Home 1973 pacecrafts
1972 Summary 1974 Summary
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Table of the 146 Spacecrafts Launched in 1973
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# Spacecraft Sponsor Launch date Mission type Categories
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1) Luna 21 Soviet Union
(Korolev Bureau)		 8 Jan 73 C Planetary Exploration
(Moon)		 USSR,
2) Lunokhod 2 Soviet Union
(Korolev Bureau)		 8 Jan 73 C Planetary Exploration
(Moon)		 USSR,
3) Kosmos 543 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 11 Jan 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
4) Kosmos 544 / Tselina-O Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Jan 73 M Electronic Intelligence USSR,
5) Kosmos 545 / DS-P1-Yu 62 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 24 Jan 73 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
6) Kosmos 546 / Tsiklon GVM Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 26 Jan 73 M Navigation
(Tsiklon Mass Model)		 USSR,
7) Kosmos 547 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 1 Feb 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
8) Molniya 1-23 Soviet Union 3 Feb 73 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
9) Kosmos 548 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 8 Feb 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
10) Prognoz 3 Soviet Union 15 Feb 73 C Earth/Space Science
(Earht-Sun relationships)		 USSR,
11) Kosmos 549 / Tselina-O Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Feb 73 M Electronic Intelligence USSR,
12) Kosmos 550 / Zenit-4MK Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 1 Mar 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
13) Kosmos 551 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Mar 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
14) Ryolite RH-1 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 6 Mar 73 M Electronic Intelligence USA, Geo,
15) Big Bird 5 / KH-9 5 HEXAGON U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 9 Mar 73 M Photo Surveillance USA,
16) Meteor 1-14 Soviet Union 20 Mar 73 C Meteorology USSR,
17) Kosmos 552 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 22 Mar 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
18) Nauka [14] Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 22 Mar 73 M Science & Technology
(Equipment test)		 USSR,
19) Salyut 2 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 3 Apr 73 M Space Station
(1st military)		 USSR, Fail,
20) Molniya 2-5 Soviet Union 5 Apr 73 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
21) Pioneer 11 NASA 6 Apr 73 C Planetary Exploration
(Outer planets)		 USA,
22) Kosmos 553 / DS-P1-Yu 55 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 12 Apr 73 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
23) Kosmos 554 / Zenit-4MK Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 Apr 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR, Fail,
24) Interkosmos 9  Kopernik-500 Soviet Union +
East Europe countries		 19 Apr 73 C Earth/Space Science
(Solar radiation monitoring)		 USSR,
25) Telesat 2 / Anik 2 Telesat Canada 20 Apr 73 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 Canada, Geo,
26) Kosmos / US-A Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 Apr 73 M Ocean Surveillance USSR, Fail,
27) Kosmos 555 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 Apr 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
28) Nauka [15] Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 Apr 73 M Science & Technology USSR,
29) Kosmos 556 / Zenit-4MK Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 5 May 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
30) Kosmos 557 (Salyut) Soviet Union
(Korolev Bureau)		 11 May 73 C Space Station USSR, Fail,
31) Skylab 1 NASA 14 May 73 C Space Station USA,
32) Titan Samos 38 / KH-8 38 GAMBIT U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 16 May 73 M Photo Surveillance USA,
33) Kosmos 558 / DS-P1-Yu 65 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 17 May 73 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
34) Kosmos 559 / Zenit-4MK Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 18 May 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
35) D-5A Pollux France (CNES) 21 May 73 C Technology Europe, Fail,
36) D-5B Castor France (CNES) 21 May 73 C Technology Europe, Fail,
37) Kosmos 560 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 23 May 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
38) Kosmos / Tsiklon Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 May 73 M Navigation USSR, Fail,
39) Skylab 2 NASA 25 May 73 C Piloted Spaceship USA,
40) Kosmos 561 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 May 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
41) Nauka [16] Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 May 73 M Science & Technology
(Gamma ray telescope experiment)		 USSR,
42) Meteor 1-15 Soviet Union 29 May 73 C Meteorology USSR,
43) Kosmos 562 / DS-P1-Yu 66 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 5 Jun 73 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
44) Kosmos 563 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Jun 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
45) Kosmos 564 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 8 Jun 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
46) Kosmos 565 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 8 Jun 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
47) Kosmos 566 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 8 Jun 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
48) Kosmos 567 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 8 Jun 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
49) Kosmos 568 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 8 Jun 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
50) Kosmos 569 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 8 Jun 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
51) Kosmos 570 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 8 Jun 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
52) Kosmos 571 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 8 Jun 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
53) Kosmos 572 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 10 Jun 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
54) Explorer 49 / RAE-B NASA 10 Jun 73 C Astronomy USA,
55) IMEWS 4 / DSP 2 U.S. Air Force 12 Jun 73 M Missile Early Warning USA, Geo,
56) Kosmos 573 (Soyuz) Soviet Union
(Korolev Bureau)		 15 Jun 73 C Piloted Spaceshi Test
(Soyuz test flight)		 USSR,
57) Kosmos 574 / Tsiklon Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Jun 73 M Navigation USSR,
58) Kosmos 575 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 Jun 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
59) Kosmos / Tselina-O Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 26 Jun 73 M Electronic Intelligence USSR, Fail,
60) Titan Samos 39 / KH-8 39 GAMBIT U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 26 Jun 73 M Photo Surveillance USA,
61) Kosmos 576 / Zenit-4MT (Orion) Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 27 Jun 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
62) Kosmos / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 4 Jul 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR, Fail,
63) Molniya 2-6 Soviet Union 11 Jul 73 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
64) Big Bird 6 / KH-9 6 HEXAGON U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 13 Jul 73 M Photo Surveillance USA,
65) NOAA NOAA 16 Jul 73 C Meteorology USA, Fail,
66) Mars 4 Soviet Union 21 Jul 73 C Planetary Exploration
(Mars)		 USSR, Fail,
67) Kosmos 577 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 25 Jul 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
68) Mars 5 Soviet Union 25 Jul 73 C Planetary Exploration
(Mars)		 USSR, Fail,
69) Skylab 3 NASA 28 Jul 73 C Piloted Spaceship USA,
70) Kosmos 578 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 1 Aug 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
71) Mars 6 Soviet Union 5 Aug 73 C Planetary Exploration
(Mars)		 USSR, Fail,
72) Mars 7 Soviet Union 9 Aug 73 C Planetary Exploration
(Mars)		 USSR, Fail,
73) DMSP 4 / DMSP Block-5B F4 U.S. Department
of Defense		 17 Aug 73 M Meteorology USA,
74) Kosmos 579 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 Aug 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
75) SDS 2 / Jumpseat 3 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 21 Aug 73 M Electronic Intelligence USA,
76) Kosmos 580 / DS-P1-Yu 59 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 22 Aug 73 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
77) Intelsat 4G Intelsat 23 Aug 73 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 Commer, Geo,
78) Kosmos 581 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 24 Aug 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
79) Kosmos 582 / Tselina-O Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Aug 73 M Electronic Intelligence USSR,
80) Molniya 1-24 Soviet Union 30 Aug 73 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
81) Kosmos 583 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 30 Aug 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
82) Kosmos 584 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Sep 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
83) Kosmos 585 / Sfera Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 8 Sep 73 M Science & Technology
(Geodesy)		 USSR,
84) Kosmos 586 / Tsiklon Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 14 Sep 73 M Navigation USSR,
85) JSSW 1 China 18 Sep 73 M Science & Technology China, Fail,
86) Kosmos 587 / Zenit-4MK Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 Sep 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
87) Soyuz 12 Soviet Union
(Korolev Bureau)		 27 Sep 73 C Piloted Spaceship USSR,
88) Titan Samos 40 / KH-8 40 GAMBIT U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 27 Sep 73 M Photo Surveillance USA,
89) Kosmos 588 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 2 Oct 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
90) Kosmos 589 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 2 Oct 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
91) Kosmos 590 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 2 Oct 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
92) Kosmos 591 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 2 Oct 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
93) Kosmos 592 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 2 Oct 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
94) Kosmos 593 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 2 Oct 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
95) Kosmos 594 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 2 Oct 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
96) Kosmos 595 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 2 Oct 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
97) Kosmos 596 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 3 Oct 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR, Fail,
98) Kosmos 597 / Zenit-4MK Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 6 Oct 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
99) Kosmos 598 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 10 Oct 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
100) Kosmos 599 / Zenit-2M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 15 Oct 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
101) Kosmos 600 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 16 Oct 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
102) Kosmos 601 / DS-P1-Yu 60 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 16 Oct 73 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
103) Molniya 2-7 Soviet Union 19 Oct 73 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
104) Kosmos 602 / Zenit-4MK Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Oct 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
105) Explorer 50 / IMP 8  NASA 26 Oct 73 C Earth/Space Science
(Solar flare and radiation monitoring)		 USA,
106) Kosmos 603 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 27 Oct 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
107) Kosmos 604 / Tselina-D Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 29 Oct 73 M Electronic Intelligence USSR,
108) Transit O-20 / NNS O-20 U.S. Navy 30 Oct 73 M Navigation USA,
109) Interkosmos 10 Soviet Union +
East Europe countries		 30 Oct 73 C Earth/Space Science
(Geophysics)		 USSR,
110) Kosmos 605 / Biocosmos 1 Soviet Union 31 Oct 73 C Biology USSR,
111) Kosmos 606 / Oko Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 2 Nov 73 M Missile Early Warning USSR,
112) Mariner 10 NASA 3 Nov 73 C Planetary Exploration
(Mercury)		 USSR,
113) NOAA 3 NOAA 6 Nov 73 C Meteorology USA,
114) Kosmos 607 / Zenit-4MK Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 10 Nov 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
115) Big Bird 7 / KH-9 7 HEXAGON U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 10 Nov 73 M Photo Surveillance USA,
116) Hitchhiker 33 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 10 Nov 73 M Electronic Intelligence USA,
117) Hitchhiker 34 U.S. National Re-
connaissance Office		 10 Nov 73 M Electronic Intelligence USA,
118) Molniya 1-25 Soviet Union 14 Nov 73 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
119) Skylab 4 NASA 16 Nov 73 C Piloted Spaceship USA,
120) Kosmos 608 / DS-P1-Yu 69 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 20 Nov 73 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
121) Kosmos 609 / Zenit-4M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 Nov 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
122) Kosmos 610 / Tselina-O Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 27 Nov 73 M Electronic Intelligence USSR,
123) Kosmos 611 / DS-P1-Yu 64 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Nov 73 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
124) Kosmos 612 / Zenit-4MK Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 28 Nov 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
125) Kosmos 613 (Soyuz) Soviet Union
(Korolev Bureau)		 30 Nov 73 C Piloted Spaceship Test
(Soyuz test flight)		 USSR,
126) Molniya 1-26 Soviet Union 30 Nov 73 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
127) Kosmos 614 / Strela-2 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 4 Dec 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
128) Kosmos 615 / DS-P1-I 13 Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 12 Dec 73 M Science & Technology
(Technology R&D)		 USSR,
129) DSCS 2-3 U.S. Department
of Defense		 13 Dec 73 M Communications
(Military services)		 USA, Geo,
130) DSCS 2-4 U.S. Department
of Defense		 13 Dec 73 M Communications
(Military services)		 USA, Geo,
131) Explorer 51 / AE-C NASA 16 Dec 73 C Earth/Space Science
(Upper atmospheric research)		 USA,
132) Kosmos 616 / Zenit-4MT (Orion) Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 17 Dec 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
133) Soyuz 13 Soviet Union
(Korolev Bureau)		 18 Dec 73 C Piloted Spaceship USSR,
134) Kosmos 617 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 Dec 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
135) Kosmos 618 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 Dec 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
136) Kosmos 619 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 Dec 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
137) Kosmos 620 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 Dec 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
138) Kosmos 621 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 Dec 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
139) Kosmos 622 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 Dec 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
140) Kosmos 623 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 Dec 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
141) Kosmos 624 / Strela-1M Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 19 Dec 73 M Communications
(Store/dump comsat)		 USSR,
142) Kosmos 625 / Zenit-4MK Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 21 Dec 73 M Photo Surveillance USSR,
143) Molniya 2-8 Soviet Union 25 Dec 73 C Communications
(Multi-service)		 USSR,
144) Oreol 2 (Aureole 2) France (CNES) 26 Dec 73 C Earth/Space Science
(Atmospheric research)		 Europe,
145) Kosmos 626 / US-A Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 27 Dec 73 M Ocean Surveillance
(Nuclear powered)		 USSR,
146) Kosmos 627 / Tsiklon Soviet Union
Defense Ministry		 29 Dec 73 M Navigation USSR,
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1972 Summary All Summaries 1974 Summary
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