Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes

This timeline of artificial satellites and space probes includes uncrewed spacecraft including technology demonstrators, observatories, lunar probes, and interplanetary probes. First satellites from each country are included. Not included are most Earth science satellites, commercial satellites or crewed missions.

## Timeline

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This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (April 2015)

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### 1950s

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Artificial satellites and space probes in the 1950s  Year  | Date  | Origin  | Name  | Launch vehicle  | Status  | Description  | Mass

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1957  | October 4 |  Soviet Union | Sputnik 1 | Sputnik-PS | Success | The first human-made object to orbit Earth.  | 83.6 kg (183.9 lb)
November 3 |  Soviet Union | Sputnik 2 | Sputnik-PS | Success | The first satellite to carry a living animal, a dog named Laika.  | 508 kg (1,118 lb)
December 6 |  US | Vanguard 1A | Vanguard TV-3 | Failure | The first stage engine was improperly started, causing the vehicle to fall back to the launch pad immediately after launch and explode.[1] | 1.36 kg (2.99 lb)
1958  | February 1 |  US | Explorer 1 | Juno I | Success | The first American satellite in space.[1] | 13.91 kg (30.66 lb)
February 5 |  US | Vanguard 1B | Vanguard TV-3BU | Failure | Control failure caused vehicle breakup at T+57 seconds as vehicle exceeded an angle of attack of 45° due to a control system malfunction.[1] | 1.36 kg (2.99 lb)
March 5 |  US | Explorer 2 | Juno I | Failure | Failed to orbit. Fourth stage did not ignite.[1] | 14.52 kg (31.94 lb)
March 17 |  US | Vanguard 1C | Vanguard TV-4 | Success | Vanguard 1. Expected to de-orbit in ~2240AD, this and its upper launch stage are the oldest human-made objects in space. Also the first use of solar cells to power a satellite.[1] | 1.47 kg (3.25 lb)
March 26 |  US | Explorer 3 | Juno I | Success | Added to data received by Explorer 1.[1] | 14.1 kg (31.0 lb)
April 29 |  US | Vanguard 2A | Vanguard TV-5 | Failure | Second stage shutdown sequence not completed, preventing proper 3rd stage separation and firing. Did not reach orbit.[1] | 9.98 kg (21.96 lb)
May 15 |  Soviet Union | Sputnik 3 | Sputnik | Success | Contained 12 instruments for a wide range of upper atmosphere tests.  | 1,327 kg (2,926 lb)
May 28 |  US | Vanguard 2B | Vanguard SLV-1 | Failure | The first production model of the series. Nominal flight until a guidance error was encountered on second stage burnout. Did not reach orbit.[1] | 9.98 kg (21.96 lb)
June 26 |  US | Vanguard 2C | Vanguard SLV-2 | Failure | Premature second stage cutoff prevented third stage operation. Did not reach orbit.[1] | 9.98 kg (21.96 lb)
July 26 |  US | Explorer 4 | Juno I | Success | Expanded data set of previous Explorer missions and collected data from Argus high-altitude nuclear explosions.[1] | 11.7 kg (25.8 lb)
August 17 |  US | Pioneer 0 | Thor-Able 1 | Failure | Failed to orbit. First stage engine failure caused explosion at T+77 seconds.  | 38 kg (84 lb)
August 24 |  US | Explorer 5 | Juno I | Failure | On-board instruments damaged on first stage separation. Failed to orbit.[1] | 11.7 kg (25.8 lb)
September 26 |  US | Vanguard 2D | Vanguard SLV-3 | Failure | Second stage under-performed, lacking only ~76 m/s (~250 fps) required to achieve orbit.[1] | 10.6 kg (23.3 lb)
October 11 |  US | Pioneer 1 | Thor-Able 1 | Partial success | First spacecraft launched by NASA. Studied Earth's magnetic fields. Third stage provided insufficient thrust to reach the Moon, leaving it sub-orbital.[2] | 38 kg (84 lb)
October 22 |  US | Beacon 1 | Jupiter-C | Failure | A thin plastic sphere (12-feet in diameter) intended to study atmosphere density.[2] Payload dropped due to rotational vibrations.[1] | 4.2 kg (9.2 lb)
November 8 |  US | Pioneer 2 | Thor-Able 1 | Failure | Briefly provided further data on Earth's magnetic field. Third stage provided insufficient thrust to reach the vicinity of the Moon.[2] | 38 kg (83 lb)
December 6 |  US | Pioneer 3 | Juno II | Partial success | Did not reach the Moon as intended, but discovered a second radiation belt around Earth.[2] | 5.9 kg (13.0 lb)
1959  | January 2 |  Soviet Union | Luna 1 | Luna | Partial success | The first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon, and the first spacecraft to be placed in heliocentric orbit.  | 361 kg (794.2 lb)
February 17 |  US | Vanguard 2E | Vanguard SLV-4 | Success | Vanguard 2. Measured cloud cover. First attempted photo of Earth from a satellite; precession motion resulted in difficulty interpreting data (see first images of Earth from space).[2] | 10.8 kg (23.7 lb)
March 3 |  US | Pioneer 4 | Juno II | Success | Passed within 60,030 km (37,300 mi) of the Moon into a heliocentric orbit, returning excellent radiation data.[2] | 6.1 kg (13.4 lb)
April 13 |  US | Vanguard 3A | Vanguard SLV-5 | Failure | Failed to orbit. Second stage hydraulics failure led to loss of control, damaged at launch. Two spheres included as payload.[2] | 10.3 kg (22.7 lb)
June 22 |  US | Vanguard 3B | Vanguard SLV-6 | Failure | Failed to orbit. Second stage exploded due to stuck helium vent valve. Intended to measure weather effects related to solar-Earth heating processes.[2] | 10.3 kg (22.7 lb)
July 16 |  US | Explorer S-1 | Juno II | Failure | Did not achieve orbit. Guidance system power malfunction. Destroyed by range safety officer at T+5.5s.[2] | 41.5 kg (91.3 lb)
August 7 |  US | Explorer 6 | Thor-Able 3 | Success | Included instruments to study particles and meteorology.[2] | 64.4 kg (141.7 lb)
August 14 |  US | Beacon 2 | Juno II | Failure | Premature cutoff of first stage caused upper stage malfunction.[2] | 4.5 kg (9.9 lb)
September 12 |  Soviet Union | Luna 2 | Luna | Success | The first spacecraft to reach the surface of the Moon, and the first human-made object to land on another celestial body.  | 390.2 kg (858.4 lb)
September 18 |  US | Vanguard 3 | Vanguard TV-4BU | Success | Incorporated Allegany Ballistics Laboratory X248 A2 as third stage.[1] Solar-powered sphere measured radiation belts and micrometeorite impacts.[2] | 22.7 kg (50.0 lb)
October 4 |  Soviet Union | Luna 3 | Luna | Success | The first mission to photograph the far side of the Moon.  | 278.5 kg (614 lb)
October 13 |  US | Explorer 7 | Juno II | Success | Provided data on energetic particles, radiation, and magnetic storms. Also recorded the first micrometeorite penetration of a sensor.[2] | 41.5 kg (69.4 lb)
November 26 |  US | Pioneer P-3 | Atlas-Able 20 | Failure | Lunar orbiter probe; payload shroud failed at T+45 seconds, resulting in disintegration of upper stages and payload.[2] | 168.7 kg (371.1 lb)

### 1960s

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Artificial satellites and space probes in the 1960s  Year  | Launch date  | Origin  | Name  | Launch vehicle  | Target  | Status  | Description

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1960  | March 11 |  US | Pioneer 5 | Thor-Able | Sun  | Success | Solar monitor. Measured magnetic field phenomena, solar flare particles, and ionization in the interplanetary region[3]
May 15 |  Soviet Union | Korabl-Sputnik 1 | Vostok-L | Earth  | Success | First test flight of the Soviet Vostok programme, and the first Vostok spacecraft
April 1 |  US | TIROS-1 | Thor-Able | Earth  | Success | TIROS-1 (or TIROS-A) was the first successful low-Earth orbital weather satellite, and the first of a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites.
August 19 |  Soviet Union | Korabl-Sputnik 2 | Vostok-L | Earth  | Success | First spaceflight to send animals into orbit and return them safely back to Earth
November 3 |  US | Explorer 8 | Juno II | Earth  | Partial success | Battery power failed early, And data had to be processed by hand. In spite of this, new information about the ionosphere has been discovered
1961  | February 12 |  Soviet Union | Venera 1 | Molniya 8K78 | Venus | Partial success | First interplanetary flight, contact lost en route, before it performed the first flyby at another planet.
April 27 |  US | Explorer 11 | Juno II | Earth  | Partial success | Was the first space-borne gamma-ray telescope. Limited Battery Power caused the data collection to only be in the ascension stage.
August 16  |  US | Explorer 12 (EPE-A) | Thor-Delta A | Earth  | Partial success  | The spacecraft functioned well until 6 December 1961, when it ceased transmitting data apparently as a result of failures in the power system.
August 23 |  US | Ranger 1 | Atlas-Agena | Moon  | Failure | Rocket malfunction caused the spacecraft to get stranded in low Earth orbit.[4]
November 18 |  US | Ranger 2 | Atlas-Agena | Moon  | Failure | Booster rocket malfunction caused spacecraft to be trapped in low Earth orbit.[5]
1962  | January 26 |  US | Ranger 3 | Atlas-Agena | Moon  | Failure | NASA's first attempt to land a spacecraft on the Moon. A series of malfunctions caused spacecraft to hurtle past the Moon.[6]
April 23 |  US | Ranger 4 | Atlas-Agena | Moon  | Partial failure | Was the first U.S. spacecraft to reach another celestial body. Failure in the onboard computer prevented it from carrying out its scientific objectives. First spacecraft to impact the far side of the Moon.[7][8]
April 26 |  UK | Ariel 1 | Thor-Delta | Earth  | Success | First British satellite in space (on American rocket)
July 10 |  US | Telstar 1 | Thor-Delta | Earth  | Success | Communication satellite
July 22 |  US | Mariner 1 | Atlas-Agena | Venus  | Failure | Software related guidance system failure, range safety officer ordered destroyed after 294.5 seconds after launch.
August 27 |  US | Mariner 2 | Atlas-Agena | Venus  | Success | First spacecraft to visit another planet
September 29 |  Canada | Alouette 1 | Thor-Agena | Earth  | Success | First Canadian satellite (on American rocket), first satellite not constructed by the US or USSR
October 2  |  US | Explorer 14 (EPE-B) | Thor-Delta A | Earth  | Success  | NASA spacecraft instrumented to measure cosmic-ray particles, trapped particles, solar wind protons, and magnetospheric and interplanetary magnetic fields.
October 18 |  US | Ranger 5 | Atlas-Agena | Moon  | Failure | Malfunction in the spacecraft's batteries caused them to drain after 8 hours, leaving it inoperable.[9]
1963  | First pair - October 17 |  US | Vela 1A and Vela 1B | Atlas-Agena | Earth  | Success | Series of satellites to monitor compliance to the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty
1964  | February 2 |  US | Ranger 6 | Atlas-Agena | Moon  | Success | Lunar impactor. Successful impact but power failure resulted in no pictures.
March 27 |  UK | Ariel 2 | Scout X-3 | Earth  | Success | First Radio Astronomy Satellite (on American rocket)
July 31 |  US | Ranger 7 | Atlas-Agena | Moon  | Success | Lunar impactor. Returned pictures until impact.
November 28 |  US | Mariner 4 | Atlas-Agena | Mars  | Success | First deep space photographs of another planet and first flyby of Mars
December 15 |  Italy | San Marco 1 | Scout X-4 | Earth  | Success | First Italian satellite (on American rocket)
1965  | February 2 |  US | Ranger 8 | Atlas-Agena | Moon  | Success | Lunar impactor. Returned pictures until impact.
February 20 |  US | Ranger 9 | Atlas-Agena | Moon  | Success | Lunar impactor. Live TV broadcast until impact.
April 6 |  US | Intelsat I | Delta D | Earth  | Success | First commercial communications satellite in orbit. Was operated off and on until 1990.
November 26 |  France | Asterix | Diamant A | Earth  | Success | First French satellite. First orbital launch outside U.S. and Soviet Union.
November 29 |  Canada | Alouette 2 | Thor-Agena | Earth  | Success | Research satellite designed to explore Earth's ionosphere
December 16 |  US | Pioneer 6 | Delta E | Sun  | Success | A series of solar-orbiting, spin-stabilized, solar-cell and battery-powered satellites designed to obtain measurements on a continuing basis of interplanetary phenomena from widely separated points in space.[10]
1966  | January 31 |  Soviet Union | Luna 9 | Molniya M | Moon  | Success | First spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, or any planetary body other than Earth, and to transmit photographic data to Earth from the surface of another planetary body.
February 17 |  France | Diapason  | Diamant A | Earth  | Success | Earth measurement by doppler radio measure
June 2 |  US | Surveyor 1 | Atlas-Centaur | Moon  | Success | First US soft landing; Surveyor program performed various tests in support of forthcoming crewed landings.[11]
July 1 |  US | Explorer 33 | Delta E1 | Earth  | Partial success | Was intended to orbit the Moon but instead orbited the Earth. Explored solar winds, interplanetary plasma, and solar X-rays.
August 10 |  US | Lunar Orbiter 1 | Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | Moon  | Success | First US spacecraft to orbit the Moon. Designed to photograph smooth areas of the lunar surface for selecting landing sites.
August 17 |  US | Pioneer 7 | Delta E1 | Sun  | Success | A series of solar-orbiting, spin-stabilized, solar-cell and battery-powered satellites designed to obtain measurements on a continuing basis of interplanetary phenomena from widely separated points in space.[10]
September 20 |  US | Surveyor 2 | Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D | Moon  | Failure | Lunar Lander. A failure in one of its three thrusters caused it to lose control and crash into the Moon.[12]
November 6 |  US | Lunar Orbiter 2 | Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | Moon  | Success | Designed to photograph smooth areas of the lunar surface to identify landing sites.
1967  | January 11 |  US | Intelsat II F-2 | Delta E | Earth  | Success | Operated for 2 years as a communications satellite. Was deactivated in 1969.
February 8 |  France | Diadème 1  | Diamant A | Earth  | Success | Orbit slightly too low, considered a partial failure by the booster team. Earth measurement by doppler radio and laser ranging from the ground.
February 15 |  France | Diadème 2  | Diamant A | Earth  | Success | Earth measurement by doppler radio and laser ranging from the ground.
April 17 |  US | Surveyor 3 | Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D | Moon  | Success | Second successful lunar surface lander. Conducted experiments to see how the lunar surface would fare against the weight of an Apollo lunar module.[13]
May 5  |  UK | Ariel 3 | Scout A | Earth  | Success  | First entirely British built satellite
July 14  |  US | Surveyor 4 | Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D  | Moon  | Failure  | Despite a perfect flight to the Moon, communications was lost 2.5 minutes prior to landing. NASA concluded the spacecraft may have exploded.[14]
September 8  |  US | Surveyor 5 | Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D  | Moon  | Success  | Lunar lander. First spacecraft to do a soil analysis of any world. Returned more than 20,000 photos.[15]
November 7  |  US | Surveyor 6 | Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D  | Moon  | Success  | Lunar lander. First spacecraft to be launched from the surface of the Moon. It lifted itself to a height of about 3 meters.[16]
November 29 |  Australia | WRESAT | Sparta | Earth | Success | First Australian satellite (on American rocket) launched from Woomera, Australia. Third nation to launch a satellite from its own soil.
December 13  |  US | Pioneer 8 | Delta E1  | Sun  | Success  | A series of solar-orbiting, spin-stabilized, solar-cell and battery-powered satellites designed to obtain measurements on a continuing basis of interplanetary phenomena from widely separated points in space.[10]
1968  | January 7  |  US | Surveyor 7 | Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D  | Moon  | Success  | Lunar lander. Only spacecraft in the series to land in the lunar highland region and had the most extensive set of instruments.[17]
November 8  |  US | Pioneer 9 | Delta E1  | Sun  | Success  | A series of solar-orbiting, spin-stabilized, solar-cell and battery-powered satellites designed to obtain measurements on a continuing basis of interplanetary phenomena from widely separated points in space.[10]
1969  | January 30 |  Canada | ISIS 1 | Delta E1 | Earth | Success | International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies (ISIS)
February 25  |  US | Mariner 6 | Atlas SLV-3D Agena-D1A | Mars  | Success  | Mars probe attempting to study the surface and atmosphere of Mars during close flybys to establish a basis for further investigations.[18]
March 27  |  US | Mariner 7  | Atlas SLV-3D Agena-D1A | Mars  | Success  | Mars probe attempting to study the surface and atmosphere of Mars during close flybys to establish a basis for further investigations.[19]
November 8  |  West Germany | Azur / (GRS A) (German Research Satellite) | Scout B S169C | Earth  | Success  | The scientific mission was to: scan the energy spectra of inner zone protons and electrons; measure the fluxes of electrons of energy greater than 40 keV that are parallel, anti-parallel, and perpendicular to the magnetic lines of force over the auroral zone, and measure associated optical emission; and record solar protons on alert.[20]

### 1970s

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Artificial satellites and space probes in the 1970s  Year  | Origin  | Name  | Target  | Status  | Description

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1970 |  Japan | Ohsumi | Earth | Success | First Japanese satellite. Japan became the fourth nation after the USSR, USA and France to successfully put an artificial satellite into orbit on its own.
West Germany | DIAL  | Earth  | Success  | Second German satellite. Launch by a French Diamant B from Kourou
Soviet Union | Venera 7 | Venus | Success | First successful landing of a spacecraft on another planet
Soviet Union | Luna 16 | Moon | Success | Lander is the first automated return of samples from the Moon
Soviet Union | Zond 8 | Moon | Success | Flyby
Soviet Union | Luna 17/Lunokhod 1 | Moon | Success | Lander/rover is the first automated surface exploration of the Moon
France | PEOLE  | Earth  | Success  | First French communication satellite.
UK | Orba (satellite) | Earth | Failure | Second stage of rocket shutdown 13 seconds early
US | Uhuru | Earth | Success | First dedicated X-ray astronomy satellite
China | Dong Fang Hong I | Earth | Success | First Chinese satellite
1971 |  Soviet Union | Luna 18 | Moon | Failure | Lander
Soviet Union | Luna 19 | Moon | Success | Orbiter
US | Mariner 8 | Mars | Failure | Orbiter. Lost due to launch failure.
France | Tournesol  | Earth  | Success  | First French satellite with active attitude control. Hydrogen measurement.
France | Polaire  | Earth  | Failure  | Second stage explosion
Soviet Union | Cosmos 419 | Mars | Failure | Probe
Soviet Union | Mars 2 | Mars | Failure | Orbiter and lander, created the first human artifact on Mars
Soviet Union | Mars 3 | Mars | Success | Orbiter and lander, first successful landing on Mars
US | Mariner 9 | Mars | Success | Orbiter, first pictures of Mars' moons (Phobos and Deimos) taken
Canada | ISIS 2 | Earth | Success |
Japan | Shinsei | Earth | Partial success | First Japanese science satellite
UK | Prospero X-3 | Earth | Success | Satellite, first satellite launched by Britain using a British rocket
UK | Ariel 4 | Earth | Success |
1972 |  Soviet Union | Venera 8 | Venus | Success | Lander
Soviet Union | Luna 20 | Moon | Success | Lander
US/ UK | Copernicus – Orbiting Astronomical Observatory-3 | Earth | Success |
US | Pioneer 10 | Jupiter | Success | First spacecraft to encounter Jupiter
US | Explorer 49 | Sun | Success | Solar probe
1973 |  US | Mariner 10 | Venus/Mercury | Success | It passed by and photographed Mercury, also was the first dual planet probe
US | Pioneer 11 | Jupiter/Saturn | Success | First spacecraft to encounter Saturn
France | Castor Pollux  | Earth  | Failure  | Reached orbit but the fairing failed to deploy, failing the launch
Soviet Union | Luna 21/Lunokhod 2 | Moon | Success | Lander/rover
Soviet Union | Mars 4 | Mars | Failure | Orbiter
Soviet Union | Mars 5 | Mars | Success | Orbiter
Soviet Union | Mars 6 | Mars | Failure | Orbiter and lander
Soviet Union | Mars 7 | Mars | Failure | Orbiter and lander
1974 |  West Germany | Helios 1 | Sun | Success | Solar probe
Soviet Union | Luna 22 | Moon | Success | Orbiter
Soviet Union | Luna 23 | Moon | Failure | Probe
UK | Ariel 5 | Earth | Success | X-ray satellite
1975 |  Soviet Union | Venera 9 | Venus | Success | Returns the first pictures of the surface of Venus
Soviet Union | Venera 10 | Venus | Success | Orbiter and lander
France | Starlette  | Earth  | Success  | Laser reflector for Earth-based measurement
France | Castor Pollux  | Earth  | Success  | Castor tested a new accelerometer, Pollux tested hydrazine based thrusters
France | Aura  | Earth  | Success  | Far-ultraviolet measurement of the Sun. Last launch of the Diamant rocket.
US | Viking 1 | Mars | Success | Orbiter and lander; lands on Mars 1976
US | Viking 2 | Mars | Success | Orbiter and lander; lands on Mars 1976
India | Aryabhata | Earth | Success | Launched by USSR, the first Indian satellite
1976 |  West Germany | Helios 2 | Sun | Success | Solar probe
Soviet Union | Luna 24 | Moon | Success | Lander
Canada/ US/ Europe | Communications Technology Satellite | Earth | Success | Prototype for testing direct broadcast satellite television on the Ku band
Netherlands/ US | Astronomische Nederlandse Satelliet (ANS) | Earth | Success | Discovered X-ray bursts, first Dutch satellite (with US contributions)[21]
US | Orbiting Solar Observatory | Sun | Success | X-ray satellite shows that X-ray bursts have blackbody spectra
Indonesia | Palapa A1 | Earth | Success | Launched by US, The First Indonesian GEO Satellite for domestic Communication
1977 |  US | HEAO-1 | Earth | Success | X-ray satellite
US | Voyager 1 Voyager 2 | Jupiter | Success | Sent back images of Jupiter and its system
Soviet Union | Kosmos 954 | Earth | Success | Reconnaissance satellites
1978 |  US | Pioneer Venus 1 | Venus | Success | Orbiter
US | Pioneer Venus 2 | Venus | Success | Atmospheric probe
Soviet Union | Venera 11 | Venus | Success | Flyby and lander
Soviet Union | Venera 12 | Venus | Success | Flyby and lander
US/ UK/ Europe | International Ultraviolet Explorer | Earth | Success |
US | HEAO-2 | Earth | Success | First X-ray photographs of astronomical objects
Czechoslovakia | Magion 1 | Earth | Success | First satellite for Czechoslovakia
1979 |  India | Satellite Launch Vehicle |  | Failure | India's first rocket launched
Japan | Hakucho | Earth | Success | X-ray satellite
UK | Ariel 6 | Earth | Success | Cosmic-ray and X-ray satellite
India | RTP | Earth | Failure | Launched by ISRO. (Purpose was to monitor flight performance of SLV)
India | Bhaskara-1 | Earth | Success | Launched by ISRO (First Indian low orbit Earth Observation Satellite)

### 1980s

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Artificial satellites and space probes in the 1980s  Year  | Origin  | Name  | Target  | Status  | Description

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1980 |  US | Solar Maximum Mission | Sun | Failure | Solar Maximum Mission solar probe succeeded after being repaired in Earth orbit
1981 |  India | Bhaskara-2 | Earth | Success | Bhaskara-2 satellite; launched on Russian Kosmos-3M rocket for ISRO
Soviet Union | Venera 13 | Venus | Success | Venera 13 launched, it returned the first colour pictures of the surface of Venus
Soviet Union | Venera 14 | Venus | Success | Venera 14 flyby and lander
Bulgaria | Bulgaria 1300 | Earth | Success | Bulgaria 1300, polar research mission, was Bulgaria's first artificial satellite; launched by the Soviet Union
1983 |  Soviet Union | Venera 15 | Venus | Success | Venera 15 orbiter
Soviet Union | Venera 16 | Venus | Success | Venera 16 orbiter
Europe | EXOSAT | Earth | Success | Launch of the EXOSAT X-ray satellite
Japan | Tenma | Earth | Success | Launch of the Tenma X-ray satellite (ASTRO-B)
US /  Netherlands /  UK | IRAS | Earth | Success | Launch of the IRAS satellite
1984 |  Soviet Union | Vega 1 | Venus/Halley's Comet | Success | Vega 1 flyby, atmospheric probe and lander
Soviet Union | Vega 2 | Venus/Halley's Comet | Success | Vega 2 flyby, atmospheric probe and lander
1985 |  Japan | Sakigake | Halley's Comet | Success | Sakigake flyby, Japan's first interplanetary spacecraft
Japan | Suisei | Halley's Comet | Success | Suisei flyby
Mexico | Morelos I | Earth | Success | Morelos I, the first Mexican satellite
1986 |  Europe | Giotto | Halley's Comet | Success | Giotto flyby
US | Voyager 2 | Uranus | Success | Voyager 2 sent back images of Uranus and its system
1987 |  Japan | Ginga | Earth | Success | Launch of the Ginga X-ray satellite (ASTRO-C)
1988 |  Soviet Union | Phobos 1 | Mars | Failure | Phobos 1 orbiter and lander
Soviet Union | Phobos 2 | Mars | Failure | Phobos 2 flyby and lander
Israel | Ofeq 1 | Earth | Success | Ofeq 1 first Israeli satellite, first satellite to be launched in retrograde orbit
1989 |  US | Magellan | Venus | Success | Magellan orbiter launched which mapped 99 percent of the surface of Venus (300 m resolution)
US /  West Germany | Galileo | Venus/Earth/Moon/Gaspra/Ida/Jupiter | Success | Galileo flyby, orbiter and atmospheric probe
US | Voyager 2 | Neptune | Success | Voyager 2 sent back images of Neptune and its system
Europe | Hipparcos | Earth | Success | Launch of the Hipparcos satellite
US | COBE | Earth | Success | Launch of the COBE satellite
Soviet Union | Granat | Earth | Success | Launch of the Granat gamma-ray and X-ray satellite

### 1990s

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Artificial satellites and space probes in the 1990s  Year  | Origin  | Name  | Target  | Status  | Description

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1990 |  US/ Europe | Ulysses | Sun | Success | Ulysses solar flyby
Japan | Hiten | Moon | Success | Hiten probe, this was the first non-United States or USSR probe to reach the Moon
US/ Europe | Hubble Space Telescope | Earth | Success | Launch of the Hubble Space Telescope

Pakistan

| Badr-1  | Earth  | Success  | Launch of

Badr-1 Pakistan 1st communication satellite

Germany | ROSAT | Earth | Success | Launch of the ROSAT X-ray satellite to conduct the first imaging X-ray sky survey
1991 |  Japan | Yohkoh | Sun | Success | Yohkoh solar probe
US | Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory | Earth | Success | Launch of the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory satellite
1992 |  US | Mars Observer | Mars | Failure | Mars Observer orbiter
1993 |  Japan | ASCA | Earth | Success | Launch of the ASCA (ASTRO-D) X-ray satellite
Brazil | INPE | Earth | Success | Launch of the SCD-1, the oldest earth observation equipment still in operation.
1994 |  US | Clementine | Moon | Success | Clementine orbiter mapped the surface of the Moon (resolution 125–150 m) and allowed the first accurate relief map of the Moon to be generated
Turkey | Türksat 1B | Earth | Success | Türksat 1B, First Turkish communications satellite
1995 |  Mexico | Unamsat 1 | Earth | Failure | Unamsat 1, First UNAM built orbiter
Ukraine | Sich-1 | Earth | Success | Sich-1 launched, first Ukrainian-built satellite
Europe | ISO | Earth | Success | Launch of the Infrared Space Observatory
Europe/ US | SOHO | Sun | Success | SOHO solar probe
1996 |  US | NEAR Shoemaker | 433 Eros | Success | NEAR Shoemaker asteroid flybys/orbiter/lander
Turkey | Türksat 1C | Earth | Success | Türksat 1C, Second Turkish communications satellite
US | Mars Global Surveyor | Mars | Success | Mars Global Surveyor orbiter
US | Mars Pathfinder | Mars | Success | Mars Pathfinder, the first automated surface exploration of another planet
Russia | Mars 96 | Mars | Failure | Mars 96 orbiter and lander
Argentina | SAC-B | Earth | Failure | Sac-B Orbiter
1997 |  US/ Europe | Cassini-Huygens | Saturn and Titan | Success | Cassini-Huygens arrived in orbit on July 1, 2004, landed on Titan January 14, 2005
Argentina | Nahuel 1A | Earth | Success | Nahuel 1A First Argentine satellite - geostationary communications satellites
1998 |  North Korea | Kwangmyongsong-1 | Earth | Un­known | Claimed launch of Kwangmyongsong-1 by North Korea though no independent source was able to verify its existence
US | Lunar Prospector | Moon | Success | Lunar Prospector orbiter
Japan | Nozomi | Mars | Failure | Nozomi (Planet B) orbiter, the first Japanese spacecraft to reach another planet
US | Mars Climate Orbiter | Mars | Failure | Mars Climate Orbiter
Argentina /  US | SAC-A | Earth | Success | Sac-A Orbiter
1999 |  US | Mars Polar Lander | Mars | Failure | Mars Polar Lander
US | Deep Space 2 | Mars | Failure | Deep Space 2 (DS2) penetrators
US | Chandra | Earth | Success | Launch of the Chandra X-ray Observatory
Europe | XMM-Newton | Earth | Success | Launch of the X-Ray Multi-Mirror Mission, XMM-Newton

### 2000s

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Artificial satellites and space probes in 2000's  Year  | Origin  | Name  | Target  | Status  | Description

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2000 |  UK | SNAP-1 | Earth | Success | SNAP-1 robotic camera enabling images to be sent to other spacecraft orbiting the Earth
Argentina | SAC-C | Earth | Success | SAC-C Orbiter
2001 |  Turkey | Türksat 2A | Earth | Success | Türksat 2A, third Turkish communications satellite
US | Genesis | Sun | Partial success | Genesis solar wind sample crash-landed on return
US | WMAP | Earth | Success | Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) performs cosmological observations.
US | Mars Odyssey | Mars | Success | Mars Odyssey
Europe | PROBA-1 | Earth | Success | PROBA-1 Small satellite to observe the Earth (first Belgian Satellite)
2003 |  Canada | MOST | Earth | Success | MOST the smallest space telescope in orbit.
Turkey | BİLSAT | Earth | Success | BİLSAT, Turkey's first earth observation satellite
2002 |  US | CONTOUR | Comet Encke | Failure | CONTOUR launched, but lost during early trajectory insertion.
Europe/ Russia/ US | INTEGRAL | Earth | Success | Launch of the INTEGRAL gamma-ray satellite.
2003 |  Europe | SMART-1 | Moon | Success | SMART-1 orbiter
Europe | Mars Express & Beagle 2 | Mars | Partial success | Mars Express orbiter (successfully reached orbit) and failed Beagle 2 lander
US | Mars Exploration Rover | Mars | Success | Mars Exploration Rovers successful launches, Spirit successfully landed, Opportunity successfully landed
UK | UK-DMC | Earth | Success | UK-DMC orbiter, part of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation
Japan | Hayabusa | 25143 Itokawa | Success | Hayabusa, first sample return from asteroid, returned in 2010
2004 |  Europe | Rosetta | Comet 67P | Success | Rosetta space probe launched (arrived on comet 67P on November 12, 2014)
US | MESSENGER | Mercury | Success | MESSENGER orbiter launched (in Mercury orbit)
US | Swift | Earth | Success | Launch of the Swift Gamma ray burst observatory.
2005 |  US | Deep Impact | Comet Tempel 1 | Success | Deep Impact
Japan | Suzaku | Earth | Partial success | Launch of the Suzaku X-ray observatory (ASTRO-EII)
US | MRO | Mars | Success | Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Iran | Sinah-1 | Earth | Success | Sinah-1 launched, first Iranian-built satellite
Europe | Venus Express | Venus | Success | Venus Express
2006 |  US | New Horizons | Pluto | Success | New Horizons launched. On July 14, 2015, New Horizons flew within 7,750 miles (12,472 km) of Pluto.
Japan | Akari | Earth | Success | Launch of the Akari infrared observatory (ASTRO-F)
France/ Europe | COROT | Earth | Success | COROT telescope to search for extrasolar planets
2007 |  US | Phoenix | Mars | Success | Phoenix launched and successfully landed in 2008
Japan | SELENE | Moon | Success | SELENE orbiter and lander
US | Dawn | Vesta/Ceres | Success | Dawn solar powered ion engined probe to 4 Vesta and 1 Ceres.
China | Chang'e-I | Moon | Success | Chang'e-I lunar orbiter
Nigeria | NigComSat-1 | Earth | Partial success | NigComSat-1 launched by China, failed after 1 year
2008 |  Turkey | Türksat 3A | Earth | Success | Türksat 3A, fourth Turkish communications satellite
US | IBEX | Earth | Success | The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX)'s mission is to study the nature of interactions between solar wind and interstellar medium at the edge of Solar System.
2009 |  Europe | Planck | L2 | Success | Planck
Europe | Herschel | L2 | Success | Herschel Space Observatory
Iran | Omid | Earth | Success | Omid launched by Iranian made launcher Safir. First Iranian-launched satellite
US | Kepler | Earth | Success | Kepler launched
Europe | PROBA-2 | Earth | Success | PROBA-2 Small satellite to observe the Sun
India | RISAT-2 | Earth | Success | RISAT-2 developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, launched by ISRO, India
India | Chandrayaan-1 | Moon | Success | Chandrayaan-1 developed and launched by ISRO, India. First discovery of Lunar Water.
UK | UK-DMC 2 | Earth | Success | UK-DMC 2 orbiter, successor to UK-DMC part of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation

### 2010s

[edit]

Artificial satellites and space probes in the 2010s  Year  | Origin  | Name  | Target  | Status  | Description

|
|
|
|
|

2010 |  Japan | Akatsuki | Venus | Partial success | Akatsuki orbiter, first Japanese spacecraft to orbit another planet (2015)
2010 |  Japan | IKAROS | Venus | Success | IKAROS, first solar-sail spacecraft
China | Chang'e-2 | Moon | Success | Chang'e-2 lunar orbiter/impacter
2011 |  Turkey | RASAT | Earth | Success |

Turkey's after BİLSAT, second earth observation satellite. RASAT, design and production made in Turkey is the first observation satellite.

Russia | Spektr-R | Earth | Success | Launch of the Spektr-R radio telescope
US | Juno | Jupiter | Success | Juno
Russia | Fobos-Grunt | Mars | Failure | Fobos-Grunt lander and sample return
Nigeria | NigComSat-1 | Earth | Success | NigComSat-1 replacement launched by China
Taiwan /  Singapore | ST-2 | Earth | Success | ST-2 replacement launched by Taiwan and Singapore
Argentina /  US | SAC-D | Earth | Success | SAC-D Orbiter
2012 |  Iran | Navid | Earth | Success | Navid Earth-watching satellite
US | MSL | Mars | Success | Mars Science Laboratory with Curiosity rover—orbit and landed
North Korea | Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 | Earth | Success | Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2, first successful North Korean orbital rocket launch
Poland | PW-Sat | Earth | Success | PW-Sat, first Polish satellite
2013 |  South Korea | STSAT-2C | Earth | Success | STSAT-2C, first successful South Korean orbital rocket launch
Canada | NEOSSat | Earth | Success | NEOSSat, monitoring near-Earth objects
Canada | Sapphire | Earth | Success | Sapphire, military space surveillance
Ecuador | NEE 01 Pegaso | Earth | Success | NEE-01 Pegaso, Ecuador's first satellite
Estonia | ESTCube-1 | Earth | Success | ESTCube-1, Estonia's first satellite
Europe | PROBA-V | Earth | Success | PROBA-V, small satellite to monitor the vegetation of the Earth
UK | STRaND-1 | Earth | Success | STRaND-1, first smartphone-operated satellite to be launched and dubbed the world's first "phonesat"
Japan | Hisaki | Earth | Success | Hisaki planetary atmosphere observatory
Canada | CASSIOPE | Earth | Success | CASSIOPE, ionosphere research and communication satellite
India | MOM | Mars | Success | MOM is India's first interplanetary mission to Mars. First Asian nation to reach Mars.
US | MAVEN | Mars | Success | MAVEN orbiter
Poland | Lem | Earth | Success | Lem, First Polish scientific satellite
2014 |  Lithuania | LitSat1/LituanicaSAT-1 | Earth | Success | LitSat-1 and LituanicaSAT-1, first Lithuanian satellites
Turkey | TÜRKSAT 4A | Earth | Success | TÜRKSAT 4A, Turkey's fifth communication satellite.
Europe | Rosetta / Philae | Comet 67P | Partial success | Rosetta and Philae, Third comet landing at unintended site in suboptimal orientation due to failure of surface anchoring system
Poland | Heweliusz | Earth | Success | Heweliusz, Second Polish scientific satellite
Japan | Hayabusa2 | 162173 Ryugu | Success | Hayabusa2, second Japanese asteroid sample return spacecraft
Japan | PROCYON | 2000 DP107 | Partial failure | PROCYON deep space probe
2015 |  US | DSCOVR | Earth-Sun L1 | Success | DSCOVR, Earth and space weather
India | Astrosat | Earth | Success | Astrosat, Space observatory
Turkey | TÜRKSAT 4B | Earth | Success | TÜRKSAT 4B, Turkey's sixth communication satellite.
2016 |  European Union /  Russia | ExoMars / Schiaparelli | Mars | Partial success | ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, Trace Gas Orbiter in orbit; Schiaparelli lander crashed
Canada | M3MSat | Earth | Success | M3MSat, maritime monitoring and communication satellite
US | OSIRIS-REx | Earth | En route | OSIRIS-REx, first American asteroid sample return spacecraft
2017 |  Brazil | SGDC-1 | Earth | Success | SGDC-1, communication satellite
2018 |  US | Tesla Roadster | Heliocentric orbit | Success | Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster, dummy payload for the February 2018 Falcon Heavy test flight and is now an artificial satellite of the Sun
China | Queqiao | Moon | Success | First relay satellite for far side of the Moon.
US France Germany | InSight | Mars | Success | InSight, Mars lander for planetary information
European Union/ Japan | BepiColombo | Mercury | En route | BepiColombo, two orbiters to study the magnetic field, magnetosphere, and both interior and surface structure of Mercury. Final mission of the Horizon 2000+ programme
US | Parker Solar Probe | Sun | En route | Parker Solar Probe, first spacecraft to visit the outer corona of the Sun
China | Chang'e 4 | Moon | Success | Chang'e 4, first spacecraft to soft-land on the lunar far side.
2019 |  Egypt | NARSSCube-2 | Earth | Success | NARSSCube-2, Egypt's first domestically built satellite
Israel | Beresheet | Moon | Failure | Beresheet, first private space probe and moon lander, crashed
Russia /  Germany | Spektr-RG | Earth-Sun L2 | Success | Launch of the Spektr-RG X-ray observatory
India | Chandrayaan-2 | Moon | Partial success | Chandrayaan-2, orbiter achieved orbit, but lander and rover module hit into the Moon's surface and crashed.
Ethiopia | ETRSS-1 | Earth | Success | ETRSS-1, first Ethiopian satellite; launched on China's Long March 4B rocket.[22]

### 2020s

[edit]

Artificial satellites and space probes in the 2020s  Year  | Origin  | Name  | Target  | Status  | Description

|
|
|
|
|

2020 |  Turkey | TÜRKSAT 5A | Earth | Success | TÜRKSAT 5A, Turkey's seventh communication satellite launched with SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.
European Union | SolO | Sun | En route | Solar Orbiter is an ESA's Sun-observing satellite.[23][24][25]
US | Mars 2020 | Mars | Operational | Perseverance, JPL's Mars rover. It was launched on July 30 with Atlas V rocket, and landed on February 18, 2021, together with the small Ingenuity helicopter that was deployed on April 4, 2021.
UAE | Hope | Mars | Success | Hope satellite is the United Arab Emirates Space Agency's uncrewed space research project on Mars. It was launched with Japanese H-IIA rocket on 19 July and reached Mars on 9 February 2021.
China | Tianwen-1 | Mars | Success | Mission containing an orbiter, deployable and remote cameras, lander and Zhurong rover. This is China's 2nd uncrewed space research project on Mars. It was launched with Long March 5 rocket on 23 July and the orbiter, lander and rover entered Mars orbit on 10 February 2021. The rover and lander landed on 14 May with rover deployment on 22 April 2021 and dropped a remote selfie camera on Mars on 1 June 2021 and while a deployable camera made a flyby around 10 February 2021 and another deployable camera was released into Mars orbit on 31 December 2021.
China | Chang'e 5 | Moon | Success | Orbiter, Returner, Ascent Stage, Lander configuration mission, China's first automated return of samples from the Moon. orbiter visited L1 and made a lunar flyby.
2021 |  US | Lucy | two main belt asteroids as well as six Jupiter trojans | En route | NASA probe that will complete a 12-year journey to nine different asteroids, visiting two main belt asteroids as well as six Jupiter trojans,[26][27] asteroids which share Jupiter's orbit around the Sun, orbiting either ahead of or behind the planet. All target encounters will be fly-by encounters.[28] It was launched on October 16, 2021, on the 401 variant of Atlas V and has yet to study a trojan asteroid.
Brazil | Amazônia-1 | Earth | Success | Amazônia-1 is the first Earth observation satellite developed by Brazil, helped by Argentina's INVAP, who provided the main computer, attitude controls and sensors, and the training of Brazilian engineers,[8] and launched at 04:54:00 UTC (10:24:00 IST) on 28 February 2021.
US | DART | a Binary 65803 Didymos asteroid system | Success | Double Asteroid Redirection Test, NASA's first mission to test planetary defense. Its uses involves test this technique by kinetically impacting the spacecraft to produce a small change in its orbital period. It was launched on November 24 with Falcon 9 rocket. Accompanying the mission is LICIACube cubesat, a flyby mission that recorded the impact and its aftermaths.
Italy | LICIACube | a Binary 65803 Didymos asteroid system | Success | LICIACube, Light Italian Cubesat for Imaging of Asteroids, is the first Agenzia Spaziale Italiana's interplanetary mission. Ideated, designed, integrated and operated entirely in Italy, it has been the witness of the first real-scale planetary defense test performed by Double Asteroid Redirection Test. LICIACube is the smallest human-made object that successfully performed a flyby of a Small Solar System body. It has been deployed two weeks before DART's impact.
US | IXPE | Earth | Success | Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, NASA's new X-ray observatory. It was launched on December 8 with Falcon 9 rocket.
Turkey | TÜRKSAT 5B | Earth | Success | TÜRKSAT 5B, Turkey's eighth communication satellite launched with SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.
US /  European Union /  Canada | James Webb Space Telescope | Earth-Sun L2 point | Success | James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), NASA, ESA and CSA's joint project for a space telescope. It was launched on December 25 with Ariane 5 ECA rocket to Earth-Moon L2 point.
2022 |  US | CAPSTONE | Near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO) of Moon | Operational | CAPSTONE, Lunar orbiting CubeSat that will test and verify the calculated orbital stability planned for the Gateway space station. It was launched with Rocket Lab Electron rocket.
US | Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 | None | None |

In May, NASA reports that the Voyager 1 spacecraft, the farthest human-made object, is sending data that does not reflect what is happening on board with the antenna apparently remaining in its prescribed orientation to Earth.[29][30] In June, it was reported that NASA is preparing to power down the two Voyager spacecraft in the hope of using the remaining power to extend their operation to about 2030.[31]

US /  South Korea | Danuri (KLPO)  | Moon  | Operational  | South Korea's first lunar orbiter launched by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. Danuri will serve to create topographic map of the lunar surface to pinpoint future landing sites.
US | Artemis 1 Orion MPCV CM-002 | Moon  | Success  | Uncrewed test of the Orion spacecraft in lunar flyby and DRO orbit.
CuSP | Heliocentric  | Operational  | Study particles and magnetic fields.
LunIR | Moon  | Success  | Collect its surface thermography.
NEA Scout | Moon/Asteroid  | Failure  | Solar sail that will flyby a near-Earth asteroid.
Team Miles | Helliocentric  | Operational  | Demonstrate low-thrust plasma propulsion in deep space.
BioSentinel | Heliocentric  | Operational  | Contains yeast cards that will be rehydrated in space, designed to detect, measure, and compare the effects of deep space radiation.
LunaH-Map | Moon  | Failure  | Search for evidence of lunar water ice inside permanently shadowed craters using its neutron detector.
Lunar IceCube | Moon  | En route  | Its infrared spectrometer will detect water and organic compounds in the lunar surface and exosphere.
Italy | ArgoMoon | High Earth Orbit with Lunar Flybys  | Operational  | Image the ICPS and perform deep space Nanotechnology experiments.
Japan | OMOTENASHI | Moon  | Failure  | Inflatable module attempting to land semi-hard at lunar surface.
EQUULEUS | Moon/Earth Moon-L2 | Success  | Image the Earth's plasmasphere, impact craters on the Moon's far side and L2 experiments.
Hakuto-R Mission 1  | Moon  | Failure  | Lunar landing technology demonstration at Atlas Crater.
US | Lunar Flashlight | Moon | Failure | Lunar Flashlight, Lunar orbiting CubeSat that will explore, locate, and estimate size and composition of water ice deposits on the Moon for future exploitation by robots or humans. It was launched with Hakuto-R mission Mission 1.
2023  |  European Union | Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE)  | Jupiter and Ganymede | En route  | Mission to study Jupiter's three icy moons Callisto, Europa and Ganymede, eventually orbiting Ganymede as the first spacecraft to orbit a satellite of another planet.
European Union | Euclid | Earth-Sun L2 point | Operational | It is ESA's project for a space telescope to study dark matter. It was launched on July 1 with Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket to Earth-Moon L2 point.
India | Chandrayaan-3 | Moon | Success | It is India's second attempt to land on the Moon and its south pole. Successfully launched on 14 July 2023 on a LVM3 launch vehicle. Successfully landed on 23 August 2023.
Russia | Luna-25 | Moon | Failure | It was a lander, launched on 10 August 2023 on Soyuz 2.1b rocket. Crashed on the Moon surface on 19 August 2023.[32]
India | Aditya-L1 | Earth-Sun L1 point | Operational | It is ISRO's first Sun dedicated scientific mission. It will perform observations of the Solar corona. Successfully launched on 2 September 2023 on a PSLV-XL rocket.
Japan /  US | XRISM | Earth | Operational | X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission, X-ray space telescope developed by JAXA in partnership with NASA. Successfully launched on 6 September 2023 on a H-IIA launch vehicle.
Japan | SLIM | Moon | Success | Lunar lander developed by JAXA carrying two lunar rovers. Successfully launched on 6 September 2023 on a H-IIA launch vehicle. Successfully landed on 19 January 2024.
US | Psyche | 16 Psyche | En route | Asteroid orbiter developed by NASA. Successfully launched on 13 October 2023 on a Falcon Heavy launch vehicle.
2024  |  India | XPoSat | Earth | Operational | ISRO's mission to study X-ray polarisation. Successfully launched on 1 January 2024 on a PSLV-DL launch vehicle.
USA | Peregrine Mission One | Moon | Failure | Lunar lander developed by Astrobotic Technology and selected as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services. Successfully launched on 8 January 2024 on a Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle but landing abandoned due to excessive propellant leak.
China /  European Union | Einstein Probe | Earth | Operational | X-ray space telescope developed jointly by CAS and ESA. Successfully launched on 9 January 2024 on a Long March 2C launch vehicle.
USA | IM-1 | Moon | Success | Cryogenic-propelled lunar lander developed by Intuitive Machines and selected as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services. Successfully launched on 15 February 2024 on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle and landed on its side on 22 February 2024. Accompanied by a university Cubesat lander called EagleCam to send third-party images of landing sequence back to Earth.
China | DRO A/B | Moon | Success | Yuanzheng 1S upper stage failed to deliver spacecrafts into correct orbit. The satellites were intended to test Distant retrograde orbit.[33] Tracking data appears to show China is attempting to salvage spacecraft and they appear to have succeeded in reaching their desired orbit.[34][35]
China | Queqiao-2 | Moon | Success | Queqiao-2 relay satellite for far side of the Moon with Tiandu-1 and 2 to test future lunar satellite constellation technologies.
China | Chang'e 6 | Moon | Success | Orbiter, Returner, Ascent Stage, Lander, Rover configuration mission, China's first automated return of samples from the far side of the Moon. orbiter visited L2.
Pakistan | ICUBE-Q | Moon | Operational | Piggybacking as the first Pakistani lunar mission along with Chang'e 6.
China /  France | Space Variable Objects Monitor | Earth | Operational | X-ray space telescope developed jointly by CNES and CNSA. Successfully launched on 22 June 2024 on a Long March 2C launch vehicle.
EU | Hera | 65803 Didymos | En route | European component of AIDA, a NASA-ESA asteroid deflection test cooperation, aimed at studying the effects of the NEO's impact created by NASA's DART mission using 65803 Didymos's moon (Dimorphos) as a target. Successfully launched on 7 October 2024 on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle.
USA | Europa Clipper | Jupiter and Europa | En route | NASA launched the Europa Clipper on 14 October 2024 on a Falcon Heavy launch vehicle, which will study the Jovian moon Europa while in orbit around Jupiter.
EU | PROBA-3 | Earth | Operational | solar Coronagraph and Occulter dual satellites developed by ESA. Successfully launched on 5 December 2024 on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.

## References

[edit]

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8. ^ "Discussion". Space Policy. 14 (1): 5–8\. 1998. Bibcode:1998SpPol..14....5.. doi:10.1016/S0265-9646(97)00038-6.5-8&rft.date=1998&rft_id=info:doi/10.1016/S0265-9646(97)00038-6&rft_id=info:bibcode/1998SpPol..14....5.&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Timeline+of+artificial+satellites+and+space+probes" class="Z3988">
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35. ^ Jones, Andrew (2024-03-28). "China appears to be trying to save stricken spacecraft from lunar limbo". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2024-03-29.

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* PocketQube
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* Timeline of first Earth observation satellites
* Geosynchronous orbit
* GOES
* GPS
* Kosmos
* Magnetospheric
* NRO
* TDRS
* USA

Vehicles|

* Orbital launch systems
* Comparison
* Sounding rocket list
* Spacecraft
* uncrewed
* crewed
* heaviest
* Upper stages
* Sounding rocket
* Small-lift launch vehicle
* Medium-lift launch vehicle
* Heavy-lift launch vehicle
* Super heavy-lift launch vehicle

Launches
by rocket type|

* Ariane
* Antares
* Atlas
* Atlas LV3B
* Atlas LV3C
* Black Brant
* Electron
* Delta DM-19
* Delta 1
* Delta II
* Delta III
* Delta IV Heavy
* Delta IV Medium
* Delta IV
* Falcon 9 and Heavy
* 2010–2019
* 2020–2022
* GSLV
* H-II and H3
* Kosmos
* Long March
* Minotaur
* Proton
* PSLV
* R-7 (including Semyorka, Molniya, Vostok, Voskhod and Soyuz)
* Scout
* SLS
* Starship
* Thor and Delta
* Thor-Agena
* Thor DM-18 Able
* Thor DM-18 Agena-A
* Thor DM-18
* Thor DM-21 Agena-B
* Titan
* Tsyklon
* V-2 tests
* Vega
* Vulcan
* Zenit

Launches by spaceport|

* Satish Dhawan

Agencies, companies
and facilities|

* Communications satellite companies
* comparison
* Private spaceflight companies
* Rocket launch sites
* Space agencies
* Spacecraft manufacturers

Other mission lists
and timelines|

* First orbital launches by country
* First satellites by country
* NASA missions
* Constellation missions
* Timeline of first images of Earth from space
* Timeline of longest spaceflights
* Timeline of private spaceflight

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