Previous Spaceflight Launches
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Soyuz U | Progress M-33
Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Nov. 19, 1996, 11:20 p.m.
Space Shuttle Columbia / OV-102 | STS-80
National Aeronautics and Space Administration | United States of AmericaKennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Nov. 19, 1996, 7:55 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
STS-80 was a Space Shuttle mission flown by Space Shuttle Columbia. The launch was originally scheduled for 31 October 1996, but was delayed to 19 November for several reasons. Likewise, the landing, which was originally scheduled for 5 December, was pushed back to 7 December after bad weather prevented landing for two days. The mission was the longest Shuttle mission ever flown at 17 days, 15 hours, and 53 minutes. Although two spacewalks were planned for the mission, they were both canceled after problems with the airlock hatch prevented astronauts Tom Jones and Tammy Jernigan from exiting the orbiter.
Low Earth Orbit
Proton-K/D-2 | Mars-96
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Nov. 16, 1996, 8:48 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The Mars 96 spacecraft was launched into Earth orbit, but failed to achieve insertion into Mars cruise trajectory and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere at about 00:45 to 01:30 UT on 17 November 1996 and crashed within a presumed 320 km by 80 km area which includes parts of the Pacific Ocean, Chile, and Bolivia. The cause of the crash is not known.
Heliocentric N/A
Ariane 44L | Arabsat 2B & MEASAT 2
Aérospatiale | FranceGuiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Nov. 13, 1996, 10:40 p.m.
Delta II | Mars Global Surveyor
United Launch Alliance | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Nov. 7, 1996, 5 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) is designed to orbit Mars over a two year period and collect data on the surface morphology, topography, composition, gravity, atmospheric dynamics, and magnetic field. This data will be used to investigate the surface processes, geology, distribution of material, internal properties, evolution of the magnetic field, and the weather and climate of Mars.
Heliocentric N/A
Pegasus XL | High Energy Transient Explorer (HETE) & Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas-B (SAC-B)
Orbital Sciences Corporation | United States of AmericaAir launch to orbit
Nov. 4, 1996, 5:08 p.m.
Molniya-M | Molniya-3 62L
Russian Space Forces | RussiaPlesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
Oct. 24, 1996, 11:37 a.m.
Long March 2D | Fanhui Shi Weixing (17)
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaJiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Oct. 20, 1996, 7:20 a.m.
Proton-K/DM-2M | Ekspress 2
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Sept. 26, 1996, 5:50 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The Ekspress series spacecraft for Data transmission, TV & radio-broadcasting, communications, Internet, video-conference closely resembled the Gals spacecraft and shared a similar spacecraft bus. Ekspress was to replace the widely used Gorizont spacecraft, and plans called for deployments at 13 locations (40 degrees, 53 degrees, 80 degrees, 90 degrees, 96.5 degrees, 99 degrees, 103 degrees, 140 degrees, 145 degrees, 205 degrees, 322.5 degrees, 346 degrees, and 349 degrees, all East longitude) for domestic needs and to support the Intersputnik Telecommunications Association.
Geostationary OrbitSpace Shuttle Atlantis / OV-104 | STS-79
National Aeronautics and Space Administration | United States of AmericaKennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Sept. 16, 1996, 8:54 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
STS-79 was the 17th flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis, and the 79th mission of the Space Shuttle program. The flight saw Atlantis dock with the Russian space station Mir to deliver equipment, supplies and relief personnel. A variety of scientific experiments were also conducted aboard Atlantis by her crew. It was the first shuttle mission to rendezvous with a fully assembled Mir, and the fourth rendezvous of a shuttle to the space station.
Low Earth Orbit
