2015 Event NASA is isolating a six-person team for a year within a small dome in Hawaii in order to simulate theoretical conditions of a Mars mission; the team will have no fresh air or fresh food, and a spacesuit must be worn when exiting the dome 2015 Event NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft ends its three-year orbit around Mercury with a planned crash into the planet's surface; originally, the probe was to orbit and collect data for one year, but fuel saving efforts extended its mission for two more years 2014 Event The United States and allied forces end the combat mission in Afghanistan, which began in 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S.; about 13,000 troops will stay to train Afghan police and military forces in their fight against the Taliban 2013 Event NASA completes a launch of the MAVEN, whose mission is to study Mars atmosphere in depth' the data from the MAVEN will help researchers construct a history of the climate on Mars and should help them understand how the water on Mars disappeared 2013 Event The PSLV-XL rocket carrying the Mars Orbiter Mission probe is launched by India's Space Research Organization; the will eventually be sent to Mars 2013 Event The mission of the NASA Curiosity Mars rover begins as it makes way to its destination and drives to Mount Sharp 2013 Event The Shenzhou 10 spacecraft returns to Earth after China's crew complete's its 15-day mission, completing the country's fifth manned spaceflight 2013 Event Three astronauts begin a 15-day mission on the Shenzhou 10, the fifth manned spaceflight mission and the second and final one to space laboratory Tiangong-1 2012 Event Mikhail Korniyenko and Scott Kelly, veteran astronauts, are chosen to carry out the first year-long mission to the International Space Station in 2015 2012 Event U.S. pastor Billy Graham is hospitalized for several days at Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina due to bronchitis; he recently suffered pneumonia in November, 2011 2012 Event Astronauts, Sunita Williams of the United States, Yuri Malenchenko of Russia and Aki Hoshide of Japan, arrive at the International Space Station for a three-month long mission 2012 Event After a classified 469-day orbital mission, the U.S. air force's robotic Boeing X-37-B spaceplane returns to Earth 2011 Event Space Shuttle Atlantis takes off to conduct the final mission of the U.S. Space Shuttle program 2011 Event Executing its final mission, Space Shuttle Endeavor successfully undocks from the International Space Station to return to earth 2011 Event On a mission to destroy Muammar Gaddafi's forces, NATO jets fly over Tripoli and knock out three television stations 2011 Event The Japanese launch the H-II Transfer Vehicle HTV-2 Resupply Craft, in a mission to deliver cargo to the International Space Station 2010 Event Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao releases pictures of the moon's Sinus Iridum, or Bay of Rainbows, taken during China's Chang e-2 lunar mission 2010 Event 35 suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia are captured by the French Navy, the European Union's most successful mission 2010 Event U.S. Space Shuttle Endeavor launches from the Kennedy Space Center, successfully beginning a two-week mission to the International Space Station 2007 Event Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-117, begins mission 2006 Event Stardust space mission returns dust from a comet to earth 2003 Death Hal Clement, science fiction writer/educator, Mission of Gravity, dies at 81 2003 Death David Brown, astronaut, mission specialist on the Columbia, STS-107, 2003 Death Ilan Ramon, astronaut, first Israeli in space, mission specialist on Columbia, STS-107, dies at 48 2003 Death Laurel Clark, astronaut, physician on the Columbia mission, STS-107, dies at 41 2001 Event Dennis Tito becomes the first space tourist by paying $20 million to fly on a Soyuz mission to the International Space Station. 1997 Event STS-84 (Atlantis 19), launches, 6th Shuttle-Mir Mission 1997 Event Pioneer 10, ends its mission 1996 Death Greg Morris, actor (Mission Impossible), dies at 61 1991 Event U.S. 75th manned space mission "STS-44" Atlantis 10 lands 1991 Event U.S. 75th manned space mission "STS-44" Atlantis 10 launched 1991 Event U.S. 70th manned space mission STS-39 (Discovery 12) launches into orbit 1990 Event U.S. 69th manned space mission STS-35 (Columbia 11) returns from space 1990 Event U.S. 69th manned space mission STS-35 (Columbia 11) launches into orbit 1990 Event U.S. 68th manned space mission STS-38 (Atlantis 7) returns from space 1990 Event U.S. 68th manned space mission STS-38 (Atlantis 7) launches into orbit 1990 Event U.S. 67th manned space mission STS-41 (Discovery 11) returns from space 1990 Event U.S. 67th manned space mission STS-41 (Discovery 11) launches into orbit 1990 Event U.S. 66th manned space mission STS-31 (Discovery 10) returns from space 1990 Event U.S. 66th manned space mission STS-31 (Discovery 10) launches into orbit 1990 Event U.S. 65th manned space mission STS-36 (Atlantis 6) returns from space 1990 Event U.S. 65th manned space mission STS-36 (Atlantis 6) launches into orbit 1990 Event U.S. 64th manned space mission STS-32 (Columbia 10) returns from space 1990 Event 64th U.S. manned space mission STS-32 (Columbia 10) launches into orbit 1989 Event U.S. 63rd manned space mission STS-33 (Discovery 9) returns from space 1989 Event U.S. 63rd manned space mission STS-33 (Discovery 9) launches into orbit 1989 Event U.S. 62nd manned space mission STS-34 (Atlantis 5) returns from space 1989 Event U.S. 62nd manned space mission STS-34 (Atlantis 5) launches into orbit 1989 Event 27th space shuttle mission, STS-29 (Discovery 8), returns to Earth 1989 Event U.S.S.R. announces plan for 2-yr manned mission to Mars 1988 Event STS-27 Atlantis lands in California after secret mission 1988 Event STS-27 Atlantis launched (Secret military mission) 1988 Event 26th Space Shuttle Mission, Discovery 7 returns to Earth after 4-days 1988 Event 26th Space Shuttle mission, Discovery 7 launched 1987 Event Discovery moves to Launch Pad 39B for STS-26 mission 1986 Event STS-61-C mission scrubbed T -9m because of bad weather at Kennedy 1986 Event STS-61-C mission scrubbed at T -9m because of weather problems 1985 Event Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS-51-L mission 1985 Event 23rd Shuttle Mission (61-B)-Atlantis 2-lands at Edwards AFB 1985 Event 23rd Space Shuttle Mission (61-B)-Atlantis 2-is launched 1985 Event Atlantis moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS-61-B mission 1985 Event 22nd Space Shuttle Mission (61A) -Challenger 9- lands at Edwards AFB 1985 Event 22nd Space Shuttle Mission (61-A)-Challenger 9-launched 1985 Event Challenger vehicle moves to launch pad for STS-61A mission 1985 Event Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS-61A mission 1985 Event 21st Space Shuttle Mission (51-J)-Atlantis 1 lands at Edwards AFB 1985 Event 21st Shuttle Mission (51J)-Atlantis 1-all-military flight launched 1985 Event 20th Space Shuttle Mission (51-I)-Discovery 6-returns to Earth 1985 Event Atlantis moves to launch pad for 51-J mission 1985 Event 20th Space Shuttle Mission (51-I)-Discovery 6-launched 1985 Event STS-51-I mission scrubbed at T -5m because of bad weather 1985 Event 19th space shuttle mission (51-F), Challenger 8, lands at Edwards AFB 1985 Event Discovery moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS-51-I mission 1985 Event 19th Space Shuttle Mission (51-F)-Challenger 8-launched 1985 Event 18th Space Shuttle Mission (51-G)-Discovery 5 returns to Earth 1985 Event 18th Space Shuttle Mission (51-G)-Discovery 5 launched 1985 Event 17th Space Shuttle Mission (51-B)-Challenger 7 lands at Edwards AFB 1985 Event 17th space shuttle mission (51-B)-Challenger 7 launched 1985 Event 16th Space Shuttle Mission (51-D)-Discovery 4 returns to Earth 1985 Event Challenger moves to launch pad for 51-B mission 1985 Event 16th Shuttle Mission (51D)-Discovery 4 launched-with Senator Jake Garn 1985 Event Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS-51-B mission 1985 Event Discovery moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS-51-D mission 1985 Event STS-51-E vehicle rolls back to Vandenberg AFB; mission cancelled 1985 Event Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS-51-E mission 1985 Event Discovery moves to launch pad for STS-51-C mission 1984 Event 14th Shuttle Mission (51A) -Discovery 2- lands at Kennedy Center 1984 Event STS-51-A mission; launch 1984 Event Discovery moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS-51A mission 1984 Event STS-41-G mission; lands at Kennedy Space Center 1984 Event 13th Space Shuttle Mission (41-G)-Challenger 6-launched 1984 Event Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS-41G mission 1984 Event 12th Space Shuttle Mission (41-D) -Discovery 1- lands at Edwards AFB 1984 Event 12th Space Shuttle Mission (41-D)-Discovery 1-launched (6 days) 1984 Event 11th Space Shuttle Mission (41C)-Challenger 5-returns to Earth 1984 Event 11th Space Shuttle Mission (41-C)-Challenger 5 is launched 1984 Event Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS-41-C mission 1984 Event 10th space shuttle mission (41-B)-Challenger 4-returns to Earth 1984 Event 10th Space Shuttle Mission (41B)-Challenger 4 launched 1984 Event Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating of STS-41 B mission 1983 Event 9th Space Shuttle Mission - Columbia 6 - lands at Edwards AFB 1983 Event 9th Space Shuttle Mission Columbia 6 is launched 1983 Event Challenger moves to Vandenberg AFB, for mating for STS-7 mission 1983 Event Soyuz T-8 launched; mission aborted when capsule fails to dock 1983 Event 6th space shuttle mission, Challenger 1 launched 1982 Event Columbia Shuttle moves to Vandenberg AFB for mating for STS-3 mission 1981 Event Space Shuttle vehicle moves to Launch Complex 39A for STS-2 mission 1981 Event Columbia mated with SRBs and external tank for STS-2 mission 1980 Event U.S. launches Solar Maximum Mission Observatory to study solar flares 1977 Birthday Shannon Shakespeare, Mission BC, 100m swimmer 1996 Olympics 1974 Birthday Brian Kelly, Mission Viejo California, soccer midfielder, 1996 Olympics gold 1973 Event Mariner 10 launched-1st Venus pics, 1st mission to Mercury 1972 Event Apollo 17 (U.S.), final manned lunar landing mission, launched 1972 Birthday Thandie Newton, born in London, England, actress, appeared in films, 'The Pursuit of Happyness', 'Mission Impossible II', 'The Chronicles of Riddick' 1972 Death Victor Wong, actor (Mission to Moscow, King Kong) dies at 65 1969 Birthday Carrie Westcott, Mission Hills, Kansas, playmate, Sep, 1993 1968 Event 20th Emmy Awards: Get Smart, Mission Impossible and Barbara Bain 1968 Birthday Robert David Burns, Mission Hills, California, PGA golfer, 1994 Buick-5th 1967 Event "Mission Impossible" premieres on CBS-TV 1967 Event 19th Emmy Awards: Mission Impossible, Monkees, Don Knotts and Lucy Ball 1965 Event Borman and Lovell Splash down in Atlantic ends 2 week Gemini VII mission 1965 Event Astronauts Gordon Cooper and Pete Conrad successfully land the Gemini 5 in 7 days, 22 hours, 55 minutes and 14 seconds, breaking the record for manned spaceflight for total mission duration 1965 Event Astronauts Gordon Cooper and Pete Conrad successfully launch Gemini 5, the 11th manned spaceflight mission of all time 1962 Event Mariner 2 launched to Venus; flyby mission 1959 Event Monkeys Able and Baker zoom 300 mi (500 km) into space on Jupiter missile, became 1st animals retrieved from a space mission 1959 Birthday Aidan Quinn, actor, Avalon, Desperately Seeking Susan, Mission 1958 Event Last Municipal arc light, Mission and 25th removed (installed in 1913) 1950 Event Mother Teresa found her Mission of Charity in Calcutta, India 1946 Birthday Lesley Ann Warren, New York City, actress, Cinderella, Mission Impossible 1945 Birthday Thaao Penghlis, actor, Mission Impossible, Tony-Days of Our Life 1945 Birthday Barbara Anderson, Brooklyn, actress, Eve-Ironside, Mission Impossible 1945 Birthday Roland Joffe, director, City of Joy, Mission, Killing Fields 1943 Event 99th Pursuit Squadron flies 1st combat mission, over Italy 1942 Event 1st American bombing mission over enemy-occupied Europe (WW II) 1941 Event 1st U.S. WW II bombing mission in Far East, Luzon, Philippines 1941 Birthday Wayne Hussey, born in Bristol, England, guitarist, The Sisters of Mercy, lead singer, The Mission, rocker, plays Line 6 Variax 500, Gretsch White Falcon 1937 Birthday Peter Lupus, actor, Mission Impossible 1934 Birthday Greg Morris, born in Cleveland, Ohio, actor, Mission Impossible, Vega$ 1932 Birthday David Scott, born in San Antonio, Texas, astronaut, commander of Apollo 15 mission, seventh person to walk on the Moon, first person to drive on the Moon 1931 Birthday Leonard Nimoy, born in Boston, actor, Spock-Star Trek, Mission Impossible 1928 Birthday Martin Landau, born in Brooklyn, New York, actor, 'Mission Impossible', 'Space 1999', 'Ed Wood' 1928 Death William HT Gairdner, English missionary (Nile Mission Press), dies at 54 1921 Birthday Lloyd Bentsen, born in Mission, Texas, Senator-D-Texas 1971 - 1993, 1989 Democratic Vice Presidential nominee 1911 Birthday Peter Graves, born in London, England, actor, Mission Impossible, Stalag 17 1908 Birthday Christian GK Baeta, Togolese chairman, International Mission Council 1907 Event Bank of Italy opens 1st branch at 3433 Mission Street, SF 1906 Birthday Victor Wong, LA Cal, actor, Mission to Moscow, Son of Kong, King Kong 1902 Death Swami Vivekananda, founder of Ramakrishna Mission, chief disciple of Ramakrishna, responsible for bringing Vedanta and Yoga to Europe, America, introduced Hinduism at Parliament of World Religions at Chicago, 1893, dies at age 39, suffered form Asthma, diabetes, and other physical ailments 1897 Event White Rose Mission opens on East 97th Street, New York City 1863 Birthday Swami Vivekananda, born in Calcutta, India, founder of Ramakrishna Mission, chief disciple of Ramakrishna, responsible for bringing Vedanta and Yoga to Europe, America, introduced Hinduism at Parliament of World Religions at Chicago, 1893 1862 Event North Beach and Mission Railway Company organized in SF 1831 Birthday Friedrich C. K. von Bodelschwingh, German theologist, Home Mission 1798 Event Mission San Luis Rey de Francia founded in California 1777 Event Mission Santa Clara de Asis founded in California 1776 Event Mission San Juan Capistrano founded in California 1776 Event Mission Dolores founded by San Francisco Bay 1776 Event Nathan Hale leaves Harlem Heights Camp (127th St) for spy mission 1776 Event Mission Dolores founded by San Francisco Bay 1772 Event Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa forms in California 1771 Event Mission San Gabriel Archangel forms in California 1771 Event Mission San Antonio de Padua founded in California 1770 Event Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo founded in California 1769 Event Father Junipero Serra founds Mission San Diego, 1st mission in California 1713 Birthday Junipero Serra, priest had a mission in California 1545 Event English earl Hertford leads retaliatory mission against Scotland
