Previous Spaceflight Launches
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Long March 2C | Fanhui Shi Weixing (19)
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaJiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Aug. 29, 2004, 7:50 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Recoverable satellite officially stated to be conducting space scientific research, land surveying, mapping and other scientific experiments. Said to have improved experimental technology, with higher orientation precision and more complex on-board computers and software.
Low Earth Orbit
Soyuz U | Progress M-50
Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Aug. 11, 2004, 5:03 a.m.
Proton-M Briz-M | Amazonas-1
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Aug. 4, 2004, 10:32 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The Amazonas 1 Latin American satellite, launched in the summer of 2004, is the fifth and most powerful satellite launched by the Spanish telecommunications satellite organization Hispasat so far. It provides a full range of both fixed and broadcast communications services, including TV broadcasting, business services, VSAT and data broadcasting, to the whole of the American continent, together with a transatlantic link for Europe and North Africa, over a 15-year mission lifetime.
Geostationary Orbit
Delta II | Messenger
United Launch Alliance | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Aug. 3, 2004, 6:15 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
MESSENGER was a NASA robotic space probe that orbited the planet Mercury between 2011 and 2015, studying Mercury's chemical composition, geology, and magnetic field. The name is a backronym for "MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging", and a reference to the messenger god Mercury from Roman mythology.
Low Earth Orbit
Long March 2C/SM | Tan Ce 2
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaTaiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
July 25, 2004, 7:05 a.m.
Kosmos-3M | Parus 95
Russian Space Forces | RussiaPlesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
July 22, 2004, 5:46 p.m.
Ariane 5 G+ | Anik F2
ArianeGroup | FranceGuiana Space Centre, French Guiana
July 18, 2004, 12:44 a.m.
Delta 7920-10L | Aura
McDonnell Douglas | United States of AmericaVandenberg SFB, CA, USA
July 15, 2004, 10:01 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Aura (EOS CH-1) is a multi-national NASA scientific research satellite in orbit around the Earth, studying the Earth's ozone layer, air quality and climate. It is the third major component of the Earth Observing System following on Terra and Aqua.
Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Dnepr | Aprizesat-2
ISC Kosmotras | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
June 29, 2004, 6:30 a.m.
Zenit | Telstar 18
Sea Launch | RussiaSea Launch
June 29, 2004, 3:58 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Telstar 18, launched June 28, 2004 aboard a Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket, has successfully reached its in-orbit testing position at 142 degrees East longitude. During the satellite's launch, the Zenit rocket's upper stage shut down 54 seconds early and released the satellite into a low orbit. After the launch, engineers at Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) raised the spacecraft to its correct orbit using a series of carefully planned satellite maneuvers and thruster burns.
Geostationary Orbit
