The events on this day in history for our heritage companies are noted below.
The earliest event was in 1957, the latest event was in 2023
One milestone event (5 to 65+ years ago)
Human Spaceflight
1986 – LANDING: STS-61-C (Columbia), Edwards AFB
Military and Classified Programs
1967 – LAUNCH: IDCSP 2-1 through 2-8, MM Titan IIIC/Transtage, LC-41, CCAFS – Defense communications systems
1968 – LAUNCH: Classified mission, MM Titan IIIB/Lockheed Agena D, SLC4W, VAFB
1980 – LAUNCH: Fltsatcom3, GD Atlas SLV-3D/Centaur, LC36A, CCAFS – MILESTONE: 45 years ago
2009 – LAUNCH: USA 202 (NROL-26) ULA Delta IVH, LC-37B, CCAFS, first NRO launch on Delta IVH
2023 – LAUNCH: LM GPS III-06 (Amelia Earhart), SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5, LC-40, CCSFS
Exploration and Interplanetary Programs
NONE
Earth-Monitoring and Civil Weather Satellite Programs
NONE
Commercial Programs
NONE
Test, ICBM, FBM programs
1957 – First firing of two-chamber Stage I engine for Martin Titan I ICBM
1967 – LAUNCH: GD Atlas F, 576-A2, VAFB
Other
NONE
The photos today are from two missions: First, there is a photo of the launch of USA 202 (NROL-26) on ULA Delta IVH in 2009 and a photo of the mission patch. This was the first NRO launch on a Delta IVH vehicle. Here is the caption for the photo from the ULA Flickr site:
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket, carrying the NROL-26 for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), lifts off from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, on Jan. 17, 2009 [January 18 UTC]. Photo caption: United Launch Alliance. Copyright © United Launch Alliance, All Rights Reserved. Photo is being used for non-commercial and historic purposes for the retirees of LM and ULA.
Second, there is a photo of the GPSIII-06 (Amelia Earhart) spacecraft and the launch on SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 in 2023. This photo was found on the Defense Department Visual Information Services website and has the following caption:
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the GPS III SV06 payload launches from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla on Jan. 18, 2023. The overall objective of GPS III is to deliver sustained, reliable GPS capabilities to America’s warfighters, our allies, and civil users. GPS provides positioning, navigation, and timing service to civil and military users worldwide. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Thomas Sjoberg)
“The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.” This photo is being used for non-commercial and historic purposes for the retirees of LM and ULA.
