March 21 in Universe History: Space Missions, Satellites and Exploration

2017

On 21 March 2017, the NASA Planetary Data System issued the PDS4 Standards Reference v1.8.0, defining label structures, data types, and conformance rules used to archive and distribute planetary science products. Tied to PDS4 Build 7b, it provided a stable specification for mission teams, reviewers, and software tools that ingest, validate, and serve NASA planetary datasets.

2017

On 21 March 2017, the MESSENGER MDIS CDR/RDR Software Interface Specification was updated, defining products, labels, indices, and SPICE geometry for distribution via the Planetary Data System. The document specified file organization and access rules so tools and researchers could ingest and analyze Mercury imaging data consistently across archives.

2018

On 21 March 2018, Soyuz MS-08 lifted off from Baikonur carrying Oleg Artemyev and NASA astronauts Drew Feustel and Ricky Arnold on a two-day flight to the International Space Station, sustaining uninterrupted human orbital residency. The launch began their Expedition 55/56 increment and set up docking and hatch operations planned for March 23.