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2015 in spaceflight
Spaceflight-related events during the year 2015

In 2015, the maiden spaceflights of the Chinese Long March 6 and Long March 11 launch vehicles took place.

A total of 87 orbital launches were attempted in 2015, of which 82 were successful, one was partially successful and four were failures. The year also saw seven EVAs by ISS astronauts. The majority of the year's orbital launches were conducted by Russia, the United States and China, with 27, 20 and 19 launches respectively.

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Overview

In February 2015, the European Space Agency's experimental lifting body spacecraft, the Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle, successfully conducted its first test flight.

In March 2015, Ceres became the first dwarf planet to be visited by a spacecraft when Dawn entered orbit. In July 2015, New Horizons visited the Pluto-Charon system after a 9-year voyage, returning a trove of pictures and information about the former "ninth planet" (now classified as a dwarf planet). Meanwhile, the MESSENGER probe was deliberately crashed into Mercury after 4 years of in-orbit observations.

On 23 November 2015, the Blue Origin New Shepard suborbital rocket achieved its first powered soft landing near the launch site, paving the way for full reuse of its propulsion stage. On 21 December, the maiden flight of the SpaceX Falcon 9 Full Thrust took place, ending with a successful landing of its first stage.

Two old weather satellites, NOAA-16 and DMSP 5D-2/F13, broke up in 2015, creating several hundred pieces of space debris. In both cases, a battery explosion is suspected as the root cause.

Orbital launches

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Date and time (UTC)RocketFlight numberLaunch siteLSP
Payload(⚀ = CubeSat)OperatorOrbitFunctionDecay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks

January

10 January09:47:10 Falcon 9 v1.1 Cape Canaveral SLC-40 SpaceX
SpaceX CRS-5NASALow Earth (ISS)ISS resupply11 February 201500:44Successful
AESP-14ITALow EarthIonospheric research11 May 2015Successful
Flock-1d' 1Planet LabsLow EarthEarth observation13 October 2015Successful
Flock-1d' 2Planet LabsLow EarthEarth observation27 December 2015Successful
SpaceX attempted to land the first stage on a platform in the Atlantic Ocean, but the first stage crash-landed on its landing platform.1 The AESP-14 CubeSat was deployed from the space station on 5 February 2015,2 while the Flock-1 CubeSats were deployed on 3 March 2015.3
21 January01:04:00 Atlas V 551 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
MUOS-3US NavyGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
31 January14:22:00 Delta II 7320 Vandenberg SLC-2W United Launch Alliance
SMAPNASALow Earth (SSO)Earth observationIn orbitOperational
ExoCubeCal PolyLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
FIREBIRD II AMontana StateLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstration2 August 20234Successful
FIREBIRD II BMontana StateLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstration2 August 20235Successful
GRIFEXNASA / JPLLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
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February

1 February01:21:00 H-IIA 202 Tanegashima LA-Y1 MHI
IGS-Radar SpareCSICELow Earth (SSO)ReconnaissanceIn orbitSuccessful6
1 February12:31:00 Proton-M/Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
Inmarsat 5-F2InmarsatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
2 February08:50 Safir-1BLBS.2001 Semnan ISA
FajrISALow EarthTechnology demonstration26 February 2015Successful
11 February13:40:00 Vega Kourou ELV Arianespace
IXVESATransatmosphericTechnology demonstration11 February 201515:19Successful
Vega's 4th stage briefly entered low Earth orbit before de-orbiting; thus it did not get a COSPAR ID. This marked the first flight of the IXV
11 February23:03:32 Falcon 9 v1.1 Cape Canaveral SLC-40 SpaceX
DSCOVRNOAASun–Earth L1Earth observation / HeliophysicsIn orbitOperational
First SpaceX launch aimed beyond GTO. First stage soft landed on water.
17 February11:00:17 Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Progress M-26M / 58PRoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)ISS resupply14 August 201514:17Successful
27 February11:01:35 Soyuz-2.1a Plesetsk Site 43/4 RVSN RF
Kosmos 2503 (Bars-M 1L)VKOLow Earth (SSO)ReconnaissanceIn orbitOperational
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March

2 March03:50:00 Falcon 9 v1.1 Cape Canaveral SLC-40 SpaceX
Eutelsat 115 West BEutelsatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
ABS-3AABSGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
First communication satellites to use all-electric propulsion to reach intended orbits from GTO.
13 March02:44:00 Atlas V 421 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
MMS-1NASAElliptical High EarthMagnetospheric researchIn orbitOperational
MMS-2NASAElliptical High EarthMagnetospheric researchIn orbitOperational
MMS-3NASAElliptical High EarthMagnetospheric researchIn orbitOperational
MMS-4NASAElliptical High EarthMagnetospheric researchIn orbitOperational
18 March22:05:00 Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 Khrunichev
Ekspress AM7RSCCGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
25 March18:36:00 Delta IV M+(4,2) Cape Canaveral SLC-37B United Launch Alliance
USA-260 (GPS IIF-9)US Air ForceMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
25 March22:08:53 Dnepr Dombarovsky Site 13 ISC Kosmotras
KOMPSat-3AKARILow Earth (SSO)Earth observationIn orbitOperational
Final flight of Dnepr-1 rocket, due to the Russo-Ukrainian war.
26 March01:21:00 H-IIA 202 Tanegashima LA-Y1 MHI
IGS-Optical 5CSICELow Earth (SSO)ReconnaissanceIn orbitOperational
27 March19:42:57 Soyuz-FG Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Soyuz TMA-16MRoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)Expedition 43/44/45/4612 September 201500:51Successful
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts, including two on a year-long mission.
27 March21:46:18 Soyuz-STB / Fregat Kourou ELS Arianespace
Galileo FOC 3ESAMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
Galileo FOC 4ESAMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
28 March11:49:00 PSLV-XL Satish Dhawan SLP ISRO
IRNSS-1DISROGeosynchronousNavigationIn orbitOperational
30 March13:52:30 Long March 3C/E/YZ-1 Xichang LC-2 CASC
BeiDou I1-SCNSAGeosynchronousNavigationIn orbitOperational
31 March13:47:56 Rokot / Briz-KM Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 133/3 VKO
Gonets-M 11Gonets Satellite SystemLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Gonets-M 12Gonets Satellite SystemLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Gonets-M 13Gonets Satellite SystemLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Kosmos 2504VKOLow EarthTechnology demonstration / Satellite inspection (?)In orbitOperational
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April

14 April20:10:41 Falcon 9 v1.1 Cape Canaveral SLC-40 SpaceX
SpaceX CRS-6NASALow Earth (ISS)ISS resupply21 May 201516:42Successful
Arkyd 3 ReflightPlanetary ResourcesLow EarthTechnology demonstration23 December 2015Successful
Flock-1e × 14Planet LabsLow EarthEarth observationFirst: 8 February 2016 Last: 24 August 2016Successful
First stage recovery failed; the rocket stage landed on the target drone ship too fast, tipped over, and exploded.7All secondary payloads were deployed from an ISS airlock later. Arkyd 3 Reflight is a replacement for Arkyd 3, which was lost in the Cygnus CRS Orb-3 flight accident in 2014.
26 April20:00:07 Ariane 5 ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
Thor 7TelenorGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
SICRAL-2MDD/DGAGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
27 April23:03:00 Falcon 9 v1.1 Cape Canaveral SLC-40 SpaceX
TürkmenÄlem 52°E / MonacoSATTurkmen TelecomGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
First Turkmen satellite (not counting Turkmenistan Memorial Capsule).
28 April07:09:50 Soyuz-2.1a Baikonur Site 31/6 Roscosmos
Progress M-27M / 59PRoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)ISS resupply8 May 2015Failure
Spacecraft lost communications and attitude control soon after separation failure during launch.8 International Space Station docking attempt cancelled.9 Mission declared a total loss.10
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May

16 May05:47:39 Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
Mexsat-1SCTGeosynchronousCommunications16 May 2015Launch failure
Proton third stage vernier engine failed at T+497 seconds due to turbopump shaft coating degradation causing excess vibration.11
20 May15:05:00 Atlas V 501 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
AFSPC-5 (X-37B OTV-4)U.S. Air ForceLow EarthTechnology demonstration7 May 2017Operational
ULTRASatNASALow EarthCubeSat DeploymentIn orbitOperational
LightSail 1The Planetary SocietyLow EarthTechnology demonstration14 June 201517:23Successful
USS LangleyU.S. Naval AcademyLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
BRICSat-PU.S. Naval Academy / George WashingtonLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
ParkinsonSatU.S. Naval AcademyLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
GEARRS-2TaylorLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
AeroCube-8AThe Aerospace CorporationLow EarthTechnology demonstration11 October 202112Successful
AeroCube-8BThe Aerospace CorporationLow EarthTechnology demonstration2 October 202113Successful
OptiCube 1CalPolyLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
OptiCube 2CalPolyLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
OptiCube 3CalPolyLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
The X-37B spaceplane landed autonomously at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility after spending a record-breaking 718 days in orbit.14
27 May21:16:07 Ariane 5 ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
DirecTV-15DirecTVGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Sky Mexico 1SKY MexicoGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
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June

5 June15:23:54 Soyuz-2.1a Plesetsk Site 43/4 RVSN RF
Kosmos 2505 (Kobalt-M №10)VKOLow EarthReconnaissance18 September 2015Successful
23 June01:51:58 Vega Kourou ELV Arianespace
Sentinel-2AESALow Earth (SSO)Earth observationIn orbitOperational
23 June16:44:00 Soyuz-2.1b Plesetsk Site 43/4 RVSN RF
Kosmos 2506 (Persona №3)VKOLow Earth (SSO)ReconnaissanceIn orbitOperational
26 June06:22:04 Long March 4B Taiyuan LC-9 CASC
Gaofen 8CNSALow Earth (SSO)Earth observation / ReconnaissanceIn orbitOperational
28 June14:21:11 Falcon 9 v1.1 Cape Canaveral SLC-40 SpaceX
SpaceX CRS-7NASALow Earth (ISS)ISS resupply28 June 2015Launch Failure
Flock-1f × 815Planet LabsLow EarthEarth observation28 June 2015Launch Failure
Vehicle disintegrated at T+139 seconds after second stage helium tank support strut failure caused helium tank to break through second stage tanks.16 Attempted to deliver the IDA-1 segment of the NASA Docking System. CubeSats were to be deployed from the International Space Station at a later date. Planned first stage landing test not achieved.
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July

3 July04:55:48 Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Progress M-28M / 60PRoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)ISS resupply19 December 2015Successful
10 July16:28:00 PSLV-XL Satish Dhawan FLP ISRO
UK-DMC-3ADMCiiLow Earth (SSO)Earth observationIn orbitOperational
UK-DMC-3BDMCiiLow Earth (SSO)Earth observationIn orbitOperational
UK-DMC-3CDMCiiLow Earth (SSO)Earth observationIn orbitOperational
CBNT-1SSTLLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
DeOrbitSailSurrey Space CentreLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
15 July15:36:00 Atlas V 401 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
USA-262 (GPS IIF-10)U.S. Air ForceMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
15 July21:42:07 Ariane 5 ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
Star One C4Star OneGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
MSG-4EUMETSATGeosynchronousMeteorologyIn orbitOperational
22 July21:02:44 Soyuz-FG Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Soyuz TMA-17MRoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)Expedition 44/4511 December 201513:10Successful
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts.
24 July00:07:00 Delta IV M+(5,4) Cape Canaveral SLC-37B United Launch Alliance
USA-263 (WGS-7)U.S. Air ForceGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
25 July12:29:04 Long March 3B/YZ-1 Xichang LA-2 CASC
BeiDou M1-SCNSAMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
BeiDou M2-SCNSAMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
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August

19 August11:50:49 H-IIB Tanegashima LA-Y2 MHI
HTV-5JAXALow Earth (ISS)ISS resupply29 September 2015Successful
AAUSAT5AalborgLow EarthTechnology demonstration15 March 2016Successful
Flock-2b × 1417Planet LabsLow EarthEarth observationFirst: 22 May 2016 Last: 17 October 2016Successful (12 deployed)
GOMX-3GomSpaceLow EarthTechnology demonstration19 October 201618Successful
S-CUBEChiba Institute of TechnologyLow EarthMeteor observation23 November 201619
SERPENSUniversity of Brasília / Brazilian Space AgencyLow EarthTechnology demonstration27 March 2016Successful
CubeSats to be deployed from the International Space Station at a later date. SERPENS and S-CUBE were deployed on 17 September. AAUSAT5, GOMX-3, and Dove Flocks were deployed on 5–7 October, but two out of the fourteen Dove Flocks failed to be deployed due to a malfunction of the deployer.20
20 August20:34:08 Ariane 5 ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
Eutelsat 8 West BEutelsatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Intelsat 34IntelsatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
27 August02:31:35 Long March 4C Taiyuan LC-9 CASC
Yaogan 27CNSALow Earth (SSO)ReconnaissanceIn orbitOperational
27 August11:22:00 GSLV Mk II Satish Dhawan SLP ISRO
GSAT-6Indian Armed Forces/ISROGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
28 August11:44:00 Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
Inmarsat 5-F3InmarsatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
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September

2 September04:37:43 Soyuz-FG Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Soyuz TMA-18MRoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)Expedition 45/46/iriss212 March 201604:26Successful
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts: including ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, the first Dane in space, and Aidyn Aimbetov, the first cosmonaut from an independent Kazakhstan.Sarah Brightman was intended to fly this mission as a spaceflight participant, but withdrew from training on 13 May 2015 for personal reasons.22 Japanese space tourist Satoshi Takamatsu was believed to be taking Brightman's place, but he declined and Roscosmos chose Aimbetov as an alternative instead.23Landed with the Year in Space crew of Scott Kelly and Mikhail Korniyenko
2 September10:18:00 Atlas V 551 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
MUOS-4U.S. NavyGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
11 September02:08:10 Soyuz-STB / Fregat Kourou ELS Arianespace
Galileo FOC 5ESAMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
Galileo FOC 6ESAMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
12 September15:42:04 Long March 3B/E Xichang LC-2 CASC
TJS-1CNSAGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
14 September04:42 Long March 2D Jiuquan SLS-2 CASC
Gaofen 9CNSALow Earth (SSO)Earth observation / ReconnaissanceIn orbitOperational
14 September19:00:00 Proton-M / Blok DM-03 Baikonur Site 81/24 Khrunichev
Ekspress AM8RSCCGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
19 September23:01:14 Long March 6 Taiyuan LC-16 CASC
LilacSat-2HITLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
NS-2Tsinghua UniversityLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
NUDT-PhoneSatNUDTLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstration29 March 202324Successful
Tiantuo-3NUDTLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
Xingchen 1NUDTLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
Xingchen 2NUDTLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
Xingchen 3NUDTLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
Xingchen 4NUDTLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
Xiwang-2ACAMSATLow Earth (SSO)Amateur radio25 April 202325Successful
Xiwang-2BCAMSATLow Earth (SSO)Amateur radioIn orbitOperational
Xiwang-2CCAMSATLow Earth (SSO)Amateur radioIn orbitOperational
Xiwang-2DCAMSATLow Earth (SSO)Amateur radioIn orbitOperational
Xiwang-2ECAMSATLow Earth (SSO)Amateur radioIn orbitOperational
Xiwang-2FCAMSATLow Earth (SSO)Amateur radioIn orbitOperational
XY-2CASCLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
ZDPS-2AZJULow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
ZDPS-2BZJULow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
ZJ-1Tsinghua UniversityLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
ZJ-2Tsinghua / XidianLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
DCBBCAMSATLow Earth (SSO)EducationIn orbitOperational
Maiden flight of the Long March 6 vehicle.
23 September21:59:38 Rokot / Briz-KM Plesetsk Site 133/3 VKO
Kosmos 2507 (Strela-3M)VKOLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Kosmos 2508 (Strela-3M)VKOLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Kosmos 2509 (Strela-3M)VKOLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
25 September01:41:40 Long March 11 Jiuquan LS-95A CASC
Pujiang-1SASTLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
Tianwang 1A (Shankeda 2)ShanghaiTechLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstration30 December 202226Successful
Tianwang 1B (NJUST 2)NJUSTLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstration31 March 202127Successful
Tianwang 1C (NJFA 1)ShanghaiTechLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstration27 February 202128Successful
Maiden flight of the Long March 11 vehicle.
28 September04:30:00 PSLV-XL Satish Dhawan FLP ISRO
AstrosatISROLow EarthX-ray astronomyIn orbitOperational
LAPAN-A2LAPANLow EarthEarth observationIn orbitOperational
ExactView 9exactEarthLow EarthMaritime observationIn orbitOperational
Lemur-2 1NanoSatisfiLow EarthEarth observationIn orbitOperational
Lemur-2 2NanoSatisfiLow EarthEarth observationIn orbitOperational
Lemur-2 3NanoSatisfiLow EarthEarth observationIn orbitOperational
Lemur-2 4NanoSatisfiLow EarthEarth observationIn orbitOperational
29 September23:13:04 Long March 3B/E Xichang LA-3 CASC
BeiDou I2-SCNSAGeosynchronousNavigationIn orbitOperational
30 September20:30:07 Ariane 5 ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
NBN-Co 1A (Sky Muster)NBN CoGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
ARSAT-2ARSATGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
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October

1 October16:49:40 Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Progress M-29M / 61PRoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)ISS resupply8 April 2016Successful
2 October10:28:00 Atlas V 421 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
Mexsat-2SCTGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
7 October04:13:04 Long March 2D Jiuquan SLS-2 CASC
Jilin-1 Smart Verification Satellite29Chang Guang Satellite TechnologyLow Earth (SSO)Earth observationIn orbitOperational
Jilin-1 Optical-A30Chang Guang Satellite TechnologyLow Earth (SSO)Earth observationIn orbitOperational
Jilin-1 Video-01 (Lingqiao 1-01)31Chang Guang Satellite TechnologyLow Earth (SSO)Earth observationIn orbitOperational
Jilin-1 Video-02 (Lingqiao 1-02)32Chang Guang Satellite TechnologyLow Earth (SSO)Earth observationIn orbitOperational
8 October12:49:30 Atlas V 401 Vandenberg SLC-3E United Launch Alliance
USA-264 (NOSS)NROLow EarthELINTIn orbitOperational
USA-264 (NOSS)NROLow EarthELINTIn orbitOperational
Aerocube-5cThe Aerospace CorporationLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
Aerocube-7The Aerospace CorporationLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
AMSAT Fox-1AMSATLow EarthAmateur radio / Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
ARC-1UAFLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
BisonSatSKCLow EarthEarth observationIn orbitOperational
LMRST-SatNASA / JPLLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
PropCube x 2Tyvak Nano-Satellite SystemsLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
SINOD-D x 2SRI InternationalLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
SNaP-3 x 3U.S. Army SMDCLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
NRO Launch 55
16 October16:16:04 Long March 3B/E Xichang LC-2 CASC
APStar-9APT Satellite HoldingsGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
16 October20:40:11 Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
Türksat 4BTürksatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
26 October07:10:04 Long March 2D Jiuquan SLS-2 CASC
Tianhui 1CCNSALow Earth (SSO)Earth observation (Cartography)In orbitOperational
31 October16:13:00 Atlas V 401 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
USA-265 (GPS IIF-11)U.S. Air ForceMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
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November

3 November16:25:04 Long March 3B/E Xichang LC-3 CASC
ChinaSat 2CCNSAGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
4 November03:45:00 SPARK Pacific Missile Range Facility LP-41 ORS
HiakaSatORSLow EarthTechnology demonstration4 November 2015Launch failure
EDSN x 8NASALow EarthTechnology demonstration4 November 2015Launch failure
PrintSatMontana State UniversityLow EarthTechnology demonstration4 November 2015Launch failure
ArgusSt. Louis University and Vanderbilt UniversityLow EarthTechnology demonstration4 November 2015Launch failure
STACEMUtah State UniversityLow EarthTechnology demonstration4 November 2015Launch failure
Supernova-BetaPumpkin, Inc.Low EarthTechnology demonstration4 November 2015Launch failure
Maiden flight of the SPARK/Super Strypi launch vehicle.Vehicle lost attitude control at T+1 minute.
8 November07:06:04 Long March 4B Taiyuan LC-9 CASC
Yaogan 28CNSALow Earth (SSO)ReconnaissanceIn orbitOperational
10 November21:34:07 Ariane 5 ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
Arabsat 6BArabsatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
GSAT-15ISROGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
17 November06:33:41 Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Plesetsk Site 43/4 RVSN RF
Kosmos 2510 (EKS (Tundra))VKOMolniya33Early warningIn orbitOperational34
First space component for Russia's new unified missile early warning network.35
20 November16:07:04 Long March 3B/E Xichang LC-2 CASC
LaoSat-1Laos National Authority for Science and TechnologyGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
First Laotian satellite36
24 November06:50:00 H-IIA 204 Tanegashima LA-Y1 MHI
Telstar 12VTelesatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
26 November21:24:04 Long March 4C Taiyuan LC-9 CASC
Yaogan 29CNSALow Earth (SSO)ReconnaissanceIn orbitOperational
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December

3 December04:04:00 Vega Kourou ELV Arianespace
LISA PathfinderESA / NASASun–Earth L1Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
5 December14:08:33 Soyuz-2-1v / Volga Plesetsk Site 43/4 RVSN RF
Kosmos 2511 (Kanopus-ST)VKOLow Earth (SSO)Earth observation8 December 201505:43Launch failure
Kosmos 2512 (KYuA-1)Almaz-AnteyLow Earth (SSO)Radar calibrationIn orbitOperational
Kanopus-ST failed to separate from the Volga upper stage.3738
6 December21:44:57 Atlas V 401 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
Cygnus CRS OA-4 S.S. Deke Slayton IIOrbital ATK / NASALow Earth (ISS)ISS resupply20 February 2016Successful
SIMPLNovaWurksLow EarthTechnology demonstration26 July 202239Successful
Flock-2e x 12Planet LabsLow EarthEarth observationFirst: 25 July 201740Last: 14 August 201841Successful
CADREUniversity of MichiganLow EarthTechnology demonstration3 January 201742Successful
MinXSS 1University of Colorado BoulderLow EarthSolar physics, Space weather5 May 201743Successful
Nodes x 2NASALow EarthTechnology demonstration23 September 201744Successful
STMSat 1St. Thomas More Cathedral SchoolLow EarthEducation21 April 201745Successful
Flight moved from Antares 130 rocket following launch failure of Cygnus CRS Orb-3. Originally scheduled for 1 April 2015.46 MinXSS was deployed into orbit from ISS on 16 May 2016.47
9 December16:46:04 Long March 3B/E Xichang LC-3 CASC
ChinaSat 1CCNSAGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
11 December13:45:33 Zenit-3F Baikonur Site 45/1 Roscosmos
Elektro-L No.2RoscosmosGeosynchronousMeteorologyIn orbitOperational
13 December00:19:00 Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 81/24 Khrunichev
Kosmos 2513 (Garpun No. 12L)VKOGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
15 December11:03:09 Soyuz-FG Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Soyuz TMA-19MRoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)Expedition 46/4718 June 201609:15Successful
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts.
16 December12:30:00 PSLV-CA Satish Dhawan FLP ISRO
TeLEOS-1AgilSpaceLow EarthEarth observationIn orbitOperational
VELOX C1NTULow EarthAtmospheric scienceIn orbitOperational
VELOX 2NTULow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
Kent Ridge 1NUSLow EarthEarth observationIn orbitOperational
GalassiaNUSLow EarthAtmospheric scienceIn orbitOperational
Athenoxat-1NTULow EarthEarth observationIn orbitOperational
17 December00:12:04 Long March 2D Jiuquan SLS-2 CASC
DAMPECASLow Earth (SSO)High-energy astronomyIn orbitOperational
17 December11:51:56 Soyuz ST-B / Fregat Kourou ELS Arianespace
Galileo FOC 8ESAMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
Galileo FOC 9ESAMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
21 December08:44:39 Soyuz-2.1a Baikonur Site 31/6 Roscosmos
Progress MS-01 / 62PRoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)ISS resupply3 July 201607:50Operational
First launch of the new Progress-MS variant.
22 December01:29:00 Falcon 9 Full Thrust Cape Canaveral SLC-40 SpaceX
Orbcomm-2 F2OrbcommLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Orbcomm-2 F5OrbcommLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Orbcomm-2 F8OrbcommLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Orbcomm-2 F10OrbcommLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Orbcomm-2 F12OrbcommLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Orbcomm-2 F13OrbcommLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Orbcomm-2 F14OrbcommLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Orbcomm-2 F15OrbcommLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Orbcomm-2 F16OrbcommLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Orbcomm-2 F17OrbcommLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Orbcomm-2 F18OrbcommLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
First flight of the upgraded "full thrust" version of Falcon 9, first Falcon 9 flight after launch failure in June. First successful return to launch site and vertical landing of a first stage, demonstrated as part of a controlled descent test.
24 December21:31:19 Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 Khrunichev
Ekspress AMU1RSCCGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
28 December16:04:04 Long March 3B/E Xichang LC-2 CASC
Gaofen 4CNSAGeosynchronousEarth observationIn orbitOperational
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

Suborbital flights

Date and time (UTC)RocketFlight numberLaunch siteLSP
Payload(⚀ = CubeSat)OperatorOrbitFunctionDecay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks
26 January09:13 Terrier-Improved Malemute Poker Flat NASA
M-TEXAlaskaSuborbitalAuroral26 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: ~160 kilometres (99 mi)?
26 January09:14 Terrier-Orion Poker Flat NASA
MISTClemsonSuborbitalAuroral26 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: ~130 kilometres (81 mi)?
26 January09:46 Terrier-Improved Malemute Poker Flat NASA
M-TEXAlaskaSuborbitalAuroral26 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: ~160 kilometres (99 mi)?
26 January09:47 Terrier-Orion Poker Flat NASA
MISTClemsonSuborbitalAuroral26 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: ~130 kilometres (81 mi)?
28 January10:41 Talos Terrier Oriole Nihka Poker Flat NASA
ASSPUSUSuborbitalAuroral28 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: ~590 kilometres (370 mi)?
31 January02:36:0048 Agni V Integrated Test Range Launch Complex IV DRDO
DRDOSuborbitalMissile test31 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: ~800 kilometres (500 mi)
19 February Prithvi II Integrated Test Range Launch Complex 3 DRDO
DRDOSuborbitalMissile test19 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)
19 February22:06 VS-30/Improved Orion Andøya Andøya
ICI-4 (CanoRock 4)Oslo/AndøyaSuborbitalTechnology19 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 365 kilometres (227 mi)
22 February07:52 VSB-30 Esrange CNES
CryofenixCNESSuborbitalMicrogravity22 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 265 kilometres (165 mi)
22 February UGM-133 Trident II D5 Submarine, Pacific Ocean US Navy
US NavySuborbitalMissile test22 FebruarySuccessful
22 February UGM-133 Trident II D5 Submarine, Pacific Ocean US Navy
US NavySuborbitalMissile test22 FebruarySuccessful
24 February07:30 Terrier-Oriole Wallops Island TBD
DODSuborbitalMissile Defense Test24 FebruarySuccessful
FTX-19 target, apogee: ~150 kilometres (93 mi)?
24 February07:30 Terrier-Oriole Wallops Island TBD
DODSuborbitalMissile Defense Test24 FebruarySuccessful
FTX-19 target, apogee: ~150 kilometres (93 mi)?
24 February07:30 Terrier-Oriole Wallops Island TBD
DODSuborbitalMissile Defense Test24 FebruarySuccessful
FTX-19 target, apogee: ~150 kilometres (93 mi)?
25 February12:26 Black Brant IX White Sands NASA
MOSC 2AFRLSuborbitalIonospheric research25 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)?
26 February UR-100NU Yasniy RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test26 FebruaryLaunch failure49
Yu-71 Hypersonic Vehicle Test
1 March50 Hwasong-6 Nampo Korean People's Army Strategic Force
Korean People's Army Strategic ForceSuborbitalMissile test1 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 134 kilometres (83 mi). 1 of 2.
1 March51 Hwasong-6 Nampo Korean People's Army Strategic Force
Korean People's Army Strategic ForceSuborbitalMissile test1 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 134 kilometres (83 mi). 2 of 2.
5 March01:44 VS-30 Andøya DLR
WADIS-2DLRSuborbitalAtmospheric5 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 126 kilometres (78 mi), 13 Super Loki meteorological rockets were also launched
9 March Shaheen-III Sonmiani ASFC
ASFCSuborbitalMissile test9 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)?
18 March RS-26 Rubezh Kapustin Yar RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test18 MarchSuccessful
23 March10:36 LGM-30G Minuteman III Vandenberg LF-10 US Air Force
US Air ForceSuborbitalTest flight23 MarchSuccessful
GT214GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
27 March10:54 LGM-30G Minuteman III Vandenberg LF-04 US Air Force
US Air ForceSuborbitalTest flight27 MarchSuccessful
GT215GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
30 March VSB-30 Andøya DSTO
HiFire-7DSTOSuborbitalTechnology demonstration30 MarchSuccessful
9 AprilDhanushShip, Indian OceanDRDO
DRDOSuborbitalTarget9 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)
15 AprilGhauriTillaArmy of Pakistan
Haft-5Army of PakistanSuborbitalMissile test15 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
16 April04:22Agni-IIIITR IC-4Indian Army
Indian ArmySuborbitalMissile test16 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 350 kilometres (220 mi)
18 April11:01 Terrier-Improved Malemute Wallops Island NASA
Rocksat-XUniversity of Colorado BoulderSuborbitalStudent Research18 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: ~174 kilometres (108 mi)
23 April07:35 VSB-30 Esrange EuroLaunch
/ TEXUS-51DLR/ESASuborbitalMicrogravity23 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 261 kilometres (162 mi)
27 April04:55 VSB-30 Esrange EuroLaunch
/ TEXUS-52DLR/ESASuborbitalMicrogravity27 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 255 kilometres (158 mi)
2 May08:30:01 Black Brant IX White Sands NASA
OGRESSUniversity of IowaSuborbitalX-Ray Astronomy2 MaySuccessful
Apogee: 272 kilometres (169 mi)
20 May10:37 LGM-30G Minuteman III Vandenberg LF-09 US Air Force
US Air ForceSuborbitalTest flight20 MaySuccessful
GT212GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
21 May19:15 Black Brant IX White SandsNASA
EVECU BoulderSuborbitalSDO calibration21 MayLaunch failure
Second stage failure, flight was terminated safety officials about four seconds into the second stage burn after data showed the vehicle was flying off-course. The payload carrying the experiment separated from the rocket and descended via parachute.
6 June SM-3-IIA San Nicolas Island US Navy
US NavySuborbitalABM test6 JuneSuccessful
Maiden flight of SM-3 Block IIA Cooperative Development Controlled Test Vehicle-01 (SCD CTV-01)
25 June10:00 Terrier-Improved Orion Wallops Island NASA
RockOnCU BoulderSuborbitalStudent experiments25 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 118 kilometres (73 mi)
26 June ARAV ? Kauai MDA
MDASuborbitalABM target26 JuneLaunch failure
Aegis radar target
30 June04:55 VSB-30 Esrange EuroLaunch
MAPHEUS-5DLRSuborbitalTechnology demonstration30 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 252 kilometres (157 mi)
7 July10:15 Black Brant IX Wallops Island NASA
SOAREX-8NASASuborbitalTechnology demonstration7 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 350 kilometres (220 mi)
29 July08:30 ARAV ?MMW E1 Kauai MDA
MDASuborbitalABM target29 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)?, Aegis MMW E1 target, successful intercept by SM-6 Dual I missile
30 July06:15 ARAV ?MMW E2 Kauai MDA
MDASuborbitalABM target30 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)?, Aegis MMW E2 target, successful intercept by SM-2 Block IV missile
12 August10:14 Terrier-Improved Malemute Wallops Island NASA
Rocksat-XVarious universitiesSuborbitalStudent Research12 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: ~156km (97 miles).52
19 August10:03 LGM-30G Minuteman III Vandenberg LF-10 US Air Force
US Air ForceSuborbitalTest flight19 AugustSuccessful
GT213GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
22 August15:13 RS-12M Topol Kapustin Yar RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test22 AugustSuccessful
27 August17:45 Black Brant IX White Sands NASA
MOSES-2MSUSuborbitalSolar astronomy27 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: 185 miles (298 km)53
3 September17:01 Black Brant IX White Sands NASA
CLASPNASA / JAXA / IAC / IASSuborbitalSolar astronomy3 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 167 miles (269 km)54
11 September11:00:00 S-520 Uchinoura JAXA
HU/UT/TU/JAXASuborbitalMicrogravity11 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 312 km55
16 September19:06 Black Brant XI Andøya NASA
CARE IINRLSuborbitalAeronomy16 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 299 kilometres (186 mi)
30 September08:28 M51 Landes DGA/Marine nationale
DGA/Marine nationaleSuborbitalTest flight30 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi), apparently launched from the land test pad, rather than from a submarine.
2 October05:39:00/ VSB-30/Improved Orion Esrange Swedish Space Corporation
O-STATES 1SNSBSuborbitalAtmospheric Research2 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 246 kilometres (153 mi)
7 October23:07:00 Black Brant IX Wallops Island NASA
Technology Test FlightNASA GSFCSuborbitalRocket motor test7 OctoberSuccessful
LEO-1Orbital ATKSuborbitalMaterials Testing7 OctoberSuccessful
NNSNASASuborbitalMaterials Testing7 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 257.5 kilometers (160mi).56 Test flight of the new Black Brant Mk4 sustainer motor. Other payloads included a cloud of barium and strontium, which was deployed to test the rocket's payload ejection system and was visible for miles along the East Coast of the United States.
19 October14:09:00/ VSB-30/Improved Orion Esrange Swedish Space Corporation
O-STATES 2SNSBSuborbitalAtmospheric Research19 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 244 kilometres (152 mi)
20 October Terrier-OrionADS-15 E2 South Uist, Hebrides MDA
DODSuborbitalTarget20 OctoberSuccessful
SM-3 Target, apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)?
20 October SM-3ADS-15 E2 USS Ross (DDG-71), Hebrides Range US Navy
US NavySuborbitalABM test20 OctoberSuccessful
First Aegis-Test in the North Atlantic, successful intercept, apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)?
21 October12:45:00 LGM-30G Minuteman III Vandenberg LF-04 US Air Force
US Air ForceSuborbitalTest flight21 OctoberSuccessful
GT216GM, Apogee: ~1,300 kilometres (810 mi) ?
28 October11:30 RS-24 Yars Plesetsk RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test28 OctoberSuccessful
30 October RS-12M Topol Plesetsk RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test30 OctoberSuccessful
30 October R-29RMU Sineva K-117 Bryansk, Barents Sea VMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test30 OctoberSuccessful
30 October R-29R Volna K-223 Podolsk, Sea of Okhotsk VMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test30 OctoberSuccessful
31 October23:00 ? B-611 ShuangchengziPLA
PLASuborbitalABM target31 OctoberSuccessful
Target
31 October23:00 ? SC-19 Korla PLA
PLASuborbitalABM test31 OctoberSuccessful
Interceptor, successful intercept
1 November03:05 SRALTFTO-02 E2a C-17, Pacific Ocean MDA
MDASuborbitalTHAAD target1 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), successful intercepted
1 November03:07 THAADFTO-02 E2a Wake Island US Army
US Army/MDASuborbitalABM test1 NovemberSuccessful
Intercepted target missile, apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
1 November03:10 eMRBMFTO-02 E2a C-17, Pacific Ocean MDA
MDASuborbitalTHAAD target1 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), successful intercepted
1 November03:12 THAADFTO-02 E2a Wake Island US Army
US Army/MDASuborbitalABM test1 NovemberSuccessful
Intercepted target missile, apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
6 November15:01 SpaceLoft XL Spaceport America UP Aerospace
FOP-4NASASuborbitalFour technology demonstration experiments6 NovemberSuccessful
Mission SL-10, Apogee: 120.7 kilometers (74.98 miles). First private suborbital rocket to demonstrate ejection of recoverable payloads.57
8 November02:00UGM-133 Trident II D5USS Kentucky, Pacific OceanUS Navy
US NavySuborbitalMissile test8 NovemberSuccessful
Demonstration and Shakedown Operation 26 (DASO-26)
9 November04:15 Agni-IV Integrated Test Range DRDO
DRDOSuborbitalMissile Test9 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: ~850 kilometres (530 mi)?
9 November20:00UGM-133 Trident II D5USS Kentucky, Pacific OceanUS Navy
US NavySuborbitalMissile test9 NovemberSuccessful
Demonstration and Shakedown Operation 26 (DASO-26)
14 November RSM-56 Bulava K-551 Vladimir Monomakh, White Sea VMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test14 NovemberSuccessful
14 November RSM-56 Bulava K-551 Vladimir Monomakh, White Sea VMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test14 NovemberSuccessful
Missile did not hit its targets at the Kura test site. The warheads did reach the Kamchatka region, but the miss was fairly large, but that was still not significant enough to abort the flight
17 November12:12 RS-12M Topol Kapustin Yar RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test17 NovemberSuccessful
21 November Ghadr-1 Semnan ? IRGC
IGRCSuborbitalMissile test21 NovemberSuccessful
apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
23 November17:21 New Shepard Corn Ranch Blue Origin
New ShepardBlue OriginSuborbitalTest flight23 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 100.5 kilometres (62.4 mi). Second test flight of the New Shepard launch system, first to cross the Kármán line, and first to achieve a powered landing of its propulsion stage.
25 November04:17 Black Brant IX White Sands NASA
PICTURE-BUMassSuborbitalAstronomy25 NovemberSuccessful
apogee: 217 kilometres (135 mi)
30 November07:25 Talos Terrier Oriole Nihka Andøya NASA
CAPERDartmouth CollegeSuborbitalAuroral research30 NovemberLaunch failure
Third stage failure, payload recovered
1 December05:00 VSB-30 Esrange EuroLaunch
MASER-13SSCSuborbitalMicrogravity1 DecemberSuccessful
apogee: 270 kilometres (170 mi)
5 December04:45 Black Brant IX White Sands NASA
DXL-2U of MSuborbitalAstronomy5 DecemberSuccessful
apogee: 224 kilometres (139 mi)
8 December SM-3-IIA San Nicolas Island US Navy
US NavySuborbitalABM test8 DecemberSuccessful
Second flight of SM-3 Block IIA Cooperative Development Controlled Test Vehicle-02 (SCD CTV-02)
10 December06:12 Silver Sparrow F-15 Eagle, Israel IAF
IAI/IDFSuborbitalABM target10 DecemberSuccessful
Arrow-3 target, successfully intercepted, apogee: ~150 kilometres (93 mi)
10 December06:15 Arrow III Negev IAF
IAI/IDFSuborbitalABM Test10 DecemberSuccessful
First test of the Arrow-III against a target, successful intercept over the Mediterranean
10 December SRALTFTO-02 E1a C-17, Pacific Ocean MDA
MDASuborbitalSM-3-IB target10 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), successful intercepted
10 December SM-3-IBFTO-02 E1a Kauai US Navy
US NavySuborbitalABM test10 DecemberSuccessful
First intercept flight test of a land-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) weapon system
10 December13:55 Juno Fort Wingate LC-96 US Army
US ArmySuborbitalTarget10 DecemberSuccessful
Target for MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 MSE test, successfully intercepted
11 December Shaheen-III Sonmiani ASFC
ASFCSuborbitalMissile test11 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)?
12 December R-29RMU Sineva K-51 Verkhoturye, Barents Sea VMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test12 DecemberSuccessful
13 December04:32 Black Brant XIIA Andøya NASA
RENU 2New HampshireSuborbitalGeospace13 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 447 kilometres (278 mi)
15 December Shaheen-IA Sonmiani ASFC
ASFCSuborbitalMissile test15 DecemberSuccessful
18 December06:52 Black Brant IX White Sands NASA
FORTISJHUSuborbitalUV Astronomy18 DecemberSuccessful
apogee: 282 kilometres (175 mi)
24 December17:55 RS-12M Topol Kapustin Yar RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test24 DecemberSuccessful

Deep space rendezvous

Date (GMT)SpacecraftEventRemarks
10 JanuaryChang'e 5-T1Injection into Selenocentric orbitDeparted from Earth–Moon L2 on 4 January.
11 January58Cassini109th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 970 kilometres (603 mi).
12 FebruaryCassini110th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,200 kilometres (746 mi).
6 March59DawnEnters orbit of Ceres1st visit to a dwarf planet.
16 MarchCassini111th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 2,275 kilometres (1,413 mi).
30 AprilMESSENGERImpact to Mercury60The crash occurred on the side of the planet not visible from Earth.
7 MayCassini112th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 2,722 kilometres (1,691 mi).
16 JuneCassini4th flyby of DioneClosest approach: 516 kilometres (321 mi).
7 JulyCassini113th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 10,953 kilometres (6,806 mi).
14 JulyNew HorizonsFirst flyby of Pluto and Charon2nd visit to a dwarf planet. Closest approach: 12,500 km (7,800 mi).
17 AugustCassini5th flyby of DioneClosest approach: 474 kilometres (295 mi).
28 SeptemberCassini114th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,036 kilometres (643 mi).
14 OctoberCassiniFlyby of EnceladusClosest approach: 1,839 kilometres (1,142 mi).
28 OctoberCassiniFlyby of EnceladusClosest approach: 49 kilometres (30 mi).
12 NovemberCassini115th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 11,920 kilometres (7,407 mi).
3 December61Hayabusa2Flyby of EarthGravity assist
3 December62PROCYONFlyby of EarthGravity assist en route to cancelled asteroid flyby.
4 December63Shin'en 2Flyby of EarthGravity assist
7 December64AkatsukiVenus orbit insertionAkatsuki's 2nd flyby of Venus and 2nd (successful) attempt at orbit insertion.
19 DecemberCassiniFlyby of EnceladusClosest approach: 4,999 kilometres (3,106 mi).

Extra-Vehicular Activities (EVAs)

Start Date/TimeDurationEnd TimeSpacecraftCrewRemarks
21 February12:456 hours41 minutes19:26Expedition 42/43

ISS Quest

Barry E. Wilmore

Terry W. Virts

Rigged and routed power and data cables at the forward end of the Harmony module as part of preparations for the installation of the International Docking Adapter at PMA-2.65
25 February11:516 hours43 minutes18:34Expedition 42/43

ISS Quest

Barry E. Wilmore

Terry W. Virts

Completed power and data cable routing at the forward end of the Harmony module. Removed launch locks from forward and aft berthing ports of Tranquility to prepare for relocation of the Permanent Multipurpose Module and the installation of the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module. Lubricated end effector of Canadarm2.6667
1 March11:525 hours38 minutes17:30Expedition 42/43

ISS Quest

Terry W. Virts

Barry E. Wilmore

Finished cable routing, antenna and retro-reflector installation on both sides of the ISS truss and on other modules in preparation for the installation of the International Docking Adapter at PMA-2 and 3.6869
10 August14:205 hours31 minutes19:51Expedition 44/45

ISS Pirs

Gennady Padalka

Mikhail Korniyenko

Installed gap spanners on the hull of the station for facilitating movement of crew members on future spacewalks, cleaned windows of the Zvezda Service Module, install fasteners on communications antennas, replaced an aging docking antenna, photographed various locations and hardware on Zvezda and nearby modules, and retrieved a space environment experiment.7071
28 October12:037 hours16 minutes19:19Expedition 45

ISS Quest

Scott Kelly

Kjell N. Lindgren

Prepared a Main Bus Switching Unit for repair, installed a thermal cover on the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, lubricated elements of the Space Station Remote Manipulator System, and routed data and power cables to prepare for the installation of the International Docking Adaptor at PMA-2 and 3.72
6 November11:227 hours48 minutes19:10Expedition 45

ISS Quest

Scott Kelly

Kjell N. Lindgren

Worked to restore a portion of the ISS's cooling system to its primary configuration, returning ammonia coolant levels to normal in the primary and backup radiator arrays.73
21 December13:453 hours16 minutes16:01Expedition 46

ISS Quest

Scott Kelly

Timothy Kopra

Released a brake on the Mobile Servicing System to allow it to be properly stowed prior to the arrival of a visiting Progress vehicle. Routed cables in preparation for the installation of the Nauka module and the International Docking Adapter, and retrieved tools from a toolbox.74

Space debris events

Date/Time (UTC)Source objectEvent typePieces trackedRemarks
3 February 17:4075 DMSP 5D-2/F13 (USA-109)Satellite breakup15976The breakup was most likely caused by a battery explosion.7778 This satellite had been launched in 1995. Another satellite from the same series, DMSP 5D-2/F11, had broken up in 2004.79 Debris are expected to remain in orbit for decades.80
25 November 7:2081NOAA-16Satellite breakup27582As this weather satellite, launched in 2000, had a similar construction to the DMSP satellite which broke up in February 2015, the same cause is suspected (battery overheating and explosion).83
22 December 16:0084Briz-M upper stageBooster explosion985A Briz-M upper-stage booster, having subsisted in geosynchronous transfer orbit since launching the Canadian Nimiq 6 commsat in 2012, was seen to have broken up into 9 pieces as of 26 January 2016. Orbital analysis of the debris allowed to time the explosion within one minute of 16:00 UTC on 22 December 2015.86 Three other Briz-M upper stages had exploded earlier in 2007, 2010 and 2012.87

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.

CountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failures
 China191900
 France6600
 India5500
 Iran1100
 Italy3300
 Japan4400
 Russia27882421
 Ukraine289200
 United States201820
World878241

By rocket

5 10 15 20 Ariane Atlas Delta Falcon H-II Long March PSLV R-7 UR Vega Others

By family

FamilyCountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failuresRemarks
Ariane France6600
Atlas United States9900
Delta United States3300
Falcon United States7610
GSLV India1100
H-II Japan4400
Long March China191900
PSLV India4400
R-7 Russia171511
R-36 Ukraine1100
Safir Iran1100
Strypi United States1010
Universal Rocket Russia10910
Vega Italy3300
Zenit Ukraine1100

By type

RocketCountryFamilyLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failuresRemarks
Ariane 5 FranceAriane6600
Atlas V United StatesAtlas9900
Delta II United StatesDelta1100
Delta IV United StatesDelta2200
Dnepr UkraineR-361100Final flight
Falcon 9 United StatesFalcon7610
GSLV IndiaGSLV1100
H-IIA JapanH-II3300
H-IIB JapanH-II1100
Long March 2 ChinaLong March4400
Long March 3 ChinaLong March9900
Long March 4 ChinaLong March4400
Long March 6 ChinaLong March1100Maiden flight
Long March 11 ChinaLong March1100Maiden flight
Proton RussiaUniversal Rocket8710
PSLV IndiaPSLV4400
Safir IranSafir1100
Soyuz RussiaR-77700
Soyuz-2 RussiaR-710811
Super Strypi United StatesStrypi1010Maiden flight
UR-100 RussiaUniversal Rocket2200
Vega ItalyVega3300
Zenit UkraineZenit1100

By configuration

RocketCountryTypeLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failuresRemarks
Ariane 5 ECA FranceAriane 56600
Atlas V 401 United StatesAtlas V4400
Atlas V 421 United StatesAtlas V2200
Atlas V 501 United StatesAtlas V1100
Atlas V 551 United StatesAtlas V2200
Delta II 7320 United StatesDelta II1100
Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) United StatesDelta IV1100
Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) United StatesDelta IV1100
Dnepr UkraineR-361100Final flight
Falcon 9 v1.1 United StatesFalcon 96510
Falcon 9 Full Thrust United StatesFalcon 91100Maiden flight
GSLV Mk II IndiaGSLV1100
H-IIA 202 JapanH-IIA2200
H-IIA 204 JapanH-IIA1100
H-IIB JapanH-IIB1100
Long March 2D ChinaLong March 24400
Long March 3B/E ChinaLong March 37700
Long March 3B / YZ-1 ChinaLong March 31100Maiden flight
Long March 3C/E / YZ-1 ChinaLong March 31100Maiden flight
Long March 4B ChinaLong March 42200
Long March 4C ChinaLong March 42200
Long March 6 ChinaLong March 51100Maiden flight
Long March 11 ChinaLong March 111100Maiden flight
Proton-M / Blok DM-03 RussiaProton1100
Proton-M / Briz-M RussiaProton7610
PSLV-CA IndiaPSLV1100
PSLV-XL IndiaPSLV3300
Rokot / Briz-KM RussiaUR-1002200
Safir-1B IranSafir1100
Soyuz-2.1a RussiaSoyuz-24310
Soyuz-2.1b RussiaSoyuz-21100
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat-M RussiaSoyuz-21100
Soyuz ST-B / Fregat-MT RussiaSoyuz-23300
Soyuz-2-1v / Volga RussiaSoyuz-21001
Soyuz-FG RussiaSoyuz4400
Soyuz-U RussiaSoyuz3300
Super Strypi United StatesStrypi1010Maiden flight
Vega ItalyVega3300
Zenit-3F UkraineZenit1100

By spaceport

5 10 15 20 China France India Iran Japan Kazakhstan Russia United States
SiteCountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failuresRemarks
Baikonur Kazakhstan181620
Barking Sands United States1010
Cape Canaveral United States171610
Dombarovsky Russia1100
Kourou France121200
Jiuquan China5500
Plesetsk Russia7601
Satish Dhawan India5500
Semnan Iran1100
Taiyuan China5500
Tanegashima Japan4400
Vandenberg United States2200
Xichang China9900
Total878241

By orbit

10 20 30 40 50 Transatmospheric Low Earth Geosynchronous / transfer Medium Earth High Earth Heliocentric orbit
  •   Transatmospheric
  •   Low Earth
  •   Low Earth (ISS)
  •   Low Earth (SSO)
  •   Low Earth (retrograde)
  •   Geosychronous(transfer)
  •   Medium Earth
  •   High Earth
  •   Heliocentric
Orbital regimeLaunchesAchievedNot achievedAccidentallyachievedRemarks
Transatmospheric1100
Low Earth45422114 to ISS (1 launch failure, 1 failure post-separation)
Geosynchronous/transfer323110
Medium Earth7700
High Earth2200
Total878331

Notes

Generic references:
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Spaceflight portal

References

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  82. T.S. Kelso, CelesTrak [@TSKelso] (26 March 2016). "That brings the total so far for the NOAA 16 debris event to 275 pieces, with none having decayed from orbit" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 March 2016 – via Twitter. https://x.com/TSKelso/status/713665017225281536

  83. "NOAA Weather Satellite suffers in-orbit Breakup". 25 November 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2016. http://spaceflight101.com/noaa-weather-satellite-suffers-in-orbit-breakup/

  84. Joint Space Operations Center [@JSpOC] (26 January 2016). "JSpOC confirms breakup of BREEZE-M R/B (#38343). Analysis shows it occurred Dec 22, 2015, 1600Z +/-1 min. 9 associated pieces. #38343Breakup" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 March 2016 – via Twitter. /wiki/Joint_Space_Operations_Center

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  86. Joint Space Operations Center [@JSpOC] (26 January 2016). "JSpOC confirms breakup of BREEZE-M R/B (#38343). Analysis shows it occurred Dec 22, 2015, 1600Z +/-1 min. 9 associated pieces. #38343Breakup" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 March 2016 – via Twitter. /wiki/Joint_Space_Operations_Center

  87. Clark, Stephen (24 October 2012). "Rocket explosion raises worries over space debris". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 28 March 2016. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1210/23breezem/

  88. Includes three European Soyuz launches from Kourou, French Guiana by Arianespace /wiki/European_Soyuz

  89. Zenit and Dnepr rockets were launched from Russia and/or Kazakhstan