This article lists orbital and suborbital launches during the first half of the year 2021.
For all other spaceflight activities, see 2021 in spaceflight. For launches in the second half of 2021 see List of spaceflight launches in July–December 2021.
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | |||
Remarks | ||||||||
January[edit] | ||||||||
8 January 02:15[1] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | F9-104 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
Türksat 5A | Türksat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
17 January 19:38:51[4][5] |
LauncherOne | F2 | Cosmic Girl, Mojave | Virgin Orbit | ||||
⚀ CACTUS-1 | Capitol Technology University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ CAPE-3 | UL Lafayette | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ExoCube-2 | Cal Poly | Low Earth | Atmospheric research | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ MiTEE | University of Michigan | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 15 June 2023[6] | Successful | |||
⚀ PICS 1, 2 | Brigham Young University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ PolarCube | CU Boulder | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 6 June 2023[7] | Successful | |||
⚀ Prometheus 2.8 | U.S. Department of Defense | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 27 April 2023[8] | Successful | |||
⚀ Prometheus 2.11 | U.S. Department of Defense | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 2 May 2023[9] | Successful | |||
⚀ Q-PACE (Cu-PACE) | UCF | Low Earth | Microgravity research | In orbit | Spacecraft failure[10] | |||
⚀ RadFxSat-2 (Fox-1E) | Vanderbilt University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ TechEdSat-7 (TES-7) | NASA Ames | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 4 May 2022[11] | Successful | |||
Launch of NASA's ELaNa 20 mission.[2][3] Second flight and first successful launch of LauncherOne. | ||||||||
19 January 16:25[12] |
Long March 3B/E | 3B-Y74 | Xichang LC-2 | CASC | ||||
Tiantong-1 03 | China Satcom | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
20 January 07:26[13] |
Electron | "Another One Leaves The Crust" | Mahia LC-1A | Rocket Lab | ||||
GMS-T | OHB SE / GMS | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
20 January 13:02[14] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink V1.0-L16 | Kennedy LC-39A | SpaceX | ||||
Starlink × 60 | SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
First time that a Falcon 9 first stage booster (B1051) is re-flown and recovered for the 8th time and shortest turnaround for a booster so far (38 days). | ||||||||
24 January 15:00[21] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 / SHERPA-FX | Transporter-1 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
Starlink × 10[22] | SpaceX | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | 25 January 2022[23] | Successful | |||
ION SCV-002 Laurentius[24] | D-Orbit | Low Earth (SSO) | CubeSat deployer | In orbit | Operational | |||
Capella-3 (Whitney 1)[25] | Capella Space | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 26 February 2023[26] | Successful | |||
Capella-4 (Whitney 2)[25] | Capella Space | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 8 April 2023[27] | Successful | |||
GHGSat-C2 (Hugo)[28] | GHGSat | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Hawk-2A, 2B, 2C[29] | HawkEye 360 | Low Earth (SSO) | SIGINT / Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
ICEYE × 2[30] | ICEYE | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Izanami (QPS-SAR 2)[31][32] | iQPS | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
XR-1[33] | ICEYE-US | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ARCE-1A, 1B, 1C[17][34] | University of South Florida | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ASELSAT[35][36] | ASELSAT | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Astrocast × 5 | Astrocast SA | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Charlie[37] | Aurora Insight | Low Earth (SSO) | RF sensing | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Flock 4s × 48[38] | Planet Labs | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Hiber Four[39] | Hiber | Low Earth (SSO) | Remote sensing | In orbit | Spacecraft failure[40] | |||
⚀ IDEASSat[41] | NSPO / NCU | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Successful[42] | |||
⚀ Kepler × 8[28] | Kepler | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Lemur-2 × 8 | Spire Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ PIXL-1 (CubeLCT)[43] | DLR / TESAT | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Successful[44] | |||
⚀ Prometheus 2.10[17] | U.S. Department of Defense | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ PTD-1[45] | NASA Ames / Tyvak | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ SOMP-2b[46] | TU Dresden | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ SpaceBEE × 36[47] | Swarm Technologies | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ UVSQ-SAT[48] | UVSQ | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ V-R3x × 3[49][50] | NASA | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ YUSAT[41] | NSPO | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Successful[42] | |||
Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to Sun-synchronous orbit. ELaNa 35 launched aboard Spaceflight's Sherpa-FX1 as part of the SXRS-3 mission.[15][16][17] Sherpa-FX1 hosts two on-board payloads: Celestis Horizon space burial flight[17][18] and TAGSAT-1.[19] A record 143 satellites were deployed, exceeding the previous record of 108 satellites launched by an Antares in 2018.[20] | ||||||||
29 January 04:47[51][52] |
Long March 4C | 4C-Y31 | Jiuquan SLS-2 | CASC | ||||
Yaogan 31-02A | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
Yaogan 31-02B | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
Yaogan 31-02C | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
February[edit] | ||||||||
1 February 08:15[55][56] |
Hyperbola-1 | Y2 | Jiuquan LS-95A | i-Space | ||||
Tianshu | Xu Bing | Low Earth (SSO) | Space art | 1 February | Launch failure | |||
Second Hyperbola-1 flight. Rocket disintegrated shortly after passing max q. Contrary to initial reports, Space Ark's Fangzhou-2 (Ark-2) satellite did not launch on this flight.[53][54] | ||||||||
2 February 20:45:28[57] |
Soyuz-2.1b | Plesetsk Site 43/4 | RVSN RF | |||||
Lotos-S1 №4 (Kosmos 2549)[58] | VKS | Low Earth | ELINT | In orbit | Operational | |||
4 February 06:19[59] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink V1.0-L18 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
Starlink × 60 | SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
4 February 15:36[60][61] |
Long March 3B/E | 3B-Y77 | Xichang LC-3 | CASC | ||||
TJS-6 | SAST | Geosynchronous | SIGINT | In orbit | Operational | |||
15 February 04:45:05[62] |
Soyuz-2.1a | Baikonur Site 31/6 | Roscosmos | |||||
Progress MS-16 / 77P | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 26 July 2021 14:51[63] |
Successful | |||
Progress 77 deorbited the Pirs module to make way for the arrival of Nauka in July 2021. | ||||||||
16 February 03:59:37[65] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink V1.0-L19 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
Starlink × 60 | SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
At least one of the engines of the first-stage booster, B1059.6, failed during or at the end of its re-entry burn, precluding recovery of the booster. It impacted the Atlantic away from the drone ship.[64] | ||||||||
20 February 17:36:50[71][72] |
Antares 230+ | MARS LP-0A | Northrop Grumman | |||||
Cygnus NG-15 S.S. Katherine Johnson |
NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 2 July 01:30 |
Successful | |||
MMSATS-1 (Lawkanat-1)[73] | MAEU / Hokkaido University | Low Earth | Earth observation | 4 April 2023[74] | Successful | |||
ThinSat-2 × 9[75] | Virginia Space | Low Earth | Technology demonstration / Education | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ GuaraníSat-1[76] | Kyushu Institute of Technology / Paraguayan Space Agency | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 5 July 2022[77] | Successful | |||
⚀ Gunsmoke-J 2[78][66] | USA SMDC / LANL | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 28 December 2023[79] | Successful | |||
⚀ HIROGARI (OPUSAT-II)[80] | Osaka Prefecture University / Muroran Institute of Technology | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 15 April 2022[81] | Successful | |||
⚀ IT-SPINS (SpaceBuoy)[82] | MSU | Low Earth | Ionospheric research | In orbit | Operational[83] | |||
⚀ Maya-2[84] | Kyushu Institute of Technology | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 7 July 2022[85] | Successful | |||
⚀ MYSat-2 (DhabiSat)[86] | Khalifa University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational[83] | |||
⚀ ORCA-6[87] | DARPA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 31 January 2023[88] | Successful | |||
⚀ ORCA-7[87] | DARPA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 31 January 2023[89] | Successful | |||
⚀ RSP-01 | Ryman Sat Project | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 10 June 2022[90] | Successful | |||
⚀ STARS-EC (Sankō)[91] | Shizuoka University | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 15 April 2022[92] | Successful | |||
⚀ TAU-SAT1[93] | Tel Aviv University | Low Earth | Education | 5 May 2022[94] | Successful | |||
⚀ TSURU[84] | Kyushu Institute of Technology | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 5 July 2022[95] | Successful | |||
⚀ WARP-01 (Nichirin)[96] | Warpspace | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 1 May 2022[97] | Successful | |||
The ELaNa 33 mission (consisting of one satellite, IT-SPINS) launched on this resupply flight.[15] Carrying two undisclosed satellites.[66] First Paraguayan and Burmese satellites launched on this flight. Tsuru, Maya-2, GuaraníSat-1, OPUSAT-II, RSP-01, WARP-01, TAU-SAT1, and STARS-EC were deployed into orbit from ISS on 14 March 2021.[67] MMSATS-1—Myanmar's first satellite—was temporarily held on board the station, its deployment delayed due to the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état.[68] MMSATS-1 was deployed into orbit on 22 March 2021.[69] IT-Spins and MySat-2 were deployed into orbit on 29 June 2021 from Cygnus NG-15 after its departure from the ISS.[70] | ||||||||
24 February 02:22[98][99] |
Long March 4C | 4C-Y32 | Jiuquan SLS-2 | CASC | ||||
Yaogan 31-03A | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
Yaogan 31-03B | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
Yaogan 31-03C | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
28 February 04:54[100][101] |
PSLV-DL | C51 | Satish Dhawan FLP | ISRO | ||||
Amazônia-1[102] | INPE | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ SAI-1 NanoConnect-2[103] | UNAM | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 25 November 2023[104] | Successful | |||
⚀ SDSAT | Space Kidz India | Low Earth (SSO) | Magnetospheric research / Education | 18 July 2023[105] | Successful | |||
⚀ SindhuNetra | PESU / DRDO | Low Earth (SSO) | AIS ship tracking | 14 December 2023[106] | Successful | |||
⚀ SpaceBEE × 12 | Swarm Technologies | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | First: 24 November 2022[107] Last: 10 January 2023[108] |
Successful | |||
⚀ JITSat (UNITYsat 1) | JIT | Low Earth (SSO) | Amateur radio / IoT | 6 June 2023[109] | Successful | |||
⚀ GHRCESat (UNITYsat 2) | GHRCE | Low Earth (SSO) | Amateur radio / IoT | 11 July 2023[110] | Successful | |||
⚀ SriShakthiSat (UNITYsat 3) | SIET | Low Earth (SSO) | Amateur radio / IoT | 6 June 2023[111] | Successful | |||
First Brazilian Earth observation satellite. | ||||||||
28 February 06:55:01[112] |
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat | Baikonur Site 31/6 | Roscosmos | |||||
Arktika-M №1[113] | Roscosmos | Molniya | Meteorology | In orbit | Operational | |||
March[edit] | ||||||||
4 March 08:24:54[114] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink V1.0-L17 | Kennedy LC-39A | SpaceX | ||||
Starlink × 60 | SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Starlink V1.0-L17 mission launched after L18 and L19 due to multiple launch delays. | ||||||||
11 March 08:13:29[115] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink V1.0-L20 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
Starlink × 60 | SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
11 March 17:51:28[116] |
Long March 7A | 7A-Y2 | Wenchang LC-2 | CASC | ||||
Shiyan 9 | CAST | Geosynchronous | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
Reflight of the Long March 7A, which failed its maiden flight on 16 March 2020. | ||||||||
13 March 02:19[117][118] |
Long March 4C | 4C-Y42 | Jiuquan SLS-2 | CASC | ||||
Yaogan 31-04A | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
Yaogan 31-04B | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
Yaogan 31-04C | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
14 March 10:01:26[119] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink V1.0-L21 | Kennedy LC-39A | SpaceX | ||||
Starlink × 60 | SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
First time a first-stage booster flew and landed for the ninth time (B1051) and fastest turnaround time for a fairing half so far (49 days). | ||||||||
22 March 06:07:12[121] |
Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat | Baikonur Site 31/6 | GK Launch Services | |||||
CAS500-1 | KARI | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
ELSA-d Servicer[120] | Astroscale | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
ELSA-d Client[120] | Astroscale | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
DMSAT-1 | MBRSC | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Fukui Prefectural Satellite[122] | Axelspace / FSTRA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
GRUS -1 × 3[122] | Axelspace | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Vigoride SC (mock-up) | Low Earth (SSO) | Mass simulator | In orbit | Successful | ||||
⚀ ADELIS-SAMSON x 3[123] | Technion | Low Earth (SSO) | Satellite formation flying Technology demonstration |
In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ BeeSat × 4 | TU Berlin | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ChallengeOne[124] | Telnet Tunisie [fr] | Low Earth (SSO) | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ CubeSX-HSE[125] | HSE | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation Education |
In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ CubeSX-Sirius-HSE[125] | Sirius Educational Centre [ru] | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation Education |
In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ GRBAlpha | TUKE | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Hiber-3[123] | Hiber | Low Earth (SSO) | IoT | In orbit | Spacecraft failure[40] | |||
⚀ Kepler × 2[126] | Kepler | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ KMSL[123] | Chosun University | Low Earth (SSO) | Microgravity research | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ KSU_CubeSat[127] | KSU | Low Earth (SSO) | Education | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ LacunaSat2-B | Lacuna Space | Low Earth (SSO) | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Shaheen Sat 17 (Najm-1)[128] | KACST | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ NANOSATC-BR2[123] | UFSM | Low Earth (SSO) | Ionospheric research | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ OrbiCraft-Zorkiy[129][125] | Sputnix | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Pumbaa[123] | Yonsei University | Low Earth (SSO) | Solar observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Timon[123] | Yonsei University | Low Earth (SSO) | Solar observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ WildTrackCube-SIMBA[130] | Sapienza University of Rome / University of Nairobi / Machakos University | Low Earth (SSO) | Animal tracking | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ 3B5GSAT[131][132] | Sateliot / AEC | Low Earth (SSO) | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
UNISAT-7[133] | GAUSS Srl | Low Earth (SSO) | Satellite dispenser Technology demonstration |
In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ BCCSAT-1[133] | Bangkok Christian College / KMUTNB | Low Earth (SSO) | Education | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ FEES[133] | GP Advanced Projects | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
▫ DIY (ARDUIQUBE)[133] | Diysatellite | Low Earth (SSO) | Education | 22 July 2023[134] | Successful | |||
▫ SMOG-1[133] | BME | Low Earth (SSO) | Spectrum analysis | In orbit | Operational | |||
▫ STECCO[133] | Sapienza University of Rome | Low Earth (SSO) | Laser ranging | In orbit | Operational | |||
First fully commercial mission launched by GK Launch Services. ELSA-d will demonstrate space debris removal technology.[120] ChallengeOne is the first Tunisian satellite. | ||||||||
22 March 22:30[135][136] |
Electron | "They Go Up So Fast" | Mahia LC-1A | Rocket Lab | ||||
Photon Pathstone | Rocket Lab | Low Earth | Space tug Technology demonstration |
14 March 2023[137] | Successful | |||
BlackSky 7 (Global-9) | BlackSky | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Centauri 3 | Fleet Space | Low Earth | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Gunsmoke-J 1[78] | USA SMDC / LANL | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ M2 × 2 | UNSW | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Myriota 7 | Myriota | Low Earth | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Veery Hatchling | Care Weather Technologies | Low Earth | Meteorology | In orbit | Operational | |||
Second Photon satellite. This Photon will be used to perform tests in preparation for the upcoming CAPSTONE mission. | ||||||||
24 March 08:28:24[138] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink V1.0-L22 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
Starlink × 60 | SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
25 March 02:47:33[139] |
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat | ST30 | Vostochny Site 1S | Arianespace / Starsem | ||||
OneWeb × 36 | OneWeb | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
30 March 22:45[140] |
Long March 4C | 4C-Y36 | Jiuquan SLS-2 | CASC | ||||
Gaofen-12 02 | CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
April[edit] | ||||||||
7 April 16:34:18[141] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink V1.0-L23 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
Starlink × 60 | SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
8 April 23:01[143] |
Long March 4B | 4B-Y49 | Taiyuan LC-9 | CASC | ||||
Shiyan 6-03 | CAST | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
Shiyan 6-03 is demonstrating an ultra-dark nanocomposite coating, which aims to reduce stray light interference with onboard optical sensors.[142] | ||||||||
9 April 07:42:40[144] |
Soyuz-2.1a | Baikonur Site 31/6 | Roscosmos | |||||
Soyuz MS-18 | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 64/65 | 17 October 04:35[145] |
Successful | |||
23 April 09:49:02[146] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | F9-114 | Kennedy LC-39A | SpaceX | ||||
SpaceX Crew-2 | SpaceX / NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 65/66 | 9 November 03:33:16 |
Successful | |||
Second operational Crew Dragon mission, as part of the Commercial Crew Program. | ||||||||
25 April 22:14:08[147] |
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat | ST31 | Vostochny Site 1S | Arianespace / Starsem | ||||
OneWeb × 36 | OneWeb | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
26 April 20:47[148] |
Delta IV Heavy | D-386 | Vandenberg SLC-6 | ULA | ||||
KH-11 18 (USA-314) | NRO | Low Earth (SSO) | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
NROL-82 mission. | ||||||||
27 April 03:20[149][150] |
Long March 6 | Y5 | Taiyuan LC-16 | CASC | ||||
Qilu-1 | SDIIT | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Qilu-4 | SDIIT | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Foshan-1 | Ji Hua Laboratory | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Zhongan Guotong-1 (HS-1) | Hangsheng Satellite / Zhongan Guotong Satellite Technology Development | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Tianqi-9 | Guodian Gaoke | Low Earth (SSO) | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Origin Space NEO-1 | Origin Space | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Tai King II 01 | MinoSpace | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Golden Bauhinia-1 01 | ZeroG Lab | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Golden Bauhinia-1 02 | ZeroG Lab | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
First Long March Express commercial rideshare mission with launch services contracted by CGWIC. | ||||||||
29 April 01:50:00[153] |
Vega | VV18 | Kourou ELV | Arianespace | ||||
Pléiades-Neo 3[154] | Airbus Defence and Space | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
NorSat-3[155] | NOSA | Low Earth (SSO) | AIS ship tracking | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Bravo[37] | Aurora Insight | Low Earth (SSO) | RF sensing | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ELO Alpha[156] | Eutelsat | Low Earth (SSO) | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Lemur-2 × 2[157] | Spire Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Small Satellites Mission Service (SSMS) piggyback mission.[151] Return to flight for Vega after the November 2020 launch failure.[152] | ||||||||
29 April 03:23:15[158][159] |
Long March 5B | 5B-Y2 | Wenchang LC-1 | CASC | ||||
Tianhe | CMSA | Low Earth | Space station assembly | In orbit | Operational | |||
Tianhe is the core module of the Tiangong space station, providing life support and living quarters for three crew members, and guidance, navigation and attitude control for the station. | ||||||||
29 April 03:44[160] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink V1.0-L24 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
Starlink × 60 | SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
30 April 07:27[161] |
Long March 4C | 4C-Y34 | Jiuquan SLS-2 | CASC | ||||
Yaogan 34 | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
May[edit] | ||||||||
4 May 19:01:07[162] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink V1.0-L25 | Kennedy LC-39A | SpaceX | ||||
Starlink × 60 | SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
6 May 18:11[163][164] |
Long March 2C | 2C-Y47 | Xichang LC-3 | CASC | ||||
Yaogan 30-08A | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
Yaogan 30-08B | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
Yaogan 30-08C | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Tianqi-12 | Guodian Gaoke | Low Earth | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
9 May 06:42[165] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink V1.0-L27 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
Starlink × 60 | SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
First time a first-stage booster flew and landed for the tenth time (B1051). | ||||||||
15 May 11:11[167] |
Electron | "Running Out of Toes" | Mahia LC-1A | Rocket Lab | ||||
BlackSky 8[168] | BlackSky | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 15 May | Launch failure | |||
BlackSky 9[168] | BlackSky | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | |||||
First of four dedicated launches for BlackSky.[166] Second ocean splashdown recovery mission for the first stage. An anomaly occurred at second stage ignition, causing the vehicle to spin out of control. The first stage successfully splashed down using parachutes in the Pacific Ocean. | ||||||||
15 May 22:56[169] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink V1.0-L26 | Kennedy LC-39A | SpaceX | ||||
Starlink × 52 | SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Capella-6 (Whitney 4)[170] | Capella Space | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Tyvak-0130[171] | Tyvak / LLNL | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Starlink SmallSat Rideshare mission. | ||||||||
18 May 17:37[172] |
Atlas V 421 | AV-091[173] | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 | ULA | ||||
SBIRS-GEO 5 (USA-315)[174] | U.S. Space Force | Geosynchronous | Early warning | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ TDO-3 | U.S. Air Force Academy | Highly elliptical | Technology demonstration | 27 September 2022[175] | Successful | |||
⚀ TDO-4 | U.S. Air Force Academy | Highly elliptical | Technology demonstration | 18 September 2022[176] | Successful | |||
19 May 04:03[177] |
Long March 4B | 4B-Y48 | Jiuquan SLS-2 | CASC | ||||
HaiYang-2D | Ministry of Natural Resources | Low Earth | Oceanography | In orbit | Operational | |||
26 May 18:59[178] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink V1.0-L28 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
Starlink × 60 | SpaceX | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
First Starlink orbital shell, consisting of 1,584 satellites orbiting at an altitude of 550 kilometres (340 mi), was completed with this launch. Last launch of Starlink Group 1 Satellites. | ||||||||
28 May 17:38:39[179] |
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat | ST32[180] | Vostochny Site 1S | Arianespace / Starsem | ||||
OneWeb × 36 | OneWeb | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
29 May 12:55:29[181][182] |
Long March 7 | Y3 | Wenchang LC-2 | CASC | ||||
Tianzhou 2 | CMSA | Low Earth (TSS) | Space logistics | 31 March 2022 10:40[183] |
Successful | |||
First cargo flight to the Tiangong space station. | ||||||||
June[edit] | ||||||||
2 June 16:17:04[184] |
Long March 3B/E | 3B-Y72 | Xichang LC-2 | CASC | ||||
Fengyun 4B | CMA | Geosynchronous | Meteorology | In orbit | Operational | |||
3 June 17:29:15[189] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | F9-120 | Kennedy LC-39A | SpaceX | ||||
SpaceX CRS-22 | NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 10 July 03:29 |
Successful | |||
⚀ G-SATELLITE 2 (BD-28)[190] | OneTeam / TOCOG | Low Earth | Space advertising | 15 September 2022[191] | Successful | |||
⚀ MIR-SAT1[192] | MRIC | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 18 April 2022[193] | Successful | |||
⚀ RamSat[194] | Robertsville Middle School | Low Earth | Education | 12 October 2022[195] | Successful | |||
⚀ SOAR[196] | University of Manchester | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 14 March 2022[197] | Successful[198] | |||
The ELaNa 36 mission (consisting of one satellite, RamSat) launched on this resupply flight.[185] RamSat and SOAR were deployed into orbit from ISS on 14 June 2021.[186] MIR-SAT1 and G-SATELLITE 2 were deployed on 22 June 2021.[187][188] Two Roll Out Solar Array (iROSA) units were delivered to the station to supplement the existing ISS Solar Arrays. | ||||||||
6 June 04:26[199] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | F9-121 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
SXM-8 | Sirius XM | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
11 June 03:03[200][201] |
Long March 2D | 2D-Y54 | Taiyuan LC-9 | CASC | ||||
Beijing-3A | China Spacesat | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Hisea-2 | Xiamen University | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Yang Wang-1[202] | Origin Space | Low Earth (SSO) | Space telescope / Asteroid cataloging | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Tianjian (TKSY01-TJ) | PLASSF Space Engineering University | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
12 June[203] | Simorgh | Semnan LP-2 | ISA | |||||
Unknown payload | Low Earth | 12 June | Launch failure | |||||
Failed to reach orbit. | ||||||||
13 June 08:11[204] |
Pegasus-XL | F45 | Stargazer, Vandenberg | Northrop Grumman | ||||
Odyssey | U.S. Space Force | Low Earth (SSO) | Space domain awareness | 18 December 2022[205] | Successful | |||
Tactically Responsive Launch-2 (TacRL-2) mission. | ||||||||
15 June 13:35[207] |
Minotaur I | MARS LP-0B | Northrop Grumman | |||||
USA-316 | NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
USA-317 | NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
USA-318 | NRO | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
NROL-111 mission.[206] | ||||||||
17 June 01:22:27[208][209] |
Long March 2F | 2F-Y12 | Jiuquan SLS-1 | CASC | ||||
Shenzhou 12 | CMSA | Low Earth (TSS) | Crewed spaceflight | 17 September 05:34[210] |
Successful | |||
First crewed flight to the Tianhe core module of the Tiangong space station, with astronauts Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo onboard. | ||||||||
17 June 16:09:35[212] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | F9-122 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
GPS IIIA-05 Neil Armstrong (USA-319) | U.S. Space Force | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
First DoD payload to fly on the single-stick Falcon 9 with a flight-proven first stage booster; the booster B1062 previously launched GPS IIIA-04 Sacagawea in November 2020. Named after American astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the Moon.[211] | ||||||||
18 June 06:30[213] |
Long March 2C | 2C-Y48 | Xichang LC-3 | CASC | ||||
Yaogan 30-09A | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
Yaogan 30-09B | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
Yaogan 30-09C | CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Tianqi-14 | Guodian Gaoke | Low Earth | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
25 June 19:50:00[215] |
Soyuz-2.1b | Plesetsk Site 43/4 | RVSN RF | |||||
Pion-NKS №1 (Kosmos 2550)[216] | VKS | Low Earth | SIGINT | In orbit | Operational | |||
Part of the Russian Liana SIGINT system.[214] | ||||||||
29 June 23:27:20[217] |
Soyuz-2.1a | Baikonur Site 31/6 | Roscosmos | |||||
Progress MS-17 / 78P | Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 25 November 14:34 |
Successful | |||
30 June 14:47[220] |
LauncherOne | "Tubular Bells, Part One" | Cosmic Girl, Mojave | VOX Space | ||||
⚀ BRIK-II | RNLAF | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ CNCE Blk 1 × 2 | MDA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | CNCE1: 31 October 2023[221] CNCE3: 31 October 2023[222] |
Successful | |||
⚀ Gunsmoke-J 3[78] | USA SMDC / LANL | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ HALO-Net Free Flyer[223] | U.S. Navy | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 25 November 2023[224] | Successful | |||
⚀ STORK-4 | SatRevolution | Low Earth | Earth observation | 3 October 2023[225] | Successful | |||
⚀ STORK-5 (MARTA) | SatRevolution | Low Earth | Earth observation | 22 October 2023[226] | Successful | |||
The launch campaign is named after Tubular Bells, the first record produced by Virgin Records in 1973.[218] STP-27VPA is composed of four military CubeSats: Gunsmoke-J 3, HALO-Net Free Flyer, and two CNCE Blk 1 satellites.[219] | ||||||||
30 June 19:31[228] |
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Transporter-2 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 | SpaceX | ||||
ION SCV-003 Dauntless David[230] | D-Orbit | Low Earth (SSO) | CubeSat deployer | In orbit | Operational | |||
Sherpa-FX2[231] | Spaceflight, Inc. | Low Earth (SSO) | CubeSat deployer | In orbit | Operational | |||
Sherpa-LTE1[231][232] | Spaceflight, Inc. | Low Earth (SSO) | Space tug | In orbit | Operational | |||
Starlink × 3 | SpaceX | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
Aurora (Shasta)[233][231] | Orbital Sidekick / Astro Digital | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Capella-5 (Whitney 3)[170] | Capella Space | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 23 February 2023[234] | Successful | |||
GNOMES-2[235][236] | PlanetIQ | Low Earth (SSO) | Radio occultation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Hawk-3A, 3B, 3C[231] | HawkEye 360 | Low Earth (SSO) | SIGINT / Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
ICEYE × 4[237] | ICEYE | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Lynk-06 (Shannon)[233][231] | Lynk Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
ÑuSat × 4[238] | Satellogic | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
Tanker-001 Tenzing[239] | Orbit Fab / Accion Systems | Low Earth (SSO) | Propellant depot Technology demonstration |
In orbit | Operational | |||
TUBIN[240] | TU Berlin | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
Umbra-2001[241][242] | Umbra Lab | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
YAM-2[233] | Loft Orbital | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
YAM-3[243] | Loft Orbital | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ ARTHUR-1[231] | Aerospacelab | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Astrocast × 5[231] | Astrocast SA | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Centauri 4 (Tyvak-0211)[244] | Fleet Space | Low Earth (SSO) | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ D2/AtlaCom-1[245][246] | NanoAvionics / Dragonfly Aerospace / Space JLTZ | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ EG-3 (Tyvak-0173)[247][248] | EchoStar | Low Earth (SSO) | Mobile-satellite service | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Faraday Phoenix[231] | In-Space Missions | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Ghalib[230][249] | Marshall Intech | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ KSM-2 × 4[231] | Kleos Space | Low Earth (SSO) | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Lemur-2 × 6[231] | Spire Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ LINCS 1, 2[250] | GA-EMS | Low Earth (SSO) | Laser communications | In orbit | Spacecraft failure[229] | |||
⚀ Mandrake 2A, 2B[251] | DARPA | Low Earth (SSO) | Laser communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ Napa-2 (RTAF-SAT 2)[230][252] | RTAF | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ NEPTUNO[230][253] | Elecnor Deimos | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ PACE-1[254] | NASA | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ PAINANI-II[231] | CISESE | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ QMR-KWT[230][255] | Orbital Space | Low Earth (SSO) | Education | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ SPARTAN[230][253] | EnduroSat | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ SpaceBEE × 24[231] | Swarm Technologies | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ SpaceBEE NZ × 4[256] | Swarm Technologies | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | First: 12 September 2023[257] Last: 19 September 2023[258] |
Successful | |||
⚀ Tiger-2 (Ayan-21)[233] | OQ Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | IoT | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ TROPICS Pathfinder[228] | NASA | Low Earth (SSO) | Meteorology | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀ W-Cube[230][259] | Reaktor Space Lab | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to sun-synchronous orbit. QMR-KWT will be Kuwait's first satellite.[227] This launch will also carry LaserCube, Nebula and Worldfloods as hosted payloads in the ION SCV-3 deployer and TagSat-2 as hosted payload in the SHERPA-FX2 deployer.[228] The two LINCS satellites entered an uncontrollable tumble after deployment due to "an issue with the launch vehicle".[229] | ||||||||
| ||||||||
For flights after 30 June, see 2021 in spaceflight (July–December)
|
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
14 January 17:17[260][261] |
New Shepard | NS-14 | Corn Ranch | Blue Origin | |||
Crew Capsule "RSS First Step" | Blue Origin | Suborbital | Flight test | 14 January 17:27 |
Successful | ||
Postcards × 50,000 | Club For The Future | Suborbital | Education | 14 January 17:27 |
Successful | ||
Apogee: 106.93 kilometres (66.44 mi). First flight of booster NS4 and crew capsule "RSS First Step". A BAT's postcard was the first payload from British Antarctic Territory to be sent into space. | |||||||
15 January[262][263] | Dezful/Zolfaghar | IRGC | |||||
Live warhead | IRGC | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 January | Successful | ||
Rapid launch of thirteen Dezful/Zolfaghar ballistic missiles with active warheads (1 of 13). | |||||||
15 January[262][263] | Dezful/Zolfaghar | IRGC | |||||
Live warhead | IRGC | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 January | Successful | ||
Rapid launch of thirteen Dezful/Zolfaghar ballistic missiles with active warheads (2 of 13). | |||||||
15 January[262][263] | Dezful/Zolfaghar | IRGC | |||||
Live warhead | IRGC | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 January | Successful | ||
Rapid launch of thirteen Dezful/Zolfaghar ballistic missiles with active warheads (3 of 13). | |||||||
15 January[262][263] | Dezful/Zolfaghar | IRGC | |||||
Live warhead | IRGC | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 January | Successful | ||
Rapid launch of thirteen Dezful/Zolfaghar ballistic missiles with active warheads (4 of 13). | |||||||
15 January[262][263] | Dezful/Zolfaghar | IRGC | |||||
Live warhead | IRGC | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 January | Successful | ||
Rapid launch of thirteen Dezful/Zolfaghar ballistic missiles with active warheads (5 of 13). | |||||||
15 January[262][263] | Dezful/Zolfaghar | IRGC | |||||
Live warhead | IRGC | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 January | Successful | ||
Rapid launch of thirteen Dezful/Zolfaghar ballistic missiles with active warheads (6 of 13). | |||||||
15 January[262][263] | Dezful/Zolfaghar | IRGC | |||||
Live warhead | IRGC | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 January | Successful | ||
Rapid launch of thirteen Dezful/Zolfaghar ballistic missiles with active warheads (7 of 13). | |||||||
15 January[262][263] | Dezful/Zolfaghar | IRGC | |||||
Live warhead | IRGC | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 January | Successful | ||
Rapid launch of thirteen Dezful/Zolfaghar ballistic missiles with active warheads (8 of 13). | |||||||
15 January[262][263] | Dezful/Zolfaghar | IRGC | |||||
Live warhead | IRGC | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 January | Successful | ||
Rapid launch of thirteen Dezful/Zolfaghar ballistic missiles with active warheads (9 of 13). | |||||||
15 January[262][263] | Dezful/Zolfaghar | IRGC | |||||
Live warhead | IRGC | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 January | Successful | ||
Rapid launch of thirteen Dezful/Zolfaghar ballistic missiles with active warheads (10 of 13). | |||||||
15 January[262][263] | Dezful/Zolfaghar | IRGC | |||||
Live warhead | IRGC | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 January | Successful | ||
Rapid launch of thirteen Dezful/Zolfaghar ballistic missiles with active warheads (11 of 13). | |||||||
15 January[262][263] | Dezful/Zolfaghar | IRGC | |||||
Live warhead | IRGC | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 January | Successful | ||
Rapid launch of thirteen Dezful/Zolfaghar ballistic missiles with active warheads (12 of 13). | |||||||
15 January[262][263][264] | Dezful/Zolfaghar | IRGC | |||||
Live warhead | IRGC | Suborbital | Missile test | 15 January | Successful | ||
Rapid launch of thirteen Dezful/Zolfaghar ballistic missiles with active warheads (13 of 13). | |||||||
16 January[262] | Sejil-2 | ||||||
Re-entry vehicle | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 January | Successful | |||
Launch of a Sejjil missile at a simulated target in the Indian Ocean (1 of 3). | |||||||
16 January[262] | Sejil-2 | ||||||
Re-entry vehicle | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 January | Successful | |||
Launch of a Sejjil missile at a simulated target in the Indian Ocean (2 of 3). | |||||||
16 January[262] | Sejil-2 | ||||||
Re-entry vehicle | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 January | Successful | |||
Launch of a Sejjil missile at a simulated target in the Indian Ocean (3 of 3). | |||||||
16 January[262] | Emad | ||||||
Re-entry vehicle | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 January | Successful | |||
Launch of an Emad missile at a simulated target in the Indian Ocean (1 of 2). | |||||||
16 January[262] | Emad | ||||||
Re-entry vehicle | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 January | Successful | |||
Launch of an Emad missile at a simulated target in the Indian Ocean (2 of 2). | |||||||
16 January[262] | Ghadr-110 | ||||||
Re-entry vehicle | Suborbital | Missile test | 16 January | Successful | |||
Launch of a Ghadr missile at a simulated target in the Indian Ocean. | |||||||
20 January[265] | Shaheen-III | ||||||
Suborbital | Missile test | 20 January | Successful | ||||
Shaheen-III missile test. | |||||||
31 January[266][267][268] | Zuljanah | Semnan CLP | ISA | ||||
Instrumented dummy satellite | Suborbital | Flight test | 31 January | Successful | |||
Suborbital test launch of the Zuljanah satellite launch vehicle. Apogee 500km. | |||||||
3 February[269] | Ghaznavi | ASFC | |||||
ASFC | Suborbital | Missile test | 3 February | Successful | |||
4 February[270] | B-611 | Taiyuan | PLA | ||||
PLA | Suborbital | ABM target | 4 February | Successful | |||
Interceptor target | |||||||
4 February[270] | SC-19 | PLA | |||||
PLA | Suborbital | ABM test | 4 February | Successful | |||
Interceptor, successful intercept. | |||||||
5 February 09:05[271] |
OS-X6B | OneSpace | |||||
Experimental payload | OneSpace | Suborbital | Technology demonstration | 5 February | Successful | ||
Maiden flight of suborbital rocket OS-X6B. Apogee at 300 km (190 mi). | |||||||
9 February[272][273] | UGM-133 Trident II | USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) | U.S. Navy | ||||
U.S. Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 9 February | Successful | |||
1 of 4. | |||||||
10 February[272][273] | UGM-133 Trident II | USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) | U.S. Navy | ||||
U.S. Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 10 February | Successful | |||
2 of 4. | |||||||
11 February[272][273] | UGM-133 Trident II | USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) | U.S. Navy | ||||
U.S. Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 February | Successful | |||
3 of 4. | |||||||
11 February[272][273] | UGM-133 Trident II | USS West Virginia (SSBN 736) | U.S. Navy | ||||
U.S. Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 11 February | Successful | |||
4 of 4. | |||||||
24 February 07:49[274] |
Minuteman-III | Vandenberg Air Force Base | U.S. Air Force | ||||
Test reentry vehicle | U.S. Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 24 February | Successful | ||
27 February[275][276] | Zulfiqar | Houthis | |||||
Live warhead | Houthis | Suborbital | Missile launch | 27 February | Warhead intercepted | ||
Successful launch. Warhead was intercepted. | |||||||
3 March[277][278][279] | Terrier-Terrier-Oriole | Wallops Flight Facility | Space Vector | ||||
TBA | US Department of Defense | Suborbital | Space ionization | 3 March | Successful | ||
7 March[280][281] | Zulfiqar | Houthis | |||||
Live warhead | Houthis | Suborbital | Missile launch | 7 March | Successful | ||
12 March 13:30[282] |
RH-560 Mk.III | Satish Dhawan Space Centre | ISRO | ||||
TMA | ISRO | Suborbital | Vapor release | 12 March | Successful | ||
First launch of the RH-560 Mk.III | |||||||
26 March[283] | Zulfiqar | Houthis | |||||
Live warhead | Houthis | Suborbital | Missile launch | 26 March | Successful | ||
26 March[284] | Shaheen 1-A | ASFC | |||||
ASFC | Suborbital | Missile test | 26 March | Successful | |||
14 April 16:51[285] |
New Shepard | NS-15 | Corn Ranch | Blue Origin | |||
Crew Capsule "RSS First Step" | Blue Origin | Suborbital | Flight test | 14 April 17:01 |
Successful | ||
Postcards × 25,000 | Club For The Future | Suborbital | Education | 14 April 17:01 |
Successful | ||
Apogee: 106.30 kilometres (66.05 mi). Second flight of booster NS4 and crew capsule "RSS First Step" that included Astronaut Rehearsal. | |||||||
19 April 08:30[286] |
Black Brant IX | SHIELDS | White Sands Missile Range | NASA | |||
SHIELDS[287] | University of Arizona | Suborbital | Space telescope | 19 April | Successful | ||
Apogee: 284.8 km (177 mi). | |||||||
23 April 11:40[288] |
Sky Bow III | Jiupeng Air Force Base | NCSIST | ||||
NCSIST | Suborbital | Missile test | 23 April | Successful | |||
Vertical test flight. Apogee: >80 km (50 mi). | |||||||
26 April[289] | 53T6M | Sary-Shagan | |||||
Suborbital | ABM test flight | 26 April | Successful | ||||
28 April[290][291] | M51 | Biscarrosse | |||||
Re-entry vehicle | French Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 April | Successful | ||
1 May ≈18:00[292] |
Spaceport America | United States Military Academy | |||||
United States Military Academy | Suborbital | Amateur rocket | 1 May | Successful | |||
Apogee: 84 km (52 mi). | |||||||
17 May 00:44[293][294] |
Black Brant XII-A | KiNET-X 2 | Wallops Flight Facility | NASA | |||
KiNET-X 2 | University of Alaska Fairbanks | Suborbital | Plasma science | 17 May | Successful | ||
18 May 17:30[295] |
Black Brant IX | EUNIS | White Sands Missile Range | NASA | |||
Extreme Ultraviolet Normal-Incidence Spectrograph | Goddard Space Flight Center | Suborbital | Solar observation | 18 May | Successful | ||
Apogee: 335.4 km (208.4 mi). | |||||||
22 May 15:26[297] |
SpaceShipTwo | VF-03 | Spaceport America | Virgin Galactic | |||
VSS Unity | Virgin Galactic | Suborbital | Crewed spaceflight | 22 May 15:43 |
Successful | ||
First human spaceflight launched from New Mexico. Apogee: 89.23 km (55.45 mi).[296] | |||||||
24 May 05:35[298] |
Improved Malemute/Improved Malemute | MAPHEUS 11 | Esrange | DLR | |||
MAPHEUS 11 | DLR | Suborbital | Microgravity research | 24 May 05:50 |
Successful | ||
First launch of the Improved Malemute/Improved Malemute. Apogee: 221 km (137 mi). | |||||||
26 May[299] | Terrier-Oriole T4-B | FS-21 E3a | Deep Sea Range | ||||
Suborbital | Target missile | 26 May | Successful | ||||
Intercepted by an SM-3 missile. | |||||||
26 May[299] | SM-3 | FS-21 E3a | USS Paul Ignatius | U.S. Navy | |||
Kill vehicle | U.S. Navy | Suborbital | ABM test | 26 May | Successful | ||
Intercepted a target ballistic missile in space. | |||||||
27 May 01:15[300][301] |
Terrier-Improved Malemute | VIPER | Wallops Flight Facility | NASA | |||
VIPER | University of Berkeley | Suborbital | Ionospheric propagation | 27 May | Successful | ||
29 May[302] | MRBM T3c2 | FTM-31 E1 | Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site | MDA | |||
SM-6 target | MDA | Suborbital | ABM target | 29 May | Successful | ||
Flight Test Aegis Weapon System 31 Event 1, a test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. MRBM target for two SM-6 Dual II missiles. Was not intercepted. | |||||||
29 May[302] | SM-6 Dual II | FTM-31 E1 | Unnamed U.S. naval vessel | MDA / U.S. Navy | |||
Kill vehicle | U.S. Navy | Suborbital | ABM test | 29 May | Successful launch; intercept failure | ||
Flight Test Aegis Weapon System 31 Event 1, a test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. Launch of two SM-6 Dual II missiles. Successfully launched; vehicle failed to intercept target. | |||||||
29 May[302] | SM-6 Dual II | FTM-31 E1 | Unnamed U.S. naval vessel | MDA / U.S. Navy | |||
Kill vehicle | U.S. Navy | Suborbital | ABM test | 29 May | Successful launch; intercept failure | ||
Flight Test Aegis Weapon System 31 Event 1, a test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. Launch of two SM-6 Dual II missiles. Successfully launched; vehicle failed to intercept target. | |||||||
30 May[303][304] | Terrier-Oriole T4-B | FS-21 E6a | Deep Sea Range | ||||
Suborbital | Target missile | 30 May | Successful | ||||
Intercepted by an SM-3 missile. | |||||||
30 May[303][304] | SM-3 | FS-21 E6a | USS Paul Ignatius | U.S. Navy | |||
Kill vehicle | U.S. Navy | Suborbital | ABM test | 30 May | Successful | ||
Intercepted a target ballistic missile in space. | |||||||
7 June 06:25[305] |
Black Brant IX | CIBER 2 | White Sands Missile Range | NASA | |||
CIBER 2 | Rochester Institute of Technology | Suborbital | EBL anisotropy | 7 June | Successful | ||
Apogee: 311 km (193 mi). | |||||||
Mid-June[306][307] | Kedr | Plesetsk | RVSN RF | ||||
RVSN RF | Suborbital | Missile test | June | Successful | |||
Test flight of the Kedr ICBM, which is expected to replace the RS-24 Yars around 2030. | |||||||
23 June 00:50:00[309][310] |
VSB-30 (S31/Improved Orion) | BOLT | Esrange | DLR | |||
BOLT-1 | DLR | Suborbital | Hypersonic test flight | 23 June 01:05:37 |
Successful | ||
Boundary Layer Transition (BOLT) Flight Experiment, with a nominal apogee of 281 km (175 mi).[308] | |||||||
25 June 12:32[311][312] |
Terrier-Improved Orion | RockOn! | Wallops Flight Facility | NASA | |||
RockOn/RockSat-C | Colorado Space Grant Consortium | Suborbital | Education | 25 June | Successful | ||
Apogee: 116 km (72 mi). | |||||||
28 June 05:25[313] |
Agni-P | Integrated Test Range | DRDO | ||||
DRDO | Suborbital | Missile test | 28 June | Successful |
Q-PACE launched Jan. 17 as part of the Launch Demo 2 mission by Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne. However, Glaze said that, since launch, controllers have yet to make contract with Q-PACE. "There's dwindling hopes on Q-PACE," she said.
British research station in Antarctica
Simultaneous firing of twelve Dezful and Zulfiqar ballistic missiles
Iran had conducted at least 13 short-range ballistic missile. [Zolfaghar and Dezful]