2006 in spaceflight

This article outlines notable events occurring in 2006 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs. 2006 saw Brazil, Iran, and Sweden all get a national into space for the first time.

2006 in spaceflight
Launch of New Horizons, the first probe to Pluto, on the first Atlas V 551
Orbital launches
First19 January
Last27 December
Total67
Successes62
Failures5
Partial failures0
Catalogued63[lower-alpha 1]
National firsts
Satellite Kazakhstan
Space traveller Brazil
 Iran
 Sweden
Rockets
Maiden flightsAtlas V 411
Atlas V 551
Long March 4B-II (4C)
Falcon 1
H-IIA 204
Soyuz-2.1b
RetirementsTsyklon-2
M-V
Crewed flights
Orbital5
Total travellers26

Launches

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

January

18 January
11:48[1]
Sounding Rocket V Jiu Peng Air Base NSPO
NSPO/NCU Suborbital Ionospheric research11:57Successful
Apogee: 282 kilometres (175 mi)
19 January
19:00:00
Atlas V 551 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 International Launch Services
New Horizons NASA Galactocentric Pluto flybyIn orbitOperational
Maiden flight of Atlas V 551, first spacecraft to visit Pluto and explored the Kuiper belt. First spacecraft launched directly to sun-escape velocity
22 January
04:00
S-310 Uchinoura JAXA
Furoshiki JAXA Suborbital Technology22 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
24 January
01:33
H-IIA 2022 Tanegashima LA-Y1 JAXA[2]
Daichi (ALOS) JAXA Sun-synchronous Remote SensingIn orbitPartial spacecraft failure
Operational
Poor quality images returned due to attitude control and noise problems[3] was resolved by software adjustment.[4]

February

6 February Dong Feng 21 Xichang PLA
PLA Suborbital ASAT6 FebruarySpacecraft failure
Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), missed satellite
8 February
18:47
Black Brant IX White Sands LC-36 NASA
MOSES Suborbital Solar8 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 282 kilometres (175 mi)
15 February
23:34:55
Zenit-3SL Ocean Odyssey Sea Launch
EchoStar X EchoStar Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
16 February
08:01
LGM-30G Minuteman III Vandenberg LF-10 US Air Force
SERV-3 US Air Force Suborbital Missile test16 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
18 February
06:27
H-IIA 2024 Tanegashima LA-Y1 RSC[5][6]
MTSAT-2 MILT/JMA Geosynchronous ATC/WeatherIn orbitOperational
Last launch conducted by RSC
21 February
21:28:00
M-V Uchinoura JAXA
Akari (ASTRO-F) JAXA Sun-synchronous IR astronomyIn orbitOperational
Cute-1.7+APD TiTech Low Earth Amateur radioIn orbitOperational
Cute-1.7+APD is a 2U CubeSat
23 February
16:09
UGM-27 Polaris (STARS) Kodiak Sandia
FT-03-1 Suborbital Target23 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
28 February
20:10:00
Proton-M/Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
Arabsat 4A Arabsat Intended: Geosynchronous
Achieved: Medium Earth
Communications24 March[8]Launch failure
Upper stage malfunction left payload in useless orbit, deorbited after attempts to raise orbit failed

March

8 March
08:45
RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 USS Lake Erie, PMRF US Navy
JCTV-1 US Navy/MDA/JMSDF Suborbital Missile test8 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
11 March
22:33
Ariane 5ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
Spainsat Hisdesat Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Hot Bird 7A Eutelsat Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
22 March
14:03
Pegasus-XL Stargazer, Vandenberg Orbital Sciences
ST-5A NASA Low Earth TechnologyIn orbitSuccessful
ST-5B NASA Low Earth TechnologyIn orbitSuccessful
ST-5C NASA Low Earth TechnologyIn orbitSuccessful
All three satellites deactivated on 30 June
24 March
22:30
Falcon 1 Omelek SpaceX
FalconSat 2 USAF Academy Intended: Low Earth Plasma researchT+60 secondsLaunch failure
Maiden flight of Falcon 1, rocket lost power shortly after launch due to engine fire caused by corrosion of a nut on a fuel line.
25 March
03:15
Terrier-Orion Woomera LA-2 Queensland
Hyshot-3 Queensland Suborbital Hypersonic research03:25Successful
Apogee: 325 kilometres (202 mi)
30 March
02:30:20
Soyuz-FG Baikonur Site 1/5 Roskosmos
Soyuz TMA-8 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS Expedition 1329 September
01:13
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with 3 cosmonauts, first Brazilian in space
30 March
02:40
Terrier-Orion Woomera LA-2 Queensland
Hyshot-4 Queensland/JAXA Suborbital Hypersonic research30 MarchLaunch failure
Apogee: 290 kilometres (180 mi), nosecone failed to separate

April

7 April
13:00
LGM-30G Minuteman III Vandenberg LF-26 US Air Force
GT-190GM US Air Force Suborbital Missile test7 AprilSuccessful
Long-range test, aimed at Guam, apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
12 April
18:10
Black Brant IX White Sands LC-36 NASA
EUNIS NASA Suborbital Solar12 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 318 kilometres (198 mi)
12 April
23:29:59
Zenit-3SL Ocean Odyssey Sea Launch
JCSAT-5A (JCSAT-9, N-STAR d) JCSAT Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
13 April SR19-SR19 PMRF Sandia
FTC-02B MDA Suborbital Target13 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
15 April
01:40:00
Minotaur I Vandenberg SLC-8 Orbital Sciences
COSMIC-FM1 (FORMOSAT-3A) NASA/NSPO Low Earth AtmosphericIn orbitOperational
COSMIC-FM2 (FORMOSAT-3B) NASA/NSPO Low Earth AtmosphericIn orbitPartial spacecraft failure
Operational
COSMIC-FM3 (FORMOSAT-3C) NASA/NSPO Low Earth AtmosphericIn orbitPartial spacecraft failure
Operational
COSMIC-FM4 (FORMOSAT-3D) NASA/NSPO Low Earth AtmosphericIn orbitOperational
COSMIC-FM5 (FORMOSAT-3E) NASA/NSPO Low Earth AtmosphericIn orbitOperational
COSMIC-FM6 (FORMOSAT-3F) NASA/NSPO Low Earth AtmosphericIn orbitOperational
Power system and solar panel malfunctions on FM2 and FM3, control issues with FM6 during 2007
20 April
20:27:00
Atlas V 411 Cape Canaveral SLC-41 International Launch Services
Astra 1KR SES Astra Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Maiden flight of Atlas V 411, final ILS Atlas launch
22 April
16:40
Kosmos-3MR Kapustin Yar Site 107/1 RVSN
PBS-2 RVSN Suborbital REV test22 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
24 April
16:03:25
Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 1/5 Roskosmos
Progress M-56 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) Logistics18 SeptemberSuccessful
ISS flight 21P
25 April
16:47:16
Start-1 Svobodny Site 5 United Start
EROS B ImageSat Low Earth (polar) ImagingIn orbitOperational
Final launch from Svobodny Cosmodrome
26 April
22:48
Long March 4B-II (4C) Taiyuan LC-1 CNSA
Yaogan 1 CAST Low Earth ImagingIn orbitOperational
Maiden flight of Long March 4B-II, redesignated Long March 4C by November 2007
28 April
10:02:16
Delta II 7420-10C Vandenberg SLC-2W Boeing IDS
CALIPSO NASA/CNES Sun-synchronous ClimatologyIn orbitOperational
CloudSat NASA Sun-synchronous ClimatologyIn orbitOperational
Both satellites part of the A-train constellation, spacecraft study aerosols and clouds respectively
28 April SR19-SR19 PMRF Sandia
FTC-02 MDA Suborbital Target28 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
29 April Shaheen-II Sonmiani Army of Pakistan
Army of Pakistan Suborbital Target29 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)

May

2 May
06:16
Maxus (Castor 4B) Esrange EuroLaunch
MAXUS 9 ESA/SSC Suborbital Microgravity2 MaySuccessful
Apogee: 702 kilometres (436 mi)
3 May
17:38
Soyuz-U Plesetsk Site 16/2 RVSN
Kosmos 2420 (Kobal't-M) VKS Low Earth Optical imagingIn orbitOperational
10 May
08:12
VSB-30 Esrange EuroLaunch
TEXUS-43 DLR/SSC Suborbital Microgravity10 MaySuccessful
Apogee: 237 kilometres (147 mi)
11 May THAAD White Sands US Army
FTT-02 MDA Suborbital ABM test11 MaySuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), simulated intercept
22 May
09:30
Terrier-Orion White Sands NASA
ACS NASA Suborbital Test22 MaySuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
22 May Shahab-3 Shahrood IRG
IRG Suborbital Missile test22 MaySuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
24 May
22:11:00
Delta IV-M+ (4,2) Cape Canaveral SLC-37B Boeing IDS
GOES 13 (GOES-N) NASA/NOAA Geostationary WeatherIn orbitOperational
26 May
18:50
Shtil' K-84 Ekaterinburg, Barents Sea VMF
Kompass 2 Roskosmos Low Earth Earthquake detection28 December 2011Partial spacecraft failure
Control and power problems made satellite unusable. Written off on 29 May 2006. Problems cleared by November, and satellite re-activated.[9]
27 May
21:09
Ariane 5ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
Satmex 6 SatMex Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Thaicom 5 Shin Satellite Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Record for heaviest dual-payload to geosynchronous transfer orbit, stood until May 2007

June

5 June
16:05
Terrier-Orion White Sands NASA
NAWC Suborbital Target5 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
7 June
22:00
Terrier-Orion PMRF NASA
NAWC Suborbital Target7 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
8 June
16:00
Terrier-Orion White Sands NASA
DUNDEE NAWC Suborbital Target8 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
14 June
08:22
LGM-30G Minuteman III Vandenberg LF-04 US Air Force
GT-191GM US Air Force Suborbital Missile test14 JuneSuccessful
Carried three Mk. 21 re-entry vehicles, Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
15 June
08:00:00
Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 1/5 Roskosmos
Resurs-DK-1 Roskosmos Low Earth Remote sensingIn orbitOperational
17 June
22:44:05
Proton-K/DM-3 Baikonur Site 200/39 Khrunichev
KazSat-1 JSC KazSat Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitSpacecraft failure
First Kazakh satellite, satellite suffered control problems and was unusable by October 2008
18 June
07:50
Zenit-3SL Ocean Odyssey Sea Launch
Galaxy 16 Intelsat Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Launched for PanAmSat, transferred to Intelsat before entry into service due to merger
21 June
22:15
Delta II 7925 Cape Canaveral SLC-17A Boeing IDS
USA-187 (MiTEx-A) US Air Force/DARPA Geostationary TechnologyIn orbitOperational
USA-188 (MiTEx-B) US Air Force/DARPA Geostationary TechnologyIn orbitOperational
USA-189 (MiTEx Carrier) NRL/DARPA Geostationary TechnologyIn orbitOperational
22 June
22:00
MRT (Castor 4B) PMRT US Navy
FTM-10 Target US Navy/MDA Suborbital Target22 JuneSuccessful
Intercepted by SM-3, apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
22 June
22:04
RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 USS Shiloh, PMRF US Navy
FTM-10 US Navy/MDA Suborbital ABM test22 JuneSuccessful
Intercepted MRT, apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
23 June
23:02
Terrier-Orion PMRF NASA
TRACKEX NAWC/MDA Suborbital Target23 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
24 June
15:08:18
Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 1/5 Roskosmos
Progress M-57 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) Logistics17 January 2007Successful
ISS flight 22P
25 June
04:00
Tsyklon-2 Baikonur Site 90/20 VKS
Kosmos 2421 (US-PU) VMF Low Earth ELINT20 March 2008Partial spacecraft failure
Final flight of Tsyklon-2 rocket. One of satellite's solar panels failed to deploy,[10] ceased operations in February or March 2008 and destroyed in orbit on 20 March. Spacecraft carried KONUS-A gamma-ray astronomy experiment for Roskosmos
28 June
03:30:00
Delta IV-M+ (4,2) Vandenberg SLC-6 Boeing IDS
USA-184 (Improved Trumpet) NRO Molniya ELINTIn orbitOperational
First EELV launch from Vandenberg, carried SBIRS-HEO-1 and TWINS-A instruments for the US Air Force and NASA respectively, NRO Launch 22
30 June
06:25
R-29RMU Sineva K-84 Ekaterinburg, Barents Sea VMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test30 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)

July

1 July
06:39
Terrier-Orion Andøya Andøya/NASA
/SPIRIT-III ESPRIT Suborbital Ionospheric
Plasma research
1 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
1 July
06:39
Terrier-Orion Andøya Andøya
HotPay-1 Andøya Suborbital Aeronomy1 JulyLaunch failure
Apogee: 40 kilometres (25 mi)
4 July
18:32
Hwasong-6 Kittaeryong KPA
KPA Suborbital Missile test4 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), first of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
4 July
18:37:55
Space Shuttle Discovery Kennedy LC-39B United Space Alliance
STS-121 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS assembly17 July
13:14
Successful
Leonardo MPLM ASI/NASA Low Earth (ISS) LogisticsSuccessful
Crewed flight with 7 astronauts, second Return to Flight mission after Columbia accident
4 July
19:04
Rodong-1 Kittaeryong KPA
KPA Suborbital Missile test4 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), second of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
4 July
20:01
Taepodong-2 Musudan-ri KPA
Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 KPA Intended: Low Earth
(unconfirmed)
Weather/Communication+42 secondsLaunch failure
Maiden flight of Taepodong-2, rocket failed shortly after launch, reaching an apogee of 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), intended as an orbital launch attempt,[11] but later North Korea claimed for a suborbital missile self-destruct test and destruction success (not launch failure),[12] third of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
4 July
22:31
Rodong-1 Kittaeryong KPA
KPA Suborbital Missile test4 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), fourth of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
4 July
22:12
Hwasong-6 Kittaeryong KPA
KPA Suborbital Missile test4 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), fifth of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
4 July
23:20
Rodong-1 Kittaeryong KPA
KPA Suborbital Missile test4 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), sixth of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
5 July
08:20
Rodong-1 Kittaeryong KPA
KPA Suborbital Missile test5 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), last of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
9 July
05:33
Agni III Integrated Test Range LC-4 DRDO
DRDO Suborbital Missile test9 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
10 July
12:08
GSLV Satish Dhawan ISRO
INSAT 4C ISRO Intended: Geostationary CommunicationsT+60 secondsLaunch failure
Loss of control due to LRB engine failure, self-destructed 60 seconds into flight
12 July
11:17
Hera White Sands US Army
FFT-4 Target US Army/MDA Suborbital Target12 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), Intercepted after reentry by endoatmospheric THAAD launched at 11:20
12 July
14:53:36
Dnepr Dombarovskiy ISC Kosmotras
Genesis I Bigelow Low Earth TechnologyIn orbitOperational
First uncrewed prototype of a commercial space station module
21 July
10:14
LGM-30G Minuteman III Vandenberg LF-09 US Air Force
GT-192GM US Air Force Suborbital Missile test21 JulySuccessful
Carried three Mk.21 reentry vehicles, apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
21 July
04:20:03
Molniya-M Plesetsk Site 16/2 VKS
Kosmos 2422 (Oko) VKS Molniya Missile defense22 November 2019
22:15[13]
Successful
26 July
19:43:05
Dnepr Baikonur Site 109/95 ISC Kosmotras
BelKA NAS Intended: Low Earth ObservationT+74 secondsLaunch failure
Unisat-4 Sapienza Intended: Low Earth Technology
Baumanets Roskosmos Intended: Low Earth Technology
PicPot PoliTo Intended: Low Earth Technology
SACRED Arizona
Montpelier
Alcatel
Intended: Low Earth Radiation
ION Illinois Intended: Low Earth Technology
Ionospheric
Rincon 1 Arizona Intended: Low Earth Technology
ICECube-1 Cornell Intended: Low Earth Technology
KUTESat Pathfinder Kansas Intended: Low Earth Technology
SEEDS Nichidai Intended: Low Earth Amateur radio
nCube-1 NSSP Intended: Low Earth Technology
HAUSAT-1 HAU Intended: Low Earth Technology
MEROPE Montana Intended: Low Earth Technology
CP2 CalPoly Intended: Low Earth Technology
AeroCube-1 Aerospace Intended: Low Earth Technology
CP1 CalPoly Intended: Low Earth Technology
Mea Huaka'i (Voyager) Hawaii Intended: Low Earth Technology
ICECube-2 Cornell Intended: Low Earth Technology
First-stage engine hydraulic pump failure, thrust termination system activated
28 July
07:05:43
Rokot/Briz-KM Plesetsk Site 133/3 Eurockot
Arirang-2 (KOMPSAT-2) KARI Low Earth Earth ObservationIn orbitOperational

August

3 August
10:38
RT-2PM Topol (RS-12M) Plesetsk RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test11:04Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), impacted Kura Test Range
4 August
21:48:00
Proton-M/Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
Hot Bird 8 Eutelsat Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
11 August
22:15
Ariane 5ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
JCSat 10 JSAT Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Syracuse 3B DGA Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
21 August
14:30
Black Brant IX White Sands LC-36 NASA
MDA Suborbital Target21 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: 380 kilometres (240 mi)
22 August
03:27:01
Zenit-3SL Ocean Odyssey Sea Launch
Koreasat 5 KT/ADD Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
25 August
14:30
Black Brant IX White Sands LC-36 NASA
MDA Suborbital Target21 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: 382 kilometres (237 mi), THAAD target

September

1 September
17:22
UGM-27 Polaris (STARS) Kodiak Sandia
GMD FTG-02 target MDA Suborbital Target1 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), intercepted by GBI
1 September
17:39
Orbital Boost Vehicle Vandenberg LF-23 Orbital Sciences/MDA
GMD FTG-02 MDA Suborbital ABM test1 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), intercepted STARS
4 September Dong Feng 31 Taiyuan PLA
PLA Suborbital Missile test4 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
7 September
15:50
RSM-56 Bulava (R-30) RFS Dmitriy Donskoy, White Sea VMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test7 SeptemberLaunch failure
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi), first stage malfunction
9 September
07:00
Long March 2C Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-2 CNSA
Shi Jian 8 CASC Low Earth Biological24 September
02:43
Successful
Investigated exposure of seeds to microgravity and radiation, spacecraft recovered after reentry
9 September
11:20
R-29RMU Sineva K-84 Ekaterinburg, North Pole VMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test9 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
9 September
15:14:55
Space Shuttle Atlantis Kennedy LC-39B United Space Alliance
STS-115 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS assembly21 September
10:21
Successful
ITS P3/4 Truss NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS componentIn orbitOperational
Crewed orbital flight with 6 astronauts, first ISS assembly mission since 2002
9 September
22:17:00
Nike-Orion Andøya Andøya
ECOMA-1 Andøya/DLR Suborbital Atmospheric9 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
10 September
14:50
R-29R Volna K-433 Svyaity Georgiy, Simushir VMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test10 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
11 September
04:35
H-IIA 202 Tanegashima LA-Y1 JAXA
IGS-3A CSICE Low Earth Optical imaging29 October 2016
12 September
16:02
Long March 3A Taiyuan LC-1 CNSC
ChinaSat 22A ChinaSat Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
13 September
10:30
Hera White Sands US Army
FFT-5 Target US Army/MDA Suborbital Target13 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), THAAD target
14 September
13:41:00
Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 31/6 VKS
Kosmos 2423 (Don) VKS Low Earth Optical imaging17 NovemberSuccessful
Ceased operations on 14 November, self-destructed 3 days later
17 September
21:06:46
Nike-Orion Andøya Andøya
ECOMA-2 Andøya/DLR Suborbital Atmospheric17 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
18 September
04:08:42
Soyuz-FG Baikonur Site 1/5 Roskosmos
Soyuz TMA-9 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS Expedition 1421 April 2007
12:31
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with 3 cosmonauts including the first female space tourist and Iranian-born space traveller
22 September
21:36:00
M-V Uchinoura JAXA
Hinode (SOLAR-B) JAXA Sun-synchronous SolarIn orbitOperational
HIT-SAT HIT Low Earth Technology18 June 2008
08:48
Successful
SSSAT JAXA Solar sail26 SeptemberSpacecraft failure
Final flight of M-V rocket and Mu family, SSSat failed to establish communications with ground[14]
23 September
15:17:54
Black Brant XI Wallops Island NASA
NASA Suborbital Test23 SeptemberSuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
25 September
18:50
Delta II 7925 Cape Canaveral SLC-17A Boeing IDS
USA-190 (GPS IIR-15/M2) US Air Force Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitOperational
25 September
20:14
SpaceLoft XL Spaceport America UP Aerospace
Various Suborbital VariousT+60 secondsLaunch failure
Maiden flight of SpaceLoft XL sounding rocket, first flight from Spaceport America, rocket went out of control and failed to reach space, apogee: 12 kilometres (7.5 mi)

October

13 October
20:56
Ariane 5ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
DirecTV-9S DirecTV Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
Optus D1 Optus Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
LDREX-2 JAXA Geosynchronous transfer Technology30 September 2010
02:23[15]
Successful
19 October
16:28:13
Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat Baikonur Site 31/6 Starsem
MetOp-A EUMETSAT Sun-synchronous WeatherIn orbitOperational
Maiden flight of Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat
23 October
13:40:36
Soyuz-U Baikonur Site 1/5 Roskosmos
Progress M-58 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) Logistics27 March 2007
22:44
Successful
ISS flight 23P, antenna stowage issues on 26 October initially prevented full mechanical docking, second attempt was successful.
23 October
23:34
Long March 4B Taiyuan LC-1 CNSA
Shi Jian 6-2A CASC Low Earth EnvironmentalIn orbitOperational
Shi Jian 6-2B CASC Low Earth EnvironmentalIn orbitOperational
25 October
13:05
RSM-56 Bulava (R-30) RFS Dmitriy Donskoy, Beloye More VMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test25 OctoberLaunch failure
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), first stage malfunction
26 October
00:52:00
Delta II 7925 Cape Canaveral SLC-17B Boeing IDS
STEREO-A NASA Heliocentric SolarIn orbitOperational
STEREO-B NASA Heliocentric SolarIn orbitOperational
28 October
16:20
Long March 3B Xichang LA-2 CASC
Sinosat-2 Sinosat Intended: Geosynchronous
Achieved: Subsynchronous
CommunicationsIn orbitSpacecraft failure
Solar panels and communications antenna failed to deploy
28 October
17:58:00
Black Brant IX White Sands LC-36 NASA
LASP Suborbital Solar28 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
30 October
23:48:59
Zenit-3SL Ocean Odyssey Sea Launch
XM-4 "Blues" XM Satellite Radio Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational

November

2 November Shahab-3 Shahrood IRG
IRG Suborbital Missile test2 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
4 November
13:53
Delta IV-M Vandenberg SLC-6 Boeing IDS
USA-191 (DMSP F17) US Air Force/NOAA Sun-synchronous WeatherIn orbitOperational
7 November
19:30
Black Brant IX White Sands LC-36 NASA
USC-7 Suborbital Solar7 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
8 November
20:01:00
Proton-M/Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
Badr-4 (ARABSAT 4B) ARABSAT Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
9 November
08:51
M51 Biscarosse French Navy
French Navy Suborbital Missile test9 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
9 November
11:35
UR-100NU Baikonur Site 175/2 RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test9 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
16 November Terrier-Orion PMRF US Navy
ARAV-B US Navy Suborbital Target16 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
16 November Ghauri Tilla Army of Pakistan
Haft-5 Army of Pakistan Suborbital Missile test16 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
17 November
19:12:00
Delta II 7925 Cape Canaveral SLC-17A Boeing IDS
USA-192 (GPS IIR-16/M3) US Air Force Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitOperational
21 November
02:00
Black Brant IX White Sands LC-36 NASA
CyXESS Suborbital XR Astronomy21 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
21 November UGM-133 Trident II (D5) USS Maryland, ETR US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test21 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
21 November UGM-133 Trident II (D5) USS Maryland, ETR US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test21 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
26 November Prithvi Integrated Test Range LC-3 DRDO
DRDO Suborbital Missile test26 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
27 November
04:45
Prithvi Integrated Test Range LC-3 DRDO
DRDO Suborbital Target27 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), intercepted by another Prithvi
27 November
04:46
Prithvi Integrated Test Range LC-4 DRDO
DRDO Suborbital ABM test27 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), intercepted another Prithvi
29 November Shaheen-I Sonmiani Army of Pakistan
Haft-4 Army of Pakistan Suborbital Target29 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)

December

7 December Aries PMRF US Navy
FTM-11 Target US Navy/MDA Suborbital Target7 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), AEGIS target
8 December
00:53
Long March 3A Xichang LA-2 CASC
Feng Yun 2D CMA Geosynchronous WeatherIn orbitOperational
8 December
22:08
Ariane 5ECA Kourou ELA-3 Arianespace
WildBlue 1 WildBlue Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
AMC-18 SES Americom Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
10 December
01:47:35
Space Shuttle Discovery Kennedy Space Center LC-39B United Space Alliance
STS-116 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS assembly22 December
22:32
Successful
Spacehab LSM NASA Low Earth (STS) LogisticsSuccessful
ITS P5 Truss NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS componentIn orbitOperational
ANDE-MAA US Naval Academy Low Earth Technology9 February 2007Partial spacecraft failure
ANDE-FACL US Naval Academy Low Earth Technology9 February 2007Successful
RAFT1 US Naval Academy Low Earth CalibrationIn orbitOperational
MARScom (NMARS) US Naval Academy Low Earth CalibrationIn orbitOperational
MEPSI-2 DARPA Low Earth Technology8 March 2007Successful
Crewed orbital flight with 7 astronauts, including the first Swedish space traveller; ISS crew exchange.
ANDE-MAA failed to deploy after becoming stuck in launch canister, but still transmitted data; RAFT1, MARScom, and MEPSI-2 were cubesats.
11 December
23:28:43
Proton-M/Briz-M Baikonur Site 200/39 International Launch Services
MEASAT-3 MEASAT Geosynchronous CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
14 December
21:00:00
Delta II 7920-10 Vandenberg SLC-2W United Launch Alliance
USA-193 NRO Low Earth Radar imaging
Technology
(unconfirmed)
21 February 2008
03:29
Spacecraft failure
NRO Launch 21, first launch to be conducted by United Launch Alliance. Satellite failed to contract ground, destroyed by SM-3 ASAT on 21 February 2008.
16 December
12:00:00
Minotaur I MARS LP-0B Orbital Sciences
TacSat 2 NRL Low Earth Optical imaging
Technology
5 February 2011Successful
GeneSat NASA Low Earth Biological4 August 2010
20:43[16]
Successful
First launch from Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. Little or no imagery returned by TacSat due to political dispute. TacSat lost contact with ground in January 2008.
18 December
06:32
H-IIA 204 Tanegashima LA-Y1 JAXA
Kiku-8 (ETS-VIII) JAXA Geosynchronous TechnologyIn orbitSuccessful
Maiden flight of H-IIA 204, full spacecraft antenna deployment one day late[17]
19 December
14:00:19
Kosmos-3M Plesetsk Site 132/1 COSMOS International
SAR-Lupe 1 Bundeswehr Low Earth Radar imagingIn orbitOperational
24 December
08:34:44
Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat Plesetsk Site 43/4 VKS
Meridian 1 (11L) VKS Molniya CommunicationsIn orbitOperational
24 December RSM-56 Bulava (R-30) RFS Dmitriy Donskoy, Beloye More VMF
VMF Suborbital Missile test24 DecemberLaunch failure
Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi), first stage malfunction
25 December
20:18:12
Proton-K/DM-2 Baikonur Site 81/24 VKS
Kosmos 2424 (GLONASS-M) KNITs Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitOperational
Kosmos 2425 (GLONASS-M) KNITs Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitOperational
Kosmos 2426 (GLONASS-M) KNITs Medium Earth NavigationIn orbitOperational
27 December
14:23:38
Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat Baikonur Site 31/6 Starsem
CoRoT CNES Low Earth AstronomyIn orbitOperational
Maiden flight of Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat
Unknown UGM-133 Trident II (D5) Submarine, WTR US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
Unknown UGM-133 Trident II (D5) Submarine, WTR US Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test Successful
Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)

Deep Space Rendezvous in 2006

Date (GMT) Spacecraft Event Remarks
15 JanuaryStardustFirst sample return mission from cometspace capsule landing on Earth with cometary samples
15 JanuaryCassini10th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 2,042 kilometres (1,269 mi)
27 FebruaryCassini11th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,812 kilometres (1,126 mi)
10 MarchMars Reconnaissance OrbiterAreocentric orbit injection
18 MarchCassini12th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,947 kilometres (1,210 mi)
11 AprilVenus ExpressCytherean orbit injection
30 AprilCassini13th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,853 kilometres (1,151 mi)
20 MayCassini14th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,879 kilometres (1,168 mi)
2 JulyCassini15th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,911 kilometres (1,187 mi)
22 JulyCassini16th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi)
4 SeptemberSMART-1Lunar impact
7 SeptemberCassini17th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi)
23 SeptemberCassini18th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi)
9 OctoberCassini19th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi)
23 OctoberMESSENGER1st flyby of VenusGravity assist
25 OctoberCassini20th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi)
12 DecemberCassini21st flyby of TitanClosest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi)
28 DecemberCassini22nd flyby of TitanClosest approach: 1,500 kilometres (930 mi)

EVAs

Start Date/Time Duration End Time Spacecraft Crew Function Remarks
3 February
09:55
5 hours
43 minutes
16:27 Expedition 12
ISS Pirs
William S. McArthur
Valery Tokarev
Released SuitSat-1, retrieved the Biorisk experiment, photographed a sensor for a micrometeoroid experiment, and tied off the surviving umbilical of the Mobile Transporter.[18]
1 June
23:48
6 hours
31 minutes
2 June
06:19
Expedition 13
ISS Pirs
Pavel Vinogradov
Jeffrey Williams
Repaired a vent for the Elektron unit, retrieved a Biorisk experiment, retrieved a contamination-monitoring device from Zvezda, and replaced a malfunctioning camera on the Mobile Base System.[19]
8 July
13:17
7 hours
31 minutes
20:48 STS-121
ISS Quest
/Piers Sellers
Michael E. Fossum
Installed a blade blocker in the zenith Interface Umbilical Assembly (IUA) to protect the undamaged power, data and video cable, rerouted the cable to prepare for the second EVA. Tested the combination of the Shuttle's Canadarm(SRMS) and the Orbiter Boom Sensor System as a platform for astronauts to make repairs to a damaged orbiter.[20]
10 July
12:14
6 hours
47 minutes
19:01 STS-121
ISS Quest
/Piers Sellers
Michael E. Fossum
Restored the Mobile Transporter to full operation, and delivered a spare pump module for the station's cooling system.[21]
12 July
07:11
6 hours
20 minutes
13:31 STS-121
ISS Quest
/Piers Sellers
Michael E. Fossum
Used an infrared camera to shoot 20 seconds of video of selected reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) panels on the shuttle wing's leading edge, and then moved to the payload bay to test a shuttle tile repair material known as NOAX on pre-damaged shuttle tiles that were flown in a test container.[22]
3 August
14:04
5 hours
54 minutes
19:58 Expedition 13
ISS Quest
Jeffrey Williams
Thomas Reiter
Installed the Floating Potential Measurement Unit, two MISSE containers, a controller for a thermal radiator rotary joint on the S1 truss, a starboard jumper and spool positioning device on S1, a light on the truss railway handcart, and installed and replaced a malfunctioning GPS antenna. Tested an infrared camera designed to detect damage in a shuttle's thermal protection tiles. Inspection and photography of a scratch on the Quest airlock hatch.[23]
12 September
10:17
5 hours
26 minutes
15:43 STS-115
ISS Quest
Joseph R. Tanner
Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
Initial installation of the P3/P4 truss. Connected power cables on the truss, released the launch restraints on the solar array blanket box, the Beta Gimbal Assembly, and the solar array wings. Configured the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint, and removed two circuit interrupt devices to prepare for STS-116.[24] Piper became the 7th American and the 8th female spacewalker.
13 September
09:05
7 hours
11 minutes
16:16 STS-115
ISS Quest
Daniel C. Burbank
Steven MacLean
Continued installation of the P3/4 truss onto the station, and activated the SARJ.[25]
15 September
10:00
6 hours
42 minutes
16:42 STS-115
ISS Quest
Joseph R. Tanner
Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
Installed a radiator onto the P3/4 truss, powered up a cooling radiator for the new solar arrays, replaced an S-Band radio antenna, and installed insulation for another antenna. Tanner took photos of the shuttle's wings using an infrared camera.[26]
22 November
23:17
5 hours
38 minutes
23 November
04:55
Expedition 14
ISS Pirs
Mikhail Tyurin
Michael Lopez-Alegria
"Orbiting golf shot" event sponsored by a Canadian golf company. Lopez-Alegria put the tee on the ladder outside Pirs, while Tyurin set up a camera, and then performed the golf shot. Inspected and photographed a Kurs antenna, relocated an ATV WAL antenna, installed a BTN neutron experiment, and jettisoned two thermal covers from the BTN.[27]
12 December
20:31
6 hours
36 minutes
13 December
03:07
STS-116
ISS Quest
Robert Curbeam
Christer Fuglesang
Installed the P5 Truss, and replaced a video camera on the S1 truss.[28]
14 December
19:41
5 hours 15 December
00:41
STS-116
ISS Quest
Robert Curbeam
Christer Fuglesang
Reconfigured channels 2–3 on the P3/P4 truss to take advantage of the new solar arrays, relocated two handcarts that run along the station's main truss, put a thermal cover on the station's robotic arm, and installed bags of tools for future spacewalkers.[29]
16 December
19:25
7 hours
31 minutes
17 December
02:57
STS-116
ISS Quest
Robert Curbeam
Sunita Williams
Reconfigured channels 1 and 4 on the P3/P4 truss to take advantage of the new solar arrays, installed a robotic arm grapple fixture, and positioned three bundles ofdebris shield panels outside Zvezda. Additional time was spent trying to help retract the P6 solar array panel by shaking the panel's blanket box from its base.[30] Williams became the 8th American and the 9th female spacewalker.
18 December
19:00
6 hours
38 minutes
19 December
01:38
STS-116
ISS Quest
Robert Curbeam
Christer Fuglesang
Assisted ground controllers with retracting the P6 solar array panels.[31]

Orbital launch summary

By country

China: 6Europe: 5India: 1Japan: 6North Korea: 1Russia: 22Ukraine: 8USA: 18
Country Launches Successes Failures Partial
failures
Remarks
 China6600
 Europe5500
 India1010
 Japan6600
 North Korea1010Disputed
 Russia222110
 Ukraine8710
 United States181710
World676250

By rocket

By family

By type

By configuration

By launch site

5
10
15
20
China
France
India
International waters
Japan
Kazakhstan
Marshall Islands
North Korea
Russia
United States
Site Country Launches Successes Failures Partial failures Remarks
Baikonur Kazakhstan171520
Barents Russia1100Launched from Ekaterinburg submarine
Cape Canaveral United States7700
Dombarovsky Russia1100First launch
Jiuquan China1100
Kennedy United States3300
Kwajalein Marshall Islands1010
Kourou France5500
MARS United States1100First launch
Ocean Odyssey International5500
Plesetsk Russia5500
Satish Dhawan India1010
Svobodny Russia1100Final launch
Taiyuan China2200
Tanegashima Japan4400
Tonghae North Korea1010
Uchinoura Japan2200
Vandenberg United States6600One launch used Stargazer aircraft
Xichang China3300
Total676250

By orbit

10
20
30
40
  •   Transatmospheric
  •   Low Earth
  •   Low Earth (ISS)
  •   Low Earth (SSO)
  •   Low Earth (retrograde)
  •   Medium Earth
  •   Geosychronous
    (transfer)
  •   Inclined GSO
  •   High Earth
  •   Heliocentric
  •   Solar escape
Orbital regime Launches Successes Failures Accidentally
achieved
Remarks
Transatmospheric0000
Low Earth3532308 to ISS
Medium Earth / Molniya6601
Geosynchronous / GTO242220
High Earth / Lunar transfer0000
Heliocentric / Planetary transfer1100
Solar escape1100
Total676251

References

Generic references:
Spaceflight portal
  • Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
  • Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
  • Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.
  • Krebs, Gunter. "Chronology of Space Launches".
  • Kyle, Ed. "Space Launch Report".
  • McDowell, Jonathan. "Jonathan's Space Report".
  • Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive".
  • Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica".
  • Webb, Brian. "Southwest Space Archive".
  • Zak, Anatoly. "Russian Space Web".
  • "ISS Calendar". Spaceflight 101.
  • "NSSDCA Master Catalog". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
  • "Space Calendar". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
  • "Space Information Center". JAXA.
  • "Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).

Footnotes

  1. ArabSat-4A was catalogued but re-entered after a few weeks in wrong orbit
  1. "Press Release of the "Sounding Rocket V" Experiment". NSPO. 18 January 2006. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  2. JAXA. "平成17年度 ロケット打上げ及び追跡管制計画書 陸域観測技術衛星(ALOS) H-IIAロケット8号機(H-IIA・F8)" (PDF) (in Japanese). JAXA. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 February 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  3. "55 bil. yen JAXA map-making satellite sends useless data". Yomiuri Online. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
  4. "Utilization of Data Acquired by "DAICHI" (Advanced Land Observing Satellite) for Maps" (Press release). JAXA. 16 January 2008. Archived from the original on 21 March 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
  5. "Rocket System Corporation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
  6. 平成17年度 ロケット受託打上げ及び追跡管制支援計画書 運輸多目的衛星新2号(MTSAT-2) H-ⅡAロケット9号機(H-ⅡA・F9) (PDF) (in Japanese). JAXA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 February 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  7. Oberg, James (24 March 2006). "ArabSat bites the dust, dashing hopes". NBC News. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  8. Oberg, James (24 March 2006). "ArabSat bites the dust, dashing hopes". NBC News. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
  9. "COMPASS". Russian Space Web. 28 December 2006. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
  10. Krebs, Gunter. "US-PM". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  11. David, Leonard (18 June 2006). "North Korea's Missile Launch Site Under Watchful Eyes". Space.com. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
  12. Shinya Matsuura (4 April 2009). "杞憂のような事態に備える:松浦晋也のL/D" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 26 November 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
  13. "В Минобороны подтвердили сход с орбиты российского спутника" [Ministry of Defence confirms de-orbiting of Russian satellite]. RT (in Russian). 23 November 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  14. "M-V-7号機により打ち上げた副衛星(SSSAT)の実験結果について". ISAS (in Japanese). JAXA. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  15. LDREX
  16. GeneSat
  17. "Deployment Result of the Large Deployable Antenna Reflectors of the Engineering Test Satellite VIII "KIKU No. 8"". Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. 26 December 2006. Archived from the original on 2 January 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2007.
  18. NASA (2006). "Crew Back in Station After Spacewalk". NASA. Archived from the original on 20 October 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  19. NASA (2006). "Station Crew Winds Up Successful Spacewalk". NASA. Archived from the original on 6 November 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  20. NASA (2006). "STS-121 MCC Status Report No. 09". NASA. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  21. NASA (2006). "STS-121 MCC Status Report #13". NASA. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  22. NASA (2006). "STS-121 MCC Status Report #17". NASA. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  23. NASA (2006). "Station Crewmen Back Inside After Spacewalk". NASA. Archived from the original on 6 November 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  24. NASA (2006). "STS-115 MCC Status Report No. 07". NASA. Archived from the original on 20 October 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  25. NASA (2006). "STS-115 MCC Status Report #09". NASA. Archived from the original on 20 October 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  26. NASA (2006). "STS-115 MCC Status Report #13". NASA. Archived from the original on 20 October 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  27. NASA (2006). "Spacewalkers Tee Off on Science, Mechanics". NASA. Archived from the original on 24 September 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  28. NASA (2006). "STS-116 MCC Status Report No. 07". NASA. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  29. NASA (2006). "STS-116 MCC Status Report #11". NASA. Archived from the original on 19 October 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  30. NASA (2006). "STS-116 MCC Status Report #15". NASA. Archived from the original on 20 October 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  31. NASA (2006). "STS-116 MCC Status Report #19". NASA. Archived from the original on 20 October 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
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