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Orbital launches | |
---|---|
First | 11 January |
Last | 29 December |
Total | 63 |
Successes | 60 |
Failures | 3 |
Partial failures | 0 |
Catalogued | 61 |
National firsts | |
Satellite | Greece Nigeria |
Space traveller | China Israel |
Rockets | |
Maiden flights | Atlas V 521 Delta II Heavy Delta IV Medium Strela |
Retirements | Ariane 4 44L Ariane 5G Space Shuttle Columbia Titan 23G |
Crewed flights | |
Orbital | 4 |
Total travellers | 13 |
This article outlines notable events occurring in 2003 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs. The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on 1 February 2003.
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
January | |||||||
6 January 14:19 | Titan 23G | Vandenberg SLC-4W | Lockheed Martin | ||||
Coriolis | US Air Force | Low Earth | Technology development | In orbit | Operational | ||
9 January 03:17 | Agni-I | Balasore IC-4 | IDRDL | ||||
IDRDL | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 January | Successful | |||
13 January 00:45 | Delta II 7320-10C | Vandenberg SLC-2W | Boeing IDS | ||||
ICESat | NASA | Low Earth | Oceanography | 30 August 2010 09:00 [2] | Partial spacecraft failure | ||
CHIPSat | NASA | Low Earth | Astrophysics | In orbit | Operational | ||
Laser reliability issues limited ICESat operations. ICESat deactivated in February 2010 following failure of last laser in October 2009. | |||||||
16 January 20:39 | Space Shuttle Columbia | Kennedy Space Center LC-39A | United Space Alliance | ||||
STS-107 | NASA | Low Earth | Research | 1 February 13:59 | Failure | ||
Spacehab-RDM | NASA | Low Earth (Columbia) | Microgravity and Earth science research | ||||
EDO Pallet | NASA | Low Earth (Columbia) | Cryogenic mission duration extension pallet | ||||
Crewed orbital flight with 7 astronauts, including the first Israeli space traveler Final flight of Space Shuttle Columbia, disintegrated during re-entry resulting in loss of crew and vehicle. | |||||||
25 January 20:13 | Pegasus-XL | Stargazer, Cape Canaveral | Orbital Sciences | ||||
SORCE | NASA | Low Earth | investigate total solar irradiance | In orbit | Operational | ||
29 January 18:06 | Delta II 7925-9.5 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17B | Boeing IDS | ||||
GPS IIR-8 (USA-166) | US Air Force | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
XSS-10 | US Air Force | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Successful | ||
XSS-10 deactivated 30 January 2003 | |||||||
February | |||||||
2 February 12:59 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Progress M-47 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Logistics | 27 August | Successful | ||
ISS flight 10P | |||||||
15 February 07:00 | Ariane 4 44L | Kourou ELA-2 | Arianespace | ||||
Intelsat 907 | Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Final flight of Ariane 4 44L | |||||||
March | |||||||
11 March 00:59 | Delta IV Medium | Cape Canaveral SLC-37B | Boeing IDS | ||||
DSCS III A-3 (USA-167) | US Air Force | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Maiden flight of Delta IV Medium | |||||||
26 March 06:00 | Privthvi-2 | Balasore | IDRDL | ||||
IDRDL | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 March | Successful | |||
28 March 01:27 | H-IIA 2024 | Tanegashima LA-Y1 | |||||
IGS-1A | Japanese Government | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | 18 July 2014 | Successful | ||
IGS-1B | Japanese Government | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | 26 July 2012 | Partial spacecraft failure | ||
IGS-1B lost power in 2007, and concluded operations after just over half of its design life [3] | |||||||
31 March 22:09 | Delta II 7925-9.5 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17A | Boeing IDS | ||||
GPS IIR-9 (USA-168) | US Air Force | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
April | |||||||
2 April 01:53 | Molniya-M | Plesetsk Site 16/2 | VKS | ||||
Molniya 1-92 | VKS | Molniya | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
8 April 14:43 | Titan IVB (401)/Centaur | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | Lockheed Martin | ||||
Milstar 6 (USA-169) | US Air Force | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
9 April 22:52 | Ariane 5G | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
INSAT 3A | ISRO | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Galaxy 12 | PanAmSat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
12 April 00:47 | Atlas IIIB | Cape Canaveral SLC-36B | International Launch Services | ||||
AsiaSat 4 | AsiaSat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
26 April 03:53 | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Soyuz TMA-2 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS Expedition 7 | 28 October | Successful | ||
Crewed orbital flight with 2 cosmonauts | |||||||
24 April 04:23 | Proton-K/DM-2 | Baikonur Site 81/24 | VKS | ||||
Kosmos 2397 | VKS | Geosynchronous | Missile warning | In orbit | Operational | ||
28 April 12:00 | Pegasus-XL | Stargazer, Cape Canaveral | Orbital Sciences | ||||
GALEX | NASA | Low Earth | Ultraviolet astronomy | In orbit | Operational | ||
29 April 05:50 | Prithvi-2 | Balasore | IDRDL | ||||
IDRDL | Suborbital | Missile test | 29 April | Successful | |||
May | |||||||
8 May 11:28 | GSLV | Satish Dhawan FLP | ISRO | ||||
GSAT-2 | ISRO | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
9 May 04:29 | M-V | Uchinoura | |||||
Hayabusa (MUSES-C) | ISAS | Heliocentric | Asteroid sample-return probe | 13 June 2010 | Partial spacecraft failure | ||
MINERVA | ISAS | Heliocentric | Asteroid lander | In orbit | Spacecraft failure | ||
Explored asteroid 1998 SF36 | |||||||
13 May 22:10 | Atlas V 401 | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 | International Launch Services | ||||
HellasSat 2 | Hellas-Sat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
First Greek satellite | |||||||
24 May 16:34 | Long March 3A | Xichang | |||||
Beidou 2A | Geosynchronous | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
June | |||||||
2 June 17:45 | Soyuz-FG/Fregat | Baikonur Site 31/6 | Starsem | ||||
Mars Express | ESA | Areocentric | Mars probe | In orbit | Operational | ||
Beagle 2 | ESA | Heliocentric | Mars lander | 25 December 2003 | Spacecraft failure | ||
Maiden flight of Soyuz-FG/Fregat Beagle 2 failed to contact Earth after landing on Mars | |||||||
4 June 19:23 | Kosmos-3M | Plesetsk Site 132/1 | VKS | ||||
Kosmos 2398 | MO RF | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | |||
6 June 22:15 | Proton-K/Briz-M | Baikonur Site 200/39 | International Launch Services | ||||
AMC-9 | SES Americom | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
8 June 10:34 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Progress M1-10 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Logistics Earth observation | 3 October | Successful | ||
ISS flight 11P | |||||||
10 June 13:55 | Zenit-3SL | Ocean Odyssey | Sea Launch | ||||
Thuraya 2 | Thuraya | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
10 June 17:58 | Delta II 7925 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17A | Boeing IDS | ||||
Spirit (MER-A/MER-2) | NASA | Heliocentric | Mars rover | 4 January 2004 | Operational | ||
Spirit lander | NASA | Heliocentric | Mars lander | 4 January 2004 | Successful | ||
11 June 22:38 | Ariane 5G | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
Optus C1 | Optus/Australian Government | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
BSAT-2C | BSAT | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
19 June 20:00 | Molniya-M | Plesetsk Site 43/3 | VKS | ||||
Molniya 3-53 | VKS | Molniya | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
26 June 18:55 | Pegasus-XL | Stargazer, Vandenberg | Orbital Sciences | ||||
Orbview 3 | Orbview | Low Earth | Imaging | 3 March 2011 | Satellite failure | ||
Ceased operations on 4 March 2007 after camera malfunction | |||||||
30 June 14:15 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Plesetsk | Eurockot | ||||
MIMOSA | Low Earth | 18 December 2011 | Successful | ||||
DTUSat | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
MOST | Low Earth | Space telescope | In orbit | Operational | |||
Cute-I | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
QuakeSat | Stanford University | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | ||
AAU-Cubesat | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
Can X-1 | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
Cubesat XI | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
Cubesat XII | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
Cubesat XIII | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
Cubesat XIV | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
Monitor-E | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
July | |||||||
8 July 04:18 | Delta II 7925H | Cape Canaveral SLC-17B | Boeing IDS | ||||
Opportunity (MER-B/MER-1) | NASA | Heliocentric | Mars rover | In orbit | Operational | ||
Opportunity lander | NASA | Heliocentric | Mars lander | In orbit | Successful | ||
Maiden flight of Delta II Heavy | |||||||
17 July 23:45 | Atlas V 521 | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 | International Launch Services | ||||
Rainbow-1 | Cablevision | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Maiden flight of Atlas V 521 | |||||||
August | |||||||
8 August 03:31 | Zenit-3SL | Ocean Odyssey | Sea Launch | ||||
Echostar 9 (Telstar 13) | EchoStar | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
12 August 14:20 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 31/6 | VKS | ||||
Kosmos 2399 | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | 9 December | Failure | |||
Film capsule failed to deorbit | |||||||
13 August 02:09 | Pegasus-XL | Stargazer, Vandenberg | Orbital Sciences | ||||
SCISAT-1 | CSA | Low Earth | Atmospheric research | In orbit | Operational | ||
19 August 10:50 | Kosmos-3M | Plesetsk Site 132/1 | VKS | ||||
Kosmos 2400 (Strela 3) | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
Kosmos 2401 (Strela 3) | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
22 August 16:30 | VLS-1 | Alcântara | |||||
SATEC | INPE | Intended: Low Earth | Never left ground | Launch failure | |||
UNOSAT | INPE | Intended: Low Earth | Never left ground | ||||
Rocket had an SRB ignition and was destroyed on the launch pad 3 days before T-0. It never had a new attempt and it's development was extinguished in 2016. | |||||||
25 August 05:35 | Delta II 7920H | Cape Canaveral SLC-17B | Boeing IDS | ||||
Spitzer Space Telescope (SIRTF) | NASA | Heliocentric | Infrared astronomy | In orbit | Operational | ||
29 August 01:47 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Progress M-48 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Logistics | 28 January 2004 | Successful | ||
ISS flight 12P | |||||||
29 August 23:13 | Delta IV Medium | Cape Canaveral SLC-37B | Boeing IDS | ||||
DSCS III B-6 (USA-170) | US Air Force | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
September | |||||||
9 September 04:29 | Titan IVB (401)/Centaur | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | Lockheed Martin | ||||
USA-171 / Orion 5 | NRO | Geosynchronous | ELINT | In orbit | Operational | ||
NROL-26 mission. | |||||||
16 September | Kaituozhe-1 | Taiyuan | |||||
PS-2 | Intended: Low Earth | Microsat | 16 September | Launch failure | |||
Fourth stage failed to ignite | |||||||
27 September 06:11 | Kosmos-3M | Plesetsk Site 132/1 | VKS | ||||
Mozhaets-4 | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
NigeriaSat-1 | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
UK-DMC | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
BILSAT-1 | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
Larets | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
STSat-1 | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
Rubin-4-DSI | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
NigeriaSat-1 is the first Nigerian satellite | |||||||
27 September 23:14 | Ariane 5G | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
Eurobird 3 | Eutelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
INSAT 3E | ISRO | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Successful [4] | ||
SMART-1 | ESA | Selenocentric | Lunar probe | 27 September 2006 05:42:22 | Successful | ||
Final flight of Ariane 5G | |||||||
October | |||||||
1 October 04:02 | Zenit-3SL | Ocean Odyssey | Sea Launch | ||||
Galaxy 13 (Horizons 1) | PanAmSat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | operational | ||
15 October 01:00 | Long March 2F | Jiuquan | |||||
Shenzhou 5 | CMSA | Low Earth | 15 October 22:53 | Successful | |||
Shenzhou spacecraft orbital module | CMSA | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | 30 May 2004 | Successful | ||
Crewed orbital flight with 1 astronaut (Yang Liwei), first Chinese space traveller and indigenous crewed spaceflight | |||||||
17 October 04:54 | PSLV | Satish Dhawan FLP | ISRO | ||||
RESOURCESAT-1 (IRS-P6) | ISRO | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | ||
18 October 05:38 | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Soyuz TMA-3 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS Expedition 8 | 30 April 2004 | Successful | ||
Crewed orbital flight with 3 cosmonauts | |||||||
18 October 16:17 | Titan 23G/Star 37 | Vandenberg SLC-4W | Lockheed Martin | ||||
DMSP 5D-2 (USA-172) | US Air Force | Low Earth | Weather satellite | In orbit | Operational | ||
Final flight of Titan 23G | |||||||
21 October 03:16 | Long March 4B | Taiyuan | |||||
Zi Yuan 1-2 (CBERS-2) | CAAC/INPE | Low Earth | Earth resources | In orbit | Operational | ||
Chuangxin-1 | CAS | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
30 October 13:43 | Rockot/Briz-KM | Plesetsk Site 133 | Eurockot | ||||
SERVIS-1 | Low Earth | In orbit | Operational | ||||
November | |||||||
3 November 07:20 | Long March 2D | Jiuquan | |||||
FSW-18 (FSW-3) | SAST | Low Earth | Imaging | 18 December | Successful | ||
14 November 16:34 | Long March 3A | Xichang | |||||
Zhongxing 20 | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
24 November 06:22 | Proton-K/DM-2M | Baikonur Site 81/23 | VKS | ||||
Yamal-201 | Gazprom | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Yamal 202 | Gazprom | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
29 November 04:33 | H-IIA 2024 | Tanegashima LA-Y1 | |||||
IGS-2A | Japanese Government | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | T+60 seconds | Launch failure | ||
IGS-2B | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | |||||
SRB failed to separate. Destroyed by RSO. | |||||||
December | |||||||
2 December 10:04 | Atlas IIAS | Vandenberg SLC-3E | |||||
NOSS-3 (USA-173) | NRO | Low Earth | Naval SIGINT | In orbit | Operational | ||
NOSS-3 (USA-173) | NRO | Low Earth | Naval SIGINT | In orbit | Operational | ||
NRO launch 18 | |||||||
5 December 06:00 | Strela | Baikonur Site 175 | VKS | ||||
Gruzomaket | Low Earth | In orbit | Successful | ||||
Maiden flight of Strela rocket | |||||||
10 December 17:42 | Proton-K/Briz-M | Baikonur Site 81/24 | VKS | ||||
Kosmos 2402 (GLONASS) | KNITs | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
Kosmos 2403 (GLONASS) | KNITs | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
Kosmos 2404 (GLONASS) | KNITs | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
18 December 02:30 | Atlas IIIB | Cape Canaveral SLC-36B | International Launch Services | ||||
UHF F/O F11 (USA-174) | US Navy | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
21 December 08:05 | Delta II 7925-9.5 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17A | Boeing IDS | ||||
GPS IIR-10 (USA-175) | US Air Force | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
24 December | Sounding Rocket III | Jiu Peng Air Base | NSPO | ||||
NSPO | Suborbital | Ionospheric research | 24 December | Successful | |||
Apogee: ~280 km (174 mi) | |||||||
27 December 21:30 | Soyuz-FG/Fregat | Baikonur Site 31/6 | Starsem | ||||
AMOS-2 | Spacecom | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
28 December 20:37 | Proton-K/DM-2M | Baikonur Site 200/39 | VKS | ||||
Ekspress AM22 | RSCC | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
29 December 19:06 | Long March 2C | Xichang | |||||
Tan Ce 1 (Double Star 1) | CNSA/ESA | High Earth (High-eccentricity) | Magnetosphere research | 14 October 2007 | Successful | ||
Date (GMT) | Spacecraft | Event | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
19 June | Nozomi | 3rd flyby of the Earth | |
21 September | Galileo | Deorbited into the Jovian atmosphere | |
9 December | Nozomi | Flyby of Mars | Damaged by solar flares |
24 December | Beagle 2 | Crashed at Isidis Planitia, Mars | |
24 December | Mars Express | Areocentric orbit injection |
Start Date/Time | Duration | End Time | Spacecraft | Crew | Function | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 January 12:50 | 6 hours 51 minutes | 19:41 | Expedition 6 ISS Quest | Kenneth Bowersox Donald Pettit | Released the remaining launch locks on the P1 radiator assembly, removed debris on a sealing ring of Unity's docking port, and tested an ammonia reservoir on the station's P6 truss. [5] | |
8 April 12:40 | 6 hours 26 minutes | 19:06 | Expedition 6 ISS Quest | Kenneth Bowersox Donald Pettit | Reconfigured cables on the S0 (S-Zero), S1 and P1 trusses, replaced a Power Control Module on the Mobile Transporter, installed Spool Positioning Devices on Destiny, and reinstalled a thermal cover on an S1 Radiator Beam Valve Module. [5] |
Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
China | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | ||
Europe | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
India | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
Japan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||
Brazil | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
Russia | 21 | 21 | 0 | 0 | ||
Ukraine | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
United States | 23 | 22 | 1 | 0 | ||
World | 64 | 60 | 4 | 0 |
Family | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ariane | Europe | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas | United States | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
Delta | United States | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
GSLV | India | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
H-II | Japan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
Kaituozhe | China | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Long March | China | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Mu | Japan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Pegasus | United States | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
PSLV | India | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
R-7 | Russia | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | |
R-14 | Russia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Space Shuttle | United States | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Columbia disintegrated on reentry |
Titan | United States | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
Universal Rocket | Russia | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
Zenit | Ukraine | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Rocket | Country | Family | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ariane 4 | Europe | Ariane | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
Ariane 5 | Europe | Ariane | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas II | United States | Atlas | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas III | United States | Atlas | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Atlas V | United States | Atlas | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Delta II | United States | Delta | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
Delta IV | United States | Delta | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
GSLV | India | GSLV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
H-IIA | Japan | H-II | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
Kaituozhe-1 | China | Kaituozhe | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Kosmos | Russia | R-12/R-14 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 2 | China | Long March | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 3 | China | Long March | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Long March 4 | China | Long March | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Molniya | Russia | R-7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
M-V | Japan | Mu | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Pegasus | United States | Pegasus | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
PSLV | India | PSLV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Proton | Russia | Universal Rocket | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
Soyuz | Russia | R-7 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
Space Shuttle | United States | Space Shuttle | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Titan II | United States | Titan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
Titan IV | United States | Titan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
UR-100 | Russia | Universal Rocket | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Zenit | Ukraine | Zenit | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Site | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alcântara | Brazil | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Baikonur | Kazakhstan | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | |
Cape Canaveral | United States | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | Two launches used Stargazer aircraft |
Jiuquan | China | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Kennedy | United States | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
Kourou | France | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
Ocean Odyssey | International waters | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Plesetsk | Russia | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
Satish Dhawan | India | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Taiyuan | China | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
Tanegashima | Japan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
Uchinoura | Japan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Vandenberg | United States | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | Two launches used Stargazer aircraft |
Xichang | China | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 64 | 60 | 4 | 0 |
Orbital regime | Launches | Successes | Failures | Accidentally achieved | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Transatmospheric | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Low Earth | 29 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 5 to ISS |
Medium Earth / Molniya | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Geosynchronous / GTO | 23 | 23 | 0 | 0 | |
High Earth / Lunar transfer | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Heliocentric / Planetary transfer | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 64 | 61 | 3 | 0 |
This article outlines notable events occurring in 2006 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs. 2006 saw Brazil, Iran, and Sweden all get a national into space for the first time.
This article outlines notable events occurring in 2005 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs. 2005 saw Iran launch its first satellite.
The year 2007 contained several significant events in spaceflight, including a Chinese ASAT test, the launches of the US Phoenix and Dawn missions to study Mars and Asteroid belt respectively, Japan's Kaguya Lunar orbiter, and the first Chinese Lunar probe, Chang'e 1.
This article outlines notable events occurring in 2004 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs. 2004 saw the flight of the first privately funded crewed spaceflight.
This article outlines notable events occurring in 2002 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.
This article outlines notable events occurring in 2001 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.
This article outlines notable events occurring in 2000 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.
The year 2008 contained several significant events in spaceflight, including the first flyby of Mercury by a spacecraft since 1975, the discovery of water ice on Mars by the Phoenix spacecraft, which landed in May, the first Chinese spacewalk in September, the launch of the first Indian Lunar probe in October, and the first successful flight of a privately developed orbital launch vehicle by SpaceX's Falcon 1.
Several significant events in spaceflight occurred in 2009, including Iran conducting its first indigenous orbital launch, the first Swiss satellite being launched and New Zealand launching its first sounding rocket. The H-IIB and Naro-1 rockets conducted maiden flights, whilst the Tsyklon-3, Falcon 1 and Ariane 5GS were retired from service. The permanent crew of the International Space Station increased from three to six in May, and in the last few months of the year, Japan's first resupply mission to the outpost, HTV-1, was conducted successfully.
The year 2010 saw a number of notable events in worldwide spaceflight activities. These included the first test flight of the SpaceX Dragon commercial resupply spacecraft, which is intended to resupply the International Space Station (ISS), and the maiden flights of the Falcon 9 and Minotaur IV rockets. In June 2010, South Korea conducted a second Naro-1 launch, after the failure of the rocket's maiden flight in 2009; however, the second attempt also failed. The Kosmos-3M was retired from service, making its final flight in April. The Molniya-M was also retired from service, making its final flight in September.
The year 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.
In 1975 several notable events happened in spaceflight such as the launch and arrival at Venus of Venera 9 and 10, the launch to Mars of the Viking orbiter/landers missions, the joint Apollo–Soyuz Test Project, and the launch of satellite Aryabhatta.
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 2021. 2021 saw several spaceflight related records being set worldwide. This includes both the most orbital launch attempts and most successful orbital launches in a year. In addition, 2021 saw records set in the number of humans in orbit at one time and the most humans in space at one time.
This article documents notable spaceflight events that have happened or are going to happen during the year 2024. Upcoming astronomical and space events for 2024 have been presented in The New York Times.