Orbital launches | |
---|---|
First | 10 January |
Last | 27 December |
Total | 102 |
Successes | 97 |
Failures | 5 |
Catalogued | 97 |
National firsts | |
Spaceflight |
|
Satellite | |
Space traveller | |
Rockets | |
Maiden flights |
|
Retirements | |
Crewed flights | |
Orbital | 3 |
Suborbital | 1 (private) |
Total travellers | 12 (3 suborbital) |
EVAs | 11 |
This article documents notable spaceflight events during the year 2019.
The Russian-German X-ray observing satellite Spektr-RG was launched on 13 July.
The Chinese probe Chang'e 4 made humanity's first soft landing on the far side of the Moon on 3 January and released its Yutu 2 rover to explore the lunar surface on the far side for the first time in human history.
Israel's SpaceIL, one of the participants in the expired Google Lunar X Prize, [1] launched the first private mission to the Moon in February. The Beresheet lander from SpaceIL made the landing attempt in April, but crashed onto the Moon. [2] India launched the delayed Chandrayaan-2 lunar orbiter/lander/rover in July; the orbiter reached lunar orbit in September, but the Vikram lander crashed onto the lunar surface. [3]
The probe New Horizons encountered the Kuiper belt object 486958 Arrokoth on 1 January. This is the farthest object from the Sun ever to have a close encounter with a spacecraft. [4] The Japanese asteroid exploration mission Hayabusa2 made a second touchdown with 162173 Ryugu to collect samples, [5] and departed for Earth on 12 November. [6] NASA declared the Mars rover Opportunity's mission over on 13 February. [7] The InSight lander observed the first recorded Marsquake in April. [8]
The first Commercial Crew Development test missions flew this year, aiming to restore United States human spaceflight capability following Space Shuttle retirement in 2011. In an uncrewed test flight, SpaceX SpaceX Dragon 2 successfully flew on a Falcon 9 to the International Space Station on 3 March 2019; the crewed mission was delayed when the recovered capsule exploded during testing on 20 April. [9] Boeing's CST-100 Starliner launched a similar uncrewed test flight on an Atlas V on 20 December, but an anomaly during launch meant that it could not reach the ISS and had to land only 2 days later. [10]
At the beginning of the year, around 100 small satellite launchers were in active use, in development, or were recently cancelled or stalled. [11] Three Chinese manufacturers launched their first orbital rocket in 2019: The maiden flight of OS-M1 in March failed to reach orbit, [12] the maiden flights of Hyperbola-1 in July [13] and of Jielong 1 in August [14] were successful. The PSLV-DL and PSLV-QL variants of the Indian PSLV first flew in January and April respectively.
SpaceX began testing of the SpaceX Starship in 2019, with an uncrewed prototype "Starhopper" flying 150m in the air in a suborbital test flight on 27 August. [15] The heavy-lift Long March 5 made its return to flight in December, more than two years after the July 2017 launch failure that grounded the vehicle and forced an engine redesign. [16]
The "single stick" Delta IV was retired in August, [17] and the analog-controlled Soyuz-FG was retired in September. [18] Due to Ukraine banning control system exports to Russia, Rokot was retired after a final flight in December. [19]
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | |||
Remarks | ||||||||
January | ||||||||
10 January 17:05 [20] | Long March 3B/E | 3B-Y56 [21] | Xichang LC-2 | CASC | ||||
Chinasat 2D | CNSA | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
11 January 15:31 [22] | Falcon 9 Block 5 | F9-067 | Vandenberg SLC-4E | SpaceX | ||||
Iridium NEXT 66–75 | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
15 January [23] [24] | Simorgh | Semnan LP-2 | ISA | |||||
Payam-e Amirkabir / AUTSAT 1 [25] | Amirkabir University of Technology | Low Earth | Earth observation | 15 January | Launch failure | |||
Third stage malfunctioned, satellite failed to reach orbit. [23] | ||||||||
18 January 00:50:20 [26] | Epsilon | Epsilon-4 [27] | Uchinoura | JAXA | ||||
RAPIS-1 | JAXA | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Successful | |||
ALE-1 / ALE-DOM | Astro Live Experiences | Low Earth (SSO) | Artificial meteor shower | ALE-1: In orbit [30] ALE-DOM: 3 August 2022 [31] | Payload failure [32] | |||
Hodoyoshi-2 (RISESAT) | Tohoku University | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 14 March 2023 [34] | Successful | |||
MicroDragon [35] | VNSC | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ / AOBA-VELOX 4 | Nanyang Technological University, Kyutech | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 24 March 2023 [37] | Successful | |||
⚀ NEXUS | Nihon University | Low Earth (SSO) | Amateur radio | 9 November 2023 [39] | Successful | |||
⚀ OrigamiSat-1 | Tokyo Institute of Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 30 April 2022 [41] | Successful | |||
Launch of the Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-1 mission. | ||||||||
19 January 19:05 [42] | Delta IV Heavy | D-382 | Vandenberg SLC-6 | ULA | ||||
KH-11 17 (USA-290) | NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
NROL-71 mission. | ||||||||
21 January 05:42 [43] | Long March 11 | Y6 [44] | Jiuquan LS-95A | CASC | ||||
Jilin-1 Hyperspectral-01 (Jilin Lincao 1) [46] | Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Jilin-1 Hyperspectral-02 (Wenchang Chaosun 1) | Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Xiaoxiang 1-03 [49] | Tianyi Research Institute | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 14 June 2022 [50] | Successful | |||
⚀ Lingque 1A [53] | Beijing ZeroG Technology | Low Earth | Earth observation | 14 June 2022 [54] | Successful | |||
24 January 18:07 [55] | PSLV-DL | C44 [56] | Satish Dhawan FLP | ISRO | ||||
Microsat-R | DRDO | Low Earth | Earth observation ASAT target | 27 March | Destroyed [57] | |||
⚀ Kalamsat [56] | Space Kidz India [59] | Low Earth | HAM Radio [59] | 22 December 2023 [60] | Successful | |||
Maiden flight of PSLV-DL. Microsat-R served as target for Indian ASAT experiment on 27 March 2019. | ||||||||
February | ||||||||
5 February [61] [62] | Safir-1B [63] | Semnan LP-1 | ISA | |||||
Dousti | Sharif University of Technology | Low Earth | Communications, Remote sensing | 5 February | Launch failure [64] [65] | |||
5 February 21:01 [66] | Ariane 5 ECA | VA247 | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
Hellas Sat 4 / SaudiGeoSat-1 | Hellas-Sat / ArabSat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
GSAT-31 [67] | ISRO | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
21 February 16:47 [68] | Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat-M | Baikonur Site 31/6 | Roscosmos | |||||
EgyptSat A | NARSS | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Third stage anomaly but achieved orbit in contingency mode | ||||||||
22 February 01:45 [69] | Falcon 9 Block 5 | F9-068 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
Nusantara Satu | PSN | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Beresheet [70] [71] | SpaceIL | Moon transfer | Lunar lander | 11 April | Landing failure | |||
S5 [73] | AFRL | Geosynchronous | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
Beresheet raised its orbit towards the Moon from a supersynchronous transfer orbit with 60,000 km apogee. [74] | ||||||||
27 February 21:37 [75] | Soyuz ST-B / Fregat-M | VS21 | Kourou ELS | Arianespace | ||||
OneWeb × 6 | OneWeb | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational [76] | |||
First flight for OneWeb satellite constellation. Kourou flight 1. | ||||||||
March | ||||||||
2 March 07:49:03 [77] | Falcon 9 Block 5 | F9-069 | Kennedy LC-39A | SpaceX | ||||
SpX-DM1 | SpaceX / NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | Flight test / ISS logistics | 8 March | Successful | |||
Crew Dragon Demo 1: Test of the SpaceX Dragon 2 as part of Commercial Crew Development program. | ||||||||
9 March 17:28 [78] | Long March 3B/E | 3B-Y54 [21] | Xichang LC-2 | CASC | ||||
Chinasat 6C (Zhongxing 6C) [79] | China Satcom | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
300th launch of the Long March rocket family. [80] | ||||||||
14 March 19:14:09 [81] | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roscosmos | |||||
Soyuz MS-12 / 58S | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 59/60 | 3 October 10:59 | Successful | |||
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts. | ||||||||
16 March 00:26 [82] | Delta IV M+(5,4) | D-383 | Cape Canaveral SLC-37B | ULA | ||||
WGS-10 (USA-291) | U.S. Air Force | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Last flight of Delta IV M+ (5,4) variant [83] | ||||||||
22 March 01:50:35 [84] | Vega | VV14 | Kourou ELV | Arianespace | ||||
PRISMA | Italian Space Agency | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
600th satellite orbited by Arianespace [84] | ||||||||
27 March 09:39 [85] | OS-M1 | Jiuquan LS-95B | OneSpace | |||||
Lingque 1B | Beijing ZeroG Technology | Low Earth | Earth observation | 27 March | Launch failure | |||
Maiden flight of OS-M1 rocket. | ||||||||
28 March 23:27 [86] | Electron | "Two Thumbs Up" | Mahia LC-1A | Rocket Lab | ||||
R3D2 [88] | DARPA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 23 May 2021 10:00 [89] | Successful | |||
31 March 15:50 [90] | Long March 3B/E | 3B-Y44 [91] | Xichang LC-2 | CASC | ||||
Tianlian 2-01 | CNSA | Geosynchronous | Communications (tracking and relay) | In orbit | Operational | |||
April | ||||||||
1 April 03:57 [92] | PSLV-QL | C45 [56] | Satish Dhawan SLP | ISRO | ||||
EMISAT | ISRO | Low Earth | ELINT [93] | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Aistechsat-3 | GomSpace | Low Earth | Communications, Traffic monitoring | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Astrocast 0.2 | Astrocast SA | Low Earth | Communications | 19 November 2023 [95] | Successful | |||
⚀ BlueWalker 1 [98] | AST & Science | Low Earth | Test flight | 29 November 2023 [99] | Successful | |||
⚀ Flock-4a × 20 [103] | Planet Labs | Low Earth | Earth observation | First: 14 March 2023 [104] Last: 8 August 2023 [105] | Successful | |||
⚀ Lemur-2 × 4 | Spire Global | Low Earth | Earth observation | First: 7 March 2023 [108] Last: 30 June 2023 [109] | Successful | |||
⚀ M6P | SpaceWorks Orbital / Lacuna Space | Low Earth | Communications | 20 July 2023 [111] | Successful | |||
Maiden flight of PSLV-QL | ||||||||
4 April 11:01:35 [112] | Soyuz-2.1a | Baikonur Site 31/6 | Roscosmos | |||||
Progress MS-11 / 72P | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 29 July | Successful | |||
4 April 17:03 [113] | Soyuz ST-B / Fregat-MT | VS22 | Kourou ELS | Arianespace | ||||
O3b × 4 (FM17–FM20) | SES S.A. | Medium Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
11 April 22:35 [114] | Falcon Heavy | FH-002 | Kennedy LC-39A | SpaceX | ||||
Arabsat-6A [115] | ArabSat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
17 April 20:46 [116] | Antares 230 | MARS LP-0A | Northrop Grumman | |||||
Cygnus NG-11 S.S. Roger Chaffee | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 6 December | Successful | |||
⚀ AeroCube-10 × 2 | The Aerospace Corporation | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 10A: 4 May 2023 [119] 10B: 15 May 2023 [120] | Successful | |||
⚀ EntrySat | ISAE-SUPAERO / ONERA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 10 August 2021 [122] | Successful | |||
⚀ IOD-1 GEMS [124] | Orbital Micro Systems | Low Earth | Technology demonstration / Meteorology | 3 April 2021 14:11 [125] | Successful | |||
⚀ KRAKsat | AGH University of Science and Technology / Jagiellonian University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 17 January 2022 [127] | Spacecraft failure [128] | |||
⚀ NepaliSat-1 | KyuTech / NAST | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 4 October 2021 [130] | Successful | |||
⚀ Quantum-Radar 3 [133] | SEOPS | Low Earth | Satellite laser ranging | 7 March 2023 [134] | Successful | |||
⚀ Raavana 1 | ACCIMT | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 3 October 2021 [136] | Successful | |||
⚀ SASSI2 | University of Illinois / Purdue University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration / Education | 28 April [137] | Spacecraft failure [138] | |||
⚀ Seeker | NASA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Successful | |||
⚀ SpooQy-1 | NUS / SSTA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 16 October 2021 [140] | Successful [141] | |||
⚀ Swiatowid | SatRevolution | Low Earth | Technology demonstration / Earth observation | 14 March 2021 [143] | Successful | |||
⚀ ThinSat × 60 | Virginia Space | Low Earth | Technology demonstration / Education | 28 April [137] | Successful (49/60 ThinSats) [144] | |||
⚀ Uguisu | KyuTech | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 7 October 2021 [146] | Successful | |||
⚀ VCC A (Aeternitas) | Virginia Space Grant Consortium | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 18 October 2021 [148] | Spacecraft failure | |||
⚀ VCC B (Libertas) | Virginia Space Grant Consortium | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 13 October 2021 [150] | Spacecraft failure | |||
⚀ VCC C (Ceres) | Virginia Space Grant Consortium | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 15 May 2021 [152] | Spacecraft failure | |||
SASSI2 and the 60 ThinSats were secondary payloads carried aboard the Antares upper stage booster. [153] EntrySat, IOD-1, KRAKsat, Swiatowid, Virginia CubeSat Constellation (VCC), Uguisu, Raavana 1, NepaliSat-1, and SpooQy-1 were carried in Cygnus and later deployed from the ISS. The AeroCubes and Seeker were carried in the unpressurized compartment of Cygnus, and deployed from Cygnus after its departure from the ISS. Uguisu, Raavana 1, NepaliSat-1, and SpooQy-1 were deployed into orbit from the ISS on 17 June 2019. IOD-1 GEMS, KRAKsat, Swiatowid, EntrySat, and three VCC satellites were deployed into orbit on 3 July 2019. NepaliSat-1 is the first Nepalese satellite and Raavana 1 is the first Sri Lankan satellite. On the departure of Cygnus NG-11 from the ISS, SlingShot Deployer—carrying Quantum Radar, NARSSCube-2, RFTSat, and ORCA—was placed on its hatch bulkhead. [154] Those CubeSats and also AeroCube-10 were deployed into orbit from Cygnus on 7 August 2019. [155] The VCC satellites were unresponsive to attempts to contact them following their deployment. [156] [157] | ||||||||
20 April 14:41 [158] | Long March 3B/E | 3B-Y59 [21] | Xichang LC-3 | CASC | ||||
BeiDou-3 I1Q (Beidou-44) | CNSA | IGSO | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
29 April 22:52 [159] | Long March 4B | 4B-Y36 [160] | Taiyuan LC-9 | CASC | ||||
Tianhui 2-01A | CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Tianhui 2-01B | CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
May | ||||||||
4 May 06:48 [161] | Falcon 9 Block 5 | F9-070 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
SpaceX CRS-17 | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 3 June | Successful | |||
Red-Eye 1 (Pinot) [164] | DARPA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 24 July 2022 [165] | Successful | |||
Red-Eye 1 was carried in CRS-17, and deployed into orbit from the ISS on 27 June 2019. [166] | ||||||||
5 May 06:00 [167] | Electron | "That's a Funny Looking Cactus" | Mahia LC-1A | Rocket Lab | ||||
Harbinger (ICEYE X3) | U.S. Air Force | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Falcon ODE | U.S. Air Force | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ SPARC-1 | U.S. Air Force | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 26 June 2023 [169] | Successful | |||
17 May 15:48 [170] | Long March 3C/E | 3C-Y16 [21] | Xichang LC-2 | CASC | ||||
BeiDou-2 G8 (Beidou-45) | CNSA | Geosynchronous | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
22 May 00:00 [171] | PSLV-CA | C46 [56] | Satish Dhawan FLP | ISRO | ||||
RISAT-2B | ISRO | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation (radar) | In orbit | Operational | |||
22 May 22:49 [172] | Long March 4C | 4C-Y23 [173] | Taiyuan LC-9 | CASC | ||||
Yaogan 33 | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | 22 May | Launch failure | |||
24 May 02:30 [174] | Falcon 9 Block 5 | F9-071 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
Starlink × 60 | SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | First: 20 February 2020 Last: 24 October 2022 [176] | Successful | |||
Starlink test mission, launching 60 Starlink v0.9 experimental satellites. | ||||||||
27 May 06:23 [177] | Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat-M | Plesetsk Site 43/4 | RVSN RF | |||||
GLONASS-M 758 | VKS | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
30 May 17:42 [178] | Proton-M / Briz-M P4 | Baikonur Site 200/39 | Roscosmos | |||||
Yamal-601 | Gazprom Space Systems | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
June | ||||||||
5 June 04:06 [179] | Long March 11H | Yellow Sea Launch Platform [180] | CASC | |||||
Bufeng-1A | CAST | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Bufeng-1B | CAST | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Jilin-1 Gaofen-03A | Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Tianxiang-1A | CETC | Low Earth | Technology demonstration Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Tianxiang-1B | CETC | Low Earth | Technology demonstration Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Tianqi-3 (Tao Xingzhi) [181] | Guodian Gaoke | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Xiaoxiang 1-04 | Tianyi Research Institute | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
China's first sea launch in the Yellow Sea off Shandong. | ||||||||
12 June 14:17 [182] | Falcon 9 Block 5 | F9-072 | Vandenberg SLC-4E | SpaceX | ||||
RADARSAT Constellation × 3 [183] [185] | Canadian Space Agency | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
20 June 21:43 [186] | Ariane 5 ECA | VA248 | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
Eutelsat 7C [188] | Eutelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
AT&T T-16 | DirecTV | Geosynchronous | Satellite television | In orbit | Operational | |||
24 June 18:09 [189] | Long March 3B/E | 3B-Y60 [21] | Xichang LC-3 | CASC | ||||
BeiDou-3 I2Q (Beidou-46) [191] | CNSA | IGSO | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
25 June 06:30 [192] | Falcon Heavy | FH-003 | Kennedy LC-39A | SpaceX | ||||
STP-2 | U.S. Air Force | Low Earth, Medium Earth [193] | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
DSX | AFRL | Medium Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Successful [194] | |||
COSMIC-2 × 6 | NOAA / NSPO | Low Earth | Atmospheric | In orbit | Operational | |||
GPIM | NASA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 14 October 2020 [196] | Successful | |||
NPSAT1 | NRL | Low Earth | Atmospheric | In orbit | Operational | |||
Oculus-ASR | Michigan Technological University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 23 February 2023 [198] | Successful | |||
OTB | General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
Prox-1 | Georgia Institute of Technology | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ARMADILLO | UT Austin | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 23 August 2022 [200] | Successful | |||
⚀ BRICSat-2 | United States Naval Academy | Low Earth | Technology demonstration / Amateur radio | 20 April 2022 [202] | Successful [203] [204] | |||
⚀ E-TBEx A | NASA | Low Earth | Atmospheric | 9 March 2021 [206] | Successful | |||
⚀ E-TBEx B | NASA | Low Earth | Atmospheric | 22 February 2021 [208] | Successful | |||
⚀ FalconSAT-7 | USAFA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 2 July 2021 [210] | Spacecraft failure [211] | |||
⚀ LEO | Cal Poly | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 28 October 2021 [213] | Successful | |||
⚀ LightSail 2 | The Planetary Society | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 17 November 2022 [215] | Successful | |||
⚀ PSAT2 | United States Naval Academy | Low Earth | Amateur radio | 15 February 2023 [217] | Successful | |||
⚀ StangSat | Merritt Island High School | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ TEPCE × 2 | NRL | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 1 February 2020 [219] | Successful | |||
STP-2 carries multiple cubesats and other small payloads for NASA, NOAA, The Planetary Society and others in addition to the primary mission which consists of multiple U.S. Air Force payloads. | ||||||||
29 June 04:30 [220] | Electron | "Make It Rain" | Mahia LC-1A | Rocket Lab | ||||
BlackSky Global 3 [221] | BlackSky Global | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ACRUX-1 | Melbourne Space Program | Low Earth | Education | 17 June 2022 [223] | Successful | |||
⚀ Painani 1 [226] | SEDENA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 14 January 2023 [227] | Successful | |||
⚀ Prometheus 2-7 | USSOCOM | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 20 May 2022 [229] | Successful | |||
⚀ Prometheus 2-9 | USSOCOM | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 6 June 2022 [231] | Successful | |||
⚀ SpaceBEE 8 | Swarm Technologies | Low Earth | Communications | 26 April 2021 [233] | Successful | |||
⚀ SpaceBEE 9 | Swarm Technologies | Low Earth | Communications | 16 December 2021 [235] | Successful | |||
July | ||||||||
5 July 05:41 [236] | Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat-M | Vostochny Site 1S | Roscosmos | |||||
Meteor-M №2-2 | Roscosmos | Low Earth (SSO) | Meteorology | In orbit | Operational [237] | |||
CarboNIX | Exolaunch | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
DoT-1 | SSTL | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
ICEYE X4 | ICEYE | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
ICEYE X5 | ICEYE | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ AmurSat | Amur State University | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ BeeSat × 4 (10-13) | Technische Universität Berlin | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ BeeSat 9 | Technische Universität Berlin | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ D-Star One EXOCONNECT | German Orbital Systems | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational [237] | |||
⚀ D-Star One LightSat | German Orbital Systems | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ El Camino Real [239] | Momentus Space | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Spacecraft failure [240] | |||
⚀ JAISAT 1 | RAST | Low Earth (SSO) | Amateur radio | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Lemur-2 × 8 | Spire Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation SIGINT | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Lucky-7 | SkyFox Labs | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ MOVE-2b [242] | TUM | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational [237] | |||
⚀ MTCube (ROBUSTA 1C) | University of Montpellier | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ NSLSat 1 | NSLComm | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ SEAM 2.0 | KTH / AAC Clyde Space / GomSpace / Kayser Italia | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ SONATE | University of Würzburg | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Sokrat | Moscow State University | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ TTÜ101 | Tallinn University of Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ UTE-Ecuador | Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ VDNH-80 | Moscow State University / VDNKh | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
10 July 17:14 [243] [244] [245] | Soyuz-2-1v / Volga | Plesetsk Site 43/4 | RVSN RF | |||||
Kosmos 2535 | VKS | Low Earth | Satellite inspection | In orbit | Operational [246] | |||
Kosmos 2536 | VKS | Low Earth | Satellite inspection | In orbit | Operational | |||
Kosmos 2537 | VKS | Low Earth | Radar calibration | 7 October 2023 [248] | Successful | |||
Kosmos 2538 | VKS | Low Earth | Radar calibration | In orbit | Operational | |||
11 July 01:53:03 [249] | Vega | VV15 | Kourou ELV | Arianespace | ||||
Falcon Eye 1 (fr) [250] | UAE Armed Forces | Low Earth | IMINT (Reconnaissance) | 11 July | Launch failure | |||
Possibly an ignition failure of the second stage. [249] Later investigation findings showed the failure mostly traced into a structural failure on the second stage's forward dome resulting from higher temperatures. [251] | ||||||||
13 July 12:30:57 [252] | Proton-M / DM-03 | Baikonur Site 81/24 | Roscosmos | |||||
Spektr-RG [254] | IKI RAN Max Planck Institute | Sun–Earth L2, halo orbit | X-ray astronomy | In orbit | Operational [255] | |||
Russian–German high-energy astrophysics space observatory. Launching to L2. | ||||||||
20 July 16:28:20 [256] | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roscosmos | |||||
Soyuz MS-13 / 59S | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 60/61 | 6 February 2020 | Successful | |||
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts. [257] | ||||||||
22 July 09:13 [258] | GSLV Mk III | M1 | Satish Dhawan SLP | ISRO | ||||
Chandrayaan-2 | ISRO | Selenocentric | Lunar orbiter | In orbit | Operational | |||
Vikram | ISRO | Selenocentric | Lunar lander | In orbit | Landing Failure | |||
Pragyan | ISRO | Selenocentric | Lunar rover | In orbit | Landing Failure | |||
Chandrayaan-2 Mission.The lander crashed on the lunar surface and broke into pieces during powered descent. The Orbiter remains operational. [259] | ||||||||
25 July 05:00 [260] | Hyperbola-1 | Jiuquan LS-95A | i-Space | |||||
⚀ CAS-7B [263] | CAMSAT | Low Earth | Amateur radio | 6 August [264] | Successful | |||
⚀ Demonstration payload [267] | CAMSAT | Low Earth | Technology demonstration, boilerplate | 26 July [268] | Successful | |||
Maiden flight of Hyperbola-1. [13] [269] | ||||||||
25 July 22:01:56 [270] | Falcon 9 Block 5 | F9-073 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
SpaceX CRS-18 | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 27 August | Successful | |||
⚀ RFTSat | Northwest Nazarene University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ NARSSCube-2 | NARSS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ORCA-1 | DARPA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
RFTSat, NARSSCube-2, and ORCA are carried in CRS-18 to ISS. [271] [272] They were placed in SlingShot Deployer on Cygnus NG-11 hatch bulkhead. [154] They were deployed into orbit by SlingShot Deployer on 7 August 2019 after the departure of Cygnus NG-11 from the ISS. The upper stage has introduced a Grey Band on this mission. | ||||||||
26 July 03:57 [273] | Long March 2C | 2C-Y37 [274] | Xichang LC-3 [274] | CASC | ||||
Yaogan 30-05 01 | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
Yaogan 30-05 02 | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
Yaogan 30-05 03 | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
Grid fins located on the interstage of the rocket are being used to test first stage landing zone control and recovery technologies. [275] [276] | ||||||||
30 July 05:56 [277] | Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat-M | Plesetsk Site 43/4 | RVSN RF | |||||
Meridian 8 (18L) | VKS | Molniya | Communications (military) | In orbit | Operational | |||
31 July 12:10:46 [278] | Soyuz-2.1a | Baikonur Site 31/6 | Roscosmos | |||||
Progress MS-12 / 73P | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 29 November | Successful | |||
August | ||||||||
5 August 21:56 [279] | Proton-M / Briz-M | Baikonur Site 81/24 | RVSN RF | |||||
Blagovest-14L | VKS | Geosynchronous | Communications (military) | In orbit | Operational | |||
Fourth Blagovest satellite launch, completing the initial Blagovest satellite constellation. [279] | ||||||||
6 August 19:30 [280] | Ariane 5 ECA | VA249 | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
EDRS-C [281] / HYLAS-3 | ESA / Avanti | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Intelsat 39 | Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
6 August 23:23 [282] | Falcon 9 Block 5 | F9-074 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
AMOS 17 [285] [286] | Spacecom | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
The launch was free of charge for Spacecom as compensation for AMOS-6's destruction on 1 September 2016. The booster, B1047, was expended. | ||||||||
8 August 10:13 [287] | Atlas V 551 | AV-084 | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 | ULA | ||||
USA-292 (AEHF-5) [288] | U.S. Air Force | Geosynchronous | Communications (military) | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ TDO-1 [287] | U.S. Air Force | Highly elliptical | Space debris tracking | 30 December 2022 [290] | Successful | |||
17 August 04:11 [14] | Jielong 1 | Jiuquan LS-95A | CALT | |||||
Tianqi-2 [291] | Guodian Gaoke | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
Qian Sheng-1 01 (QS1-01) [291] [294] [295] | Qian Sheng Exploration | Low Earth | Earth observation, communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Xingshidai-5 [297] | ADASpace [298] | Low Earth | Remote sensing | In orbit | Operational | |||
Maiden flight of Jielong 1 (also known as Smart Dragon 1). First launch for the Qian Sheng satellite constellation. | ||||||||
19 August 12:03 [299] | Long March 3B/E | 3B-Y58 [300] | Xichang LC-2 | CASC | ||||
Chinasat 18 [302] | China Satcom | Intended: Geosynchronous Actual: GTO | Communications | In orbit | Spacecraft failure | |||
Spacecraft apparently failed to deploy solar panels after stage separation. It remains inoperable in geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). [303] [304] The satellite has been declared as total loss by the Chinese government. | ||||||||
19 August 12:12 [305] | Electron | "Look Ma, No Hands" [306] | Mahia LC-1A | Rocket Lab | ||||
BlackSky Global 4 | BlackSky Global | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ BRO 1 [308] | UnseenLabs | Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Pearl White × 2 [310] | Air Force Space Command | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
22 August 03:38:31 [311] | Soyuz-2.1a | Baikonur Site 31/6 | Roscosmos | |||||
Soyuz MS-14 / 60S | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Test flight / ISS logistics | 6 September 21:32 [312] | Successful | |||
Uncrewed flight to certify Soyuz-2.1a for crew transport missions [313] [314] [315] with FEDOR (Skybot F-850) robot on board. First docking attempt on 24 August was aborted due to an issue on ISS, second attempt on 27 August was successful. Delivered Mini-EUSO telescope to ISS. | ||||||||
22 August 13:06 [316] | Delta IV M+ (4,2)U | D-384 | Cape Canaveral SLC-37B | ULA | ||||
GPS IIIA-02 Magellan | U.S. Air Force | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Last flight of the Delta IV "single stick" M+ series (Delta IV Heavy will continue flying). Named after Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. [317] | ||||||||
29 August (ground test) [318] | Safir-1B [319] | Semnan LP-1 | ISA | |||||
Nahid 1 [321] | Iranian Space Research Center | Low Earth | Communications | N/A | Rocket destroyed prior to launch [322] | |||
Rocket apparently exploded on the launch pad. [323] According to the Iranian Ministry of ICT, the Nahid 1 satellite had yet to be delivered to the launch site. [322] | ||||||||
30 August 14:00 [324] | Rokot / Briz-KM | Plesetsk Site 133/3 | RVSN RF | |||||
Geo-IK-2 No.3 (Musson-2) | VKS | Low Earth | Geodesy | In orbit | Operational | |||
30 August 23:41 [325] | Kuaizhou 1A | Y10 [326] | Jiuquan LS-95A | ExPace | ||||
Taiji-1 (KX-09) [329] [330] | CAS | Low Earth (SSO) | Microgravity science Gravitational-wave astronomy | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Xiaoxiang 1-07 [325] | Tianyi Research Institute | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
September | ||||||||
12 September 03:26 [331] | Long March 4B | 4B-Y39 [173] | Taiyuan LC-9 | CASC | ||||
Ziyuan I-02D | PLA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Ice Pathfinder (BNU-1) [333] | Beijing Normal University | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Taurus 1 (Jinniuzuo-1) | Shanghai Aerospace Science and Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
19 September 06:42 [334] | Long March 11 | Y8 [44] | Jiuquan LS-95A | CASC | ||||
Zhuhai-1 OHS 3A–3D [335] | Zhuhai Orbita Control Engineering | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Zhuhai-1 OVS 3A [336] | Zhuhai Orbita Control Engineering | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
22 September 21:10 [337] | Long March 3B / YZ-1 | 3B-Y65 [21] | Xichang LC-2 | CASC | ||||
BeiDou-3 M23 (Beidou-47) [338] | CNSA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
BeiDou-3 M24 (Beidou-48) [338] | CNSA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
24 September 16:05 [339] | H-IIB | Tanegashima LA-Y2 | MHI | |||||
HTV-8 | JAXA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 3 November 02:09 [340] | Successful | |||
⚀ NARSSCube-1 | NARSS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 20 December 2021 [342] | Successful | |||
⚀ AQT-D | University of Tokyo | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 20 April 2022 [344] | Successful | |||
⚀ RWASAT-1 | Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 27 April 2022 [346] | Successful | |||
The first launch attempt on 10 September, 21:33 UTC, was postponed due to a fire on the launch pad. NARSSCube-1, AQT-D, and RWASAT-1 were carried to ISS inside HTV-8 for later deployment into orbit from the ISS. RWASAT-1 was Rwanda's first satellite. [347] The satellites were deployed into orbit from the ISS on 20 November 2019. | ||||||||
25 September 00:54 [348] | Long March 2D | 2D-Y43 [274] | Jiuquan SLS-2 | CASC | ||||
Yunhai-1 02 | SAST | Low Earth (SSO) | Meteorology | In orbit | Spacecraft damaged; operational status uncertain | |||
Struck by a piece of space debris on 18 March 2021, eighteen months after launch. 37 associated pieces of debris have being tracked from the collision. The source of the debris was a piece of the Zenit-2 rocket that launched Tselina-2 in 1996. The satellite appears to have survived the encounter, though its operational status remains uncertain. [349] | ||||||||
25 September 13:57:43 [350] | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roscosmos | |||||
Soyuz MS-15 / 61S | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 61/62 | 17 April 2020 05:16 | Successful | |||
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts. Last flight of Soyuz-FG and last launch from Baikonur Site 1 ("Gagarin's Start"); replaced by Soyuz-2.1a launching from Site 31 for crewed missions starting with Soyuz MS-16 in April 2020. | ||||||||
26 September 07:46 [351] | Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat-M | Plesetsk Site 43/4 | RVSN RF | |||||
EKS-3 (Tundra 13L) [353] | VKS | Molniya | Early warning | In orbit | Operational | |||
October | ||||||||
4 October 18:51 [354] | Long March 4C | 4C-Y33 | Taiyuan LC-9 | CASC | ||||
Gaofen 10R | CAST | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Replacement for the Gaofen 10 satellite lost on 31 August 2016. | ||||||||
9 October 10:17 [355] | Proton-M / Briz-M P4 | Baikonur Site 200/39 | ILS | |||||
Eutelsat 5 West B | Eutelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
MEV-1 | Northrop Grumman | Geosynchronous | Satellite servicing | In orbit | Operational | |||
MEV-1 successfully rendezvoused with Intelsat 901 on 25 February 2020. [356] MEV-1 will extend Intelsat 901's operational life by five years through in-orbit station-keeping. [357] | ||||||||
11 October 02:00 [358] | Pegasus-XL | F44 | Stargazer , CCAFS Skid Strip | Northrop Grumman | ||||
ICON | NASA | Low Earth | Ionospheric research | In orbit | Operational | |||
17 October 01:22 [359] | Electron | "As The Crow Flies" [360] | Mahia LC-1A | Rocket Lab | ||||
⚀ Palisade [362] | Astro Digital | Low Earth (Polar) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
17 October 15:21 [363] | Long March 3B/E | 3B-Y57 | Xichang LC-3 | CASC | ||||
TJS-4 | CNSA | Geosynchronous | Communications SIGINT | In orbit | Operational | |||
November | ||||||||
2 November 13:59:47 [364] | Antares 230+ | MARS LP-0A | Northrop Grumman | |||||
Cygnus NG-12 S.S. Alan Bean | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 17 March 2020 23:00 | Successful | |||
STPSat 4 [367] | USAF STP | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 4 October 2022 [368] | Successful | |||
⚀ AeroCube 14 (IMPACT) × 2 [369] | NRO | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 14A: 4 February 2023 [372] 14B: 8 February 2023 [373] | Successful | |||
⚀ AeroCube 15 (Rogue) × 2 [369] | U.S. Air Force | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 15A: 7 February 2023 [376] 15B: 10 February 2023 [377] | Successful | |||
⚀ Argus-02 | Saint Louis University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 6 May 2022 [379] | Successful | |||
⚀ HARP [382] | UM | Low Earth | Technology demonstration Atmospheric research | 4 April 2022 [383] | Successful | |||
⚀ HuskySat-1 | University of Washington | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 12 Apr 2023 [385] | Successful | |||
⚀ Orbital Factory 2 [388] | University of Texas | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 20 March 2023 [389] | Successful | |||
⚀ Phoenix | Arizona State University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 12 June 2022 | Successful | |||
⚀ RadSat-u | Montana State University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 30 April 2022 [391] | Successful | |||
⚀ SOCRATES | University of Minnesota | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 2022 | Successful | |||
⚀ SwampSat II | University of Florida | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 19 October 2021 [393] | Successful | |||
First CRS-2 mission for Cygnus. The ELaNa 25A mission launched on this resupply flight. [394] STPSat-4 was deployed into orbit from ISS on 29 January 2020. [395] AeroCube 14 × 2, AeroCube 15 × 2, HuskySat-1, SwampSat-II, and Orbital Factory 2 were deployed into orbit from Cygnus NG-12 after it departed from the ISS. [396] [397] RadSat-U, Phoenix, SOCRATES, HARP, and Argus-02 were deployed into orbit from the ISS on 19 February 2020. [398] | ||||||||
3 November 03:22:39 [399] [400] | Long March 4B | 4B-Y38 | Taiyuan LC-9 | CASC | ||||
Gaofen 7 [402] | Ministry of Natural Resources | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Huangpu-1 (Jingzhi-1) [404] | SAST | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
Sudan Remote Sensing Satellite 1 (SRSS-1) | Sudan | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Xiaoxiang 1-08 / Tianyi 15 / Dianfeng | Tianyi Research Institute | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 25 April 2023 [406] | Successful | |||
Xiaoxiang 1-08 carries the first propulsion system in space using solid iodine as propellant (cold gas thruster) developed by a French start-up. [407] Test of grid fins towards development of reusable boosters for Long March 8. SRSS-1, Sudan's first satellite developed and built by Chinese satellite manufacturer, Shenzhen Aerospace Oriental Red Sea Satellite Co., was launched as a rideshare on this mission. [408] [409] | ||||||||
4 November 17:43 [410] | Long March 3B/E | 3B-Y61 [21] | Xichang LC-2 | CASC | ||||
BeiDou-3 I3Q | CNSA | IGSO | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
11 November 14:56 [411] | Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink V1.0-L1 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
Starlink × 60 | SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
First operational Starlink mission, launching the first 60 Starlink v1.0 satellites. The booster was flown for the 4th time. First launch of Starlink Group 1 Satellites. | ||||||||
13 November 03:40 [412] | Kuaizhou 1A | Y11 | Jiuquan LS-95A | ExPace | ||||
Jilin-1 Gaofen-02A [326] | Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
13 November 06:35 [413] [414] | Long March 6 | Y4 | Taiyuan LC-16 | CASC | ||||
Ningxia-1 (Zhongzi) × 5 [416] | Ningxia Jingui Information Technology | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
17 November 10:00 [417] | Kuaizhou 1A | Y7 [326] | Jiuquan LS-95A | ExPace | ||||
KL-Alpha A [418] | KLEO Connect | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
KL-Alpha B [418] | KLEO Connect | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
The two satellites are part of an international cooperative commercial project between the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and KLEO Connect. [419] [420] KL-Alpha A and B are the first commercial satellites built by a Chinese satellite construction organization for a foreign company. [421] | ||||||||
23 November 00:55 [422] | Long March 3B / YZ-1 | 3B-Y66 [423] | Xichang LC-3 | CASC | ||||
BeiDou-3 M21 | CNSA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
BeiDou-3 M22 | CNSA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
25 November 17:52 [245] | Soyuz-2-1v / Volga | Plesetsk Site 43/4 | RVSN RF | |||||
Kosmos 2542 | Ministry of Defence | Low Earth (SSO) | Satellite inspection [424] | 24 October 2023 10:07 [425] | Successful | |||
Kosmos 2543 | Ministry of Defence | Low Earth (SSO) | Satellite inspection [426] ASAT test | In orbit | Operational | |||
Kosmos 2542, the main satellite, deployed a small inspector sub-satellite, Kosmos 2543, on 6 December. [426] [427] Kosmos 2543 deployed an even smaller sub-satellite at a high velocity on 15 July 2020, an event that U.S. military officials characterized as a test of a space-based anti-satellite weapon. [428] | ||||||||
26 November 21:23 [429] | Ariane 5 ECA | VA250 | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
Inmarsat-5 F5 (GX5) [430] [431] | Inmarsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
TIBA 1 [433] | Egypt | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
27 November 03:58 [434] [435] | PSLV-XL | C47 [436] | Satish Dhawan SLP | ISRO | ||||
Cartosat-3 | ISRO | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Flock-4p × 12 [438] | Planet Labs | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Meshbed [441] | Analytical Space Inc. | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 2 May 2023 [442] | Successful | |||
27 November 23:52 [443] [444] | Long March 4C | 4C-Y24 | Taiyuan LC-9 | CASC | ||||
Gaofen 12 | Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
December | ||||||||
5 December 17:29 [445] | Falcon 9 Block 5 | F9-076 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
SpaceX CRS-19 | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 7 January 2020 | Successful | |||
⚀ AzTechSat-1 [447] | UPAEP / NASA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 10 December 2021 | Successful | |||
⚀ CIRiS [450] | USU | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 14 March 2023 [451] | Successful | |||
⚀ CryoCube 1 [453] | NASA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 23 November 2021 | Successful | |||
⚀ EdgeCube [456] | SSU | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 25 October 2022 [457] | Successful | |||
⚀ MakerSat-1 [461] [462] | NNU | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 29 October 2022 [463] | Successful | |||
⚀ MiniCarb (CNGB) [465] | LLNL / GSFC | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ORCA-2 [466] | DARPA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ORCA-8 [466] | DARPA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 8 August 2022 | Successful | |||
⚀ QARMAN [469] [470] | Von Karman Institute | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 6 February 2022 | Successful | |||
⚀ SORTIE [473] | ASTRA LLC | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 18 September 2022 [474] | Successful | |||
⚀ VPM [478] | AFRL | Low Earth | Magnetospheric research | 29 September 2022 [479] [480] | Successful | |||
The ELaNa 25B and 28 missions were launched on this resupply flight. [394] EdgeCube, CIRiS, MakerSat-1, VPM, ORCA-2, ORCA-8 and MiniCarb were deployed from Cygnus NG-12 after its departure from the ISS. [396] [481] AzTechSat-1, CryoCube 1, SORTIE, and QARMAN were deployed from the ISS on 19 February 2020. [398] | ||||||||
6 December 08:18 [482] | Electron | "Running Out Of Fingers" | Mahia LC-1A | Rocket Lab | ||||
ALE-2 | Astro Live Experiences | Low Earth (SSO) | Artificial meteor shower | In orbit | Spacecraft failure [483] | |||
▫ ATL 1 | BME | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 11 October 2020 [485] | Successful | |||
▫ FossaSat 1 | Fossa Systems | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 28 October 2020 | Successful | |||
▫ NOOR 1A (Unicorn 2B) [486] | Stara Space | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 29 December 2020 [488] | Successful | |||
▫ NOOR 1B (Unicorn 2C) [486] | Stara Space | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 7 April 2020 [490] | Successful [491] | |||
▫ SMOG-P | BME University | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 28 September 2020 [493] | Successful | |||
▫ TRSI Sat | ACME AtronOmatic | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 9 October 2020 [495] | Successful | |||
Launched ALE-2 and six PocketQubes forming Alba Cluster 2 for Alba Orbital. [496] Tested reusability technologies on the first stage following stage separation and reentry. [497] | ||||||||
6 December 09:34:11 [498] | Soyuz-2.1a | Baikonur Site 31/6 | Roscosmos | |||||
Progress MS-13 / 74P [500] | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 8 July 2020 | Successful | |||
7 December 02:55 [501] | Kuaizhou 1A | Y2 | Taiyuan Mobile Launch Platform | ExPace | ||||
Jilin-1 Gaofen-02B | Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
7 December 08:52 [501] | Kuaizhou 1A | Y12 | Taiyuan LC-16 | ExPace | ||||
HEAD-2A [502] | HEAD Aerospace | Low Earth (SSO) | AIS ship tracking | In orbit | Operational | |||
HEAD-2B [502] | HEAD Aerospace | Low Earth (SSO) | AIS ship tracking | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Tianqi-4A [181] | Guodian Gaoke | Low Earth (SSO) | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Tianqi-4B [181] | Guodian Gaoke | Low Earth (SSO) | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Tianyi 16 | Spacety Aerospace | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Tianyi 17 | Spacety Aerospace | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
11 December 08:54:48 [503] | Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat-M | Plesetsk Site 43/3 | RVSN RF | |||||
GLONASS-M 759 | VKS | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
11 December 09:55 [504] [505] | PSLV-QL | C48 | Satish Dhawan FLP | ISRO | ||||
RISAT-2BR1 [506] | ISRO | Low Earth | Earth observation Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
Izanagi (QPS-SAR 1) [508] | iQPS | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ 1HOPSAT TD [510] | Hera Systems | Low Earth | Earth observation Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Duchifat-3 [512] | Herzliya Science Center | Low Earth | Earth observation Education | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Lemur-2 × 4 | Spire Global | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ NANOVA / COMMTRAIL (Tyvak 92) [515] [516] | Elbit Systems | Low Earth | Search and rescue | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Pathfinder Risk Reduction (Tyvak 129) [518] | Tyvak | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
50th PSLV launch. | ||||||||
16 December 07:22 [519] | Long March 3B / YZ-1 | 3B-Y67 | Xichang LC-3 | CASC | ||||
BeiDou-3 M19 | CNSA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
BeiDou-3 M20 | CNSA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
17 December 00:10 [520] | Falcon 9 Block 5 | F9-077 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
JCSAT-18 / Kacific 1 [522] | JSAT / Kacific | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
18 December 08:54:20 [523] | Soyuz ST-A / Fregat-M | VS23 | Kourou ELS | Arianespace | ||||
CHEOPS [525] | ESA | Low Earth (SSO) | Space telescope Exoplanetary science | In orbit | Operational | |||
COSMO-SkyMed (CSG) 1 | ASI | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation (radar) | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ANGELS [527] | CNES | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ EyeSat [529] | CNES | Low Earth (SSO) | Astronomy | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ OPS-SAT | ESA | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
20 December 03:22:29 [530] [531] | Long March 4B | 4B-Y44 | Taiyuan LC-9 | CASC | ||||
CBERS 4A / Ziyuan I-04A [533] | CASC / INPE | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
ETRSS-1 [535] | ESSTI | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Gemini-1 01 (Yuheng) | NUDT | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
Gemini-1 02 (Shuntian) | NUDT | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
Tianqin 1 [537] | Sun Yat-sen University | Low Earth (SSO) | Gravitational-wave astronomy | In orbit | Operational | |||
Tianyan 01 / Yizheng-1 | Jiangsu Satellite Technology Services | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Weilai 1R / Future 1R [539] | China Central Television | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ FloripaSat-1 [541] | UFSC | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Tianyan 02 / Xingshidai-8 | ADASpace | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
ETRSS-1 is the first Ethiopian satellite, which was developed in collaboration between Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute and China Academy of Space Technology, with $6 million pledged by China to provide grant and training covering the satellite's $8 million development cost. [542] | ||||||||
20 December 11:36:43 [543] | Atlas V N22 | AV-080 | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 | ULA | ||||
Starliner Boe-OFT | Boeing / NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | Flight test / ISS logistics | 22 December 2019 12:58 | Spacecraft anomaly, recovered successfully | |||
Boeing Orbital Flight Test of CST-100 Starliner as part of Commercial Crew Development program. [544] Approach to ISS aborted after achieving orbit due to error in Mission-Elapsed Timer on the spacecraft, resulting in an anomalous orbital injection. [545] Spacecraft landed at White Sands Missile Range on 22 December 2019 after two days in space. [10] | ||||||||
24 December 12:03 [546] | Proton-M / DM-03 | Baikonur Site 81/24 | Roscosmos | |||||
Elektro-L No.3 | Roscosmos | Geosynchronous | Meteorology | In orbit | Operational | |||
26 December 23:11:57 [19] [547] | Rokot / Briz-KM | Plesetsk Site 133/3 | RVSN RF | |||||
Gonets-M 14 | Gonets Satellite System | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Gonets-M 15 | Gonets Satellite System | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Gonets-M 16 | Gonets Satellite System | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
BLITS-M | Roscosmos | Low Earth | Laser ranging | 10 April 2020 [549] | Payload separation failure | |||
Final flight of Rokot. BLITS-M failed to separate from the upper stage. [550] | ||||||||
27 December 12:45 [16] [551] | Long March 5 | Y3 [552] | Wenchang LC-1 | CASC | ||||
Shijian 20 | CAST | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Long March 5 return-to-flight mission following the July 2017 launch failure. |
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
4 January 09:27 | Black Brant XIIA | Andøya | NASA | ||||
CAPER-2 | Dartmouth College | Suborbital | Auroral research | 4 January | Successful | ||
Apogee: 774 kilometres (481 mi) | |||||||
13 January 09:13 | Terrier-Improved Malemute | Andøya | NASA | ||||
G-CHASER | University of Colorado | Suborbital | Student payloads | 13 January | Successful | ||
Apogee: 174 kilometres (108 mi) | |||||||
22 January | Silver Sparrow ? | F-15 Eagle, Israel | IAF | ||||
IAI/IDF | Suborbital | Missile test target | 22 January | Successful | |||
Arrow III target, successfully intercepted | |||||||
22 January | Arrow III | Negev | IAF | ||||
IAI/IDF | Suborbital | Flight test | 22 January | Successful | |||
Successful intercept, Apogee: ~200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
23 January 15:05 [553] | New Shepard | NS-10 | Corn Ranch | Blue Origin | |||
Crew Capsule 2.0 | Blue Origin | Suborbital | Test flight | 23 January | Successful | ||
Tenth test flight of the New Shepard development program, fourth one with the current vehicle. [554] | |||||||
6 February 07:01 | Minuteman-III | Vandenberg Air Force Base LF-04 | US Air Force | ||||
FTU-1 | US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 6 February | Successful | ||
6 February 08:31 | RS-24 Yars | Plesetsk | RVSN | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 February | Successful | |||
12 February | PDV-II | ITR IC-4 | DRDO | ||||
ASAT | DRDO | Suborbital | Satellite intercept | 12 February | Launch failure | ||
First attempt of Mission Shakhti (ASAT Test with Microsat-R as target) [555] | |||||||
22 February 16:54 | SpaceShipTwo | VF-01 | White Knight Two, from Mojave Spaceport | Virgin Galactic | |||
VSS Unity | Virgin Galactic | Suborbital | Test flight | 22 February | Successful | ||
Second crewed sub-orbital high altitude flight of SpaceShipTwo with three crew members on board, pilot David Mackay, co-pilot Mike Masucci and chief trainer Beth Moses, Apogee: 89.9 kilometres (55.9 mi) | |||||||
2 March 17:45 | SARGE | Spaceport America, New Mexico | Exos Aerospace | ||||
SARGE M1 | Exos Aerospace | Suborbital | Microgravity Research | 2 March | Partial failure | ||
Second launch of the SARGE suborbital launch vehicle, it carried several small research payloads and was intended to reach a peak altitude of 80 kilometers, but winds kept the rocket from achieving its planned altitude, it reached only an apogee of 20 kilometres (12 mi) [556] | |||||||
25 March 17:20 | ICBM-T2 | Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site | MDA | ||||
FTG-11 target | MDA | Suborbital | ABM target | 25 March | Successful | ||
Ballistic missile target for interception | |||||||
25 March 17:30 | GBI-OBV | Vandenberg Air Force Base | MDA | ||||
FTG-11 Interceptor | MDA | Suborbital | ABM test | 25 March | Successful | ||
Ballistic missile interceptor | |||||||
25 March 17:31 | GBI-OBV | Vandenberg Air Force Base | MDA | ||||
FTG-11 Interceptor | MDA | Suborbital | ABM test | 25 March | Successful | ||
Ballistic missile interceptor | |||||||
27 March 05:40 | PDV-II | ITR IC-4 | DRDO | ||||
ASAT | DRDO | Suborbital | Satellite intercept | 27 March | Successful | ||
Mission Shakhti (ASAT Test with Microsat-R as target), Apogee: 270 kilometres (170 mi), satellite successfully destroyed | |||||||
5 April 22:14 | Black Brant XIA | Andøya | NASA | ||||
AZURE 1 | Clemson | Suborbital | Auroral | 5 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: 320 kilometres (200 mi) | |||||||
5 April 22:16 | Black Brant XIA | Andøya | NASA | ||||
AZURE 2 | Clemson | Suborbital | Auroral | 5 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: 320 kilometres (200 mi) | |||||||
11 April 16:51 | Black Brant IX | White Sands Missile Range | NASA | ||||
CLASP-2 | NASA / NAOJ / JAXA / IAC / IAS | Suborbital | Solar astronomy | 11 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: 274 kilometres (170 mi) | |||||||
21 April | Traveler IV | Spaceport America, New Mexico | USC Rocket Propulsion Lab | ||||
Flight test | – | Suborbital | Flight test | 21 April | Successful | ||
First suborbital flight by a student team. [557] Apogee: 104 kilometres (65 mi) | |||||||
22 April 23:28 [558] | Tianxing 1 | Y1 | Space Transportation | ||||
Space Transportation | Suborbital | Flight test | 22 April | Successful | |||
Test flight of the Tianxing 1 suborbital spaceplane. | |||||||
23 April | Terrier Malemute | Pacific Missile Range Facility | NNSA | ||||
HOT SHOT 2 | NNSA | Suborbital | Technology experiments | 23 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: ~320 kilometres (200 mi)? | |||||||
24 April | Terrier Malemute | Pacific Missile Range Facility | NNSA | ||||
HOT SHOT 3 | NNSA | Suborbital | Technology experiments | 24 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: ~320 kilometres (200 mi)? | |||||||
1 May 09:42 | Minuteman-III | Vandenberg Air Force Base LF-10 | US Air Force | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 1 May | Successful | |||
2 May [559] 13:35 | New Shepard | NS-11 | Corn Ranch | Blue Origin | |||
Crew Capsule 2.0 | Blue Origin | Suborbital | Test flight | 2 May | Successful | ||
Took 38 research payloads into space | |||||||
3 May 20:45 | Momo 3 | Taiki Aerospace Research Field | Interstellar Technologies | ||||
Kochi University of Technology | Suborbital | Infrasound propagation measurement | 3 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 113 kilometres (70 mi) [560] | |||||||
9 May 07:40 | Minuteman-III | Vandenberg Air Force Base LF-09 | US Air Force | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 9 May | Successful | |||
9 May | UGM-133 Trident II | USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740), ETR | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 May | Successful | |||
Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) 29 | |||||||
10 May | SM-3-IB | USS Roosevelt (DDG-80), Hebrides Range | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Test flight | 10 May | Successful | |||
FS-19 E4, apogee: ~150 kilometres (93 mi)? | |||||||
23 May | Shaheen-II | Sonmiani | ASFC | ||||
ASFC | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 May | Successful | |||
13 June 02:21 | VSB-30? | Esrange | DLR / SSC | ||||
ATEK/MAPHEUS-8 | DLR | Suborbital | Technology demonstration | 13 June | Successful | ||
Apogee: 240 kilometres (150 mi) | |||||||
19 June 11:28 | Black Brant IX | Kwajalein Atoll | NASA | ||||
TooWINDY 1 | NASA | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 19 June | Successful | ||
Apogee: 373 kilometres (232 mi) [561] | |||||||
19 June 11:33 | Black Brant IX | Kwajalein Atoll | NASA | ||||
TooWINDY 2 | NASA | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 19 June | Successful | ||
Apogee: 412 kilometres (256 mi) | |||||||
20 June 09:38 | Terrier-Improved Orion | Wallops Flight Facility | NASA | ||||
RockOn | University of Colorado | Suborbital | Student payloads | 20 June | Successful | ||
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi) [562] | |||||||
24 June 06:52 | VSB-30 | Esrange | EuroLaunch | ||||
MASER-14 | SSC | Suborbital | Microgravity | 24 June | Successful | ||
apogee: 260 kilometres (160 mi) | |||||||
29 June 18:00 | SARGE | Spaceport America, New Mexico | Exos Aerospace | ||||
SARGE M1 | Exos Aerospace | Suborbital | Microgravity Research | 29 June | Launch failure | ||
Third launch of the SARGE suborbital launch vehicle, it carried several small research payloads for nine clients. The flight failed seconds after launch. However, the rocket was recovered. [563] | |||||||
2 July 11:00 [77] | Orion Abort Test Booster | Cape Canaveral SLC-46 | NASA | ||||
Orion Ascent Abort-2 | NASA | Suborbital | Test flight | 2 July | Successful | ||
In-flight abort test under the highest aerodynamic loads. A specific booster repurposed from a LGM-118 Peacekeeper missile was used in this mission. [564] [565] | |||||||
24 July | Shahab-3 | Iran | IRGC | ||||
IRGC | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: ~150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
26 July | RS-12M Topol | Kapustin Yar | RVSN | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 July | Successful | |||
26 July ? | eMRBM ? | C-17, Pacific Ocean ? | MDA | ||||
FTA-01 | MDA | Suborbital | Arrow III target | 26 July ? | Successful | ||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), the FTA-01 exercise saw three US Missile Defense Agency medium range targets of undisclosed type launched from an undisclosed location on undisclosed dates in July, all intercepted by Israeli Arrow 3 interceptors launched from Kodiak, Alaska. [566] | |||||||
26 July ? | Arrow III | Kodiak | IAF / MDA | ||||
FTA-01 | MDA/IDF | Suborbital | ABM test | 26 July ? | Successful | ||
Intercepted target missile, apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
26 July ? | eMRBM ? | C-17, Pacific Ocean ? | MDA | ||||
FTA-01 | MDA | Suborbital | Arrow III target | 26 July ? | Successful | ||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), successful intercepted | |||||||
26 July ? | Arrow III | Kodiak | IAF / MDA | ||||
FTA-01 | MDA/IDF | Suborbital | ABM test | 26 July ? | Successful | ||
Intercepted target missile, apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
26 July ? | eMRBM ? | C-17, Pacific Ocean ? | MDA | ||||
FTA-01 | MDA | Suborbital | Arrow III target | 26 July ? | Successful | ||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), successful intercepted | |||||||
26 July ? | Arrow III | Kodiak | IAF / MDA | ||||
FTA-01 | MDA/IDF | Suborbital | ABM test | 26 July ? | Successful | ||
Intercepted target missile, apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
27 July 07:20 | Momo 4 | Taiki Aerospace Research Field | Interstellar Technologies | ||||
Kochi University of Technology | Suborbital | Infrasound propagation measurement | 27 July | Launch failure | |||
The rocket suffered an early engine shutdown and only reached 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) altitude. | |||||||
11 August 06:07 | Black Brant IX | White Sands Missile Range | NASA | ||||
SISTINE | University of Colorado | Suborbital | UV Astronomy | 11 August | Successful | ||
Apogee: 259 km (161 mi). | |||||||
12 August 09:44 | Terrier-Improved Malemute | Wallops Flight Facility | NASA | ||||
RockSat-X | NASA | Suborbital | Student experiments | 12 August | Successful | ||
Apogee: 154 kilometres (96 mi) | |||||||
24 August | R-29RMU Sineva | K-114 Tula, near North Pole | VMF | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 August | Successful | |||
24 August | RSM-56 Bulava | K-535 Yury Dolgorukiy, Barents Sea | VMF | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 August | Successful | |||
30 August | eMRBM ? | FTT-23 | C-17, Pacific Ocean | MDA | |||
MDA | Suborbital | ABM target | 30 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), successfully intercepted | |||||||
30 August | THAAD | FTT-23 | Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site | US Army | |||
US Army/MDA | Suborbital | ABM test | 30 August | Successful | |||
Intercepted target missile, apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
4 September | UGM-133 Trident II | USS Nebraska (SSBN-739), Pacific Missile Range Facility | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 September | Successful | |||
Commander Evaluation Test (CET) | |||||||
4 September | UGM-133 Trident II | USS Nebraska (SSBN-739), Pacific Missile Range Facility | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 September | Successful | |||
Commander Evaluation Test (CET) | |||||||
6 September | UGM-133 Trident II | USS Nebraska (SSBN-739), Pacific Missile Range Facility | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 September | Successful | |||
Commander Evaluation Test (CET) | |||||||
6 September | UGM-133 Trident II | USS Nebraska (SSBN-739), Pacific Missile Range Facility | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 September | Successful | |||
Commander Evaluation Test (CET) | |||||||
18 September 09:30 ? | Black Brant IX | Wallops Flight Facility | NASA | ||||
DoD | Suborbital | Technology demonstration | 18 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
30 September 18:04 | Black Brant IX | White Sands Missile Range | NASA | ||||
ESIS | Montana State University | Suborbital | Solar research | 30 September | Successful | ||
Apogee: 246 kilometres (153 mi) | |||||||
30 September | RS-12M Topol | Plesetsk | RVSN | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 September | Successful | |||
2 October 08:13 | Minuteman-III | Vandenberg Air Force Base LF-10 | US Air Force | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 2 October | Successful | |||
7 October 15:00 | Black Brant IX | White Sands Missile Range | NASA | ||||
DUST | GSFC | Suborbital | Physics | 7 October | Successful | ||
Apogee: 338 kilometres (210 mi) | |||||||
17 October [567] | Black Dagger | Fort Wingate | SMDC | ||||
SMDC | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 October | Successful | |||
17 October | RS-24 Yars | Plesetsk | RVSN | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 October | Successful | |||
17 October | R-29RMU Sineva | K-18 Karelia, Barents Sea | VMF | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 October | Successful | |||
17 October | R-29R Volna | K-44 Ryazan, Sea of Okhotsk | VMF | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 17 October | Successful | |||
25 October 00:00 | Terrier-Improved Malemute | Wallops Flight Facility | NASA | ||||
SubTec-8 | NASA | Suborbital | Technology demonstration | 25 October | Successful | ||
Apogee: 209 kilometres (130 mi) | |||||||
26 October 17:42 | SARGE | Spaceport America, New Mexico | Exos Aerospace | ||||
SARGE M1 | Exos Aerospace | Suborbital | Microgravity Research | 26 October | Launch failure | ||
Fourth launch of the SARGE suborbital launch vehicle, it carried several small research payloads. The rocket lost control of attitude seconds after launch. Several pieces of debris felt back to the ground, and the rocket body crashed near the launch pad nearly three and a half minutes after liftoff. The rocket reached a peak altitude of about 12.6 kilometres (7.8 mi), far short of the planned altitude of at least 80 kilometres (50 mi). [568] | |||||||
28 October 04:30 | Black Brant IX | White Sands Missile Range | NASA | ||||
FORTIS-4 | JHU | Suborbital | UV Astronomy | 28 October | Successful | ||
Apogee: 261 kilometres (162 mi). Payload: Experimental FORTIS (Far-ultraviolet Off Rowland-circle Telescope for Imaging and Spectroscopy) telescope and Next-Generation Microshutter Array (NGMSA). Studied the way gas is being ejected by supernovae from galaxy M33. The goal is to understand matter recycling between stellar generations of the galaxy. Experiment was successful. [569] | |||||||
30 October 14:57 | RSM-56 Bulava | K-549 Knyaz Vladimir, White Sea | VMF | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 October | Successful | |||
4 November 14:15 | Starliner launch abort engines | White Sands Missile Range | Boeing | ||||
Starliner | Boeing | Suborbital | Emergency escape systems test; pad-abort test | 4 November | Successful | ||
Apogee: 1,349 meters (4,426 ft) | |||||||
15 November 09:35 | VSB-30 | Esrange | EuroLaunch | ||||
TEXUS-56 | DLR / ESA | Suborbital | Microgravity | 15 November | Successful | ||
Apogee: 256 kilometres (159 mi) | |||||||
16 November 14:02 | Agni II | Integrated Test Range | Indian Army / DRDO | ||||
Indian Army/DRDO | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 November | Successful | |||
22 November 15:19 | SpaceLoft XL | Spaceport America | UP Aerospace | ||||
FOP-7, ADS-B experiment | NASA | Suborbital | Technology experiments | 22 November | Successful | ||
Mission SL-14, Apogee: 92 kilometres (57 mi) [570] | |||||||
26 November 07:43 | Terrier-Improved Malemute | Ny-Ålesund | NASA | ||||
ICI-5 | NASA/Oslo/Andøya | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 26 November | Partial failure | ||
Apogee: 253 kilometres (157 mi), the rocket experienced a roll rate anomaly, precluding the instruments from functioning as intended. [571] | |||||||
28 November | RS-12M Topol | Kapustin Yar | RVSN | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 November | Successful | |||
30 November 13:50 | Agni-III | ITR IC-4 | Indian Army | ||||
Indian Army | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 November | Launch failure [572] | |||
The maiden night trial of the Agni-III was conducted. The missile reportedly started diverging from its planned flight trajectory after traveling a distance of 115 kilometers. This caused the mission control to subsequently abort the flight. A manufacturing defect is thought to be the potential cause of the failure. | |||||||
10 December 09:30 | Black Brant IX | Ny-Ålesund | NASA | ||||
CHI | Clemson | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 10 December | Successful | ||
Apogee: 360 kilometres (220 mi) | |||||||
11 December 17:53 [573] | New Shepard | NS-12 | Corn Ranch | Blue Origin | |||
Crew Capsule 2.0 | Blue Origin | Suborbital | Test flight/Payload delivery | 11 December | Successful | ||
Postcards | Club For The Future | Suborbital | Education | 11 December | Successful | ||
Peak altitude 104.5 kilometers. Took a number of research and educational payloads to space. Sixth flight for the propulsion module+capsule combination. Both the propulsion module and capsule landed successfully. A Croatian postcard was the first payload from Croatia to be sent into space. | |||||||
12 December 16:30 [574] | IRBM | Vandenberg Air Force Base TP-01 | US Air Force | ||||
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 12 December | Successful | |||
23 December 00:50 [575] | Tianxing 1 | Y2 | Space Transportation | ||||
Space Transportation | Suborbital | Flight test | 23 December | Successful | |||
Test flight of the Tianxing 1 suborbital spaceplane. |
Date (UTC) | Spacecraft | Event | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
1 January | New Horizons | Flyby of Kuiper belt object 486958 Arrokoth | The observed planetesimal, consisting of two spheroid pieces, was initially nicknamed Ultima Thule. |
3 January [576] | Chang'e 4 | Landing at Von Kármán crater | First landing on the far side of the Moon, coordinates 45°27′25″S177°35′20″E / 45.457°S 177.589°E . |
12 February | Juno | 18th perijove of Jupiter | |
21 February | Hayabusa2 | First sample collection from asteroid Ryugu [577] | |
4 April | Parker Solar Probe | Second perihelion | |
4 April | Beresheet | Lunar orbital insertion | |
5 April | Hayabusa2 | Release of Small Carry-On Impactor (SCI) on the surface of Ryugu | SCI created a crater for further investigation. A dedicated DCAM-3 camera was deployed to observe the impact. |
6 April | Juno | 19th perijove | |
11 April | Beresheet | Lunar landing | Crashed due to gyroscope failure [578] |
29 May | Juno | 20th perijove | |
11 July | Hayabusa2 | Second sample collection from Ryugu | |
21 July | Juno | 21st perijove | |
20 August | Chandrayaan-2 | Lunar orbital insertion | |
1 September | Parker Solar Probe | Third perihelion | |
6 September | Chandrayaan-2 | Lunar landing | Vikram lander crashed after it lost attitude and contact at an altitude of 2.3 km. [579] |
12 September | Juno | 22nd perijove | |
2 October | Hayabusa2 | Deployment of ROVER-2 (MINERVA-II-2) | Rover failed before deployment, it was deployed in orbit around the asteroid to perform gravitational measurements before it impacted on 8 October. |
3 November | Juno | 23rd perijove | |
13 November | Hayabusa2 | Departure from Ryugu | |
26 December | Parker Solar Probe | Second gravity assist at Venus | |
26 December | Juno | 24th perijove |
Start Date/Time | Duration | End Time | Spacecraft | Crew | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
22 March 12:01 | 6 hours 39 minutes | 18:40 | Expedition 59 | Anne McClain | |
29 March 11:42 | 6 hours 45 minutes | 18:27 | Expedition 59 | Nick Hague | |
8 April 11:31 | 6 hours 29 minutes | 18:00 | Expedition 59 | Anne McClain |
|
29 May 15:42 | 6 hours 1 minute | 21:43 | Expedition 59 | Oleg Kononenko |
|
21 August 12:27 | 6 hours 32 minutes | 18:59 | Expedition 60 | Nick Hague | Hague and Morgan installed the final International Docking Adapter on the Harmony Module. The task for this spacewalk was identical to Spacewalk 194 and required work by both spacewalkers and Dextre to get the docking port installed in preparation for the Boeing CST-100 Starliner orbital flight test, which will occur by the end of December. The crew also routed cables and installed Wi-Fi routers for upcoming experiments. [584] |
6 October 11:39 | 7 hours 01 minutes | 18:40 | Expedition 61 | Christina Koch | This spacewalk was the first of Expedition 61 and the first in a series of five to replace and improve ISS batteries on the P6 truss. [585] |
11 October 11:38 | 6 hours 45 minutes | 18:23 | Expedition 61 | Andrew R. Morgan | This spacewalk was the second of Expedition 61 and the second in a series of five to replace and improve ISS batteries on the P6 truss. Before they went out to the hatch, Mission Control Moscow relayed to the crew that Alexei Leonov had died and that this spacewalk was dedicated to him. As the crew came in and took off their suits, each gave a few words in memory of Leonov before station commander Luca Parmitano said "Farewell Alexei, and ad astra." [586] [587] |
18 October 11:38 | 7 hours 17 minutes | 18:55 | Expedition 61 | Christina Koch | This spacewalk was the third of Expedition 61 and the third in a series of five to replace and improve ISS batteries on the P6 truss. Some of the battery swaps were delayed to EVA 222 due to a power failure in a Battery Charge Discharge Unit in slots 5 and 6 on the P6 Truss taking the 4B battery channel offline. Koch and Meir replaced the failed unit and brought it back inside. The battery swap was moved to EVA 222 to save time and Meir and Koch wrapped up the spacewalk by installing a stanchion on the Columbus Module and tightening the bolts on the S0 Truss, which had come loose. This spacewalk was the first all-female spacewalk. During the spacewalk, President Trump called the station and congratulated Koch and Meir on this milestone. [588] |
15 November 11:39 | 6 hours 39 minutes | 18:18 | Expedition 61 | Luca Parmitano | First of a series of four spacewalks to repair the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer which suffered a power failure last year in one of its four cooling pumps limiting the operation of the experiment. Parmitano and Morgan went outside and removed a cover plate from AMS and jettisoned it into space to make way for a cryo pump that they will assemble between spacewalks. Some of the bolts put up a fight but Parmitano got them all out. The highlight of the spacewalk is when Andrew Morgan threw the cover plate overboard and it drifted off aft of the station into the vacuum of space. The plate will stay in orbit for a few days until the end of December when it enters the atmosphere and burns up. The crew also removed several carbon fiber strips around fluid lines and installed handrails and grapple bars as get-ahead task. This spacewalk marks Parmitano's return to spacewalking after the Water in the Helmet Incident during EVA 171. [589] |
22 November 12:02 | 6 hours 33 minutes | 16:35 | Expedition 61 | Luca Parmitano | The second in a series of four spacewalks to repair the AMS. Parmitano and Morgan cut fluid lines and installed a vent on the AMS Experiment to prep the old cooling pump for removal on the third spacewalk. Parmitano and Morgan also routed cables and installed a new power supply to power the pumps when they are installed on the third spacewalk. [590] |
2 December 11:31 | 6 hours 2 minutes | 17:33 | Expedition 61 | Luca Parmitano | The third in a series of four spacewalks to repair the AMS. Parmitano and Morgan went out on the third spacewalk and installed the cryo pump and routed fluid and electrical lines to power the pump. Flight controllers in Houston, Huntsville, and at CERN activated the experiment and radioed to the crew that AMS passed with flying colors. The crew finished the spacewalk by doing a get-ahead task by covering AMS with thermal blanket. [591] |
Date/Time (UTC) | Source object | Event type | Pieces tracked | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|
27 March | Microsat-R (suspected) and kinetic kill vehicle | 2019 Indian anti-satellite missile test | 121 [592] | Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a successful test of an anti-satellite weapon. The test was believed to have destroyed the Microsat-R satellite launched in January. [593] [594] |
Early April | A Centaur 3 upper stage (previously International Designator 2018-079B) | Unknown [595] | 54 [596] | The upper stage of the Centaur 3 that carried AEHF −4 in high Earth orbit on 17 October 2018 broke up for unknown reasons. [597] |
7 May | Titan IIIC Transtage rocket body [598] | Titan IIIC Transtage rocket body | ? [note 1] | Energetic fragmentation event by caused the overheating of leftover anhydrous hydrazine(N2H4) Mono Propellant |
13 August | Ariane 42P third stage rocket body | Unknown | 7 | |
19 August | SOZ (Sistema Obespecheniya Zapuska) ullage motor | Proton Block DM fourth stage | ? [note 2] | Energetic fragmentation event; caused by left over fuel in the ullage motor. |
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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
China | 34 | 32 | 2 | 0 | ||
Europe | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | ||
India | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
Iran | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Additionally, one rocket exploded on the launch pad during a ground test. | |
Japan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
Russia | 25 | 25 | 0 | 0 | Includes three European Soyuz launches from Kourou, French Guiana by Arianespace. | |
United States | 27 | 27 | 0 | 0 | Includes six Electron launches from Mahia | |
World | 102 | 97 | 5 | 0 |
Family | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antares | United States | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Ariane | Europe | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas | United States | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Delta | United States | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Electron | United States | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Epsilon | Japan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Falcon | United States | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | |
GLSV Mk III | India | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
H-II | Japan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Hyperbola | China | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Jielong | China | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Kuaizhou | China | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March | China | 26 | 25 | 1 | 0 | |
Pegasus | United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
OneSpace | China | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
PSLV | India | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
R-7 | Russia | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 | |
Safir | Iran | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Simorgh | Iran | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Universal Rocket | Russia | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
Vega | Europe | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Rocket | Country | Family | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antares 200 | United States | Antares | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Ariane 5 | Europe | Ariane | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas V | United States | Atlas | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Delta IV | United States | Delta | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Electron | United States | Electron | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Epsilon | Japan | Epsilon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Falcon 9 | United States | Falcon | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | |
GLSV Mk III | India | GLSV Mk III | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
H-IIB | Japan | H-II | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Hyperbola-1 | China | Hyperbola | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Jielong 1 | China | Jielong | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Kuaizhou-1 | China | Kuaizhou | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 2 | China | Long March | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 3 | China | Long March | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 4 | China | Long March | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | |
Long March 5 | China | Long March | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 6 | China | Long March | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 11 | China | Long March | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
OS-M1 | China | OneSpace | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Pegasus XL | United States | Pegasus | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Proton | Russia | Universal Rocket | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
PSLV | India | PSLV | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
Safir | Iran | Safir | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Final flight |
Simorgh | Iran | Simorgh | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Soyuz | Russia | R-7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
Soyuz-2 | Russia | R-7 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | |
UR-100 | Russia | Universal Rocket | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
Vega | Europe | Vega | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Rocket | Country | Type | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antares 230 | United States | Antares 200 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
Antares 230+ | United States | Antares 200 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Ariane 5 ECA | Europe | Ariane 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas V 401 | United States | Atlas V | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas V 411 | United States | Atlas V | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas V 531 | United States | Atlas V | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas V 551 | United States | Atlas V | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas V N22 | United States | Atlas V | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) | United States | Delta IV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) | United States | Delta IV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
Delta IV Heavy | United States | Delta IV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Epsilon | Japan | Epsilon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Electron | United States | Electron | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | United States | Falcon 9 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | |
Falcon Heavy | United States | Falcon 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
GSLV Mk III | India | GSLV Mk III | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
H-IIB | Japan | H-IIB | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Hyperbola-1 | China | Hyperbola-1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Jielong 1 | China | Jielong 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Kuaizhou-1A | China | Kuaizhou-1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 2C | China | Long March 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 2D | China | Long March 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 3B/E | China | Long March 3 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 3B/E / YZ-1 | China | Long March 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 3C/E | China | Long March 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 4B | China | Long March 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 4C | China | Long March 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
Long March 5 | China | Long March 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 6 | China | Long March 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 11 | China | Long March 11 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
OS-M1 | China | OneSpace | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
Pegasus XL | United States | Pegasus XL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Proton-M / Briz-M or DM-03 | Russia | Proton | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Proton-M / Blok DM-03 | Russia | Proton | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
PSLV-CA | India | PSLV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
PLSV-DL | India | PSLV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
PLSV-QL | India | PSLV | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
PLSV-XL | India | PSLV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Rokot / Briz-KM | Russia | UR-100 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
Safir | Iran | Safir | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Final flight |
Simorgh | Iran | Simorgh | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Soyuz-FG | Russia | Soyuz | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
Soyuz-2.1a or ST-A | Russia | Soyuz-2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
Soyuz-2.1a or ST-A / Fregat-M | Russia | Soyuz-2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Soyuz-2.1b or ST-B / Fregat-M | Russia | Soyuz-2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
Soyuz-2-1v / Volga | Russia | Soyuz-2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Vega | Europe | Vega | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Site | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baikonur | Kazakhstan | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | |
Cape Canaveral | United States | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | Includes the 11 October Pegasus XL launch whose carrier aircraft took flight from Cape Canaveral |
Jiuquan | China | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | |
Kennedy | United States | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Kourou | France | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | |
Mahia | New Zealand | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
MARS | United States | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Plesetsk | Russia | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
Satish Dhawan | India | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Semnan | Iran | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Additionally, one rocket exploded on the launch pad during a ground test. |
Taiyuan | China | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | |
Tanegashima | Japan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Uchinoura | Japan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Vandenberg | United States | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Vostochny | Russia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Wenchang | China | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Xichang | China | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | |
Yellow Sea | China | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 102 | 97 | 5 | 0 |
Orbital regime | Launches | Achieved | Not achieved | Accidentally achieved | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Transatmospheric | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Low Earth / Sun-synchronous | 66 | 61 | 5 | 0 | |
Medium Earth | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
Geosynchronous / GTO | 24 | 24 | 0 | 0 | Includes two inclined GSO orbits (IGSO) |
High Earth / Lunar transfer | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Heliocentric / Planetary transfer | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 102 | 97 | 5 | 0 |
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.
The year 2011 saw a number of significant events in spaceflight, including the retirement of NASA's Space Shuttle after its final flight in July 2011, and the launch of China's first space station module, Tiangong-1, in September. A total of 84 orbital launches were conducted over the course of the year, of which 78 were successful. Russia, China and the United States conducted the majority of the year's orbital launches, with 35, 19 and 18 launches respectively; 2011 marked the first year that China conducted more successful launches than the United States. Seven crewed missions were launched into orbit during 2011, carrying a total of 28 astronauts to the International Space Station. Additionally, the Zenit-3F and Long March 2F/G carrier rockets made their maiden flights in 2011, while the Delta II Heavy made its last.
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.
Notable spaceflight activities in 2017 included the maiden orbital flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III on 5 June and the first suborbital test of Rocket Lab's Electron rocket, inaugurating the Mahia spaceport in New Zealand. The rocket is named for its innovative Rutherford engine which feeds propellants via battery-powered electric motors instead of the usual gas generator and turbopumps.
This article documents notable spaceflight events during the year 2018. For the first time since 1990, more than 100 orbital launches were performed globally.
Planet Labs PBC is a publicly trading American Earth imaging company based in San Francisco, California. Their goal is to image the entirety of the Earth daily to monitor changes and pinpoint trends.
This article documents notable spaceflight events during the year 2020.