1953:
The first Redstone missile, which later became the launch system for several missions in NASA’s Mercury program, is test fired. The rocket missed its target by 240 kilometers.
1975:
Viking 1
, the first successful martianlander, launches aboard a Titan 3 rocket
.
Aug. 21
1965:
Gemini 5 launches astronauts Pete Conrad and Leroy Cooper for an eight-day mission in
Earth orbit on a Titan 2 rocket.
2002:
Echostar 8, a geostationary telecommunications satellite for the satellite-broadcasting company Echostar, launches from BaikonurCosmodrome aboard a Russian Proton rocket.
2006:
Koreasat 5, a dual-use telecommunications satellite, launches from Kiritmati aboard a Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket.
Aug. 22
2003:
While on the launch pad at Alcntra, in Brazil, the third prototype for the VLS-1 launch vehicle explodes
when its fuel ignited too soon, killing 21 people and severely damaging the launch facility.
Aug. 25
2003:
NASA launches the Spitzer Space Telescope from a Delta rocket.
Aug. 27
1962:
Mariner 2 launches on an Atlas rocket for Venus. The probe beco
mes the first to successfully perform an interplanetary flyby
as it passes
by Venus on Dec. 14, 1962.
1975:
Symphonie 2, a telecommunications satellite owned jointly by France and West Germany
launches aboard a Delta 2 rocket.
Aug 29
2001:
Japan successfully launches its two-stage H-2A rocket, which has become its workhorse launch system.
