1974 in spaceflight

Last updated

1974 in spaceflight
Soyuz 18 booster.jpg
Soyuz-U launch vehicle
Orbital launches
First5 January
Last2 December

On 29 March 1974 Mariner 10 became the first spacecraft to fly by Mercury, that saw a spacecraft for the first and last time in the 20th century.

Contents

Orbital launches

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

January

17 January
10:07 [1]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk (LC-132/2) VKS
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 628 (Tsiklon) MOM LEO Navigation In orbitSuccessful
19 January
01:39 [2]
Flag of the United States.svg Delta 2313 Flag of the United States.svg CCAFS (LC-17B) UK Ministry of Defence
Flag of the United States.svg Skynet 2A UK MOD Intended: GEO Achieved: LEO Comms 25 January 1974Failure
Placed in incorrect orbit due to carrier rocket malfunction
24 January
15:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk MOM
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 629 (Zenit-2M) MOM LEO Recon 5 February 1974Success
30 January
11:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk MOM
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 630 (Zenit-4MK) MOM LEO Aurora research13 February 1974Success

February

6 February
00:34
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg LC-132/2, Plesetsk VKS
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 631 (Tselina-O) VKS LEO ELINT 3 October 1980Successful
11 February
13:48
Flag of the United States.svg Titan IIIE/Centaur Flag of the United States.svg LC-41, CCAFS NASA
Boilerplate NASA Intended: GSO Test carrier rocket12 February 1974Failure
Flag of the United States.svg Sphinx NASA Intended: GSO Plasma research12 February 1974Failure
Upper stage turbopump malfunction
16 February
05:00
Flag of Japan.svg M-3C Flag of Japan.svg Kagoshima Space Center LP-M Flag of Japan.svg ISAS
Flag of Japan.svg MS T2 (Tansei 2)ISAS Highly elliptical orbit Technology test22 January 1983Successful
First flight of M-3C
18 February Flag of the United States.svg Scout D-1 Flag of Italy.svg San Marco mobile range, Kenya Flag of Italy.svg CRS
Flag of Italy.svg Flag of the United States.svg San Marco 4 CRS / NASA Low EarthAtmosphericIn orbitSuccessful

March

April

May

June

July

3 July Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz (11A511) Flag of the Soviet Union.svg LC-1/5, Baikonur
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz 14 LEO, docked to Salyut 3 Crewed orbital flight19 July 1974Successful
12 July
13:55
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Feng Bao 1 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiquan Satellite Launch Center, LA-2B (Site 138)
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg JSSW Intended: Low EarthUnknown12 JulyFailure
Carrier rocket lost attitude control.
16 July Flag of the United States.svg Scout Flag of the United States.svg Western Space and Missile Center at Vandenberg AFB NASA
Flag of the United States.svg Aeros 2 NASA  

August

28 August
10:08
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz (11A511) Flag of the Soviet Union.svg LC-1/5, Baikonur
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz 15 LEO Plan: Dock to Salyut 3 Crewed orbital flight28 August 1974Failure
Failed to dock with Salyut 3

September

October

15 October
07:47
Flag of the United States.svg Scout B-1 Flag of Italy.svg San Marco mobile range, Kenya Flag of Italy.svg CRS
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of the United States.svg Ariel 5 SERC / NASA Low Earth X-ray astronomy 14 March 1980Successful

November

December

2 December
15:00
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz-U (11A511U) Flag of the Soviet Union.svg LC-1/5, Baikonur
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz 16 LEO Crewed orbital flight8 December 1974Successful
First successful crewed use of Soyuz-U launch vehicle
10 December
07:11:01
Flag of the United States.svg Titan IIIE/Star-37 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-41 Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Germany.svg Helios-A NASA / DFVLR Heliocentric Solar probe In orbitSuccessful
Achieved a closest approach to the Sun of 46.5 million km (0.31 AU) in February 1975, the closest approach achieved by an artificial satellite at that point; it was succeeded later by Helios-B.

Suborbital launches

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

January-March

12 January
19:12 [3]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark Flag placeholder.svg El Arenosillo NASA
Flag of Germany.svg H-GR-58 DFVLR Sub-orbital Astronomy 12 Jan 1974Successful
5 January
01:45 [4]
Flag of the United States.svg Aerobee 200A Flag of the United States.svg White Sands NASA
NASA Sub-orbital Aeronomy/Ultraviolet astronomy 5 January 1974Successful
8 January
01:40 [5]
Flag of the United States.svg Aerobee 200A Flag of the United States.svg White Sands NASA
NASA/NRL Sub-orbital Aeronomy/Ultraviolet astronomy 8 January 1974Successful
11 January
22:00 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-36 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur (LC-162/36) RVSN
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Dkh RVSN Sub-orbitalICBM test12 January 1974Successful
15 January
20:00 [7]
Flag of the United States.svg Black Brant VC Flag of the United States.svg White Sands (LC-36) NASA
NASA Sub-orbitalSolar research15 January 1974Successful
16 January
02:00 [8]
Flag of Japan.svg Kappa 9M Flag of Japan.svg Kagoshima (LC-36) ISAS
ISAS Sub-orbital Ionosphere & Solar research16 January 1974Successful
16 January
17:40 [5]
Flag of the United States.svg Nike Apache Flag of the United States.svg Wallops Island NASA
NASA Sub-orbital Aeronomy 16 January 1974Successful
16 January
18:13 [9]
Flag of the United States.svg Super Arcas Flag of the United States.svg Wallops Island NASA
NASA Sub-orbital Ionosphere research16 January 1974Successful
16 January [5]
01:40
Flag of the United States.svg Aerobee 200A Flag of the United States.svg White Sands NASA
NASA Sub-orbital Solar research16 January 1974Successful
17 January
02:37 [5]
Flag of the United States.svg Nike Tomahawk Flag of the United States.svg Poker Flat NASA
NASA/NRL Sub-orbital Plasma research17 January 1974Successful
19 January
11:34
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skua Flag of Spain.svg El Arenosillo RAE
RAE Sub-orbital Ionosphere research19 January 1974Success
19 January Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-36M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg LC-103, Baikonur RVSN
POR RVSN Sub-orbital ICBM Test20 January 1974Success
21 January
02:39
Flag of the United States.svg Nike Tomahawk Flag of the United States.svg Poker Flat NASA
NASA Sub-orbital Plasma research21 January 1974Success
21 January
11:30
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skua 4 Flag of Spain.svg El Arenosillo RAE
RAE Sub-orbital Ionosphere research21 January 1974Success
22 January
02:41
Flag of the United States.svg Nike Tomahawk Flag of the United States.svg Poker Flat NASA
NASA Sub-orbital Plasma research22 January 1974Success
22 January
11:00
Flag of Japan.svg Lambda 3H Flag of Japan.svg Area 3L, Kagoshima ISAS
ISAS Sub-orbital X-ray astronomy 22 January 1974Success
22 January
01:40
Flag of the United States.svg Aerobee 200A Flag of the United States.svg White Sands NASA
NASA/NRL Sub-orbital Solar research22 January 1974Successful
22 January
01:40
Flag of the United States.svg Minuteman I Flag of the United States.svg LF-06, Vandenberg AFB USAF
USAF Sub-orbital ICBM test22 January 1974Successful
23 January
11:30
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skua Flag of Spain.svg El Arenosillo RAE
RAE Sub-orbital Ionosphere research23 January 1974Success
23 January
12:50
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Black Brant VB Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Churchill NRC
NRC Sub-orbital Aeronomy/Ionosphere/Aurora research23 January 1974Success
25 January
11:30
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skua Flag of Spain.svg El Arenosillo RAE
RAE Sub-orbital Ionosphere research25 January 1974Success
25 January Flag of the Soviet Union.svg UR-100N Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Cosmodrome RVSN
RVSN Sub-orbital ICBM test25 January 1974Success
26 January Flag of the United States.svg Minuteman III Flag of the United States.svg LF-25, Vandenberg AFB USAF
GT-24GB-1 USAF Sub-orbital ICBM test26 January 1974Success
26 January Flag of the Soviet Union.svg UR-100N Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Cosmodrome RVSN
GT-24GB-1 RVSN Sub-orbital ICBM test26 January 1974Success
27 January
19:08
Flag of the United States.svg Nike Tomahawk Flag of Norway.svg Andøya NASA
Ferdinand 35 (Polar 3) NDRE Sub-orbital Aurora research27 January 1974Success
30 January Flag of France.svg SSBS S2 Flag of France.svg BLB, Biscarosse DMA
DMA Sub-orbital Missile test30 January 1974Success
1 February
06:30
Flag of Japan.svg JCR Flag of Japan.svg Area T, Tanegashima NASDA
NASDA Sub-orbital Test flight1 February 1974Successful
4 February
14:40
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 6AC Flag of Australia (converted).svg LA-2SL, Woomera BAC
BAC Sub-orbital Astronomy 4 February 1974Successful
4 February Flag of the Soviet Union.svg MR-UR-100 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg LC-177, Baikonur RVSN
RVSN Sub-orbital ICBM test4 February 1974Successful
6 February
22:48
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Black Brant IVB Flag of Norway.svg Andoya DLR
DLR Sub-orbital Aurora research (DLR A-BB4-63 Auroral mission)6 February 1974Successful
6 February Flag of the United States.svg Polaris A3 Flag of the United States.svg Submarine, WTR US Navy
US Navy Sub-orbital SLBM test6 February 1974Successful
6 February Flag of the United States.svg Polaris A3 Flag of the United States.svg Submarine, WTR US Navy
US Navy Sub-orbital SLBM test6 February 1974Successful
9 February
02:10
Flag of the United States.svg Aerobee 200A Flag of the United States.svg White Sands NASA
NASA Sub-orbital Astronomy 9 February 1974Successful
9 February
06:30
Flag of Japan.svg LS-C Flag of Japan.svg Area T, Tanegashima NASDA
NASDA Sub-orbital Test flight9 February 1974Successful

April-June

July-September

11 July
05:01 [10]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg K63D Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Vladimirovka test range, near Kapustin Yar
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg BOR-3 No.302SuborbitalRe-entry test for Spiral program 11 JulyPartial success
Subscale model of the Spiral spaceplane. [11] After nominal flight, parachute system failed and the craft crashed. Apogee: 100 km

October-December

Deep Space Rendezvous

Date (GMT)SpacecraftEventRemarks
5 February Mariner 10 Flyby of Venus Gravity assist; Closest approach: 5,768 kilometres (3,584 mi)
10 February Mars 4 Flyby of Mars Closest approach: 2,200 kilometres (1,400 mi) (orbiter mission)
12 February Mars 5 Areocentric orbit injection
9 March Mars 7 Lander missed mars by 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
12 March Mars 6 Lander lost a few seconds before anticipated landing
29 March Mariner 10 1st flyby of Mercury Closest approach: 703 kilometres (437 mi)
2 June Luna 22 Selenocentric orbit injectionPhotographic mission
21 September Mariner 10 2nd flyby of MercuryClosest approach: 48,069 kilometres (29,869 mi)
2 November Luna 23 Landed rough at Mare Crisium, the Moon Sample return mission
3 December Pioneer 11 Flyby of Jupiter Gravity assist; Closest approach: 42,960 kilometres (26,690 mi)

EVAs

Start Date/TimeDurationEnd TimeSpacecraftCrewRemarks
3 February
15:19
5 hours
19 minutes
20:38 Skylab
SLM-3
Flag of the United States.svg Gerald P. Carr
Flag of the United States.svg Edward Gibson
Retrieved the final film from the solar observatory and photographed Kohoutek using an electronographic camera.

Related Research Articles

Japan and China each launched their first satellites in 1970, bringing the total number of nations with independent launch capability to five.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1957 in spaceflight</span>

The first orbital flight of an artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched in October 1957, by the Soviet Union. In November, the second orbital flight took place. The Soviet Union launched the first animal to orbit the Earth, a dog, Laika, who died in orbit a few hours after launch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1958 in spaceflight</span>

Explorer 1 was the first American satellite to reach orbit on 31 January 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1972 in spaceflight</span>

1972 saw humanity's last crewed mission to the Moon of the 20th century, Apollo 17.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 in spaceflight</span>

This article outlines notable events occurring in 2000 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.

1973 saw the launch of the first American Space station known as Skylab on a Saturn V rocket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1956 in spaceflight</span>

This is a list of spaceflight related events which occurred in 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1993 in spaceflight</span>

The following is an outline of 1993 in spaceflight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 in spaceflight</span>

The following is an outline of 1992 in spaceflight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1989 in spaceflight</span>

The following is an outline of 1989 in spaceflight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978 in spaceflight</span>

1978 saw the launch of the Pioneer Venus missions launched by the United States, on 20 May and 8 August. The Pioneer Venus Multiprobe landed four spacecraft on the planet, one of which transmitted data for 67 minutes before being destroyed by atmospheric pressure. ISEE-C, which was launched on 8 December, flew past comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner in 1985, and Halley's Comet in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 in spaceflight</span>

The following is an outline of 1976 in spaceflight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 in spaceflight</span>

The following is an outline of 1980 in spaceflight.

This is a list of spaceflights launched between January and March 1964. For launches in the rest of the year, see 1964 in spaceflight (April–June), 1964 in spaceflight (July–September) and 1964 in spaceflight (October–December). For an overview of the whole year, see 1964 in spaceflight.

This is a list of spaceflights launched between July and September 1964. For launches in the rest of the year, see 1964 in spaceflight (January–March), 1964 in spaceflight (April–June) and 1964 in spaceflight (October–December). For an overview of the whole year, see 1964 in spaceflight.

This is a list of spaceflights launched between January and June 1961. For launches between July and December, see 1961 in spaceflight (July–December). For an overview of the whole year, see 1961 in spaceflight.

This is a list of spaceflights launched between October and December 1964. For launches in the rest of the year, see 1964 in spaceflight (January–March), 1964 in spaceflight (April–June) and 1964 in spaceflight (July–September). For an overview of the whole year, see 1964 in spaceflight.

References

Generic references:
RocketSunIcon.svg Spaceflightportal

Footnotes

  1. McDowell, Jonathan C. "Launch list by family: R-14". GCAT: General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  2. "British Satellite Launched". The News-Press . Associated Press. 19 January 1974. Retrieved 4 April 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  3. McDowell, Jonathan C. "Launch list by family: Raven". GCAT: General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  4. "Scientits See Comet From Plane". The Daily Mail . Baltimore. Associated Press. 5 January 1974. Retrieved 4 April 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 McDowell, Jonathan C. "Launch list by family: Nike". GCAT: General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  6. McDowell, Jonathan C. "Launch list by family: R-36". GCAT: General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  7. McDowell, Jonathan C. "Launch list by family: BB5". GCAT: General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  8. McDowell, Jonathan C. "Launch list by family: K420". GCAT: General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  9. McDowell, Jonathan C. "Launch list by family: Arcas". GCAT: General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  10. Wade, Mark. "K63D". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  11. Krebs, Gunter Dirk. "BOR-3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 12 August 2024.