1997:
Space Shuttle Columbia launches from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., carrying aboard the
STS-87 mission and
the U.
S.
Microgravity Payload-4
, which conducted experiments in materials science and basic physics.
Nov. 20
1959:
A Thor-Agena rocket launches the Discoverer 8 imaging satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., into polar orbit. Despite a
successful launch, the film capsule for the low-resolution surveillance satellite was not recovered.
Nov. 21
1964:
NASA performs its first dual-payload launch
aboard a Scout rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
The nearly identical Explorers 24 and 25
balloon satellites were 3.6
meters in
diameter and
studied the interaction between solar radiation and air density in the upper atmosphere.
2000:
Earth Observing Mission 1 launches on a Delta 2 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. It is the first task for NASA’s New Millennium Program, which performs technology demonstrations in orbit.
Nov. 22
1989:
Space Shuttle Discovery launches from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., with a dedicated mission for the Department of Defense.
Nov. 23
1977:
The European Space Agency’s
Meteosat
1 weather
satellite launches aboard a Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla.
2002:
Space Shuttle Endeavour launches from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The Port 1
truss is delivered to the international space station during the STS-113 mission.
Nov. 24
1991:
Space Shuttle Atlantis launches from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The shuttle releases a Defense Support Program satellite during the STS-44 mission.
