Experience the legacy of human spaceflight by exploring the milestones that define On This Day in Space History. These range from the roaring engines of historic rocket launches that paved the way to the stars to the personal legacies of the astronauts born or who passed away on this date. Every day marks a significant chapter in our journey beyond Earth. Furthermore, whether you are tracking a specific mission anniversary, our comprehensive daily guide connects you with the cosmic events that happened on this very day. In addition, you can use the guide when honoring the pioneers of the Final Frontier.
Rocket Launches On This Day
CASC Shenzhou-8 & Shenzhou-8-GC Long March 2F/G
Russian Space Forces Kosmos 2579 (Bars-M No. 6) Soyuz 2.1a
CASC Shenzhou 21 Long March 2F/G
Astronauts Born On This Day
Michael Collins
- Date of Birth: 10/31/1930
- Date of Death: 04/28/2021
- Nationality: United States of America
- First Flight: 07/18/1966
- Last Flight: 07/16/1969
Michael Collins (born October 31, 1930) (Major General, USAF, Ret.) was an American former astronaut and test pilot. Selected as part of the third gro...
Terrence W. Wilcutt
- Date of Birth: 10/31/1949
- Nationality: United States of America
- First Flight: 09/30/1994
- Last Flight: 09/08/2000
Terrence Wade Wilcutt is a United States Marine Corps officer and a NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of four Space Shuttle missions. Wilcutt is current...
Astronauts In Remembrance
Ken Mattingly
- Date of Birth: 03/17/1936
- Date of Death: 10/31/2023
- Nationality: United States of America
- First Flight: 04/16/1972
- Last Flight: 01/24/1985
Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II better known as Ken Mattingly, is a former American naval officer and aviator, aeronautical engineer, test pilot, Rear Adm...
Michael Alsbury
- Date of Birth: 03/19/1975
- Date of Death: 10/31/2014
- Nationality: United States of America
- First Flight: 10/10/2010
- Last Flight: 10/31/2014
Michael Tyner Alsbury was an American test pilot for Scaled Composites. On October 31, 2014, Alsbury was test flying the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo,...
Theodore Freeman
- Date of Birth: 02/18/1930
- Date of Death: 10/31/1964
- Nationality: United States of America
Theodore Cordy "Ted" Freeman was an American aeronautical engineer, U.S. Air Force officer, test pilot, and NASA astronaut. Selected in the third grou...
Rocket Launch and Astronaut History FAQ
What space history is featured on this page?
This On This Day page highlights recorded rocket launches that occurred on today’s calendar date in previous years. It also features astronauts who were born or died on this date, providing a daily look at notable missions and people in spaceflight history.
How often is the On This Day space history page updated?
The page updates automatically each day to display historical rocket launches and astronaut birth and death dates associated with the current calendar date.
Can I find upcoming rocket launches from this page?
Yes. This page focuses on historical spaceflight events, but you can visit the upcoming rocket launch schedule for future missions, launch dates, countdowns, and live coverage. You can also browse launches from specific locations, including Kennedy Space Center.
Where does the historical rocket launch data come from?
Historical launch and mission data is provided by spaceflight data sources including The Space Devs. Records may be updated as additional mission information becomes available.