Orbital launches | |
---|---|
First | 19 January |
Last | 27 December |
Total | 67 |
Successes | 62 |
Failures | 5 |
Partial failures | 0 |
Catalogued | 63 [a] |
National firsts | |
Satellite | Kazakhstan |
Space traveller | Brazil Iran Sweden |
Rockets | |
Maiden flights | Atlas V 411 Atlas V 551 Long March 4B-II (4C) Falcon 1 H-IIA 204 Soyuz-2.1b |
Retirements | Tsyklon-2 M-V |
Crewed flights | |
Orbital | 5 |
Total travellers | 26 |
This article outlines notable events occurring in 2006 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs. 2006 saw Brazil, Iran, and Sweden all get a national into space for the first time.
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
January | |||||||
19 January 19:00:00 | Atlas V 551 | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 | International Launch Services | ||||
New Horizons | NASA | Galactocentric | Pluto flyby | In orbit | Operational | ||
Maiden flight of Atlas V 551, first spacecraft to visit Pluto and explored the Kuiper belt. First spacecraft launched directly to Sun-escape velocity | |||||||
24 January 01:33 | H-IIA 2022 | Tanegashima LA-Y1 | JAXA [1] | ||||
Daichi (ALOS) | JAXA | Sun-synchronous | Remote Sensing | In orbit | Partial spacecraft failure Operational | ||
Poor quality images returned due to attitude control and noise problems [2] was resolved by software adjustment. [3] | |||||||
February | |||||||
15 February 23:34:55 | Zenit-3SL | Ocean Odyssey | Sea Launch | ||||
EchoStar X | EchoStar | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
18 February 06:27 | H-IIA 2024 | Tanegashima LA-Y1 | RSC [4] [5] | ||||
MTSAT-2 | MILT/JMA | Geosynchronous | ATC/Weather | In orbit | Operational | ||
Last launch conducted by RSC | |||||||
21 February 21:28:00 | M-V | Uchinoura | JAXA | ||||
Akari (ASTRO-F) | JAXA | Sun-synchronous | IR astronomy | 11 April 2023 04:44 [6] | Successful | ||
⚀ Cute-1.7+APD | TiTech | Low Earth | Amateur radio | 24 October 2009 [8] | Successful | ||
Cute-1.7+APD is a 2U CubeSat | |||||||
28 February 20:10:00 | Proton-M/Briz-M | Baikonur Site 200/39 | International Launch Services | ||||
Arabsat 4A | Arabsat | Intended: Geosynchronous Achieved: Medium Earth | Communications | 24 March [10] | Launch failure | ||
Upper stage malfunction left payload in useless orbit, deorbited after attempts to raise orbit failed | |||||||
March | |||||||
11 March 22:33 | Ariane 5ECA | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
Spainsat | Hisdesat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Hot Bird 7A | Eutelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
22 March 14:03 | Pegasus-XL | Stargazer , Vandenberg | Orbital Sciences | ||||
ST-5A | NASA | Low Earth | Technology | In orbit | Successful | ||
ST-5B | NASA | Low Earth | Technology | In orbit | Successful | ||
ST-5C | NASA | Low Earth | Technology | In orbit | Successful | ||
All three satellites deactivated on 30 June | |||||||
24 March 22:30 | Falcon 1 | Omelek | SpaceX | ||||
FalconSat 2 | USAF Academy | Intended: Low Earth | Plasma research | T+60 seconds | Launch failure | ||
Maiden flight of Falcon 1, rocket lost power shortly after launch due to engine fire caused by corrosion of a nut on a fuel line. | |||||||
30 March 02:30:20 | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Soyuz TMA-8 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS Expedition 13 | 29 September 01:13 | Successful | ||
Crewed orbital flight with 3 cosmonauts, first Brazilian in space | |||||||
April | |||||||
12 April 23:29:59 | Zenit-3SL | Ocean Odyssey | Sea Launch | ||||
JCSAT-5A (JCSAT-9, N-STAR d) | JCSAT | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
15 April 01:40:00 | Minotaur I | Vandenberg SLC-8 | Orbital Sciences | ||||
COSMIC-FM1 (FORMOSAT-3A) | NASA / NSPO | Low Earth | Meteorology | In orbit | Successful | ||
COSMIC-FM2 (FORMOSAT-3B) | NASA / NSPO | Low Earth | Meteorology | In orbit | Partial spacecraft failure Successful | ||
COSMIC-FM3 (FORMOSAT-3C) | NASA / NSPO | Low Earth | Meteorology | In orbit | Partial spacecraft failure Successful | ||
COSMIC-FM4 (FORMOSAT-3D) | NASA / NSPO | Low Earth | Meteorology | In orbit | Successful | ||
COSMIC-FM5 (FORMOSAT-3E) | NASA / NSPO | Low Earth | Meteorology | In orbit | Successful | ||
COSMIC-FM6 (FORMOSAT-3F) | NASA / NSPO | Low Earth | Meteorology | In orbit | Successful | ||
Power system and solar panel malfunctions on FM2 and FM3, control issues with FM6 during 2007. Constellation deactivated on 1 May 2020 after 14 years in operation. | |||||||
20 April 20:27:00 | Atlas V 411 | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 | International Launch Services | ||||
Astra 1KR | SES Astra | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Maiden flight of Atlas V 411, final ILS Atlas launch | |||||||
24 April 16:03:25 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Progress M-56 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Logistics | 18 September | Successful | ||
ISS flight 21P | |||||||
25 April 16:47:16 | Start-1 | Svobodny Site 5 | United Start | ||||
EROS B | ImageSat | Low Earth (polar) | Imaging | In orbit | Operational | ||
Final launch from Svobodny Cosmodrome | |||||||
26 April 22:48 | Long March 4B-II (4C) | Taiyuan LC-1 | CNSA | ||||
Yaogan 1 | CAST | Low Earth | Imaging | In orbit | Operational | ||
Maiden flight of Long March 4B-II, redesignated Long March 4C by November 2007 | |||||||
28 April 10:02:16 | Delta II 7420-10C | Vandenberg SLC-2W | Boeing IDS | ||||
CALIPSO | NASA/CNES | Sun-synchronous | Climatology | In orbit | Operational | ||
CloudSat | NASA | Sun-synchronous | Climatology | In orbit | Successful | ||
Both satellites part of the A-train constellation, spacecraft study aerosols and clouds respectively | |||||||
May | |||||||
3 May 17:38 | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk Site 16/2 | RVSN | ||||
Kosmos 2420 (Kobal't-M) | VKS | Low Earth | Optical imaging | In orbit | Operational | ||
24 May 22:11:00 | Delta IV-M+ (4,2) | Cape Canaveral SLC-37B | Boeing IDS | ||||
GOES 13 (GOES-N) | NASA / NOAA / U.S. Space Force | Geosynchronous | Meteorology | In orbit | Operational | ||
Decommissioned in 2018; reactivated in September 2020 to serve as the Electro-Optical Infrared Weather System – Geostationary (EWS-G1) satellite for the U.S. Space Force. [11] | |||||||
26 May 18:50 | Shtil' | K-84 Ekaterinburg, Barents Sea | VMF | ||||
Kompass 2 | Roskosmos | Low Earth | Earthquake detection | 28 December 2011 | Partial spacecraft failure | ||
Control and power problems made satellite unusable. Written off on 29 May 2006. Problems cleared by November, and satellite re-activated. [12] | |||||||
27 May 21:09 | Ariane 5 ECA | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
Satmex 6 | Satmex | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Successful | ||
Thaicom 5 | Shin Satellite | Geosynchronous | Communications | 26 February 2020 09:52 [13] | Successful | ||
Record for heaviest dual-payload to geosynchronous transfer orbit, stood until May 2007. | |||||||
June | |||||||
15 June 08:00:00 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Resurs-DK-1 | Roskosmos | Low Earth | Remote sensing | In orbit | Operational | ||
17 June 22:44:05 | Proton-K/DM-3 | Baikonur Site 200/39 | Khrunichev | ||||
KazSat-1 | JSC KazSat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Spacecraft failure | ||
First Kazakh satellite, satellite suffered control problems and was unusable by October 2008 | |||||||
18 June 07:50 | Zenit-3SL | Ocean Odyssey | Sea Launch | ||||
Galaxy 16 | Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Launched for PanAmSat, transferred to Intelsat before entry into service due to merger | |||||||
21 June 22:15 | Delta II 7925 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17A | Boeing IDS | ||||
USA-187 (MiTEx-A) | US Air Force/DARPA | Geostationary | Technology | In orbit | Operational | ||
USA-188 (MiTEx-B) | US Air Force/DARPA | Geostationary | Technology | In orbit | Operational | ||
USA-189 (MiTEx Carrier) | NRL/DARPA | Geostationary | Technology | In orbit | Operational | ||
24 June 15:08:18 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Progress M-57 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Logistics | 17 January 2007 | Successful | ||
ISS flight 22P | |||||||
25 June 04:00 | Tsyklon-2 | Baikonur Site 90/20 | VKS | ||||
Kosmos 2421 (US-PU) | VMF | Low Earth | ELINT | 20 March 2008 | Partial spacecraft failure | ||
Final flight of Tsyklon-2 rocket. One of satellite's solar panels failed to deploy, [14] ceased operations in February or March 2008 and destroyed in orbit on 20 March. Spacecraft carried KONUS-A gamma-ray astronomy experiment for Roskosmos | |||||||
28 June 03:30:00 | Delta IV-M+ (4,2) | Vandenberg SLC-6 | Boeing IDS | ||||
USA-184 (Improved Trumpet) | NRO | Molniya | ELINT | In orbit | Operational | ||
First EELV launch from Vandenberg, carried SBIRS-HEO-1 and TWINS-A instruments for the US Air Force and NASA respectively, NRO Launch 22 | |||||||
July | |||||||
4 July 18:37:55 | Space Shuttle Discovery | Kennedy LC-39B | United Space Alliance | ||||
STS-121 | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS assembly | 17 July 13:14 | Successful | ||
Leonardo MPLM | ASI/NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | Logistics | Successful | |||
Crewed flight with 7 astronauts, second Return to Flight mission after Columbia accident | |||||||
4 July 20:01 | Taepodong-2 (Unha-1) | Musudan-ri | KPA | ||||
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 (unconfirmed) | KPA | Intended: Low Earth (unconfirmed) | Weather/Communication | +42 seconds | Launch failure | ||
Maiden flight of Taepodong-2, rocket failed shortly after launch, reaching an apogee of 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), intended as an orbital launch attempt, [15] but later North Korea claimed for a suborbital missile self-destruct test and destruction success (not launch failure), [16] third of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours | |||||||
10 July 12:08 | GSLV | Satish Dhawan SLP | ISRO | ||||
INSAT 4C | ISRO | Intended: Geostationary | Communications | T+60 seconds | Launch failure | ||
Loss of control due to LRB engine failure, self-destructed 60 seconds into flight | |||||||
12 July 14:53:36 | Dnepr | Dombarovskiy | ISC Kosmotras | ||||
Genesis I | Bigelow | Low Earth | Technology | In orbit | Operational | ||
First uncrewed prototype of a commercial space station module | |||||||
21 July 04:20:03 | Molniya-M | Plesetsk Site 16/2 | VKS | ||||
Kosmos 2422 (Oko) | VKS | Molniya | Missile defense | 22 November 2019 20:15 [17] | Successful | ||
26 July 19:43:05 | Dnepr | Baikonur Site 109/95 | ISC Kosmotras | ||||
BelKA | NAS | Intended: Low Earth | Observation | T+74 seconds | Launch failure | ||
Unisat-4 | Sapienza | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
Baumanets | Roskosmos | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
PicPot | PoliTo | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
SACRED | Arizona Montpelier Alcatel | Intended: Low Earth | Radiation | ||||
ION | Illinois | Intended: Low Earth | Technology Ionospheric | ||||
Rincon 1 | Arizona | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
ICECube-1 | Cornell | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
KUTESat Pathfinder | Kansas | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
SEEDS | Nichidai | Intended: Low Earth | Amateur radio | ||||
nCube-1 | NSSP | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
HAUSAT-1 | HAU | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
MEROPE | Montana | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
CP2 | CalPoly | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
AeroCube-1 | Aerospace | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
CP1 | CalPoly | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
Mea Huaka'i (Voyager) | Hawaii | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
ICECube-2 | Cornell | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
First-stage engine hydraulic pump failure, thrust termination system activated | |||||||
28 July 07:05:43 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Plesetsk Site 133/3 | Eurockot | ||||
Arirang-2 (KOMPSAT-2) | KARI | Low Earth | Earth Observation | In orbit | Operational | ||
August | |||||||
4 August 21:48:00 | Proton-M/Briz-M | Baikonur Site 200/39 | International Launch Services | ||||
Hot Bird 8 | Eutelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
11 August 22:15 | Ariane 5ECA | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
JCSat 10 | JSAT | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Syracuse 3B | DGA | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
22 August 03:27:01 | Zenit-3SL | Ocean Odyssey | Sea Launch | ||||
Koreasat 5 | KT/ADD | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
September | |||||||
9 September 07:00 | Long March 2C | Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-2 | CNSA | ||||
Shijian 8 | CASC | Low Earth | Biological | 24 September 02:43 | Successful | ||
Investigated exposure of seeds to microgravity and radiation, spacecraft recovered after reentry | |||||||
9 September 15:14:55 | Space Shuttle Atlantis | Kennedy LC-39B | United Space Alliance | ||||
STS-115 | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS assembly | 21 September 10:21 | Successful | ||
ITS P3/4 Truss | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS component | In orbit | Operational | ||
Crewed orbital flight with 6 astronauts, first ISS assembly mission since 2002 | |||||||
11 September 04:35 | H-IIA 202 | Tanegashima LA-Y1 | JAXA | ||||
IGS-3A | CSICE | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 29 October 2016 | |||
12 September 16:02 | Long March 3A | Taiyuan LC-1 | CNSC | ||||
ChinaSat 22A | ChinaSat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
14 September 13:41:00 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 31/6 | VKS | ||||
Kosmos 2423 (Don) | VKS | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 17 November | Successful | ||
Ceased operations on 14 November, self-destructed 3 days later | |||||||
18 September 04:08:42 | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Soyuz TMA-9 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS Expedition 14 | 21 April 2007 12:31 | Successful | ||
Crewed orbital flight with 3 cosmonauts including the first female space tourist and Iranian-born space traveller | |||||||
22 September 21:36:00 | M-V | Uchinoura | JAXA | ||||
Hinode (SOLAR-B) | JAXA | Sun-synchronous | Solar | In orbit | Operational | ||
HIT-SAT | HIT | Low Earth | Technology | 18 June 2008 08:48 | Successful | ||
SSSAT | JAXA | Solar sail | 26 September | Spacecraft failure | |||
Final flight of M-V rocket and Mu family, SSSat failed to establish communications with ground [18] | |||||||
25 September 18:50 | Delta II 7925 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17A | Boeing IDS | ||||
USA-190 (GPS IIR-15/M2) | US Air Force | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
October | |||||||
13 October 20:56 | Ariane 5ECA | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
DirecTV-9S | DirecTV | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Optus D1 | Optus | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
LDREX-2 | JAXA | Geosynchronous transfer | Technology | 30 September 2010 02:23 [19] | Successful | ||
19 October 16:28:13 | Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat | Baikonur Site 31/6 | Starsem | ||||
MetOp-A | EUMETSAT | Sun-synchronous | Weather | In orbit | Operational | ||
Maiden flight of Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat | |||||||
23 October 13:40:36 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Progress M-58 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Logistics | 27 March 2007 22:44 | Successful | ||
ISS flight 23P, antenna stowage issues on 26 October initially prevented full mechanical docking, second attempt was successful. | |||||||
23 October 23:34 | Long March 4B | Taiyuan LC-1 | CNSA | ||||
Shijian 6-02A | CASC | Low Earth | Environmental | In orbit | Operational | ||
Shijian 6-02B | CASC | Low Earth | Environmental | In orbit | Operational | ||
26 October 00:52:00 | Delta II 7925 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17B | Boeing IDS | ||||
STEREO-A | NASA | Heliocentric | Solar | In orbit | Operational | ||
STEREO-B | NASA | Heliocentric | Solar | In orbit | Operational | ||
28 October 16:20 | Long March 3B | Xichang LA-2 | CASC | ||||
Sinosat-2 | Sinosat | Intended: Geosynchronous Achieved: Subsynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Spacecraft failure | ||
Solar panels and communications antenna failed to deploy | |||||||
30 October 23:48:59 | Zenit-3SL | Ocean Odyssey | Sea Launch | ||||
XM-4 "Blues" | XM Satellite Radio | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
November | |||||||
4 November 13:53 | Delta IV-M | Vandenberg SLC-6 | Boeing IDS | ||||
USA-191 (DMSP F17) | US Air Force/NOAA | Sun-synchronous | Weather | In orbit | Operational | ||
8 November 20:01:00 | Proton-M/Briz-M | Baikonur Site 200/39 | International Launch Services | ||||
Badr-4 (ARABSAT 4B) | ARABSAT | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
17 November 19:12:00 | Delta II 7925 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17A | Boeing IDS | ||||
USA-192 (GPS IIR-16/M3) | US Air Force | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
December | |||||||
8 December 00:53 | Long March 3A | 3A-Y11 | Xichang LC-2 | CASC | |||
Fengyun 2D | CMA | Geosynchronous | Meteorology | In orbit | Operational | ||
8 December 22:08 | Ariane 5 ECA | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
WildBlue 1 | WildBlue | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
AMC-18 | SES Americom | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
10 December 01:47:35 | Space Shuttle Discovery | Kennedy LC-39B | United Space Alliance | ||||
STS-116 | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS assembly | 22 December 22:32 | Successful | ||
Spacehab LSM | NASA | Low Earth (STS) | Logistics | Successful | |||
ITS P5 Truss | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS component | In orbit | Operational | ||
ANDE-MAA | US Naval Academy | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 9 February 2007 | Partial spacecraft failure | ||
ANDE-FACL | US Naval Academy | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 9 February 2007 | Successful | ||
RAFT1 | US Naval Academy | Low Earth | Calibration | In orbit | Operational | ||
MARScom (NMARS) | US Naval Academy | Low Earth | Calibration | In orbit | Operational | ||
MEPSI-2 | DARPA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 8 March 2007 | Successful | ||
Crewed orbital flight with 7 astronauts, including the first Swedish space traveller; ISS crew exchange. ANDE-MAA failed to deploy after becoming stuck in launch canister, but still transmitted data; RAFT1, MARScom, and MEPSI-2 were cubesats. | |||||||
11 December 23:28:43 | Proton-M / Briz-M | Baikonur Site 200/39 | International Launch Services | ||||
MEASAT-3 | MEASAT | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
14 December 21:00:00 | Delta II 7920-10 | Vandenberg SLC-2W | United Launch Alliance | ||||
USA-193 | NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance Technology demonstration | 21 February 2008 03:29 | Spacecraft failure | ||
NRO Launch 21, first launch to be conducted by United Launch Alliance. Satellite failed to contact ground, destroyed by SM-3 ASAT on 21 February 2008. | |||||||
16 December 12:00:00 | Minotaur I | MARS LP-0B | Orbital Sciences | ||||
TacSat-2 | NRL | Low Earth | Optical imaging Technology demonstration | 5 February 2011 | Successful | ||
⚀ GeneSat-1 | NASA | Low Earth | Biological science | 4 August 2010 20:43 [20] | Successful | ||
First launch from Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. Little or no imagery returned by TacSat due to political dispute. TacSat lost contact with ground in January 2008. | |||||||
18 December 06:32 | H-IIA 204 | Tanegashima LA-Y1 | JAXA | ||||
Kiku-8 (ETS-VIII) | JAXA | Geosynchronous | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Successful | ||
Maiden flight of H-IIA 204, full spacecraft antenna deployment one day late. [21] | |||||||
19 December 14:00:19 | Kosmos-3M | Plesetsk Site 132/1 | COSMOS International | ||||
SAR-Lupe 1 | Bundeswehr | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | ||
24 December 08:34:44 | Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat | Plesetsk Site 43/4 | VKS | ||||
Meridian 1 (11L) | VKS | Molniya | Communications | 6 July 2021 12:20 [22] [23] | Successful | ||
25 December 20:18:12 | Proton-K / DM-2 | Baikonur Site 81/24 | VKS | ||||
Kosmos 2424 (GLONASS-M) | KNITs | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
Kosmos 2425 (GLONASS-M) | KNITs | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
Kosmos 2426 (GLONASS-M) | KNITs | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
27 December 14:23:38 | Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat | Baikonur Site 31/6 | Starsem | ||||
CoRoT | CNES | Low Earth (Polar) | Exoplanetology Asteroseismology | In orbit | Successful | ||
Maiden flight of Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat. |
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
January | |||||||
18 January 11:48 [24] | Taiwan Sounding Rocket | Sounding Rocket V | Jiu Peng Air Base | NSPO | |||
Ion probe, 3-axis flux-gate magnetometer | NSPO/NCU | Suborbital | Ionospheric research, technology test | 11:57 | Successful | ||
Apogee: 282 kilometres (175 mi) [25] | |||||||
22 January 04:00 | S-310 | Uchinoura | JAXA | ||||
Furoshiki | JAXA | Suborbital | Technology | 22 January | Successful | ||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
February | |||||||
6 February | Dong Feng 21 | Xichang | PLA | ||||
PLA | Suborbital | ASAT | 6 February | Spacecraft failure | |||
Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), missed satellite | |||||||
8 February 18:47 | Black Brant IX | White Sands LC-36 | NASA | ||||
MOSES | Suborbital | Solar | 8 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 282 kilometres (175 mi) | |||||||
16 February 08:01 | LGM-30G Minuteman III | Vandenberg LF-10 | US Air Force | ||||
SERV-3 | US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 February | Successful | ||
Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
23 February 16:09 | UGM-27 Polaris (STARS) | Kodiak | Sandia | ||||
FT-03-1 | Suborbital | Target | 23 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
March | |||||||
8 March 08:45 | RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 | USS Lake Erie, PMRF | US Navy | ||||
JCTV-1 | US Navy/MDA/JMSDF | Suborbital | Missile test | 8 March | Successful | ||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
25 March 03:15 | Terrier-Orion | Woomera LA-2 | Queensland | ||||
Hyshot-3 | Queensland | Suborbital | Hypersonic research | 03:25 | Successful | ||
Apogee: 325 kilometres (202 mi) | |||||||
30 March 02:40 | Terrier-Orion | Woomera LA-2 | Queensland | ||||
Hyshot-4 | Queensland/JAXA | Suborbital | Hypersonic research | 30 March | Launch failure | ||
Apogee: 290 kilometres (180 mi), nosecone failed to separate | |||||||
April | |||||||
7 April 13:00 | LGM-30G Minuteman III | Vandenberg LF-26 | US Air Force | ||||
GT-190GM | US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 April | Successful | ||
Long-range test, aimed at Guam, apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
12 April 18:10 | Black Brant IX | White Sands LC-36 | NASA | ||||
EUNIS | NASA | Suborbital | Solar | 12 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: 318 kilometres (198 mi) | |||||||
13 April | SR19-SR19 | PMRF | Sandia | ||||
FTC-02B | MDA | Suborbital | Target | 13 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
22 April 16:40 | Kosmos-3MR | Kapustin Yar Site 107/1 | RVSN | ||||
PBS-2 | RVSN | Suborbital | REV test | 22 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
28 April | SR19-SR19 | PMRF | Sandia | ||||
FTC-02 | MDA | Suborbital | Target | 28 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
29 April | Shaheen-II | Sonmiani | Army of Pakistan | ||||
Army of Pakistan | Suborbital | Target | 29 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi) | |||||||
May | |||||||
2 May 06:16 | Maxus (Castor 4B) | Esrange | EuroLaunch | ||||
MAXUS 9 | ESA/SSC | Suborbital | Microgravity | 2 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 702 kilometres (436 mi) | |||||||
10 May 08:12 | VSB-30 | Esrange | EuroLaunch | ||||
TEXUS-43 | DLR/SSC | Suborbital | Microgravity | 10 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 237 kilometres (147 mi) | |||||||
11 May | THAAD | White Sands | US Army | ||||
FTT-02 | MDA | Suborbital | ABM test | 11 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), simulated intercept | |||||||
22 May 09:30 | Terrier-Orion | White Sands | NASA | ||||
ACS | NASA | Suborbital | Test | 22 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
22 May | Shahab-3 | Shahrood | IRG | ||||
IRG | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
June | |||||||
5 June 16:05 | Terrier-Orion | White Sands | NASA | ||||
NAWC | Suborbital | Target | 5 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
7 June 22:00 | Terrier-Orion | PMRF | NASA | ||||
NAWC | Suborbital | Target | 7 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
8 June 16:00 | Terrier-Orion | White Sands | NASA | ||||
DUNDEE | NAWC | Suborbital | Target | 8 June | Successful | ||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
14 June 08:22 | LGM-30G Minuteman III | Vandenberg LF-04 | US Air Force | ||||
GT-191GM | US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 June | Successful | ||
Carried three Mk. 21 re-entry vehicles, Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
22 June 22:00 | MRT (Castor 4B) | PMRT | US Navy | ||||
FTM-10 Target | US Navy/MDA | Suborbital | Target | 22 June | Successful | ||
Intercepted by SM-3, apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
22 June 22:04 | RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 | USS Shiloh, PMRF | US Navy | ||||
FTM-10 | US Navy/MDA | Suborbital | ABM test | 22 June | Successful | ||
Intercepted MRT, apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
23 June 23:02 | Terrier-Orion | PMRF | NASA | ||||
TRACKEX | NAWC/MDA | Suborbital | Target | 23 June | Successful | ||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
30 June 06:25 | R-29RMU Sineva | K-84 Ekaterinburg, Barents Sea | VMF | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
July | |||||||
1 July 06:39 | Terrier-Orion | Andøya | Andøya/NASA | ||||
/ SPIRIT-III | ESPRIT | Suborbital | Ionospheric Plasma research | 1 July | Successful | ||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
1 July 06:39 | Terrier-Orion | Andøya | Andøya | ||||
HotPay-1 | Andøya | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 1 July | Launch failure | ||
Apogee: 40 kilometres (25 mi) | |||||||
4 July 18:32 | Hwasong-6 | Kittaeryong | KPA | ||||
KPA | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), first of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours | |||||||
4 July 19:04 | Rodong-1 | Kittaeryong | KPA | ||||
KPA | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), second of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours | |||||||
4 July 22:31 | Rodong-1 | Kittaeryong | KPA | ||||
KPA | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), fourth of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours | |||||||
4 July 22:12 | Hwasong-6 | Kittaeryong | KPA | ||||
KPA | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), fifth of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours | |||||||
4 July 23:20 | Rodong-1 | Kittaeryong | KPA | ||||
KPA | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), sixth of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours | |||||||
5 July 08:20 | Rodong-1 | Kittaeryong | KPA | ||||
KPA | Suborbital | Missile test | 5 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), last of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours | |||||||
9 July 05:33 | Agni III | Integrated Test Range LC-4 | DRDO | ||||
DRDO | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
12 July 11:17 | Hera | White Sands | US Army | ||||
FFT-4 Target | US Army/MDA | Suborbital | Target | 12 July | Successful | ||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), Intercepted after reentry by endoatmospheric THAAD launched at 11:20 | |||||||
21 July 10:14 | LGM-30G Minuteman III | Vandenberg LF-09 | US Air Force | ||||
GT-192GM | US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 July | Successful | ||
Carried three Mk.21 reentry vehicles, apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
August | |||||||
3 August 10:38 | RT-2PM Topol (RS-12M) | Plesetsk | RVSN | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 11:04 | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), impacted Kura Test Range | |||||||
21 August 14:30 | Black Brant IX | White Sands LC-36 | NASA | ||||
MDA | Suborbital | Target | 21 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 380 kilometres (240 mi) | |||||||
25 August 14:30 | Black Brant IX | White Sands LC-36 | NASA | ||||
MDA | Suborbital | Target | 21 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 382 kilometres (237 mi), THAAD target | |||||||
September | |||||||
1 September 17:22 | UGM-27 Polaris (STARS) | Kodiak | Sandia | ||||
GMD FTG-02 target | MDA | Suborbital | Target | 1 September | Successful | ||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), intercepted by GBI | |||||||
1 September 17:39 | Orbital Boost Vehicle | Vandenberg LF-23 | Orbital Sciences/MDA | ||||
GMD FTG-02 | MDA | Suborbital | ABM test | 1 September | Successful | ||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), intercepted STARS | |||||||
4 September | Dong Feng 31 | Taiyuan | PLA | ||||
PLA | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
7 September 15:50 | RSM-56 Bulava (R-30) | RFS Dmitriy Donskoy, White Sea | VMF | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 September | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi), first stage malfunction | |||||||
9 September 11:20 | R-29RMU Sineva | K-84 Ekaterinburg, North Pole | VMF | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
9 September 22:17:00 | Nike-Orion | Andøya | Andøya | ||||
ECOMA-1 | Andøya/DLR | Suborbital | Atmospheric | 9 September | Successful | ||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
10 September 14:50 | R-29R Volna | K-433 Svyaity Georgiy, Simushir | VMF | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
13 September 10:30 | Hera | White Sands | US Army | ||||
FFT-5 Target | US Army/MDA | Suborbital | Target | 13 September | Successful | ||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), THAAD target | |||||||
17 September 21:06:46 | Nike-Orion | Andøya | Andøya | ||||
ECOMA-2 | Andøya/DLR | Suborbital | Atmospheric | 17 September | Successful | ||
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi) | |||||||
23 September 15:17:54 | Black Brant XI | Wallops Island | NASA | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Test | 23 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi) | |||||||
25 September 20:14 | SpaceLoft XL | Spaceport America | UP Aerospace | ||||
Various | Suborbital | Various | T+60 seconds | Launch failure | |||
Maiden flight of SpaceLoft XL sounding rocket, first flight from Spaceport America, rocket went out of control and failed to reach space, apogee: 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) | |||||||
October | |||||||
25 October 13:05 | RSM-56 Bulava (R-30) | RFS Dmitriy Donskoy, Beloye More | VMF | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 October | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), first stage malfunction | |||||||
28 October 17:58:00 | Black Brant IX | White Sands LC-36 | NASA | ||||
LASP | Suborbital | Solar | 28 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi) | |||||||
November | |||||||
2 November | Shahab-3 | Shahrood | IRG | ||||
IRG | Suborbital | Missile test | 2 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
7 November 19:30 | Black Brant IX | White Sands LC-36 | NASA | ||||
USC-7 | Suborbital | Solar | 7 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi) | |||||||
9 November 08:51 | M51 | Biscarosse | French Navy | ||||
French Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
9 November 11:35 | UR-100NU | Baikonur Site 175/2 | RVSN | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
16 November | Terrier-Orion | PMRF | US Navy | ||||
ARAV-B | US Navy | Suborbital | Target | 16 November | Successful | ||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
16 November | Ghauri | Tilla | Army of Pakistan | ||||
Haft-5 | Army of Pakistan | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 November | Successful | ||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
21 November 02:00 | Black Brant IX | White Sands LC-36 | NASA | ||||
CyXESS | Suborbital | XR Astronomy | 21 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi) | |||||||
21 November | UGM-133 Trident II (D5) | USS Maryland, ETR | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
21 November | UGM-133 Trident II (D5) | USS Maryland, ETR | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
26 November | Prithvi | Integrated Test Range LC-3 | DRDO | ||||
DRDO | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
27 November 04:45 | Prithvi | Integrated Test Range LC-3 | DRDO | ||||
DRDO | Suborbital | Target | 27 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), intercepted by another Prithvi | |||||||
27 November 04:46 | Prithvi | Integrated Test Range LC-4 | DRDO | ||||
DRDO | Suborbital | ABM test | 27 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), intercepted another Prithvi | |||||||
29 November | Shaheen-I | Sonmiani | Army of Pakistan | ||||
Haft-4 | Army of Pakistan | Suborbital | Target | 29 November | Successful | ||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
December | |||||||
7 December | Aries | PMRF | U.S. Navy | ||||
FTM-11 Target | U.S. Navy / MDA | Suborbital | Target | 7 December | Successful | ||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), AEGIS target | |||||||
24 December | RSM-56 Bulava (R-30) | RFS Dmitriy Donskoy, Beloye More | VMF | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 December | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi), first stage malfunction. | |||||||
Unknown date | |||||||
Unknown | UGM-133 Trident II (D5) | Submarine, WTR | U.S. Navy | ||||
U.S. Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
Unknown | UGM-133 Trident II (D5) | Submarine, WTR | U.S. Navy | ||||
U.S. Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | Successful | ||||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) |
Date (GMT) | Spacecraft | Event | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
15 January | Stardust | First sample return mission from comet | space capsule landing on Earth with cometary samples |
15 January | Cassini | 10th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 2,042 kilometres (1,269 mi) |
27 February | Cassini | 11th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 1,812 kilometres (1,126 mi) |
10 March | Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter | Areocentric orbit injection | |
18 March | Cassini | 12th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 1,947 kilometres (1,210 mi) |
11 April | Venus Express | Cytherean orbit injection | |
30 April | Cassini | 13th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 1,853 kilometres (1,151 mi) |
20 May | Cassini | 14th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 1,879 kilometres (1,168 mi) |
2 July | Cassini | 15th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 1,911 kilometres (1,187 mi) |
22 July | Cassini | 16th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi) |
4 September | SMART-1 | Lunar impact | |
7 September | Cassini | 17th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi) |
23 September | Cassini | 18th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi) |
9 October | Cassini | 19th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi) |
23 October | MESSENGER | 1st flyby of Venus | Gravity assist |
25 October | Cassini | 20th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi) |
12 December | Cassini | 21st flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi) |
28 December | Cassini | 22nd flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) |
Start Date/Time | Duration | End Time | Spacecraft | Crew | Function | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 February 09:55 | 5 hours 43 minutes | 16:27 | Expedition 12 ISS Pirs | William S. McArthur Valery Tokarev | Released SuitSat-1, retrieved the Biorisk experiment, photographed a sensor for a micrometeoroid experiment, and tied off the surviving umbilical of the Mobile Transporter. [26] | |
1 June 23:48 | 6 hours 31 minutes | 2 June 06:19 | Expedition 13 ISS Pirs | Pavel Vinogradov Jeffrey Williams | Repaired a vent for the Elektron unit, retrieved a Biorisk experiment, retrieved a contamination-monitoring device from Zvezda, and replaced a malfunctioning camera on the Mobile Base System. [27] | |
8 July 13:17 | 7 hours 31 minutes | 20:48 | STS-121 ISS Quest | / Piers Sellers Michael E. Fossum | Installed a blade blocker in the zenith Interface Umbilical Assembly (IUA) to protect the undamaged power, data and video cable, rerouted the cable to prepare for the second EVA. Tested the combination of the Shuttle's Canadarm(SRMS) and the Orbiter Boom Sensor System as a platform for astronauts to make repairs to a damaged orbiter. [28] | |
10 July 12:14 | 6 hours 47 minutes | 19:01 | STS-121 ISS Quest | / Piers Sellers Michael E. Fossum | Restored the Mobile Transporter to full operation, and delivered a spare pump module for the station's cooling system. [29] | |
12 July 07:11 | 6 hours 20 minutes | 13:31 | STS-121 ISS Quest | / Piers Sellers Michael E. Fossum | Used an infrared camera to shoot 20 seconds of video of selected reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) panels on the shuttle wing's leading edge, and then moved to the payload bay to test a shuttle tile repair material known as NOAX on pre-damaged shuttle tiles that were flown in a test container. [30] | |
3 August 14:04 | 5 hours 54 minutes | 19:58 | Expedition 13 ISS Quest | Jeffrey Williams Thomas Reiter | Installed the Floating Potential Measurement Unit, two MISSE containers, a controller for a thermal radiator rotary joint on the S1 truss, a starboard jumper and spool positioning device on S1, a light on the truss railway handcart, and installed and replaced a malfunctioning GPS antenna. Tested an infrared camera designed to detect damage in a shuttle's thermal protection tiles. Inspection and photography of a scratch on the Quest airlock hatch. [31] | |
12 September 10:17 | 5 hours 26 minutes | 15:43 | STS-115 ISS Quest | Joseph R. Tanner Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper | Initial installation of the P3/P4 truss. Connected power cables on the truss, released the launch restraints on the solar array blanket box, the Beta Gimbal Assembly, and the solar array wings. Configured the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint, and removed two circuit interrupt devices to prepare for STS-116. [32] | Piper became the 7th American and the 8th female spacewalker. |
13 September 09:05 | 7 hours 11 minutes | 16:16 | STS-115 ISS Quest | Daniel C. Burbank Steven MacLean | Continued installation of the P3/4 truss onto the station, and activated the SARJ. [33] | |
15 September 10:00 | 6 hours 42 minutes | 16:42 | STS-115 ISS Quest | Joseph R. Tanner Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper | Installed a radiator onto the P3/4 truss, powered up a cooling radiator for the new solar arrays, replaced an S-Band radio antenna, and installed insulation for another antenna. Tanner took photos of the shuttle's wings using an infrared camera. [34] | |
22 November 23:17 | 5 hours 38 minutes | 23 November 04:55 | Expedition 14 ISS Pirs | Mikhail Tyurin Michael Lopez-Alegria | "Orbiting golf shot" event sponsored by a Canadian golf company. Lopez-Alegria put the tee on the ladder outside Pirs, while Tyurin set up a camera, and then performed the golf shot. Inspected and photographed a Kurs antenna, relocated an ATV WAL antenna, installed a BTN neutron experiment, and jettisoned two thermal covers from the BTN. [35] | |
12 December 20:31 | 6 hours 36 minutes | 13 December 03:07 | STS-116 ISS Quest | Robert Curbeam Christer Fuglesang | Installed the P5 Truss, and replaced a video camera on the S1 truss. [36] | |
14 December 19:41 | 5 hours | 15 December 00:41 | STS-116 ISS Quest | Robert Curbeam Christer Fuglesang | Reconfigured channels 2–3 on the P3/P4 truss to take advantage of the new solar arrays, relocated two handcarts that run along the station's main truss, put a thermal cover on the station's robotic arm, and installed bags of tools for future spacewalkers. [37] | |
16 December 19:25 | 7 hours 31 minutes | 17 December 02:57 | STS-116 ISS Quest | Robert Curbeam Sunita Williams | Reconfigured channels 1 and 4 on the P3/P4 truss to take advantage of the new solar arrays, installed a robotic arm grapple fixture, and positioned three bundles ofdebris shield panels outside Zvezda. Additional time was spent trying to help retract the P6 solar array panel by shaking the panel's blanket box from its base. [38] | Williams became the 8th American and the 9th female spacewalker. |
18 December 19:00 | 6 hours 38 minutes | 19 December 01:38 | STS-116 ISS Quest | Robert Curbeam Christer Fuglesang | Assisted ground controllers with retracting the P6 solar array panels. [39] |
Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
China | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
Europe | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
India | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
Japan | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
North Korea | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Disputed | |
Russia | 22 | 21 | 1 | 0 | ||
Ukraine | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | ||
United States | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0 | ||
World | 67 | 62 | 5 | 0 |
Rocket | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ariane | Europe | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas | United States | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Delta | United States | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
Falcon | United States | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
GSLV | India | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
H-II | Japan | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March | China | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Minotaur | United States | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Mu | Japan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
Pegasus | United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
R-7 | Russia | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | |
R-14 | Russia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
R-29 | Russia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
R-36 | Ukraine | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
Space Shuttle | United States | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Topol | Russia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Unha | North Korea | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight, disputed |
Universal Rocket | Russia | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | |
Zenit | Ukraine | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Rocket | Country | Family | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ariane 5 | Europe | Ariane | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas V | United States | Atlas | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Delta II | United States | Delta | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Delta IV | United States | Delta | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Dnepr | Ukraine | R-36 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
Falcon 1 | United States | Falcon | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
GSLV | India | GSLV | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
H-IIA | Japan | H-II | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
Kosmos | Russia | R-12/R-14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 2 | China | Long March | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 3 | China | Long March | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 4 | China | Long March | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
M-V | Japan | Mu | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
Minotaur I | United States | Minotaur | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Molniya | Russia | R-7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Pegasus | United States | Pegasus | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Proton | Russia | Universal Rocket | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | |
Shtil' | Russia | R-29 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Soyuz | Russia | R-7 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
Soyuz-2 | Russia | R-7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Space Shuttle | United States | Space Shuttle | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Start-1 | Russia | Topol | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Tsyklon | Ukraine | R-36 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Unha | North Korea | Unha | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight, disputed |
UR-100 | Russia | Universal Rocket | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Zenit | Ukraine | Zenit | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Rocket | Country | Type | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ariane 5 ECA | Europe | Ariane 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas V 411 | United States | Atlas V | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Atlas V 551 | United States | Atlas V | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Delta II 7420 | United States | Delta II | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Delta II 7920 | United States | Delta II | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Delta II 7925 | United States | Delta II | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
Delta IV M | United States | Delta IV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
Delta IV M+ (4,2) | United States | Delta IV | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Dnepr | Ukraine | Dnepr | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
Falcon 1 | United States | Falcon 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
GSLV Mk I | India | GSLV | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
H-IIA 202 | Japan | H-IIA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
H-IIA 204 | Japan | H-IIA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
H-IIA 2022 | Japan | H-IIA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
H-IIA 2024 | Japan | H-IIA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Kosmos-3M | Russia | Kosmos | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 2C | China | Long March 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 3A | China | Long March 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 3B | China | Long March 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 4B | China | Long March 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 4B-II | China | Long March 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight, later Long March 4C |
M-V | Japan | M-V | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
Minotaur I | United States | Minotaur I | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Molniya-M / 2BL | Russia | Molniya | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Pegasus-XL | United States | Pegasus | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Proton-K / DM-2 | Russia | Proton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Proton-K / DM-3 | Russia | Proton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Proton-M / Briz-M | Russia | Proton | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
Rokot / Briz-KM | Russia | UR-100 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Shtil' | Russia | Shtil' | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat | Russia | Soyuz-2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight, first orbital launch of Soyuz-2 |
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat | Russia | Soyuz-2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight of Soyuz-2.1b |
Soyuz-FG | Russia | Soyuz | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Soyuz-U | Russia | Soyuz | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Space Shuttle | United States | Space Shuttle | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Start-1 | Russia | Start-1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Tsyklon-2 | Ukraine | Tsyklon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
Unha | North Korea | Unha | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight, disputed |
Zenit-3SL | Ukraine | Zenit | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Site | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baikonur | Kazakhstan | 17 | 15 | 2 | 0 | |
Barents | Russia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Launched from Ekaterinburg submarine |
Cape Canaveral | United States | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
Dombarovsky | Russia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | First launch |
Jiuquan | China | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Kennedy | United States | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Kwajalein | Marshall Islands | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Kourou | France | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
MARS | United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | First launch |
Ocean Odyssey | International | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
Plesetsk | Russia | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
Satish Dhawan | India | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Svobodny | Russia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final launch |
Taiyuan | China | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Tanegashima | Japan | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
Tonghae | North Korea | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Uchinoura | Japan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Vandenberg | United States | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | One launch used Stargazer aircraft |
Xichang | China | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 67 | 62 | 5 | 0 |
Orbital regime | Launches | Successes | Failures | Accidentally achieved | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Transatmospheric | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Low Earth | 35 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 8 to ISS |
Medium Earth / Molniya | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | |
Geosynchronous / GTO | 24 | 22 | 2 | 0 | |
High Earth / Lunar transfer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Heliocentric / Planetary transfer | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Solar escape | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 67 | 62 | 5 | 1 |
An expendable launch system is a launch vehicle that can be launched only once, after which its components are either destroyed during reentry or discarded in space. ELVs typically consist of several rocket stages that are discarded sequentially as their fuel is exhausted and the vehicle gains altitude and speed. As of 2024, fewer and fewer satellites and human spacecraft are launched on ELVs in favor of reusable launch vehicles. However, there are many instances where a ELV may still have a compelling use case over a reusable vehicle. ELVs are simpler in design than reusable launch systems and therefore may have a lower production cost. Furthermore, an ELV can use its entire fuel supply to accelerate its payload, offering greater payloads. ELVs are proven technology in widespread use for many decades.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is the Japanese national air and space agency. Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on 1 October 2003. JAXA is responsible for research, technology development and launch of satellites into orbit, and is involved in many more advanced missions such as asteroid exploration and possible human exploration of the Moon. Its motto is One JAXA and its corporate slogan is Explore to Realize.
SELENE, better known in Japan by its nickname Kaguya (かぐや), was the second Japanese lunar orbiter spacecraft following the Hiten probe. Produced by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) and the National Space Development Agency (NASDA), the spacecraft was launched on September 14, 2007. After orbiting the Moon for a year and eight months, the main orbiter was instructed to impact on the lunar surface near the crater Gill on June 10, 2009.
This article outlines notable events occurring in 2005 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs. 2005 saw Iran launch its first satellite.
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.
Information Gathering Satellite are the satellites of the Japanese spy satellite program. It was started as a response to the 1998 North Korean missile test over Japan. The satellite program's main mission is to provide early warning of impending hostile launches in the region. This program is under the direct control of the cabinet. All Information Gathering Satellites have been launched by H-IIA rockets from the Tanegashima Space Center.
The year 2008 contained several significant events in spaceflight, including the first flyby of Mercury by a spacecraft since 1975, the discovery of water ice on Mars by the Phoenix spacecraft, which landed in May, the first Chinese spacewalk in September, the launch of the first Indian Lunar probe in October, and the first successful flight of a privately developed orbital launch vehicle by SpaceX's Falcon 1.
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 year 2010 saw a number of notable events in worldwide spaceflight activities. These included the first test flight of the SpaceX Dragon commercial resupply spacecraft, which is intended to resupply the International Space Station (ISS), and the maiden flights of the Falcon 9 and Minotaur IV rockets. In June 2010, South Korea conducted a second Naro-1 launch, after the failure of the rocket's maiden flight in 2009; however, the second attempt also failed. The Kosmos-3M was retired from service, making its final flight in April. The Molniya-M was also retired from service, making its final flight in September.
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.
In 2015, the maiden spaceflights of the Chinese Long March 6 and Long March 11 launch vehicles took place.
In 2014, the maiden flight of the Angara A5, Antares 120 and Antares 130 took place.
The Epsilon Launch Vehicle, or Epsilon rocket, is a Japanese solid-fuel rocket designed to launch scientific satellites. It is a follow-on project to the larger and more expensive M-V rocket which was retired in 2006. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) began developing the Epsilon in 2007. It is capable of placing a 590 kg payload into Sun-synchronous orbit.
The H3 Launch Vehicle is a Japanese expendable launch system. H3 launch vehicles are liquid-propellant rockets with strap-on solid rocket boosters and are launched from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and JAXA are responsible for the design, manufacture, and operation of the H3. The H3 is the world's first rocket to use an expander bleed cycle for the first stage engine.
TRICOM-1R, also known as Tasuki, was a Japanese nanosatellite that was launched during the SS-520-5 sounding rocket test launch on 3 February 2018, with a mission to conduct store and forward data relay and Earth observation using a set of cameras.
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