Jun 6 Soyuz U2
Success
Two cosmonauts dock with the dead Salyut 7 station and repair it
The Soviet station had lost power and its water had frozen. Vladimir Dzhanibekov docked by hand, and the crew revived it.
Rocket launches in1985
The Space Shuttle reaches its peak flight rate: nine missions in a single calendar year, including Atlantis's debut on STS-51-J in October. In June, the Soyuz T-13 crew pulls off a remarkable rescue of the power-dead Salyut 7 station, manually docking and bringing it back to life.
Monthly Cadence complete
OCT peak 17 launches ↓ 3% vs 1984
- launches
- 126
- success · 120/126
- 95%
- providers
- 2
1985 launch leaders
Providers
1985 highlights
Jan 7 Mu 3SII
Success
Japan launches Sakigake, its first probe into deep space
Sakigake was the first deep-space probe launched on a rocket built outside the US and the Soviet Union.
Jun 17 Space Shuttle
Success
Sultan bin Salman becomes the first Arab in space
The Saudi prince spent a week in orbit on Discovery, which launched Arabsat-1B, a communications satellite for Arab countries.
Jul 2 Ariane 1
Success
Giotto photographs the nucleus of Halley's Comet up close
The European probe passed 596 kilometres from the comet's core in March 1986. Its pictures showed a dark, lumpy body about 15 kilometres long.
Jul 29 Space Shuttle
Success
Challenger loses a main engine on the way to orbit
Faulty sensors shut down one of Challenger's main engines, the only such shutdown in shuttle history. The crew finished their mission from a lower orbit.
Oct 30 Space Shuttle
Success
Challenger launches eight astronauts, the largest crew yet
Earlier spacecraft had carried at most seven people. Five Americans, two West Germans and a Dutch astronaut flew West Germany's Spacelab mission.
All 1985 launches
Quick filters
126 launches
| January | ||||
Jan 7, 1985 | MS-T5 Japan • Mu 3SII | |||
Jan 9, 1985 | Kosmos 1616 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Jan 15, 1985 | Kosmos 1617 Russia • Tsyklon 3 | |||
Jan 16, 1985 | Molniya 3-36L Russia • Molniya M | |||
Jan 16, 1985 | Kosmos 1623 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Jan 17, 1985 | Kosmos 1624 Russia • Kosmos 3M | |||
Jan 18, 1985 | Gorizont #21L Russia • Proton K/DM 8K82K/11S86 | |||
Jan 23, 1985 | Kosmos 1625 Russia • Tsyklon 2 | |||
Jan 24, 1985 | Kosmos 1626 Russia • Tsyklon 3 | |||
Jan 24, 1985 | STS-51-C USA • Space Shuttle | |||
| February | ||||
Feb 1, 1985 | Kosmos 1627 Russia • Kosmos 3M | |||
Feb 6, 1985 | Kosmos 1628 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Feb 6, 1985 | Meteor-2 12 Russia • Tsyklon 3 | |||
Feb 8, 1985 | USA-9 USA • Titan III(34)B | |||
Feb 8, 1985 | Arabsat-1A France • Arianespace • Ariane 3 | |||
Feb 21, 1985 | Kosmos 1629 Russia • Proton K/DM 8K82K/11S86 | |||
Feb 27, 1985 | Kosmos 1631 Russia • Kosmos 3M | |||
Feb 27, 1985 | Kosmos 1630 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
| March | ||||
Mar 1, 1985 | Kosmos 1632 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Mar 5, 1985 | Kosmos 1633 Russia • Tsyklon 3 | |||
Mar 13, 1985 | Geosat USA • Atlas E/F-OIS | |||
Mar 14, 1985 | Kosmos 1634 Russia • Kosmos 3M | |||
Mar 21, 1985 | Kosmos 1635-1642 Russia • Kosmos 3M | |||
Mar 22, 1985 | Ekran #28L Russia • Proton K/DM 8K82K/11S86 | |||
Mar 22, 1985 | Intelsat V -510 USA • Atlas G | |||
Mar 25, 1985 | Kosmos 1643 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
| April | ||||
Apr 3, 1985 | Kosmos 1644 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Apr 12, 1985 | STS-51-D USA • Space Shuttle | |||
Apr 13, 1985Failure | EPN 03.0694 #1 Russia • Zenit 2 | |||
Apr 16, 1985 | Kosmos 1645 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Apr 17, 1985 | BOR-5 502 Russia • Kosmos K65M-RB5 | |||
Apr 18, 1985 | Kosmos 1646 Russia • Tsyklon 2 | |||
Apr 19, 1985 | Kosmos 1647 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Apr 25, 1985 | Kosmos 1648 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Apr 26, 1985 | Prognoz 10 Russia • Molniya M | |||
Apr 29, 1985 | STS-51-B USA • Space Shuttle | |||
| May | ||||
May 8, 1985 | GStar-1 France • Arianespace • Ariane 3 | |||
May 15, 1985 | Kosmos 1649 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
May 17, 1985 | Kosmos 1650 Russia • Proton K/DM-2 8K82K/11S861 | |||
May 22, 1985 | Kosmos 1653 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
May 23, 1985 | Kosmos 1654 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
May 29, 1985 | Molniya 3-39L Russia • Molniya M | |||
May 30, 1985 | Kosmos 1655 Russia • Kosmos 3M | |||
May 30, 1985 | Kosmos 1656 Russia • Proton K/DM-2 8K82K/11S861 | |||
| June | ||||
Jun 6, 1985 | Soyuz T-13 Russia • Soyuz U2 | |||
Jun 7, 1985 | Kosmos 1657 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Jun 11, 1985 | Kosmos 1658 Russia • Molniya M | |||
Jun 13, 1985 | Kosmos 1659 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Jun 14, 1985 | Kosmos 1660 Russia • Tsyklon 3 | |||
Jun 17, 1985 | STS-51-G USA • Space Shuttle | |||
Jun 18, 1985 | Kosmos 1661 Russia • Molniya M | |||
Jun 19, 1985 | Kosmos 1662 Russia • Kosmos 3M | |||
Jun 21, 1985 | Progress 24 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Jun 21, 1985 | Kosmos 1663 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Jun 21, 1985Failure | EPN 03.0694 #2 Russia • Zenit 2 | |||
Jun 26, 1985 | Kosmos 1664 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Jun 30, 1985 | Intelsat V -511 USA • Atlas G | |||
| July | ||||
Jul 2, 1985 | Giotto France • Arianespace • Ariane 1 | |||
Jul 3, 1985 | Kosmos 1665 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Jul 8, 1985 | Kosmos 1666 Russia • Tsyklon 3 | |||
Jul 10, 1985 | Kosmos 1667 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Jul 15, 1985 | Kosmos 1668 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Jul 17, 1985 | Molniya 3-37L Russia • Molniya M | |||
Jul 19, 1985 | Kosmos 1669 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Jul 29, 1985 | STS-51-F USA • Space Shuttle | |||
| August | ||||
Aug 1, 1985 | Kosmos 1670 Russia • Tsyklon 2 | |||
Aug 2, 1985 | Kosmos 1671 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Aug 3, 1985 | Transit-O 24 USA • Scout G-1 | |||
Aug 7, 1985 | Kosmos 1672 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Aug 8, 1985 | Kosmos 1673 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Aug 8, 1985 | Kosmos 1674 Russia • Tsyklon 3 | |||
Aug 8, 1985 | Gran' #26L Russia • Proton K/DM 8K82K/11S86 | |||
Aug 12, 1985 | Kosmos 1675 Russia • Molniya M | |||
Aug 16, 1985 | Kosmos 1676 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Aug 18, 1985 | PLANET-A Japan • Mu 3SII | |||
Aug 22, 1985 | Molniya 1-64 Russia • Molniya M | |||
Aug 23, 1985 | Kosmos 1677 Russia • Tsyklon 2 | |||
Aug 27, 1985 | STS-51-I USA • Space Shuttle | |||
Aug 28, 1985Failure | KH-11 USA • Titan 34D | |||
Aug 29, 1985 | Kosmos 1678 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Aug 29, 1985 | Kosmos 1679 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
| September | ||||
Sep 4, 1985 | Kosmos 1680 Russia • Kosmos 3M | |||
Sep 6, 1985 | Kosmos 1681 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Sep 12, 1985Failure | Eutelsat-3 France • Arianespace • Ariane 3 | |||
Sep 17, 1985 | Soyuz T-14 Russia • Soyuz U2 | |||
Sep 19, 1985 | Kosmos 1682 Russia • Tsyklon 2 | |||
Sep 19, 1985 | Kosmos 1683 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Sep 24, 1985 | Kosmos 1684 Russia • Molniya M | |||
Sep 26, 1985 | Kosmos 1685 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Sep 27, 1985 | Kosmos 1686 Russia • Proton K 8K82K | |||
Sep 28, 1985 | Intelsat V -512 USA • Atlas G | |||
Sep 30, 1985 | Kosmos 1687 Russia • Molniya M | |||
| October | ||||
Oct 2, 1985 | Kosmos 1688 Russia • Kosmos 3M | |||
Oct 3, 1985 | Kosmos 1689 Russia • Vostok 2M | |||
Oct 3, 1985 | Molniya 3-38L Russia • Molniya M | |||
Oct 3, 1985 | STS-51-J USA • Space Shuttle | |||
Oct 9, 1985 | USA-10 USA • Atlas E/F-SGS-2 | |||
Oct 9, 1985 | Kosmos 1690 Russia • Tsyklon 3 | |||
Oct 16, 1985 | Kosmos 1696 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Oct 21, 1985 | FSW-0 No.7 China • Long March 2C | |||
Oct 22, 1985 | Kosmos 1697 Russia • Zenit 2 | |||
Oct 22, 1985 | Kosmos 1698 Russia • Molniya M | |||
Oct 23, 1985Failure | Kosmos 1699 Russia • Kosmos 3M | |||
Oct 23, 1985 | Molniya 1-65 Russia • Molniya M | |||
Oct 24, 1985 | Meteor-3 1 Russia • Tsyklon 3 | |||
Oct 25, 1985 | Kosmos 1699 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Oct 25, 1985 | Kosmos 1700 Russia • Proton K/DM-2 8K82K/11S861 | |||
Oct 28, 1985 | Molniya 1-66 Russia • Molniya M | |||
Oct 30, 1985 | STS-61-A USA • Space Shuttle | |||
| November | ||||
Nov 9, 1985 | Kosmos 1701 Russia • Molniya M | |||
Nov 13, 1985 | Kosmos 1702 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Nov 15, 1985 | Gran' #28L Russia • Proton K/DM 8K82K/11S86 | |||
Nov 22, 1985 | Kosmos 1703 Russia • Tsyklon 3 | |||
Nov 27, 1985 | STS-61-B USA • Space Shuttle | |||
Nov 28, 1985 | Kosmos 1704 Russia • Kosmos 3M | |||
| December | ||||
Dec 3, 1985 | Kosmos 1705 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Dec 11, 1985 | Kosmos 1706 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Dec 12, 1985 | Kosmos 1707 Russia • Tsyklon 3 | |||
Dec 13, 1985 | ITV-1 USA • Scout G-1 | |||
Dec 13, 1985 | Kosmos 1708 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Dec 19, 1985 | Kosmos 1709 Russia • Kosmos 3M | |||
Dec 24, 1985 | Molniya 3-40L Russia • Molniya M | |||
Dec 24, 1985 | Kosmos 1710 Russia • Proton K/DM-2 8K82K/11S861 | |||
Dec 26, 1985 | Meteor-2 13 Russia • Tsyklon 3 | |||
Dec 27, 1985 | Kosmos 1713 Russia • Soyuz U | |||
Dec 28, 1985Partial failure | Kosmos 1714 Russia • Zenit 2 | |||