2014 in spaceflight

2014 in spaceflight
Orion EFT-1, the first test flight of the Orion spacecraft, occurred on 5 December 2014.
Orbital launches
First5 January
Last31 December
Total92
Successes88
Failures2
Partial failures2
Catalogued90
National firsts
Satellite Lithuania
 Bermuda
 Belgium
 Iraq
 Uruguay
Rockets
Maiden flights
RetirementsAntares 120
Antares 130
Crewed flights
Orbital4
Total travellers12
EVAs7

In 2014, the maiden flight of the Angara A5, Antares 120 and Antares 130 took place.

A total of 92 orbital launches were attempted in 2014, of which 88 were successful, two were partially successful and two were failures. The year also saw seven EVAs by ISS astronauts. The majority of the year's orbital launches were conducted by Russia, the United States and China, with 34, 23 and 16 launches respectively.

Overview[edit]

An Ariane 5 ES launched the Georges Lemaître Automated Transfer Vehicle, the last one of the series, which also marked 60 successfully completed Ariane 5 launches in a row.

On 22 August 2014, Arianespace launched the first two Full Operational Capability Galileo satellites for the European satellite navigation system.

A number of significant events in planetary exploration occurred in 2014, including the entry of the Rosetta spacecraft into orbit around the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in August 2014 and the deployment of the Philae lander to its surface in November, which marked the first orbit of and landing on a comet, respectively, and featured prominently in social media. Another notable occurrence was the entry of India's Mars Orbiter Mission into Martian orbit in September, making India the first Asian nation to reach Mars.

On 5 December 2014, a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy launched the first Orion spacecraft test mission for NASA, Exploration Flight Test 1.

Orbital launches[edit]

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

January[edit]

5 January
10:48:00
India GSLV Mk II India Satish Dhawan SLP India ISRO
India GSAT-14 ISRO Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
6 January
22:06:00
United States Falcon 9 v1.1 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-40 United States SpaceX
Thailand Thaicom 6 Thaicom (Shin Corporation) Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
9 January
18:07:05
United States Antares 120 United States MARS LP-0A United States Orbital Sciences
United States Cygnus CRS Orb-1
S.S. C. Gordon Fullerton
NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 19 February 2014
18:20
Successful
United States ArduSat-2 NanoSatisfi Low Earth Technology demonstration 1 July 2014
Lithuania Lituanica SAT-1 VU Low Earth Technology demonstration 28 July 2014
Lithuania LitSat-1 LSA, KTU, VGTU Low Earth Technology demonstration 22 May 2014
United States SkyCube SkyCube Low Earth Technology demonstration 8 November 2014
Peru UAPSat-1 UAP Low Earth Technology demonstration 22 May 2014
United States Flock-1 × 28 Planet Labs Low Earth Earth observation First: 3 May 2014
Last: 29 October 2014
First Orbital Sciences CRS operational flight, maiden flight of Antares 120. All payloads other than Cygnus are CubeSats carried aboard the Cygnus for deployment from the ISS. CubeSats include first Lithuanian satellites. Largest number of satellites launched on a single rocket (33).
24 January
02:33:00
United States Atlas V 401 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United States United Launch Alliance
United States TDRS-L (TDRS-12) NASA Geosynchronous Communications / Data Relay In orbit Operational

February[edit]

5 February
16:23:32
Russia Soyuz-U Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 1/5 Russia Roskosmos
Russia Progress M-22M / 54P Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 18 April 2014
15:46
Successful
Peru Chasqui-1[1] Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería del Perú Low Earth Technology demonstration 15 January 2015[2] Spacecraft failure
Chasqui-1 released from the ISS by cosmonauts during EVA on 18 August.
6 February
21:30:07
Europe Ariane 5 ECA France Kourou ELA-3 France Arianespace
Bermuda ABS-2 ABS Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
France Italy Athena-Fidus CNES / ASI Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
14 February
21:09:03
Russia Proton-M / Briz-M Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 81/24 Russia United States International Launch Services
Turkey Türksat 4A Türksat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
21 February
01:59:00
United States Delta IV M+(4,2) United States Cape Canaveral SLC-37B United States United Launch Alliance
United States USA-248 (GPS IIF-5) US Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
27 February
18:37:00
Japan H-IIA 202 Japan Tanegashima Y1 Japan Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Japan United States GPM-Core JAXA / NASA Low Earth Environmental In orbit Operational
Japan Ginrei (ShindaiSat) Shinshu University Low Earth Technology demonstration 24 November 2014 Successful
Japan STARS-II Kagawa University Low Earth Technology demonstration 26 April 2014
Japan TeikyoSat-3 Teikyo University Technology demonstration / Microbiology 25 October 2014 Successful
Japan KSAT-2 Kagoshima University Low Earth Technology demonstration 18 May 2014 Successful
Japan OPUSAT OPU Low Earth Technology demonstration 24 July 2014
Japan INVADER Tamabi Low Earth Amateur radio 2 September 2014 Successful
Japan ITF-1 Tsukuba University Low Earth Amateur radio 29 June 2014 Spacecraft failure
ITF-1 failed to communicate.

March[edit]

15 March
23:08:00
Russia Proton-M / Briz-M Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 81/24 Russia Khrunichev
Russia Ekspress-AT1 RSCC Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Russia Ekspress-AT2 RSCC Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
22 March
22:04:07
Europe Ariane 5 ECA France Kourou ELA-3 France Arianespace
Luxembourg Astra 5B SES S.A. Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Spain Amazonas 4A Hispasat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
23 March
22:54:03
Russia Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Russia Plesetsk Site 43/4 Russia RVSN RF
Russia Kosmos 2494 (GLONASS-M 754) VKO Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
25 March
21:17:23
Russia Soyuz-FG Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 1/5 Russia Roskosmos
Russia Soyuz TMA-12M Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 39 / 40 11 September 2014
02:23
Successful
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts
31 March
02:46:03
China Long March 2C China Jiuquan SLS-2 China CALT
China Shiajian 11-06 CASC Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational

April[edit]

3 April
14:46:30
United States Atlas V 401 United States Vandenberg SLC-3E United States United Launch Alliance
United States USA-249 (DMSP-5D3 F19) US Air Force / NOAA Low Earth (SSO) Meteorology In orbit Spacecraft failure[3]
The spacecraft stopped responding to commands on 11 February 2016 due to a power failure affecting an encrypted command-and-control system.
3 April
21:02:26
Russia Soyuz-STA / Fregat France Kourou ELS France Arianespace
Europe Sentinel-1A ESA Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
4 April
11:44:00
India PSLV-XL India Satish Dhawan FLP India ISRO
India IRNSS-1B ISRO Geosynchronous Navigation In orbit Operational
9 April
15:26:27
Russia Soyuz-U Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 1/5 Russia Roskosmos
Russia Progress M-23M / 55P Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 31 July 2014 Successful
9 April
19:06:02[4]
Israel Shavit Israel Palmachim Airbase Israel Israel Aerospace Industries
Israel Ofeq 10 Israel Defense Forces Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbit Operational
10 April
17:45:00
United States Atlas V 541 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United States United Launch Alliance
United States USA-250 (NRO L-67) NRO Geosynchronous ELINT (?) In orbit Operational
NROL-67 mission.
16 April
16:20:00
Russia Soyuz-U Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 31/6 Russia Roskosmos
Egypt EgyptSat 2 NARSSS Low Earth Remote sensing 14 April 2015 Spacecraft failure
18 April
19:25:22
United States Falcon 9 v1.1 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-40 United States SpaceX
United States SpaceX CRS-3 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 18 May 2014
19:05
Successful
United States ALL-STAR/THEIA Colorado / ALL-STAR Low Earth Technology demonstration 26 May 2014 Spacecraft failure
United States KickSat KickSat / Cornell Low Earth Technology demonstration 14 May 2014
01:30
Spacecraft failure
United States PhoneSat 2.5 NASA Ames Low Earth Technology demonstration 15 May 2014
United States SporeSat 1 NASA Ames / Purdue Low Earth Life sciences 4 June 2014
United States TestSat-Lite Taylor University Low Earth Technology demonstration 28 May 2014
The ELaNa 5 mission, consisting of 5 cubesats, was launched on this flight. KickSat carried and failed to deploy 104 femtosatellites in low Earth orbit.[5][6]
28 April
04:25:00
Russia Proton-M / Briz-M Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 81/24 Russia Roscosmos
Russia Luch 5V Gonets Satellite System Geosynchronous Communications / Data Relay In orbit Operational
Kazakhstan KazSat-3 JSC KazSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Spacecraft failure[7]
30 April
01:35:15
Europe Vega France Kourou ELV France Arianespace
Kazakhstan KazEOSat 1 KGS Low Earth (SSO) Optical imaging In orbit Operational

May[edit]

6 May
13:49:35
Russia Soyuz-2.1a Russia Plesetsk Site 43/4 Russia RVSN RF
Russia Kosmos 2495 (Kobalt-M) VKO Low Earth Reconnaissance 3 September 2014 Successful
15 May
21:42:00
Russia Proton-M / Briz-M Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 200/39 Russia Khrunichev
Russia Ekspress-AM4R RSCC Intended: Geosynchronous Communications 15 May 2014 Launch failure
A third stage vernier thruster failed at T+542 seconds after the failure of the turbopump structural support caused damage to the oxidiser inlet line.[8]
17 May
00:03:00
United States Delta IV M+(4,2) United States Cape Canaveral SLC-37B United States United Launch Alliance
United States USA-251 (GPS IIF-6) U.S. Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
22 May
13:09:00
United States Atlas V 401 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United States United Launch Alliance
United States USA-252 (Quasar) NRO Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
NRO Launch 33
23 May
05:27:54
Russia Rokot / Briz-KM Russia Plesetsk Site 133/3 Russia VKO
Russia Kosmos 2496 (Strela-3M) VKO Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Russia Kosmos 2497 (Strela-3M) VKO Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Russia Kosmos 2498 (Strela-3M) VKO Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Russia Kosmos 2499 VKO Low Earth Technology demonstration / Satellite inspection (?) In orbit Destroyed
Kosmos 2499 broke up in orbit on 4 January 2023.[9]
24 May
03:05:14
Japan H-IIA 202 Japan Tanegashima Y1 Japan Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Japan ALOS-2 JAXA Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
Japan RISING-2 Tohoku Low Earth (SSO) Remote sensing In orbit Operational
Japan UNIFORM-1 Wakayama University Low Earth (SSO) Remote sensing In orbit Operational
Japan SOCRATES AES Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Successful
Japan SPROUT Nihon Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration / Amateur radio In orbit Operational
26 May
21:09:59
Ukraine Zenit-3SL Norway Odyssey United Nations Sea Launch
France Eutelsat 3B Eutelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
28 May
19:57:41
Russia Soyuz-FG Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 1/5 Russia Roskosmos
Russia Soyuz TMA-13M Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 40 / 41 10 November 2014
03:58
Successful
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts

June[edit]

14 June
17:16:48
Russia Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Russia Plesetsk Site 43/4 Russia RVSN RF
Russia Kosmos 2500 (GLONASS-M 755) VKO Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
19 June
19:11:17
Ukraine Dnepr Russia Dombarovsky Site 13 Russia Ukraine ISC Kosmotras
United States AprizeSat 9 SpaceQuest, Ltd. Low Earth (SSO) Communications In orbit Operational
United States AprizeSat 10 SpaceQuest, Ltd. Low Earth (SSO) Communications In orbit Operational
Canada BRITE-CA 1 UTIAS Low Earth (SSO) Photometry / Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Canada BRITE-CA 2 UTIAS Low Earth (SSO) Photometry / Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Argentina BugSat 1 Satellogic S.A. Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration / Earth observation In orbit Operational
Spain Deimos-2 Deimos Space Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
Japan Hodoyoshi 3 University of Tokyo Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Japan Hodoyoshi 4 University of Tokyo Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Kazakhstan KazEOSat 2 KGS Low Earth (SSO) Optical imaging In orbit Operational
United States Russia Perseus-M 1 Canopus Systems US / Dauria Aerospace Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
United States Russia Perseus-M 2 Canopus Systems US / Dauria Aerospace Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Belgium QB50P1 Von Karman Institute Low Earth (SSO) Thermosphere research In orbit Operational
Belgium QB50P2 Von Karman Institute Low Earth (SSO) Thermosphere research In orbit Operational
Saudi Arabia SaudiSat-4 KACST Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Russia TabletSat-Aurora SPUTNIX Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration / Earth observation In orbit Operational
Italy UniSat 6 La Sapienza Low Earth (SSO) Optical imaging In orbit Operational
United States AeroCube 6 The Aerospace Corporation Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Uruguay ANTELSAT UdelaR Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Denmark DTUSat 2 DTU Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Israel Duchifat-1 HSC Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
United States Flock-1c × 11 Planet Labs Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
United States Lemur-1 NanoSatisfi Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
Brazil NanoSatC-Br 1 INPE Low Earth (SSO) Magnetosphere research In orbit Operational
Taiwan PACE NCKU Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Ukraine PolyITAN 1 KPI Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Singapore POPSAT-HIP 1 Microspace Rapid, Singapore Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Iraq Italy Tigrisat MOST / La Sapienza Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
Largest number of satellites launched on a single rocket (37). Include first Belgian (pair), Uruguay's and Iraqi satellites.
30 June
04:22:00
India PSLV-CA India Satish Dhawan FLP India ISRO
France SPOT 7 Spot Image Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
Canada CanX-4 UTIAS Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Canada CanX-5 UTIAS Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Germany AISat DLR Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Singapore VELOX-I NTU Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational

July[edit]

2 July
09:56:23
United States Delta II 7320-10C United States Vandenberg SLC-2W United States United Launch Alliance
United States OCO-2 NASA Low Earth (SSO) Climatology In orbit Operational
3 July
12:43:52
Russia Rokot / Briz-KM Russia Plesetsk Site 133/3 Russia VKO
Russia Gonets-M 8 Gonets Satellite System Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Russia Gonets-M 9 Gonets Satellite System Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Russia Gonets-M 10 Gonets Satellite System Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
8 July
15:58:28
Russia Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 31/6 Russia Roskosmos
Russia Meteor-M No.2 Roskosmos Low Earth (SSO) Meteorology In orbit Operational
Norway AISSat-2 NDRE Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Russia DX-1 Dauria Aerospace Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Russia MKA-PN2 (Relek) Roskosmos Low Earth (SSO) Magnetosphere research In orbit Spacecraft failure
United States SkySat-2 Skybox Imaging Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
United Kingdom TechDemoSat-1 UKSA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
United Kingdom UKube-1 UKSA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
10 July
18:55:56
Russia Soyuz-STB / Fregat France Kourou ELS France Arianespace
Jersey O3b FM3 O3b Networks Medium Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Jersey O3b FM6 O3b Networks Medium Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Jersey O3b FM7 O3b Networks Medium Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Jersey O3b FM8 O3b Networks Medium Earth Communications In orbit Operational
13 July
16:52:14
United States Antares 120 United States MARS LP-0A United States Orbital Sciences
United States Cygnus CRS Orb-2
S.S. Janice Voss
NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 17 August 2014 Successful
United States Flock-1b × 28 Planet Labs Low Earth Optical imaging First: 13 December 2014
Last: 16 October 2015
Successful
United States GEARRS Taylor University / USAF Low Earth Technology demonstration 8 November 2015 Successful
Greece Lambdasat Lambda Team Low Earth Technology demonstration 16 May 2015 Successful
United States MicroMAS MIT Low Earth Technology demonstration 1 August 2015 Successful
United States TechEdSat-4 NASA Ames Low Earth Optical imaging 3 April 2015 Successful
All payloads other than Cygnus are CubeSats carried aboard the Cygnus for deployment from the ISS. Flock-1b 3/4/13/14/19/20 were not deployed.
14 July
15:15:00
United States Falcon 9 v1.1 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-40 United States SpaceX
United States Orbcomm-2 F3 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United States Orbcomm-2 F4 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United States Orbcomm-2 F6 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United States Orbcomm-2 F7 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United States Orbcomm-2 F9 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
United States Orbcomm-2 F11 Orbcomm Low Earth Communications In orbit Operational
18 July
20:50:00
Russia Soyuz-2.1a Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 31/6 Russia Roskosmos
Russia Foton-M No.4 Roscosmos Low Earth Microgravity science 1 September 2014
09:18
Successful
23 July
21:44:44
Russia Soyuz-U Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 1/5 Russia Roskosmos
Russia Progress M-24M / 56P Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 20 November 2014 Successful
28 July
23:28:00
United States Delta IV M+(4,2) United States Cape Canaveral SLC-37B United States United Launch Alliance
United States USA-253 (GSSAP #1 ) U.S. Air Force Geosynchronous Space surveillance In orbit Operational
United States USA-254 (GSSAP #2 ) U.S. Air Force Geosynchronous Space surveillance In orbit Successful
United States ANGELS (USA-255) AFRL Geosynchronous Technology demonstration In orbit Successful
Air Force Space Command Launch 4. First launch for the USAF Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program.
29 July
23:47:38
Europe Ariane 5 ES France Kourou ELA-3 France Arianespace
Europe Georges Lemaître ATV ESA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 15 February 2015 Successful

August[edit]

2 August
03:23:00
United States Atlas V 401 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United States United Launch Alliance
United States USA-256 (GPS IIF-7) U.S. Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
5 August
08:00:00
United States Falcon 9 v1.1 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-40 United States SpaceX
Hong Kong AsiaSat 8 AsiaSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
9 August
05:45:03
China Long March 4C China Jiuquan SLS-2 China SAST
China Yaogan 20A CAST Low Earth ELINT In orbit Operational
China Yaogan 20B CAST Low Earth ELINT In orbit Operational
China Yaogan 20C CAST Low Earth ELINT In orbit Operational
13 August
18:30:30
United States Atlas V 401 United States Vandenberg SLC-3E United States United Launch Alliance
United States WorldView-3 DigitalGlobe Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
19 August
03:15:05
China Long March 4B China Taiyuan LC-9 China SAST
China Gaofen 2 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Earth observation In orbit Operational
Poland Heweliusz (BRITE-PL2) PAS Low Earth (SSO) Photometry In orbit Operational
22 August
12:27:11
Russia Soyuz-STB / Fregat France Kourou ELS France Arianespace
European Union Galileo FOC 1 ESA Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Partial launch failure
Operational
European Union Galileo FOC 2 ESA Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Partial launch failure
Operational
Spacecraft in incorrect orbit due to an interruption of the Fregat's upper stage attitude control thrusters when its hydrazine propellant supply became frozen by a cold helium feed line incorrectly routed close to it.[10] Both satellites were later moved to a usable orbit on their own power.[11]

September[edit]

4 September
00:15:04
China Long March 2D China Jiuquan SLS-2 China SAST
China Chuangxin 1-04 CAS Low Earth (SSO) Communications In orbit Operational
China Lingqiao Tsinghua Low Earth (SSO) Communications / Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
7 September
05:00:00
United States Falcon 9 v1.1 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-40 United States SpaceX
Hong Kong AsiaSat 6 AsiaSat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
8 September
03:22:05
China Long March 4B China Taiyuan LC-9 China SAST
China Yaogan 21 CAST Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbit Operational
China Tiantuo 2 NUDT Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
11 September
22:05:07
Europe Ariane 5 ECA France Kourou ELA-3 France Arianespace
Malaysia MEASAT 3b MEASAT Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Australia Optus 10 Optus Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
17 September
00:10:00
United States Atlas V 401 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United States United Launch Alliance
United States USA-257 (CLIO / Nemesis 2) NRO[12][13] Geosynchronous COMINT In orbit Operational
21 September
05:52:03
United States Falcon 9 v1.1 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-40 United States SpaceX
United States SpaceX CRS-4 NASA Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 25 October 2014 Successful
United States SpinSat NRL Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
SpinSat was deployed from the ISS on 28 November.
25 September
20:25:00
Russia Soyuz-FG Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 1/5 Russia Roskosmos
Russia Soyuz TMA-14M Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 41 / 42 12 March 2015
02:07
Successful
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts.
27 September
20:23:00
Russia Proton-M / Briz-M Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 81/24 Russia Khrunichev
Russia Olymp-K (Luch) VKO Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
28 September
05:13:03
China Long March 2C China Jiuquan SLS-2 China CALT
China Shijian 11-07 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational

October[edit]

7 October
05:16:00
Japan H-IIA 202 Japan Tanegashima Y1 Japan Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Japan Himawari 8 JMA Geosynchronous Meteorology In orbit Operational
15 October
20:02:00
India PSLV-XL India Satish Dhawan FLP India ISRO
India IRNSS-1C ISRO Geosynchronous Navigation In orbit Operational
16 October
21:43:52
Europe Ariane 5 ECA France Kourou ELA-3 France Arianespace
United States Intelsat 30 Intelsat Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
Argentina ARSAT-1 AR-SAT SA Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
20 October
06:31:04
China Long March 4C China Taiyuan LC-9 China SAST
China Yaogan 22 CAST Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbit Operational
21 October
15:09:32
Russia Proton-M / Briz-M Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 81/24 Russia Khrunichev
Russia Ekspress AM6 RSCC Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Partial launch failure
Operational
Upper stage underperformance resulted in lower than planned deployment orbit.[14]
23 October
18:00:04
China Long March 3C/E China Xichang LC-2 China CALT
China Chang'e 5-T1 CNSA Lunar free-return trajectory Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
China Chang'e 5-T1 return capsule CNSA Lunar free-return trajectory Technology demonstration 31 October
22:42
Successful
Testing of Chang'e 5 lunar sample return module in lunar free-return trajectory; main spacecraft later flew to Earth-Moon L2 Lagrange point.
27 October
06:59:03
China Long March 2C China Jiuquan SLS-2 China CALT
China Shijian 11-08 CNSA Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
28 October
22:22:38
United States Antares 130 United States MARS LP-0A United States Orbital Sciences
United States Cygnus CRS Orb-3
S.S. Deke Slayton
NASA Intended: Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics T+15 seconds Launch failure
First stage failure; rocket crashed near launch pad; estimated US$20 million in repairs to rebuild Pad 0A.[15] Only flight of Antares 130.
29 October
07:09:43
Russia Soyuz-2.1a Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 31/6 Russia Roskosmos
Russia Progress M-25M / 57P Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) ISS logistics 26 April 2015 Successful
29 October
17:21:00
United States Atlas V 401 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-41 United States United Launch Alliance
United States USA-258 (GPS IIF-8) U.S. Air Force Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational
30 October
01:42:52
Russia Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat Russia Plesetsk Site 43/4 Russia RVSN RF
Russia Meridian 7 VKO Molniya Communications In orbit Operational

November[edit]

6 November
07:35:49
Ukraine Dnepr Russia Dombarovsky Site 13 Russia Ukraine ISC Kosmotras
Japan Asnaro-1 USEF Low Earth (SSO) Remote sensing In orbit Operational
Japan ChubuSat 1 Nagoya University Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Japan Hodoyoshi 1 University of Tokyo Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Japan QSAT-EOS Kyushu University Low Earth (SSO) Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Japan TSUBAME TIT / JAXA Low Earth (SSO) Gamma-ray astronomy In orbit Operational
14 November
18:53:05
China Long March 2C China Taiyuan LC-9 China CALT
China Yaogan 23 CAST Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbit Operational
20 November
07:12:03
China Long March 2D China Jiuquan SLS-2 China SAST
China Yaogan 24 CAST Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbit Operational
21 November
06:37:08
China Kuaizhou China Jiuquan LS-95B China CASIC
China Kuaizhou-2 CAS Low Earth (SSO) Optical imaging 9 October 2016 Successful
23 November
21:01:14
Russia Soyuz-FG Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 31/6 Russia Roskosmos
Russia Soyuz TMA-15M Roskosmos Low Earth (ISS) Expedition 42 / 43 11 June 2015
13:44
Successful
Crewed flight with three cosmonauts.
30 November
21:52:26
Russia Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Russia Plesetsk Site 43/4 Russia RVSN RF
Russia Kosmos 2501 (GLONASS-K 702) VKO Medium Earth Navigation In orbit Operational

December[edit]

3 December
04:22:04
Japan H-IIA 202 Japan Tanegashima Y1 Japan Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Japan Hayabusa2 JAXA Heliocentric Asteroid sample return In orbit Operational
Japan DCAM3 JAXA Heliocentric Asteroid probe  
Japan MINERVA-II-1 Rover 1A JAXA Heliocentric (162173 Ryugu) Asteroid lander In orbit Operational
Japan MINERVA-II-1 Rover 1B JAXA Heliocentric (162173 Ryugu) Asteroid lander In orbit Operational
Japan MINERVA-II Rover 2 JAXA Heliocentric (162173 Ryugu) Asteroid lander  
Germany France MASCOT DLR / CNES Heliocentric (162173 Ryugu) Asteroid lander In orbit Successful
Japan Shin'en 2 Kyutech Heliocentric Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Japan Despatch (Artsat 2) Tamabi / UT Heliocentric Technology demonstration In orbit Operational
Japan PROCYON UT Heliocentric Technology demonstration / Asteroid flyby In orbit Operational
DCAM3, MINERVA-II (Rover 1A, 1B, 2), and MASCOT are carried aboard Hayabusa2 to be deployed in proximity or onto the surface of asteroid 162173 Ryugu. MINERVA-II Rover 1A and 1B were deployed on 21 September 2018. MASCOT was deployed on 3 October 2018.
5 December
12:05:00
United States Delta IV Heavy United States Cape Canaveral SLC-37B United States United Launch Alliance
United States EFT-1 NASA HEO Technology demonstration 5 December 2014
16:29
Successful
First test flight of Orion spacecraft
6 December
20:40:07
Europe Ariane 5 ECA France Kourou ELA-3 France Arianespace
United States DirecTV-14 DirecTV Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
India GSAT-16 ISRO Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
7 December
03:26:04
China Long March 4B China Taiyuan LC-9 China SAST
China Brazil CBERS-4 CASC / INPE Low Earth (SSO) Remote sensing In orbit Operational
10 December
19:33:03
China Long March 4C China Jiuquan SLS-2 China SAST
China Yaogan 25A CAST Low Earth ELINT In orbit Operational
China Yaogan 25B CAST Low Earth ELINT In orbit Operational
China Yaogan 25C CAST Low Earth ELINT In orbit Operational
13 December
03:19:00
United States Atlas V 541 United States Vandenberg SLC-3E United States United Launch Alliance
United States USA-259 (NRO L-35) NRO Molniya ELINT In orbit Operational
NRO Launch 35
15 December
00:16:00
Russia Proton-M / Briz-M Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 81/24 Russia Khrunichev
Russia Yamal-401 Gazprom Space Systems Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
18 December
18:37:00
Russia Soyuz-STB / Fregat France Kourou ELS France Arianespace
Jersey O3b FM9 O3b Networks Medium Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Jersey O3b FM10 O3b Networks Medium Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Jersey O3b FM11 O3b Networks Medium Earth Communications In orbit Operational
Jersey O3b FM12 O3b Networks Medium Earth Communications In orbit Operational
19 December
04:43:33
Russia Strela Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 175/59 Russia Roskosmos
Russia South Africa Kondor-E Roskosmos / DoD Low Earth Synthetic-aperture radar imaging 22 October 2022[16] Successful
23 December
05:57:00
Russia Angara A5 / Briz-M Russia Plesetsk Site 35/1 Russia Khrunichev
Russia IPM Russia Khrunichev Geosynchronous[17] Test flight In orbit Successful
Maiden flight of Angara A5
25 December
03:01:13
Russia Soyuz-2.1b Russia Plesetsk Site 43/4 Russia RVSN RF
Russia Kosmos 2502 (Lotos-S) VKO Low Earth ELINT In orbit Operational
26 December
18:55:50
Russia Soyuz-2.1b Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 31/6 Russia Roskosmos
Russia Resurs-P No.2 Roskosmos Low Earth (SSO) Remote sensing In orbit Operational
27 December
03:22:04
China Long March 4B China Taiyuan LC-9 China SAST
China Yaogan 26 CAST Low Earth (SSO) Reconnaissance In orbit Operational
27 December
21:37:49
Russia Proton-M / Briz-M Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 200/39 Russia United States International Launch Services
Luxembourg Astra 2G SES S.A. Geosynchronous Communications In orbit Operational
31 December
01:02:04
China Long March 3A China Xichang LC-2 China CALT
China Fengyun 2G CMA Geosynchronous Meteorology In orbit Operational

Suborbital flights[edit]

Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat)
Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC) Outcome
Remarks
3 January Israel Arrow III Israel Negev Israel IAI
IAI / IDF Suborbital ABM Test 3 January Successful
Second flight test of the Arrow-III
7 January India Prithvi II India Integrated Test Range Launch Complex 3 India DRDO
DRDO Suborbital Missile test 7 Januar Successful
Apogee: ~100 kilometres (62 mi)
15 January
09:09
United States Terrier-Orion United States Wallops Island United States TBD
DOD Suborbital Classified 15 January Successful
FTX-18 target, apogee: ~130 kilometres (81 mi)?
15 January
09:09
United States Terrier-Orion United States Wallops Island United States TBD
DOD Suborbital Classified 15 January Successful
FTX-18 target, apogee: ~130 kilometres (81 mi)?
15 January
09:09
United States Terrier-Orion United States Wallops Island United States TBD
DOD Suborbital Classified 15 January Successful
FTX-18 target, apogee: ~130 kilometres (81 mi)?
20 January
05:22
India Agni-IV India Integrated Test Range India DRDO
DRDO Suborbital Missile Test 20 January Successful
Apogee: ~850 kilometres (530 mi)
3 March
11:09
Canada Black Brant IX United States Poker Flat United States NASA
United States GREECE SwRI Suborbital Auroral research 3 March Successful
Apogee: 335 kilometres (208 mi)
4 March
18:10
Russia RS-12M Topol Russia Kapustin Yar Russia RVSN
RVSN Suborbital Missile test 4 March Successful
24 March India K-4 India Visakhapatnam India Indian Navy
Indian Navy Suborbital Missile test 24 March Successful
First launch of the new Indian K-4 SLBM[18]
26 March Taiwan Sounding Rocket IX Taiwan Jiu Peng Air Base Taiwan NSPO
NSPO Suborbital Ionospheric research 26 March Successful
Apogee: ~280 km (174 mi)
26 March
22:25
Russia MN-300 Russia Kapustin Yar Russia Rosgidromet
Russia MR-30 Rosgidromet Suborbital Meteorology
Test flight
26 March Launch failure
Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), rocket failed and landed near a village in an unplanned area of western Kazakhstan.
11 April
23:10
India Agni-I India Integrated Test Range India IDRDL
IDRDL Suborbital Missile test 11 April Successful
Apogee: ~500 kilometres (310 mi)?
14 April
06:40
Russia RS-24 Yars Russia Plesetsk