2016 in spaceflight

Last updated

2016 in spaceflight
CRS-8 (26239020092).jpg
PIA21033 Juno's View of Jupiter's Southern Lights.jpg
PIA21132 - Schiaparelli Impact Site on Mars, in Color (cropped).jpg
"Tian Gong Er Hao "Da Shi Ji 3.png
Long March 5 rolling out at WSLS.jpg
Highlights from spaceflight in 2016. [a]
Orbital launches
First15 January
Last28 December
Total85
Successes82
Failures2
Partial failures1
Catalogued 83
Rockets
Maiden flights
Retirements
Crewed flights
Orbital5
Total travellers14
EVAs 4
2016 in spaceflight
  2015
2017  

Several new rockets and spaceports began operations in 2016.

Contents

Overview

Russia inaugurated the far-Eastern Vostochny Cosmodrome on 28 April 2016 with a traditional Soyuz-2.1a flight, [1] before expanding it for the Angara rocket family in the following years. The Chinese Long March 7 flew its maiden flight from the new Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island on 25 June, and the maiden flight of the Long March 5 took place on 3 November. Two years after its 2014 accident, the Antares rocket returned to flight on 17 October with its upgraded 230 version featuring the Russian RD-181 engine.

After many failed attempts, SpaceX began landing its Falcon 9 first stages on autonomous spaceport drone ships, edging closer to their long-stated goal of developing reusable launch vehicles. The company indicated that the recovered engines and structures did not suffer significant damage. [2] One of the landed boosters, B1021, launched in April 2016, was flown again in March 2017; [3] two others were converted to side boosters for the maiden flight of Falcon Heavy. [4]

The ExoMars mission, a collaboration between the European and Russian space agencies, was launched on 14 March and reached Mars on 19 October. [5] Dedicated to astrobiology investigations, this flight carried the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, which reached Mars orbit, and the Schiaparelli EDM lander, which crashed upon landing. A subsequent flight scheduled for 2020 will carry the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover along with four static surface instruments. [6] Meanwhile, the Japanese space probe Akatsuki started its observations of Venus in May [7] after spending five months gradually adjusting its orbit. Planetary exploration activities took center stage with the orbit insertion of NASA's Juno probe at Jupiter on 4 July, followed by the launch of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission to asteroid 101955 Bennu on 8 September. Finally, on 30 September, the Rosetta probe executed a slow crash-landing on comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. [8] [9]

Human spaceflights included the return of Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko in March after a yearlong mission on the ISS, the longest-ever continuous stay by astronauts at the station. Kelly also set the record for the longest-duration stay of an American in orbit. Four ISS Expeditions numbered 47 to 50 were launched in 2016, the first one using the last Soyuz TMA-M spacecraft and the next three inaugurating the modernized Soyuz MS. Expedition 50 will continue into 2017. Several EVAs were performed to maintain the exterior of the ISS. The experimental BEAM inflatable habitat was attached to the ISS on 16 April and expanded on 28 May to begin two years of on-orbit tests. Meanwhile, China launched its new Tiangong-2 space laboratory in September, which was first visited by two astronauts for a month between 19 October and 17 November.

Orbital launches

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

January

15 January
16:57:04
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 Belarus.svg Belintersat 1 Belarus Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
17 January
18:42:18
Flag of the United States.svg Falcon 9 v1.1 F9-021 Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-4E Flag of the United States.svg SpaceX
Flag of the United States.svg Jason-3 NOAA / EUMETSAT Low Earth Earth observation In orbitOperational
Final flight of the standard Falcon 9 v1.1, future flights will use the upgraded Falcon 9 Full Thrust. Falcon 9's first stage performed a soft landing on an autonomous spaceport drone ship in the Pacific Ocean, but the failure of one landing leg to lock into position caused it to fall over and break apart. [10]
20 January
04:01:00
Flag of India.svg PSLV-XLC31 Flag of India.svg Satish Dhawan SLP Flag of India.svg ISRO
Flag of India.svg IRNSS-1E ISRO Geosynchronous Navigation In orbitOperational
27 January
23:20:48
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 5 ECA VA228 Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA-3 Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of the United States.svg Intelsat 29e Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbitSpacecraft failure in 2019 [11]
29 January
22:20:09
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 France.svg Eutelsat 9B Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
Carries the first laser communication node for the European Data Relay System

February

1 February
07:29:04
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-3 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg BeiDou M3-S CNSA Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
5 February
13:38:00
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 401AV-057 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-266 (GPS IIF-12) US Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
7 February
00:21:07
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 2514 (GLONASS-M   751) VKS Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
7 February
00:30
Flag of North Korea.svg Unha-3 Flag of North Korea.svg Sohae Flag of North Korea.svg KCST
Flag of North Korea.svg Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4 [14] KCST Low Earth Earth observation 30 June 2023 [15] Successful
10 February
11:40:32
Flag of the United States.svg Delta IV M+ (5,2) Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-6 Flag of the United States.svg United Launch Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg USA-267 / Topaz-4 [16] NRO Retrograde LEO Reconnaissance In orbitOperational
NROL-45 mission. Spacecraft launched in a retrograde orbit.
16 February
17:57:40
Flag of Russia.svg Rokot / Briz-KM Flag of Russia.svg Plesetsk Site 133/3 Flag of Europe.svg / Flag of Russia.svg Eurockot
Flag of Europe.svg Sentinel-3A ESA Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
17 February
08:45:00
Flag of Japan.svg H-IIA 202F30 Flag of Japan.svg Tanegashima LA-Y1 Flag of Japan.svg MHI
Flag of Japan.svg Flag of the United States.svg Hitomi (ASTRO-H) JAXA / NASA Low Earth X-ray astronomy In orbitSpacecraft failure
Flag of Japan.svg ChubuSat-2 Nagoya University Low Earth Radiation / Amateur radio In orbitOperational
Flag of Japan.svg ChubuSat-3 MHI Low Earth Remote sensing / Space debris monitorIn orbitOperational
Flag of Japan.svg Horyu-4 Kyushu Institute of Technology Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Hitomi malfunctioned after initial checkouts, and is believed to have lost attitude control and snapped off its solar array. 28 April, JAXA has abandoned efforts to recover the spacecraft. [17] [18]

March

4 March
23:35:00
Flag of the United States.svg Falcon 9 Full Thrust F9-022 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-40 Flag of the United States.svg SpaceX
Flag of Luxembourg.svg SES-9 SES S.A. Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
High-velocity landing test ended with a hard landing on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You and destruction of the first stage.
9 March
05:20:07
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 5 ECA VA229 Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA-3 Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of France.svg Eutelsat 65 West A Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
10 March
10:31:00
Flag of India.svg PSLV-XLC32 Flag of India.svg Satish Dhawan SLP Flag of India.svg ISRO
Flag of India.svg IRNSS-1F ISRO Geosynchronous Navigation In orbitOperational
13 March
18:56:00
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-2.1b Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Resurs-P No.3 Roscosmos Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation 17 October 2023 [20] Partial spacecraft failure [21]
The launch succeeded on its second attempt after a rare pad abort the day before.
14 March
09:31:42 [6]
Flag of Russia.svg Proton-M / Briz-M Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 200/39 Flag of Russia.svg Khrunichev
Flag of Europe.svg / Flag of Russia.svg ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter ESA Areocentric orbit Mars orbiter In orbitOperational
Flag of Europe.svg Schiaparelli EDM lander ESA TMI to Martian Surface Mars lander 19 October 2016Landing failure
18 March
21:26:38
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-20M Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 47/48 7 September 2016
01:13
Successful
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts. Final flight of the Soyuz TMA-M variant
23 March
03:05:52
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 401AV-064 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-6
S.S. Rick Husband
Orbital ATK / NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 22 June 2016
13:29
Successful
Flag of the Philippines.svg Flag of Japan.svg Diwata-1 DOST / TU Low Earth Earth observation 6 April 2020 [23] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Flock-2e' × 20 Planet Labs Low Earth Earth observation First: 3 October 2017 [24]
Last: 10 November 2018 [25]
Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Lemur-2 × 9 Spire Global Low Earth Earth observation First: 27 February 2017 [28]
Last: 7 April 2017 [29]
8 successful, 1 failed to deploy
Anomaly in the mixture ratio control valve assembly, causing the Atlas V booster engine to cut off five seconds early, resulting in a longer-than-usual Centaur orbital insertion burn. [30]
Cubesats deployed from the ISS and the Cygnus spacecraft at a later date.
24 March
09:42:00
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 2515 (Bars-M 2L) VKS Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbitOperational
29 March
20:11:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 3A 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 IGSO-6 CNSA IGSO Navigation In orbitOperational
31 March
16:23:57
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-02 / 63P Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 14 October 2016
13:39
Successful
Flag of Russia.svg Tomsk-TPU-120 Tomsk Polytechnic University Low Earth Technology demonstration 20 October 2019 [32] Successful
Tomsk-TPU-120 is a CubeSat deployed into orbit from ISS by Russian astronauts spacewalk on 17 August 2017. [33]

April

5 April
17:38:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 2D Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Shijian 10 CAS Low Earth Microgravity Science 18 April 2016
08:30
Successful
8 April
20:43:31
Flag of the United States.svg Falcon 9 Full Thrust F9-023 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-8 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 11 May 2016
18:31
Successful
Flag of the United States.svg BEAM Bigelow Aerospace / NASA Low Earth (ISS) Technology demonstration / ISS Assembly In orbitOperational
First stage landed successfully on drone ship Of Course I Still Love You for the first time, the second successful landing overall
25 April
21:02:13
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-STA / Fregat Flag of France.svg Kourou ELS Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Europe.svg Sentinel-1B ESA Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of France.svg MICROSCOPE CNES Low Earth (SSO) Astrophysics In orbitOperational
Flag of Denmark.svg AAUSAT-4 Aalborg Low Earth (SSO) AIS ship tracking 8 September 2023 [35] Successful
Flag of Italy.svg e-st@r-II Polytechnic University of Turin Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg OUFTI-1 Liège Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
28 April
02:01:21
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-2.1a / Volga Flag of Russia.svg Vostochny Site 1S Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Mikhailo Lomonosov MSU Low Earth (SSO) Gamma-ray astronomy 16 December 2023 [37] Satellite malfunction
Flag of Russia.svg Aist-2D SSAU Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of Russia.svg SamSat 218 SSAU Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration 4 March 2022 [39] Spacecraft failure
First orbital flight from Vostochny Cosmodrome.
28 April
07:20:00
Flag of India.svg PSLV-XLC33 Flag of India.svg Satish Dhawan FLP Flag of India.svg ISRO
Flag of India.svg IRNSS-1G ISRO Geosynchronous Navigation In orbitOperational

May

6 May
05:21:00
Flag of the United States.svg Falcon 9 Full Thrust F9-024 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-40 Flag of the United States.svg SpaceX
Flag of Japan.svg JCSAT-14 JSAT Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
First stage landed on Of Course I Still Love You drone ship, the third successful landing and the first landing with a payload to geostationary transfer orbit.
15 May
02:43
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 2D Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Yaogan 30 CNSALow Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbitOperational
24 May
08:48:43
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-STB / Fregat Flag of France.svg Kourou ELS Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Europe.svg Galileo FOC 10 ESA Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
Flag of Europe.svg Galileo FOC 11 ESA Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
27 May
21:39:00
Flag of the United States.svg Falcon 9 Full Thrust F9-025 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-40 Flag of the United States.svg SpaceX
Flag of Thailand.svg Thaicom 8 Thaicom Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
First stage landed on Of Course I Still Love You drone ship, the fourth successful landing and the second landing with a payload to geostationary transfer orbit.
29 May
08:44:35
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 2516 (GLONASS-M   753) VKS Medium Earth Navigation In orbitSpacecraft failure
Kosmos 2516 experienced a depressurization event in November 2020, which permanently disabled the satellite after four years in operation. It was replaced by GLONASS-K   705. [40]
30 May
03:17:04
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 Ziyuan III-02 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of Argentina.svg ÑuSat-1/-2
(Aleph-1 constellation) [42]
Satellogic Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational

June

4 June
14:00:13
Flag of Russia.svg Rokot / Briz-KM Flag of Russia.svg Plesetsk Site 133/3 Flag of Russia.svg RVSN RF
Flag of Russia.svg Kosmos 2517 (Geo-IK-2 No.12) VKS Low Earth Geodesy In orbitOperational
9 June
07:10:00
Flag of Russia.svg Proton-M / Briz-M Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 81/24 Flag of Russia.svg Flag of the United States.svg International Launch Services
Flag of the United States.svg Intelsat 31 / DLA-2 Intelsat / DirecTV Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
11 June
17:51:00
Flag of the United States.svg Delta IV Heavy 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-268 (Orion 9) NRO Geosynchronous Reconnaissance In orbitOperational
NROL-37 mission.
12 June
15:30:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 3C/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 BeiDou G7 CNSA Geosynchronous Navigation In orbitOperational
15 June
14:29:00
Flag of the United States.svg Falcon 9 Full Thrust F9-026 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-40 Flag of the United States.svg SpaceX
Flag of France.svg Eutelsat 117 West B Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of Bermuda.svg ABS-2A ABS Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
Satellites were successfully delivered to orbit, first stage landing on drone ship failed.
18 June
21:38:39
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 5 ECA VA230 Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA-3 Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of the United States.svg EchoStar 18 EchoStar Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of Indonesia.svg BRIsat BRI Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
22 June
03:56:00
Flag of India.svg PSLV-XL C34 Flag of India.svg Satish Dhawan SLP Flag of India.svg ISRO
Flag of India.svg Cartosat-2C ISRO Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of Germany.svg BIROS DLR Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg GHGSat-D (Claire) GHGSat Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of Indonesia.svg LAPAN-A3 LAPAN Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg M3MSat CSA Low Earth (SSO) Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg SkySat-C1 Terra Bella Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of Germany.svg BeeSat 4 TU Berlin Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Flock-2p × 12 Planet Labs Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation First: 20 October 2022
Last: 28 March 2023 [44]
Successful
Flag of India.svg SathyabamaSat Sathyabama University Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of India.svg Swayam College of Engineering, Pune Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
24 June
14:30:00
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 551AV-063 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-5 US Navy GSO Communications In orbitOperational in off-nominal but usable orbit [45]
25 June
12:00:07
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 7 / YZ-1A Y1 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Wenchang LC-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Next-generation crew capsule scale model CMSA Low Earth Technology demonstration
Flight test
26 June 2016
07:41
Successful
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Star of Aoxiang NPU Low Earth Technology demonstration 29 September 2016Successful
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Aolong-1 CALT Low Earth Technology demonstration 27 August 2016Successful
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Tiange-1 Low Earth Technology demonstration 27 August 2016Successful
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Tiange-2 Low Earth Technology demonstration 24 August 2016Successful
Maiden flight of the Long March 7 rocket and the first launch from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center. [46]
29 June
03:21:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 4B Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Shijian 16-02 CNSA Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitOperational

July

7 July
01:36:40
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-FG Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz MS-01 Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 48/49 30 October 2016
03:58
Successful
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts. Maiden flight of the modernized Soyuz MS spacecraft variant.
16 July
21:41:45
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-U Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Progress MS-03 / 64P Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 1 February 2017
18:24
Successful
18 July
04:45:29
Flag of the United States.svg Falcon 9 Full Thrust F9-027 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-9 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 26 August
15:47
Successful
Delivering the IDA-2 segment of the NASA Docking System. Second successful return to launch site and vertical landing of a first stage, demonstrated as part of a controlled descent test.
28 July
12:37:00
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 421AV-065 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-269 (Quasar NROL-61) NRO Geosynchronous [47] Communications In orbitOperational

August

5 August
16:22:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 3B 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 Tiantong-1 01 CAST Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
9 August
22:55:25
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 Gaofen-3 CAST Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
14 August
05:26:00
Flag of the United States.svg Falcon 9 Full Thrust F9-028 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-40 Flag of the United States.svg SpaceX
Flag of Japan.svg JCSAT-16 JSAT Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
15 August
17:40:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 2D Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Quantum Experiments At Space Scale (QUESS) [48] CAS Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Lixing-1 CAS Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration 19 August 2016 [50] Spacecraft failure
Flag of Spain.svg 3Cat 2 UPC Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration 18 December 2023 [52] Successful
19 August
04:52:00
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 AFSPC 6 / USA-270 / GSSAP #3 US Air Force Geosynchronous Space surveillance In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg AFSPC 6 / USA-271 / GSSAP #4 US Air Force Geosynchronous Space surveillance In orbitOperational
24 August
22:16:01
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 5 ECA VA232 Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA-3 Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of the United States.svg Intelsat 33e Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational [53]
Flag of the United States.svg Intelsat 36 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
31 August
18:50:00
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 Gaofen-10 CAST Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation 31 August 2016Launch failure

September

3 September
07:00–09:00 (scheduled) [54]
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 Israel.svg AMOS-6 Spacecom Planned: Geosynchronous Communications N/A Destroyed prior to launch [55]
Launch pad explosion destroyed both the rocket and the satellite two days prior to scheduled launch, on 13:07,1 September 2016(UTC) (2016-09-01T13:07Z). [55]
8 September
11:20:00
Flag of India.svg GSLV Mk II F05 Flag of India.svg Satish Dhawan SLP Flag of India.svg ISRO
Flag of India.svg INSAT-3DR ISRO Geosynchronous Meteorology In orbitOperational
8 September
23:05:00
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 411AV-067 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 OSIRIS-REx NASA Heliocentric Asteroid sample return In orbitOperational
Reached asteroid Bennu in December 2018. Scheduled to return to Earth in September 2023.
13 September
14:38:00
Flag of Israel.svg Shavit-2 Flag of Israel.svg Palmachim Flag of Israel.svg Israel Aerospace Industries
Flag of Israel.svg Ofeq 11 Israel Defense Forces Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbitSatellite malfunction [56]
15 September
14:04:12
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 2F/GT2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-1 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CNSA
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Tiangong-2 CMSA Low Earth Space station 19 July 2019 [58]
13:06
Successful
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg BanXing 2 SAST Low Earth Technology demonstration 15 July 2019 [60] Successful
Second Chinese space laboratory, BanXing 2 deployed 22 October
16 September
01:43:35
Flag of Europe.svg Vega Flag of France.svg Kourou ELV Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Peru.svg PeruSat-1 Peruvian Armed Forces Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg SkySat × 4 Terra Bella Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
26 September
03:42:00
Flag of India.svg PSLV-G C35 Flag of India.svg Satish Dhawan FLP Flag of India.svg ISRO
Flag of India.svg ScatSat-1 ISRO Low Earth (SSO) Meteorology In orbitSuccessful [61]
Flag of Algeria.svg Alsat-1B Algerian Space Agency Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of Algeria.svg Alsat-2B Algerian Space Agency Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Blacksky Pathfinder-1 BlackSky Global Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of India.svg Pratham IIT Bombay Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of India.svg PISat PES University Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of Algeria.svg Alsat-1N Algerian Space Agency Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanX-7 UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration 21 April 2022 [63] Successful
Final launch of the original Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-G configuration with S9 solid rocket motors.

October

5 October
20:30
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 5 ECA VA231 Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA-3 Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Australia (converted).svg NBN-Co 1B / Sky Muster II NBN Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of India.svg GSAT-18 ISRO Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
16 October
23:30
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 2F Y11 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiuquan LA-4 / SLS-1 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Shenzhou 11 CMSA Low Earth Docking with Tiangong-2 18 November 2016
06:15
Successful
Crewed flight with two astronauts [64]
17 October
23:45
Flag of the United States.svg Antares 230 Flag of the United States.svg MARS Pad 0A Flag of the United States.svg Orbital ATK
Flag of the United States.svg Cygnus CRS OA-5 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 27 November 2016
23:36
Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Lemur-2 × 4 Spire Global Low Earth Earth observation In orbitOperational
CubeSats were deployed from the ISS and Cygnus spacecraft at a later date.
19 October
08:05
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-FG Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz MS-02 Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 49/50 10 April 2017
11:20
Successful
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts

November

2 November
06:20:00
Flag of Japan.svg H-IIA 202F31 Flag of Japan.svg Tanegashima LA-Y1 Flag of Japan.svg MHI
Flag of Japan.svg Himawari 9 JMA Geosynchronous Meteorology In orbitOperational
3 November
12:42
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 5 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Wenchang LC-1 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Shijian 17 CNSA Geosynchronous Technology demonstration / Space rendezvous In orbitOperational
Maiden flight of the Long March 5 rocket. Chinese state media claims Shijian-17 is a test of electric propulsion, though this is disputed by outside analysts tracking the satellite's unusual space rendezvous movements. [65] [66]
9 November
23:42 [67]
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 XPNAV 1 [69] CAS Low Earth (SSO) X-ray pulsar-based navigation In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xiaoxiang 1 [71] Changsha Gaoxinqu Tianyi Research Institute Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Lishui 1-01 Zhejiang LiTong Electronic Technology Co. Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Pina-2 × 2Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
11 November
18:30
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 401AV-062 Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-3E Flag of the United States.svg United Launch Alliance
Flag of the United States.svg WorldView-4 DigitalGlobe Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation 30 November 2021
05:20 [72]
Spacecraft failure
Flag of the United States.svg CELTEE 1M42 TechnologiesLow Earth (SSO)CalibrationIn orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg Prometheus-2 × 2 LANL Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg AeroCube 8 × 2 Aerospace Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg OptiCube 4 NASA Orbital Debris Program Office Low Earth (SSO)CalibrationIn orbitOperational
Flag of the United States.svg RAVAN JHU/APL Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration / Earth observation In orbitOperational
CubeSats deployed after WorldView-4 separation as part of NRO-sponsored ENTERPRISE mission. WorldView-4 experienced a failure in one of its control moment gyroscopes in January 2019, making the spacecraft unrecoverable. [73]
11 November
23:14
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 2D Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Yunhai-1 SAST Low Earth Earth observation In orbitOperational
17 November
13:06:48
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 5 ES VA233 Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA-3 Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Europe.svg Galileo FOC 7 ESA Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
Flag of Europe.svg Galileo FOC 12 ESA Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
Flag of Europe.svg Galileo FOC 13 ESA Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
Flag of Europe.svg Galileo FOC 14 ESA Medium Earth Navigation In orbitOperational
First Galileo launch with Ariane 5 (8th overall), carrying Antonianna, Lisa, Kimberley, and Tijmen.
17 November
20:20:14
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-FG Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz MS-03 Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 50/51/52 2 June 2017Successful
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts. Peggy Whitson's mission was prolonged over Expedition 52 until September 2017.
19 November
23:42:00
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 541AV-069 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 GOES-R (GOES-16) NASA / NOAA Geosynchronous Meteorology In orbitOperational
22 November
15:24:04
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 3C/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 Tianlian I-04 CNSA Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational

December

1 December
14:52
Flag of Russia.svg Soyuz-U Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of Russia.svg Roscosmos
Flag of Russia.svg Progress MS-04 / 65P Roscosmos Planned: Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 1 DecemberLaunch failure
5 December
13:51:44
Flag of Europe.svg Vega Flag of France.svg Kourou ELV Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Turkey.svg Göktürk-1 Turkish Armed Forces Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbitOperational
7 December
04:54
Flag of India.svg PSLV-XLC36 Flag of India.svg Satish Dhawan FLP Flag of India.svg ISRO
Flag of India.svg Resourcesat-2A ISRO Low Earth (SSO) Remote sensing In orbitOperational
7 December
23:53
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-272 / WGS-8 US Air Force Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
9 December
13:26:47
Flag of Japan.svg H-IIB F6 Flag of Japan.svg Tanegashima LA-Y2 Flag of Japan.svg MHI
Flag of Japan.svg HTV-6 JAXA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 5 February 2017
15:06
Successful
Flag of Japan.svg EGG UTokyo Low Earth Technology demonstration / Re-entry Demonstration15 May 2017 [75] Successful
Flag of Italy.svg TuPOD GAUSS Srl Low Earth TubeSat Deployment / Amateur radio 8 September 2017 [77] Successful
Flag of Singapore.svg / Flag of Japan.svg AOBA-VELOX 3 NTU / Kyutech Low Earth Technology demonstration 1 November 2018 [79] Successful
Flag of Japan.svg STARS C Kagawa University Low Earth Technology demonstration 3 March 2018 [81] Successful
Flag of Japan.svg FREEDOMNakashimada Engineering Works / Tohoku University Low Earth Technology demonstration 5 February 2017 [83] Successful
Flag of Japan.svg ITF-2 University of Tsukuba Low Earth Technology demonstration 3 January 2019 [85] Successful
Flag of Japan.svg Waseda-SAT 3 Waseda University Low Earth Technology demonstration 6 October 2018 [87] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg OSNSATOpen Space Network Low Earth Technology demonstration 11 January 2018 [89] Successful
Flag of Brazil.svg Tancredo-1 Escola Municipal Presidente Tancredo de Almeida Neves/INPE Low Earth Technology demonstration 18 October 2017 [91] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg TechEdSat 5 SJSU/UI Low Earth Technology demonstration 29 July 2017 [93] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Lemur-2 × 4 Spire Global Low Earth AIS First: 15 April 2018 [96]
Last: 5 December 2018 [97]
Successful
CubeSats to be deployed at a later date. Tancredo-1 and OSNSAT are carried inside TuPOD and to be deployed from it. STARS-C was deployed on 19 December 2016. ITF-2, WASEDA-SAT3, FREEDOM, EGG, AOBA-Velox III, and TuPOD were deployed on 16 January 2017. [98] Tancredo-1 and OSNSAT were released from TuPOD on 19 January 2017. [99] Lemur-2 and TechEdSat-5 were deployed on 6–7 March 2017. [100] [101] [102]
10 December
16:11:00
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 3B 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 Fengyun 4A CMA Geosynchronous Meteorology In orbitOperational
15 December
13:37:21
Flag of the United States.svg Pegasus-XL Flag of the United States.svg Stargazer , Cape Canaveral Flag of the United States.svg Orbital ATK
Flag of the United States.svg CYGNSS × 8 NASA Low Earth Meteorology In orbitOperational
18 December
19:13
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas V 431AV-071 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 EchoStar 19 HughesNet Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
20 December
11:00
Flag of Japan.svg Epsilon Epsilon-2 [103] Flag of Japan.svg Uchinoura Flag of Japan.svg JAXA
Flag of Japan.svg Arase (ERG) JAXA Medium Earth (elliptical) Magnetospherics In orbitOperational
21 December
19:22
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 2D Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-2 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg TanSat [104] CAS Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Spark × 2 CAS Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitOperational
21 December
20:30
Flag of Europe.svg Ariane 5 ECA VA234 Flag of France.svg Kourou ELA-3 Flag of France.svg Arianespace
Flag of Brazil.svg Star One D1 Star One Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
Flag of Japan.svg JCSAT-15 JSAT Geosynchronous Communications In orbitOperational
28 December
03:23:56
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Long March 2D Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Taiyuan Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CASC
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg SuperView / Gaojing-1 01 Beijing Space View Technology Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitPartial launch failure;
Operational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg SuperView / Gaojing-1 02 Beijing Space View Technology Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbitPartial launch failure;
Operational
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Bayi Kepu 1 China Association for Science and Technology Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration 18 February 2017 [106] Partial launch failure;
Successful
Launch vehicle problem deployed satellites in a lower than planned orbit. SuperView satellites raising their own orbits, but CubeSats cannot so may have short lifespan. [107]

Suborbital flights

Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat)
Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks
15 January
03:00:00
Flag of Japan.svg S-310 Flag of Japan.svg Uchinoura Flag of Japan.svg JAXA
Flag of Japan.svg TPU / TU / TU / KU / JAXA Suborbital Ionospheric research 15 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: 161 kilometres (100 mi) [108]
22 January 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 crew capsule Blue Origin SuborbitalTest flight22 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: 101.7 kilometres (63.2 mi) [109]
23 January
08:30
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-53 DLR / ESA Suborbital Microgravity 23 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: 252 kilometres (157 mi)
28 January Flag of the United States.svg SRALT? Flag of the United States.svg C-17, Pacific Ocean Flag of the United States.svg MDA
MDA Suborbital ABM target28 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), CTV-02+ target
28 January Flag of the United States.svg Ground Based Interceptor Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg LF-23 Flag of the United States.svg MDA
MDA Suborbital ABM test28 JanuarySuccessful
CTV-02+, successful test flight, the CE-II kill vehicle performed scripted maneuvers to demonstrate performance of alternate divert thrusters. Upon entering terminal phase, the kill vehicle initiated a planned burn sequence to evaluate the alternate divert thrusters until fuel was exhausted, intentionally precluding an intercept.
2 February
21:09
Flag of Brazil.svg VS-30 Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of Sweden.svg SSC
Flag of Sweden.svg SPIDER/LEEWAVES SSC SuborbitalTechnology2 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 138 kilometres (86 mi)
21 February
07:34
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 flight21 FebruarySuccessful
GT217GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
22 February
04:15
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 CHESS-2 LASP SuborbitalAstronomy22 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 309 kilometres (192 mi)
26 February
07:01
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 flight26 FebruarySuccessful
GT218GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
1 March
14:50
Flag of the United States.svg Terrier Malemute Flag of the United States.svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg MUSIC West Virginia University SuborbitalTechnology experiments1 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: ~185 kilometers (115 mi) [110]
7 March
12:05
Flag of the United States.svg Terrier Orion Flag of the United States.svg Wallops Island Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg SOAREX-9NASA Ames SuborbitalTechnology experiment7 MarchSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg RadPC Montana State University SuborbitalTechnology experiment7 MarchSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg VIPControlled DynamicsSuborbitalTechnology experiment7 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: ~159 kilometers (99 mi)
7 March Flag of India.svg K-4 Flag of India.svg Visakhapatnam Flag of India.svg Indian Navy
Indian NavySuborbitalMissile test7 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 500 km?
8 March Flag of Iran.svg Shahab-3 Flag of Iran.svg Iran Flag of Iran.svg IRGC
IRGCSuborbitalMissile test8 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: ~150 kilometres (93 mi)
14 March Flag of India.svg Agni-I Flag of India.svg Integrated Test Range Flag of India.svg IDRDL
IDRDLSuborbitalMissile test14 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: ~500 kilometres (310 mi)?
14 March Flag of the United States.svg UGM-133 Trident II D5 Flag of the United States.svg Submarine, ETR Flag of the United States.svg US Navy
US NavySuborbitalMissile test14 MarchSuccessful
Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test 52
15 March Flag of the United States.svg UGM-133 Trident II D5 Flag of the United States.svg Submarine, ETR Flag of the United States.svg US Navy
US NavySuborbitalMissile test15 MarchSuccessful
Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test 52
16 March Flag of the United States.svg UGM-133 Trident II D5 Flag of the United States.svg Submarine, ETR Flag of the United States.svg US Navy
US NavySuborbitalMissile test16 MarchSuccessful
Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test 52
31 March Flag of India.svg K-4 Flag of India.svg INS Arihant Flag of India.svg Indian Navy
Indian NavySuborbitalMissile test31 MarchSuccessful
First K-4 launch from a submarine [111]
2 April
15:18
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 crew capsule Blue Origin SuborbitalTest flight2 AprilSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg BORE Southwest Research Institute SuborbitalMicrogravity experiment2 AprilSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg COLLIDE University of Central Florida SuborbitalMicrogravity experiment2 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 103.8 kilometers (64.5 mi). Third successful booster landing of the same rocket. [112]
19 April
06:41
Flag of Russia.svg UR-100NU Flag of Russia.svg Yasniy Flag of Russia.svg RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test19 AprilSuccessful
Yu-71 Hypersonic Vehicle Test, Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)?
26 April
17:00
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Tianying 3F Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Hainan Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg CNSA
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Kunpeng-1B CSSAR SuborbitalEnvironment monitoring26 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 316 kilometres (196 mi)
18 May
00:45
Flag of Brazil.svg Flag of the United States.svg VS-30/Improved Orion Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera Test Range Flag of Australia (converted).svg DSTO
Flag of Australia (converted).svg HiFire-5B DSTO SuborbitalTechnology18 MaySuccessful
Apogee: 278 kilometres (173 mi)
18 May
07:02
Flag of the United States.svg MRBM-T3 Flag of the United States.svg Kauai Flag of the United States.svg MDA
MDASuborbitalRadar target18 MaySuccessful
Medium Range Ballistic Missile Target, Aegis radar target FTX-21, apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)?
25 May Flag of the United States.svg RIM-161 Standard Missile 3-IB Flag of the United States.svg USS Hopper, Kauai Flag of the United States.svg US Navy
US NavySuborbitalTest flight25 MaySuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)?
26 May Flag of the United States.svg RIM-161 Standard Missile 3-IB Flag of the United States.svg USS Hopper, Kauai Flag of the United States.svg US Navy
US NavySuborbitalTest flight26 MaySuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)?
1 June
19:00
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 calibration1 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 290 kilometres (180 mi)
19 June
14:35
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 crew capsule Blue Origin SuborbitalTest flight19 JuneSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg Capillary Flow Experiment Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics SuborbitalMicrogravity experiment19 JuneSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg EITIC Louisiana State University SuborbitalMicrogravity experiment19 JuneSuccessful
Flag of Germany.svg MEDEA Braunschweig University of Technology SuborbitalMicrogravity experiment19 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 101 kilometers (62.8 mi). Fourth successful booster landing of the same rocket.
24 June
10:06
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/RockSat-C CU Boulder SuborbitalStudent experiments24 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: ~119 kilometres (74 mi)
30 June
09:43
Flag of the United States.svg Improved Malemute Flag of Norway.svg Andøya Flag of Norway.svg Andøya
Flag of Norway.svg MaxiDusty 1 Oslo/AndøyaSuborbitalAtmospheric Science30 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 115 kilometres (71 mi)
? June Flag of the United States.svg UGM-133 Trident II D5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg HMS Vengeance Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Navy
Royal NavySuborbitalMissile test? JuneLaunch failure
1 July
07:18
Flag of France.svg M51 Flag of France.svg Le Triomphant, Audierne Bay Flag of France.svg DGA/Marine nationale
DGA/Marine nationaleSuborbitalTest flight1 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)?
8 July
13:01
Flag of the United States.svg Improved Malemute Flag of Norway.svg Andøya Flag of Norway.svg Andøya
Flag of Norway.svg MaxiDusty 1b Oslo/AndøyaSuborbitalAtmospheric Science8 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi)
11 July Flag of Iran.svg Khorramshahr Flag of Iran.svg Semnan Flag of Iran.svg AFIRI
AFIRI SuborbitalMissile test11 JulyLaunch failure
19 July
04:05
Flag of the United States.svg Terrier Improved Orion Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of Germany.svg DLR
Flag of Germany.svg ROTEX-T DLRSuborbitalTechnology19 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 182 kilometres (113 mi)
27 July
18:26
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 Hi-C NASA/MSFCSuborbitalSolar research27 JulySpacecraft failure
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
17 August
11:33
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 Research17 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: ~153 kilometres (95 mi)
25 August Flag of Russia.svg RS-24 Yars? Flag of Russia.svg Plesetsk Flag of Russia.svg RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test25 AugustLaunch failure
31 August Flag of the United States.svg UGM-133 Trident II D5 Flag of the United States.svg USS Maryland, ETR Flag of the United States.svg US Navy
US NavySuborbitalMissile test31 AugustSuccessful
5 September
09:10
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 flight5 SeptemberSuccessful
GT219GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
9 September Flag of Russia.svg RS-12M Topol Flag of Russia.svg Plesetsk Flag of Russia.svg RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test9 SeptemberSuccessful
27 September Flag of Russia.svg RSM-56 Bulava Flag of Russia.svg K-535 Yury Dolgorukiy, White Sea Flag of Russia.svg VMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test27 SeptemberSuccessful
27 September Flag of Russia.svg RSM-56 Bulava Flag of Russia.svg K-535 Yury Dolgorukiy, White Sea Flag of Russia.svg VMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test27 SeptemberLaunch failure?
The second missile self destroyed "after completing the first phase of the flight", maybe intentional. It appears to be a normal practice in salvo launches. The missile probably carried mockups instead of working upper stages and warheads to save money.
5 October
15:37
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 crew capsule Blue Origin SuborbitalTest flight5 OctoberSuccessful
In-flight escape test 45 seconds after launch. Booster unexpectedly survived and reached an apogee of 93.7 kilometres (58.2 mi) before completing its fifth successful landing.
12 October Flag of Russia.svg R-29R Volna Flag of Russia.svg K-433 Svyatoy Georgiy Pobedonosets, Sea of Okhotsk Flag of Russia.svg VMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test12 OctoberSuccessful
12 October Flag of Russia.svg R-29RMU Sineva Flag of Russia.svg K-407 Novomoskovsk, Barents Sea Flag of Russia.svg VMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test12 OctoberSuccessful
12 October Flag of Russia.svg RS-12M Topol Flag of Russia.svg Plesetsk Flag of Russia.svg RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test12 OctoberSuccessful
25 October
08:58
Flag of Russia.svg UR-100NU Flag of Russia.svg Yasniy Flag of Russia.svg RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test25 OctoberSuccessful
Yu-71 Hypersonic Vehicle Test, Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)?
22 November Flag of India.svg Agni-I Flag of India.svg Integrated Test Range Flag of India.svg IDRDL
IDRDLSuborbitalMissile test22 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: ~500 kilometres (310 mi)?
6 December Flag of Iran.svg Shahab-3 Flag of Iran.svg Iran Flag of Iran.svg IRGC
IRGCSuborbitalMissile test6 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: ~150 kilometres (93 mi)
8 December 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 target8 DecemberSuccessful
Target
8 December 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 test8 DecemberSuccessful
Interceptor
15 December Flag of the United States.svg MRBMFTM-27 Flag of the United States.svg Kauai Flag of the United States.svg MDA
MDASuborbitalABM target15 DecemberSuccessful
FTM-27 target, successfully intercepted by two SM-6 missiles in low altitude
15 December
16:15
Flag of the United States.svg Zombie (ATACMS)Zombie Pathfinder Flag of the United States.svg White Sands Flag of the United States.svg NASA
US ArmySuborbitalTest flight15 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 80 kilometres (50 mi)?
26 December
05:35
Flag of India.svg Agni V Flag of India.svg Integrated Test Range Launch Complex IV Flag of India.svg DRDO
DRDOSuborbitalMissile test26 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: ~800 kilometres (500 mi)

Deep space rendezvous

Date (UTC)SpacecraftEventRemarks
14 January Mars Express Flyby of Phobos Closest approach: 53 kilometres (33 mi). [113]
15 January [114] Cassini 116th flyby of Titan Closest approach: 3,817 kilometres (2,372 mi).
31 JanuaryCassini117th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,400 kilometres (870 mi).
16 FebruaryCassini118th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,018 kilometres (633 mi).
4 AprilCassini119th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 990 kilometres (615 mi).
6 MayCassini120th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 971 kilometres (603 mi).
7 JuneCassini121st flyby of TitanClosest approach: 975 kilometres (606 mi).
4 July [115] Juno Orbit injection around Jupiter (jovicentric)First solar-powered Jovian probe, second orbiter.
4 JulyMars ExpressFlyby of PhobosClosest approach: 350 kilometres (220 mi).
25 JulyCassini122nd flyby of TitanClosest approach: 976 kilometres (606 mi).
10 AugustCassini123rd flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,599 kilometres (994 mi).
27 AugustJuno1st perijove of JupiterClosest approach: 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi). [116]
26 SeptemberCassini124th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,737 kilometres (1,079 mi).
30 September Rosetta Landing on 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko Probe was programmed to deactivate its thrusters and radio transmissions after landing.
19 October Trace Gas Orbiter (ExoMars 2016)Orbit injection around Mars (areocentric)
19 October Schiaparelli (ExoMars 2016)Landing on Mars, Meridiani Planum Probe entered Martian atmosphere intact, but contact was lost 50 seconds before expected landing. [117] NASA's MRO later identified the Schiaparelli crash site at coordinates 2°03′S6°14′W / 2.05°S 6.24°W / -2.05; -6.24 , confirming the loss of the lander. [118]
19 OctoberJuno2nd perijovePeriod Reduction Maneuver [119] originally planned, but delayed due to valve issues. [120] The maneuver was later cancelled entirely in favor of remaining in a 53-day orbit. [121]
13 NovemberCassini125th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,582 kilometres (983 mi).
16 NovemberMars ExpressFlyby of PhobosClosest approach: 127 kilometres (79 mi).
29 NovemberCassini126th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 3,223 kilometres (2,003 mi).
11 DecemberJuno3rd perijove

Extra-vehicular activities (EVAs)

Start date/timeDurationEnd timeSpacecraftCrewRemarks
15 January
13:48
4 hours 43 minutes18:31 Expedition 46
ISS Quest
Replaced a failed voltage regulator responsible for shutting down one of the station's eight power channels in November 2015, and routed cables in support of the installation of the International Docking Adaptor. EVA terminated two hours early due to water leakage in Kopra's helmet, but the primary task was accomplished. [122]
3 February
12:55
4 hours 45 minutes17:40 Expedition 46
ISS Pirs
Deployed a commemorative flash drive, took samples of module exteriors, installed handrails for use in future EVAs, retrieved an astrobiology experiment, deployed a materials science experiment, and tested a tool for applying coatings to module exteriors. [123]
19 August
12:04
5 hours 58 minutes18:02 Expedition 48
ISS Quest
The astronauts installed the International Docking Adapter (IDA) which was delivered by Dragon CRS-9, allowing future commercial crew spacecraft to dock with the station. This first IDA was attached to Harmony's forward port, over the existing Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA). [124] [125] The EVA terminated after completing the primary objective, without completing the secondary objectives, due to a malfunction of the right earphone of Jeff Williams.
1 September
11:53
6 hours 48 minutes18:41 Expedition 48
ISS Quest
The crew retracted a thermal radiator which is a backup, and then installed the first pair of several high-definition cameras to monitor the traffic around the station. Then they have performed some maintenance operations. [126]

Space debris events

Date/Time (UTC)Source objectEvent typePieces trackedRemarks
26 March 01:42 [127] Hitomi Satellite breakup10 [128] JAXA lost communications with the freshly launched telescope during its early commissioning phase. Meanwhile, JspOC observed 5 then 10 pieces of debris diverging from the satellite, one of them comparably sized to the main spacecraft by radar signature. [129]

Hitomi itself went into a tumble and sent short intermittent communications. The tumble was caused by a failure of the inertial reference unit mistakenly reporting the spacecraft to be spinning. As the attitude control system attempted to correct the non-existent spin, the unnecessary correction itself is believed to have caused the subsuqent failures, ultimately leading to the loss of the spacecraft, 28 April. [130] [131] [18]

In a twist of fate, one of the secondary payloads traveling with Hitomi was ChubuSat-3, a microsatellite dedicated to monitoring global warming effects and space debris. [132]

1 June 09:20 [133] SL-12 R/B (#33473)Booster breakup20+ [133] An ullage motor, part of a Russian Proton-M rocket that was launched in December 2008, exploded for unknown reasons. [134]

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: 22Europe: 9India: 7Israel: 1Japan: 4North Korea: 1Russia: 19USA: 22
CountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial
failures
Remarks
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 222011
Flag of Europe.svg  Europe 9900
Flag of India.svg  India 7700
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 1100
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 4400
Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 1100
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 191810Includes two European Soyuz launches from Kourou, French Guiana by Arianespace
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 222200+1 pre-launch failure (AMOS 6 / Falcon 9)
World858221

By rocket

5
10
15
20
25
30
R-7
UR

By family

By type

By configuration

By spaceport

5
10
15
20
25
30
China
France
India
Israel
Japan
Kazakhstan
North Korea
SiteCountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failuresRemarks
Baikonur Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 111010
Cape Canaveral Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 1818001 Pre-launch failure
Jiuquan Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 9900
Kourou Flag of France.svg  France 111100
MARS Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 1100
Palmachim Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 1100
Plesetsk Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 5500
Satish Dhawan Flag of India.svg  India 7700
Sohae Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 1100
Taiyuan Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 4211
Tanegashima Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 3300
Uchinoura Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1100
Vandenberg Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 3300
Vostochny Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 1100First launch
Wenchang Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 2200First launch
Xichang Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 7700
Total858221

By orbit

10
20
30
40
50
Transatmospheric
  •   Transatmospheric
  •   Low Earth
  •   Low Earth (ISS)
  •   Low Earth (SSO)
  •   Low Earth (retrograde)
  •   Medium Earth
  •   Geosychronous
    (transfer)
  •   Inclined GSO
  •   High Earth
  •   Heliocentric
Orbital regimeLaunchesAchievedNot achievedAccidentally
achieved
Remarks
Transatmospheric0000
Low Earth 434220Including 11 to ISS (+1 failed), 1 to Tiangong-2
Geosynchronous / transfer 323200
Medium Earth 8800
High Earth 0000
Heliocentric orbit 2200Including planetary transfer orbits
Total858320

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References

Generic references:
RocketSunIcon.svg Spaceflightportal

Notes

  1. Clockwise from top:
    • The first ever landing of a Falcon 9 Full Thrust first stage on an autonomous spaceport drone ship, during Falcon 9 Flight 23 in April.
    • The impact site of Schiaparelli on Meridiani Planum, viewed by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in October. The lander's retro-rockets failed during descent, and accidentally impacted Mars at an estimated speed of 540 kilometres per hour (340 mph).
    • Juno observes Jupiter's southern aurora during its first science orbit in August, seven weeks after its partially successful orbital insertion around the planet. Following an engine failure in its second orbit, the spacecraft remained in a larger orbit than intended for its prime mission.
    • Image of Tiangong-2, China's 2nd space laboratory, undergoing ground testing.
    • Maiden flight of Long March 5, the first Heavy-lift launch vehicle rocket launched in Asia

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