Orbital launches | |
---|---|
First | 7 January |
Last | 30 December |
Total | 82 |
Successes | 75 |
Failures | 5 |
Partial failures | 2 |
Catalogued | 77 |
National firsts | |
Satellite | Egypt Chile |
Space traveller | Spain |
Rockets | |
Maiden flights | Athena II Delta II 7326 Delta II 7420 Delta II 7425 Delta III Shtil' |
Retirements | Atlas II Titan IVA |
Crewed flights | |
Orbital | 7 |
Total travellers | 39 |
This article outlines notable events occurring in 1998 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.
Zarya was launched on 20 November 1998 on a Russian Proton rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81 in Kazakhstan to a 400 km (250 mi) high orbit with a designed lifetime of at least 15 years. After Zarya reached orbit, STS-88 launched on 4 December 1998 to attach the Unity module.
Although only designed to fly autonomously for six to eight months, Zarya was required to do so for almost two years due to delays to the Russian Service Module, Zvezda. Zvezda was finally launched on 12 July 2000, docking with Zarya on 26 July 2000.Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
January | |||||||
7 January 02:28 | Athena II | Spaceport Florida LC-46 | Lockheed Martin | ||||
Lunar Prospector | NASA | Selenocentric | Lunar orbiter | 31 July 1999 | Successful | ||
Maiden flight of Athena II, first orbital launch from Spaceport Florida | |||||||
10 January 00:32 | Delta II 7925-9.5 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17B | Boeing IDS | ||||
Skynet 4D | MoD | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
22 January 12:56 | Shavit | Palmachim | ISA | ||||
Ofeq-4 | Intended: Low Earth (retrograde) | Reconnaissance | 22 January | Launch Failure | |||
Second stage failure | |||||||
23 January 02:48 | Space Shuttle Endeavour | Kennedy LC-39A | United Space Alliance | ||||
STS-89 | NASA | Low Earth (Mir) | Shuttle-Mir Program | 31 January 16:57 | Successful | ||
SpaceHab Logistics Double Module | NASA/SpaceHab | Low Earth (Endeavour) | Logistics | ||||
Crewed orbital flight with seven astronauts | |||||||
29 January 16:33 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Soyuz TM-27 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (Mir) | Mir EO-25 | 25 August 05:24 | Successful | ||
Crewed orbital flight with three cosmonauts | |||||||
29 January 18:37 | Atlas IIA | Cape Canaveral SLC-36A | |||||
USA-137 (SDS-3-1) | NRO | Molniya | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
NRO Launch 5 | |||||||
February | |||||||
4 February 23:29 | Ariane 4 44LP | Kourou ELA-2 | Arianespace | ||||
Brazilsat B3 | Embratel | Geostationary | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Inmarsat 3F5 | Inmarsat | Geostationary | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
10 February 13:20 | Taurus 2210 | Vandenberg LC-576E | Orbital Sciences | ||||
GFO | US Navy | Low Earth | Radar altimetry | In orbit | Operational | ||
Orbcomm G1 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Orbcomm G2 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Celestis-02 | Celestis | Low Earth | Space burial | In orbit | Successful | ||
14 February 14:34 | Delta II 7420-10C | Cape Canaveral SLC-17A | Boeing IDS | ||||
Globalstar 1 | Globalstar | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Globalstar 4 | Globalstar | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Globalstar 2 | Globalstar | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Globalstar 3 | Globalstar | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Maiden flight of Delta II 7420 | |||||||
17 February 10:34 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 31/6 | |||||
Kosmos 2349 (Yantar) | Low Earth | Cartography | 2 April | Successful | |||
18 February 13:58 | Delta II 7920-10C | Vandenberg SLC-2W | Boeing IDS | ||||
Iridium 52 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 5 November 2018 [2] | Successful | ||
Iridium 56 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 11 October 2018 [4] | Successful | ||
Iridium 54 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 11 May 2019 [6] | Successful | ||
Iridium 50 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 23 September 2018 [8] | Successful | ||
Iridium 53 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 30 September 2018 [10] | Successful | ||
21 February 07:55 | H-II | Tanegashima LA-Y | NASDA | ||||
Kakehashi (COMETS) | NASDA | Intended: Geosynchronous Actual: Medium Earth | Communications | In orbit | Partial Failure | ||
Upper stage failure led to lower orbit than planned | |||||||
26 February 07:07 | Pegasus-XL | Stargazer, Vandenberg | Orbital Sciences | ||||
SNOE | NASA/UC Boulder | Low Earth | Nitric Oxide research | 13 December 2003 | Successful | ||
Teledesic 1 | Teledesic | Low Earth | Communications | 9 October 2000 | Successful | ||
27 February 22:38 | Ariane 4 42P | Kourou ELA-2 | Arianespace | ||||
Hot Bird 4 | Eutelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
28 February 00:21 | Atlas IIAS | Cape Canaveral SLC-36B | International Launch Services | ||||
Intelsat 806 | Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
March | |||||||
14 March 22:45 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Progress M-38 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (Mir) | Logistics | 15 May | Successful | ||
VDU 2 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (Mir) | Mir attitude control unit | 23 March 2001 05:50 | Successful | ||
16 March 21:32 | Atlas II | Cape Canaveral SLC-36A | |||||
USA-138 (UHF F/O F8) | US Navy | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Final flight of baseline Atlas II | |||||||
24 March 01:46 | Ariane 4 40 | Kourou ELA-2 | Arianespace | ||||
SPOT 4 | CNES | Sun-synchronous | Earth Imaging | In orbit | Operational | ||
25 March 17:01 | Long March 2C | Taiyuan LC-1 | |||||
Iridium 51 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Iridium 61 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 23 July 2019 [12] | Successful | ||
30 March 06:02 | Delta II 7920-10C | Vandenberg SLC-2W | Boeing IDS | ||||
Iridium 55 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 31 March 2019 [14] | Successful | ||
Iridium 57 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Iridium 58 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 7 April 2019 [16] | Successful | ||
Iridium 59 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 11 March 2019 [18] | Successful | ||
Iridium 60 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 17 March 2019 [20] | Successful | ||
April | |||||||
2 April 02:42 | Pegasus-XL | Stargazer , Vandenberg | Orbital Sciences | ||||
TRACE | NASA | Low Earth | Solar research | In orbit | Operational | ||
7 April 02:13 | Proton-K/DM2 | Baikonur Site 81/23 | International Launch Services | ||||
Iridium 62 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 7 November 2018 [22] | Successful | ||
Iridium 63 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Iridium 64 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 1 April 2019 [24] | Successful | ||
Iridium 65 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 19 July 2018 [26] | Successful | ||
Iridium 66 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 23 August 2018 [28] | Successful | ||
Iridium 67 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 2 July 2018 [30] | Successful | ||
Iridium 68 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 6 June 2018 [32] | Successful | ||
17 April 18:19 | Space Shuttle Columbia | Kennedy LC-39B | United Space Alliance | ||||
STS-90 | NASA | Low Earth | Microgravity research | 3 May 16:09 | Successful | ||
Spacelab LM-2 (Neurolab) | NASA | Low Earth (Columbia) | Life science research | ||||
EDO Pallet | NASA | Low Earth (Columbia) | Cryogenic mission duration extension pallet | ||||
Crewed orbital flight with seven astronauts Final flight of Spacelab Long Module No. 2 | |||||||
24 April 22:38 | Delta II 7420-10C | Cape Canaveral SLC-17A | Boeing IDS | ||||
Globalstar 14 | Globalstar | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Globalstar 6 | Globalstar | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Globalstar 15 | Globalstar | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Globalstar 8 | Globalstar | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
28 April 22:53 | Ariane 4 44P | Kourou ELA-2 | Arianespace | ||||
Nilesat 101 | Nilesat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
BSAT-1B | BSAT | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Nilesat is the first Egyptian satellite | |||||||
29 April 04:36 | Proton-K/DM-2 | Baikonur Site 200/39 | RVSN | ||||
Kosmos 2350 (Prognoz SPRN) | RVSN | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
May | |||||||
2 May 09:16 | Long March 2C | Taiyuan LC-1 | |||||
Iridium 69 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Iridium 71 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
7 May 08:53 | Molniya-M | Plesetsk Site 16/2 | |||||
Kosmos 2351 (Oko) | MO RF | Molniya | Early Warning | In orbit | Operational | ||
7 May 23:45 | Proton-K/DM-2M | Baikonur Site 81/23 | International Launch Services | ||||
EchoStar 4 | EchoStar | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
9 May 01:38 | Titan IVB 401/Centaur | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | Lockheed Martin | ||||
USA-139 / Orion 4 | NRO | Geosynchronous | SIGINT | In orbit | Operational | ||
NROL-6 mission. | |||||||
13 May 15:52 | Titan 23G | Vandenberg SLC-4W | Lockheed Martin | ||||
NOAA-15 (NOAA-K) | NOAA | Sun-synchronous | Weather satellite | In orbit | Operational | ||
14 May 22:12 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Progress M-39 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (Mir) | Logistics | 29 October 04:14 | Successful | ||
17 May 21:16 | Delta II 7920-10C | Vandenberg SLC-2W | Boeing IDS | ||||
Iridium 70 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 11 October 2018 [34] | Successful | ||
Iridium 72 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 14 May 2018 [36] | Successful | ||
Iridium 73 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Iridium 74 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 11 June 2017 [38] | Successful | ||
Iridium 75 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 10 July 2018 [40] | Successful | ||
30 May 10:00 | Long March 3B | Xichang LC-2 | |||||
Zhongwei 1 (ChinaStar 1) | COTSC | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
June | |||||||
2 June 22:06 | Space Shuttle Discovery | Kennedy LC-39A | United Space Alliance | ||||
STS-91 | NASA | Low Earth (Mir) | Shuttle-Mir flight | 12 June 18:00 | Successful | ||
SpaceHab Logistics Double Module | NASA/SpaceHab | Low Earth (Discovery) | Logistics | ||||
AMS-01 | ESA | Low Earth (Discovery) | Particle physics | ||||
Crewed orbital flight with six astronauts, landing with seven Final Shuttle-Mir flight and first shuttle flight with Super-lightweight Aluminium/Lithium ET | |||||||
10 June 00:35 | Delta II 7925-9.5 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17A | Boeing IDS | ||||
Thor 3 | Telenor | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
15 June 22:58 | Tsyklon-3 | Plesetsk Site 32 | |||||
Kosmos 2352 (Strela-3) | MO RF | Intended: Medium Earth Actual: Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Partial Failure | ||
Kosmos 2353 (Strela-3) | MO RF | Intended: Medium Earth Actual: Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Partial Failure | ||
Kosmos 2354 (Strela-3) | MO RF | Intended: Medium Earth Actual: Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Partial Failure | ||
Kosmos 2355 (Strela-3) | MO RF | Intended: Medium Earth Actual: Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Partial Failure | ||
Kosmos 2356 (Strela-3) | MO RF | Intended: Medium Earth Actual: Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Partial Failure | ||
Kosmos 2357 (Strela-3) | MO RF | Intended: Medium Earth Actual: Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Partial Failure | ||
Third stage failure left satellites in lower orbit than planned | |||||||
18 June 22:48 | Atlas IIAS | Cape Canaveral SLC-36A | International Launch Services | ||||
Intelsat 805 | Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
24 June 18:29 | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk Site 43/3 | |||||
Kosmos 2358 (Yantar) | MO RF | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | 22 October | Successful | ||
25 June 14:00 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 31/6 | |||||
Kosmos 2359 (Yantar) | MO RF | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | 12 July 1999 | Successful | ||
July | |||||||
1 July 00:48 | Molniya-M | Plesetsk Site 43/3 | |||||
Molniya 3–49 | MOM | Molniya | Communications | 2 February 2011 | Successful | ||
3 July 18:12 | M-V | Uchinoura | ISAS | ||||
Nozomi (PLANET-B) | ISAS | Intended: Areocentric Actual: Heliocentric | Mars orbiter | In orbit | Spacecraft failure | ||
Gravity assist produced less velocity than expected, spacecraft ran out of fuel trying to compensate | |||||||
7 July 03:15 | Shtil' | Novomoskovsk (K-407), Barents Sea | |||||
Tubsat-N | TUB | Low Earth | Communications | 23 April 2002 | Successful | ||
Tubsat-N1 | TUB | Low Earth | Communications | 21 October 2000 | Successful | ||
Shtil 1 | Makeev | Low Earth | Measure carrier rocket performance | 8 May 2014 | Successful | ||
Maiden flight of Shtil' and first orbital launch from a submarine | |||||||
10 July 06:30 | Zenit-2 | Baikonur Site 45/1 | |||||
Resurs-O1 4 | Low Earth | Remote sensing | In orbit | Operational | |||
Fasat-Bravo | FACh | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
TMSAT | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Gurwin Techsat 1B | Technion | Low Earth | Technology development | In orbit | Operational | ||
WESTPAC | WPLTN | Low Earth | Laser tracking | In orbit | Operational | ||
SAFIR-2 | DLR | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Fasat-Bravo is the first successful Chilean satellite | |||||||
18 July 09:20 | Long March 3B | Xichang LC-2 | |||||
Sinosat-1 | SinoSat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
28 July 09:15 | Zenit-2 | Baikonur Site 45/1 | |||||
Kosmos 2360 (Tselina-2) | MO RF | Low Earth | SIGINT | In orbit | Operational | ||
August | |||||||
2 August 16:24 | Pegasus-XL/HAPS | Stargazer , Wallops Flight Facility | Orbital Sciences | ||||
Orbcomm B5 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Orbcomm B6 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Orbcomm B7 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Orbcomm B8 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Orbcomm B4 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | 22 December 2018 07:12 | Successful | ||
Orbcomm B3 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Orbcomm B2 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Orbcomm B1 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
The decommissioned Orbcomm B4 satellite disintegrated into 34 pieces in 2018; the cause is under investigation as of January 2019 [41] | |||||||
12 August 11:30 | Titan IVA 401/Centaur | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 | Lockheed Martin | ||||
Mercury-3 | Intended: Geosynchronous | ELINT | 12 August T+40 seconds | Launch Failure | |||
Final flight of Titan IVA Control lost after guidance system malfunction; Range Safety self-destruct | |||||||
13 August 09:43 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Soyuz TM-28 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (Mir) | Mir EO-26 | 28 February 1999 02:14 | Successful | ||
Crewed orbital flight with three cosmonauts | |||||||
19 August 23:01 | Long March 2C | Taiyuan LC-1 | |||||
Iridium 3 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 8 February 2018 [43] | Successful | ||
Iridium 76 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 28 August 2018 [45] | Successful | ||
25 August 23:07 | Ariane 4 44P | Kourou ELA-2 | Arianespace | ||||
ST-1 | Singapore Telecom/Chunghwa Telecom | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
27 August 01:17 | Delta III 8930 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17B | Boeing IDS | ||||
Galaxy 10 | PanAmSat | Intended: Geosynchronous | Communications | 27 August T+75 seconds | Launch Failure | ||
Maiden flight of Delta III Hydraulic failure in thrust vectoring system led to range safety self-destruct | |||||||
30 August 00:31 | Proton-K/DM-2M | Baikonur Site 81/23 | International Launch Services | ||||
Astra 2A | SES | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
31 August 03:07 | Taepodong-1 | Musudan-ri | |||||
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1 | Chongon | Intended: Low Earth | Communications | 31 August | Launch Failure | ||
First North Korean orbital launch attempt; Never achieved orbit due to a suspected third stage failure | |||||||
September | |||||||
8 September 21:13 | Delta II 7920-10C | Vandenberg SLC-2W | Boeing IDS | ||||
Iridium 82 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Iridium 81 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 17 July 2018 [47] | Successful | ||
Iridium 80 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 12 August 2018 [49] | Successful | ||
Iridium 79 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 29 November 2000 | Spacecraft Failure | ||
Iridium 77 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 22 September 2017 [51] | Spacecraft Failure | ||
9 September 20:29 | Zenit-2 | Baikonur Site 45/1 | |||||
Globalstar 5 | Globalstar | Intended: Low Earth | Communications | 9 September | Launch Failure | ||
Globalstar 7 | Globalstar | Intended: Low Earth | Communications | ||||
Globalstar 9 | Globalstar | Intended: Low Earth | Communications | ||||
Globalstar 10 | Globalstar | Intended: Low Earth | Communications | ||||
Globalstar 11 | Globalstar | Intended: Low Earth | Communications | ||||
Globalstar 12 | Globalstar | Intended: Low Earth | Communications | ||||
Globalstar 13 | Globalstar | Intended: Low Earth | Communications | ||||
Globalstar 16 | Globalstar | Intended: Low Earth | Communications | ||||
Globalstar 17 | Globalstar | Intended: Low Earth | Communications | ||||
Globalstar 18 | Globalstar | Intended: Low Earth | Communications | ||||
Globalstar 20 | Globalstar | Intended: Low Earth | Communications | ||||
Globalstar 21 | Globalstar | Intended: Low Earth | Communications | ||||
Computer error caused premature second stage cutout | |||||||
16 September 06:31 | Ariane 4 44LP | Kourou ELA-2 | Arianespace | ||||
PanAmSat 7 | PanAmSat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
23 September 05:06 | Pegasus-XL/HAPS | Stargazer , Wallops Island | Orbital Sciences | ||||
Orbcomm C1 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Orbcomm C2 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Orbcomm C3 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Orbcomm C4 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Orbcomm C5 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Orbcomm C6 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Orbcomm C7 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Orbcomm C8 | Orbcomm | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
28 September 23:41 | Molniya-M | Plesetsk Site 43/3 | |||||
Molniya-1T | MOM | Molniya | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
October | |||||||
3 October 10:04 | Taurus 1110 | Vandenberg LC-576E | Orbital Sciences | ||||
STEX | NRO | Low Earth | Technology research | In orbit | Partial satellite failure | ||
USA-141 (ATeX) | NRO | Low Earth | Technology research | In orbit | Satellite failure | ||
ATeX failed to deploy fully and was jettisoned from STEX on 16 January 1999 to protect the main spacecraft | |||||||
5 October 22:51 | Ariane 4 44L | Kourou ELA-2 | Arianespace | ||||
Eutelsat W2 | Eutelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Sirius 3 | NSAB | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
9 October 22:50 | Atlas IIA | Cape Canaveral SLC-36B | International Launch Services | ||||
Hot Bird 5 | Eutelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
20 October 07:19 | Atlas IIA | Cape Canaveral SLC-36A | |||||
USA-140 (UHF F/O F9) | US Navy | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
21 October 16:37 | Ariane 5G | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
Maqsat 3 | ESA | Geosynchronous transfer | Monitor rocket performance | In orbit | Successful | ||
ARD | ESA | Suborbital | Spacecraft recovery demonstration | 21 October | Successful | ||
ARD recovered in Pacific Ocean by French Navy | |||||||
23 October 00:02 | Pegasus-H | Stargazer, Cape Canaveral | Orbital Sciences | ||||
SCD-2 | INPE | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
24 October 21:13 | Delta II 7326-9.5 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17A | Boeing IDS | ||||
Deep Space 1 | NASA | Heliocentric | Asteroid/Comet probe | In orbit | Successful | ||
SEDSAT-1 | Alabama | Low Earth | Amateur radio | In orbit | Operational | ||
Maiden flight of Delta II 7326 Deep Space 1 performed flybys of 1992 KD and 19P/Borrelly | |||||||
25 October 04:14 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Progress M-40 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (Mir) | Logistics | 5 February 1999 11:10 | Successful | ||
Sputnik-41 | ACF/AMSAT/RuAF | Low Earth | Amateur radio | 11 January 1999 | Successful | ||
Sputnik-41 deployed from Mir during an EVA on 10 November | |||||||
28 October 22:15 | Ariane 4 44L | Kourou ELA-2 | Arianespace | ||||
AfriStar | 1worldspace | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
GE 5 | GE Americom | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
29 October 19:19 | Space Shuttle Discovery | Kennedy LC-39B | United Space Alliance | ||||
STS-95 | NASA | Low Earth | Microgravity research | 7 November 17:03 | Successful | ||
SpaceHab Single Module | NASA/SpaceHab | Low Earth (Discovery) | Scientific research | ||||
SPARTAN-201 | NASA | Low Earth | Solar observation | ||||
PANSAT (PO-34) | US Navy | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | ||
Crewed orbital flight with seven astronauts including the first Spanish space traveller (Pedro Duque) and the oldest person to fly in space (John Glenn) PANSAT deployed on 30 October; SPARTAN deployed on 1 November and retrieved on 3 November | |||||||
November | |||||||
4 November 05:12 | Proton-K/DM-2M | Baikonur Site 81/23 | International Launch services | ||||
PanAmSat 8 | PanAmSat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
6 November 13:37 | Delta II 7920-10C | Vandenberg SLC-2W | Boeing IDS | ||||
Iridium 2 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Spacecraft failure | ||
Iridium 86 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 5 October 2018 [53] | Successful | ||
Iridium 85 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 30 December 2000 | Spacecraft failure | ||
Iridium 84 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 4 November 2018 [55] | Successful | ||
Iridium 83 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 5 November 2018 [57] | Successful | ||
20 November 05:12 | Proton-K | Baikonur Site 81/23 | Roskosmos | ||||
Zarya | NASA/Roskosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS module | In orbit | Operational | ||
First launch of the International Space Station programme | |||||||
22 November 23:54 | Delta II 7925-9.5 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17B | Boeing IDS | ||||
BONUM-1 | Telenor | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
December | |||||||
4 December 08:35 | Space Shuttle Endeavour | Kennedy LC-39A | United Space Alliance | ||||
STS-88 | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS assembly | 16 December 04:53 | Successful | ||
Unity (Node 1) | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS module | In orbit | Operational | ||
PMA-1 | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS component | In orbit | Operational | ||
PMA-2 | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS component | In orbit | Operational | ||
SAC-A | CONAE | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 25 October 1999 | Successful | ||
MightySat 1 | US Air Force | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 21 November 1999 | Successful | ||
Crewed orbital flight with six astronauts First crewed flight to the International Space Station SAC-A deployed on 14 December and MightySat on 15 December | |||||||
6 December 00:43 | Ariane 4 42L | Kourou ELA-2 | Arianespace | ||||
Satmex 5 | Satmex | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
6 December 00:57 | Pegasus-XL | Stargazer, Vandenberg | Orbital Sciences | ||||
SWAS | NASA | Low Earth | Astronomy | In orbit | Operational | ||
10 December 11:57 | Kosmos-3M | Plesetsk Site 132/1 | |||||
Nadezhda 5 | MO RF | Low Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
Astrid-2 | SSC | Low Earth | Aurora research | In orbit | Operational | ||
11 December 18:45 | Delta II 7425-9.5 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17A | Boeing IDS | ||||
Mars Climate Orbiter | NASA | Intended: Areocentric Actual: Heliocentric | Mars orbiter | 23 September 1999 | Spacecraft failure | ||
Maiden flight of Delta II 7425 MCO crashed into Mars during orbital inserition due to error in unit conversions between Metric and Imperial | |||||||
19 December 11:39 | Long March 2C | Taiyuan LC-1 | |||||
Iridium 20 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 22 October 2018 [59] | Successful | ||
Iridium 11 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | 22 October 2018 [61] | Successful | ||
22 December 01:08 | Ariane 4 42L | Kourou ELA-2 | Arianespace | ||||
PAS-6B | PanAmSat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
24 December 20:02 | Kosmos-3M | Plesetsk Site 132/1 | |||||
Kosmos 2361 (Parus) | MO RF | Low Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
30 December 18:35 | Proton-K/DM-2 | Baikonur Site 200/39 | |||||
Kosmos 2362 (GLONASS) | MOM | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
Kosmos 2363 (GLONASS) | MOM | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
Kosmos 2364 (GLONASS) | MOM | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational |
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
January | |||||||
16 January 03:25 | Minuteman II | Vandenberg LF-03 | US Air Force | ||||
MSLS IFT-2 | US Air Force | Suborbital | ABM target | 16 January | Successful | ||
16 January 03:46 | Payload Launch Vehicle | Meck Island | US Air Force/Orbital Sciences | ||||
EKV | US Air Force | Suborbital | ABM interceptor | 16 January | Successful | ||
25 January 08:35 | S-310 | Uchinoura Pad K | ISAS | ||||
SEEK | ISAS | Suborbital | Ozone/Aeronomy research | 25 January | Successful | ||
26 January 12:26 | Nike Orion | Esrange | SSC | ||||
MERMAID | SSC/DLR | Suborbital | Microgravity research | 26 January | Successful | ||
31 January 04:30 | S-520 | Uchinoura Pad K | ISAS | ||||
XUV Doppler Telescope | ISAS | Suborbital | Solar observation | 31 January | Successful | ||
31 January 23:43 | VS-30 | Andøya | INPE | ||||
AL-VS30-229 | DLR | Suborbital | Aeronomy research | 31 January | Successful | ||
February | |||||||
5 February 08:30 | S-520 | Uchinoura Pad K | ISAS | ||||
ISAS | Suborbital | Plasma research | 5 February | Successful | |||
7 February 07:40 | Skylark VII | Esrange Pad S | SSC | ||||
TEXUS 36 | SSC | Suborbital | Microgravity research | 7 February | Successful | ||
10 February | Trident C-4 | Submarine, Eastern Range | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 February | Successful | |||
10 February | Trident C-4 | Submarine, Eastern Range | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 February | Successful | |||
10 February | Trident C-4 | Submarine, Eastern Range | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 February | Successful | |||
10 February | Trident C-4 | Submarine, Eastern Range | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 February | Successful | |||
11 February 09:42 | Nike-Orion | Esrange | DLR | ||||
Texus-5 | DLR | Suborbital | Microgravity research | 11 February | Successful | ||
19 February | R-29 | Submarine, Barents Sea | Russian Navy | ||||
Russian Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 February | Successful | |||
19 February | R-29 | Submarine, Barents Sea | Russian Navy | ||||
Russian Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 February | Successful | |||
20 February 00:09 | Black Brant VC | Arecibo | NASA | ||||
Coqui Dos SAL | NASA | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 20 February | Successful | ||
20 February 00:37 | Black Brant VC | Arecibo | NASA | ||||
Coqui Dos | NASA | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 20 February | Successful | ||
20 February 08:23 | Minuteman III | Vandenberg LF-04 | US Air Force | ||||
FOT GT166GM | US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 20 February | Failure | ||
25 February 03:17 | Black Brant VC | Arecibo | NASA | ||||
Coqui Dos | NASA | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 25 February | Successful | ||
25 February 07:43 | Taurus-Orion | Arecibo | NASA | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 25 February | Successful | |||
25 February 07:50 | Terrier-Orion | Arecibo | NASA | ||||
EDDY | NASA | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 25 February | Successful | ||
March | |||||||
3 March 22:33 | Nike-Orion | Esrange | SSC | ||||
NLTE-1 Atomic 2A | SSC | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 3 March | Successful | ||
6 March 21:26 | Nike-Orion | Esrange | SSC | ||||
NLTE-2 Atomic 2B | SSC | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 3 March | Successful | ||
7 March 01:33 | Black Brant VC | Arecibo | NASA | ||||
Coqui Dos | NASA | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 7 March | Successful | ||
7 March | Trident D-5 | Submarine, Eastern Range | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 March | Successful | |||
7 March | Trident D-5 | Submarine, Eastern Range | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 March | Successful | |||
10 March | Trident D-5 | Submarine, Eastern Range | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 March | Successful | |||
10 March | Trident D-5 | Submarine, Eastern Range | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 March | Successful | |||
11 March 23:39 | Black Brant IX | Arecibo | NASA | ||||
Coqui Dos LaTuR | NASA | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 11 March | Successful | ||
21 March | VS-40 | Alcântara | INPE | ||||
INPE | Suborbital | Test sounding rocket | 21 March | Successful | |||
25 March 01:45 | Black Brant VC | Arecibo | NASA | ||||
Coqui Dos | NASA | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 25 March | Successful | ||
April | |||||||
6 April | Ghauri | Tilla | PAF | ||||
PAF | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 April | Successful | |||
Maiden flight of Ghauri | |||||||
6 April | RH-560/200 MK II | Sriharikota | ISRO | ||||
ISRO | Suborbital | Aeronomy research | 6 April | Successful | |||
15 April | R-36M2 | Baikonur | RVSN | ||||
RVSN/ISC Kosmotras | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 April | Successful | |||
Part of Dnepr development programme | |||||||
17 April 18:05 | Strypi | Pacific Missile Range | Sandia | ||||
Red Crow | BMDO | Suborbital | Technology development | 17 April | Successful | ||
18 April 04:00 | Black Brant IX | White Sands | NASA | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Ultraviolet astronomy | 18 April | Successful | |||
18 April 07:30 | Black Brant IX | White Sands | NASA | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Ultraviolet astronomy | 18 April | Successful | |||
28 April 12:10 | Black Brant IXB | SpacePort Canada | Akjuit Aerospace | ||||
ACTIVE | CSA | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 28 April | Successful | ||
First and only launch conducted by Akjuit Aerospace. Final launch from the SpacePort Canada (Churchill Rocket Research Range) site. | |||||||
May | |||||||
7 May 10:30 | Peacekeeper | Vandenberg LF-05 | US Air Force | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 May | Successful | |||
12 May 11:22 | Hera | White Sands LC-94 | US Air Force | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | ABM Target | 12 May | Successful | |||
12 May 11:25 | THAAD | White Sands | US Air Force | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | ABM Interceptor | 12 May | Failure | |||
22 May 06:22 | Black Brant IX | White Sands | NASA | ||||
NITE | NASA | Suborbital | Infrared astronomy | 22 May | Successful | ||
June | |||||||
3 June 19:57 | Minuteman III | Vandenberg LF-26 | US Air Force | ||||
FOT GT167GB | US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 3 June | Successful | ||
11 June 01:00 | KSR-II | Anhueng | KARI | ||||
KARI | Suborbital | Ionosphere research X-ray astronomy | 11 June | Successful | |||
16 June 14:19 | Nike-Orion | Wallops Island | NASA | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Test sounding rocket | 16 June | Successful | |||
24 June 08:01 | Minuteman III | Vandenberg LF-09 | US Air Force | ||||
GRP-IDF-1 | US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 June | Successful | ||
24 June 12:46 | Minuteman III | Vandenberg LF-10 | US Air Force | ||||
FOT GT168GM | US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 June | Successful | ||
July | |||||||
22 July | Shahab-3 | Emamshahr | |||||
Suborbital | Missile test | 22 July | Failure | ||||
Maiden flight of Shahab-3 | |||||||
August | |||||||
15 August 05:30 | Black Brant IX | White Sands | NASA | ||||
EEV CCD | NASA | Suborbital | X-ray astronomy | 15 August | Successful | ||
21 August | R-29 | Submarine, Barents Sea | Russian Navy | ||||
Russian Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 August | Successful | |||
September | |||||||
16 September 11:10 | Topol | Plesetsk Site 158 | RVSN | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 September | Successful | |||
18 September 08:01 | Minuteman III | Vandenberg LF-26 | US Air Force | ||||
GRP-IDF-2 | US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 18 September | Successful | ||
18 September 15:00 | Black Brant IX | White Sands | NASA | ||||
SOAREX-1 | NASA | Suborbital | Hypersonic dynamics test | 18 September | Successful | ||
21 September 14:51 | RH-560/300 MK II | Sriharikota | ISRO | ||||
DEOS F06 | ISRO/DLR | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 21 September | Successful | ||
24 September 12:50 | Storm-2 | White Sands LC-32 | Orbital Sciences | ||||
MTTV | US Air Force | Suborbital | Target | 24 September | Successful | ||
MTD-3 | US Air Force | Suborbital | Weapons test | 24 September | Successful | ||
28 September 15:11 | RH-560/300 MK II | Sriharikota | ISRO | ||||
DEOS F07 | ISRO/DLR | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 28 September | Successful | ||
October | |||||||
7 October 12:00 | UR-100NU | Baikonur | RVSN | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 October | Successful | |||
22 October 12:53 | Topol | Plesetsk Site 158 | RVSN | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 October | Failure | |||
Self-destruct activated after rocket went off course | |||||||
November | |||||||
2 November 18:20 | Black Brant IX | White Sands | NASA | ||||
SOPHIE (NCAR/CU-7) | NASA | Suborbital | Ultraviolet solar observation | 2 November | Successful | ||
6 November 01:32 | AIT-1 | Kodiak Island | Orbital Sciences | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Rocket test | 6 November | Successful | |||
First launch from Kodiak Island | |||||||
18 November 15:40 | Black Brant IX | White Sands | NASA | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Microgravity research | 18 November | Successful | |||
18 November 23:00 | TR-1 | Tanegashima LA-T | NASDA | ||||
NASDA | Suborbital | Microgravity research | 18 November | Successful | |||
20 November | Aries | Pacific Missile Range | US Air Force | ||||
TTV-1 | US Air Force | Suborbital | Target vehicle | 20 November | Successful | ||
24 November 09:53 | Maxus | Esrange | SSC | ||||
ESA | Suborbital | Scientific research | 24 November | Successful | |||
December | |||||||
3 December 11:04 | Nike-Orion | Esrange | DLR | ||||
Mini-Texus 6 | DLR | Suborbital | Microgravity research | 3 December | Successful | ||
8 December 11:25 | Topol | Plesetsk Site 158 | RVSN | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 8 December | Successful | |||
9 December 10:20 | RT-23 | Plesetsk | RVSN | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Test flight | 9 December | Successful | |||
10 December | UR-100NU | Baikonur | RVSN | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 December | Successful | |||
15 December | Taiwan Sounding Rocket | Sounding Rocket I | Jiu Peng Air Base | NSPO | |||
NSPO | Suborbital | Test flight | 15 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: ~280 km (174 mi) |
Date (GMT) | Spacecraft | Event | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
11 January | Lunar Prospector | Selenocentric orbit injection | |
23 January | NEAR | Flyby of the Earth | Closest approach: 540 kilometres (340 mi) |
10 February | Galileo | 5th flyby of Europa | |
29 March | Galileo | 6th flyby of Europa | |
26 April | Cassini | 1st flyby of Venus | Gravity assist |
13 May | AsiaSat 3/HGS 1 comsat | 1st flyby of the Moon | First use of moon's gravity for a recovery mission; Closest approach: 6,200 kilometres (3,900 mi) |
31 May | Galileo | 7th flyby of Europa | |
1 June | AsiaSat 3/HGS 1 | 2nd flyby of the Moon | Closest approach: 34,300 kilometres (21,300 mi) |
21 July | Galileo | 8th flyby of Europa | |
26 September | Galileo | 9th flyby of Europa | |
22 November | Galileo | 10th flyby of Europa | |
20 December | Nozomi | 1st flyby of the Earth | |
23 December | NEAR | Flyby of 433 Eros | Closest approach: 3,827 kilometres (2,378 mi) |
Start Date/Time | Duration | End Time | Spacecraft | Crew | Function | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 January 23:08 | 3 hours 6 minutes | 9 January 02:14 | Mir EO-24 | Anatoly Solovyev Pavel Vinogradov | Repaired the damaged airlock sealing system, used the Strela boom to move across Mir and recover an American optical monitoring experiment. Checked the integrity of cable connects to several antennas. [62] | |
14 January 21:12 | 3 hours 52 minutes | 15 January 01:04 | Mir EO-24 | Anatoly Solovyev David Wolf | Continued to make more repairs to the airlock hatch on Kvant-2 and used a handheld photo-reflectometer to inspect the exterior surface of the station. [63] | |
1 April 13:35 | 6 hours 40 minutes | 20:15 | Mir EO-25 | Talgat Musabayev Nikolai Budarin | Installed a set of handrails and one of two-foot restraints on the outside of the Spektr module in preparation for the repair of the damaged solar array. [64] | |
6 April 13:35 | 4 hours 15 minutes | 17:50 | Mir EO-25 | Talgat Musabayev Nikolai Budarin | Begin repair of the damaged Spektr solar panel. After installing a splint on the frayed panel, the spacewalkers had to quickly return to the airlock to handle a problem with station attitude control. [65] | |
11 April 09:55 | 6 Hours 25 minutes | 16:20 | Mir EO-25 | Talgat Musabayev Nikolai Budarin | Jettisoned the external thruster engine (VDU) that had been located at the top of the Sofora boom and recover an experiment from the Rapana structure. [66] | Dismantling of the Rapana structure was not completed. [67] |
17 April 07:40 | 6 Hours 33 minutes | 14:13 | Mir EO-25 | Talgat Musabayev Nikolai Budarin | Removed two structures and secured them to exterior surfaces and repositioned the new thrust engine (VDU) for future use. [67] | |
22 April 05:34 | 6 Hours 21 minutes | 11:55 | Mir EO-25 | Talgat Musabayev Nikolai Budarin | Completed installation of the new VDU thruster unit on top of the Sofora boom. [68] | |
15 September 20:00 | 30 minutes | 20:30 | Mir EO-26 | Gennady Padalka Sergei Avdeyev | Internal spacewalk in the depressurised Spektr module to connect electrical and control cables to the solar array servo motor. [69] | |
10 November 19:24 | 5 hours 54 minutes | 11 November 01:18 | Mir EO-26 | Gennady Padalka Sergei Avdeyev | Deployed Sputnik-41, deployed a French "meteorite trap" intended to catch some dust from the upcoming Leonids meteor shower. [70] | |
7 December 22:10 | 7 hours 21 minutes | 8 December 05:31 | STS-88 ISS Endeavour | Jerry L. Ross James H. Newman | Connected computer and electrical cables between the Unity node, the two mating adapters attached to either end of Unity, and the Zarya Functional Cargo Block (FGB). [71] | First ISS assembly EVA |
9 December 20:33 | 7 hours 2 minutes | 10 December 03:35 | STS-88 ISS Endeavour | Jerry L. Ross James H. Newman | Installed two box-like antennas on the outside of the Unity module that are part of the S-band early communications system. [72] | |
12 December 20:33 | 6 hours 59 minutes | 13 December 03:32 | STS-88 ISS Endeavour | Jerry L. Ross James H. Newman | Checked on an insulation cover on a cable connection on the lower Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA-2) to make sure it was fully installed, attached EVA tools on the side of Unity's upper mating adapter (PMA-1) in preparation for future EVAs, and inspected Orbiter Space Vision System targets on Unity. [73] | |
The International Space Station (ISS) is a large space station that was assembled and is maintained in low Earth orbit by a collaboration of five space agencies and their contractors: NASA, Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada). The ISS is the largest space station ever built. Its primary purpose is to perform microgravity and space environment experiments.
Space Shuttle Atlantis is a retired Space Shuttle orbiter vehicle which belongs to NASA, the spaceflight and space exploration agency of the United States. Atlantis was manufactured by the Rockwell International company in Southern California and was delivered to the Kennedy Space Center in Eastern Florida in April 1985. Atlantis is also the fourth operational and the second-to-last Space Shuttle built. Its maiden flight was STS-51-J made from October 3 to 7, 1985.
STS-88 was the first Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS). It was flown by Space Shuttle Endeavour, and took the first American module, the Unity node, to the station.
Zarya, also known as the Functional Cargo Block, is the inaugural component of the International Space Station (ISS). Launched on 20 November 1998 atop a Proton-K rocket, the module would serve as the ISS's primary source of power, propulsion, and guidance during its early years. As the station has grown, Zarya's role has transitioned primarily to storage, both internally and in its external fuel tanks. A descendant of the TKS spacecraft used in the Salyut programme, Zarya was built in Russia but its construction was financed by the United States. Its name, meaning "sunrise," symbolizes the beginning of a new era of international space cooperation.
Expedition 1 was the first long-duration expedition to the International Space Station (ISS). The three-person crew stayed aboard the station for 136 days, from 2 November 2000 to 19 March 2001. It was the beginning of an uninterrupted human presence on the station which continues as of 2024.
The year 2007 contained several significant events in spaceflight, including a Chinese ASAT test, the launches of the US Phoenix and Dawn missions to study Mars and Asteroid belt respectively, Japan's Kaguya Lunar orbiter, and the first Chinese Lunar probe, Chang'e 1.
This article outlines notable events occurring in 2002 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.
This article outlines notable events occurring in 2001 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.
This article outlines notable events occurring in 1997 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.
This article outlines notable events occurring in 1996 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.
This article outlines notable events occurring in 1995 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.
The process of assembling the International Space Station (ISS) has been under way since the 1990s. Zarya, the first ISS module, was launched by a Proton rocket on 20 November 1998. The STS-88 Space Shuttle mission followed two weeks after Zarya was launched, bringing Unity, the first of three node modules, and connecting it to Zarya. This bare 2-module core of the ISS remained uncrewed for the next one and a half years, until in July 2000 the Russian module Zvezda was launched by a Proton rocket, allowing a maximum crew of three astronauts or cosmonauts to be on the ISS permanently.
Several significant events in spaceflight occurred in 2009, including Iran conducting its first indigenous orbital launch, the first Swiss satellite being launched and New Zealand launching its first sounding rocket. The H-IIB and Naro-1 rockets conducted maiden flights, whilst the Tsyklon-3, Falcon 1 and Ariane 5GS were retired from service. The permanent crew of the International Space Station increased from three to six in May, and in the last few months of the year, Japan's first resupply mission to the outpost, HTV-1, was conducted successfully.
The following is an outline of 1993 in spaceflight.
The year 2012 saw a number of significant events in spaceflight. In May and October, the first Commercial Orbital Transportation Services resupply missions took place, during which the SpaceX Dragon became the first private spacecraft to dock with the International Space Station (ISS). In June, China launched the crewed Shenzhou 9 orbital mission, and North Korea achieved its first successful orbital launch in December. 2012 also saw China's first successful asteroid exploration mission, and the landing of NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars. The Vega and Unha-3 rockets made their maiden flights in 2012, while the Proton-K made its last.
This article documents notable spaceflight events during the year 2019.
Notable spaceflight activities in 2017 included the maiden orbital flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III on 5 June and the first suborbital test of Rocket Lab's Electron rocket, inaugurating the Mahia spaceport in New Zealand. The rocket is named for its innovative Rutherford engine which feeds propellants via battery-powered electric motors instead of the usual gas generator and turbopumps.
This article documents notable spaceflight events during the year 2018. For the first time since 1990, more than 100 orbital launches were performed globally.