March 20 in Universe History: Space Missions, Astronomy and Exploration

2004

On March 20, 2004, Boeing reported that a Delta II rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s SLC-17B and successfully deployed GPS IIR-11 to transfer orbit after a 68-minute flight, marking the 50th satellite launched for the U.S. Air Force Global Positioning System.

2010

On March 20, 2010, International Launch Services scheduled a Proton-M/Breeze-M mission with the EchoStar XIV communications satellite from Baikonur, documenting a commercial launch campaign and the operational cadence of multi-burn upper-stage profiles for geostationary delivery.

2015

On March 20, 2015, a total solar eclipse occurred as the Moon’s umbra skimmed Earth at a glancing angle on the March equinox. Totality passed south of Greenland to near the North Pole, crossing the Faroe Islands and Svalbard, while a broad partial eclipse was visible across Europe and beyond.