    Highlights from spaceflight in 2020[a] | |
| Orbital launches | |
|---|---|
| First | 7 January |
| Last | 29 December |
| Total | 114 |
| Successes | 104 |
| Failures | 10 |
| Partial failures | 0 |
| Catalogued | 104 |
| National firsts | |
| Spaceflight |
|
| Satellite | |
| Suborbital launch |  Netherlands |
| Rockets | |
| Maiden flights | |
| Retirements | |
| Crewed flights | |
| Orbital | 4 |
| Suborbital | 0 |
| Total travellers | 12 |
| EVAs | 8 |
| 1950s | |
|---|---|
| 1960s | |
| 1970s | |
| 1980s | |
| 1990s | |
| 2000s | |
| 2010s | |
| 2020s | |
This article documents notable spaceflight events during the year 2020.
The GECAM A and B satellites were launched on 9 December. They were built for research in electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational waves.
Three missions to Mars were launched in 2020, including two rovers, two orbiters, and a lander. NASA has launched the Mars 2020 mission, which includes the Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter, and will cache samples for eventual return to Earth.[1] The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has launched its Tianwen-1 mission, which includes an orbiter, a lander, a small rover and a group of deployable and remote cameras;[2] it is China's first mission to another planet using its own delivery vehicle.[1] Finally, the United Arab Emirates, in partnership with American universities, has launched the Hope Mars Mission orbiter on a Japanese rocket.[1]
In November, China launched Chang'e 5, the first sample-return mission to the Moon since Luna 24 in 1976. Chang'e 5 used the recently developed Long March 5 heavy-lift rocket. The mission performed the first-ever robotic lunar orbit rendezvous[3] and returned 1.7 kg (3.7 lb) of lunar soil and rock samples on 16 December.[4]
NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission landed on asteroid 101955 Bennu in October to obtain a surface sample for return to Earth. JAXA's Hayabusa2 mission returned samples of 162173 Ryugu to Earth on 5 December 2020, with its re-entry vehicle recovered in Woomera, Australia.[5]
One solar mission was launched: ESA's Solar Orbiter, on 10 February 2020, intended to study the Sun's heliosphere.[6] Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018, decreased its minimal distance to the Sun further to 14.2 million km.[7]
ESA's Sentinel-6 ocean topography measuring satellite was launched on 21 November.
The launch of the TARANIS satellite, planned to study transient events in the Earths atmosphere, failed on 17 November.
In the United States, SpaceX's Dragon 2 spacecraft made its first crewed flight to the International Space Station on 31 May 2020 as part of the Commercial Crew Program,[8] enabling American human orbital spaceflight capability for the first time since the Space Shuttle's retirement in 2011. Dragon 2 became the first commercial system to fly humans to Earth orbit. The second crewed Dragon mission and its first operational mission, Crew-1, launched on 15 November 2020.[9]
China conducted an uncrewed flight test of a next generation crewed spacecraft in May 2020,[10] and continues preparations for the 2021 launch of the Tianhe Core Cabin Module of the Chinese Space Station.[11]
NASA astronaut Christina Koch set a women's record-breaking 328 days spaceflight ending on 6 February 2020. Francisco Rubio holds the all-time American record with 370 days; Cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, still holding the record, had the all-time spaceflight length record of 437 days but died in 2022. Koch also participated in the first all-female spacewalk with Jessica Meir on 18 October 2019.[12]
SpaceX made three atmospheric test flights with prototypes of its fully reusable two-stage-to-orbit vehicle Starship.[13][14]
The trend towards cost reduction in access continued and several rockets made their maiden flights in 2020. Despite the increasing competition the cost of delivering cargo to the ISS went up.[15]
SpaceX started operation of its Starlink constellation in late 2020.[16] As of 2 December 2020, 955 satellites have been launched and Starlink is in a public beta testing phase. OneWeb planned to start service in 2020 as well,[17] but filed for bankruptcy in March 2020 after 74 satellites were launched.[18] OneWeb emerged from bankruptcy and plans to restart launches in December 2020.[19]
The Mission Extension Vehicle MEV-1 became the first telerobotically-operated spacecraft to service another satellite on-orbit when it completed the first phase of a 5-year mission to extend the life of the Intelsat 901 (I-901) satellite. In February 2020, MEV-1 captured the communications satellite, which had been moved to graveyard orbit some months before. In April 2020, MEV-1 successfully brought Intelsat-901 it back to position in geosynchronous orbit where it is now expected to operate for another five years. This was a space industry first as satellite servicing had previously been accomplished only with on-orbit human assistance, during the missions to service the Hubble Space Telescope in the early 2000s.[20]
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | |||
| Remarks | ||||||||
January[edit] | ||||||||
| 7 January 02:19:21[21][22] |
 Falcon 9 Block 5
|
Starlink V1.0-L2[23] | Cape Canaveral SLC-40
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| Starlink × 60
|
SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 7 January 15:20:14[24][25] |
 Long March 3B/E
|
3B-Y62[26] | Xichang LC-2
|
CASC
| ||||
| TJSW-5
|
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs | Geosynchronous | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 15 January 02:53[27] |
Long March 2D
|
2D-Y58 | Taiyuan LC-9
|
CASC
| ||||
| Jilin-1 Kuanfu-01
|
Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
 ÑuSat 7 (Sophie)
|
Satellogic | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ÑuSat 8 (Marie)
|
Satellogic | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 3 October 2023[28] | Successful | |||
| Tianqi-5[29]
|
Guodian Gaoke | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 16 January 03:02[30] |
Kuaizhou 1A
|
Y9[31] | Jiuquan LS-95A
|
ExPace
| ||||
| Yinhe-1 / GS-SparkSat-03 / Galaxy-1[32]
|
Galaxy Space | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 16 January 21:05[33] |
 Ariane 5 ECA
|
VA251 |  Kourou ELA-3
|
Arianespace
| ||||
| Eutelsat Konnect[34]
|
Eutelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
 GSAT-30
|
ISRO | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| GSAT-30 will replace INSAT-4A. | ||||||||
| 29 January 14:06:49 [35][36] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
Starlink V1.0-L3 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| Starlink × 60
|
SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 31 January 02:56[37] |
Electron
|
"Birds of a Feather" |  Mahia LC-1A
|
Rocket Lab
| ||||
| USA-294
|
NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| First launch contracted via the NRO's Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) program, designated NROL-151. | ||||||||
February[edit] | ||||||||
| 6 February 21:42:41[38][39] |
 Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat
|
ST27[40] |  Baikonur Site 31/6
|
Arianespace / Starsem
| ||||
 OneWeb × 34
|
OneWeb | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Second OneWeb mission. Baikonur flight 1. | ||||||||
| 9 February 01:34[41] |
 H-IIA 202
|
F41[42] | Tanegashima LA-Y1
|
MHI
| ||||
| IGS-Optical 7
|
CSICE | Low Earth (SSO) | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 9 February 15:45[43] |
 Simorgh
|
Semnan LP-2
|
ISA
| |||||
| Zafar 1[44]
|
IUST | Low Earth | Earth observation | 9 February | Launch failure | |||
| Satellite failed to reach orbit. | ||||||||
| 10 February 04:03[45] |
Atlas V 411
|
AV-087[46] | Cape Canaveral SLC-41
|
ULA
| ||||
| Solar Orbiter
|
ESA | Heliocentric | Heliophysics | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 15 February 20:21:04[51] |
Antares 230+
|
MARS LP-0A
|
Northrop Grumman
| |||||
| Cygnus NG-13 S.S. Robert H. Lawrence |
NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 29 May | Successful | |||
| Red-Eye 2 (Merlot)
|
DARPA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 16 November 2022[52] | Successful | |||
| Red-Eye 3 (Cabernet)
|
DARPA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 16 November 2022[53] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ DeMi
|
MIT | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 8 March 2022[54] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ TechEdSat-10 (TES-10)[55]
|
NASA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 15 March 2021 | Successful | |||
| Red-Eye 2, Red-Eye 3, DeMi, and the ELaNa 30 satellite TES-10 were carried within the Cygnus spacecraft and will be released into orbit at a later date.[47] Red-Eye 2 was deployed into orbit from ISS on 17 June 2020.[48] Red-Eye 3 was deployed into orbit on 23 June 2020.[49] DeMi and TechEdSat-10 were deployed on 13 July.[50] | ||||||||
| 17 February 15:05:55[56] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
Starlink V1.0-L4 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| Starlink × 60
|
SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 18 February 22:18[57] |
Ariane 5 ECA
|
VA252[58] | Kourou ELA-3
|
Arianespace
| ||||
| JCSAT-17[59]
|
JSAT | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
 GEO-KOMPSAT-2B[60][61]
|
KARI | Geosynchronous | Ocean monitoring | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 19 February 21:07[62][63] |
Long March 2D
|
2D-Y61[64] | Xichang LC-3
|
CASC
| ||||
| XJS-C
|
SAST | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 13 July 2023[65] | Successful | |||
| XJS-D
|
SAST | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| XJS-E
|
HIT | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| XJS-F
|
CAST | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| First Long March 2D launch from Xichang. | ||||||||
| 20 February 08:24:54[66][67] |
Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat-M
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN RF
| |||||
| Meridian-M 9 (19L)[68]
|
Ministry of Defence | Molniya | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
March[edit] | ||||||||
| 7 March 04:50:31[73] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
F9-082 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| SpaceX CRS-20
|
NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 7 April 18:50 |
Successful[74] | |||
| ⚀ G-SATELLITE
|
TOCOG / University of Tokyo | Low Earth | Space advertising | 18 April 2022[75] | Successful | |||
⚀  Quetzal-1 (Guatesat-1)[76]
|
UVG | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 1 March 2022[77] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ Lynk-04 (Lynk the World)[78][79]
|
Lynk Global | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Final flight of Dragon 1. G-SATELLITE (Gundam Satellite) carries two miniature Gundam figurines to promote the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. Quetzal-1 is Guatemala's first satellite.[69] G-SATELLITE and Quetzal-1 were deployed into orbit from the ISS on 28 April 2020.[70][71] Lynk the World, Lynk's fourth satellite, was launched to the ISS on this flight and deployed into space by the Cygnus NG-13 spacecraft on 13 May.[72] | ||||||||
| 9 March 11:55[80] |
Long March 3B/E
|
3B-Y69[26] | Xichang LC-2
|
CASC
| ||||
| BeiDou-3 G2Q[81]
|
CNSA | Geosynchronous | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 16 March 13:34[82][83] |
Long March 7A
|
Y1 | Wenchang LC-2
|
CASC
| ||||
| Xinjishu Yanzheng-6 (XJY-6)
|
TBA | Geosynchronous | Technology demonstration | 16 March | Launch failure | |||
| First flight of Long March 7A. Failed to reach orbit. | ||||||||
| 16 March 18:28:10[84] |
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat-M
|
Plesetsk Site 43/4
|
RVSN RF
| |||||
| GLONASS-M 760 (Kosmos 2545)
|
VKS | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 18 March 12:16:39[85] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
Starlink V1.0-L5 | Kennedy LC-39A
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| Starlink × 60
|
SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Fifth flight of booster B1048; recovery was not successful. | ||||||||
| 21 March 17:06:58[86] |
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat
|
ST28[87] | Baikonur Site 31/6
|
Arianespace / Starsem
| ||||
| OneWeb × 34
|
OneWeb | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Baikonur flight 2. | ||||||||
| 24 March 03:43[88] |
Long March 2C
|
2C-Y42[89] | Xichang LC-3
|
CASC
| ||||
| Yaogan 30-06 01
|
CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Yaogan 30-06 02
|
CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Yaogan 30-06 03
|
CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 26 March 20:18[91] |
Atlas V 551
|
AV-086[46] | Cape Canaveral SLC-41
|
ULA
| ||||
| AEHF-6 (USA-298)[92]
|
U.S. Space Force | Geosynchronous | Military communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ TDO-2[93]
|
U.S. Space Force | Highly elliptical | Laser ranging | 28 September 2022[94] | Successful | |||
| The TDO-2 Cubesat was also known as OrCa (Orbital Calibration) by the team which designed it at Georgia Tech.[90] | ||||||||
April[edit] | ||||||||
| 9 April 08:05:06[95] |
Soyuz-2.1a
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
Roscosmos
| |||||
| Soyuz MS-16
|
Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 62/63 | 22 October 02:31 |
Successful | |||
| First crewed flight of Soyuz-2.1a. | ||||||||
| 9 April 11:46[97] |
Long March 3B/E
|
3B-Y71[26] | Xichang LC-2
|
CASC
| ||||
 Nusantara Dua (Palapa-N1)
|
PSN / Indosat | Geosynchronous | Communications | 9 April | Launch failure | |||
| Intended to replace Palapa-D. Failed to reach orbit.[96] | ||||||||
| 22 April 03:59[98] |
Qased
|
Shahroud Space Center
|
IRGC
| |||||
| ⚀ Noor 1[99]
|
IRGC | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | 13 April 2022[100] | Successful | |||
| Maiden flight of the Qased launch vehicle. | ||||||||
| 22 April 19:30:30[101] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
Starlink V1.0-L6 | Kennedy LC-39A
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| Starlink × 60
|
SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 25 April 01:51:41[102] |
Soyuz-2.1a
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
Roscosmos
| |||||
| Progress MS-14 / 75P
|
Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 29 April 2021 00:42:27[103] |
Successful | |||
May[edit] | ||||||||
| 5 May 10:00[10] |
Long March 5B
|
Y1[107] | Wenchang LC-1
|
CASC
| ||||
| Chinese next-generation crewed spacecraft
|
CMSA | Highly elliptical | Flight test | 8 May 05:49 |
Successful | |||
| Flexible Inflatable Cargo Return Module[108]
|
CASIC | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 6 May | Spacecraft failure | |||
| First flight of Long March 5B, testing a new crewed spacecraft.[11] The capsule successfully returned to Earth on 8 May, following on-orbit testing.[104][105] An experimental secondary payload, meant to test inflatable heat shield reentry technologies, malfunctioned during its return to Earth on 6 May.[106] | ||||||||
| 12 May 01:16[109] |
Kuaizhou 1A
|
Y6[110] | Jiuquan LS-95A
|
ExPace
| ||||
| Xingyun-2 01
|
Xingyun Satellite Co. | Low Earth (SSO) | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Xingyun-2 02
|
Xingyun Satellite Co. | Low Earth (SSO) | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Xingyun-2 01/02 are the first two small satellites launched for the Xingyun narrow-band Internet of Things constellation to perform data relay and tracking services. The constellation will eventually consist of 80 such satellites.[109] | ||||||||
| 17 May 13:14:00[111][112] |
Atlas V 501
|
AV-081[46] | Cape Canaveral SLC-41
|
ULA
| ||||
| X-37B OTV-6
|
U.S. Space Force | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 12 November 2022 10:22[113] |
Successful | |||
| FalconSAT-8
|
U.S. Air Force Academy | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| USSF-7 mission. | ||||||||
| 20 May 17:31:00[114] |
H-IIB
|
F9 | Tanegashima LA-Y2
|
MHI
| ||||
| HTV-9
|
JAXA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 20 August 07:07 |
Successful | |||
| Final HTV cargo launch, and final flight of the H-IIB rocket. The HTV-X and H3 rocket will replace them, respectively. | ||||||||
| 22 May 07:31:17[115][116] |
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat
|
Plesetsk Site 43/4
|
RVSN RF
| |||||
| EKS-4 (Tundra 14L)[117]
|
VKS | Molniya | Early warning | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 25 May 19:50[118] |
LauncherOne
|
F1 | Cosmic Girl, Mojave
|
Virgin Orbit
| ||||
| Dummy payload
|
Virgin Orbit | Low Earth | Flight test | 25 May | Launch failure | |||
| Starshine 4[120]
|
NASA | Low Earth | Education | 25 May | Launch failure | |||
| First orbital flight of LauncherOne. Mission was terminated shortly after first stage ignition.[118][119] | ||||||||
| 29 May 20:13[121][122] |
Long March 11
|
Xichang LC-4[123]
|
CASC
| |||||
| XJS-G
|
CAS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| XJS-H
|
NUDT | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 30 May 19:22:45[126][127] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
F9-085 | Kennedy LC-39A
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| SpX-DM2 Endeavour
|
SpaceX / NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 63 / Crewed flight test | 2 August 18:48 |
Successful | |||
| Crew Dragon Demo 2: Crewed flight test of SpaceX Dragon 2 as part of the Commercial Crew Development program. Mission successfully concluded on 2 August after two months in space.[124] First crewed orbital spaceflight with a private spacecraft.[125] | ||||||||
| 31 May 08:53[128][129] |
Long March 2D
|
2D-Y51 | Jiuquan SLS-2
|
CASC
| ||||
| Gaofen-9 02[130]
|
CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| HEAD-4[131]
|
HEAD Aerospace | Low Earth (SSO) | AIS ship tracking | In orbit | Operational | |||
June[edit] | ||||||||
| 4 June 01:25:33[21][132] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
Starlink V1.0-L7 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| Starlink × 60
|
SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Fifth flight of booster B1049; recovery was successful (first booster to be recovered after 5th flight). | ||||||||
| 10 June 18:31:24[133][134] |
Long March 2C
|
2C-Yxx[64] | Taiyuan LC-9
|
CASC
| ||||
| HaiYang 1D
|
Ministry of Natural Resources | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 13 June 05:12:12[140] |
Electron
|
"Don't Stop Me Now"[141] | Mahia LC-1A
|
Rocket Lab
| ||||
| Photon (Pathfinder)[142]
|
Rocket Lab | Low Earth | Flight test | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ ANDESITE Mule + Node × 8[138]
|
Boston University | Low Earth | Auroral science Technology demonstration |
In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ USA-301[143]
|
NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ USA-302[143]
|
NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ USA-303[143]
|
NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀  M2 Pathfinder
|
UNSW Canberra | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Launch of the ELaNa 32 mission,[135] plus additional payloads.[136] ANDESITE will conduct magnetospheric research using an experimental fractionated formation of eight picosatellites, to be deployed after reaching orbit.[137][138] Three NRO payloads were deployed as part of RASR-2.[139] | ||||||||
| 13 June 09:21:18[144] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
Starlink V1.0-L8 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| Starlink × 58
|
SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| SkySat 16–18[145]
|
Planet Labs | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| First SmallSat Rideshare mission launch. | ||||||||
| 17 June 07:19[146][147] |
Long March 2D
|
2D-Y52 | Jiuquan SLS-2
|
CASC
| ||||
| Gaofen-9 03[130]
|
CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| HEAD-5
|
HEAD Aerospace | Low Earth (SSO) | AIS ship tracking | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Pixing-3A
|
Zhejiang University | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 23 June 01:43[149][150] |
Long March 3B/E
|
3B-Y68 | Xichang LC-2
|
CASC
| ||||
| BeiDou-3 G3Q[81]
|
CNSA | Geosynchronous | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Last satellite of the BeiDou-3 constellation to be launched, completing the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System.[148] | ||||||||
| 30 June 20:10:46[152][153] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
F9-088 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| GPS IIIA-03 Matthew Henson
|
U.S. Space Force | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Named after African-American polar explorer Matthew Henson. Originally named Columbus.[151] | ||||||||
July[edit] | ||||||||
| 3 July 03:10[154][155] |
Long March 4B
|
4B-Y43 | Taiyuan LC-9
|
CASC
| ||||
| Gaofen DUOMO (Multi-Mode)
|
CAST | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Xibaipo (BY70-2)
|
Luquan No.1 Middle School | Low Earth (SSO) | Popular science | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 4 July 21:19:36[157] |
Electron
|
"Pics Or It Didn't Happen" | Mahia LC-1A
|
Rocket Lab
| ||||
| CE-SAT-IB
|
Canon Inc. | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 4 July | Launch failure | |||
| ⚀ Flock-4e × 5
|
Planet Labs | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 4 July | Launch failure | |||
| ⚀ Faraday-1
|
In-Space Missions | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 4 July | Launch failure | |||
| Failed during second stage flight.[156] | ||||||||
| 4 July 23:44[158] |
Long March 2D
|
2D-Y29[64] | Jiuquan SLS-2
|
CASC
| ||||
| Shiyan 6-02
|
CAST | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 6 July 01:00[159][160] |
 Shavit-2
|
Palmachim Airbase
|
IAI
| |||||
| Ofek-16
|
Israel Ministry of Defence | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 9 July 12:11:04[161][162] |
Long March 3B/E
|
3B-Y64 | Xichang LC-3
|
CASC
| ||||
| APStar 6D
|
APT Satellite Co. | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 10 July 04:17[164][165] |
Kuaizhou 11
|
Jiuquan LS-95A
|
ExPace
| |||||
| Bilibili Video Satellite (Jilin-1 Gaofen-02E)[166]
|
Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 10 July | Launch failure | |||
| CentiSpace-1 S2 (Xiangrikui 2)
|
Beijing Future Navigation Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 10 July | Launch failure | |||
| First flight of Kuaizhou 11.[163] The rocket failed to reach space. | ||||||||
| 15 July 13:46[168] |
Minotaur IV / Orion 38
|
MARS LP-0B
|
Northrop Grumman
| |||||
| USA-305
|
NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| USA-306
|
NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| USA-307
|
NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| USA-308
|
NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| NROL-129 mission.[167] | ||||||||
| 19 July 21:58:14[169][170] |
H-IIA 202[171]
|
F42 | Tanegashima LA-Y1
|
MHI
| ||||
 Hope (Al-Amal)
|
Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre | TMI to Areocentric | Mars orbiter | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Emirates Mars Mission; first Emirati space probe. | ||||||||
| 20 July 21:30[172] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
F9-089 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| ANASIS-II[173]
|
Republic of Korea Army | Geosynchronous | Military communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| South Korea's first dedicated military communications satellite. | ||||||||
| 23 July 04:41[174] |
Long March 5
|
Y4[107] | Wenchang LC-1
|
CASC
| ||||
| Tianwen-1
|
CNSA | TMI to Areocentric | Mars orbiter and rover | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Tianwen-1 Deployable Camera
|
CNSA | TMI (Martian flyby) | Photography | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Drop Camera[175]
|
CNSA | TMI to Areocentric | Mars lander / Photography | In orbit | Successful | |||
| China's first independent Mars mission. | ||||||||
| 23 July 14:26:21[178] |
Soyuz-2.1a
|
Baikonur Site 31/6
|
Roscosmos
| |||||
| Progress MS-15 / 76P
|
Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 9 February 2021 09:13[179] |
Successful | |||
| It was initially planned for this Progress vehicle to deorbit the Pirs module to make way for the arrival of Nauka in early 2021. This was later delayed to a subsequent mission.[176][177] | ||||||||
| 25 July 03:13[180][181] |
Long March 4B
|
4B-Y45 | Taiyuan LC-9
|
CASC
| ||||
| Ziyuan III-03
|
Ministry of Natural Resources | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Tianqi-10
|
Guodian Gaoke | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Lobster Eye X-ray Explorer (NJU-HKU №1)[182][183]
|
NJU / HKU | Low Earth (SSO) | X-ray astronomy | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 30 July 11:50[185] |
Atlas V 541
|
AV-088 | Cape Canaveral SLC-41
|
ULA
| ||||
| Perseverance
|
NASA / JPL | TMI to Martian surface | Mars rover | 18 February 2021 20:43:42[186] |
Landed on Mars; Operational | |||
| Ingenuity
|
NASA / JPL | TMI to Martian surface | Mars aircraft | Landed on Mars | ||||
| Mars 2020 mission.[184] | ||||||||
| 30 July 21:25:19[187] |
Proton-M / Briz-M P4
|
Baikonur Site 200/39
|
Roscosmos
| |||||
| Ekspress-80
|
RSCC | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Ekspress-103
|
RSCC | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
August[edit] | ||||||||
| 6 August 04:01:54[188][189] |
Long March 2D
|
2D-Y56 | Jiuquan SLS-2
|
CASC
| ||||
| Gaofen 9-04
|
CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Q-SAT[190]
|
Tsinghua University | Low Earth (SSO) | Gravitational research Atmospheric science |
In orbit | Operational | |||
| 7 August 05:12:05[193] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
Starlink V1.0-L9 | Kennedy LC-39A
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| Starlink × 57
|
SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| BlackSky 5 (Global-7)
|
BlackSky Global | Low Earth | Earth observation | 23 October 2023[194] | Successful | |||
| BlackSky 6 (Global-8)
|
BlackSky Global | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Starlink SmallSat Rideshare mission to deploy BlackSky Global 7 and 8;[191] first Starlink rideshare contracted with Spaceflight Industries, dubbed "SXRS-1".[192] | ||||||||
| 15 August 22:04[196] |
Ariane 5 ECA
|
VA253 | Kourou ELA-3
|
Arianespace
| ||||
| BSAT-4b
|
BSAT | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Galaxy 30
|
Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| MEV-2
|
Northrop Grumman | Geosynchronous | Satellite servicing | In orbit | Operational | |||
| MEV-2 successfully docked with Intelsat 10-02 on 12 April 2021.[195] | ||||||||
| 18 August 14:31:16[197] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
Starlink V1.0-L10 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| Starlink × 58
|
SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| SkySat 19–21[198]
|
Planet Labs | Low Earth | Earth observation | 18, 20: In orbit 19: 26 June 2023[199] |
Operational | |||
| Starlink SmallSat Rideshare mission to deploy SkySat 19–21. | ||||||||
| 23 August 02:27:04[200][201] |
Long March 2D
|
2D-Y57 | Jiuquan SLS-2
|
CASC
| ||||
| Gaofen 9-05
|
CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Tiantuo-5
|
NUDT | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Duo Gongneng Shiyan Weixing
|
AMS | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 30 August 23:18:56[202] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
F9-092 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| SAOCOM 1B
|
CONAE | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ EG-2 (Tyvak-0172)[203][204]
|
EchoStar | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Spacecraft failure | |||
| ⚀ GNOMES-1[205]
|
PlanetIQ | Low Earth (SSO) | Radio occultation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| First polar orbit mission from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station since ESSA-9 in 1969. SmallSat Rideshare mission to deploy Tyvak-0172 and GNOMES-1. | ||||||||
| 31 August 03:05:47[206] |
Electron
|
"I Can't Believe It's Not Optical" | Mahia LC-1A
|
Rocket Lab
| ||||
| Capella-2 (Sequoia)
|
Capella Space | Low Earth | Earth observation | 28 February 2023[207] | Successful | |||
| Photon (First Light)
|
Rocket Lab | Low Earth | Flight test | In orbit | Operational[208] | |||
| Return-to-flight mission for Electron. Second launch of the Photon satellite bus. | ||||||||
September[edit] | ||||||||
| 3 September 01:51:10[216][217] |
Vega
|
VV16 | Kourou ELV
|
Arianespace
| ||||
 ION SCV-001 Lucas[209]
|
D-Orbit | Low Earth (SSO) | CubeSat deployer | In orbit | Operational[218] | |||
| Athena
|
Facebook[219] | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
 ESAIL[209]
|
exactEarth | Low Earth (SSO) | AIS ship tracking | In orbit | Operational | |||
| GHGSat-C1 (Iris)[220][210]
|
GHGSat | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
 NEMO-HD[209][210]
|
UTIAS / Space-SI | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ÑuSat 6 (Hypatia)[221]
|
Satellogic | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
 UPM-Sat 2[209]
|
UPM | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration Education |
In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ AMICal SAT[209]
|
CSUG / MSU | Low Earth (SSO) | Auroral science | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀  DIDO-3[210]
|
SpacePharma / ISA / ASI | Low Earth (SSO) | Microgravity research | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Flock-4v × 26[222]
|
Planet Labs | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ FSSCAT A and B[210][223]
|
UPC | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Lemur-2 × 8[209]
|
Spire Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational (6/8) | |||
⚀  OSM-1 Cicero[214][224]
|
OSM | Low Earth (SSO) | Radio occultation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀  NAPA-1 (RTAFSAT-1)[210][225]
|
RTAF | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀  PICASSO[210]
|
BIRA-IASB | Low Earth (SSO) | Atmospheric research | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ SIMBA[210]
|
RMI | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ SpaceBEE × 12[209]
|
Swarm Technologies | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ TARS[209]
|
Kepler Communications | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ TRISAT[210]
|
University of Maribor | Low Earth (SSO) | Education | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀  TTÜ100[210]
|
TalTech | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ EG-1 (Tyvak-0171)[209][203][204]
|
EchoStar | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Partial spacecraft failure; Operational | |||
| Small Satellites Mission Service Proof of Concept (SSMS PoC) mission.[209][210] Return to flight for Vega after the July 2019 launch failure. 53 satellites were deployed by the SSMS dispenser, including 14 Flock CubeSats carried on SSMS QuadPack deployers, while 12 additional Flock CubeSats were deployed separately by the ION SCV LUCAS satellite.[211][209][212] NEMO-HD and TRISAT are Slovenia's first satellites,[213] and OSM-1 Cicero is Monaco's first satellite.[214] Two of the Lemur-2 CubeSats failed to deploy, leading them to de-orbit along with the fourth stage of the Vega booster.[215] | ||||||||
| 3 September 12:46:14[226] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
Starlink V1.0-L11 | Kennedy LC-39A
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| Starlink × 60
|
SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 4 September 07:30[227][228] |
Long March 2F/T
|
2F-T3[64] | Jiuquan SLS-1
|
CASC
| ||||
| Chongfu Shiyong Shiyan Hangtian Qi (Reusable Experimental Spacecraft)
|
CASC | Low Earth | Flight test | 6 September 02:00[229] |
Successful | |||
| Unidentified satellite[230]
|
CASC | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Chinese experimental reusable spaceplane. | ||||||||
| 7 September 05:57[231][232] |
Long March 4B
|
4B-Y46 | Taiyuan LC-9
|
CASC
| ||||
| Gaofen 11-02
|
CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 12 September 03:19[235][236] |
Rocket 3
|
Rocket 3.1 | Kodiak LP-3B
|
Astra
| ||||
| Astra Test Payload
|
Astra | Low Earth | Flight test | 12 September | Launch failure | |||
| First flight of Rocket 3. Failed during first stage flight. Originally intended to be the second of two launches for the DARPA Launch Challenge, Rocket 3.1's launch was Astra's first orbital launch attempt following the loss of Rocket 3.0 during a prelaunch test in March 2020.[233][234] | ||||||||
| 12 September 05:02[237][238] |
Kuaizhou 1A
|
Y3[110] | Jiuquan LS-95A
|
ExPace
| ||||
| Jilin-1 Gaofen-02C
|
Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 12 September | Launch failure | |||
| 15 September 01:23[239] |
Long March 11H
|
Y2 | De Bo 3 Launch Platform, Yellow Sea
|
CASC
| ||||
| Jilin-1 Gaofen-03B × 6
|
Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Jilin-1 Gaofen-03C × 3
|
Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Second Long March 11 sea launch. | ||||||||
| 21 September 05:40[240][241] |
Long March 4B
|
4B-Y41 | Jiuquan SLS-2
|
CASC
| ||||
| HaiYang 2C
|
Ministry of Natural Resources | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 27 September 03:23[242] |
Long March 4B
|
4B-Y42 | Taiyuan LC-9
|
CASC
| ||||
| Huanjing 2A
|
CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Huanjing 2B
|
CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 28 September 11:20[243] |
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat
|
Plesetsk Site 43/4
|
Roscosmos
| |||||
| Gonets-M 17[244]
|
Gonets Satellite System | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Gonets-M 18[244]
|
Gonets Satellite System | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Gonets-M 19[244]
|
Gonets Satellite System | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
 ICEYE X6[245]
|
ICEYE | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ICEYE X7[245]
|
ICEYE | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
 SALSAT[245][246]
|
TU Berlin | Low Earth (SSO) | Spectrum analysis | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Kepler × 2[247]
|
Kepler | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀  LacunaSat-3[245][248]
|
NanoAvionics / Lacuna Space | Low Earth (SSO) | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Lemur-2 × 4[245]
|
Spire Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ MeznSat[245][249]
|
Khalifa University / AURAK | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ NetSat × 4[245][250]
|
ZFT | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Descartes[251]
|
MSU | Low Earth (SSO) | Space weather | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Norby[251]
|
NSU | Low Earth (SSO) | Space weather | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Yarilo × 2[245][252]
|
BMSTU / Lebedev Physical Institute | Low Earth (SSO) | Heliophysics | In orbit | Operational | |||
October[edit] | ||||||||
| 3 October 01:16:14[254] |
Antares 230+
|
MARS LP-0A
|
Northrop Grumman
| |||||
| Cygnus NG-14 S.S. Kalpana Chawla[255] |
NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 26 January 2021 20:23 |
Successful[256] | |||
| ⚀ Bobcat-1
|
Ohio University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 9 April 2022[257] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ DESCENT
|
York University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 19 June 2022[258] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ Lemur-2 Baxter-Oliver
|
Spire Global | Low Earth | Earth observation | 20 December 2021[259] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ Lemur-2 Djara[260]
|
Spire Global / ONI | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ NEUTRON-1
|
University of Hawaii | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 25 June 2022[261] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ SATLLA-1[262]
|
Ariel University | Low Earth | Education | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ SPOC
|
University of Georgia | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 25 June 2022[263] | Successful | |||
| The ELaNa 31 mission launched on this resupply flight.[135] All CubeSats launched on this mission were successfully deployed on 5 November 2020.[253] | ||||||||
| 6 October 11:29:34[264] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
Starlink V1.0-L12 | Kennedy LC-39A
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| Starlink × 60
|
SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 11 October 16:57[265][266] |
Long March 3B/E
|
3B-Y63[267] | Xichang LC-2
|
CASC
| ||||
| Gaofen-13
|
SASTIND | Geosynchronous | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 14 October 05:45:04[21][268] |
Soyuz-2.1a
|
Baikonur Site 31
|
Roscosmos
| |||||
| Soyuz MS-17
|
Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 63/64 | 17 April 2021 04:55[269] |
Successful | |||
| 18 October 12:25:57[270] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
Starlink V1.0-L13 | Kennedy LC-39A
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| Starlink × 60
|
SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 24 October 15:31:34[271] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
Starlink V1.0-L14 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| Starlink × 60
|
SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 25 October 19:08:42[273][274] |
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
RVSN RF
| |||||
| GLONASS-K 15 (K1 №3)[275]
|
VKS | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Also known as GLONASS-K 705. Replaced Kosmos 2516 (GLONASS-M 753) following its failure in November 2020.[272] | ||||||||
| 26 October 15:19[276] |
Long March 2C
|
2C-Y43 | Xichang LC-3
|
CASC
| ||||
| Yaogan 30-07 01
|
CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Yaogan 30-07 02
|
CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Yaogan 30-07 03
|
CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Tianqi-6
|
Guodian Gaoke | Low Earth | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 28 October 21:21:27[277][278] |
Electron
|
"In Focus" | Mahia LC-1A
|
Rocket Lab
| ||||
| CE-SAT-IIB
|
Canon Inc. | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Flock-4e' × 9
|
Planet Labs | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
November[edit] | ||||||||
| 5 November 23:24:23[279] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
F9-097 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| GPS IIIA-04 Sacagawea (USA-309)
|
U.S. Space Force | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Named after the Shoshone woman Sacagawea, who helped guide the Lewis and Clark Expedition.[151] | ||||||||
| 6 November 03:19[280][281] |
Long March 6
|
Y3 | Taiyuan LC-16
|
CASC
| ||||
| ÑuSat × 10
|
Satellogic | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Taiyuan (BY-03)[282]
|
Jinshan Middle School / Origin Space | Low Earth (SSO) | Education / Ultraviolet astronomy | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Tianyan 05 (UESTC)[282]
|
ADASpace / MinoSpace | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Beihangkongshi-1[283]
|
Spacety | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ÑuSat 9–18.[221] Beihangkongshi-1 carries the first iodine electric space propulsion system to be tested in space. | ||||||||
| 7 November 07:12[284][285] |
Ceres-1
|
Jiuquan LS-95A
|
Galactic Energy
| |||||
| Tianqi-11
|
Guodian Gaoke | Low Earth (SSO) | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Maiden flight of Ceres-1. | ||||||||
| 7 November 09:41[286][287] |
PSLV-DL
|
C49 | Satish Dhawan FLP
|
ISRO
| ||||
| EOS-01 (RISAT-2BR2)[288]
|
ISRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀  KSM × 4[289]
|
Kleos Space | Low Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Lemur-2 × 4
|
Spire Global | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ R2 (LacunaSat-2)[290]
|
NanoAvionics | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 12 November 15:59:04[291][292] |
Long March 3B/E
|
3B-Y73 | Xichang LC-2
|
CASC
| ||||
| Tiantong-1 02
|
China Satcom | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 13 November 22:32[293] |
Atlas V 531
|
AV-090[46] | Cape Canaveral SLC-41
|
ULA
| ||||
| NROL-101 (USA-310)
|
NRO | Molniya | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| The first GEM 63 solid rocket motors flew on this mission. May be an SDS satellite. | ||||||||
| 16 November 00:27:17[295] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
F9-098 | Kennedy LC-39A
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| SpaceX Crew-1 Resilience
|
SpaceX / NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 64/65 | 2 May 2021 06:56 |
Successful | |||
| Carrying four astronauts. Second crewed and first operational Crew Dragon mission, as part of the Commercial Crew Program.[294] | ||||||||
| 17 November 01:52:20[297] |
Vega
|
VV17[298] | Kourou ELV
|
Arianespace
| ||||
| SEOSat-Ingenio
|
ESA / CDTI / INTA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 17 November | Launch failure | |||
| TARANIS
|
CNES | Low Earth (SSO) | TLE observation | 17 November | Launch failure | |||
| Mission failure due to human error. Cables leading to thrust vector control actuators were inverted during engine assembly, causing the AVUM upper stage to tumble upon ignition.[296] | ||||||||
| 20 November 02:20:01[303] |
Electron
|
"Return to Sender" | Mahia LC-1A
|
Rocket Lab
| ||||
| ⚀ Alchemy (DragRacer A)
|
TriSept | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 19 July 2021 | Successful | |||
| ⚀ Augury (DragRacer B)
|
TriSept | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ BRO-2
|
UnseenLabs | Low Earth (SSO) | SIGINT | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ BRO-3
|
UnseenLabs | Low Earth (SSO) | SIGINT | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ APSS-1 (Waka Āmiorangi Aotearoa)
|
University of Auckland | Low Earth (SSO) | Ionospheric research | In orbit | Spacecraft failure[304] | |||
| ⚀ Landmapper-BC 5[305]
|
Astro Digital | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ SpaceBEE × 18
|
Swarm Technologies | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | First: 22 October 2022 Last: 14 December 2022[306] |
Successful | |||
| ⚀ SpaceBEE NZ × 6
|
Swarm Technologies NZ | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Gnome Chompski[307]
|
Gabe Newell | Low Earth | Charity / Mass simulator | In orbit | Operational | |||
| The DragRacer mission tested Tethers Unlimited's Terminator Tape, an electrodynamic tether that can passively de-orbit satellites in order to reduce space debris.[299][300] Alchemy, the tethered satellite, was expected to take 45 days to de-orbit; Augury, the untethered satellite, was expected to take up to 9 years.[301] Alchemy re-entered the atmosphere on 19 July 2021, after 241 days in orbit.[302] First stage recovery using parachutes was successfully attempted on this flight, with the intact booster splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. | ||||||||
| 21 November 17:17:08[308] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
F9-099 | Vandenberg SLC-4E
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6A)
|
NASA / NOAA / ESA / Eumetsat | Low Earth | Oceanography | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 23 November 20:30:12[310] |
Long March 5
|
Y5[107] | Wenchang LC-1
|
CASC
| ||||
| Chang'e 5 lander
|
CNSA | Selenocentric | Lunar lander | 1 December 15:11 |
Successful | |||
| Chang'e 5 ascender
|
CNSA | Selenocentric | Space rendezvous | 7 December 23:30 |
Successful | |||
| Chang'e 5 orbiter
|
CNSA | Initial: Selenocentric Current: Sun–Earth L1 |
Lunar orbiter | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Chang'e 5 return capsule
|
CNSA | Selenocentric | Lunar sample return | 16 December 17:59 |
Successful | |||
| China's first lunar sample return mission. Lunar landing was confirmed on 1 December. The reentry capsule landed on Earth on 16 December and safely delivered 1.7 kg (3.7 lb) of lunar soil and rock samples. The orbiter is currently on an extended mission to the Sun–Earth L1 point.[309] | ||||||||
| 25 November 02:13:12[311] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
Starlink V1.0-L15 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| Starlink × 60
|
SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| First time that a Falcon 9 first-stage booster (B1049.7) has been launched and recovered for the seventh time. | ||||||||
| 29 November 07:25[312][313] |
H-IIA 202
|
F43 | Tanegashima LA-Y1
|
MHI
| ||||
| JDRS-1 (LUCAS)[314]
|
CAS / JAXA | Geosynchronous | Data relay | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Japanese Optical Data Relay Satellite. | ||||||||
December[edit] | ||||||||
| 2 December 01:33:28[315] |
Soyuz ST-A / Fregat-M
|
VS24 | Kourou ELS
|
Arianespace
| ||||
| FalconEye-2
|
UAE Armed Forces | Low Earth (SSO) | Reconnaissance (IMINT) | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 3 December 01:14:36[316][317] |
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat
|
Plesetsk Site 43/3
|
Roscosmos
| |||||
| Gonets-M 20[244]
|
Gonets Satellite System | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Gonets-M 21[244]
|
Gonets Satellite System | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Gonets-M 22[244]
|
Gonets Satellite System | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ERA-1 (Kosmos 2548)[318]
|
Ministry of Defence | Low Earth | Military | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 6 December 03:58[319][320] |
Long March 3B/E
|
3B-Y70 | Xichang LC-3
|
CASC
| ||||
| Gaofen 14
|
SASTIND | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| First Long March 3B launch to Sun-synchronous orbit. | ||||||||
| 6 December 16:17:08[321] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
F9-101 | Kennedy LC-39A
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| SpaceX CRS-21
|
NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 14 January 2021 | Successful | |||
| Nanoracks Bishop Airlock
|
Nanoracks / NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | Satellite deployment / ISS assembly | In orbit | Operational | |||
| First flight of the cargo version of Dragon 2. Nanoracks Bishop Airlock launched aboard this resupply flight. The airlock is now docked to the ISS as of 12/22/20. | ||||||||
| 9 December 20:14[322][323] |
Long March 11
|
Y9[123] | Xichang LC-4
|
CASC
| ||||
| GECAM A and B[324]
|
CAS | Low Earth | Gravitational-wave astronomy | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 11 December 01:09[325] |
Delta IV Heavy
|
D-385 | Cape Canaveral SLC-37B
|
ULA
| ||||
| Orion 10 / USA-311[326]
|
NRO | Geosynchronous | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| NROL-44 mission. First launch from the newly renamed Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. | ||||||||
| 13 December 17:30[328] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
F9-102 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| SXM-7[329]
|
Sirius XM | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Spacecraft failure | |||
| Replacement for the XM-3 satellite launched in 2005. While conducting in-orbit testing the satellite experienced payload unit failures. Exact cause has not been announced.[327] | ||||||||
| 14 December 05:50:00[330][331] |
Angara A5 / Briz-M
|
Plesetsk Site 35/1
|
RVSN RF
| |||||
| IPM 2 (dummy payload)[332]
|
VKS | Geosynchronous | Flight test | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Second orbital flight of Angara A5. | ||||||||
| 15 December 10:09:27[21][333] |
Electron
|
"The Owl's Night Begins" | Mahia LC-1A
|
Rocket Lab
| ||||
| StriX-α
|
Synspective | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 15 December 20:55[335][336] |
Rocket 3
|
Rocket 3.2 | Kodiak LP-3B
|
Astra
| ||||
| No payload | Astra | Low Earth (SSO) | Flight test | 15 December | Launch failure | |||
| Second of three Rocket 3 orbital launch attempts. Successfully achieved an apogee of 390 km (240 mi), but fell just short of orbital velocity due to a suboptimal second stage fuel mixture.[334] | ||||||||
| 17 December 10:11[338] |
PSLV-XL
|
C50[339] | Satish Dhawan SLP
|
ISRO
| ||||
| CMS-01 (GSAT-12R)
|
ISRO | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Replacement for GSAT-12.[337] | ||||||||
| 18 December 12:26:26[341] |
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat
|
ST29 | Vostochny Site 1S
|
Arianespace / Starsem
| ||||
| OneWeb × 36
|
OneWeb | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Vostochny flight 1. Third large batch of satellites, and the first after bankruptcy in early 2020.[340] | ||||||||
| 19 December 14:00[343] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
F9-103 | Kennedy LC-39A
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| USA-312
|
NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| USA-313
|
NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| NROL-108 mission.[342] | ||||||||
| 22 December 04:37:37[344][345][346] |
Long March 8
|
Y1 | Wenchang LC-2[347]
|
CASC
| ||||
| Xinjishu Yanzheng-7 (XJY-7)
|
CAST | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Hisea-1[348]
|
Spacety | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Tianqi-8 (Ping'an-1)
|
Guodian Gaoke | Low Earth (SSO) | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Yuanguang
|
Spacety / HBUT | Low Earth (SSO) | Space tribology | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀  ET-SMART-RSS (Zhixing-1A)[349]
|
ESSTI / SMART | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| First flight of Long March 8. | ||||||||
| 27 December 15:44[350] |
Long March 4C
|
4C-Y35 | Jiuquan SLS-2
|
CASC
| ||||
| Yaogan 33(R)
|
CAS | Low Earth (SSO) | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Weina-2
|
SECM | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Replacement for Yaogan 33, which was lost in a launch failure on 22 May 2019. | ||||||||
| 29 December 16:42:07[351][352] |
Soyuz ST-A / Fregat-M
|
VS25 | Kourou ELS
|
Arianespace
| ||||
| CSO-2
|
CNES / DGA | Low Earth (SSO) | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
| Remarks | |||||||
| 9 January 08:00:00 |
S-310
|
45 | Uchinoura
|
JAXA
| |||
| JAXA | Suborbital | Technology | 9 January | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 131 km[353] | |||||||
| 19 January | K-4
|
Visakhapatnam
|
Indian Navy
| ||||
| Indian Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 January | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 500 km? The missile was from a submerged platform located in the coastal waters of Andhra Pradesh. This test was undertaken in full operational configuration during which the missile traversed a distance of over 3,500 km in approximately 21 minutes.[354] | |||||||
| 19 January 15:30[359] |
Falcon 9 Block 5
|
Kennedy LC-39A
|
SpaceX
| ||||
| SpaceX Dragon 2
|
SpaceX | Suborbital | Test flight | 19 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 40 km.[355] In-flight abort test at Max Q. It was planned that the capsule from the first demonstration mission SpX-DM1 would be used, but that capsule having been subsequently destroyed after the mission in a fire during a ground-test, a new capsule was assigned for this mission.[356][357][358] | |||||||
| 24 January[360] | K-4
|
Visakhapatnam
|
Indian Navy
| ||||
| Indian Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 24 January | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 500 km? | |||||||
| 27 January 13:40[361] |
Black Brant IX
|
Poker Flat Research Range
|
NASA
| ||||
| PolarNOx 2
|
Virginia Tech | Suborbital | Thermosphere research | 27 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 260 kilometres (160 mi) | |||||||
| 5 February 08:33[362] |
Minuteman-III
|
Vandenberg Air Force Base LF-04
|
US Air Force
| ||||
| FTU-2
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 5 February | Successful | ||
| 12 February[363] | UGM-133 Trident II
|
USS Maine (SSBN-741), Pacific Missile Range Facility
|
US Navy
| ||||
| US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 February | Successful | |||
| Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) 30 | |||||||
| 16 February[364] | UGM-133 Trident II
|
USS Maine (SSBN-741), Pacific Missile Range Facility
|
US Navy
| ||||
| US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 February | Successful | |||
| Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) 30 | |||||||
| 19 February[365] 23:14 |
Improved Malemute
|
 Esrange
|
SSC
| ||||
| SPIDER-2 | SNSA | Suborbital | Atmospheric analysis | 19 February | Successful | ||
| Apogee 120 km (74 mi) | |||||||
| 20 March 08:30 |
UGM-27 Polaris (STARS)
|
Barking Sands LC-42
|
US Navy
| ||||
| C-HGB
|
US Navy | Suborbital | Technology | 20 March | Successful | ||
| Common-Hypersonic Glide Body, successful hypersonic glide vehicle test.[366] | |||||||
| 15 April 15:00 [367] |
PL-19 "Nudol"
|
Plesetsk cosmodrome
|
| ||||
| Suborbital | Missile test | 15 April | Successful | ||||
| Anti-satellite missile test | |||||||
| 12 June[368] | M51
|
Le Téméraire, Audierne Bay
|
DGA/Marine nationale
| ||||
| DGA/Marine nationale | Suborbital | Test flight | 12 June | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)? | |||||||
| 14 June[369] | Momo 5
|
Taiki Aerospace Research Field
|
Interstellar Technologies
| ||||
|
|
Kochi University of Technology | Suborbital | ? | 14 June | Launch failure[369] | ||
| About 35 seconds into flight, sparks were observed near the engine nozzle. About thirty seconds later, the engine failed and the rocket tumbled out of control. | |||||||
| 4 August 07:21[370] |
Minuteman-III
|
Vandenberg Air Force Base LF-10
|
US Air Force
| ||||
| 3x Mk 12 RV
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 4 August | Successful | ||
| Mission GT-235GM | |||||||
| 12 August[371] | Silver Sparrow?
|
F-15 Eagle, Israel
|
IAF
| ||||
| Israeli Air Force | Suborbital | ABM target | 12 August | Successful | |||
| Apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)?, AST-18a target, successfully intercepted by Arrow 2 | |||||||
| 16 August [373] | Skylark Micro
|
Launch I |  Langanes Peninsula Launch Site
|
Skyrora
| |||
| Skyrora | Suborbital | Test flight | 16 August | Successful | |||
| Maiden flight of Skylark Micro. Apogee: 26,86 km.[372] | |||||||
| 2 September 07:03[374] |
Minuteman-III
|
Vandenberg Air Force Base LF-04
|
US Air Force
| ||||
| 1x RV
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 2 September | Successful | ||
| Mission GT-233GM | |||||||
| 8 September 18:00[375] |
Black Brant IX
|
White Sands Missile Range
|
NASA
| ||||
| DUST-2
|
NASA / JAXA | Suborbital | Formation and growth of small particles | 8 September | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 346 kilometres (215 mi) | |||||||
| 19 September 00:39 |
T-Minus Engineering Dart
|
TED-1 | Koonibba Test Range
|
T-Minus Engineering
| |||
| DEWC-SP1
|
DEWC Systems | Suborbital | Miniaturized Orbital Electronic Warfare Sensor System | 19 September | Successful | ||
| First flight of the T-minus Dart. First Dutch space launch | |||||||
| 19 September 02:19 |
T-Minus Engineering Dart
|
TED-2 | Koonibba Test Range
|
T-Minus Engineering
| |||
| DEWC-SP2
|
DEWC Systems | Suborbital | Miniaturized Orbital Electronic Warfare Sensor System | 19 September | Successful | ||
| Flew 1 hour and 40 minutes after the previous flight. | |||||||
| 13 October 13:36[376] |
New Shepard
|
NS-13 | Corn Ranch
|
Blue Origin
| |||
| Crew Capsule 2.0
|
Blue Origin | Suborbital | Test flight/Payload delivery | 13 October | Successful | ||
 Postcards[377]
|
Club For The Future | Suborbital | Education | 13 October | Successful | ||
| 7th flight of the same capsule and booster. Onboard payloads include Space Lab Technologies, Southwest Research Institute, seeds and postcards for Club for the Future, and multiple payloads for NASA including SPLICE to test future lunar landing technologies in support of the Artemis program. A Sealandic postcard was the first payload from Sealand to be sent into space. | |||||||
| 29 October 19:27 [378] |
Minuteman-III
|
Vandenberg Air Force Base LF-09
|
US Air Force
| ||||
| 1x RV
|
US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 29 October | Successful | ||
| Mission GT-236GM | |||||||
| 29 October[379] |  SR-0
|
Sinop
|
Roketsan
| ||||
|
|
Roketsan | Suborbital | Test flight | 29 October | Successful | ||
| Apogee 136 kilometers (84.5 mi). | |||||||
| 2 November 10:20[380] |
Black Brant IX
|
White Sands Missile Range
|
NASA
| ||||
| DEUCE
|
NASA | Suborbital | Astronomy | 2 November | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 285 kilometres (177 mi) | |||||||
| 17 November 05:50[381][382] |
ICBM-T2
|
FTM-44 |  Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site
|
US Missile Defense Agency
| |||
| SM-3 target
|
|
Suborbital | Target for SM-3 FMT-44 | 17 November | Successful | ||
| ICBM target for and intercepted by SM-3 FMT-44. | |||||||
| 17 November [381][382] |
SM-3 Block IIA
|
FTM-44 | USS John Finn
|
US Missile Defense Agency/U.S. Navy
| |||
| Kill vehicle
|
U.S. Navy
|
Suborbital | ICBM interceptor | 17 November | Successful | ||
| Intercepted ICBM-T2 in space. | |||||||
| 9 December [383][384] |
R-29RMU
|
Karelia (submarine), Barents Sea
|
Russian Ministry of Defense
| ||||
| 1x RV? | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 December | Successful | |||
| 9 December [383][385] |
RS-24 Yars
|
Plesetsk cosmodrome
|
Russian Ministry of Defense
| ||||
| 1x RV? | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 December | Successful | |||
| 12 December 16:15 [387] |
SpaceShipTwo
|
19 | Spaceport America
|
Virgin Galactic
| |||
| VSS Unity
|
Virgin Galactic | Suborbital | Crewed spaceflight | 12 December | Aborted | ||
| First attempted crewed spaceflight from New Mexico. One second after ignition, the spacecraft's engine aborted, and shut down. The two crewmembers aboard, David Mackay and Frederick Sturckow, piloted the spacecraft to a safe landing.[386] | |||||||
| 12 December[388] | RSM-56 Bulava
|
K-551 Vladimir Monomakh (submarine), Sea of Okhotsk
|
Russian Ministry of Defense
| ||||
| 1x RV | Russian Ministry of Defense | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 December | Successful | ||
| Rapid launch of four intercontinental ballistic missiles. | |||||||
| 12 December | RSM-56 Bulava
|
K-551 Vladimir Monomakh (submarine), Sea of Okhotsk
|
Russian Ministry of Defense
| ||||
| 1x RV | Russian Ministry of Defense | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 December | Successful | ||
| Rapid launch of four intercontinental ballistic missiles. | |||||||
| 12 December | RSM-56 Bulava
|
K-551 Vladimir Monomakh (submarine), Sea of Okhotsk
|
Russian Ministry of Defense
| ||||
| 1x RV | Russian Ministry of Defense | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 December | Successful | ||
| Rapid launch of four intercontinental ballistic missiles. | |||||||
| 12 December | RSM-56 Bulava
|
K-551 Vladimir Monomakh (submarine), Sea of Okhotsk
|
Russian Ministry of Defense
| ||||
| 1x RV | Russian Ministry of Defense | Suborbital | Missile test | 12 December | Successful | ||
| Rapid launch of four intercontinental ballistic missiles. | |||||||
| 16 December [389] |
PL-19 "Nudol"
|
Plesetsk cosmodrome
|
| ||||
| Suborbital | Missile test | 16 December | Successful | ||||
| Anti-satellite missile test | |||||||
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
| Remarks | |||||||
| 3 December 15:10 [390][391] |
Chang'e 5 ascent vehicle
|
Chang'e 5 descent stage, Mons Rümker | CNSA | ||||
| Lunar soil sample
|
CNSA
|
Selenocentric orbit | Sample return | 7 December 2020 | Successful | ||
| Sample return mission. First flight of the Chang'e ascent stage. Rendezvoused and docked with the Chang'e 5 Earth return vehicle to transfer lunar soil samples for return to Earth. | |||||||
| Date (UTC) | Spacecraft | Event | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 January[392] | Parker Solar Probe | 4th perihelion | |
| 17 February[393] | Juno | 25th perijove of Jupiter | |
| 10 April[393] | Juno | 26th perijove | |
| 10 April 04:25[394] | BepiColombo | Gravity assist at Earth | |
| 2 June[393] | Juno | 27th perijove | |
| 7 June[395] | Parker Solar Probe | 5th perihelion | |
| 11 July[396] | Parker Solar Probe | Third gravity assist at Venus | |
| 25 July[393] | Juno | 28th perijove | |
| 16 September[393] | Juno | 29th perijove | |
| 27 September[397] | Parker Solar Probe | 6th perihelion | |
| 16 October 03:58[398] | BepiColombo | First gravity assist at Venus | |
| 20 October[399] | OSIRIS-REx | Touch-and-go maneuver on Bennu for sampling | |
| 8 November[393] | Juno | 30th perijove | |
| 28 November | Chang'e 5 | Lunar orbital insertion [400] | |
| 1 December[401] | Chang'e 5 lander and ascent vehicle | Lunar landing | Sample return mission successfully landed in Mons Rümker region of Oceanus Procellarum, coordinates 43°03′27″N 51°54′58″E / 43.0576°N 51.9161°E. |
| 5 December[402] | Chang'e 5 ascent vehicle and orbiter | Lunar orbit rendezvous | First-ever robotic rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit |
| 5 December [403] | Hayabusa2 | Sample return to Earth | |
| 7 December[404] | Chang'e 5 ascent vehicle | Lunar impact | Intentional de-orbit following docking and transfer of samples to orbiter and reentry capsule |
| 13 December[404] | Chang'e 5 orbiter and reentry capsule | Trans-Earth injection | |
| 16 December[404] | Chang'e 5 reentry capsule | Lunar sample return | Perform a skip reentry to reduce the heating loads |
| 26 December | Solar Orbiter | First gravity assist at Venus [405] | |
| 30 December[393] | Juno | 31st perijove |
| Start Date/Time | Duration | End Time | Spacecraft | Crew | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 January 18:04 | 7 hours 29 minutes | 01:33 | Expedition 61 | Christina Koch
|
During the 7-hour, 29-minute spacewalk, the two NASA astronauts successfully replaced nickel-hydrogen batteries with newer, more powerful lithium-ion batteries for the power channel on one pair of the station's solar arrays.[406] |
| 20 January 17:33 | 6 hours 58 minutes | 00:31 | Expedition 61 | Christina Koch
|
During the six hour and 58-minute spacewalk, the two NASA astronauts successfully completed the battery upgrade for one channel on one pair of the station's solar arrays. Work included removing the last two nickel-hydrogen batteries from this area of the station's backbone near the port solar array and moving them to an external platform. The batteries will be stored there until they can be disposed of in the next Japanese HTV cargo spacecraft after it delivers tons of supplies to the space station later this year. Meir and Koch also installed the sixth and final new lithium-ion battery, and ground controllers verified the new batteries powered up successfully to provide an improved and more efficient power capacity for station operations.[407] |
| 25 January 11:04 | 6 hours 16 minutes | 17:20 | Expedition 61 | Andrew Morgan
|
During the 6 hour, 16 minute spacewalk, the two astronauts successfully completed leak checks for the cooling system on the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) and opened a valve to being pressurizing the system. Preliminary testing shows AMS is responding as expected.[408] |
| 26 June 11:02 | 6 hours 7 minutes | 17:39 | Expedition 63 | Chris Cassidy
|
The spacewalkers removed five of six aging nickel-hydrogen batteries for one of two power channels for the starboard 6 (S6) truss, installed two of three new lithium-ion batteries, and installed two of three associated adapter plates that are used to complete the power circuit to the new batteries. Mission control reports that the two new batteries are working.The two NASA astronauts completed all the work planned for this first of four spacewalks to replace batteries that provide power for the station's solar arrays on the starboard truss of the complex as well as initial tasks originally planned for the second scheduled spacewalk next Wednesday. The new batteries provide an improved and more efficient power capacity for operations.[409] |
| 1 July 11:13 | 6 hours 1 minutes | 17:14 | Expedition 63 | Chris Cassidy
|
During the six hour and one-minute spacewalk, the two NASA astronauts completed half the work to upgrade the batteries that provide power for one channel on one pair of the station's solar arrays. The new batteries provide an improved and more efficient power capacity for operations. They successfully moved and connected one new, powerful lithium-ion battery and its adapter place to complete the circuit to the new battery and relocated one aging nickel-hydrogen battery to an external platform for future disposal.[410] |
| 16 July 11:10 | 6 hours | 17:10 | Expedition 63 | Chris Cassidy
|
The two NASA astronauts completed all the work to replace batteries that provide power for the International Space Station's solar arrays on the starboard truss of the complex. The new batteries provide an improved and more efficient power capacity for operations. The spacewalkers removed six aging nickel-hydrogen batteries for the second of two power channels for the starboard 6 (S6) truss, installed three new lithium-ion batteries, and installed the three associated adapter plates that are used to complete the power circuit to the new batteries.[411] |
| 21 July 11:12 | 5 hours 29 minutes | 16:41 | Expedition 63 | Chris Cassidy
|
The two NASA astronauts installed a protective storage unit that includes two Robotic External Leak Locator (RELL) units the Canadian Space Agency's Dextre robot can use to detect leaks of ammonia, which is used to operate the station's cooling system. They removed two lifting fixtures at the base of station solar arrays on the near port truss, or backbone, of the station. The "H-fixtures" were used for ground processing of the solar arrays prior to their launch. They then completed tasks to prepare the outside of the Tranquility module for the arrival later this year of the Nanoracks commercial airlock on a SpaceX cargo delivery mission. They also routed Ethernet cables and removed a lens filter cover from an external camera.[412] |
| 18 November 15:12 | 6 hours 48 minutes | 22:00 | Expedition 64 | Sergey Ryzhikov
|
Spacewalk was conducted using Poisk Module airlock for the first time in 11 years. This spacewalk includes works in preparation of Pirs module decommissioning and departure: relocated antenna and repositioned instruments Replacement of fluid flow regulator was not done as astronauts were unable to open new module compartment, this task was deferred to a future spacewalk.[413] |
|
See also: Timeline of spaceflight |
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. Launches from the Moon are not included in the statistics.
| Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures |
Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China |
39 | 35 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Europe |
5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | ||
| India |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Iran |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Israel |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Japan |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Russia |
17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | Includes two European Soyuz launches from Kourou, French Guiana by Arianespace. | |
| United States |
44 | 40 | 4 | 0 | Includes seven Electron launches from Mahia | |
| World | 114 | 104 | 10 | 0 | ||
| Family | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angara | Russia |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Antares | United States |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ariane | Europe |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Astra | United States |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Atlas | United States |
5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ceres | China |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Delta | United States |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Electron | United States |
7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | |
| Falcon | United States |
25 | 25 | 0 | 0 | |
| H-II | Japan |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kuaizhou | China |
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| LauncherOne | United States |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Long March | China |
34 | 32 | 2 | 0 | |
| Minotaur | United States |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| PSLV | India |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| R-7 | Russia |
15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | |
| Safir | Iran |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Shavit 2 | Israel |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Simorgh | Iran |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Universal Rocket | Russia |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Vega | Europe |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Rocket | Country | Family | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angara | Russia |
Angara | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Antares 200 | United States |
Antares | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ariane 5 | Europe |
Ariane | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Atlas V | United States |
Atlas | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ceres-1 | China |
Ceres | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Delta IV | United States |
Delta | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Electron | United States |
Electron | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | |
| Falcon 9 | United States |
Falcon | 25 | 25 | 0 | 0 | |
| H-IIA | Japan |
H-II | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| H-IIB | Japan |
H-II | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
| Kuaizhou | China |
Kuaizhou | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| LauncherOne | United States |
LauncherOne | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Long March 2 | China |
Long March | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | |
| Long March 3 | China |
Long March | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | |
| Long March 4 | China |
Long March | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| Long March 5 | China |
Long March | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Long March 6 | China |
Long March | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Long March 7 | China |
Long March | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Long March 8 | China |
Long March | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Long March 11 | China |
Long March | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Minotaur IV | United States |
Minotaur | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| PSLV | India |
PSLV | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Proton | Russia |
Universal Rocket | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Qased | Iran |
Safir | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Rocket 3 | United States |
Astra | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Shavit 2 | Israel |
Shavit | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Simorgh | Iran |
Simorgh | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Soyuz-2 | Russia |
R-7 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | |
| Vega | Europe |
Vega | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Rocket | Country | Type | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angara A5 / Briz-M | Russia |
Angara | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Antares 230+ | United States |
Antares | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ariane 5 ECA | Europe |
Ariane 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Atlas V 411 | United States |
Atlas V | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
| Atlas V 501 | United States |
Atlas V | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Atlas V 531 | United States |
Atlas V | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Atlas V 541 | United States |
Atlas V | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Atlas V 551 | United States |
Atlas V | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Delta IV Heavy | United States |
Delta IV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ceres-1 | China |
Ceres-1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Electron | United States |
Electron | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | |
| Falcon 9 Block 5 | United States |
Falcon 9 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 0 | |
| H-IIA 202 | Japan |
H-IIA | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| H-IIB | Japan |
H-IIB | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Final flight |
| Kuaizhou 1A | China |
Kuaizhou | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
| Kuaizhou 11 | China |
Kuaizhou | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| LauncherOne | United States |
LauncherOne | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Long March 2C | China |
Long March 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Long March 2D | China |
Long March 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Long March 2F/T | China |
Long March 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Long March 3B/E | China |
Long March 3 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | |
| Long March 4B | China |
Long March 4 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Long March 4C | China |
Long March 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Long March 5 | China |
Long March 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Long March 5B | China |
Long March 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Long March 6 | China |
Long March 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Long March 7A | China |
Long March 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Long March 8 | China |
Long March 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Long March 11 | China |
Long March 11 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Minotaur IV | United States |
Minotaur IV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Proton-M / Briz-M | Russia |
Proton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| PSLV-XL | India |
PSLV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| PSLV-DL | India |
PSLV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Qased | Iran |
Qased | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Rocket 3 | United States |
Rocket 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Shavit 2 | Israel |
Shavit | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Simorgh | Iran |
Simorgh | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Soyuz-2.1a | Russia |
Soyuz-2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat-M or ST-A | Russia |
Soyuz-2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat-M or ST-B | Russia |
Soyuz-2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
| Vega | Europe |
Vega | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Site | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baikonur | Kazakhstan |
7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Cape Canaveral | United States |
20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | |
| Jiuquan | China |
13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | |
| Kennedy | United States |
10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kourou | France |
7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | |
| Mahia | New Zealand |
7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | |
| MARS | United States |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Mojave | United States |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| PSCA | United States |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Palmachim | Israel |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Plesetsk | Russia |
7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Satish Dhawan | India |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Shahroud | Iran |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | First orbital launch |
| Semnan | Iran |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Taiyuan | China |
7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tanegashima | Japan |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Vandenberg | United States |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Vostochny | Russia |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Wenchang | China |
5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| Xichang | China |
13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | |
| Yellow Sea | China |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 114 | 104 | 10 | 0 | ||
| Orbital regime | Launches | Achieved | Not achieved | Accidentally achieved |
Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transatmospheric | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Low Earth / Sun-synchronous | 82 | 74 | 8 | 0 | Including flights to the ISS |
| Geosynchronous / GTO | 19 | 17 | 2 | 0 | |
| Medium Earth / Molniya | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
| High Earth / Lunar transfer | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Heliocentric orbit / Planetary transfer | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 114 | 104 | 10 | 0 |
For the purposes of this section, the yearly tally of suborbital launches by country assigns each flight to the country of origin of the rocket, not to the launch services provider or the spaceport. Flights intended to fly below 80 km (50 mi) are omitted.
| Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures |
Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| France |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| India |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Israel |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Japan |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Netherlands |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Includes T-Minus Dart launches from Australia | |
| Russia |
8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Turkey |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| United States |
11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | ||
| World | 31 | 30 | 1 | 0 | ||
