1968 in spaceflight

1968 in spaceflight
The crew of Apollo 8 were the first humans to witness Earthrise, photographed by William Anders on 24 December 1968
Orbital launches
First7 January
Last26 December
Total128
Successes119
Failures9
Partial failures3
Rockets
Maiden flightsDelta M
Delta N
RetirementsDelta J
Kosmos-3
Crewed flights
Orbital3
1968 in spaceflight

The United States National Space Science Data Center catalogued 157 spacecraft placed into orbit by launches, which occurred in 1968.[1] The first crewed Apollo missions occurred in 1968. It was also the year in which Earth lifeforms first left low Earth orbit, during the successful Zond 5 mission to the Moon and the Zond 6 lunar mission which crashed upon return, and the year that humans first left low Earth orbit, during the successful Apollo 8 mission to the Moon.

Deep space lunar missions

Date (UTC) Spacecraft Event Remarks
10 January Surveyor 7 Lunar landing in the debris from Tycho crater
31 January Lunar Orbiter 5 Lunar impact
10 April Luna 14 Lunar orbit insertion
18 September Zond 5 Flyby of the Moon; first return to Earth after flight to Moon; first Earth life forms to travel around the Moon (two Russian tortoises) Closest approach: 1,950 kilometres (1,210 mi)
14 November Zond 6 Flyby of the Moon, with turtles, flies, and bacteria Closest approach: 2,420 kilometres (1,500 mi)
24 December Apollo 8 Lunar orbit insertion; first humans to travel around the Moon
25 December Apollo 8 Leaves lunar orbit Completed 10 orbits

Orbital launches

Key
USA
Soviet Union

January

January launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
7 January
06:30 		United States Atlas-SLV3 Centaur-D AC-15 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-36A
United StatesSurveyor 7 NASA Selenocentric Lunar lander 10 January (on Moon) Successful
11 January
16:16 		United States Delta E1 D-56 United StatesVandenberg SLC-2E
United StatesExplorer 36 (GEOS-B) NASA Low Earth Research In orbit Successful
16 January
12:00 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 199 (Zenit-2 #58) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
17 January
10:12 		United States Thor SLV-2A Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-2W
United StatesOPS 1965 Multigroup 3&Setter 1B-2 USAF Low Earth ELINT In orbit Successful
18 January
19:04 		United States Titan IIIB Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-4W
United StatesOPS 5028 KH-8 4311 USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
19 January
22:00 		Soviet UnionKosmos-3M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 132/2
Soviet UnionKosmos 200 (Tselina O #2) Low Earth Orbit SIGINT In orbit Successful
22 January
22:48:09 		United StatesSaturn IB (C-1B) United StatesCape Canaveral LC-37B United StatesNASA
Apollo 5 NASA LEO Test Lunar Module 12 February 1968
09:59		 successful
Minor malfunction of LM descent stage engine, otherwise successful
24 January
22:26 		United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-1E
United StatesOPS 5028 KH-4A 1045 CIA Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
United StatesTivoli 1 USAF Low Earth ELINT In orbit Successful

February

February launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
6 February
08:00 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 31/6
Soviet UnionKosmos 201 (Zenit-4 #38) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
7 February
10:43 		Soviet UnionMolniya-M / Blok L Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5
Soviet Union (Ye-6LS No 112) Selenocentric Lunar Orbiter 7 February Failure
20 February
10:03 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Site 86/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 202 (DS-U2-V #4) Low Earth Orbit Ionospheric research 24 March Successful
20 February
16:00 		Soviet UnionKosmos-3M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 132/2
Soviet UnionKosmos 203 (Sfera #1) Low Earth Orbit Geodesy In orbit Successful

March

March launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
2 March
03:55 		United States Scout-A United StatesVandenberg SLC-5
United StatesOPS 7034 Transit-O 18 USN Low Earth Navigation In orbit Successful
2 March
18:29 		Soviet UnionProton K / Blok D Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 81/23 MOM
Soviet UnionZond 4 (L1 6) MOM Lunar free-return Prototype Soyuz 7K-L1P/Zond 9 March Successful
4 March
13:06 		United States Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesCape Canaveral LC-13
United StatesOGO 5 (EGO 3) NASA Low Earth Research In orbit Successful
5 March
11:20 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 133/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 204 (DS-P1-I #3) Low Earth Orbit Radar calibration 2 March 1969 Successful
5 March
12:30 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 205 (Zenit-2 #59) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
5 March
18:28 		United States Scout-B United StatesWallops LA-3
United StatesExplorer 37 (Solrad 9) NASA Low Earth Research 16 November 1990 Successful
6 March
11:02 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Site 86/1
Soviet Union(DS-U1-Ya #1) Low Earth Orbit Magnetosphere research 6 March Failure
13 March
19:51 		United States Titan IIIB Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-4W
United StatesOPS 5057 KH-8 4312 USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
14 March
09:34 		Soviet UnionVostok-2M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 206 (Meteor-1 #9) Low Earth Orbit Meteorology 22 April 1989 Successful
14 March
22:00 		United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-1E
United StatesOPS 4849 KH-4A 1046 CIA Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
United StatesOPS 7076 Lampan 1 / Sampan 2 USAF Low Earth ELINT In orbit Successful
16 March
12:30 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 207 (Zenit-4 #39) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
21 March
09:50 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5
Soviet UnionKosmos 208 (Zenit-2M #1,Gektor #1) & Nauka-1KS 1L GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
22 March
09:30 		Soviet UnionTsyklon-2A Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 90/19
Soviet UnionKosmos 209 (US-AO #4) Low Earth Orbit US-A prototype In orbit Successful

April

April launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
3 April
11:00 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 210 (Zenit-2 #60) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
4 April
12:00:02 		United StatesSaturn V (C-5) United StatesLC-39A, Kennedy United StatesNASA
United StatesApollo 6 NASA Low Earth (achieved)
TLI to direct return abort (planned) 		Test CSM heat shield at Lunar return speeds. Test S-IVB re-ignition in LEO. 4 April 1968
21:57:26		 Partial failure
Experienced Pogo oscillation during S-IC first stage ascent. S-IVB failed restart test.
6 April
09:59 		United States Atlas F OV1 United StatesVandenberg LC-576A2
United StatesOV1 13 USAF Low Earth Radiation belt research In orbit Successful
United StatesOV1 14 USAF Low Earth Radiation belt research In orbit Successful
7 April
10:09 		Soviet UnionMolniya-M / Blok L Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5
Soviet UnionLuna 14 Selenocentric Lunar Orbiter In orbit Successful
9 April
11:26 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 133/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 211 (DS-P1-Yu #12) Low Earth Orbit Radar calibration In orbit Successful
14 April
10:00 		Soviet UnionSoyuz Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 31/6
Soviet UnionKosmos 212 (Soyuz Test #5) Low Earth Orbit Test spacecraft In orbit Successful
15 April
09:34 		Soviet UnionSoyuz Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5
Soviet UnionKosmos 213 (Soyuz Test #6) Low Earth Orbit Test spacecraft In orbit Successful
17 April
17:00 		United States Titan IIIB Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-4W
United StatesOPS 5105 KH-8 4313 USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
18 April
10:30 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 214 (Zenit-4 #40) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
18 April
22:29 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Site 86/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 215 (DS-U1-A #1) Low Earth Orbit Aeronomy 30 June Successful
20 April
10:30 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 31/6
Soviet UnionKosmos 216 (Zenit-2 #61) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
21 April
04:20 		Soviet UnionMolniya-M / Blok ML Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5
Soviet UnionMolniya-1 08 Molniya orbit Communications In orbit Successful
22 April
23:01 		Soviet UnionProton K / Blok D Soviet UnionPad 81/23, Baikonur MOM
Soviet UnionZond (L1 7) MOM Lunar Free-return Prototype Soyuz 7K-L1P/Zond 22 April Failure
24 April
16:00 		Soviet UnionTsyklon-2A Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 90/19
Soviet UnionKosmos 217 (I2M #1) Low Earth Orbit ASAT target 26 April Partial failure
The satellite did not separate from the upper stage and was placed into lower than planned orbit
25 April
00:45 		Soviet UnionR-36-O Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 162/36
Soviet UnionKosmos 218 (OGCh #17) RVSN Low Earth Orbit FOBS test 25 April Successful
26 April
04:42 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Site 86/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 219 (DS-U2-D #2) Low Earth Orbit Magnetosphere research 2 March 1969 Successful

May

May launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
1 May
21:31 		United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-3W
United StatesOPS 1413 KH-4B 1103 Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
7 May
13:57 		Soviet UnionKosmos 3M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 132/2
Soviet UnionKosmos 220 (Zaliv #2) Low Earth Orbit Navigation In orbit Successful
17 May
02:06 		United StatesScout B United StatesVandenberg SLC-5
European Union ESRO 2B (Iris 2) ESRO Low Earth Orbit Research In orbit Successful
18 May
08:23 		United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-2E
United StatesNimbus B NASA/NOAA Low Earth Meteorology 18 May Failure
United StatesSECOR 10 US Army Low Earth Geodesy 18 May Failure
23 May
04:38 		United States Thor LV-2F Burner 2 United StatesVandenberg SLC-10W
United StatesOPS 7869 DMSP-4B F1 USAF Low Earth Meteorology In orbit Successful
24 May
07:04 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Site 86/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 221 (DS-P1-Yu #13) Low Earth Orbit Radar calibration In orbit Successful
30 May
20:29 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 133/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 222 (DS-P1-Yu #14) Low Earth Orbit Radar calibration In orbit Successful

June

June launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
1 June
10:50 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 223 (Zenit-2 #62) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
4 June
06:45 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 31/6
Soviet UnionKosmos 224 (Zenit-4 #41) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
4 June
18:45 		Soviet UnionKosmos-3M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 132/2
Soviet Union Sfera #2 Low Earth Orbit Geodesy 4 June Failure
5 June
17:33 		United States Titan IIIB Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-4W
United StatesOPS 5138 KH-8 4314 USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
11 June
21:29 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Site 86/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 225 (DS-U1-Ya #2) Low Earth Orbit Magnetosphere research In orbit Successful
12 June
13:14 		Soviet UnionVostok-2M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 226 (Meteor-1 #10) Low Earth Orbit Meteorology In orbit Successful
13 June
14:03:00 		United StatesTitan IIIC United StatesCape Canaveral Air Force Station LC-41 United States USAF
United StatesOPS 9341 IDCSP 20 USAF Sub-GSO Military communications In orbit Success
United StatesOPS 9342 IDCSP 21 USAF Sub-GSO Military communications In orbit Success
United StatesOPS 9343 IDCSP 22 USAF Sub-GSO Military communications In orbit Success
United StatesOPS 9344 IDCSP 23 USAF Sub-GSO Military communications In orbit Success
United StatesOPS 9345 IDCSP 24 USAF Sub-GSO Military communications In orbit Success
United StatesOPS 9346 IDCSP 25 USAF Sub-GSO Military communications In orbit Success
United StatesOPS 9347 IDCSP 26 USAF Sub-GSO Military communications In orbit Success
United StatesOPS 9348 IDCSP 27 USAF Sub-GSO Military communications In orbit Success
15 June
12:25 		Soviet UnionKosmos-3 Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/15
Soviet Union (Strela-2 #4) Low Earth Orbit Military communications 15 June Failure
18 June
06:15 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 31/6
Soviet UnionKosmos 227 (Zenit-4 #42) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
20 June
21:46 		United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-1E
United StatesOPS 5343 KH-4A 1047 Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
United StatesOPS 5259 Tripos 3/Sousea 2 USAF Low Earth ELINT In orbit Successful
21 June
12:00 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 31/6
Soviet UnionKosmos 228 (Zenit-2M #2,Gektor #2&Nauka-1KS 2L) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
26 June
11:00 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 229 (Zenit-4 #43) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful

July

July launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
4 July
17:26 		United States Delta J D-57 United StatesVandenberg SLC-2E
United StatesExplorer 38 (RAE A) NASA Low Earth Research In orbit Successful
5 July
06:59 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet Union Kapustin Yar Site 86/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 230 (DS-U3-S #2) Low Earth Orbit Solar research 2 November Successful
5 July
15:25 		Soviet UnionMolniya-M / Blok ML Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5
Soviet UnionMolniya-1 09 Molniya Communications In orbit Successful
10 July
19:49 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 31/6
Soviet UnionKosmos 231 (Zenit-2 #63) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
11 July
19:30 		United StatesAtlas F OV1 United StatesVandenberg LC576A2
United States OV1 15 (SPADES) USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful
United States OV1 16 (LOADS 1) USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful
16 July
13:10 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 232 (Zenit-4 #44) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
18 July
19:59 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 133/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 233 (DS-P1-Yu #15) Low Earth Orbit Radar calibration In orbit Successful
30 July
07:00 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 31/6
Soviet UnionKosmos 234 (Zenit-4 #45) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful

August

August launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
6 August
11:08 		United States Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D United StatesCape Canaveral LC-13
United StatesOPS 2222 Canyon 1 USAF Low Earth SIGINT In orbit Successful
6 August
16:30 		United States Titan IIIB Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-4W
United StatesOPS 5187 KH-8 4315 USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
7 August
21:36 		United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-3W
United StatesOPS 5955 KH-4B 1104 Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
8 August
20:12 		United States Scout B United StatesVandenberg SLC-5
United StatesExplorer 39 (AD C) NASA Low Earth Research 22 June 1981 Successful
United StatesExplorer 40 (Injun 5) NASA Low Earth Research In orbit Successful
9 August
07:00 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 31/6
Soviet UnionKosmos 235 (Zenit-2 #64) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
10 August
22:33 		United States Atlas-SLV3 Centaur-D AC-17 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-36A
United StatesATS-4 NASA Geosynchronous (planned)
Low Earth orbit (achieved) 		Communications/Meteorology 17 October Partial failure
Centaur failed to restart, payload inserted into lower than planned orbit
16 August
11:24 		United States Delta N D-58 United StatesVandenberg SLC-2E
United States ESSA-7 ESSA Low Earth Meteorology In orbit Successful
16 August
20:57 		United StatesAtlas SLV-3 Burner-2 United StatesVandenberg SLC-3E
United States Orbiscal 1 USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration 16 August Failure
United States OV5 8 (ERS 19) USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration
United States Gridsphere 1 USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration
United States Gridsphere 2 USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration
United States MylarBalloon USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration
United StatesRigidsphere USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration
United StatesLCS 3 MIT Lincoln Laboratory Low Earth Calibration
United StatesLIDOS USAF Low Earth Geodesy
United StatesSECOR 11 US Army Low Earth Geodesy
United StatesSECOR 12 US Army Low Earth Geodesy
United StatesRadcat Low Earth Calibration
United StatesRM 18 & UVR USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration
Payload fairing failed to separate
27 August
11:29 		Soviet UnionKosmos-3 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 41/15
Soviet UnionKosmos 236 (Strela-2 #5) Low Earth Orbit Military communications In orbit Successful
27 August
12:29 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 237 (Zenit-4 #46) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
28 August
10:04 		Soviet UnionSoyuz Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 31/6
Soviet UnionKosmos 238 (Soyuz Test #7) Low Earth Orbit Test spacecraft 1 September
09:03		 Successful

September

September launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
5 September
07:00 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 31/6
Soviet UnionKosmos 239 (Zenit-4 #47) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
10 September
18:30 		United States Titan IIIB Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-4W
United StatesOPS 5247 KH-8 4316 USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
14 September
06:50 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 31/6
Soviet UnionKosmos 240 (Zenit-2 #65) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
14 September
21:42 		Soviet UnionProton K / Blok D Soviet UnionPad 81/23, Baikonur MOM
Soviet UnionZond 5 (L1 9) MOM Lunar Free-return Prototype Soyuz 7K-L1P/Zond 21 September
16:08		 Successful
16 September
12:30 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionSite 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 241 (Zenit-4 #48) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
18 September
21:32 		United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-1E
United StatesOPS 0165 KH-4A 1048 Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
United StatesOPS 8595 Vampan 1 USAF Low Earth ELINT In orbit Successful
19 September
00:09 		United States Delta M D-59 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A
United NationsIntelsat III F1 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications 19 September Failure
20 September
14:39 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 133/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 242 (DS-P1-I #4) Low Earth Orbit Radar calibration In orbit Successful
23 September
07:39 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet Union Baikonur Site 1/5
Soviet UnionKosmos 243 (Zenit-2M #3,Gektor #3 & Nauka-2KS 1L) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
26 September
07:37 		United States Titan IIIC United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-41
United StatesLES 6 USAF Geosynchronous Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful
United StatesOV2 5 USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful
United StatesOV5 2 (ERS 21) USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful
United StatesOV5 4 (ERS 28) USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful

October

October launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
2 October
13:35 		Soviet UnionR-36-O Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 161/35
Soviet UnionKosmos 244 (OGCh #20) RVSN Low Earth Orbit FOBS test 2 October Successful
3 October
12:58 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 133/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 245 (DS-P1-Yu #16) Low Earth Orbit Radar calibration In orbit Successful
3 October
20:49 		United StatesScout-B United StatesVandenberg SLC-5
European UnionESRO 1A (Aurorae) ESRO Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful
5 October
00:32 		Soviet UnionMolniya-M / Blok ML Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5
Soviet UnionMolniya-1 10 Molniya Communications In orbit Successful
5 October
11:16 		United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-1W
United StatesOPS 0964 Strawman 1 USAF Low Earth ELINT, SIGINT In orbit Successful
7 October
12:05 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 246 (Zenit-4 #49) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
11 October
12:05 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 247 (Zenit-2 #66) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
11 October 1968
15:02 		United StatesSaturn IB (C-1B) United StatesLC-34, Cape Canaveral United StatesNASA
United StatesApollo 7 NASA LEO Crewed orbital flight 22 October 1968
11:11:48		 Successful
First crewed Apollo flight
19 October
04:20 		Soviet UnionTsyklon-2A Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 90/19
Soviet UnionKosmos 248 (I2M #2) Low Earth Orbit ASAT target In orbit Successful
20 October
04:02 		Soviet UnionTsyklon-2A Soviet UnionSite 90/20, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 249 (I2P #1) Low Earth Orbit ASAT test In orbit Successful
23 October
04:34 		United States Thor LV-2F Burner 2 United StatesVandenberg SLC-10W
United StatesOPS 4078 DSMP-4B F2 Low Earth (SSO) Meteorology In orbit Successful
25 October
09:00 		Soviet UnionSoyuz Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5 Soviet UnionRVSN
Soviet UnionSoyuz 2 Low Earth orbit Docking target for Soyuz 3 28 October 1968
07:21		 Successful
Soyuz 3 failed to dock
26 October
08:34 		Soviet UnionSoyuz Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 31/6 Soviet UnionRVSN
Soviet UnionSoyuz 3 Low Earth orbit Crewed orbital flight 30 October 1968
07:25:03		 Partial Failure
Failed to dock with Soyuz 2
30 October
22:00 		Soviet UnionKosmos-3M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 132/2
Soviet UnionKosmos 250 (Tselina-O #3) Low Earth Orbit SIGINT In orbit Successful
31 October
09:14 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5
Soviet UnionKosmos 251 (Zenit-4M #1,Rotor #1) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful

November

November launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
1 November
00:27 		Soviet UnionTsyklon-2A Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 90/20
Soviet UnionKosmos 252 (I2P #2) Low Earth Orbit ASAT In orbit Successful
3 November
21:30 		United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-3W
United StatesOPS 1315 KH-4B 1105 Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
6 November
19:10 		United States Titan IIIB Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-4W
United StatesOPS 5296 KH-8 4317 USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
8 November
09:46 		United States Delta E1 D-60 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17B
United StatesPioneer 9 NASA Heliocentric Solar Orbiter In orbit Successful
United States TTS 2 NASA Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful
10 November
19:11 		Soviet UnionProton K / Blok D Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 81/23 MOM
Soviet UnionZond 6 (L1 12) MOM Lunar Free-return Prototype Soyuz 7K-L1P/Zond 17 November
14:10		 Successful
13 November
12:00 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 253 (Zenit-2 #67) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
16 November
11:40 		Soviet UnionProton K Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 81/24 MOM
Soviet UnionProton 4 MOM Low Earth Cosmic ray research 24 July 1969 Successful
21 November
12:10 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 254 (Zenit-4 #50) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
29 November
12:40 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 41/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 255 (Zenit-2 #68) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
29 November
23:12 		European UnionEuropa 1 F7 AustraliaWoomera Test Range LA-6A
European Union STV 1 ELDO Low Earth Orbit Dummy Payload 29 November Failure
Third stage failure after separation
30 November
12:00 		Soviet UnionKosmos-3M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 132/2
Soviet UnionKosmos 256 (Sfera #3) Low Earth Orbit Geodesy In orbit Successful

December

December launches
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
3 December
14:52 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 133/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 257 (DS-P1-Yu #17) Low Earth Orbit Radar calibration 5 March 1969 Successful
4 December
19:23 		United States Titan IIIB Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-4W
United StatesOPS 6518 KH-8 4318 USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Failure
5 December
18:55 		United States Delta E1 D-61 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B
European UnionHEOS 1 ESRO Low Earth Research 28 October 1975 Successful
7 December
08:40 		United States Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D AC-16 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-36B
United StatesOAO 2 NASA Low Earth UV astronomy In orbit Successful
10 December
08:25 		Soviet UnionVoskhod Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 31/6
Soviet UnionKosmos 258 (Zenit-2 #69) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
12 December
22:22 		United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United StatesVandenberg SLC-3W
United StatesOPS 4740 KH-4A 1049 CIA Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
United StatesOPS 7684 P-801 1 USAF Low Earth ELINT In orbit Successful
14 December
05:09 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Site 86/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 259 (DS-U2-I #3) Low Earth Orbit Ionosphere research 5 May 1969 Successful
15 December
17:21 		United States Delta N United StatesVandenberg SLC-2E
United StatesESSA-8 ESSA SSO Meteorology In orbit Successful
16 December
09:15 		Soviet UnionMolniya-M / Blok ML Soviet UnionSite 1/5, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 260 (Molniya-1 Yu 15L) Molniya Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful
19 December
00:32 		United States Delta M D-63 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A
United NationsIntelsat III F2 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful
19 December
23:55 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 133/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 261 (DS-U2-GK #1) Low Earth Orbit Aeronomy, auroral research 12 February 1969 Successful
21 December
12:51 		United StatesSaturn V (C-5) United StatesLC-39A, Kennedy United StatesNASA
United StatesApollo 8 NASA Selenocentric Crewed lunar orbiter 27 December 1968
15:51:42		 Successful
United States LTA B NASA Selenocentric Mass Model In orbit Successful
First crewed mission to the Moon
26 December
09:45 		Soviet UnionKosmos-2 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar Site 86/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 262 (DS-U2-GF #1) Low Earth Orbit Solar research 18 July 1969 Successful

Suborbital Launches

January-December

Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
28 March Soviet UnionKosmos-3 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 41/15
Soviet UnionVKZ #2 Suborbital Aeronomy, ionosphere and radiation belt research 28 March Successful
Launched on the strictly vertical trajectory. Apogee: about 4,000 km
20 May
22:05 		Soviet UnionR-36-O Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 162/36 Soviet UnionRVSN
Soviet UnionOGCh #18 RVSN Suborbital Missile test 20 May Successful
27 May
23:15 		Soviet UnionR-36-O Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 161/35 Soviet UnionRVSN
Soviet UnionOGCh #19 RVSN Suborbital Missile test 27 May Successful
8 August[2] ChinaT-7/GF-01A ChinaJiuquan
China CAST Suborbital Test flight 8 August Successful
Test of high-altitude ignition of the FG-02 solid rocket motor. Apogee: 311 km
20 August[2] ChinaT-7/GF-01A ChinaJiuquan
China CAST Suborbital Test flight 20 August Successful
Test of high-altitude ignition of the FG-02 solid rocket motor. Apogee: 311 km

Orbital launch summary

References

  • Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
  • Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
  • Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.
  • Krebs, Gunter. "Chronology of Space Launches".
  • Kyle, Ed. "Space Launch Report". Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  • McDowell, Jonathan. "GCAT Orbital Launch Log".
  • Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive".
  • Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica".
  • Webb, Brian. "Southwest Space Archive".
  • Zak, Anatoly. "Russian Space Web".
  • "ISS Calendar". Spaceflight 101.
  • "NSSDCA Master Catalog". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
  • "Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).
  • "Rocket Launch Manifest". Next Spaceflight.
  • "Space Launch Plans". Novosti Kosmonavtiki.
Generic references:
Spaceflight portal

Footnotes

  1. ^ "Spacecraft Query Results". Master Catalog Search. NASA NSSDC. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  2. ^ a b Wade, Mark. "T-7". astronautix.com. Retrieved 15 August 2024.


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