Previous Spaceflight Launches
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Long March 2C | Shiyan Weixing 2
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaXichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Nov. 18, 2004, 10:45 a.m.
Soyuz 2.1a | GVM Oblik
Progress Rocket Space Center | RussiaPlesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
Nov. 8, 2004, 5:29 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Oblik-Dummy was Zenit-8 (Oblik) spy sat, which has been in storage long beyond its service live and was converted to an instrumented dummy payload for the maiden launch of the new Soyuz-2-1a launch vehicle. The photographic equipment was removed and the vehicle was fitted with vibration and thermal sensors designed to measure the launch environment of the new launch vehicle.
Low Earth Orbit
Delta II | GPS IIR-13
United Launch Alliance | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Nov. 6, 2004, 5:39 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Launch delayed from September 22, October 8, 25 and 30, November 5. Fired its apogee motor at around 02:40 GMT on November 9 to transfer from its initial 159 x 20380 km x 39.1 deg transfer orbit to its operational orbit in the GPS constellation..
Medium Earth Orbit
Long March 4B | Zi Yuan 2-3
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaTaiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Nov. 6, 2004, 3:10 a.m.
Proton-K/DM-2M | Ekspress AM-1
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Oct. 29, 2004, 10:11 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The Ekspress-AM 1 is a communications satellite for russian domestic communication services. The lifetime of the spacecraft has been increased to 12 years. While the spacecraft itself is built by russian RSCC (Kosmicheskiya Svyaz), the communication payloads is built by NEC.
Geostationary Orbit
Long March 3A | Feng Yun 2C
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaXichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Oct. 19, 2004, 1:20 a.m.
Proton-M Briz-M | AMC 15
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Oct. 14, 2004, 9:23 p.m.
Soyuz-FG | Soyuz TMA-5
Progress Rocket Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Oct. 14, 2004, 3:06 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Soyuz TMA-5 begins Expedition 10 by carrying 3 astronauts and cosmonauts to the International Space Station. Russian Commander, cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov alongside Flight Engineers, Leroy Chiao (NASA) & Yuri Shargin (RSA) will launch aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and then rendezvous with the station. It landed on April 24, 2005, 22:08 UTC
Low Earth Orbit
Long March 2D | Fanhui Shi Weixing (20)
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaJiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Sept. 27, 2004, 8 a.m.
Soyuz-U-PVB | Yantar-4K2M 1
Progress Rocket Space Center | RussiaPlesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
Sept. 24, 2004, 4:50 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Film-return reconnaisance satellite. Maneuvered on October 1 to a 213 x 330 km orbit. Believed to be an improved Yantar-4K1 with a longer lifetime - and given the code name 'Kobalt' previously applied to the defunct Yantar-4K2 system. When re-entry was commanded after only 107 days in orbit, there was speculation that problems had arisen with the satellite. Sources claimed the satellite had some kind of control problem, which was brought under control, and the two smaller film return capsules were successfully returned.
Low Earth Orbit
