1982 Space & Exploration Events — Verified Historical Highlights
1982 Space & Exploration Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 03 Feb Columbia Shuttle's Rollover to Vehicle Assembly Building for STS-3: On February 3, 1982, NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia was towed from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center. There, it was mated with the external tank and solid rocket boosters in preparation for the STS-3 mission, scheduled for launch on March 22, 1982. source: nasa.gov
- 05 Mar NASA launches Intelsat V F-4 communications satellite: On March 5, 1982, NASA successfully launched the Intelsat V F-4 communications satellite into geostationary orbit. The satellite, built by Ford Aerospace, was designed to enhance global telecommunications capacity and operated for over 13 years before being deactivated in November 1995. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 10 Mar Rare planetary alignment on March 10, 1982: On March 10, 1982, a rare alignment of all nine planets in the solar system occurred, with Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto positioned on the same side of the Sun within a 96-degree arc. This event, known as a planetary parade, was predicted to cause significant catastrophes, including earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault, as suggested in the 1974 book 'The Jupiter Effect.' However, no such disasters materialized, and the alignment passed without incident. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 30 Mar Space Shuttle Columbia lands at White Sands Missile Range: On March 30, 1982, Space Shuttle Columbia completed its third mission (STS-3) by landing at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. This was the only time a Space Shuttle landed at White Sands, as the planned landing site at Edwards Air Force Base was unavailable due to adverse weather conditions. The landing marked a significant milestone in the Space Shuttle program. source: nasa.gov
- 19 Apr USSR launches Salyut 7 space station: On April 19, 1982, the Soviet Union launched Salyut 7, the seventh and final operational space station in the Salyut program. It was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome on a Proton-K rocket and remained in orbit until February 1991. source: britannica.com
- 13 May Soviet Soyuz T-5 mission launches to Salyut 7 space station: On May 13, 1982, the Soviet Union launched the Soyuz T-5 spacecraft carrying cosmonauts Anatoli Berezovoy and Valentin Lebedev to the Salyut 7 space station. This mission marked the first long-duration expedition to Salyut 7, with the crew performing various scientific and technical experiments during their stay. They returned to Earth on August 27, 1982, after a mission duration of 106 days. source: upi.com
- 29 Jun First Search and Rescue Satellite Launch: On June 29, 1982, the Soviet Union launched the first satellite carrying a search and rescue (SAR) payload, known as COSPAS-1, marking the beginning of the Cospas-Sarsat system. This international program, initiated by Canada, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union in 1979, utilizes a network of satellites to detect and locate emergency distress beacons from aircraft, ships, and individuals worldwide, significantly enhancing global search and rescue capabilities. source: sarsat.noaa.gov
- 02 Jul Soyuz T-6 mission concludes with safe landing: The Soyuz T-6 mission, launched on June 24, 1982, successfully concluded on July 2, 1982, with a safe landing. The mission lasted 7 days, 21 hours, 50 minutes, and 52 seconds, during which the crew performed various scientific and medical experiments aboard the Salyut 7 space station. source: worldspaceflight.com
- 09 Jul First Commercial Satellite Launch by United States: The United States successfully launched Intelsat V, marking a significant milestone in commercial satellite technology and global telecommunications infrastructure.
- 16 Jul NASA launches Landsat 4 satellite: NASA successfully launched the Landsat 4 satellite on July 16, 1982. This satellite was part of the Landsat program, which aimed to provide detailed images of the Earth's surface for various applications, including agriculture, forestry, and land use planning. Landsat 4 introduced new sensors that improved the quality and capabilities of Earth observation. source: nasa.gov
- 17 Jul Galileo Probe parachute test conducted at White Sands Missile Range: On July 17, 1982, NASA conducted a test of the Galileo Probe's parachute system at the White Sands Missile Range. The initial test was deemed successful; however, post-test analysis revealed that the heat shield was ejected before the parachute deployed, prompting engineering modifications. A subsequent test confirmed the effectiveness of these changes. source: wsmrmuseum.com
- 26 Aug NASA launches Telesat-F satellite: On August 26, 1982, NASA successfully launched the Telesat-F satellite, also known as Anik D1, aboard a Delta 3920 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This mission marked a significant advancement in Canada's satellite communications, providing enhanced services across the country. source: ntrs.nasa.gov
- 27 Aug Soyuz T-7 mission concludes with safe landing: On August 27, 1982, the Soyuz T-7 mission concluded successfully with the safe landing of cosmonauts Leonid Popov, Aleksandr Serebrov, and Svetlana Savitskaya. The crew had launched on August 19, 1982, and spent seven days aboard the Salyut 7 space station, conducting various scientific and medical experiments. They returned to Earth aboard the Soyuz T-5 spacecraft, landing safely at 15:04:16 UTC. source: spacelaunchschedule.com
- 09 Sep Space Shuttle Columbia mated with external tank and solid rocket boosters in Vehicle Assembly Building: On September 9, 1982, NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia was mated with its external tank and solid rocket boosters in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, in preparation for its fourth mission, STS-4, scheduled for launch on June 27, 1982. source: nasa.gov
- 28 Sep NASA launches Intelsat V F-5 communications satellite: On September 28, 1982, NASA successfully launched the Intelsat V F-5 communications satellite into geostationary orbit. The satellite, built by Ford Aerospace, was designed to enhance global telecommunications capacity and operated for approximately 17 years before being deactivated in August 1999. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 05 Oct Rocket Sled Speed Record: An unmanned rocket sled achieved an impressive speed of 9,851 kilometers per hour at White Sands, New Mexico, demonstrating advanced aerospace and propulsion technology.
- 11 Nov Space Shuttle Columbia launches first operational mission deploying commercial satellites: On November 11, 1982, NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia embarked on its first operational mission, STS-5, deploying two commercial communications satellites into orbit. This mission marked a significant milestone in the shuttle program, demonstrating the capability to carry and deploy commercial payloads. source: nasa.gov
- 16 Nov STS-5 mission: Columbia lands successfully after deploying two satellites: On November 16, 1982, the Space Shuttle Columbia completed its fifth mission (STS-5) by landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The mission lasted 5 days, 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 26 seconds, during which the crew deployed two commercial communications satellites: ANIK C-3 for Telesat Canada and SBS-C for Satellite Business Systems. A planned spacewalk was canceled due to spacesuit issues. source: nasa.gov
- 10 Dec Soyuz T-5 mission completes with safe landing: On December 10, 1982, the Soyuz T-5 spacecraft, carrying cosmonauts Anatoli Berezovoy and Valentin Lebedev, safely landed on Earth after a 211-day mission to the Salyut 7 space station. During their stay, they conducted various scientific and medical experiments and were visited by four uncrewed cargo Progress vehicles and two Soyuz missions. The crew returned aboard the Soyuz T-7 spacecraft. source: spacelaunchnow.me
- 18 Dec Space Shuttle Challenger's first Flight Readiness Firing (FRF): On December 18, 1982, NASA conducted the first Flight Readiness Firing (FRF) of the Space Shuttle Challenger's main engines at Kennedy Space Center. The 16-second test revealed significant hydrogen leakage in the aft compartment, prompting a second FRF on January 25, 1983, which also detected high hydrogen levels. These issues led to the replacement of all three engines, delaying the Challenger's maiden flight to April 4, 1983. source: nasa.gov
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