Home 1972 Spacecrafts
1971 Summary 1973 Summary
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Table of the 143 Spacecrafts Launched in 1972
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# Spacecraft Sponsor Launch date Mission type Categories
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1) Kosmos 471 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 12 Jan 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
2) Big Bird 2 / KH-9 2 HEXAGON U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 20 Jan 72 M Photo Surveillance USA,
3) Hitchhiker 30 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 20 Jan 72 M Electronic Intelligence USA,
4) Intelsat 4C Intelsat 23 Jan 72 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 Commer, Geo,
5) Kosmos 472 / DS-P1-Yu 52 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 Jan 72 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
6) HEOS 2 Europe (ESRO) 31 Jan 72 C Earth/Space Science
(Particles and fields data)		 Europe,
7) Kosmos 473 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 3 Feb 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
8) Luna 20 Soviet Union
(OKB-1)		 14 Feb 72 C Planetary Exploration
(Moon)		 USSR,
9) Kosmos 474 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 16 Feb 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
10) Jumpseat 2 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 16 Feb 72 M Electronic Intelligence USA, Fail,
11) Kosmos 475 / Tsiklon Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 Feb 72 M Navigation USSR,
12) IMEWS 3 / DSP 4 U.S. Air Force 1 Mar 72 M Missile Early Warning USA, Geo,
13) Kosmos 476 / Tselina-D Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 1 Mar 72 M Electronic Intelligence USSR,
14) Pioneer 10 NASA 3 Mar 72 C Planetary Exploration
(Outer planets)		 USA,
15) Kosmos 477 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 4 Mar 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
16) Nauka [9] Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 4 Mar 72 M Science & Technology
(Particle flux and radiation experiment)		 USSR,
17) TD 1A Europe (ELDO) 12 Mar 72 C Technology Europe,
18) Kosmos 478 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 15 Mar 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
19) Titan Samos 34 / KH-8 34 GAMBIT U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 17 Mar 72 M Photo Surveillance USA,
20) Kosmos 479 / Tselina-O Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 22 Mar 72 M Electronic Intelligence USSR,
21) DMSP 2 / DMSP Block-5B F-2 U.S. Department
of Defense		 24 Mar 72 M Meteorology USA,
22) Kosmos 480 / Sfera Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 Mar 72 M Earth/Space Science
(Geodesy)		 USSR,
23) Kosmos 481 / DS-P1-Yu 46 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 Mar 72 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
24) Venera 8 Soviet Union
(OKB-1)		 27 Mar 72 C Planetary Exploration
(Venus)		 USSR,
25) Meteor 1-11 Soviet Union 30 Mar 72 C Meteorology USSR,
26) Kosmos 482 (Venus) Soviet Union
(OKB-1)		 31 Mar 72 C Planetary Exploration
(Venus)		 USSR, Fail,
27) Kosmos 483 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 3 Apr 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
28) Molniya 1-20 Soviet Union 4 Apr 72 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
29) MAS 1 / SRET 1 France (CNES) 4 Apr 72 C Technology
(Technology R&D)		 Europe,
30) Kosmos 484 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Apr 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
31) Nauka [10] Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Apr 72 M Science & Technology
(Cosmic ray experiment)		 USSR,
32) Interkosmos 6 Soviet Union +
East Europe countries		 7 Apr 72 C Earth/Space Science
(Cosmic radiation and meteoritic particles)		 USSR,
33) Kosmos 485 / DS-P1-Yu 58 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 11 Apr 72 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
34) Prognoz 1 Soviet Union 14 Apr 72 C Earth/Space Science
(Earth/Sun relashionships)		 USSR,
35) Kosmos 486 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 14 Apr 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
36) Apollo 16 Casper NASA 16 Apr 72 C Piloted Spaceship USA,
37) Apollo 16 Orion NASA 16 Apr 72 C Piloted Spaceship USA,
38) Lunar Rover (LRV-2) NASA 16 Apr 72 C Piloted Spaceship USA,
39) Apollo 16 Subsatellite NASA 16 Apr 72 C Planetary Studies
(Moon)		 USA,
40) Discoverer 138 / KH-4B U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 19 Apr 72 M Photo Surveillance USA,
41) Kosmos 487 / DS-P1-Yu 57 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 Apr 72 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
42) Kosmos / DS-P1-Yu 51 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 Apr 72 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR, Fail,
43) Kosmos 488 / Zenit-4MK Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 5 May 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
44) Kosmos 489 / Tsiklon Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 May 72 M Navigation USSR,
45) Kosmos 490 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 17 May 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
46) Nauka [11] Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 17 May 72 M Science & Technology
(Electron flux and cosmic ray experiment)		 USSR,
47) Molniya 2-2 Soviet Union 19 May 72 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
48) Titan Samos 35 / KH-8 35 GAMBIT U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 20 May 72 M Photo Surveillance USA, Fail,
49) Kosmos 491 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 May 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
50) Discoverer 139 / KH-4B U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 25 May 72 M Photo Surveillance USA,
51) Kosmos 492 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 9 Jun 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
52) Intelsat 4D Intelsat 13 Jun 72 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 Commer, Geo,
53) Kosmos 493 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 Jun 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
54) Kosmos 494 / Strela-2 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 23 Jun 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
55) Kosmos 495 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 23 Jun 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
56) Kosmos 496 (Soyuz) Soviet Union
(OKB-1)		 26 Jun 72 C Piloted Spaceship Test
(Soyuz redesign test)		 USSR,
57) Prognoz 2 Soviet Union 29 Jun 72 C Earth/Space Science
(Earht/Sun relashionships)		 USSR,
58) Interkosmos 7 Soviet Union +
East European countries		 30 Jun 72 C Earth/Space Science
(Solar ultra-violet and x-radiation)		 USSR,
59) Kosmos 497 / DS-P1-I 12 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 30 Jun 72 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
60) Meteor 1-12 Soviet Union 30 Jun 72 C Meteorology USSR,
61) Kosmos 498 / DS-P1-Yu 56 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 5 Jul 72 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
62) Kosmos 499 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Jul 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
63) Big Bird 3 / KH-9 3 HEXAGON U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 7 Jul 72 M Photo Surveillance USA,
64) Hitchhiker 31 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 7 Jul 72 M Electronic Intelligence USA,
65) Kosmos 500 / Tselina-O Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 10 Jul 72 M Electronic Intelligence
(Possible navigation satellite)		 USSR,
66) Kosmos 501 / DS-P1-Yu 50 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 12 Jul 72 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
67) Kosmos 502 / Zenit-4MT (Orion) Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 13 Jul 72 M Photo Surveillance
(Carried science packag)		 USSR,
68) Kosmos 503 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 Jul 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
69) Kosmos 504 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Jul 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
70) Kosmos 505 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Jul 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat		 USSR,
71) Kosmos 506 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Jul 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat		 USSR,
72) Kosmos 507 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Jul 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat		 USSR,
73) Kosmos 508 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Jul 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat		 USSR,
74) Kosmos 509 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Jul 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat		 USSR,
75) Kosmos 510 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Jul 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat		 USSR,
76) Kosmos 511 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Jul 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat		 USSR,
77) ERTS 1 / Landsat 1 NASA 23 Jul 72 C Earth Remote Sensing
(1st ERS satellite)		 USA,
78) Kosmos 512 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Jul 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
79) Salyut Soviet Union
(OKB-1)		 29 Jul 72 C Space Station USSR, Fail,
80) Kosmos 513 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 2 Aug 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
81) Explorer 46 / MTC NASA 13 Aug 72 C Technology
(Micrometeoroid tests)		 USA,
82) Kosmos 514 / Tsiklon GVM Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 16 Aug 72 M Navigation USSR,
83) Kosmos 515 / Zenit-4MK Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 18 Aug 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
84) REXS / Denpa Japan (ISAS) 19 Aug 72 C Earth/Space Science
(Ionosphere and magnetosphere studies)		 Japan,
85) OAO 3 Copernicus NASA 21 Aug 72 C Astronomy USA,
86) Kosmos 516 / US-A Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 Aug 72 M Ocean Surveillance
(Nuclear powered)		 USSR,
87) Kosmos 517 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 30 Aug 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
88) Titan Samos 36 / 
KH-8 36 GAMBIT		 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 1 Sep 72 M Photo Surveillance USA,
89) Kosmos / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 2 Sep 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR, Fail,
90) TIP / TRIAD 1 / Triad OI-1X U.S. Department
of Defense		 2 Sep 72 M Navigation
(Prototype of improved Transit)		 USA,
91) Kosmos 518 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 15 Sep 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
92) Nauka [12] Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 15 Sep 72 M Science & Technology
(Ballast + experiment)		 USSR,
93) Kosmos 519 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 16 Sep 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
94) Kosmos 520 / Oko Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 Sep 72 M Missile Early Warning USSR,
95) Explorer 47 / IMP 7 NASA 23 Sep 72 C Earth/Space Science
(Magnetospheric and magnetic studies)		 USA,
96) Kosmos 521 / DS-P1-M 4 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 29 Sep 72 M Antisatellie Test
(ASAT target)		 USSR, Fail,
97) Molniya 2-3 Soviet Union 30 Sep 72 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
98) Radcat U.S. Department
of Defense		 2 Oct 72 M Radar Calibrattion USA,
99) Radcat (P72-1) U.S. Department
of Defense		 2 Oct 72 M Radar Calibrattion USA,
100) Kosmos 522 / Zenit-4M  Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 4 Oct 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
101) Kosmos 523 / DS-P1-Yu 63 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 3 Oct 72 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
102) Big Bird 4 / KH-9 4
HEXAGON		 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 10 Oct 72 M Photo Surveillance USA,
103) Hitchhiker 32 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 10 Oct 72 M Electronic Intelligence USA,
104) Kosmos 524 / DS-P1-Yu 49 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 11 Oct 72 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
105) Molniya 1-2 Soviet Union 14 Oct 72 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
106) NOAA 2 NOAA 15 Oct 72 C Meteorology USA,
107) AMSAT-OSCAR 6 AMSAT 15 Oct 72 C Radio-Amateur Amateur,
108) Kosmos / Strela-2 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 17 Oct 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR, Fail,
109) Kosmos 525 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 18 Oct 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
110) Nauka [13] Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 18 Oct 72 M Science & Technology
(Equipment test)		 USSR,
111) Kosmos 526 / DS-P1-Yu 61 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 Oct 72 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
112) Meteor 1-13 Soviet Union 26 Oct 72 C Meteorology USSR,
113) Kosmos 527 / Zenit-4MK Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 31 Oct 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
114) Kosmos 528 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 1 Nov 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
115) Kosmos 529 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 1 Nov 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
116) Kosmos 530 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 1 Nov 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
117) Kosmos 531 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 1 Nov 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
118) Kosmos 532 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 1 Nov 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
119) Kosmos 533 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 1 Nov 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
120) Kosmos 534 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 1 Nov 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
121) Kosmos 535 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 1 Nov 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
122) Kosmos 536 / Tselina-O Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 3 Nov 72 M Electronic Intelligence
(Possible navigation satellite)		 USSR,
123) DMSP 3 / DMSP 
Block-5B F3		 U.S. Department
of Defense		 9 Nov 72 M Meteorology USA,
124) Telesat 1 / Anik 1 Telesat Canada 10 Nov 72 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 Canada, Geo,
125) Explorer 48 / SAS 2 NASA 15 Nov 72 C Astronomy USA,
126) ESRO 4 Europe (ESRO) 22 Nov 72 C Technology
(Polar ionosphere studies)		 Europe,
127) N-1 test Soviet Union
(OKB-1)		 23 Nov 72 C Piloted Program test
(Launch vehicle test)		 USSR, Fail,
128) Kosmos 537 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 Nov 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
129) Interkosmos 8 Soviet Union +
East Europe countries		 30 Nov 72 C Earth/Space Science
(Ionosphere studies)		 USSR,
130) Molniya 1-22 Soviet Union 2 Dec 72 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
131) Apollo 17 America NASA 7 Dec 72 C Piloted Spaceship USA,
132) Apollo 17 Challenger NASA 7 Dec 72 C Piloted Spaceship USA,
133) Lunar rover (LRV-3) NASA 7 Dec 72 C Piloted Spaceship USA,
134) Nimbus 5 NASA 11 Dec 72 C Meteorology USA,
135) Molniya 2-4 Soviet Union 12 Dec 72 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
136) Kosmos 538 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 14 Dec 72 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
137) Aeros 1 / GRS-B West Germany 16 Dec 72 C Earth/Space Science
(Magnetosphere studies)		 Europe,
138) CANYON 5 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 20 Dec 72 M Electronic Intelligence USA, Geo,
139) Kosmos 539 / Sfera Soviet Union 21 Dec 72 M Earth/Space Science
(Geodesy)		 USSR,
140) Titan Samos 37 / 
KH-8 37 GAMBIT		 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 21 Dec 72 M Photo Surveillance USA,
141) Kosmos 540 / Strela-2 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 Dec 72 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
142) Kosmos 541 / Zenit-4MT (Orion) Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 27 Dec 72 M Photo Surveillance
(Topography)		 USSR,
143) Kosmos 542 / Tselina-D Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Dec 72 M Electronic Intelligence USSR,
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1971 Summary All Summaries 1973 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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