Skip to content
79,433 pages · 13,741 images · since 1994 Browse A–Z Today in space history
Encyclopedia Astronautica The full story of spaceflight
Encyclopedia entry

Arecibo

Site · USA

Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

Arecibo
Arecibo
Credit: © Mark Wade

Sounding rocket launch site near world's largest radio telescope.

Subtopics

Country
USA
Agency
NASA
Bibliography
2

Chronology

40 events

1966 February 19

00:05 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Hydac. Launch Vehicle: Nike Javelin.
  • REDLAMP ROBIN Ionosphere / aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 192 km (119 mi).

1966 February 20

00:10 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Hydac. Launch Vehicle: Nike Javelin.
  • REDLAMP Ionosphere / aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 192 km (119 mi).

1966 February 20

05:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Hydac. Launch Vehicle: Nike Javelin.
  • REDLAMP TONI Ionosphere / aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 192 km (119 mi).

1966 February 20

11:08 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Hydac. Launch Vehicle: Nike Javelin. FAILURE: Failure.
  • REDLAMP Ionosphere / aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1967 September 7

20:34 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.
  • Lower ionosphere Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1967 September 8

00:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.
  • Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1967 September 8

10:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache. FAILURE: Failure.
  • Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1967 October 24

18:14 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. Launch Vehicle: Nike Iroquois.
  • Arecibo calibration Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 180 km (110 mi).

1967 October 25

00:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. Launch Vehicle: Nike Iroquois.
  • Arecibo cal Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 180 km (110 mi).

1967 October 26

18:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. Launch Vehicle: Nike Iroquois.
  • Arecibo cal Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 26 km (16 mi).

1967 October 27

18:14 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. Launch Vehicle: Nike Iroquois.
  • Arecibo cal Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 180 km (110 mi).

1967 October 28

10:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. Launch Vehicle: Nike Iroquois.
  • Arecibo cal Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 179 km (111 mi).

1968 March 17

06:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.
  • UM Pitot 34 Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 148 km (91 mi).

1968 March 17

07:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.
  • Thermosphere probe Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 295 km (183 mi).

1968 March 17

09:28 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.
  • Thermosphere probe Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 311 km (193 mi).

1968 March 17

18:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.
  • UM Pitot 35 Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 136 km (84 mi).

1968 March 17

19:18 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.
  • Thermosphere probe Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

1968 March 18

07:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.
  • UM Pitot 36 Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 148 km (91 mi).

1968 May 2

10:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. Launch Vehicle: Nike Iroquois.
  • Release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 218 km (135 mi).

1968 May 7

10:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. Launch Vehicle: Nike Iroquois.
  • Release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 142 km (88 mi).

1968 May 12

05:06 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.
  • Release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 198 km (123 mi).

1968 May 13

05:06 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.
  • Ba release Aeronomy mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: USAF CRL. Apogee: 198 km (123 mi).

1968 June 2

09:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.
  • APPLE Aeronomy / Fields mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: DARPA. Apogee: 196 km (121 mi).

1968 June 12

09:08 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. Launch Complex: Arecibo VB. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Nike Apache.
  • DOGWOOD Aeronomy / Fields mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: DARPA. Apogee: 188 km (116 mi).

1992 May 25

23:52 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Tomahawk. Launch Vehicle: Nike Tomahawk.
  • EL COQUI AA-3A Plasma mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).

1992 May 30

08:11 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.
  • EL COQUI AA-4 / IFH Plasma mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 308 km (191 mi).

1992 June 6

08:37 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.
  • EL COQUI AA-3B Plasma mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 370 km (220 mi).

1992 June 9

05:32 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.
  • EL COQUI Plasma mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1992 June 23

00:24 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant VC.
  • EL COQUI Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).

1992 July 2

09:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.
  • EL COQUI AA-1 Plasma mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).

1992 July 4

08:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.
  • EL COQUI AA-7 Plasma mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).

1992 July 12

09:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.
  • EL COQUI AA-2 Plasma mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 252 km (156 mi).

1998 February 20

00:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant VC.
  • Coqui Dos SAL Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 115 km (71 mi).

1998 February 20

00:37 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant VC.
  • Coqui Dos Ionosphere / release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1998 February 25

03:17 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant VC.
  • Coqui Dos Ionosphere / release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi).

1998 February 25

07:43 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Taurus Orion.
  • Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

1998 February 25

07:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Hawk. Launch Vehicle: Terrier Improved Orion.
  • EDDY Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 128 km (79 mi).

1998 March 7

01:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant VC.
  • Coqui Dos Ionosphere/Release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).

1998 March 11

23:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant IX.
  • Coqui Dos LaTuR Ionosphere mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Apogee: 375 km (233 mi).

1998 March 25

01:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Arecibo. LV Family: Black Brant. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant VC.
  • Coqui Dos Ionosphere/Release mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi).