1978 in spaceflight

1978 in spaceflight
The Pioneer Venus Orbiter atop an Atlas-Centaur before launch
Orbital launches
First6 January
Last28 December
Total128
Catalogued124
National firsts
Space traveller Czechoslovakia
 Poland
 East Germany DDR
Rockets
RetirementsAtlas-Agena
Mu-3H
Crewed flights
Orbital5
Total travellers10

1978 saw the launch of the Pioneer Venus missions launched by the United States, on 20 May and 8 August. The Pioneer Venus Multiprobe landed four spacecraft on the planet, one of which transmitted data for 67 minutes before being destroyed by atmospheric pressure. ISEE-C, which was launched on 8 December, flew past comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner in 1985, and Halley's Comet in 1986.[1]

  1. ^ Hughes, J (1996) Larousse Desk Reference Encloypedia London RD Press