The
166 spacecrafts launched in 1968 :
.
Spacecraft
Entries
.
Surveyor 7
| Spacecraft: |
Surveyor SC-7 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #1 ; 1968-001A ; 1006th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Lunar probe |
| Sponsor: |
NASA |
|
|
|
.
Explorer 36 / GEOS 2
| Spacecraft: |
GEOS B ; Geodetic Earth Orbiting
Satellite |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #2 ; 1968-002A ; 1007th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Geodesy |
| Sponsor: |
NASA |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 199
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-2 No. 59 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #3 ; 1968-003A ; 1008th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Ferret 12
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 1965 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #4 ; 1968-004A ; 1009th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Electronic intelligence |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Titan Samos 11 / KH-8
11 GAMBIT
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 5028 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #5 ; 1968-005A ; 1010th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 200
| Spacecraft: |
Tselina-O |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #6 ; 1968-006A ; 1011th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Electronic intelligence |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Apollo 5 (AS-204)
| Spacecraft: |
LM 1 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #7 ; 1968-007A ; 1012th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Piloted spacecrat test |
| Sponsor: |
NASA |
|
|
|
.
Discoverer 118 / CORONA
1045 / KH-4A
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 2243 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #8 ; 1968-008A ; 1013th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
 |
|
.
Hitchhiker 17
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 6236 / EHH B10 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #9 ; 1968-008B ; 1014th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Electronic intelligence |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 201
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-4 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #10 ; 1968-009A ; 1015th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Luna
| Spacecraft: |
E-6LS No. 112 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #11 ; 1968 1st loss ; 1016th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Lunar probe |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau) |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 202
| Spacecraft: |
DS-U2-V No. 4 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #12 ; 1968-010A ; 1017th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Military technologies |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 203
| Spacecraft: |
Sfera |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #13 ; 1968-011A ; 1018th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Geodesy |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union |
|
|
|
.
Transit 18 / NNS O-18
| Spacecraft: |
Transit O-11 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #14 ; 1968-012A ; 1019th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Navigation |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Zond 4
| Spacecraft: |
L-1 No. 6L / Soyuz 7K-L1 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #15 ; 1968-013A ; 1020th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Piloted spacecraft test (Lunar program) |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau) |
|
|
|
.
OGO 5
| Spacecraft: |
OGO E ; Orbiting Geophysical
Observatory |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #16 ; 1968-014A ; 1021st spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Geophysics |
| Sponsor: |
NASA |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 204
| Spacecraft: |
DS-P1-I s/n 3 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #17 ; 1968-015A ; 1022nd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Anti-satellite |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 205
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-2 11F61 s/n 56 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #19 ; 1968-016A ; 1024th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Antimissile technologies |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Explorer 37 / SOLRAD
9
| Spacecraft: |
SR 9 / Solar Explorer B |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #18 ; 1968-017A ; 1023rd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Solar observatory |
| Sponsor: |
NASA |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos
| Spacecraft: |
DS-U1-Ya No. 1 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #20 ; 1968 2nd loss ; 1025th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Earth/space studies (civil) |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union |
|
|
|
.
Titan Samos 12 / KH-8
12 GAMBIT
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 5057 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #21 ; 1968-018A ; 1026th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 206
| Spacecraft: |
Meteor No. 9 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #22 ; 1968-019A ; 1027th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Meteorology |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union |
|
|
|
.
Discoverer 119 / CORONA
1046 / KH-4A
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 4849 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #23 ; 1968-020A ; 1028th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
 |
|
.
Hitchhiker 18
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 7076 / EHH B11 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #24 ; 1968-020B ; 1029th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Electronic intelligence |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 207
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-4 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #25 ; 1968-021A ; 1030th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 208
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-2M |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #26 ; 1968-022A ; 1031st spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Nauka
| Spacecraft: |
[Nauka #1] |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #27 ; 1968-022B ; 1032nd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Science & technology |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 209
| Spacecraft: |
US-A |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #28 ; 1968-023A ; 1033rd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Ocean surveillance ("RORSAT") |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 210
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-2 No. 60 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #29 ; 1968-024A ; 1034th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Apollo 6 (SA-502)
| Spacecraft: |
Apollo CM-020 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #30 ; 1968-025A ; 1035th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Piloted spacecraft test |
| Sponsor: |
NASA |
|
|
|
.
OV 1-13
| Spacecraft: |
|
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #31 ; 1968-026A ; 1036th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Science & technology |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
OV 1-14
| Spacecraft: |
|
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #32 ; 1968-026B ; 1037th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Science & technology |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Luna 14
| Spacecraft: |
E-6LS No. 113 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #33 ; 1968-027A ; 1038th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Lunar probe |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau) |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 211
| Spacecraft: |
DS-P1-Yu No. 13 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #34 ; 1968-028A ; 1039th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Military technologies |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 212
| Spacecraft: |
Soyuz No. 8 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #35 ; 1968-029A ; 1040th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Piloted spacecraft test |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau) |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 213
| Spacecraft: |
Soyuz No. 7 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #37 ; 1968-030A ; 1041th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Piloted spacecraft test |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau) |
|
|
|
.
Titan Samos 13 / KH-8
13 GAMBIT
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 5105 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #37 ; 1968-031A ; 1042nd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 214
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-4 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #38 ; 1968-032A ; 1043rd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 215
| Spacecraft: |
DS-U1-A No. 1 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #39 ; 1968-033A ; 1044th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Military technologies |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 216
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-2 No. 62 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #40 ; 1968-034A ; 1045th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Molniya I-8
| Spacecraft: |
Molniya 1H |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #41 ; 1968-035A ; 1046th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Communications |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union |
|
|
|
.
Zond
| Spacecraft: |
L-1 No. 7L / Soyuz 7K-L1 s/n
7L |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #42 ; 1968 3rd loss ; 1047th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Piloted spacecraft test (Lunar program) |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau) |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 217
| Spacecraft: |
I2M |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #43 ; 1968-036A ; 1048th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Antisatellite |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 218
| Spacecraft: |
OGCh (FOBS #12) |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #44 ; 1968-037A ; 1049th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Bombardment via space |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 219
| Spacecraft: |
DS-U2-D No. 2 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #45 ; 1968-038A ; 1050th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Earth/space studies (civil) |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union |
|
|
|
.
Discoverer 120/ CORONA
1103 / KH-4B
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 1419 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #46 ; 1968-039A ; 1051st spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
 |
|
.
Kosmos 220
| Spacecraft: |
Tsiklon |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #47 ; 1968-040A ; 1052nd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Navigation (first generation) |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
ESRO 2 / ESRO 2B / IRIS
| Spacecraft: |
|
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #48 ; 1968-041A ; 1053rd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Technology |
| Sponsor: |
Europe's ESRO |
|
|
|
.
Nimbus B
| Spacecraft: |
Nimbus-B1 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #49 ; 1968 4th loss ; 1054th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Meteorology |
| Sponsor: |
NASA |
|
|
|
.
Secor 10 / EGRS 10
| Spacecraft: |
Sequential Collation of Range |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #50 ; 1968 5th loss ; 1055th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Radar calibration |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos
| Spacecraft: |
OGCh |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #51 ; 1968 n/a ; 1056th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Bombardment via space |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
P-35-20 / DAPP 4B F-1
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 7869 (FTV-8) ; DMSP-Block-4A
F11
Data Acquisition and Processing Program |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #52 ; 1968-042A ; 1057th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Meteorology |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 221
| Spacecraft: |
DS-P1-Yu No. 14 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #53 ; 1968-043A ; 1058th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Military technologies |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos
| Spacecraft: |
OGCh |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #54 ; 1968 n/a ; 1059th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Bombardment via space |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 222
| Spacecraft: |
DS-P1-Yu No. 12 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #55 ; 1968-044A ; 1060th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Military technologies |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 223
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-2 No. 63 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #56 ; 1968-045A ; 1061st spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 224
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-4 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #57 ; 1968-046A ; 1062nd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos
| Spacecraft: |
Sfera 12L |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #58 ; 1968 6th loss ; 1063rd
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Geodesy |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union |
|
|
|
.
Titan Samos 14 / KH-8
14 GAMBIT
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 5138 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #59 ; 1968-047A ; 1064th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 225
| Spacecraft: |
DS-U1-Ya No. 2 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #60 ; 1968-048A ; 1065th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Earth/space studies (civil) |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 226
| Spacecraft: |
Meteor No. 10 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #61 ; 1968-049A ; 1066th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Meteorology |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union |
|
|
|
.
IDSCP 27 / DSCS 1-20
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 9341 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #62 ; 1968-050A ; 1067th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Communications |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
IDSCP 28 / DSCS 1-21
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 9342 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #63 ; 1968-050B ; 1068th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Communications |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
IDSCP 29 / DSCS 1-22
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 9343 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #64 ; 1968-050C ; 1069th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Communications |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
IDSCP 30 / DSCS 1-23
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 9344 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #65 ; 1968-050D ; 1070th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Communications |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
IDSCP 31 / DSCS 1-24
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 9345 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #66 ; 1968-050E ; 1071st spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Communications |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
IDSCP 32 / DSCS 1-25
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 9346 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #67 ; 1968-050F ; 1072nd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Communications |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
IDSCP 33 / DSCS 1-26
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 9347 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #68 ; 1968-050G ; 1073rd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Communications |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
IDSCP 34 / DSCS 1-27
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 9348 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #69 ; 1968-050H ; 1074th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Communications |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos
| Spacecraft: |
Strela-2 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #70 ; 1968 7th loss ; 1075th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Communications (store/dump) |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 227
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-4 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #71 ; 1968-051A ; 1076th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Discoverer 121 / CORONA
1047 / KH-4A
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 5343 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #72 ; 1968-052A ; 1077th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
 |
|
.
Hitchhiker 19
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 5259, EHH B12 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #73 ; 1968-052B ; 1078th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Electronic intelligenge |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 228
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-2M |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #74 ; 1968-053A ; 1079th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Nauka
| Spacecraft: |
[Nauka #2] |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #75 ; 1968-053G ; 1080th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Science & technology |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 229
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-4 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #76 ; 1968-054A ; 1081st spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Explorer 38 / RAE 1
| Spacecraft: |
RAE A ; Radio Astronomy Explorer |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #77 ; 1968-055A ; 1082nd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Astronomy |
| Sponsor: |
NASA |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 230
| Spacecraft: |
DS-U3-S No. 2 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #78 ; 1968-056A ; 1083rd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Solar observatory |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union |
|
|
|
.
Molniya 1-9
| Spacecraft: |
Molniya 1J |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #79 ; 1968-057A ; 1084th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Communications |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 231
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-2 No. 64 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #80 ; 1968-058A ; 1085th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
OV 1-15 / OV1-15S /
ARSP 68-1 / SPADES
| Spacecraft: |
|
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #81 ; 1968-059A ; 1086th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Technology |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
OV 1-16 / LOADS / Cannon
Ball I
| Spacecraft: |
|
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #82 ; 1968-059B ; 1087th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Technology |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 232
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-4 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #83 ; 1968-060A ; 1088th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 233
| Spacecraft: |
DS-P1-Yu No. 15 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #84 ; 1968-061A ; 1089th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Military technologies |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Zond
| Spacecraft: |
Soyuz 7K-L1 8L |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #85 ; 1968 8th loss ; 1090th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Piloted spacecraft test |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau) |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 234
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-4 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #86 ; 1968-062A ; 1091st spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
CANYON 1
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 2222 ; Program 827's AFP-827
F1 (7501) |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #87 ; 1968-063A ; 1092nd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Electronic intelligence |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
|
| Launch: |
6 August 1968 at 11h16 UTC, from
Cape Canaverl's LC-13, by an Atlas-Agena D (Atlas SLV-3A 5501A / Agena
D 2801). |
| Orbit: |
Geostationary |
| Mission: |
|
| Notes: |
CANYON was the first geosynchronous signals
intelligence satellite, launched from 1968 to 1977 as part of NRO's Program
A and developed by the US Air Force. The program was highly classified
(and remains so even over 20 years after program completion) and for many
years analysts thought they were a first-generation DSP early warning satellite.
Launches under the Program 827 designation were carried out by the uprated
Atlas SLV-3A/Agena D rocket from Cape Canaveral. CANYON's successors have
flown under the designations CHALET, VORTEX and MERCURY; official statements
following the last MERCURY launch failure imply that despite these code
name changes, and several spacecraft block changes, these satellites are
all considered part of a single geostationary communications intelligence
program. It is conjectured that the CANYON spacecraft features a cylindrical
bus of order 1.5 meter in diameter attached to one or more large antennas;
it is thought to have transmitted its data to a ground station at Bad Aibling
in Germany. |
| Source: |
Jonathan
McDowell's Master
List ; Mark
Wade’s Encyclopedia Astronautica ; National
Space Science Data Center's Master
Catalog ; TRW Space Log ; Jonathan
Space Report No. 501
; |
|
|
.
Titan Samos 15 / KH-8
15 GAMBIT
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 5187 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #88 ; 1968-064A ; 1093rd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
|
|
.
Discoverer 122 / CORONA
1104 / KH-4B
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 5955 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #89 ; 1968-065A ; 1094th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
 |
|
.
Explorer 39 / AD-C
| Spacecraft: |
Air Density Explorer |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #90 ; 1968-066A ; 1095th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Earth upper atmosphere studies |
| Sponsor: |
NASA |
|
|
|
.
Explorer 40 / Injun
5
| Spacecraft: |
Injun-C |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #91 ; 1968-066B ; 1096th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Radiations studies |
| Sponsor: |
NASA |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 235
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-2 No. 61 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #92 ; 1968-067A ; 1097th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
ATS 4
| Spacecraft: |
ATS D ; Applications Technology
Satellite |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #93 ; 1968-068A ; 1098th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Technology |
| Sponsor: |
NASA |
|
|
|
.
ESSA 7
| Spacecraft: |
TOS E |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #94 ; 1968-069A ; 1099th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Meteorology |
| Sponsor: |
ESSA |
|
|
|
.
Secor 11 / EGRS 11
| Spacecraft: |
SESP 68-1H ; Sequential
Collation of Range |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #95 ; 1968 9th loss ; 1100th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Radar calibration |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Secor 12 / EGRS 12
| Spacecraft: |
Sequential Collation of Range |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #96 ; 1968 10th loss ; 1101st
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Radar calibration |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
GSD 1 / Grid Sphere
Drag 1
| Spacecraft: |
AVL-802 Mylar Sphere |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #97 ; 1968 11th loss ; 1102nd
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
|
| Sponsor: |
|
|
|
|
.
GSD 2 / Grid Sphere
Drag 2
| Spacecraft: |
AVL-802 Grid Sphere 7-1 / SESP
68-1A |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #98 ; 1968 12th loss ; 1103rd
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Radar calibration |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
GSD 3 / Grid Sphere
Drag 3
| Spacecraft: |
AVL-802 Grid Sphere 7-2 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #99 ; 1968 13th loss ; 1104th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Radar calibration |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
GSD 4 / Grid Sphere
Drag 4
| Spacecraft: |
AVL-802 Rigid Sphere |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #100 ; 1968 14th loss ; 1105th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
|
| Sponsor: |
|
|
|
|
.
UVR
| Spacecraft: |
UV Radiometer / SESP 68-1J |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #101 ; 1968 15th loss ; 1106th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Technology |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
OV 5-8 / ERS 19
| Spacecraft: |
SESP 68-1E |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #102 ; 1968 16th loss ; 1107th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Technology |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Radcat
| Spacecraft: |
|
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #103 ; 1968 17th loss ; 1108th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Radar calibration |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
LCS 3
| Spacecraft: |
Lincoln Calibration Sphere |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #104 ; 1968 18th loss ; 1109th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Radar calibration |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Orbiscal 1
| Spacecraft: |
|
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #105 ; 1968 19th loss ; 1110th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Radar calibration |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Lidos
| Spacecraft: |
SESP 68-1C |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #106 ; 1968 20th loss ; 1111th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Gravity studies |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
RM-18
| Spacecraft: |
SESP 68-1G |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #107 ; 1968 21st loss ; 1112th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Science & technology |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 236
| Spacecraft: |
Strela-2 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #108 ; 1968-070A ; 1113th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Communications (store/dump) |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 237
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-4 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #109 ; 1968-071A ; 1114th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 238
| Spacecraft: |
Soyuz No. 9 / Soyuz 7K-OK s/n
9 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #110 ; 1968-072A ; 1115th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Piloted spacecraft |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau) |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 239
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-4 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #111 ; 1968-073A ; 1116th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Titan Samos 16 / KH-8
16 GAMBIT
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 5247 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #112 ; 1968-074A ; 1117th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 240
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-2 No. 66 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #113 ; 1968-075A ; 1118th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Zond 5
| Spacecraft: |
L-1 No. 9L |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #114 ; 1968-076A ; 1119th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Piloted spacecraft (Lunar program) |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau) |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 241
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-4 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #115 ; 1968-077A ; 1120th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Discoverer 123 / CORONA
1048 / KH-4A
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 0165 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #116 ; 1968-078A ; 1121st spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
 |
|
.
Hitchhiker 20
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 8595, EHH B13 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #117 ; 1968-078B ; 1122nd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Electronic intelligence |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Intelsat 3A
| Spacecraft: |
Intelsat III F-1 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #118 ; 1968 22nd loss ; 1123rd
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Communications |
| Sponsor: |
Intelsat |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 242
| Spacecraft: |
DS-P1-I No. 4 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #119 ; 1968-079A ; 1124th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Antimissile technologies |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 243
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-2M |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #120 ; 1968-080A ; 1125th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Nauka
| Spacecraft: |
[Nauka #3] |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #121 ; 1968-080C ; 1126th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Science & technology |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
OV 2-5 / DG7-2
| Spacecraft: |
|
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #122 ; 1968-081A ; 1127th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Science & technology |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
OV 5-2 / ERS 28 / ORS
3G
| Spacecraft: |
|
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #123 ; 1968-081B ; 1128th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Science & technology |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
OV 5-4 / ERS 21 / ORS
3D
| Spacecraft: |
|
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #124 ; 1968-081C ; 1129th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Science & technology |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
LES 6
| Spacecraft: |
Lincoln Experimental Satellite |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #125 ; 1968-081D ; 1130th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Technology |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 244
| Spacecraft: |
OGCh (FOBS #13) |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #126 ; 1968-082A ; 1131st spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Bombardment via space |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 245
| Spacecraft: |
DS-P1-Yu No. 16 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #127 ; 1968-083A ; 1132nd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Military technologies |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
ESRO 1A / Aurorae
| Spacecraft: |
|
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #128 ; 1968-084A ; 1133rd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Earth upper atmosphere studies |
| Sponsor: |
Europe's ESRO |
|
|
|
.
Molniya 1-10
| Spacecraft: |
Molniya 1K |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #129 ; 1968-085A ; 1134th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Communications |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union |
|
|
|
.
Ferret 13
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 0964 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #130 ; 1968-086A ; 1135th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Electronic intelligence |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force/NSA |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 246
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-4 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #131 ; 1968-087A ; 1136th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 247
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-2 No. 65 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #132 ; 1968-088A ; 1137th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Apollo 7
| Spacecraft: |
Apollo CM-101 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #133 ; 1968-089A ; 1138th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Piloted spacecraft |
| Sponsor: |
NASA |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 248
| Spacecraft: |
I2M |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #134 ; 1968-090A ; 1139th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Antisatellite |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 249
| Spacecraft: |
I2P |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #135 ; 1968-091A ; 1140th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Antisatellite |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
P-35-21 / DAPP 6422
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 4078 (FTV-7) / DMSP-Block-4A
F12
Data Acquisition and Processing Program |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #136 ; 1968-092A ; 1141st spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Meteorology |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Soyuz 2
| Spacecraft: |
Soyuz No. 11 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #137 ; 1968-093A ; 1142nd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Piloted spacecraft (unmanned) |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau) |
|
|
|
.
Soyuz 3
| Spacecraft: |
Soyuz No. 10 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #138 ; 1968-094A ; 1143rd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Piloted spacecraft |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau) |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 250
| Spacecraft: |
Tselina-O |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #139 ; 1968-095A ; 1144th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Electronic intelligence |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 251
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-4M |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #140 ; 1968-096A ; 1145th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 252
| Spacecraft: |
I2P |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #141 ; 1968-097A ; 1146th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Antisatellite |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Discoverer 124
/ CORONA 1105 / KH-4B
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 1315 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #142 ; 1968-098A ; 1147th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
 |
|
.
Titan Samos 17 / KH-8
17 GAMBIT
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 5296 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #143 ; 1968-099A ; 1148th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
|
|
.
Pioneer 9
| Spacecraft: |
Pioneer D |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #144 ; 1968-100A ; 1149th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Space environment studies |
| Sponsor: |
NASA |
|
|
|
.
TTS 2 / TETR 2
| Spacecraft: |
TETR B |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #145 ; 1968-100B ; 1150th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Technology |
| Sponsor: |
NASA |
|
|
|
.
Zond 6
| Spacecraft: |
L-1 No. 12L |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #146 ; 1968-101A ; 1151st spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Piloted spacecraft test (Lunar program) |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union (Korolev's Design Bureau) |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 253
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-2 No. 67 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #147 ; 1968-102A ; 1152nd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Proton 4
| Spacecraft: |
N-6 No. 1 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #148 ; 1968-103A ; 1153rd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Science |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 254
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-4 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #149 ; 1968-104A ; 1154th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 255
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-2 No. 68 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #150 ; 1968-105A ; 1155th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
STV 1
| Spacecraft: |
|
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #151 ; 1968 23rd loss ; 1156th
spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Technology |
| Sponsor: |
ELDO / European Launcher Development Organization |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 256
| Spacecraft: |
Sfera |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #152 ; 1968-106A ; 1157th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Geodey |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 257
| Spacecraft: |
DS-P1-Yu No. 17 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #153 ; 1968-107A ; 1158th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Military technologies |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Titan Samos 18 / KH-8
18 GAMBIT
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 6518 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #154 ; 1968-108A ; 1159th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
|
|
.
HEOS 1
| Spacecraft: |
HEOS A1 ; Highly Eccentric Orbiting
Satellite |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #155 ; 1968-109A ; 1160th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Earth upper atmosphere studies |
| Sponsor: |
Europe's ESRO |
|
|
|
.
OAO 2
| Spacecraft: |
OAO B / OAO A2 ; Orbiting Astronomical
Observatory |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #156 ; 1968-110A ; 1161st spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Astronomy |
| Sponsor: |
NASA |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 258
| Spacecraft: |
Zenit-2 No. 69 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #157 ; 1968-111A ; 1162nd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Discoverer 125 / CORONA
1049 / KH-4A
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 4740 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #158 ; 1968-112A ; 1163rd spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Reconnaissance |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. National Reconnaissance Office |
|
 |
|
.
Hitchhiker 21
| Spacecraft: |
OPS 7684 / EHH C1 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #159 ; 1968-112B ; 1164th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Electronic intelligence |
| Sponsor: |
U.S. Air Force |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 259
| Spacecraft: |
DS-U2-I No. 3 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #160 ; 1968-113A ; 1165th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Military technologies |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
ESSA 8
| Spacecraft: |
TOS F |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #161 ; 1968-114A ; 1166th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Meteorology |
| Sponsor: |
ESSA |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 260
| Spacecraft: |
Molniya-1Yu? |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #162 ; 1968-115A ; 1167th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Missile early warning or communications |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union's Defense ministry |
|
|
|
.
Intelsat 3B
| Spacecraft: |
Intelsat III F-2 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #163 ; 1968-116A ; 1168th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Communications |
| Sponsor: |
Intelsat |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 261
| Spacecraft: |
DS-U2-GK No. 1 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #164 ; 1968-117A ; 1169th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Earth upper atmosphere studies (civil) |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union |
|
|
|
.
Apollo 8
| Spacecraft: |
Apollo CM-103 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #165 ; 1968-118A ; 1170th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Piloted spacecraft |
| Sponsor: |
NASA |
|
|
|
.
Kosmos 262
| Spacecraft: |
DS-U2-GF No. 1 |
| Numbers: |
1968 payload #166 ; 1968-119A ; 1171th spacecraft. |
| Type: |
Earth/space studies (civil) |
| Sponsor: |
Soviet Union |
|
|
|
|