The events on this day in history for our heritage companies are noted below.
The earliest event was in 1954, the latest event was in 2022
One milestone event (5 to 65+ years ago)
Human Spaceflight:
1971 – MM X-24A Flight 24, Dryden Lake – Pilot Cecil Powell
2002 – LAUNCH: STS-109 (Columbia), LC39A, KSC – 7 person crew, LM Hubble Servicing Mission 3B. Crew: Scott Altman, Duane Carey, John Grunsfeld, Nancy Currie, Richard Linnehan, James Newman, Michael Massimino
Military and Classified Programs:
1972 – LAUNCH: IMEWS3, MM Titan IIIC, LC40, CCAFS
2017 – LAUNCH: USA 274, ULA Atlas V 401, SLC3E, VAFB
2022 – LM selects mission payload providers for the next generation early warning satellite system OPIR (Overhead Persistent Infrared). The original contract was awarded to LM in 2018. A contract extension in 2024 has reduced the number of spacecraft from 3 to 2.
Exploration and Interplanetary Programs:
NONE
Earth-Monitoring and Civil Weather Satellite programs:
1984 – LAUNCH: GE Landsat 5, Delta 3920, SLC2W, VAFB
2018 – LAUNCH: GOES 17, ULA Atlas V 451, LC41, CCAFS
2022 – LAUNCH: LM GOES-T, ULA Atlas V 541, LC41, CCSFS
Commercial Programs:
1997 – LAUNCH: LM Intelsat 801, Ariane 44P, ELA2, Kourou, French Guiana
Test, ICBM, FBM programs:
1954 – GD Atlas system propulsion work beginz
1957 – LAUNCH: Lockheed X-17, LC3, CCAFS
1961 – LAUNCH: Lockheed Polaris A2, EAG-154, ETR
1962 – LAUNCH: Lockheed Polaris A2, LC29A, CCAFS
1962 – LAUNCH: Atlas A, OSTF1, VAFB
1963 – LAUNCH: Atlas F, LC11, CCAFS
1965 – LAUNCH: Lockheed Polaris A3, SSBN630, ETR – MILESTONE: 60 years ago
1966 – LAUNCH (2): Lockheed Polaris A2, SSBN611, ETR
1973 – LAUNCH (4): Lockheed Polaris A3, SSBN633, ETR
1974 – LAUNCH: MM Titan II, 395-C, VAFB
Other:
NONE
The photos today are from two missions. First, the STS-109 mission launched on this day in 2002 to perform another Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission (3B); photos include the launch, the crew and work on HST. This was the last successful mission for Columbia prior to the tragic loss of STS-107 in 2003. Photo Credits: NASA.
Second, GOES-T (GOES-18) was launched in 2022 on an Atlas V 541 and a photo of the launch is included. This photo was found on the ULA Flickr photo album site and has the following caption:
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying NOAA’s GOES-T satellite, launching for NASA’s Launch Services Program, lifts off from from Space Launch Complex-41 at 4:38 p.m. EST on March 1, 2022. Photo Credit: United Launch Alliance. Copyright © United Launch Alliance, all rights reserved. This photo is being used for non-commercial and historical purposes for retirees of LM and ULA.
