2016 Space & Exploration Events — Verified Historical Highlights
2016 Space & Exploration Events — Verified Historical Highlights | TakeMeBack.to
- 20 Jan 2015 confirmed as hottest year on record: On January 20, 2016, NASA and NOAA announced that 2015 was the warmest year on record, surpassing the previous record set in 2014 by 0.29°F (0.16°C). This marked the fourth time since 2000 that a new global temperature record was established. source: earthobservatory.nasa.gov
- 17 Apr Mid-Level Solar Flare Observed: A moderate solar flare was released from an active region on the sun's right side. The event caused brief radio blackouts, as confirmed by NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center.
- 28 Apr India Launches Final Regional Navigation Satellite: India successfully launched the IRNSS-1G satellite, completing its seven-satellite Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, enhancing the country's indigenous satellite navigation capabilities.
- 06 May SpaceX Achieves Another Successful Falcon 9 Landing: SpaceX demonstrated continued technological prowess by successfully launching and landing a Falcon 9 rocket's first stage on a floating barge while delivering a Japanese communications satellite JCSAT-14 into geostationary orbit.
- 22 Jun ISRO Multiple Satellite Launch: India's Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched 20 satellites in a single mission, demonstrating advanced space technology capabilities.
- 16 Aug China launches quantum communications satellite: On August 16, 2016, China successfully launched the world's first quantum communications satellite, named Micius. The satellite aims to establish ultra-secure communication channels using quantum key distribution, marking a significant advancement in quantum technology. source: scientificamerican.com
- 28 Aug ISRO conducts first scramjet engine experimental mission: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted its first experimental mission using a scramjet engine, marking a significant advancement in India's space technology capabilities. source: business-standard.com
- 23 Sep SpaceX Investigates Falcon 9 Launch Failure: SpaceX determined that the September 1st launch pad explosion of the Falcon 9 rocket was caused by a significant leak in the upper-stage oxygen tank's hydrogen system, impacting the Facebook satellite payload.
- 24 Sep China completes world's largest single-dish telescope: On September 25, 2016, China completed the construction of the world's largest single-dish radio telescope, known as the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST). Located in Guizhou province, FAST is designed to detect radio signals from space, including potential extraterrestrial communications. source: scientificamerican.com
- 26 Sep ISRO Satellite Launch: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the cyclone detection satellite SCATSAT-1 and seven additional satellites from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This launch demonstrated the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle's remarkable capability to deploy multiple satellites in different orbits during a single mission.
- 11 Nov WorldView-4 satellite launch succeeds after wildfire delay: The WorldView-4 satellite, designed for high-resolution Earth imaging, was successfully launched after a delay caused by nearby wildfires. The satellite aims to enhance global imaging capabilities. source: space.com
- 23 Nov NASA discovers large underground ice deposits on Mars: On November 23, 2016, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter detected a substantial deposit of water ice beneath the surface of Mars in the Utopia Planitia region. The ice layer, ranging from 260 to 560 feet in thickness, is composed of 50 to 85 percent water ice mixed with dust or rocky particles. source: indianexpress.com
- 15 Dec NASA Launches CYGNSS Hurricane Observation Satellite: NASA successfully launched the CYGNSS (Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System) hurricane observation satellite constellation using a Pegasus rocket, enhancing scientific capabilities for tracking and understanding tropical cyclones.
What happened in 2016?
Discover what the world looked like in 2016: