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This article outlines notable events occurring in 2002 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.

2002 in spaceflight
Soyuz TMA-1, the first Soyuz-TMA spacecraft, approaches the International Space Station in November
Orbital launches
First16 January
Last29 December
Total65
Successes60
Failures5
Catalogued62
National firsts
Satellite  Algeria
Space traveller  South Africa
Rockets
Maiden flights Ariane 5ECA
Atlas IIIB
Atlas V 401
Delta IV-M+ (4,2)
H-IIA 2024
Kaituozhe-1
Retirements Ariane 4 42L
Ariane 4 42P
Atlas IIA
Crewed flights
Orbital7
Total travellers40

Launches

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

January

16 January
00:30
United States Titan IVB (401)/ Centaur United States Cape Canaveral SLC-40 United States Lockheed Martin
United States Milstar DFS-5 ( USA-164) US Air Force Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
23 January
23:46
European Union Ariane 4 42L France Kourou ELA-2 France Arianespace
India INSAT-3C ISRO Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Final flight of Ariane 4 42L

February

4 February
02:45
Japan H-IIA 2024 Japan Tanegashima LA-Y1 Japan MHI
Japan MDS-1 JAXA Geosynchronous Technology demonstration In orbit Successful
Japan DASH JAXA Geosynchronous Re-entry demonstration In orbit Spacecraft failure
Maiden flight of H-IIA 2024. DASH failed to separate from payload adapter.
5 February
20:58
United States Pegasus-XL United States Stargazer, Cape Canaveral United States Orbital Sciences
United States RHESSI NASA Low Earth Heliophysics In orbit Successful
11 February
17:45
United States Delta II 7920-10C United States Vandenberg SLC-2W United States Boeing IDS
United States Iridium 91 Iridium Low Earth Communications 13 March 2019 [1] Successful
United States Iridium 90 Iridium Low Earth Communications 23 January 2019 [2] Successful
United States Iridium 94 Iridium Low Earth Communications 18 April 2018 [3] Successful
United States Iridium 95 Iridium Low Earth Communications 25 March 2019 [4] Successful
United States Iridium 96 Iridium Low Earth Communications 30 May 2020 [5] Successful
21 February
12:43
United States Atlas IIIB United States Cape Canaveral SLC-36B Russia United States International Launch Services
United States Echostar 7 Echostar Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Maiden flight of Atlas IIIB.
23 February
06:59
Europe Ariane 4 44L France Kourou ELA-2 France Arianespace
United Nations Intelsat 904 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
25 February
17:26
Russia Soyuz-U Russia Plesetsk Site 43/3 Russia VKS
Russia Kosmos 2387 VKS Low Earth Reconnaissance 27 June
02:30
Successful

March

1 March
01:07
European Union Ariane 5G FranceKourou ELA-3 FranceArianespace
European Union Envisat ESA Sun-synchronous Environmental research In orbit Operational
1 March
11:22
United States Space Shuttle Columbia United States Kennedy LC-39A United States United Space Alliance
United States STS-109 NASA Low Earth ( HST) HST servicing 12 March Operational
Crewed orbital flight with 7 astronauts
Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission 3B
8 March
22:59
United States Atlas IIA United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-36A Russia United StatesInternational Launch Services
United States TDRS-9 ( TDRS-I) NASA Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Partial spacecraft failure
Operational
Propellant issues shortly after launch halved spacecraft fuel supply
17 March
09:21
Russia Rockot/ Briz-KM RussiaPlesetsk Site 133/3 European Union Russia Eurockot
United States GRACE 1 NASA Sun-synchronous In orbit Operational
United States GRACE 2 NASA Sun-synchronous In orbit Operational
21 March
20:13
RussiaSoyuz-U Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 1/5 Russia Roskosmos
Russia Progress M1-8 Roskosmos Low Earth ( ISS) Logistics 25 June
12:13
Successful
ISS flight 7P
25 March
14:15
China Long March 2F China Jiuquan China CAAC
China Shenzhou 3 CMSA Low Earth Test spacecraft 1 April
08:51
Successful
China Shenzhou spacecraft orbital module CMSA Low Earth Scientific research 12 November Successful
29 March
01:29
European UnionAriane 4 44L FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
Luxembourg Astra 3A SES Astra Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Japan JCSAT 8 JSAT Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
30 March
17:25
Russia Proton-K/ DM-2M KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/23 Russia United StatesInternational Launch Services
United Nations Intelsat 903 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational

April

1 April
22:06
Russia Molniya-M RussiaPlesetsk Site 16/2 RussiaVKS
Russia Kosmos 2388 VKS Molniya Missile early warning 14 September 2011 Operational
8 April
20:44
United StatesSpace Shuttle Atlantis United StatesKennedy LC-39B United StatesUnited Space Alliance
United States STS-110 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS assembly 19 April Successful
United Nations S0 Truss NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS component In orbit Operational
Crewed orbital flight with 7 astronauts
16 April
23:02
European UnionAriane 4 44L FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
Netherlands NSS 7 SES New Skies Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
25 April
06:26
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
Russia Soyuz TM-34 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS escape craft 10 November Successful
Crewed orbital flight with 3 cosmonauts including one space tourist and the first South African space traveller
Final flight of Soyuz-TM spacecraft

May

4 May
01:31
European UnionAriane 4 42P FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
France SPOT-5 CNES Low Earth Earth imaging In orbit Operational
United States BreizhSat-Oscar 47 (Indefix) AMSAT Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United States BreizhSat-Oscar 48 (Indefix) AMSAT Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Final flight of Ariane 4 42P
4 May
09:54
United StatesDelta II 7920-10L United StatesVandenberg SLC-2W United StatesBoeing IDS
United States Aqua NASA Sun-synchronous ( A-train) Environmental research In orbit Operational
7 May
17:00
RussiaProton-K/DM-2M KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/23 Russia United StatesInternational Launch Services
United States DirecTV-5 DirecTV Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
15 May
01:50
China Long March 4B China Taiyuan China
China Hai Yang 1 CASC Low Earth Earth observation In orbit Operational
China Feng Yun 1D CASC Low Earth Weather satellite In orbit Operational
28 May
15:25
Israel Shavit-1 Israel Palmachim Israel IAI
Israel Ofeq-5 Low Earth ( retrograde) Reconnaissance In orbit Operational
28 May
18:14
Russia Kosmos-3M RussiaPlesetsk Site 132/1 RussiaVKS
Russia Kosmos 2389 Low Earth In orbit Operational

June

5 June
06:44
Europe Ariane 4 44L France Kourou ELA-2 France Arianespace
United Nations Intelsat 905 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
5 June
21:22
United States Space Shuttle Endeavour United States Kennedy LC-39A United States United Space Alliance
United States STS-111 NASA Low Earth ( ISS) ISS assembly 19 June Successful
Italy United States Leonardo MPLM ASI / NASA Low Earth ( ISS) ISS logistics Successful
Canada Canadarm2 Mobile Base Structure CSA / NASA Low Earth ( ISS) ISS component In orbit Operational
Crewed orbital flight with 7 astronauts
ISS crew exchange (launched Expedition 5)
10 June
01:14
Russia Proton-K / DM-2M Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 200/39 Russia Khrunichev
Russia Ekspress A4 (A1R) RSCC Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful
Guidance error during ascent, recovered and placed in correct orbit using upper stage. Decommissioned in early 2020 after seventeen years in service. [6]
15 June
22:39
Ukraine Zenit-3SL Norway Ocean Odyssey United Nations Sea Launch
United States Galaxy 3C PanAmSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
20 June
09:33
Russia Rockot / Briz-KM Russia Plesetsk Site 133/3 Europe Russia Eurockot
United States Iridium 97 Iridium Low Earth Communications 27 December 2019
17:30 [7]
Successful
United States Iridium 98 Iridium Low Earth Communications 24 August 2018 [8] Successful
24 June
18:23 [10]
United States Titan 23G United States Vandenberg SLC-4W United States Lockheed Martin
United States NOAA-17 (NOAA-M) NOAA Low Earth ( SSO) Meteorology In orbit Successful
Decommissioned on 10 April 2013. Disintegrated in orbit on 10 March 2021, with 16 associated pieces of space debris being tracked. [9]
26 June
05:36
Russia Soyuz-U Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 1/5 Russia Roscosmos
Russia Progress M-46 Roscosmos Low Earth ( ISS) ISS logistics 14 October Successful
ISS flight 8P

July

3 July
06:47
United StatesDelta II 7425-9.5 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17A United StatesBoeing IDS
United States CONTOUR NASA Intended: Heliocentric Comet probe In orbit Failure
Exploded during injection into Heliocentric orbit
Intended to visit comet 2P/Encke
5 July
23:22
European UnionAriane 5G FranceKourou ELA-3 FranceArianespace
France Stellat 5 Stellat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
France N-STAR c Stellat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
8 July
06:35
RussiaKosmos-3M RussiaPlesetsk Site 132/1 RussiaVKS
Russia Kosmos 2390 Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Russia Kosmos 2391 Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
25 July
15:13
RussiaProton-K/ 17S40 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/24 RussiaVKS
Russia Kosmos 2392 Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Operational

August

21 August
22:05
United States Atlas V 401 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-41 Russia United StatesInternational Launch Services
France Hot Bird 6 Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Maiden flight of Atlas V and the first launch of an EELV class rocket
22 August
05:15
RussiaProton-K/DM-2M KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/23 Russia United StatesInternational Launch Services
United States Echostar 8 Echostar Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
28 August
22:45
European UnionAriane 5G FranceKourou ELA-3 FranceArianespace
France Atlantic Bird 1 Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
European Union Meteosat 8 Eumetsat Geosynchronous Weather satellite In orbit Operational

September

6 September
06:44
European UnionAriane 4 44L FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
United Nations Intelsat 906 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
10 September
08:20
JapanH-IIA 2024 JapanTanegashima LA-Y1 Japan
Japan USERS JAXA Low Earth Microgravity experiments 15 June 2007
19:56
Successful
Japan DRTS NASDA Geostationary Communications In orbit Successful
12 September
10:23
India PSLV-C India Satish Dhawan FLP IndiaISRO
India Kalpana-1 (METSAT 1) ISRO Geostationary Weather satellite In orbit Operational
15 September
10:30
China Kaituozhe-1 ChinaTaiyuan China
China HTSTL-1 Tsinghua University Intended: Low Earth Experimental 15 September Launch failure
Maiden flight of Kaituozhe-1. Second stage malfunction
18 September
22:04
United States Atlas IIAS United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-36A Russia United StatesInternational Launch Services
Spain Hispasat 1D Hispasat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
25 September
16:58
Russia Soyuz-FG KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmsos
Russia Progress M1-9 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) Logistics 1 February 2003 Successful
ISS flight 9P
26 September
14:27
RussiaKosmos-3M RussiaPlesetsk Site 132/1 RussiaVKS
Russia Nadezhda-M VKS Low Earth Navigation In orbit Operational

October

7 October
10:46
United StatesSpace Shuttle Atlantis United StatesKennedy LC-39B United StatesUnited Space Alliance
United States STS-112 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS assembly 18 October Successful
United Nations S1 Truss NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS component In orbit Operational
United Nations CETA NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS component In orbit Operational
Crewed orbital flight with 6 astronauts
15 October
18:20
RussiaSoyuz-U RussiaPlesetsk Site 43/3 Russia
European Union Russia Foton-M1 ESA Intended: Low Earth Microgravity experiments T+29 seconds Launch failure
LRB exploded
17 October
04:41
RussiaProton-K/17S40 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/23 Russia
European Union INTEGRAL ESA High Earth (High eccentricity) Astrophysics In orbit Operational
Final flight of 17S40 upper stage
27 October
03:17
ChinaLong March 4B ChinaTaiyuan China
China Zi Yau 2 CAST Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Operational
30 October
03:11
RussiaSoyuz-FG KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
Russia Soyuz TMA-1 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS escape craft 4 May 2003 Successful
Crewed orbital flight with 3 cosmonauts
Maiden flight of Soyuz-TMA spacecraft

November

20 November
22:39
United States Delta IV-M+ (4,2) (9240) United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-37B United StatesBoeing IDS
France Eutelsat W5 Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Maiden flight of Delta IV
24 November
00:49
United StatesSpace Shuttle Endeavour United StatesKennedy LC-39A United StatesUnited Space Alliance
United States STS-113 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS assembly 7 December Successful
United Nations P1 Truss NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS component In orbit Operational
United States MEPSI NASA Low Earth Technology demonstration 31 January 2003 Successful
Crewed orbital flight with 7 astronauts
ISS crew exchange (launched Expedition 6)
MEPSI is 2 picosatellites connected by a 15 meter tether
25 November
23:04
RussiaProton-K/DM-2M KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/23 Russia United StatesInternational Launch Services
Luxembourg Astra 1K SES Astra Intended: Geosynchronous
Attained: Low Earth
Communications 10 December Launch failure
Upper stage malfunction resulted in satellite being placed into an unusable parking orbit. Intentionally de-orbited.
28 November
06:07
RussiaKosmos-3M RussiaPlesetsk Site 132/1 RussiaVKS
Algeria AlSat-1 CNTS Low Earth Disaster monitoring In orbit Operational
Russia Mozhayets-3 Mozhaisky Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Germany Rubin-3-DSI OHB System Low Earth Measure carrier rocket performance In orbit Successful
AlSat was first Algerian satellite, Rubin intentionally remained attached to upper stage

December

5 December
02:42
United StatesAtlas IIA United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-36A Russia United StatesInternational Launch Services
United States TDRS-10 ( TDRS-J) NASA Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Final flight of Atlas IIA
11 December
22:22
European Union Ariane 5ECA FranceKourou ELA-3 FranceArianespace
France Hot Bird 7 Eutelsat Intended: Geosynchronous Communications T+178 seconds Launch failure
France Stentor Eutelsat Intended: Geosynchronous Communications
Engine failure leading to loss of control, self-destruct activated
Maiden flight of Ariane 5ECA
14 December
23:04
JapanH-IIA 202 JapanTanegashima LA-Y1 Japan
Japan Adeos 2 NASDA Low Earth Environmental research In orbit Operational
Japan Mu-Labsat NASDA Low Earth Technology development In orbit Operational
Japan RITE NASDA Low Earth Technology development In orbit Operational
JapanRITE NASDA Low Earth Technology development In orbit Operational
Australia FedSat Centre for Satellite Systems Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Japan WEOS (Kanta-Kun) Chiba Institute of Technology Low Earth Landsat In orbit Operational
RITE deployed by Mu-Labsat on 14 March 2003 at 01:40 and 01:50 UTC
17 December
23:04
European UnionAriane 4 44L FranceKourou ELA-2 FranceArianespace
Netherlands NSS-6 SES New Skies Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
20 December
17:00
Ukraine Dnepr KazakhstanBaikonur Site 109/95 Russia ISC Kosmotras
Argentina LatinSat 1 Aprize Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Argentina LatinSat 2 Aprize Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Saudi Arabia SaudiSat 1S RSRI Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Italy UniSat 2 University of Rome La Sapienza Low Earth Technology development In orbit Operational
Germany Rubin 2 OHB System Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
24 December
12:20
RussiaMolniya-M RussiaPlesetsk Site 16/2 RussiaVKS
Russia Kosmos 2393 VKS Molniya Missile early warning 22 December 2013 Successful
25 December
10:37
RussiaProton-K/ DM-2 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/23 RussiaVKS
Russia Kosmos 2394 ( GLONASS) KNITs Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
Russia Kosmos 2395 (GLONASS) KNITs Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
Russia Kosmos 2396 (GLONASS) KNITs Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
29 December
16:40
ChinaLong March 2F ChinaJiuquan China
China Shenzhou 4 CMSA Low Earth Test spacecraft 5 January 2003
11:16
Successful
ChinaShenzhou spacecraft orbital module CMSA Low Earth Test spacecraft 9 September 2003 Successful
29 December
23:16
Russia Proton-M/ Briz-M KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/24 Russia United StatesInternational Launch Services
Canada Nimiq 2 Telesat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational

Deep Space Rendezvous

Date ( GMT) Spacecraft Event Remarks
17 January Galileo 5th flyby of Io
2 November Stardust Flyby of 5535 Annefrank
5 November Galileo Flyby of Amalthea
20 December Nozomi 2nd flyby of the Earth

EVAs

Start Date/Time Duration End Time Spacecraft Crew Function Remarks
14 January
20:59
6 hours
3 minutes
15 January
03:02
Expedition 4
ISS Pirs
Russia Yuri Onufriyenko
United States Carl E. Walz
Moved the cargo boom for the Russian Strela crane from PMA-1 to the exterior of Pirs, installed an amateur radio antenna onto the end of Zvezda. [11]
25 January
15:19
5 hours
59 minutes
21:18 Expedition 4
ISS Pirs
RussiaYuri Onufriyenko
United States Daniel W. Bursch
Installed six deflector shields for Zvezda's jet thrusters, installed a second amateur radio antenna, attached four science experiments, and retrieved and replaced a device to measure material from the thrusters. [11]
20 February
11:38
5 hours
47 minutes
17:25 Expedition 4
ISS Quest
United StatesCarl E. Walz
United StatesDaniel W. Bursch
Tested the Quest airlock, and prepared it for the four spacewalks that will be performed during STS-110. [11] First Quest-based EVA without a Space Shuttle at the station.
4 March
06:37
7 hours
1 minute
13:38 STS-109
Columbia
United States John M. Grunsfeld
United States Richard M. Linnehan
Removed the starboard solar array and replaced it with a new, smaller and more powerful third generation solar array. The old array was stowed in the payload bay for return to Earth. [12] Hubble Space Telescope servicing
5 March
06:40
7 hours
16 minutes
13:56 STS-109
Columbia
United States James H. Newman
United States Michael J. Massimino
Removed the port solar array and replaced it with a new third generation solar array. The old array was stowed in the payload bay for return to Earth. Removed and replaced the Reaction Wheel Assembly (RWA). [13] Hubble Space Telescope servicing
6 March
08:28
6 hours
48 minutes
15:16 STS-109
Columbia
United StatesJohn M. Grunsfeld
United StatesRichard M. Linnehan
The spacewalk was delayed 2 hours by a leak in Grunsfeld's spacesuit. The Power Control Unit (PCU) was removed and stowed for return to Earth. A new, more powerful PCU, sized to match the more productive solar arrays, was installed. [14] Hubble Space Telescope servicing
7 March
09:00
7 hours
30 minutes
16:30 STS-109
Columbia
United StatesJames H. Newman
United StatesMichael J. Massimino
Removed the Faint Object Camera from the aft shroud and installed the Advanced Camera for Surveys in the same location. After stowing the Faint Object Camera in the payload bay for return to Earth, the Electronic Support Module was installed in the aft shroud. [15] Hubble Space Telescope servicing
8 March
08:46
7 hours
20 minutes
16:06 STS-109
Columbia
United StatesJohn M. Grunsfeld
United StatesRichard M. Linnehan
Installed an experimental Cryocooler for NICMOS inside the aft shroud of and connected it to the Electronic Support Module installed the day before. Installed the Cooling System Radiator and connected it to the NICMOS. [16] Hubble Space Telescope servicing
11 April
14:36
7 hours
48 minutes
22:24 STS-110
ISS Quest
United States Steven Smith
United States Rex J. Walheim
Began installing the S0 Truss onto Destiny, initial power and data connections installed between the station and S0, and installed two forward struts that permanently hold the truss in place. [17]
13 April
14:09
7 hours
30 minutes
21:39 STS-110
ISS Quest
United States Jerry L. Ross
United States Lee M.E. Morin
Continued S0 Truss installation, power and data cable connections installed between S0 and the station, and installed two aft struts that permanently hold the truss in place. [17]
14 April
13:48
6 hours
27 minutes
20:15 STS-110
ISS Quest
United StatesSteven Smith
United StatesRex J. Walheim
Released the claw that was used in the initial attachment of the S0 Truss, installed connectors that will be used to route power to Canadarm2 when it is on the truss, released launch restraints from the Mobile Transporter, and removed a small thermal cover the Mobile Transporter's radiator. [17]
16 April
14:29
6 hours
37 minutes
21:06 STS-110
ISS Quest
United StatesJerry L. Ross
United StatesLee M.E. Morin
Pivoted the "Airlock Spur", which will be used by spacewalkers in the future as a path from the airlock to the truss, installed handrails onto S0, partially assembled a platform, and installed two floodlights. [17] [18]
9 June
15:27
7 hours
14 minutes
22:41 STS-111
ISS Quest
United States Franklin Chang-Diaz
France Philippe Perrin
Attached a Power Data Grapple Fixture to the P6 truss, removed debris panels from the payload bay and attached them to a temporary location on PMA-1, and removed thermal blankets to prepare the Mobile Base System for installation onto the station's Mobile Transporter. [19] [20]
11 June
15:20
5 hours 20:20 STS-111
ISS Quest
United StatesFranklin Chang-Diaz
FrancePhilippe Perrin
Attached Mobile Base System to the Mobile Transporter, attached power, data and video cables from the station to the MBS. [19] [21]
13 June
15:16
7 hours
17 minutes
22:33 STS-111
ISS Quest
United StatesFranklin Chang-Diaz
FrancePhilippe Perrin
Replaced Canadarm2's wrist roll joint, and stowed the old joint in the shuttle's payload bay to be returned to Earth. [19] [22]
16 August
09:25
4 hours
23 minutes
13:48 Expedition 5
ISS Pirs
Russia Valery Korzun
United States Peggy Whitson
Installed six micro meteoroid debris panels onto Zvezda. [23] Whitson became the 6th American and the 7th female spacewalker.
26 August
05:27
5 hours
21 minutes
10:48 Expedition 5
ISS Pirs
RussiaValery Korzun
Russia Sergei Treshchyov
Installed a frame on the outside of Zarya for spacewalk assembly tasks, installed new samples on a pair of Japanese Space Agency experiments housed on Zvezda, installed devices on Zvezda that would simplify the routing of tethers during future spacewalks, and installed two additional ham radio antennas on Zvezda. [23]
10 October
15:21
7 hours
1 minute
20:35 STS-112
ISS Quest
United States David Wolf
United Kingdom/ United States Piers Sellers
Released launch locks that held the S1 truss radiators in place during launch, attached power, data and fluid lines between the S1 truss and S0, deployed the station's second S-Band communications system, installed the first of two external camera systems, and released launch restraints on the truss' mobile spacewalk workstation, Crew and Equipment Translation Aid (CETA). [24] [25]
12 October
14:31
6 hours
4 minutes
20:35 STS-112
ISS Quest
United StatesDavid Wolf
United Kingdom/ United StatesPiers Sellers
Installed a second camera system, released more radiator launch locks, removed insulation covers on quick-disconnect fittings near the Z1 and P6 junction and to install Spool Positioning Devices, released starboard-side launch restraints on the CETA cart, and attached Ammonia Tank Assembly cables. [24] [26]
14 October
14:08
6 hours
36 minutes
20:44 STS-112
ISS Quest
United StatesDavid Wolf
United Kingdom/ United StatesPiers Sellers
Removed and replaced the Interface Umbilical Assembly on the station's Mobile Transporter, installed two jumpers that will allow ammonia coolant to flow between the S1 and S0 Trusses, released a drag link and stowed it, and installed Spool Positioning Devices (SPD) on ammonia lines. [24] [27]
26 November
19:49
6 hours
45 minutes
27 November
02:34
STS-113
ISS Quest
United States Michael Lopez-Alegria
United States John Herrington
Initial installation of the P1 truss, installed connections between the P1 and the S0 truss, released launch restraints on the CETA cart, installed Spool Positioning Devices (SPDs) onto the station, removed a drag link on P1 that served as a launch restraint, and installed a Wireless video system External Transceiver Assembly onto the Unity node. [28] [29]
28 November
18:36
6 hours
10 minutes
29 November
00:46
STS-113
ISS Quest
United StatesMichael Lopez-Alegria
United StatesJohn Herrington
nstalled fluid jumpers where the S0 and the P1 are attached to each other, removed the P1's starboard keel pin, installed another Wireless video system External Transceiver Assembly onto the P1, and relocated the CETA cart from the P1 to the S1 truss. [28] [30]
30 November
19:25
7 hours 1 December
02:25
STS-113
ISS Quest
United StatesMichael Lopez-Alegria
United StatesJohn Herrington
Installed more Spool Positioning Devices, reconfigured electrical harnesses that route power through the Main Bus Switching Units, and attached Ammonia Tank Assembly lines. [28] [31]

Orbital launch summary

By country

For the purposes of this section, the yearly tally of orbital launches by country assigns each flight to the country of origin of the rocket, not to the launch services provider or the spaceport.

China: 5 Europe: 12 India: 1 Israel: 1 Japan: 3 Russia: 24 Ukraine: 2 USA: 17
Country Launches Successes Failures Partial
failures
Remarks
  China 5 4 1 0
  Europe 12 11 1 0
  India 1 1 0 0
  Israel 1 1 0 0
  Japan 3 3 0 0
  Russia 24 22 2 0
  Ukraine 2 2 0 0
  United States 17 16 1 0
World 65 60 5 0

By rocket

By family

By type

By configuration

By spaceport

5
10
15
20
China
France
India
International waters
Israel
Japan
Kazakhstan
Russia
United States
Site Country Launches Successes Failures Partial failures Remarks
Baikonur   Kazakhstan 15 14 1 0
Cape Canaveral   United States 9 8 1 0
Jiuquan   China 2 2 0 0
Kennedy   United States 5 5 0 0
Kourou   France 12 11 1 0
Ocean Odyssey United Nations International waters 1 1 0 0
Palmachim   Israel 1 1 0 0
Plesetsk   Russia 10 9 1 0
Satish Dhawan   India 1 1 0 0
Taiyuan   China 3 2 1 0
Tanegashima   Japan 3 3 0 0
Vandenberg   United States 3 3 0 0
Total 65 60 5 0

By orbit

  •   Low Earth
  •   Low Earth (ISS)
  •   Low Earth (retrograde)
  •   Low Earth (SSO)
  •   Medium Earth
  •   Molniya
  •   Geosynchronous
  •   High Earth
Orbital regime Launches Achieved Not achieved Accidentally
achieved
Remarks
Low Earth / Sun-synchronous 33 31 2 1 Including flights to ISS
Geosynchronous / GTO 27 25 2 0
Medium Earth / Molniya 3 3 0 0
High Earth 1 1 0 0
Heliocentric orbit / Planetary transfer 1 0 1 0
Total 65 60 5 1

References

  • Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
  • Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
  • Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.[ dead link]
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Footnotes

  1. ^ "IRIDIUM 91". N2YO.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  2. ^ "IRIDIUM 90". N2YO.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  3. ^ "IRIDIUM 94". N2YO.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  4. ^ "IRIDIUM 95". N2YO.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  5. ^ "IRIDIUM 96". N2YO.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Самый старый российский спутник связи вывели из эксплуатации" [Oldest Russian communications satellite decommissioned]. RIA Novosti (in Russian). 27 March 2020. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  7. ^ Desch, Matt [@IridiumBoss] (28 December 2019). "Final "official" reentry report for the final satellite of our first generation network: SV97. Reentered at 17:30 UTC yesterday, descending over Russia (trying to return where launched 17 yrs ago). They all provided amazing service – far longer than anyone expected! #Flarewell" ( Tweet). Retrieved 30 December 2019 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "IRIDIUM 98". N2YO.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  9. ^ Foust, Jeff (20 March 2021). "Decommissioned NOAA weather satellite breaks up". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  10. ^ Ray, Justin (24 June 2002). "Titan 2 rocket launches polar-orbiting weather eye". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
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  23. ^ a b NASA (2002). "Expedition Five Spacewalks". NASA. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  24. ^ a b c NASA (2002). "STS-112 Extravehicular Activities". NASA. Archived from the original on 20 February 2003. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  25. ^ NASA (2002). "STS-112 Mission Control Center Status Report No. 7". NASA. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
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  28. ^ a b c NASA (2002). "STS-113 Extravehicular Activities". NASA. Archived from the original on 19 December 2005. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  29. ^ NASA (2002). "STS-113 Mission Control Center Status Report # 7". NASA. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
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  31. ^ NASA (2002). "STS-113 Mission Control Center Status Report # 15". NASA. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2008.