SPACE CALENDAR – DECEMBER

	USSR	December 21	1926	Born Nodelman Yakov Borisovich, Deputy Chief Designer of GKNTsP, participated in the development of long-duration orbital stations.
	USA	December 21	1945	Born Millie Elizabeth Hughes-Fulford - astronaut of the US. Made the space mission in 1991.
	USA	December 21	1961	NASA made a developmental contract of Apollo spacecraft with North American Aviation company.
	USSR	December 21	1966	Luna-13 probe was launched to make a soft landing on the Moon. Made photos of lunar surface and studied lunar soil.
	USA	December 21	1968	Apollo-8 spacecraft manned by Frank Borman, James Lovell and William Anders was launched. Made the first manned flight around the Moon.
	USSR	December 21	1984	Vega-2 probe was launched to study planets of the solar system.
	USSR	December 21	1987	Soyuz TM-4 spacecraft manned by V.Titov, M. Manarov and A.Levchenko was launched.
	Russia	December 22	1897	I.Meshersky defended a thesis on the subject of “The movement of the point of variable mass”. This work is the basis of engineering mechanics of the rocket propulsion.
	USSR	December 22	1960	The fourth satellite carrying dogs (Zhemchuzhina and Zhulka) was launched. The spacecraft failed to reach orbit, yet the module with the dogs safely landed.
	USSR	December 22	1961	Born Malenchenko Yuri Ivanovich, flier-cosmonaut of the Russian Federation, Hero of Russia. Made a flight on Soyuz TM-19 together with T.Musabayev (Kazakhstan) in 1994.
	USSR	December 22	1975	Raduga communications satellite was launched to ensure round-the-clock relay.
	Russia	December 23	1887	Born Rynin Nikolai Alekseevich, propagandist and historian of the cosmonautics.
	Russia	December 23	1905	Born Tsybin Pavel Vladimirovich, supervisor of the development of manned and unmanned spacecraft, Deputy Chief Designer of OKB-1. Participated in the testing of R-1 and R-2 missiles. Honored Scientist and Engineer, Lenin Prize winner.
	USA	December 23	1937	Born Karol Laurel “Bo” Bobko, astronaut of the US. Made 3 space missions in 1983 and 1985 (two).
	USSR	December 23	1959	R-7A intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 14,000 km was launched.
	USSR	December 23	1969	For the first time Zenit-4MK satellite was launched.
	USSR	December 23	1982	Conducted the first launch of Soyuz (11A511U2) booster.
	USSR	December 23	1986	The first automatic landing of an aircraft- analogue of Buran orbit spacecraft was conducted on the cosmodrome of LII.
	USSR	December 23	1987	Yu.Semenov, Chief Designer of NPO Energia, has been elected a Corresponding Member of Academy of Sciences of USSR.
	Russia	December 23	1997	The first belt of Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile was placed on alert in the Saratov Region.
	Russia - Ukraine	December 23	1998	Approved a Decision #3435-PGD of State Duma “About ratification of Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Ukraine about systems of prevention of rocket attack and control of outer space”.
	Russia	December 24	1909	Born Alexeyev Semyon Mikhailovich, aircraft designer, Deputy of Chief Designer Lavochkin, Chief Aircraft Designer of OKB-21, Chief Designer of NPP Zvezda (1952-1964). Participated in the preparation of the flights of Yu.Gagarin and subsequent Vostok spacecraft. Chief Designer of life support systems. Hero of Socialist Labor.
	Russia	December 24	1912	Born G.Svishev, scientific-mechanic, chief of TsIAM, TsAGI, academician.
	USSR	December 24	1958	Conducted the launch of R-7 booster. Automatic engines cutoff occurred on the 130th second of flight. Beginning of the third phase of tests of this booster.
	USSR	December 24	1963	By a Decision of Soviet of Ministers of the USSR determined producers and suppliers of systems of starter complex and special land technological equipment.
	USSR	December 24	1966	Luna-13 became the second Russian space vehicle which made a soft landing on the Moon.
	USA	December 24	1968	Apollo-8 became the first manned spacecraft to enter the Moon’s orbit.
	USSR	December 24	1969	Born Skripochka Oleg Ivanovich, unflown cosmonaut, 13th team of 1997 of RKK Energia.
	USSR	December 24	1974	Conducted the launch of Cosmos-699 the first satellite of marine radio prospecting.
	Russia	December 24	1996	Bion-11 satellite with monkeys (Multik and Lapik) was launched to study the effect of zero gravity on metabolism, the vestibular apparetus and locomotor system.
	England	December 25	1643	Born Newton I., physicist and mechanical engineer, astronomer and mathematician. He laid the foundations of celestial mechanics.
	Russia	December 25	1909	Born Lozino-Lozinsky Gleb Evgenyevich, General Designer of NPO Molniya. Supervised the development of the Buran orbiter. Hero of Socialist Labor.
	USSR	December 25	1935	Born Doguzhiyev Vitaly Khuseynovich, Minister of General Machine-Building, Chairman ot the State Commission for space flight testing of the Energia-Buran space shuttle system, Hero of Socialist Labor.
	USSR	December 25	1936	Born Ivannikov Artur Nikolaevich, Deputy Director General for Research of NPO Energia, Dr.Sc.(Technology), State Prize winner.
	India	December 25	1943	Born Ravish Malhotra, back-up of R.Sharm for flight of 1984 in USSR.
	USSR	December 25	1956	The first missile launch from underwater. An experimental missile, a modification of R-11FM, was launched from a depth of 30 meters from a submerged stand at a testing base of the Black Sea Fleet.
	USA	December 25	1959	Born Michael P.Anderson, astronaut of the US. Made a space mission in 1998.
	USSR	December 25	1969	Intercosmos-2 satellite was launched to conduct joint experiments by scientists of COMECOM countries.
	USSR	December 25	1988	Progress-39 cargo spacecraft was launched.
	Russia - Kazakhstan	December 25	1993	Chernomyrdin premier and S.Tereshenko premier of Kazakhstan signed an Agreement about lease of Baikonur cosmodrome for Russia, term of lease is 99 years.
	Russia	December 26	1916	Born Kuznetsov Nikolai Fedorovich, Head of TsPK, Dr.Sc.(Military), Hero of the Soviet Union.
	USSR	December 26	1926	Born Alyshevsky Igor Fedorovich, leading specialist in testing of control system instruments at RKK Energia, State Prize winner.
	USSR	December 26	1932	Born Sagdeyev Roald Zinnurovich, scientist in plasma physics and space studies, Director of the Institute of Space Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Lenin Prize winner.
	USSR	December 26	1953	Born Sharov Valery Yurievich, unflown cosmonaut, team of journalist of 1990.
	USSR	December 26	1974	Salyut-4 research station was put into orbit.
	USSR	December 26	1987	Conducted the launch of Resurs-F2 satellite for polyzonal and spectral photographing of the Earth surface.
	Russia	December 26	1999	Cosmos-2367 satellite was put into orbit by Tsiklon-2 booster.
	Germany	December 27	1571	Born Kepler Iogan, astronomer, discovered a law of planetary motion.
	Russia	December 27	1785	Born K. Shilder, military engineer-artilleryman, made an outstanding contribution to perfection and expansion of rocket application.
	USSR	December 27	1951	S.Korolev spoke at a meeting of Presidium of scientific and technical and educational Council of NII-88 with report about results of NIR on the subject: ”Comprehersive analysis and determination of key flight and tactical characteristics of ballistic missiles of the long-range”.
	USSR	December 27	1956	The first testing of the central unit of the R-7 intercontinental ballistic missile was held at Branch #2 of NII-88 (now NII Khimmash, Moscow Region).
	USSR	December 27	1961	Conducted the first launch of MP-1along the ballistic trajectory.
	USSR	December 27	1971	Conducted the first launch of 11A511M (Soyuz-M), Plesetsk. Orion (Cosmos-470) the apparatus for cartographical survey was put into orbit.
	USSR	December 27	1971	Launched Oreol satellite under Arkad the Soviet - French program.
	USSR	December 27	1973	Launchred Cosmos-626 the first satellite of sea and radio-locating reconnaissance under the engineering manual of KB Arsenal.
	USSR	December 27	1981	Conducted the first flight test of RD-0243 liquid-propellant jet engine consisting of the first stage of RSM-54 missile.
	USSR	December 27	1983	Cosmos-1517 satellite (the third winged space shuttle Bor) was launched.
	Russia	December 27	1999	Cosmos-2368 satellite was put into orbit by Molniya booster.
	USSR	December 28	1920	Born Mozzhorin Yuri Aleksandrovich, technical supervisor of the development of the Soviet instrumentation and command complex, specialist in rocketry and spacecraft, Director of TsNIIMash, Dr.Sc.(Technology), Professor, Hero of Socialist Labor, Lenin Prize winner.
	USSR	December 28	1972	For the first time in the Russian practice RT-2P intercontinental ballistic missile was put into service.
	Russia	December 29	1912	Born Bereznyak Alexander Yakovlevich, aircraft and rocket designer. Participated, jointly with A.Isayev, in the development of the first experimental jet fighter powered by a liquid-propellant rocket engine (BI-1). Dr.Sc.(Technology), Honored Scientist and Engineer of the Russian Federation, Lenin and State Prizes winner.
	USSR	December 29	1955	Conducted the first launch of R-11M ballistic missile.
	USA	December 29	1958	Born Nancy Jane Sherlock-Currie, astronaut of the US. Made two space missions in 1993 and 1995.
	USSR	December 29	1961	Born M.Golub, specialist in a science of space materials, director general of joint-stock company NPO Kompozit.
	USSR	December 29	1975	RS-18 missile complex was put into service.
	USSR	December 29	1985	First of the Dolphin class submarine with 16 launch tubes for RSM-54 ballistic missiles was put into service.
	Russia	December 29	1992	Bion-10 satellite carrying monkeys (Drema and Erosha) was launched, Plesetsk.
	Russia	December 29	1993	Yu.Koptev Director of RKA signed the Protocol for Agreement to lease of Baikonur cosmodrome.
	USSR	December 30	1921	The world’s first discussion of F.Tsander’s engine for an interplanetary spacecraft at a conference of inventors in Moscow.
	USA	December 30	1931	Born Charles Arthur Bassett, II “Chuck”, astronaut of the US.
	USSR	December 30	1949	Approved a Decision of Central Committee of Communist Party and Soviet of Ministers of the USSR about development of missiles on the basis of R-1 for research aims of Academy of Sciences of USSR.
	USA	December 30	1953	Born Daniel Thomas Barry, astronaut of the US. Made the space missile in 1996.
	USSR	December 30	1955	The first R-11M missile was launched. The missile was put into service in 1958.
	USA	December 30	1958	Born Steven Lee Smith, astronaut of the US. Made two space missions in 1994 and 1997.
	USSR	December 30	1975	RS-18 missile complex, designed at KBU under V.Utkin’s supervision, was put into service.
	International	December 30	1991	Approved an Agreement between Armenia, Byelorussia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Tadjikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Ukraine about joint work for exploration and using of outer space.
	Russia - Ukraine	December 30	1995	Approved a Decision # 1464 of Government of the Russian Federation “About a signing of an Agreement between Governments of Russia and Ukraine about underlying principles of creation of Russian and Ukrainian fiscal product groups”.
	USSR	December 31	1924	The first launch of an aircraft model powered by a rocket engine at official competitions.
	USSR	December 31	1924	Born Kirillov Anatoly Semenovich, head of a department at Baikonur cosmodrome. Participated in the preparation and launches of manned spacecraft.
	USSR	December 31	1940	Born Yakovlev Oleg Anatolievich, unflown cosmonaut, the third team of Air Force of 1965, in the team of cosmonaut until May, 1973.
	USSR	December 31	1948	Born Afanasyev Victor Mikhailovich, flier-cosmonaut of the USSR, Hero of the Soviet Union. Made three flights in 1990, 1994 and 1999.
	USA	December 31	1956	Born Martin Joseph Fettman, astronaut of the US. Made the space mission in 1993.
	USSR	December 31	1957	Beginning of production of 8K63 missile in the PO Polet.
	USSR	December 31	1963	Sputnik monument placed near to Rizhskaya subway station in Moscow.
	USSR	December 31	1969	“Basic regulations for orbital station and DOS-7K complex” prepared in TsKBEM.