1979 Space & Exploration Events — Verified Historical Highlights
1979 Space & Exploration Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 03 Feb British Airship Innovation: AD500 Prototype Flight: On February 3, 1979, the British company Aerospace Developments conducted the inaugural flight of the AD500, a prototype non-rigid airship. This airship introduced advanced materials and technology, including a polyester envelope coated with titanium dioxide-doped polyurethane and a Kevlar-reinforced gondola. It was powered by inboard-mounted Porsche engines driving vectored ducted fans, enhancing maneuverability. Unfortunately, on March 8, 1979, the AD500 was damaged during a storm while moored outside its hangar, leading to the company's liquidation in June 1979. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 07 Feb Pluto crosses Neptune's orbit for the first time: On February 7, 1979, Pluto's orbit brought it closer to the Sun than Neptune, marking a rare alignment in the solar system. This event occurred due to Pluto's highly elliptical and inclined orbit, which intersects Neptune's more circular path approximately every 248 years. The last such alignment before 1979 was in 1846, and the next is expected in 2246. source: pedia.alarabialqadeem.com
- 12 Feb Soviet Union launches Kosmos 1076 oceanographic satellite: On February 12, 1979, the Soviet Union launched Kosmos 1076, its first dedicated oceanographic satellite, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The satellite's mission was to test methods for investigating the world's oceans using space techniques, aiming to enhance navigation and fishing by collecting hydrometeorological data from extensive ocean areas. source: globalsecurity.org
- 18 Feb NASA launches Explorer 60 (SAGE) satellite: On February 18, 1979, NASA launched the Explorer 60 satellite, also known as SAGE (Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment), from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The mission aimed to study the Earth's stratosphere and its composition. The satellite was launched aboard a Scout D-1 rocket at 16:18 UTC. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 25 Feb Soviet Union launches Soyuz 32 to Salyut 6 space station: On February 25, 1979, the Soviet Union launched Soyuz 32, carrying cosmonauts Vladimir Lyakhov and Valery Ryumin to the Salyut 6 space station. The mission aimed to conduct scientific experiments and perform maintenance on the station. The crew spent 175 days aboard, setting a new space endurance record at the time. source: washingtonpost.com
- 05 Mar Gamma-ray burst observed in Large Magellanic Cloud: On March 5, 1979, an intense gamma-ray burst was detected by multiple spacecraft, including Soviet Venera 11 and 12, NASA's Helios 2, and the Einstein Observatory. The burst originated from the supernova remnant N49 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, leading to the identification of SGR 0526−66, the first observed soft gamma repeater (SGR). This event marked the first detection of a magnetar giant flare, a specific type of short gamma-ray burst. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 08 Mar Space Shuttle Columbia transported from Palmdale to Dryden Flight Research Center: On March 8, 1979, the Space Shuttle Columbia was moved overland from Rockwell International's assembly plant in Palmdale, California, to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center (now Armstrong Flight Research Center) at Edwards Air Force Base. This 38-mile journey marked the first step in Columbia's multi-day transcontinental trip to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where it would undergo preparations for its first mission. source: nasa.gov
- 24 Mar Space Shuttle Columbia arrives at Kennedy Space Center: On March 24, 1979, the Space Shuttle Columbia, atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, touched down at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This marked the first time Columbia arrived at KSC, initiating preparations for its inaugural mission. The event was attended by NASA Administrator Robert A. Frosch and other dignitaries. source: nasa.gov
- 04 May NASA launches FLTSATCOM-2 satellite: On May 4, 1979, NASA successfully launched the FLTSATCOM-2 satellite aboard an Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. This satellite was part of the Fleet Satellite Communications System, providing worldwide UHF communications for the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and presidential communications. source: nextspaceflight.com
- 07 Jun Launch of Bhaskara 1 Satellite: On June 7, 1979, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched Bhaskara 1, India's first experimental remote sensing satellite, from the Kapustin Yar launch site in Russia. The satellite, weighing 444 kg, was designed to conduct Earth observation experiments related to hydrology, forestry, and geology using a two-band TV camera system, and to study ocean surfaces with a two-frequency satellite microwave radiometer (SAMIR) system. Bhaskara 1 re-entered the atmosphere on February 17, 1989. source: nextspaceflight.com
- 11 Jul Skylab reenters Earth's atmosphere, debris falls over Australia and Indian Ocean: On July 11, 1979, Skylab, America's first space station, reentered Earth's atmosphere after six years in orbit. The 77.5-ton station disintegrated upon reentry, with debris falling over the Indian Ocean and sparsely populated areas of Western Australia. No injuries were reported, and the event marked the end of Skylab's mission. source: nasa.gov
- 13 Aug Launch of the Solar Maximum Mission satellite: The Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) satellite was launched on August 13, 1979, by NASA to study solar activity and its effects on the Earth's atmosphere. The mission aimed to observe solar flares and other phenomena, contributing significantly to solar physics. SMM provided valuable data until its decommissioning in 1989. source: ntrs.nasa.gov
- 19 Aug Soviet cosmonauts return after record 175-day mission aboard Salyut 6: On August 19, 1979, cosmonauts Vladimir Lyakhov and Valery Ryumin returned to Earth aboard Soyuz 34 after a 175-day mission on the Salyut 6 space station. Their mission set a new Soviet space endurance record, surpassing the previous 139-day record. The crew conducted scientific experiments and prepared the station for future missions. source: science20.com
- 18 Oct FCC allows home satellite earth stations without federal license: On October 18, 1979, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) permitted individuals to establish home satellite earth stations without requiring a federal government license. This decision enabled private citizens to set up and operate their own satellite communication systems, previously restricted to government agencies and large corporations. The move marked a significant shift in the accessibility of satellite technology for personal and commercial use. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 24 Dec First Ariane 1 rocket launch from Kourou, French Guiana: On December 24, 1979, the European Space Agency's Ariane 1 rocket successfully launched from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. This inaugural flight marked Europe's entry into independent space exploration, deploying the CAT-1 technological capsule into orbit. The mission was deemed a success, paving the way for future European space endeavors. source: esa.int
What happened in 1979?
Discover what the world looked like in 1979: