Swift Spacecraft Marks Another Year in Space

Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Organizer:

Observing gamma-ray bursts & their afterglows in gamma-ray, X-ray, ultraviolet, optical wavelengths from LEO, multiwavelength craft surpasses another year of operations in space today, launched in 2004.

Chang’E-5 Marks Another Year on Moon

Statio Tianchuan, 43° N 51.9° W, Moon Surface
Organizer:

China National Space Administration (CNSA) Chang'E-5 lander at Statio Tianchuan "ship sailing in the Milky Way", Mons Rümker, Oceanus Procellarum, Moon (43° N, 51.9° W), surpasses another full year on lunar surface today; landed on this day in 2020, with sample return launching from the Moon 2 days later.

Hayabusa 2 Marks Another Year in Space

Asteroid 98943 Torifune Trajectory
Organizer:

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Hayabusa surpasses another full year in space today; launched Dec 3, 2014, returned samples to Earth in 2020, and now in extended mission to flyby asteroid 98943 Torifune in 2026 and rendezvous with 1998 KY26 in 2031.

XMM-Newton Marks Another Year in Space

Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Organizer:

European Space Agency (ESA) craft in Very Eccentric Elliptical LEO studying X-ray emissions, star-forming regions, galaxy clusters, environment of supermassive black holes, mapping dark matter, surpasses next full year in space today, launched 1999.

Chang’E-3 Lander Marks Another Year on Moon

Guang Han Gong, 44.12°N 19.51°W, Moon Surface
Organizer:

China National Space Administration (CNSA) spacecraft at Guang Han Gong "Moon Palace", Sinus Iridum / Mare Imbrium, 44.12°N 19.51°W, surpasses another full year on Moon surface, landed 2013.

WISE / NEOWISE Marks Another Year in Space

Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Organizer:

NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer spacecraft (redubbed Near-Earth Object WISE – NEOWISE) surpasses another full year in space today; launched 2009, went into hibernation February 17, 2011 and reactivated August 21, 2013.

Gaia Spacecraft Marks Another Year in Space

Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point
Organizer:

ESA spacecraft surpasses another full year in space today; now in extended mission phase working to map more than 1 billion stars; launched in 2013.

Mars Express Marks Another Year in Mars Orbit

Mars Orbit
Organizer:

ESA spacecraft surpasses next full year in Mars orbit today; will continue to study Mars atmosphere & climate, planet structure, mineralogy, geology, and to search for traces of water; launched June 2, 2003 and arrived at Mars in Dec 2003.

Lunar New Year

China (Zhongguo) / Worldwide
Organizer:

Lunar New Year 2028 Spring Festival marks the Year of the Monkey.

Apollo 1, 61st Observation

Nationwide USA
Organizer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Increasing space awareness and education, remembrances and events honor three Apollo 1 crew members lost in 1967 during a launch pad test: Command Pilot Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Senior Pilot Edward H. White and Pilot Roger B. Chaffee.

Challenger STS-51L, 42nd Observation

Nationwide USA
Organizer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Educational and ceremonial events held worldwide to advance space technology / education and honor 7 crew members killed in Shuttle accident 28 January 1986: Commander Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Astronaut Christa McAuliffe (the 1st ‘Teacher in Space’), Mission Specialists Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith A. Resnick and […]

Explorer 1, 70th Observation

Nationwide USA
Organizer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

American Artemis Return to the Moon For Good is underway, Mars attention and planning advancing, Outer Solar System search for life ongoing, and Interstellar craft on outgoing trajectories while first USA satellite launch on this day in 1958 ‘Explorer 1’ is celebrated and remembered.

Columbia STS-107, 25th Observation

Nationwide USA
Organizer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Annual international conferences and events take place to further space exploration efforts in remembrance of Columbia 7 loss in 2003: Commander Richard D. Husband, Mission Specialist Laurel Clark, Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon (the ‘1st Israeli astronaut’) and Astronauts: William C. McCool, Michael P. Anderson, David M. Brown and Kalpana Chawla […]

Pōwehi Day

Statewide Hawai’i, USA
Organizer:

Recognized proclamation to celebrate the first-ever imaged black hole M87* by Event Horizon Telescope collaboration involving Mauna Kea Observatories, given the Hawaiian name Pōwehi; imaged in April 2017 and released Apr 10, 2019.

Hubble Space Telescope Marks Another Year in Space

Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Organizer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

NASA spacecraft with 2.4-meter diameter main telescope begins 39th year in space today, launched Apr 24, 1990; could continue operations until 2040s.

National Day of Space Flight

China (Zhongguo)
Organizer:

Commemorating the launch of China’s first satellite, Dongfanghong-1 on April 24, 1970.

John F. Kennedy 1st Moon Speech

Nationwide USA
Organizer:

NASA Artemis program to land 1st Woman and Person of Color on Moon is well underway as today is recognized for Kennedy declaring to congress “I believe that this Nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning […]

International Moon Day (Annual)

Global / Inter-Global
Organizer: Moon Village Association (MVA)

Celebrating the 1st people walking on the Moon / another celestial body – International Moon Day has been a recognized / endorsed declaration by the United Nations since 2022.

Parker Solar Probe Marks Another Year in Space

Heliocentric Orbit
Organizer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

NASA craft surpasses another full year in space today, having launched Aug 12, 2018; probe  came within ~6.16M km of the Sun on Dec 24, 2024 which is ~7 times closer than any prior spacecraft, traveling faster than any other human-made object at ~692,000 km/hr.

Chandrayaan-3 Commemorated for Moon Landing (2023)

Statio Shiv Shakti, 69.373°S 32.319°E, Moon Surface
Organizer: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

Chandrayaan-3 Vikram lander and Pragyan rover celebrated today after successfully landing on Moon in 2023; marking India as the 4th country to land on Moon, and 1st near the Moon South Pole.

Van Allen Probes Mark Another Year in Space

Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Organizer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

NASA spacecraft surpasses another full year in space today, launched 2012; adding to the understanding of Earth radiation belt environment and its variability.

Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) Anniversary Observation

Worldwide
Organizer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Observed today is 1st planetary defense / asteroid deflection test success: NASA DART crashed into minor-planet moon Dimorphos of asteroid Didymos on this day in 2022, shortening Dimorphos’ orbital period.

Astrosat Marks Another Year in Space

Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Organizer:

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory surpasses another full year in space today, launched 2015.

World Space Week

Worldwide
Organizer: World Space Week Association

Celebrating international contributions of space science for betterment of the human condition; Oct 4 is 68th observation of 1st Space mission Sputnik One launched by Soviet Union 1957; Oct 10 is 58th observation of Outer Space Treaty going into effect 1967.

ExoMars 2016 Orbiter Marks Another Year in Mars Orbit

Mars Orbit
Organizer:

European Space Agency (ESA) and Roscosmos spacecraft surpasses another full year at Mars, launched 2016; craft continues collecting data on atmosphere, deployed Schiaparelli demonstration lander 19 Oct 2016 (unsuccessful).

Mars Odyssey Marks Another Year in Mars Orbit

Mars Orbit
Organizer:

NASA spacecraft surpasses another full year in orbit around Mars today, holds record for longest-surviving continually active spacecraft in orbit around a planet other than Earth; launched 2001.

Swift Spacecraft Marks Another Year in Space

Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Organizer:

Observing gamma-ray bursts & their afterglows in gamma-ray, X-ray, ultraviolet, optical wavelengths from LEO, multiwavelength craft surpasses another year of operations in space today, launched in 2004.

Chang’E-5 Marks Another Year on Moon

Statio Tianchuan, 43° N 51.9° W, Moon Surface
Organizer:

China National Space Administration (CNSA) Chang'E-5 lander at Statio Tianchuan "ship sailing in the Milky Way", Mons Rümker, Oceanus Procellarum, Moon (43° N, 51.9° W), surpasses another full year on lunar surface today; landed on this day in 2020, with sample return launching from the Moon 2 days later.

Hayabusa 2 Marks Another Year in Space

Asteroid 98943 Torifune Trajectory
Organizer:

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Hayabusa surpasses another full year in space today; launched Dec 3, 2014, returned samples to Earth in 2020, and now in extended mission to flyby asteroid 98943 Torifune in 2026 and rendezvous with 1998 KY26 in 2031.

XMM-Newton Marks Another Year in Space

Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Organizer:

European Space Agency (ESA) craft in Very Eccentric Elliptical LEO studying X-ray emissions, star-forming regions, galaxy clusters, environment of supermassive black holes, mapping dark matter, surpasses next full year in space today, launched 1999.

Chang’E-3 Lander Marks Another Year on Moon

Guang Han Gong, 44.12°N 19.51°W, Moon Surface
Organizer:

China National Space Administration (CNSA) spacecraft at Guang Han Gong "Moon Palace", Sinus Iridum / Mare Imbrium, 44.12°N 19.51°W, surpasses another full year on Moon surface, landed 2013.

WISE / NEOWISE Marks Another Year in Space

Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Organizer:

NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer spacecraft (redubbed Near-Earth Object WISE – NEOWISE) surpasses another full year in space today; launched 2009, went into hibernation February 17, 2011 and reactivated August 21, 2013.

Gaia Spacecraft Marks Another Year in Space

Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point
Organizer:

ESA spacecraft surpasses another full year in space today; now in extended mission phase working to map more than 1 billion stars; launched in 2013.

Mars Express Marks Another Year in Mars Orbit

Mars Orbit
Organizer:

ESA spacecraft surpasses next full year in Mars orbit today; will continue to study Mars atmosphere & climate, planet structure, mineralogy, geology, and to search for traces of water; launched June 2, 2003 and arrived at Mars in Dec 2003.

Apollo 1, 62nd Observation

Nationwide USA
Organizer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Increasing space awareness and education, remembrances and events honor three Apollo 1 crew members lost in 1967 during a launch pad test: Command Pilot Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Senior Pilot Edward H. White and Pilot Roger B. Chaffee.

Challenger STS-51L, 43rd Observation

Nationwide USA
Organizer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Educational and ceremonial events held worldwide to advance space technology / education and honor 7 crew members killed in Shuttle accident 28 January 1986: Commander Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Astronaut Christa McAuliffe (the 1st ‘Teacher in Space’), Mission Specialists Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith A. Resnick and […]

Columbia STS-107, 26th Observation

Nationwide USA
Organizer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Annual international conferences and events take place to further space exploration efforts in remembrance of Columbia 7 loss in 2003: Commander Richard D. Husband, Mission Specialist Laurel Clark, Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon (the ‘1st Israeli astronaut’) and Astronauts: William C. McCool, Michael P. Anderson, David M. Brown and Kalpana Chawla […]

Pōwehi Day

Statewide Hawai’i, USA
Organizer:

Recognized proclamation to celebrate the first-ever imaged black hole M87* by Event Horizon Telescope collaboration involving Mauna Kea Observatories, given the Hawaiian name Pōwehi; imaged in April 2017 and released Apr 10, 2019.

68th Commemoration of Human Spaceflight / Cosmonautics Day

Worldwide
Organizer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Celebrating Yuri Gagarin, the 1st human to orbit Earth on Vostok 1 spacecraft in 1961; the flight lasted 108 minutes at 27,400 kph and 327 km above Earth.

National Day of Space Flight

China (Zhongguo)
Organizer:

Commemorating the launch of China’s first satellite, Dongfanghong-1 on April 24, 1970.

International Moon Day (Annual)

Global / Inter-Global
Organizer: Moon Village Association (MVA)

Celebrating the 1st people walking on the Moon / another celestial body – International Moon Day has been a recognized / endorsed declaration by the United Nations since 2022.

Parker Solar Probe Marks Another Year in Space

Heliocentric Orbit
Organizer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

NASA craft surpasses another full year in space today, having launched Aug 12, 2018; probe  came within ~6.16M km of the Sun on Dec 24, 2024 which is ~7 times closer than any prior spacecraft, traveling faster than any other human-made object at ~692,000 km/hr.