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2011 in spaceflight
Spaceflight-related events of 2011

The year 2011 saw a number of significant events in spaceflight, including the retirement of NASA's Space Shuttle after its final flight in July 2011, and the launch of China's first space station module, Tiangong-1, in September. A total of 84 orbital launches were conducted over the course of the year, of which 78 were successful. Russia, China and the United States conducted the majority of the year's orbital launches, with 35, 19 and 18 launches respectively; 2011 marked the first year that China conducted more successful launches than the United States. Seven crewed missions were launched into orbit during 2011, carrying a total of 28 astronauts to the International Space Station. Additionally, the Zenit-3F and Long March 2F/G carrier rockets made their maiden flights in 2011, while the Delta II Heavy made its last.

Overview of orbital spaceflight

A total of 84 orbital launches were attempted in 2011, with 78 being reported as successful; 80 launches reached orbit. 35 launches were conducted using Russian and former Soviet rockets, whilst China launched 19 rockets, and the United States launched 18. Europe conducted five launches, India and Japan launched three rockets each, and Iran conducted one launch.

Crewed launches

Seven crewed spaceflights – four Soyuz and three Space Shuttle missions – were launched in 2011, carrying a total of 28 astronauts and cosmonauts into orbit. At the beginning of the year, the Expedition 26 crew was aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The first crewed flight of 2011 was STS-133, the final flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery, which launched from the Kennedy Space Center on 24 February. STS-133 carried Leonardo, the final American pressurised module of the ISS, for installation. Discovery returned to Earth on 9 March.

On 16 March, Expedition 27 began aboard the ISS with the departure of the Soyuz TMA-01M spacecraft, which had been docked since October 2010. On 4 April, Soyuz TMA-21 launched to the space station, delivering a further three crewmembers. On 16 May, Space Shuttle Space Shuttle Endeavour launched to the station on its final mission, STS-134, delivering and installing the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, before returning to Earth on 1 June. Expedition 28 began aboard the ISS on 23 May with the departure of Soyuz TMA-20, which had been launched in December 2010, and landed in the early morning of 24 May. Three more crewmembers were launched to the space station aboard Soyuz TMA-02M on 7 June.

The final Space Shuttle mission, STS-135, began on 8 July with the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis, carrying supplies for the ISS aboard the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM). After resupplying the space station, Atlantis returned to Earth, landing at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility at 09:57 UTC on 21 July, and concluding thirty years of Space Shuttle operations. Two days before landing, Atlantis deployed PSSC-2, the last satellite to be launched from a Space Shuttle.

On 29 September, China launched its first space station module, Tiangong-1, which was placed into orbit by a Long March 2F/G carrier rocket flying from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. Although no crewed missions to Tiangong-1 were conducted in 2011, the uncrewed Shenzhou 8 spacecraft, which was launched on 31 October, docked twice with the module to test its systems in preparation for a successful 2012 crewed docking.

ISS Expedition 28 ended, and Expedition 29 began, with the undocking of Soyuz TMA-21 on 16 September. The launch of Soyuz TMA-22 did not take place until 14 November, having been delayed by reliability concerns surrounding the Soyuz rocket after an uncrewed launch failure in August. A week later, Soyuz TMA-02M undocked, beginning Expedition 30, with the Soyuz spacecraft landing on 22 November. The final crewed launch of the year took place on 21 December, when Soyuz TMA-03M was launched to bring a further three crewmembers to the ISS.

Ten spacewalks were conducted in 2011, all of them by ISS or Space Shuttle astronauts. The final spacewalk by a Space Shuttle crew was conducted on 27 May, during the STS-134 mission.

Robotic exploration

Numerous scientific exploration missions were begun in 2011. In March 2011, the MESSENGER probe became the first artificial satellite of the planet Mercury. In July, the Dawn spacecraft became the first artificial satellite of the asteroid 4 Vesta. The Mars Science Laboratory – at the time, the largest Mars rover ever constructed – was launched in November, conducting a successful landing on Mars in August 2012.2

Launch failures

Six orbital launches failed in 2011, four of which failed to achieve orbit and the remaining two reached lower orbits than expected. The first failure occurred on 1 February, when a Rokot with a Briz-KM upper stage placed Kosmos 2470 into a useless orbit, from which it could not recover. The failure was later traced to a software problem on the Briz-KM.

The next failure occurred on 4 March, when the payload fairing of a Taurus-XL failed to separate, resulting in the rocket being too heavy to reach orbit. The Glory climate research satellite was lost in the failure, along with the KySat-1, Hermes and Explorer-1 [PRIME] CubeSats. The previous Taurus-XL launch, carrying the Orbiting Carbon Observatory in February 2009, also failed due to the fairing not separating.

No more launch failures occurred until mid-August when, over the space of a week, three consecutive orbital launches failed. On 17 August, a Proton-M/Briz-M launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, carrying the Ekspress-AM4 communications satellite. In the morning of 18 August, the rocket's upper stage failed to conduct the fourth of five planned burns due to an attitude control system malfunction, leaving the spacecraft in a parking orbit. Later that same day, a Long March 2C launched from Jiuquan carrying the Shijian XI-04 satellite. The second stage vernier engine's mounting suffered a structural failure, resulting in a loss of control, and the rocket failed to reach orbit. Finally, on 24 August, a Soyuz-U carrying the Progress M-12M cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station suffered a third-stage engine failure and also failed to attain orbit.

The final launch failure of 2011 occurred on 23 December, when a Soyuz-2-1b/Fregat carrying the Meridian 5 satellite failed to achieve orbit due to a third-stage malfunction. Debris fell over Novosibirsk Oblast, with one piece hitting a house; however, no casualties were reported.

In November 2011, Russia's Fobos-Grunt Martian sample return probe launched successfully, but experienced a malfunction post-launch and became stranded in orbit. The spacecraft, which was Russia's first attempt at an interplanetary mission since the 1996 Mars 96 mission, disintegrated over the Pacific Ocean on 15 January 2012.34 China's first Mars probe, Yinghuo-1, which was being carried by the same rocket as Fobos-Grunt, was also lost in the incident.

Orbital launches

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

January

20 January12:29:01 Zenit-3F Baikonur Site 45/1 Roscosmos
Elektro-L No.1RoscosmosGeostationaryMeteorologyIn orbitOperational5
Maiden flight of Zenit-3F.
20 January21:106 Delta IV-H Vandenberg SLC-6 United Launch Alliance
USA-224 (KH-11)NROLow EarthEarth observationIn orbitOperational
NRO Launch 49, first Delta IV Heavy launch from Vandenberg.7
22 January05:37:578 H-IIB Tanegashima LA-Y2 JAXA9
Kounotori 2 (HTV-2)JAXALow Earth (ISS)ISS logistics30 MarchSuccessful
28 January01:31:41 Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Progress M-09M / 41PRoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)ISS logistics26 April13:22:53Successful
KedrRKK EnergiaLow EarthAmateur radio4 January 201210Successful
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February

1 February14:00 Rokot / Briz-KM Plesetsk Site 133/3 VKS
Kosmos 2470 (Geo-IK-2 No.11)VKSLow EarthGeodesy15 July 201311Launch failure
Upper stage malfunctioned due to problems with the flight software,12 reached lower orbit than planned.
6 February12:26 Minotaur I Vandenberg SLC-8 Orbital Sciences
USA-225 (RPP)NROLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational13
NRO Launch 66
16 February21:5014 Ariane 5 ES Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
Johannes Kepler ATVESALow Earth (ISS)ISS logistics21 JuneSuccessful
24 February21:53:24 Space Shuttle Discovery Kennedy LC-39A United Space Alliance
STS-133NASALow Earth (ISS)ISS logistics9 March16:57:17Successful
Leonardo (PMM)15ASI / NASALow Earth (ISS)ISS assemblyIn orbitOperational
ExPRESS-4NASALow Earth (ISS)ISS logisticsIn orbitOperational
Crewed flight, final flight of Discovery.
26 February03:07 Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Plesetsk Site 43/4 RVSN RF
Kosmos 2471 (Glonass-K 701)VKSMedium EarthNavigation12 November 2021Successful16
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March

4 March10:09:43 Taurus-XL 3110 Vandenberg LC-576E Orbital Sciences
GloryNASAIntended: Low Earth (SSO)Climatology4 MarchLaunch failure
KySat-1Kentucky SpaceIntended: Low EarthTechnology demonstration
HermesColoradoIntended: Low EarthTechnology demonstration
Explorer-1 [PRIME]Montana StateIntended: Low EarthRadiation
All payloads CubeSats except Glory, which would have been part of the A-train constellation. Fairing failed to separate.
5 March22:46 Atlas V 501 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
USA-226 (X-37B FLT-2)U.S. Air ForceLow EarthTechnology demonstration16 June 201212:481718Successful
11 March23:38 Delta IV-M+ (4,2) Cape Canaveral SLC-37B United Launch Alliance
USA-227 (SDS-3)NROGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
NRO Launch 27
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April

4 April22:18:201920 Soyuz-FG Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Soyuz TMA-21RoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)Expedition 27/2816 September03:59:39Successful
9 April20:47:04 Long March 3A Xichang LC-3 CNSA
Compass-IGSO3CNSAIGSONavigationIn orbitOperational
14 April04:24 Atlas V 41121 Vandenberg SLC-3E United Launch Alliance
USA-229 (NOSS)NROLow EarthELINTIn orbitOperational
USA-229 (NOSS)NROLow EarthELINTIn orbitOperational
NRO Launch 34
20 April04:42222324 PSLV Satish Dhawan FLP ISRO
Resourcesat-2ISROLow Earth (SSO)Earth observationIn orbitOperational
YouthSatISRO / MGULow Earth (SSO)EducationIn orbitOperational
X-SatCRESTLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
22 April21:37252627 Ariane 5 ECA28 Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
Yahsat 1AYahsatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
New Dawn29IntelsatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitPartial spacecraft failure
New Dawn's C-Band antenna failed to deploy.
27 April13:05:21 Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Progress M-10M / 42PRoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)ISS logistics29 October13:00:31Successful
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May

4 May17:41:3330 Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat Plesetsk Site 43/4 RVSN RF
Meridian 4VKSMedium EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
7 May18:10 Atlas V 401 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
USA-230 (SBIRS-GEO 1)U.S. Air ForceGeosynchronousMissile defenseIn orbitOperational
16 May12:56 Space Shuttle Endeavour Kennedy LC-39A United Space Alliance
STS-134NASALow Earth (ISS)ISS logistics1 June06:35Successful
AMS-0231NASALow Earth (ISS)Cosmic-ray observatoryIn orbitOperational
ExPRESS-3NASALow Earth (ISS)ISS logisticsIn orbitOperational
Crewed flight, final flight of Endeavour.
20 May19:1532 Proton-M/Briz-M Enhanced Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
Telstar 14RTelesatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitPartial spacecraft failure
Second solar panel failed to deploy due to tangled cable33
20 May20:3834 Ariane 5 ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
ST-2SingTel / ChunghwaGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
INSAT-4G/GSAT-835ISROGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
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June

7 June20:12:45 Soyuz-FG Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Soyuz TMA-02MRoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)Expedition 28/2922 November02:26Successful
10 June14:20 Delta II 7320 Vandenberg SLC-2W United Launch Alliance
SAC-DCONAE / NASALow Earth (SSO)OceanographyIn orbitOperational
Final scheduled flight of Delta II 7300 series; spacecraft carrying NASA's Aquarius instrument.
15 June09:14 Safir-1AUIS.0001 Semnan LP-1 ISA
Rasad 1ISALow EarthEarth observation6 July 2011Successful
20 June16:1336 Long March 3B Xichang LC-2 CNSA
ChinaSat 10China Satellite CommunicationsGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
21 June14:38 Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Progress M-11M / 43PRoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)ISS logistics1 September10:21:41Successful
27 June16:0037 Soyuz-U Plesetsk Site 16/2 VKS
Kosmos 2472 (Kobalt-M No.7)VKSLow EarthReconnaissance24 OctoberSuccessful
30 June03:09 Minotaur I MARS LP-0B Orbital Sciences
USA-231 (ORS-1)ORSOLow EarthReconnaissance12 March 201838Successful
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July

6 July04:2839 Long March 2C Jiuquan SLS-2 CNSA
Shijian 11-03CNSALow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
8 July15:29 Space Shuttle Atlantis Kennedy LC-39A United Space Alliance
STS-135NASALow Earth (ISS)ISS logistics21 July 201109:57Successful
Raffaelo MPLMNASALow Earth (ISS)ISS logisticsSuccessful
PSSC-2U.S. Air ForceLow EarthTechnology demonstration8 DecemberSuccessful
Crewed flight, final flight of Atlantis and of Space Shuttle programme.
11 July15:414041 Long March 3C Xichang LC-2 CNSA
Tianlian I-02 (1B)CNSAGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
13 July02:274243 Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat Baikonur Site 31/6 Starsem
Globalstar M081GlobalstarLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Globalstar M083GlobalstarLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Globalstar M085GlobalstarLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Globalstar M088GlobalstarLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Globalstar M089GlobalstarLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Globalstar M091GlobalstarLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
15 July11:18 PSLV-XL Satish Dhawan FLP ISRO
GSAT-12ISROGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
15 July23:16 Proton-M / Briz-M Enhanced Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
SES-3SES World Skies (July–September)SES S.A. (September—)GeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
KazSat-2JSC KazSatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
16 July06:41 Delta IV-M+ (4,2) Cape Canaveral SLC-37B United Launch Alliance
USA-232 (GPS-IIF-2)U.S. Air ForceMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
18 July02:3144 Zenit-3F Baikonur Site 45/1 Roscosmos
Spektr-R (RadioAstron)RoscosmosHigh EarthRadio astronomy30 May 2019Successful
Russian scientific satellite with a 10 m (33 ft) radio telescope on board. Together with some of the largest ground-based radio telescopes, the Spektr-R formed interferometric baselines extending up to 350,000 km (220,000 mi).
26 July21:4445 Long March 3A Xichang LC-3 CNSA
Compass-IGSO4CNSAIGSONavigationIn orbitOperational
29 July07:4246 Long March 2C Jiuquan SLS-2 CNSA
Shijian 11-02CNSALow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
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August

5 August16:2547 Atlas V 551 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
JunoNASAJovicentricJupiter orbiterIn orbitOperational
6 August22:5248 Ariane 5 ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
Astra 1NSES Astra (August–September)SES S.A. (September—)GeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
BSAT-3c / JCSAT-110RBSAT / JSATGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
11 August16:1549 Long March 3B/E Xichang LC-2 CNSA
Paksat-1RSUPARCOGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
15 August22:5750 Long March 4B Taiyuan LC-2 CNSA
Hai Yang 2ACASTLow Earth (SSO)OceanographyIn orbitOperational
17 August07:1251 Dnepr Dombarovsky Site 13 ISC Kosmotras
Sich-2NKAULow Earth (SSO)Earth observationIn orbitOperational
NigeriaSat-2NASRDALow Earth (SSO)Earth observationIn orbitOperational
NigeriaSat-XNASRDALow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
RASATTÜBİTAKLow Earth (SSO)Earth observationIn orbitSuccessful
EduSATGAUSS SrlLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
AprizeSat-5exactEarthLow Earth (SSO)CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
AprizeSat-6exactEarthLow Earth (SSO)CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
BPA-2Hartron-ArkosLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitSuccessful
17 August21:2552 Proton-M / Briz-M Enhanced Baikonur Site 200/39 Khrunichev
Ekspress AM-4RSCCIntended: GeosynchronousAchieved: GTOCommunications25 March 2012Launch failure
Briz-M upper stage failed before the planned fourth burn. An insufficient time slot was allocated for re-setting the gyroscopes of the upper stage control system before launch, which led to loss of adequate attitude control in flight.53
18 August09:2854 Long March 2C Jiuquan SLS-2 CNSA
Shijian 11-04CNSAIntended: Low Earth (SSO)Technology demonstration18 AugustLaunch failure
Failed to reach orbit. Second stage's vernier engine support structure failed in flight, led to loss of attitude control.55
24 August13:0056 Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Progress M-12M / 44PRoscosmosIntended: Low Earth (ISS)ISS logistics24 AugustLaunch failure
Third stage engine failure 325 seconds after launch due to the gas generator fuel supply pipeline being blocked by contaminants.57
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September

10 September13:08:5258 Delta II 7920H Cape Canaveral SLC-17B United Launch Alliance
GRAIL-A (Ebb)NASASelenocentricLunar orbiter17 December 201222:28:5159Successful
GRAIL-B (Flow)NASASelenocentricLunar orbiter17 December 201222:29:2160Successful
Final launch of Delta II Heavy, final Delta II launch from Cape Canaveral, and last launch from SLC-17.
18 September16:3361 Long March 3B/E Xichang LC-2 CNSA
Chinasat-1AChina SatcomGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
20 September22:47 Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 81/24 Khrunichev
Kosmos 2473 (Garpun #1)VKSGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
21 September21:38 Ariane 5 ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
Arabsat 5CArabsatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
SES-2SES S.A.GeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
23 September04:36:50 H-IIA Tanegashima LA-Y1 MHI
IGS Optical 4CSICELow Earth (SSO)ReconnaissanceIn orbitSuccessful62
24 September20:18 Zenit-3SL Ocean Odyssey Sea Launch
Atlantic Bird 7EutelsatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
27 September15:49 Minotaur IV+ Kodiak LP-1 Orbital Sciences
TacSat-4U.S. Air ForceHighly ellipticalTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
29 September13:16:0363 Long March 2F/GT1 Jiuquan SLS-1 CNSA
Tiangong-1CMSALow EarthSpace station2 April 201800:1664Successful
Maiden flight of Long March 2F/G, first Chinese space station prototype.
29 September18:3265 Proton-M / Briz-M Enhanced Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
QuetzSat 1SES Satellite LeasingGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Intended for lease to QuetzSat.
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October

2 October20:15 Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Plesetsk Site 43/4 RVSN RF
Kosmos 2474 (Glonass-M 742)VKSMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
5 October21:00 Zenit-3SLB Baikonur Site 45/1 Land Launch
Intelsat 18IntelsatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
7 October08:21 Long March 3B/E Xichang LC-2 CNSA
Eutelsat W3CEutelsatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
12 October05:31 PSLV-CA Satish Dhawan FLP ISRO
Megha-Tropiques66ISRO / CNESLow EarthClimatology7 March 202367Successful
SRMSATSRMLow EarthClimatologyIn orbitOperational
VesselSat-1LuxspaceLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
JugnuIITKLow EarthEarth observationIn orbitOperational
19 October18:48 Proton-M / Briz-M Enhanced Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
ViaSat-1ViaSat-IOM / ManSatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
21 October686910:30 Soyuz ST-B / Fregat-MT Kourou ELS Arianespace
Galileo IOV 1ESAMedium EarthNavigation / Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
Galileo IOV 2ESAMedium EarthNavigation / Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
First Soyuz launch from Kourou.
28 October09:48:01 Delta II 7920-10 Vandenberg SLC-2W United Launch Alliance
NPPNASA / NOAALow EarthMeteorologyIn orbitOperational
AubieSat 1Auburn UniversityLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
DICE-1Space Dynamics LaboratoryLow EarthMagnetospheric researchIn orbitOperational
DICE-2Space Dynamics LaboratoryLow EarthMagnetospheric researchIn orbitOperational
E1P-U2Montana StateLow EarthRadiationIn orbitOperational
M-CubedUniversity of MichiganLow EarthTechnology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
RAX-2University of MichiganLow EarthAuroralIn orbitOperational
30 October10:11 Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Progress M-13M / 45PRoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)ISS logistics25 January 2012Successful
Chibis-M (RS-39)IKILow EarthIonospheric research15 October 2014Successful
31 October21:58:10 Long March 2FY8 Jiuquan SLS-1 CNSA
Shenzhou 8CMSALow Earth (Tiangong-1)Technology demonstration17 November11:36Successful
Shenzhou-8-GCCMSALow Earth (Tiangong-1)Technology demonstration2 April 2012Successful
Uncrewed flight, first Chinese orbital docking.
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November

4 November12:51:4170 Proton-M / Briz-M Baikonur Site 81/24 Khrunichev
Kosmos 2475 (Glonass-M 743)VKSMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
Kosmos 2476 (Glonass-M 744)VKSMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
Kosmos 2477 (Glonass-M 745)VKSMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
8 November20:16 Zenit-2M Baikonur Site 45/1 Roscosmos
Fobos-GruntRoscosmosIntended: AreocentricAchieved: Low EarthPhobos sample return15 January 2012Spacecraft failure
Yinghuo-1CNSAIntended: AreocentricAchieved: Low EarthMars orbiter
First Russian attempt at an interplanetary mission since 1996.71First Chinese Mars probeSpacecraft stranded in low Earth orbit, as telemetry was lost soon after launch and the two trans-Martian injection burns by the payload did not take place72
9 November03:2173 Long March 4B Taiyuan LC-2 CNSA
Yaogan 12CNSALow Earth (SSO)ReconnaissanceIn orbitOperational
Tian Xun 1Nanjing University of Aeronautics and AstronauticsLow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstration7 February 201674Successful
14 November04:1475 Soyuz-FG Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Soyuz TMA-22RoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)Expedition 29/3027 April 2012Successful
20 November00:1576 Long March 2D Jiuquan SLS-2 CNSA
Shiyan 4CNSALow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
Chuang Xin 1CCNSALow Earth (SSO)Technology demonstrationIn orbitOperational
25 November19:10:34 Proton-M / Briz-M Enhanced Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
AsiaSat 7AsiaSatGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
26 November15:02 Atlas V 541 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United Launch Alliance
Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity)NASATMI to Martian SurfaceMars rover6 August 201205:18Successful77
Maiden flight of Atlas V 541, largest Mars rover yet launched.
28 November08:25:57 Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Plesetsk Site 43/4 RVSN RF
Kosmos 2478 (Glonass-M 746)VKSMedium EarthNavigationIn orbitOperational
29 November18:5078 Long March 2C Taiyuan LC-2 CNSA
Yaogan 13CNSALow Earth (SSO)ReconnaissanceIn orbitOperational
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December

1 December21:0779 Long March 3A Xichang LC-3 CNSA
Compass-IGSO5CNSAIGSONavigationIn orbitOperational
11 December11:17 Proton-M / Briz-M Enhanced Baikonur Site 81/24 Roscosmos
Luch 5AGonets Satellite SystemGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Amos-5SCLGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
12 December01:21 H-IIA Tanegashima LA-Y1 MHI
IGS Radar 3CSICELow Earth (SSO)Reconnaissance (radar)In orbitOperational
17 December02:03:08 Soyuz ST-A / Fregat Kourou ELS Arianespace
Pléiades-HR 1ACNESLow Earth (SSO)Earth observation/ReconnaissanceIn orbitOperational
FASat-Charlie (SSOT)MDNLow Earth (SSO)Earth observation/ReconnaisanceIn orbitOperational
ELISA 1CNES / DGALow Earth (SSO)ELINTIn orbitOperational
ELISA 2CNES / DGALow Earth (SSO)ELINTIn orbitOperational
ELISA 3CNES / DGALow Earth (SSO)ELINTIn orbitOperational
ELISA 4CNES / DGALow Earth (SSO)ELINTIn orbitOperational
19 December16:4180 Long March 3B/E Xichang LC-2 CNSA
NigComSat-1RNIGCOMSAT / NASRDAGeosynchronousCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
21 December13:16 Soyuz-FG Baikonur Site 1/5 Roscosmos
Soyuz TMA-03MRoscosmosLow Earth (ISS)Expedition 30/311 July 201208:1481Successful
22 December03:26 Long March 4B Taiyuan LC-2 CNSA
Ziyuan 1-02CCNSALow Earth (SSO)Earth observationIn orbitOperational
23 December12:08 Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Plesetsk Site 43/4 VKO
Meridian 5VKOIntended: MolniyaCommunications23 DecemberLaunch failure
Third stage engine malfunctioned 421 seconds after launch, failed to reach orbit; first launch conducted by the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces
28 December17:09 Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat Baikonur Site 31/6 Starsem
Globalstar M080GlobalstarLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Globalstar M082GlobalstarLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Globalstar M084GlobalstarLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Globalstar M086GlobalstarLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Globalstar M090GlobalstarLow EarthCommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Globalstar M092GlobalstarLow EarthCommunicationsIn 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
22 January06:1082 Terrier-Oriole Wallops Island MDA
Aegis Radar TestMDASuborbitalRadar target22 JanuarySuccessful
Aegis Radar target, not intercepted, Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
28 January10:46:0083Black Brant IX Poker Flat NASA
FIREColoradoSuborbitalAstronomy28 JanuarySpacecraft failure84
5 February08:11:1185Black Brant IXPoker FlatNASA
Polar NOxVPISuborbitalGeospace5 FebruarySpacecraft failure86
February87 Shahab-3 IRGC
IGRCSuborbitalMissile testFebruarySuccessful
Two missiles with a range of 1,900 kilometres were fired into the Indian Ocean prior to 19 February
February88 Sejjil-2IRGC
IGRCSuborbitalMissile testFebruarySuccessful
Two missiles with a range of 1,900 kilometres were fired into the Indian Ocean prior to 19 February
1 March21:0089 UGM-133 Trident II D5 USS Nevada, Pacific OceanUS Navy
US NavySuborbitalMissile test1 MarchSuccessful
Demonstration and Shakedown Operation 22 (DASO-22)
2 March13:4090 Juno Fort Wingate LC-96 U.S. Army
U.S. ArmySuborbitalTarget2 MarchSuccessful
Target for MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 MSE test, successfully intercepted
9 March91Terrier-OrioleKauai MDA
ARAV-BMDASuborbitalRadar target9 MarchSuccessful
Tracked by STSS satellites
11 March DhanushSea launch from Indian Ocean DRDO
DRDOSuborbitalTarget11 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
11 March Prithvi II Integrated Test Range IC-3 DRDO
DRDOSuborbitalMissile test11 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
15 March92 Kavoshgar (Zelzal-based) Semnan Space Center ISA
Kavoshgar-4ISASuborbitalTest flight15 MarchSuccessful
Test of biological capsule. Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)
16 March93Terrier-OrioleKauai MDA
ARAV-BMDASuborbitalRadar target16 MarchSuccessful
Tracked by both STSS Demo satellites
23 March18:50:0094Black Brant IXWhite SandsNASA
EVECU BoulderSuborbitalSDO calibration9523 MarchSuccessful96
29 March04:0197 VSB-30 EsrangeEuroLaunch
TEXUS-49DLR/ESASuborbitalMicrogravity29 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 268 kilometres (167 mi)
15 April06:5298 UGM-96 Trident I C4 (LV-2)99FTM-15 Meck MDA
MDASuborbitalABM target15 AprilSuccessful
15 April07:03100 RIM-161 Standard Missile 3FTM-15 USS O'Kane, Pacific Ocean US Navy
FTM-15US NavySuborbitalABM test15 AprilSuccessful
First intercept of an IRBM by an SM-3 (FTM-15 Stellar Charon)
26 April101R-29RMU SinevaK-84 Ekaterinburg, Barents SeaVMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test26 AprilSuccessful
27 April08:00:00102Black Brant IX Poker Flat NASA
WFFSuborbitalTest flight27 AprilSuccessful103
6 May10423:02105 Tianying 3C Hainan CNSA
Kunpeng-1CSSARSuborbitalEnvironment monitoring23:09Successful
Apogee: 196.6 kilometres (122.2 mi).
11 May18:00106 Improved Orion Barreira do Inferno AEB
INPESuborbitalMicrogravity11 MaySuccessful
20 May13:21 SpaceLoft XL Spaceport America UP Aerospace
SuborbitalTechnology demonstration20 MaySuccessful
GoddardCelestisSuborbitalSpace burialSuccessful
Apogee: 118.3 kilometres (73.5 mi), successfully recovered.
20 May14:50107 R-29RMU2.1 Layner K-84 Ekaterinburg, Barents Sea VMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test20 MaySuccessful
Maiden flight of Layner missile
10 June11:11:16108 Terrier-Orion Wallops Island NASA
SubTec IV109GSFCSuborbitalTechnology demonstration10 JuneSuccessful110
22 June13:35 LGM-30G Minuteman III Vandenberg LF-10 U.S. Air Force
U.S. Air ForceSuborbitalTest flight22 JuneSuccessful
23 June10:18:00111Terrier-OrionWallops IslandNASA
RockOnColoradoSuborbitalStudent experiments23 JuneSuccessful112
28 June11:55113 RSM-56 BulavaK-535 Yuri Dolgorukiy, White SeaVMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test28 JuneSuccessful
28 June114 Shahab-1IranIRGC
IGRCSuborbitalMissile test28 JuneSuccessful
Part of an exercise with 14 missile launches, apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
28 June115Shahab-1IranIGRC
IRGCSuborbitalMissile test28 JuneSuccessful
Part of an exercise with 14 missile launches, apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
28 June116 Shahab-2IranIRGC
IRGCSuborbitalMissile test28 JuneSuccessful
Part of an exercise with 14 missile launches, apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
28 June117Shahab-2IranIRGC
IRGCSuborbitalMissile test28 JuneSuccessful
Part of an exercise with 14 missile launches, apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
28 June118 Ghadr-1119IranIRGC
IRGCSuborbitalMissile test28 JuneSuccessful
Part of an exercise with 14 missile launches, apogee: 500 kilometres (310 mi)
9 July02:04120 SRALT C-17, Pacific Ocean MDA
FTX-17MDASuborbitalRadar target9 JulySuccessful
Tracked by STSS Demo satellites
9 July09:00:00121Black Brant VBWallops LA-2122NASA
Daytime DynamoNASASuborbitalGeospace9 JulySuccessful123
9 July09:00:15124Terrier-OrionWallops LA-2125NASA
Daytime DynamoNASASuborbitalGeospace9 JulySuccessful126
11 July15:35127Gradicom II Chamical CITEFA
CITEFASuborbitalTest flight11 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
21 July07:00128 Nike-Improved OrionEsrangeEuroLaunch
PHOCUSStockholm/SSCSuborbitalAtmospheric21 JulySuccessful
21 July11:58:00129 Terrier-Orion Wallops Island NASA
RockSat-XWallops Flight FacilitySuborbitalStudent experiments21 JulySuccessful130
27 July10:01131 LGM-30G Minuteman III Vandenberg LF-04 U.S. Air Force
U.S. Air ForceSuborbitalTest flight27 JulyLaunch failure
An anomaly was detected five minutes after launch and the flight was terminated.
27 July132R-29RMU SinevaK-84 Ekaterinburg, Barents SeaVMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test27 JulySuccessful
11 August14:45133 Minotaur IV Lite Vandenberg SLC-8Orbital
HTV-2bU.S. Air ForceSuborbitalTechnology demonstration11 AugustSpacecraft failure
Second flight of the HTV-2, loss of contact approximately 20 minutes after launch at Mach 20.
27 August03:20134RSM-56 BulavaK-535 Yuri Dolgorukiy, White SeaVMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test27 AugustSuccessful
1 September13:53135 Terrier-OrioleFTM-16 E2 Kauai MDA
MDASuborbitalABM target1 SeptemberSuccessful
SM-3 Block 1B target
1 September13:54136 RIM-161C SM-3 Block 1BFTM-16 E2 USS Lake Erie, Pacific Ocean US Navy
US NavySuborbitalABM test1 SeptemberSpacecraft failure
First launch of SM-3 Block 1B, intercept failed
3 September09:46137 RS-12M Topol PlesetskRVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test3 SeptemberSuccessful
15 September138 Kavoshgar (Zelzal-based) Semnan ISA
Kavoshgar-5ISASuborbitalBiological15 SeptemberLaunch failure
First Iranian attempt to launch a monkey into space; failed, resulting in death of the monkey
26 September13903:20140 Prithvi II Integrated Test Range IC-3141 DRDO
DRDOSuborbitalMissile test27 SeptemberSuccessful
27 September07:08142RS-26 Rubezh PlesetskRVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test27 SeptemberLaunch failure
29 September R-29RMU2.1 Layner K-114 Tula, Barents Sea VMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test30 SeptemberSuccessful
30 September04:02143 Agni-II ITR IC-4144 Indian Army
Indian ArmySuborbitalMissile test30 SeptemberSuccessful
Travelled 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi) downrange
5 October05:56145 SRALTFTT-12 C-17, Pacific Ocean MDA
U.S. Army / MDASuborbitalABM target5 OctoberSuccessful
Intercepted by THAAD missile
5 October05:56146 R-17 ElbrusFTT-12 MLP, Barking Sands U.S. Army
U.S. Army / MDASuborbitalABM target5 OctoberSuccessful
Intercepted by THAAD missile
5 October06:00147 THAADFTT-12 Barking Sands U.S. Army
U.S. Army / MDASuborbitalABM test5 OctoberSuccessful
Intercepted target missile
5 October06:00148 THAADFTT-12 Barking Sands U.S. Army
U.S. Army / MDASuborbitalABM test5 OctoberSuccessful
Intercepted target missile
8 October10:25:01149Black Brant IXWhite SandsNASA
PICTUREBostonSuborbitalAstronomy8 OctoberSpacecraft failure150
11 October21:15:00151Terrier-OrionAndøyaNASA
CHAMPSColoradoSuborbitalGeospace11 OctoberSuccessful152
13 October13:50:00153Terrier-Orion AndøyaNASA
CHAMPSColoradoSuborbitalGeospace13 October154Successful
28 October03:40155RSM-56 BulavaK-535 Yuri Dolgorukiy, White SeaVMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test28 OctoberSuccessful
2 November07:50156 Jericho III Palmachim Israeli Air Force
Israeli Air ForceSuborbitalMissile test2 NovemberSuccessful
3 November06:45157 RS-12M Topol Plesetsk RVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test3 NovemberSuccessful
6 November07:00158 Black Brant IX White Sands NASA
XQC F5WisconsinSuborbitalAstronomy6 NovemberSuccessful159
15 November03:30160 Agni IV Integrated Test Range IC-4 DRDO
Indian ArmySuborbitalMissile test15 NovemberSuccessful
17 November11:30 UGM-27 Polaris (STARS) Barking Sands LC-42 U.S. Air Force
AHW Flight 1AU.S. ArmySuborbitalTechnology demonstration17 NovemberSuccessful
25 November23:00161 Improved Orion Barreira do Inferno AEB
INPESuborbitalMicrogravity25 NovemberSuccessful
27 November09:10162 VSB-30 Esrange EuroLaunch
/ TEXUS-48DLR/ESASuborbitalMicrogravity27 NovemberSuccessful
2 December22:00163 VS-30 Barreira do Inferno AEB
Brasil-AlemanhaINPESuborbitalMicrogravity2 DecemberSuccessful
3 December07:21:31164 VS-30/Improved Orion Ny-Ålesund Andøya
ICI-3 (CanoRock 4)Oslo/AndøyaSuborbitalAtmospheric3 DecemberSuccessful165
10 December10:30:00166Black Brant IXWhite SandsNASA
ColoradoSuborbitalAstronomy10 DecemberSuccessful
19 December14:48167 S-310 Uchinoura JAXA
JAXA/TPU/TUSuborbitalIonospheric19 DecemberSuccessful
19 December MN-300 Kapustin Yar Roshydromet
MR-30RoshydrometSuborbitalMeteorologyTest flight19 DecemberSuccessful
Maiden flight of MN-300
23 DecemberRSM-56 BulavaK-535 Yuri Dolgorukiy, White SeaVMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test23 DecemberSuccessful
23 DecemberRSM-56 BulavaK-535 Yuri Dolgorukiy, White SeaVMF
VMFSuborbitalMissile test23 DecemberSuccessful
27 December12:00 RS-18 UR-100N BaikonurRVSN
RVSNSuborbitalMissile test27 DecemberSuccessful
? UGM-133 Trident II D5 USS ?, Pacific OceanUS Navy
US NavySuborbitalMissile test?Successful
Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test 44
? UGM-133 Trident II D5 USS ?, Pacific OceanUS Navy
US NavySuborbitalMissile test?Launch failure
Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test 44 ?

Deep space rendezvous

Date (UTC)SpacecraftEventRemarks
9 JanuaryMars ExpressFlyby of PhobosClosest approach: 100 kilometres (62 mi). Mars Express made a total of 8 flybys of Phobos at a distance of less than 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) between 20 December and 16 January.
9 JanuaryArtemis P1Spacecraft left LL2 orbit and joined Artemis P2 in LL1 orbit
11 JanuaryCassini3rd flyby of RheaClosest approach: 76 kilometres (47 mi)168
15 FebruaryStardust (NExT)Flyby of Tempel 1Closest approach: 181 kilometres (112 mi). Observed changes since Deep Impact flyby and imaged crater created by Deep Impact impactor, as well as new terrain.
18 FebruaryCassini74th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 3,651 kilometres (2,269 mi)
18 MarchMESSENGERHermocentric orbit injectionFirst artificial satellite of Mercury; elliptical orbit with a periapsis of 200 kilometers (120 mi) and an apoapsis of 15,000 km (9,300 mi).169
19 AprilCassini75th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 10,053 kilometres (6,247 mi)
8 MayCassini76th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,873 kilometres (1,164 mi)
8 JuneChang'e 2Departed lunar orbitTravelled to L2 Lagrangian point, which it reached in August 2011.170
20 JuneCassini77th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,359 kilometres (844 mi)
27 JuneArtemis P1Lunar orbit insertionInitial orbital parameters were: apogee 3,543 kilometres (2,202 mi), perigee 27,000 kilometres (17,000 mi). Over the following three months, the orbit was lowered to an apogee of 97 kilometres (60 mi) and a perigee of 18,000 kilometres (11,000 mi), with an inclination of 20 degrees; retrograde orbit.
16 JulyDawnVestiocentric orbit injectionFirst artificial satellite of 4 Vesta.171 Initial orbit was 16,000 kilometres (9,900 mi) high and was reduced to 2,700 kilometres (1,700 mi) until 11 August.
17 JulyArtemis P2Lunar orbit insertionInitial orbital parameters were similar to Artemis P1. Over the following three months the orbit was lowered to an apogee of 97 kilometres (60 mi) and a perigee of 18,000 kilometres (11,000 mi), with an inclination of 20 degrees; prograde orbit.
25 AugustCassiniSecond-closest flyby of Hyperion172Closest approach: 25,000 kilometres (16,000 mi)
12 SeptemberCassini78th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 5,821 kilometres (3,617 mi)
16 SeptemberCassiniFlyby of HyperionClosest approach: 58,000 kilometres (36,000 mi)
1 OctoberCassini14th flyby of EnceladusClosest approach: 99 kilometres (62 mi)
19 OctoberCassini15th flyby of EnceladusClosest approach: 1,231 kilometres (765 mi)
6 NovemberCassini16th flyby of EnceladusClosest approach: 496 kilometres (308 mi)
12 DecemberCassini3rd flyby of DioneClosest approach: 99 kilometres (62 mi)
13 DecemberCassini79th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 3,586 kilometres (2,228 mi)
31 DecemberGRAIL-ALunar orbit insertionTwin satellite Grail-B's insertion occurred a day later, on 1 January 2012.

EVAs

Start Date/TimeDurationEnd TimeSpacecraftCrewRemarks
21 January10:055 hours23 minutes15:49Expedition 26ISS Pirs Dmitri Kondratyev Oleg SkripochkaPrepared the ISS Poisk module for future dockings.173
16 February13:156 hours23 minutes18:15Expedition 26ISS Pirs Dmitri Kondratyev Oleg SkripochkaInstalled a radio antenna, deployed a nanosatellite, installed two experiments and retrieved two exposure panels on a third experiment.
28 February15:466 hours34 minutes22:20STS-133ISS Quest Stephen Bowen Alvin DrewRemoved a failed coolant pump and routed a power extension cable.
2 March15:416 hours14 minutes21:55STS-133ISS Quest Stephen Bowen Alvin DrewRemoved or repaired thermal insulation, swapped out an attachment bracket on the Columbus module, installed a camera assembly on Dextre and installed a light on a cargo cart.
20 May07:106 hours19 minutes13:29STS-134ISS Quest Andrew Feustel Gregory ChamitoffCompleted installation of a new set of MISSE experiments, started installing a new wireless video system, installed an ammonia jumper, a new light on the CETA cart on the S3 truss segment, and a cover on the starboard SARJ.
22 May06:058 hours07 minutes14:12STS-134ISS Quest Andrew Feustel Michael FinckeHooked up a jumper to transfer ammonia to the Port 6 PVTCS, lubricated the SARJ and one of the "hands" on Dextre, and installed a stowage beam on the S1 truss.
25 May05:436 hours54 minutes12:37STS-134ISS Quest Andrew Feustel Michael FinckeInstalled PDGF (except for data cable), routed power cables from Unity to Zarya, finished installation of wireless video system, took pictures of Zarya's thrusters and captured infrared video of an experiment in ELC 3.
27 May04:157 hours24 minutes11:39STS-134ISS Quest Gregory Chamitoff Mike FinckeInstalled OBSS on S1 truss, removed the EFGF and replaced it with a spare PDGF, and released some torque on the bolts that were holding the spare arm for Dextre down against ELC 3. Final shuttle spacewalk.174
12 July13:226 hours31 minutes19:53Expedition 28ISS Quest Ronald Garan Michael FossumMoved a failed cooling pump from the station to the shuttle Atlantis, transferred a robotic refuelling apparatus from the shuttle to the ISS, installed a materials science experiment on the station's truss, serviced a robot arm attachment fitting, installed a thermal cover over the unused docking port PMA-3, and fixed a protruding wire on a grapple fixture on the Zarya module.
3 August14:516 hours22 minutes21:22Expedition 28ISS Pirs Sergei Volkov Aleksandr SamokutyayevLaunched Kedr satellite, installed BIORISK experiment outside Pirs, and installed laser communication equipment to transmit scientific data from the Russian Orbital Segment.

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.

CountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartialfailuresRemarks
 China191810
 France5500
 India3300
 Iran1100
 Japan3300
 Russia292540Includes two European Soyuz launches from Kourou, French Guiana by Arianespace. Fobos-Grunt launched successfully, but failed while on its parking orbit.175
 Ukraine6600Includes one Zenit from Sea Launch and one from Land Launch.
 United States181710
World847860

By rocket

5 10 15 20 Ariane Atlas Delta H-II Long March Minotaur PSLV R-7 Shuttle UR Zenit Others

By family

FamilyCountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failuresRemarks
Ariane France5500
Atlas United States5500
Delta United States6600
H-II Japan3300
Long March China191810
Minotaur United States4310
PSLV India3300
R-7 Russia191720
R-36 Ukraine1100
Safir Iran1100
Space Shuttle United States3300Final flight
Universal Rocket Russia10820
Zenit Ukraine5500

By type

RocketCountryFamilyLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failuresRemarks
Ariane 5 FranceAriane5500
Atlas V United StatesAtlas5500
Delta II United StatesDelta3300
Delta IV United StatesDelta3300
Dnepr UkraineR-361100
H-IIA JapanH-II2200
H-IIB JapanH-II1100
Long March 2 ChinaLong March7610
Long March 3 ChinaLong March9900
Long March 4 ChinaLong March3300
Minotaur I United StatesMinotaur2200
Minotaur IV United StatesMinotaur1100
PSLV IndiaPSLV3300
Proton RussiaUniversal Rocket9810
Safir IranSafir1100
Soyuz RussiaR-710910
Soyuz-2 RussiaR-79810
Space Shuttle United StatesSpace Shuttle3300Final flight
UR-100 RussiaUniversal Rocket1010
Taurus United StatesMinotaur1010
Zenit UkraineZenit5500

By configuration

RocketCountryTypeLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failuresRemarks
Ariane 5 ECA FranceAriane 54400
Ariane 5 ES FranceAriane 51100
Atlas V 401 United StatesAtlas V1100
Atlas V 411 United StatesAtlas V1100
Atlas V 501 United StatesAtlas V1100
Atlas V 541 United StatesAtlas V1100
Atlas V 551 United StatesAtlas V1100
Delta II 7320 United StatesDelta II1100
Delta II 7920 United StatesDelta II1100
Delta II 7920H United StatesDelta II1100Final flight
Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) United StatesDelta IV2200
Delta IV Heavy United StatesDelta IV1100
Dnepr UkraineDnepr1100
H-IIA 202 JapanH-IIA2200
H-IIB JapanH-IIB1100
Long March 2C ChinaLong March 24310
Long March 2D ChinaLong March 21100
Long March 2F ChinaLong March 21100
Long March 2F/G ChinaLong March 21100Maiden flight
Long March 3A ChinaLong March 33300
Long March 3B ChinaLong March 35500
Long March 3C ChinaLong March 31100
Long March 4B ChinaLong March 43300
Minotaur I United StatesMinotaur I2200
Minotaur IV+ United StatesMinotaur IV1100
PSLV-G IndiaPSLV1100
PSLV-CA IndiaPSLV1100
PSLV-XL IndiaPSLV1100
Proton-M / Briz-M RussiaProton9810
Rokot / Briz-KM RussiaUR-1001010
Safir-B IranSafir1100
Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat-M RussiaSoyuz-23300
Soyuz ST-A / Fregat RussiaSoyuz-21100
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat-M RussiaSoyuz-24310
Soyuz ST-B / Fregat-MT RussiaSoyuz-21100
Soyuz-FG RussiaSoyuz4400
Soyuz-U RussiaSoyuz6510
Space Shuttle United StatesSpace Shuttle3300Final flight
Taurus-XL United StatesTaurus1010
Zenit-2M UkraineZenit1100
Zenit-3F UkraineZenit2200Maiden flight
Zenit-3SL UkraineZenit1100
Zenit-3SLB UkraineZenit1100

By spaceport

5 10 15 20 25 30 China France India International waters Iran Japan Kazakhstan Russia United States
SiteCountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failuresRemarks
Baikonur Kazakhstan252320
Cape Canaveral United States7700
Dombarovsky Russia1100
Kourou France7700
Jiuquan China6510
Kennedy Space Center United States3300
Kodiak United States1100
MARS United States1100
Ocean Odyssey International waters1100
Plesetsk Russia6420
Satish Dhawan India3300
Semnan Iran1100
Tanegashima Japan3300
Taiyuan China4400
Vandenberg United States6510
Xichang China9900
Total847860

By orbit

10 20 30 40 Transatmospheric Low Earth Medium Earth Geosynchronous / transfer High Earth Heliocentric
  •   Transatmospheric
  •   Low Earth
  •   Low Earth (ISS)
  •   Low Earth (SSO)
  •   Low Earth (retrograde)
  •   Medium Earth
  •   Geosychronous(transfer)
  •   Inclined GSO
  •   High Earth
  •   Heliocentric
Orbital regimeLaunchesSuccessesFailuresAccidentallyachievedRemarks
Transatmospheric0000
Low Earth44404014 to ISS, 1 to Tiangong-1
Medium Earth / Molniya8710
Geosynchronous / GTO272611
High Earth / Lunar transfer3300
Heliocentric / Planetary transfer2200
Total847861

See also

Generic references:
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Spaceflight portal

Footnotes

References

  1. "China Now Tops U.S. in Space Launches". Wired. 16 April 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012. https://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/04/china-rocket-launches/

  2. "Nasa's Curiosity rover successfully lands on Mars". BBC. 6 August 2012. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19144464

  3. "Phobos-Grunt: Failed probe likely to return late Sunday". BBC. 15 January 2012. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16491457

  4. "Phobos-Grunt: Failed Russian Mars Probe Falls to Earth". ABC News. 15 January 2012. https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/phobos-grunt-failed-russian-mars-probe-falls-earth/story?id=15366151

  5. "Elektro-L". RussianSpaceWeb.com. 20 January 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20121130223651/http://www.russianspaceweb.com/elektro.html

  6. "United Launch Alliance Launches First West Coast Delta IV Heavy Mission". United Launch Alliance. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110609014723/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/63

  7. "Largest-Ever Rocket, With Secret Payload, Launched On West Coast". CBS Radio. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011. http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/01/20/rocket-with-secret-payload-largest-ever-launched-on-west-coast/

  8. "Launch Result of H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 2 with KOUNOTORI2 (HTV2) Onboard". JAXA. 22 January 2011. Archived from the original on 23 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110123175907/http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2011/01/20110122_h2bf2_e.html

  9. "Japan's rocket delivering supplies". The Gazette. Tokyo. Associated Press. 23 January 2011. p. P6. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021 – via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78030169/japans-rocket-delivering-supplies/

  10. "ARISSat-1/KEDR Amateur Radio Satellite Deorbits". Spacedaily.com. Retrieved 27 March 2012. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/ARISSat_1_KEDR_Amateur_Radio_Satellite_Deorbits_999.html

  11. "GEO IK 2". N2YO.com. Retrieved 22 November 2019. https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=37362

  12. Военный спутник, запущенный на "Рокоте", скорее всего, утрачен (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 1 February 2011. Archived from the original on 4 February 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011. Военный спутник, запущенный на "Рокоте", скорее всего, утрачен

  13. "Vandenberg launches Minotaur I". 30th Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2011. https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/?id=123241482

  14. "Mission Update – Ariane 5 opens a busy year of Arianespace missions with the milestone launch of another Automated Transfer Vehicle for Europe". Arianespace. Retrieved 20 February 2011. http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2011/763.asp

  15. Bergin, Chris (11 February 2009). "Downstream shuttle planning: CLFs, AMS noted, MAF working on extra ETs". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2009. http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/02/shuttle-planning-clfs-ams-noted-maf-extra-ets/

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