1966 in spaceflight

1966 in spaceflight
	Gemini 8 about to dock with its Agena target vehicle, the first time two spacecraft dock in orbit.
Orbital launches
First	7 January
Last	29 December
Total	131
Successes	111
Failures	13
Partial failures	7
Catalogued	118
Crewed flights
Orbital	5
Total travellers	10
	v; t; e;

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

Orbital launches edit

← Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec →


Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Flight number	Launch site		LSP
		Payload (⚀ = CubeSat)	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
		Remarks
January edit
7 January 04:48:23	Thor-Burner 1			Vandenberg LC-75-2-6		USAF

		OPS 2394 (DMSP 4A-F5)	USAF	Planned: Low Earth	Meteorology	7 January	Launch failure
		Second stage failed to ignite
7 January 08:24	Vostok-2			Baikonur LC-31/6

		Kosmos 104 (Zenit-2)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	15 January	Partial Failure
		Third stage failed to put spacecraft in correct orbit
19 January 20:10	Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D			Vandenberg PALC-2-4		USAF

		KH-7 24 (KH-7 Gambit)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	???	Successful
		OPS 3179 (Agena Pickaback)		Low Earth	Technology	23 January 1966	Successful
		OPS 7253		Low Earth	Film return	25 January 1966	Successful
22 January 08:38	Vostok-2			Baikonur LC-31/6

		Kosmos 105 (Zenit-2)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	30 January	Successful
25 January 12:28	Kosmos-2I			Kapustin Yar LC-86/1

		Kosmos 106 (DS-P1-I)		Low Earth	Radar calibration	In orbit	Successful
28 January 17:06:00	Scout-A			Vandenberg PALC-D

		OPS 1593 (Transit-O 7)		Low Earth	Navigation	In orbit	Successful
31 January 11:41:37	Molniya-M			Baikonur LC-31/6

		Luna 9		Lunar transfer	Lunar lander	3 February 18:45	Successful
		First spacecraft to soft land on the surface of the Moon and of any planetary object.
February edit
2 February 21:32:13	Thor-SLV2A Agena-D			Vandenberg PALC-1-1

		OPS 7291 (KH-4A Corona 1029)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	27 February	Successful
3 February 07:41:23	Delta C			Cape Canaveral LC-17A

		ESSA-1 (Tiros)	ESSA	Low Earth	Meteorology	In orbit	Successful
5 February 12:19:49	R-36O			Baikonur Site 67/21		RVSN

		OGCh #02L	RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	5 February	Successful
		Maiden flight of R-36O, apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
9 February 19:45:01	Thor-SLV2A Agena-D			Vandenberg LC-75-1-2

		OPS 1439 ("Heavy Ferret")	NRO	Low Earth	ELINT	In orbit	Successful
10 February 08:52	Vostok-2			Baikonur LC-31/6

		Kosmos 107 (Zenit-2)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	18 February	Successful
11 February 18:00	Kosmos-1			Kapustin Yar LC-86/1

		Kosmos 108 (DS-U1-G)		Low Earth	Atmospheric research	In orbit	Successful
15 February 20:32	Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D			Vandenberg PALC-2-4

		KH-7 25 (KH-7 Gambit)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	???	Successful
		OPS 1184		Low Earth	Film return	22 February 1966	Successful
		OPS 3011 (Bluebell 2 cylinder)		Low Earth	Radar calibration	17 February 1966	Successful
		OPS 3031 (Bluebell 2 sphere)		Low Earth	Radar calibration	22 February 1966	Successful
17 February 08:33:36	Diamant A			Hammaguira Brigitte		Armée de Terre

		Dipason (D-1A)	Armée de Terre	Low Earth	Geodetic science	In orbit	Successful
19 February 08:52	Voskhod			Baikonur LC-31/6

		Kosmos 109 (Zenit-4 #14L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	27 February	Successful
21 February	Kosmos-1			Kapustin Yar LC-86/1

		DS-K-40 No.2		Planned: Low Earth	ELINT	21 February	Failure
		First stage failure at T+83 seconds
22 February 20:09:36	Voskhod			Baikonur LC-31/6

		Kosmos 110 (Voskhod)		Low Earth	Uncrewed spacecraft	16 March	Successful
26 February 16:12:01	Saturn IB			Cape Canaveral LC-34		NASA

		Apollo AS-201	NASA	Sub-orbital	Test spacecraft	26 February 16:49:21	Successful
		First flight of the Apollo Spacecraft and launch vehicle
28 February 13:58:00	Delta E			Cape Canaveral LC-17B

		ESSA-2 (Tiros)	ESSA	Low Earth	Meteorology	In orbit	Successful
March edit
1 March 11:03:49	Molniya 8K78M			Baikonur LC-31/6

		Kosmos 111 (Luna E-6S series)		Intended: Lunar transfer	Lunar orbiter	1 March	Launch failure
9 March 22:02:03	Thor-SLV2A Agena-D			Vandenberg PALC-1-1

		OPS 3488 (KH-4A Corona 1030)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	29 March	Successful
16 March 15:00:03	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D			Cape Canaveral LC-14

		GATV 5003	US Air Force	Low Earth	Docking target	15 September 1967	Successful
16 March 16:41:02	Titan II GLV			Cape Canaveral LC-19		US Air Force

		Gemini VIII	NASA	Low Earth	Technology/Biological/Target	17 March 03:22:28	Successful
		First docking with the Agena target vehicle
17 March 10:28:42	Vostok-2			Plesetsk LC-41/1

		Kosmos 112 (Zenit-2)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	25 March 1966 05:31	Successful
18 March 20:00	Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D			Vandenberg PALC-2-4

		KH-7 26 (KH-7 Gambit)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	???	Successful
		OPS 0879		Low Earth	Film return	23 March 1966	Successful
		OPS 0974		Low Earth	Film return	24 March 1966	Successful
21 March 09:40	Voskhod 11A57			Baikonur LC-31/6

		Kosmos 113 (Zenit-4 #17L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	29 March	Successful
24 March 14:39	UR-500 (Proton)			Baikonur Site 81/23

		Proton N-4 #3 (N-4 #3)		Intended: Low Earth	Physics	24 March	Launch failure
		2nd stage engine failure T+122 seconds. Suspected collision with the first stage following separation.
26 March 03:31:00	Scout-A			Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 5 (PALC-D)

		Transit-O 8		Low Earth	Navigation	In orbit	Successful
27 March 07:20	Molniya 8K78M			Baikonur LC-31/6

		Molniya-1 #5		Intended: Molniya	Communications technology	27 March	Launch failure
		Booster failure
30 March 09:20:12	SM-65D Atlas D			Vandenberg ABRES-B-3		US Air Force

		OV1-4	US Air Force	Low Earth	REV test	In orbit	Successful
		OV1-5		Low Earth	REV test	In orbit	Successful
31 March 05:41:04	Thor-Burner 1			Vandenberg LC-75-2-6		USAF

		OPS 0340 (DMSP-Block-4A F6)	USAF	Low Earth	Meteorology	In orbit	Successful
31 March 10:46:59	Molniya 8K78M			Baikonur LC-31/6

		Luna 10		Lunar transfer	Lunar orbiter	30 May (last contact)	Successful
		First Soviet lunar orbiter, first discoverer of lunar mascons; Last contact: 30 May 1966
April edit
6 April 11:40	Voskhod 11A57			Plesetsk LC-41/1

		Kosmos 114 (Zenit-4 #19L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	14 April^[1]	Successful
7 April 22:02:55	Thor SLV-2A Agena D			Vandenberg PALC1-1

		OPS 1612 (KH-4 Corona 1031)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	26 April 1966	Successful
		SRV 1031-1		Low Earth	???	???	Successful
		SRV 1031-2		Low Earth	Film return	???	Successful
8 April 01:00:02	Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D			Canaveral LC-36B		NASA

		Atlas Centaur 8 Surveyor SM-2	NASA	Highly elliptical	Technology	14 April	Failure^[2]
		Launch vehicle development flight. It carried a mass model of the Surveyor spacecraft. The second Centaur engine firing was unsuccessful.
8 April 19:35:00	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D			Cape Canaveral LC-12		US Air Force

		OAO 1	NASA	Low Earth		In orbit	Spacecraft failure
19 April 19:15	Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D			Vandenberg PALC-2-4

		KH-7 27 (KH-7 Gambit SV 977)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	26 April 1966	Successful
		OPS 0910		Low Earth	Film return	22 April 1966	Successful
20 April 10:40	Vostok-2			Baikonur LC-31

		Kosmos 115 (Zenit-2 No. 35L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	28 April 1966	Successful
22 April 09:45	Scout-B			Vandenberg PALC-D		US Air Force

		OV3-1	USAF	Low Earth	Radiation belt particle and fields experiments	In orbit	Successful
25 April 07:10	Molniya 8K78M			Baikonur LC-31

		Molniya-1 #6		Molniya	Communications technology	11 June 1973	Successful
		Third successful Molniya; also transmitted cloud cover images
26 April 10:04	Kosmos-2I			Kapustin Yar LC-86/1

		Kosmos 116 (DS-P1-Yu No. 6)		Low Earth	Radar calibration	In orbit	Successful
May edit
3 May 19:25:25	Thor SLV-2A Agena D			Vandenberg 75-3-5

		OPS 1508 (KH-4A Corona 1032)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	3 May	Failure
		SRV 1032-1		Low Earth	Film return	3 May	Failure
		SRV 1032-2		Low Earth	Film return	3 May	Failure
6 May 10:58	Vostok-2			Baikonur LC-31

		Kosmos 117 (Zenit-2 No. 39L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	14 May 1966	Successful
11 May 14:10	Vostok-2M			Baikonur LC-31/6

		Kosmos 118 (Meteor #4L)		Low Earth	Weather	23 November 1988	Successful
14 May 19:02	Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D			Vandenberg PALC-2-4

		KH-7 28 (KH-7 Gambit SV 978)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	27 October 1970	Successful
		OPS 1950		Low Earth	Film return	17 May 1966	Successful
		OPS 6785		Low Earth	Film return	21 May 1966	Successful
15 May 07:55:34	Thor SLV-2 Agena-B			Vandenberg LC-75-1-1		US Air Force

		Nimbus 2 (Nimbus C)	NASA	Low Earth	Weather Technology	In orbit	Successful
17 May 11:00	Voskhod 11A57			Plesetsk LC-41/1

		Unnamed Kosmos (Zenit-4 #18L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	17 May	Failure
17 May 15:15:03	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D			Cape Canaveral LC-14

		GATV 5004	US Air Force	Low Earth	Docking target	17 May	Launch failure
19 May 02:27:00	Scout-A			Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 5 (PALC-D)

		Transit-O 9		Low Earth	Navigation	In orbit	Successful
19 May 19:30	R-36O			Baikonur Site 67/22		RVSN

		OGCh #04L	RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	19 May	Successful
24 May 02:00:33	Thor SLV-2A Agena D			Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 3 (PALC-1-1)

		OPS 1778 KH-4A Corona 1033	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	9 June 1966	Successful
		SRV 1033-1		Low Earth	Film return	???	Successful
		SRV 1033-2		Low Earth	Film return	???	Successful
24 May 05:31?	Kosmos-2I			Kapustin Yar LC-86/1

		Kosmos 119 (DS-U2-I No. 1)		Low Earth	Ionospheric research	In orbit	Successful
25 May 14:00	Thor Delta C1			Cape Canaveral LC-17B		US Air Force

		Explorer 32 (AE-B)	NASA	Low Earth	Atmospheric	22 February 1985	Successful
30 May 14:41:01	Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D			Canaveral LC-36A		NASA

		Surveyor 1	NASA	Highly elliptical	Lunar Lander	2 June 1966	Successful
		First lunar soft-lander
June edit
1 June 15:00:02	Atlas SLV-3			Cape Canaveral LC-14

		ATDA No. 02186	US Air Force	Low Earth	Docking target	11 June	Spacecraft failure
		Shroud failed to come off target adapter precluding docking
3 June 13:39:33	Titan II GLV			Cape Canaveral LC-19		US Air Force

		Gemini IX-A	NASA	Low Earth	Technology/Biological/Target	6 June 02:00:23	Successful
		Failed attempt to dock with Agena target vehicle; two hour EVA by Eugene Cernan
3 June 19:25	Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D			Vandenberg PALC-2-4

		KH-7 29 (KH-7 Gambit SV 979)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	6 June	Successful
		OPS 1577		Low Earth	Film return	9 June	Successful
		OPS 1856		Low Earth	Film return	9 June	Successful
7 June 02:48	Atlas-SLV3 Agena-B			Cape Canaveral LC-12		US Air Force

		OGO-3 (OGO-B)	NASA	Low Earth	Ionospheric Magnetospheric	14 September 1981	Successful
		Routine spacecraft operation was discontinued on 1 December 1969, after which only data from Heppner's experiment (E-11) was acquired. All spacecraft support terminated on 29 February 1972.
8 June 11:00	Voskhod 11A57			Baikonur LC-31

		Kosmos 120 (Zenit-2 No. 41L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	16 June	Successful
9 June 20:15	Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D			Vandenberg PALC-1-2

		Midas 10 (Midas RTS-I F1)	USAF	Low Earth	Early Warning	3 December	Successful
		ERS 16 (ORS 2)		Low Earth	Technology (performed metal-to-metal bonding experiments)	12 March 1967	Successful
		SECOR 6 (Secor Type II S/N 7, EGRS VI)		Low Earth	Geodetic	6 July 1967	Successful
10 June 04:15	Scout-B			Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3A		US Air Force

		OV3-4 (Personnel Hazards Associated with Space Radiation (PHASR)), OPS-1427^[3]	USAF	Low Earth	Tissue equivalent radiation chamber, linear energy transfer spectrometer, electron and proton spectrometers, a solid state charged particle spectrometer and a tri-axial magnetometer.	In orbit	Successful
16 June 14:01	Titan IIIC			Cape Canaveral LC-41

		GGTS	USAF	Geosynchronous Earth	Gravity Gradient stabilization	In orbit	Partial Spacecraft Failure -- magnetic field in one of the dampers was compromised^[4]
		IDCSP 1		Geosynchronous Earth	Geosynchronous Communications	In orbit	Successful
		IDCSP 2		Geosynchronous Earth	Geosynchronous Communications	In orbit	Successful
		IDCSP 3		Geosynchronous Earth	Geosynchronous Communications	In orbit	Successful
		IDCSP 4		Geosynchronous Earth	Geosynchronous Communications	In orbit	Successful
		IDCSP 5		Geosynchronous Earth	Geosynchronous Communications	In orbit	Successful
		IDCSP 6		Geosynchronous Earth	Geosynchronous Communications	In orbit	Successful
		IDCSP 7		Geosynchronous Earth	Geosynchronous Communications	In orbit	Successful
17 Jun 11:00	Voskhod 11A57			Plesetsk LC-41/1

		Kosmos 121 (Zenit-4 #20L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	25 Jun	Successful
21 Jun 21:23:30	Thor SLV-2A Agena D			Vandenberg 75-3-5

		OPS 1599 (KH-4A Corona 1034)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	14 July	Successful
		SRV 1034-1		Low Earth	Film return	Before 14 July	Successful
		SRV 1034-2		Low Earth	Film return	Before 14 July	Successful
24 Jun 21:31:30	Thor-SLV2A Agena-D			Vandenberg LC-75-1-1

		PAGEOS	NASA	Low Earth	Geodetic	1975 - 2016	Successful
25 Jun 10:30	Vostok-2M			Baikonur LC-31/6

		Kosmos 122 (Meteor #5L)		Low Earth	Weather	14 November 1989	Successful
July edit
1 Jul 16:02:25	Thor Delta E1			Cape Canaveral LC-17A		US Air Force

		Explorer 33 (AIMP D)	NASA	High Earth	Magnetospheric	In orbit	Successful
5 July 16:12:01	Saturn IB			Cape Canaveral LC-37B		NASA

		Apollo AS-203	NASA	Low Earth	S-IVB test	5 July	Successful (spacecraft inadvertently destroyed after four orbits)
6 July 12:57	UR-500 (Proton)			Baikonur Site 81/23

		Proton 3 (N-4 #4)		Low Earth	Physics	16 Sep	Successful
8 July 05:31	Kosmos-2I 63S1			Kapustin Yar Site 86/1

		Kosmos 123 (DS-P1-Yu #5L)		Low Earth	Radar calibration	In orbit	Successful
12 July 17:55	Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D			Vandenberg SLC 4E

		KH-7 30 (KH-7 Gambit SV 980)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	20 Jul 1966	Successful
		OPS 1850 SRV Mission 4030		Low Earth	Film return	July	Successful
14 July 02:10:02	SM-65D Atlas			Vandenberg ABRES-B-3		US Air Force

		OV1-8 (PasComSat)	USAF	Low Earth	Communications	4 Jan 1978	Successful
		OV1-7	USAF	Low Earth	X-Ray Astronomy/Ionosphere	14 July	Failed to orbit
14 July 10:25	Voskhod 11A57			Baikonur LC-31

		Kosmos 124 (Zenit-2 No. 42L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	22 July	Successful
18 July 20:39:46	Atlas-Agena			Cape Canaveral LC-14

		TDA-1A	US Air Force	Low Earth	Docking target	29 Dec	Successful
18 July 22:20:27	Titan II GLV			Cape Canaveral LC-19		US Air Force

		Gemini X	NASA	Low Earth	Technology/Biological/Target	21 July 21:07:05	Successful
		Second successful docking with Agena target vehicle; First EVA to another spacecraft, by Michael Collins
20 July 08:58	Soyuz/Vostok			Baikonur LC-31

		Kosmos 125 (US-A) No. 111		Low Earth	ELINT	2 Aug 1966	Successful
28 Jul 10:50	Voskhod 11A57			Baikonur LC-31

		Kosmos 126 (Zenit-4 #21L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	2 Aug	Successful
29 July 18:30:20	Titan IIIB			Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4W

		KH-8 Gambit #1 (OPS 3014)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	6 Aug 1966	Successful
		SRV Mission 4301-1		Low Earth	Film return	before 6 Aug 1966	Successful
August edit
4 Aug 10:45:01	Scout-B			Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 5		US Air Force

		OV3-3	USAF	Low Earth	Radiation belt particle and fields experiments	In orbit	Successful
8 Aug 11:29	Voskhod 11A57			Baikonur LC-31

		Kosmos 127 (Zenit-4 #22L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	16 Aug	Successful
9 Aug 20:46:03	Thorad SLV-2G Agena D			Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1W

		OPS 1545 CORONA J-32	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	11 Sep	Successful
		SRV 715		Low Earth	Film return	Before 11 Sep	Successful
		SRV 716		Low Earth	Film return	Before 11 Sep	Successful
10 Aug 19:26:00	Atlas SLV-3 Agena D			Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 13

		Lunar Orbiter 1		Lunar	Mapping	29 Oct 13:29	Successful
		First US spacecraft to orbit Moon. First spacecraft to photograph Earth from the Moon.
16 Aug 18:30	Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D			Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4E

		KH-7 31 (OPS 1832)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	24 Aug 1966	Successful
		SRV Mission 4031		Low Earth	Film return	before 24 Aug 1966	Successful
		SAMPAN 1	NRO	Low Earth	ELINT Reconnaissance	5 Mar 1970	Successful
		SOUSEA 1		Low Earth	ELINT Reconnaissance	5 Mar 1970	Successful
17 August 15:20:17	Delta E1			Cape Canaveral LC-17A		NASA

		Pioneer 7 (Pioneer B)	NASA	Heliocentric	Scientific	In orbit	Successful
18 Aug 02:25:02	Scout-A			Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 5 (PALC-D)

		Transit-O 10		Low Earth	Navigation	In orbit	Successful
19 Aug 1925	Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D			Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3E

		Midas 11 (Midas RTS-I F2)	USAF	Low Earth	Early Warning	In orbit	Successful
		ERS 15		Low Earth	Technology (performed metal-to-metal bonding experiments)	12 March 1967	Successful
		SECOR 7 (Secor Type II S/N 8, EGRS VII)		Low Earth	Geodetic	In orbit	Successful
24 Aug 08:03:21	Molniya 8K78M			Baikonur LC-31/6

		Luna 11		Lunar transfer	Lunar orbiter	In orbit	Partial spacecraft failure
		TV camera failed to return usable images; Last contact: 1 October 1966
25 Aug 17:15:32	Saturn IB			Cape Canaveral LC-34		NASA

		Apollo AS-202	NASA	Sub-orbital	Test spacecraft	25 Aug 18:48:34	Successful
		Second flight of the Apollo Spacecraft and launch vehicle; resulted in man-rating of Block 1 Apollo and Saturn 1B rocket
26 Aug 13:59:56	Titan IIIC			Cape Canaveral LC-41

		IDCSP		Low Earth	Geosynchronous Communications	26 Aug	Launch failure
		IDCSP		Low Earth	Geosynchronous Communications	26 Aug	Launch failure
		IDCSP		Low Earth	Geosynchronous Communications	26 Aug	Launch failure
		IDCSP		Low Earth	Geosynchronous Communications	26 Aug	Launch failure
		IDCSP		Low Earth	Geosynchronous Communications	26 Aug	Launch failure
		IDCSP		Low Earth	Geosynchronous Communications	26 Aug	Launch failure
		IDCSP		Low Earth	Geosynchronous Communications	26 Aug	Launch failure
		IDCSP		Low Earth	Geosynchronous Communications	26 Aug	Launch failure
27 Aug 09:50	Voskhod 11A57			Baikonur Cosmodrome

		Kosmos 128 (Zenit-4 #23L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	4 Sep	Successful
September edit
12 Sep 13:05:02	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D			Cape Canaveral LC-14

		GATV-5006	US Air Force	Low Earth	Docking target	30 Dec	Successful
12 Sep 14:42:27	Titan II GLV			Cape Canaveral LC-19		US Air Force

		Gemini XI	NASA	Low Earth	Technology/Biological/Target	15 Sep 13:59:35	Successful
		First-ever direct-ascent (first orbit) rendezvous with an Agena Target Vehicle, highest apogee orbit to date.
16 Sep 09:30	Thor-Burner 2			Vandenberg LC-75-2-6		USAF

		DMSP-Block-4A 7 (OPS 6026)	USAF	Low Earth	Meteorology	In orbit	Successful
16 Sep 09:30	Voskhod 11A57			Baikonur Cosmodrome

		Unnamed Zenit-4 (Zenit-4 #40L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	16 Sep	Failure
16 Sep 17:59	Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D			Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4E

		KH-7 32 (OPS 1686)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	23 Sep	Successful
		SRV Mission 4032		Low Earth	Film return	before 23 Sep	Successful
		FANION 2	NRO	Low Earth	ELINT Reconnaissance	9 May 1968	Successful
		TRIPOS 2		Low Earth	ELINT Reconnaissance	9 May 1968	Successful
17 Sep 22:35	R-36O			Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 162/36		RVSN

		OGCh #05L	RVSN	LEO	Missile test	11 Nov	Partial launch failure
		First attempted orbital Fractional Orbital Bombardment System test.
20 Sep 12:32:00	Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D			Canaveral LC-36A		NASA

		Surveyor 2	NASA	Highly elliptical	Lunar Lander	23 Sep	Spacecraft failure
		Mid-course correction failure resulted in the spacecraft losing control. Contact was lost with the spacecraft at 9:35 UTC, September 22.
20 Sep 21:14:05	Thor SLV-2A Agena D			Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3W

		KH-4A Corona 1035 (OPS 1703)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	12 Oct	Successful
		SRV 1035-1		Low Earth	Film return	Before 12 Oct	Successful
		SRV 1035-2		Low Earth	Film return	Before 12 Oct	Successful
26 Sep 02:58	Lambda 4S			Kagoshima Pad L		JAXA

		L-4S-1	JAXA			26 Sep	Launch failure
28 Sep 19:07	Titan IIIB			Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4W

		KH-8 Gambit #2 (OPS 4096)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	7 Oct	Successful
		SRV Mission 4302-1		Low Earth	Film return	before 7 Oct	Successful
October edit
2 October 10:39:03	Delta E			Vandenberg SLC 2E

		ESSA-3 (Tiros)	ESSA	Low Earth	Meteorology	In orbit	Successful
5 Oct 22:00	Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D			Vandenberg Vandenberg SLC 3E

		Midas 12 (Midas RTS-I F3)	USAF	Low Earth	Early Warning	In orbit	Successful
		EGRS VIII (SECOR Type II S/N 9 )		Low Earth	Geodetic	In orbit	Successful
12 Oct 19:15	Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D			Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4E

		KH-7 33 (OPS 2055)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	20 Oct	Successful
		SRV Mission 4033		Low Earth	Film return	before 20 Oct	Successful
		Space Ground Link System (SLGS) 1 (OPS 5345)	NRO	Low Earth	Technology	21 Oct	Successful
14 Oct 12:13:08	Vostok-2			Plesetsk LC-41/1

		Kosmos 129 (Zenit-2 No. 33L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	21 Oct	Successful
20 Oct 07:50	Molniya 8K78M			Baikonur Site 1

		Molniya-1 #7		Molniya	Communications technology	11 Sep 1968	Successful
20 Oct 08:46	Voskhod 11A57			Baikonur Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31

		Kosmos 130 (Zenit-4 #24L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	28 Oct	Successful
22 Oct 08:42:26	Molniya 8K78M			Baikonur LC-31/6

		Luna 12		Lunar transfer	Lunar orbiter	In orbit	Successful
		Took high-resolution photos of the Moon's surface from lunar orbit. Last contact: 19 Jan 1967
26 Oct 11:12:02	Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D			Canaveral LC-36B		NASA

		Atlas Centaur 9 Surveyor SM-3	NASA	Highly elliptical	Technology	In orbit	Successful
		Launch vehicle development flight. It carried a mass model of the Surveyor spacecraft.
26 Oct 23:05:00	Delta E1			Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17B		NASA

		Intelsat II F-1 (Blue Bird)	Intelsat	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Successful
28 Oct 11:56:02	Scout-B			Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 5		US Air Force

		OV3-2	USAF	Low Earth	Radiation belt particle and fields experiments	29 Sep 1971	Successful
November edit
2 Nov 00:45:03	R-36O			Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 162/36		RVSN

		OGCh #06L	RVSN	LEO	Missile test	29 Nov	Spacecraft failure
		Second attempted orbital Fractional Orbital Bombardment System test.
2 Nov 20:24	Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D			Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4E

		KH-7 34 (OPS 2070)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	10 Nov	Successful
		SRV Mission 4034		Low Earth	Film return	before 10 Nov	Successful
		Space Ground Link System (SLGS) 2 (OPS 5424)	NRO	Low Earth	Technology	16 Nov	Successful
3 Nov 13:50:42	Titan IIIC			Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40

		Manned Orbiting Laboratory mockup	USAF	Low Earth	MOL mockup	9 Jan 1967	Successful
		OV4-1R		Low Earth	Communications	5 Jan 1967	Successful
		OV4-1T		Low Earth	Communications	11 Jan 1967	Successful
		OV1-6S		Low Earth	Optical target deployment	31 Dec	Successful
		Gemini B		Low Earth	Geosynchronous Communications	3 Nov (suborbital test)	Successful
6 Nov 23:21:00	Atlas SLV-3 Agena D			Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 13

		Lunar Orbiter 2		Lunar	Mapping	11 Oct 67	Successful
8 Nov 19:53:02	Thorad SLV-2G Agena D			Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1W

		OPS 1866 CORONA J-38	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	29 Nov	Successful
		SRV 727		Low Earth	Film return	Before 29 Nov	Successful
		SRV 728		Low Earth	Film return	Before 29 Nov	Successful
11 Nov 19:07:59	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D			Cape Canaveral LC-14

		GATV-5007	NASA	Low Earth	Docking target	23 Dec	Successful
11 Nov 20:46:33	Titan II GLV			Cape Canaveral LC-19		US Air Force

		Gemini XII	NASA	Low Earth	Technology/Biological/Target	15 Nov 19:21:04	Successful
		Final Gemini flight
12 Nov 09:50	Voskhod 11A57			Plesetsk LC-41/1

		Kosmos 131 (Zenit-4 #25L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	20 Nov	Successful
16 Nov 13:00	Kosmos-3			Plesetsk LC-41/5

		Strela-2 #2L		Low Earth	Communications	16 Nov	Launch failure
19 Nov 08:00	Vostok-2			Baikonur LC-31

		Kosmos 132 (Zenit-4 #46L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	27 Nov	Successful
28 Nov 11:00:00	Soyuz (rocket)			Baikonur LC-31

		Kosmos 133 (Soyuz 7K-OK No. 2)		Low Earth	Crewed spacecraft	30 Nov 10:21	Successful
		First test of Soyuz 7K-OK crewed spacecraft
December edit
3 Dec 08:15	Vostok-2			Baikonur LC-31

		Kosmos 134 (Zenit-4 #26L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	11 Dec	Successful
5 Dec 21:09	Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D			Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4E

		KH-7 35 (OPS 1890)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	14 Dec	Successful
		SRV Mission 4035		Low Earth	Film return	before 14 Dec	Successful
		Agena Engine Diagnostic 1	NRO	Low Earth	Technology	8 Dec	Successful
7 Dec 02:12:01	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D			Cape Canaveral LC-12

		ATS-1 (Applications Technology Satellite)	NASA	Geostationary	Communications/weather	In orbit	Successful
		The first experimental equatorial synchronous satellite.
11 Dec 21:09:57	SM-65D Atlas D			Vandenberg ABRES-B-3		US Air Force

		OV1-9	US Air Force	Low Earth	Radiation studies	In orbit	Successful
		OV1-10		Low Earth	Radiation studies	30 Nov 2002	Successful
12 December 20:38?	Kosmos-2I			Kapustin Yar LC-86/1

		Kosmos 135		Planned: Low Earth	Micrometeoroid	12 April 1967	Successful
14 Dec 11:00:00	Soyuz (rocket)			Baikonur LC-31

		Soyuz 7K-OK No.1		Low Earth	Crewed spacecraft	14 Dec	Launch failure
		Second test of Soyuz 7K-OK crewed spacecraft
14 Dec 18:14	Titan IIIB			Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4W

		KH-8 Gambit #3 (OPS 8968)	NRO	Low Earth	Optical Reconnaissance	24 Dec	Successful
		SRV Mission 4303		Low Earth	Film return	before 24 Dec	Successful
14 December 19:20:03	Delta G			Cape Canaveral LC-17A

		Biosatellite 1	NASA	Low Earth	Bioscience	15 February 1967	Successful
19 Dec 12:00:01	Vostok-2			Plesetsk LC-41/1

		Kosmos 136 (Zenit-4 #47L)		Low Earth	Optical reconnaissance	27 Dec	Successful
20 Dec 02:20	Lambda 4S			Kagoshima Pad L		JAXA

		L-4S-2	JAXA			20 Dec	Launch failure
21 Dec 10:17:08	Molniya-M			Baikonur Site 1

		Luna 13		Lunar transfer	Lunar lander	24 Dec	Successful
		Last contact: 28 December 1966, 06:13
21 Dec 13:12?	Kosmos-2I			Kapustin Yar LC-86/1

		Kosmos 137		Planned: Low Earth	Magnetosphere	23 Nov 1967	Successful
		Last contact: 12 May 1967
21 Dec 22:15:02	Atlas SLV-3			Cape Canaveral Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3E

		SV-5D FV-1	US Air Force	Low Earth	Lifting body reentry test	21 Dec	Successful
		First test of PRIME
29 Dec 12:00:06	Thor SLV-2A Agena D			Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2W

		MULTIGROUP 1/SETTER 1A (OPS 1584)	NRO	Low Earth	ELINT	5 Apr 1969	Successful

← Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec →

Suborbital launches edit

← Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec →


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

← Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec →

Gemini and Apollo launches edit

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

Deep Space Rendezvous edit

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

EVAs edit

Start Date/Time	Duration	End Time	Spacecraft	Crew	Remarks
5 June 15:02	2 hours 7 minutes	17:09	Gemini IX-A	Eugene Cernan	A complex EVA was planned.^[5] Cernan expended four to five times the expected effort, raising his pulse as high as 180 beats per minute. Excess heat and respiration completely fogged visor, causing the EVA to be cut short. Cernan also had difficulty returning to spacecraft and closing the hatch.^[6]
19 July 21:44	49 Minutes	22:33	Gemini X	Michael Collins	Collins performed a stand-up EVA. Instead of climbing completely out of the spacecraft, Collins extended his torso outside the spacecraft to take photos before and after capsule sunrise. Color photography after sunrise was only partly completed due to severe eye irritation of both Collins and Command Pilot Young. Handling the camera proved difficult due to stiffness of spacesuit gloves.^[7]
20 July 23:01	39 minutes	23:40	Gemini X	Michael Collins	Umbilical EVA; with more difficulty than expected, Collins collected the micrometeorite collection package from the outside of Gemini. Then, using the Hand Held Maneuvering Unit, he pushed to the nearby Agena-8 to collect its micrometeorite collection package. Collins then pulled on the umbilical cord to return and re-enter the spacecraft.^[8]
13 September 14:44	33 minutes	15:17	Gemini XI	Richard F. Gordon Jr.	Gordon attached a tether between Gemini and Agena 11 for later orbital mechanics testing. While making the attachment, his work load exceeded the spacesuit cooling system, and his vision became obscured by a fogged visor and sweat in his eyes. Planned activities were curtailed by Command Pilot Conrad and Gordon returned to the spacecraft.^[9]
14 September 12:49	2 hours 8 minutes	14:57	Gemini XI	Richard F. Gordon Jr.	Gordon performed a stand-up EVA. He extended through the hatch to take astronomical photos. Conrad reported the spacewalk was so relaxing they both fell asleep for a moment after sunrise.^[10]
12 November 16:15	2 hours 29 minutes	18:44	Gemini XII	Buzz Aldrin	Aldrin performed a stand-up EVA. Aldrin stood, took UV still photos and 16 mm color movie pictures, collected external experimental samples, and conducted a light exercise routine.^[11]
13 November 15:34	2 hours 6 minutes	17:40	Gemini XII	Buzz Aldrin	First completely successful umbilical EVA, with all objectives achieved. Aldrin was able to control his movements and restrict his work load using techniques developed using underwater zero gravity simulations. He also benefited from experiences of the previous American EVAs and was able to move around the outside of the craft, deploy and recover various experimental packages, install and remove cameras, and practice work techniques using a ratchet-type wrench.^[12]
14 November 14:52	55 minutes	15:47	Gemini XII	Buzz Aldrin	Aldrin performed a second stand-up EVA. He again extended outside the hatch to take photographs and repeat the light exercise experiment. Exertion levels during exercise were comparable to preflight simulations. Equipment and waste food containers not needed for reentry were jettisoned from the spacecraft.^[13]

References edit

Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.^{[dead link]}
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.
"Space Calendar". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.^{[dead link]}
"Space Information Center". JAXA.^{[dead link]}
"Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).

Generic references:

Spaceflight portal

Footnotes edit

^ "Recovery Beacon Signals from Kosmos Satellites". Retrieved 14 April 2019.
^ "Major NASA Launches" (PDF). Retrieved 14 April 2019.
^ "OV".
^ "GGTS 1,2". Gunter's Space Report. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
^ Jim Dumoulin (25 August 2000). "NASA Project Gemini IX-A (9)". NASA Historical Archive for Manned Missions. NASA. Archived from the original on 19 January 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
^ Cernan "The Last Man on the Moon", p. 129-144.
^ Mathews, Charles W.; Low, George M. (August 1966). "Gemini Program Mission Report: Gemini X" (PDF). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. pp. 7‑5, 7‑31. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
^ Mathews Gemini Program Mission Report: Gemini X, p. 7-32
^ "Gemini 11". National Space Science Data Center. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
^ Chaikin, Andrew (1998). A Man on the Moon. New York: Penguin Books. p. 243. ISBN 0-670-81446-6.
^ Mathews, Charles W.; Low, George M. (January 1967). "Gemini XII Program Mission Report" (PDF). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. pp. 7–27. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
^ Mathews, Gemini XII Program Mission Report, p. 7-28, 7-29, 7-43
^ Mathews, Gemini XII Program Mission Report, p. 7-30

[1] "Recovery Beacon Signals from Kosmos Satellites". Retrieved 14 April 2019.

[2] "Major NASA Launches" (PDF). Retrieved 14 April 2019.

[designationsystems-3] "OV".

[gunter-4] "GGTS 1,2". Gunter's Space Report. Retrieved 22 November 2019.

[5] Jim Dumoulin (25 August 2000). "NASA Project Gemini IX-A (9)". NASA Historical Archive for Manned Missions. NASA. Archived from the original on 19 January 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2009.

[6] Cernan "The Last Man on the Moon", p. 129-144.

[7] Mathews, Charles W.; Low, George M. (August 1966). "Gemini Program Mission Report: Gemini X" (PDF). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. pp. 7‑5, 7‑31. Retrieved 2 January 2009.

[8] Mathews Gemini Program Mission Report: Gemini X, p. 7-32

[9] "Gemini 11". National Space Science Data Center. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2008.

[10] Chaikin, Andrew (1998). A Man on the Moon. New York: Penguin Books. p. 243. ISBN 0-670-81446-6.

[11] Mathews, Charles W.; Low, George M. (January 1967). "Gemini XII Program Mission Report" (PDF). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. pp. 7–27. Retrieved 5 January 2008.

[12] Mathews, Gemini XII Program Mission Report, p. 7-28, 7-29, 7-43

[13] Mathews, Gemini XII Program Mission Report, p. 7-30

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1966 in spaceflight

Orbital launches edit

January edit

February edit

March edit

April edit

May edit

June edit

July edit

August edit

September edit

October edit

November edit

December edit