1969 in spaceflight
Humanity's first crewed lunar landing (Apollo 11)
Rockets
Maiden flights
Retirements
Crewed flights
Orbital9
Total travellers22

1969 saw humanity step onto another world for the first time. On 20 July 1969, the Apollo 11 Lunar Module, Eagle, landed on the Moon's surface with two astronauts aboard. Days later the crew of three returned safely to Earth, satisfying U.S. President John F. Kennedy's 1962 challenge of 25 May 1961, that "this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth."[1][2]

There were four Apollo missions in total in 1969, three of which traveled to the Moon, with Apollo 12 also landing on the surface. The success of the Apollo program was a testament to the efforts of over 500,000 American engineers, scientists and technicians.

In 1969, the Soviet Union's space program had success with the docking of two crewed spacecraft as well as the success of their Venus and Lunar probes. The Soviets, however, suffered severe blows to their crewed Lunar aspirations when their N1 rocket failed twice during two 1969 launches.

Orbital launches

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

January

5 January
06:28[3]
Soviet Union Molniya-M/Blok VL Soviet Union Baikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Venera 5 Heliocentric Venus lander16 May 1969Successful
Lander operated for 53 minutes in the atmosphere of Venus.
10 January
05:51[3]
Soviet Union Molniya-M/Blok-VL Soviet Union Baikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Venera 6 Heliocentric Venus lander17 May 1969Successful
Lander operated for 51 minutes in the atmosphere of Venus.
12 January
12:10[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 263 (Zenit-2) Low Earth Optical imaging20 January 1969[5]Successful
14 January
07:30
Soviet Union Soyuz Soviet Union Baikonur LC-31 Soviet Union RVSN
Soviet Union Soyuz 4 RVSN Low Earth Crewed orbital flight17 January 1969Successful
First docking between two crewed spacecraft (with Soyuz 5)
15 January
07:04
Soviet Union Soyuz Soviet Union Baikonur LC-1/5 Soviet Union RVSN
Soviet Union Soyuz 5 RVSN Low Earth Crewed orbital flight18 January 1969Successful
First docking between two crewed spacecraft (with Soyuz 4)
20 January
04:14[6]
Soviet Union Proton-K/D Soviet Union Baikonur Site 81/23 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Soyuz 7K-L1 (Zond-1969A) Selenocentric Test flight20 January 1969Failure
One of the RD-0210 engines in the second stage failed, resulting in automatic shutdown of the vehicle. Capsule was successfully recovered after successful launch abort.
22 January
16:48[7]
United States Delta C1 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-17 United States
United States OSO 5 NASA Low Earth Astronomy2 April 1984[5]Successful
22 January
19:10[8]
United States Titan IIIB United States Vandenberg SLC-4W United States
United States OPS 7585 (GAMBIT-3 4319) NRO Low Earth Optical imaging3 February 1969[5]Partial failure
Apogee was too high as the Agena rocket stage failed to switch off at a correct time.[9]
23 January
09:15[6]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Baikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 264 (Zenit-4M) Low Earth Optical imaging5 February 1969[5]Successful
25 January
11:10[6]
Soviet Union Tsyklon-2A Soviet Union Baikonur Site 90/19 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 265 (US-AO No.5) Low Earth Naval surveillance23 January 1969Failure
30 January
06:46[8]
United States Delta E1 United States Vandenberg SLC-2E United States
Canada ISIS 1 CSA Medium Earth ScienceIn orbitSuccessful

February

1 February
12:11[4]
Soviet Union Vostok-2M Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 265 (Meteor-1) RVSN Low Earth Meteorology1 February 1969Failure
5 February
06:46[8]
United States Thorad-SLV2G-Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-3W United States
United States KH-4B 6 (OPS 3890) CIA Low Earth Optical imaging24 February 1969[5]Successful
United States P-801 2 (OPS 2644) USAF Low Earth ReconnaissanceIn orbitSuccessful
6 February
00:39[7]
United States Delta M United States Cape Canaveral SLC-17A United States NASA
United States Intelsat III F-3 Intelsat Geostationary CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
7 February
13:59[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-2I Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 265 (DS-P1-Yu No.21) RVSN Low Earth Radar calibration1 May 1969[5]Successful
9 February
21:09[7]
United States Titan IIIC United States Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United States
United States TACSAT-1 (OPS 0757) USAF Geostationary CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
19 February
06:48[6]
Soviet Union Proton-K/D Soviet Union Baikonur Site 81/24 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Luna 15a + Lunokhod 1A (Ye-8 №201) Selenocentric Lunar lander and rover19 February 1969Failure
Engine failure in the first stage, rocket crashed 15 km from the pad.
21 February
09:18
Soviet Union N1/L3 Soviet Union Baikonur LC-110/38 Soviet Union RVSN
Soviet Union Zond L1S-1 RVSN Selenocentric Test flight21 FebruaryFailure
Soviet Union Dummy LK RVSN Selenocentric Mass simulator21 FebruaryFailure
25 February
01:29[7]
United States Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D United States Cape Canaveral LC-36 United States
United States Mariner 6 NASA Heliocentric Mars flybyIn orbitSuccessful
25 February
10:20[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 266 (Zenit-2) Low Earth Optical imaging5 March 1969[5]Successful
26 February
07:47[7]
United States Delta E1 United States Cape Canaveral LC-17B United States
United States ESSA-9 ESSA Low Earth (SSO) MeteorologyIn orbitSuccessful
26 February
08:30[6]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Baikonur Site 31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 267 (Zenit-4) Low Earth Optical imaging6 March 1969[5]Successful

March

3 March
16:00
United States Saturn V United States KSC LC-39A United States NASA
United States Apollo 9 CSM Gumdrop NASA Low Earth Crewed orbital flight13 March 1969Successful
United States Apollo 9 LM Spider NASA Low Earth Test flight13 March 1969Successful
First crewed orbital test of lunar module
4 March
16:48[8]
United States Titan IIIB United States Vandenberg SLC-4W United States
United States KH-8 Gambit 3 (OPS 4248) USAF Low Earth Optical imaging18 March 1969[5]Successful
Apogee was too high as the Agena rocket stage failed to switch off at a correct time.[9]
5 March
13:04[10]
Soviet Union Kosmos-2I Soviet Union Kapustin Yar Site 86/4 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 268 (DS-P1-Yu No.18) Low Earth Radar calibration9 May 1970[5]Successful
5 March
17:25[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-3M Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 132/2 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 269 (Tselina-O-4) Low Earth ELINT21 October 1978[5]Successful
6 March
12:15[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 270 (Zenit-4 No.52) Low Earth Optical imaging14 March 1969[5]Successful
15 March
12:15[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 271 (Zenit-4 No.53) Low Earth Optical imaging23 March 1969[5]Successful
17 March
17:25[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-3M Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 132/2 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 272 (Sfera No.4) Low Earth GeodesyIn orbitSuccessful
18 March
07:40[8]
United States Atlas F-OV1 United States Vandenberg ABRES-A2 United States
United States OV1-17 USAF Low Earth Technology demonstration5 March 1970[5]Successful
United States OV1-17A ORBISCAL USAF Low Earth Technology demonstration24 March 1969[5]Successful
United States OV1-18 USAF Low Earth Technology demonstration28 August 1972[5]Successful
United States OV1-19 USAF Low Earth Technology demonstrationIn orbitSuccessful
19 March
21:38[8]
United States Thorad-SLV2G-Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-3W United States
United States KH-4A 50 (OPS 3722) CIA Low Earth Optical imaging24 March 1969[5]Successful
United States P-11 (OPS 2285) USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance6 December 1971[5]Successful
22 March
12:15[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 273 (Zenit-2 No.72) Low Earth Optical imaging30 March 1969[5]Successful
24 March
10:10[6]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Baikonur Site 31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 274 (Zenit-4 No.54) Low Earth Optical imaging1 April 1969[5]Successful
26 March
12:30[4]
Soviet Union Vostok-2M Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Meteor-1 1 Low Earth Meteorology26 March 2012Successful
27 March
10:40[6]
Soviet Union Proton-K/D Soviet Union Baikonur Site 81/23 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Mars 2M No.521 Areocentric Mars orbiter27 March 1969Failure
Payload fairing failed at T+51. Third stage failed to ignite.
27 March
22:22[7]
United States Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D United States Cape Canaveral LC-36A United States
United States Mariner 7 NASA Heliocentric Mars flybyIn orbitSuccessful
28 March
16:00[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-2I Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 275 (DS-P1-I No.5) RVSN Low Earth Radar calibration7 February 1970[5]Successful

April

2 April
10:33[6]
Soviet Union Proton-K/D Soviet Union Baikonur Site 81/24 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Mars 2M No.522 Areocentric Mars orbiter and lander2 April 1969Failure
Rocket crashed near pad after 1st stage engine failure.
4 April
10:20[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 276 (Zenit-4 No.55) Low Earth Optical imaging11 April 1969[5]Successful
4 April
13:00[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-2I Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 277 (DS-P1-Yu No.20) Low Earth Radar calibration6 July 1969[5]Successful
9 April
13:00[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 278 (Zenit-2 No.73) Low Earth Optical imaging17 April 1969[5]Successful
11 April
02:30[6]
Soviet Union Molniya-M/Blok ML Soviet Union Baikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Molniya-1 No.11 Molniya Communications17 April 1974Successful
13 April
02:24[7]
United States Atlas-SLV3A Agena-D United States Cape Canaveral LC-13 United States
United States Canyon 2 (OPS 3148) NRO Geostationary ReconnaissanceIn orbitSuccessful
14 April
07:54[8]
United States Thorad-SLV2G-Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-2E United States
United States Nimbus 3 NASA, NOAA Low Earth MeteorologyIn orbitSuccessful
United States SECOR-13 US Army Low Earth GeodesyIn orbitSuccessful
15 April
08:14[6]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Baikonur Site 31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 279 (Zenit-4 No.56) Low Earth Optical imaging23 April 1969[5]Successful
15 April
17:30[8]
United States Titan IIIB United States Vandenberg SLC-4W United States
United States KH-8 Gambit 3 (OPS 5310) USAF Low Earth Optical imaging30 April 1969[5]Successful
23 April
09:55[6]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Baikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 280 (Zenit-4M No.3) Low Earth Optical imaging6 May 1969[5]Successful

May

2 May
01:46[8]
United States Thorad-SLV2G-Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-3W United States
United States KH-4A 51 (OPS 1101) CIA Low Earth Optical imaging23 May 1969[5]Successful
United States P-11 (OPS 1721) USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance16 February 1970[5]Successful
13 May
09:15[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 281 (Zenit-2 No.74) Low Earth Optical imaging21 May 1969[5]Successful
18 May
16:49
United States Saturn V United States KSC LC-39B United States NASA
United States Apollo 10 CSM Charlie Brown NASA Selenocentric Crewed Lunar orbital flight26 May 1969Successful
United States Apollo 10 LM Snoopy NASA Selenocentric Test flightIn orbitSuccessful
First test of lunar module in lunar orbit. "Dress rehearsal" of Apollo 11 landing.
20 May
08:40[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 282 (Zenit-4 No.57) Low Earth Optical imaging28 May 1969[5]Successful
22 May
02:00[7]
United States Delta M United States Cape Canaveral LC-17A United States NASA
United States Intelsat III F-4 Intelsat Geostationary CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
23 May
07:57[7]
United States Titan IIIC United States Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United States
United States Vela 9, 10 USAF High Earth Nuclear detectionIn orbitSuccessful
United States OV5 5, 6, 9 USAF High Earth Technology demonstrationIn orbitSuccessful
27 May
12:59[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-2I Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 283 (DS-P1-Yu No.21) Low Earth Radar calibration10 December 1969[5]Successful
29 May
06:59[6]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Baikonur Site 31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 284 (Zenit-4 No.58) Low Earth Optical imaging6 June 1969[5]Successful

June

3 June
12:57[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-2I Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 285 (DS-P1-Yu No.22) Low Earth Radar calibration7 October 1969[5]Successful
3 June
16:49[8]
United States Titan IIIB United States Vandenberg SLC-4W United States
United States KH-8 Gambit 3 (OPS 1077) USAF Low Earth Optical imaging14 June 1969[5]Successful
5 June
14:42[8]
United States Thorad-SLV2H Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-3W United States
United States OGO 6 NASA Low Earth Research12 October 1979[5]Successful
14 June
04:00[6]
Soviet Union Proton-K/D Soviet Union Baikonur Site 81/24 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Luna E-8-5 No. 402 Selenocentric Lunar sample return14 June 1969Failure
Blok D upper stage failed to ignite, thus leaving the payload on a suborbital trajectory.
15 June
08:59[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 286 (Zenit-4 No.59) Low Earth Optical imaging23 June 1969[5]Successful
21 June
08:47[8]
United States Delta E1 United States Vandenberg SLC-2W United States
United States Explorer 41 (IMP-G) NASA Highly elliptical Magnetospheric researchIn orbitSuccessful
24 June
06:50[6]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Baikonur Site 31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 287 (Zenit-2 No.75) Low Earth Optical imaging2 July 1969[5]Successful
27 June
06:59[6]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Baikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 288 (Zenit-4 No.60) Low Earth Optical imaging5 July 1969[5]Successful
29 June
03:15[7]
United States Delta N United States Cape Canaveral LC-17A United States
United States Biosatellite_3 NASA Low Earth Life science7 July 1969[5]Successful

July

2 July
07:04
Europe Europa-1 Australia Woomera LA-6A Europe ELDO
Europe STV-2 ELDO Test flight2 July 1969Failure
3 July
20:18
Soviet Union N1/L3 Soviet Union Baikonur LC-110/38 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Zond L1S-2 Selenocentric Test flight3 July 1969Failure
Soviet Union Dummy LK Selenocentric Mass simulator3 July 1969Failure
Exploded due to faulty engines and a bolt that was sucked into a fuel pump.
10 July
09:00[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 289 (Zenit-4 No.61) Low Earth Optical imaging15 July 1969[5]Successful
13 July
02:54[6]
Soviet Union Proton-K/D Soviet Union Baikonur Site 81/24 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Luna 15 (Ye-8-5 №401) Selenocentric Lunar sample return20 July 1969Success
Lander crashed to the surface of the Moon in an attempted landing.
16 July
13:32
United States Saturn V United States KSC LC-39A United States NASA
United States Apollo 11 CSM Columbia NASA Selenocentric Crewed Lunar orbital flight24 July 1969Successful
United States Apollo 11 LM Eagle NASA Selenocentric Crewed Lunar landingIn orbitSuccessful
First crewed Moon landing.
22 July
12:30[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 290 (Zenit-2 No.76) Low Earth Optical imaging30 July 1969[5]Successful
22 July
12:55[6]
Soviet Union Molniya-M/Blok ML Soviet Union Baikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Molniya-1 No.12 Molniya Communications18 June 1971[5]Successful
23 July
04:39[8]
United States Thor-LV2F Burner-2 United States Vandenberg SLC-10W United States
United States DSAP-4B F3 (OPS 1127) USAF, NRO Low Earth MeteorologyIn orbitSuccessful
23 July
09:00[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-2I Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union DS-P1-Yu No.23 Low Earth Radar calibration23 July 1969Failure
Second stage failed at T+267 seconds.
24 July
01:30[8]
United States Thorad-SLV2H-Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-3W United States
United States KH-4B 7 (OPS 3654) CIA Low Earth Optical imaging23 August 1969[5]Successful
26 July
02:06[7]
United States Delta M United States Cape Canaveral LC-17A United States
United States Intelsat III F-5 Intelsat Geostationary Communications14 October 1988[5]Failure
Third stage failure left the spacecraft in an unusable orbit.
31 July
10:19[8]
United States Thorad-SLV2G-Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-1W United States
United States Strawman-2 (OPS 8285) USAF Low Earth ELINT4 January 1973[5]Successful

August

6 August
05:40[6]
Soviet Union Tsyklon-2 Soviet Union Baikonur Site 90/19 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 291 (IS-GVM) Low Earth Mass simulator8 September 1969Successful
First test flight of Tsyklon-2 booster. Flew with a dummy payload planned to be used as an ASAT target but the ASAT interceptor test flight was later cancelled.
7 August
23:48[6]
Soviet Union Proton-K/D Soviet Union Baikonur Site 81/23 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Zond 7 High Earth Lunar flyby13 August 1969Successful
The only successful test flight of Soyuz 7K-L1 spacecraft. Circumlunar flight, perilune 1,984 km.
9 August
07:52[7]
United States Delta N United States Cape Canaveral LC-17A United States
United States OSO 6 NASA Low Earth Solar observatory7 March 1981[5]Successful
United States PAC 1 NASA Low Earth Technology demonstration28 April 1977[5]Successful
12 August
11:01[7]
United States Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D United States Cape Canaveral LC-36A United States
United States ATS-5 NASA Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
13 August
22:00[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-3M Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 132/2 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 292 (Zaliv No.3) Low Earth NavigationIn orbitSuccessful
16 August
11:59[6]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Baikonur Site 31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 293 (Zenit-2M No.4) / Nauka 5KS L.1 Low Earth Optical imaging28 August 1969[5]Successful
19 August
13:00[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 294 (Zenit-4 No.62) Low Earth Optical imaging27 August 1969[5]Successful
22 August
14:14[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-2I Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 295 (DS-P1-Yu No.24) Low Earth Radar calibration1 December 1969[5]Successful
23 August
16:00[8]
United States Titan IIIB United States Vandenberg SLC-4W United States
United States KH-8 Gambit 3 (OPS 7807) USAF Low Earth Optical imaging7 September 1969[5]Successful
27 August
21:59[7]
United States Delta L United States Cape Canaveral LC-17A United States
United States Pioneer E NASA Heliocentric Solar orbiter27 August 1969Failure
United States TETR 3 NASA Low Earth orbit Technology demonstration27 August 1969Failure
First flight of Delta L rocket. First stage hydraulics failure threw the second stage far off course and the vehicle was destroyed by range safety at T+383 seconds.
29 August
09:05[6]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Baikonur Site 31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 296 (Zenit-4 No.63) Low Earth Optical imaging6 September 1969[5]Successful

September

2 September
11:00[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 297 (Zenit-4 No.64) Low Earth Optical imaging10 September 1969[5]Successful
15 September
08:40[6]
Soviet Union R-36O Soviet Union Baikonur Site 191/66 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 298 (OGCh No.21) Low Earth Weapon test15 September 1969[5]Successful
18 September
08:40[6]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Baikonur Site 31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 299 (Zenit-4 No.65) Low Earth Optical imaging22 September 1969[5]Successful
22 September
02:10[11]
Japan Lambda 4S Japan Kagoshima L Japan ISAS
Japan Ōsumi-4 ISAS Low Earth Test flight22 September 1969Failure
22 September
21:11[8]
United States Thorad-SLV2G-Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-3W United States
United States KH-4A 52 (OPS 3531) CIA Low Earth Optical imaging13 October 1969[5]Successful
United States P-11 (OPS 4710) USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance16 May 1971[5]Successful
23 September
14:07[6]
Soviet Union Proton-K/D Soviet Union Baikonur Site 81/24 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 300 (Luna 16a, Ye-8-5 №403) Selenocentric Lunar sample return27 September 1969[5]Failure
Blok D stage failed due to valve defect and the probe failed to leave Earth orbit.
24 September
12:15[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 301 (Zenit-2 No.77) Low Earth Optical imaging2 October 1969[5]Successful
30 September
13:40[8]
United States Thorad-SLV2G-Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-3W United States
United States Poppy 8A-D (NRL-PL 161-164) NRL/US Navy Low Earth ELINTIn orbitSuccessful
United States NRL-PL 165 NRL/US Navy Low Earth Technology demonstrationIn orbitSuccessful
United States Timation-2 NRL/US Navy Low Earth NavigationIn orbitSuccessful
United States Tempsat 2 NRL Low Earth CalibrationIn orbitSuccessful
United States SOICAL Cone & Cylinder USAF Low Earth CalibrationCone: In orbit
Cylinder: 14 February 2023[13]
Successful
United States P-11 (OPS 7613) USAF Low Earth ReconnaissanceIn orbitSuccessful

October

1 October
22:29[8]
United States Scout-B United States Vandenberg SLC-5 United States
Europe ESRO 1B ESRO Low Earth ResearchIn orbitPartial failure
Orbit was lower than planned.
6 October
01:45[4]
Soviet Union Vostok-2M Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Meteor-1 2 Low Earth Meteorology20 August 2002[5]Successful
11 October
11:10
Soviet Union Soyuz Soviet Union Baikonur LC-31/6 Soviet Union RVSN
Soviet Union Soyuz 6 RVSN Low Earth Crewed orbital flight16 October 1969Partial failure
Rendezvous with Soyuz 7 and 8 unsuccessful due to electronic failure.
12 October
10:44
Soviet Union Soyuz Soviet Union Baikonur LC-1/5 Soviet Union RVSN
Soviet Union Soyuz 7 RVSN Low Earth Crewed orbital flight16 October 1969Partial failure
Rendezvous with Soyuz 6 and 8 unsuccessful due to electronic failure.
13 October
10:19
Soviet Union Soyuz Soviet Union Baikonur LC-31/6 Soviet Union RVSN
Soviet Union Soyuz 8 RVSN Low Earth Crewed orbital flight16 October 1969Partial failure
Rendezvous with Soyuz 6 and 7 unsuccessful due to electronic failure.
14 October[14]
13:19
Soviet Union Kosmos-2I Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Interkosmos 1 (DS-U3-IK No.1) Interkosmos Low Earth Solar research2 January 1970[5]Successful
17 October
11:45[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 302 (Zenit-4 No.66) Low Earth Optical imaging25 October 1969[5]Successful
18 October
10:00[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-2I Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 303 (DS-P1-Yu No.25) Low Earth Radar calibration23 January 1970[5]Successful
21 October
12:49[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-3M Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 132 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 304 (Zaliv No.4) Low Earth NavigationIn orbitSuccessful
22 October
14:09[6]
Soviet Union Proton-K/D Soviet Union Baikonur Site 81/24 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 305 (Luna 16b, Ye-8-5 №404) Selenocentric Lunar sample returnIn orbitFailure
Control system of the Blok D stage failed and the probe failed to leave Earth orbit.
24 October
09:40[6]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Baikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 306 (Zenit-2M No.5) Low Earth Optical imaging5 November 1969[5]Successful
24 October
13:01[10]
Soviet Union Kosmos-2I Soviet Union Kapustin Yar Site 86/4 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 307 (DS-P1-Yu No.26) Low Earth Radar calibration30 December 1970[5]Successful
24 October
18:10[8]
United States Titan IIIB United States Vandenberg SLC-4W United States
United States KH-8 Gambit 3 (OPS 8455) USAF Low Earth Optical imaging8 November 1969[5]Successful

November

4 November
11:59[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-2I Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 308 (DS-P1-I No.6) Low Earth Radar calibration4 January 1970[5]Successful
8 November
01:52[8]
United States Scout-B United States Vandenberg SLC-5 United States
West Germany Azur BMWF/DLR Medium Earth Ionospheric researchIn orbitSuccessful
12 November
11:30[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 309 (Zenit-2 No.78) / Nauka 3KS L.1 Low Earth Optical imaging20 November 1969[5]Successful
14 November
16:22
United States Saturn V United States KSC LC-39A United States NASA
United States Apollo 12 CSM Yankee Clipper NASA Selenocentric Crewed Lunar orbital flight24 November 1969Successful
United States Apollo 12 LM Intrepid NASA Selenocentric Crewed Lunar landing20 November 1969Successful
Second crewed Moon landing.
15 November
08:30[6]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Baikonur Site 31/6 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 310 (Zenit-4 No.67) Low Earth Optical imaging23 November 1969[5]Successful
22 November
02:00[7]
United States Delta M United States Cape Canaveral LC-17A United States
United Kingdom Skynet 1A MoD Geostationary Communications (military)In orbitSuccessful
24 November
11:00[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-2I Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 311 (DS-P1-Yu No.27) Low Earth Radar calibration10 March 1970[5]Successful
24 November
16:49[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-3M Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 132 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 312 (Sfera No.5) Low Earth GeodesyIn orbitSuccessful
28 November
09:00[6]
Soviet Union Proton-K/D Soviet Union Baikonur Site 81/23 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Soyuz 7K-L1E Medium Earth Flight testIn orbitFailure
First stage failure

December

3 December
13:20[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 313 (Zenit-2M No.6) / Gektor No.6 Low Earth Optical imaging15 December 1969[5]Successful
4 December
21:37[8]
United States Thorad-SLV2H-Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-3W United States
United States KH-4B 8 (OPS 6617) CIA Low Earth Optical imaging10 January 1970[5]Successful
11 December
12:58[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-2I Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 314 (DS-P1-Yu No.28) Low Earth Radar calibration22 March 1970[5]Successful
20 December
03:26[4]
Soviet Union Kosmos-3M Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 132 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 315 (Tselina-O No.5) Low Earth ELINT25 March 1979[5]Successful
23 December
09:25[6]
Soviet Union Tsyklon-2 Soviet Union Baikonur Site 90/19 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 316 (I2P No.3) Low Earth Dummy ASAT warhead28 August 1970[5]Successful
23 December
13:50[4]
Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/1 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Kosmos 317 (Zenit-4MK No.1 / Germes No.1) Low Earth Optical imaging5 January 1970[5]Successful
25 December
09:59[10]
Soviet Union Kosmos-2I Soviet Union Kapustin Yar Site 86/4 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Interkosmos 2 (DS-U1-IK No.1) Interkosmos Low Earth Ionosphere research7 June 1970[5]Successful
27 December[4] Soviet Union Kosmos-3M Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 132 Soviet Union
Soviet Union Ionosfernaya No.1 Low Earth Ionosphere researchIn orbitFailure

Suborbital flights

Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat)
Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
17 January[15] United States Nike-Cajun Sweden Esrange United States NASA
Sweden / United States RTG SNC 2A / 1 Aeronomy mission NASA/RTG Suborbital Aeronomy17 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi).
21 January[16] United Kingdom Skylark 6 Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom UK SL781 Solar x-ray mission RAE/WRE Suborbital Astronomy21 JanuaryFailure
23 January
20:00[16]
United Kingdom Skylark Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom / Ion / Te Ionosphere mission RAE/WRE Suborbital Astronomy23 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: 149 kilometres (93 mi).
23 January
23:00[15]
United States Nike-Cajun Sweden Esrange United States NASA
Sweden / United States RTG SNC 2A / 3 Aeronomy mission NASA/RTG Suborbital Aeronomy23 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi).
25 January
21:00[15]
United States Nike-Cajun Sweden Esrange United States NASA
Sweden / United States RTG SNC 2A / 4 Aeronomy mission NASA/RTG Suborbital Aeronomy25 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: 118 kilometres (73 mi).
3 February
21:05[15]
United Kingdom Petrel Sweden Esrange Canada Bristol Aerospace
United Kingdom Electrons Ionosphere mission SRC Suborbital Ionosphere research3 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 157 kilometres (98 mi).
11 February
21:09[15]
United Kingdom Petrel Sweden Esrange Canada Bristol Aerospace
United Kingdom Electrons Ionosphere mission SRC Suborbital Ionosphere research11 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 157 kilometres (98 mi).
14 February
22:15[15]
United Kingdom Petrel Sweden Esrange Canada Bristol Aerospace
United Kingdom Small scale structure Ionosphere mission SRC Suborbital Ionosphere research14 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 149 kilometres (93 mi).
15 February
21:20[15]
United Kingdom Petrel Sweden Esrange Canada Bristol Aerospace
United Kingdom Small scale structure Ionosphere mission SRC Suborbital Ionosphere research15 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 153 kilometres (95 mi).
20 February
11:48[17]
France Véronique France Kourou ALFS France LRBA
FU-170 CIRCE CNES Suborbital Ionosphere research20 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 107 kilometres (66 mi)
25 February
16:33[18]
France Centaure 2B Norway Andøya Rocket Range
Europe ESRO C49 / 1 (R3) Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital 25 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 136 kilometres (85 mi).
25 February
21:37[18]
United States Sidewinder Arcas Norway Andøya Rocket Range
Europe ESRO A40 / 4 Ionosphere / plasma / field mission ESRO Suborbital 25 FebruaryFailure
25 February
23:50[18]
France Centaure 2B Norway Andøya Rocket Range
Europe ESRO C49 / 2 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital 25 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 128 kilometres (80 mi).
15 March
17:55[15]
United States Nike-Apache Sweden Esrange United States Sandia
West Germany DLR K-NA-11 DFVLR Suborbital Ionosphere research, Aeronomy15 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 226 kilometres (140 mi).
15 March
20:54[15]
United Kingdom Skylark 2 Sweden Esrange United Kingdom British Aerospace
Europe ESRO S43 / 2 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital 15 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 211 kilometres (131 mi).
15 March
22:31[15]
France Centaure 2B Sweden Esrange
Europe ESRO C52 / 1 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital 15 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 211 kilometres (131 mi).
16 March
18:05[15]
United States Nike-Apache Sweden Esrange United States Sandia
West Germany DLR K-NA-17 DFVLR Suborbital Ionosphere research, Aeronomy16 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 233 kilometres (145 mi).
17 March
00:04[15]
United Kingdom Petrel Sweden Esrange Canada Bristol Aerospace
United Kingdom Particles Ionosphere mission SRC Suborbital Ionosphere research17 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 151 kilometres (94 mi).
17 March
18:10[15]
United States Nike-Apache Sweden Esrange United States Sandia
West Germany DLR K-NA-18 DFVLR Suborbital Ionosphere research, Aeronomy17 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 231 kilometres (144 mi).
17 March
18:23[15]
United Kingdom Petrel Sweden Esrange Canada Bristol Aerospace
United Kingdom E field gradient Ionosphere mission SRC Suborbital Ionosphere research17 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 148 kilometres (92 mi).
18 March
18:16[15]
United Kingdom Petrel Sweden Esrange Canada Bristol Aerospace
United Kingdom E-region E field Ionosphere mission SRC Suborbital Ionosphere research18 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 170 kilometres (110 mi).
20 March
05:37[19]
United States Terrier Sandhawk United States Poker Flat Research Range United States Sandia
HEMLOCK DARPA Suborbital Aeronomy20 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 176 kilometres (109 mi)
29 March
20:00[15]
United Kingdom Petrel Sweden Esrange Canada Bristol Aerospace
United Kingdom Small scale structure Ionosphere mission SRC Suborbital Ionosphere research29 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi).
1 April
09:54[16]
United Kingdom Skylark Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom X-ray Survey X-ray astronomy mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy1 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 192 kilometres (119 mi).
3 April
00:35[16]
United Kingdom Skylark 6 AC Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom UK SL502 Ionosphere / solar x-rays mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy3 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 192 kilometres (119 mi).
9 April
20:38[18]
United States Nike-Apache Norway Andøya Rocket Range United States Sandia
Norway Ferdinand 20 Aeronomy / ionosphere / plasma mission NTNF Suborbital Ionosphere research, Aeronomy9 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 139 kilometres (86 mi).
13 April
00:33[18]
France Dragon 2B Norway Andøya Rocket Range
France FU-182 Ions / Electric field Ionosphere mission CNES Suborbital Ionosphere research13 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 139 kilometres (86 mi).
14 April
18:15[15]
France Centaure 2B Sweden Esrange C
Europe ESRO C39 / 1 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital 14 AprilFailure
15 April
11:03[15]
France Centaure 2B Sweden Esrange C
Europe ESRO C39 / 2 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital 15 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 134 kilometres (83 mi).
16 April[20] Argentina Canopus 2 Argentina CELPA Argentina CONAE
CONAE Suborbital Test flight16 AprilSuccessful
First flight of Canopus 2 sounding rocket. Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi).
17 April
05:05[16]
United Kingdom Skylark 3 AC Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom UK SL606 Solar ultraviolet and x-ray mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy17 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 202 kilometres (126 mi).
17 April
21:48[18]
France Dragon 2B Norway Andøya Rocket Range
France FU-190 E field / Barium release / Ionosphere mission CNES Suborbital 17 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 329 kilometres (204 mi).
22 April
03:31[16]
United Kingdom Skylark 3 AC Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom UK SL604 Solar ultraviolet mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy22 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 181 kilometres (112 mi).
1 May[21] United States Sandhawk Tomahawk United States Pacific Missile Range Facility United States Sandia
Sandia National Laboratories Suborbital Test flight1 MaySuccessful
First flight of the Sandhawk Tomahawk configuration. Apogee: 528 kilometres (328 mi).
14 May
02:44[16]
United Kingdom Skylark 3 AC Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom UK SL404 Solar ultraviolet and x-ray mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy14 MaySuccessful
Apogee: 178 kilometres (111 mi).
24 May
05:52[22]
United States Terrier Tomahawk United States Pacific Missile Range Facility United States Sandia
LRL BOX-16 TT-9 Sandia National Laboratories Suborbital Astronomy24 MaySuccessful
Apogee: 159 kilometres (99 mi)
5 June
19:28[15]
France Centaure 2B Sweden Esrange C
Europe ESRO C35 / 2 X-ray astronomy mission ESRO Suborbital 5 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi).
27 June
22:58[23]
United Kingdom Black Arrow Australia Woomera LA-5B United Kingdom RAE
RAE Suborbital Test flight27 JuneFailure
Lost control 50 seconds into the flight, destroyed by range safety.
5 July
19:45[24]
United Kingdom Skylark Italy Salto di Quirra United Kingdom British Aerospace
Europe ESRO S38 / 1 Ionosphere mission ESRO Suborbital Ionosphere research5 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi).
6 July
19:50[24]
United Kingdom Skylark 3 Italy Salto di Quirra United Kingdom British Aerospace
Europe ESRO S64 / 1 Aeronomy mission ESRO Suborbital Aeronomy6 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 275 kilometres (171 mi).
11 July
19:42[24]
United Kingdom Skylark Italy Salto di Quirra United Kingdom British Aerospace
Europe ESRO S38 / 2 Ionosphere mission ESRO Suborbital Ionosphere research11 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 203 kilometres (126 mi).
13 July
19:41[24]
United Kingdom Skylark 3 Italy Salto di Quirra United Kingdom British Aerospace
Europe ESRO S64 / 2 Aeronomy mission ESRO Suborbital Aeronomy13 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 280 kilometres (170 mi).
14 July
23:53[16]
United Kingdom Skylark Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom Electron profile Ionosphere mission BAC Suborbital Ionosphere research14 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 216 kilometres (134 mi).
16 July
22:33[16]
United Kingdom Skylark Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom Dayglow / electrons Ionosphere mission BAC Suborbital Ionosphere research16 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 244 kilometres (152 mi).
24 July[25] Australia HAD Australia Woomera LA-1 Australia WRE
WRE Suborbital Test flight24 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 115 kilometres (71 mi)
25 July
04:10[16]
United Kingdom Skylark Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom Electron profile Ionosphere mission BAC Suborbital Ionosphere research25 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 244 kilometres (152 mi).
29 July
22:57[16]
United Kingdom Skylark 3 Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom Dayglow / electrons Ionosphere mission BAC Suborbital Ionosphere research29 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 262 kilometres (163 mi).
5 August
09:08[26]
Australia Aero High Australia Woomera LA-1 Australia WRE
WRE Suborbital 5 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: 208 kilometres (129 mi)
11 August
01:30[15]
France Centaure 2B Sweden Esrange C
Europe ESRO C51 / 1 Aeronomy mission ESRO Suborbital Aeronomy11 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: 112 kilometres (70 mi).
14 August
02:01[15]
France Centaure 2B Sweden Esrange C
Europe ESRO C58 / 1 Meteorites mission ESRO Suborbital 11 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: 112 kilometres (70 mi).
21 August
01:57[16]
United Kingdom Skylark 3 AC Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom HRCS / PHC Solar x-ray mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy29 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 197 kilometres (122 mi).
12 September[20] Argentina Rigel Argentina CELPA Argentina CONAE
CONAE Suborbital Test flight12 SeptemberSuccessful
First test flight of Rigel sounding rocket. Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
5 October
22:28[15]
United Kingdom Skylark 2 Sweden Esrange United Kingdom British Aerospace
Europe ESRO S29 / 1 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital 5 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi).
10 October
20:01[15]
France Centaure 2B Sweden Esrange C
Europe ESRO C52 / 2 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital 10 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 135 kilometres (84 mi).
15 October
18:46[16]
United Kingdom Skylark 3 Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom Grenades / TMA/Barium release Aeronomy / ionosphere mission BAC Suborbital Ionosphere research15 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 318 kilometres (198 mi).
17 October
09:15[16]
United Kingdom Skylark 3 Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom Grenades / TMA/Barium release Aeronomy / ionosphere mission BAC Suborbital Ionosphere research17 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 318 kilometres (198 mi).
17 October
22:27[15]
United Kingdom Skylark 2 Sweden Esrange United Kingdom British Aerospace
Europe ESRO S29 / 2 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital 17 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi).
20 October
07:28[16]
United Kingdom Skylark 3 AC Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom UK SL586 test BAC Suborbital Technology demonstration20 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 223 kilometres (139 mi).
22 October
06:10[16]
United Kingdom Skylark 3 Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom X-ray survey / Solar X X-ray astronomy mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy22 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 216 kilometres (134 mi).
23 October[20] Argentina Canopus 2 Argentina CELPA Argentina CONAE
CONAE Suborbital Test flight23 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi).
24 October
05:44[24]
United Kingdom Skylark Italy Salto di Quirra United Kingdom British Aerospace
Europe ESRO S68 / 1 X-ray astronomy mission ESRO Suborbital Astronomy13 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 184 kilometres (114 mi).
8 November[27] France Vesta France Kourou ALFS France LRBA
FU-189 Star pointing test CNES Suborbital Technology demonstration8 NovemberSuccessful
Last flight of the Vesta sounding rocket. Apogee: 204 kilometres (127 mi).
10 November
21:00[15]
United Kingdom Skylark 2 Sweden Esrange United Kingdom British Aerospace
Europe ESRO S46 / 1 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital 10 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 214 kilometres (133 mi).
18 November
02:17[16]
United Kingdom Skylark 3 AC Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom Fresnel shadowgraph X-ray astronomy mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy18 NovemberFailure
Apogee: 208 kilometres (129 mi).
20 November
00:30[16]
United Kingdom Skylark 3 AC Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom Solar ultraviolet Spectrum / PHC Solar ultraviolet and x-ray mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy20 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 242 kilometres (150 mi).
26 November
00:38[18]
United States Nike-Cajun Norway Andøya Rocket Range United States NASA
Norway Ferdinand 21 Aeronomy / ionosphere mission NTNF Suborbital Ionosphere research, Aeronomy26 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 107 kilometres (66 mi).
26 November
23:32[16]
United Kingdom Skylark 3 AC Australia Woomera LA-2 SL United Kingdom British Aerospace
United Kingdom Solar ultraviolet FP / PHC Solar ultraviolet mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy26 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi).
27 November
05:29[15]
France Centaure 2B Sweden Esrange C
Europe ESRO C62 / 1 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital 27 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 160 kilometres (99 mi).
27 November
06:31[15]
France Centaure 2B Sweden Esrange C
Europe ESRO C62 / 2 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital 27 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 164 kilometres (102 mi).
30 November
02:58[18]
United States Sparrow-Arcas Norway Andøya Rocket Range United States NASA
Norway Arcas VII Aeronomy / ionosphere / plasma mission NTNF Suborbital Ionosphere research, Aeronomy30 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi).
9 December[25] Australia HAD Australia Woomera LA-1 Australia WRE
WRE Suborbital Test flight9 DecemberSuccessful
Last flight of HAD rocket. Apogee: 115 kilometres (71 mi).
22 December[20] Argentina Rigel Argentina CELPA Argentina CONAE
CONAE Suborbital Test flight22 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
23 December[20] Argentina Canopus 2 Argentina CELPA Argentina CONAE
CONAE Suborbital Test flight23 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi).

Launches from the Moon

Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat)
Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
21 July
17:54
United States Lunar Module Ascent Stage Tranquility Base, Mare Tranquillitatis (Luna) United States NASA
United States Apollo 11 LM NASA Selenocentric (CSM) CrewedIn orbitSuccessful
Carrying two astronauts back to CSM after lunar landing
20 November
14:25:47
United States Lunar Module Ascent Stage Ocean of Storms (Luna) United States NASA
United States Apollo 12 LM NASA Selenocentric (CSM) Crewed20 NovemberSuccessful
Carrying two astronauts back to CSM after lunar landing

Deep-space rendezvous

Date (GMT) Spacecraft Event Remarks
16 May Venera 5 Atmospheric entry in Venus Atmospheric probe worked for 53 min in the Venerian atmosphere
17 May Venera 6 Atmospheric entry in Venus Atmospheric probe worked for 51 min in the Venerian atmosphere
21 May Apollo 10 31 orbits around the Moon Altitude ~15,4 km
20 July Apollo 11 Moon landing 22 kg from Mare Tranquillitatis (sample return mission)
21 July Luna 15 Moon impact Impacted at Mare Crisium (sample return mission). Primary mission failed.
5 August Mariner 6 Flyby of Mars Periapsis: 3,412 km. 25 close-up pictures.
5 August Mariner 7 Flyby of Mars Periapsis: 3,543 km. 33 close-up pictures.
11 August Zond 7 Circumlunar flight Periapsis: 1,984 km.
19 November Apollo 12 Moon landing 34 kg from Oceanus Procellarum (sample return mission)

Extravehicular activities (EVAs)

Start Date/Time Duration End Time Spacecraft Crew Remarks


Orbital launch statistics

By country

Country Launches Successes Failures Partial
failures
Remarks
 Europe1010
 Japan1010
 Soviet Union8268140
 United States413722
World125105182

By rocket

By family

Family Country Launches Successes Failures Partial failures Remarks
Atlas United States5500
Blue Streak Europe1010
Kosmos Soviet Union222020
Lambda Japan1010
N-1 Soviet Union2020First flight
R-7 Soviet Union444310
R-36 Soviet Union4310
Saturn United States4400
Scout United States2101
Thor United States222020
Titan United States8701
Universal Rocket Soviet Union10280

By type

Rocket Country Family Launches Successes Failures Partial failures Remarks
Atlas-Agena United StatesAtlas1100
Atlas-Centaur United StatesAtlas3300
Atlas E/F United StatesAtlas1100
Delta United StatesThor11920
Europa EuropeBlue Streak1010
Kosmos-2 Soviet UnionKosmos151410
Kosmos-3 Soviet UnionKosmos7610
Lambda 4 JapanLambda1010
Molniya Soviet UnionR-74400
N-1 Soviet UnionN-12020First flight
Proton Soviet UnionUniversal Rocket10280
R-36 Soviet UnionR-361100
Saturn V United StatesSaturn4400
Scout United StatesScout2101
Soyuz Soviet UnionR-7373700
Thor-Burner United StatesThor1100
Thorad-Agena United StatesThor101000
Titan III United StatesTitan8701
Tsyklon Soviet UnionR-363210
Vostok Soviet UnionR-73210

By configuration

By spaceport

Site Country Launches Successes Failures Partial failures Remarks
Baikonur Soviet Union3827110
Cape Canaveral United States151320
Kapustin Yar Soviet Union3300
Kennedy United States4400
Plesetsk Soviet Union413830
Kagoshima Japan1010
Vandenberg United States222002
Woomera Australia1010

By orbit

Orbital regime Launches Achieved Not Achieved Accidentally
Achieved
Remarks
Low Earth858131
Geosynchronous / transfer7610
Medium Earth3210
High Earth14770including highly elliptical and Molniya orbits and Trans Lunar trajectories
Heliocentric7430

References

  1. Howard E. McCurdy, et al. "Helpful Lessons From The Space Race." Issues in Science & Technology 27.4 (2011): 19–22. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 October 2013.
  2. "Excerpt from the 'Special Message to the Congress on Urgent National Needs'" NASA. 24 May 2004. 24 May 2015. <https://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/features/jfk_speech_text.html#.VWIGJ0_tmkp Archived 8 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine>.
  3. 1 2 Wade, Mark. "Venera". Archived from the original on 11 December 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Wade, Mark. "Plesetsk". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Wade, Mark. "Baikonur". Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Wade, Mark. "Cape Canaveral". Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Wade, Mark. "Vandenberg". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  9. 1 2 Krebs, Gunter. "KH-8 Gambit-3 (Block 1)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  10. 1 2 3 Wade, Mark. "Kapustin Yar". Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  11. Wade, Mark. "Lambda 4S". Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  12. "SOICAL (CYLINDER)". N2YO.com. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  13. "SOICAL (CYLINDER)". N2YO.com. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  14. Krebs, Gunter. "Interkosmos 1, 4, 7, 11, (14) 16 (DS-U3-IK)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Wade, Mark. "Kiruna". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Wade, Mark. "Woomera". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  17. Wade, Mark. "Veronique". Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Wade, Mark. "Andoya". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  19. Wade, Mark. "Terrier Sandhawk". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 Wade, Mark. "Rigel". Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  21. Wade, Mark. "Sandhawk Tomahawk". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  22. Wade, Mark. "Terrier Tomahawk". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  23. Wade, Mark. "Black Arrow". Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 Wade, Mark. "Salto di Quirra". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  25. 1 2 Wade, Mark. "HAD". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  26. Wade, Mark. "Aero High". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  27. Wade, Mark. "Vesta". Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
Generic references:
 Spaceflight portal


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