The events on this day in history for our heritage companies are noted below.
The earliest event was in 1966, the latest event was in 2019
Three milestone events (5 to 65+ years ago)
Human Spaceflight:
1974 – MM X-24B flight 42, Dryden Lake – Pilot Michael Love – MILESTONE: 50 years ago
1989 – LAUNCH: STS-28 (Columbia), LC39B, KSC – 5 person crew, classified spacecraft deployments – MILESTONE: 35 years ago. Crew: Brewster Shaw, Richard Richards, James Adamson, David Leetsma, Mark Brown – MILESTONE: 35 years ago
1992 – LANDING: STS-46 (Atlantis), KSC
2007 – LAUNCH: STS-118 (Endeavour), LC39A, KSC – 7 person crew, ISS assembly (S5 truss assembly, external stowage platform). Crew: Scott Kelly, Charles Hobaugh, Tracy Caldwell, Richard Mastracchio, Dafydd Williams (Canadian Space Agency), Barbara Morgan, Alvin Drew.
Military and Classified Programs:
2013 – LAUNCH: WGS 6, ULA Delta 4M+(5,4), LC17B, CCAFS
2019 – LAUNCH: LM AEHF-5, ULA Atlas V 551, LC41, CCAFS – MILESTONE: 5 years ago
Exploration and Interplanetary Programs:
1978 – LAUNCH: Pioneer Venus 2, GD Atlas SLV-3D/Centaur, LC36A, CCAFS – atmospheric probes
2001 – LAUNCH: LM Genesis, Delta 7326-9.5, LC17A, CCAFS – solar wind particle collection, partial FAILURE at landing of spacecraft in September 2004
Earth-Monitoring and Civil Weather Satellite programs:
NONE
Commercial Programs:
NONE
Test, ICBM, FBM programs:
1966 – LAUNCH FAILURE: GD Atlas F, 576-A2, VAFB
Other:
NONE
The photos today are from two events. First, there is a photo of the launch on Atlas V 551 of AEHF-5 in 2019. The photo was found on the USAF/USSF/DoD photo archives (visual information) library and is labeled public domain with the following description and disclaimers:
The fifth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-5) satellite from the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center successfully lifts off at 6:13 a.m. EST from Launch Complex-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 551 rocket on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo/Van De Ha).
Non-Commercial Use Authorized. Except in cases where productions are authorized for DoD assistance, DoD VI [Visual Information] may be distributed, copied, and used, for non-commercial, personal use, as well as historical and newsworthy purposes or activities. Display of the non-DoD endorsement disclaimer is requested.
“The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.”
Second, there are photos of the launch on Delta 7326-9.5 of the Genesis spacecraft, an artist’s conception of the Genesis spacecraft in collection more, and a photo of the spacecraft in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility before it was integrated on the launch vehicle. Photo Credits: NASA (launch), NASA (spacecraft image in collection more), NASA/KSC (Genesis during operations before mate).
