1966 in spaceflight

1966 in spaceflight
Gemini 8 docking.jpg
Gemini 8 about to dock with its Agena target vehicle, the first time two spacecraft dock in orbit.
Orbital launches
First7 January
Last29 December
Total131
Successes111
Failures13
Partial failures7
Catalogued118
Crewed flights
Orbital5
Total travellers10

The year 1966 saw the peak and the end of the Gemini program. The program proved that docking in space and human EVA's could be done safely. It saw the first launch of the Saturn IB rocket, an important step in the Apollo program, and the launch of Luna 9, the first spacecraft to make a soft landing on a celestial object (the Moon).

Launches

Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat)
Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks

January

7 January
04:48:23
United StatesThor-Burner 1 United StatesVandenberg LC-75-2-6 United StatesUSAF
United StatesOPS 2394 (DMSP 4A-F5) USAF Planned: Low Earth Meteorology 7 January Launch failure
Second stage failed to ignite
7 January
08:24
Soviet UnionVostok-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 104 (Zenit-2) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 15 January Partial Failure
Third stage failed to put spacecraft in correct orbit
19 January
20:10
United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesVandenberg PALC-2-4 United StatesUSAF
United StatesKH-7 24 (KH-7 Gambit) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance ??? Successful
United StatesOPS 3179 (Agena Pickaback) Low Earth Technology 23 January 1966 Successful
United StatesOPS 7253 Low Earth Film return 25 January 1966 Successful
22 January
08:38
Soviet UnionVostok-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 105 (Zenit-2) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 30 January Successful
25 January
12:28
Soviet UnionKosmos-2I Soviet UnionKapustin Yar LC-86/1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 106 (DS-P1-I) Low Earth Radar calibration In orbit Successful
28 January
17:06:00
United StatesScout-A United StatesVandenberg PALC-D United States
United StatesOPS 1593 (Transit-O 7) Low Earth Navigation In orbit Successful
31 January
11:41:37
Soviet UnionMolniya-M Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionLuna 9 Lunar transfer Lunar lander 3 February
18:45
Successful
First spacecraft to soft land on the surface of the Moon and of any planetary object.

February

2 February
21:32:13
United StatesThor-SLV2A Agena-D United StatesVandenberg PALC-1-1 United States
United StatesOPS 7291 (KH-4A Corona 1029) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 27 February Successful
3 February
07:41:23
United StatesDelta C United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United States
United StatesESSA-1 (Tiros) ESSA Low Earth Meteorology In orbit Successful
5 February
12:19:49
Soviet UnionR-36O Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 67/21 Soviet UnionRVSN
Soviet UnionOGCh #02L RVSN Suborbital Missile test 5 February Successful
Maiden flight of R-36O, apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
9 February
19:45:01
United StatesThor-SLV2A Agena-D United StatesVandenberg LC-75-1-2 United States
United StatesOPS 1439 ("Heavy Ferret") NRO Low Earth ELINT In orbit Successful
10 February
08:52
Soviet UnionVostok-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 107 (Zenit-2) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 18 February Successful
11 February
18:00
Soviet UnionKosmos-1 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar LC-86/1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 108 (DS-U1-G) Low Earth Atmospheric research In orbit Successful
15 February
20:32
United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesVandenberg PALC-2-4 United States
United StatesKH-7 25 (KH-7 Gambit) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance ??? Successful
United StatesOPS 1184 Low Earth Film return 22 February 1966 Successful
United StatesOPS 3011 (Bluebell 2 cylinder) Low Earth Radar calibration 17 February 1966 Successful
United StatesOPS 3031 (Bluebell 2 sphere) Low Earth Radar calibration 22 February 1966 Successful
17 February
08:33:36
FranceDiamant A AlgeriaHammaguira Brigitte FranceArmée de Terre
FranceDipason (D-1A) Armée de Terre Low Earth Geodetic science In orbit Successful
19 February
08:52
Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 109 (Zenit-4 #14L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 27 February Successful
21 February Soviet UnionKosmos-1 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar LC-86/1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionDS-K-40 No.2 Planned: Low Earth ELINT 21 February Failure
First stage failure at T+83 seconds
22 February
20:09:36
Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 110 (Voskhod) Low Earth Uncrewed spacecraft 16 March Successful
26 February
16:12:01
United StatesSaturn IB United StatesCape Canaveral LC-34 United StatesNASA
United StatesApollo AS-201 NASA Sub-orbital Test spacecraft 26 February
16:49:21
Successful
First flight of the Apollo Spacecraft and launch vehicle
28 February
13:58:00
United StatesDelta E United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B United States
United StatesESSA-2 (Tiros) ESSA Low Earth Meteorology In orbit Successful

March

1 March
11:03:49
Soviet UnionMolniya 8K78M Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 111 (Luna E-6S series) Intended: Lunar transfer Lunar orbiter 1 March Launch failure
9 March
22:02:03
United StatesThor-SLV2A Agena-D United StatesVandenberg PALC-1-1 United States
United StatesOPS 3488 (KH-4A Corona 1030) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 29 March Successful
16 March
15:00:03
United StatesAtlas SLV-3 Agena-D United StatesCape Canaveral LC-14 United States
United StatesGATV 5003 US Air Force Low Earth Docking target 15 September 1967 Successful
16 March
16:41:02
United StatesTitan II GLV United StatesCape Canaveral LC-19 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesGemini VIII NASA Low Earth Technology/Biological/Target 17 March
03:22:28
Successful
First docking with the Agena target vehicle
17 March
10:28:42
Soviet UnionVostok-2 Soviet UnionPlesetsk LC-41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 112 (Zenit-2) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 25 March 1966
05:31
Successful
18 March
20:00
United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesVandenberg PALC-2-4 United States
United StatesKH-7 26 (KH-7 Gambit) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance ??? Successful
United StatesOPS 0879 Low Earth Film return 23 March 1966 Successful
United StatesOPS 0974 Low Earth Film return 24 March 1966 Successful
21 March
09:40
Soviet UnionVoskhod 11A57 Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 113 (Zenit-4 #17L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 29 March Successful
24 March
14:39
Soviet UnionUR-500 (Proton) Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 81/23 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionProton N-4 #3 (N-4 #3) Intended: Low Earth Physics 24 March Launch failure
2nd stage engine failure T+122 seconds. Suspected collision with the first stage following separation.
26 March
03:31:00
United StatesScout-A United StatesVandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 5 (PALC-D) United States
United States Transit-O 8 Low Earth Navigation In orbit Successful
27 March
07:20
Soviet UnionMolniya 8K78M Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionMolniya-1 #5 Intended: Molniya Communications technology 27 March Launch failure
Booster failure
30 March
09:20:12
United StatesSM-65D Atlas D United StatesVandenberg ABRES-B-3 United StatesUS Air Force
United States OV1-4 US Air Force Low Earth REV test In orbit Successful
United States OV1-5 Low Earth REV test In orbit Successful
31 March
05:41:04
United StatesThor-Burner 1 United StatesVandenberg LC-75-2-6 United StatesUSAF
United StatesOPS 0340 (DMSP-Block-4A F6) USAF Low Earth Meteorology In orbit Successful
31 March
10:46:59
Soviet UnionMolniya 8K78M Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionLuna 10 Lunar transfer Lunar orbiter 30 May (last contact) Successful
First Soviet lunar orbiter, first discoverer of lunar mascons; Last contact: 30 May 1966

April

6 April
11:40
Soviet UnionVoskhod 11A57 Soviet UnionPlesetsk LC-41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 114 (Zenit-4 #19L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 14 April Successful
7 April
22:02:55
United StatesThor SLV-2A Agena D United StatesVandenberg PALC1-1 United States
United StatesOPS 1612 (KH-4 Corona 1031) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 26 April 1966 Successful
United StatesSRV 1031-1 Low Earth ??? ??? Successful
United StatesSRV 1031-2 Low Earth Film return ??? Successful
8 April
01:00:02
United StatesAtlas LV-3C Centaur-D United StatesCanaveral LC-36B United StatesNASA
United StatesAtlas Centaur 8 Surveyor SM-2 NASA Highly elliptical Technology 14 April Failure
Launch vehicle development flight. It carried a mass model of the Surveyor spacecraft. The second Centaur engine firing was unsuccessful.
8 April
19:35:00
United StatesAtlas SLV-3 Agena-D United StatesCape Canaveral LC-12 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesOAO 1 NASA Low Earth In orbit Spacecraft failure
19 April
19:15
United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesVandenberg PALC-2-4 United States
United StatesKH-7 27 (KH-7 Gambit SV 977) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 26 April 1966 Successful
United StatesOPS 0910 Low Earth Film return 22 April 1966 Successful
20 April
10:40
Soviet UnionVostok-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 115 (Zenit-2 No. 35L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 28 April 1966 Successful
22 April
09:45
United StatesScout-B United StatesVandenberg PALC-D United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesOV3-1 USAF Low Earth Radiation belt particle and fields experiments In orbit Successful
25 April
07:10
Soviet UnionMolniya 8K78M Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionMolniya-1 #6 Molniya Communications technology 11 June 1973 Successful
Third successful Molniya; also transmitted cloud cover images
26 April
10:04
Soviet UnionKosmos-2I Soviet UnionKapustin Yar LC-86/1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 116 (DS-P1-Yu No. 6) Low Earth Radar calibration In orbit Successful

May

3 May
19:25:25
United StatesThor SLV-2A Agena D United StatesVandenberg 75-3-5 United States
United StatesOPS 1508 (KH-4A Corona 1032) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 3 May Failure
United StatesSRV 1032-1 Low Earth Film return 3 May Failure
United StatesSRV 1032-2 Low Earth Film return 3 May Failure
6 May
10:58
Soviet UnionVostok-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 117 (Zenit-2 No. 39L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 14 May 1966 Successful
11 May
14:10
Soviet UnionVostok-2M Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 118 (Meteor #4L) Low Earth Weather 23 November 1988 Successful
14 May
19:02
United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesVandenberg PALC-2-4 United States
United StatesKH-7 28 (KH-7 Gambit SV 978) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 27 October 1970 Successful
United StatesOPS 1950 Low Earth Film return 17 May 1966 Successful
United StatesOPS 6785 Low Earth Film return 21 May 1966 Successful
15 May
07:55:34
United StatesThor SLV-2 Agena-B United StatesVandenberg LC-75-1-1 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesNimbus 2 (Nimbus C) NASA Low Earth Weather
Technology
In orbit Successful
17 May
11:00
Soviet UnionVoskhod 11A57 Soviet UnionPlesetsk LC-41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionUnnamed Kosmos (Zenit-4 #18L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 17 May Failure
17 May
15:15:03
United StatesAtlas SLV-3 Agena-D United StatesCape Canaveral LC-14 United States
United StatesGATV 5004 US Air Force Low Earth Docking target 17 May Launch failure
19 May
02:27:00
United StatesScout-A United StatesVandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 5 (PALC-D) United States
United StatesTransit-O 9 Low Earth Navigation In orbit Successful
19 May
19:30
Soviet UnionR-36O Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 67/22 Soviet UnionRVSN
Soviet UnionOGCh #04L RVSN Suborbital Missile test 19 May Successful
24 May
02:00:33
United StatesThor SLV-2A Agena D United StatesVandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 3 (PALC-1-1) United States
United States OPS 1778 KH-4A Corona 1033 NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 9 June 1966 Successful
United StatesSRV 1033-1 Low Earth Film return ??? Successful
United StatesSRV 1033-2 Low Earth Film return ??? Successful
24 May
05:31?
Soviet UnionKosmos-2I Soviet UnionKapustin Yar LC-86/1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 119 (DS-U2-I No. 1) Low Earth Ionospheric research In orbit Successful
25 May
14:00
United StatesThor Delta C1 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesExplorer 32 (AE-B) NASA Low Earth Atmospheric 22 February 1985 Successful
30 May
14:41:01
United StatesAtlas LV-3C Centaur-D United StatesCanaveral LC-36A United StatesNASA
United StatesSurveyor 1 NASA Highly elliptical Lunar Lander 2 June 1966 Successful
First lunar soft-lander

June

1 June
15:00:02
United StatesAtlas SLV-3 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-14 United States
United StatesATDA No. 02186 US Air Force Low Earth Docking target 11 June Spacecraft failure
Shroud failed to come off target adapter precluding docking
3 June
13:39:33
United StatesTitan II GLV United StatesCape Canaveral LC-19 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesGemini IX-A NASA Low Earth Technology/Biological/Target 6 June
02:00:23
Successful
Failed attempt to dock with Agena target vehicle; two hour EVA by Eugene Cernan
3 June
19:25
United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesVandenberg PALC-2-4 United States
United StatesKH-7 29 (KH-7 Gambit SV 979) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 6 June Successful
United StatesOPS 1577 Low Earth Film return 9 June Successful
United StatesOPS 1856 Low Earth Film return 9 June Successful
7 June
02:48
United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Agena-B United StatesCape Canaveral LC-12 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesOGO-3 (OGO-B) NASA Low Earth Ionospheric
Magnetospheric
14 September 1981 Successful
Routine spacecraft operation was discontinued on 1 December 1969, after which only data from Heppner's experiment (E-11) was acquired. All spacecraft support terminated on 29 February 1972.
8 June
11:00
Soviet UnionVoskhod 11A57 Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 120 (Zenit-2 No. 41L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 16 June Successful
9 June
20:15
United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesVandenberg PALC-1-2 United States
United StatesMidas 10 (Midas RTS-I F1) USAF Low Earth Early Warning 3 December Successful
United StatesERS 16 (ORS 2) Low Earth Technology (performed metal-to-metal bonding experiments) 12 March 1967 Successful
United StatesSECOR 6 (Secor Type II S/N 7, EGRS VI) Low Earth Geodetic 6 July 1967 Successful
10 June
04:15
United StatesScout-B United StatesWallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3A United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesOV3-4 (Personnel Hazards Associated with Space Radiation (PHASR)), OPS-1427 USAF Low Earth Tissue equivalent radiation chamber, linear energy transfer spectrometer, electron and proton spectrometers, a solid state charged particle spectrometer and a tri-axial magnetometer. In orbit Successful
16 June
14:01
United StatesTitan IIIC United StatesCape Canaveral LC-41 United States
United StatesGGTS USAF Geosynchronous Earth Gravity Gradient stabilization In orbit Partial Spacecraft Failure -- magnetic field in one of the dampers was compromised
United StatesIDCSP 1 Geosynchronous Earth Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful
United StatesIDCSP 2 Geosynchronous Earth Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful
United StatesIDCSP 3 Geosynchronous Earth Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful
United StatesIDCSP 4 Geosynchronous Earth Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful
United StatesIDCSP 5 Geosynchronous Earth Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful
United StatesIDCSP 6 Geosynchronous Earth Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful
United StatesIDCSP 7 Geosynchronous Earth Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful
17 Jun
11:00
Soviet UnionVoskhod 11A57 Soviet UnionPlesetsk LC-41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 121 (Zenit-4 #20L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 25 Jun Successful
21 Jun
21:23:30
United StatesThor SLV-2A Agena D United StatesVandenberg 75-3-5 United States
United StatesOPS 1599 (KH-4A Corona 1034) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 14 July Successful
United StatesSRV 1034-1 Low Earth Film return Before 14 July Successful
United StatesSRV 1034-2 Low Earth Film return Before 14 July Successful
24 Jun
21:31:30
United StatesThor-SLV2A Agena-D United StatesVandenberg LC-75-1-1 United States
United StatesPAGEOS NASA Low Earth Geodetic 1975 - 2016 Successful
25 Jun
10:30
Soviet UnionVostok-2M Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 122 (Meteor #5L) Low Earth Weather 14 November 1989 Successful

July

1 Jul
16:02:25
United StatesThor Delta E1 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesExplorer 33 (AIMP D) NASA High Earth Magnetospheric In orbit Successful
5 July
16:12:01
United StatesSaturn IB United StatesCape Canaveral LC-37B United StatesNASA
United StatesApollo AS-203 NASA Low Earth S-IVB test 5 July Successful (spacecraft inadvertently destroyed after four orbits)
6 July
12:57
Soviet UnionUR-500 (Proton) Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 81/23 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionProton 3 (N-4 #4) Low Earth Physics 16 Sep Successful
8 July
05:31
Soviet UnionKosmos-2I 63S1 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Site 86/1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 123 (DS-P1-Yu #5L) Low Earth Radar calibration In orbit Successful
12 July
17:55
United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC 4E United States
United StatesKH-7 30 (KH-7 Gambit SV 980) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 20 Jul 1966 Successful
United StatesOPS 1850 SRV Mission 4030 Low Earth Film return July Successful
14 July
02:10:02
United StatesSM-65D_Atlas United StatesVandenberg ABRES-B-3 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesOV1-8 (PasComSat) USAF Low Earth Communications 4 Jan 1978 Successful
United StatesOV1-7 USAF Low Earth X-Ray Astronomy/Ionosphere 14 July Failed to orbit
14 July
10:25
Soviet UnionVoskhod 11A57 Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 124 (Zenit-2 No. 42L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 22 July Successful
18 July
20:39:46
United StatesAtlas-Agena United StatesCape Canaveral LC-14 United States
United StatesTDA-1A US Air Force Low Earth Docking target 29 Dec Successful
18 July
22:20:27
United StatesTitan II GLV United StatesCape Canaveral LC-19 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesGemini X NASA Low Earth Technology/Biological/Target 21 July
21:07:05
Successful
Second successful docking with Agena target vehicle; First EVA to another spacecraft, by Michael Collins
20 July
08:58
Soviet UnionSoyuz/Vostok Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 125 (US-A) No. 111 Low Earth ELINT 2 Aug 1966 Successful
28 Jul
10:50
Soviet UnionVoskhod 11A57 Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 126 (Zenit-4 #21L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 2 Aug Successful
29 July
18:30:20
United StatesTitan IIIB United StatesVandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4W United States
United States KH-8 Gambit #1 (OPS 3014) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 6 Aug 1966 Successful
United States SRV Mission 4301-1 Low Earth Film return before 6 Aug 1966 Successful

August

4 Aug
10:45:01
United StatesScout-B United StatesVandenberg Space Launch Complex_5 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesOV3-3 USAF Low Earth Radiation belt particle and fields experiments In orbit Successful
8 Aug
11:29
Soviet UnionVoskhod 11A57 Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 127 (Zenit-4 #22L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 16 Aug Successful
9 Aug
20:46:03
United StatesThorad SLV-2G Agena D United StatesVandenberg Space Launch Complex 1W United States
United StatesOPS 1545 CORONA J-32 NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 11 Sep Successful
United StatesSRV 715 Low Earth Film return Before 11 Sep Successful
United StatesSRV 716 Low Earth Film return Before 11 Sep Successful
10 Aug
19:26:00
United StatesAtlas SLV-3 Agena D United StatesCape Canaveral Launch Complex 13 United States
United StatesLunar Orbiter 1 Lunar Mapping 29 Oct 13:29 Successful
First US spacecraft to orbit Moon. First spacecraft to photograph Earth from the Moon.
16 Aug
18:30
United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesVandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4E United States
United StatesKH-7 31 (OPS 1832) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 24 Aug 1966 Successful
United StatesSRV Mission 4031 Low Earth Film return before 24 Aug 1966 Successful
United StatesSAMPAN 1 NRO Low Earth ELINT Reconnaissance 5 Mar 1970 Successful
United StatesSOUSEA 1 Low Earth ELINT Reconnaissance 5 Mar 1970 Successful
17 August
15:20:17
United StatesDelta E1 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United StatesNASA
United StatesPioneer 7 (Pioneer B) NASA Heliocentric Scientific In orbit Successful
18 Aug
02:25:02
United StatesScout-A United StatesVandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 5 (PALC-D) United States
United StatesTransit-O 10 Low Earth Navigation In orbit Successful
19 Aug
1925
United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesVandenberg Space Launch Complex 3E United States
United StatesMidas 11 (Midas RTS-I F2) USAF Low Earth Early Warning In orbit Successful
United StatesERS 15 Low Earth Technology (performed metal-to-metal bonding experiments) 12 March 1967 Successful
United StatesSECOR 7 (Secor Type II S/N 8, EGRS VII) Low Earth Geodetic In orbit Successful
24 Aug
08:03:21
Soviet UnionMolniya 8K78M Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionLuna 11 Lunar transfer Lunar orbiter In orbit Partial spacecraft failure
TV camera failed to return usable images; Last contact: 1 October 1966
25 Aug
17:15:32
United StatesSaturn IB United StatesCape Canaveral LC-34 United StatesNASA
United StatesApollo AS-202 NASA Sub-orbital Test spacecraft 25 Aug
18:48:34
Successful
Second flight of the Apollo Spacecraft and launch vehicle; resulted in man-rating of Block 1 Apollo and Saturn 1B rocket
26 Aug
13:59:56
United StatesTitan IIIC United StatesCape Canaveral LC-41 United States
United StatesIDCSP Low Earth Geosynchronous Communications 26 Aug Launch failure
United StatesIDCSP Low Earth Geosynchronous Communications 26 Aug Launch failure
United StatesIDCSP Low Earth Geosynchronous Communications 26 Aug Launch failure
United StatesIDCSP Low Earth Geosynchronous Communications 26 Aug Launch failure
United StatesIDCSP Low Earth Geosynchronous Communications 26 Aug Launch failure
United StatesIDCSP Low Earth Geosynchronous Communications 26 Aug Launch failure
United StatesIDCSP Low Earth Geosynchronous Communications 26 Aug Launch failure
United StatesIDCSP Low Earth Geosynchronous Communications 26 Aug Launch failure
27 Aug
09:50
Soviet UnionVoskhod 11A57 Soviet UnionBaikonur Cosmodrome Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 128 (Zenit-4 #23L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 4 Sep Successful

September

12 Sep
13:05:02
United StatesAtlas SLV-3 Agena-D United StatesCape Canaveral LC-14 United States
United StatesGATV-5006 US Air Force Low Earth Docking target 30 Dec Successful
12 Sep
14:42:27
United StatesTitan II GLV United StatesCape Canaveral LC-19 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesGemini XI NASA Low Earth Technology/Biological/Target 15 Sep
13:59:35
Successful
First-ever direct-ascent (first orbit) rendezvous with an Agena Target Vehicle, highest apogee orbit to date.
16 Sep
09:30
United StatesThor-Burner 2 United StatesVandenberg LC-75-2-6 United StatesUSAF
United StatesDMSP-Block-4A 7 (OPS 6026) USAF Low Earth Meteorology In orbit Successful
16 Sep
09:30
Soviet UnionVoskhod 11A57 Soviet UnionBaikonur Cosmodrome Soviet Union
Soviet UnionUnnamed Zenit-4 (Zenit-4 #40L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 16 Sep Failure
16 Sep
17:59
United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesVandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4E United States
United StatesKH-7 32 (OPS 1686) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 23 Sep Successful
United StatesSRV Mission 4032 Low Earth Film return before 23 Sep Successful
United StatesFANION 2 NRO Low Earth ELINT Reconnaissance 9 May 1968 Successful
United StatesTRIPOS 2 Low Earth ELINT Reconnaissance 9 May 1968 Successful
17 Sep
22:35
Soviet UnionR-36O Soviet UnionBaikonur Cosmodrome Site 162/36 Soviet UnionRVSN
Soviet UnionOGCh #05L RVSN LEO Missile test 11 Nov Partial launch failure
First attempted orbital Fractional Orbital Bombardment System test.
20 Sep
12:32:00
United StatesAtlas LV-3C Centaur-D United StatesCanaveral LC-36A United StatesNASA
United StatesSurveyor 2 NASA Highly elliptical Lunar Lander 23 Sep Spacecraft failure
Mid-course correction failure resulted in the spacecraft losing control. Contact was lost with the spacecraft at 9:35 UTC, September 22.
20 Sep
21:14:05
United StatesThor SLV-2A Agena D United StatesVandenberg Space Launch Complex 3W United States
United StatesKH-4A Corona 1035 (OPS 1703) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 12 Oct Successful
United StatesSRV 1035-1 Low Earth Film return Before 12 Oct Successful
United StatesSRV 1035-2 Low Earth Film return Before 12 Oct Successful
26 Sep
02:58
JapanLambda 4S JapanKagoshima Pad L JapanJAXA
JapanL-4S-1 JAXA 26 Sep Launch failure
28 Sep
19:07
United StatesTitan IIIB United StatesVandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4W United States
United States KH-8 Gambit #2 (OPS 4096) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 7 Oct Successful
United States SRV Mission 4302-1 Low Earth Film return before 7 Oct Successful

October

2 October
10:39:03
United StatesDelta E United StatesVandenberg SLC 2E United States
United StatesESSA-3 (Tiros) ESSA Low Earth Meteorology In orbit Successful
5 Oct
22:00
United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesVandenberg Vandenberg SLC 3E United States
United StatesMidas 12 (Midas RTS-I F3) USAF Low Earth Early Warning In orbit Successful
United StatesEGRS VIII (SECOR Type II S/N 9 ) Low Earth Geodetic In orbit Successful
12 Oct
19:15
United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesVandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4E United States
United StatesKH-7 33 (OPS 2055) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 20 Oct Successful
United StatesSRV Mission 4033 Low Earth Film return before 20 Oct Successful
United StatesSpace Ground Link System (SLGS) 1 (OPS 5345) NRO Low Earth Technology 21 Oct Successful
14 Oct
12:13:08
Soviet UnionVostok-2 Soviet UnionPlesetsk LC-41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 129 (Zenit-2 No. 33L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 21 Oct Successful
20 Oct
07:50
Soviet UnionMolniya 8K78M Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionMolniya-1 #7 Molniya Communications technology 11 Sep 1968 Successful
20 Oct
08:46
Soviet UnionVoskhod 11A57 Soviet UnionBaikonur Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 130 (Zenit-4 #24L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 28 Oct Successful
22 Oct
08:42:26
Soviet UnionMolniya 8K78M Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionLuna 12 Lunar transfer Lunar orbiter In orbit Successful
Took high-resolution photos of the Moon's surface from lunar orbit. Last contact: 19 Jan 1967
26 Oct
11:12:02
United StatesAtlas LV-3C Centaur-D United StatesCanaveral LC-36B United StatesNASA
United StatesAtlas Centaur 9 Surveyor SM-3 NASA Highly elliptical Technology In orbit Successful
Launch vehicle development flight. It carried a mass model of the Surveyor spacecraft.
26 Oct
23:05:00
United StatesDelta E1 United StatesCape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17B United StatesNASA
United NationsIntelsat II F-1 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful
28 Oct
11:56:02
United StatesScout-B United StatesVandenberg Space Launch Complex 5 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesOV3-2 USAF Low Earth Radiation belt particle and fields experiments 29 Sep 1971 Successful

November

2 Nov
00:45:03
Soviet UnionR-36O Soviet UnionBaikonur Cosmodrome Site 162/36 Soviet UnionRVSN
Soviet UnionOGCh #06L RVSN LEO Missile test 29 Nov Spacecraft failure
Second attempted orbital Fractional Orbital Bombardment System test.
2 Nov
20:24
United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesVandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4E United States
United StatesKH-7 34 (OPS 2070) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 10 Nov Successful
United StatesSRV Mission 4034 Low Earth Film return before 10 Nov Successful
United StatesSpace Ground Link System (SLGS) 2 (OPS 5424) NRO Low Earth Technology 16 Nov Successful
3 Nov
13:50:42
United StatesTitan IIIC United StatesCape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40 United States
United StatesManned Orbiting Laboratory mockup USAF Low Earth MOL mockup 9 Jan 1967 Successful
United StatesOV4-1R Low Earth Communications 5 Jan 1967 Successful
United StatesOV4-1T Low Earth Communications 11 Jan 1967 Successful
United StatesOV1-6S Low Earth Optical target deployment 31 Dec Successful
United StatesGemini B Low Earth Geosynchronous Communications 3 Nov (suborbital test) Successful
6 Nov
23:21:00
United StatesAtlas SLV-3 Agena D United StatesCape Canaveral Launch Complex 13 United States
United StatesLunar Orbiter 2 Lunar Mapping 11 Oct 67 Successful
8 Nov
19:53:02
United StatesThorad SLV-2G Agena D United StatesVandenberg Space Launch Complex 1W United States
United StatesOPS 1866 CORONA J-38 NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 29 Nov Successful
United StatesSRV 727 Low Earth Film return Before 29 Nov Successful
United StatesSRV 728 Low Earth Film return Before 29 Nov Successful
11 Nov
19:07:59
United StatesAtlas SLV-3 Agena-D United StatesCape Canaveral LC-14 United States
United StatesGATV-5007 NASA Low Earth Docking target 23 Dec Successful
11 Nov
20:46:33
United StatesTitan II GLV United StatesCape Canaveral LC-19 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesGemini XII NASA Low Earth Technology/Biological/Target 15 Nov
19:21:04
Successful
Final Gemini flight
12 Nov
09:50
Soviet UnionVoskhod 11A57 Soviet UnionPlesetsk LC-41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 131 (Zenit-4 #25L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 20 Nov Successful
16 Nov
13:00
Soviet UnionKosmos-3 Soviet UnionPlesetsk LC-41/5 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionStrela-2 #2L Low Earth Communications 16 Nov Launch failure
19 Nov
08:00
Soviet UnionVostok-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 132 (Zenit-4 #46L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 27 Nov Successful
28 Nov
11:00:00
Soviet UnionSoyuz (rocket) Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 133 (Soyuz 7K-OK No. 2) Low Earth Crewed spacecraft 30 Nov 10:21 Successful
First test of Soyuz 7K-OK crewed spacecraft

December

3 Dec
08:15
Soviet UnionVostok-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 134 (Zenit-4 #26L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 11 Dec Successful
5 Dec
21:09
United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesVandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4E United States
United StatesKH-7 35 (OPS 1890) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 14 Dec Successful
United StatesSRV Mission 4035 Low Earth Film return before 14 Dec Successful
United StatesAgena Engine Diagnostic 1 NRO Low Earth Technology 8 Dec Successful
7 Dec
02:12:01
United StatesAtlas SLV-3 Agena-D United StatesCape Canaveral LC-12 United States
United StatesATS-1 (Applications Technology Satellite) NASA Geostationary Communications/weather In orbit Successful
The first experimental equatorial synchronous satellite.
11 Dec
21:09:57
United StatesSM-65D Atlas D United StatesVandenberg ABRES-B-3 United StatesUS Air Force
United States OV1-9 US Air Force Low Earth Radiation studies In orbit Successful
United States OV1-10 Low Earth Radiation studies 30 Nov 2002 Successful
12 December
20:38?
Soviet UnionKosmos-2I Soviet UnionKapustin Yar LC-86/1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 135 Planned: Low Earth Micrometeroid 12 April 1967 Successful
14 Dec
11:00:00
Soviet UnionSoyuz (rocket) Soviet UnionBaikonur LC-31 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionSoyuz 7K-OK No.1 Low Earth Crewed spacecraft 14 Dec Launch failure
Second test of Soyuz 7K-OK crewed spacecraft
14 Dec
18:14
United StatesTitan IIIB United StatesVandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4W United States
United States KH-8 Gambit #3 (OPS 8968) NRO Low Earth Optical Reconnaissance 24 Dec Successful
United States SRV Mission 4303 Low Earth Film return before 24 Dec Successful
14 December
19:20:03
United StatesDelta G United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United States
United StatesBiosatellite 1 NASA Low Earth Bioscience 15 February 1967 Successful
19 Dec
12:00:01
Soviet UnionVostok-2 Soviet UnionPlesetsk LC-41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 136 (Zenit-4 #47L) Low Earth Optical reconnaissance 27 Dec Successful
20 Dec
02:20
JapanLambda 4S JapanKagoshima Pad L JapanJAXA
JapanL-4S-2 JAXA 20 Dec Launch failure
21 Dec
10:17:08
Soviet UnionMolniya-M Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionLuna 13 Lunar transfer Lunar lander 24 Dec Successful
Last contact: 28 December 1966, 06:13
21 Dec
13:12?
Soviet UnionKosmos-2I Soviet UnionKapustin Yar LC-86/1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 137 Planned: Low Earth Magnetosphere 23 Nov 1967 Successful
Last contact: 12 May 1967
21 Dec
22:15:02
United StatesAtlas SLV-3 United StatesCape Canaveral Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3E United States
United StatesSV-5D FV-1 US Air Force Low Earth Lifting body reentry test 21 Dec Successful
First test of PRIME
29 Dec
12:00:06
United StatesThor SLV-2A Agena D United StatesVandenberg Space Launch Complex 2W United States
United StatesMULTIGROUP 1/SETTER 1A (OPS 1584) NRO Low Earth ELINT 5 Apr 1969 Successful

Gemini and Apollo launches

Launch Date/Time Rocket Launch
Site
Launch Contractor Payload Operator Orbit Mission/
Function
Re-Entry/
Destruction
Outcome Remarks
16 March
15:00 GMT
Atlas D LC-14, Cape Canaveral US Air Force GATV 5003 NASA LEO Gemini docking target. 15 September 1967 Successful Used by Gemini 8 and Gemini 10
16 March
16:41 GMT
Titan II LC-19, Cape Canaveral US Air Force Gemini 8, 2 Astronauts NASA LEO Crewed Orbital Flight 17 March 1966 Partial Failure First docking in space. (with GATV).
OAMS malfunction caused loss of control. Spacecraft became low on fuel after recovering. Terminated early.
17 May
15:12 GMT
Atlas D LC-14, Cape Canaveral US Air Force GATV 5004 NASA LEO Gemini docking target. 17 May 1966 Failure Failed to reach orbit.
Intended for use by Gemini 9
1 June
15:00 GMT
Atlas SLV-3 LC-14, Cape Canaveral US Air Force ATDA 02186 NASA LEO Gemini docking target. 11 June 1966 Failure Fairing failed to separate
Intended for use by Gemini 9A
3 June
16:41 GMT
Titan II LC-19, Cape Canaveral US Air Force Gemini 9A, 2 Astronauts NASA LEO Crewed Orbital Flight 6 June 1966 Partial Failure Unable to complete primary objective - Docking with ATDA - due to ATDA payload fairing malfunction
5 July
14:53 GMT
Saturn IB (C-1B) LC-37B, Cape Canaveral NASA (none) N/A N/A Test launch vehicle N/A Successful
18 July
20:39 GMT
Atlas D LC-14, Cape Canaveral US Air Force GATV 5005 NASA LEO Gemini docking target. 29 December 1966 Successful Used by Gemini 10
18 July
22:20 GMT
Titan II LC-19, Cape Canaveral US Air Force Gemini 10, 2 Astronauts NASA LEO Crewed Orbital Flight 21 July 1966 Successful
25 August
17:15 GMT
Saturn IB (C-1B) LC-34, Cape Canaveral NASA Apollo Spacecraft (AS-202) NASA Sub-orbital Test Apollo Spacecraft and Launch Vehicle 25 August 1966
18:48 GMT
Successful
12 September
13:05 GMT
Atlas D LC-14, Cape Canaveral US Air Force GATV 5006 NASA LEO Gemini docking target. 30 December 1966 Successful Used by Gemini 11
12 September
14:42 GMT
Titan II LC-19, Cape Canaveral US Air Force Gemini 11, 2 Astronauts NASA LEO Crewed Orbital Flight 15 September 1966 Successful Altitude record for crewed Earth-Orbit flight
11 November
20:46 GMT
Atlas D LC-14, Cape Canaveral US Air Force GATV 5001A NASA LEO Gemini docking target. 23 December 1966 Failure Failed to ignite.
Used by Gemini 12
11 November
20:46 GMT
Titan II LC-19, Cape Canaveral US Air Force Gemini 12, 2 Astronauts NASA LEO Crewed Orbital Flight 15 November 1966 Successful Final Gemini flight

Deep Space Rendezvous

Date (UTC) Spacecraft Event Remarks
3 February Luna 9 First lunar landing in Oceanus Procellarum; first soft landing on a celestial body and first images from lunar surface
27 February Venera 2 Flyby of Venus Communication lost en route
1 March Venera 3 First Venus impact Communication lost en route
3 April Luna 10 Selenocentric orbit insertion first orbiter of the Moon
2 June Surveyor 1 Lunar landing in Oceanus Procellarum
14 August Lunar Orbiter 1 Selenocentric orbit insertion Returned 211 images
27 August Luna 11 Selenocentric orbit insertion
23 September Surveyor 2 Lunar impact Failed lander, impacted Sinus Medii
25 October Luna 12 Selenocentric orbit insertion
29 October Lunar Orbiter 1 Lunar impact
10 November Lunar Orbiter 2 Selenocentric orbit injection Returned 184 images
24 December Luna 13 Lunar landing in Oceanus Procellarum

EVAs

Start Date/Time Duration End Time Spacecraft Crew Remarks
5 June
15:02
2 hours
7 minutes
17:09 Gemini IX-A United StatesEugene Cernan A complex EVA was planned. Cernan expended four to five times the expected effort, raising his pulse as high as 180 beats per minute. Excess heat and respiration completely fogged visor, causing the EVA to be cut short. Cernan also had difficulty returning to spacecraft and closing the hatch.
19 July
21:44
49 Minutes 22:33 Gemini X United StatesMichael Collins Collins performed a stand-up EVA. Instead of climbing completely out of the spacecraft, Collins extended his torso outside the spacecraft to take photos before and after capsule sunrise. Color photography after sunrise was only partly completed due to severe eye irritation of both Collins and Command Pilot Young. Handling the camera proved difficult due to stiffness of spacesuit gloves.
20 July
23:01
39 minutes 23:40 Gemini X United StatesMichael Collins Umbilical EVA; with more difficulty than expected, Collins collected the micrometeorite collection package from the outside of Gemini. Then, using the Hand Held Maneuvering Unit, he pushed to the nearby Agena-8 to collect its micrometeorite collection package. Collins then pulled on the umbilical cord to return and re-enter the spacecraft.
13 September
14:44
33 minutes 15:17 Gemini XI United StatesRichard F. Gordon Jr. Gordon attached a tether between Gemini and Agena 11 for later orbital mechanics testing. While making the attachment, his work load exceeded the spacesuit cooling system, and his vision became obscured by a fogged visor and sweat in his eyes. Planned activities were curtailed by Command Pilot Conrad and Gordon returned to the spacecraft.
14 September
12:49
2 hours
8 minutes
14:57 Gemini XI United StatesRichard F. Gordon Jr. Gordon performed a stand-up EVA. He extended through the hatch to take astronomical photos. Conrad reported the spacewalk was so relaxing they both fell asleep for a moment after sunrise.
12 November
16:15
2 hours
29 minutes
18:44 Gemini XII United StatesBuzz Aldrin Aldrin performed a stand-up EVA. Aldrin stood, took UV still photos and 16 mm color movie pictures, collected external experimental samples, and conducted a light exercise routine.
13 November
15:34
2 hours
6 minutes
17:40 Gemini XII United StatesBuzz Aldrin First completely successful umbilical EVA, with all objectives achieved. Aldrin was able to control his movements and restrict his work load using techniques developed using underwater zero gravity simulations. He also benefited from experiences of the previous American EVAs and was able to move around the outside of the craft, deploy and recover various experimental packages, install and remove cameras, and practice work techniques using a ratchet-type wrench.
14 November
14:52
55 minutes 15:47 Gemini XII United StatesBuzz Aldrin Aldrin performed a second stand-up EVA. He again extended outside the hatch to take photographs and repeat the light exercise experiment. Exertion levels during exercise were comparable to preflight simulations. Equipment and waste food containers not needed for reentry were jettisoned from the spacecraft.

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