2006 in spaceflight
Orbital launches | |
---|---|
First | 19 January |
Last | 27 December |
Total | 67 |
Successes | 62 |
Failures | 5 |
Partial failures | 0 |
Catalogued | 63[a] |
National firsts | |
Satellite | Kazakhstan |
Space traveller | Brazil Iran Sweden |
Rockets | |
Maiden flights | Atlas V 411 Atlas V 551 Long March 4B-II (4C) Falcon 1 H-IIA 204 Soyuz-2.1b |
Retirements | Tsyklon-2 M-V |
Crewed flights | |
Orbital | 5 |
Total travellers | 26 |
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 | Atlas V 551 | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 | International Launch Services | ||||
New 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 | H-IIA 2022 | Tanegashima LA-Y1 | JAXA[3] | ||||
Daichi (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 | Zenit-3SL | Ocean Odyssey | Sea Launch | ||||
EchoStar X | EchoStar | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
18 February 06:27 | H-IIA 2024 | Tanegashima LA-Y1 | RSC[4][5] | ||||
MTSAT-2 | MILT/JMA | Geosynchronous | ATC/Weather | In orbit | Operational | ||
Last launch conducted by RSC | |||||||
21 February 21:28:00 | M-V | Uchinoura | JAXA | ||||
Akari (ASTRO-F) | JAXA | Sun-synchronous | IR astronomy | 11 April 2023 04:44[6] | Successful | ||
⚀ 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 | Proton-M/Briz-M | Baikonur Site 200/39 | International Launch Services | ||||
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 | Ariane 5ECA | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
Spainsat | Hisdesat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Hot Bird 7A | Eutelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
22 March 14:03 | Pegasus-XL | Stargazer, Vandenberg | Orbital Sciences | ||||
ST-5A | NASA | Low Earth | Technology | In orbit | Successful | ||
ST-5B | NASA | Low Earth | Technology | In orbit | Successful | ||
ST-5C | NASA | Low Earth | Technology | In orbit | Successful | ||
All three satellites deactivated on 30 June | |||||||
24 March 22:30 | Falcon 1 | Omelek | SpaceX | ||||
FalconSat 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 | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Soyuz 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 | Zenit-3SL | Ocean Odyssey | Sea Launch | ||||
JCSAT-5A (JCSAT-9, N-STAR d) | JCSAT | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
15 April 01:40:00 | Minotaur I | Vandenberg SLC-8 | Orbital Sciences | ||||
COSMIC-FM1 (FORMOSAT-3A) | NASA / NSPO | Low Earth | Meteorology | In orbit | Successful | ||
COSMIC-FM2 (FORMOSAT-3B) | NASA / NSPO | Low Earth | Meteorology | In orbit | Partial spacecraft failure Successful | ||
COSMIC-FM3 (FORMOSAT-3C) | NASA / NSPO | Low Earth | Meteorology | In orbit | Partial spacecraft failure Successful | ||
COSMIC-FM4 (FORMOSAT-3D) | NASA / NSPO | Low Earth | Meteorology | In orbit | Successful | ||
COSMIC-FM5 (FORMOSAT-3E) | NASA / NSPO | Low Earth | Meteorology | In orbit | Successful | ||
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 | Atlas V 411 | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 | International Launch Services | ||||
Astra 1KR | SES Astra | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Maiden flight of Atlas V 411, final ILS Atlas launch | |||||||
24 April 16:03:25 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Progress M-56 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Logistics | 18 September | Successful | ||
ISS flight 21P | |||||||
25 April 16:47:16 | Start-1 | Svobodny Site 5 | United Start | ||||
EROS B | ImageSat | Low Earth (polar) | Imaging | In orbit | Operational | ||
Final launch from Svobodny Cosmodrome | |||||||
26 April 22:48 | Long March 4B-II (4C) | Taiyuan LC-1 | CNSA | ||||
Yaogan 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 | Delta II 7420-10C | Vandenberg SLC-2W | Boeing IDS | ||||
CALIPSO | NASA/CNES | Sun-synchronous | Climatology | In orbit | Operational | ||
CloudSat | 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 | Soyuz-U | Plesetsk Site 16/2 | RVSN | ||||
Kosmos 2420 (Kobal't-M) | VKS | Low Earth | Optical imaging | In orbit | Operational | ||
24 May 22:11:00 | Delta IV-M+ (4,2) | Cape Canaveral SLC-37B | Boeing IDS | ||||
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 | Shtil' | K-84 Ekaterinburg, Barents Sea | VMF | ||||
Kompass 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 | Ariane 5 ECA | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
Satmex 6 | Satmex | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Successful | ||
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 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Resurs-DK-1 | Roskosmos | Low Earth | Remote sensing | In orbit | Operational | ||
17 June 22:44:05 | Proton-K/DM-3 | Baikonur Site 200/39 | Khrunichev | ||||
KazSat-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 | Zenit-3SL | Ocean Odyssey | Sea Launch | ||||
Galaxy 16 | Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Launched for PanAmSat, transferred to Intelsat before entry into service due to merger | |||||||
21 June 22:15 | Delta II 7925 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17A | Boeing IDS | ||||
USA-187 (MiTEx-A) | US Air Force/DARPA | Geostationary | Technology | In orbit | Operational | ||
USA-188 (MiTEx-B) | US Air Force/DARPA | Geostationary | Technology | In orbit | Operational | ||
USA-189 (MiTEx Carrier) | NRL/DARPA | Geostationary | Technology | In orbit | Operational | ||
24 June 15:08:18 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Progress M-57 | Roskosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Logistics | 17 January 2007 | Successful | ||
ISS flight 22P | |||||||
25 June 04:00 | Tsyklon-2 | Baikonur Site 90/20 | VKS | ||||
Kosmos 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 | Delta IV-M+ (4,2) | Vandenberg SLC-6 | Boeing IDS | ||||
USA-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 | Space Shuttle Discovery | Kennedy LC-39B | United Space Alliance | ||||
STS-121 | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS assembly | 17 July 13:14 | Successful | ||
Leonardo 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 | Taepodong-2 (Unha-1) | Musudan-ri | KPA | ||||
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-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 | GSLV | Satish Dhawan SLP | ISRO | ||||
INSAT 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 | Dnepr | Dombarovskiy | ISC Kosmotras | ||||
Genesis I | Bigelow | Low Earth | Technology | In orbit | Operational | ||
First uncrewed prototype of a commercial space station module | |||||||
21 July 04:20:03 | Molniya-M | Plesetsk Site 16/2 | VKS | ||||
Kosmos 2422 (Oko) | VKS | Molniya | Missile defense | 22 November 2019 20:15[15] | Successful | ||
26 July 19:43:05 | Dnepr | Baikonur Site 109/95 | ISC Kosmotras | ||||
BelKA | NAS | Intended: Low Earth | Observation | T+74 seconds | Launch failure | ||
Unisat-4 | Sapienza | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
Baumanets | Roskosmos | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
PicPot | PoliTo | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
SACRED | Arizona Montpelier Alcatel | Intended: Low Earth | Radiation | ||||
ION | Illinois | Intended: Low Earth | Technology Ionospheric | ||||
Rincon 1 | Arizona | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
ICECube-1 | Cornell | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
KUTESat Pathfinder | Kansas | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
SEEDS | Nichidai | Intended: Low Earth | Amateur radio | ||||
nCube-1 | NSSP | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
HAUSAT-1 | HAU | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
MEROPE | Montana | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
CP2 | CalPoly | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
AeroCube-1 | Aerospace | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
CP1 | CalPoly | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
Mea Huaka'i (Voyager) | Hawaii | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
ICECube-2 | Cornell | Intended: Low Earth | Technology | ||||
First-stage engine hydraulic pump failure, thrust termination system activated | |||||||
28 July 07:05:43 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Plesetsk Site 133/3 | Eurockot | ||||
Arirang-2 (KOMPSAT-2) | KARI | Low Earth | Earth Observation | In orbit | Operational | ||
August[edit] | |||||||
4 August 21:48:00 | Proton-M/Briz-M | Baikonur Site 200/39 | International Launch Services | ||||
Hot Bird 8 | Eutelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
11 August 22:15 | Ariane 5ECA | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
JCSat 10 | JSAT | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Syracuse 3B | DGA | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
22 August 03:27:01 | Zenit-3SL | Ocean Odyssey | Sea Launch | ||||
Koreasat 5 | KT/ADD | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
September[edit] | |||||||
9 September 07:00 | Long March 2C | Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-2 | CNSA | ||||
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 | Space Shuttle Atlantis | Kennedy LC-39B | United Space Alliance | ||||
STS-115 | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS assembly | 21 September 10:21 | Successful | ||
ITS 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 | H-IIA 202 | Tanegashima LA-Y1 | JAXA | ||||
IGS-3A | CSICE | Low Earth | Optical imaging | 29 October 2016 | |||
12 September 16:02 | Long March 3A | Taiyuan LC-1 | CNSC | ||||
ChinaSat 22A | ChinaSat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
14 September 13:41:00 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 31/6 | VKS | ||||
Kosmos 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 | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Soyuz 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 | M-V | Uchinoura | JAXA | ||||
Hinode (SOLAR-B) | JAXA | Sun-synchronous | Solar | In orbit | Operational | ||
HIT-SAT | HIT | Low Earth | Technology | 18 June 2008 08:48 | Successful | ||
SSSAT | 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 | Delta II 7925 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17A | Boeing IDS | ||||
USA-190 (GPS IIR-15/M2) | US Air Force | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
October[edit] | |||||||
13 October 20:56 | Ariane 5ECA | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
DirecTV-9S | DirecTV | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
Optus D1 | Optus | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
LDREX-2 | JAXA | Geosynchronous transfer | Technology | 30 September 2010 02:23[17] | Successful | ||
19 October 16:28:13 | Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat | Baikonur Site 31/6 | Starsem | ||||
MetOp-A | EUMETSAT | Sun-synchronous | Weather | In orbit | Operational | ||
Maiden flight of Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat | |||||||
23 October 13:40:36 | Soyuz-U | Baikonur Site 1/5 | Roskosmos | ||||
Progress 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 | Long March 4B | Taiyuan LC-1 | CNSA | ||||
Shijian 6-02A | CASC | Low Earth | Environmental | In orbit | Operational | ||
Shijian 6-02B | CASC | Low Earth | Environmental | In orbit | Operational | ||
26 October 00:52:00 | Delta II 7925 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17B | Boeing IDS | ||||
STEREO-A | NASA | Heliocentric | Solar | In orbit | Operational | ||
STEREO-B | NASA | Heliocentric | Solar | In orbit | Operational | ||
28 October 16:20 | Long March 3B | Xichang LA-2 | CASC | ||||
Sinosat-2 | Sinosat | Intended: Geosynchronous Achieved: Subsynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Spacecraft failure | ||
Solar panels and communications antenna failed to deploy | |||||||
30 October 23:48:59 | Zenit-3SL | Ocean Odyssey | Sea Launch | ||||
XM-4 "Blues" | XM Satellite Radio | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
November[edit] | |||||||
4 November 13:53 | Delta IV-M | Vandenberg SLC-6 | Boeing IDS | ||||
USA-191 (DMSP F17) | US Air Force/NOAA | Sun-synchronous | Weather | In orbit | Operational | ||
8 November 20:01:00 | Proton-M/Briz-M | Baikonur Site 200/39 | International Launch Services | ||||
Badr-4 (ARABSAT 4B) | ARABSAT | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
17 November 19:12:00 | Delta II 7925 | Cape Canaveral SLC-17A | Boeing IDS | ||||
USA-192 (GPS IIR-16/M3) | US Air Force | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
December[edit] | |||||||
8 December 00:53 | Long March 3A | 3A-Y11 | Xichang LC-2 | CASC | |||
Fengyun 2D | CMA | Geosynchronous | Meteorology | In orbit | Operational | ||
8 December 22:08 | Ariane 5 ECA | Kourou ELA-3 | Arianespace | ||||
WildBlue 1 | WildBlue | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
AMC-18 | SES Americom | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
10 December 01:47:35 | Space Shuttle Discovery | Kennedy LC-39B | United Space Alliance | ||||
STS-116 | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS assembly | 22 December 22:32 | Successful | ||
Spacehab LSM | NASA | Low Earth (STS) | Logistics | Successful | |||
ITS P5 Truss | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS component | In orbit | Operational | ||
ANDE-MAA | US Naval Academy | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 9 February 2007 | Partial spacecraft failure | ||
ANDE-FACL | US Naval Academy | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 9 February 2007 | Successful | ||
RAFT1 | US Naval Academy | Low Earth | Calibration | In orbit | Operational | ||
MARScom (NMARS) | US Naval Academy | Low Earth | Calibration | In orbit | Operational | ||
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 | Proton-M / Briz-M | Baikonur Site 200/39 | International Launch Services | ||||
MEASAT-3 | MEASAT | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | ||
14 December 21:00:00 | Delta II 7920-10 | Vandenberg SLC-2W | United Launch Alliance | ||||
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 | Minotaur I | MARS LP-0B | Orbital Sciences | ||||
TacSat-2 | NRL | Low Earth | Optical imaging Technology demonstration | 5 February 2011 | Successful | ||
⚀ 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 | H-IIA 204 | Tanegashima LA-Y1 | JAXA | ||||
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 | Kosmos-3M | Plesetsk Site 132/1 | COSMOS International | ||||
SAR-Lupe 1 | Bundeswehr | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | ||
24 December 08:34:44 | Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat | Plesetsk Site 43/4 | VKS | ||||
Meridian 1 (11L) | VKS | Molniya | Communications | 6 July 2021 12:20[20][21] | Successful | ||
25 December 20:18:12 | Proton-K / DM-2 | Baikonur Site 81/24 | VKS | ||||
Kosmos 2424 (GLONASS-M) | KNITs | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
Kosmos 2425 (GLONASS-M) | KNITs | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
Kosmos 2426 (GLONASS-M) | KNITs | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | ||
27 December 14:23:38 | Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat | Baikonur Site 31/6 | Starsem | ||||
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] | Sounding Rocket V | Jiu Peng Air Base | NSPO | ||||
NSPO/NCU | Suborbital | Ionospheric research | 11:57 | Successful | |||
Apogee: 282 kilometres (175 mi) | |||||||
22 January 04:00 | S-310 | Uchinoura | JAXA | ||||
Furoshiki | JAXA | Suborbital | Technology | 22 January | Successful | ||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
February[edit] | |||||||
6 February | Dong Feng 21 | Xichang | PLA | ||||
PLA | Suborbital | ASAT | 6 February | Spacecraft failure | |||
Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), missed satellite | |||||||
8 February 18:47 | Black Brant IX | White Sands LC-36 | NASA | ||||
MOSES | Suborbital | Solar | 8 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 282 kilometres (175 mi) | |||||||
16 February 08:01 | LGM-30G Minuteman III | Vandenberg LF-10 | US Air Force | ||||
SERV-3 | US Air Force | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 February | Successful | ||
Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) | |||||||
23 February 16:09 | UGM-27 Polaris (STARS) | Kodiak | Sandia | ||||
FT-03-1 | Suborbital | Target | 23 February | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
March[edit] | |||||||
8 March 08:45 | RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 | USS Lake Erie, PMRF | US Navy | ||||
JCTV-1 | US Navy/MDA/JMSDF | Suborbital | Missile test | 8 March | Successful | ||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
25 March 03:15 | Terrier-Orion | Woomera LA-2 | Queensland | ||||
Hyshot-3 | Queensland | Suborbital | Hypersonic research | 03:25 | Successful | ||
Apogee: 325 kilometres (202 mi) | |||||||
30 March 02:40 | Terrier-Orion | Woomera LA-2 | Queensland | ||||
Hyshot-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 | LGM-30G Minuteman III | Vandenberg LF-26 | US Air Force | ||||
GT-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 | Black Brant IX | White Sands LC-36 | NASA | ||||
EUNIS | NASA | Suborbital | Solar | 12 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: 318 kilometres (198 mi) | |||||||
13 April | SR19-SR19 | PMRF | Sandia | ||||
FTC-02B | MDA | Suborbital | Target | 13 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
22 April 16:40 | Kosmos-3MR | Kapustin Yar Site 107/1 | RVSN | ||||
PBS-2 | RVSN | Suborbital | REV test | 22 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi) | |||||||
28 April | SR19-SR19 | PMRF | Sandia | ||||
FTC-02 | MDA | Suborbital | Target | 28 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
29 April | Shaheen-II | Sonmiani | Army of Pakistan | ||||
Army of Pakistan | Suborbital | Target | 29 April | Successful | |||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi) | |||||||
May[edit] | |||||||
2 May 06:16 | Maxus (Castor 4B) | Esrange | EuroLaunch | ||||
MAXUS 9 | ESA/SSC | Suborbital | Microgravity | 2 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 702 kilometres (436 mi) | |||||||
10 May 08:12 | VSB-30 | Esrange | EuroLaunch | ||||
TEXUS-43 | DLR/SSC | Suborbital | Microgravity | 10 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 237 kilometres (147 mi) | |||||||
11 May | THAAD | White Sands | US Army | ||||
FTT-02 | MDA | Suborbital | ABM test | 11 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), simulated intercept | |||||||
22 May 09:30 | Terrier-Orion | White Sands | NASA | ||||
ACS | NASA | Suborbital | Test | 22 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
22 May | Shahab-3 | Shahrood | IRG | ||||
IRG | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
June[edit] | |||||||
5 June 16:05 | Terrier-Orion | White Sands | NASA | ||||
NAWC | Suborbital | Target | 5 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
7 June 22:00 | Terrier-Orion | PMRF | NASA | ||||
NAWC | Suborbital | Target | 7 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
8 June 16:00 | Terrier-Orion | White Sands | NASA | ||||
DUNDEE | NAWC | Suborbital | Target | 8 June | Successful | ||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
14 June 08:22 | LGM-30G Minuteman III | Vandenberg LF-04 | US Air Force | ||||
GT-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 | MRT (Castor 4B) | PMRT | US Navy | ||||
FTM-10 Target | US Navy/MDA | Suborbital | Target | 22 June | Successful | ||
Intercepted by SM-3, apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
22 June 22:04 | RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 | USS Shiloh, PMRF | US Navy | ||||
FTM-10 | US Navy/MDA | Suborbital | ABM test | 22 June | Successful | ||
Intercepted MRT, apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
23 June 23:02 | Terrier-Orion | PMRF | NASA | ||||
TRACKEX | NAWC/MDA | Suborbital | Target | 23 June | Successful | ||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
30 June 06:25 | R-29RMU Sineva | K-84 Ekaterinburg, Barents Sea | VMF | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 30 June | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
July[edit] | |||||||
1 July 06:39 | Terrier-Orion | Andøya | Andøya/NASA | ||||
/SPIRIT-III | ESPRIT | Suborbital | Ionospheric Plasma research | 1 July | Successful | ||
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
1 July 06:39 | Terrier-Orion | Andøya | Andøya | ||||
HotPay-1 | Andøya | Suborbital | Aeronomy | 1 July | Launch failure | ||
Apogee: 40 kilometres (25 mi) | |||||||
4 July 18:32 | Hwasong-6 | Kittaeryong | KPA | ||||
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 | Rodong-1 | Kittaeryong | KPA | ||||
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 | Rodong-1 | Kittaeryong | KPA | ||||
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 | Hwasong-6 | Kittaeryong | KPA | ||||
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 | Rodong-1 | Kittaeryong | KPA | ||||
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 | Rodong-1 | Kittaeryong | KPA | ||||
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 | Agni III | Integrated Test Range LC-4 | DRDO | ||||
DRDO | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 July | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
12 July 11:17 | Hera | White Sands | US Army | ||||
FFT-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 | LGM-30G Minuteman III | Vandenberg LF-09 | US Air Force | ||||
GT-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 | RT-2PM Topol (RS-12M) | Plesetsk | RVSN | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 11:04 | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), impacted Kura Test Range | |||||||
21 August 14:30 | Black Brant IX | White Sands LC-36 | NASA | ||||
MDA | Suborbital | Target | 21 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 380 kilometres (240 mi) | |||||||
25 August 14:30 | Black Brant IX | White Sands LC-36 | NASA | ||||
MDA | Suborbital | Target | 21 August | Successful | |||
Apogee: 382 kilometres (237 mi), THAAD target | |||||||
September[edit] | |||||||
1 September 17:22 | UGM-27 Polaris (STARS) | Kodiak | Sandia | ||||
GMD FTG-02 target | MDA | Suborbital | Target | 1 September | Successful | ||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), intercepted by GBI | |||||||
1 September 17:39 | Orbital Boost Vehicle | Vandenberg LF-23 | Orbital Sciences/MDA | ||||
GMD FTG-02 | MDA | Suborbital | ABM test | 1 September | Successful | ||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), intercepted STARS | |||||||
4 September | Dong Feng 31 | Taiyuan | PLA | ||||
PLA | Suborbital | Missile test | 4 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
7 September 15:50 | RSM-56 Bulava (R-30) | RFS Dmitriy Donskoy, White Sea | VMF | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 September | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi), first stage malfunction | |||||||
9 September 11:20 | R-29RMU Sineva | K-84 Ekaterinburg, North Pole | VMF | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
9 September 22:17:00 | Nike-Orion | Andøya | Andøya | ||||
ECOMA-1 | Andøya/DLR | Suborbital | Atmospheric | 9 September | Successful | ||
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi) | |||||||
10 September 14:50 | R-29R Volna | K-433 Svyaity Georgiy, Simushir | VMF | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
13 September 10:30 | Hera | White Sands | US Army | ||||
FFT-5 Target | US Army/MDA | Suborbital | Target | 13 September | Successful | ||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), THAAD target | |||||||
17 September 21:06:46 | Nike-Orion | Andøya | Andøya | ||||
ECOMA-2 | Andøya/DLR | Suborbital | Atmospheric | 17 September | Successful | ||
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi) | |||||||
23 September 15:17:54 | Black Brant XI | Wallops Island | NASA | ||||
NASA | Suborbital | Test | 23 September | Successful | |||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi) | |||||||
25 September 20:14 | SpaceLoft XL | Spaceport America | UP 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 | RSM-56 Bulava (R-30) | RFS Dmitriy Donskoy, Beloye More | VMF | ||||
VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 25 October | Launch failure | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), first stage malfunction | |||||||
28 October 17:58:00 | Black Brant IX | White Sands LC-36 | NASA | ||||
LASP | Suborbital | Solar | 28 October | Successful | |||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi) | |||||||
November[edit] | |||||||
2 November | Shahab-3 | Shahrood | IRG | ||||
IRG | Suborbital | Missile test | 2 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
7 November 19:30 | Black Brant IX | White Sands LC-36 | NASA | ||||
USC-7 | Suborbital | Solar | 7 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi) | |||||||
9 November 08:51 | M51 | Biscarosse | French Navy | ||||
French Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
9 November 11:35 | UR-100NU | Baikonur Site 175/2 | RVSN | ||||
RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
16 November | Terrier-Orion | PMRF | US Navy | ||||
ARAV-B | US Navy | Suborbital | Target | 16 November | Successful | ||
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi) | |||||||
16 November | Ghauri | Tilla | Army of Pakistan | ||||
Haft-5 | Army of Pakistan | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 November | Successful | ||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
21 November 02:00 | Black Brant IX | White Sands LC-36 | NASA | ||||
CyXESS | Suborbital | XR Astronomy | 21 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi) | |||||||
21 November | UGM-133 Trident II (D5) | USS Maryland, ETR | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
21 November | UGM-133 Trident II (D5) | USS Maryland, ETR | US Navy | ||||
US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 21 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) | |||||||
26 November | Prithvi | Integrated Test Range LC-3 | DRDO | ||||
DRDO | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
27 November 04:45 | Prithvi | Integrated Test Range LC-3 | DRDO | ||||
DRDO | Suborbital | Target | 27 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), intercepted by another Prithvi | |||||||
27 November 04:46 | Prithvi | Integrated Test Range LC-4 | DRDO | ||||
DRDO | Suborbital | ABM test | 27 November | Successful | |||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), intercepted another Prithvi | |||||||
29 November | Shaheen-I | Sonmiani | Army of Pakistan | ||||
Haft-4 | Army of Pakistan | Suborbital | Target | 29 November | Successful | ||
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi) | |||||||
December[edit] | |||||||
7 December | Aries |