The events on this day in history for our heritage companies are noted below.
The earliest event was in 1952, the latest event was in 1998
Three milestone events (5 to 65+ years ago)
Human Spaceflight:
1965 – LAUNCH: Gemini VI-A, MM Titan II/GLV, LC19, CCAFS – Only three days after the abort, Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford flew into space and rendezvoused with Gemini VII
1998 – LANDING: STS-88 (Endeavour), KSC
Military and Classified Programs:
NONE
Exploration and Interplanetary Programs:
1960 – LAUNCH FAILURE: Pioneer (P31), GD Atlas/Able, LC12, CCAFS – Stage I exploded 70 seconds after liftoff
Earth-Monitoring and Civil Weather Satellite programs:
1968 – LAUNCH: RCA ESSA-8, Thor Delta N, SLC2E, VAFB
Commercial Programs:
1981 – LAUNCH: Intelsat-5 F3, GD Atlas SLV-3D/Centaur, LC36B, CCAFS
1995 – LAUNCH: Galaxy 3R, MM Atlas IIA, LC36A, CCAFS
Test, ICBM, FBM programs:
1952 – LAUNCH: Viking 9 Solar Mission, Martin Viking Sounding Rocket, LC33, White Sands, New Mexico
1961 – LAUNCH: Martin Titan I, LC19, CCAFS
1964 – 549th squadron, GD Atlas D ICBMs, deactivated at Offut AFB, Nebraska – MILESTONE: 60 years ago
1972 – LAUNCH: Lockheed Poseidon C3, SSBN642, ETR
1984 – LAUNCH: Lockheed Trident C-4, SSBN644, ETR – MILESTONE: 40 years ago
1989 – LAUNCH: Lockheed Trident D-5, SSBN734, ETR – MILESTONE: 35 years ago
Other:
NONE
The photos today are from the long-delayed Gemini VI-A mission (see story on December 12) with Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford and include the launch, the crew, and a photo of Gemini VII taken by Gemini VI-A. Their mission lasted about 24 hours, long enough to rendezvous with Gemini VII. The two spacecraft came within one foot of each other. Photo Credits: NASA.
