On this day in space, September 16: Know what happened and why it matters

On This Day in Space — September 16: Key Events and Their Impact (Image: Canva)

Space has always captured human imagination, pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Every year, September 16 marks significant milestones in space history. These events remind us of scientific progress and its challenges.

• Solar Eclipse Observed from Derby, England (1662) On 16th September 1662, a solar eclipse was seen from Derby in England. Such early observations of celestial bodies furthered mankind's knowledge about celestial movements and laid the ground for present-day astronomy.

(Image: 1999 Wendy Carlos/ESA)

• V-2 Rocket with Monkey "Albert III" (1949) In 1949, a V-2 rocket sent a monkey by the name of Albert III to space. The mission was one of the early biological missions sent to observe the impact of space flight on living beings.

(Image: NASA)

• Fourteen Mice Lost in Jupiter Rocket Explosion (1959) There was a fatal accident in 1959 when a Jupiter rocket with fourteen mice aboard exploded. The mission sought to investigate spaceflight impacts on small mammals but concluded with the total loss of the payload.

(Image: AP)

(Image: AP)

• Atlas SLV-3 Vandenberg Launch (1966) The Atlas SLV-3 rocket launched at Vandenberg Air Force Base on September 16, 1966. It helped the evolution of intercontinental ballistic missile technology and the deployment of satellites in the early days of the space race.

• Voskhod Launch of Kosmos-177 (1967) The Soviet Union launched Kosmos-177 on a Voskhod rocket in 1967. The flight tested spacecraft systems and increased Soviet capability to launch satellites for military and scientific missions.

• Soyuz-U Launches Kosmos-953 (1977) The Soyuz-U rocket launched Kosmos-953 in 1977. The Soviet mission was part of the Kosmos satellite programme, which involved military reconnaissance and orbital technology testing during the Cold War.

• Tsiklon-3 Launch of Kosmos-1408 (1982) In 1982, the Soviet rocket Tsiklon-3 successfully launched Kosmos-1408. The mission was to launch a military or communications satellite, one of many in the Kosmos series used to advance space and defence technology.

• Zenit-2M Launch — Kosmos-2263 (1993) The Zenit-2M rocket launched Kosmos-2263 on September 16, 1993. The flight was a part of Soviet-era satellite construction, expanding Earth observation and military reconnaissance and furthering space surveillance technology development.

• Space Shuttle Atlantis Launches STS-79 (1996) The Space Shuttle Atlantis flew on STS-79 in 1996. The flight supported crew rotation and resupply of the Russian space station Mir, promoting US-Russia cooperation in space.

(Image: NASA)

• Vega Launches PeruSat-1 (2016) In 2016, Vega successfully launched the PeruSat-1. The satellite provided high-resolution Earth observation photographs, aiding Peru in environmental monitoring, agricultural management, and disaster response.

(Image: NASA)

• ISRO's PSLV Launches NovaSAR-S & S1-4 (2018) On 16 September 2018, ISRO's PSLV rocket launched the NovaSAR-S and S1-4 satellites. They improved Earth observation and maritime surveillance, enhancing India's capability to watch over environmental changes and enhance national security.

(Image: ISRO)

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Inspiration4 (2021) SpaceX's Falcon 9 launched Inspiration4 in 2021. It was the first all-civilian spaceflight mission, allowing private individuals to venture into space and proving the viability of commercial space travel.

Falcon 9 (Image: SpaceX)

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Starlink-106 (2023) On September 16, 2023, SpaceX deployed Starlink-106 on Falcon 9. This mission built out the international satellite internet network with the goal of bringing high-speed internet connectivity to underserved and remote regions of the globe.