| Date |
Time (UTC) |
Event |
| 1969 Jan 12 |
12:10 |
Cosmos 263 (Zenit-2 11Ф61 №70) launched into 199 x 325 kilometre, 89.8 minutes period, 65.4 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Photo reconnaissance satellite. |
| 1969 Jan 14 |
07:30 |
Soyuz 4 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Soyuz rocket into 161 x 215 kilometre orbit at 51.7 degrees inclination with cosmonaut Vladimir Shatalov aboard |
| 1969 Jan 14 |
13:35 |
Soyuz 4 changes orbit to 205 x 223 kilometres |
| 1969 Jan 14 |
15:16 |
Soyuz 4 makes final contact for the day with mission control, via land-based tracking station at Yevpatoriya in the Crimea |
| 1969 Jan 14 |
17:00 |
Vladimir Shatalov starts rest period |
| 1969 Jan 15 |
01:12 |
Soyuz 4 re-enters range of Soviet tracking stations and contacts mission control via Ussuryisk and Petropavlosk in the Soviet far east |
| 1969 Jan 15 |
07:05 |
Soyuz 5 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Soyuz rocket into approx 180 x 215 kilometre orbit at 51.7 degrees inclination with cosmonauts Boris Volynov, Alexei Yeliseyev and Yevgeny Khrunov aboard |
| 1969 Jan 15 |
14:30 |
Soyuz 5 changes orbit to 211 x 234 kilometres |
| 1969 Jan 15 |
14:55 |
Approx time - Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 make final contact for the day with mission control, via tracking station at Yevpatoriya in the Crimea |
| 1969 Jan 15 |
17:00 |
Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 crews start rest period |
| 1969 Jan 16 |
00:50 |
Approx time - Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 re-enter range of Soviet tracking stations and contact mission control via Ussuryisk and Petropavlosk in the Soviet far east |
| 1969 Jan 16 |
05:15 |
Approx time - Soyuz 4 makes minor orbit correction to prepare for rendezvous approach to Soyuz 5 |
| 1969 Jan 16 |
07:37 |
Soyuz 4 commences automatically-controlled approach to Soyuz 5 |
| 1969 Jan 16 |
08:20 |
Soyuz 4 docks with Soyuz 5 |
| 1969 Jan 16 |
09:25 |
Approx time - Yeliseyev starts space walk from Soyuz 4 to Soyuz 5 |
| 1969 Jan 16 |
09:55 |
Approx time - Khrunov starts space walk from Soyuz 4 to Soyuz 5 |
| 1969 Jan 16 |
10:30 |
Approx time - Soyuz 4 to Soyuz 5 space walk complete |
| 1969 Jan 16 |
12:55 |
Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 separate from each other, Soyuz 5 then moves away from Soyuz 4 |
| 1969 Jan 16 |
14:33 |
Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 make final contact for the day with mission control, via tracking station at Yevpatoriya in the Crimea |
| 1969 Jan 17 |
00:11 |
Soyuz 5 re-enters range of Soviet tracking stations and contacts mission control via Ussuryisk and Petropavlosk in the Soviet far east |
| 1969 Jan 17 |
00:33 |
Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 re-enter range of Soviet tracking stations and contact mission control via Ussuryisk and Petropavlosk in the Soviet far east |
| 1969 Jan 17 |
06:11 |
Soyuz 4 fires its manoeuvring engine to initiate re-entry |
| 1969 Jan 17 |
06:53 |
Soyuz 4 soft lands 40 kilometres north west of Karaganda, Khazakstan |
| 1969 Jan 17 |
14:13 |
Approx time - Soyuz 5 makes final contact for the day with mission control, via tracking station at Yevpatoriya in the Crimea |
| 1969 Jan 18 |
05:50 |
Approx time - Originally planned retro-fire for Soyuz 5 - postponed because of weather conditions on the ground |
| 1969 Jan 18 |
07:26 |
Soyuz 5 fires its manoeuvring engine to initiate re-entry - during the re-entry procedure the Soyuz descent module fails to separate cleanly from the instrument unit but the faulty connection eventually burns through as a result of frictional heating, Boris Volynov lands safely |
| 1969 Jan 18 |
08:08 |
Soyuz 5 soft lands 200 km south west of Kustanai, Khazakstan |
| 1969 Jan 20 |
05:31 |
Cosmos 263 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Jan 23 |
09:15 |
Cosmos 264 (Zenit-4M, Rotor) launched into 209 x 293 kilometre, 89.6 minutes period, 69.9 deg inclination orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Upgraded Zenit-4 photo-reconnaissance satellite with orbit-adjustment engine. |
| 1969 Feb 5 |
06:29 |
Cosmos 264 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Feb 19 |
06:48 |
E-8-201 spacecraft launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome by four-stage Proton rocket towards a low orbit around the Earth at 51.6 degrees inclination - its mission is to enter orbit around the Moon and then land a Lunokhod remote-controlled roving vehicle on its surface but the launcher is destroyed by an explosion |
| 1969 Feb 25 |
10:20 |
Cosmos 266 (Zenit-2 11Ф61 №71) launched into 201 x 337 kilometre, 89.9 minutes period, 72.9 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Photo reconnaissance satellite. |
| 1969 Feb 26 |
08:30 |
Cosmos 267 (Zenit-4 11Ф69) launched into 202 x 331 kilometre, 89.8 minutes period, 65.1 deg inclination orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 Mar 5 |
07:12 |
Cosmos 266 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Mar 6 |
06:43 |
Cosmos 267 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Mar 6 |
12:15 |
Cosmos 270 (Zenit-4 11Ф69) launched into 199 x 322 kilometre, 89.7 minutes period, 65.4 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 Mar 14 |
06:00 |
Cosmos 270 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Mar 15 |
12:15 |
Cosmos 271 (Zenit-4 11Ф69) launched into 196 x 323 kilometre, 89.7 minutes period, 65.4 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 Mar 22 |
12:15 |
Cosmos 273 (Zenit-2 11Ф61 №77) launched into 198 x 335 kilometre, 89.9 minutes period, 65.4 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Photo reconnaissance satellite. |
| 1969 Mar 23 |
06:58 |
Cosmos 271 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Mar 24 |
10:10 |
Cosmos 274 (Zenit-4 11Ф69) launched into 207 x 300 kilometre, 89.6 minutes period, 65 deg inclination orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 Mar 30 |
05:46 |
Cosmos 273 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Apr 1 |
07:41 |
Cosmos 274 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Apr 4 |
10:20 |
Cosmos 276 (Zenit-4 11Ф69) launched into 199 x 371 kilometre, 90.3 minutes period, 81.4 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 Apr 9 |
13:00 |
Cosmos 278 (Zenit-2 11Ф61 №78) launched into 198 x 319 kilometre, 89.7 minutes period, 65.4 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Photo reconnaissance satellite. |
| 1969 Apr 11 |
07:55 |
Cosmos 276 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Apr 15 |
08:14 |
Cosmos 279 (Zenit-4 11Ф69) launched into 194 x 274 kilometre, 89.1 minutes period, 51.7 deg inclination orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 Apr 17 |
07:41 |
Cosmos 278 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Apr 23 |
07:55 |
Cosmos 279 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Apr 23 |
09:55 |
Cosmos 280 (Zenit-4M, Rotor) launched into 206 x 246 kilometre, 89 minutes period, 51.6 deg inclination orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Upgraded Zenit-4 photo-reconnaissance satellite with orbit-adjustment engine. The HF transmission frequency of 19.994 MHz was unusual in that all others of the Zenit-4M type used 19.150 MHz. |
| 1969 May 6 |
06:43 |
Cosmos 280 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 May 13 |
09:15 |
Cosmos 281 (Zenit-2 11Ф61 №72) launched into 192 x 302 kilometre, 89.5 minutes period, 65.4 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Photo reconnaissance satellite. |
| 1969 May 20 |
08:40 |
Cosmos 282 (Zenit-4 11Ф69) launched into 201 x 320 kilometre, 89.7 minutes period, 65.4 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 May 21 |
03:07 |
Cosmos 281 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 May 28 |
02:24 |
Cosmos 282 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 May 29 |
06:59 |
Cosmos 284 (Zenit-4 11Ф69) launched into 204 x 298 kilometre, 89.5 minutes period, 51.8 deg inclination orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 Jun 6 |
05:46 |
Cosmos 284 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Jun 14 |
04:00 |
E-8-5-402 spacecraft launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome by four-stage Proton rocket towards a low orbit around the Earth at 51.6 degrees inclination - its mission is to enter orbit around the Moon, then land and return a soil sample to Earth but it fails to reach orbit after the launcher third stage fails to fire |
| 1969 Jun 15 |
08:59 |
Cosmos 286 (Zenit-4 11Ф69) launched into 201 x 328 kilometre, 89.8 minutes period, 65.4 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 Jun 23 |
03:50 |
Cosmos 286 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Jun 24 |
06:50 |
Cosmos 287 (Zenit-2 11Ф61 №76) launched into 189 x 264 kilometre, 89 minutes period, 51.8 deg inclination orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Photo reconnaissance satellite. |
| 1969 Jun 27 |
06:59 |
Cosmos 288 (Zenit-4 11Ф69) launched into 195 x 279 kilometre, 89.2 minutes period, 51.8 deg inclination orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 Jul 2 |
06:00 |
Cosmos 287 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Jul 5 |
06:43 |
Cosmos 288 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Jul 10 |
09:00 |
Cosmos 289 (Zenit-4 11Ф69) launched into 196 x 328 kilometre, 89.8 minutes period, 65.4 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 Jul 13 |
03:14 |
Luna 15 (E-8-5-401) launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome by four-stage Proton rocket into 182 x 247 kilometre orbit around the Earth at 51.5 degrees inclination - its mission is to enter orbit around the Moon, then land and return a soil sample to Earth |
| 1969 Jul 13 |
04:24 |
Final stage of Luna 15 launching rocket fired to place it into a trajectory towards the Moon |
| 1969 Jul 14 |
|
Luna 15 rocket engine is used to correct its trajectory towards the Moon |
| 1969 Jul 15 |
04:19 |
Cosmos 289 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Jul 17 |
10:00 |
Luna 15 enters 240 x 870 kilometre orbit around the Moon at 126 degrees inclination |
| 1969 Jul 19 |
13:08 |
Luna 15 rocket engine is fired to change its orbit around the Moon to 95 x 222 kilometres at 126 degrees inclination |
| 1969 Jul 20 |
14:16 |
Luna 15 rocket engine is fired to change its orbit around the Moon to 16 x 110 kilometres at 127 degrees inclination |
| 1969 Jul 20 |
15:47 |
After completing 52 orbits of the Moon and holding 86 communications sessions with the Earth, Luna 15 fires its rocket engine and begins its descent towards a landing on the Moon surface |
| 1969 Jul 20 |
15:51 |
Luna 15 crashes heavily, at 480 kilometres per hour, near 17 degrees north, 60 degrees east, and is destroyed while attempting to land and collect a soil sample for return to Earth - simultaneously, the crew of Apollo 11 is part way through its lunar exploration programme |
| 1969 Jul 22 |
12:30 |
Cosmos 290 (Zenit-2 11Ф61 №75) launched into 195 x 332 kilometre, 89.8 minutes period, 65.4 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Photo reconnaissance satellite. |
| 1969 Jul 30 |
07:26 |
Cosmos 290 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Aug 16 |
11:59 |
Cosmos 293 (Zenit-2M 11Ф690, Gektor) launched into 208 x 256 kilometre, 89.1 minutes period, 51.8 deg inclination orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Photo-reconnaissance satellite. |
| 1969 Aug 19 |
13:00 |
Cosmos 294 (Zenit-4 11Ф69 (#62)) launched into 199 x 329 kilometre, 89.8 minutes period, 65.4 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 Aug 27 |
08:08 |
Cosmos 294 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Aug 28 |
10:19 |
Cosmos 293 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Aug 29 |
09:05 |
Cosmos 296 (Zenit-4 11Ф69) launched into 212 x 297 kilometre, 89.6 minutes period, 65 deg inclination orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 Sep 2 |
11:00 |
Cosmos 297 (Zenit-4 11Ф69) launched into 203 x 313 kilometre, 89.7 minutes period, 72.9 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 Sep 6 |
06:43 |
Cosmos 296 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Sep 10 |
07:12 |
Cosmos 297 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Sep 18 |
08:40 |
Cosmos 299 (Zenit-4 11Ф69) launched into 207 x 283 kilometre, 89.4 minutes period, 65 deg inclination orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 Sep 22 |
08:09 |
Cosmos 299 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Sep 23 |
14:07 |
Cosmos 300 (E-8-5-403) launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome by four-stage Proton rocket into approx 185 x 200 kilometre orbit around the Earth at 51.5 degrees inclination - its mission is to enter orbit around the Moon, then land and return a soil sample to Earth but the final stage of the launcher fails to fire, leaving it stranded in orbit around the Earth |
| 1969 Sep 24 |
12:15 |
Cosmos 301 (Zenit-2 11Ф61 №79) launched into 194 x 289 kilometre, 89.3 minutes period, 65.4 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Photo reconnaissance satellite. |
| 1969 Sep 27 |
|
Cosmos 300, still attached to the fourth stage of its launching rocket, re-enters the Earth atmosphere and is destroyed by frictional heating |
| 1969 Oct 2 |
06:29 |
Cosmos 301 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Oct 17 |
11:45 |
Cosmos 302 (Zenit-4 11Ф69) launched into 198 x 323 kilometre, 89.7 minutes period, 65.5 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 Oct 22 |
14:09 |
Cosmos 305 (E-8-5-404) launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome by four-stage Proton rocket into 175 x 206 kilometre orbit around the Earth at 51.5 degrees inclination - its mission is to enter orbit around the Moon, then land and return a soil sample to Earth but the final stage of the launcher fails to fire, leaving it stranded in orbit around the Earth |
| 1969 Oct 24 |
09:40 |
Cosmos 306 (Zenit-2M 11Ф690, Gektor) launched into 215 x 299 kilometre, 89.6 minutes period, 65 deg inclination orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Photo-reconnaissance satellite. |
| 1969 Oct 24 |
18:05 |
Approx time - Cosmos 305, still attached to the fourth stage of its launching rocket, re-enters the Earth atmosphere and is destroyed by frictional heating |
| 1969 Oct 25 |
06:29 |
Cosmos 302 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Nov 5 |
07:05 |
Cosmos 306 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Nov 12 |
11:30 |
Cosmos 309 (Zenit-2 11Ф61 №80) launched into 184 x 363 kilometre, 90 minutes period, 65.4 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Photo reconnaissance satellite. The only Zenit-2 to carry a Nauka autonomous module - presence confirmed by Kettering Group telemetry analysis. |
| 1969 Nov 15 |
08:30 |
Cosmos 310 (Zenit-4 11Ф69) launched into 204 x 335 kilometre, 89.9 minutes period, 65 deg inclination orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Second generation photo-reconnaissance satellite with higher-resolution camera system. |
| 1969 Nov 20 |
05:31 |
Cosmos 309 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Nov 23 |
06:43 |
Cosmos 310 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Dec 3 |
13:20 |
Cosmos 313 (Zenit-2M 11Ф690, Gektor) launched into 199 x 253 kilometre, 89 minutes period, 65.4 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. Photo-reconnaissance satellite. |
| 1969 Dec 15 |
06:57 |
Cosmos 313 descent module lands for recovery after being commanded to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. |
| 1969 Dec 23 |
13:50 |
Cosmos 317 (Zenit-4MK, Germes) launched into 203 x 282 kilometre, 89.4 minutes period, 65.4 deg inclination orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by Voskhod 11A57 rocket. First successful launch the manoeuvrable Zenit-4M with high resolution cameras. |
