2009 in spaceflight
Encyclopedia
Several significant events in spaceflight
occurred in 2009, including Iran
conducting its first indigenous orbital launch, the first Swiss
satellite being launched and New Zealand
launching its first sounding rocket
. The H-IIB
and Naro-1 rockets conducted maiden flights, whilst the Tsyklon-3
, Falcon 1
and Ariane 5GS
were retired from service. The permanent crew of the International Space Station
increased from three to six in May, and in the last few months of the year, Japan's first resupply mission to the outpost, HTV-1
, was conducted successfully.
The internationally accepted definition of a spaceflight is any flight which crosses the Kármán line
, 100 kilometres above sea level. The first spaceflight launch of the year was that of a Delta IV Heavy, carrying the USA-202 ELINT satellite, which launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
at 02:47 GMT on 18 January. This was also the first orbital launch of the year.
On 2 February Iran
conducted its first successful orbital launch, when a Safir was used to place the Omid
satellite into low Earth orbit
.
At 16:56 GMT on 10 February, the first major collision
between two satellites in orbit occurred, resulting in the destruction of Kosmos 2251 and Iridium 33
, launched in 1993 and 1997 respectively. Up until the collision, Iridium 33 was operational, and an active part of the Iridium
network of satellites, whilst Kosmos 2251 was an inactive piece of space junk.
On 25 August, the Russo-
South Korea
n Naro-1 rocket made its maiden flight on 25 August, marking South Korea's first involvement in conducting a satellite launch attempt, however the rocket failed to reach orbit after its payload fairing malfunctioned.
The first flight of the SpaceX
Falcon 9
carrier rocket was scheduled to occur in November, but was delayed to February 2010 to allow more time for preparations. The SpaceX Dragon, a commercial unmanned logistics spacecraft which was developed as part of NASA
's COTS
programme, was also scheduled to make its first flight in 2009, however its launch has also slipped to 2010 as a result of knock-on delays. The first H-II Transfer Vehicle
, HTV-1
, was successfully launched on the maiden flight of the H-IIB
carrier rocket on 10 September. The first Swiss satellite, SwissCube-1
, was launched on 23 September aboard a PSLV
.
On 18 December, the Ariane 5GS made its final flight, delivering the Helios-IIB satellite into a sun-synchronous orbit
. The last orbital launch of the year was conducted eleven days later, on 29 December, when a Proton-M
with a Briz-M
upper stage launched the DirecTV-12
satellite.
observatories
were placed into orbit. The Kepler
spacecraft, which was launched by a Delta II
on 7 March, entered an Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit
from where it will search for exoplanets. On 14 May, and Ariane 5ECA
launched the Herschel
and Planck spacecraft. Both were placed at the L2 Lagrangian point
between the Earth and Sun, from where they will be used for astronomy. Herschel carries an infrared
telescope whilst Planck carries an optical one. The fourth observatory to be launched was the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer
, or WISE, which is a replacement for the Wide Field Infrared Explorer
which failed shortly after launch. WISE was launched into a sun-synchronous orbit
by a Delta II on 14 December, and will be used for infrared astronomy. Repairs made to the Hubble Space Telescope
during STS-125
restored it to full operations after a series of malfunctions in 2008.
Two lunar probes were launched in 2009; the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite
were launched on a single Atlas V
rocket on 18 June. LRO entered selenocentric orbit and began a series of experiments, whilst LCROSS remained attached to the Centaur
upper stage of the carrier rocket, and flew past the Moon. After orbiting the Earth twice, LCROSS separated from the upper stage and both it and the Centaur impacted the Cabeus
crater at the South Pole of the Moon, on 9 October. By observing the Centaur's impact, LCROSS was able to confirm the presence of water on the Moon. Several other Lunar probes ceased operations in 2009; Okina impacted the far side of the Moon on 12 February, Chang'e 1 was deorbited on 1 March, having completed its operations. Kaguya
was also deorbited following a successful mission, impacting near Gill
crater on 12 June. The Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft failed on 29 August, having operated for less than half of its design life.
The Mars Science Laboratory
and Fobos-Grunt
missions to Mars
had been scheduled for launch at the end of 2009, however both were delayed to 2011 to allow more time for the spacecraft to be developed. Fobos-Grunt, a sample return mission to Mars' natural satellite
Phobos
, would have carried the first Chinese planetary probe, Yinghuo-1.
Several flybys occurred in 2009, with Cassini continuing to orbit Saturn
, passing close to a number of its natural satellites. In February, Dawn passed within 549 kilometres (341.1 mi) of Mars, during a gravity assist manoeuvre for its journey to the asteroid belt
. In September, MESSENGER
made its third and final flyby of Mercury
before entering orbit in 2011. Whilst the primary objective of the flyby, achieving a gravitational assist, was successful, the spacecraft entered safe mode
shortly before its closest approach, which prevented it recording data as it flew away from the planet. In November, the Rosetta
spacecraft performed its third and final gravity assist flyby of Earth
.
Nine manned
launches occurred in 2009, the most since 1997. STS-119
, using , was launched on 15 March. It installed the last set of solar arrays on the International Space Station
. Soyuz TMA-14
, the 100th manned Soyuz
launch, delivered the Expedition 19
crew in March. In May, conducted the final mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope
, STS-125
. Several days later, Soyuz TMA-15
launched with the ISS Expedition 20
crew, brought the total ISS crew size up to six for the first time. This was also the 100th manned spaceflight of the Soyuz programme
, excluding the original Soyuz T-10
mission which failed to reach space. In July, delivered the final component of the Japanese Experiment Module
on mission STS-127
. STS-128
, using Discovery in August, delivered supplies using the Leonardo MPLM
. September saw the launch of Soyuz TMA-16
, with the ISS Expedition 21
crew. This was the 100th manned Soyuz mission reach orbit. In November, Space Shuttle Atlantis flew mission STS-129
, delivering two EXPRESS Logistics Carrier
s to the ISS. The final manned flight of the year, Soyuz TMA-17
, was launched on 20 December with the ISS Expedition 22
crew.
Although not a spaceflight in its own right, the Ares I-X
test flight was conducted on 28 October, with the rocket lifting off from Launch Complex 39B
of the Kennedy Space Center
at 15:30 GMT. The flight was successful and reached an altitude of around 46 kilometres (28.6 mi), within the upper atmosphere. A parachute failure during descent resulted in some damage to the first stage, which was recovered.
Four orbital launch failures occurred in 2009. On 24 February, a Taurus-XL launched from the Vandenberg Air Force Base
in California
, United States
, with the Orbiting Carbon Observatory
. The payload fairing did not separate from the rocket, leaving the upper stage with too much mass to reach orbit. The stage, with spacecraft and fairing still attached, reentered the atmosphere, coming down off the coast of Antarctica. The second failure was a controversial North Korea
n launch attempt using an Unha
rocket to launch the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2
communications satellite. The launch was conducted on 5 April, and North Korea maintains that it successfully reached orbit, however no objects from the launch were tracked as having orbital velocity, and US radar systems tracking the rocket detected that it failed at around the time of third stage ignition, with debris falling in the Pacific Ocean
.
A Soyuz-2.1a suffered a failure during the launch of Meridian 2
on 21 May, due to the premature cutoff of the second core stage of the carrier rocket. The satellite was placed in a lower than planned orbit, which it was initially expected to be able to correct by means of its onboard propulsion system, and the launch was reported to be a partial failure. By the time of the next Meridian launch in 2010 it had been confirmed that the satellite could not correct its own orbit, and that the mission was a failure. On 25 August, the Naro-1 rocket was launched on its maiden flight, however one half of the payload fairing failed to separate, and it did not reach orbit.
On 31 August a Long March 3B
placed the Palapa-D
satellite into a lower than expected orbit after its third stage gas generator burned through, resulting in an engine failure at the start of the second burn. The satellite was able to raise itself to its correct orbit at the expense of fuel which would have been used for five or six years of operations.
catalogued 123 spacecraft placed into orbit by launches which occurred in 2009.
Suborbital spaceflight in 2009
saw a number of sounding rocket
and missile
launches. New Zealand's Ātea-1 sounding rocket was launched on 30 November, marking that country's first suborbital flight. Russia twice attempted launches of its Bulava missile, however both launches failed. The second failure, which occurred on 9 December, resulted in a spiral pattern
which was observed in the sky over Norway
. The SpaceLoft-XL rocket experienced another launch failure during its third flight, on 2 May. The payload section separated from the rocket whilst it was still burning, and as a result the vehicle did not reach space. It had been carrying samples of cremated human remains for Celestis
, and student experiments.
rockets, six in the ECA configuration and one in the GS configuration. It had also intended to launch the first Vega rocket, however this was delayed due to ongoing development issues, which had already left the project several years behind schedule. India conducted two launches of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
s, however the first flight of a new variant of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
with an Indian-built upper stage slipped into 2010. Japan conducted three launches; two using the H-IIA
, plus the first H-IIB. Russia and the former Soviet Union conducted twenty nine launches, not including the international Sea and Land launch programmes, which conducted four, and the single Naro-1 launch conducted in cooperation with South Korea.
The United States
made twenty four launch attempts, with the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles accounting for eight; the most EELV launches in a single year to date. Eight Delta II launches were also made, including its last mission with a GPS satellite
, and its last flight with a payload for the United States armed forces
. As the Delta II programme wound down, Space Launch Complex 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
, one of the oldest operational launch pads in the world, was deactivated. SpaceX
launched a single Falcon 1, which successfully placed an operational satellite into orbit for the first time. This was the final flight of the Falcon 1, which was subsequently retired from service in favour of the Falcon 1e
. At the start of the year, a mockup Falcon 9
was erected on its launch pad at Canaveral, however the type's maiden flight slipped into 2010.
Sea Launch only conducted a single launch in 2009; a Zenit-3SL
launched Sicral 1B
in April. In June, the company was declared bankrupt, and subsequently it lost a number of launch contracts. By the end of the year it was expecting to resume launches in 2010. Its subsidiary, Land Launch, conducted three launches. Iran made its first successful indigenous orbital launch, however planned follow-up launches had not been conducted by the end of the year. North Korea made one launch which it claimed had successfully placed a satellite into orbit, however no such satellite was detected by any country capable of doing so. Israel
was not reported to have scheduled or conducted an orbital launch attempt.
Spaceflight
Spaceflight is the act of travelling into or through outer space. Spaceflight can occur with spacecraft which may, or may not, have humans on board. Examples of human spaceflight include the Russian Soyuz program, the U.S. Space shuttle program, as well as the ongoing International Space Station...
occurred in 2009, including Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
conducting its first indigenous orbital launch, the first Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
satellite being launched and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
launching its first sounding rocket
Sounding rocket
A sounding rocket, sometimes called a research rocket, is an instrument-carrying rocket designed to take measurements and perform scientific experiments during its sub-orbital flight. The origin of the term comes from nautical vocabulary, where to sound is to throw a weighted line from a ship into...
. The H-IIB
H-IIB
H-IIB is an expendable launch system used to launch H-II Transfer Vehicles towards the International Space Station. H-IIB rockets are liquid-fuelled with solid-fuel strap-on boosters and are launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan...
and Naro-1 rockets conducted maiden flights, whilst the Tsyklon-3
Tsyklon-3
The Tsyklon-3, also known as Tsiklon-3, GRAU index 11K68, was a Soviet, and subsequently Ukrainian orbital carrier rocket. A derivative of the R-36 ICBM, and a member of the Tsyklon family, it made its maiden flight on 24 June 1977, and was retired on 30 January 2009...
, Falcon 1
Falcon 1
The Falcon 1 is a partially reusable launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX, a space transportation company in Hawthorne, California. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket uses LOX/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine...
and Ariane 5GS
Ariane 5
Ariane 5 is, as a part of Ariane rocket family, an expendable launch system used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit or low Earth orbit . Ariane 5 rockets are manufactured under the authority of the European Space Agency and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales...
were retired from service. The permanent crew of the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
increased from three to six in May, and in the last few months of the year, Japan's first resupply mission to the outpost, HTV-1
HTV-1
HTV-1, also known as the HTV Demonstration Flight or HTV Technical Demonstration Vehicle, was the first Japanese Space Agency H-II Transfer Vehicle, launched in September 2009 to resupply the International Space Station and support the JAXA Kibo laboratory or JEM...
, was conducted successfully.
Overview
Karman line
The Kármán line lies at an altitude of above the Earth's sea level, and is commonly used to define the boundary between the Earth's atmosphere and outer space...
, 100 kilometres above sea level. The first spaceflight launch of the year was that of a Delta IV Heavy, carrying the USA-202 ELINT satellite, which launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is an installation of the United States Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing, headquartered at nearby Patrick Air Force Base. Located on Cape Canaveral in the state of Florida, CCAFS is the primary launch head of America's Eastern Range with four launch pads...
at 02:47 GMT on 18 January. This was also the first orbital launch of the year.
On 2 February Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
conducted its first successful orbital launch, when a Safir was used to place the Omid
Omid
Omid is a common Persian male given name, meaning hope...
satellite into low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
.
At 16:56 GMT on 10 February, the first major collision
2009 satellite collision
The 2009 satellite collision was the first accidental hypervelocity collision between two intact artificial satellites in Earth orbit. The collision occurred at 16:56 UTC on February 10, 2009, at above the Taymyr Peninsula in Siberia, when Iridium 33 and Kosmos-2251 collided...
between two satellites in orbit occurred, resulting in the destruction of Kosmos 2251 and Iridium 33
Iridium 33
Iridium 33 was a U.S. Iridium communications satellite. It was launched into low Earth orbit from Site 81/23 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 01:36 GMT on 14 September 1997, by a Proton-K carrier rocket with a Block DM2 upper stage...
, launched in 1993 and 1997 respectively. Up until the collision, Iridium 33 was operational, and an active part of the Iridium
Iridium (satellite)
Iridium Communications Inc. is a company, based in McLean, VA, United States which operates the Iridium satellite constellation, a system of 66 active satellites used for worldwide voice and data communication from hand-held satellite phones and other transceiver units...
network of satellites, whilst Kosmos 2251 was an inactive piece of space junk.
On 25 August, the Russo-
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n Naro-1 rocket made its maiden flight on 25 August, marking South Korea's first involvement in conducting a satellite launch attempt, however the rocket failed to reach orbit after its payload fairing malfunctioned.
The first flight of the SpaceX
SpaceX
Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or more popularly and informally known as SpaceX, is an American space transport company that operates out of Hawthorne, California...
Falcon 9
Falcon 9
Falcon 9 is a rocket-powered spaceflight launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX. Both stages of its two-stage-to-orbit vehicle use liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene propellants...
carrier rocket was scheduled to occur in November, but was delayed to February 2010 to allow more time for preparations. The SpaceX Dragon, a commercial unmanned logistics spacecraft which was developed as part of NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's COTS
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services is a NASA program to coordinate the delivery of crew and cargo to the International Space Station by private companies. The program was announced on January 18, 2006...
programme, was also scheduled to make its first flight in 2009, however its launch has also slipped to 2010 as a result of knock-on delays. The first H-II Transfer Vehicle
H-II Transfer Vehicle
The H-II Transfer Vehicle , called , is an unmanned resupply spacecraft used to resupply the Kibō Japanese Experiment Module and the International Space Station . The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has been working on the design since the early 1990s. The first mission, HTV-1, was originally...
, HTV-1
HTV-1
HTV-1, also known as the HTV Demonstration Flight or HTV Technical Demonstration Vehicle, was the first Japanese Space Agency H-II Transfer Vehicle, launched in September 2009 to resupply the International Space Station and support the JAXA Kibo laboratory or JEM...
, was successfully launched on the maiden flight of the H-IIB
H-IIB
H-IIB is an expendable launch system used to launch H-II Transfer Vehicles towards the International Space Station. H-IIB rockets are liquid-fuelled with solid-fuel strap-on boosters and are launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan...
carrier rocket on 10 September. The first Swiss satellite, SwissCube-1
SwissCube-1
SwissCube-1 is a Swiss satellite operated by Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. The spacecraft is a single unit CubeSat, which was designed to conduct research into nightglow within the Earth's atmosphere, and to develop technology for future spacecraft. It has also been used for amateur radio...
, was launched on 23 September aboard a PSLV
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle , commonly known by its abbreviation PSLV, is an expendable launch system developed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation . It was developed to allow India to launch its Indian Remote Sensing satellites into sun synchronous orbits, a service that...
.
On 18 December, the Ariane 5GS made its final flight, delivering the Helios-IIB satellite into a sun-synchronous orbit
Sun-synchronous orbit
A Sun-synchronous orbit is a geocentric orbit which combines altitude and inclination in such a way that an object on that orbit ascends or descends over any given point of the Earth's surface at the same local mean solar time. The surface illumination angle will be nearly the same every time...
. The last orbital launch of the year was conducted eleven days later, on 29 December, when a Proton-M
Proton-M
The Proton-M, GRAU index 8K82M or 8K82KM, is a Russian carrier rocket derived from the Soviet-developed Proton. It is built by Khrunichev, and launched from sites 81 and 200 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Commercial launches are marketed by International Launch Services , and generally...
with a Briz-M
Briz-M
The Briz-M , is a Russian orbit insertion upper stage manufactured by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and used on the Proton-M rocket.- Characteristics :...
upper stage launched the DirecTV-12
DirecTV-12
DirecTV-12, also known as D12, is a Boeing model 702 satellite built by the Boeing Satellite Development Center. It was launched on December 29, 2009 and became operational on May 19, 2010...
satellite.
Space exploration
Although no planetary probes were launched in 2009, four astronomicalAstronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
observatories
Space observatory
A space observatory is any instrument in outer space which is used for observation of distant planets, galaxies, and other outer space objects...
were placed into orbit. The Kepler
Kepler Mission
The Kepler spacecraft is an American space observatory, the space-based portion of NASA's Kepler Mission to discover Earth-like planets orbiting other stars. The spacecraft is named in honor of the 17th-century German astronomer Johannes Kepler...
spacecraft, which was launched by a Delta II
Delta II
Delta II was an American space launch system, originally designed and built by McDonnell Douglas. Delta II is part of the Delta rocket family and was in service from 1989 until November 1, 2011...
on 7 March, entered an Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit
Heliocentric orbit
A heliocentric orbit is an orbit around the Sun. All planets, comets, and asteroids in our Solar System are in such orbits, as are many artificial probes and pieces of debris. The moons of planets in the Solar System, by contrast, are not in heliocentric orbits as they orbit their respective planet...
from where it will search for exoplanets. On 14 May, and Ariane 5ECA
Ariane 5
Ariane 5 is, as a part of Ariane rocket family, an expendable launch system used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit or low Earth orbit . Ariane 5 rockets are manufactured under the authority of the European Space Agency and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales...
launched the Herschel
Herschel Space Observatory
The Herschel Space Observatory is a European Space Agency space observatory sensitive to the far infrared and submillimetre wavebands. It is the largest space telescope ever launched, carrying a single mirror of in diameter....
and Planck spacecraft. Both were placed at the L2 Lagrangian point
Lagrangian point
The Lagrangian points are the five positions in an orbital configuration where a small object affected only by gravity can theoretically be stationary relative to two larger objects...
between the Earth and Sun, from where they will be used for astronomy. Herschel carries an infrared
Infrared astronomy
Infrared astronomy is the branch of astronomy and astrophysics that studies astronomical objects visible in infrared radiation. The wavelength of infrared light ranges from 0.75 to 300 micrometers...
telescope whilst Planck carries an optical one. The fourth observatory to be launched was the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer
Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer
Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer is a NASA infrared-wavelength astronomical space telescope launched on December 14, 2009, and decommissioned/hibernated on February 17, 2011 when its transmitter was turned off...
, or WISE, which is a replacement for the Wide Field Infrared Explorer
Wide Field Infrared Explorer
The Wide Field Infrared Explorer was a satellite launched on 5 March 1999 on the Pegasus XL rocket into a polar orbit between 409 km and 426 km above the Earth's surface...
which failed shortly after launch. WISE was launched into a sun-synchronous orbit
Sun-synchronous orbit
A Sun-synchronous orbit is a geocentric orbit which combines altitude and inclination in such a way that an object on that orbit ascends or descends over any given point of the Earth's surface at the same local mean solar time. The surface illumination angle will be nearly the same every time...
by a Delta II on 14 December, and will be used for infrared astronomy. Repairs made to the Hubble Space Telescope
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
during STS-125
STS-125
STS-125, or HST-SM4 , was the fifth and final space shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope .Launch occurred on 11 May 2009 at 2:01 pm EDT...
restored it to full operations after a series of malfunctions in 2008.
Two lunar probes were launched in 2009; the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
The Lunar Precursor Robotic Program is a program of robotic spacecraft missions which NASA will use to prepare for future human spaceflight missions to the Moon. Two LPRP missions, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite , were launched in June 2009...
and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite
LCROSS
The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite was a robotic spacecraft operated by NASA. The mission was conceived as a low-cost means of determining the nature of hydrogen detected at the polar regions of the moon. The main LCROSS mission objective was to explore the presence of water ice...
were launched on a single Atlas V
Atlas V
Atlas V is an active expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. Atlas V was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin, and is now operated by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance...
rocket on 18 June. LRO entered selenocentric orbit and began a series of experiments, whilst LCROSS remained attached to the Centaur
Centaur (rocket stage)
Centaur is a rocket stage designed for use as the upper stage of space launch vehicles. Centaur boosts its satellite payload to geosynchronous orbit or, in the case of an interplanetary space probe, to or near to escape velocity...
upper stage of the carrier rocket, and flew past the Moon. After orbiting the Earth twice, LCROSS separated from the upper stage and both it and the Centaur impacted the Cabeus
Cabeus (crater)
Cabeus is a lunar crater that is located about from the south pole of the Moon. At this location the crater is seen obliquely from Earth, and it is almost perpetually in deep shadow due to lack of sunlight. Hence, not much detail can be seen of this crater, even from orbit...
crater at the South Pole of the Moon, on 9 October. By observing the Centaur's impact, LCROSS was able to confirm the presence of water on the Moon. Several other Lunar probes ceased operations in 2009; Okina impacted the far side of the Moon on 12 February, Chang'e 1 was deorbited on 1 March, having completed its operations. Kaguya
SELENE
SELENE , better known in Japan by its nickname after the legendary Japanese moon princess, was the second Japanese lunar orbiter spacecraft. Produced by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science and the National Space Development Agency , both now part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration...
was also deorbited following a successful mission, impacting near Gill
Gill (lunar crater)
Gill is a lunar crater that is located near the southeastern limb of the Moon. Due to its proximity to the edge of the Moon as seen from the Earth, this crater is viewed nearly from the side and it can become hidden from sight due to libration. The crater lies to the southwest of the irregular Mare...
crater on 12 June. The Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft failed on 29 August, having operated for less than half of its design life.
The Mars Science Laboratory
Mars Science Laboratory
The Mars Science Laboratory is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration mission with the aim to land and operate a rover named Curiosity on the surface of Mars. The MSL was launched November 26, 2011, at 10:02 EST and is scheduled to land on Mars at Gale Crater between August 6 and 20, 2012...
and Fobos-Grunt
Phobos-Grunt
Fobos-Grunt or Phobos-Grunt was an attempted Russian sample return mission to Phobos, one of the moons of Mars. It was launched on 9 November 2011 at 02:16 local time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, but subsequent rocket burns intended to set the craft on a course for Mars failed, leaving it...
missions to Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
had been scheduled for launch at the end of 2009, however both were delayed to 2011 to allow more time for the spacecraft to be developed. Fobos-Grunt, a sample return mission to Mars' natural satellite
Natural satellite
A natural satellite or moon is a celestial body that orbits a planet or smaller body, which is called its primary. The two terms are used synonymously for non-artificial satellites of planets, of dwarf planets, and of minor planets....
Phobos
Phobos (moon)
Phobos is the larger and closer of the two natural satellites of Mars. Both moons were discovered in 1877. With a mean radius of , Phobos is 7.24 times as massive as Deimos...
, would have carried the first Chinese planetary probe, Yinghuo-1.
Several flybys occurred in 2009, with Cassini continuing to orbit Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
, passing close to a number of its natural satellites. In February, Dawn passed within 549 kilometres (341.1 mi) of Mars, during a gravity assist manoeuvre for its journey to the asteroid belt
Asteroid belt
The asteroid belt is the region of the Solar System located roughly between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter. It is occupied by numerous irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids or minor planets...
. In September, MESSENGER
MESSENGER
The MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging space probe is a robotic NASA spacecraft in orbit around the planet Mercury. The spacecraft was launched aboard a Delta II rocket in August 2004 to study the chemical composition, geology, and magnetic field of Mercury...
made its third and final flyby of Mercury
Mercury (planet)
Mercury is the innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System, orbiting the Sun once every 87.969 Earth days. The orbit of Mercury has the highest eccentricity of all the Solar System planets, and it has the smallest axial tilt. It completes three rotations about its axis for every two orbits...
before entering orbit in 2011. Whilst the primary objective of the flyby, achieving a gravitational assist, was successful, the spacecraft entered safe mode
Safe Mode
Safe mode is a diagnostic mode of a computer operating system . It can also refer to a mode of operation by application software. Safe mode is intended to fix most, if not all problems within an operating system...
shortly before its closest approach, which prevented it recording data as it flew away from the planet. In November, the Rosetta
Rosetta (spacecraft)
Rosetta is a robotic spacecraft of the European Space Agency on a mission to study the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Rosetta consists of two main elements: the Rosetta space probe and the Philae lander. The spacecraft was launched on 2 March 2004 on an Ariane 5 rocket and will reach the comet by...
spacecraft performed its third and final gravity assist flyby of Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
.
Manned spaceflight
Human spaceflight
Human spaceflight is spaceflight with humans on the spacecraft. When a spacecraft is manned, it can be piloted directly, as opposed to machine or robotic space probes and remotely-controlled satellites....
launches occurred in 2009, the most since 1997. STS-119
STS-119
-Crew notes:This mission was originally scheduled to bring the Expedition 9 crew to the ISS. This crew would have consisted of:-Mission parameters:* Mass:* Orbiter liftoff: * Orbiter landing: * Perigee: * Apogee:...
, using , was launched on 15 March. It installed the last set of solar arrays on the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
. Soyuz TMA-14
Soyuz TMA-14
The Soyuz TMA-14 was a Soyuz flight to the International Space Station, which launched on 26 March 2009. It transported two members of the Expedition 19 crew as well as spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi on his second self-funded flight to the space station...
, the 100th manned Soyuz
Soyuz programme
The Soyuz programme is a human spaceflight programme that was initiated by the Soviet Union in the early 1960s, originally part of a Moon landing project intended to put a Soviet cosmonaut on the Moon...
launch, delivered the Expedition 19
Expedition 19
Expedition 19 was the 19th long-duration flight to the International Space Station. This expedition launched on 26 March 2009, at 11:49 UTC aboard the Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft. Expedition 19 was the final three crew member expedition, before the crew size increased to six crew members with...
crew in March. In May, conducted the final mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
, STS-125
STS-125
STS-125, or HST-SM4 , was the fifth and final space shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope .Launch occurred on 11 May 2009 at 2:01 pm EDT...
. Several days later, Soyuz TMA-15
Soyuz TMA-15
Soyuz TMA-15 was a manned spaceflight to the International Space Station. Part of the Soyuz programme, it transported three members of the Expedition 20 crew to the space station. TMA-15 was the 102nd manned flight of a Soyuz spacecraft, since Soyuz 1 in 1967. The Soyuz spacecraft remain docked to...
launched with the ISS Expedition 20
Expedition 20
Expedition 20 was the twentieth long-duration flight to the International Space Station. The expedition marked the first time a six-member crew inhabited the station...
crew, brought the total ISS crew size up to six for the first time. This was also the 100th manned spaceflight of the Soyuz programme
Soyuz programme
The Soyuz programme is a human spaceflight programme that was initiated by the Soviet Union in the early 1960s, originally part of a Moon landing project intended to put a Soviet cosmonaut on the Moon...
, excluding the original Soyuz T-10
Soyuz T-10-1
-Mission parameters:*Mass: 6850 kg*Perigee: N/A*Apogee: N/A*Inclination: N/A*Period: N/A-Mission highlights:...
mission which failed to reach space. In July, delivered the final component of the Japanese Experiment Module
Japanese Experiment Module
The Japanese Experiment Module , also known with the nickname , is a Japanese science module for the International Space Station developed by JAXA. It is the largest single ISS module. The first two pieces of the module were launched on space shuttle missions STS-123 and STS-124...
on mission STS-127
STS-127
STS-127 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station . It was the twenty-third flight of . The primary purpose of the STS-127 mission was to deliver and install the final two components of the Japanese Experiment Module: the Exposed Facility , and the Exposed Section of the...
. STS-128
STS-128
-Crew notes:Nicole Stott was originally scheduled to return aboard Soyuz TMA-15, but a change in the flight plan was made due to the possible flight delays in future shuttle missions, which may extend Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk's mission beyond the six-month duration preferred for station...
, using Discovery in August, delivered supplies using the Leonardo MPLM
Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
A Multi-Purpose Logistics Module is a large pressurized container used on Space Shuttle missions to transfer cargo to and from the International Space Station . An MPLM was carried in the cargo bay of a Shuttle and berthed to the Unity or Harmony modules on the ISS. From there, supplies were...
. September saw the launch of Soyuz TMA-16
Soyuz TMA-16
The Soyuz TMA-16 was a manned flight to and from the International Space Station . It transported two members of the Expedition 21 crew and a Canadian entrepreneur from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the ISS. TMA-16 was the 103rd flight of a Soyuz spacecraft, the first flight launching...
, with the ISS Expedition 21
Expedition 21
Expedition 21 was the 21st long-duration mission to the International Space Station . The expedition began on 30 September 2009, with Frank de Winne becoming the first ESA astronaut to command a space mission....
crew. This was the 100th manned Soyuz mission reach orbit. In November, Space Shuttle Atlantis flew mission STS-129
STS-129
-Crew seat assignments:-Mission payload:-ExPRESS Logistics Carriers 1 and 2:The primary payload of STS-129 was the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier and the ELC-2. The mass capacity of each ELC is with a volume of 30 meters cubed...
, delivering two EXPRESS Logistics Carrier
EXPRESS Logistics Carrier
An ExPRESS logistics carrier is an unpressurized attached payload platform for the International Space Station that provides mechanical mounting surfaces, electrical power, and command and data handling services for Orbital Replacement Units as well as science experiments on the ISS...
s to the ISS. The final manned flight of the year, Soyuz TMA-17
Soyuz TMA-17
Soyuz TMA-17 was a human spaceflight mission to the International Space Station . TMA-17 crew members participated in ISS Expedition 22 and Expedition 23...
, was launched on 20 December with the ISS Expedition 22
Expedition 22
Expedition 22 was the 22nd long duration crew flight to the International Space Station . This expedition began in November 2009 when the Expedition 21 crew departed. For a period of 3 weeks, there were only 2 crew members; it was the first time that had happened since STS-114 had delivered a third...
crew.
Although not a spaceflight in its own right, the Ares I-X
Ares I-X
Ares I-X was the first stage prototype and design concept demonstrator in the Ares I program, a launch system for human spaceflight developed by the United States space agency, NASA. Ares I-X was successfully launched on October 28, 2009...
test flight was conducted on 28 October, with the rocket lifting off from Launch Complex 39B
Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39
Launch Complex 39 is a rocket launch site at the John F. Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island in Florida, USA. The site and its collection of facilities were originally built for the Apollo program, and later modified to support Space Shuttle operations. NASA began modifying LC-39 in 2007 to...
of the Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
at 15:30 GMT. The flight was successful and reached an altitude of around 46 kilometres (28.6 mi), within the upper atmosphere. A parachute failure during descent resulted in some damage to the first stage, which was recovered.
Launch failures
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with the Orbiting Carbon Observatory
Orbiting Carbon Observatory
The Orbiting Carbon Observatory is a NASA satellite mission intended to provide global space-based observations of atmospheric carbon dioxide . The original spacecraft was lost in a launch failure on February 24, 2009, when the payload fairing of the Taurus rocket which was carrying it failed to...
. The payload fairing did not separate from the rocket, leaving the upper stage with too much mass to reach orbit. The stage, with spacecraft and fairing still attached, reentered the atmosphere, coming down off the coast of Antarctica. The second failure was a controversial North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n launch attempt using an Unha
Unha
The Unha or Eunha is a North Korean expendable carrier rocket, which experts say utilises the same delivery system as the Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile...
rocket to launch the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2
In this regard, a delegation of fifteen strong Iranian rocket scientists, including senior officials with Iranian rocket and satellite producer Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group, has been in the DPRK since the beginning of March, to help prepare for the launch...
communications satellite. The launch was conducted on 5 April, and North Korea maintains that it successfully reached orbit, however no objects from the launch were tracked as having orbital velocity, and US radar systems tracking the rocket detected that it failed at around the time of third stage ignition, with debris falling in the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
A Soyuz-2.1a suffered a failure during the launch of Meridian 2
Meridian 2
Meridian 2 is a Russian communications satellite. It is the second satellite of the Meridian system, which will replace the older Molniya series. It follows on from Meridian 1, which was launched in December 2006....
on 21 May, due to the premature cutoff of the second core stage of the carrier rocket. The satellite was placed in a lower than planned orbit, which it was initially expected to be able to correct by means of its onboard propulsion system, and the launch was reported to be a partial failure. By the time of the next Meridian launch in 2010 it had been confirmed that the satellite could not correct its own orbit, and that the mission was a failure. On 25 August, the Naro-1 rocket was launched on its maiden flight, however one half of the payload fairing failed to separate, and it did not reach orbit.
On 31 August a Long March 3B
Long March 3B
The Long March 3B , also known as the Chang Zheng 3B, CZ-3B and LM-3B, is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket. Introduced in 1996, it is launched from Launch Area 2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre...
placed the Palapa-D
Palapa-D
Palapa-D, also known as Palapa D1, is an Indonesian geostationary communications satellite which is operated by Indosat. It was built by Thales Alenia Space, based on the Spacebus-4000B3 satellite bus, and carries thirty five G/H band and five J band transponders...
satellite into a lower than expected orbit after its third stage gas generator burned through, resulting in an engine failure at the start of the second burn. The satellite was able to raise itself to its correct orbit at the expense of fuel which would have been used for five or six years of operations.
Summary of launches
In total, seventy eight orbital launches were attempted in 2009, with seventy five catalogued as having reached orbit, and the three outright launch failures, including the North Korean launch, not being catalogued. This is an increase of nine attempts compared to 2008, and eight more launches reached orbit. This continues a four year trend of increasing annual launch rates. The United States National Space Science Data CenterNational Space Science Data Center
The National Space Science Data Center serves as the permanent archive for NASA space science mission data. "Space science" pertains to astronomy and astrophysics, solar and space plasma physics, and planetary and lunar science...
catalogued 123 spacecraft placed into orbit by launches which occurred in 2009.
Suborbital spaceflight in 2009
A number of Suborbital spaceflights were conducted during 2009, consisting of sounding rocket missions and missile tests. Between the start of the year and 1 March, at least nine publicly announced suborbital spaceflights were conducted, the first of which occurred on 26 January.-Delta-2:Delta-2...
saw a number of sounding rocket
Sounding rocket
A sounding rocket, sometimes called a research rocket, is an instrument-carrying rocket designed to take measurements and perform scientific experiments during its sub-orbital flight. The origin of the term comes from nautical vocabulary, where to sound is to throw a weighted line from a ship into...
and missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
launches. New Zealand's Ātea-1 sounding rocket was launched on 30 November, marking that country's first suborbital flight. Russia twice attempted launches of its Bulava missile, however both launches failed. The second failure, which occurred on 9 December, resulted in a spiral pattern
2009 Norwegian spiral anomaly
The Norwegian spiral anomaly of 2009 appeared in the night sky over Norway on 9 December 2009. It was visible from, and photographed from, northern Norway and Sweden. The spiral consisted of a blue beam of light with a greyish spiral emanating from one end of it...
which was observed in the sky over Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The SpaceLoft-XL rocket experienced another launch failure during its third flight, on 2 May. The payload section separated from the rocket whilst it was still burning, and as a result the vehicle did not reach space. It had been carrying samples of cremated human remains for Celestis
Celestis
Celestis is a company that launches cremated human remains into space, a procedure known as a space burial. It is an affiliate company of Space Services Inc. The company purchases launches as a secondary payload on various rockets, and launches samples of many peoples' cremated remains on one launch...
, and student experiments.
By country
China conducted six launches in 2009; satellite problems early in the year followed by the fallout of the August partial launch failure resulted in many planned launches slipping into 2010. Europe launched seven Ariane 5Ariane 5
Ariane 5 is, as a part of Ariane rocket family, an expendable launch system used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit or low Earth orbit . Ariane 5 rockets are manufactured under the authority of the European Space Agency and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales...
rockets, six in the ECA configuration and one in the GS configuration. It had also intended to launch the first Vega rocket, however this was delayed due to ongoing development issues, which had already left the project several years behind schedule. India conducted two launches of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle , commonly known by its abbreviation PSLV, is an expendable launch system developed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation . It was developed to allow India to launch its Indian Remote Sensing satellites into sun synchronous orbits, a service that...
s, however the first flight of a new variant of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle is an expendable launch system operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation...
with an Indian-built upper stage slipped into 2010. Japan conducted three launches; two using the H-IIA
H-IIA
H-IIA is an active expendable launch system operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency . The liquid-fueled H-IIA rockets have been used to launch satellites into geostationary orbit, to launch a lunar orbiting spacecraft, and to launch an interplanetary...
, plus the first H-IIB. Russia and the former Soviet Union conducted twenty nine launches, not including the international Sea and Land launch programmes, which conducted four, and the single Naro-1 launch conducted in cooperation with South Korea.
The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
made twenty four launch attempts, with the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles accounting for eight; the most EELV launches in a single year to date. Eight Delta II launches were also made, including its last mission with a GPS satellite
GPS satellite
A GPS satellite is a satellite used by the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System . The first satellite in the system, Navstar 1, was launched February 22, 1978. The GPS satellite constellation is operated by the 50th Space Wing of the United States Air Force....
, and its last flight with a payload for the United States armed forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
. As the Delta II programme wound down, Space Launch Complex 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is an installation of the United States Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing, headquartered at nearby Patrick Air Force Base. Located on Cape Canaveral in the state of Florida, CCAFS is the primary launch head of America's Eastern Range with four launch pads...
, one of the oldest operational launch pads in the world, was deactivated. SpaceX
SpaceX
Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or more popularly and informally known as SpaceX, is an American space transport company that operates out of Hawthorne, California...
launched a single Falcon 1, which successfully placed an operational satellite into orbit for the first time. This was the final flight of the Falcon 1, which was subsequently retired from service in favour of the Falcon 1e
Falcon 1e
The Falcon 1e is an American small partially reusable launch system which is being developed by SpaceX. It will replace the Falcon 1, which was retired in 2009 following five launches, two of which were successful. The Falcon 1e consists of a new first stage, the same second stage used on the...
. At the start of the year, a mockup Falcon 9
Falcon 9
Falcon 9 is a rocket-powered spaceflight launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX. Both stages of its two-stage-to-orbit vehicle use liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene propellants...
was erected on its launch pad at Canaveral, however the type's maiden flight slipped into 2010.
Sea Launch only conducted a single launch in 2009; a Zenit-3SL
Zenit-3SL
The Zenit-3SL is an expendable carrier rocket operated by Sea Launch. First flown in 1999, it has been launched 30 times, with two failures and one partial failure. It is a member of the Zenit family of rockets, and is built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau. RKK Energia produces the Block DM-SL upper...
launched Sicral 1B
SICRAL 1B
SICRAL 1B is a communications satellite built by Thales Alenia Space. It is a dual-use spacecraft: Telespazio will use some of the satellite's transmission capacity and some will be used by the Italian defense ministry and NATO. The spacecraft is based on the Italsat 3000 bus and includes one...
in April. In June, the company was declared bankrupt, and subsequently it lost a number of launch contracts. By the end of the year it was expecting to resume launches in 2010. Its subsidiary, Land Launch, conducted three launches. Iran made its first successful indigenous orbital launch, however planned follow-up launches had not been conducted by the end of the year. North Korea made one launch which it claimed had successfully placed a satellite into orbit, however no such satellite was detected by any country capable of doing so. Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
was not reported to have scheduled or conducted an orbital launch attempt.
Deep space rendezvous
| Date | Spacecraft | Event | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 February | Cassini Cassini-Huygens Cassini–Huygens is a joint NASA/ESA/ASI spacecraft mission studying the planet Saturn and its many natural satellites since 2004. Launched in 1997 after nearly two decades of gestation, it includes a Saturn orbiter and an atmospheric probe/lander for the moon Titan, although it has also returned... |
50th flyby of Titan Titan (moon) Titan , or Saturn VI, is the largest moon of Saturn, the only natural satellite known to have a dense atmosphere, and the only object other than Earth for which clear evidence of stable bodies of surface liquid has been found.... |
Closest approach: 960 kilometres (596.5 mi) |
| Okina | Lunar Moon The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more... impact |
Farside of the Moon | |
| 17 February | Dawn | Flyby of Mars Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance... |
Gravity assist, closest approach 549 kilometres (341.1 mi) at 00:28 GMT |
| 1 March | Chang'e 1 | Lunar impact | Deorbited at 07:36 and impacted at 08:13 |
| 27 March | Cassini | 51st flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 960 kilometres (596.5 mi) |
| 4 April | Cassini | 52nd flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 4150 kilometres (2,578.7 mi) |
| 20 April | Cassini | 53rd flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 3600 kilometres (2,236.9 mi) |
| 5 May | Cassini | 54th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 3244 kilometres (2,015.7 mi) |
| 21 May | Cassini | 55th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 965 kilometres (599.6 mi) |
| 6 June | Cassini | 56th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 965 kilometres (599.6 mi) |
| 10 June | Kaguya SELENE SELENE , better known in Japan by its nickname after the legendary Japanese moon princess, was the second Japanese lunar orbiter spacecraft. Produced by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science and the National Space Development Agency , both now part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration... |
Lunar Impact | at 18:25 UTC, around Gill crater Gill (lunar crater) Gill is a lunar crater that is located near the southeastern limb of the Moon. Due to its proximity to the edge of the Moon as seen from the Earth, this crater is viewed nearly from the side and it can become hidden from sight due to libration. The crater lies to the southwest of the irregular Mare... . |
| 22 June | Cassini | 57th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 955 kilometres (593.4 mi) |
| 23 June | LRO Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter The Lunar Precursor Robotic Program is a program of robotic spacecraft missions which NASA will use to prepare for future human spaceflight missions to the Moon. Two LPRP missions, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite , were launched in June 2009... |
Orbital insersion burn lasted from 09:47 to 10:26 UTC | |
| 23 June | LCROSS LCROSS The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite was a robotic spacecraft operated by NASA. The mission was conceived as a low-cost means of determining the nature of hydrogen detected at the polar regions of the moon. The main LCROSS mission objective was to explore the presence of water ice... /Centaur Centaur (rocket stage) Centaur is a rocket stage designed for use as the upper stage of space launch vehicles. Centaur boosts its satellite payload to geosynchronous orbit or, in the case of an interplanetary space probe, to or near to escape velocity... |
Lunar flyby | Gravity assist to align for impact in October, closest approach: 3200 kilometres (1,988.4 mi) at 10:30:33 UTC |
| 8 July | Cassini | 58th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 965 kilometres (599.6 mi) |
| 24 July | Cassini | 59th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 955 kilometres (593.4 mi) |
| 9 August | Cassini | 60th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 970 kilometres (602.7 mi) |
| 25 August | Cassini | 61st flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 970 kilometres (602.7 mi) |
| 17 September | Artemis P1 | Lunar flyby | Closest approach: 43875 kilometres (27,262.7 mi) at 00:49 UTC |
| MESSENGER MESSENGER The MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging space probe is a robotic NASA spacecraft in orbit around the planet Mercury. The spacecraft was launched aboard a Delta II rocket in August 2004 to study the chemical composition, geology, and magnetic field of Mercury... |
Gravity assist, closest approach: 229 kilometres (142.3 mi) | ||
| 9 October | AV-020 Centaur Centaur (rocket stage) Centaur is a rocket stage designed for use as the upper stage of space launch vehicles. Centaur boosts its satellite payload to geosynchronous orbit or, in the case of an interplanetary space probe, to or near to escape velocity... |
Lunar impact | 2000 kilograms (4,409.2 lb) upper stage of the Atlas V Atlas V Atlas V is an active expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. Atlas V was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin, and is now operated by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance... rocket used to launch LRO and LCROSS. Impacted Cabeus Cabeus (crater) Cabeus is a lunar crater that is located about from the south pole of the Moon. At this location the crater is seen obliquely from Earth, and it is almost perpetually in deep shadow due to lack of sunlight. Hence, not much detail can be seen of this crater, even from orbit... crater at Lunar South Pole.. Impact occurred at 11:31 UTC, and was observed by LCROSS. |
| Lunar impact | 700 kilograms (1,543.2 lb) shepherding spacecraft. Detached from Centaur at 01:50 UTC, and impacted same crater at 11:37. | ||
| 12 October | Cassini | 62nd flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 1300 kilometres (807.8 mi) |
| 2 November | Cassini | 7th flyby of Enceladus Enceladus (moon) Enceladus is the sixth-largest of the moons of Saturn. It was discovered in 1789 by William Herschel. Until the two Voyager spacecraft passed near it in the early 1980s very little was known about this small moon besides the identification of water ice on its surface... |
Closest approach: 103 kilometres (64 mi) |
| 13 November | Rosetta Rosetta (spacecraft) Rosetta is a robotic spacecraft of the European Space Agency on a mission to study the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Rosetta consists of two main elements: the Rosetta space probe and the Philae lander. The spacecraft was launched on 2 March 2004 on an Ariane 5 rocket and will reach the comet by... |
3rd flyby of Earth Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets... |
Gravity assist |
| 21 November | Cassini | 8th flyby of Enceladus | Closest approach: 1607 kilometres (998.5 mi) |
| 8 December | Artemis P1 | Lunar flyby | Closest approach: 16101 kilometres (10,004.7 mi) at 01:25 UTC |
| 12 December | Cassini | 63rd flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 4850 kilometres (3,013.7 mi) |
| 28 December | Cassini | 64th flyby of Titan | Closest approach: 955 kilometres (593.4 mi) |
- Distant, non-targeted flybys of DioneDione (moon)Dione is a moon of Saturn discovered by Cassini in 1684. It is named after the titan Dione of Greek mythology. It is also designated Saturn IV.- Name :...
, MimasMimas (moon)Mimas is a moon of Saturn which was discovered in 1789 by William Herschel. It is named after Mimas, a son of Gaia in Greek mythology, and is also designated Saturn I....
, RheaRhea (moon)Rhea is the second-largest moon of Saturn and the ninth largest moon in the Solar System. It was discovered in 1672 by Giovanni Domenico Cassini.-Name:Rhea is named after the Titan Rhea of Greek mythology, "mother of the gods"...
, TethysTethys (moon)Tethys or Saturn III is a mid-sized moon of Saturn about across. It was discovered by G. D. Cassini in 1684 and is named after titan Tethys of Greek mythology. Tethys is pronounced |Odysseus]] is about 400 km in diameter, while the largest graben—Ithaca Chasma is about 100 km wide and...
and Titan by Cassini occurred throughout the year.
EVAs
| Start Date/Time | Duration | End Time | Spacecraft | Crew | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 March 16:22 |
4 hours |
21:11 | ISS International Space Station The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes... Pirs |
 Yuri LonchakovYuri Lonchakov Yury Valentinovich Lonchakov is a Russian cosmonaut and a veteran of three space missions. He has spent 200 days in space and has conducted two career spacewalks.- Personal :...  Michael Fincke |
Installed the EXPOSE-R experiment, removed tape straps from a docking target on the Pirs docking compartment, inspected and photographed the exterior of the Russian portion of the station. |
| 19 March 17:16 |
6 hours 7 minutes |
23:23 | STS-119 STS-119 -Crew notes:This mission was originally scheduled to bring the Expedition 9 crew to the ISS. This crew would have consisted of:-Mission parameters:* Mass:* Orbiter liftoff: * Orbiter landing: * Perigee: * Apogee:... ISS Quest |
Steven Swanson Steven Swanson Steven Ray Swanson is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. Swanson is married and has 3 children. Steven has received numerous awards and honors. These include the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal and the JSC Certificate of Accommodation and many others... |
Installed the S6 truss to the S5 truss, connected S5/S6 umbilicals, released launch restraints, removed keel pins, stored and removed thermal covers, and deployed the S6 photovoltaic radiator. |
| 21 March 16:51 |
6 hours 30 minutes |
23:21 | STS-119 ISS Quest |
Steven Swanson Joseph M. Acaba Joseph M. Acaba Joseph Michael "Joe" Acaba is an educator, hydrogeologist, and NASA astronaut. In May 2004 he became the first person of Puerto Rican heritage to be named as a NASA astronaut candidate, when he was selected as a member of NASA Astronaut Training Group 19... |
Advanced preparation of worksite for STS-127 STS-127 STS-127 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station . It was the twenty-third flight of . The primary purpose of the STS-127 mission was to deliver and install the final two components of the Japanese Experiment Module: the Exposed Facility , and the Exposed Section of the... , installation of an unpressurised cargo carrier attachment system on the P3 truss, installation of a Global Positioning System Global Positioning System The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites... antenna to the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module The Japanese Experiment Module , also known with the nickname , is a Japanese science module for the International Space Station developed by JAXA. It is the largest single ISS module. The first two pieces of the module were launched on space shuttle missions STS-123 and STS-124... laboratory, and infrared imagery of panels of the radiators on the P1 and S1 trusses. Cargo carrier installation unsuccessful |
| 23 March 15:37 |
6 hours 27 minutes |
22:04 | STS-119 ISS Quest |
Joseph M. Acaba Richard R. Arnold |
Relocation of a crew equipment cart, complete the deployment of a cargo carrier, lubricated the station robotic arm’s latching end effector B snare bearings, and finish swapping electrical relays to the station’s gyroscopes. Cargo carrier deployment unsuccessful |
| 14 May 12:52 |
7 hours 20 minutes |
20:12 | STS-125 STS-125 STS-125, or HST-SM4 , was the fifth and final space shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope .Launch occurred on 11 May 2009 at 2:01 pm EDT... |
John M. Grunsfeld John M. Grunsfeld John Mace Grunsfeld is an American physicist and a NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of five spaceflights and has also served as NASA Chief Scientist.-Personal :... Andrew J. FeustelAndrew J. Feustel Andrew J. Feustel is an American Geophysicist and a NASA astronaut. His first spaceflight in May 2009, named STS-125, lasted just under 13 days . This was a mission with six other astronauts to repair the Hubble Space Telescope, aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis. Feustel performed three spacewalks... |
HST servicing Hubble Space Telescope The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared... : Replaced the WFPC-2 Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 The Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 is a baby grand piano sized camera built by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and formerly installed on the Hubble Space Telescope. It was installed by servicing mission 1 in 1993, replacing the telescope's original Wide Field and Planetary Camera... with WFC-3 Wide Field Camera 3 The Wide Field Camera 3 is the Hubble Space Telescope's last and most technologically advanced instrument to take images in the visible spectrum... , replaced the Science Instrument Command and Data Handling Unit, lubricated three shroud doors, installed SCM. |
| 15 May 12:49 |
7 hours 56 minutes |
20:46 | STS-125 Atlantis |
Michael T. Good Michael T. Good Michael Timothy "Bueno" Good is a NASA astronaut and retired commissioned officer in the United States Air Force, holding the rank of Colonel. Mike Good flew aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis for its STS-125 mission. STS-125 was the final Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission... |
HST servicing: Replaced rate sensing gyroscopes, removed one of two batteries. |
| 16 May13:35 | 6 hours 36 minutes |
20:11 | STS-125 Atlantis |
John M. Grunsfeld Andrew J. Feustel |
HST servicing: Replaced COSTAR Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement The Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement is the instrument designed to correct Hubble Space Telescope's spherical aberration for light focused at the FOC, FOS and GHRS instruments. Built by Ball Aerospace Corp., it replaced the High Speed Photometer during the first Hubble... with COS Cosmic Origins Spectrograph The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph is a science instrument that was installed on the Hubble Space Telescope during Servicing Mission 4 in May 2009. It is designed for ultraviolet spectroscopy of faint point sources with a resolving power of ≈1,550–24,000... . Repaired ACS Advanced Camera for Surveys The Advanced Camera for Surveys is a third generation axial instrument aboard the Hubble Space Telescope . The initial design and scientific capabilities of ACS were defined by a team based at Johns Hopkins University. ACS was assembled and tested extensively at Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp... , performed get-ahead tasks from EVA-5. |
| 17 May13:45 | 8 hours 2 minutes |
21:47 | STS-125 Atlantis |
Michael J. Massimino Michael T. Good |
HST servicing: Repaired Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph is a spectrograph, also with a camera mode, installed on the Hubble Space Telescope. It operated continuously from 1997 until a power supply failure in 2004. After repairs, it began operating again in 2009... . |
| 18 May13:20 | 7 hours 2 minutes |
20:22 | STS-125 Atlantis |
John M. Grunsfeld Andrew J. Feustel |
HST servicing: Final HST servicing EVA, final EVA from Space Shuttle. Replaced second battery, installed FGS-3 Fine Guidance Sensor The Fine Guidance Sensor is an interferometric instrument on board the Hubble Space Telescope that provides high-precision pointing information as input to the observatory's attitude control systems.... , replaced some insulation and a low-gain antenna cover. |
| 5 June 07:52 |
4 hours 54 minutes |
12:46 | Expedition 20 Expedition 20 Expedition 20 was the twentieth long-duration flight to the International Space Station. The expedition marked the first time a six-member crew inhabited the station... ISS Pirs |
Gennady Padalka Gennady Padalka Gennady Ivanovich Padalka is a Russian Air Force officer and an RSA cosmonaut. As of June 2010, Gennady ranks sixth for career time in space due to his time on both Mir and the International Space Station.... Michael R. BarrattMichael R. Barratt Michael Reed Barratt is an American physician and a NASA astronaut. Specializing in aerospace medicine, Barratt served as a flight surgeon for NASA before his selection as an astronaut, and has played a role in developing NASA's space medicine programs for both the Shuttle-Mir Program and... |
Prepared the Zvezda service module transfer compartment for the arrival of the Poisk module, installed docking antenna for the module, photographed antenna for evaluation on the ground, and photographed the Strela-2 crane. First use of the Orlan-MK spacesuit. |
| 10 June 06:55 |
12 minutes | 07:07 | Expedition 20 ISS Zvezda |
Gennady Padalka Michael R. Barratt |
Internal spacewalk in the depressurised Zvezda transfer compartment, replaced one of the Zvezda hatches with a docking cone, in preparation for the docking of Poisk, later this year. |
| 18 July 16:19 |
5 hours 32 minutes |
21:51 | STS-127 STS-127 STS-127 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station . It was the twenty-third flight of . The primary purpose of the STS-127 mission was to deliver and install the final two components of the Japanese Experiment Module: the Exposed Facility , and the Exposed Section of the... ISS Quest |
David Wolf Timothy L. Kopra Timothy L. Kopra Timothy Lennart Kopra is a colonel in the United States Army and a NASA astronaut. Kopra deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Desert Storm as a member of the 3rd Armored Division... |
JEF Japanese Experiment Module The Japanese Experiment Module , also known with the nickname , is a Japanese science module for the International Space Station developed by JAXA. It is the largest single ISS module. The first two pieces of the module were launched on space shuttle missions STS-123 and STS-124... installed and P3 nadir UCCAS deployed. S3 zenith outboard PAS deploy postponed due to time constraints. |
| 20 July 15:27 |
6 hours 53 minutes |
22:20 | STS-127 ISS Quest |
David Wolf Thomas Marshburn Thomas Marshburn Thomas Henry "Tom" Marshburn is an American physician and a NASA astronaut. Marshburn was born in Statesville, North Carolina. He served as a Mission Specialist on STS-127.-Education:... |
Transferred Orbital Replacement Unit Orbital replacement unit Orbital Replacement Units are key elements of the International Space Station that can be readily replaced when the unit either passes its design life or fails. Examples of ORUs are: pumps, storage tanks, controller boxes, antennas, and battery units. Such units are replaced either by astronauts... s (ORUs) from the Shuttle Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC) to the External Stowage Platform-3 (ESP-3 External Stowage Platform External Stowage Platforms are key components of the International Space Station . Each ESP is an external pallet that can hold spare parts, also known as Orbital Replacement Units , for the space station. As a platform it is not pressurized, but does require electricity to power the heaters of... ). Transferred materials included a spare high-gain antenna, cooling-system pump module and spare parts for the Mobile Servicing System. JEF Visual Equipment (JEF-VE) installation on the forward section was postponed due to time constraints. |
| 22 July 14:32 |
5 hours 59 minutes |
20:31 | STS-127 ISS Quest |
David Wolf Christopher Cassidy Christopher Cassidy Christopher John "Chris" Cassidy is a NASA astronaut and Navy SEAL. Chris Cassidy achieved the rank of Commander in the U.S. Navy. Cassidy attended York High School, in York, Maine,. He then graduated from the Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1989... |
JPM Japanese Experiment Module The Japanese Experiment Module , also known with the nickname , is a Japanese science module for the International Space Station developed by JAXA. It is the largest single ISS module. The first two pieces of the module were launched on space shuttle missions STS-123 and STS-124... preparation work, ICS-EF MLI, and P6 battery replacement (2 of 6 units). EVA was cut short due to high levels of in Cassidy's suit. |
| 24 July 13:54 |
7 hours 12 minutes |
21:06 | STS-127 ISS Quest |
Christopher Cassidy Thomas Marshburn |
P6 battery replacement (final 4 of 6). |
| 27 July 11:33 |
4 hours 54 minutes |
16:27 | STS-127 ISS Quest |
Christopher Cassidy Thomas Marshburn |
SPDM thermal cover adjustment, Z1 patch panel reconfiguration, JEM visual equipment (JEM-VE) installation (forward and aft), and JEM-LTA reconfigurations. S3 Nadir PAS (outboard) deployment postponed to later mission. |
| 1 September 21:49 |
6 hours 35 minutes |
04:24 |
STS-128 STS-128 -Crew notes:Nicole Stott was originally scheduled to return aboard Soyuz TMA-15, but a change in the flight plan was made due to the possible flight delays in future shuttle missions, which may extend Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk's mission beyond the six-month duration preferred for station... ISS Quest |
John D. Olivas Nicole P. Stott Nicole P. Stott Nicole Marie Passonno Stott is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. She served as a Flight Engineer on ISS Expedition 20 and Expedition 21 and was a Mission Specialist on STS-128. In 2011, She flew a second time as a Mission Specialist on STS-133.... |
Prepared for the replacement of an empty ammonia tank on the station’s port truss by releasing its bolts. Retrieved the MISSE-6 Materials International Space Station Experiment The Materials International Space Station Experiment , is a series of experiments mounted externally on the International Space Station that investigates the effects of long-term exposure of materials to the harsh space environment.... and EuTEF European Technology Exposure Facility The European Technology Exposure Facility is a payload mounted on the exterior of the European Columbus laboratory, one of the modules of the International Space Station... experiments mounted outside of Columbus Columbus (ISS module) Columbus is a science laboratory that is part of the International Space Station and is the largest single contribution to the ISS made by the European Space Agency .... , and stowed them in the Shuttle's payload bay for their return to Earth. Nicole Stott becomes the tenth woman to conduct a spacewalk. |
| 3 September 22:13 |
6 hours 39 minutes |
4 September 04:51 |
STS-128 ISS Quest |
John D. Olivas Christer FuglesangChrister Fuglesang Dr. Arne Christer Fuglesang is a Swedish physicist and an ESA astronaut. He was first launched aboard the STS-116 Space Shuttle mission on December 10, 2006, at 01:47 GMT, making him the first Swedish citizen in space.... |
Removed the new ammonia tank from the shuttle's payload bay and replaced it with the used tank from the station. The new tank, weighing about 1800 pounds (816.5 kg), was the most mass ever moved by spacewalking astronauts. With this spacewalk, Christer Fuglesang became the first person, who is not from either an American or Russian space program, to have participated in four or more spacewalks. |
20:39 |
7 hours 1 minute |
6 September 03:40 |
STS-128 ISS Quest |
John D. Olivas Christer Fuglesang |
Prepared for the arrival of Tranquility by attaching cables between the starboard truss and Unity, the area where Tranquility will be installed. The spacewalkers also replaced a communications sensor device, installed two new GPS antennas, deployed the PAS on the S3 truss, and replaced a circuit breaker. |
| 19 November 14:24 |
6 hours 37 minutes |
21:01 | STS-129 STS-129 -Crew seat assignments:-Mission payload:-ExPRESS Logistics Carriers 1 and 2:The primary payload of STS-129 was the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier and the ELC-2. The mass capacity of each ELC is with a volume of 30 meters cubed... ISS Quest |
Michael Foreman Michael Foreman Michael James Foreman is an American astronaut.-Personal:Foreman was born in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up in Wadsworth, Ohio. He is married to Lorrie Dancer of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma... Robert Satcher |
Installed a spare antenna on the station’s truss and a bracket for ammonia lines on Unity. Lubricated the grapple mechanism on the Payload Orbital Replacement Unit Attachment Device on the Mobile Base System and lubricated the snares of the hand of the station's Japanese robotic arm. Deployed the S3 outboard Payload Attach System. |
| 21 November 14:31 |
6 hours 8 minutes |
20:39 | STS-129 ISS Quest |
Michael Foreman Randolph Bresnik |
Installed the GATOR (Grappling Adaptor to On-Orbit Railing) bracket to Columbus and an additional ham radio antenna. Installed on the truss an antenna for wireless helmet camera video. Relocated the Floating Potential Measurement Unit that records electrical potential around the station as it orbits the Earth. Deployed two brackets to attach cargo on the truss. |
| 23 November 13:24 |
5 hours 42 minutes |
19:06 | STS-129 ISS Quest |
Robert Satcher Randolph Bresnik |
Installed a new High Pressure Gas Tank (HPGT) on the Quest airlock. Installed MISSE Materials International Space Station Experiment The Materials International Space Station Experiment , is a series of experiments mounted externally on the International Space Station that investigates the effects of long-term exposure of materials to the harsh space environment.... -7A and 7B on ELC-2. Strapped two micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) shields to External Stowage Platform #2. Relocated foot restraint, released a bolt on Ammonia Tank Assembly, installed insulated covers on cameras on mobile servicing system and Canadarm 2's end effector. Worked heater cables on docking adapter. |
By country
| Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures |
Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 EuropeEurope Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... |
7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
 InternationalInternational ----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries... |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Sea/Land Launch |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | First successful orbital launch | |
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Outcome disputed | |
| 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | ||
/ CISCommonwealth of Independent States The Commonwealth of Independent States is a regional organization whose participating countries are former Soviet Republics, formed during the breakup of the Soviet Union.... |
29 | 28 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | With Russian assistance | |
| 24 | 23 | 1 | 0 |
By family
| Family | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angara | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight | |
| Ariane |  Europe |
7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Atlas Atlas (rocket family) Atlas is a family of U.S. space launch vehicles. The original Atlas missile was designed in the late 1950s and produced by the Convair Division of General Dynamics, to be used as an intercontinental ballistic missile... |
5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Delta | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Falcon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| H-II | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Long March | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Minotaur | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Pegasus | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| R-7 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | ||
| R-14 R-14 Usovaya The R-14 Chusovaya was a theatre ballistic missile developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It was given the NATO reporting name SS-5 Skean and was known by GRAU index 8K65. It was designed by Mikhail Kuzmich Yangel. Chusovaya is the name of a river in Russia... |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| R-36 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Safir | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | First successful launch | |
| SLV Satellite Launch Vehicle The Indian Satellite Launch Vehicle or SLV was a project started in the early 1970s by Indian Space Research Organisation to develop the technology needed to launch satellites. The project was headed by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. SLV was intended to reach a height of 400 km and carry a payload of... |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Space Shuttle Space Shuttle The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons... |
5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Unha Unha The Unha or Eunha is a North Korean expendable carrier rocket, which experts say utilises the same delivery system as the Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile... |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Outcome disputed | |
| Universal Rocket Universal Rocket The Universal Rocket or UR family of missiles and carrier rockets is a Russian, previously Soviet rocket family. Intended to allow the same technology to be used in all Soviet rockets, the UR is produced by the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Centre. Several variants were originally... |
13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Energia Energia Energia was a Soviet rocket that was designed by NPO Energia to serve as a heavy-lift expendable launch system as well as a booster for the Buran spacecraft. Control system main developer enterprise was the NPO "Electropribor"... |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
By type
| Rocket | Country | Family | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ariane 5 Ariane 5 Ariane 5 is, as a part of Ariane rocket family, an expendable launch system used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit or low Earth orbit . Ariane 5 rockets are manufactured under the authority of the European Space Agency and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales... |
Europe |
Ariane | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Atlas V Atlas V Atlas V is an active expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. Atlas V was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin, and is now operated by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance... |
Atlas | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Delta II Delta II Delta II was an American space launch system, originally designed and built by McDonnell Douglas. Delta II is part of the Delta rocket family and was in service from 1989 until November 1, 2011... |
Delta | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Delta IV | Delta | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Dnepr | R-36 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Falcon 1 Falcon 1 The Falcon 1 is a partially reusable launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX, a space transportation company in Hawthorne, California. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket uses LOX/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine... |
Falcon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Retired | |
| H-IIA H-IIA H-IIA is an active expendable launch system operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency . The liquid-fueled H-IIA rockets have been used to launch satellites into geostationary orbit, to launch a lunar orbiting spacecraft, and to launch an interplanetary... |
H-II | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| H-IIB H-IIB H-IIB is an expendable launch system used to launch H-II Transfer Vehicles towards the International Space Station. H-IIB rockets are liquid-fuelled with solid-fuel strap-on boosters and are launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan... |
H-II | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight | |
| Kosmos Kosmos (rocket family) The Kosmos rockets are a series of Soviet and subsequently Russian rockets, derived from the R-12 and R-14 missiles, the most well known of which is the Kosmos-3M, which has made over 440 launches, and is still in service... |
R-12/R-14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Long March 2 | Long March | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Long March 3 | Long March | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Long March 4 | Long March | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Minotaur I Minotaur I The Minotaur I, or just Minotaur is an American expendable launch system derived from the Minuteman II missile. It is used to launch small satellites for the US Government, and is a member of the Minotaur family of rockets produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation.Minotaur I rockets consist of the... |
Minotaur | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Naro | |
Angara | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Proton | Universal Rocket | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | ||
| PSLV Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle , commonly known by its abbreviation PSLV, is an expendable launch system developed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation . It was developed to allow India to launch its Indian Remote Sensing satellites into sun synchronous orbits, a service that... |
SLV | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Safir | Safir | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Soyuz | R-7 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Space Shuttle Space Shuttle The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons... |
Space Shuttle | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Taurus | Pegasus | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Tsyklon Tsyklon The Tsyklon , GRAU index 11K67, was a Soviet/Ukrainian-designed expendable launch system, primarily used to put Cosmos satellites into low Earth orbit. It is based on the R-36 intercontinental ballistic missile designed by Mikhail Yangel and made eight launches, with seven successes, and one failure... |
R-36 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Retired | |
| Unha Unha The Unha or Eunha is a North Korean expendable carrier rocket, which experts say utilises the same delivery system as the Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile... |
Unha | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| UR-100 UR-100 The UR-100 was an intercontinental ballistic missile developed and deployed by the Soviet Union from 1966 to 1996. УР in its designation stands for "универсальная ракета"... |
Universal Rocket | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Zenit | Energia | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
By configuration
| Rocket | Country | Type | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ariane 5ECA Ariane 5 Ariane 5 is, as a part of Ariane rocket family, an expendable launch system used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit or low Earth orbit . Ariane 5 rockets are manufactured under the authority of the European Space Agency and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales... |
Europe |
Ariane 5 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ariane 5GS Ariane 5 Ariane 5 is, as a part of Ariane rocket family, an expendable launch system used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit or low Earth orbit . Ariane 5 rockets are manufactured under the authority of the European Space Agency and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales... |
Europe |
Ariane 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Retired |
| Atlas V Atlas V Atlas V is an active expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. Atlas V was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin, and is now operated by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance... 401 |
Atlas V | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Atlas V Atlas V Atlas V is an active expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. Atlas V was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin, and is now operated by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance... 421 |
Atlas V | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Atlas V Atlas V Atlas V is an active expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. Atlas V was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin, and is now operated by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance... 431 |
Atlas V | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Delta II Delta II Delta II was an American space launch system, originally designed and built by McDonnell Douglas. Delta II is part of the Delta rocket family and was in service from 1989 until November 1, 2011... 7320 |
Delta II | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Delta II Delta II Delta II was an American space launch system, originally designed and built by McDonnell Douglas. Delta II is part of the Delta rocket family and was in service from 1989 until November 1, 2011... 7920 |
Delta II | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Delta II Delta II Delta II was an American space launch system, originally designed and built by McDonnell Douglas. Delta II is part of the Delta rocket family and was in service from 1989 until November 1, 2011... 7925 |
Delta II | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Retired | |
| Delta IV-H | Delta IV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Delta IV-M+(4,2) | Delta IV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Delta IV-M+(5,4) | Delta IV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight | |
| Dnepr-1 | Dnepr | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Falcon 1 Falcon 1 The Falcon 1 is a partially reusable launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX, a space transportation company in Hawthorne, California. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket uses LOX/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine... |
Falcon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| H-IIA H-IIA H-IIA is an active expendable launch system operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency . The liquid-fueled H-IIA rockets have been used to launch satellites into geostationary orbit, to launch a lunar orbiting spacecraft, and to launch an interplanetary... 202 |
H-IIA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| H-IIB H-IIB H-IIB is an expendable launch system used to launch H-II Transfer Vehicles towards the International Space Station. H-IIB rockets are liquid-fuelled with solid-fuel strap-on boosters and are launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan... 304 |
H-IIB | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Maiden flight | |
| Kosmos-3M | Kosmos | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Long March 2C Long March 2C Long March 2C , or Chang Zheng 2C as in Chinese pinyin is a member of the Long March 2 rocket family, an expendable launch system operated by the People's Republic of China. This vehicle was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, and the first launch occurred on November 26,... |
Long March 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Long March 2D Long March 2D The Long March 2D , also known as the Chang Zheng 2D, CZ-2D and LM-2D, is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket. It is a 2-stage carrier rocket mainly used for launching LEO and SSO satellites. It is mainly launched from areas 2B and 2S at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center but can be launched from China's... |
Long March 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Long March 3B Long March 3B The Long March 3B , also known as the Chang Zheng 3B, CZ-3B and LM-3B, is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket. Introduced in 1996, it is launched from Launch Area 2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre... |
Long March 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Long March 3C Long March 3C The Long March 3C , also known as the Chang Zheng 3C, CZ-3C and LM-3C, is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket. It is launched from Launch Complex 2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. A 3-stage rocket with two strapon liquid rocket boosters, it is a member of the Long March 3 rocket family, and... |
Long March 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Long March 4C Long March 4C The Long March 4C, also known as the Chang Zheng 4C, CZ-4C and LM-4C, previously designated Long March 4B-II, is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket. It is launched from the Jiuquan and Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centres, and consists of 3 stages... |
Long March 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Minotaur I Minotaur I The Minotaur I, or just Minotaur is an American expendable launch system derived from the Minuteman II missile. It is used to launch small satellites for the US Government, and is a member of the Minotaur family of rockets produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation.Minotaur I rockets consist of the... |
Minotaur I | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Naro-1 | |
Naro | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Maiden flight |
| Proton-K Proton-K The Proton-K, also designated Proton 8K82K after its GRAU index, 8K82K, is a Russian, previously Soviet, carrier rocket derived from the earlier Proton. It was built by Khrunichev, and is launched from sites 81 and 200 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan... /DM-2 |
Proton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Proton-M Proton-M The Proton-M, GRAU index 8K82M or 8K82KM, is a Russian carrier rocket derived from the Soviet-developed Proton. It is built by Khrunichev, and launched from sites 81 and 200 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Commercial launches are marketed by International Launch Services , and generally... /DM-2 |
Proton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Proton-M Proton-M The Proton-M, GRAU index 8K82M or 8K82KM, is a Russian carrier rocket derived from the Soviet-developed Proton. It is built by Khrunichev, and launched from sites 81 and 200 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Commercial launches are marketed by International Launch Services , and generally... /Briz-M Briz-M The Briz-M , is a Russian orbit insertion upper stage manufactured by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and used on the Proton-M rocket.- Characteristics :... |
Proton | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | ||
| PSLV-CA Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle , commonly known by its abbreviation PSLV, is an expendable launch system developed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation . It was developed to allow India to launch its Indian Remote Sensing satellites into sun synchronous orbits, a service that... |
PSLV | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Rokot/Briz-KM | UR-100 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Safir | Safir | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat Fregat Fregat is a type of rocket stage developed by NPO Lavochkin in the 1990s. Its main engine is a liquid propellant rocket that uses UDMH and N2O4 as propellants.- Specifications :... |
Soyuz | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat Fregat Fregat is a type of rocket stage developed by NPO Lavochkin in the 1990s. Its main engine is a liquid propellant rocket that uses UDMH and N2O4 as propellants.- Specifications :... |
Soyuz | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Soyuz-FG Soyuz-FG The Soyuz-FG launch vehicle is an improved version of the Soyuz-U, from the R-7 family of rockets, designed and constructed by TsSKB-Progress in Samara... |
Soyuz | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Soyuz-U Soyuz-U The Soyuz-U launch vehicle is an improved version of the original Soyuz LV. Soyuz-U is part of the R-7 family of rockets based on the R-7 Semyorka missile. Members of this rocket family were designed by the TsSKB design bureau and constructed at the Progress Factory in Samara, Russia.... |
Soyuz | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Space Shuttle Space Shuttle The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons... |
Space Shuttle | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Taurus-XL 3110 | Taurus | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Tsyklon-3 Tsyklon-3 The Tsyklon-3, also known as Tsiklon-3, GRAU index 11K68, was a Soviet, and subsequently Ukrainian orbital carrier rocket. A derivative of the R-36 ICBM, and a member of the Tsyklon family, it made its maiden flight on 24 June 1977, and was retired on 30 January 2009... |
Tsyklon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Retired | |
| Unha Unha The Unha or Eunha is a North Korean expendable carrier rocket, which experts say utilises the same delivery system as the Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile... |
Unha | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Zenit-3SL Zenit-3SL The Zenit-3SL is an expendable carrier rocket operated by Sea Launch. First flown in 1999, it has been launched 30 times, with two failures and one partial failure. It is a member of the Zenit family of rockets, and is built by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau. RKK Energia produces the Block DM-SL upper... |
Zenit | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Zenit-3SLB Zenit-3SLB The Zenit-3SLB or Zenit-3M is a Ukrainian expendable carrier rocket derived from the Zenit-2SLB. It is a member of the Zenit family of rockets, which were designed by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau... |
Zenit | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
By launch site
| Site | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baikonur Baikonur Cosmodrome The Baikonur Cosmodrome , also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan, about east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level... |
24 | 24 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Cape Canaveral Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is an installation of the United States Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing, headquartered at nearby Patrick Air Force Base. Located on Cape Canaveral in the state of Florida, CCAFS is the primary launch head of America's Eastern Range with four launch pads... |
11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Jiuquan Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center is a People's Republic of China space vehicle launch facility .The facility is part of Dongfeng Aerospace City , and is located in the Gobi desert, Ejin Banner , Alxa League , Inner Mongolia, situated about 1,600 km from Beijing.- History :It was founded in 1958,... |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Kennedy Kennedy Space Center The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program... |
5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Kwajalein Atoll | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Kourou | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MARS Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport is a commercial space launch facility located at the southern tip of NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on the Delmarva Peninsula south of Chincoteague, Virginia.-Background:... |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Ocean Odyssey Ocean Odyssey |-External links:*... |
International |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Naro | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | First launch | |
| Plesetsk Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Satish Dhawan Satish Dhawan Space Centre The Satish Dhawan Space Centre is the launch centre for the Indian Space Research Organisation . It is located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India, north of Chennai in South India. It was originally called Sriharikota High Altitude Range , and was sometime known as Sriharikota Launching Range... |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Semnan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Taiyuan Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center also known as Base 25 , is a People's Republic of China space and defence launch facility . It is situated in Kelan County, Xinzhou Prefecture, Shanxi Province and is the second of three launch sites having been founded in March 1966 and coming into full... |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Tanegashima Tanegashima Space Center The is one of Japan's space development facilities. It is located on Tanegashima, an island located 115 km south of Kyūshū. It was established in 1969 when the National Space Development Agency of Japan was formed... |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Tonghae | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Vandenberg Vandenberg Air Force Base Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command .... |
6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Xichang Xichang Satellite Launch Center The Xichang Satellite Launch Center also known as Base 27 , is a People’s Republic of China space vehicle launch facility approximately 64 km northwest of Xichang City, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province.... |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
By orbit
| Orbital regime | Launches | Achieved | Not Achieved | Accidentallyachieved | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed to orbit Sub-orbital spaceflight A sub-orbital space flight is a spaceflight in which the spacecraft reaches space, but its trajectory intersects the atmosphere or surface of the gravitating body from which it was launched, so that it does not complete one orbital revolution.... |
N/A | N/A | N/A | 3 | |
| Low Earth Low Earth orbit A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km... |
43 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 14 to ISS, 1 to HST, Includes disputed North Korean launch failure |
| Medium Earth Medium Earth Orbit Medium Earth orbit , sometimes called intermediate circular orbit , is the region of space around the Earth above low Earth orbit and below geostationary orbit .... |
3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | |
| Geosynchronous Geosynchronous orbit A geosynchronous orbit is an orbit around the Earth with an orbital period that matches the Earth's sidereal rotation period... /transfer |
24 | 23 | 1 | 0 | |
| High Earth High Earth orbit A High Earth Orbit is a geocentric orbit whose apogee lies above that of a geosynchronous orbit .Highly Elliptical Orbits are a subset of High Earth Orbits.-Examples of satellites in High Earth Orbit:... |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Including highly elliptical Highly Elliptical Orbit A highly elliptical orbit is an elliptic orbit with a low-altitude perigee and a high-altitude apogee. It is a type of high Earth orbit.... and Molniya Molniya orbit Molniya orbit is a type of highly elliptical orbit with an inclination of 63.4 degrees, an argument of perigee of -90 degree and an orbital period of one half of a sidereal day... orbits and trans-lunar Trans Lunar Injection A Trans Lunar Injection is a propulsive maneuver used to set a spacecraft on a trajectory which will arrive at the Moon.Typical lunar transfer trajectories approximate Hohmann transfers, although low energy transfers have also been used in some cases, as with the Hiten probe... trajectories. |
| Heliocentric Heliocentric orbit A heliocentric orbit is an orbit around the Sun. All planets, comets, and asteroids in our Solar System are in such orbits, as are many artificial probes and pieces of debris. The moons of planets in the Solar System, by contrast, are not in heliocentric orbits as they orbit their respective planet... |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
See also
- List of human spaceflights, 2000-present
- Suborbital spaceflight in 2009Suborbital spaceflight in 2009A number of Suborbital spaceflights were conducted during 2009, consisting of sounding rocket missions and missile tests. Between the start of the year and 1 March, at least nine publicly announced suborbital spaceflights were conducted, the first of which occurred on 26 January.-Delta-2:Delta-2...
- Timeline of spaceflight