2017 in spaceflight
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Highlights from spaceflight in 2017[a] | |
Orbital launches | |
---|---|
First | 5 January |
Last | 26 December |
Total | 91 |
Successes | 83 |
Failures | 6 |
Partial failures | 2 |
Catalogued | 86 |
National firsts | |
Satellite | |
Rockets | |
Maiden flights | |
Retirements | |
Crewed flights | |
Orbital | 4 |
Total travellers | 11 |
EVAs | 10 |
Notable spaceflight activities in 2017 included the maiden orbital flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (also called LVM3) on 5 June and the first suborbital test of Rocket Lab's Electron rocket, inaugurating the Mahia spaceport in New Zealand. The rocket is named for its innovative Rutherford engine which feeds propellants via battery-powered electric motors instead of the usual gas generator and turbopumps.
Overview[edit]
China launched its new missile-derived Kaituozhe-2 variant on 2 March. The Japanese SS-520, a suborbital sounding rocket modified for orbital flight, failed to reach orbit in January.[1] If successful, it would have become the smallest and lightest vehicle to ever put an object in orbit.[2]
The venerable Russian Soyuz-U workhorse was retired after its 786th mission on 22 February. On 30 March, the SES-10 mission was launched with a previously flown Falcon 9 first stage, achieving a key milestone in the SpaceX reusable launch system development program; several other Falcon 9 first-stage boosters were re-used since then.
After a record-breaking 13-year mission observing Saturn, its rings and moons, the Cassini space probe was deliberately destroyed by plunging into Saturn's atmosphere, on 15 September 2017.[3]
A record number of 466 satellites were attempted to be launched thanks to an increase in the number of small satellites. 289 of all satellites weighted less than 10 kg.[4] The number of small satellites launched exceeded even the most optimistic forecasts.[5]
Orbital launches[edit]
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) | Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | |||
Remarks | ||||||||
January[edit] | ||||||||
5 January 15:18 | ![]() | 3B-Y39[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CNSA | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
9 January 04:11:12 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
14 January 17:54:39 | ![]() | F9-029 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Return to flight mission for Falcon 9 after an accident in September 2016. First stage landed on a drone ship. | ||||||||
14 January 23:33 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | University of Tokyo | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 14 January | Launch failure | |||
Contact lost at +20 sec after launch. Aborted ignition of 2nd stage.[1] | ||||||||
21 January 00:42 | ![]() | AV-066 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | US Air Force | Geosynchronous | Missile warning | In orbit | Operational | |||
24 January 07:44 | ![]() | F32 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | DSN / JSDF | Geosynchronous | Communications (military) | In orbit | Operational | |||
28 January 01:03:34 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Hispasat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
First GTO launch by Soyuz at the Guiana Space Centre | ||||||||
February[edit] | ||||||||
14 February 21:39 | ![]() | VA235 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() | Intelsat / SKY Brasil | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Telkom | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
15 February 03:58 | ![]() | C37 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ISRO | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | ISRO | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | KazGU | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Ben Gurion University | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 24 February 2023[9] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | SpacePharma | Low Earth (SSO) | Microgravity research | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Planet Labs | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Spire Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | EIAST/AUS | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | PEASS Consortium | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
Second largest number of satellites launched on a single rocket (104). | ||||||||
19 February 14:38:59 | ![]() | F9-030 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 19 March 2017, 14:46 | Successful | |||
First SpaceX launch from LC-39A. Carries the SAGE III and Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) Earth-observation instruments to the ISS. First stage returned to Landing Zone 1. | ||||||||
22 February 05:58 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 20 July | Successful | |||
786th and final flight of Soyuz-U. | ||||||||
March[edit] | ||||||||
1 March 17:50 | ![]() | AV-068 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
NROL-79 mission. | ||||||||
2 March 23:53 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | CASIC | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 7 July 2023[10] | Successful | |||
Maiden flight. | ||||||||
7 March 01:49:24 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | ESA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
16 March 06:00 | ![]() | F9-031 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | EchoStar | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Due to the satellite's heavy mass (~5,600 kg),[11] the rocket flew in its expendable configuration and the first-stage booster was not recovered.[12] | ||||||||
17 March 01:20:00 | ![]() | F33 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CSICE | Low Earth (SSO) | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
19 March 00:18 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | US Air Force | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
30 March 22:27 | ![]() | F9-032 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | SES S.A. | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
First flight of a Falcon 9 re-used first stage.[13] SpaceX recovered the stage again. | ||||||||
April[edit] | ||||||||
12 April 11:04:04 | ![]() | 3B-Y43[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CNSA | Geosynchronous | Communications Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
18 April 15:11 | ![]() | AV-070 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() SS John Glenn[15] | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 12 June 2017 | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | Millennium Space Systems | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | GSFC | Low Earth | Technology demonstration Atmospheric research | 3 October 2018[16] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | CSUN | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 5 May 2019[17] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | MSU | Low Earth | X-ray astronomy | 1 March 2019[18] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Project Biarri / AFRL | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 4 May 2019[19] | Successful | |||
QB50 x 31 | Various | Low Earth | Technology demonstration Atmospheric research | In orbit | Operational | |||
QB50 mission includes first Finnish satellite Aalto-2, Greek satellite UPSat | ||||||||
20 April 07:13:44 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 51/52 | 3 September 2017 01:22 | Successful | |||
Crewed flight with two cosmonauts.[20] | ||||||||
20 April 11:41:35 | ![]() | Y2[22] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CMSA | Low Earth (Tiangong 2) | Tiangong 2 resupply | 22 September 2017 10:00 | Successful | |||
![]() | Xi'an Institute of Surveying and Mapping | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
SilkRoad-1 was released on 1 August from Tianzhou 1.[21] | ||||||||
May[edit] | ||||||||
1 May 11:15 | ![]() | F9-033 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NRO | Low Earth[23] | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
First stage returned to Landing Zone 1. | ||||||||
4 May 21:50 | ![]() | VA236 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | KT Corporation | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Telebras | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
5 May 11:27 | ![]() | F09 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ISRO | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
15 May 23:21 | ![]() | F9-034 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Inmarsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Due to the satellite's heavy mass (6,070 kg),[24] the rocket flew in its expendable configuration and the first-stage booster was not recovered.[12] | ||||||||
18 May 11:54:53 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | SES S.A. | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
25 May 04:20:00 | ![]() | It's a Test | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Rocket Lab | Low Earth | Rocket stage / Flight test | 25 May | Launch failure | |||
First Electron launch. Flight terminated by range safety at an altitude of 224 kilometres (139 mi) due to an error in ground tracking equipment. Carried instruments on the upper stage rather than a payload.[26] | ||||||||
25 May 06:33 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | VKS | Molniya | Missile early warning | In orbit | Operational | |||
June[edit] | ||||||||
1 June 00:17:46 | ![]() | F34 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAO | Tundra/Quasi-Zenith Orbit[27] | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
1 June 23:45 | ![]() | VA237 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ViaSat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Eutelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
This mission carried the heaviest and most expensive commercial payload ever launched, valued at $800 million[28] with a combined payload mass of 9,969 kg for both satellites (10,865 kg total launch mass with dual-deployment hardware).[29] | ||||||||
3 June 21:07 | ![]() | F9-035 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 3 July 2017 | Successful | |||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | X-ray astronomy | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | BRACU | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 6 May 2019[32] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | All Nations University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 22 May 2019[33] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | National University of Mongolia | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 11 May 2019[34] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | FUTA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 13 May 2019[35] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | KIT | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 3 May 2019[36] | Successful | |||
First stage returned to Landing Zone 1. TOKI, GhanaSat-1, Mazaalai, BRAC ONNESHA, and Nigeria EduSat-1 were carried to ISS as the cargo of SpaceX CRS-11 and deployed into orbit on 7 July 2017.[30] | ||||||||
5 June 11:58 | ![]() | D1 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ISRO | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Maiden orbital flight. | ||||||||
8 June 03:45 | ![]() | 935-61[37] | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ||||
![]() | EchoStar | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
14 June 09:20 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 28 December | Successful | |||
![]() | Low Earth | Radar calibration target | 29 November 2018[40] | Successful | ||||
![]() | South-West State University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 30 July 2019[41] | Successful | |||
![]() | South-West State University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 8 September 2019[42] | Successful | |||
![]() | RISDE | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 15 October 2019[43] | Successful | |||
Tanyusha-YuZGU, Sfera-53 2, TNS-O No. 2 were small satellites deployed into orbit from the ISS by cosmonauts during an EVA on 17 August 2017.[38][39] | ||||||||
15 June 03:15 | ![]() | 4B-Y31[44] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAS / IHEP | Low Earth (SSO) | X-ray astronomy | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Zhuhai Orbital Control Engineering | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Zhuhai Orbital Control Engineering | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Satellogic | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
18 June 16:12 | ![]() | 3B-Y28[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | China Satcom | Geosynchronous (intended) | Communications | In orbit | Partial launch failure Operational | |||
Payload was inserted into a wrong orbit.[45][46] After 16 days of orbit raising maneuvers, the satellite raised its orbit from 16,420 km to 36,000 km, and corrected its longitude to 101.4°E.[citation needed] | ||||||||
23 June 03:59[49] | ![]() | C38 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ISRO | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Canon | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Max Valier school, Bozen | Low Earth (SSO) | X-ray astronomy Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Noorul Islam University | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Ventspils University College | Low Earth (SSO) | AIS ship tracking | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Aalto University | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() ![]() ![]() | Sky and Space Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() ![]() ![]() | Sky and Space Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() ![]() ![]() | Sky and Space Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | GeoOptics Inc | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | FH Aachen | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | D-Orbit | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | University of Surrey | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 3 September 2017 01:27 | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | Spire Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Vilnius University | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | NUDT | Low Earth (SSO) | Ionosphere research | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | FH Wiener Neustadt | Low Earth (SSO) | Thermosphere research | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | University of Montpellier | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | University of Zilina | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | University of Chile | Low Earth (SSO) | Ionosphere research | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 14 March 2023[50] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | University College London | Low Earth (SSO) | Ionosphere research | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Sapienza University | Low Earth (SSO) | Thermosphere research | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | VZLU | Low Earth (SSO) | Thermosphere research | In orbit | Operational | |||
Venta-1 was the first Latvian satellite. COMPASS-2, InflateSail, LithuanicaSAT-2, NUDTSat, Pegasus, UCLSat, URSA MAIOR and VZLUSat-2 are part of the QB-50 project led by Von Karman Institute to create a network of cubesats conducting measurements of Earth's lower termosphere and ionosphere.[48] | ||||||||
23 June 18:04 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | VKS | Low Earth | Geodesy | 23 December 2021[52] | Successful | |||
![]() | VKS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 12 September 2019[53] | Successful | |||
Napryazhenie / 14F150 / Nivelir.[51] Kosmos 2521, also known as Sputnik Inspektor, was later deployed by Kosmos 2519. | ||||||||
23 June 19:10 | ![]() | F9-036 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Bulsatcom | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Second flight of a Falcon 9 re-used first stage.[54] | ||||||||
25 June 20:25:14 | ![]() | F9-037 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
28 June 20:59 | ![]() | VA238 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() | Inmarsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | ISRO | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
July[edit] | ||||||||
2 July 11:23:23 | ![]() | Y2[56] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAST | Geosynchronous | Communications Technology demonstration | 2 July 2017 | Launch failure | |||
The cause of the failure was confirmed by CASC later, related to the anomaly happened on one of the YF-77 engine in the first stage.[55] | ||||||||
5 July 23:38 | ![]() | F9-038 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Due to the satellite's heavy mass (6,761 kg),[57] the rocket flew in its expendable configuration and the first-stage booster was not recovered.[12] | ||||||||
14 July 06:36:49 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | GeoOptics | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Institute of Space Systems | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Norsk Romsenter | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Norsk Romsenter | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | TU Berlin | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Weathernews | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Astro Digital | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Failure[65] | |||
⚀ ![]() ![]() | UTE / YuZGU | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Planet Labs | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | MAI | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Spire Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | MPU | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Partial failure | |||
⚀ ![]() | Roscosmos / Dauria Aerospace | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Failure[60][66] | |||
⚀ ![]() | Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
Delivery of 73 satellites in three orbital altitudes with a single launch.[59] Some cubesats were deployed into unintended orbit or having communication problem.[60] Mayak fails to deploy solar reflector.[61] Glavcosmos has later confirmed upper stage anomaly during the launch.[62][63] | ||||||||
27 July | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
ISA | Low Earth | 27 July 2017 | Launch failure | |||||
The first orbital attempt for Simorgh.[67] Iranian official sources state that the rocket has reached orbit.[68][69] U.S. Strategic Command confirmed that no satellite deployed from the rocket as the rocket suffered a "catastrophic failure" shortly after liftoff.[70][71] The U.S. Air Force's Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base reported that it had not detected any satellite released into low-Earth orbit by the Simorgh SLV.[72] Finally, the United States, France, Germany and Britain have condemned Iran's test of a satellite-launching rocket.[73] | ||||||||
28 July[74] 15:41[75] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 52/53 | 14 December 2017 08:48 | Successful | |||
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts. | ||||||||
August[edit] | ||||||||
2 August 01:58 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Italian Defense Ministry | Low Earth (SSO) | IMINT (Reconnaissance) | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() ![]() | ISA / CNES | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
14 August 16:31 | ![]() | F9-039 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 17 September 2017 | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | Penn State | Low Earth | Space weather | 7 March 2019[81] | Successful | |||
![]() | U.S. Army | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | 28 August 2021[82] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | GSFC | Low Earth | Technology demonstration / Heliophysics | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | MIT/JPL | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Successful[83] | |||
First flight of Falcon 9 "block 4" upgrade.[76] Last flight of a newly-built Dragon capsule; further missions will use refurbished spacecraft.[77] Carried cosmic-ray detector ISS-CREAM to be installed on the station, and several cubesats to be later deployed from the ISS. Kestrel Eye was deployed into orbit from ISS on 24 October 2017.[78] ASTERIA and Dellingr/RBLE were deployed on 20 November 2017,[79] and OSIRIS-3U was deployed on 21 November 2017.[80] | ||||||||
16 August 22:07 | ![]() | ?[37] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | VKS | Geosynchronous | Communications (military) | In orbit | Operational | |||
18 August 12:29 | ![]() | AV-074 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
19 August 05:29 | ![]() | F35 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAO | Geosynchronous | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
24 August 18:50 | ![]() | F9-040 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NSPO | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
26 August 06:04 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | ORS | Low Earth | Space surveillance | In orbit | Operational | |||
31 August 13:30 | ![]() | C39 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ISRO | Geosynchronous | Navigation | 2 March 2019 | Launch failure | |||
Payload fairing failed to separate, leaving the satellite adrift within the fairing after internally separating from the fourth stage of the rocket.[85] The stage, along with IRNSS-1H, re-entered the atmosphere together on 2 March 2019.[86] | ||||||||
September[edit] | ||||||||
7 September 14:00 | ![]() | F9-041 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | U.S. Air Force | Low Earth | Technology demonstration (classified) | 27 October 2019 07:51 | Successful[87] | |||
11 September 19:23:41 | ![]() | 935-65[37] | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ||||
![]() | Hispasat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
12 September 21:17:02 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 53/54 | In orbit | Operational | |||
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts.[20][88] | ||||||||
22 September 00:02:32 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | VKS | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
24 September 05:49:47 | ![]() | AV-072 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
28 September 18:52:16 | ![]() | 937-03[37] | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ||||
![]() | AsiaSat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
29 September 04:21 | ![]() | 2C-Y29[89] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CAS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CAS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
29 September 21:47 | ![]() | VA239 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Intelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | BSAT | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
October[edit] | ||||||||
9 October 04:13 | ![]() | 2D-Y30[89] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ABAE / MPPCTII | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
9 October 12:37 | ![]() | F9-042 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
9 October 22:01:37 | ![]() | F36 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAO | Tundra | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
11 October 22:53 | ![]() | F9-043 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() | SES S.A. / EchoStar | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Third time a Falcon 9 first stage is re-used.[90] | ||||||||
13 October 09:27:44 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | |||||
![]() | ESA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
14 October 08:46:53 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 26 April 2018 | Successful | |||
![]() ![]() | Moscow Aviation Institute / Space Kidz India | Low Earth | Communications | |||||
Originally intended to debut a new two-orbit rendezvous profile, profile reverted to standard 34-orbit profile after the first launch attempt was scrubbed.[91] | ||||||||
15 October 07:28 | ![]() | AV-075 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NRO | Geosynchronous (TBC)[92] | Communications (military) | In orbit | Operational | |||
30 October 19:34 | ![]() | F9-044 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | KT Corporation | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
31 October 21:37 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Terra Bella | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Planet Labs | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Return to flight mission for Minotaur-C after a failed launch in March 2011. | ||||||||
November[edit] | ||||||||
5 November 11:45:00 | ![]() | 3B-Y46[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CNSA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CNSA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
8 November 01:42:30 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Morocco | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
12 November 12:19:51[94] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() SS Gene Cernan[95] | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 18 December 2017 | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | The Aerospace Corporation | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 5 August 2022 (OSCD B) 12 August 2022 (OSCD C) | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | Asgardia | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 12 September 2022[96] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | NRL | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 2 January 2022[97] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | NASA | Low Earth | Microbiology | 8 December 2021[98] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | JPL | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | Spire Global | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ![]() | NPS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 30 July 2022[100] | Successful | |||
⚀ ![]() | SJSU/UI/NASA Ames | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 15 May 2018[101] | Successful | |||
EcAMSat was deployed into orbit from ISS on 20 November 2017,[79] and TechEdSat-6 was deployed on 21 November 2017.[80] Other small satellites were deployed from Cygnus after it departed from ISS.[93] | ||||||||
14 November 18:35 | ![]() | 4C-Y21[44] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CMA | Low Earth (polar) | Meteorology | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | HEAD Aerospace | Low Earth (polar) | AIS ship tracking | In orbit | Operational | |||
18 November 09:47:36 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | NOAA | Low Earth (SSO) | Meteorology | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | UNSW, DSTO | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | ERAU | Low Earth (SSO) | Education | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | NNU | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | MIT | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | AMSAT | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
Last flight of the Delta II 7920 configuration, penultimate flight of Delta II | ||||||||
21 November 04:50 | ![]() | Y2[103] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
24 November 18:10 | ![]() | 2C-Y30[89] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CNSA | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CNSA | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CNSA | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
28 November 05:41:46[75] | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (SSO) | Meteorology | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
![]() | NSC | Low Earth (SSO) | Traffic monitoring | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
![]() | Bauman University | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
![]() | Astroscale | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
![]() | TeleSat Canada | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications (experimental) | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
⚀ ![]() | Astro Digital | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
⚀ ![]() | German Orbital Systems | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications (experimental) | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
⚀ ![]() | Spire Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
⚀ ![]() | Multiple users | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 28 November 2017 | Launch failure | |||
The Fregat upper stage suffered an apparent programming failure resulting in the loss of all 19 satellites.[105] | ||||||||
December[edit] | ||||||||
2 December 10:43:26 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Operational | ||||
3 December 04:11 | ![]() | 2D-Y47[89] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAS | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
10 December 16:41 [108] | ![]() | 3B-Y40[6] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Algerian Space Agency | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
First Algerian geostationary communications satellite | ||||||||
12 December 18:36:07 | ![]() | VA240 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | ESA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Second Galileo launch with Ariane 5 (9th overall), carrying Nicole, Zofia, Alexandre, and Irina. | ||||||||
15 December 15:36 | ![]() | F9-045 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 13 January 2018 | Successful | |||
Re-used the first-stage booster from CRS-11 (2017) and the Dragon capsule from CRS-6 (2015)[109] | ||||||||
17 December 07:21 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 54/55 | In orbit | Operational | |||
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts. | ||||||||
23 December 01:26:22[110] | ![]() | F37 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | JAXA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | JAXA | Low Earth | Atmospheric sciences Technology demonstration | 1 October 2019 | Successful | |||
23 December 01:27:23[75] | ![]() | F9-046 | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Re-using a first-stage booster.[111] This rocket flew in its expendable configuration so the first-stage booster was not recovered[112] | ||||||||
23 December 04:14[113] | ![]() | 2D-Y48[89] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAS | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
25 December 19:44 | ![]() | 2C-Y34[89] | ![]() | ![]() | ||||
![]() | CAS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CAS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
![]() | CAS | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
26 December 19:00:03 | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||||
![]() | Republic of Angola | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Spacecraft failure[117] | |||
First satellite of Angola. Launch was successful but contact was lost quickly afterwards.[114] On
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