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2003 in spaceflight
Launch of Shenzhou 5, the first Chinese human spaceflight mission, this mission has made China the 3rd country to have independent human spaceflight capability after the USSR and the US.
Orbital launches
First11 January
Last29 December
Total63
Successes60
Failures3
Partial failures0
Catalogued61
National firsts
Satellite  Greece
  Nigeria
Space traveller China China
  Israel
Rockets
Maiden flights Atlas V 521
Delta II Heavy
Delta IV Medium
Strela
Retirements Ariane 4 44L
Ariane 5G
Space Shuttle Columbia
Titan 23G
Crewed flights
Orbital4
Total travellers13

This article outlines notable events occurring in 2003 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.

Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

On Saturday, February 1, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated as it reentered the atmosphere over Texas and Louisiana, killing all seven astronauts on board. It was the second Space Shuttle mission to end in disaster, after the loss of Challenger and crew in 1986.

First human spaceflight mission from China

Shenzhou 5 ( Chinese: 神舟五号; pinyin: Shénzhōu Wǔ Hào, see § Etymology) was the first human spaceflight mission of the Chinese space program, launched on 15 October 2003. The Shenzhou spacecraft was launched on a Long March 2F launch vehicle. There had been four previous flights of uncrewed Shenzhou missions since 1999. China became the third country in the world to have independent human spaceflight capability after the Soviet Union (later, Russia) and the United States.

Launches

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

January

6 January
14:19
United States Titan 23G United States Vandenberg SLC-4W United States Lockheed Martin
United States Coriolis US Air Force Low Earth Technology development In orbit Operational
9 January
03:17
India Agni-I India Balasore IC-4 India IDRDL
IDRDL Suborbital Missile test 9 January Successful
13 January
00:45
United States Delta II 7320-10C United StatesVandenberg SLC-2W United States Boeing IDS
United States ICESat NASA Low Earth Oceanography 30 August 2010
09:00 [2]
Partial spacecraft failure
United States CHIPSat NASA Low Earth Astrophysics In orbit Operational
Laser reliability issues limited ICESat operations. ICESat deactivated in February 2010 following failure of last laser in October 2009.
16 January
20:39
United States Space Shuttle Columbia United States Kennedy Space Center LC-39A United States United Space Alliance
United States STS-107 NASA Low Earth Research 1 February
13:59
Failure
United States Spacehab-RDM NASA Low Earth (Columbia) Microgravity and Earth science research
United States EDO Pallet NASA Low Earth (Columbia) Cryogenic mission duration extension pallet
Crewed orbital flight with 7 astronauts, including the first Israeli space traveler
Final flight of Space Shuttle Columbia, disintegrated during re-entry resulting in loss of crew and vehicle.
25 January
20:13
United States Pegasus-XL United States Stargazer, Cape Canaveral United States Orbital Sciences
United States SORCE NASA Low Earth investigate total solar irradiance In orbit Operational
29 January
18:06
United StatesDelta II 7925-9.5 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17B United StatesBoeing IDS
United States GPS IIR-8 ( USA-166) US Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
United States XSS-10 US Air Force Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Successful
XSS-10 deactivated 30 January 2003

February

2 February
12:59
Russia Soyuz-U Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 1/5 Russia Roskosmos
Russia Progress M-47 Roskosmos Low Earth ( ISS) Logistics 27 August Successful
ISS flight 10P
15 February
07:00
European Union Ariane 4 44L France Kourou ELA-2 France Arianespace
United Nations Intelsat 907 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Final flight of Ariane 4 44L

March

11 March
00:59
United States Delta IV Medium United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-37B United StatesBoeing IDS
United States DSCS III A-3 ( USA-167) US Air Force Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Maiden flight of Delta IV Medium
26 March
06:00
India Privthvi-2 IndiaBalasore IndiaIDRDL
IDRDL Suborbital Missile test 26 March Successful
28 March
01:27
Japan H-IIA 2024 Japan Tanegashima LA-Y1 Japan
Japan IGS-1A Japanese Government Low Earth Reconnaissance 18 July 2014 Successful
Japan IGS-1B Japanese Government Low Earth Reconnaissance 26 July 2012 Partial spacecraft failure
IGS-1B lost power in 2007, and concluded operations after just over half of its design life [3]
31 March
22:09
United StatesDelta II 7925-9.5 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17A United StatesBoeing IDS
United States GPS IIR-9 ( USA-168) US Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational

April

2 April
01:53
Russia Molniya-M Russia Plesetsk Site 16/2 Russia VKS
Russia Molniya 1-92 VKS Molniya Communications In orbit Operational
8 April
14:43
United States Titan IVB (401)/ Centaur United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-40 United StatesLockheed Martin
United States Milstar 6 ( USA-169) US Air Force Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
9 April
22:52
European Union Ariane 5G FranceKourou ELA-3 FranceArianespace
India INSAT 3A ISRO Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
United States Galaxy 12 PanAmSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
12 April
00:47
United States Atlas IIIB United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-36B Russia United States International Launch Services
China AsiaSat 4 AsiaSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
26 April
03:53
Russia Soyuz-FG KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
Russia Soyuz TMA-2 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS Expedition 7 28 October Successful
Crewed orbital flight with 2 cosmonauts
24 April
04:23
Russia Proton-K/ DM-2 KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/24 RussiaVKS
Russia Kosmos 2397 VKS Geosynchronous Missile warning In orbit Operational
28 April
12:00
United StatesPegasus-XL United StatesStargazer, Cape Canaveral United StatesOrbital Sciences
United States GALEX NASA Low Earth Ultraviolet astronomy In orbit Operational
29 April
05:50
IndiaPrithvi-2 IndiaBalasore IndiaIDRDL
IDRDL Suborbital Missile test 29 April Successful

May

8 May
11:28
India GSLV India Satish Dhawan FLP IndiaISRO
India GSAT-2 ISRO Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
9 May
04:29
Japan M-V Japan Uchinoura Japan
Japan Hayabusa (MUSES-C) ISAS Heliocentric Asteroid sample-return probe 13 June 2010 Partial spacecraft failure
Japan MINERVA ISAS Heliocentric Asteroid lander In orbit Spacecraft failure
Explored asteroid 1998 SF36
13 May
22:10
United States Atlas V 401 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-41 Russia United StatesInternational Launch Services
Greece HellasSat 2 Hellas-Sat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
First Greek satellite
24 May
16:34
China Long March 3A China Xichang China
China Beidou 2A Geosynchronous Navigation In orbit Operational

June

2 June
17:45
RussiaSoyuz-FG/ Fregat KazakhstanBaikonur Site 31/6 European Union Russia Starsem
European Union Mars Express ESA Areocentric Mars probe In orbit Operational
European Union United Kingdom Beagle 2 ESA Heliocentric Mars lander 25 December 2003 Spacecraft failure
Maiden flight of Soyuz-FG/Fregat
Beagle 2 failed to contact Earth after landing on Mars
4 June
19:23
Russia Kosmos-3M RussiaPlesetsk Site 132/1 RussiaVKS
Russia Kosmos 2398 MO RF Low Earth In orbit Operational
6 June
22:15
RussiaProton-K/ Briz-M KazakhstanBaikonur Site 200/39 Russia United StatesInternational Launch Services
United States AMC-9 SES Americom Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
8 June
10:34
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
Russia Progress M1-10 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) Logistics
Earth observation
3 October Successful
ISS flight 11P
10 June
13:55
Ukraine Zenit-3SL Norway Ocean Odyssey United Nations Sea Launch
United Arab Emirates Thuraya 2 Thuraya Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
10 June
17:58
United StatesDelta II 7925 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17A United StatesBoeing IDS
United States Spirit (MER-A/MER-2) NASA Heliocentric Mars rover 4 January 2004 Operational
United States Spirit lander NASA Heliocentric Mars lander 4 January 2004 Successful
11 June
22:38
European UnionAriane 5G FranceKourou ELA-3 FranceArianespace
Australia Optus C1 Optus/ Australian Government Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Japan BSAT-2C BSAT Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
19 June
20:00
RussiaMolniya-M RussiaPlesetsk Site 43/3 RussiaVKS
Russia Molniya 3-53 VKS Molniya Communications In orbit Operational
26 June
18:55
United StatesPegasus-XL United StatesStargazer, Vandenberg United StatesOrbital Sciences
United States Orbview 3 Orbview Low Earth Imaging 3 March 2011 Satellite failure
Ceased operations on 4 March 2007 after camera malfunction
30 June
14:15
Russia Rokot/ Briz-KM RussiaPlesetsk European Union Russia Eurockot
Czech Republic MIMOSA Low Earth 18 December 2011 Successful
DTUSat Low Earth In orbit Operational
Canada MOST Low Earth Space telescope In orbit Operational
Cute-I Low Earth In orbit Operational
United States QuakeSat Stanford University Low Earth Earth observation In orbit Operational
AAU-Cubesat Low Earth In orbit Operational
Can X-1 Low Earth In orbit Operational
Cubesat XI Low Earth In orbit Operational
Cubesat XII Low Earth In orbit Operational
Cubesat XIII Low Earth In orbit Operational
Cubesat XIV Low Earth In orbit Operational
Russia Monitor-E Low Earth In orbit Operational

July

8 July
04:18
United StatesDelta II 7925H United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17B United StatesBoeing IDS
United States Opportunity (MER-B/MER-1) NASA Heliocentric Mars rover In orbit Operational
United States Opportunity lander NASA Heliocentric Mars lander In orbit Successful
Maiden flight of Delta II Heavy
17 July
23:45
United StatesAtlas V 521 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-41 Russia United StatesInternational Launch Services
United States Rainbow-1 Cablevision Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Maiden flight of Atlas V 521

August

8 August
03:31
UkraineZenit-3SL NorwayOcean Odyssey United NationsSea Launch
United States Echostar 9 (Telstar 13) EchoStar Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
12 August
14:20
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 31/6 RussiaVKS
Russia Kosmos 2399 Low Earth Reconnaissance 9 December Failure
Film capsule failed to deorbit
13 August
02:09
United StatesPegasus-XL United StatesStargazer, Vandenberg United StatesOrbital Sciences
Canada SCISAT-1 CSA Low Earth Atmospheric research In orbit Operational
19 August
10:50
RussiaKosmos-3M RussiaPlesetsk Site 132/1 RussiaVKS
Russia Kosmos 2400 ( Strela 3) Low Earth In orbit Operational
Russia Kosmos 2401 (Strela 3) Low Earth In orbit Operational
22 August
16:30
Brazil VLS-1 Brazil Alcântara Brazil
SATEC INPE Intended: Low Earth Never left ground Launch failure
UNOSAT INPE Intended: Low Earth Never left ground
Rocket had an SRB ignition and was destroyed on the launch pad 3 days before T-0. It never had a new attempt and it's development was extinguished in 2016.
25 August
05:35
United StatesDelta II 7920H United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17B United StatesBoeing IDS
United States Spitzer Space Telescope (SIRTF) NASA Heliocentric Infrared astronomy In orbit Operational
29 August
01:47
RussiaSoyuz-U KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
Russia Progress M-48 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) Logistics 28 January 2004 Successful
ISS flight 12P
29 August
23:13
United StatesDelta IV Medium United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-37B United StatesBoeing IDS
United States DSCS III B-6 ( USA-170) US Air Force Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational

September

9 September
04:29
United StatesTitan IVB (401)/Centaur United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-40 United StatesLockheed Martin
United States USA-171 / Orion 5 NRO Geosynchronous ELINT In orbit Operational
NROL-26 mission.
16 September China Kaituozhe-1 China Taiyuan China
China PS-2 Intended: Low Earth Microsat 16 September Launch failure
Fourth stage failed to ignite
27 September
06:11
RussiaKosmos-3M RussiaPlesetsk Site 132/1 RussiaVKS
Russia Mozhaets-4 Low Earth In orbit Operational
Nigeria NigeriaSat-1 Low Earth In orbit Operational
United Kingdom UK-DMC Low Earth In orbit Operational
Turkey BILSAT-1 Low Earth In orbit Operational
Larets Low Earth In orbit Operational
South Korea STSat-1 Low Earth In orbit Operational
Rubin-4-DSI Low Earth In orbit Operational
NigeriaSat-1 is the first Nigerian satellite
27 September
23:14
European UnionAriane 5G FranceKourou ELA-3 FranceArianespace
France Eurobird 3 Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
India INSAT 3E ISRO Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Successful [4]
European Union SMART-1 ESA Selenocentric Lunar probe 27 September 2006
05:42:22
Successful
Final flight of Ariane 5G

October

1 October
04:02
UkraineZenit-3SL NorwayOcean Odyssey United NationsSea Launch
Japan United States Galaxy 13 (Horizons 1) PanAmSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit operational
15 October
01:00
China Long March 2F China Jiuquan China
China Shenzhou 5 CMSA Low Earth 15 October
22:53
Successful
China Shenzhou spacecraft orbital module CMSA Low Earth Reconnaissance 30 May 2004 Successful
Crewed orbital flight with 1 astronaut ( Yang Liwei), first Chinese space traveller and indigenous crewed spaceflight
17 October
04:54
India PSLV IndiaSatish Dhawan FLP IndiaISRO
India RESOURCESAT-1 (IRS-P6) ISRO Low Earth Earth observation In orbit Operational
18 October
05:38
RussiaSoyuz-FG KazakhstanBaikonur Site 1/5 RussiaRoskosmos
Russia Soyuz TMA-3 Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS Expedition 8 30 April 2004 Successful
Crewed orbital flight with 3 cosmonauts
18 October
16:17
United StatesTitan 23G/ Star 37 United StatesVandenberg SLC-4W United StatesLockheed Martin
United States DMSP 5D-2 ( USA-172) US Air Force Low Earth Weather satellite In orbit Operational
Final flight of Titan 23G
21 October
03:16
China Long March 4B ChinaTaiyuan China
China Zi Yuan 1-2 (CBERS-2) CAAC/INPE Low Earth Earth resources In orbit Operational
China Chuangxin-1 CAS Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
30 October
13:43
RussiaRockot/Briz-KM RussiaPlesetsk Site 133 European Union RussiaEurockot
Japan SERVIS-1 Low Earth In orbit Operational

November

3 November
07:20
China Long March 2D ChinaJiuquan China
China FSW-18 (FSW-3) SAST Low Earth Imaging 18 December Successful
14 November
16:34
ChinaLong March 3A ChinaXichang China
China Zhongxing 20 Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
24 November
06:22
RussiaProton-K/ DM-2M KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/23 RussiaVKS
Russia Yamal-201 Gazprom Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Russia Yamal 202 Gazprom Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
29 November
04:33
JapanH-IIA 2024 JapanTanegashima LA-Y1 Japan
Japan IGS-2A Japanese Government Low Earth Reconnaissance T+60 seconds Launch failure
Japan IGS-2B Low Earth Reconnaissance
SRB failed to separate. Destroyed by RSO.

December

2 December
10:04
United States Atlas IIAS United StatesVandenberg SLC-3E United States
United States NOSS-3 ( USA-173) NRO Low Earth Naval SIGINT In orbit Operational
United StatesNOSS-3 (USA-173) NRO Low Earth Naval SIGINT In orbit Operational
NRO launch 18
5 December
06:00
Russia Strela KazakhstanBaikonur Site 175 RussiaVKS
Russia Gruzomaket Low Earth In orbit Successful
Maiden flight of Strela rocket
10 December
17:42
RussiaProton-K/Briz-M KazakhstanBaikonur Site 81/24 RussiaVKS
Russia Kosmos 2402 ( GLONASS) KNITs Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
Russia Kosmos 2403 (GLONASS) KNITs Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
Russia Kosmos 2404 (GLONASS) KNITs Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
18 December
02:30
United StatesAtlas IIIB United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-36B Russia United StatesInternational Launch Services
United States UHF F/O F11 ( USA-174) US Navy Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
21 December
08:05
United StatesDelta II 7925-9.5 United StatesCape Canaveral SLC-17A United StatesBoeing IDS
United States GPS IIR-10 ( USA-175) US Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
24 December Taiwan Sounding Rocket III Taiwan Jiu Peng Air Base Taiwan NSPO
NSPO Suborbital Ionospheric research 24 December Successful
Apogee: ~280 km (174 mi)
27 December
21:30
RussiaSoyuz-FG/Fregat KazakhstanBaikonur Site 31/6 European Union RussiaStarsem
Israel AMOS-2 Spacecom Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
28 December
20:37
RussiaProton-K/DM-2M KazakhstanBaikonur Site 200/39 RussiaVKS
Russia Ekspress AM22 RSCC Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
29 December
19:06
China Long March 2C ChinaXichang China
China European Union Tan Ce 1 (Double Star 1) CNSA/ESA High Earth (High- eccentricity) Magnetosphere research 14 October 2007 Successful

Deep Space Rendezvous

Date ( GMT) Spacecraft Event Remarks
19 June Nozomi 3rd flyby of the Earth
21 September Galileo Deorbited into the Jovian atmosphere
9 December Nozomi Flyby of Mars Damaged by solar flares
24 December Beagle 2 Crashed at Isidis Planitia, Mars
24 December Mars Express Areocentric orbit injection

EVAs

Start Date/Time Duration End Time Spacecraft Crew Function Remarks
15 January
12:50
6 hours
51 minutes
19:41 Expedition 6
ISS Quest
United States Kenneth Bowersox
United States Donald Pettit
Released the remaining launch locks on the P1 radiator assembly, removed debris on a sealing ring of Unity's docking port, and tested an ammonia reservoir on the station's P6 truss. [5]
8 April
12:40
6 hours
26 minutes
19:06 Expedition 6
ISS Quest
United StatesKenneth Bowersox
United StatesDonald Pettit
Reconfigured cables on the S0 (S-Zero), S1 and P1 trusses, replaced a Power Control Module on the Mobile Transporter, installed Spool Positioning Devices on Destiny, and reinstalled a thermal cover on an S1 Radiator Beam Valve Module. [5]

Orbital launch summary

By country

China: 7 Europe: 4 India: 2 Brazil: 1 Russia: 21 Ukraine: 3 USA: 23 Japan: 3
Country Launches Successes Failures Partial
failures
Remarks
  China 7 6 1 0
  Europe 4 4 0 0
  India 2 2 0 0
  Japan 3 2 1 0
  Brazil 1 0 1 0
  Russia 21 21 0 0
  Ukraine 3 3 0 0
  United States 23 22 1 0
World 64 60 4 0

By rocket

By family

By type

By configuration

By spaceport

5
10
15
20
25
30
Brazil
China
France
India
International waters
Japan
Kazakhstan
Russia
United States
Site Country Launches Successes Failures Partial failures Remarks
Alcântara   Brazil 1 0 1 0
Baikonur   Kazakhstan 14 14 0 0
Cape Canaveral   United States 16 16 0 0 Two launches used Stargazer aircraft
Jiuquan   China 2 2 0 0
Kennedy   United States 1 0 1 0
Kourou   France 4 4 0 0
Ocean Odyssey United Nations International waters 3 3 0 0
Plesetsk   Russia 7 7 0 0
Satish Dhawan   India 2 2 0 0
Taiyuan   China 2 1 1 0
Tanegashima   Japan 2 1 1 0
Uchinoura   Japan 1 1 0 0
Vandenberg   United States 6 6 0 0 Two launches used Stargazer aircraft
Xichang   China 3 3 0 0
Total 64 60 4 0

By orbit

  •   Transatmospheric
  •   Low Earth
  •   Low Earth (ISS)
  •   Low Earth (SSO)
  •   Low Earth (retrograde)
  •   Medium Earth
  •   Geosychronous
    (transfer)
  •   Inclined GSO
  •   High Earth
  •   Heliocentric
Orbital regime Launches Successes Failures Accidentally
achieved
Remarks
Transatmospheric 0 0 0 0
Low Earth 29 26 3 0 5 to ISS
Medium Earth / Molniya 6 6 0 0
Geosynchronous / GTO 23 23 0 0
High Earth / Lunar transfer 1 1 0 0
Heliocentric / Planetary transfer 5 5 0 0
Total 64 61 3 0

References

  • Bergin, Chris. "NASASpaceFlight.com".
  • Clark, Stephen. "Spaceflight Now".
  • Kelso, T.S. "Satellite Catalog (SATCAT)". CelesTrak.[ dead link]
  • Krebs, Gunter. "Chronology of Space Launches".
  • Kyle, Ed. "Space Launch Report". Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  • McDowell, Jonathan. "GCAT Orbital Launch Log".
  • Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive".
  • Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica".
  • Webb, Brian. "Southwest Space Archive".
  • Zak, Anatoly. "Russian Space Web".
  • "ISS Calendar". Spaceflight 101.
  • "NSSDCA Master Catalog". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
  • "Space Calendar". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.[ dead link]
  • "Space Information Center". JAXA.[ dead link]
  • "Хроника освоения космоса" [Chronicle of space exploration]. CosmoWorld (in Russian).
Generic references:
  Spaceflight portal

Footnotes

  1. ^ Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (January 2009). "Columbia Crew Survival Investigation Report" (PDF). NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server. Houston, Texas. p. 91. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Icesat Satellite". Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies. The Aerospace Corporation. Archived from the original on 13 May 2012.
  3. ^ Blau, Patrick (31 July 2012). "IGS 1B Re-Entry". Spaceflight 101. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  4. ^ S, Madhumathi D. (2 April 2014). "After 10 years in orbit, INSAT-3E expires". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  5. ^ a b NASA (2003). "Expedition Six Spacewalks". NASA. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.