. 1971 55 years ago launch

   Kosmos-469 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-469

   • Space transportation

   Tsiklon-2 launched on the Kosmos-469 flight from NIIP-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. (CC BY 4.0)

5. 1972 54 years ago launch

   Kosmos-540 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-540

   • Space transportation

   Kosmos 11K65M launched on the Kosmos-540 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)

6. 1973 53 years ago launch

   Molniya-2 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Molniya-2

   • Space transportation

   Molniya 8K78M launched on the Molniya-2 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)

7. 1975 51 years ago launch

   Meteor — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Meteor

   • Space transportation

   Vostok 8A92M launched on the Meteor 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)

8. 1980 46 years ago launch

   Prognoz-8 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Prognoz-8

   • Space transportation

   Molniya 8K78M (SOL) launched on the Prognoz-8 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. 1987 39 years ago launch

   Kosmos-1905 — launch

   Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

   Mission: Kosmos-1905

   • Space transportation

   Soyuz-U launched on the Kosmos-1905 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)

10. 1988 38 years ago launch

    Progress-39 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Progress-39

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-U2 launched on the Progress-39 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)

11. 1992 34 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2227 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2227

    • Space transportation

    Zenit-2 launched on the Kosmos-2227 flight from GIK-5, Baykonur, Kazakstan, pad LC45/1. 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. 1992 34 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2228 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2228

    • Space transportation

    Tsiklon-3 launched on the Kosmos-2228 flight from 53-y Nauchno-Issledovatelskiy Ispitatelniy Poligon, pad LC32/2. 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)

13. 2002 24 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2394/2396 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2394/2396

    • Space transportation

    Proton-K/DM-2 launched on the Kosmos-2394/2396 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)

14. 2005 21 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2417/2419 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2417/2419

    • Space transportation

    Proton-K/DM-2 launched on the Kosmos-2417/2419 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. (CC BY 4.0)

15. 2006 20 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2424/2426 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2424/2426

    • Space transportation

    Proton-K/DM-2 launched on the Kosmos-2424/2426 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. (CC BY 4.0)

16. 2007 19 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2434/2436 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2434/2436

    • Space transportation

    Proton-M/DM-2 launched on the Kosmos-2434/2436 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. (CC BY 4.0)

17. 2008 18 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2447/2449 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2447/2449

    • Space transportation

    Proton-M/DM-2 launched on the Kosmos-2447/2449 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. (CC BY 4.0)

18. 2010 16 years ago launch failure

    GSAT-5P — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests

    Mission: GSAT-5P

    GSLV Mk I (c) launched on the GSAT-5P flight from Satish Dhawan Space Ctr, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India, pad SLP. 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. (CC BY 4.0)

19. 2013 13 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2488/89/90/91 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2488/89/90/91

    • Space transportation

    Rokot launched on the Kosmos-2488/89/90/91 flight from 1-y Gosudarstvenniy Ispitatelniy Kosmodrom MO RF, 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. (CC BY 4.0)

20. 2014 12 years ago launch

    Kosmos-2502 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Kosmos-2502

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-2-1B launched on the Kosmos-2502 flight from 1-y Gosudarstvenniy Ispitatelniy Kosmodrom MO RF, 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)

21. 2017 9 years ago launch

    Yaogan 30 03 zu — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Yaogan 30 03 zu

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 2C (b) launched on the Yaogan 30 03 zu 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. 2021 5 years ago launch

    JWST — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: JWST

    • Space transportation

    The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope designed to conduct infrared astronomy.

    • 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)
    • Wikipedia — James Webb Space Telescope (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/James_Webb_Space_Telescope (CC BY-SA 4.0)
    • Timeline of Space Exploration Missions 1957 to 2031 (opens in a new tab)
    • NASA — James Webb Space Telescope (opens in a new tab)
    • NASA NSSDCA — James Webb Space Telescope (opens in a new tab)

23. 2023 3 years ago launch

    Shiyan-24C 1-3 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Shiyan-24C 1-3

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 11 (H) launched on the Shiyan-24C 1-3 flight from Yangjiang launch area, pad LP1. 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. 2024 2 years ago launch

    Resurs-P No. 5 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Resurs-P No. 5

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-2-1B launched on the Resurs-P No. 5 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)

25. 2025 1 year ago launch

    Obzor-R No. 1 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: Obzor-R No. 1

    • Space transportation

    Soyuz-2-1A launched on the Obzor-R No. 1 flight from 1-y Gosudarstvenniy Ispitatelniy Kosmodrom MO RF, 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)

26. 2025 1 year ago launch

    WHDW 17 — launch

    Category: Launches and Flight Tests › Type: Orbital launch

    Mission: WHDW 17

    • Space transportation

    Chang Zheng 8A launched on the WHDW 17 flight from Hainan Shangye Hangtian Fashe Chang (Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site), 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)