Previous Spaceflight Launches
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Titan 403A | SLDCOM 4
Lockheed Martin | United States of AmericaVandenberg SFB, CA, USA
May 12, 1996, 9:32 p.m.
Soyuz U | Progress M-31
Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
May 5, 1996, 7:04 a.m.
Atlas I | BeppoSAX
General Dynamics | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
April 30, 1996, 4:31 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
SAX (Satellite Astronomia Raggio-X) is the X-Ray Astronomy Satellite selected by the Italian National Space Plan for inclusion in the Science Plan. The objective of the mission is to perform spectroscopic and time variability studies of celestial X-ray sources in the energy band from 1 to 200 keV. including an all-sky monitoring investigation of transients in the 2-30 keV.energy range.
Low Earth OrbitTitan 401A Centaur | Mercury 15
Lockheed Martin | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
April 24, 1996, 11:37 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The Mercury (MC) series, although known to the public as 'Advanced Vortex', are the latest generation of USAF ELINT/SIGINT satellites. They were focussed on communications intelligence (COMINT), focused at strategic level communications, but had the capability added to intercept also missile telemetry. These satellites were launched under the designation Program 7500 and were part of NRO's Program A.
Geostationary OrbitKosmos-3M | Taifun-1B 14
Russian Space Forces | RussiaPlesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
April 24, 1996, 1 p.m.
Delta II | MSX
United Launch Alliance | United States of AmericaVandenberg SFB, CA, USA
April 24, 1996, 12:27 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
MSX (Midcourse Space Experiment) demonstrated different multispectral imaging technologies to identify and track ballistic missiles during flight by observing rocket launches and orbital debris. Additionally it measured the composition and dynamics of the Earth's atmosphere by observing ozone, chloroflourocarbons, carbon dioxide and methane.
Low Earth Orbit
Proton | Priroda
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
April 23, 1996, 11:48 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Priroda was the last of the scheduled five Russian modules of the Mir space station complex and was launched from the Baykonur cosmodrome by a Proton-K rocket to dock after 3 days rather than the usual 9 days. The launch itself was 3 days earlier than the planned date in order to facilitate an American microbiology program.
Low Earth Orbit
Ariane 42P | M-SAT 1
Aérospatiale | FranceGuiana Space Centre, French Guiana
April 20, 1996, 10:36 p.m.
Proton-K/DM-2M | Astra 1F
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
April 8, 1996, 11:09 p.m.
Atlas IIA | INMARSAT III F-1
Lockheed Martin | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
April 3, 1996, 11:01 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Launched in 1996-8, the Inmarsat-3s were built by Lockheed Martin Astro Space (now Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space) of the USA, responsible for the basic spacecraft, and the European Matra Marconi Space (now Astrium), which developed the communications payload.
Geostationary Orbit
