1998 in spaceflight

1998 in spaceflight
A Proton-K launches Zarya, the first module of the International Space Station
Orbital launches
First7 January
Last30 December
Total82
Successes75
Failures5
Partial failures2
Catalogued77
National firsts
Satellite Egypt
 Chile
Space traveller Spain
Rockets
Maiden flightsAthena II
Delta II 7326
Delta II 7420
Delta II 7425
Delta III
Shtil'
RetirementsAtlas II
Titan IVA
Crewed flights
Orbital7
Total travellers39

This article outlines notable events occurring in 1998 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.

Zarya launch[edit]

Zarya was launched on 20 November 1998 on a Russian Proton rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81 in Kazakhstan to a 400 km (250 mi) high orbit with a designed lifetime of at least 15 years. After Zarya reached orbit, STS-88 launched on 4 December 1998 to attach the Unity module.

Although only designed to fly autonomously for six to eight months, Zarya was required to do so for almost two years due to delays to the Russian Service Module, Zvezda. Zvezda was finally launched on 12 July 2000, docking with Zarya on 26 July 2000.

Launches[edit]

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

January[edit]

7 January
02:28
United StatesAthena II United StatesSpaceport Florida LC-46 United StatesLockheed Martin
United StatesLunar Prospector NASA Selenocentric Lunar orbiter 31 July 1999 Successful
Maiden flight of Athena II, first orbital launch from Spaceport Florida
10 January
00:32
United StatesDelta II 7925-9.5 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17B United StatesBoeing IDS
United KingdomSkynet 4D MoD Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
16 January
03:25
United StatesMinuteman II United StatesVandenberg LF-03 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesMSLS IFT-2 US Air Force Suborbital ABM target 16 January Successful
16 January
03:46
United StatesPayload Launch Vehicle Marshall IslandsMeck Island United StatesUS Air Force/Orbital Sciences
United StatesEKV US Air Force Suborbital ABM interceptor 16 January Successful
22 January
12:56
IsraelShavit IsraelPalmachim IsraelISA
IsraelOfeq-4 Intended: Low Earth (retrograde) Reconnaissance 22 January Launch Failure
Second stage failure
23 January
02:48
United StatesSpace Shuttle Endeavour United StatesKennedy LC-39A United StatesUnited Space Alliance
United StatesSTS-89 NASA Low Earth (Mir) Shuttle-Mir Program 31 January
16:57
Successful
United StatesSpaceHab Logistics Double Module NASA/SpaceHab Low Earth (Endeavour) Logistics
Crewed orbital flight with seven astronauts
25 January
08:35
JapanS-310 JapanUchinoura Pad K JapanISAS
JapanSEEK ISAS Suborbital Ozone/Aeronomy research 25 January Successful
26 January
12:26
United StatesNike Orion SwedenEsrange SwedenSSC
SwedenGermanyMERMAID SSC/DLR Suborbital Microgravity research 26 January Successful
29 January
16:33
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaSoyuz TM-27 Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Mir EO-25 25 August
05:24
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with three cosmonauts
29 January
18:37
United StatesAtlas IIA United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-36A United States
United StatesUSA-137 (SDS-3-1) NRO Molniya Communications In orbit Operational
NRO Launch 5
31 January
04:30
JapanS-520 JapanUchinoura Pad K JapanISAS
JapanXUV Doppler Telescope ISAS Suborbital Solar observation 31 January Successful
31 January
23:43
BrazilVS-30 NorwayAndøya BrazilINPE
GermanyAL-VS30-229 DLR Suborbital Aeronomy research 31 January Successful

February[edit]

4 February
23:29
European UnionAriane 4 44LP FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
BrazilBrazilsat B3 Embratel Geostationary Communications In orbit Operational
United KingdomInmarsat 3F5 Inmarsat Geostationary Communications In orbit Operational
5 February
08:30
JapanS-520 JapanUchinoura Pad K JapanISAS
ISAS Suborbital Plasma research 5 February Successful
7 February
07:40
United KingdomSkylark VII SwedenEsrange Pad S SwedenSSC
SwedenTEXUS 36 SSC Suborbital Microgravity research 7 February Successful
10 February United StatesTrident C-4 United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 10 February Successful
10 February United StatesTrident C-4 United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 10 February Successful
10 February United StatesTrident C-4 United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 10 February Successful
10 February United StatesTrident C-4 United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 10 February Successful
10 February
13:20
United StatesTaurus 2210 United StatesVandenberg LC-576E United StatesOrbital Sciences
United StatesGFO US Navy Low Earth Radar altimetry In orbit Operational
United StatesOrbcomm G1 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesOrbcomm G2 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesCelestis-02 Celestis Low Earth Space burial In orbit Successful
11 February
09:42
United StatesNike-Orion SwedenEsrange GermanyDLR
GermanyTexus-5 DLR Suborbital Microgravity research 11 February Successful
14 February
14:34
United StatesDelta II 7420-10C United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17A United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesGlobalstar 1 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesGlobalstar 4 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesGlobalstar 2 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesGlobalstar 3 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Maiden flight of Delta II 7420
17 February
10:34
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 31/6 Russia
RussiaKosmos 2349 (Yantar) Low Earth Cartography 2 April Successful
18 February
13:58
United StatesDelta II 7920-10C United StatesVandenberg SLC-2W United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesIridium 52 Iridium Low Earth Communications 5 November 2018[1] Successful
United StatesIridium 56 Iridium Low Earth Communications 11 October 2018[2] Successful
United StatesIridium 54 Iridium Low Earth Communications 11 May 2019[3] Successful
United StatesIridium 50 Iridium Low Earth Communications 23 September 2018[4] Successful
United StatesIridium 53 Iridium Low Earth Communications 30 September 2018[5] Successful
19 February RussiaR-29 RussiaSubmarine, Barents Sea RussiaRussian Navy
Russian Navy Suborbital Missile test 19 February Successful
19 February RussiaR-29 RussiaSubmarine, Barents Sea RussiaRussian Navy
Russian Navy Suborbital Missile test 19 February Successful
20 February
00:09
CanadaBlack Brant VC Puerto RicoArecibo United StatesNASA
United StatesCoqui Dos SAL NASA Suborbital Ionosphere research 20 February Successful
20 February
00:37
CanadaBlack Brant VC Puerto RicoArecibo United StatesNASA
United StatesCoqui Dos NASA Suborbital Ionosphere research 20 February Successful
20 February
08:23
United StatesMinuteman III United StatesVandenberg LF-04 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesFOT GT166GM US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 20 February Failure
21 February
07:55
JapanH-II JapanTanegashima LA-Y JapanNASDA
JapanKakehashi (COMETS) NASDA Intended: Geosynchronous
Actual: Medium Earth
Communications In orbit Partial Failure
Upper stage failure led to lower orbit than planned
25 February
03:17
CanadaBlack Brant VC Puerto RicoArecibo United StatesNASA
United StatesCoqui Dos NASA Suborbital Ionosphere research 25 February Successful
25 February
07:43
United StatesTaurus-Orion Puerto RicoArecibo United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Ionosphere research 25 February Successful
25 February
07:50
United StatesTerrier-Orion Puerto RicoArecibo United StatesNASA
United StatesEDDY NASA Suborbital Ionosphere research 25 February Successful
26 February
07:07
United StatesPegasus-XL United StatesStargazer, Vandenberg United StatesOrbital Sciences
United StatesSNOE NASA/UC Boulder Low Earth Nitric Oxide research 13 December 2003 Successful
United StatesTeledesic 1 Teledesic Low Earth Communications 9 October 2000 Successful
27 February
22:38
European UnionAriane 4 42P FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
FranceHot Bird 4 Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
28 February
00:21
United StatesAtlas IIAS United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-36B RussiaUnited StatesInternational Launch Services
United NationsIntelsat 806 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational

March[edit]

3 March
22:33
United StatesNike-Orion SwedenEsrange SwedenSSC
SwedenNLTE-1 Atomic 2A SSC Suborbital Ionosphere research 3 March Successful
6 March
21:26
United StatesNike-Orion SwedenEsrange SwedenSSC
SwedenNLTE-2 Atomic 2B SSC Suborbital Ionosphere research 3 March Successful
7 March
01:33
CanadaBlack Brant VC Puerto RicoArecibo United StatesNASA
United StatesCoqui Dos NASA Suborbital Ionosphere research 7 March Successful
7 March United StatesTrident D-5 United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 7 March Successful
7 March United StatesTrident D-5 United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 7 March Successful
10 March United StatesTrident D-5 United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 10 March Successful
10 March United StatesTrident D-5 United StatesSubmarine, Eastern Range United StatesUS Navy
US Navy Suborbital Missile test 10 March Successful
11 March
23:39
CanadaBlack Brant IX Puerto RicoArecibo United StatesNASA
United StatesCoqui Dos LaTuR NASA Suborbital Ionosphere research 11 March Successful
14 March
22:45
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaProgress M-38 Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Logistics 15 May Successful
RussiaVDU 2 Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Mir attitude control unit 23 March 2001
05:50
Successful
16 March
21:32
United StatesAtlas II United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-36A United States
United StatesUSA-138 (UHF F/O F8) US Navy Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Final flight of baseline Atlas II
21 March BrazilVS-40 BrazilAlcântara BrazilINPE
INPE Suborbital Test sounding rocket 21 March Successful
24 March
01:46
European UnionAriane 4 40 FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
FranceSPOT 4 CNES Sun-synchronous Earth Imaging In orbit Operational
25 March
01:45
CanadaBlack Brant VC Puerto RicoArecibo United StatesNASA
United StatesCoqui Dos NASA Suborbital Ionosphere research 25 March Successful
25 March
17:01
ChinaLong March 2C ChinaTaiyuan LC-1 China
United StatesIridium 51 Iridium Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesIridium 61 Iridium Low Earth Communications 23 July 2019[6] Successful
30 March
06:02
United StatesDelta II 7920-10C United StatesVandenberg SLC-2W United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesIridium 55 Iridium Low Earth Communications 31 March 2019[7] Successful
United StatesIridium 57 Iridium Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesIridium 58 Iridium Low Earth Communications 7 April 2019[8] Successful
United StatesIridium 59 Iridium Low Earth Communications 11 March 2019[9] Successful
United StatesIridium 60 Iridium Low Earth Communications 17 March 2019[10] Successful

April[edit]

2 April
02:42
United StatesPegasus-XL United StatesStargazer, Vandenberg United StatesOrbital Sciences
United StatesTRACE NASA Low Earth Solar research In orbit Operational
6 April PakistanGhauri PakistanTilla PakistanPAF
PAF Suborbital Missile test 6 April Successful
Maiden flight of Ghauri
6 April IndiaRH-560/200 MK II IndiaSriharikota IndiaISRO
ISRO Suborbital Aeronomy research 6 April Successful
7 April
02:13
RussiaProton-K/17S40 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/23 RussiaUnited StatesInternational Launch Services
United StatesIridium 62 Iridium Low Earth Communications 7 November 2018[11] Successful
United StatesIridium 63 Iridium Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesIridium 64 Iridium Low Earth Communications 1 April 2019[12] Successful
United StatesIridium 65 Iridium Low Earth Communications 19 July 2018[13] Successful
United StatesIridium 66 Iridium Low Earth Communications 23 August 2018[14] Successful
United StatesIridium 67 Iridium Low Earth Communications 2 July 2018[15] Successful
United StatesIridium 68 Iridium Low Earth Communications 6 June 2018[16] Successful
15 April UkraineR-36M2 KazakhstanBaikonur RussiaRVSN
RVSN/ISC Kosmotras Suborbital Missile test 15 April Successful
Part of Dnepr development programme
17 April
18:05
United StatesStrypi United StatesPacific Missile Range United StatesSandia
United StatesRed Crow BMDO Suborbital Technology development 17 April Successful
17 April
18:19
United StatesSpace Shuttle Columbia United StatesKennedy LC-39B United StatesUnited Space Alliance
United StatesSTS-90 NASA Low Earth Microgravity research 3 May
16:09
Successful
United StatesSpacelab LM-2 (Neurolab) NASA Low Earth (Columbia) Life science research
United StatesEDO Pallet NASA Low Earth (Columbia) Cryogenic mission duration extension pallet
Crewed orbital flight with seven astronauts
Final flight of Spacelab Long Module No. 2
18 April
04:00
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Ultraviolet astronomy 18 April Successful
18 April
07:30
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Ultraviolet astronomy 18 April Successful
24 April
22:38
United StatesDelta II 7420-10C United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17A United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesGlobalstar 14 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesGlobalstar 6 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesGlobalstar 15 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesGlobalstar 8 Globalstar Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
28 April
12:10
CanadaBlack Brant IXB CanadaSpacePort Canada CanadaAkjuit Aerospace
CanadaACTIVE CSA Suborbital Ionosphere research 28 April Successful
First and only launch conducted by Akjuit Aerospace. Final launch from the SpacePort Canada (Churchill Rocket Research Range) site.
28 April
22:53
European UnionAriane 4 44P FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
EgyptNilesat 101 Nilesat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
JapanBSAT-1B BSAT Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Nilesat is the first Egyptian satellite
29 April
04:36
RussiaProton-K/DM-2 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 200/39 RussiaRVSN
RussiaKosmos 2350 (Prognoz SPRN) RVSN Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational

May[edit]

2 May
09:16
ChinaLong March 2C ChinaTaiyuan LC-1 China
United StatesIridium 69 Iridium Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesIridium 71 Iridium Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
7 May
08:53
RussiaMolniya-M RussiaPlesetsk Site 16/2 Russia
RussiaKosmos 2351 (Oko) MO RF Molniya Early Warning In orbit Operational
7 May
10:30
United StatesPeacekeeper United StatesVandenberg LF-05 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 7 May Successful
7 May
23:45
RussiaProton-K/DM-2M KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/23 RussiaUnited StatesInternational Launch Services
United StatesEchoStar 4 EchoStar Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
9 May
01:38
United StatesTitan IVB 401/Centaur United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-40 United StatesLockheed Martin
United StatesUSA-139 / Orion 4 NRO Geosynchronous SIGINT In orbit Operational
NROL-6 mission.
12 May
11:22
United StatesHera United StatesWhite Sands LC-94 United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital ABM Target 12 May Successful
12 May
11:25
United StatesTHAAD United StatesWhite Sands United StatesUS Air Force
US Air Force Suborbital ABM Interceptor 12 May Failure
13 May
15:52
United StatesTitan 23G United StatesVandenberg SLC-4W United StatesLockheed Martin
United StatesNOAA-15 (NOAA-K) NOAA Sun-synchronous Weather satellite In orbit Operational
14 May
22:12
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaProgress M-39 Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Logistics 29 October
04:14
Successful
17 May
21:16
United StatesDelta II 7920-10C United StatesVandenberg SLC-2W United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesIridium 70 Iridium Low Earth Communications 11 October 2018[17] Successful
United StatesIridium 72 Iridium Low Earth Communications 14 May 2018[18] Successful
United StatesIridium 73 Iridium Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesIridium 74 Iridium Low Earth Communications 11 June 2017[19] Successful
United StatesIridium 75 Iridium Low Earth Communications 10 July 2018[20] Successful
22 May
06:22
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands United StatesNASA
United StatesNITE NASA Suborbital Infrared astronomy 22 May Successful
30 May
10:00
ChinaLong March 3B ChinaXichang LC-2 China
ChinaZhongwei 1 (ChinaStar 1) COTSC Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational

June[edit]

2 June
22:06
United StatesSpace Shuttle Discovery United StatesKennedy LC-39A United StatesUnited Space Alliance
United StatesSTS-91 NASA Low Earth (Mir) Shuttle-Mir flight 12 June
18:00
Successful
United StatesSpaceHab Logistics Double Module NASA/SpaceHab Low Earth (Discovery) Logistics
European UnionAMS-01 ESA Low Earth (Discovery) Particle physics
Crewed orbital flight with six astronauts, landing with seven
Final Shuttle-Mir flight and first shuttle flight with Super-lightweight Aluminium/Lithium ET
3 June
19:57
United StatesMinuteman III United StatesVandenberg LF-26 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesFOT GT167GB US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 3 June Successful
10 June
00:35
United StatesDelta II 7925-9.5 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17A United StatesBoeing IDS
NorwayThor 3 Telenor Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
11 June
01:00
South KoreaKSR-II South KoreaAnhueng South KoreaKARI
KARI Suborbital Ionosphere research
X-ray astronomy
11 June Successful
15 June
22:58
UkraineTsyklon-3 RussiaPlesetsk Site 32 Russia
RussiaKosmos 2352 (Strela-3) MO RF Intended: Medium Earth
Actual: Low Earth
Communications In orbit Partial Failure
RussiaKosmos 2353 (Strela-3) MO RF Intended: Medium Earth
Actual: Low Earth
Communications In orbit Partial Failure
RussiaKosmos 2354 (Strela-3) MO RF Intended: Medium Earth
Actual: Low Earth
Communications In orbit Partial Failure
RussiaKosmos 2355 (Strela-3) MO RF Intended: Medium Earth
Actual: Low Earth
Communications In orbit Partial Failure
RussiaKosmos 2356 (Strela-3) MO RF Intended: Medium Earth
Actual: Low Earth
Communications In orbit Partial Failure
RussiaKosmos 2357 (Strela-3) MO RF Intended: Medium Earth
Actual: Low Earth
Communications In orbit Partial Failure
Third stage failure left satellites in lower orbit than planned
16 June
14:19
United StatesNike-Orion United StatesWallops Island United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Test sounding rocket 16 June Successful
18 June
22:48
United StatesAtlas IIAS United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-36A RussiaUnited StatesInternational Launch Services
United NationsIntelsat 805 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
24 June
08:01
United StatesMinuteman III United StatesVandenberg LF-09 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesGRP-IDF-1 US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 24 June Successful
24 June
12:46
United StatesMinuteman III United StatesVandenberg LF-10 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesFOT GT168GM US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 24 June Successful
24 June
18:29
RussiaSoyuz-U RussiaPlesetsk Site 43/3 Russia
RussiaKosmos 2358 (Yantar) MO RF Low Earth Reconnaissance 22 October Successful
25 June
14:00
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 31/6 Russia
RussiaKosmos 2359 (Yantar) MO RF Low Earth Reconnaissance 12 July 1999 Successful

July[edit]

1 July
00:48
RussiaMolniya-M RussiaPlesetsk Site 43/3 Russia
RussiaMolniya 3–49 MOM Molniya Communications 2 February 2011 Successful
3 July
18:12
JapanM-V JapanUchinoura JapanISAS
JapanNozomi (PLANET-B) ISAS Intended: Areocentric
Actual: Heliocentric
Mars orbiter In orbit Spacecraft failure
Gravity assist produced less velocity than expected, spacecraft ran out of fuel trying to compensate
7 July
03:15
RussiaShtil' RussiaNovomoskovsk (K-407), Barents Sea Russia
GermanyTubsat-N TUB Low Earth Communications 23 April 2002 Successful
GermanyTubsat-N1 TUB Low Earth Communications 21 October 2000 Successful
RussiaShtil 1 Makeev Low Earth Measure carrier rocket performance 8 May 2014 Successful
Maiden flight of Shtil' and first orbital launch from a submarine
10 July
06:30
UkraineZenit-2 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 45/1 Russia
RussiaResurs-O1 4 Low Earth Remote sensing In orbit Operational
ChileFasat-Bravo FACh Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
TMSAT Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
IsraelGurwin Techsat 1B Technion Low Earth Technology development In orbit Operational
WESTPAC WPLTN Low Earth Laser tracking In orbit Operational
GermanySAFIR-2 DLR Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Fasat-Bravo is the first successful Chilean satellite
18 July
09:20
ChinaLong March 3B ChinaXichang LC-2 China
ChinaSinosat-1 SinoSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
22 July IranShahab-3 IranEmamshahr Iran
Suborbital Missile test 22 July Failure
Maiden flight of Shahab-3
28 July
09:15
UkraineZenit-2 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 45/1 Russia
RussiaKosmos 2360 (Tselina-2) MO RF Low Earth SIGINT In orbit Operational

August[edit]

2 August
16:24
United StatesPegasus-XL/HAPS United StatesStargazer, Wallops Flight Facility United StatesOrbital Sciences
United StatesOrbcomm B5 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesOrbcomm B6 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesOrbcomm B7 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesOrbcomm B8 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesOrbcomm B4 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications 22 December 2018
07:12
Successful
United StatesOrbcomm B3 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesOrbcomm B2 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesOrbcomm B1 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
The decommissioned Orbcomm B4 satellite disintegrated into 34 pieces in 2018; the cause is under investigation as of January 2019[21]
12 August
11:30
United StatesTitan IVA 401/Centaur United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-41 United StatesLockheed Martin
United StatesMercury-3 Intended: Geosynchronous ELINT 12 August
T+40 seconds
Launch Failure
Final flight of Titan IVA
Control lost after guidance system malfunction; Range Safety self-destruct
13 August
09:43
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaSoyuz TM-28 Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Mir EO-26 28 February 1999
02:14
Successful
Crewed orbital flight with three cosmonauts
15 August
05:30
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands United StatesNASA
United StatesEEV CCD NASA Suborbital X-ray astronomy 15 August Successful
19 August
23:01
ChinaLong March 2C ChinaTaiyuan LC-1 China
United StatesIridium 3 Iridium Low Earth Communications 8 February 2018[22] Successful
United StatesIridium 76 Iridium Low Earth Communications 28 August 2018[23] Successful
21 August RussiaR-29 RussiaSubmarine, Barents Sea RussiaRussian Navy
Russian Navy Suborbital Missile test 21 August Successful
25 August
23:07
European UnionAriane 4 44P FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
SingaporeTaiwanST-1 Singapore Telecom/Chunghwa Telecom Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
27 August
01:17
United StatesDelta III 8930 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17B United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesGalaxy 10 PanAmSat Intended: Geosynchronous Communications 27 August
T+75 seconds
Launch Failure
Maiden flight of Delta III
Hydraulic failure in thrust vectoring system led to range safety self-destruct
30 August
00:31
RussiaProton-K/DM-2M KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/23 RussiaUnited StatesInternational Launch Services
LuxembourgAstra 2A SES Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
31 August
03:07
North KoreaTaepodong-1 North KoreaMusudan-ri North Korea
North KoreaKwangmyŏngsŏng-1 Chongon Intended: Low Earth Communications 31 August Launch Failure
First North Korean orbital launch attempt; Never achieved orbit due to a suspected third stage failure

September[edit]

8 September
21:13
United StatesDelta II 7920-10C United StatesVandenberg SLC-2W United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesIridium 82 Iridium Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesIridium 81 Iridium Low Earth Communications 17 July 2018[24] Successful
United StatesIridium 80 Iridium Low Earth Communications 12 August 2018[25] Successful
United StatesIridium 79 Iridium Low Earth Communications 29 November 2000 Spacecraft Failure
United StatesIridium 77 Iridium Low Earth Communications 22 September 2017[26] Spacecraft Failure
9 September
20:29
UkraineZenit-2 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 45/1 Russia
United StatesGlobalstar 5 Globalstar Intended: Low Earth Communications 9 September Launch Failure
United StatesGlobalstar 7 Globalstar Intended: Low Earth Communications
United StatesGlobalstar 9 Globalstar Intended: Low Earth Communications
United StatesGlobalstar 10 Globalstar Intended: Low Earth Communications
United StatesGlobalstar 11 Globalstar Intended: Low Earth Communications
United StatesGlobalstar 12 Globalstar Intended: Low Earth Communications
United StatesGlobalstar 13 Globalstar Intended: Low Earth Communications
United StatesGlobalstar 16 Globalstar Intended: Low Earth Communications
United StatesGlobalstar 17 Globalstar Intended: Low Earth Communications
United StatesGlobalstar 18 Globalstar Intended: Low Earth Communications
United StatesGlobalstar 20 Globalstar Intended: Low Earth Communications
United StatesGlobalstar 21 Globalstar Intended: Low Earth Communications
Computer error caused premature second stage cutout
16 September
06:31
European UnionAriane 4 44LP FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
United StatesPanAmSat 7 PanAmSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
16 September
11:10
RussiaTopol RussiaPlesetsk Site 158 RussiaRVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 16 September Successful
18 September
08:01
United StatesMinuteman III United StatesVandenberg LF-26 United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesGRP-IDF-2 US Air Force Suborbital Missile test 18 September Successful
18 September
15:00
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands United StatesNASA
United StatesSOAREX-1 NASA Suborbital Hypersonic dynamics test 18 September Successful
21 September
14:51
IndiaRH-560/300 MK II IndiaSriharikota IndiaISRO
IndiaGermanyDEOS F06 ISRO/DLR Suborbital Ionosphere research 21 September Successful
23 September
05:06
United StatesPegasus-XL/HAPS United StatesStargazer, Wallops Island United StatesOrbital Sciences
United StatesOrbcomm C1 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesOrbcomm C2 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesOrbcomm C3 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesOrbcomm C4 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesOrbcomm C5 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesOrbcomm C6 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesOrbcomm C7 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesOrbcomm C8 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
24 September
12:50
United StatesStorm-2 United StatesWhite Sands LC-32 United StatesOrbital Sciences
United StatesMTTV US Air Force Suborbital Target 24 September Successful
United StatesMTD-3 US Air Force Suborbital Weapons test 24 September Successful
28 September
15:11
IndiaRH-560/300 MK II IndiaSriharikota IndiaISRO
IndiaGermanyDEOS F07 ISRO/DLR Suborbital Ionosphere research 28 September Successful
28 September
23:41
RussiaMolniya-M RussiaPlesetsk Site 43/3 Russia
RussiaMolniya-1T MOM Molniya Communications In orbit Operational

October[edit]

3 October
10:04
United StatesTaurus 1110 United StatesVandenberg LC-576E United StatesOrbital Sciences
United StatesSTEX NRO Low Earth Technology research In orbit Partial satellite failure
United StatesUSA-141 (ATeX) NRO Low Earth Technology research In orbit Satellite failure
ATeX failed to deploy fully and was jettisoned from STEX on 16 January 1999 to protect the main spacecraft
5 October
22:51
European UnionAriane 4 44L FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
FranceEutelsat W2 Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
SwedenSirius 3 NSAB Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
7 October
12:00
RussiaUR-100NU KazakhstanBaikonur RussiaRVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 7 October Successful
9 October
22:50
United StatesAtlas IIA United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-36B RussiaUnited StatesInternational Launch Services
FranceHot Bird 5 Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
20 October
07:19
United StatesAtlas IIA United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-36A United States
United StatesUSA-140 (UHF F/O F9) US Navy Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
21 October
16:37
European UnionAriane 5G FranceKourou ELA-3 FranceArianespace
European UnionMaqsat 3 ESA Geosynchronous transfer Monitor rocket performance In orbit Successful
European UnionARD ESA Suborbital Spacecraft recovery demonstration 21 October Successful
ARD recovered in Pacific Ocean by French Navy
22 October
12:53
RussiaTopol RussiaPlesetsk Site 158 RussiaRVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 22 October Failure
Self-destruct activated after rocket went off course
23 October
00:02
United StatesPegasus-H United StatesStargazer, Cape Canaveral United StatesOrbital Sciences
BrazilSCD-2 INPE Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
24 October
21:13
United StatesDelta II 7326-9.5 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17A United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesDeep Space 1 NASA Heliocentric Asteroid/Comet probe In orbit Successful
United StatesSEDSAT-1 Alabama Low Earth Amateur radio In orbit Operational
Maiden flight of Delta II 7326
Deep Space 1 performed flybys of 1992 KD and 19P/Borrelly
25 October
04:14
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
RussiaProgress M-40 Roskosmos Low Earth (Mir) Logistics 5 February 1999
11:10
Successful
FranceUnited StatesRussiaSputnik-41 ACF/AMSAT/RuAF Low Earth Amateur radio 11 January 1999 Successful
Sputnik-41 deployed from Mir during an EVA on 10 November
28 October
22:15
European UnionAriane 4 44L FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
United StatesAfriStar 1worldspace Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
United StatesGE 5 GE Americom Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
29 October
19:19
United StatesSpace Shuttle Discovery United StatesKennedy LC-39B United StatesUnited Space Alliance
United StatesSTS-95 NASA Low Earth Microgravity research 7 November
17:03
Successful
United StatesSpaceHab Single Module NASA/SpaceHab Low Earth (Discovery) Scientific research
United StatesSPARTAN-201 NASA Low Earth Solar observation
United StatesPANSAT (PO-34) US Navy Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Crewed orbital flight with seven astronauts including the first Spanish space traveller (Pedro Duque) and the oldest person to fly in space (John Glenn)
PANSAT deployed on 30 October; SPARTAN deployed on 1 November and retrieved on 3 November

November[edit]

2 November
18:20
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands United StatesNASA
United StatesSOPHIE (NCAR/CU-7) NASA Suborbital Ultraviolet solar observation 2 November Successful
4 November
05:12
RussiaProton-K/DM-2M KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/23 RussiaUnited StatesInternational Launch services
United StatesPanAmSat 8 PanAmSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
6 November
01:32
United StatesAIT-1 United StatesKodiak Island United StatesOrbital Sciences
US Air Force Suborbital Rocket test 6 November Successful
First launch from Kodiak Island
6 November
13:37
United StatesDelta II 7920-10C United StatesVandenberg SLC-2W United StatesBoeing IDS
United StatesIridium 2 Iridium Low Earth Communications In orbit Spacecraft failure
United StatesIridium 86 Iridium Low Earth Communications 5 October 2018[27] Successful
United StatesIridium 85 Iridium Low Earth Communications 30 December 2000 Spacecraft failure
United StatesIridium 84 Iridium Low Earth Communications 4 November 2018[28] Successful
United StatesIridium 83 Iridium Low Earth Communications 5 November 2018[29] Successful
18 November
15:40
CanadaBlack Brant IX United StatesWhite Sands United StatesNASA
NASA Suborbital Microgravity research 18 November Successful
18 November
23:00
JapanTR-1 JapanTanegashima LA-T JapanNASDA
NASDA Suborbital Microgravity research 18 November Successful
20 November United StatesAries United StatesPacific Missile Range United StatesUS Air Force
United StatesTTV-1 US Air Force Suborbital Target vehicle 20 November Successful
20 November
05:12
RussiaProton-K KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/23 RussiaRoskosmos
United NationsZarya NASA/Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS module In orbit Operational
First launch of the International Space Station programme
22 November
23:54
United StatesDelta II 7925-9.5 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17B United StatesBoeing IDS
NorwayBONUM-1 Telenor Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
24 November
09:53
European UnionMaxus SwedenEsrange SwedenSSC
ESA Suborbital Scientific research 24 November Successful

December[edit]

3 December
11:04
United StatesNike-Orion SwedenEsrange GermanyDLR
GermanyMini-Texus 6 DLR Suborbital Microgravity research 3 December Successful
4 December
08:35
United StatesSpace Shuttle Endeavour United StatesKennedy LC-39A United StatesUnited Space Alliance