Helios-A and Helios-B (also known as Helios 1 and Helios 2), are a pair of probes launched into heliocentric orbit for the purpose of studying solar processes. A joint venture of West Germany's space agency DFVLR (70% share) and NASA (30%), the probes were launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on December 10, 1974, and January 15, 1976, respectively. Built by Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm as the main contractor, they were the first spaceprobes built outside the United States or Soviet Union.
Heliocentric N/ASoyuz 16 was a crewed test flight in a preparation for a joint Soviet-US space flight. The mission began on December 2, 1974, 09:40:00 UTC, with a launch of commander Anatoly Filipchenko and flight engineer Nikolai Rukavishnikov into orbit. During their 6-day stay in orbit, crew tested various new and improved systems and elements, including the new docking system. Soyuz 16 ended on December 8, 1974, 08:03:35 UTC with a successful landing.
Low Earth Orbit