Previous Spaceflight Launches
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Ariane 44LP | Eutelsat 2 F5 & Türksat 1A
Aérospatiale | FranceGuiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Jan. 24, 1994, 9:37 p.m.
Proton-K/DM-2M | Gals 1
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Jan. 20, 1994, 9:49 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The Gals television broadcasting satellite, originally expected to be launched by December, 1990, was designed to support a variety of direct broadcast customers, including professional broadcasting firms (having antenna 2.5 m in diameter), community associations (receiving antenna 1.5 m), and individuals (receiving antenna 0.6-0.9 m). The year 1994 marked the long awaited debut of the first of the next-generation Russian geosynchronous communications satellites.
Geostationary Orbit
Soyuz-U2 | Soyuz TM-18
Soviet Space Program | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Jan. 8, 1994, 10:05 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Soyuz TM-18 was the 18th mission and the 15th long-duration expedition to Mir space station. The mission began on January 8, 1994, 10:05:34 UTC, launching Commander Viktor Afanasyev, Flight Engineer Yury Usachov and Research Cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov into orbit. They docked with Mir two days later. During their stay there, cosmonauts carried out various scientific experiments in medicine, material sciences, astrophysics etc. Station crew was visited by several Progress resupply spacecrafts, and welcomed aboard the Soyuz TM-19 crew. The mission concluded with a safe landing back on Earth on July 9, 1994, 10:32:35 UTC.
Low Earth Orbit
Molniya-M | Molniya-1T 87
Russian Space Forces | RussiaPlesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
Dec. 22, 1993, 8:37 p.m.
Ariane 44L | DirecTV 1 & Thaicom 1
Aérospatiale | FranceGuiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Dec. 18, 1993, 1:27 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
DirecTV 1 is a high-powered satellites built by Hughes Space and Communications Company (HSC) which began bringing true direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service to homes throughout North America in 1994. Thaicom 1 is a Thai communications satellite.
Geostationary OrbitAtlas IIAS | Telstar 401
Lockheed Martin | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Dec. 16, 1993, 12:40 a.m.
Delta II | NATO 4B
United Launch Alliance | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Dec. 8, 1993, 12:48 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
NATO-4 is the a communications satellite system serving the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and British Ministry of Defense. NATO 4A was the first of two new-generation comsats offering secure military and diplomatic voice and data communications to NATO member nations and troops in the field. The satellites offered spot beam and global coverage to reach a wide range of ground stations and ships at sea.
Geostationary Orbit
Space Shuttle Endeavour / OV-105 | STS-61
National Aeronautics and Space Administration | United States of AmericaKennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Dec. 2, 1993, 9:27 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
STS-61 was the first Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission, and the fifth flight of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The mission launched on 2 December 1993 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission restored the spaceborne observatory's vision, marred by spherical aberration, with the installation of a new main camera and a corrective optics package. This correction occurred more than three and a half years after the Hubble was launched aboard STS-31 in April 1990. The flight also brought instrument upgrades and new solar arrays to the telescope.
Low Earth OrbitAtlas II | DSCS-3 B10
Lockheed Martin | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Nov. 28, 1993, 11:40 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
DSCS-3 (Defense Satellite Communications System 3) are geostationary communications satellites, which provide a robust anti-jam, nuclear hardened capability that supports Department of Defense (DoD) worldwide requirements, White House and Diplomatic communications. They are the follow-on generation of the DSCS-2 satellites.
Geostationary OrbitAriane 44LP | Solidaridad 1 & Meteosat 6
Aérospatiale | FranceGuiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Nov. 20, 1993, 1:17 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
When the Mexican government planned the implementation of a second-generation satellite system, it turned again to Hughes Space and Communications Company. The new pair of spacecraft is called Solidaridad, signifying the way satellite telecommunications are uniting the urban and remote parts of the country with one another and the rest of the world. These replace the two Hughes-built Morelos satellites, the first of which was retired in 1994 after nine years' service. The Solidaridad contract was signed in May 1991. The spacecraft are operated by the government agency Telecomunicaciones de Mexico (Telecomm).
Geostationary Orbit
