2015 in spaceflight

Last updated

2015 in spaceflight
ORBCOMM-2 (23802553412).jpg
Pluto in True Color - High-Res.jpg
Occator PIA19889.jpg
Expedition 46 Landing (NHQ201603020028).jpg
Highlights from spaceflight in 2015 [lower-alpha 1]
Orbital launches
First10 January
Last28 December
Total87
Successes82
Failures4
Partial failures1
Catalogued 83 [lower-alpha 2]
National firsts
Satellite Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan
Flag of Laos.svg  Laos
Space traveller Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan
Rockets
Maiden flights
Retirements Dnepr-1
Crewed flights
Orbital4
Total travellers12
EVAs 7

In 2015, the maiden spaceflights of the Chinese Long March 6 and Long March 11 launch vehicles took place.

Contents

A total of 87 orbital launches were attempted in 2015, of which 82 were successful, one was partially successful and four were failures. The year also saw seven EVAs by ISS astronauts. The majority of the year's orbital launches were conducted by Russia, the United States and China, with 27, 20 and 19 launches respectively.

Overview

In February 2015, the European Space Agency's experimental lifting body spacecraft, the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle, successfully conducted its first test flight.

In March 2015, Ceres became the first dwarf planet to be visited by a spacecraft when Dawn entered orbit. In July 2015, New Horizons visited the Pluto-Charon system after a 9-year voyage, returning a trove of pictures and information about the former "ninth planet" (now classified as a dwarf planet). Meanwhile, the MESSENGER probe was deliberately crashed into Mercury after 4 years of in-orbit observations.

On 23 November 2015, the Blue Origin New Shepard suborbital rocket achieved its first powered soft landing near the launch site, paving the way for full reuse of its propulsion stage. On 21 December, the maiden flight of the SpaceX Falcon 9 Full Thrust took place, ending with a successful landing of its first stage.

Two old weather satellites, NOAA-16 and DMSP 5D-2/F13, broke up in 2015, creating several hundred pieces of space debris. In both cases, a battery explosion is suspected as the root cause.

Orbital launches

Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat)
Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks

January

10 January
09:47:10
Flag of the United States.svg Falcon 9 v1.1 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-40 Flag of the United States.svg SpaceX
Flag of the United States.svg SpaceX CRS-5 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS resupply 11 February 2015
00:44
Successful
Flag of Brazil.svg AESP-14 ITA Low Earth Ionospheric research 11 May 2015Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Flock-1d' 1 Planet Labs Low Earth Earth observation 13 October 2015Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Flock-1d' 2 Planet Labs Low Earth Earth observation 27 December 2015Successful
SpaceX attempted to land the first stage on a platform in the Atlantic Ocean, but the first stage crash-landed on its landing platform. [1] The AESP-14 CubeSat was deployed from the space station on 5 February 2015, [2] while the Flock-1 CubeSats were deployed on 3 March 2015. [3]
21 January
01:04:00
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 551 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-41 Flag of the United States.svg United Launch Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg MUOS-3 US Navy Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
31 January
14:22:00
Flag of the United States.svg Delta II 7320 Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-2W Flag of the United States.svg United Launch Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg SMAP NASA Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg ExoCube Cal Poly Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg FIREBIRD II A Montana State Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration 2 August 2023 [5] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg FIREBIRD II B Montana State Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration 2 August 2023 [7] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg GRIFEX NASA / JPL Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational

February

1 February
01:21:00
Flag of Japan.svg H-IIA 202 Flag of Japan.svg Tanegashima LA-Y1 Flag of Japan.svg MHI
Flag of Japan.svg IGS-Radar Spare CSICE Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbitOperational
1 February
12:31:00
Flag of Russia.svg Proton-M/Briz-M Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 200/39 Flag of Russia.svg Flag of the United States.svg International Launch Services
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Inmarsat 5-F2 Inmarsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
2 February
08:50
Flag of Iran.svg Safir Flag of Iran.svg Semnan Flag of Iran.svg ISA
Flag of Iran.svg Fajr ISA Low Earth Technology demonstration 26 February 2015Successful
11 February
13:40:00
Flag of Europe.svg Vega Flag of France.svg Kourou ELV Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Europe.svg IXV ESA Transatmospheric Technology demonstration 11 February 2015
15:19
Successful
Vega's 4th stage briefly entered low Earth orbit before de-orbiting; thus it did not get a COSPAR ID. This marked the first flight of the IXV
11 February
23:03:32
Flag of the United States.svg Falcon 9 v1.1 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-40 Flag of the United States.svg SpaceX
Flag of the United States.svg DSCOVR NOAA Sun–Earth L1 Earth observation / Heliophysics In orbitOperational
First SpaceX launch aimed beyond GTO. First stage soft landed on water.
17 February
11:00:17
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-U Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Progress M-26M / 58P Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS resupply 14 August 2015
14:17
Successful
27 February
11:01:35
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-2.1a Flag of Russia.svg Plesetsk Site 43/4 Flag of Russia.svg RVSN RF
Flag of Russia.svg Kosmos 2503 (Bars-M 1L) VKO Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbitOperational

March

2 March
03:50:00
Flag of the United States.svg Falcon 9 v1.1 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-40 Flag of the United States.svg SpaceX
Flag of France.svg Eutelsat 115 West B Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of Bermuda.svg ABS-3A ABS Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
First communication satellites to use all-electric propulsion to reach intended orbits from GTO.
13 March
02:44:00
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 421 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-41 Flag of the United States.svg United Launch Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg MMS-1 NASA Elliptical High Earth Magnetospheric research In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg MMS-2 NASA Elliptical High Earth Magnetospheric research In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg MMS-3 NASA Elliptical High Earth Magnetospheric research In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg MMS-4 NASA Elliptical High Earth Magnetospheric research In orbitOperational
18 March
22:05:00
Flag of Russia.svg Proton-M / Briz-M Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 200/39 Flag of Russia.svg Khrunichev
Flag of Russia.svg Ekspress AM7 RSCC Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
25 March
18:36:00
Flag of the United States.svg Delta IV M+(4,2) Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-37B Flag of the United States.svg United Launch Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg USA-260 (GPS IIF-9) US Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
25 March
22:08:53
Flag of Ukraine.svg Dnepr Flag of Russia.svg Dombarovsky Site 13 Flag of Russia.svg Flag of Ukraine.svg ISC Kosmotras
Flag of South Korea.svg KOMPSat-3A KARI Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Final flight of Dnepr-1 rocket, due to Russia-Ukraine conflict.
26 March
01:21:00
Flag of Japan.svg H-IIA 202 Flag of Japan.svg Tanegashima LA-Y1 Flag of Japan.svg MHI
Flag of Japan.svg IGS-Optical 5 CSICE Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbitOperational
27 March
19:42:57
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-FG Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz TMA-16M Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 43/44/45/46 12 September 2015
00:51
Successful
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts, including two on a year-long mission.
27 March
21:46:18
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-STB / Fregat Flag of France.svg Kourou ELS Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Europe.svg Galileo FOC 3 ESA Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
Flag of Europe.svg Galileo FOC 4 ESA Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
28 March
11:49:00
Flag of India.svg PSLV-XL Flag of India.svg Satish Dhawan SLP Flag of India.svg ISRO
Flag of India.svg IRNSS-1D ISRO Geosynchronous Navigation In orbitOperational
30 March
13:52:30
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 3C/E/YZ-1 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xichang LC-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg BeiDou I1-S CNSA Geosynchronous Navigation In orbitOperational
31 March
13:47:56
Flag of Russia.svg Rokot / Briz-KM Flag of Russia.svg Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 133/3 Flag of Russia.svg VKO
Flag of Russia.svg Gonets-M 11 Gonets Satellite System Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of Russia.svg Gonets-M 12 Gonets Satellite System Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of Russia.svg Gonets-M 13 Gonets Satellite System Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of Russia.svg Kosmos 2504 VKO Low Earth Technology demonstration / Satellite inspection (?)In orbitOperational

April

14 April
20:10:41
Flag of the United States.svg Falcon 9 v1.1 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-40 Flag of the United States.svg SpaceX
Flag of the United States.svg SpaceX CRS-6 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS resupply 21 May 2015
16:42
Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Arkyd 3 Reflight Planetary Resources Low Earth Technology demonstration 23 December 2015Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Flock-1e × 14 Planet Labs Low Earth Earth observation First: 8 February 2016
Last: 24 August 2016
Successful
First stage recovery failed; the rocket stage landed on the target drone ship too fast, tipped over, and exploded. [8]
All secondary payloads were deployed from an ISS airlock later. Arkyd 3 Reflight is a replacement for Arkyd 3, which was lost in the Cygnus CRS Orb-3 flight accident in 2014.
26 April
20:00:07
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 5 ECA Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA-3 Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Norway.svg Thor 7 Telenor Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of Italy.svg Flag of France.svg SICRAL-2 MDD/DGA Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
27 April
23:03:00
Flag of the United States.svg Falcon 9 v1.1 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-40 Flag of the United States.svg SpaceX
Flag of Turkmenistan.svg TürkmenÄlem 52°E / MonacoSAT Turkmen Telecom Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
First Turkmen satellite.
28 April
07:09:50
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-2.1a Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Progress M-27M / 59P Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS resupply 8 May 2015Failure
Spacecraft lost communications and attitude control soon after separation failure during launch. [9] International Space Station docking attempt cancelled. [10] Mission declared a total loss. [11]

May

16 May
05:47:39
Flag of Russia.svg Proton-M / Briz-M Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 200/39 Flag of Russia.svg Flag of the United States.svg International Launch Services
Flag of Mexico.svg Mexsat-1 SCT Geosynchronous Communications 16 May 2015Launch failure
Proton third stage vernier engine failed at T+497 seconds due to turbopump shaft coating degradation causing excess vibration. [12]
20 May
15:05:00
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 501 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-41 Flag of the United States.svg United Launch Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg AFSPC-5 (X-37B OTV-4) U.S. Air Force Low Earth Technology demonstration 7 May 2017Operational
Flag of the United States.svg ULTRASat NASA Low Earth CubeSat DeploymentIn orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Lightsail-A The Planetary Society Low Earth Technology demonstration 14 June 2015
17:23
Successful
Flag of the United States.svg USS Langley U.S. Naval Academy Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg BRICSat-P U.S. Naval Academy / George Washington Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg ParkinsonSat U.S. Naval Academy Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg GEARRS-2 Taylor Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg AeroCube-8A The Aerospace Corporation Low Earth Technology demonstration 11 October 2021 [14] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg AeroCube-8B The Aerospace Corporation Low Earth Technology demonstration 2 October 2021 [16] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg OptiCube 1 CalPoly Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg OptiCube 2 CalPoly Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg OptiCube 3 CalPoly Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
The X-37B spaceplane landed autonomously at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility after spending a record-breaking 718 days in orbit. [17]
27 May
21:16:07
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 5 ECA Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA-3 Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of the United States.svg DirecTV-15 DirecTV Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of Mexico.svg Sky Mexico 1 SKY Mexico Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational

June

5 June
15:23:54
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-2.1a Flag of Russia.svg Plesetsk Site 43/4 Flag of Russia.svg RVSN RF
Flag of Russia.svg Kosmos 2505 (Kobalt-M №10) VKO Low Earth Reconnaissance 18 September 2015Successful
23 June
01:51:58
Flag of Europe.svg Vega Flag of France.svg Kourou ELV Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Europe.svg Sentinel-2A ESA Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
23 June
16:44:00
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-2.1b Flag of Russia.svg Plesetsk Site 43/4 Flag of Russia.svg RVSN RF
Flag of Russia.svg Kosmos 2506 (Persona №3) VKO Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbitOperational
26 June
06:22:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 4B Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Taiyuan LC-9 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Gaofen 8 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation / Reconnaissance In orbitOperational
28 June
14:21:11
Flag of the United States.svg Falcon 9 v1.1 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-40 Flag of the United States.svg SpaceX
Flag of the United States.svg SpaceX CRS-7 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS resupply 28 June 2015Launch Failure
Flag of the United States.svg Flock-1f × 8 [19] Planet Labs Low Earth Earth observation 28 June 2015Launch Failure
Vehicle disintegrated at T+139 seconds after second stage helium tank support strut failure caused helium tank to break through second stage tanks. [20] Attempted to deliver the IDA-1 segment of the NASA Docking System. CubeSats were to be deployed from the International Space Station at a later date. Planned first stage landing test not achieved.

July

3 July
04:55:48
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-U Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Progress M-28M / 60P Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS resupply 19 December 2015Successful
10 July
16:28:00
Flag of India.svg PSLV-XL Flag of India.svg Satish Dhawan FLP Flag of India.svg ISRO
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK-DMC-3A DMCii Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK-DMC-3B DMCii Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK-DMC-3C DMCii Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg CBNT-1 SSTL Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg DeOrbitSail Surrey Space Centre Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
15 July
15:36:00
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 401 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-41 Flag of the United States.svg United Launch Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg USA-262 (GPS IIF-10) U.S. Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
15 July
21:42:07
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 5 ECA Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA-3 Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Brazil.svg Star One C4 Star One Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of Europe.svg MSG-4 EUMETSAT Geosynchronous Meteorology In orbitOperational
22 July
21:02:44
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-FG Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz TMA-17M Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 44/45 11 December 2015
13:10
Successful
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts.
24 July
00:07:00
Flag of the United States.svg Delta IV M+(5,4) Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-37B Flag of the United States.svg United Launch Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg USA-263 (WGS-7) U.S. Air Force Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
25 July
12:29:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 3B/YZ-1 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xichang LA-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg BeiDou M1-S CNSA Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg BeiDou M2-S CNSA Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational

August

19 August
11:50:49
Flag of Japan.svg H-IIB Flag of Japan.svg Tanegashima LA-Y2 Flag of Japan.svg MHI
Flag of Japan.svg HTV-5 JAXA Low Earth (ISS) ISS resupply 29 September 2015Successful
Flag of Denmark.svg AAUSAT5 Aalborg Low Earth Technology demonstration 15 March 2016Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Flock-2b × 14 [22] Planet Labs Low Earth Earth observation First: 22 May 2016
Last: 17 October 2016
Successful
(12 deployed)
Flag of Denmark.svg GOMX-3 GomSpace Low Earth Technology demonstration 19 October 2016 [24] Successful
Flag of Japan.svg S-CUBE Chiba Institute of Technology Low Earth Meteor observation23 November 2016 [26]
Flag of Brazil.svg SERPENS University of Brasília / Brazilian Space Agency Low Earth Technology demonstration 27 March 2016Successful
CubeSats to be deployed from the International Space Station at a later date. SERPENS and S-CUBE were deployed on 17 September. AAUSAT5, GOMX-3, and Dove Flocks were deployed on 5–7 October, but two out of the fourteen Dove Flocks failed to be deployed due to a malfunction of the deployer. [27]
20 August
20:34:08
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 5 ECA Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA-3 Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of France.svg Eutelsat 8 West B Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Intelsat 34 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
27 August
02:31:35
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 4C Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Taiyuan LC-9 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Yaogan 27 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbitOperational
27 August
11:22:00
Flag of India.svg GSLV Mk II Flag of India.svg Satish Dhawan SLP Flag of India.svg ISRO
Flag of India.svg GSAT-6 Indian Armed Forces/ISRO Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
28 August
11:44:00
Flag of Russia.svg Proton-M / Briz-M Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 200/39 Flag of Russia.svg Flag of the United States.svg International Launch Services
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Inmarsat 5-F3 Inmarsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational

September

2 September
04:37:43
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-FG Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz TMA-18M Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 45/46/iriss [28] 2 March 2016
04:26
Successful
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts: including ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, the first Dane in space, and Aidyn Aimbetov, the first cosmonaut from an independent Kazakhstan.
Sarah Brightman was intended to fly this mission as a spaceflight participant, but withdrew from training on 13 May 2015 for personal reasons. [29] Japanese space tourist Satoshi Takamatsu was believed to be taking Brightman's place, but he declined and Roscosmos chose Aimbetov as an alternative instead. [30]
Landed with the Year in Space crew of Scott Kelly and Mikhail Korniyenko
2 September
10:18:00
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 551 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-41 Flag of the United States.svg United Launch Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg MUOS-4 U.S. Navy Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
11 September
02:08:10
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-STB / Fregat Flag of France.svg Kourou ELS Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Europe.svg Galileo FOC 5 ESA Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
Flag of Europe.svg Galileo FOC 6 ESA Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
12 September
15:42:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 3B/E Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xichang LC-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg TJS-1 CNSA Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
14 September
04:42
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 2D Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiuquan SLS-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Gaofen 9 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation / Reconnaissance In orbitOperational
14 September
19:00:00
Flag of Russia.svg Proton-M / Blok DM-03 Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 81/24 Flag of Russia.svg Khrunichev
Flag of Russia.svg Ekspress AM8 RSCC Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
19 September
23:01:14
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 6 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Taiyuan LC-16 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg ZDPS-2A ZJU Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg ZDPS-2B ZJU Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xiwang-2ACAMSATLow Earth (SSO) Amateur radio In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xiwang-2BCAMSATLow Earth (SSO) Amateur radio In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xiwang-2CCAMSATLow Earth (SSO) Amateur radio In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xiwang-2DCAMSATLow Earth (SSO) Amateur radio In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xiwang-2ECAMSATLow Earth (SSO) Amateur radio In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xiwang-2FCAMSATLow Earth (SSO) Amateur radio In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg XY-2 CASC Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg DCBBCAMSATLow Earth (SSO)EducationIn orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg LilacSat-2 HIT Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Tiantuo-3 NUDT Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg NUDT-PhoneSat NUDT Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration 29 March 2023 [32] Successful
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xingchen 1 NUDT Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xingchen 2 NUDT Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xingchen 3 NUDT Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xingchen 4 NUDT Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg NS-2 Tsinghua University Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg ZJ-1 Tsinghua University Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg ZJ-2 Tsinghua / Xidian Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Maiden flight of the Long March 6 vehicle.
23 September
21:59:38
Flag of Russia.svg Rokot / Briz-KM Flag of Russia.svg Plesetsk Site 133/3 Flag of Russia.svg VKO
Flag of Russia.svg Kosmos 2507 (Strela-3M) VKO Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of Russia.svg Kosmos 2508 (Strela-3M) VKO Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of Russia.svg Kosmos 2509 (Strela-3M) VKO Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
25 September
01:41:40
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 11 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiuquan LS-95A Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Pujiang-1 SAST Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Tianwang 1A (Shankeda 2) ShanghaiTech Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration 30 December 2022 [34] Successful
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Tianwang 1B (NJUST 2) NJUST Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration 31 March 2021 [36] Successful
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Tianwang 1C (NJFA 1) ShanghaiTech Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration 27 February 2021 [38] Successful
Maiden flight of the Long March 11 vehicle.
28 September
04:30:00
Flag of India.svg PSLV-XL Flag of India.svg Satish Dhawan FLP Flag of India.svg ISRO
Flag of India.svg Astrosat ISRO Low Earth X-ray astronomy In orbitOperational
Flag of Indonesia.svg LAPAN-A2 LAPAN Low Earth Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg ExactView 9 exactEarth Low Earth Maritime observation In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Lemur-2 1 NanoSatisfi Low Earth Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Lemur-2 2 NanoSatisfi Low Earth Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Lemur-2 3 NanoSatisfi Low Earth Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Lemur-2 4 NanoSatisfi Low Earth Earth observation In orbitOperational
29 September
23:13:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 3B/E Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xichang LA-3 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg BeiDou I2-S CNSA Geosynchronous Navigation In orbitOperational
30 September
20:30:07
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 5 ECA Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA-3 Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Australia (converted).svg NBN-Co 1A (Sky Muster) NBN Co Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of Argentina.svg ARSAT-2 ARSAT Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational

October

1 October
16:49:40
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-U Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Progress M-29M / 61P Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS resupply 8 April 2016Successful
2 October
10:28:00
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 421 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-41 Flag of the United States.svg United Launch Alliance
Flag of Mexico.svg Mexsat-2 SCT Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
7 October
04:13:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 2D Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiuquan SLS-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jilin-1 Smart Verification Satellite [40] Chang Guang Satellite Technology Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jilin-1 Optical-A [42] Chang Guang Satellite Technology Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jilin-1 Video-01 (Lingqiao 1-01) [43] Chang Guang Satellite Technology Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jilin-1 Video-02 (Lingqiao 1-02) [43] Chang Guang Satellite Technology Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
8 October
12:49:30
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 401 Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-3E Flag of the United States.svg United Launch Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg USA-264 (NOSS) NRO Low Earth ELINT In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg USA-264 (NOSS) NRO Low Earth ELINT In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Aerocube-5c The Aerospace Corporation Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Aerocube-7 The Aerospace Corporation Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg AMSAT Fox-1 AMSAT Low Earth Amateur radio / Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg ARC-1 UAF Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg BisonSat SKC Low Earth Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg LMRST-Sat NASA / JPL Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg PropCube x 2 Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg SINOD-D x 2 SRI International Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg SNaP-3 x 3 U.S. Army SMDC Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
NRO Launch 55
16 October
16:16:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 3B/E Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xichang LC-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of Hong Kong.svg APStar-9 APT Satellite Holdings Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
16 October
20:40:11
Flag of Russia.svg Proton-M / Briz-M Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 200/39 Flag of Russia.svg Flag of the United States.svg International Launch Services
Flag of Turkey.svg Türksat 4B Türksat Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
26 October
07:10:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 2D Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiuquan SLS-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Tianhui 1C CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation (Cartography)In orbitOperational
31 October
16:13:00
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 401 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-41 Flag of the United States.svg United Launch Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg USA-265 (GPS IIF-11) U.S. Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational

November

3 November
16:25:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 3B/E Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xichang LC-3 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg ChinaSat 2C CNSA Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
4 November
03:45:00
Flag of the United States.svg SPARK Flag of the United States.svg Pacific Missile Range Facility LP-41 Flag of the United States.svg ORS
Flag of the United States.svg HiakaSat ORS Low Earth Technology demonstration 4 November 2015Launch failure
Flag of the United States.svg EDSN x 8 NASA Low Earth Technology demonstration 4 November 2015Launch failure
Flag of the United States.svg PrintSat Montana State University Low Earth Technology demonstration 4 November 2015Launch failure
Flag of the United States.svg Argus St. Louis University and Vanderbilt University Low Earth Technology demonstration 4 November 2015Launch failure
Flag of the United States.svg STACEM Utah State University Low Earth Technology demonstration 4 November 2015Launch failure
Flag of the United States.svg Supernova-Beta Pumpkin, Inc. Low Earth Technology demonstration 4 November 2015Launch failure
Maiden flight of the SPARK/Super Strypi launch vehicle.
Vehicle lost attitude control at T+1 minute.
8 November
07:06:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 4B Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Taiyuan LC-9 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Yaogan 28 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbitOperational
10 November
21:34:07
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 5 ECA Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA-3 Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Arabsat 6B Arabsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of India.svg GSAT-15 ISRO Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
17 November
06:33:41
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Flag of Russia.svg Plesetsk Site 43/4 Flag of Russia.svg RVSN RF
Flag of Russia.svg Kosmos 2510 (EKS (Tundra)) VKO Molniya [44] Early warning In orbitOperational [45]
First space component for Russia's new unified missile early warning network. [46]
20 November
16:07:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 3B/E Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xichang LC-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of Laos.svg LaoSat-1 Laos National Authority for Science and Technology Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
First Laotian satellite [47]
24 November
06:50:00
Flag of Japan.svg H-IIA 204 Flag of Japan.svg Tanegashima LA-Y1 Flag of Japan.svg MHI
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Telstar 12V Telesat Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
26 November
21:24:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 4C Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Taiyuan LC-9 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Yaogan 29 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbitOperational

December

3 December
04:04:00
Flag of Europe.svg Vega Flag of France.svg Kourou ELV Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Europe.svg LISA Pathfinder ESA / NASA Sun–Earth L1 Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
5 December
14:08:33
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-2-1v / Volga Flag of Russia.svg Plesetsk Site 43/4 Flag of Russia.svg RVSN RF
Flag of Russia.svg Kosmos 2511 (Kanopus-ST) VKO Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation 8 December 2015
05:43
Launch failure
Flag of Russia.svg Kosmos 2512 (KYuA-1) Almaz-Antey Low Earth (SSO)Radar calibrationIn orbitOperational
Kanopus-ST failed to separate from the Volga upper stage. [48] [49]
6 December
21:44:57
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 401 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-41 Flag of the United States.svg United Launch Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg Cygnus CRS OA-4
S.S. Deke Slayton II
Orbital ATK / NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS resupply 20 February 2016Successful
Flag of the United States.svg SIMPL NovaWurks Low Earth Technology demonstration 26 July 2022 [51] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Flock-2e x 12 Planet Labs Low Earth Earth observation First: 25 July 2017 [54]
Last: 14 August 2018 [55]
Successful
Flag of the United States.svg CADRE University of Michigan Low Earth Technology demonstration 3 January 2017 [57] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg MinXSS 1 University of Colorado Boulder Low Earth Solar physics, Space weather 5 May 2017 [59] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Nodes x 2 NASA Low Earth Technology demonstration 23 September 2017 [61] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg STMSat 1 St. Thomas More Cathedral School Low Earth Education21 April 2017 [63] Successful
Flight moved from Antares 130 rocket following launch failure of Cygnus CRS Orb-3. Originally scheduled for 1 April 2015. [64] MinXSS was deployed into orbit from ISS on 16 May 2016. [65]
9 December
16:46:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 3B/E Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xichang LC-3 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg ChinaSat 1C CNSA Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
11 December
13:45:33
Flag of Ukraine.svg Zenit-3F Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 45/1 Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Elektro-L No.2 Roscosmos Geosynchronous Meteorology In orbitOperational
13 December
00:19:00
Flag of Russia.svg Proton-M / Briz-M Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 81/24 Flag of Russia.svg Khrunichev
Flag of Russia.svg Kosmos 2513 (Garpun No. 12L) VKO Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
15 December
11:03:09
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-FG Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz TMA-19M Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 46/47 18 June 2016
09:15
Successful
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts.
16 December
12:30:00
Flag of India.svg PSLV-CA Flag of India.svg Satish Dhawan FLP Flag of India.svg ISRO
Flag of Singapore.svg TeLEOS-1 AgilSpace Low Earth Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of Singapore.svg VELOX C1 NTU Low Earth Atmospheric science In orbitOperational
Flag of Singapore.svg VELOX 2 NTU Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of Singapore.svg Kent Ridge 1 NUS Low Earth Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of Singapore.svg Galassia NUS Low Earth Atmospheric science In orbitOperational
Flag of Singapore.svg Athenoxat-1 NTU Low Earth Earth observation In orbitOperational
17 December
00:12:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 2D Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiuquan SLS-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg DAMPE CAS Low Earth (SSO) High-energy astronomy In orbitOperational
17 December
11:51:56
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz ST-B / Fregat Flag of France.svg Kourou ELS Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Europe.svg Galileo FOC 8 ESA Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
Flag of Europe.svg Galileo FOC 9 ESA Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
21 December
08:44:39
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-2.1a Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Progress MS-01 / 62P Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS resupply 3 July 2016
07:50
Operational
First launch of the new Progress-MS variant.
22 December
01:29:00
Flag of the United States.svg Falcon 9 Full Thrust Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-40 Flag of the United States.svg SpaceX
Flag of the United States.svg Orbcomm-2 F2 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Orbcomm-2 F5 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Orbcomm-2 F8 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Orbcomm-2 F10 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Orbcomm-2 F12 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Orbcomm-2 F13 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Orbcomm-2 F14 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Orbcomm-2 F15 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Orbcomm-2 F16 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Orbcomm-2 F17 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Orbcomm-2 F18 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbitOperational
First flight of the upgraded "full thrust" version of Falcon 9, first Falcon 9 flight after launch failure in June. First successful return to launch site and vertical landing of a first stage, demonstrated as part of a controlled descent test.
24 December
21:31:19
Flag of Russia.svg Proton-M / Briz-M Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 200/39 Flag of Russia.svg Khrunichev
Flag of Russia.svg Ekspress AMU1 RSCC Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
28 December
16:04:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 3B/E Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xichang LC-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Gaofen 4 CNSA Geosynchronous Earth observation In orbitOperational

Suborbital flights

Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat)
Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks
26 January
09:13
Flag of the United States.svg Terrier-Improved Malemute Flag of the United States.svg Poker Flat Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg M-TEX Alaska SuborbitalAuroral26 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: ~160 kilometres (99 mi)?
26 January
09:14
Flag of the United States.svg Terrier-Orion Flag of the United States.svg Poker Flat Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg MIST Clemson SuborbitalAuroral26 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: ~130 kilometres (81 mi)?
26 January
09:46
Flag of the United States.svg Terrier-Improved Malemute Flag of the United States.svg Poker Flat Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg M-TEX Alaska SuborbitalAuroral26 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: ~160 kilometres (99 mi)?
26 January
09:47
Flag of the United States.svg Terrier-Orion Flag of the United States.svg Poker Flat Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg MIST Clemson SuborbitalAuroral26 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: ~130 kilometres (81 mi)?
28 January
10:41
Flag of the United States.svg Talos Terrier Oriole Nihka Flag of the United States.svg Poker Flat Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg ASSP USU SuborbitalAuroral28 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: ~590 kilometres (370 mi)?
31 January
02:36:00 [66]
Flag of India.svg Agni V Flag of India.svg Integrated Test Range Launch Complex IV Flag of India.svg DRDO
DRDOSuborbitalMissile test31 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: ~800 kilometres (500 mi)
19 February Flag of India.svg Prithvi II Flag of India.svg Integrated Test Range Launch Complex 3 Flag of India.svg DRDO
DRDOSuborbitalMissile test19 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)
19 February
22:06
Flag of Brazil.svg VS-30/Improved Orion Flag of Norway.svg Andøya Flag of Norway.svg Andøya
Flag of Sweden.svg Flag of Norway.svg ICI-4 (CanoRock 4) Oslo/AndøyaSuborbitalTechnology19 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 365 kilometres (227 mi)
22 February
07:52
Flag of Brazil.svg VSB-30 Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of France.svg CNES
Flag of France.svg Cryofenix CNESSuborbitalMicrogravity22 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 265 kilometres (165 mi)
22 February Flag of the United States.svg UGM-133 Trident II D5 Flag of the United States.svg Submarine, Pacific Ocean Flag of the United States.svg US Navy
US NavySuborbitalMissile test22 FebruarySuccessful
22 February Flag of the United States.svg UGM-133 Trident II D5 Flag of the United States.svg Submarine, Pacific Ocean Flag of the United States.svg US Navy
US NavySuborbitalMissile test22 FebruarySuccessful
24 February
07:30
Flag of the United States.svg Terrier-Oriole Flag of the United States.svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States.svg TBD
DOD SuborbitalMissile Defense Test24 FebruarySuccessful
FTX-19 target, apogee: ~150 kilometres (93 mi)?
24 February
07:30
Flag of the United States.svg Terrier-Oriole Flag of the United States.svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States.svg TBD
DOD SuborbitalMissile Defense Test24 FebruarySuccessful
FTX-19 target, apogee: ~150 kilometres (93 mi)?
24 February
07:30
Flag of the United States.svg Terrier-Oriole Flag of the United States.svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States.svg TBD
DOD SuborbitalMissile Defense Test24 FebruarySuccessful
FTX-19 target, apogee: ~150 kilometres (93 mi)?
25 February
12:26
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Black Brant IX Flag of the United States.svg White Sands Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg MOSC 2 AFRL Suborbital Ionospheric research 25 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)?
26 February Flag of Russia.svg UR-100NU Flag of Russia.svg Yasniy Flag of Russia.svg RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test26 FebruaryLaunch failure [67]
Yu-71 Hypersonic Vehicle Test
5 March
01:44
Flag of Brazil.svg VS-30 Flag of Norway.svg Andøya Flag of Germany.svg DLR
Flag of Germany.svg WADIS-2 DLR SuborbitalAtmospheric5 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 126 kilometres (78 mi), 13 Super Loki meteorological rockets were also launched
9 March Flag of Pakistan.svg Shaheen-III Flag of Pakistan.svg Sonmiani Flag of Pakistan.svg ASFC
ASFCSuborbitalMissile test9 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)?
18 March Flag of Russia.svg RS-26 Rubezh Flag of Russia.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of Russia.svg RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test18 MarchSuccessful
23 March
10:36
Flag of the United States.svg LGM-30G Minuteman III Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg LF-10 Flag of the United States.svg US Air Force
US Air ForceSuborbitalTest flight23 MarchSuccessful
GT214GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
27 March
10:54
Flag of the United States.svg LGM-30G Minuteman III Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg LF-04 Flag of the United States.svg US Air Force
US Air ForceSuborbitalTest flight27 MarchSuccessful
GT215GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
30 March Flag of Brazil.svg VSB-30 Flag of Norway.svg Andøya Flag of Australia (converted).svg DSTO
Flag of Australia (converted).svg HiFire-7 DSTO Suborbital Technology demonstration 30 MarchSuccessful
9 April Flag of India.svg Dhanush Flag of India.svg Ship, Indian Ocean Flag of India.svg DRDO
DRDOSuborbitalTarget9 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)
15 April Flag of Pakistan.svg Ghauri Flag of Pakistan.svg Tilla Flag of Pakistan.svg Army of Pakistan
Flag of Pakistan.svg Haft-5 Army of PakistanSuborbitalMissile test15 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
16 April
04:22
Flag of India.svg Agni-III Flag of India.svg ITR IC-4 Flag of India.svg Indian Army
Indian ArmySuborbitalMissile test16 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 350 kilometres (220 mi)
18 April
11:01
Flag of the United States.svg Terrier-Improved Malemute Flag of the United States.svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg Rocksat-X University of Colorado Boulder SuborbitalStudent Research18 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: ~174 kilometres (108 mi)
23 April
07:35
Flag of Brazil.svg VSB-30 Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of Europe.svg EuroLaunch
Flag of Germany.svg / Flag of Europe.svg TEXUS-51 DLR/ESASuborbitalMicrogravity23 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 261 kilometres (162 mi)
27 April
04:55
Flag of Brazil.svg VSB-30 Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of Europe.svg EuroLaunch
Flag of Germany.svg / Flag of Europe.svg TEXUS-52 DLR/ESASuborbitalMicrogravity27 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 255 kilometres (158 mi)
2 May
08:30:01
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Black Brant IX Flag of the United States.svg White Sands Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg OGRESS University of Iowa SuborbitalX-Ray Astronomy2 MaySuccessful
Apogee: 272 kilometres (169 mi)
20 May
10:37
Flag of the United States.svg LGM-30G Minuteman III Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg LF-09 Flag of the United States.svg US Air Force
US Air ForceSuborbitalTest flight20 MaySuccessful
GT212GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
21 May
19:15
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Black Brant IX Flag of the United States.svg White Sands Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg EVE CU Boulder Suborbital SDO calibration21 MayLaunch failure
Second stage failure, flight was terminated safety officials about four seconds into the second stage burn after data showed the vehicle was flying off-course. The payload carrying the experiment separated from the rocket and descended via parachute.
6 June Flag of the United States.svg SM-3-IIA Flag of the United States.svg San Nicolas Island Flag of the United States.svg US Navy
US NavySuborbitalABM test6 JuneSuccessful
Maiden flight of SM-3 Block IIA Cooperative Development Controlled Test Vehicle-01 (SCD CTV-01)
25 June
10:00
Flag of the United States.svg Terrier-Improved Orion Flag of the United States.svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg RockOn CU Boulder SuborbitalStudent experiments25 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 118 kilometres (73 mi)
26 June Flag of the United States.svg ARAV ? Flag of the United States.svg Kauai Flag of the United States.svg MDA
MDASuborbitalABM target26 JuneLaunch failure
Aegis radar target
30 June
04:55
Flag of Brazil.svg VSB-30 Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of Europe.svg EuroLaunch
Flag of Germany.svg MAPHEUS-5 DLR Suborbital Technology demonstration 30 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 252 kilometres (157 mi)
7 July
10:15
Flag of the United States.svg Black Brant IX Flag of the United States.svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg SOAREX-8 NASA Suborbital Technology demonstration 7 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 350 kilometres (220 mi)
29 July
08:30
Flag of the United States.svg ARAV ?MMW E1 Flag of the United States.svg Kauai Flag of the United States.svg MDA
MDASuborbitalABM target29 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)?, Aegis MMW E1 target, successful intercept by SM-6 Dual I missile
30 July
06:15
Flag of the United States.svg ARAV ?MMW E2 Flag of the United States.svg Kauai Flag of the United States.svg MDA
MDASuborbitalABM target30 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)?, Aegis MMW E2 target, successful intercept by SM-2 Block IV missile
12 August
10:14
Flag of the United States.svg Terrier-Improved Malemute Flag of the United States.svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg Rocksat-XVarious universitiesSuborbitalStudent Research12 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: ~156km (97 miles). [68]
19 August
10:03
Flag of the United States.svg LGM-30G Minuteman III Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg LF-10 Flag of the United States.svg US Air Force
US Air ForceSuborbitalTest flight19 AugustSuccessful
GT213GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
22 August
15:13
Flag of Russia.svg RS-12M Topol Flag of Russia.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of Russia.svg RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test22 AugustSuccessful
27 August
17:45
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Black Brant IX Flag of the United States.svg White Sands Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg MOSES-2 MSU SuborbitalSolar astronomy27 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: 185 miles (298 km) [69]
3 September
17:01
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Black Brant IX Flag of the United States.svg White Sands Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Japan.svg Flag of Spain.svg Flag of Norway.svg Flag of France.svg CLASP NASA / JAXA / IAC / IAS SuborbitalSolar astronomy3 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 167 miles (269 km) [70]
11 September
11:00:00
Flag of Japan.svg S-520 Flag of Japan.svg Uchinoura Flag of Japan.svg JAXA
Flag of Japan.svg HU/UT/TU/JAXASuborbitalMicrogravity11 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 312 km [71]
16 September
19:06
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Black Brant XI Flag of Norway.svg Andøya Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg CARE II NRLSuborbitalAeronomy16 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 299 kilometres (186 mi)
30 September
08:28
Flag of France.svg M51 Flag of France.svg Landes Flag of France.svg DGA/Marine nationale
DGA/Marine nationaleSuborbitalTest flight30 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), apparently launched from the land test pad, rather than from a submarine.
2 October
05:39:00
Flag of Brazil.svg / Flag of the United States.svg VSB-30/Improved Orion Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of Sweden.svg Swedish Space Corporation
Flag of Sweden.svg O-STATES 1 SNSB SuborbitalAtmospheric Research2 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 246 kilometres (153 mi)
7 October
23:07:00
Flag of the United States.svg Black Brant IX Flag of the United States.svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg Technology Test Flight NASA GSFC SuborbitalRocket motor test7 OctoberSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg LEO-1Orbital ATKSuborbitalMaterials Testing7 OctoberSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg NNS NASA SuborbitalMaterials Testing7 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 257.5 kilometers (160mi). [72] Test flight of the new Black Brant Mk4 sustainer motor. Other payloads included a cloud of barium and strontium, which was deployed to test the rocket's payload ejection system and was visible for miles along the East Coast of the United States.
19 October
14:09:00
Flag of Brazil.svg / Flag of the United States.svg VSB-30/Improved Orion Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of Sweden.svg Swedish Space Corporation
Flag of Sweden.svg O-STATES 2 SNSB SuborbitalAtmospheric Research19 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 244 kilometres (152 mi)
20 October Flag of the United States.svg Terrier-Orion ADS-15 E2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg South Uist, Hebrides Flag of the United States.svg MDA
DOD SuborbitalTarget20 OctoberSuccessful
SM-3 Target, apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)?
20 October Flag of the United States.svg SM-3 ADS-15 E2 Flag of the United States.svg USS Ross (DDG-71), Hebrides Range Flag of the United States.svg US Navy
US NavySuborbitalABM test20 OctoberSuccessful
First Aegis-Test in the North Atlantic, successful intercept, apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)?
21 October
12:45:00
Flag of the United States.svg LGM-30G Minuteman III Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg LF-04 Flag of the United States.svg US Air Force
US Air ForceSuborbitalTest flight21 OctoberSuccessful
GT216GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
28 October
11:30
Flag of Russia.svg RS-24 Yars Flag of Russia.svg Plesetsk Flag of Russia.svg RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test28 OctoberSuccessful
30 October Flag of Russia.svg RS-12M Topol Flag of Russia.svg Plesetsk Flag of Russia.svg RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test30 OctoberSuccessful
30 October Flag of Russia.svg R-29RMU Sineva Flag of Russia.svg K-117 Bryansk, Barents Sea Flag of Russia.svg VMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test30 OctoberSuccessful
30 October Flag of Russia.svg R-29R Volna Flag of Russia.svg K-223 Podolsk, Sea of Okhotsk Flag of Russia.svg VMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test30 OctoberSuccessful
31 October
23:00 ?
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg B-611 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Shuangchengzi Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg PLA
PLASuborbitalABM target31 OctoberSuccessful
Target
31 October
23:00 ?
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg SC-19 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Korla Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg PLA
PLASuborbitalABM test31 OctoberSuccessful
Interceptor, successful intercept
1 November
03:05
Flag of the United States.svg SRALT FTO-02 E2a Flag of the United States.svg C-17, Pacific Ocean Flag of the United States.svg MDA
MDASuborbitalTHAAD target1 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), successful intercepted
1 November
03:07
Flag of the United States.svg THAAD FTO-02 E2a Flag of the United States.svg Wake Island Flag of the United States.svg US Army
Flag of the United States.svg US Army/MDASuborbitalABM test1 NovemberSuccessful
Intercepted target missile, apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
1 November
03:10
Flag of the United States.svg eMRBMFTO-02 E2a Flag of the United States.svg C-17, Pacific Ocean Flag of the United States.svg MDA
Flag of the United States.svg MDASuborbitalTHAAD target1 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), successful intercepted
1 November
03:12
Flag of the United States.svg THAAD FTO-02 E2a Flag of the United States.svg Wake Island Flag of the United States.svg US Army
Flag of the United States.svg US Army/MDASuborbitalABM test1 NovemberSuccessful
Intercepted target missile, apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
6 November
15:01
Flag of the United States.svg SpaceLoft XL Flag of the United States.svg Spaceport America Flag of the United States.svg UP Aerospace
Flag of the United States.svg FOP-4 NASA SuborbitalFour technology demonstration experiments6 NovemberSuccessful
Mission SL-10, Apogee: 120.7 kilometers (74.98 miles). First private suborbital rocket to demonstrate ejection of recoverable payloads. [73]
8 November
02:00
Flag of the United States.svg UGM-133 Trident II D5 Flag of the United States.svg USS Kentucky, Pacific Ocean Flag of the United States.svg US Navy
US NavySuborbitalMissile test8 NovemberSuccessful
Demonstration and Shakedown Operation 26 (DASO-26)
9 November
04:15
Flag of India.svg Agni-IV Flag of India.svg Integrated Test Range Flag of India.svg DRDO
DRDOSuborbitalMissile Test9 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: ~850 kilometres (530 mi)?
9 November
20:00
Flag of the United States.svg UGM-133 Trident II D5 Flag of the United States.svg USS Kentucky, Pacific Ocean Flag of the United States.svg US Navy
US NavySuborbitalMissile test9 NovemberSuccessful
Demonstration and Shakedown Operation 26 (DASO-26)
14 November Flag of Russia.svg RSM-56 Bulava Flag of Russia.svg K-551 Vladimir Monomakh, White Sea Flag of Russia.svg VMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test14 NovemberSuccessful
14 November Flag of Russia.svg RSM-56 Bulava Flag of Russia.svg K-551 Vladimir Monomakh, White Sea Flag of Russia.svg VMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test14 NovemberSuccessful
Missile did not hit its targets at the Kura test site. The warheads did reach the Kamchatka region, but the miss was fairly large, but that was still not significant enough to abort the flight
17 November
12:12
Flag of Russia.svg RS-12M Topol Flag of Russia.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of Russia.svg RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test17 NovemberSuccessful
21 November Flag of Iran.svg Ghadr-1 Flag of Iran.svg Semnan ? Flag of Iran.svg IRGC
Flag of Iran.svg IGRCSuborbitalMissile test21 NovemberSuccessful
apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
23 November
17:21
Flag of the United States.svg New Shepard Flag of the United States.svg Corn Ranch Flag of the United States.svg Blue Origin
Flag of the United States.svg New Shepard Blue Origin SuborbitalTest flight23 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 100.5 kilometres (62.4 mi). Second test flight of the New Shepard launch system, first to cross the Kármán line, and first to achieve a powered landing of its propulsion stage.
25 November
04:17
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Black Brant IX Flag of the United States.svg White Sands Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg PICTURE-B UMass SuborbitalAstronomy25 NovemberSuccessful
apogee: 217 kilometres (135 mi)
30 November
07:25
Flag of the United States.svg Talos Terrier Oriole Nihka Flag of Norway.svg Andøya Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg CAPERDartmouth CollegeSuborbitalAuroral research30 NovemberLaunch failure
Third stage failure, payload recovered
1 December
05:00
Flag of Brazil.svg VSB-30 Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of Europe.svg EuroLaunch
Flag of Sweden.svg MASER-13 SSCSuborbitalMicrogravity1 DecemberSuccessful
apogee: 270 kilometres (170 mi)
5 December
04:45
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Black Brant IX Flag of the United States.svg White Sands Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg DXL-2 U of M SuborbitalAstronomy5 DecemberSuccessful
apogee: 224 kilometres (139 mi)
8 December Flag of the United States.svg SM-3-IIA Flag of the United States.svg San Nicolas Island Flag of the United States.svg US Navy
US NavySuborbitalABM test8 DecemberSuccessful
Second flight of SM-3 Block IIA Cooperative Development Controlled Test Vehicle-02 (SCD CTV-02)
10 December
06:12
Flag of Israel.svg Silver Sparrow Flag of Israel.svg F-15 Eagle, Israel Flag of Israel.svg IAF
IAI/IDF SuborbitalABM target10 DecemberSuccessful
Arrow-3 target, successfully intercepted, apogee: ~150 kilometres (93 mi)
10 December
06:15
Flag of Israel.svg Arrow III Flag of Israel.svg Negev Flag of Israel.svg IAF
IAI/IDF SuborbitalABM Test10 DecemberSuccessful
First test of the Arrow-III against a target, successful intercept over the Mediterranean
10 December Flag of the United States.svg SRALT FTO-02 E1a Flag of the United States.svg C-17, Pacific Ocean Flag of the United States.svg MDA
MDASuborbitalSM-3-IB target10 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), successful intercepted
10 December Flag of the United States.svg SM-3-IBFTO-02 E1a Flag of the United States.svg Kauai Flag of the United States.svg US Navy
US NavySuborbitalABM test10 DecemberSuccessful
First intercept flight test of a land-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) weapon system
10 December
13:55
Flag of the United States.svg Juno Flag of the United States.svg Fort Wingate LC-96 Flag of the United States.svg US Army
US ArmySuborbitalTarget10 DecemberSuccessful
Target for MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 MSE test, successfully intercepted
11 December Flag of Pakistan.svg Shaheen-III Flag of Pakistan.svg Sonmiani Flag of Pakistan.svg ASFC
ASFCSuborbitalMissile test11 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)?
12 December Flag of Russia.svg R-29RMU Sineva Flag of Russia.svg K-51 Verkhoturye, Barents Sea Flag of Russia.svg VMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test12 DecemberSuccessful
13 December
04:32
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Black Brant XIIA Flag of Norway.svg Andøya Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg RENU 2 New Hampshire SuborbitalGeospace13 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 447 kilometres (278 mi)
15 December Flag of Pakistan.svg Shaheen-IA Flag of Pakistan.svg Sonmiani Flag of Pakistan.svg ASFC
ASFCSuborbitalMissile test15 DecemberSuccessful
18 December
06:52
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Black Brant IX Flag of the United States.svg White Sands Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg FORTIS JHU SuborbitalUV Astronomy18 DecemberSuccessful
apogee: 282 kilometres (175 mi)
24 December
17:55
Flag of Russia.svg RS-12M Topol Flag of Russia.svg Kapustin Yar Flag of Russia.svg RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test24 DecemberSuccessful

Deep space rendezvous

Date (GMT)SpacecraftEventRemarks
10 January Chang'e 5-T1 Injection into Selenocentric orbitDeparted from Earth–Moon L2 on 4 January.
11 January [74] Cassini 109th flyby of Titan Closest approach: 970 kilometres (603 mi).
12 FebruaryCassini110th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,200 kilometres (746 mi).
6 March [75] Dawn Enters orbit of Ceres 1st visit to a dwarf planet.
16 MarchCassini111th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 2,275 kilometres (1,413 mi).
30 April MESSENGER Impact to Mercury [76] The crash occurred on the side of the planet not visible from Earth.
7 MayCassini112th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 2,722 kilometres (1,691 mi).
16 JuneCassini4th flyby of Dione Closest approach: 516 kilometres (321 mi).
7 JulyCassini113th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 10,953 kilometres (6,806 mi).
14 July New Horizons First flyby of Pluto and Charon 2nd visit to a dwarf planet. Closest approach: 12,500 km (7,800 mi).
17 AugustCassini5th flyby of DioneClosest approach: 474 kilometres (295 mi).
28 SeptemberCassini114th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,036 kilometres (643 mi).
14 OctoberCassiniFlyby of Enceladus Closest approach: 1,839 kilometres (1,142 mi).
28 OctoberCassiniFlyby of EnceladusClosest approach: 49 kilometres (30 mi).
12 NovemberCassini115th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 11,920 kilometres (7,407 mi).
3 December [77] Hayabusa2 Flyby of Earth Gravity assist
3 December [78] PROCYON Flyby of Earth Gravity assist en route to cancelled asteroid flyby.
4 December [79] Shin'en 2 Flyby of Earth Gravity assist
7 December [80] Akatsuki Venus orbit insertion Akatsuki's 2nd flyby of Venus and 2nd (successful) attempt at orbit insertion.
19 DecemberCassiniFlyby of EnceladusClosest approach: 4,999 kilometres (3,106 mi).

Extra-Vehicular Activities (EVAs)

Start Date/TimeDurationEnd TimeSpacecraftCrewRemarks
21 February
12:45
6 hours
41 minutes
19:26 Expedition 42/43

ISS Quest

Flag of the United States.svg Barry E. Wilmore

Flag of the United States.svg Terry W. Virts

Rigged and routed power and data cables at the forward end of the Harmony module as part of preparations for the installation of the International Docking Adapter at PMA-2. [81]
25 February
11:51
6 hours
43 minutes
18:34 Expedition 42/43

ISS Quest

Flag of the United States.svg Barry E. Wilmore

Flag of the United States.svg Terry W. Virts

Completed power and data cable routing at the forward end of the Harmony module. Removed launch locks from forward and aft berthing ports of Tranquility to prepare for relocation of the Permanent Multipurpose Module and the installation of the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module. Lubricated end effector of Canadarm2. [82] [83]
1 March
11:52
5 hours
38 minutes
17:30 Expedition 42/43

ISS Quest

Flag of the United States.svg Terry W. Virts

Flag of the United States.svg Barry E. Wilmore

Finished cable routing, antenna and retro-reflector installation on both sides of the ISS truss and on other modules in preparation for the installation of the International Docking Adapter at PMA-2 and 3. [84] [85]
10 August
14:20
5 hours
31 minutes
19:51 Expedition 44/45

ISS Pirs

Flag of Russia.svg Gennady Padalka

Flag of Russia.svg Mikhail Korniyenko

Installed gap spanners on the hull of the station for facilitating movement of crew members on future spacewalks, cleaned windows of the Zvezda Service Module, install fasteners on communications antennas, replaced an aging docking antenna, photographed various locations and hardware on Zvezda and nearby modules, and retrieved a space environment experiment. [86] [87]
28 October
12:03
7 hours
16 minutes
19:19 Expedition 45

ISS Quest

Flag of the United States.svg Scott Kelly

Flag of the United States.svg Kjell N. Lindgren

Prepared a Main Bus Switching Unit for repair, installed a thermal cover on the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, lubricated elements of the Space Station Remote Manipulator System, and routed data and power cables to prepare for the installation of the International Docking Adaptor at PMA-2 and 3. [88]
6 November
11:22
7 hours
48 minutes
19:10 Expedition 45

ISS Quest

Flag of the United States.svg Scott Kelly

Flag of the United States.svg Kjell N. Lindgren

Worked to restore a portion of the ISS's cooling system to its primary configuration, returning ammonia coolant levels to normal in the primary and backup radiator arrays. [89]
21 December
13:45
3 hours
16 minutes
16:01 Expedition 46

ISS Quest

Flag of the United States.svg Scott Kelly

Flag of the United States.svg Timothy Kopra

Released a brake on the Mobile Servicing System to allow it to be properly stowed prior to the arrival of a visiting Progress vehicle. Routed cables in preparation for the installation of the Nauka module and the International Docking Adapter, and retrieved tools from a toolbox. [90]

Space debris events

Date/Time (UTC)Source objectEvent typePieces trackedRemarks
3 February 17:40 [91] DMSP 5D-2/F13 (USA-109)Satellite breakup159 [92] The breakup was most likely caused by a battery explosion. [91] [93] This satellite had been launched in 1995. Another satellite from the same series, DMSP 5D-2/F11, had broken up in 2004. [91] Debris are expected to remain in orbit for decades. [94]
25 November 7:20 [95] NOAA-16 Satellite breakup275 [96] As this weather satellite, launched in 2000, had a similar construction to the DMSP satellite which broke up in February 2015, the same cause is suspected (battery overheating and explosion). [97]
22 December 16:00 [98] Briz-M upper stageBooster explosion9 [98] A Briz-M upper-stage booster, having subsisted in geosynchronous transfer orbit since launching the Canadian Nimiq 6 commsat in 2012, was seen to have broken up into 9 pieces as of 26 January 2016. Orbital analysis of the debris allowed to time the explosion within one minute of 16:00 UTC on 22 December 2015. [98] Three other Briz-M upper stages had exploded earlier in 2007, 2010 and 2012. [99]

Orbital launch statistics

By country

For the purposes of this section, the yearly tally of orbital launches by country assigns each flight to the country of origin of the rocket, not to the launch services provider or the spaceport. For example, Soyuz launches by Arianespace in Kourou are counted under Russia because Soyuz-2 is a Russian rocket.

Circle frame.svgChina: 19Europe: 9India: 5Iran: 1Japan: 4Russia: 27Ukraine: 2USA: 20
CountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial
failures
Remarks
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 191900
Flag of Europe.svg  Europe 9900
Flag of India.svg  India 5500
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 1100
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 4400
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 272421Includes three European Soyuz launches from Kourou, French Guiana by Arianespace
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 2200Zenit and Dnepr rockets were launched from Russia and/or Kazakhstan
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 201820
World878241

By rocket

5
10
15
20
R-7
UR

By family

By type

By configuration

By spaceport

5
10
15
20
China
France
India
Iran
Japan
Kazakhstan
SiteCountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failuresRemarks
Baikonur Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 181620
Barking Sands Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1010
Cape Canaveral Flag of the United States.svg  United States 171610
Dombarovsky Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 1100
Kourou Flag of France.svg  France 121200
Jiuquan Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 5500
Plesetsk Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 7601
Satish Dhawan Flag of India.svg  India 5500
Semnan Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 1100
Taiyuan Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 5500
Tanegashima Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 4400
Vandenberg Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2200
Xichang Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 9900
Total878241

By orbit

10
20
30
40
50
Transatmospheric
  •   Transatmospheric
  •   Low Earth
  •   Low Earth (ISS)
  •   Low Earth (SSO)
  •   Low Earth (retrograde)
  •   Geosychronous
    (transfer)
  •   Medium Earth
  •   High Earth
  •   Heliocentric
Orbital regimeLaunchesAchievedNot achievedAccidentally
achieved
Remarks
Transatmospheric1100
Low Earth 45422114 to ISS (1 launch failure, 1 failure post-separation)
Geosynchronous/transfer 323110
Medium Earth 7700
High Earth 2200
Total878331

Notes

  1. Clockwise from top:
  2. The European experimental spaceplane IXV was briefly in orbit but did not receive a COSPAR catalog number.

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Generic references:
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