2011 in spaceflight

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Use British English Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Infobox Year in spaceflight Template:Infobox spaceflight

Script error: No such module "Navbox".

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

<templatestyles src="Template:TOC limit/styles.css" />

Overview of orbital spaceflight

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

Crewed launches

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

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

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

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

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

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

Robotic exploration

Numerous scientific exploration missions were begun in 2011. In March 2011, the MESSENGER probe became the first artificial satellite of the planet Mercury. In July, the Dawn spacecraft became the first artificial satellite of the asteroid 4 Vesta. The Mars Science Laboratory – at the time, the largest Mars rover ever constructed – was launched in November, conducting a successful landing on Mars in August 2012.[2]

Launch failures

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

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

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

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

In November 2011, Russia's Fobos-Grunt Martian sample return probe launched successfully, but experienced a malfunction post-launch and became stranded in orbit. The spacecraft, which was Russia's first attempt at an interplanetary mission since the 1996 Mars 96 mission, disintegrated over the Pacific Ocean on 15 January 2012.[3][4] China's first Mars probe, Yinghuo-1, which was being carried by the same rocket as Fobos-Grunt, was also lost in the incident.

Orbital launches

Template:Flatlist
Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat) 		Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks

January

20 January
12:29:01 		Template:Flagicon Zenit-3F Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 45/1 Template:Flagicon Roscosmos
Template:Flagicon Elektro-L No.1 Roscosmos Geostationary Meteorology In orbit Operational[5]
Maiden flight of Zenit-3F.
20 January
21:10[7] 		Template:Flagicon Delta IV-H Template:Flagicon Vandenberg SLC-6 Template:Flagicon United Launch Alliance
Template:Flagicon USA-224 (KH-11) NRO Low Earth Earth observation In orbit Operational
NRO Launch 49, first Delta IV Heavy launch from Vandenberg.[6]
22 January
05:37:57[8] 		Template:Flagicon H-IIB Template:Flagicon Tanegashima LA-Y2 Template:Flagicon JAXA[9]
Template:Flagicon Kounotori 2 (HTV-2) JAXA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 30 March Successful
28 January
01:31:41 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-U Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 1/5 Template:Flagicon Roscosmos
Template:Flagicon Progress M-09M / 41P Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 26 April
13:22:53		 Successful
Template:Flagicon Kedr RKK Energia Low Earth Amateur radio 4 January 2012[10] Successful
Template:Flatlist

February

1 February
14:00 		Template:Flagicon Rokot / Briz-KM Template:Flagicon Plesetsk Site 133/3 Template:Flagicon VKS
Template:Flagicon Kosmos 2470 (Geo-IK-2 No.11) VKS Low Earth Geodesy 15 July 2013[12] Launch failure
Upper stage malfunctioned due to problems with the flight software,[11] reached lower orbit than planned.
6 February
12:26 		Template:Flagicon Minotaur I Template:Flagicon Vandenberg SLC-8 Template:Flagicon Orbital Sciences
Template:Flagicon USA-225 (RPP) NRO Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational[13]
NRO Launch 66
16 February
21:50[14] 		Template:Flagicon Ariane 5 ES Template:Flagicon Kourou ELA-3 Template:Flagicon Arianespace
File:European Space Agency logo.svg Johannes Kepler ATV ESA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 21 June Successful
24 February
21:53:24 		Template:Flagicon Space ShuttleTemplate:SpDiscovery Template:Flagicon Kennedy LC-39A Template:Flagicon United Space Alliance
Template:Flagicon STS-133 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 9 March
16:57:17		 Successful
Template:Flagicon Leonardo (PMM)[15] ASI / NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS assembly In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon ExPRESS-4 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics In orbit Operational
Crewed flight, final flight of Discovery.
26 February
03:07 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Template:Flagicon Plesetsk Site 43/4 Template:Flagicon RVSN RF
Template:Flagicon Kosmos 2471 (Glonass-K 701) VKS Medium Earth Navigation 12 November 2021 Successful[16]
Template:Flatlist

March

4 March
10:09:43 		Template:Flagicon Taurus-XL 3110 Template:Flagicon Vandenberg LC-576E Template:Flagicon Orbital Sciences
Template:Flagicon Glory NASA Intended: Low Earth (SSO) Climatology 4 March Launch failure
⚀ Template:Flagicon KySat-1 Kentucky Space Intended: Low Earth Technology demonstration
⚀ Template:Flagicon Hermes Colorado Intended: Low Earth Technology demonstration
⚀ Template:Flagicon Explorer-1 [PRIME] Montana State Intended: Low Earth Radiation
All payloads CubeSats except Glory, which would have been part of the A-train constellation. Fairing failed to separate.
5 March
22:46 		Template:Flagicon Atlas V 501 Template:Flagicon Cape Canaveral SLC-41 Template:Flagicon United Launch Alliance
Template:Flagicon USA-226 (X-37B FLT-2) U.S. Air Force Low Earth Technology demonstration 16 June 2012
12:48[17][18]		 Successful
11 March
23:38 		Template:Flagicon Delta IV-M+ (4,2) Template:Flagicon Cape Canaveral SLC-37B Template:Flagicon United Launch Alliance
Template:Flagicon USA-227 (SDS-3) NRO Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
NRO Launch 27
Template:Flatlist

April

4 April
22:18:20[19][20] 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-FG Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 1/5 Template:Flagicon Roscosmos
Template:Flagicon Soyuz TMA-21 Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 27/28 16 September
03:59:39		 Successful
9 April
20:47:04 		Template:Flagicon Long March 3A Template:Flagicon Xichang LC-3 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Compass-IGSO3 CNSA IGSO Navigation In orbit Operational
14 April
04:24 		Template:Flagicon Atlas V 411[21] Template:Flagicon Vandenberg SLC-3E Template:Flagicon United Launch Alliance
Template:Flagicon USA-229 (NOSS) NRO Low Earth ELINT In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon USA-229 (NOSS) NRO Low Earth ELINT In orbit Operational
NRO Launch 34
20 April
04:42[22][23][24] 		Template:Flagicon PSLV Template:Flagicon Satish Dhawan FLP Template:Flagicon ISRO
Template:Flagicon Resourcesat-2 ISRO Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon YouthSat ISRO / MGU Low Earth (SSO) Education In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon X-Sat CREST Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
22 April
21:37[25][26][27] 		Template:Flagicon Ariane 5 ECA[28] Template:Flagicon Kourou ELA-3 Template:Flagicon Arianespace
Template:Flagicon Yahsat 1A Yahsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon New Dawn[29] Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Partial spacecraft failure
New Dawn's C-Band antenna failed to deploy.
27 April
13:05:21 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-U Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 1/5 Template:Flagicon Roscosmos
Template:Flagicon Progress M-10M / 42P Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 29 October
13:00:31		 Successful
Template:Flatlist

May

4 May
17:41:33[30] 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat Template:Flagicon Plesetsk Site 43/4 Template:Flagicon RVSN RF
Template:Flagicon Meridian 4 VKS Medium Earth Communications In orbit Operational
7 May
18:10 		Template:Flagicon Atlas V 401 Template:Flagicon Cape Canaveral SLC-41 Template:Flagicon United Launch Alliance
Template:Flagicon USA-230 (SBIRS-GEO 1) U.S. Air Force Geosynchronous Missile defense In orbit Operational
16 May
12:56 		Template:Flagicon Space ShuttleTemplate:SpEndeavour Template:Flagicon Kennedy LC-39A Template:Flagicon United Space Alliance
Template:Flagicon STS-134 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 1 June
06:35		 Successful
Template:Flagicon AMS-02[15] NASA Low Earth (ISS) Cosmic-ray observatory In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon ExPRESS-3 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics In orbit Operational
Crewed flight, final flight of Endeavour.
20 May
19:15[32] 		Template:Flagicon Proton-M/Briz-M Enhanced Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 200/39 Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon International Launch Services
Template:Flagicon Telstar 14R Telesat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Partial spacecraft failure
Second solar panel failed to deploy due to tangled cable[31]
20 May
20:38[33] 		Template:Flagicon Ariane 5 ECA Template:Flagicon Kourou ELA-3 Template:Flagicon Arianespace
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon ST-2 SingTel / Chunghwa Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon INSAT-4G/GSAT-8[34] ISRO Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flatlist

June

7 June
20:12:45 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-FG Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 1/5 Template:Flagicon Roscosmos
Template:Flagicon Soyuz TMA-02M Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 28/29 22 November
02:26		 Successful
10 June
14:20 		Template:Flagicon Delta II 7320 Template:Flagicon Vandenberg SLC-2W Template:Flagicon United Launch Alliance
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon SAC-D CONAE / NASA Low Earth (SSO) Oceanography In orbit Operational
Final scheduled flight of Delta II 7300 series; spacecraft carrying NASA's Aquarius instrument.
15 June
09:14Script error: No such module "Unsubst". 		Template:Flagicon Safir-1A UIS.0001 Template:Flagicon Semnan LP-1 Template:Flagicon ISA
Template:Flagicon Rasad 1 ISA Low Earth Earth observation 6 July 2011 Successful
20 June
16:13[35] 		Template:Flagicon Long March 3B Template:Flagicon Xichang LC-2 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon ChinaSat 10 China Satellite Communications Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
21 June
14:38 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-U Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 1/5 Template:Flagicon Roscosmos
Template:Flagicon Progress M-11M / 43P Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 1 September
10:21:41		 Successful
27 June
16:00[36] 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-U Template:Flagicon Plesetsk Site 16/2 Template:Flagicon VKS
Template:Flagicon Kosmos 2472 (Kobalt-M No.7) VKS Low Earth Reconnaissance 24 October Successful
30 June
03:09 		Template:Flagicon Minotaur I Template:Flagicon MARS LP-0B Template:Flagicon Orbital Sciences
Template:Flagicon USA-231 (ORS-1) ORSO Low Earth Reconnaissance 12 March 2018[37] Successful
Template:Flatlist

July

6 July
04:28[38] 		Template:Flagicon Long March 2C Template:Flagicon Jiuquan SLS-2 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Shijian 11-03 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
8 July
15:29 		Template:Flagicon Space ShuttleTemplate:SpAtlantis Template:Flagicon Kennedy LC-39A Template:Flagicon United Space Alliance
Template:Flagicon STS-135 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 21 July 2011
09:57		 Successful
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Raffaelo MPLM NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics Successful
Template:Flagicon PSSC-2 U.S. Air Force Low Earth Technology demonstration 8 December Successful
Crewed flight, final flight of Atlantis and of Space Shuttle programme.
11 July
15:41[39][40] 		Template:Flagicon Long March 3C Template:Flagicon Xichang LC-2 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Tianlian I-02 (1B) CNSA Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
13 July
02:27[41][42] 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 31/6 Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Starsem
Template:Flagicon Globalstar M081 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon Globalstar M083 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon Globalstar M085 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon Globalstar M088 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon Globalstar M089 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon Globalstar M091 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
15 July
11:18 		Template:Flagicon PSLV-XL Template:Flagicon Satish Dhawan FLP Template:Flagicon ISRO
Template:Flagicon GSAT-12 ISRO Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
15 July
23:16 		Template:Flagicon Proton-M / Briz-M Enhanced Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 200/39 Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon International Launch Services
Template:Flagicon SES-3 SES World Skies (July–September)
SES S.A. (September—) 		Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon KazSat-2 JSC KazSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
16 July
06:41 		Template:Flagicon Delta IV-M+ (4,2) Template:Flagicon Cape Canaveral SLC-37B Template:Flagicon United Launch Alliance
Template:Flagicon USA-232 (GPS-IIF-2) U.S. Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
Named after Star Sirius.
18 July
02:31[43] 		Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Zenit-3F Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 45/1 Template:Flagicon Roscosmos
Template:Flagicon Spektr-R (RadioAstron) Roscosmos High Earth Radio astronomy 30 May 2019 Successful
Russian scientific satellite with a Script error: No such module "convert". radio telescope on board. Together with some of the largest ground-based radio telescopes, the Spektr-R formed interferometric baselines extending up to Script error: No such module "convert"..
26 July
21:44[44] 		Template:Flagicon Long March 3A Template:Flagicon Xichang LC-3 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Compass-IGSO4 CNSA IGSO Navigation In orbit Operational
29 July
07:42[45] 		Template:Flagicon Long March 2C Template:Flagicon Jiuquan SLS-2 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Shijian 11-02 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Template:Flatlist

August

5 August
16:25[46] 		Template:Flagicon Atlas V 551 Template:Flagicon Cape Canaveral SLC-41 Template:Flagicon United Launch Alliance
Template:Flagicon Juno NASA Jovicentric Jupiter orbiter In orbit Operational
6 August
22:52[47] 		Template:Flagicon Ariane 5 ECA Template:Flagicon Kourou ELA-3 Template:Flagicon Arianespace
Template:Flagicon Astra 1N SES Astra (August–September)
SES S.A. (September—) 		Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon BSAT-3c / JCSAT-110R BSAT / JSAT Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
11 August
16:15[48] 		Template:Flagicon Long March 3B/E Template:Flagicon Xichang LC-2 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Paksat-1R SUPARCO Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
15 August
22:57[49] 		Template:Flagicon Long March 4B Template:Flagicon Taiyuan LC-2 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Hai Yang 2A CAST Low Earth (SSO) Oceanography In orbit Operational
17 August
07:12[50] 		Template:Flagicon Dnepr Template:Flagicon Dombarovsky Site 13 Template:Flagicon ISC Kosmotras
Template:Flagicon Sich-2 NKAU Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon NigeriaSat-2 NASRDA Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon NigeriaSat-X NASRDA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon RASAT TÜBİTAK Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Successful
Template:Flagicon EduSAT GAUSS Srl Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon AprizeSat-5 exactEarth Low Earth (SSO) Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon AprizeSat-6 exactEarth Low Earth (SSO) Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon BPA-2 Hartron-Arkos Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Successful
17 August
21:25[52] 		Template:Flagicon Proton-M / Briz-M Enhanced Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 200/39 Template:Flagicon Khrunichev
Template:Flagicon Ekspress AM-4 RSCC Intended: Geosynchronous
Achieved: GTO 		Communications 25 March 2012 Launch failure
Briz-M upper stage failed before the planned fourth burn. An insufficient time slot was allocated for re-setting the gyroscopes of the upper stage control system before launch, which led to loss of adequate attitude control in flight.[51]
18 August
09:28[54] 		Template:Flagicon Long March 2C Template:Flagicon Jiuquan SLS-2 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Shijian 11-04 CNSA Intended: Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration 18 August Launch failure
Failed to reach orbit. Second stage's vernier engine support structure failed in flight, led to loss of attitude control.[53]
24 August
13:00[56] 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-U Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 1/5 Template:Flagicon Roscosmos
Template:Flagicon Progress M-12M / 44P Roscosmos Intended: Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 24 August Launch failure
Third stage engine failure 325 seconds after launch due to the gas generator fuel supply pipeline being blocked by contaminants.[55]
Template:Flatlist

September

10 September
13:08:52[57] 		Template:Flagicon Delta II 7920H Template:Flagicon Cape Canaveral SLC-17B Template:Flagicon United Launch Alliance
Template:Flagicon GRAIL-A (Ebb) NASA Selenocentric Lunar orbiter 17 December 2012
22:28:51[58]		 Successful
Template:Flagicon GRAIL-B (Flow) NASA Selenocentric Lunar orbiter 17 December 2012
22:29:21[58]		 Successful
Final launch of Delta II Heavy, final Delta II launch from Cape Canaveral, and last launch from SLC-17.
18 September
16:33[59] 		Template:Flagicon Long March 3B/E Template:Flagicon Xichang LC-2 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Chinasat-1A China Satcom Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
20 September
22:47 		Template:Flagicon Proton-M / Briz-M Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 81/24 Template:Flagicon Khrunichev
Template:Flagicon Kosmos 2473 (Garpun #1) VKS Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
21 September
21:38 		Template:Flagicon Ariane 5 ECA Template:Flagicon Kourou ELA-3 Template:Flagicon Arianespace
Template:Flagicon Arabsat 5C Arabsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon SES-2 SES S.A. Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
23 September
04:36:50 		Template:Flagicon H-IIA Template:Flagicon Tanegashima LA-Y1 Template:Flagicon MHI
Template:Flagicon IGS Optical 4 CSICE Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbit Successful[60]
24 September
20:18 		Template:Flagicon Zenit-3SL Template:Flagicon Ocean Odyssey Template:Flagicon Sea Launch
Template:Flagicon Atlantic Bird 7 Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
27 September
15:49 		Template:Flagicon Minotaur IV+ Template:Flagicon Kodiak LP-1 Template:Flagicon Orbital Sciences
Template:Flagicon TacSat-4 U.S. Air Force Highly elliptical Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
29 September
13:16:03[61] 		Template:Flagicon Long March 2F/G T1 Template:Flagicon Jiuquan SLS-1 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Tiangong-1 CMSA Low Earth Space station 2 April 2018
00:16[62]		 Successful
Maiden flight of Long March 2F/G, first Chinese space station prototype.
29 September
18:32[63] 		Template:Flagicon Proton-M / Briz-M Enhanced Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 200/39 Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon International Launch Services
Template:Flagicon QuetzSat 1 SES Satellite Leasing Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Intended for lease to QuetzSat.
Template:Flatlist

October

2 October
20:15 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Template:Flagicon Plesetsk Site 43/4 Template:Flagicon RVSN RF
Template:Flagicon Kosmos 2474 (Glonass-M 742) VKS Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
5 October
21:00 		Template:Flagicon Zenit-3SLB Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 45/1 Template:Flagicon Land Launch
Template:Flagicon Intelsat 18 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
7 October
08:21 		Template:Flagicon Long March 3B/E Template:Flagicon Xichang LC-2 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Eutelsat W3C Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
12 October
05:31 		Template:Flagicon PSLV-CA Template:Flagicon Satish Dhawan FLP Template:Flagicon ISRO
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Megha-Tropiques[64] ISRO / CNES Low Earth Climatology 7 March 2023[65] Successful
Template:Flagicon SRMSAT SRM Low Earth Climatology In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon VesselSat-1 Luxspace Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
⚀ Template:Flagicon Jugnu IITK Low Earth Earth observation In orbit Operational
19 October
18:48 		Template:Flagicon Proton-M / Briz-M Enhanced Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 200/39 Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon International Launch Services
Template:Flagicon ViaSat-1 ViaSat-IOM / ManSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
21 October[66][67]
10:30 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz ST-B / Fregat-MT Template:Flagicon Kourou ELS Template:Flagicon Arianespace
File:European Space Agency logo.svg Galileo IOV 1 ESA Medium Earth Navigation / Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
File:European Space Agency logo.svg Galileo IOV 2 ESA Medium Earth Navigation / Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
First Soyuz launch from Kourou.
28 October
09:48:01 		Template:Flagicon Delta II 7920-10 Template:Flagicon Vandenberg SLC-2W Template:Flagicon United Launch Alliance
Template:Flagicon NPP NASA / NOAA Low Earth Meteorology In orbit Operational
⚀ Template:Flagicon AubieSat 1 Auburn University Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
⚀ Template:Flagicon DICE-1 Space Dynamics Laboratory Low Earth Magnetospheric research In orbit Operational
⚀ Template:Flagicon DICE-2 Space Dynamics Laboratory Low Earth Magnetospheric research In orbit Operational
⚀ Template:Flagicon E1P-U2 Montana State Low Earth Radiation In orbit Operational
⚀ Template:Flagicon M-Cubed University of Michigan Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
⚀ Template:Flagicon RAX-2 University of Michigan Low Earth Auroral In orbit Operational
30 October
10:11 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-U Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 1/5 Template:Flagicon Roscosmos
Template:Flagicon Progress M-13M / 45P Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 25 January 2012 Successful
Template:Flagicon Chibis-M (RS-39) IKI Low Earth Ionospheric research 15 October 2014 Successful
31 October
21:58:10 		Template:Flagicon Long March 2F Y8 Template:Flagicon Jiuquan SLS-1 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Shenzhou 8 CMSA Low Earth (Tiangong-1) Technology demonstration 17 November
11:36		 Successful
Template:Flagicon Shenzhou-8-GC CMSA Low Earth (Tiangong-1) Technology demonstration 2 April 2012 Successful
Uncrewed flight, first Chinese orbital docking.
Template:Flatlist

November

4 November
12:51:41[68] 		Template:Flagicon Proton-M / Briz-M Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 81/24 Template:Flagicon Khrunichev
Template:Flagicon Kosmos 2475 (Glonass-M 743) VKS Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon Kosmos 2476 (Glonass-M 744) VKS Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon Kosmos 2477 (Glonass-M 745) VKS Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
8 November
20:16 		Template:Flagicon Zenit-2M Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 45/1 Template:Flagicon Roscosmos
Template:Flagicon Fobos-Grunt Roscosmos Intended: Areocentric
Achieved: Low Earth 		Phobos sample return 15 January 2012 Spacecraft failure
Template:Flagicon Yinghuo-1 CNSA Intended: Areocentric
Achieved: Low Earth 		Mars orbiter
First Russian attempt at an interplanetary mission since 1996.[69]
First Chinese Mars probe
Spacecraft stranded in low Earth orbit, as telemetry was lost soon after launch and the two trans-Martian injection burns by the payload did not take place[70]
9 November
03:21[71] 		Template:Flagicon Long March 4B Template:Flagicon Taiyuan LC-2 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Yaogan 12 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon Tian Xun 1 Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration 7 February 2016[72] Successful
14 November
04:14[73] 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-FG Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 1/5 Template:Flagicon Roscosmos
Template:Flagicon Soyuz TMA-22 Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 29/30 27 April 2012 Successful
20 November
00:15[74] 		Template:Flagicon Long March 2D Template:Flagicon Jiuquan SLS-2 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Shiyan 4 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon Chuang Xin 1C CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
25 November
19:10:34 		Template:Flagicon Proton-M / Briz-M Enhanced Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 200/39 Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon International Launch Services
Template:Flagicon AsiaSat 7 AsiaSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
26 November
15:02 		Template:Flagicon Atlas V 541 Template:Flagicon Cape Canaveral SLC-41 Template:Flagicon United Launch Alliance
Template:Flagicon Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) NASA TMI to Martian Surface Mars rover 6 August 2012
05:18		 Successful[2]
Maiden flight of Atlas V 541, largest Mars rover yet launched.
28 November
08:25:57 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Template:Flagicon Plesetsk Site 43/4 Template:Flagicon RVSN RF
Template:Flagicon Kosmos 2478 (Glonass-M 746) VKS Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
29 November
18:50[75] 		Template:Flagicon Long March 2C Template:Flagicon Taiyuan LC-2 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Yaogan 13 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbit Operational
Template:Flatlist

December

1 December
21:07[76] 		Template:Flagicon Long March 3A Template:Flagicon Xichang LC-3 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Compass-IGSO5 CNSA IGSO Navigation In orbit Operational
11 December
11:17 		Template:Flagicon Proton-M / Briz-M Enhanced Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 81/24 Template:Flagicon Roscosmos
Template:Flagicon Luch 5A Gonets Satellite System Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon Amos-5 SCL Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
12 December
01:21 		Template:Flagicon H-IIA Template:Flagicon Tanegashima LA-Y1 Template:Flagicon MHI
Template:Flagicon IGS Radar 3 CSICE Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance (radar) In orbit Operational
17 December
02:03:08 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz ST-A / Fregat Template:Flagicon Kourou ELS Template:Flagicon Arianespace
Template:Flagicon Pléiades-HR 1A CNES Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation/Reconnaissance In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon FASat-Charlie (SSOT) MDN Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation/Reconnaisance In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon ELISA 1 CNES / DGA Low Earth (SSO) ELINT In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon ELISA 2 CNES / DGA Low Earth (SSO) ELINT In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon ELISA 3 CNES / DGA Low Earth (SSO) ELINT In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon ELISA 4 CNES / DGA Low Earth (SSO) ELINT In orbit Operational
19 December
16:41[77] 		Template:Flagicon Long March 3B/E Template:Flagicon Xichang LC-2 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon NigComSat-1R NIGCOMSAT / NASRDA Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
21 December
13:16 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-FG Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 1/5 Template:Flagicon Roscosmos
Template:Flagicon Soyuz TMA-03M Roscosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 30/31 1 July 2012
08:14[78]		 Successful
22 December
03:26 		Template:Flagicon Long March 4B Template:Flagicon Taiyuan LC-2 Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Ziyuan 1-02C CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
23 December
12:08 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Template:Flagicon Plesetsk Site 43/4 Template:Flagicon VKO
Template:Flagicon Meridian 5 VKO Intended: Molniya Communications 23 December Launch failure
Third stage engine malfunctioned 421 seconds after launch, failed to reach orbit; first launch conducted by the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces
28 December
17:09 		Template:Flagicon Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat Template:Flagicon Baikonur Site 31/6 Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Starsem
Template:Flagicon Globalstar M080 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon Globalstar M082 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon Globalstar M084 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon Globalstar M086 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon Globalstar M090 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flagicon Globalstar M092 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Template:Flatlist

Suborbital flights

Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat) 		Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
22 January
06:10[79] 		Template:Flagicon Terrier-Oriole Template:Flagicon Wallops Island Template:Flagicon MDA
Template:FlagiconAegis Radar Test MDA Suborbital Radar target 22 January Successful
Aegis Radar target, not intercepted, Apogee: Script error: No such module "convert".
28 January
10:46:00[80] 		Template:FlagiconBlack Brant IX Template:Flagicon Poker Flat Template:Flagicon NASA
Template:FlagiconFIRE Colorado Suborbital Astronomy 28 January Spacecraft failure[80]
5 February
08:11:11[80] 		Template:FlagiconBlack Brant IX Template:FlagiconPoker Flat Template:FlagiconNASA
Template:Flagicon Polar NOx VPI Suborbital Geospace 5 February Spacecraft failure[80]
February[79] Template:Flagicon Shahab-3 Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon IRGC
IGRC Suborbital Missile test February Successful
Two missiles with a range of 1,900 kilometres were fired into the Indian Ocean prior to 19 FebruaryScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
February[79] Template:Flagicon Sejjil-2 Template:Flagicon Template:FlagiconIRGC
IGRC Suborbital Missile test February Successful
Two missiles with a range of 1,900 kilometres were fired into the Indian Ocean prior to 19 FebruaryScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
1 March
21:00[79] 		Template:Flagicon UGM-133 Trident II D5 Template:Flagicon Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities"., Pacific Ocean Template:FlagiconUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 1 March Successful
Demonstration and Shakedown Operation 22 (DASO-22)
2 March
13:40[79] 		Template:Flagicon Juno Template:Flagicon Fort Wingate LC-96 Template:Flagicon U.S. Army
U.S. Army Suborbital Target 2 March Successful
Target for MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3 MSE test, successfully intercepted
9 March[79] Template:FlagiconTerrier-Oriole Template:FlagiconKauai Template:Flagicon MDA
Template:Flagicon ARAV-B MDA Suborbital Radar target 9 March Successful
Tracked by STSS satellites
11 March Template:Flagicon Dhanush Template:FlagiconSea launch from Indian Ocean Template:Flagicon DRDO
DRDO Suborbital Target 11 March Successful
Apogee: Script error: No such module "convert".
11 March Template:Flagicon Prithvi II Template:Flagicon Integrated Test Range IC-3 Template:Flagicon DRDO
DRDO Suborbital Missile test 11 March Successful
Apogee: Script error: No such module "convert".
15 March[79] Template:Flagicon Kavoshgar (Zelzal-based) Template:Flagicon Semnan Space Center Template:Flagicon ISA
Template:Flagicon Kavoshgar-4 ISA Suborbital Test flight 15 March Successful
Test of biological capsule. Apogee: Script error: No such module "convert".
16 March[79] Template:FlagiconTerrier-Oriole Template:FlagiconKauai Template:Flagicon MDA
Template:Flagicon ARAV-B MDA Suborbital Radar target 16 March Successful
Tracked by both STSS Demo satellites
23 March
18:50:00[80] 		Template:FlagiconBlack Brant IX Template:FlagiconWhite Sands Template:FlagiconNASA
Template:Flagicon EVE CU Boulder Suborbital SDO calibration[81] 23 March Successful[80]
29 March
04:01[82] 		Template:Flagicon VSB-30 Template:Flagicon Esrange EuroLaunch
Template:Flagicon File:European Space Agency logo.svg TEXUS-49 DLR/ESA Suborbital Microgravity 29 March Successful
Apogee: Script error: No such module "convert".
15 April
06:52[79] 		Template:Flagicon UGM-96 Trident I C4 (LV-2)[83] FTM-15 Template:Flagicon Meck Template:Flagicon MDA
MDA Suborbital ABM target 15 April Successful
15 April
07:03[79] 		Template:Flagicon RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 FTM-15 Template:Flagicon Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities"., Pacific Ocean Template:Flagicon US Navy
Template:Flagicon FTM-15 US Navy Suborbital ABM test 15 April Successful
First intercept of an IRBM by an SM-3 (FTM-15 Stellar Charon)
26 April[79] Template:FlagiconR-29RMU Sineva Template:FlagiconK-84 Ekaterinburg, Barents Sea Template:FlagiconVMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 26 April Successful
27 April
08:00:00[80] 		Template:FlagiconBlack Brant IX Template:Flagicon Poker Flat Template:Flagicon NASA
Template:Flagicon WFF Suborbital Test flight 27 April Successful[80]
6 May[84]
23:02[85] 		Template:Flagicon Tianying 3C Template:Flagicon Hainan Template:Flagicon CNSA
Template:Flagicon Kunpeng-1 CSSAR Suborbital Environment monitoring 23:09 Successful
Apogee: Script error: No such module "convert"..
11 May
18:00[79] 		Template:Flagicon Improved Orion Template:Flagicon Barreira do Inferno Template:Flagicon AEB
INPE Suborbital Microgravity 11 May Successful
20 May
13:21Script error: No such module "Unsubst". 		Template:Flagicon SpaceLoft XL Template:Flagicon Spaceport America Template:Flagicon UP Aerospace
Suborbital Technology demonstration 20 May Successful
Template:Flagicon Goddard Celestis Suborbital Space burial Successful
Apogee: Script error: No such module "convert"., successfully recovered.
20 May
14:50[79] 		Template:Flagicon R-29RMU2.1 Layner Template:Flagicon K-84 Ekaterinburg, Barents Sea Template:Flagicon VMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 20 May Successful
Maiden flight of Layner missile
10 June
11:11:16[80] 		Template:Flagicon Terrier-Orion Template:Flagicon Wallops Island Template:Flagicon NASA
Template:Flagicon SubTec IV[79] GSFC Suborbital Technology demonstration 10 June Successful[80]
22 June
13:35 		Template:Flagicon LGM-30G Minuteman III Template:Flagicon Vandenberg LF-10 Template:Flagicon U.S. Air Force
U.S. Air Force Suborbital Test flight 22 June Successful
23 June
10:18:00[80] 		Template:FlagiconTerrier-Orion Template:FlagiconWallops Island Template:FlagiconNASA
Template:Flagicon RockOn Colorado Suborbital Student experiments 23 June Successful[80]
28 June
11:55[79] 		Template:Flagicon RSM-56 Bulava Template:FlagiconK-535 Yuri Dolgorukiy, White Sea Template:FlagiconVMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 28 June Successful
28 June[79] Template:Flagicon Shahab-1 Template:FlagiconIran Template:FlagiconIRGC
IGRC Suborbital Missile test 28 June Successful
Part of an exercise with 14 missile launches, apogee: Script error: No such module "convert".
28 June[79] Template:FlagiconShahab-1 Template:FlagiconIran Template:FlagiconIGRC
IRGC Suborbital Missile test 28 June Successful
Part of an exercise with 14 missile launches, apogee: Script error: No such module "convert".
28 June[79] Template:Flagicon Shahab-2 Template:FlagiconIran Template:FlagiconIRGC
IRGC Suborbital Missile test 28 June Successful
Part of an exercise with 14 missile launches, apogee: Script error: No such module "convert".
28 June[79] Template:FlagiconShahab-2 Template:FlagiconIran Template:FlagiconIRGC
IRGC Suborbital Missile test 28 June Successful
Part of an exercise with 14 missile launches, apogee: Script error: No such module "convert".
28 June[79] Template:Flagicon Ghadr-1[79] Template:FlagiconIran Template:FlagiconIRGC
IRGC Suborbital Missile test 28 June Successful
Part of an exercise with 14 missile launches, apogee: Script error: No such module "convert".
9 July
02:04[79] 		Template:Flagicon SRALT Template:Flagicon C-17, Pacific Ocean Template:Flagicon MDA
Template:Flagicon FTX-17 MDA Suborbital Radar target 9 July Successful
Tracked by STSS Demo satellites
9 July
09:00:00[80] 		Template:FlagiconBlack Brant VB Template:FlagiconWallops LA-2[79] Template:FlagiconNASA
Template:FlagiconDaytime Dynamo NASA Suborbital Geospace 9 July Successful[80]
9 July
09:00:15[80] 		Template:FlagiconTerrier-Orion Template:FlagiconWallops LA-2[79] Template:FlagiconNASA
Template:FlagiconDaytime Dynamo NASA Suborbital Geospace 9 July Successful[80]
11 July
15:35[79] 		Template:FlagiconGradicom II Template:Flagicon Chamical Template:Flagicon CITEFA
CITEFA Suborbital Test flight 11 July Successful
Apogee: Script error: No such module "convert".
21 July
07:00[86] 		Template:Flagicon Nike-Improved Orion Template:FlagiconEsrange File:European Space Agency logo.svgEuroLaunch
Template:Flagicon PHOCUS Stockholm/SSC Suborbital Atmospheric 21 July Successful
21 July
11:58:00[80] 		Template:Flagicon Terrier-Orion Template:Flagicon Wallops Island Template:Flagicon NASA
Template:Flagicon RockSat-X Wallops Flight Facility Suborbital Student experiments 21 July Successful[80]
27 July
10:01[79] 		Template:Flagicon LGM-30G Minuteman III Template:Flagicon Vandenberg LF-04 Template:Flagicon U.S. Air Force
U.S. Air Force Suborbital Test flight 27 July Launch failure
An anomaly was detected five minutes after launch and the flight was terminated.
27 July[79] Template:FlagiconR-29RMU Sineva Template:FlagiconK-84 Ekaterinburg, Barents Sea Template:FlagiconVMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 27 July Successful
11 August
14:45[79] 		Template:Flagicon Minotaur IV Lite Template:Flagicon Vandenberg SLC-8 Template:FlagiconOrbital
Template:Flagicon HTV-2b U.S. Air Force Suborbital Technology demonstration 11 August Spacecraft failure
Second flight of the HTV-2, loss of contact approximately 20 minutes after launch at Mach 20.
27 August
03:20[79] 		Template:FlagiconRSM-56 Bulava Template:FlagiconK-535 Yuri Dolgorukiy, White Sea Template:FlagiconVMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 27 August Successful
1 September
13:53[79] 		Template:Flagicon Terrier-Oriole FTM-16 E2 Template:Flagicon Kauai Template:Flagicon MDA
MDA Suborbital ABM target 1 September Successful
SM-3 Block 1B target
1 September
13:54[79] 		Template:Flagicon RIM-161C SM-3 Block 1B FTM-16 E2 Template:Flagicon Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities"., Pacific Ocean Template:Flagicon US Navy
US Navy Suborbital ABM test 1 September Spacecraft failure
First launch of SM-3 Block 1B, intercept failed
3 September
09:46[79] 		Template:Flagicon RS-12M Topol Template:Flagicon Plesetsk Template:FlagiconRVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 3 September Successful
15 September[87] Template:Flagicon Kavoshgar (Zelzal-based) Template:Flagicon Semnan Template:Flagicon ISA
Template:Flagicon Kavoshgar-5 ISA Suborbital Biological 15 September Launch failure
First Iranian attempt to launch a monkey into space; failed, resulting in death of the monkey
26 September[88]
03:20[79] 		Template:Flagicon Prithvi II Template:Flagicon Integrated Test Range IC-3[79] Template:Flagicon DRDO
DRDO Suborbital Missile test 27 September Successful
27 September
07:08[87] 		Template:FlagiconRS-26 Rubezh Template:Flagicon Plesetsk Template:FlagiconRVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 27 September Launch failure
29 SeptemberScript error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Flagicon R-29RMU2.1 Layner Template:Flagicon K-114 Tula, Barents Sea Template:Flagicon VMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 30 September Successful
30 September
04:02[89] 		Template:Flagicon Agni-II Template:Flagicon ITR IC-4[79] Template:Flagicon Indian Army
Indian Army Suborbital Missile test 30 September Successful
Travelled Script error: No such module "convert". downrange
5 October
05:56[79] 		Template:Flagicon SRALT FTT-12 Template:Flagicon C-17, Pacific Ocean Template:Flagicon MDA
U.S. Army / MDA Suborbital ABM target 5 October Successful
Intercepted by THAAD missile
5 October
05:56[79] 		Template:Flagicon R-17 Elbrus FTT-12 Template:Flagicon MLP, Barking Sands Template:Flagicon U.S. Army
U.S. Army / MDA Suborbital ABM target 5 October Successful
Intercepted by THAAD missile
5 October
06:00[79] 		Template:Flagicon THAAD FTT-12 Template:Flagicon Barking Sands Template:Flagicon U.S. Army
U.S. Army / MDA Suborbital ABM test 5 October Successful
Intercepted target missile
5 October
06:00[79] 		Template:Flagicon THAAD FTT-12 Template:Flagicon Barking Sands Template:Flagicon U.S. Army
U.S. Army / MDA Suborbital ABM test 5 October Successful
Intercepted target missile
8 October
10:25:01[80] 		Template:FlagiconBlack Brant IX Template:FlagiconWhite Sands Template:FlagiconNASA
Template:Flagicon PICTURE Boston Suborbital Astronomy 8 October Spacecraft failure[80]
11 October
21:15:00[80] 		Template:FlagiconTerrier-Orion Template:FlagiconAndøya Template:FlagiconNASA
Template:FlagiconCHAMPS Colorado Suborbital Geospace 11 October Successful[80]
13 October
13:50:00[80] 		Template:FlagiconTerrier-Orion Template:Flagicon Andøya Template:FlagiconNASA
Template:FlagiconCHAMPS Colorado Suborbital Geospace 13 October[80] Successful
28 October
03:40[79] 		Template:FlagiconRSM-56 Bulava Template:FlagiconK-535 Yuri Dolgorukiy, White Sea Template:FlagiconVMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 28 October Successful
2 November
07:50[79] 		Template:Flagicon Jericho III Template:Flagicon Palmachim Template:Flagicon Israeli Air Force
Israeli Air Force Suborbital Missile test 2 November Successful
3 November
06:45[79] 		Template:Flagicon RS-12M Topol Template:Flagicon Plesetsk Template:Flagicon RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 3 November Successful
6 November
07:00[80] 		Template:Flagicon Black Brant IX Template:Flagicon White Sands Template:Flagicon NASA
XQC F5 Wisconsin Suborbital Astronomy 6 November Successful[80]
15 November
03:30[90] 		Template:Flagicon Agni IV Template:Flagicon Integrated Test Range IC-4 Template:Flagicon DRDO
Indian Army Suborbital Missile test 15 November Successful
17 November
11:30 		Template:Flagicon UGM-27 Polaris (STARS) Template:Flagicon Barking Sands LC-42 Template:Flagicon U.S. Air Force
Template:Flagicon AHW Flight 1A U.S. Army Suborbital Technology demonstration 17 November Successful
25 November
23:00[79] 		Template:Flagicon Improved Orion Template:Flagicon Barreira do Inferno Template:Flagicon AEB
INPE Suborbital Microgravity 25 November Successful
27 November
09:10[91] 		Template:Flagicon VSB-30 Template:Flagicon Esrange File:European Space Agency logo.svg EuroLaunch
Template:Flagicon/File:European Space Agency logo.svg TEXUS-48 DLR/ESA Suborbital Microgravity 27 November Successful
2 December
22:00[79] 		Template:Flagicon VS-30 Template:Flagicon Barreira do Inferno Template:Flagicon AEB
Template:Flagicon Brasil-Alemanha INPE Suborbital Microgravity 2 December Successful
3 December
07:21:31[79] 		Template:Flagicon VS-30/Improved Orion Template:Flagicon Ny-Ålesund Template:Flagicon Andøya
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon ICI-3 (CanoRock 4) Oslo/Andøya Suborbital Atmospheric 3 December Successful[92]
10 December
10:30:00[93] 		Template:FlagiconBlack Brant IX Template:FlagiconWhite Sands Template:FlagiconNASA
Colorado Suborbital Astronomy 10 December Successful
19 December
14:48[94] 		Template:Flagicon S-310 Template:Flagicon Uchinoura Template:Flagicon JAXA
JAXA/TPU/TU Suborbital Ionospheric 19 December Successful
19 December Template:Flagicon MN-300 Template:Flagicon Kapustin Yar Template:Flagicon Roshydromet
Template:Flagicon MR-30 Roshydromet Suborbital Meteorology
Test flight		 19 December Successful
Maiden flight of MN-300
23 December Template:FlagiconRSM-56 Bulava Template:FlagiconK-535 Yuri Dolgorukiy, White Sea Template:FlagiconVMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 23 December Successful
23 December Template:FlagiconRSM-56 Bulava Template:FlagiconK-535 Yuri Dolgorukiy, White Sea Template:FlagiconVMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test 23 December Successful
27 December
12:00 		Template:Flagicon RS-18 UR-100N Template:Flagicon Baikonur Template:FlagiconRVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 27 December Successful
? Template:Flagicon UGM-133 Trident II D5 Template:Flagicon Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities"., Pacific Ocean Template:FlagiconUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test ? Successful
Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test 44
? Template:Flagicon UGM-133 Trident II D5 Template:Flagicon Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities"., Pacific Ocean Template:FlagiconUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test ? Launch failure
Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test 44 ?

Deep space rendezvous

Date (UTC) Spacecraft Event Remarks
9 January Mars Express Flyby of Phobos Closest approach: Script error: No such module "convert".. Mars Express made a total of 8 flybys of Phobos at a distance of less than Script error: No such module "convert". between 20 December and 16 January.
9 January Artemis P1 Spacecraft left LL2 orbit and joined Artemis P2 in LL1 orbit
11 January Cassini 3rd flyby of Rhea Closest approach: Script error: No such module "convert".[95]
15 February Stardust (NExT) Flyby of Tempel 1 Closest approach: Script error: No such module "convert".. Observed changes since Deep Impact flyby and imaged crater created by Deep Impact impactor, as well as new terrain.
18 February Cassini 74th flyby of Titan Closest approach: Script error: No such module "convert".
18 March MESSENGER Hermocentric orbit injection First artificial satellite of Mercury; elliptical orbit with a periapsis of 200 kilometers (120 mi) and an apoapsis of 15,000 km (9,300 mi).[96]
19 April Cassini 75th flyby of Titan Closest approach: Script error: No such module "convert".
8 May Cassini 76th flyby of Titan Closest approach: Script error: No such module "convert".
8 June Chang'e 2 Departed lunar orbit Travelled to L2 Lagrangian point, which it reached in August 2011.[97]
20 June Cassini 77th flyby of Titan Closest approach: Script error: No such module "convert".
27 June Artemis P1 Lunar orbit insertion Initial orbital parameters were: apogee Script error: No such module "convert"., perigee Script error: No such module "convert".. Over the following three months, the orbit was lowered to an apogee of Script error: No such module "convert". and a perigee of Script error: No such module "convert"., with an inclination of 20 degrees; retrograde orbit.
16 July Dawn Vestiocentric orbit injection First artificial satellite of 4 Vesta.[98] Initial orbit was Script error: No such module "convert". high and was reduced to Script error: No such module "convert". until 11 August.
17 July Artemis P2 Lunar orbit insertion Initial orbital parameters were similar to Artemis P1. Over the following three months the orbit was lowered to an apogee of Script error: No such module "convert". and a perigee of Script error: No such module "convert"., with an inclination of 20 degrees; prograde orbit.
25 August Cassini Second-closest flyby of Hyperion[99] Closest approach: Script error: No such module "convert".
12 September Cassini 78th flyby of Titan Closest approach: Script error: No such module "convert".
16 September Cassini Flyby of Hyperion Closest approach: Script error: No such module "convert".
1 October Cassini 14th flyby of Enceladus Closest approach: Script error: No such module "convert".
19 October Cassini 15th flyby of Enceladus Closest approach: Script error: No such module "convert".
6 November Cassini 16th flyby of Enceladus Closest approach: Script error: No such module "convert".
12 December Cassini 3rd flyby of Dione Closest approach: Script error: No such module "convert".
13 December Cassini 79th flyby of Titan Closest approach: Script error: No such module "convert".
31 December GRAIL-A Lunar orbit insertion Twin satellite Grail-B's insertion occurred a day later, on 1 January 2012.

EVAs

Start Date/Time Duration End Time Spacecraft Crew Remarks
21 January
10:05 		5 hours
23 minutes 		15:49 Expedition 26
ISS Pirs 		Template:Flagicon Dmitri Kondratyev
Template:Flagicon Oleg Skripochka 		Prepared the ISS Poisk module for future dockings.[100]
16 February
13:15 		6 hours
23 minutes 		18:15 Expedition 26
ISS Pirs 		Template:Flagicon Dmitri Kondratyev
Template:Flagicon Oleg Skripochka 		Installed a radio antenna, deployed a nanosatellite, installed two experiments and retrieved two exposure panels on a third experiment.
28 February
15:46 		6 hours
34 minutes 		22:20 STS-133
ISS Quest 		Template:Flagicon Stephen Bowen
Template:Flagicon Alvin Drew 		Removed a failed coolant pump and routed a power extension cable.
2 March
15:41 		6 hours
14 minutes 		21:55 STS-133
ISS Quest 		Template:Flagicon Stephen Bowen
Template:Flagicon Alvin Drew 		Removed or repaired thermal insulation, swapped out an attachment bracket on the Columbus module, installed a camera assembly on Dextre and installed a light on a cargo cart.
20 May
07:10 		6 hours
19 minutes 		13:29 STS-134
ISS Quest 		Template:Flagicon Andrew Feustel
Template:Flagicon Gregory Chamitoff 		Completed installation of a new set of MISSE experiments, started installing a new wireless video system, installed an ammonia jumper, a new light on the CETA cart on the S3 truss segment, and a cover on the starboard SARJ.
22 May
06:05 		8 hours
07 minutes 		14:12 STS-134
ISS Quest 		Template:Flagicon Andrew Feustel
Template:Flagicon Michael Fincke 		Hooked up a jumper to transfer ammonia to the Port 6 PVTCS, lubricated the SARJ and one of the "hands" on Dextre, and installed a stowage beam on the S1 truss.
25 May
05:43 		6 hours
54 minutes 		12:37 STS-134
ISS Quest 		Template:Flagicon Andrew Feustel
Template:Flagicon Michael Fincke 		Installed PDGF (except for data cable), routed power cables from Unity to Zarya, finished installation of wireless video system, took pictures of Zarya's thrusters and captured infrared video of an experiment in ELC 3.
27 May
04:15 		7 hours
24 minutes 		11:39 STS-134
ISS Quest 		Template:Flagicon Gregory Chamitoff
Template:Flagicon Mike Fincke 		Installed OBSS on S1 truss, removed the EFGF and replaced it with a spare PDGF, and released some torque on the bolts that were holding the spare arm for Dextre down against ELC 3. Final shuttle spacewalk.[101]
12 July
13:22 		6 hours
31 minutes 		19:53 Expedition 28
ISS Quest 		Template:Flagicon Ronald Garan
Template:Flagicon Michael Fossum 		Moved a failed cooling pump from the station to the shuttle Atlantis, transferred a robotic refuelling apparatus from the shuttle to the ISS, installed a materials science experiment on the station's truss, serviced a robot arm attachment fitting, installed a thermal cover over the unused docking port PMA-3, and fixed a protruding wire on a grapple fixture on the Zarya module.
3 August
14:51 		6 hours
22 minutes 		21:22 Expedition 28
ISS Pirs 		Template:Flagicon Sergei Volkov
Template:Flagicon Aleksandr Samokutyayev 		Launched Kedr satellite, installed BIORISK experiment outside Pirs, and installed laser communication equipment to transmit scientific data from the Russian Orbital Segment.

Orbital launch statistics

By country

For the purposes of this section, the yearly tally of orbital launches by country assigns each flight to the country of origin of the rocket, not to the launch services provider or the spaceport. For example, Soyuz launches by Arianespace in Kourou are counted under Russia because Soyuz-2 is a Russian rocket.

Template:Pie chart

Country Launches Successes Failures Partial
failures
Script error: No such module "flag". 19 18 1 0
Script error: No such module "flag". 5 5 0 0
Script error: No such module "flag". 3 3 0 0
Script error: No such module "flag". 1 1 0 0
Script error: No such module "flag". 3 3 0 0
Script error: No such module "flag". 29Template:Efn 25 4 0
Script error: No such module "flag". 6Template:Efn 6 0 0
Script error: No such module "flag". 18 17 1 0
World Script error: No such module "math". Script error: No such module "math". Script error: No such module "math". Script error: No such module "math".

By rocket

Script error: No such module "Chart".

By family

By type

By configuration

By spaceport

Script error: No such module "Chart".

Site Country Launches Successes Failures Partial failures Remarks
Baikonur Script error: No such module "flag". 25 23 2 0
Cape Canaveral Script error: No such module "flag". 7 7 0 0
Dombarovsky Script error: No such module "flag". 1 1 0 0
Kourou Script error: No such module "flag". 7 7 0 0
Jiuquan Script error: No such module "flag". 6 5 1 0
Kennedy Space Center Script error: No such module "flag". 3 3 0 0
Kodiak Script error: No such module "flag". 1 1 0 0
MARS Script error: No such module "flag". 1 1 0 0
Ocean Odyssey Template:Flagicon International waters 1 1 0 0
Plesetsk Script error: No such module "flag". 6 4 2 0
Satish Dhawan Script error: No such module "flag". 3 3 0 0
Semnan Script error: No such module "flag". 1 1 0 0
Tanegashima Script error: No such module "flag". 3 3 0 0
Taiyuan Script error: No such module "flag". 4 4 0 0
Vandenberg Script error: No such module "flag". 6 5 1 0
Xichang Script error: No such module "flag". 9 9 0 0
Total 84 78 6 0

By orbit

Script error: No such module "Chart".

Orbital regime Launches <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />SuccessesScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Failures Accidentally
achieved 		Remarks
Transatmospheric 0 0 0 0
Low Earth 44 40 4 0 14 to ISS, 1 to Tiangong-1
Medium Earth / Molniya 8 7 1 0
Geosynchronous / GTO 27 26 1 1
High Earth / Lunar transfer 3 3 0 0
Heliocentric / Planetary transfer 2 2 0 0
Total 84 78 6 1

Notes

Template:Notelist

See also

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ "Phobos-Grunt: Failed probe likely to return late Sunday". BBC. 15 January 2012.
  4. ↑ "Phobos-Grunt: Failed Russian Mars Probe Falls to Earth". ABC News. 15 January 2012.
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ "Preparations underway for X-37B landing" . Vandenberg.af.mil, 30 May 2012. Retrieved: 1 June 2012.
  18. ↑ "X-37B lands this morning at Vandenberg AFB". Santa Maria Times. 16 June 2012.
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  62. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  63. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  64. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  65. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  66. ↑ "Europe launches two Galileo satellites". Bloomberg. 21 October 2011.
  67. ↑ "Europe's first Galileo satellites lift off". BBC. 21 October 2011.
  68. ↑ "Russian Proton-M launches three Glonass-M GPS satellites". NASASpaceFlight.com. 4 November 2011.
  69. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  70. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  71. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  72. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  73. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  74. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  75. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  76. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  77. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  78. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  79. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  80. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  81. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  82. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  83. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  84. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  85. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  86. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  87. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  88. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  89. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  90. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  91. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  92. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  93. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  94. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  95. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  96. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  97. ↑ "Chang'e 2 reaches liberation point 2". Xinhua. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  98. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  99. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  100. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  101. ↑ "Astronauts complete final shuttle space-walk at ISS". BBC News. 28 May 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2012.

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

<templatestyles src="Refbegin/styles.css" />

  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Generic references: Script error: No such module "navbar".
Script error: No such module "portal-inline".

Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:2011 in space Template:Orbital launches in 2011

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=2011_in_spaceflight&oldid=8000069"