2013 in spaceflight

2013 in spaceflight
The first launch of the Antares rocket occurred on 21 April 2013.
Orbital launches
First15 January
Last28 December
Total81
Successes77
Failures3
Partial failures1
Catalogued78
National firsts
Satellite
Orbital launch South Korea (with assistance from  Russia)
Rockets
Maiden flights
Retirements
Crewed flights
Orbital5
Total travellers15
EVAs11
2013 in spaceflight

In 2013, the maiden spaceflight of the Orbital Sciences' Antares launch vehicle, designated A-ONE, took place on 13 April.[1] Orbital Science also launched its first spacecraft, Cygnus, that docked with the International Space Station in late September 2013.

A total of 81 orbital launches were attempted in 2013, of which 77 were successful, one was partially successful and three were failures. The year also saw eleven EVAs by ISS astronauts. The majority of the year's orbital launches were conducted by Russia, the United States and China, with 31, 19 and 15 launches respectively.

Overview

India's Indian Space Research Organisation launched its first mission to Mars with the Mars Orbiter Mission that successfully reached Mars orbit on 23 September 2014.[2]

Numerous significant milestones in robotic spaceflight occurred in 2013, including the landing of China's Chang'e 3 lander at Moon's Mare Imbrium on 14 December; it is China's first attempt and first successful soft landing by its spacecraft on an extraterrestrial surface.

Five crewed orbital launches were conducted during 2013, all successfully, carrying a total of 15 astronauts into orbit. Four of these missions were flown with the Russian Soyuz spacecraft and one with the Chinese Shenzhou.

Orbital launches

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

January

15 January
16:24:59[3]
Rokot / Briz-KM Plesetsk Site 133/3 VKO
Kosmos 2482 (Strela-3M) VKO Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Kosmos 2483 (Strela-3M) VKO Low Earth Communications In orbit Launch Failure
Kosmos 2484 (Strela-3M) VKO Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Briz-KM failed around the time of spacecraft separation, resulting in the loss of one satellite.
27 January
04:40:00
H-IIA 202 Tanegashima LA-Y1 Mitsubishi
IGS Radar 4 CSIC Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbit Operational
IGS Optical 5V CSIC Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration 20 February 2019[4] Successful
30 January
07:00:00
Naro-1 Naro LC-1 Khrunichev / KARI
STSAT-2C KARI Low Earth Technology demonstration 13 November 2019[5] Successful
First successful launch of Naro-1; first successful South Korean launch with Russian assistance; final flight of Naro-1.
31 January
01:48:00
Atlas V 401 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
TDRS-K (TDRS-11) NASA Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational

February

1 February
06:56:00
Zenit-3SL Odyssey Sea Launch
Intelsat 27 Intelsat Intended: Geosynchronous Communications +40 seconds Launch failure
First stage failure, impacted ocean at 40 seconds after launch. Accident caused by failure of the first stage hydraulic power supply unit pump at T+3.9s, which lead to loss of engine gimbal control.[6]
6 February
16:04:24
Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat Baikonur Site 31/6 Starsem
Globalstar M078 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Globalstar M093 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Globalstar M094 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Globalstar M095 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Globalstar M096 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Globalstar M097 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
7 February
21:36:07
Ariane 5 ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
Azerspace-1/Africasat-1a AMAKA Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Amazonas 3 Hispasat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
11 February
14:41:46
Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Progress M-18M / 50P Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 26 July Successful
11 February
18:02:00
Atlas V 401 Vandenberg SLC-3E United Launch Alliance
Landsat DCM USGS Low Earth (SSO) Remote sensing In orbit Operational
25 February
12:31
PSLV-CA Satish Dhawan FLP ISRO
SARAL ISRO / CNES Low Earth (SSO) Oceanography In orbit Operational
Sapphire DND Low Earth (SSO) Space surveillance In orbit Operational
NEOSSat CSA Low Earth (SSO) Asteroid detection In orbit Operational
UniBRITE-1 University of Vienna Low Earth (SSO) Optical astronomy In orbit Operational
TUGSAT-1 TU Graz Low Earth (SSO) Optical astronomy In orbit Operational
AAUSAT3 Aalborg Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
STRaND-1 SSTL Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
TUGSAT-1 is the first Austrian satellite.

March

1 March
15:10:13
Falcon 9 v1.0 Cape Canaveral SLC-40 SpaceX
SpaceX CRS-2 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 26 March
16:34
Successful
Final flight of Falcon 9 v1.0
19 March
21:21:00
Atlas V 401 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
USA-241 (SBIRS-GEO 2) US Air Force Geosynchronous Missile defense In orbit Operational
26 March
19:06:48
Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
Satmex 8 Satmex Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
28 March
20:43:20
Soyuz-FG Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Soyuz TMA-08M Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 35/36 11 September
02:58
Successful
Crewed flight

April

15 April
18:36:00
Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
Anik G1 Telesat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
19 April
10:00:00
Soyuz-2.1a Baikonur Site 31/6 Roscosmos
Bion-M No.1 Roscosmos Low Earth Biological science 19 May
03:12
Successful
AIST No.2 SSAU Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Dove 2 Cosmogia Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
BeeSat 2 TU Berlin Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
BeeSat 3 TU Berlin Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
SOMP TU Dresden Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
OSSI-1 OSSI Low Earth Amateur radio 8 July[7] Successful
21 April
21:00:02
Antares 110 MARS LP-0A Orbital Sciences
Cygnus Mass Simulator NASA Low Earth Test flight 10 May Successful
Alexander (PhoneSat-2.0) NASA Low Earth Technology demonstration 27 April Successful
Graham (PhoneSat-1.0) NASA Low Earth Technology demonstration 27 April Successful
Bell (PhoneSat-1.0) NASA Low Earth Technology demonstration 27 April Successful
Dove 1 Cosmogia Low Earth Technology demonstration 27 April Successful
Maiden flight of Antares, COTS risk reduction flight.
24 April
10:12:16
Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Progress M-19M / 51P Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 19 June Successful
26 April
04:13:04
Long March 2D Jiuquan SLS-2 SAST
Gaofen 1 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
TurkSat-3USat ITU Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
NEE-01 Pegaso EXA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
CubeBug-1 INVAP Low Earth (SSO)] Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
NEE-01 Pegaso is the first Ecuadorian satellite.
26 April
05:23:41
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Plesetsk Site 43/4 RVSN RF
Kosmos 2485 (GLONASS-M 747) VKO Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational

May

1 May
16:06:04
Long March 3B/E Xichang LC-2 CALT
ChinaSat 11 China Satcom Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
7 May
02:06:31
Vega Kourou ELV Arianespace
Proba-V ESA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
VNREDSat 1A VAST Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
ESTCube-1 Tartu Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
ESTCube-1 is the first Estonian satellite.
14 May
16:02:00
Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
Eutelsat 3D Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
15 May
21:38:00
Atlas V 401 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
USA-242 (GPS IIF-4) U.S. Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
Named after Star Vega.
25 May
00:27:00
Delta IV-M+ (5,4) Cape Canaveral SLC-37B United Launch Alliance
USA-243 (WGS-5) U.S. Air Force Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
28 May
20:31:24
Soyuz-FG Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Soyuz TMA-09M Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 36/37 11 November
02:49
Successful
Crewed flight

June

3 June
09:18:31
Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
SES-6 SES S.A. Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
5 June
21:52:11
Ariane 5 ES Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
Albert Einstein ATV ESA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 28 October Successful
7 June
18:37:59
Soyuz-2.1b Plesetsk Site 43/4 VKO
Kosmos 2486 (Persona №2) VKO Low Earth (SSO) Optical reconnaissance In orbit Operational
11 June
09:38:02
Long March 2F Y10 Jiuquan SLS-1 CALT
Shenzhou 10 CMSA Low Earth (Tiangong-1) Technology demonstration 26 June
00:07
Successful
China's fifth crewed spaceflight mission (2 men, 1 woman astronaut) to Tiangong-1 space lab.
25 June
17:28:48
Soyuz-2.1b Baikonur Site 31/6 Roscosmos
Resurs-P No.1 Roscosmos Low Earth (SSO) Remote sensing In orbit Successful[9]
On 26 June 2024 the satellite was involved in a debris-generating event, with more than 100 debris identified as a result of the incident.[8]
25 June
19:27:03
Soyuz-STB / Fregat Kourou ELS Arianespace
O3b PFM O3b Networks Medium Earth Communications In orbit Operational
O3b FM2 O3b Networks Medium Earth Communications In orbit Operational
O3b FM4 O3b Networks Medium Earth Communications In orbit Operational
O3b FM5 O3b Networks Medium Earth Communications In orbit Operational
27 June
16:53:00
Strela Baikonur Site 175/59 Roscosmos
Kosmos 2487 (Kondor No.202) Roscosmos Low Earth Radar imaging[10] 29 November 2022[11] Successful
28 June
02:27:46
Pegasus-XL Stargazer, Vandenberg Orbital Sciences
IRIS NASA Low Earth (SSO) Heliophysics In orbit Operational

July

1 July
18:11
PSLV-XL Satish Dhawan FLP ISRO
IRNSS-1A ISRO Geosynchronous Navigation In orbit Operational
2 July
02:38:22
Proton-M / DM-03 Enhanced Baikonur Site 81/24 RVSN RF
GLONASS-M 748 VKO Intended: Medium Earth Navigation 2 July Launch failure
GLONASS-M 749 VKO Intended: Medium Earth Navigation
GLONASS-M 750 VKO Intended: Medium Earth Navigation
First stage guidance failure due to angular velocity sensors installed upside down, rocket crashed near launch pad.[12]
15 July
09:27:03
Long March 2C Jiuquan SLS-2 CALT
Shijian 11-05 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
19 July
13:00:00
Atlas V 551 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
MUOS-2 U.S. Navy Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
19 July
23:37:55
Long March 4C Taiyuan LC-9 SAST
Shijian 15 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Shiyan 7 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Chuang Xin 3 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
25 July
19:54:07
Ariane 5 ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
Alphasat I-XL (Inmarsat-XL) ESA / Inmarsat Geosynchronous Technology demonstration / Communications In orbit Operational
INSAT-3D ISRO Geosynchronous Meteorology In orbit Operational
First Alphabus satellite.
27 July
20:45:08
Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 31/6 Roscosmos
Progress M-20M / 52P Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 11 February 2014 Successful

August

3 August
19:48:46
H-IIB Tanegashima LA-Y2 MHI
Kounotori 4 JAXA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 7 September Successful
TechEdSat-3p NASA Ames Low Earth Technology demonstration 16 January 2014 Successful
PicoDragon VNSC Low Earth Technology demonstration 28 February 2014 Successful
ArduSat-1 NanoSatisfi Low Earth Technology demonstration 16 April 2014 Successful
ArduSat-X NanoSatisfi Low Earth Technology demonstration 15 April 2014 Successful
8 August
00:29:00
Delta IV-M+ (5,4) Cape Canaveral SLC-37B United Launch Alliance
USA-244 (WGS-6) U.S. Air Force Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
22 August
14:39:13
Dnepr Dombarovsky Site 13 ISC Kosmotras
KOMPSat-5 (Arirang-5) KARI Low Earth (SSO) Remote sensing In orbit Operational
28 August
18:03:00
Delta IV Heavy Vandenberg SLC-6 United Launch Alliance
USA-245 (KH-11) NRO Low Earth (SSO) Optical Imaging[13] In orbit Operational
NRO Launch 65; final KH-11 satellite.
29 August
20:30:07
Ariane 5 ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
Eutelsat 25B/Es'hail 1 Eutelsat / Es'hailSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
GSAT-7 ISRO Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
31 August
20:05:00
Zenit-3SLB Baikonur Site 45/1 SIS
Amos-4 SCL Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational

September

1 September
19:16
Long March 4C Jiuquan SLS-2 SAST
Yaogan 17A CNSA Low Earth ELINT In orbit Operational
Yaogan 17B CNSA Low Earth ELINT In orbit Operational
Yaogan 17C CNSA Low Earth ELINT In orbit Operational
7 September
03:27:00
Minotaur V MARS LP-0B Orbital Sciences
LADEE NASA Selenocentric Lunar orbiter 18 April 2014
04:30
Successful
Maiden flight of Minotaur V, first Lunar launch from MARS.
11 September
23:23:04
Rokot / Briz-KM Plesetsk Site 133/3 VKO
Gonets-M 5 Gonets Satellite System Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Gonets-M 6 Gonets Satellite System Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Gonets-M 7 Gonets Satellite System Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
14 September
05:00:00
Epsilon Epsilon-1[14] Uchinoura JAXA
Hisaki (SPRINT-A) JAXA Low Earth Ultraviolet astronomy In orbit Successful[15]
Maiden flight of the Epsilon rocket.
18 September
08:10:00
Atlas V 531 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
USA-246 (AEHF-3) U.S. Air Force Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
18 September
14:58:02
Antares 110 MARS LP-0A Orbital Sciences
Cygnus 1
S.S. G. David Low
NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics / Test flight 23 October
18:16
Successful
Maiden flight of Cygnus; COTS demonstration flight; final flight of Antares 110.
23 September
03:07:11
Long March 4C Taiyuan LC-9 SAST
Fengyun 3C CMA Low Earth (SSO) Meteorology In orbit Operational
25 September
04:37[16]
Kuaizhou Jiuquan LS-95A CASIC
Kuaizhou-1 CAS Low Earth (SSO) Optical imaging 1 September 2015[17] Successful
Maiden flight of Kuaizhou.
25 September
20:58:50
Soyuz-FG Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Soyuz TMA-10M Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 37/38 11 March 2014
03:24
Successful
Crewed flight
29 September
16:00:00
Falcon 9 v1.1 Vandenberg SLC-4E SpaceX
CASSIOPE MDA Corporation Low Earth Communications/science[18] In orbit Operational
CUSat[19] Cornell Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
DANDE[19] CU-Boulder Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
POPACS-1[19] Drexel Low Earth Atmospheric research In orbit Operational
POPACS-2[19] Drexel Low Earth Atmospheric research In orbit Operational
POPACS-3[19] Drexel Low Earth Atmospheric research In orbit Operational
Maiden flight of Falcon 9 v1.1.
29 September
21:38:10
Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
Astra 2E SES S.A. Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational

October

25 October
03:50:03
Long March 4B Jiuquan SLS-2 SAST
Shijian 16-01 CNSA Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
25 October
18:08:54
Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
Sirius FM-6 Sirius Satellite Radio Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
29 October
02:50:04
Long March 2C Taiyuan LC-9 CALT
Yaogan 18 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance 7 April 2021
00:35[20]
Successful

November

5 November
09:08[21]
PSLV-XL Satish Dhawan FLP ISRO
Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) ISRO Areocentric Mars orbiter In orbit Successful
India's first interplanetary mission. Last contact with orbiter in April 2022.
7 November
04:14:15
Soyuz-FG Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Soyuz TMA-11M Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 38/39 14 May 2014
01:58
Successful
Crewed flight
11 November
23:46:00
Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 81/24 RVSN RF
Raduga-1M 3 VKO Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
18 November
18:28:00
Atlas V 401 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
MAVEN NASA Areocentric Martian atmospheric research In orbit Operational
NASA space probe to study the Martian atmosphere.[22]
20 November
01:15:00[23]
Minotaur I MARS LP-0B Orbital Sciences
ORS-3 ORS Low Earth Technology demonstration 25 December 2015[24] Successful
STPSat 3 USAF STP Low Earth Technology demonstration 11 March 2023[25] Successful
ORSES ORS Low Earth Technology demonstration 3 January 2016[26] Successful
ORS Tech 1 ORS Low Earth Technology demonstration 23 March 2015[27] Successful
ORS Tech 2 ORS Low Earth Technology demonstration 3 April 2015[28] Successful
Prometheus 1A SOCOM Low Earth Technology demonstration 12 December 2015[29] Successful
Prometheus 1B SOCOM Low Earth Technology demonstration 10 December 2015[30] Successful
Prometheus 2A SOCOM Low Earth Technology demonstration 8 December 2015[31] Successful
Prometheus 2B SOCOM Low Earth Technology demonstration 13 December 2015[32] Successful
Prometheus 3A SOCOM Low Earth Technology demonstration 29 November 2015[33] Successful
Prometheus 3B SOCOM Low Earth Technology demonstration 10 December 2015[34] Successful
Prometheus 4A SOCOM Low Earth Technology demonstration 5 December 2015[35] Successful
Prometheus 4B SOCOM Low Earth Technology demonstration 1 December 2015[36] Successful
SENSE-1 USAF SMC Low Earth Technology demonstration 21 March 2015[37] Successful
SENSE-2 USAF SMC Low Earth Technology demonstration 28 October 2019[38] Successful
Firefly NASA / NRO Low Earth Atmospheric science 1 November 2017[39] Successful
Horus (STARE-B) LLNL Low Earth Technology demonstration 26 April 2018[40] Successful
Black Knight West Point Low Earth Technology demonstration 16 July 2015[41] Successful
NPS-SCAT NPS Low Earth Technology demonstration 28 October 2015[42] Successful
DragonSat-1 Drexel Low Earth Technology demonstration 31 August 2016[43] Successful
COPPER St. Louis Low Earth Technology demonstration 4 February 2016[44] Successful
ChargerSat-1 UAH Low Earth Technology demonstration 19 March 2016[45] Successful
TJ3Sat TJHSST Low Earth Technology demonstration 17 September 2015[46] Successful
Trailblazer 1 UNM Low Earth Technology demonstration 22 May 2016[47] Successful
Vermont Lunar CubeSat Vermont Low Earth Technology demonstration 21 November 2015[48] Successful
SwampSat UFL Low Earth Technology demonstration 13 December 2015[49] Successful
CAPE-2 ULL Low Earth Technology demonstration 23 October 2014[50] Successful
Ho'oponopono 2 UH Low Earth Technology demonstration 26 August 2021[51] Successful
KySat-2 Kentucky/Morehead Low Earth Technology demonstration 12 February 2015[52] Successful
PhoneSat-2.4 NASA Ames Low Earth Technology demonstration 31 January 2017[53] Successful
Largest number of satellites launched on a single rocket (31). ORS-3 will remain attached to upper stage.
20 November
03:31:04
Long March 4C Taiyuan LC-9 SAST
Yaogan 19 CNSA Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Operational
21 November
07:10:16[54]
Dnepr Dombarovsky Site 370/13 ISC Kosmotras
DubaiSat-2 EIAST Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
STSAT-3 KARI Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
SkySat-1 Skybox Imaging Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
WNISAT-1 Weather News Inc. Low Earth (SSO) Meteorology In orbit Operational
Lem (BRITE-PL) PAS Low Earth (SSO) Photometric astrometry In orbit Operational
AprizeSat-7 AprizeSat Low Earth (SSO) Communications In orbit Operational
AprizeSat-8 AprizeSat Low Earth (SSO) Communications In orbit Operational
UniSat-5 La Sapienza Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration, CubeSat deployment In orbit Operational
Delfi-n3Xt TU-Delft Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Dove 3 Planet Labs Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Dove 4 Planet Labs Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Triton 1 ISIS-BV Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
KHUSat-1 (CINEMA-2) KHU Low Earth (SSO) Space weather In orbit Operational
KHUSat-2 (CINEMA-3) KHU Low Earth (SSO) Space weather In orbit Operational
CubeBug-2 INVAP Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
GOMX-1 GOMSpace Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
NEE-02 Krysaor EXA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
FUNCube-1 AMSAT-UK/NL Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
HiNCube Narvik Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
ZACUBE-1 CPUT Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
ICube-1 PIST Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
HumSat-D Vigo Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
PUCPSat-1 PUCP Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Pocket-PUCP PUCP Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
UWE-3 Würzburg Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
 ▫  BeakerSat-1 Morehead Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration 13 February 2019[55] Successful
 ▫  QubeScout-1 UMBC Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
 ▫  WREN STADOKO UG Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
 ▫  $50SAT Morehead Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration 19 May 2018[56] Successful
First-MOVE TU-Munich Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Velox-P2 NTU Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
OPTOS INTA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
BPA-3 Hartron-Arkos Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Largest number of satellites launched on a single rocket (32).
22 November
12:02:29
Rokot / Briz-KM Plesetsk Site 133/3 Eurockot
Swarm A ESA Low Earth Magnetospheric In orbit Operational
Swarm B ESA Low Earth Magnetospheric In orbit Operational
Swarm C ESA Low Earth Magnetospheric In orbit Operational
25 November
02:12:04
Long March 2D Jiuquan SLS-2 SAST
Shiyan 5 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
25 November
20:53:06
Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 31/6 Roscosmos
Progress M-21M / 53P Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 9 June 2014 Successful

December

1 December
17:30:00 [58]
Long March 3B Xichang LC-2 CALT
Chang'e 3 CNSA Selenocentric Lunar lander 14 December
13:12
Operational
Yutu CNSA Selenocentric Lunar rover Operational
China's first lunar rover, and the first spacecraft to make a soft landing on the Moon since the Soviet Luna 24 mission in 1976.[57]
3 December
22:41:00
Falcon 9 v1.1 Cape Canaveral SLC-40 SpaceX
SES-8 SES World Skies Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
First launch of Falcon 9 v1.1 from CCAFS; first SpaceX launch targeting GEO.
6 December
07:14:30
Atlas V 501 Vandenberg SLC-3E United Launch Alliance
USA-247 (Topaz) NRO Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Operational
AeroCube-5A The Aerospace Corporation Low Earth Technology demonstration 19 April 2023[59] Successful
AeroCube-5B The Aerospace Corporation Low Earth Technology demonstration 23 November 2022[60] Successful
ALICE AFIT Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
CUNYSAT 1 CUNY Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
FIREBIRD A Montana State Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
FIREBIRD B Montana State Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
IPEX NASA JPL Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
M-Cubed 2 Michigan Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
SMDC-ONE 2.3 U.S. Army Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
SMDC-ONE 2.4 U.S. Army Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
SNaP U.S. Army Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
TacSat-6 ORS Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
NROL-39 mission.
8 December
12:12:00
Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
Inmarsat 5-F1 Inmarsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
9 December
03:26
Long March 4B Taiyuan LC-9 SAST
CBERS-3 CASC/INPE Intended: Low Earth (SSO) Remote sensing 9 December Launch failure
Third stage shutdown 11 seconds too early.
19 December
09:12:19
Soyuz ST-B / Fregat-MT Kourou ELS Arianespace
Gaia ESA Sun–Earth L2 Astrometric observatory In orbit Operational
20 December
16:42:04
Long March 3B/E Xichang LC-2 CALT
Túpac Katari 1 Agencia Boliviana Espacial Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
25 December
00:31:55
Rokot / Briz-KM Plesetsk Site 133/3 VKO
Kosmos 2488 (Strela-3M 7) VKO Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Kosmos 2489 (Strela-3M 8) VKO Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Kosmos 2490 (Strela-3M 9) VKO Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Kosmos 2491 VKO Low Earth Technology demonstration/Satellite inspection (?) In orbit Destroyed
Kosmos 2491 broke up in orbit on 23 December 2019.[61][62]
26 December
10:49:56
Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 81/24 Khrunichev
Ekspress AM5 RSCC Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
28 December
12:30:00
Soyuz-2-1v / Volga Plesetsk Site 43/4 RVSN RF
Aist 1 SSAU Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Kosmos 2492 (SKRL-756-1) RVSN RF Low Earth Radar calibration In orbit Operational
Kosmos 2493 (SKRL-756-2) RVSN RF Low Earth Radar calibration In orbit Operational
Maiden flight of Soyuz-2-1v.

Suborbital flights

Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat)
Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
26 January
22:00
Ground Based Interceptor Vandenberg LF-23 Missile Defense Agency
EKV MDA Suborbital Anti-ballistic missile test 26 January Successful
Non-intercept flight test.
27 January
~12:10
B-611 Shuangchengzi PLA
PLA Suborbital ABM target 11 January Successful
Target
27 January
~12:10
SC-19 Korla PLA
PLA Suborbital ABM test 11 January Successful
Interceptor, successful intercept
28 January Kavoshgar (Zelzal-based) Semnan ISA
Pishgam ISA Suborbital Biological 28 January Successful[63]
Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 miles), carried a rhesus monkey
29 January
22:50
Terrier Improved Orion Wallops Island NASA
Lithium Release Experiments NASA GSFC Suborbital Atmospheric experiments 29 January Successful
Apogee: ~130 kilometres (81 mi)
7 February
08:21
Talos Terrier Oriole Nihka Poker Flat NASA
VISIONS NASA GSFC Suborbital Auroral research 7 February Successful
13 February
09:10
MRBTM FTM-20 Kauai MDA
MDA Suborbital ABM target 13 February Successful
SM-3 Block 1A target
13 February
09:15
RIM-161C SM-3 Block 1A FTM-20 USS Lake Erie, Pacific Ocean US Navy
US Navy Suborbital ABM test 13 February Successful
MRBTM interceptor, successful intercept
15 February
16:34
Terrier Improved Orion White Sands NASA
Technology Experiments NASA GSFC/WFF Suborbital Technology demonstration 15 February Successful
Apogee: ~130 kilometres (81 mi) ?
25 February
05:52:31
Arrow III Negev IAI
IAI/IDF Suborbital ABM Test 25 February Successful
Test flight of the Arrow-III
11 March
06:10
Terrier-Lynx Wallops Island DoD
Shark DoD Suborbital Radar target 11 March Successful
Apogee: ~300 kilometres (190 mi)
4 April
21:55
Tianying 3E Hainan CNSA
Kunpeng-1 CSSAR Suborbital Environment monitoring 4 April Successful
Apogee: 191 kilometres (119 mi)
7 April
04:55
Agni-II ITR IC-4 Indian Army
Indian Army Suborbital Missile test 7 April Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
10 April Shaheen-IA Sonmiani ASFC
ASFC Suborbital Test flight 10 April Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
12 April
04:25
VSB-30 Esrange EuroLaunch
TEXUS-50 DLR/ESA Suborbital Microgravity 12 April Successful
Apogee: 261 kilometres (162 mi)
21 April
08:00
Black Brant IX White Sands NASA
SLICE CU Boulder Suborbital Astronomy 21 April Successful
Apogee: 318 kilometres (198 mi)?
23 April
17:30
Black Brant IX White Sands NASA
EUNIS NASA GSFC Suborbital Solar research 23 April Successful
Apogee: 320 kilometres (200 mi)?
1 May
07:38
Terrier Improved Orion Roi-Namur NASA
MOSC NASA/Air Force Research Lab Suborbital Ionospheric research 1 May Successful
Apogee: ~189 kilometres (117 mi)
5 May
08:30
M51 Le Vigilant, Audierne Bay DGA/Marine nationale
DGA/Marine nationale Suborbital Test flight 5 May Launch failure
7 May
07:39:00
Terrier-Oriole Roi-Namur NASA
EVEX University of Illinois Suborbital Atmospheric 7 May Successful
Apogee: ~350 kilometres (220 mi) ?
7 May
07:40:30
Terrier-Improved Malemute Roi-Namur NASA
EVEX University of Illinois Suborbital Atmospheric 7 May Successful
Apogee: ~350 kilometres (220 mi) ?
9 May
07:23
Terrier Improved Orion Roi-Namur NASA
MOSC NASA/Air Force Research Lab Suborbital Ionospheric research 9 May Successful
Apogee: ~189 kilometres (117 mi)
11 May
05:00
Black Brant IX White Sands NASA
FORTIS JHU Suborbital Astronomy 11 May Successful
Apogee: 280 kilometres (170 mi)?
13 May
12:58
DF-21 Xichang
Kunpeng-7 CNSA Suborbital Magnetospheric research 13 May Successful
Apogee: 10,000 kilometres (6,200 mi)
16 May
03:25
ARAV-C FTM-19 Kauai MDA
MDA Suborbital ABM target 16 May Successful
SM-3 Block 1B target
16 May
03:30
RIM-161C SM-3 Block 1B FTM-19 USS Lake Erie, Pacific Ocean US Navy
US Navy Suborbital ABM test 16 May Successful
ARAV-C interceptor, successful intercept
22 May
13:27
LGM-30G Minuteman III Vandenberg LF-04 U.S. Air Force
U.S. Air Force Suborbital Test flight 22 May Successful
GT207GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
5 June
07:00
Taiwan Sounding Rocket Sounding Rocket VIII Jiu Peng Air Base NSPO
Reaction control system, recovery capsule NSPO/NCU Suborbital Technology test 5 June Successful
Apogee: 279 kilometres (173 mi)
6 June
03:05
Black Brant XII Wallops Island NASA
CIBER Caltech Suborbital Astronomy 6 June Successful
Apogee: 577 kilometres (359 mi)
6 June
17:45
RS-26 Rubezh Kapustin Yar RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 6 June Successful
20 June
09:30
Terrier-Improved Orion Wallops Island NASA
RockOn CU Boulder Suborbital Student experiments 20 June Successful
Apogee: 118 kilometres (73 mi)
21 June
13:57
SpaceLoft XL Spaceport America UP Aerospace
FOP-1 NASA Suborbital Student experiments 21 June Successful
Mission SL-7, Apogee: 119 kilometres (74 mi), successfully recovered
27 June
23:52
VS-30 Andøya DLR
WADIS-1 DLR Suborbital Atmospheric 27 June Successful
Apogee: 115 kilometres (71 mi), 12 Super Loki meteorological rockets were also launched
4 July
14:31:00
Black Brant VB Wallops LA-2 NASA
Daytime Dynamo NASA GSFC Suborbital Geospace 4 July Successful
Apogee: 135 kilometres (84 mi)
4 July
14:31:15
Terrier Improved Orion Wallops LA-2 NASA
Daytime Dynamo NASA GSFC Suborbital Geospace 4 July Successful
Apogee: 160 kilometres (99 mi)
5 July
18:29
UGM-96 Trident I C4 (LV-2) FTG-07 Meck MDA
MDA Suborbital ABM target 5 July Successful
5 July
18:35
Ground Based Interceptor FTG-07 Vandenberg LF-23 MDA
MDA Suborbital ABM test 5 July Spacecraft failure
UMG-96 Trident I interceptor, intercept failed, EKV likely failed to separate from booster
12 July Jericho III Palmachim Israeli Air Force
Israeli Air Force Suborbital Missile test 12 July Successful
15 July
05:53
VS-30 Esrange EuroLaunch
MAPHEUS-4 DLR Suborbital Technology demonstration 15 July Successful
Apogee: 151 kilometres (94 mi)
20 July
14:00:00
S-310 Uchinoura JAXA
JAXA/KU/HU/KUT/TU/TPU/
TU/UT/NU/CU/GSFC
Suborbital Ionospheric research 20 July Successful
Apogee: 139 kilometres (86 mi)
20 July
14:57:00
S-520 Uchinoura JAXA
JAXA/KU/HU/KUT/TU/TPU/
TU/UT/NU/CU/GSFC
Suborbital Ionospheric research 20 July Successful
Apogee: 316 kilometres (196 mi)
8 August
18:10
Black Brant IX White Sands NASA
VERIS NRL Suborbital Solar research 8 August Successful
Apogee: 280 kilometres (170 mi)?
12 August
03:45
Prithvi II Integrated Test Range Launch Complex 3 DRDO
DRDO Suborbital Missile test 12 August Successful
Apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)
13 August
10:00
Terrier-Improved Malemute Wallops Island NASA
RockSat-X NASA Suborbital Student experiments 13 August Successful
Apogee: 151 kilometres (94 mi)?
3 September
06:16
Silver Sparrow F-15 Eagle, Israel IAF
Israeli Air Force Suborbital ABM target 3 September Successful
Arrow-3 tracking target, Apogee: ~150 kilometres (93 mi)
6 September
05:20
RSM-56 Bulava K-550 Aleksandr Nevskiy, White Sea VMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 6 September Launch failure
Second stage failure
10 September UGM-133 Trident II D5 USS Tennessee, ETR U.S. Navy
US Navy Suborbital Test flight 10 September Successful
Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test ?
10 September UGM-133 Trident II D5 USS Tennessee, ETR U.S. Navy
US Navy Suborbital Test flight 10 September Successful
Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test ?
10 September eMRBM C-17 Globemaster III, Pacific Ocean MDA
MDA/IMDO Suborbital ABM target 10 September Successful
Target for THAAD, successful intercept
10 September MRBM Wake Island MDA
MDA/IMDO Suborbital ABM target 10 September Successful
Target for SM-3, successful intercept
10 September SM-3 Block 1A FTO-01 USS Decatur (DDG-73), Pacific Ocean US Navy
US Navy Suborbital ABM test 10 September Successful
Intercepted target missile
10 September THAAD FTO-01 Meck Island US Army
US Army/MDA Suborbital ABM test 10 September Successful
Intercepted target missile
10 September THAAD FTO-01 Meck Island US Army
US Army/MDA Suborbital ABM test 10 September Successful
Back-up interceptor for SM-3
12 September UGM-133 Trident II D5 USS Tennessee, ETR U.S. Navy
US Navy Suborbital Test flight 12 September Successful
Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test ?
12 September UGM-133 Trident II D5 USS Tennessee, ETR U.S. Navy
US Navy Suborbital Test flight 12 September Successful
Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test ?
15 September
09:20
Agni-V Integrated Test Range DRDO
DRDO Suborbital Test flight 15 September Successful
Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), second flight of Agni-V
18 September
11:15
VS-30/Improved Orion Andøya DLR
Scramspace University of Queensland Suborbital Technology demonstration 18 September Launch failure
Hypersonic research experiment, first stage failure of launch vehicle
19 September
00:30
ARAV-C++ FTM-21 Kauai MDA
MDA Suborbital ABM target 19 September Successful
SM-3 Block 1B target
19 September
00:32 ?
RIM-161C SM-3 Block 1B FTM-21 USS Lake Erie, Pacific Ocean US Navy
US Navy Suborbital ABM test 19 September Successful
ARAV-C++ interceptor, successful intercept
19 September
00:32 ?
RIM-161C SM-3 Block 1B FTM-21 USS Lake Erie, Pacific Ocean US Navy
US Navy Suborbital ABM test 19 September Successful
ARAV-C++ back-up interceptor
22 September
10:01
LGM-30G Minuteman III Vandenberg LF-10 US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Test flight 22 September Successful
GT209GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
26 September
10:33
LGM-30G Minuteman III Vandenberg LF-09 US Air Force
U.S. Air Force Suborbital Test flight 26 September Successful
GT208GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
4 October
05:33
ARAV-ER FTM-22 Kauai MDA
MDA Suborbital ABM target 4 October Successful
SM-3 Block 1B target
4 October
05:37 ?
RIM-161C SM-3 Block 1B FTM-22 USS Lake Erie, Pacific Ocean US Navy
US Navy Suborbital ABM test 4 October Successful
ARAV-ER interceptor, successful intercept
7 October
03:45
Prithvi II Integrated Test Range Launch Complex 3 DRDO
DRDO Suborbital Missile test 7 October Successful
Apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)
8 October
06:50
Prithvi II Integrated Test Range Launch Complex 3 DRDO
DRDO Suborbital Missile test 8 October Successful
Apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)
10 October
13:39
RS-12M Topol Kapustin Yar RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 10 October Successful
Test of a new experimental reentry vehicle
21 October
10:00[64]
Black Brant IX White Sands NASA
EVE CU Boulder Suborbital SDO calibration 21 October Successful
Apogee: 273 kilometres (170 mi)
30 October RT-2PM Topol Plesetsk RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 30 October Successful
30 October R-36M2 Voyevoda Dombarovsky RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 30 October Successful
30 October R-29RMU Sineva K-117 Bryansk, Barents Sea VMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 30 October Successful
30 October R-29R Volna K-433 Svyatoy Georgiy Pobedonosets, Sea of Okhotsk VMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 30 October Successful
3 November
09:25
Black Brant IX White Sands NASA
X-ray Quantum Calorimeter UW-Madison Suborbital X-ray astronomy 3 November Successful
Apogee: 278 kilometres (173 mi)
8 November Agni-I Integrated Test Range IDRDL
IDRDL Suborbital Missile test 8 November Successful
Apogee: ~500 kilometres (310 mi)?
12 November
16:15
SpaceLoft XL Spaceport America UP Aerospace
FOP-2 NASA Suborbital Six technology experiments 12 November Successful
Mission SL-8, Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi), successfully recovered
20 November
11:40
Black Brant IX White Sands NASA
FORTIS JHU Suborbital UV astronomy 20 November Successful
Studied spectra of comet ISON, apogee: 277 kilometres (172 mi)
27 November
03:50[65]
Black Brant IX White Sands NASA
VeSpR Boston University Suborbital UV astronomy 27 November Successful
Venus Spectral Rocket Experiment, apogee: 280 kilometres (170 mi)
3 December Prithvi II Integrated Test Range Launch Complex 3 DRDO
DRDO Suborbital Missile test 3 December Successful
Apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)
14 December Shahab-1 Semnan ISA
Kavoshgar Pazhuhesh ISA Suborbital Biological 14 December Successful
Apogee: 120 kilometres (72 miles), carried a rhesus monkey
17 December
12:36
LGM-30G Minuteman III Vandenberg LF-04 US Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Test flight 17 December Successful
GT210GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
23 December
11:28
Agni-III ITR IC-4 Indian Army
Indian Army Suborbital Missile test 23 December Successful
Apogee: 350 kilometres (220 mi)
24 December
07:00
RS-24 Yars Plesetsk RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 24 December Successful
27 December
17:30
RS-12M Topol Kapustin Yar RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 27 December Successful

Deep space rendezvous

Date (UTC) Spacecraft Event Remarks
16 February Cassini 90th flyby of Titan Closest approach: 1,978 kilometres (1,229 mi).
9 March Cassini 4th flyby of Rhea Closest approach: 997 kilometres (620 mi). Last Cassini flyby of Rhea.
5 April Cassini 91st flyby of Titan Closest approach: 1,400 kilometres (870 mi).
12 April Cassini Flyby of Polydeuces Closest approach: 115,000 kilometres (71,000 mi).
23 May Cassini 92nd flyby of Titan Closest approach: 970 kilometres (600 mi).
10 July Cassini 93rd flyby of Titan Closest approach: 964 kilometres (599 mi).
26 July Cassini 94th flyby of Titan Closest approach: 1,400 kilometres (870 mi).
12 September Cassini 95th flyby of Titan Closest approach: 1,400 kilometres (870 mi).
6 October LADEE Injection into Selenocentric orbit Preliminary orbit was 269 kilometres (167 mi) x 15,772 kilometres (9,800 mi), inclined 157 deg to the equator.
9 October Juno Flyby of Earth Gravity assist, closest approach: 552 kilometres (343 mi).
13 October Cassini 96th flyby of Titan Closest approach: 961 kilometres (597 mi).
30 November Cassini 97th flyby of Titan Closest approach: 870 kilometres (540 mi).
6 December Chang'e 3 Injection into Selenocentric orbit Preliminary orbit was 100 kilometres (62 mi), reduced to 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) on 10 December.
14 December Chang'e 3 Landing at Mare Imbrium First Chinese lunar soft lander and rover, coordinates 44°07′17″N 19°30′42″W / 44.1214°N 19.5116°W / 44.1214; -19.5116.
28 December Mars Express Flyby of Phobos Closest approach: 45 kilometres (28 mi).

Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVAs)

Start Date/Time Duration End Time Spacecraft Crew Remarks
19 April
14:03
6 hours
38 minutes
20:41 Expedition 35/36

ISS Pirs

Pavel Vinogradov

Roman Romanenko

Installed the Obstanovka plasma waves and ionosphere experiment to the exterior of the Zvezda service module. Also replaced a faulty retro-reflector device used as navigational aids for the Automatic Transfer Vehicle and retrieved the Biorisk microbe exposure experiment. An attempt to retrieve the Vinoslivost materials sample experiment failed when it was accidentally dropped while being taken back to the Pirs module airlock.[66][67]
11 May
12:44
5 hours
30 minutes
18:14 Expedition 35/36

ISS Quest

Christopher Cassidy

Thomas Marshburn

Replaced the 2B Pump Flow Control Subassembly (PFCS) on the Port 6 truss in attempting to locate the source of an ammonia coolant leak on the Port 6 truss Photo Voltaic Thermal Control System (PVTCS).[68][69]
24 June
13:32
6 hours
34 minutes
20:06 Expedition 36/37

ISS Pirs

Fyodor Yurchikhin

Aleksandr Misurkin

Replaced a fluid flow regulator on the Zarya module, testing of the Kurs docking system on the station ahead of the arrival of a new Russian module, installing the "Indicator" experiment, installing gap spanners on to the outside of the station and photographing the multilayer insulation (MLI) protecting the Russian segment from micrometeoroids and taking samples from the exterior surface of the pressure hull underneath the MLI to identify signs of pressure hull material microscopic deterioration.[70][71]
9 July
12:02
6 hours
7 minutes
18:09 Expedition 36/37

ISS Quest

Christopher Cassidy

Luca Parmitano

Replaced a failed Space-to-Ground Transmitter Receiver Controller and the Mobile Base Camera Light Pan-Tilt Assembly, retrieved the MISSE-8 and ORMatE-III experiments, photographed the AMS-02, moved two Radiator Grapple Bars to either sides of the truss, routed power cables to support the addition of the new Russian MLM and installed a multi-layer insulation cover to protect the docking interface of PMA-2.[72][73]
16 July
11:57
1 hours
32 minutes
13:29 Expedition 36/37

ISS Quest

Christopher Cassidy

Luca Parmitano

Installed a Y-bypass jumper on power lines on the Z1 truss, routing 1553 data cables for a grapple fixture and Ethernet cables for a future Russian station module. The spacewalk was then cut short after Parmitano reported excess water leaking inside his helmet.[74][75][76]
16 August
14:36
7 hours
29 minutes
22:05 Expedition 36/37

ISS Pirs

Fyodor Yurchikhin

Aleksandr Misurkin

Routed power and Ethernet cables for later attachment to the future Nauka module. Also installed connectors between modules and a material science experiment.[77][78]
22 August
11:34
5 hours
58 minutes
17:32 Expedition 36/37

ISS Pirs

Fyodor Yurchikhin

Aleksandr Misurkin

Removed a laser communication and installed an EVA work station and camera pointing platform outside the Zvezda service module, inspection and tightening of various antenna covers on Zvezda, and installed new spacewalk aids.[79][80]
9 November
14:34
5 hours
50 minutes
20:24 Expedition 37/38

ISS Pirs

Oleg Kotov

Sergey Ryazansky

Took the Olympic torch for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games to the outside of ISS. They also continued work on an extravehicular activity workstation and biaxial pointing platform by removing launch brackets and bolts, as well as retrieving an experimental package. The planned installation of a foot restraint on the mounting seat of the workstation was deferred to a future spacewalk after the spacewalkers noticed some issues with its alignment.[81][82]
21 December
12:01
5 hours
28 minutes
17:29 Expedition 38/39

ISS Quest

Richard Mastracchio

Michael S. Hopkins

Removed ammonia fluid lines from Active Thermal Control System pump module; removed pump module from starboard truss and stowed it on Payload Orbital Replacement Unit Accommodation.[83]
24 December
11:53
7 hours
30 minutes
19:23 Expedition 38/39

ISS Quest

Richard Mastracchio

Michael S. Hopkins

Retrieved spare ammonia pump module, installed it on starboard truss, and connected it to Loop A of Active Thermal Control System.[84][85]
27 December
13:00
8 hours
7 minutes
21:07 Expedition 38/39

ISS Pirs

Oleg Kotov

Sergey Ryazansky

Attempted installation of 2 HD cameras for commercial Earth observation on the outside of the Zvezda module, cancelled after one of the cameras failed to provide data to the ground during testing. Also installed and jettisoned experimental equipment outside the Russian segment. Longest Russian EVA in history.[86][87]

Orbital launch statistics

By country

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

Country Launches Successes Failures Partial
failures
 China 15 14 1 0
 France 4 4 0 0
 India 3 3 0 0
 Italy 1 1 0 0
 Japan 3 3 0 0
 Russia 31[a] 28 2 1
 South Korea 1[b] 1 0 0
 Ukraine 4 4 0 0
 United States 19 19 0 0
World 81 77 3 1

By rocket

By family

By type

By configuration

By spaceport

5
10
15
20
25
30
China
France
India
International waters
Japan
Kazakhstan
South Korea
Russia
United States
Site Country Launches Successes Failures Partial failures Remarks
Baikonur  Kazakhstan 23 22 1 0
Cape Canaveral  United States 10 10 0 0
Dombarovsky  Russia 2 2 0 0
Kourou  France 7 7 0 0
Jiuquan  China 7 7 0 0
MARS  United States 4 4 0 0
Naro  South Korea 1 1 0 0
Ocean Odyssey International waters 1 0 1 0
Plesetsk  Russia 7 6 0 1
Satish Dhawan  India 3 3 0 0
Tanegashima  Japan 2 2 0 0
Taiyuan  China 5 4 1 0
Uchinoura  Japan 1 1 0 0
Vandenberg  United States 5 5 0 0 Includes Pegasus-XL launch whose carrier aircraft took off from Vandenberg
Xichang  China 3 3 0 0
Total 81 77 3 1

By orbit

  •   Transatmospheric
  •   Low Earth
  •   Low Earth (ISS)
  •   Low Earth (SSO)
  •   Low Earth (retrograde)
  •   Medium Earth
  •   Geosychronous
    (transfer)
  •   Inclined GSO
  •   High Earth
  •   Heliocentric
Orbital regime Launches Successes Failures Accidentally
achieved
Remarks
Transatmospheric 0 0 0 0
Low Earth 48 47 1 0 12 to ISS, 1 to Tiangong-1
Medium Earth / Molniya 4 3 1 0
Geosynchronous / GTO 24 23 1 0
High Earth / Lunar transfer 3 3 0 0 MOM was initially placed in a highly elliptical Earth orbit and performed Trans-Mars injection under its own power
Heliocentric / Planetary transfer 2 2 0 0
Total 81 78 3 0

Notes

  1. ^ Includes two European Soyuz launches from Kourou, French Guiana by Arianespace
  2. ^ With Russian assistance

References

  • Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
  • Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
  • Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.
  • Krebs, Gunter. "Chronology of Space Launches".
  • Kyle, Ed. "Space Launch Report". Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  • McDowell, Jonathan. "GCAT Orbital Launch Log".
  • Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive".
  • Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica".
  • Webb, Brian. "Southwest Space Archive".
  • Zak, Anatoly. "Russian Space Web".
  • "ISS Calendar". Spaceflight 101.
  • "NSSDCA Master Catalog". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
  • "Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).
  • "Rocket Launch Manifest". Next Spaceflight.
  • "Space Launch Plans". Novosti Kosmonavtiki.
Generic references:
Spaceflight portal

Citations

  1. ^ Bergin, Chris (17 March 2013). "Stars align for Orbital's Antares – A-One debut set for mid-April". NASA Spaceflight. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  2. ^ Thomas, Arun. "Mangalyan". CNN.
  3. ^ "Russia Launches Three Military Satellites". RIA Novosti. 15 January 2013. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  4. ^ "IGS 8B (DEMO)". N2YO.com. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  5. ^ "STSAT 2C". N2YO.com. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Sea Launch's Intelsat-27 FROB Report Complete". Sea Launch. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  7. ^ "OSSI 1". N2YO.com. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  8. ^ "Press Release: Break-up of Russian-owned space object". U.S. Space Command. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Спутник "Ресурс-П" №1 вывели из состава группировки после отказа бортовой аппаратуры" [Satellite "Resurs-P" No. 1 was withdrawn from the group after the failure of on-board equipment]. TASS (in Russian). 18 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  10. ^ Vladimir Kirillov. "Russia on the Market of High Resolution Space Images". Moscow Defense Brief. Archived from the original on 21 September 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  11. ^ "COSMOS 2487". N2YO.com. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  12. ^ Zak, Anatoly. "Russia's Proton crashes with a trio of navigation satellites". RussianSpaceWeb.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  13. ^ "Detailed Mission Data". Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  14. ^ "About Epsilon Launch Vehicle". JAXA. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Completed: More than 10 years of observations". ISAS/JAXA. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  16. ^ Barbosa, Rui C (25 September 2013). "Kuaizhou – China secretly launches new quick response rocket". NASASpaceflight.com.
  17. ^ "KUAIZHOU-1". N2YO.com. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  18. ^ "CASSIOPE". MDA Corporation. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  19. ^ a b c d e Messier, Doug (10 September 2013). "A Preview of Falcon 9′s Flight From Vandenberg". Parabolic Arc. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  20. ^ Jonathan McDowell [@planet4589] (8 April 2021). "The Jianbing-7 03 radar satellite, cover name Yaogan 18, reentered at 0035 UTC Apr 7 over the South Atlantic. It was launched in Oct 2013, operated until Feb 2019, and had its orbit lowered from Apr-Jul 2020; it underwent uncontrolled decay since 2020 Jul 7" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ^ "India to launch Mars Orbiter Mission on November 5". The Times of India. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  22. ^ MAVEN official site
  23. ^ Rawcliffe, Britt (20 November 2013). "ORS-3 and Minotaur 1 launch tiny CubeSats full of big promise". SpaceFlight Insider. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  24. ^ "MINOTAUR R/B". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  25. ^ "STPSAT-3". N2YO.com. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  26. ^ "ORSES". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  27. ^ "ORS TECH 1". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  28. ^ "ORS TECH 2". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  29. ^ "PROMETHEUS 1-1". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  30. ^ "PROMETHEUS 1-2". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  31. ^ "PROMETHEUS 1-3". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  32. ^ "PROMETHEUS 1-4". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  33. ^ "PROMETHEUS 1-5". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  34. ^ "PROMETHEUS 1-6". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  35. ^ "PROMETHEUS 1-7". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  36. ^ "PROMETHEUS 1-8". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  37. ^ "SENSE SV1". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  38. ^ "SENSE SV2". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  39. ^ "FIREFLY". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  40. ^ "HORUS". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  41. ^ "BLACK KNIGHT". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  42. ^ "NPS-SCAT". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  43. ^ "DRAGONSAT". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  44. ^ "COPPER". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  45. ^ "CHARGERSAT". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  46. ^ "TJ3SAT". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  47. ^ "TRAILBLAZER". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  48. ^ "VERMONT LUNAR". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  49. ^ "SWAMPSAT". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  50. ^ "CAPE-2". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  51. ^ "HO OPONOPONO 2". N2YO.com. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  52. ^ "KYSAT II". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  53. ^ "PHONESAT 2.4". N2YO.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  54. ^ Graham, William (21 November 2013). "Russian Dnepr conducts record breaking 32 satellite haul". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  55. ^ "BEAKERSAT 1". N2YO.com. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  56. ^ "50 SAT". N2YO.com. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  57. ^ "Chang'e-3: China To Launch First Moon Rover In 2013". Asian Scientist. 7 March 2012.
  58. ^ "China's Chang'e-3 to land on moon next year". China Daily. 11 November 2012.
  59. ^ "AEROCUBE 5A". N2YO.com. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  60. ^ "AEROCUBE 5B". N2YO.com. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  61. ^ @planet4589 (11 January 2020). "Unlike the two later sats, Kosmos-2491 did not change its orbit. It appeared to end its mission in 2014. However, at about 1321 UTC on 2019 Dec 23, the satellite made a 1.5m/s orbit change and 10 debris objects have now been cataloged" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  62. ^ Berger, Eric (8 February 2023). "Mysterious Russian satellites are now breaking apart in low-Earth orbit". Ars Technica. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  63. ^ "Iran Says It Sent Monkey Into Space and Back". abc. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  64. ^ Sounding Rocket to Calibrate NASA's SDO Instrument
  65. ^ "Venus Spectral Rocket Experiment". NASA. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  66. ^ Pete Harding (19 April 2013). "Cosmonauts successfully conclude Russian spacewalk". Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  67. ^ NASA (19 April 2013). "Spacewalkers Deploy Plasma Experiment, Install Navigational Aid". Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  68. ^ Pete Harding and Chris Bergin (11 May 2013). "Successful EVA likely to have resolved ammonia leak". Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  69. ^ NASA (11 May 2013). "Astronauts Complete Spacewalk to Repair Ammonia Leak". Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  70. ^ Chris Bergin (24 June 2013). "Russian duo complete ambitious ISS spacewalk". Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  71. ^ NASA (24 June 2013). "Cosmonauts Complete Spacewalk to Prepare Station for New Russian Lab". Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  72. ^ Chris Bergin (9 July 2013). "EVA-22: Cassidy and Parmitano complete ISS spacewalk". Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  73. ^ NASA (9 July 2013). "Station Astronauts Complete First of Two July Spacewalks". Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  74. ^ Miriam Kramer (16 July 2013). "NASA Cuts Spacewalk Short After Water Leak Inside Astronaut's Spacesuit". Space.com. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  75. ^ Pete Harding (16 July 2013). "EVA-23 terminated due to Parmitano EMU issue". Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  76. ^ NASA (16 July 2013). "Tuesday Spacewalk Ended Early". Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  77. ^ Chris Bergin (16 August 2013). "Russian EVA breaks record – EMU troubleshooting continues". Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  78. ^ NASA (16 August 2013). "Spacewalkers Wire Up Station for Future Lab". Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  79. ^ Chris Bergin (22 August 2013). "Russian duo complete EVA-35 – Luca recalls EVA drama". Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  80. ^ NASA (22 August 2013). "Spacewalkers Install Camera Platform, Inspect Station". Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  81. ^ Chris Bergin (9 November 2013). "Troublesome ISS EVA conducts Olympic torch relay in space". Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  82. ^ NASA (9 November 2013). "Olympic Torch Highlights Station Spacewalk". Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  83. ^ NASA (21 December 2013). "Space Station Crew Removes Ammonia Pump; Next Spacewalk Set for Tuesday". Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  84. ^ NASA (24 December 2013). "Spacewalkers Complete Installation of Ammonia Pump Module". Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  85. ^ Robert Z. Pearlman (24 December 2013). "Spacewalking Astronauts Gift Space Station with Christmas Eve Cooling Pump Fix". Space.com. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  86. ^ NASA (27 December 2013). "Station Cosmonauts Complete Spacewalk to Deploy Cameras". Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  87. ^ Chris Bergin (27 December 2013). "Russian duo break EVA record – Main task suffers issue". Retrieved 28 December 2013.