# 1983 in spaceflight

The following is an outline of 1983 in spaceflight.

## Launches

* ← Jan
* Feb
* Mar
* Apr
* May
* Jun
* Jul
* Aug
* Sep
* Oct
* Nov
* Dec →
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| January ||||||||
| 20 January 17:26 | Vostok-2M | Vostok-2M | | Plesetsk Site 16/2 | Plesetsk Site 16/2 | | |
| 20 January 17:26 | | Kosmos 1437 (Tselina-D 39) | | Low Earth | ELINT | 4 January 2022 00:04 | Successful |
| February ||||||||
| 9 February 13:47 | Atlas H | Atlas H | | Vandenberg SLC-3E | Vandenberg SLC-3E | | |
| 9 February 13:47 | | OPS-0252 (NOSS 5) | US Navy | Low Earth | SIGINT | In orbit | Successful |
| Maiden flight of Atlas H ||||||
| March ||||||||
| 2 March 09:37 | Proton-K | Proton-K | | Baikonur Site 200/39 | Baikonur Site 200/39 | | |
| 2 March 09:37 | | Kosmos 1443 (TKS-3) FGB | | Low Earth (Salyut 7) | Logistics | 19 September 00:28 | Successful |
| 2 March 09:37 | | Kosmos-1443 (TKS-3) VA | | Low Earth (Salyut 7) | Sample return | 23 August | Successful |
| 28 March 15:52 | Atlas E/Star-37S-ISS | Atlas E/Star-37S-ISS | | Vandenberg SLC-3W | Vandenberg SLC-3W | | |
| 28 March 15:52 | | NOAA-8 (NOAA-E) | NOAA | Sun-synchronous | Meteorology | In orbit | Spacecraft failure |
| Spacecraft failed in June 1984 ||||||
| April ||||||||
| 4 April 18:30 | Space Shuttle Challenger | Space Shuttle Challenger | | Kennedy LC-39A | Kennedy LC-39A | United Space Alliance | United Space Alliance |
| 4 April 18:30 | | STS-6 | NASA | Low Earth | Satellite deployment | 9 April 18:53 | Successful |
| 4 April 18:30 | | TDRS-1 (TDRS-A) | NASA | Geostationary | Communications | In orbit | Operational |
| Crewed orbital flight with four astronauts; Maiden flight of Space Shuttle Challenger ||||||
| 15 April 18:45 | Titan 24B | Titan 24B | | Vandenberg SLC-4W | Vandenberg SLC-4W | | |
| 15 April 18:45 | | OPS-2925 (KH-8-53) | NRO | Sun-synchronous | Reconnaissance | 21 August | Successful |
| 20 April 13:10 | Soyuz-U | Soyuz-U | | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Baikonur Site 1/5 | | |
| 20 April 13:10 | | Soyuz T-8 | | Low Earth Planned: Docked to Salyut 7 | Salyut 7 EO-2 | 22 April 13:28 | Docking failure |
| Crewed orbital flight with three cosmonauts; Failed to dock with Salyut 7 ||||||
| May ||||||||
| 19 May 22:26 | Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D | Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D | | Cape Canaveral LC-36A | Cape Canaveral LC-36A | | |
| 19 May 22:26 | | Intelsat 506 | Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| Final flight of Atlas-Centaur SLV-3D ||||||
| June ||||||||
| 9 June 23:23 | Atlas H | Atlas H | | Vandenberg SLC-3E | Vandenberg SLC-3E | | |
| 9 June 23:23 | | OPS-6432 (NOSS 6) | US Navy | Low Earth | SIGINT | In orbit | Successful |
| 16 June 11:59 | Ariane 1 | Ariane 1 | | Kourou ELA | Kourou ELA | CNES | CNES |
| 16 June 11:59 | | Eutelsat 1F1 | Eutelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 16 June 11:59 | | Oscar 10 | AMSAT | Geosynchronous transfer | Amateur radio | In orbit | Successful |
| Eutelsat 1F1 retired in 1996 ||||||
| 18 June 11:33 | Space Shuttle Challenger | Space Shuttle Challenger | | Kennedy LC-39A | Kennedy LC-39A | United Space Alliance | United Space Alliance |
| 18 June 11:33 | | STS-7 | NASA | Low Earth | Satellite deployment | 24 June 14:56 | Successful |
| 18 June 11:33 | | Anik C2 | Telesat Canada | Current: Graveyard Operational: Geostationary | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 18 June 11:33 | | Palapa B1 | Telkom Indonesia | Geostationary | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 18 June 11:33 | | SPAS-I | NASA | Low Earth (Challenger) | Microgravity research | 24 June 14:56 | Successful |
| 18 June 11:33 | | OSTA-2 | NASA | Low Earth (Challenger) | Scientific experiments | 24 June 14:56 | Successful |
| Crewed orbital flight with five astronauts; including the first female American astronaut, Sally Ride Anik C2 retired 7 January 1998 ||||||
| 20 June 18:45 | Titan 34D | Titan 34D | | Vandenberg SLC-4E | Vandenberg SLC-4E | | |
| 20 June 18:45 | | OPS-0721 (KH-9-18) | NRO | Sun-synchronous | Reconnaissance | 21 March 1984 | Successful |
| 20 June 18:45 | | OPS-3899 (SSF-C-7) | NRO | Sun-synchronous | ELINT | In orbit | Successful |
| 27 June 09:12 | Soyuz-U | Soyuz-U | | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Baikonur Site 1/5 | | |
| 27 June 09:12 | | Soyuz T-9 | | Low Earth (Salyut 7) | Salyut 7 EO-2 | 23 November 19:58 | Successful |
| Crewed orbital flight with two cosmonauts ||||||
| July ||||||||
| 14 July 10:21 | Atlas E/SGS-2 | Atlas E/SGS-2 | | Vandenberg SLC-3W | Vandenberg SLC-3W | | |
| 14 July 10:21 | | GPS-8 | US Air Force | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Successful |
| 31 July 15:41 | Titan 34B | Titan 34B | | Vandenberg SLC-4W | Vandenberg SLC-4W | | |
| 31 July 15:41 | | OPS-7304 (Jumpseat 7) | NRO | Molniya | SIGINT | In orbit | Successful |
| August ||||||||
| 17 August 12:08 | Soyuz-U | Soyuz-U | | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Baikonur Site 1/5 | | |
| 17 August 12:08 | | Progress 17 | | Low Earth (Salyut 7) | Logistics | 17 September 23:43 | Successful |
| 30 August 06:32 | Space Shuttle Challenger | Space Shuttle Challenger | | Kennedy LC-39A | Kennedy LC-39A | United Space Alliance | United Space Alliance |
| 30 August 06:32 | | STS-8 | NASA | Low Earth | Satellite deployment | 5 September 07:40 | Successful |
| 30 August 06:32 | | INSAT 1B | ISRO | Geostationary | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 30 August 06:32 | | Payload Flight Test Article | NASA | Low Earth (Challenger) | Payload compatibility testing | 5 September 07:40 | Successful |
| Crewed orbital flight with five astronauts ||||||
| October ||||||||
| 19 October 00:45 | Ariane 1 | Ariane 1 | | Kourou ELA | Kourou ELA | CNES | CNES |
| 19 October 00:45 | | Intelsat 507 | Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Successful |
| 20 October 09:59 | Soyuz-U | Soyuz-U | | Baikonur | Baikonur | | |
| 20 October 09:59 | | Progress 18 | | Low Earth (Salyut 7) | Logistics | 16 November 04:18 | Successful |
| November ||||||||
| 18 November 06:32 | Atlas E/Star-37S-ISS | Atlas E/Star-37S-ISS | | Vandenberg SLC-3W | Vandenberg SLC-3W | | |
| 18 November 06:32 | | DMSP 5D-2 F7 | US Air Force | Sun-synchronous | Meteorology | In orbit | Successful |
| 28 November 16:00 | Space Shuttle Columbia | Space Shuttle Columbia | | Kennedy LC-39A | Kennedy LC-39A | United Space Alliance | United Space Alliance |
| 28 November 16:00 | | STS-9 | NASA | Low Earth | Microgravity research | 8 December 23:47 | Successful |
| 28 November 16:00 | | Spacelab Long Module 1 | NASA/ESRO | Low Earth (Columbia) | Microgravity research | 8 December 23:47 | Successful |
| Crewed orbital flight with six astronauts; Maiden flight of Spacelab Long Module ||||||
* ← Jan
* Feb
* Mar
* Apr
* May
* Jun
* Jul
* Aug
* Sep
* Oct
* Nov
* Dec →

## Suborbital launches

| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | Launch site | LSP | LSP |
| Date and time (UTC) | | Payload | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome |
| Remarks ||||||
| January-March ||||||||
| 7 February 08:44 | Minuteman 1B | Minuteman 1B | | Vandenberg AFB, LF-06 | Vandenberg AFB, LF-06 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 7 February 08:44 | | Reentry vehicle | USAF | Suborbital | ABM target | 7 February | Successful |
| Target for HOE 1, was not intercepted. ||||||
| 7 February 09:10 | HOE | HOE | HOE 1 | Meck Island, Kwajalein Missile Range | Meck Island, Kwajalein Missile Range | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 7 February 09:10 | | HOE 1 | USAF | Suborbital | ABM test | 7 February | Spacecraft failure |
| Failed to intercept the target. ||||||
| April-June ||||||||
| 28 May | Minuteman 1B | Minuteman 1B | | Vandenberg AFB, LF-03 | Vandenberg AFB, LF-03 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 28 May | | Reentry vehicle | USAF | Suborbital | ABM target | 28 May | Successful |
| Target for HOE 2, was not intercepted. ||||||
| 28 May | HOE | HOE | HOE 2 | Meck Island, Kwajalein Missile Range | Meck Island, Kwajalein Missile Range | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 28 May | | HOE 2 | USAF | Suborbital | ABM test | 28 May | Spacecraft failure |
| Failed to intercept the target. ||||||
| July-September ||||||||
| October-December ||||||||
| 15 December | Minuteman 1B | Minuteman 1B | | Vandenberg AFB, LF-03 | Vandenberg AFB, LF-03 | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 15 December | | Reentry vehicle | USAF | Suborbital | ABM target | 15 December | Successful |
| Target for HOE, was not intercepted. ||||||
| 15 December | HOE | HOE | HOE 3 | Meck Island, Kwajalein Missile Range | Meck Island, Kwajalein Missile Range | US Air Force | US Air Force |
| 15 December | | HOE 3 | USAF | Suborbital | ABM test | 15 December | Spacecraft failure |
| Failed to intercept the target. ||||||

## Deep-space rendezvous

| Date (GMT) | Spacecraft | Event | Remarks |
| 10 October | Venera 15 | Entered Cytherean orbit | Radar mapper mission |
| 14 October | Venera 16 | Entered Cytherean orbit | Radar mapper mission |
| 21 October | ISEE-3/ICE | 4th flyby of the Moon | Closest approach: 17,440 kilometres (10,840 mi) |
| 22 December | ISEE-3/ICE | 5th flyby of the Moon | Closest approach: 120 kilometres (75 mi) |

## EVAs

| Start Date/Time | Duration | End Time | Spacecraft | Crew | Remarks |
| 7 April 21:05 | 4 hours 10 minutes | 8 April 01:15 | STS-6 ( Challenger) | Story Musgrave Donald H. Peterson | Test spacesuits and tools for future space construction. First spacewalk from a Space Shuttle. |
| 1 November 04:47 | 2 hours 50 minutes | 07:36 | Salyut 7 EO-2 | Vladimir Lyakhov Aleksandr Aleksandrov | Installed a new solar panel to increase the station's electrical output. |
| 3 November 03:47 | 2 hours 55 minutes | 06:42 | Salyut 7 EO-2 | Vladimir Lyakhov Aleksandr Aleksandrov | Installed a second new solar panel, increasing electrical output by 50%. |