Previous Spaceflight Launches
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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 Orbit
Space 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 OrbitDelta II | GPS IIA-18
United Launch Alliance | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Sept. 12, 1996, 8:49 a.m.
Ariane 42P | Echostar II
Aérospatiale | FranceGuiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Sept. 11, 1996, midnight
Atlas IIA | GE 1
Lockheed Martin | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Sept. 8, 1996, 9:49 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
GE-1 is owned by GE Americom and is a continuation of the old RCA/GE Satcom series. GE-1 has 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders, and replaced Satcom K1. GE-1 was placed in a supersynchronous transfer orbit of 191 × 56495 km × 25.0 deg.
Geostationary OrbitProton | INMARSAT III F-2
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Sept. 6, 1996, 5:37 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
