1985 Space & Exploration Events — Verified Historical Highlights
1985 Space & Exploration Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 22 Mar NASA launches Intelsat VA F-10 communication satellite: On March 22, 1985, NASA successfully launched the Intelsat VA F-10 communication satellite into geostationary orbit. The satellite, also known as Intelsat 510, was designed to enhance global telecommunications capacity and operated for 14 years before being deactivated in July 1999. source: nasa.gov
- 15 Apr Challenger moves to launch pad for 51-B mission: On April 15, 1985, the Space Shuttle Challenger was transported to Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in preparation for the STS-51-B mission, scheduled for April 29, 1985. This mission was the second flight of the European Space Agency's Spacelab pressurized module, carrying 15 primary experiments. The crew included Commander Robert F. Overmyer, Pilot Frederick D. Gregory, and five mission specialists. source: brainyhistory.com
- 06 May NASA Space Shuttle Mission 51-B lands successfully: NASA's Space Shuttle Challenger completed its 17th mission, STS-51-B, on May 6, 1985, landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The mission, which lasted 7 days, 8 minutes, and 46 seconds, involved deploying the Spacelab-3 module for microgravity research and was the first operational flight of the Spacelab series developed by the European Space Agency. source: nasa.gov
- 11 Jun Soviet Vega 1 probe lands on Venus: On June 11, 1985, the Soviet Vega 1 spacecraft successfully landed on Venus, deploying a lander and an atmospheric balloon to study the planet's surface and atmosphere. The lander transmitted data for 56 minutes before succumbing to Venus's harsh conditions. The atmospheric balloon operated for approximately 48 hours, providing valuable insights into Venus's cloud layers and weather patterns. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 15 Jun Soviet Vega 2 mission successfully lands on Venus: On June 15, 1985, the Soviet Union's Vega 2 spacecraft successfully landed on Venus, deploying a lander and a balloon probe to study the planet's atmosphere and surface. The lander transmitted data for 56 minutes, providing valuable insights into Venus's harsh conditions. This mission was part of the broader Vega program, which also aimed to study Halley's Comet. source: jpl.nasa.gov
- 30 Jun NASA launches Intelsat VA F-11 communications satellite: On June 30, 1985, NASA successfully launched the Intelsat VA F-11 communications satellite into geostationary orbit. The satellite, built by Ford Aerospace, was designed to provide enhanced telecommunications capacity for Intelsat's global network. It was launched aboard an Atlas G-Centaur-D1AR vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 12 Jul STS-51-F launch scrubbed due to main engine issue: On July 12, 1985, the Space Shuttle Challenger's launch for mission STS-51-F was aborted at T-3 seconds after ignition. A malfunction in the number two Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) coolant valve led to the automatic shutdown of all three main engines, resulting in the scrubbed launch. The mission was successfully launched on July 29, 1985, after resolving the technical issues. source: nasa.gov
- 29 Jul STS-51-F mission: Space Shuttle Challenger launch: On July 29, 1985, NASA's Space Shuttle Challenger launched on mission STS-51-F from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The mission's primary payload was the Spacelab-2 laboratory module, which conducted experiments in life sciences, plasma physics, astronomy, high-energy astrophysics, solar physics, atmospheric physics, and technology research. Despite an in-flight engine shutdown, the mission was completed successfully, and the crew returned to Earth on August 6, 1985. source: nasa.gov
- 07 Aug Japan selects first astronauts: Doi, Mohri, and Mukai: On August 7, 1985, Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA) selected Takao Doi, Mamoru Mohri, and Chiaki Mukai as the nation's first astronauts. This marked a significant milestone in Japan's space exploration efforts, paving the way for future participation in international space missions. source: islandnet.com
- 11 Sep International Cometary Explorer's flyby of Comet Giacobini-Zinner: On September 11, 1985, NASA's International Cometary Explorer (ICE) spacecraft conducted the first-ever encounter with a comet, passing through the tail of Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner at a distance of approximately 7,800 kilometers from its nucleus. This historic mission provided valuable data on the composition and structure of cometary tails, supporting the 'dirty snowball' theory of comet composition. ICE later flew past Comet Halley in 1986. source: esa.int
- 28 Sep NASA launches Intelsat VA F-12 communication satellite: On September 28, 1985, NASA successfully launched the Intelsat VA F-12 communication satellite, also known as Intelsat 512, into geostationary orbit. The satellite, constructed by Ford Aerospace, was designed to enhance global telecommunications capacity and operated for approximately 13 years before being deactivated in July 1998. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 12 Oct Space Shuttle Challenger's preparations for STS-61A mission: On October 12, 1985, the Space Shuttle Challenger was rolled over to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking a significant step in preparations for the STS-61A mission. This mission, scheduled for launch on October 30, 1985, was dedicated to the West German Spacelab D-1 laboratory, featuring 75 experiments focused on microgravity research in materials science, life science, and technology. The crew included Commander Henry W. Hartsfield Jr., Pilot Steven R. Nagel, Mission Specialists James F. Buchli, Guion S. Bluford, Bonnie J. Dunbar, and Payload Specialists Reinhard Furrer, Ernst Messerschmid, and Wubbo J. Ockels. source: nasa.gov
- 25 Oct Kosmos 1700 satellite launched successfully: On October 25, 1985, the Soviet Union launched the Kosmos 1700 satellite, also known as Luch or Altair 11L, into geostationary orbit. The satellite, weighing approximately 2,400 kg, was launched aboard a Proton-K/Blok-DM-2 rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It was designed to provide communication services to various Soviet space missions, including the Mir space station and the Buran space shuttle. source: nextspaceflight.com
- 30 Oct STS-61-A: Space Shuttle Challenger's final successful mission: On October 30, 1985, Space Shuttle Challenger launched on mission STS-61-A, the 22nd flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program. This mission was dedicated to the German Spacelab D-1, featuring 75 experiments in materials science, life science, and technology. The crew included Commander Henry W. Hartsfield Jr., Pilot Steven R. Nagel, and six mission specialists, including two German astronauts and one Dutch astronaut. The mission lasted 7 days, 44 minutes, and 51 seconds, concluding with a landing at Edwards Air Force Base on November 6, 1985. source: nasa.gov
- 18 Nov Space Shuttle Enterprise transferred to Smithsonian Institution: On November 18, 1985, NASA ferried the Space Shuttle Enterprise to Washington Dulles International Airport, where it was officially transferred to the Smithsonian Institution. The shuttle was placed in storage at the National Air and Space Museum's hangar, awaiting the completion of a new exhibition facility. Enterprise remained in storage for 18 years before being moved to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in 2003. source: nasa.gov
- 22 Nov Space Shuttle Columbia moved to Vehicle Assembly Building for STS-61-C preparations: On November 22, 1985, NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia was moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida to prepare for the upcoming STS-61-C mission. This move was part of the pre-launch preparations for the mission, which was initially scheduled for December 18, 1985, but later postponed to January 12, 1986, due to technical issues and weather delays. source: nasa.gov
- 19 Dec STS-61-C launch scrubbed due to SRB issue: On December 19, 1985, the launch of Space Shuttle Columbia for mission STS-61-C was scrubbed at T-14 seconds due to an out-of-tolerance turbine reading on the right Solid Rocket Booster's hydraulic system. This was later determined to be a false reading. source: en.wikipedia.org
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