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1968 in spaceflight
The crew of Apollo 8 were the first humans to witness Earthrise, photographed by William Anders on 24 December 1968
Orbital launches
Total6

The United States National Space Science Data Center catalogued 157 spacecraft placed into orbit by launches which occurred in 1968. [1] The first crewed Apollo missions occurred in 1968. It was also the year in which Earth lifeforms first left low Earth orbit, during the successful Zond 5 mission to the Moon and the Zond 6 lunar mission which crashed upon return, and the year that humans first left low Earth orbit, during the successful Apollo 8 mission to the Moon.

Deep space lunar missions

Date (UTC) Spacecraft Event Remarks
10 January Surveyor 7 Lunar landing in the debris from Tycho crater
31 January Lunar Orbiter 5 Lunar impact
10 April Luna 14 Lunar orbit insertion
18 September Zond 5 Flyby of the Moon; first return to Earth after flight to Moon; first Earth life forms to travel around the Moon (two Russian tortoises) Closest approach: 1,950 kilometres (1,210 mi)
14 November Zond 6 Flyby of the Moon, with turtles, flies, and bacteria Closest approach: 2,420 kilometres (1,500 mi)
24 December Apollo 8 Lunar orbit insertion; first humans to travel around the Moon
25 December Apollo 8 Leaves lunar orbit Completed 10 orbits


Orbital launches

Key
  USA
  Soviet Union

January

January launches
Date and time ( UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
7 January United States Atlas-SLV3 Centaur-D United States Cape Canaveral SLC-36A
United States Surveyor 7 NASA Selenocentric Lunar lander In orbit Successful
11 January United States Delta E1 United States Vandenberg SLC-2E
United States Explorer 36 (GEOS-B) NASA Low Earth Research In orbit Successful
16 January Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 199 (Zenit-2 #58) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
17 January United States Thor SLV-2A Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-2W
United States OPS 1965 Multigroup 3&Setter 1B-2 USAF Low Earth ELINT In orbit Successful
18 January United States Titan IIIB Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-4W
United States OPS 5028 KH-8 4311 USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
19 January Soviet Union Kosmos 3M Soviet Union Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 200 (Tselina O #2) Low Earth Orbit SIGNIT In orbit Successful
22 January
23:45 		United States Saturn IB (C-1B) United States LC-37B, Cape Canaveral United States NASA
Apollo 5 NASA LEO Test Lunar Module 12 February 1968
09:59		 successful
Minor malfunction of LM descent stage engine, otherwise successful
24 January United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-1E
United States OPS 5028 KH-4A 1045 CIA Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
United StatesTivoli 1 USAF Low Earth ELINT In orbit Successful

February

February launches
Date and time ( UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
6 February Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 31/6, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 201 (Zenit-4 #38) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
7 February Soviet Union Molniya-M / Blok L Soviet Union Site 1/5, Baikonur
Soviet Union (Ye-6LS No 112) Selenocentric Lunar Orbiter In orbit Failure
20 January Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar
Soviet UnionKosmos 202 (DS-U2-V #4) Low Earth Orbit Ionospheric research In orbit Successful
20 January Soviet Union Kosmos 3M Soviet Union Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 203 (Sfera #1) Low Earth Orbit Geodesy In orbit Successful

March

March launches
Date and time ( UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
2 March United States Scout-A United States Vandenberg SLC-5
United States OPS 7034 Transit 18 USN Low Earth Navigation In orbit Successful
2 March Soviet Union Proton K / Blok D Soviet UnionPad 81/23, Baikonur MOM
Soviet UnionZond 4 (L1 6) MOM Lunar Free-return Prototype Soyuz 7K-L1P/Zond In orbit Successful
4 March United States Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D United States Cape Canaveral LC-13
United States OGO 5 (EGO 3) NASA Low Earth Research In orbit Successful
5 March Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 204 (DS-P1-I #3) Low Earth Orbit Calibration In orbit Successful
5 March Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 205 (Zenit-2 #59) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
5 March United States Scout-B United States Wallops
United States Explorer 37 (Solrad 9) NASA Low Earth Research In orbit Successful
6 March Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar
Soviet Union(DS-U1-Ya #1) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Failure
13 March United States Titan IIIB Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-4W
United States OPS 5057 KH-8 4312 USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
14 March Soviet Union Vostok-2M Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 206 (Meteor-1 #9) Low Earth Orbit Meteorology In orbit Successful
14 March United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-1E
United States OPS 4849 KH-4A 1046 CIA Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
United States OPS 7076 Lampan 1 / Sampan 2 USAF Low Earth ELINT In orbit Successful
16 March Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 207 (Zenit-4 #39) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
21 March Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 1/5, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 208 (Zenit-2M #1,Gektor #1) & Nauka-1KS 1L GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
22 March Soviet Union Tsyklon-2A Soviet Union Site 90/19, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 209 (US-AO #4) Low Earth Orbit In orbit Successful

April

April launches
Date and time ( UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
3 April Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 210 (Zenit-2 #60) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
4 April
12:00:02 		United States Saturn V (C-5) United States LC-39A, Kennedy United States NASA
United States Apollo 6 NASA LEO Test CSM heat shield at Lunar return speeds. Test S-IVB re-ignition in LEO. 4 April 1968
21:57:26		 Partial failure
Experienced Pogo oscillation during S-IC first stage ascent. S-IVB failed restart test.
6 April United States Atlas F United States Vandenberg
United StatesOV1 13 USAF Low Earth In orbit Successful
United StatesOV1 14 USAF Low Earth In orbit Successful
7 April Soviet Union Molniya-M / Blok L Soviet Union Site 1/5, Baikonur
Soviet Union Luna 14 Selenocentric Lunar Orbiter In orbit Successful
9 April Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 211 (DS-P1-Yu #12) Low Earth Orbit Calibration In orbit Successful
14 April Soviet Union Soyuz Soviet Union Site 31/6, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 212 (Soyuz Test #5) Low Earth Orbit In orbit Successful
15 April Soviet Union Soyuz Soviet Union Site 1/5, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 213 (Soyuz Test #6) Low Earth Orbit In orbit Successful
17 April United States Titan IIIB Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-4W
United States OPS 5105 KH-8 4313 USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
18 April Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 214 (Zenit-4 #40) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
18 April Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar
Soviet UnionKosmos 215 (DS-U1-A #1) Low Earth Orbit Calibration In orbit Successful
20 April Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 31/6, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 216 (Zenit-2 #61) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
21 April Soviet Union Molniya-M / Blok ML Soviet Union Site 1/5, Baikonur
Soviet UnionMolniya-1 08 Molniya Communications In orbit Successful
22 April Soviet Union Proton K / Blok D Soviet UnionPad 81/23, Baikonur MOM
Soviet UnionZond (L1 7) MOM Lunar Free-return Prototype Soyuz 7K-L1P/Zond In orbit Failure
24 April Soviet Union Tsyklon-2A Soviet Union Site 90/19, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 217 (I2M #1) Low Earth Orbit In orbit Successful
25 April Soviet UnionR-36-0 Soviet Union Site 162/36, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 218 (OGCh #17) Low Earth Orbit In orbit Successful
26 April Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar
Soviet UnionKosmos 219 (DS-U2-D #2) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful

May

May launches
Date and time ( UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
1 May United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-3W
United States OPS 1413 KH-4B 1103 Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
7 May Soviet Union Kosmos 3M Soviet Union Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 220 (Zaliv #2) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
17 May United StatesScout B United States Vandenberg SLC-5
United States ESRO 2B (Iris 2) ESRO Low Earth Orbit Research In orbit Successful
18 May United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-2E
United StatesNimbus B NASA/NOAA Low Earth Meteorology In orbit Failure
United StatesSECOR 10 US Army Low Earth Geodesy In orbit Failure
23 May United States Thor LV-2F Burner 2 United States Vandenberg SLC-10W
United States OPS 7869 DMSP-4B F1 Low Earth Meteorology In orbit Successful
24 May Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar
Soviet UnionKosmos 221 (DS-P1-Yu #13) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
30 May Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 222 (DS-P1-Yu #14) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful

June

June launches
Date and time ( UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
1 June Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 223 (Zenit-2 #62) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
4 June Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 31/6, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 224 (Zenit-4 #41) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
4 June Soviet Union Kosmos 3M Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 132/2
Soviet Union Sfera #2 Low Earth Orbit Geodesy In orbit Failure
5 June United States Titan IIIB Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-4W
United States OPS 5138 KH-8 4314 Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
11 June Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar
Soviet UnionKosmos 225 (DS-U1-Ya #2) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
12 June Soviet Union Vostok-2M Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 226 (Meteor-1 #10) Low Earth Orbit Meteorology In orbit Successful
13 June
14:03:00 		United States Titan IIIC United States LC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station United States USAF
United States OPS 9341 IDCSP 20 USAF Sub-GSO Part of the Initial Defense Communications Satellite Program In orbit Success
United States OPS 9342 IDCSP 21 USAF Sub-GSO Part of the Initial Defense Communications Satellite Program In orbit Success
United States OPS 9343 IDCSP 22 USAF Sub-GSO Part of the Initial Defense Communications Satellite Program In orbit Success
United States OPS 9344 IDCSP 23 USAF Sub-GSO Part of the Initial Defense Communications Satellite Program In orbit Success
United States OPS 9345 IDCSP 24 USAF Sub-GSO Part of the Initial Defense Communications Satellite Program In orbit Success
United States OPS 9346 IDCSP 25 USAF Sub-GSO Part of the Initial Defense Communications Satellite Program In orbit Success
United States OPS 9347 IDCSP 26 USAF Sub-GSO Part of the Initial Defense Communications Satellite Program In orbit Success
United States OPS 9348 IDCSP 27 USAF Sub-GSO Part of the Initial Defense Communications Satellite Program In orbit Success
15 June Soviet Union Kosmos 3 Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 41/15
Soviet Union (Strela-2 #4) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Failure
18 June Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 31/6, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 227 (Zenit-4 #42) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
20 June United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-1E
United States OPS 5343 KH-4A 1047 Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
United States OPS 5259 Tripos 3/Sousea 2 USAF Low Earth ELINT In orbit Successful
21 June Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 31/6, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 228 (Zenit-2M #2,Gektor #2&Nauka-1KS 2L) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
26 June Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 229 (Zenit-4 #43) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful

July

July launches
Date and time ( UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
4 July United States Delta J United States Vandenberg SLC-2E
United States Explorer 38 (RAE A) NASA Low Earth Research In orbit Successful
5 July Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet Union Kapustin Yar
Soviet UnionKosmos 230 (DS-U3-S #2) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
5 July Soviet Union Molniya-M / Blok ML Soviet Union Site 1/5, Baikonur
Soviet UnionMolniya-1 09 Molniya Communications In orbit Successful
10 July Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 31/6, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 231 (Zenit-2 #63) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
11 July United States Atlas F United States Vandenberg
United States OV1 15 (SPADES) USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful
United States OV1 16 (LOADS 1) USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful
16 July Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 232 (Zenit-4 #44) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
18 July Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 233 (DS-P1-Yu #15) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
30 July Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 31/6, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 234 (Zenit-4 #45) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful

August

August launches
Date and time ( UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
6 August United States Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D United States Cape Canaveral LC-13
United States OPS 2222 Canyon 1 USAF Low Earth SIGNIT In orbit Successful
6 August United States Titan IIIB Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-4W
United States OPS 5187 KH-8 4315 USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
7 August United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-3W
United States OPS 5955 KH-4B 1104 Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
8 August United States Scout B United States Vandenberg SLC-5
United States Explorer 39 (AD C) NASA Low Earth Research In orbit Successful
United States Explorer 40 (Injun 5) NASA Low Earth Research In orbit Successful
9 August Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 31/6, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 235 (Zenit-2 #64) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
10 August United States Atlas-SLV3 Centaur-D United States Cape Canaveral SLC-36A
United States ATS 4 NASA Geosynchronous Communications/Meteorology In orbit Failure
16 August United States Delta N United States Vandenberg SLC-2E
United States ESSA 7 Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
16 August United StatesAtlas-SLV3 Burner-2 United States Vandenberg SLC-3E
United States Orbiscal 1 USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Failure
United States OV5 8 (ERS 19) USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Failure
United States Gridsphere 1 USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Failure
United States Gridsphere 2 USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Failure
United States MylarBalloon USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Failure
United StatesRigidsphere USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Failure
United StatesLCS 3 MIT Lincoln Laboratory Low Earth Calibration In orbit Failure
United StatesLIDOS USAF Low Earth Geodesy In orbit Failure
United StatesSECOR 11 US Army Low Earth Geodesy In orbit Failure
United StatesSECOR 12 US Army Low Earth Geodesy In orbit Failure
United StatesRadcat Low Earth Calibration In orbit Failure
United StatesRM 18 & UVR USAF Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Failure
27 August Soviet Union Kosmos 3 Soviet Union Baikonur Site 41/15
Soviet UnionKosmos 236 (Strela-2 #5) Low Earth Orbit Military communications In orbit Successful
27 August Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 237 (Zenit-4 #46) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
28 August Soviet Union Soyuz Soviet Union Site 31/6, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 238 (Soyuz Test #7) Low Earth Orbit In orbit Successful

September

September launches
Date and time ( UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
5 September Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 31/6, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 239 (Zenit-4 #47) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
10 September United States Titan IIIB Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-4W
United States OPS 5247 KH-8 4316 USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
14 September Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 31/6, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 240 (Zenit-2 #65) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
14 September Soviet Union Proton K / Blok D Soviet UnionPad 81/23, Baikonur MOM
Soviet UnionZond 5 (L1 9) MOM Lunar Free-return Prototype Soyuz 7K-L1P/Zond In orbit Successful
16 September Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 241 (Zenit-4 #48) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
18 September United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-1E
United States OPS 0165 KH-4A 1048 Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
United States OPS 8595 Vampan 1 USAF Low Earth ELINT In orbit Successful
19 September United States Delta M United States Cape Canaveral LC-17A
United States Intelsat III F1 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Failure
20 September Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 242 (DS-P1-I #4) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
23 September Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 1/5, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 243 (Zenit-2M #3,Gektor #3 & Nauka-2KS 1L) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
26 September United States Titan IIIC United States Cape Canaveral SLC-41
United StatesLES 6 USAF Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful
United StatesOV2 5 USAF Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful
United StatesOV5 2 (ERS 21) USAF Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful
United StatesOV5 4 (ERS 28) USAF Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful

October

October launches
Date and time ( UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
2 October Soviet UnionR-36-0 Soviet Union Site 161/35, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 244 (OGCh #20) Low Earth Orbit Weapon System Test In orbit Successful
3 October Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 245 (DS-P1-Yu #16) Low Earth Orbit Calibration In orbit Successful
3 October United StatesScout-B United States Vandenberg SLC-5
European UnionESRO 1A (Aurorae) ESRO Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful
5 October Soviet Union Molniya-M / Blok ML Soviet Union Site 1/5, Baikonur
Soviet UnionMolniya-1 10 Molniya Communications In orbit Successful
5 October United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-1W
United States OPS 0964 Strawman 1 USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
7 October Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 246 (Zenit-4 #49) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
11 October Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 247 (Zenit-2 #66) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
11 October 1968
15:02 		United States Saturn IB (C-1B) United States LC-34, Cape Canaveral United States NASA
United States Apollo 7 NASA LEO Crewed orbital flight 22 October 1968
11:11:48		 Successful
First crewed Apollo flight
19 October Soviet Union Tsyklon-2A Soviet Union Site 90/19, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 248 (I2M #2) Low Earth Orbit In orbit Successful
20 October Soviet Union Tsyklon-2A Soviet Union Site 90/20, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 249 (I2P #1) Low Earth Orbit In orbit Successful
23 October United States Thor LV-2F Burner 2 United States Vandenberg SLC-10W
United States OPS 4078 DSMP-4B F2 Low Earth (SSO) Meteorology In orbit Successful
25 October 1968
09:00 		Soviet Union Soyuz (R-7/A-2) Soviet Union LC-1/5, Baikonur Soviet Union RVSN
Soviet Union Soyuz 2 RVSN LEO Docking target for Soyuz 3 28 October 1968
07:21		 Successful
Soyuz 3 failed to dock
26 October
08:34 		Soviet Union Soyuz (R-7/A-2) Soviet Union LC-31/6 Baikonur Soviet Union RVSN
Soviet Union Soyuz 3 RVSN LEO Crewed orbital flight 30 October 1968
07:25:03		 Partial Failure
Failed to dock with Soyuz 2
30 October Soviet Union Kosmos 3M Soviet Union Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 250 (Tselina-O #3) Low Earth Orbit SIGNIT In orbit Successful
31 October Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 1/5, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 251 (Zenit-4M #1,Rotor #1) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful

November

November launches
Date and time ( UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
1 November Soviet Union Tsyklon-2A Soviet Union Site 90/20, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 252 (I2P #2) Low Earth Orbit In orbit Successful
3 November United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-3W
United States OPS 1315 KH-4B 1105 Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
6 November United States Titan IIIB Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-4W
United States OPS 5296 KH-8 4317 USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
8 November United States Delta E1 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-17B
United States Pioneer 9 NASA Heliocentric Solar Orbiter In orbit Successful
United States TTS 2 NASA Low Earth Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful
10 November Soviet Union Proton K / Blok D Soviet UnionPad 81/23, Baikonur MOM
Soviet Union Zond 6 (L1 12) MOM Lunar Free-return Prototype Soyuz 7K-L1P/Zond In orbit Successful
13 November Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 253 (Zenit-2 #67) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
16 November Soviet Union Proton K Soviet UnionPad 81/24, Baikonur MOM
Soviet Union Proton 4 MOM Low Earth Science In orbit Successful
21 November Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 254 (Zenit-4 #50) GRU Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
29 November Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 41/1, Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 255 (Zenit-2 #68) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
29 November France Europa 1 AustraliaWoomera
European Union STV 1 ELDO Low Earth Orbit Dummy Payload In orbit Failure
30 November Soviet Union Kosmos 3M Soviet Union Plesetsk
Soviet UnionKosmos 256 (Sfera #3) Low Earth Orbit Geodesy In orbit Successful

December

December launches
Date and time ( UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
3 December Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 257 (DS-P1-Yu #17) Low Earth Orbit Calibration In orbit Successful
4 December United States Titan IIIB Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-4W
United States OPS 6518 KH-8 4318 USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Failure
5 December United States Delta E1 United States Cape Canaveral LC-17B
European Union HEOS 1 ESRO Low Earth Research In orbit Successful
7 December United States Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D United States Cape Canaveral LC-36B
United States OAO 2 Low Earth UV Astronomy In orbit Successful
10 December Soviet Union Voskhod Soviet Union Site 31/6, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 258 (Zenit-2 #69) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
12 December United States Thorad-SLV2G Agena-D United States Vandenberg SLC-3W
United States OPS 4740 KH-4A 1049 CIA Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
United States OPS 7684 P-801 1 USAF Low Earth ELINT In orbit Successful
14 December Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar
Soviet UnionKosmos 259 (DS-U2-I #3) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
15 December United States Delta N United States Vandenberg SLC-2E
United States ESSA 8 ESSA SSO Meteorology In orbit Successful
16 December Soviet Union Molniya-M / Blok ML Soviet Union Site 1/5, Baikonur
Soviet UnionKosmos 260 (Molniya-1 Yu 15L) Molniya Technology Demonstration In orbit Successful
19 December United States Delta M United States Cape Canaveral LC-17A
United States Intelsat III F2 Intelsat Geosynchronous In orbit Successful
19 December Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet Union Plesetsk Site 133/1
Soviet UnionKosmos 261 (DS-U2-GK #1) Yuzhnoye Design Bureau Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful
21 December
12:51 		United States Saturn V (C-5) United States LC-39A, Kennedy United States NASA
United States Apollo 8 NASA Selenocentric Crewed lunar orbiter 27 December 1968
15:51:42		 Successful
United States LTA B NASA Selenocentric Mass Model In orbit Successful
First crewed mission to the Moon
26 December Soviet Union Kosmos 2 Soviet UnionKapustin Yar
Soviet UnionKosmos 262 (DS-U2-GF #1) Low Earth Orbit Reconnaissance In orbit Successful

Suborbital Launches

January

January launches
Date and time ( UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks

Orbital launch summary

References

  1. ^ "Spacecraft Query Results". Master Catalog Search. NASA NSSDC. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
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