Home 1968 Spacecrafts
1967 Summary 1969 Summary
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Table of the 166 Spacecrafts Launched in 1968
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# Spacecraf Sponsor Launch Date Mission Type Categories
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1) Surveyor 7 NASA 7 Jan 68 C Planetary Exploration
(Moon)		 USA,
2) Explorer 36 / GEOS 2 NASA 11 Jan 68 C Earth/Space Science
(Geodesy)		 USA,
3) Kosmos 199 / Zenit-2 59 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 16 Jan 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR, Fail,
4) Ferret 12 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 17 Jan 68 M Electronic Intelligence USA,
5) Titan Samos 11 / KH-8 11 GAMBIT U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 18 Jan 68 M Photo Surveillance USA,
6) Kosmos 200 / Tselina-O Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 Jan 68 M Electronic Intelligence USSR,
7) Apollo 5 (AS-204) NASA 22 Jan 68 C Piloted Spaceship Test 
(1st unmanned LM testflight)		 USA,
8) Discoverer 118 / KH-4A U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 24 Jan 68 M Photo Surveillance USA,
9) Hitchhiker 17 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 24 Jan 68 M Electronic Intelligence
(Radar monitoring)		 USA,
10) Kosmos 201 / Zenit-4 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Feb 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
11) Luna Soviet Union (OKB-1) 7 Feb 68 C Planetary Exploration
(Moon, Soviet manned lunar program tracking test)		 USSR, Fail,
12) Kosmos 202 / DS-U2-V 4 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Feb 68 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
13) Kosmos 203 / Sfera Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Feb 68 M Science & Technology
(1st Sfera geodesy satellite)		 USSR,
14) Transit 18 / NNS O-18 U.S. Department of Defense 2 Mar 68 M Navigation USA,
15) Zond 4 Soviet Union (OKB-1) 2 Mar 68 C Piloted Spaceship Test
(Circumlunar testflight)		 USSR, Fail,
16) OGO 5 NASA 4 Mar 68 C Earth/Space Science
(Particle and magnetic field studies)		 USA,
17) Kosmos 204 / DS-P1-I s/n 3 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 5 Mar 68 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
18) Explorer 37 / SOLRAD 9 NASA/NRL 5 Mar 68 C Earth/Space Science
(Solar radiation studies)		 USA,
19) Kosmos 205 / Zenit-2 11F61 56 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 5 Mar 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
20) Kosmos / DS-U1-Ya 1 Soviet Union 6 Mar 68 C Earth/Space Science
(Charged particle flows and cosmic rays studies)		 USSR,
21) Titan Samos 12 / KH-8 12 GAMBIT U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 13 Mar 68 M Photo Surveillance USA,
22) Kosmos 206 / Meteor 9 Soviet Union 14 Mar 68 C Meteorology USSR,
23) Discoverer 119 / KH-4A U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 14 Mar 68 M Photo Surveillance USA,
24) Hitchhiker 18 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 14 Mar 68 M Electronic Intelligence USA,
25) Kosmos 207 / Zenit-4 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 16 Mar 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
26) Kosmos 208 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 Mar 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
27) Nauka [1] Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 Mar 68 M Science & Technology
(1st Nauka ballast/sci & tech subsat)		 USSR,
28) Kosmos 209 / US-A Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 22 Mar 68 M Ocean Surveillance
(1st oceanic Elint  satellite)		 USSR,
29) Kosmos 210 / Zenit-2 60 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 3 Apr 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
30) Apollo 6 (SA-502) NASA 4 Apr 68 C Piloted Spaceship Test USA,
31) OV 1-13 U.S. Air Force/OAR 6 Apr 68 M Science & Technology
(Radiation, engineering experiments)		 USA,
32) OV 1-14 U.S. Air Force/OAR 6 Apr 68 M Science & Technology
(Radiation data)		 USA,
33) Luna 14 Soviet Union (OKB-1) 7 Apr 68 C Planetary Exploration
(Moon)		 USSR,
34) Kosmos 211 / DS-P1-Yu 13 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 9 Apr 68 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
35) Kosmos 212 / Soyuz 8 Soviet Union (OKB-1) 14 Apr 68 C Piloted Spaceship Test
(Docked with Kosmos 213)		 USSR,
36) Kosmos 213 / Soyuz 7 Soviet Union (OKB-1) 15 Apr 68 C Piloted Spaceship Test
(Docked with Kosmos 212)		 USSR,
37) Titan Samos 13 / KH-8 13 GAMBIT U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 17 Apr 68 M Photo Surveillance USA,
38) Kosmos 214 / Zenit-4 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 18 Apr 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
39) Kosmos 215 / DS-U1-A 1 Soviet Union 19 Apr 68 C Astronomy
(Radiation observatory)		 USSR,
40) Kosmos 216 / Zenit-2 62 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Apr 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
41) Molniya I-8 Soviet Union 21 Apr 68 C Communications USSR,
42) Zond Soviet Union (OKB-1) 22 Apr 68 C Piloted Spaceship Test
(Circumlunar testflight)		 USSR, Fail,
43) Kosmos 217 / I2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 24 Apr 68 M Antisatellite Test
(ASAT target)		 USSR, Fail,
44) Kosmos 218 / OGCh (FOBS #12) Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 Apr 68 M Fractional Orbital
Bombardment System		 USSR,
45) Kosmos 219 /  DS-U2-D 2 Soviet Union 26 Apr 68 C Earth/Space Science
(Charged particle flows studies)		 USSR,
46) Discoverer 120 / KH-4B U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 1 May 68 M Photo Surveillance USA,
47) Kosmos 220 / Tsiklon Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 7 May 68 M Navigation USSR,
48) ESRO 2B / IRIS Europe (ESRO) 17 May 68 C Astronomy
(Solar and cosmic rays studies)		 Europe,
49) Nimbus B NASA 18 May 68 C Meteorology USA, Fail,
50) Secor 10 / EGRS 10 U.S. Air Force 18 May 68 M Science & Technology USA, Fail,
51) Kosmos / OGCh Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 May 68 M Fractional Orbital
Bombardment System
(Probable suborbital test)		 USSR,
52) P-35-20 / DAPP 4B F-1 U.S. Department of Defense 23 May 68 M Meteorology USA,
53) Kosmos 221 / DS-P1-Yu 14 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 24 May 68 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
54) Kosmos / OGCh Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 May 68 M Fractional Orbital
Bombardment System
(Probable suborbital test)		 USSR,
55) Kosmos 222 / DS-P1-Yu 12 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 30 May 68 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
56) Kosmos 223 / Zenit-2 63 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 1 Jun 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
57) Kosmos 224 / Zenit-4 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 4 Jun 68 M Photo Surveillance
(Also measured atmospheric composition)		 USSR,
58) Kosmos / Sfera 12L Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 4 Jun 68 M Science & Technology
(Geodesy)		 USSR, Fail,
59) Titan Samos 14 / KH-8 14 GAMBIT U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 5 Jun 68 M Photo Surveillance USA,
60) Kosmos 225 / DS-U1-Ya 2 Soviet Union 11 Jun 68 C Earth/Space Science
(Charged particle flows and cosmic rays studies)		 USSR,
61) Kosmos 226 / Meteor 10 Soviet Union 12 Jun 68 C Meteorology USSR,
62) IDSCP 27 U.S. Department of Defense 13 Jun 68 M Communications USA,
63) IDSCP 28 U.S. Department of Defense 13 Jun 68 M Communications USA,
64) IDSCP 29 U.S. Department of Defense 13 Jun 68 M Communications USA,
65) IDSCP 30 U.S. Department of Defense 13 Jun 68 M Communications USA,
66) IDSCP 31 U.S. Department of Defense 13 Jun 68 M Communications USA,
67) IDSCP 32 U.S. Department of Defense 13 Jun 68 M Communications USA,
68) IDSCP 33 U.S. Department of Defense 13 Jun 68 M Communications USA,
69) IDSCP 34 U.S. Department of Defense 13 Jun 68 M Communications USA,
70) Kosmos / Strela-2 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 15 Jun 68 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
71) Kosmos 227 / Zenit-4 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 18 Jun 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
72) Discoverer 121 / KH-4A U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 20 Jun 68 M Photo Surveillance USA,
73) Hitchhiker 15 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 20 Jun 68 M Electronic Intelligence USA,
74) Kosmos 228 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 Jun 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
75) Nauka [2] Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 Jun 68 M Science & Technology
(Ballast/science & technology subsatellite)		 USSR,
76) Kosmos 229 / Zenit-4 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 26 Jun 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
77) Explorer 38 / RAE 1 NASA 4 Jul 68 C Astronomy
(Radio-Astronomy)		 USA,
78) Kosmos 230 / DS-U3-S 2 Soviet Union 5 Jul 68 C Astronomy USSR,
79) Molniya 1-9 Soviet Union 5 Jul 68 C Communications USSR,
80) Kosmos 231 / Zenit-2 64 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 10 Jul 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
81) OV 1-15 / SPADES  U.S. Air Force/OAR 11 Jul 68 M Science & Technology
(Atmospheric density and solar radiation studies)		 USA,
82) OV 1-16 / LOADS / Cannon Ball I U.S. Air Force/OAR 11 Jul 68 M Science & Technology
(Ionospheric drag tests)		 USA,
83) Kosmos 232 / Zenit-4 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 16 Jul 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
84) Kosmos 233 / DS-P1-Yu 15 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 18 Jul 68  M  Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
85) Zond Soviet Union (OKB-1) 21 Jul 68 C Piloted Spaceship Test
(Circumlunar testflight)		 USSR, Fail,
86) Kosmos 234 / Zenit-4 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 30 Jul 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
87) CANYON 1 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 6 Aug 68 M Electronic Intelligence USA, Geo,
88) Titan Samos 15 / KH-8 15 GAMBIT U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 6 Aug 68 M Photo Surveillance USA,
89) Discoverer 122 / KH-4B U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 7 Aug 68 M Photo Surveillance USA,
90) Explorer 39 / AD-C NASA 8 Aug 68 C Earth/Space Science
(Atmospheric density and temperature data)		 USA,
91) Explorer 40 / Injun 5 NASA 8 Aug 68 C Earth/Space Science
(Radiation data)		 USA,
92) Kosmos 235 / Zenit-2 61 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 9 Aug 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
93) ATS 4 NASA 10 Aug 68 C Technology USA, (Geo), Fail,
94) ESSA 7 U.S. Environmental Science Services Administration 16 Aug 68 C Meteorology USA,
95) Secor 11 / EGRS 11 U.S. Air Force 16 Aug 68 M Science & Technology USA, Fail,
96) Secor 12 / EGRS 12 U.S. Air Force 16 Aug 68 M Science & Technology USA, Fail,
97) GSD 1 / Grid Sphere Drag 1 U.S. Air Force 16 Aug 68 M Radar Calibration USA, Fail,
98) GSD 2 / Grid Sphere Drag 2 U.S. Air Force 16 Aug 68 M Radar Calibration USA, Fail,
99) GSD 3 / Grid Sphere Drag 3 U.S. Air Force 16 Aug 68 M Radar Calibration USA, Fail,
100) GSD 4 / Grid Sphere Drag 4 U.S. Air Force 16 Aug 68 M Radar Calibration USA, Fail,
101) UVR U.S. Air Force 16 Aug 68 M Science & Technology USA, Fail,
102) OV5-8 / ERS 19 U.S. Air Force 16 Aug 68 M Science & Technology USA, Fail,
103) Radcal U.S. Air Force 16 Aug 68 M Science & Technology USA, Fail,
104) LCS 3 U.S. Air Force  16 Aug 68 M Science & Technology
(Effects of ionosphere on radio signals)		 USA, Fail,
105) Orbiscal 1 U.S. Air Force  16 Aug 68 M Radar Calibration USA, Fail,
106) Lidos U.S. Air Force  16 Aug 68 M Science & Technology USA, Fail,
107) RM-18 U.S. Air Force 16 Aug 68 M Science & Technology USA, Fail,
108) Kosmos 236 / Strela-2 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 27 Aug 68 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
109) Kosmos 237 / Zenit-4 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 27 Aug 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
110) Kosmos 238 / Soyuz 9 Soviet Union (OKB-1) 27 Aug 68 C Piloted Spaceship Test USSR,
111) Kosmos 239 / Zenit-4 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 5 Sep 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
112) Titan Samos 16 / KH-8 16 GAMBIT U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 10 Sep 68 M Photo Surveillance USA,
113) Kosmos 240 / Zenit-2 66 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 14 Sep 68  M Photo Surveillance USSR,
114) Zond 5 Soviet Union (OKB-1) 15 Sep 68 C Piloted Spaceship Test USSR,
115) Kosmos 241 / Zenit-4 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 16 Sep 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
116) Discoverer 123 / KH-4A U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 18 Sep 68 M Photo Surveillance USA,
117) Hitchhiker 20 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 18 Sep 68 M Electronic Intelligence
(Radar monitoring)		 USA,
118) Intelsat 3A Intelsat 19 Sep 68 C Communications Commer, (Geo), Fail,
119) Kosmos 242 / DS-P1-I 4 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Sep 68 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
120) Kosmos 243 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 23 Sep 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
121) Nauka [3] Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 23 Sep 68 M Science & Technology
(Ballast/science & technology subsatellite)		 USSR,
122) OV 2-5 / DG7-2 U.S. Air Force 26 Sep 68 M Science & Technology
(Environmental research)		 USA, Geo,
123) OV 5-2 / ERS 28 / ORS 3G U.S. Air Force 26 Sep 68 M Science & Technology
(Particle radiation data)		 USA, Geo,
124) OV 5-4 / ERS 21 / ORS 3D U.S. Air Force 26 Sep 68 M Science & Technology
(Heat transfer in liquids in zero-g)		 USA, Geo,
125) LES 6 U.S. Aif Force 26 Sep 68 M Communications
(Experimental)		 USA, Geo,
126) Kosmos 244 / OGCh (FOBS #13) Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 2 Oct 68 M Fractional Orbital
Bombardment System		 USSR,
127) Kosmos 245 / DS-P1-Yu 16 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 3 Oct 68 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
128) ESRO 1A / Aurorae Europe (ESRO) 3 Oct 68 C Earth/Space Science
(Aurora, polar ionosphere investigation)		 Europe,
129) Molniya 1-10 Soviet Union 5 Oct 68 C Communications USSR,
130) Ferret 13 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 5 Oct 68 M Electronic Intelligence USA,
131) Kosmos 246 / Zenit-4 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 7 Oct 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
132) Kosmos 247 / Zenit-2 65 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 11 Oct 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
133) Apollo 7 NASA 11 Oct 68 C Piloted Spaceship USA,
134) Kosmos 248 / I2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 Oct 68 M Antisatellite Test
(Intercepted repeatedly by Kosmos 249)		 USSR,
135) Kosmos 249 / I2P Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Oct 68 M Antisatellite Test
(Intercepted repeatedly Kosmos 248)		 USSR,
136) P-35-21 / DAPP 6422 U.S. Department of Defense 23 Oct 68 M Meteorology USA,
137) Soyuz 2 Soviet Union (OKB-1) 25 Oct 68 C Piloted Spaceship
(Rendezvous target)		 USSR,
138) Soyuz 3 Soviet Union (OKB-1) 26 Oct 68 C Piloted Spaceship USSR,
139) Kosmos 250 / Tselina-O Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 30 Oct 68 M Electronic Intelligence USSR,
140) Kosmos 251 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 31 Oct 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
141) Kosmos 252 / I2P Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 1 Nov 68 M Antisatellite Test
(Intercepted and destroyed Kosmos 248 target)		 USSR,
142) Discoverer 124 / KH-4B U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 3  Nov 68 M Photo Surveillance USA,
143) Titan Samos 17 / KH-8 17 GAMBIT U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 6 Nov 68 M Photo Surveillance USA,
144) Pioneer 9 NASA 8 Nov 68 C Earth/Space Science
(Solar radiation data)		 USA,
145) TTS 2 / TETR 2 NASA 8 Nov 68 C Technology
(Test of NASA Manned Space Flight Network)		 USA,
146) Zond 6 Soviet Union (OKB-1) 10 Nov 68 C Piloted Spaceship Test
(Circumlunar testflight)		 USSR,
147) Kosmos 253 / Zenit-2 67 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 13 Nov 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
148) Proton 4 Soviet Union 16 Nov 68 C Astronomy USSR,
149) Kosmos 254 / Zenit-4 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 Nov 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
150) Kosmos 255 / Zenit-2 68 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 29 Nov 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
151) STV 1 Europe (ELDO) 29 Nov 68 C Technology
(Launch vehicle test)		 Europe, Fail,
152) Kosmos 256 / Sfera Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 30 Nov 68 M Science & Technology
(Geodesy)		 USSR,
153) Kosmos 257 / DS-P1-Yu 17 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 3 Dec 68 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
154) Titan Samos 18 / KH-8 18 GAMBIT U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 4 Dec 68 M Photo Surveillance USA,
155) HEOS 1 Europe (ESRO) 5 Dec 68 C Earth/Space Science
(High-altitude magnetic field studies)		 Europe,
156) OAO 2 NASA 7 Dec 68 C Astronomy USA,
157) Kosmos 258 / Zenit-2 69 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 10 Dec 68 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
158) Discoverer 125 / KH-4A U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 12 Dec 68 M Photo Surveillance USA,
159) Hitchhiker 21 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 12 Dec 68 M Electronic Intelligence USA,
160) Kosmos 259 / DS-U2-I 3 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 14 Dec 68 M Science & Technology
(Influence of the ionosphere on passing VLF radio waves)		 USSR,
161) ESSA 8 U.S. Environmental Science Services Administration 15 Dec 68 C Meteorology USA,
162) Kosmos 260 / Molniya-1Yu? Soviet Union 16 Dec 68 C Communications USSR,
163) Intelsat 3B Intelsat 19 Dec 68 C Communications Commer, Geo,
164) Kosmos 261 / DS-U2-GK 1 Soviet Union 20 Dec 68 C Earth/Space Science
(Air density, auroral investigations)		 USSR,
165) Apollo 8 NASA 21 Dec 68 C Piloted Spaceship
(1st piloted Moonflight)		 USA,
166) Kosmos 262 / DS-U2-GF 1 Soviet Union 26 Dec 68 C Earth/Space Science
(Heliophysical studies)		 USSR,
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1967 Summary All Summaries 1969 Summary
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© Claude Lafleur, 2004-2008
The Spacecraft Encyclopedia Espace 101 L'Envers de l'actualité' Les Dossiers Espace La Librairie virtuelle

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