View source for 1986 in spaceflight

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2022}}
{{Wikipedia:WikiProject Timeline of spaceflight/Cleanup|incomplete=yes|refs=yes|}}
{{Infobox Year in spaceflight
|year = 1986
|image = Challenger explosion.jpg
|caption = {{OV|099}} [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|disintegrates]] during the launch of [[STS-51-L]], killing all seven astronauts

|first = 
|last = 
|total = 
|success = 
|failed = 
|partial = 
|catalogued =

|maidens = [[Ariane 2]]
|retired = [[Ariane 1]]<br/>{{OV|099}}

|orbital = 2 <!-- STS-51-L did not achieve orbit -->
|totalcrew = 9 <!-- STS-51-L did not achieve orbit -->

|firstsat = {{SWE}}
|firsttrav = 
}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| programme          = [[Timeline of spaceflight]]
| previous_mission   = [[1985 in spaceflight|1985]]
| next_mission       = [[1987 in spaceflight|1987]]
}}

{{TLS-L|alignment=right|fixed=on}}

The year 1986 saw the destruction of [[Space Shuttle Challenger]] shortly after lift-off, killing all seven aboard,<ref name="51L">{{cite web|title=NASA - STS-51L Mission Profile|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-51L.html|website=NASA.gov|date=19 January 2016|publisher=NASA|access-date=3 March 2017|archive-date=5 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505145220/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-51L.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the first in-flight deaths of American astronauts. This accident followed the successful flight of [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia]] just weeks earlier,<ref name="61C">{{cite web|title=Mission Archives: STS-61-C|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-61C.html|website=NASA.gov|publisher=NASA|access-date=3 March 2017|archive-date=2 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802022610/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-61C.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and dealt a major setback to the U.S. crewed space program, suspending the Shuttle program for 32 months.<ref name=STS-26>{{cite web|title=Mission Archives: STS-26|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-26.html|website=NASA.gov|publisher=NASA|access-date=19 February 2017|archive-date=3 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803165004/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-26.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The year also saw numerous fly-bys of [[Halley's Comet]] as well as other successes.
{{toclimit|limit=2}}
{{Clear}}

==Launches==
{{Incomplete list|date=August 2008}}
{{TLS-M|1986}}
{{TLS-H2}}
|colspan="8"|

=== January ===
|-
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=4
|date=12 January |time=11:55
|rocket={{flagicon|USA}}{{OV|102}}
|site={{flagicon|USA}}[[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]] [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39|LC-39A]]
|LSP={{flagicon|USA}}[[United Space Alliance]]
|remarks=Crewed orbital flight with seven astronauts; Maiden flight of the Getaway Special Bridge
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[STS-61-C]]
  |user=[[NASA]]
  |orbit=[[Low Earth orbit|Low Earth]]
  |function=Satellite deployment
  |outcome=Successful
  |d-date=18 January
  |d-time=13:58
  }}{{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[Satcom (satellite)|Satcom K1]]
  |user=[[RCA Americom]]
  |orbit=[[Geosynchronous orbit|Geosynchronous]]
  |function=Communications
  |outcome=Successful
  }}{{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[MSL-2]]
  |user=NASA
  |orbit=Low Earth (''Columbia'')
  |function=Microgravity experiments
  |outcome=Successful
  |d-date=18 January
  |d-time=13:58
  }}{{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[Getaway Special|Getaway Special Bridge]]
  |user=NASA
  |orbit=Low Earth (''Columbia'')
  |function=[[Getaway Special]] carrier
  |outcome=Successful
  |d-date=18 January
  |d-time=13:58
  }}
}}
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=3
|date=28 January |time=16:38
|rocket={{flagicon|USA}}Space Shuttle {{OV|099|full=no}}
|site={{flagicon|USA}}Kennedy [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39#Current status|LC-39B]]
|LSP={{flagicon|USA}}United Space Alliance
|remarks=[[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster]]; Vehicle disintegrated at + 73 seconds from an O-ring failure in the right [[Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster|SRB]].<br/>All seven astronauts were killed, including [[Christa McAuliffe]], the intended first [[Teacher in Space Project|Teacher in Space]].<br/>First Shuttle launch from [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39|LC-39B]].
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[STS-51-L]]
  |user=NASA
  |orbit=Intended: Low Earth
  |function=Satellite deployment
  |outcome=Launch failure
  |o-span=3
  |d-time=+ 73 seconds
  |d-span=3
  }}{{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[Tracking and Data Relay Satellite|TDRS-B]]
  |user=NASA
  |orbit=Intended: Geosynchronous
  |function=Communications
  |o-span=inherit
  |d-span=inherit
  }}{{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[SPARTAN 203]]
  |user=NASA
  |orbit=Intended: Low Earth
  |function=Examine [[Halley's Comet]]
  |o-span=inherit
  |d-span=inherit
  }}
}}
|colspan="8"|

=== February ===
|-
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=4
|date=9 February |time=10:06
|rocket={{flagicon|USA}}[[Atlas H]]
|site={{flagicon|USA}}[[Vandenberg Air Force Base|Vandenberg]] [[Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 3|SLC-3E]]
|LSP={{flagicon|USA}}
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[List of USA satellites|USA-15]] ([[Naval Ocean Surveillance System|NOSS-8]])
  |user=US Navy
  |orbit=Low Earth
  |function=[[Signals intelligence|SIGINT]]
  |outcome=Successful
  }}{{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[List of USA satellites|USA-16]] (NOSS)
  |user=US Navy
  |orbit=Low Earth
  |function=SIGINT
  |outcome=Successful
  }}{{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[List of USA satellites|USA-17]] (NOSS)
  |user=US Navy
  |orbit=Low Earth
  |function=SIGINT
  |outcome=Successful
  }}{{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[List of USA satellites|USA-18]] (NOSS)
  |user=US Navy
  |orbit=Low Earth
  |function=SIGINT
  |outcome=Successful
  }}
}}
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=1
|date=19 February |time=21:28
|rocket={{flagicon|USSR}}[[Proton-K]]
|site={{flagicon|USSR}}[[Baikonur Cosmodrome|Baikonur]] [[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200|Site 200/39]]
|LSP={{flagicon|USSR}}
|remarks=Core module of the [[Mir]] space station
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USSR}}[[Mir Core Module|DOS-7]] (Mir Core)
  |user=
  |orbit=Low Earth ([[Mir]])
  |function=[[Space station]]
  |outcome=Successful
  |d-date=23 March 2001
  |d-time=05:07
  }}
}}
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=2
|date=22 February |time=01:44
|rocket={{flagicon|FRA}}[[Ariane 1]]
|site={{flagicon|FRA}}[[Guiana Space Centre|Kourou]] [[ELA-1|ELA]]
|LSP={{flagicon|FRA}}[[Arianespace]]
|remarks=Final flight of Ariane 1<br/>SPOT 1 retired on 31 December 1990 and orbit was lowered to a disposal orbit in 2003<br/>Viking is the first Swedish satellite, and operations concluded on 12 May 1987
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|FRA}}[[SPOT (satellites)|SPOT 1]]
  |user=[[CNES]]
  |orbit=[[Sun-synchronous orbit|Sun-synchronous]]
  |function=[[Earth observation satellite|Earth observation]]
  |outcome=Successful
  }}{{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|SWE}}[[Viking (satellite)|Viking]]
  |user=[[Swedish Space Corporation|SSC]]
  |orbit=Sun-synchronous
  |function=Plasma research
  |outcome=Successful
  }}
}}
|colspan="8"|

=== March ===
|-
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=1
|date=13 March |time=12:33
|rocket={{flagicon|USSR}}[[Soyuz-U2]]
|site={{flagicon|USSR}}Baikonur [[Gagarin's Start|Site 1/5]]
|LSP={{flagicon|USSR}}
|remarks=Crewed orbital flight with two cosmonauts; Final crewed spaceflight to Salyut 7 and the first to Mir.<br/>Final flight of the [[Soyuz-T]] spacecraft.<br/>Only spacecraft to dock with two space stations during one flight.
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USSR}}[[Soyuz T-15]]
  |user=
  |orbit=Low Earth<br/>([[Salyut 7]] and [[Mir]])
  |function=[[List of Salyut Expeditions#Salyut 7|Salyut 7 EO-5]]<br/>[[List of Mir Expeditions|Mir EO-1]]
  |outcome=Successful
  |d-date=16 July
  |d-time=12:34
  }}
}}
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=1
|date=19 March |time=10:08
|rocket={{flagicon|USSR}}Soyuz-U2
|site={{flagicon|USSR}}Baikonur Site 1/5
|LSP={{flagicon|USSR}}
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USSR}}[[Progress 25]]
  |user=
  |orbit=Low Earth (Mir)
  |function=Logistics
  |outcome=Successful
  |d-date=21 April
  |d-time=00:48
  }}
}}
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=2
|date=28 March |time=23:30
|rocket={{flagicon|FRA}}[[Ariane 3]]
|site={{flagicon|FRA}}Kourou ELA
|LSP={{flagicon|FRA}}Arianespace
|remarks=Brasilsat-A2 was retired on 6 March 2004 and moved {{convert|200|km}} higher to a graveyard orbit
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[GStar 2]]
  |user=[[Spacenet|GTE Spacenet]]
  |orbit=Geosynchronous
  |function=Communications
  |outcome=Successful
  }}{{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|BRA}}[[Brasilsat-A2]]
  |user=[[Embratel]]
  |orbit=Current: [[Graveyard orbit|Graveyard]]<br/>Operational: Geosynchronous
  |function=Communications
  |outcome=Successful
  }}
}}
|colspan="8"|

=== April ===
|-
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=2
|date=18 April |time=17:45
|rocket={{flagicon|USA}}[[Titan 34D]]
|site={{flagicon|USA}}Vandenberg [[Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4|SLC-4E]]
|LSP={{flagicon|USA}}
|remarks=SRM burnthrough, exploded 8.5 seconds after launch<br/>Final flight of the KH-9 spacecraft
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[KH-9 HEXAGON|KH-9-20]]
  |user=[[National Reconnaissance Office|NRO]]
  |orbit=Intended: Sun-synchronous
  |function=Reconnaissance
  |outcome=Launch Failure
  |o-span=2
  |d-time=+ 8.5 seconds
  |d-span=2
  }}{{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[SSF-D-6]]
  |user=NRO
  |orbit=Intended: Sun-synchronous
  |function=ELINT
  |o-span=inherit
  |d-span=inherit
  }}
}}
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=1
|date=23 April |time=19:40
|rocket={{flagicon|USSR}}Soyuz-U2
|site={{flagicon|USSR}}Baikonur Site 1/5
|LSP={{flagicon|USSR}}
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USSR}}[[Progress 26]]
  |user=
  |orbit=Low Earth (Mir)
  |function=Logistics
  |outcome=Successful
  |d-date=23 June
  |d-time=18:41
  }}
}}
|colspan="8"|

=== May ===
|-
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=1
|date=3 May |time=22:18
|rocket={{flagicon|USA}}[[Delta 3000|Delta 3914]]
|site={{flagicon|USA}}[[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 17]]A
|LSP={{flagicon|USA}}[[McDonnell Douglas]]
|remarks=Rocket destroyed 71 sec. after liftoff due to engine shutdown; First launch from CCAFS after Space Shuttle ''Challenger'' disaster
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[GOES-G]]
  |user=[[NOAA]], [[NASA]]
  |orbit=Geostationary
  |function=Weather satellite
  |outcome=Launch Failure
  |d-date=3 May
  }}
}}
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=1
|date=21 May |time=08:21
|rocket={{flagicon|USSR}}Soyuz-U2
|site={{flagicon|USSR}}Baikonur Site 1/5
|LSP={{flagicon|USSR}}
|remarks=Maiden flight of [[Soyuz-TM]] spacecraft; Uncrewed test flight
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USSR}}[[Soyuz TM-1]]
  |user=
  |orbit=Low Earth (Mir)
  |function=Test flight
  |outcome=Successful
  |d-date=30 May
  |d-time=04:26
  }}
}}
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=1
|date=31 May |time=00:53
|rocket={{flagicon|FRA}}[[Ariane 2]]
|site={{flagicon|FRA}}Kourou ELA
|LSP={{flagicon|FRA}}Arianespace
|remarks=Maiden flight of Ariane 2; Third stage failed to ignite
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|UN}}[[Intelsat 514]]
  |user=[[Intelsat]]
  |orbit=Intended: Geosynchronous
  |function=Communications
  |outcome=Launch Failure
  |d-date=31 May
  }}
}}
|colspan="8"|

=== August ===
|-
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=1
|date=28 August |time=08:02
|rocket={{flagicon|USSR}}[[Molniya-M]]/[[Blok 2BL|2BL]]
|site={{flagicon|USSR}}[[Plesetsk Cosmodrome|Plesetsk]] [[Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 16|Site 16/2]]
|LSP={{flagicon|USSR}}
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USSR}}[[Kosmos 1774]] ([[Oko]])
  |user=
  |orbit=[[Molniya orbit|Molniya]]
  |function=Missile defence
  |outcome=Successful
  |d-date=2 November 2010
  |d-time=15:14
  }}
}}
|colspan="8"|

=== September ===
|-
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=1
|date=5 September |time=15:08
|rocket={{flagicon|USA}}[[Delta 3000|Delta 3920]]
|site={{flagicon|USA}}Cape Canaveral [[Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17|LC-17B]]
|LSP={{flagicon|USA}} NASA
|remarks=Satellite impactor test for the [[Strategic Defense Initiative]].
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[USA-19]] (Delta 180)
  |user=[[Strategic Defense Initiative Organization|SDIO]]
  |orbit=LEO
  |function=Sensor development
  |outcome=Successful
  |d-date=28 October 1986
  }}
}}
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=1
|date=17 September |time=15:52
|rocket={{flagicon|USA}}[[Atlas E/F|Atlas E]]/[[Star (rocket stage)|Star-37S-ISS]]
|site={{flagicon|USA}}Vandenberg [[Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 3|SLC-3W]]
|LSP={{flagicon|USA}}
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[NOAA-10]] (NOAA-G)
  |user=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]
  |orbit=Sun-synchronous
  |function=[[Weather satellite|Meteorology]]
  |outcome=Successful
  }}
}}
|colspan="8"|

=== November ===
|-
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=1
|date=14 November |time=00:23
|rocket={{flagicon|USA}}[[Scout (rocket family)|Scout G-1]]
|site={{flagicon|USA}}Vandenberg [[Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 5|SLC-5]]
|LSP={{flagicon|USA}}[[United States Air Force|US Air Force]]
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[Polar BEAR]] P87-1
  |user=US Air Force/[[Space Test Program|STP]]
  |orbit=Low Earth (Polar)
  |function=
  |outcome=Successful
  }}
}}
|colspan="8"|

=== December ===
|-
{{TLS-RL|NoPL=1
|date=5 December |time=02:30
|rocket={{flagicon|USA}}[[Atlas G]]
|site={{flagicon|USA}}[[Cape Canaveral Air Force Station|Cape Canaveral]] [[Spaceport Florida Launch Complex 36|LC-36B]]
|LSP={{flagicon|USA}}
|payload={{TLS-PL
  |name={{flagicon|USA}}[[List of USA satellites|USA-20]] ([[Fleet Satellite Communications System|FLTSATCOM 7]])
  |user=US Navy
  |orbit=Geosynchronous
  |function=Communications
  |outcome=Successful
  }}
}}
|}
{{TLS-M|1986}}

== Deep space rendezvous ==
{| class="wikitable" border="1" width="100%"
|-
!Date ([[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]])
!Spacecraft
!Event
!Remarks
|-
|24 January || [[Voyager 2]] || Flyby of [[Uranus]] || Closest approach: {{convert|71000|km}}
|-
|6 March || [[Vega 1]] || Flyby of [[Halley's Comet]] || Closest approach: {{convert|8890|km}}
|-
|8 March || [[Suisei (spacecraft)|Suisei]] || Flyby of Halley's Comet || Closest approach: {{convert|151000|km}}
|-
|9 March || [[Vega 2]] || Flyby of Halley's Comet || Closest approach: {{convert|8030|km}}
|-
|11 March || [[Sakigake]] || Distant flyby of Halley's Comet || Closest approach: {{convert|6990000|km}}
|-
|14 March || [[Giotto mission|Giotto]] || Flyby of Halley's Comet || Closest approach: {{convert|595|km}}
|}

== EVAs ==
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
!Start date/time
!Duration
!End time
!Spacecraft
!Crew
!Remarks
|-
|28 May<br/>05:43
|3 hours<br/>{{nowrap|50 minutes}}
|09:33
|[[Salyut 7]] [[List of Salyut Expeditions#Salyut 7|EO-5]]
|{{flagicon|USSR}}[[Leonid Kizim]]<br/>{{flagicon|USSR}}[[Vladimir Solovyov (cosmonaut)|Vladimir Solovyov]]
|Retrieved test panels from the outside of Salyut 7 and assembled a test "girder-constructor" apparatus in preparation for work on [[Mir]].
|-
|31 May<br/>04:57
|5 hours
|09:57
|Salyut 7 EO-5
|{{flagicon|USSR}}Leonid Kizim<br/>{{flagicon|USSR}}Vladimir Solovyov
|Conducted additional tests on the experimental construction equipment, including the welding of several girders joints.
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{TLS-R}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| title=[[Timeline of spaceflight]]
| years= 1986
| before=[[1985 in spaceflight|1985]]
| after=[[1987 in spaceflight|1987]]}}
{{end}}
{{Orbital launches in 1986}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1986 In Spaceflight}}
[[Category:1986 in spaceflight| ]]
[[Category:Spaceflight by year]]