2006 in spaceflight

2006 in spaceflight
Launch of New Horizons, the first probe to Pluto, on the first Atlas V 551
Orbital launches
First19 January
Last27 December
Total67
Successes62
Failures5
Partial failures0
Catalogued63[a]
National firsts
Satellite Kazakhstan
Space traveller Brazil
 Iran
 Sweden
Rockets
Maiden flightsAtlas V 411
Atlas V 551
Long March 4B-II (4C)
Falcon 1
H-IIA 204
Soyuz-2.1b
RetirementsTsyklon-2
M-V
Crewed flights
Orbital5
Total travellers26
2006 in spaceflight
← 2005
2007 →

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.

Launches

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

January

[edit]
19 January
19:00:00
United StatesAtlas V 551 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-41 RussiaUnited StatesInternational Launch Services
United StatesNew Horizons NASA Galactocentric Pluto flyby In orbit Operational
Maiden flight of Atlas V 551, first spacecraft to visit Pluto and explored the Kuiper belt. First spacecraft launched directly to Sun-escape velocity
24 January
01:33
JapanH-IIA 2022 JapanTanegashima LA-Y1 Japan JAXA[3]
JapanDaichi (ALOS) JAXA Sun-synchronous Remote Sensing In orbit Partial spacecraft failure
Operational
Poor quality images returned due to attitude control and noise problems[1] was resolved by software adjustment.[2]

February

[edit]
15 February
23:34:55
Ukraine Zenit-3SL Norway Ocean Odyssey United Nations Sea Launch
United States EchoStar X EchoStar Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
18 February
06:27
Japan H-IIA 2024 Japan Tanegashima LA-Y1 Japan RSC[4][5]
Japan MTSAT-2 MILT/JMA Geosynchronous ATC/Weather In orbit Operational
Last launch conducted by RSC
21 February
21:28:00
Japan M-V Japan Uchinoura Japan JAXA
Japan Akari (ASTRO-F) JAXA Sun-synchronous IR astronomy 11 April 2023
04:44[6]
Successful
Japan Cute-1.7+APD TiTech Low Earth Amateur radio 24 October 2009[7] Successful
Cute-1.7+APD is a 2U CubeSat
28 February
20:10:00
Russia Proton-M/Briz-M Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 200/39 Russia United StatesInternational Launch Services
Saudi Arabia Arabsat 4A Arabsat Intended: Geosynchronous
Achieved: Medium Earth
Communications 24 March[8] Launch failure
Upper stage malfunction left payload in useless orbit, deorbited after attempts to raise orbit failed

March

[edit]
11 March
22:33
European UnionAriane 5ECA FranceKourou ELA-3 FranceArianespace
SpainSpainsat Hisdesat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
FranceHot Bird 7A Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
22 March
14:03
United StatesPegasus-XL United StatesStargazer, Vandenberg United StatesOrbital Sciences
United StatesST-5A NASA Low Earth Technology In orbit Successful
United StatesST-5B NASA Low Earth Technology In orbit Successful
United StatesST-5C NASA Low Earth Technology In orbit Successful
All three satellites deactivated on 30 June
24 March
22:30
United StatesFalcon 1 Marshall IslandsOmelek United StatesSpaceX
United StatesFalconSat 2 USAF Academy Intended: Low Earth Plasma research T+60 seconds Launch failure
Maiden flight of Falcon 1, rocket lost power shortly after launch due to engine fire caused by corrosion of a nut on a fuel line.
30 March
02:30:20
RussiaSoyuz-FG KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaSoyuz TMA-8 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS Expedition 13 29 September
01:13
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with 3 cosmonauts, first Brazilian in space

April

[edit]
12 April
23:29:59
UkraineZenit-3SL NorwayOcean Odyssey United NationsSea Launch
JapanJCSAT-5A (JCSAT-9, N-STAR d) JCSAT Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
15 April
01:40:00
United States Minotaur I United States Vandenberg SLC-8 United States Orbital Sciences
United States Taiwan COSMIC-FM1 (FORMOSAT-3A) NASA / NSPO Low Earth Meteorology In orbit Successful
United States Taiwan COSMIC-FM2 (FORMOSAT-3B) NASA / NSPO Low Earth Meteorology In orbit Partial spacecraft failure
Successful
United States Taiwan COSMIC-FM3 (FORMOSAT-3C) NASA / NSPO Low Earth Meteorology In orbit Partial spacecraft failure
Successful
United States Taiwan COSMIC-FM4 (FORMOSAT-3D) NASA / NSPO Low Earth Meteorology In orbit Successful
United States Taiwan COSMIC-FM5 (FORMOSAT-3E) NASA / NSPO Low Earth Meteorology In orbit Successful
United States Taiwan COSMIC-FM6 (FORMOSAT-3F) NASA / NSPO Low Earth Meteorology In orbit Successful
Power system and solar panel malfunctions on FM2 and FM3, control issues with FM6 during 2007. Constellation deactivated on 1 May 2020 after 14 years in operation.
20 April
20:27:00
United StatesAtlas V 411 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-41 RussiaUnited StatesInternational Launch Services
LuxembourgAstra 1KR SES Astra Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Maiden flight of Atlas V 411, final ILS Atlas launch
24 April
16:03:25
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaProgress M-56 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) Logistics 18 September Successful
ISS flight 21P
25 April
16:47:16
RussiaStart-1 RussiaSvobodny Site 5 RussiaUnited Start
IsraelEROS B ImageSat Low Earth (polar) Imaging In orbit Operational
Final launch from Svobodny Cosmodrome
26 April
22:48
ChinaLong March 4B-II (4C) ChinaTaiyuan LC-1 ChinaCNSA
ChinaYaogan 1 CAST Low Earth Imaging In orbit Operational
Maiden flight of Long March 4B-II, redesignated Long March 4C by November 2007
28 April
10:02:16
United StatesDelta II 7420-10C United StatesVandenberg SLC-2W United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesFranceCALIPSO NASA/CNES Sun-synchronous Climatology In orbit Operational
United StatesCloudSat NASA Sun-synchronous Climatology In orbit Successful
Both satellites part of the A-train constellation, spacecraft study aerosols and clouds respectively

May

[edit]
3 May
17:38
RussiaSoyuz-U RussiaPlesetsk Site 16/2 RussiaRVSN
RussiaKosmos 2420 (Kobal't-M) VKS Low Earth Optical imaging In orbit Operational
24 May
22:11:00
United States Delta IV-M+ (4,2) United States Cape Canaveral SLC-37B United States Boeing IDS
United States GOES 13 (GOES-N) NASA / NOAA / U.S. Space Force Geosynchronous Meteorology In orbit Operational
Decommissioned in 2018; reactivated in September 2020 to serve as the Electro-Optical Infrared Weather System – Geostationary (EWS-G1) satellite for the U.S. Space Force.[9]
26 May
18:50
RussiaShtil' RussiaK-84 Ekaterinburg, Barents Sea RussiaVMF
RussiaKompass 2 Roskosmos Low Earth Earthquake detection 28 December 2011 Partial spacecraft failure
Control and power problems made satellite unusable. Written off on 29 May 2006. Problems cleared by November, and satellite re-activated.[10]
27 May
21:09
Europe Ariane 5 ECA France Kourou ELA-3 France Arianespace
Mexico Satmex 6 Satmex Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful
Thailand Thaicom 5 Shin Satellite Geosynchronous Communications 26 February 2020
09:52[11]
Successful
Record for heaviest dual-payload to geosynchronous transfer orbit, stood until May 2007.

June

[edit]
15 June
08:00:00
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaResurs-DK-1 Roskosmos Low Earth Remote sensing In orbit Operational
17 June
22:44:05
RussiaProton-K/DM-3 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 200/39 RussiaKhrunichev
KazakhstanKazSat-1 JSC KazSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Spacecraft failure
First Kazakh satellite, satellite suffered control problems and was unusable by October 2008
18 June
07:50
UkraineZenit-3SL NorwayOcean Odyssey United NationsSea Launch
United StatesGalaxy 16 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Launched for PanAmSat, transferred to Intelsat before entry into service due to merger
21 June
22:15
United StatesDelta II 7925 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17A United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesUSA-187 (MiTEx-A) US Air Force/DARPA Geostationary Technology In orbit Operational
United StatesUSA-188 (MiTEx-B) US Air Force/DARPA Geostationary Technology In orbit Operational
United StatesUSA-189 (MiTEx Carrier) NRL/DARPA Geostationary Technology In orbit Operational
24 June
15:08:18
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaProgress M-57 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) Logistics 17 January 2007 Successful
ISS flight 22P
25 June
04:00
UkraineTsyklon-2 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 90/20 RussiaVKS
RussiaKosmos 2421 (US-PU) VMF Low Earth ELINT 20 March 2008 Partial spacecraft failure
Final flight of Tsyklon-2 rocket. One of satellite's solar panels failed to deploy,[12] ceased operations in February or March 2008 and destroyed in orbit on 20 March. Spacecraft carried KONUS-A gamma-ray astronomy experiment for Roskosmos
28 June
03:30:00
United StatesDelta IV-M+ (4,2) United StatesVandenberg SLC-6 United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesUSA-184 (Improved Trumpet) NRO Molniya ELINT In orbit Operational
First EELV launch from Vandenberg, carried SBIRS-HEO-1 and TWINS-A instruments for the US Air Force and NASA respectively, NRO Launch 22

July

[edit]
4 July
18:37:55
United StatesSpace Shuttle Discovery United StatesKennedy LC-39B United StatesUnited Space Alliance
United StatesSTS-121 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS assembly 17 July
13:14
Successful
ItalyUnited StatesLeonardo MPLM ASI/NASA Low Earth (ISS) Logistics Successful
Crewed flight with 7 astronauts, second Return to Flight mission after Columbia accident
4 July
20:01
North KoreaTaepodong-2 (Unha-1) North KoreaMusudan-ri North KoreaKPA
North KoreaKwangmyŏngsŏng-2 (unconfirmed) KPA Intended: Low Earth
(unconfirmed)
Weather/Communication +42 seconds Launch failure
Maiden flight of Taepodong-2, rocket failed shortly after launch, reaching an apogee of 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), intended as an orbital launch attempt,[13] but later North Korea claimed for a suborbital missile self-destruct test and destruction success (not launch failure),[14] third of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
10 July
12:08
IndiaGSLV IndiaSatish Dhawan SLP IndiaISRO
IndiaINSAT 4C ISRO Intended: Geostationary Communications T+60 seconds Launch failure
Loss of control due to LRB engine failure, self-destructed 60 seconds into flight
12 July
14:53:36
UkraineDnepr RussiaDombarovskiy RussiaISC Kosmotras
United StatesGenesis I Bigelow Low Earth Technology In orbit Operational
First uncrewed prototype of a commercial space station module
21 July
04:20:03
Russia Molniya-M Russia Plesetsk Site 16/2 Russia VKS
Russia Kosmos 2422 (Oko) VKS Molniya Missile defense 22 November 2019
20:15[15]
Successful
26 July
19:43:05
UkraineDnepr KazakhstanBaikonur Site 109/95 RussiaISC Kosmotras
BelarusBelKA NAS Intended: Low Earth Observation T+74 seconds Launch failure
ItalyUnisat-4 Sapienza Intended: Low Earth Technology
RussiaBaumanets Roskosmos Intended: Low Earth Technology
ItalyPicPot PoliTo Intended: Low Earth Technology
United StatesFranceSACRED Arizona
Montpelier
Alcatel
Intended: Low Earth Radiation
United StatesION Illinois Intended: Low Earth Technology
Ionospheric
United StatesRincon 1 Arizona Intended: Low Earth Technology
United StatesICECube-1 Cornell Intended: Low Earth Technology
United StatesKUTESat Pathfinder Kansas Intended: Low Earth Technology
JapanSEEDS Nichidai Intended: Low Earth Amateur radio
NorwaynCube-1 NSSP Intended: Low Earth Technology
South KoreaHAUSAT-1 HAU Intended: Low Earth Technology
United StatesMEROPE Montana Intended: Low Earth Technology
United StatesCP2 CalPoly Intended: Low Earth Technology
United StatesAeroCube-1 Aerospace Intended: Low Earth Technology
United StatesCP1 CalPoly Intended: Low Earth Technology
United StatesMea Huaka'i (Voyager) Hawaii Intended: Low Earth Technology
United StatesICECube-2 Cornell Intended: Low Earth Technology
First-stage engine hydraulic pump failure, thrust termination system activated
28 July
07:05:43
RussiaRokot/Briz-KM RussiaPlesetsk Site 133/3 European UnionRussiaEurockot
South KoreaArirang-2 (KOMPSAT-2) KARI Low Earth Earth Observation In orbit Operational

August

[edit]
4 August
21:48:00
RussiaProton-M/Briz-M KazakhstanBaikonur Site 200/39 RussiaUnited StatesInternational Launch Services
European UnionHot Bird 8 Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
11 August
22:15
European UnionAriane 5ECA FranceKourou ELA-3 FranceArianespace
JapanJCSat 10 JSAT Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
FranceSyracuse 3B DGA Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
22 August
03:27:01
UkraineZenit-3SL NorwayOcean Odyssey United NationsSea Launch
South KoreaKoreasat 5 KT/ADD Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational

September

[edit]
9 September
07:00
China Long March 2C China Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-2 China CNSA
China Shijian 8 CASC Low Earth Biological 24 September
02:43
Successful
Investigated exposure of seeds to microgravity and radiation, spacecraft recovered after reentry
9 September
15:14:55
United StatesSpace Shuttle Atlantis United StatesKennedy LC-39B United StatesUnited Space Alliance
United StatesSTS-115 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS assembly 21 September
10:21
Successful
United NationsITS P3/4 Truss NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS component In orbit Operational
Crewed orbital flight with 6 astronauts, first ISS assembly mission since 2002
11 September
04:35
JapanH-IIA 202 JapanTanegashima LA-Y1 JapanJAXA
JapanIGS-3A CSICE Low Earth Optical imaging 29 October 2016
12 September
16:02
ChinaLong March 3A ChinaTaiyuan LC-1 ChinaCNSC
ChinaChinaSat 22A ChinaSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
14 September
13:41:00
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 31/6 RussiaVKS
RussiaKosmos 2423 (Don) VKS Low Earth Optical imaging 17 November Successful
Ceased operations on 14 November, self-destructed 3 days later
18 September
04:08:42
RussiaSoyuz-FG KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaSoyuz TMA-9 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS Expedition 14 21 April 2007
12:31
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with 3 cosmonauts including the first female space tourist and Iranian-born space traveller
22 September
21:36:00
JapanM-V JapanUchinoura JapanJAXA
JapanHinode (SOLAR-B) JAXA Sun-synchronous Solar In orbit Operational
JapanHIT-SAT HIT Low Earth Technology 18 June 2008
08:48
Successful
JapanSSSAT JAXA Solar sail 26 September Spacecraft failure
Final flight of M-V rocket and Mu family, SSSat failed to establish communications with ground[16]
25 September
18:50
United StatesDelta II 7925 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17A United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesUSA-190 (GPS IIR-15/M2) US Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational

October

[edit]
13 October
20:56
European UnionAriane 5ECA FranceKourou ELA-3 FranceArianespace
United StatesDirecTV-9S DirecTV Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
AustraliaOptus D1 Optus Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
JapanLDREX-2 JAXA Geosynchronous transfer Technology 30 September 2010
02:23[17]
Successful
19 October
16:28:13
RussiaSoyuz-2.1a/Fregat KazakhstanBaikonur Site 31/6 European UnionRussiaStarsem
European UnionMetOp-A EUMETSAT Sun-synchronous Weather In orbit Operational
Maiden flight of Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat
23 October
13:40:36
RussiaSoyuz-U RussiaBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaProgress M-58 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) Logistics 27 March 2007
22:44
Successful
ISS flight 23P, antenna stowage issues on 26 October initially prevented full mechanical docking, second attempt was successful.
23 October
23:34
China Long March 4B China Taiyuan LC-1 China CNSA
China Shijian 6-02A CASC Low Earth Environmental In orbit Operational
China Shijian 6-02B CASC Low Earth Environmental In orbit Operational
26 October
00:52:00
United StatesDelta II 7925 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17B United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesSTEREO-A NASA Heliocentric Solar In orbit Operational
United StatesSTEREO-B NASA Heliocentric Solar In orbit Operational
28 October
16:20
ChinaLong March 3B ChinaXichang LA-2 ChinaCASC
ChinaSinosat-2 Sinosat Intended: Geosynchronous
Achieved: Subsynchronous
Communications In orbit Spacecraft failure
Solar panels and communications antenna failed to deploy
30 October
23:48:59
UkraineZenit-3SL NorwayOcean Odyssey United NationsSea Launch
United StatesXM-4 "Blues" XM Satellite Radio Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational

November

[edit]
4 November
13:53
United StatesDelta IV-M United StatesVandenberg SLC-6 United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesUSA-191 (DMSP F17) US Air Force/NOAA Sun-synchronous Weather In orbit Operational
8 November
20:01:00
RussiaProton-M/Briz-M KazakhstanBaikonur Site 200/39 RussiaUnited StatesInternational Launch Services
Saudi ArabiaBadr-4 (ARABSAT 4B) ARABSAT Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
17 November
19:12:00
United StatesDelta II 7925 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17A United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesUSA-192 (GPS IIR-16/M3) US Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational

December

[edit]
8 December
00:53
China Long March 3A 3A-Y11 China Xichang LC-2 China CASC
China Fengyun 2D CMA Geosynchronous Meteorology In orbit Operational
8 December
22:08
Europe Ariane 5 ECA France Kourou ELA-3 France Arianespace
United States WildBlue 1 WildBlue Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
United States AMC-18 SES Americom Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
10 December
01:47:35
United States Space Shuttle Discovery United States Kennedy LC-39B United States United Space Alliance
United States STS-116 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS assembly 22 December
22:32
Successful
United States Spacehab LSM NASA Low Earth (STS) Logistics Successful
United Nations ITS P5 Truss NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS component In orbit Operational
United States ANDE-MAA US Naval Academy Low Earth Technology demonstration 9 February 2007 Partial spacecraft failure
United States ANDE-FACL US Naval Academy Low Earth Technology demonstration 9 February 2007 Successful
United States RAFT1 US Naval Academy Low Earth Calibration In orbit Operational
United States MARScom (NMARS) US Naval Academy Low Earth Calibration In orbit Operational
United States MEPSI-2 DARPA Low Earth Technology demonstration 8 March 2007 Successful
Crewed orbital flight with 7 astronauts, including the first Swedish space traveller; ISS crew exchange.
ANDE-MAA failed to deploy after becoming stuck in launch canister, but still transmitted data; RAFT1, MARScom, and MEPSI-2 were cubesats.
11 December
23:28:43
Russia Proton-M / Briz-M Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 200/39 Russia United States International Launch Services
Malaysia MEASAT-3 MEASAT Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
14 December
21:00:00
United States Delta II 7920-10 United States Vandenberg SLC-2W United States United Launch Alliance
United States USA-193 NRO Low Earth Reconnaissance
Technology demonstration
21 February 2008
03:29
Spacecraft failure
NRO Launch 21, first launch to be conducted by United Launch Alliance. Satellite failed to contact ground, destroyed by SM-3 ASAT on 21 February 2008.
16 December
12:00:00
United States Minotaur I United States MARS LP-0B United States Orbital Sciences
United States TacSat-2 NRL Low Earth Optical imaging
Technology demonstration
5 February 2011 Successful
United States GeneSat-1 NASA Low Earth Biological science 4 August 2010
20:43[18]
Successful
First launch from Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. Little or no imagery returned by TacSat due to political dispute. TacSat lost contact with ground in January 2008.
18 December
06:32
Japan H-IIA 204 Japan Tanegashima LA-Y1 Japan JAXA
Japan Kiku-8 (ETS-VIII) JAXA Geosynchronous Technology demonstration In orbit Successful
Maiden flight of H-IIA 204, full spacecraft antenna deployment one day late.[19]
19 December
14:00:19
Russia Kosmos-3M Russia Plesetsk Site 132/1 Germany Russia COSMOS International
Germany SAR-Lupe 1 Bundeswehr Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
24 December
08:34:44
Russia Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat Russia Plesetsk Site 43/4 Russia VKS
Russia Meridian 1 (11L) VKS Molniya Communications 6 July 2021
12:20[20][21]
Successful
25 December
20:18:12
Russia Proton-K / DM-2 Russia Baikonur Site 81/24 Russia VKS
Russia Kosmos 2424 (GLONASS-M) KNITs Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
Russia Kosmos 2425 (GLONASS-M) KNITs Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
Russia Kosmos 2426 (GLONASS-M) KNITs Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
27 December
14:23:38
Russia Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 31/6 Europe Russia Starsem
France CoRoT CNES Low Earth (Polar) Exoplanetology
Asteroseismology
In orbit Successful
Maiden flight of Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat.

Suborbital launches

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

January

[edit]
18 January
11:48[22]
TaiwanSounding Rocket V TaiwanJiu Peng Air Base TaiwanNSPO
NSPO/NCU Suborbital Ionospheric research 11:57 Successful
Apogee: 282 kilometres (175 mi)
22 January
04:00
JapanS-310 JapanUchinoura JapanJAXA
JapanFuroshiki JAXA Suborbital Technology 22 January Successful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)

February

[edit]
6 February China Dong Feng 21 China Xichang China PLA
PLA Suborbital ASAT 6 February Spacecraft failure
Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), missed satellite
8 February
18:47
Canada Black Brant IX United States White Sands LC-36 United States NASA
United States MOSES Suborbital Solar 8 February Successful
Apogee: 282 kilometres (175 mi)
16 February
08:01
United States LGM-30G Minuteman III United States Vandenberg LF-10 United States US Air Force
United States SERV-3 US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 16 February Successful
Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
23 February
16:09
United States UGM-27 Polaris (STARS) United States Kodiak United States Sandia
United States FT-03-1 Suborbital Target 23 February Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)

March

[edit]
8 March
08:45
United StatesRIM-161 Standard Missile 3 United StatesUSS Lake Erie, PMRF United StatesUS Navy
United StatesJapanJCTV-1 US Navy/MDA/JMSDF Suborbital Missile test 8 March Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
25 March
03:15
United StatesTerrier-Orion AustraliaWoomera LA-2 AustraliaQueensland
AustraliaHyshot-3 Queensland Suborbital Hypersonic research 03:25 Successful
Apogee: 325 kilometres (202 mi)
30 March
02:40
United StatesTerrier-Orion AustraliaWoomera LA-2 AustraliaQueensland
AustraliaJapanHyshot-4 Queensland/JAXA Suborbital Hypersonic research 30 March Launch failure
Apogee: 290 kilometres (180 mi), nosecone failed to separate

April

[edit]
7 April
13:00
United StatesLGM-30G Minuteman III United StatesVandenberg LF-26 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesGT-190GM US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 7 April Successful
Long-range test, aimed at Guam, apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
12 April
18:10
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
United StatesEUNIS NASA Suborbital Solar 12 April Successful
Apogee: 318 kilometres (198 mi)
13 April United StatesSR19-SR19 United StatesPMRF United StatesSandia
United StatesFTC-02B MDA Suborbital Target 13 April Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
22 April
16:40
RussiaKosmos-3MR RussiaKapustin Yar Site 107/1 RussiaRVSN
RussiaPBS-2 RVSN Suborbital REV test 22 April Successful
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
28 April United StatesSR19-SR19 United StatesPMRF United StatesSandia
United StatesFTC-02 MDA Suborbital Target 28 April Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
29 April PakistanShaheen-II PakistanSonmiani PakistanArmy of Pakistan
Army of Pakistan Suborbital Target 29 April Successful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)

May

[edit]
2 May
06:16
United StatesMaxus (Castor 4B) SwedenEsrange European UnionEuroLaunch
EuropeSwedenMAXUS 9 ESA/SSC Suborbital Microgravity 2 May Successful
Apogee: 702 kilometres (436 mi)
10 May
08:12
BrazilVSB-30 SwedenEsrange European UnionEuroLaunch
GermanySwedenTEXUS-43 DLR/SSC Suborbital Microgravity 10 May Successful
Apogee: 237 kilometres (147 mi)
11 May United StatesTHAAD United StatesWhite Sands United StatesUS Army
United StatesFTT-02 MDA Suborbital ABM test 11 May Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), simulated intercept
22 May
09:30
United StatesTerrier-Orion United StatesWhite Sands United StatesNASA
United StatesACS NASA Suborbital Test 22 May Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
22 May IranShahab-3 IranShahrood IranIRG
IRG Suborbital Missile test 22 May Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)

June

[edit]
5 June
16:05
United StatesTerrier-Orion United StatesWhite Sands United StatesNASA
NAWC Suborbital Target 5 June Successful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
7 June
22:00
United StatesTerrier-Orion United StatesPMRF United StatesNASA
NAWC Suborbital Target 7 June Successful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
8 June
16:00
United StatesTerrier-Orion United StatesWhite Sands United StatesNASA
United StatesDUNDEE NAWC Suborbital Target 8 June Successful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
14 June
08:22
United StatesLGM-30G Minuteman III United StatesVandenberg LF-04 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesGT-191GM US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 14 June Successful
Carried three Mk. 21 re-entry vehicles, Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
22 June
22:00
United StatesMRT (Castor 4B) United StatesPMRT United StatesUS Navy
United StatesFTM-10 Target US Navy/MDA Suborbital Target 22 June Successful
Intercepted by SM-3, apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
22 June
22:04
United StatesRIM-161 Standard Missile 3 United StatesUSS Shiloh, PMRF United StatesUS Navy
United StatesFTM-10 US Navy/MDA Suborbital ABM test 22 June Successful
Intercepted MRT, apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
23 June
23:02
United StatesTerrier-Orion United StatesPMRF United StatesNASA
United StatesTRACKEX NAWC/MDA Suborbital Target 23 June Successful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
30 June
06:25
RussiaR-29RMU Sineva RussiaK-84 Ekaterinburg, Barents Sea RussiaVMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 30 June Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)

July

[edit]
1 July
06:39
United StatesTerrier-Orion NorwayAndøya United StatesAndøya/NASA
United States/NorwaySPIRIT-III ESPRIT Suborbital Ionospheric
Plasma research
1 July Successful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
1 July
06:39
United StatesTerrier-Orion NorwayAndøya NorwayAndøya
NorwayHotPay-1 Andøya Suborbital Aeronomy 1 July Launch failure
Apogee: 40 kilometres (25 mi)
4 July
18:32
North KoreaHwasong-6 North KoreaKittaeryong North KoreaKPA
KPA Suborbital Missile test 4 July Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), first of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
4 July
19:04
North KoreaRodong-1 North KoreaKittaeryong North KoreaKPA
KPA Suborbital Missile test 4 July Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), second of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
4 July
22:31
North KoreaRodong-1 North KoreaKittaeryong North KoreaKPA
KPA Suborbital Missile test 4 July Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), fourth of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
4 July
22:12
North KoreaHwasong-6 North KoreaKittaeryong North KoreaKPA
KPA Suborbital Missile test 4 July Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), fifth of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
4 July
23:20
North KoreaRodong-1 North KoreaKittaeryong North KoreaKPA
KPA Suborbital Missile test 4 July Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), sixth of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
5 July
08:20
North KoreaRodong-1 North KoreaKittaeryong North KoreaKPA
KPA Suborbital Missile test 5 July Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), last of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
9 July
05:33
IndiaAgni III IndiaIntegrated Test Range LC-4 IndiaDRDO
DRDO Suborbital Missile test 9 July Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
12 July
11:17
United StatesHera United StatesWhite Sands United StatesUS Army
United StatesFFT-4 Target US Army/MDA Suborbital Target 12 July Successful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), Intercepted after reentry by endoatmospheric THAAD launched at 11:20
21 July
10:14
United StatesLGM-30G Minuteman III United StatesVandenberg LF-09 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesGT-192GM US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 21 July Successful
Carried three Mk.21 reentry vehicles, apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)

August

[edit]
3 August
10:38
RussiaRT-2PM Topol (RS-12M) RussiaPlesetsk RussiaUnited StatesRVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 11:04 Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), impacted Kura Test Range
21 August
14:30
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
MDA Suborbital Target 21 August Successful
Apogee: 380 kilometres (240 mi)
25 August
14:30
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
MDA Suborbital Target 21 August Successful
Apogee: 382 kilometres (237 mi), THAAD target

September

[edit]
1 September
17:22
United StatesUGM-27 Polaris (STARS) United StatesKodiak United StatesSandia
United StatesGMD FTG-02 target MDA Suborbital Target 1 September Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), intercepted by GBI
1 September
17:39
United StatesOrbital Boost Vehicle United StatesVandenberg LF-23 United StatesOrbital Sciences/MDA
United StatesGMD FTG-02 MDA Suborbital ABM test 1 September Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), intercepted STARS
4 September ChinaDong Feng 31 ChinaTaiyuan ChinaPLA
PLA Suborbital Missile test 4 September Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
7 September
15:50
RussiaRSM-56 Bulava (R-30) RussiaRFS Dmitriy Donskoy, White Sea RussiaVMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 7 September Launch failure
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi), first stage malfunction
9 September
11:20
RussiaR-29RMU Sineva RussiaK-84 Ekaterinburg, North Pole RussiaVMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 9 September Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
9 September
22:17:00
United StatesNike-Orion NorwayAndøya NorwayAndøya
NorwayGermanyECOMA-1 Andøya/DLR Suborbital Atmospheric 9 September Successful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
10 September
14:50
RussiaR-29R Volna RussiaK-433 Svyaity Georgiy, Simushir RussiaVMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 10 September Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
13 September
10:30
United StatesHera United StatesWhite Sands United StatesUS Army
United StatesFFT-5 Target US Army/MDA Suborbital Target 13 September Successful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), THAAD target
17 September
21:06:46
United StatesNike-Orion NorwayAndøya NorwayAndøya
NorwayGermanyECOMA-2 Andøya/DLR Suborbital Atmospheric 17 September Successful
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
23 September
15:17:54
CanadaBlack Brant XI United StatesWallops Island United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Test 23 September Successful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
25 September
20:14
United StatesSpaceLoft XL United StatesSpaceport America United StatesUP Aerospace
Various Suborbital Various T+60 seconds Launch failure
Maiden flight of SpaceLoft XL sounding rocket, first flight from Spaceport America, rocket went out of control and failed to reach space, apogee: 12 kilometres (7.5 mi)

October

[edit]
25 October
13:05
RussiaRSM-56 Bulava (R-30) RussiaRFS Dmitriy Donskoy, Beloye More RussiaVMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 25 October Launch failure
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), first stage malfunction
28 October
17:58:00
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
United StatesLASP Suborbital Solar 28 October Successful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)

November

[edit]
2 November IranShahab-3 IranShahrood IranIRG
IRG Suborbital Missile test 2 November Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
7 November
19:30
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
United StatesUSC-7 Suborbital Solar 7 November Successful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
9 November
08:51
FranceM51 FranceBiscarosse FranceFrench Navy
French Navy Suborbital Missile test 9 November Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
9 November
11:35
RussiaUR-100NU KazakhstanBaikonur Site 175/2 RussiaRVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 9 November Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
16 November United StatesTerrier-Orion United StatesPMRF United StatesUS Navy
United StatesARAV-B US Navy Suborbital Target 16 November Successful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
16 November PakistanGhauri PakistanTilla PakistanArmy of Pakistan
PakistanHaft-5 Army of Pakistan Suborbital Missile test 16 November Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
21 November
02:00
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands LC-36 United StatesNASA
United StatesCyXESS Suborbital XR Astronomy 21 November Successful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
21 November United StatesUGM-133 Trident II (D5) United StatesUSS Maryland, ETR United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 21 November Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
21 November United StatesUGM-133 Trident II (D5) United StatesUSS Maryland, ETR United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 21 November Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
26 November IndiaPrithvi IndiaIntegrated Test Range LC-3 IndiaDRDO
DRDO Suborbital Missile test 26 November Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
27 November
04:45
IndiaPrithvi IndiaIntegrated Test Range LC-3 IndiaDRDO
DRDO Suborbital Target 27 November Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), intercepted by another Prithvi
27 November
04:46
IndiaPrithvi IndiaIntegrated Test Range LC-4 IndiaDRDO
DRDO Suborbital ABM test 27 November Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), intercepted another Prithvi
29 November PakistanShaheen-I PakistanSonmiani PakistanArmy of Pakistan
PakistanHaft-4 Army of Pakistan Suborbital Target 29 November Successful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)

December

[edit]
7 December United States Aries United States