Highlights from spaceflight in 2017 [a] | |
Orbital launches | |
---|---|
First | 5 January |
Last | 26 December |
Total | 91 |
Successes | 83 |
Failures | 6 |
Partial failures | 2 |
Catalogued | 86 |
National firsts | |
Satellite | |
Rockets | |
Maiden flights | |
Retirements | |
Crewed flights | |
Orbital | 4 |
Total travellers | 11 |
EVAs | 10 |
Notable spaceflight activities in 2017 included the maiden orbital flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (also called LVM3) on 5 June and the first suborbital test of Rocket Lab's Electron rocket, inaugurating the Mahia spaceport in New Zealand. The rocket is named for its innovative Rutherford engine which feeds propellants via battery-powered electric motors instead of the usual gas generator and turbopumps.
China launched its new missile-derived Kaituozhe-2 variant on 2 March. The Japanese SS-520, a suborbital sounding rocket modified for orbital flight, failed to reach orbit in January. [1] If successful, it would have become the smallest and lightest vehicle to ever put an object in orbit. [2]
The venerable Russian Soyuz-U workhorse was retired after its 786th mission on 22 February. On 30 March, the SES-10 mission was launched with a previously flown Falcon 9 first stage, achieving a key milestone in the SpaceX reusable launch system development program; several other Falcon 9 first-stage boosters were re-used since then.
After a record-breaking 13-year mission observing Saturn, its rings and moons, the Cassini space probe was deliberately destroyed by plunging into Saturn's atmosphere, on 15 September 2017. [3]
A record number of 466 satellites were attempted to be launched thanks to an increase in the number of small satellites. 289 of all satellites weighted less than 10 kg. [4] The number of small satellites launched exceeded even the most optimistic forecasts. [5]
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | |||
Remarks | ||||||||
January | ||||||||
5 January 15:18 | ![]() | 3B-Y39 [6] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CNSA | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
9 January 04:11:12 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
14 January 17:54:39 | ![]() | F9-029 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Return to flight mission for Falcon 9 after an accident in September 2016. First stage landed on a drone ship. | ||||||||
14 January 23:33 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | University of Tokyo | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 14 January | Launch failure | |||
Contact lost at +20 sec after launch. Aborted ignition of 2nd stage. [1] | ||||||||
21 January 00:42 | ![]() | AV-066 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Air Force | Geosynchronous | Missile warning | In orbit | Operational | |||
24 January 07:44 | ![]() | F32 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | DSN / JSDF | Geosynchronous | Communications (military) | In orbit | Operational | |||
28 January 01:03:34 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Hispasat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
First GTO launch by Soyuz at the Guiana Space Centre | ||||||||
February | ||||||||
14 February 21:39 | ![]() | VA235 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() | Intelsat / SKY Brasil | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Telkom | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
15 February 03:58 | ![]() | C37 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ISRO | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | ISRO | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | KazGU | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Ben Gurion University | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 24 February 2023 [11] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | SpacePharma | Low Earth (SSO) | Microgravity research | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Planet Labs | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Spire Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | EIAST/AUS | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | PEASS Consortium | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
Second largest number of satellites launched on a single rocket (104). | ||||||||
19 February 14:38:59 | ![]() | F9-030 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 19 March 2017, 14:46 | Successful | |||
First SpaceX launch from LC-39A. Carries the SAGE III and Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) Earth-observation instruments to the ISS. First stage returned to Landing Zone 1. | ||||||||
22 February 05:58 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 20 July | Successful | |||
786th and final flight of Soyuz-U. | ||||||||
March | ||||||||
1 March 17:50 | ![]() | AV-068 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
NROL-79 mission. | ||||||||
2 March 23:53 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | CASIC | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 7 July 2023 [13] | Successful | |||
Maiden flight. | ||||||||
7 March 01:49:24 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | ESA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
16 March 06:00 | ![]() | F9-031 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | EchoStar | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Due to the satellite's heavy mass (~5,600 kg), [14] the rocket flew in its expendable configuration and the first-stage booster was not recovered. [15] | ||||||||
17 March 01:20:00 | ![]() | F33 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CSICE | Low Earth (SSO) | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
19 March 00:18 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | US Air Force | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
30 March 22:27 | ![]() | F9-032 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | SES S.A. | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
First flight of a Falcon 9 re-used first stage. [16] SpaceX recovered the stage again. | ||||||||
April | ||||||||
12 April 11:04:04 | ![]() | 3B-Y43 [6] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CNSA | Geosynchronous | Communications Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
18 April 15:11 | ![]() | AV-070 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() SS John Glenn [19] | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 12 June 2017 | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | Millennium Space Systems | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | GSFC | Low Earth | Technology demonstration Atmospheric research | 3 October 2018 [21] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | CSUN | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 5 May 2019 [23] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | MSU | Low Earth | X-ray astronomy | 1 March 2019 [25] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Project Biarri / AFRL | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 4 May 2019 [27] | Successful | |||
QB50 × 31 | Various | Low Earth | Technology demonstration Atmospheric research | In orbit | Operational | |||
QB50 mission includes first Finnish satellite Aalto-2, Greek satellite UPSat | ||||||||
20 April 07:13:44 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 51/52 | 3 September 2017 01:22 | Successful | |||
Crewed flight with two cosmonauts. [28] | ||||||||
20 April 11:41:35 | ![]() | Y2 [29] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CMSA | Low Earth (Tiangong 2) | Tiangong 2 resupply | 22 September 2017 10:00 | Successful | |||
![]() | Xi'an Institute of Surveying and Mapping | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
SilkRoad-1 was released on 1 August from Tianzhou 1. [30] | ||||||||
May | ||||||||
1 May 11:15 | ![]() | F9-033 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NRO | Low Earth [31] | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
First stage returned to Landing Zone 1. | ||||||||
4 May 21:50 | ![]() | VA236 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | KT Corporation | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Telebras | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
5 May 11:27 | ![]() | F09 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ISRO | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
15 May 23:21 | ![]() | F9-034 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Inmarsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Due to the satellite's heavy mass (6,070 kg), [32] the rocket flew in its expendable configuration and the first-stage booster was not recovered. [15] | ||||||||
18 May 11:54:53 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | SES S.A. | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
25 May 04:20:00 | ![]() | It's a Test | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Rocket Lab | Low Earth | Rocket stage / Flight test | 25 May | Launch failure | |||
First Electron launch. Flight terminated by range safety at an altitude of 224 kilometres (139 mi) due to an error in ground tracking equipment. Carried instruments on the upper stage rather than a payload. [34] | ||||||||
25 May 06:33 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | VKS | Molniya | Missile early warning | In orbit | Operational | |||
June | ||||||||
1 June 00:17:46 | ![]() | F34 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAO | Tundra/Quasi-Zenith Orbit [35] | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
1 June 23:45 | ![]() | VA237 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ViaSat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Eutelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
This mission carried the heaviest and most expensive commercial payload ever launched, valued at $800 million [36] with a combined payload mass of 9,969 kg for both satellites (10,865 kg total launch mass with dual-deployment hardware). [37] | ||||||||
3 June 21:07 | ![]() | F9-035 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 3 July 2017 | Successful | |||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | X-ray astronomy | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | BRACU | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 6 May 2019 [40] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | All Nations University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 22 May 2019 [42] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | National University of Mongolia | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 11 May 2019 [44] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | FUTA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 13 May 2019 [46] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | KIT | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 3 May 2019 [48] | Successful | |||
First stage returned to Landing Zone 1. TOKI, GhanaSat-1, Mazaalai, BRAC ONNESHA, and Nigeria EduSat-1 were carried to ISS as the cargo of SpaceX CRS-11 and deployed into orbit on 7 July 2017. [49] 100th rocket launch from LC-39A. | ||||||||
5 June 11:58 | ![]() | D1 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ISRO | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Maiden orbital flight. | ||||||||
8 June 03:45 | ![]() | 935-61 [50] | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ||||
![]() | EchoStar | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
14 June 09:20 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 28 December | Successful | |||
![]() | Low Earth | Radar calibration target | 29 November 2018 [52] | Successful | ||||
![]() | South-West State University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 30 July 2019 [54] | Successful | |||
![]() | South-West State University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 8 September 2019 [56] | Successful | |||
![]() | RISDE | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 15 October 2019 [58] | Successful | |||
Tanyusha-YuZGU, Sfera-53 2, TNS-O No. 2 were small satellites deployed into orbit from the ISS by cosmonauts during an EVA on 17 August 2017. [59] [60] | ||||||||
15 June 03:15 | ![]() | 4B-Y31 [61] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAS / IHEP | Low Earth (SSO) | X-ray astronomy | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Zhuhai Orbital Control Engineering | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Zhuhai Orbital Control Engineering | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Satellogic | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
18 June 16:12 | ![]() | 3B-Y28 [6] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | China Satcom | Geosynchronous (intended) | Communications | In orbit | Partial launch failure Operational | |||
Payload was inserted into a wrong orbit. [63] [64] After 16 days of orbit raising maneuvers, the satellite raised its orbit from 16,420 km to 36,000 km, and corrected its longitude to 101.4°E.[ citation needed ] | ||||||||
23 June 03:59 [65] | ![]() | C38 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ISRO | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Canon | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Max Valier school, Bozen | Low Earth (SSO) | X-ray astronomy Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Noorul Islam University | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Ventspils University College | Low Earth (SSO) | AIS ship tracking | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Aalto University | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() ![]() ![]() | Sky and Space Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() ![]() ![]() | Sky and Space Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() ![]() ![]() | Sky and Space Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | GeoOptics Inc | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | FH Aachen | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | D-Orbit | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | University of Surrey | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 3 September 2017 01:27 | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | Spire Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Vilnius University | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | NUDT | Low Earth (SSO) | Ionosphere research | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | FH Wiener Neustadt | Low Earth (SSO) | Thermosphere research | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | University of Montpellier | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | University of Zilina | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | University of Chile | Low Earth (SSO) | Ionosphere research | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 14 March 2023 [67] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | University College London | Low Earth (SSO) | Ionosphere research | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Sapienza University | Low Earth (SSO) | Thermosphere research | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | VZLU | Low Earth (SSO) | Thermosphere research | In orbit | Operational | |||
Venta-1 was the first Latvian satellite. COMPASS-2, InflateSail, LithuanicaSAT-2, NUDTSat, Pegasus, UCLSat, URSA MAIOR and VZLUSat-2 are part of the QB-50 project led by Von Karman Institute to create a network of cubesats conducting measurements of Earth's lower termosphere and ionosphere. [68] | ||||||||
23 June 18:04 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | VKS | Low Earth | Geodesy | 23 December 2021 [70] | Successful | |||
![]() | VKS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 12 September 2019 [72] | Successful | |||
Napryazhenie / 14F150 / Nivelir. [73] Kosmos 2521, also known as Sputnik Inspektor, was later deployed by Kosmos 2519. | ||||||||
23 June 19:10 | ![]() | F9-036 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Bulsatcom | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Second flight of a Falcon 9 re-used first stage. [74] | ||||||||
25 June 20:25:14 | ![]() | F9-037 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
28 June 20:59 | ![]() | VA238 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() | Inmarsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | ISRO | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
July | ||||||||
2 July 11:23:23 | ![]() | Y2 [75] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAST | Geosynchronous | Communications Technology demonstration | 2 July 2017 | Launch failure | |||
The cause of the failure was confirmed by CASC later, related to the anomaly happened on one of the YF-77 engine in the first stage. [76] | ||||||||
5 July 23:38 | ![]() | F9-038 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Due to the satellite's heavy mass (6,761 kg), [78] the rocket flew in its expendable configuration and the first-stage booster was not recovered. [15] | ||||||||
14 July 06:36:49 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | GeoOptics | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Institute of Space Systems | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Norsk Romsenter | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Norsk Romsenter | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | TU Berlin | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Weathernews | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Astro Digital | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Failure [81] | |||
⚀ ![]() ![]() | UTE / YuZGU | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Planet Labs | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | MAI | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Spire Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | MPU | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Partial failure | |||
⚀ ![]() | Roscosmos / Dauria Aerospace | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Failure [82] [83] | |||
⚀ ![]() | Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
Delivery of 73 satellites in three orbital altitudes with a single launch. [84] Some cubesats were deployed into unintended orbit or having communication problem. [82] Mayak fails to deploy solar reflector. [85] Glavcosmos has later confirmed upper stage anomaly during the launch. [86] [87] | ||||||||
27 July | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
ISA | Low Earth | 27 July 2017 | Launch failure | |||||
The first orbital attempt for Simorgh. [88] Iranian official sources state that the rocket has reached orbit. [89] [90] U.S. Strategic Command confirmed that no satellite deployed from the rocket as the rocket suffered a "catastrophic failure" shortly after liftoff. [91] [92] The U.S. Air Force's Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base reported that it had not detected any satellite released into low-Earth orbit by the Simorgh SLV. [93] Finally, the United States, France, Germany and Britain have condemned Iran's test of a satellite-launching rocket. [94] | ||||||||
28 July [95] 15:41 [96] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 52/53 | 14 December 2017 08:48 | Successful | |||
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts. | ||||||||
August | ||||||||
2 August 01:58 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Italian Defense Ministry | Low Earth (SSO) | IMINT (Reconnaissance) | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() ![]() | ISA / CNES | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
14 August 16:31 | ![]() | F9-039 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 17 September 2017 | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | Penn State | Low Earth | Space weather | 7 March 2019 [98] | Successful | |||
![]() | U.S. Army | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | 28 August 2021 [100] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | GSFC | Low Earth | Technology demonstration / Heliophysics | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | MIT/JPL | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Successful [101] | |||
First flight of Falcon 9 "block 4" upgrade. [102] Last flight of a newly-built Dragon capsule; further missions will use refurbished spacecraft. [103] Carried cosmic-ray detector ISS-CREAM to be installed on the station, and several cubesats to be later deployed from the ISS. Kestrel Eye was deployed into orbit from ISS on 24 October 2017. [104] ASTERIA and Dellingr/RBLE were deployed on 20 November 2017, [105] and OSIRIS-3U was deployed on 21 November 2017. [106] | ||||||||
16 August 22:07 | ![]() | ? [50] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | VKS | Geosynchronous | Communications (military) | In orbit | Operational | |||
18 August 12:29 | ![]() | AV-074 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
19 August 05:29 | ![]() | F35 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAO | Geosynchronous | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
24 August 18:50 | ![]() | F9-040 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NSPO | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
26 August 06:04 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | ORS | Low Earth | Space surveillance | In orbit | Operational | |||
31 August 13:30 | ![]() | C39 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ISRO | Geosynchronous | Navigation | 2 March 2019 | Launch failure | |||
Payload fairing failed to separate, leaving the satellite adrift within the fairing after internally separating from the fourth stage of the rocket. [109] The stage, along with IRNSS-1H, re-entered the atmosphere together on 2 March 2019. [110] | ||||||||
September | ||||||||
7 September 14:00 | ![]() | F9-041 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | U.S. Air Force | Low Earth | Technology demonstration (classified) | 27 October 2019 07:51 | Successful [111] | |||
11 September 19:23:41 | ![]() | 935-65 [50] | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ||||
![]() | Hispasat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
12 September 21:17:02 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 53/54 | In orbit | Operational | |||
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts. [28] [112] | ||||||||
22 September 00:02:32 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | VKS | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
24 September 05:49:47 | ![]() | AV-072 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
28 September 18:52:16 | ![]() | 937-03 [50] | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ||||
![]() | AsiaSat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
29 September 04:21 | ![]() | 2C-Y29 [113] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CAS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CAS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
29 September 21:47 | ![]() | VA239 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | BSAT | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
October | ||||||||
9 October 04:13 | ![]() | 2D-Y30 [113] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ABAE / MPPCTII | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
9 October 12:37 | ![]() | F9-042 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
9 October 22:01:37 | ![]() | F36 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAO | Tundra | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
11 October 22:53 | ![]() | F9-043 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() | SES S.A. / EchoStar | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Third time a Falcon 9 first stage is re-used. [114] | ||||||||
13 October 09:27:44 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | |||||
![]() | ESA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
14 October 08:46:53 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 26 April 2018 | Successful | |||
![]() ![]() | Moscow Aviation Institute / Space Kidz India | Low Earth | Communications | |||||
Originally intended to debut a new two-orbit rendezvous profile, profile reverted to standard 34-orbit profile after the first launch attempt was scrubbed. [115] | ||||||||
15 October 07:28 | ![]() | AV-075 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NRO | Geosynchronous (TBC) [116] | Communications (military) | In orbit | Operational | |||
30 October 19:34 | ![]() | F9-044 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | KT Corporation | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
31 October 21:37 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Terra Bella | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Planet Labs | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Return to flight mission for Minotaur-C after a failed launch in March 2011. | ||||||||
November | ||||||||
5 November 11:45:00 | ![]() | 3B-Y46 [6] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CNSA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CNSA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
8 November 01:42:30 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Morocco | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
12 November 12:19:51 [117] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() SS Gene Cernan [119] | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 18 December 2017 | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | The Aerospace Corporation | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 5 August 2022 (OSCD B) 12 August 2022 (OSCD C) | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | Asgardia | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 12 September 2022 [121] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | NRL | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 2 January 2022 [123] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | NASA | Low Earth | Microbiology | 8 December 2021 [125] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | JPL | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Spire Global | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | NPS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 30 July 2022 [129] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | SJSU/UI/NASA Ames | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 15 May 2018 [131] | Successful | |||
EcAMSat was deployed into orbit from ISS on 20 November 2017, [105] and TechEdSat-6 was deployed on 21 November 2017. [106] Other small satellites were deployed from Cygnus after it departed from ISS. [132] | ||||||||
14 November 18:35 | ![]() | 4C-Y21 [61] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CMA | Low Earth (polar) | Meteorology | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | HEAD Aerospace | Low Earth (polar) | AIS ship tracking | In orbit | Operational | |||
18 November 09:47:36 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | NOAA | Low Earth (SSO) | Meteorology | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | UNSW, DSTO | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | ERAU | Low Earth (SSO) | Education | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | NNU | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | MIT | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | AMSAT | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
Last flight of the Delta II 7920 configuration, penultimate flight of Delta II | ||||||||
21 November 04:50 | ![]() | Y2 [134] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
24 November 18:10 | ![]() | 2C-Y30 [113] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CNSA | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CNSA | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CNSA | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
28 November 05:41:46 [96] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (SSO) | Meteorology | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
![]() | NSC | Low Earth (SSO) | Traffic monitoring | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
![]() | Bauman University | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
![]() | Astroscale | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
![]() | TeleSat Canada | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications (experimental) | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
⚀ ![]() | Astro Digital | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
⚀ ![]() | German Orbital Systems | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications (experimental) | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
⚀ ![]() | Spire Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
⚀ ![]() | Multiple users | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
The Fregat upper stage suffered an apparent programming failure resulting in the loss of all 19 satellites. [137] | ||||||||
December | ||||||||
2 December 10:43:26 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Operational | ||||
3 December 04:11 | ![]() | 2D-Y47 [113] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAS | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
10 December 16:41 [140] | ![]() | 3B-Y40 [6] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Algerian Space Agency | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
First Algerian geostationary communications satellite | ||||||||
12 December 18:36:07 | ![]() | VA240 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ESA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Second Galileo launch with Ariane 5 (9th overall), carrying Nicole, Zofia, Alexandre, and Irina. | ||||||||
15 December 15:36 | ![]() | F9-045 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 13 January 2018 | Successful | |||
Re-used the first-stage booster from CRS-11 (2017) and the Dragon capsule from CRS-6 (2015) [141] | ||||||||
17 December 07:21 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 54/55 | In orbit | Operational | |||
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts. | ||||||||
23 December 01:26:22 [142] | ![]() | F37 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | JAXA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | JAXA | Low Earth | Atmospheric sciences Technology demonstration | 1 October 2019 | Successful | |||
23 December 01:27:23 [96] | ![]() | F9-046 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Re-using a first-stage booster. [143] This rocket flew in its expendable configuration so the first-stage booster was not recovered [144] | ||||||||
23 December 04:14 [145] | ![]() | 2D-Y48 [113] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAS | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
25 December 19:44 | ![]() | 2C-Y34 [113] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CAS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CAS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
26 December 19:00:03 | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Republic of Angola | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Spacecraft failure [147] | |||
First satellite of Angola. Launch was successful but contact was lost quickly afterwards. [148] On 28 December 2017, communication was temporarily restored and telemetry was received. [149] | ||||||||
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
15 January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
PLARF | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 January | Successful | |||
16 January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 January | Successful | |||
23 January 02:30 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() | DLR / SSC | Suborbital | Microgravity | 23 January | Successful | ||
Apogee: 238 kilometres (148 mi) | |||||||
24 January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
ASFC | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 January | Successful | |||
25 January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
IAI/IDF | Suborbital | Missile test target | 25 January | Successful | |||
DST-5 target, successfully intercepted | |||||||
25 January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
IAI/IDF | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 January | Successful | |||
DST-5 interceptor | |||||||
27 January 13:45:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Virginia Tech | Suborbital | Thermosphere research | 27 January | Successful | ||
Apogee: 283 kilometres (176 mi). [152] | |||||||
29 January | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
AFIRI | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 January | Launch failure | |||
The missile flew about 600 miles before exploding. Test of a reentry vehicle failed. [153] | |||||||
4 February 8:30:00 | ![]() | SFTM-01 | ![]() | ![]() | |||
![]() | MDA | Suborbital | ABM target | 4 February | Successful | ||
Ballistic missile target for interception [154] | |||||||
4 February ~8:30:00 | ![]() | SFTM-01 | ![]() | ![]() | |||
![]() | MDA | Suborbital | ABM test | 4 February | Successful | ||
Ballistic missile interceptor [154] | |||||||
9 February 7:38:59 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 9 February | Successful | |||
16 February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 February | Successful | |||
Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test 53 | |||||||
16 February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 February | Successful | |||
Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test 53 | |||||||
16 February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 February | Successful | |||
Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test 53 | |||||||
16 February | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 February | Successful | |||
Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test 53 | |||||||
22 February 10:14:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Dartmouth College | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 22 February | Successful | ||
[155] | |||||||
1 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Goddard Space Flight Center | Suborbital | Magnetosphere research | 1 March | Successful | ||
Apogee: 330 kilometres (210 mi). [156] | |||||||
1 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Goddard Space Flight Center | Suborbital | Magnetosphere research | 1 March | Successful | ||
Apogee: 190 kilometres (120 mi). [156] | |||||||
1 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Dartmouth College | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 1 March | Successful | ||
Apogee: 365 kilometres (227 mi). [156] | |||||||
17 March | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
ADD | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 March | Successful | |||
7 April 09:30 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() | ESA / SSC | Suborbital | Microgravity | 7 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: 678 kilometres (421 mi) [157] | |||||||
26 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 26 April | Successful | |||
27 April | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
Indian Army | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 350 kilometres (220 mi) | |||||||
3 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 3 May | Successful | |||
4 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
Indian Army/DRDO | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 May | Successful | |||
5 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Southwest Research Institute | Suborbital | Solar research | 5 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 296 kilometres (184 mi). [158] | |||||||
13 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ||||
![]() | DLR | Suborbital | Technology demonstration | 13 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 254 kilometres (158 mi) | |||||||
14 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Korean People's Army Strategic Force | Suborbital | Missile Test | 14 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 2,111 kilometres (1,312 mi) [160] [161] | |||||||
16 May | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Suborbital | Technology demonstration | 16 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 248 kilometres (154 mi). [162] | |||||||
30 May | ![]() | FTG-15 | ![]() | ![]() | |||
![]() | MDA | Suborbital | ABM target | 30 May | Successful | ||
Ballistic missile target for interception | |||||||
30 May | ![]() | FTG-15 | ![]() | ![]() | |||
![]() | MDA | Suborbital | ABM test | 30 May | Successful | ||
Ballistic missile interceptor | |||||||
14 June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Army | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 80 kilometres (50 mi)? | |||||||
22 June 9:20 | ![]() | SFTM-02 | ![]() | ![]() | |||
![]() | MDA | Suborbital | ABM target | 22 June | Successful | ||
Ballistic missile target for interception | |||||||
22 June ~9:20 | ![]() | SFTM-02 | ![]() | ![]() | |||
![]() | MDA | Suborbital | ABM test | 22 June | Failure | ||
Ballistic missile interceptor, failed to intercept the target [163] | |||||||
22 June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | University of Colorado | Suborbital | Student payloads | 22 June | Successful | ||
Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi). [164] | |||||||
23 June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
ADD | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 March | Successful | |||
26 June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 June | Successful | |||
27 June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | University of Colorado | Suborbital | UV Astronomy | 27 June | Successful | ||
29 June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 29 June | Successful | ||
Apogee: 190 kilometres (120 mi). [165] | |||||||
30 June | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() | DSTO / Boeing | Suborbital | Technology demonstration | 30 June | Successful | ||
Successful experimental hypersonic vehicle flight test, exceeded expectations in flight control performance. [166] | |||||||
3 July | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Korean People's Army Strategic Force | Suborbital | Missile Test | 3 July | Successful | ||
Apogee: 2,803 kilometres (1,742 mi) First confirmed North Korean ICBM test | |||||||
11 July | ![]() | FFT-18 | ![]() | ![]() | |||
![]() | MDA | Suborbital | ABM target | 11 July | Successful | ||
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), successfully intercepted | |||||||
11 July | ![]() | FFT-18 | ![]() | ![]() | |||
![]() | US Army/MDA | Suborbital | ABM test | 11 July | Successful | ||
Intercepted target missile, apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
23 July | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
PLA | Suborbital | ABM target | 23 July | Successful | |||
Target | |||||||
23 July | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
PLARF | Suborbital | ABM test | 23 July | Launch failure[ citation needed ] | |||
28 July | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Korean People's Army Strategic Force | Suborbital | Missile Test | 28 July | Successful | ||
Apogee: 3,700 kilometres (2,300 mi) | |||||||
29 July | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
Interstellar Technologies | Suborbital | Test flight | 29 July | Launch failure | |||
Communications were lost just over one minute into the flight, resulting in an early shutdown of the engine. [169] | |||||||
30 July | ![]() | FET-01 | ![]() | ![]() | |||
![]() | MDA | Suborbital | ABM target | 30 July | Successful | ||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), successfully intercepted | |||||||
30 July | ![]() | FET-01 | ![]() | ![]() | |||
![]() | US Army/MDA | Suborbital | ABM test | 30 July | Successful | ||
Intercepted target missile, apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
2 August 09:10 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 2 August | Successful | |||
13 August 09:30 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Suborbital | Student experiments | 13 August | Successful | ||
Apogee: 151 kilometres (94 mi). [170] | |||||||
23 August | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
PLARF | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 August | Successful | |||
29 August | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
Korean People's Army Strategic Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 550 kilometres (340 mi) [171] | |||||||
29 August | ![]() | FTM-27 E2 | ![]() | ![]() | |||
MDA | Suborbital | ABM target | 29 August | Successful | |||
FTM-27 E2 target, successfully intercepted by SM-6 missile in low altitude | |||||||
9 September 11:34 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 9 September | Successful | ||
Apogee: 409 kilometres (254 mi). [172] | |||||||
9 September 11:39 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 9 September | Partial failure [172] | ||
Useful data was not obtained. [172] | |||||||
12 September | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 September | Successful | |||
14 September | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
Korean People's Army Strategic Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 14 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 770 kilometres (480 mi) [173] | |||||||
17 September | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | SMC | Suborbital | ABM target | 17 September | Successful | ||
Ballistic missile target for interception | |||||||
17 September | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
SMC | Suborbital | ABM test | 17 September | Successful | |||
Ballistic missile interceptor | |||||||
20 September | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 20 September | Successful | |||
22 September | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
AFIRI | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 September | Successful | |||
25 September | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
DOD | Suborbital | Radar-Target | 25 September | Successful | |||
Radar-Target, apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)? | |||||||
26 September | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 September | Successful | |||
4 October 11:45 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Suborbital | Technology demonstration | 4 October | Successful | ||
Tested Mars 2020's parachute | |||||||
15 October | ![]() | FS-17 E4 | ![]() | ![]() | |||
DOD | Suborbital | ABM target | 15 October | Successful | |||
SM-3 Target, apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)? | |||||||
15 October | ![]() | FS-17 E4 | ![]() | ![]() | |||
US Navy | Suborbital | ABM test | 15 October | Successful | |||
Second Aegis-Test in the North Atlantic, successful intercept, apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)? | |||||||
26 October | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 October | Successful | |||
26 October | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 October | Successful | |||
26 October | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 October | Successful | |||
26 October | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 October | Successful | |||
30 October | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Navy | Suborbital | Technology | 30 October | Successful | ||
Conventional Prompt Strike Flight Experiment-1, successful hypersonic glide vehicle test | |||||||
30 October 10:00 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Suborbital | Astronomy | 30 October | Partial failure | ||
Black Brant rocket performed flawlessly but science data was not obtained. [176] | |||||||
16 November | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
US Army | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 80 kilometres (50 mi)? | |||||||
4 December | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
IAI/IDF | Suborbital | Missile test target | 4 December | Launch failure | |||
Arrow-III interceptor launch was called off after launch failure of the target missile [178] | |||||||
12 December | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Blue Origin | Suborbital | Test flight | 12 December | Successful | ||
Flight test with new capsule [179] | |||||||
26 December 03:30 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 December | Successful |
Date (UTC) | Spacecraft | Event | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
2 February | Juno | 4th perijove of Jupiter | A decision was made to cancel a period reduction maneuver and remain in a 53-day orbit for the remainder of the mission over engine concerns. [180] |
27 March | Juno | 5th perijove | |
22 April [181] | Cassini | 127th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 979 kilometres (608 mi). |
19 May | Juno | 6th perijove | |
11 July | Juno | 7th perijove | |
1 September | Juno | 8th perijove | |
15 September | Cassini | End of mission | Intentional destructive entry into Saturn's atmosphere |
23 September | OSIRIS-REx | Flyby of Earth | Gravity assist to accelerate the probe towards its destination |
24 October | Juno | 9th perijove | |
16 December | Juno | 10th perijove |
Start date/time | Duration | End time | Spacecraft | Crew | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 January 12:23 | 6 hours 31 minutes | 18:54 | Expedition 50 ISS Quest | The crew completed the installation of new batteries on the station's power channel 3A, and then executed a series of tasks to get ahead for the next EVA. Kimbrough collected photos of the AMS-02, then they removed a broken light on the S3 truss and routed Ethernet cables on the Z1 truss. | |
13 January 11:22 | 5 hours 58 minutes | 17:20 | Expedition 50 ISS Quest | The crew completed the installation of new batteries on the station's power channel 1A, and then executed a series of get ahead tasks. First they installed a new camera on the Mobile Transporter Relay Assembly, then Pesquet replaced a Worksite Interface Adapter on Canadarm-2 and collected photos of Z1 truss and S0 truss, meanwhile Kimbrough removed 2 handrails from the Destiny module. Then they picked up a bundle of covers and brought them to the Tranquillity module where will be installed when Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 will be moved from Node 3 to Node 2. When removed, the PMA's Common Berthing Mechanism will be covered up to protect it from the space environment. | |
24 March 11:24 | 6 hours 34 minutes | 17:58 | Expedition 50 ISS Quest | Kimbrough replaced the External Control Zone 2 (EXT-2) multiplexer–demultiplexer (MDM) with an upgraded "EPIC MDM" and prepared PMA-3 for its robotic relocation on Sunday. Pesquet inspected the Radiator Beam Valve Module for ammonia leaks, then lubricated one of the Latching End Effectors of Dextre. Kimbrough then replaced a pair of cameras on the Kibo module, and a light on one of the CETA carts. | |
30 March 11:29 | 7 hours 4 minutes | 18:33 | Expedition 50 ISS Quest | Kimbrough replaced the External Control Zone 1 (EXT-1) multiplexer–demultiplexer (MDM) with an upgraded "EPIC MDM" while Whitson connected heater power and heater feedback telemetry to enable PMA-3 to be repressurized, then released a series of straps to free up a cover that protected the APAS. The astronauts then installed axial shields on PMA-3's former location on Tranquillity module and installed covers on PMA-3. One of the shields was lost but the others were installed successfully. [182] | |
12 May 13:01 [183] | 4 hours 13 minutes | 17:21 | Expedition 51 ISS Quest |
| |
23 May 11:20 [184] | 2 hours 46 minutes | 14:06 | Expedition 51 ISS Quest | Throughout this hurriedly planned "contingency" spacewalk, both Fischer and Whitson successfully replaced a failed multiplexer–demultiplexer (MDM), and installed a pair of antennas on station to enhance wireless communication for future spacewalks. [185] | |
17 August 14:36 [186] | 7 hours 34 minutes | 22:10 | Expedition 52 ISS Pirs | ||
5 October 12:05 | 6 hours 55 minutes | 19:00 | Expedition 53 ISS Quest | ||
10 October 11:56 | 6 hours 26 minutes | 18:22 | Expedition 53 ISS Quest |
| |
20 October 11:47 | 6 hours 49 minutes | 18:36 | Expedition 53 ISS Quest |
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.
Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 18 | 16 | 1 | 1 | ||
![]() | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | ||
![]() | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | ||
![]() | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
![]() | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | ||
![]() | 20 | 18 | 1 | 1 | Includes two European Soyuz launches from Kourou, French Guiana by Arianespace. | |
![]() | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 Zenit launch from Baikonur by S7 Space | |
![]() | 30 | 29 | 1 | 0 | Includes one Electron launch failure from Mahia by Rocket Lab | |
Total | 91 | 83 | 6 | 2 |
Family | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antares | ![]() | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Ariane | ![]() | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas | ![]() | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Delta | ![]() | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Electron | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Falcon | ![]() | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | |
GSLV | ![]() | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
GSLV Mk III | ![]() | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | First orbital flight |
H-II | ![]() | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Kaituozhe | ![]() | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Kuaizhou | ![]() | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March | ![]() | 16 | 14 | 1 | 1 | |
Minotaur | ![]() | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
PSLV | ![]() | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
R-7 | ![]() | 15 | 13 | 1 | 1 | |
S-Series | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Simorgh | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | First orbital flight |
Universal Rocket | ![]() | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
Vega | ![]() | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Zenit | ![]() | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Rocket | Country | Family | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antares 200 | ![]() | Antares | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Ariane 5 | ![]() | Ariane | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas V | ![]() | Atlas | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Delta II | ![]() | Delta | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Delta IV | ![]() | Delta | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Electron | ![]() | Electron | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Falcon 9 | ![]() | Falcon | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | |
GSLV | ![]() | GSLV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
GSLV Mk III | ![]() | GSLV Mk III | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | First orbital flight |
Kaituozhe-2 | ![]() | Kaituozhe | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Kuaizhou 1 | ![]() | Kuaizhou | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Minotaur IV | ![]() | Minotaur | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Minotaur-C | ![]() | Minotaur | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
H-IIA | ![]() | H-II | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 2 | ![]() | Long March | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 3 | ![]() | Long March | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | |
Long March 4 | ![]() | Long March | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 5 | ![]() | Long March | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Long March 6 | ![]() | Long March | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 7 | ![]() | Long March | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
PSLV | ![]() | PSLV | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
Proton | ![]() | Universal Rocket | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
SS-520 | ![]() | S-Series | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Simorgh | ![]() | Simorgh | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | First orbital flight |
Soyuz | ![]() | R-7 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
Soyuz-2 | ![]() | R-7 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | |
UR-100 | ![]() | Universal Rocket | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Vega | ![]() | Vega | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Zenit-3 | ![]() | Zenit | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Rocket | Country | Type | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antares 230 | ![]() | Antares 200 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Ariane 5 ECA | ![]() | Ariane 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
Ariane 5 ES | ![]() | Ariane 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas V 401 | ![]() | Atlas V | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas V 421 | ![]() | Atlas V | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas V 541 | ![]() | Atlas V | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Delta II 7920 | ![]() | Delta II | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) | ![]() | Delta IV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Electron | ![]() | Electron | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Falcon 9 Full Thrust | ![]() | Falcon 9 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | |
Falcon 9 Block 4 | ![]() | Falcon 9 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
GSLV Mk II | ![]() | GSLV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
GSLV Mk III | ![]() | GSLV Mk III | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | First orbital flight |
H-IIA 202 | ![]() | H-IIA | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
H-IIA 204 | ![]() | H-IIA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Kaituozhe-2 | ![]() | Kaituozhe-2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Kuaizhou 1A | ![]() | Kuaizhou | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 2C | ![]() | Long March 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 2D | ![]() | Long March 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 3B/E | ![]() | Long March 3 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | |
Long March 4B | ![]() | Long March 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 4C | ![]() | Long March 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 5 | ![]() | Long March 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Long March 6 | ![]() | Long March 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 7 | ![]() | Long March 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Minotaur IV / Orion 38 | ![]() | Minotaur IV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Minotaur-C | ![]() | Minotaur-C | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Proton-M / Briz-M | ![]() | Proton | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
PSLV-XL | ![]() | PSLV | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
Rokot / Briz-KM | ![]() | UR-100 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
SS-520-4 | ![]() | S-Series | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Simorgh | ![]() | Simorgh | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | First orbital flight |
Soyuz-FG | ![]() | Soyuz | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
Soyuz-U | ![]() | Soyuz | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
Soyuz-2.1a or ST-A | ![]() | Soyuz-2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Soyuz 2.1a or ST-A / Fregat-M | ![]() | Soyuz-2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
Soyuz-2.1b or ST-B / Fregat-M | ![]() | Soyuz-2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
Soyuz-2.1b or ST-B / Fregat-MT | ![]() | Soyuz-2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Soyuz-2-1v / Volga | ![]() | Soyuz-2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Vega | ![]() | Vega | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Zenit-3F | ![]() | Zenit-3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Site | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baikonur | ![]() | 13 | 12 | 0 | 1 | |
Cape Canaveral | ![]() | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
Jiuquan | ![]() | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Kennedy | ![]() | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | |
Kourou | ![]() | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | |
Mahia | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | First launch |
MARS | ![]() | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Plesetsk | ![]() | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
Satish Dhawan | ![]() | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
Semnan | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Taiyuan | ![]() | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Tanegashima | ![]() | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Uchinoura | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Vandenberg | ![]() | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
Vostochny | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Wenchang | ![]() | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
Xichang | ![]() | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | |
Total | 91 | 83 | 6 | 2 |
Orbital regime | Launches | Achieved | Not achieved | Accidentally achieved | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Transatmospheric | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Low Earth | 52 | 48 | 4 | 0 | including 13 to ISS, 1 to Tiangong-2 |
Geosynchronous / transfer | 33 | 31 | 2 | 0 | |
Medium Earth | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | IRNSS-1H did not separate from rocket's second stage, and was stuck in an elliptical orbit with 6000 km apogee |
High Earth | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | including highly elliptical Tundra orbits |
Total | 91 | 85 | 6 | 1 |
The year 2007 contained several significant events in spaceflight, including a Chinese ASAT test, the launches of the US Phoenix and Dawn missions to study Mars and Asteroid belt respectively, Japan's Kaguya Lunar orbiter, and the first Chinese Lunar probe, Chang'e 1.
This article outlines notable events occurring in 2002 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.
This comparison of orbital launch systems lists the attributes of all current and future individual rocket configurations designed to reach orbit. A first list contains rockets that are operational or have attempted an orbital flight attempt as of 2024; a second list includes all upcoming rockets. For the simple list of all conventional launcher families, see: Comparison of orbital launchers families. For the list of predominantly solid-fueled orbital launch systems, see: Comparison of solid-fueled orbital launch systems.
The year 2012 saw a number of significant events in spaceflight. In May and October, the first Commercial Orbital Transportation Services resupply missions took place, during which the SpaceX Dragon became the first private spacecraft to dock with the International Space Station (ISS). In June, China launched the crewed Shenzhou 9 orbital mission, and North Korea achieved its first successful orbital launch in December. 2012 also saw China's first successful asteroid exploration mission, and the landing of NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars. The Vega and Unha-3 rockets made their maiden flights in 2012, while the Proton-K made its last.
In 2015, the maiden spaceflights of the Chinese Long March 6 and Long March 11 launch vehicles took place.
In 2014, the maiden flight of the Angara A5, Antares 120 and Antares 130 took place.
Several new rockets and spaceports began operations in 2016.
In 2013, the maiden spaceflight of the Orbital Sciences' Antares launch vehicle, designated A-ONE, took place on 13 April. Orbital Science also launched its first spacecraft, Cygnus, that docked with the International Space Station in late September 2013.
This article compares different orbital launcher families. The article is organized into two tables: the first contains a list of currently active and under-development launcher families, while the second contains a list of retired launcher families.
This article documents notable spaceflight events during the year 2019.
This article documents notable spaceflight events during the year 2018. For the first time since 1990, more than 100 orbital launches were performed globally.
This article documents notable spaceflight events during the year 2020.
Notes
Citations
Previously scheduled for a December 2016 launch on SpaceX-12, NICER will now fly to the International Space Station with two other payloads on SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)-11, in the Dragon vehicle's unpressurized Trunk.
Intelsat, one of the world's largest geostationary satellite operators alongside SES, has one launch reserved on a newly-built Falcon 9 rocket in the first quarter of 2017, when the Intelsat 35e satellite will launch from Cape Canaveral.