1990 in spaceflight
Orbital launches
First1 January
Last27 December
Total121
Successes114
Failures5
Partial failures2
National firsts
Satellite Pakistan
Space traveller Japan
Rockets
Maiden flightsAriane 4 40
Ariane 4 42P
Atlas I
Commercial Titan III
Delta II 6920
Delta II 7925
Long March 2E
Pegasus
RetirementsDelta 4925
Long March 4A
Crewed flights
Orbital9
Total travellers39

The following is an outline of 1990 in spaceflight.

Launches

Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat)
Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks

January

1 January
00:07 (UTC)[1]
United StatesCommercial Titan III[1] United StatesCape Canaveral[1] LC-40 United StatesMartin Marietta[1]
United KingdomSkynet 4A[1] MoD Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful; placed in graveyard orbit 20 June 2005[2]
JapanJCSAT 2[1] JSAT Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful; placed in graveyard orbit 2002[3]
Maiden flight of Commercial Titan III
9 January
12:35 (UTC)[4]
United StatesSpace Shuttle Columbia United StatesKennedy LC-39A United States
United StatesSTS-32 NASA Low Earth Satellite deployment and retrieval20 January
09:35 (UTC)[5]
Successful
United StatesLeasat F5 also known as Syncom IV-5.[6] NASA Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful; placed in graveyard orbit 24 September 2015.[7]
Crewed orbital flight with 5 astronauts
Long Duration Exposure Facility retrieval mission
Leasat F5 retired 24 September 2015.[7]
17 January
14:45 (UTC)[8]
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2055 (Zenit-8)[8] Low Earth Reconnaissance29 January[8]Successful
18 January
12:52 (UTC)[9]
Soviet UnionKosmos-3M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 133/3 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2056 (Strela-2M)[9] Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful; replaced by Kosmos 2208 12 August 1992.[10]
22 January
01:35 (UTC)[11]
European UnionAriane 4 (40) FranceKourou[11] ELA-2 FranceArianespace
FranceSPOT 2 CNES Sun-synchronous Earth observationIn orbitSuccessful; retired July, 2009.[12]
United KingdomUOSAT 3 also known as UoSAT-OSCAR 14[13] University of Surrey Sun-synchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful; retired from active service in 1999[14] and used as an amateur FM radio relay until 11 November 2003.[15]
United KingdomUOSAT 4 University of Surrey Sun-synchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSpacecraft failure 30 hours after launch[16]
United StatesPACSAT AMSAT Sun-synchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
United StatesMicrosat 2 AMSAT Sun-synchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
United StatesMicrosat 3 AMSAT Sun-synchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
United StatesMicrosat 4 AMSAT Sun-synchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Maiden flight of Ariane 4 (40)
UOSAT 4 ceased transmitting after 5 hours
23 January
02:52
Soviet UnionMolniya-M/ML Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionMolniya 3-53L Molniya Communications23 June 2003Successful
24 January
11:46
JapanMu-3S-II JapanUchinoura JapanISAS
JapanHiten ISAS Lunar probe11 April 1993Successful
JapanHagoromo ISAS Selenocentric Lunar orbiterIn orbitSpacecraft failure
First Japanese lunar mission
Hagoromo suffered a transmitter malfunction prior to selenocentric orbit injection
24 January
22:55:01 (UTC)[17][18]
United StatesDelta II 6925[18] United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A[17] United StatesMcDonnell Douglas
United StatesGPS II-6 (USA-50)[18] US Air Force Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitSuccessful
25 January
17:15 (UTC)[18]
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U[18] Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 16/2[18] Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2057 (Yantar-4K2)[18] Low Earth Reconnaissance19 March 1990[19]Successful
30 January
11:20 (UTC)[18]
Soviet UnionTsyklon-3[18] Soviet UnionPlesetsk[18] Site 32 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2058 (Tselina-R)[18] Low Earth ELINTIn orbitOperational

February

4 February
12:27:03 (UTC)[18]
ChinaLong March 3[18] ChinaXichang[18] LC-1 China
ChinaDFH-2[18] A-4 Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful; retired in the early 1990s[20]
6 February
16:30
Soviet UnionKosmos-3M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 132/2 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2059 (Taifun-2) Low Earth Radar calibration12 NovemberSuccessful
7 February
01:33
JapanH-I JapanTanegashima LA-N JapanMitsubishi
JapanMOS 1B NASDA Low Earth Earth observationIn orbitOperational
JapanDEBUT Low Earth Technology demonstrationIn orbitSuccessful
JapanJAS-1B Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
11 February
06:16
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionSoyuz TM-9 Low Earth (Mir) Mir EO-99 August
07:33
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with 2 cosmonauts
14 February
16:15:01 (UTC)[21][18]
United StatesDelta II 6920-8[18] United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B[18] United StatesMcDonnell Douglas
United StatesLACE (USA-51)[18] DoD Low Earth Technology demonstration24 May 2000[22]Successful
United StatesRME (USA-52)[18] DoD Low Earth Technology demonstration24 May 1992[23]Successful
Maiden flight of Delta II 6920
15 February
07:52
Soviet UnionProton-K/DM-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 81/23 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionRaduga 25 Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
22 February
23:17
European UnionAriane 4 (44L) FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
JapanSuperbird B SCC Intended: Geosynchronous transfer CommunicationsT+ secondsLaunch failure
JapanBS 2X Intended: Geosynchronous transfer Communications
Blocked water line caused rocket explosion
27 February
20:59
Soviet UnionKosmos-3M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 132/2 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionNadezhda 2 Low Earth NavigationIn orbitOperational
28 February
00:55
Soviet UnionTsyklon-3 Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 32/2 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionOkean 2 Low Earth Earth scienceIn orbitOperational
28 February
07:50
United StatesSpace Shuttle Atlantis United StatesKennedy LC-39A United States
United StatesSTS-36 NASA Low Earth Satellite deployment4 March
03:08
Successful
United StatesUSA-53 (Misty-1) NRO Low Earth ReconnaissanceIn orbitOperational
Crewed orbital flight with 5 astronauts
28 February
23:10
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionProgress M-3 Low Earth (Mir) Logistics28 April
00:52
Successful

March

14 March
11:52
United StatesCommercial Titan III United StatesCape Canaveral LC-40 United StatesMartin Marietta
United NationsIntelsat 603 Intelsat Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitPartial launch failure
Due to non-separation of second stage Intelsat 603 was released from its perigee motor into a Low Earth orbit. Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-49 attached a new perigee motor which boosted the satellite to geosynchronous orbit.
14 March
15:27
Soviet UnionTsyklon-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 90/20 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2060 (US-P) Low Earth Naval Reconnaissance1 September 1991Successful
20 March
00:25
Soviet UnionKosmos-3M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 133/3 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2061 (Parus) Low Earth NavigationIn orbitSuccessful
22 March
07:20
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2062 (Zenit-8) Low Earth Reconnaissance28 AprilSuccessful
26 March
02:45
United StatesDelta II 6925 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United StatesMcDonnell Douglas
United StatesGPS II-7 (USA-54) US Air Force Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitSpacecraft failure
Signal anomaly on 21 May 1996 made the satellite unusable in the GPS constellation.
27 March
16:40
Soviet UnionMolniya-M/2BL Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2063 (Oko) Molniya Early warningIn orbitOperational

April

3 April
12:02
IsraelShavit IsraelPalmachim Israel
IsraelOfeq-2 Low Earth (retrograde) ReconnaissanceIn orbitOperational
3 April Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 43 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionYantar-4K2 Intended: Low Earth Reconnaissance3 AprilLaunch failure
5 April
19:10
United StatesPegasus United StatesBalls 8 Edwards United StatesOrbital Sciences
United StatesPegsat NASA Low Earth Space Physics14 November 1998Successful
United StatesUSA-55 (SECS) DoD Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Maiden flight of Pegasus
6 April
03:13
Soviet UnionKosmos-3M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 133/3 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2064 (Strela-1M) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2065 (Strela-1M) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2066 (Strela-1M) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2067 (Strela-1M) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2068 (Strela-1M) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2069 (Strela-1M) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2070 (Strela-1M) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2071 (Strela-1M) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
7 April
13:30
ChinaLong March 3 ChinaXichang LC-1 China
ChinaAsiaSat 1 AsiaSat Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Originally launched as Westar 6 by Space Shuttle Challenger in February 1984 on mission STS-41-B. Was stranded in an incorrect orbit and was recovered in November 1984 by Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-51-A. Westar 6 was refurbished and sold to AsiaSat who renamed it AsiaSat 1.
11 April
15:00
United StatesAtlas-E/Altair-3A United StatesVandenberg SLC-3W United StatesLockheed
United StatesUSA-56 (POGS) DoD Low Earth Technology demonstrationIn orbitSuccessful
United StatesUSA-57 (TEX) DoD Low Earth Technology demonstrationIn orbitSuccessful
United StatesUSA-58 (SCE) DoD Low Earth Technology demonstrationIn orbitSuccessful
11 April
17:00
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 43/3 Soviet Union
France/Soviet UnionFoton 6 CNES Low Earth Microgravity research27 April
06:15
Successful
13 April
18:53
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionBaikonur Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2072 (Yantar-4KS1) Low Earth Reconnaissance22 NovemberSuccessful
13 April
22:28
United StatesDelta II 6925-8 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B United StatesMcDonnell Douglas
IndonesiaPalapa B2R Telkom Indonesia Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Originally launched in February 1984 as Palapa B2 by Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-41-B. Was stranded in an incorrect orbit and was recovered in November 1984 by Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-51-A.
17 April
08:00
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2073 (Zenit-8) Low Earth Reconnaissance28 AprilSuccessful
20 April
18:41
Soviet UnionKosmos-3M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 133/3 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2074 (Parus) Low Earth NavigationIn orbitOperational
24 April
12:33
United StatesSpace Shuttle Discovery United StatesKennedy LC-39B United States
United StatesSTS-31 NASA Low Earth HST deployment29 April
13:49
Successful
United States/European UnionHubble Space Telescope NASA/ESA Low Earth Space TelescopeIn orbitOperational
Crewed orbital flight with 5 astronauts
25 April
13:00
Soviet UnionKosmos-3M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 132/2 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2075 (Taifun-2) Low Earth Target20 February 1992Successful
26 April
01:37
Soviet UnionMolniya-M/ML Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionMolniya 1-77 Molniya Communications25 February 2005Successful
28 April
11:37
Soviet UnionMolniya-M/2BL Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2076 (Oko) Molniya Early warningIn orbitOperational

May

5 May
20:44
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionProgress 42 Low Earth (Mir) Logistics27 May
12:27
Successful
Final flight of baseline Progress spacecraft
7 May
18:39
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2077 (Yantar-4K2) Low Earth Reconnaissance4 JulySuccessful
9 May
17:50
United StatesScout G-1 United StatesVandenberg SLC-5 United States
United StatesMacSat 1 DARPA Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
United StatesMacSat 2 DARPA Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
15 May
09:55
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionBaikonur Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2078 (Yantar-1KFT) Low Earth Reconnaissance28 JuneSuccessful
19 May
08:32
Soviet UnionProton-K/DM-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 200/40 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2079 (GLONASS) Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2080 (GLONASS) Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2081 (GLONASS) Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitOperational
22 May
05:14
Soviet UnionZenit-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 45/2 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2082 (Tselina-2) Low Earth ELINTIn orbitOperational
First launch from Site 45/2
29 May
07:19
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 43/4 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionResurs-F6 Low Earth Reconnaissance14 JuneSuccessful
31 May
10:33
Soviet UnionProton-K Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 200/39 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKristall Low Earth (Mir) Mir module23 March 2001
05:50
Successful

June

1 June
21:48
United StatesDelta II 6920-10 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United StatesMcDonnell Douglas
GermanyROSAT Low Earth Astronomy23 October 2011Successful
8 June
05:21
United StatesTitan IVA (405) United StatesCape Canaveral LC-41 United StatesMartin Marietta
United StatesUSA-59 (SLDCOM) US Air Force Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
United StatesUSA-60 (NOSS-2) US Navy Low Earth Naval ReconnaissanceIn orbitOperational
United StatesUSA-61 (NOSS-2) US Navy Low Earth Naval ReconnaissanceIn orbitOperational
United StatesUSA-62 (NOSS-2) US Navy Low Earth Naval ReconnaissanceIn orbitOperational
12 June
05:52
United StatesDelta 4925 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B United StatesMcDonnell Douglas
IndiaINSAT 1D ISRO Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Final flight of Delta 4925
13 June
01:07
Soviet UnionMolniya-M/ML Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionMolniya 3-47L Molniya Communications26 February 2006Successful
19 June
08:45
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2083 (Zenit-8) Low Earth Reconnaissance3 July 1990Successful
20 June
23:36
Soviet UnionProton-K/DM Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 200/40 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionGorizont 20 Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
21 June
20:45
Soviet UnionMolniya-M/2BL Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 43/3 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2084 (Oko) Intended: Molniya
Achieved: Low Earth
Early warningIn orbitPartial Failure
Placed in an incorrect orbit and the satellite did not communicate with the ground.
23 June
11:19
United StatesCommercial Titan III United StatesCape Canaveral LC-40 United StatesMartin Marietta
United NationsIntelsat 604 Intelsat Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
27 June
22:30
Soviet UnionTsyklon-3 Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 32 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionMeteor-2-19 Low Earth Earth SciencesIn orbitSuccessful

July

3 July Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 16/2 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionYantar-4K2 Intended: Low Earth Reconnaissance3 JulyLaunch failure
11 July
10:00
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
France/Soviet UnionGamma CNES Low Earth Astronomy28 February 1992Successful
16 July
00:40
ChinaLong March 2E ChinaXichang LC-2 China
PakistanBadr-1 SUPARCO Low Earth Communications8 DecemberSuccessful
United StatesHS-601 Low Earth Boilerplate spacecraftIn orbitSuccessful
Maiden flight of Long March 2E
17 July
09:29
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 43/3 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionResurs-F7 Low Earth Reconnaissance16 AugustSuccessful
18 July
21:46
Soviet UnionProton-K/DM-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 200/39 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2085 (Geizer 17L) Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
20 July
08:40
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2086 (Zenit-8) Low Earth Reconnaissance3 AugustSuccessful
24 July
22:25
European UnionAriane 4 (44L) FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
FranceTDF-2 Telediffusion Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
GermanyDFS-2 Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
25 July
18:13
Soviet UnionMolniya-M/2BL Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2087 (Oko) Molniya Early warningIn orbitOperational
25 July
19:21
United StatesAtlas I United StatesCape Canaveral LC-36B United States
United StatesCRRES US Air Force Geosynchronous transfer Space PhysicsIn orbitSuccessful
Maiden flight of Atlas I
Contact with spacecraft lost on 12 October 1991 due to onboard battery failure.
30 July
00:06
Soviet UnionTsyklon-3 Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 32/1 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2088 (Geo-IK) Low Earth Earth ScienceIn orbitSuccessful

August

1 August
09:32
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionSoyuz TM-10 Low Earth (Mir) Mir EO-710 December
06:08
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with 2 cosmonauts
2 August
05:39
United StatesDelta II 6925 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United StatesMcDonnell Douglas
United StatesGPS II-8 (USA-63) US Air Force Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitOperational
3 August
19:45
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2089 (Yantar-4K2) Low Earth Reconnaissance1 OctoberSuccessful
8 August
04:15
Soviet UnionTsyklon-3 Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 32 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2090 (Strela-3) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2091 (Strela-3) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2092 (Strela-3) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2093 (Strela-3) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2094 (Strela-3) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2095 (Strela-3) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
9 August
20:18
Soviet UnionProton-K/DM-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 200/39 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionEkran-M Intended: Geosynchronous Communications9 AugustLaunch failure
10 August
20:18
Soviet UnionMolniya-M/ML Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionMolniya 1-78 Molniya Communications6 July 2007Successful
15 August
04:00
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionProgress M-4 Low Earth (Mir) Logistics20 September
11:42
Successful
16 August
09:54
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 43/4 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionResurs-F8 Low Earth Reconnaissance1 SeptemberSuccessful
18 August
00:42
United StatesDelta II 6925 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B United StatesMcDonnell Douglas
United KingdomMarco Polo 2 Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
23 August
16:17
Soviet UnionTsyklon-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 90/20 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2096 (US-P) Low Earth Naval Reconnaissance30 August 1992Successful
28 August
07:49
Soviet UnionMolniya-M/2BL Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2097 (Oko) Molniya Early warningIn orbitOperational
28 August
09:05
JapanH-1 JapanTanegashima LA-N JapanMitsubishi
JapanBS 3A Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
28 August
15:45
Soviet UnionKosmos-3M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 133/3 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2098 (Taifun-1) Low Earth Earth ScienceIn orbitSuccessful
30 August
22:46
European UnionAriane 4 (44LP) FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
United KingdomSkynet 4C MoD Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
FranceEutelsat 2F1 Eutelsat Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
31 August
08:00
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2099 (Zenit-8) Low Earth Reconnaissance14 SeptemberSuccessful

September

3 September
00:53
ChinaLong March 4A ChinaTaiyuan LC-1 China
ChinaFeng Yun 1B Sun-synchronous Weather satelliteIn orbitSuccessful
ChinaQi Qiu Weixing 1 Sun-synchronous Atmospheric research11 March 1991Successful
ChinaQi Qiu Weixing 2 Sun-synchronous Atmospheric research24 July 1991Successful
Final flight of Long March 4A
7 September
11:59
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 16/2 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionResurs-F9 Low Earth Reconnaissance21 SeptemberSuccessful
14 September
05:59
Soviet UnionKosmos-3M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 133/3 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2100 (Parus) Low Earth NavigationIn orbitOperational
20 September
20:16
Soviet UnionMolniya-M/ML Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionMolniya 3-54L Molniya CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
27 September
10:37
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionProgress M-5 Low Earth (Mir) Logistics28 November
11:04
Successful
28 September
07:30
Soviet UnionTsyklon-3 Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 32 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionMeteor-2-20 Low Earth Earth ScienceIn orbitSuccessful

October

1 October
11:00
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2101 (Ortlets-1) Low Earth Reconnaissance30 NovemberSuccessful
1 October
21:56
United StatesDelta II 6925 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United StatesMcDonnell Douglas
United StatesGPS II-9 (USA-64) US Air Force Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitSuccessful
4 October Soviet UnionZenit-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 45/2 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionTselina-2 Intended: Low Earth ELINTT+5 secondsLaunch failure
First stage engine failure five seconds after launch. Subsequent explosion completely destroyed the launch pad, which was not rebuilt.
5 October
06:14
ChinaLong March 2C ChinaJiuquan LA-2B China
ChinaFSW-1-3 Low Earth Reconnaissance13 October
03:59
Successful
6 October
11:47
United StatesSpace Shuttle Discovery United StatesKennedy LC-39B United States
United StatesSTS-41 NASA Low Earth Satellite deployment10 OctoberSuccessful
European Union/United StatesUlysses ESA/NASA Heliocentric Solar probeIn orbitSuccessful
Crewed orbital flight with 5 astronauts
12 October
22:58
European UnionAriane 4 (44L) FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
United StatesSBS 6 SBS Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
United StatesGalaxy 6 PanAmSat Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
16 October
19:00
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2102 (Yantar-4K2) Low Earth Reconnaissance12 DecemberSuccessful
30 October
23:16
United StatesDelta II 6925 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17B United StatesMcDonnell Douglas
United KingdomInmarsat 2F1 Inmarsat Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational

November

3 November
14:40
Soviet UnionProton-K/DM-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 81/23 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionGorizont 21 Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
13 November
00:37
United StatesTitan IVA (402)/IUS United StatesCape Canaveral LC-41 United StatesMartin Marietta
United StatesUSA-65 (DSP-15) US Air Force Geosynchronous Early warningIn orbitOperational
14 November
06:33
Soviet UnionTsyklon-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 90/20 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2103 (US-P) Low Earth Naval Reconnaissance3 April 1991Successful
15 November
23:48
United StatesSpace Shuttle Atlantis United StatesKennedy LC-39A United States
United StatesSTS-38 NASA Low Earth Satellite deployment20 November
21:42
Successful
United StatesUSA-67 (SDS-2) NRO Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
United StatesProwler NRO Geosynchronous Satellite inspection
Technology
In orbitSuccessful
Crewed orbital flight with 5 astronauts
16 November
16:30
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2104 (Zenit-8) Low Earth Reconnaissance4 DecemberSuccessful
20 November
02:33
Soviet UnionMolniya-M/2BL Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2105 (Oko) Molniya Early warning16 January 2008Successful
20 November
23:11
European UnionAriane 4 (42P) FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
United StatesSatcom C1 GE Americom Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
United StatesGStar 4 Spacenet Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
Maiden flight of Ariane 4 (42P)
23 November
03:51
Soviet UnionMolniya-M/ML Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionMolniya 1-79 Molniya Communications30 August 2005Successful
23 November
13:22
Soviet UnionProton-K/DM-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 200/39 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionGorizont 22 Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
26 November
21:39
United StatesDelta II 7925 United StatesCape Canaveral LC-17A United StatesMcDonnell Douglas
United StatesGPS IIA-1 (USA-66) US Air Force Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitSuccessful
Maiden flight of Delta II 7925
28 November
16:33
Soviet UnionTsyklon-3 Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 32 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2106 (Tselina-D) Low Earth ELINT7 April 2000Successful

December

1 December
15:57
United StatesAtlas-E/Star-37 United StatesVandenberg SLC-3W United StatesLockheed
United StatesUSA-68 (DMSP-5D2 F10) US Air Force Sun-synchronous Weather satelliteIn orbitSuccessful
2 December
06:49
United StatesSpace Shuttle Columbia United StatesKennedy LC-39B United States
United StatesSTS-35 NASA Low Earth Astronomy10 December
23:54
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with 7 astronauts
2 December
08:13
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 1/5 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionSoyuz TM-11 Low Earth (Mir) Mir EO-826 May 1991
10:04
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with 3 cosmonauts including the first Japanese space traveler.
4 December
00:48
Soviet UnionTsyklon-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 90/20 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2107 (US-P) Low Earth Naval Reconnaissance6 April 1992Successful
4 December
18:30
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2108 (Yantar-4K2) Low Earth Reconnaissance28 January 1991Successful
8 December
02:43
Soviet UnionProton-K/DM-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 81/23 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2109 (GLONASS) Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2110 (GLONASS) Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2111 (GLONASS) Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitOperational
10 December
07:54
Soviet UnionKosmos-3M Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 133/3 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2112 (Strela-2M) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitSuccessful
20 December
11:35
Soviet UnionProton-K/DM-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 81/23 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionRaduga 26 Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
21 December
06:20
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionBaikonur Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2113 (Yantar-4KS1) Low Earth Reconnaissance11 June 1991Successful
22 December
07:28
Soviet UnionTsyklon-3 Soviet UnionPlesetsk Site 32 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2114 (Strela-3) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2115 (Strela-3) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2116 (Strela-3) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2117 (Strela-3) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2118 (Strela-3) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Soviet UnionKosmos 2119 (Strela-3) Low Earth CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
26 December
11:10
Soviet UnionSoyuz-U Soviet UnionPlesetsk Soviet Union
Soviet UnionKosmos 2120 (Zenit-8) Low Earth Reconnaissance17 January 1991Successful
27 December
11:08
Soviet UnionProton-K/DM-2 Soviet UnionBaikonur Site 200/39 Soviet Union
Soviet UnionRaduga-1-2 Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational

Deep-space rendezvous

Date (GMT) Spacecraft Event Remarks
10 FebruaryGalileoFlyby of VenusGravity assist; Closest approach: 16,000 kilometres (9,900 mi)
19 MarchHitenFlyby of the Moon
19 MarchHagoromoSelenocentric orbit injection
10 AugustMagellanCytherean orbit injection
8 DecemberGalileo1st flyby of the EarthGravity assist; Closest approach: 960 kilometres (600 mi)

EVAs

Start Date/Time Duration End Time Spacecraft Crew Remarks
8 January
20:23
2 hours
56 minutes
23:19 Mir EO-5 Soviet UnionAlexander Viktorenko
Soviet UnionAleksandr Serebrov
Installed new star tracker sensors launched in the Kvant-2 module onto Kvant-1.
11 January
18:01
2 hours
54 minutes
20:55 Mir EO-5 Soviet UnionAlexander Viktorenko
Soviet UnionAleksandr Serebrov
Closed out experimental racks, either retrieving for return to Earth, or discarding into space. Modified the docking node for the arrival of the Kristall module.
26 January
12:09
3 hours
2 minutes
15:11 Mir EO-5
Kvant-2
Soviet UnionAlexander Viktorenko
Soviet UnionAleksandr Serebrov
Tested the new Orlan-DMA spacesuit. This spacewalk team was the first use of the EVA airlock hatch on the Kvant-2 module. During the spacewalk a mooring post was attached outside the airlock, and a Kurs antenna was removed to enable future EVAs.
1 February
08:15
4 hours
59 minutes
13:14 Mir EO-5
Kvant-2
Soviet UnionAlexander Viktorenko
Soviet UnionAleksandr Serebrov
Tested the SPK "flying armchair", analogous to NASA's MMU. The SPK did not fly free, but remained tethered to Kvant-2 during the tests.
5 February
06:08
3 hours
45 minutes
09:53 Mir EO-5
Kvant-2
Soviet UnionAlexander Viktorenko
Soviet UnionAleksandr Serebrov
Conducted more tests of the SPK. Viktorenko reached as far as 45 metres (148 ft) from Mir.
17 July
13:06
7 hours
15 minutes
20:22 Mir EO-6
Kvant-2
Soviet UnionAnatoly Solovyev
Soviet UnionAleksandr Balandin
At the start of their EVA to repair torn insulation on the Soyuz TM-9, Solovyev and Balandin damaged the hatch on Kvant-2 by opening it before the airlock was completely depressurized. The spacewalking team repaired the insulation on Soyuz, but time constraints required returning to Kvant-2 before they collected their tools and ladders. Unable to securely close the damaged hatch, they used the center section of Kvant-2 as a back-up airlock.
26 July
11:15
3 hours
31 minutes
14:46 Mir EO-6
Kvant-2
Soviet UnionAnatoly Solovyev
Soviet UnionAleksandr Balandin
Transmitted images of the damaged hatch to TsUP, recovered the ladders and tools left outside earlier and removed debris lodged in the hinge of the airlock hatch, allowing the hatch to close and seal for repressurization.
29 October
21:45
2 hours
45 minutes
30 October
00:30
Mir EO-7
Kvant-2
Soviet UnionGennadi Manakov
Soviet UnionGennady Strekalov
After removing insulation around the damaged Kvant-2 hatch, they found the hatch to be more heavily damaged than previously understood. Although unable to completely repair the hatch, they added hardware to the hatch.

See also

  • Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
  • Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
  • Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.
  • Krebs, Gunter. "Chronology of Space Launches".
  • Kyle, Ed. "Space Launch Report". Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  • McDowell, Jonathan. "Jonathan's Space Report".
  • Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive".
  • Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica".
  • Webb, Brian. "Southwest Space Archive".
  • Zak, Anatoly. "Russian Space Web".
  • "ISS Calendar". Spaceflight 101.
  • "NSSDCA Master Catalog". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
  • "Space Calendar". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
  • "Space Information Center". JAXA.
  • "Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).
Generic references:
 Spaceflight portal

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "10th Try the Charm as Titan 3 Blasts Off". Los Angeles Times. Cape Canaveral, Florida. Times Wire Service. 1 January 1990. p. 4. Archived from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "UK Registry of Outer Space Objects" (PDF). gov.uk. Swindon, Wiltshire: UK Space Agency. May 2021. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  3. Yanagisawa, Toshifumi (3 March 2016). "Lightcurve observations of LEO objects in JAXA" (PDF). Japan Space Forum. Tokyo, Japan: JAXA. p. 23. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  4. Harwood, William (9 January 1990). "Columbia thunders into orbit". Kilgore News Herald. Cape Canaveral, Florida. United Press International. p. 1. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  5. Siegel, Lee (21 January 1990). "Space shuttle lands after record flight". Record-Journal. Edwards Air Force Base. Associated Press. p. 3. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Leasat F5". NSSDCA Master Catalog. NASA. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  7. 1 2 Fisher, Jack (2 November 2015). "LEASAT F5, The Final Chapter-Andy Ott". hughesscgheritage.com. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 Vítek, Antonín (10 April 2009). "1990-003A - Kosmos 2055". Library of the CAS (in Czech). Czech Academy of Sciences. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  9. 1 2 Vítek, Antonín (7 March 2010). "1990-004A - Kosmos 2056". Library of the CAS (in Czech). Czech Academy of Sciences. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  10. Rodvold, D. M.; Johnson, N. L. (1 January 1992). "1991-1992: Europe & Asia in Space" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. Kaman Sciences Corp. p. 101. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Ariane rocket carries aloft 7 satellites". The Orlando Sentinel. 22 January 1992. p. 10. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  12. "SPOT-2". Earth Online. ESA. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  13. "UoSAT-OSCAR 14". om3ktr.sk. 16 November 2003. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  14. "Where are they: UoSAT-3". Messages from Space. University of Surrey. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  15. "ARRL Satellite Bulletin ARLS015 (2003)". On The Air. Newington, Connecticut: ARRL. 13 November 2003. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  16. Underwood, Craig I. (March 2000). "18 Years of Flight Experience with the UoSAT Microsatellites". SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System. Surrey Satellite Technology. p. 2. Archived from the original on 31 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  17. 1 2 Halvorson, Todd (25 January 1990). "Delta 2 successfully launched". Florida Today. p. 6A. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 McDowell, Jonathan C. (12 August 2021). "GCAT: Orbital Launches". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  19. "Cosmos 2057: Launch/Orbital information". NSSDCA Master Catalog. NASA. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  20. Krebs, Gunter Dirk (21 July 2019). "DFH-2A 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (STTW, ChinaSat, ZX 1, 2, 3, 4)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021. All DFH-2As had exhausted fuel and halted operation by the early 1990s.
  21. Halvorson, Todd (15 February 1990). "Delta deploys 'Star Wars' satellites". Florida Today. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  22. "LACE: Launch/Orbital information". NSSDCA Master Catalog. NASA. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  23. "RME: Launch/Orbital information". NSSDCA Master Catalog. NASA. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
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