Previous Spaceflight Launches
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Atlas IIAS | JCSAT 4A
Lockheed Martin | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Feb. 16, 1999, 1:45 a.m.
Proton-K/DM-2M | Telstar 6
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Feb. 15, 1999, 5:12 a.m.
Soyuz-U-PVB | Globalstar 23,36,38,40
Progress Rocket Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Feb. 9, 1999, 3:53 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The Globalstar global mobile communications network offers global, digital real time voice, data and fax via a constellation of 48 minisatellites. The constellation operates in a 1410 km orbit inclined at 52 degrees, and will also have 8 spares. The satellites were built by Space Systems Loral and Alenia Aerospazio in Rome, Italy.
Low Earth OrbitDelta 7426-9.5 | Stardust
McDonnell Douglas | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Feb. 7, 1999, 9:04 p.m.
Athena I | Formosat-1
Lockheed Martin | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Jan. 27, 1999, 12:34 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The mission objective of ROCSAT-1 (Republic of China Satellite 1) is to develop, launch, and operate a low earth orbit satellite, and to conduct three scientific and technology experiments in the areas of ocean color imaging, space telecommunication, and solar-terrestrial physics.
Low Earth OrbitDelta 7425-9.5 | Mars Polar Lander
McDonnell Douglas | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Jan. 3, 1999, 8:21 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The Mars Polar Lander, also known as the Mars Surveyor '98 Lander, was a 290-kilogram robotic spacecraft lander launched by NASA on January 3, 1999 to study the soil and climate of Planum Australe, a region near the south pole on Mars. It formed part of the Mars Surveyor '98 mission. On December 3, 1999, however, after the descent phase was expected to be complete, the lander failed to reestablish communication with Earth. A post-mortem analysis determined the most likely cause of the mishap was premature termination of the engine firing prior to the lander touching the surface, causing it to strike the planet at a high velocity.
Heliocentric N/AProton | Uragan 72 to 74
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Dec. 30, 1998, 6:35 p.m.
Kosmos-3M | Parus 90
Russian Space Forces | RussiaPlesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
Dec. 24, 1998, 8:02 p.m.
Ariane 42L | PAS 6B
Aérospatiale | FranceGuiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Dec. 22, 1998, 1:08 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
In March 1998, Hughes Space and Communications Company of El Segundo, Calif., was selected by PanAmSat Corporation of Greenwich, Conn., to build PAS-6B, a Hughes HS-601HP spacecraft model to provide direct-to-home television transmissions in South America. The satellite was launched Dec. 21, 1998.
Geostationary Orbit
Long March 2C/SD | Iridium 88 & 89
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaTaiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Dec. 19, 1998, 11:39 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Iridium provides global mobile telecommunications services using a constellation of 66 low earth orbit satellites in a 86.4° inclined orbit. Although 77 satellites were originally envisioned for the system and spawned the name based on the 77th element in the periodic table, the system has been scaled back. Motorola's Satellite Communications Group designed and manufactured the Iridium satellites with Lockheed Martin providing the LM-700A spacecraft buses.
Low Earth Orbit
