The events on this day in history for our heritage companies are noted below.
The earliest event was in 1958, the latest event was in 2016
Four milestone events (5 to 65+ years ago)
Human Spaceflight:
1964 – Construction of LC14 at CCAFS for GD Atlas/Lockheed Agena for Gemini program completed
1965 – Gemini contractors (McDonnell-Douglas and Martin Marietta) propose a Titan II launch that would rendezvous and dock with a “double Transtage” vehicle that would then send it to lunar orbit – NASA stops the initiative as a threat to the quickly developing Apollo program – MILESTONE: 60 years ago
1983- LANDING: STS-7 (Challenger), Edwards AFB
1985 – LANDING: STS-51-G (Discovery), Edwards AFB – MILESTONE: 40 years ago
Military and Classified Programs:
1994 – LAUNCH: UHF F, GD Atlas I, LC36B, CCAFS
2016 – LAUNCH: LM MUOS-5, ULA Atlas V 551, LC41, CCAFS – last MUOS launch
Exploration and Interplanetary Programs:
NONE
Earth-Monitoring and Civil Weather Satellite programs:
1966 – LAUNCH: Pageos 1, Thor SLV-2A/Lockheed Agena D, SLC2E, VAFB – NASA passive geodetic orbiter
2002 – LAUNCH: LM NOAA 17 (M), LM Titan II/SLV, SLC4W, VAFB
Commercial Programs:
NONE
Test, ICBM, FBM programs:
1958 – Secretary of the USAF authorizes an increase in missile production per month (Thor, Atlas)
1960 – LAUNCH Martin Titan I, LC15, CCAFS – MILESTONE: 65 years ago
1961 – LAUNCH FAILURE: Martin Titan I, LC19, CCAFS – Stg 2 hydraulic system
1963- LAUNCH (6): Lockheed Polaris A2, SSBN610, ETR
1975 – LAUNCH (2): Lockheed Poseidon C3, SSBN656, ETR – MILESTONE: 50 years ago
Other:
NONE
The photos today are from two events.
First, there is the launch of NOAA 17 (M) on Titan II/SLV in 2002. The photo was found in the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum archives and is released for public usage.
Second, there is the launch of the final MUOS spacecraft (MUOS-5) in 2016 on an Atlas V 551.
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:
“An Atlas V rocket carrying the MUOS-5 mission lifts off from Cape Canaveral AFS’s Space Launch Complex-41 at 10:30 a.m. EDT. (Photo courtesy of United Launch Alliance/Jeff Spotts). “
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.”
