List of spaceflight launches in January–June 2018
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article lists orbital and suborbital launches during the first half of the year 2018.
For all other spaceflight activities, see 2018 in spaceflight. For launches in the second half of 2018 see List of spaceflight launches in July–December 2018.
Orbital launches
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | |||
| Remarks | ||||||||
January | ||||||||
| 8 January 01:00 |
 Falcon 9 Block 4 |
F9-047 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 |
SpaceX | ||||
| Zuma / USA-280[1] |
Unnamed U.S. government agency | Low Earth | Classified | 8 January | Nominal launch;[2] Deployment failure | |||
| After an initial lack of official comment on the mission, a preliminary report concludes that the payload adapter manufactured by Northrop Grumman failed to separate the satellite from the second stage, resulting in its re-entry shortly after launch.[3] SpaceX and the United States Air Force reviewed the Falcon 9 flight data and saw no issues with the launch vehicle itself that would affect future launches.[4][5] | ||||||||
| 9 January 03:24 |
 Long March 2D |
2D-Y40[6] | Taiyuan LC-9 |
CASC | ||||
| SuperView / Gaojing-1 03 |
Beijing Space View Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| SuperView / Gaojing-1 04 |
Beijing Space View Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 11 January 23:18 |
Long March 3B / YZ-1 |
3B-Y45[7] | Xichang LC-2 |
CASC | ||||
| BeiDou-3 M7 |
CNSA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| BeiDou-3 M8 |
CNSA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 12 January 03:58 |
 PSLV-XL |
C40[8] | Satish Dhawan FLP |
ISRO | ||||
| Cartosat-2F |
ISRO | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
 ICEYE X1 |
ICEYE | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Microsat-TD |
ISRO | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 27 November 2020 | Successful | |||
| ⚀ Arkyd-6A |
Planetary Resources | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀  CANYVAL-X 1, 2 |
Yonsei University, NASA | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀  Carbonite-2 |
Surrey Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ CICERO 7 |
GeoOptics | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 14 November 2023[9] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ CNUSail-1 |
CNU | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ DemoSat 2 |
Astranis | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration (radio) | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Flock-3p' × 4 |
Planet Labs | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | First: 28 March 2023[10] Last: 17 August 2023[11] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ Fox-1D |
AMSAT | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ INS-1C |
ISRO | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 14 November 2023[12] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ KAUSAT 5 |
Korea Aerospace University | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Landmapper-BC 3 v2 |
Astro Digital | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Lemur-2 × 4 |
Spire Global | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | First: 5 April 2023[13] Last: 9 May 2023[14] | Successful | |||
⚀  LEO Vantage 1 |
Telesat | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ MicroMAS 2a |
MIT SSL | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 8 April 2023[15] | Successful | |||
⚀  PicSat |
Paris Observatory | Low Earth (SSO) | Astronomy | 3 October 2023[16] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ SpaceBEE 1–4 |
Swarm Technologies[17] | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | SpaceBEE 1: 2 August 2022[18] SpaceBEE 2: 6 September 2022[19] SpaceBEE 3: 3 October 2022[20] SpaceBEE 4: In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ STEP Cube Lab |
Chosun University | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | 23 May 2023[21] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ Tyvak 61C |
Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems | Low Earth (SSO) | Astronomy | 8 April 2023[22] | Successful | |||
| Deployed 31 satellites.[23][24][25] | ||||||||
| 12 January 22:11 |
Delta IV M+(5,2) |
D-379 | Vandenberg SLC-6 |
ULA | ||||
| Topaz-5[26] / USA-281 |
US Air Force | LEO (retrograde) | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| NROL-47 mission. Last flight of Delta IV M+(5,2) variant. | ||||||||
| 13 January 07:20 |
Long March 2D |
2D-Y49[6] | Jiuquan SLS-2 |
CASC | ||||
| LKW-3 |
CAS | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 17 January 21:06:11 |
 Epsilon |
Epsilon-3[27] | Uchinoura |
JAXA | ||||
| ASNARO-2 |
NEC | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 19 January 04:12 |
Long March 11 |
Y3[28] | Jiuquan LS-95A |
CASC | ||||
| Jilin-1 Video-07 (Deqing 1)[29] |
Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Jilin-1 Video-08 (Linye 2)[29] |
Chang Guang Satellite Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Star of Enlai Huai'an Hao |
Huai'an Youth Comprehensive Development Base | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology/Education | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Xiaoxiang 2 |
SpaceTY Aerospace Co. | Low Earth (SSO) | Stabilization technology | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Quantutong-1 (QTT-1) |
Full-chart Location Network Co. (Quan Tu Tong Co.) |
Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ KIPP[30] |
Kepler Communications | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 100th launch from Jiuquan. Carried and deployed 6 satellites in total. | ||||||||
| 20 January 00:48 |
Atlas V 411 |
AV-076 | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 |
ULA | ||||
| SBIRS GEO-4 (USA-282) |
U.S. Air Force | Geosynchronous | Missile warning | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 21 January 01:30 |
Electron |
"Still Testing" |  Mahia LC-1A |
Rocket Lab | ||||
| Humanity Star |
Rocket Lab | Low Earth | Public awareness | 22 March 2018 | Successful | |||
| ⚀ Flock-2 (Dove Pioneer)[31] |
Planet Labs | Low Earth | Earth observation | 22 September 2019[32] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ Lemur-2-72[33] |
Spire Global | Low Earth | Earth observation | 9 November 2023[34] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ Lemur-2-73 |
Spire Global | Low Earth | Earth observation | 22 August 2023[35] | Successful | |||
| First successful launch of the Electron rocket. | ||||||||
| 25 January 05:39 |
Long March 2C |
2C-Y36[6] | Xichang LC-3 |
CASC | ||||
| Yaogan 30-04A |
CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Yaogan 30-04B |
CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Yaogan 30-04C |
CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Weina 1A[36] / NanoSat-1A[37] |
Shanghai Micro Satellite Engineering Center | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 25 January 22:20 |
Ariane 5 ECA |
VA241 | Kourou ELA-3 |
Arianespace | ||||
 SES-14 / GOLD |
SES S.A. | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Partial launch failure / Operational[38] | |||
 Al Yah-3 |
Yahsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Partial launch failure / Operational | |||
| Due to programming errors in the Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC)[39] the satellites were placed on an off-nominal orbit.[40] Both payloads are undergoing corrective maneuvers and will be on line in August 2018.[41] These failures have ended the Ariane 5 record series of 82 successful launches in a row from April 2003 to December 2017.[42] | ||||||||
| 31 January 21:25 |
Falcon 9 Full Thrust |
F9-048 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 |
SpaceX | ||||
| SES-16 / GovSat-1 |
SES S.A. | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| This flight re-used booster B1032 recovered from the NROL-76 mission in May 2017, and landed the first stage in the ocean with the intent to expend it. The booster unexpectedly remained intact, but was not recovered, and it was subsequently destroyed.[43] | ||||||||
February | ||||||||
| 1 February 02:07 |
 Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat-M |
Vostochny Site 1S[44] |
Roscosmos | |||||
| Kanopus-V №3 |
Roscosmos | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Kanopus-V №4 |
Roscosmos | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀  S-Net 1–4[45] |
TU Berlin | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration (inter-satellite communications) | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Lemur-2 × 4 |
Spire Global | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ D-Star One v.1.1 Phoenix |
German Orbital Systems | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications (experimental) | |||||
| 2 February 07:50 |
Long March 2D |
2D-Y13[6] | Jiuquan SLS-2 |
CASC | ||||
 CSES / Zhangheng-1[46] |
CNSA / ASI | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Fengmaniu 1 |
CNSA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | 16 March 2023[47] | Successful | |||
⚀  GOMX 4A |
GOMSpace, Danish Ministry of Defence | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ GOMX 4B |
GOMSpace, ESA | Low Earth (SSO) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
⚀  ÑuSat 4 |
Satellogic | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ ÑuSat 5 |
Satellogic | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Shaonian Xing[48] |
China Association for Science and Technology | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 3 February 05:03 |
SS-520 |
Uchinoura |
JAXA | |||||
| ⚀ TRICOM-1R |
University of Tokyo | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 21 August 2018 | Successful | |||
| The smallest rocket to successfully launch a satellite. Re-flight after a launch failure in January 2017. | ||||||||
| 6 February 20:45 |
Falcon Heavy |
FH-001 | Kennedy LC-39A |
SpaceX | ||||
| Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster |
SpaceX | Heliocentric | Flight test | In orbit | Successful | |||
| Maiden test flight of Falcon Heavy re-using two first-stage boosters. The two side boosters successfully touched down at the landing zones in Cape Canaveral, however the middle booster failed to land on the automated drone ship.[49] The test payload was launched in a heliocentric orbit with an aphelion of 1.70 AU, just beyond the orbit of Mars.[50] | ||||||||
| 12 February 05:10 |
Long March 3B / YZ-1 |
3B-Y47[7] | Xichang LC-2 |
CASC | ||||
| BeiDou-3 M3 |
CNSA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| BeiDou-3 M4 |
CNSA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 13 February 08:13 |
Soyuz-2.1a |
 Baikonur Site 31/6 |
Roscosmos | |||||
| Progress MS-08 / 69P |
Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 30 August | Successful | |||
| ⚀ Tanyusha-YuZGU 3, 4 |
South-West State University | Low Earth (ISS) | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Tanyusha-YuZGU satellites were deployed on 15 August 2018 during a spacewalk.[51] | ||||||||
| 22 February 14:17 |
Falcon 9 Full Thrust |
F9-049 | Vandenberg SLC-4E |
SpaceX | ||||
 Paz |
Hisdesat | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Tintin A |
SpaceX | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 29 August 2020[52] | Successful | |||
| Tintin B |
SpaceX | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 8 August 2020[53] | Successful | |||
| Flew with a re-used first-stage booster that was expended at sea. One half of the payload fairing splashed down in the ocean and was recovered, but it did not land on a ship as attempted. Last flight of Block 3 version rocket. | ||||||||
| 27 February 04:34:00 |
H-IIA 202 |
F38[54] | Tanegashima LA-Y1 |
MHI | ||||
| IGS-Optical 6 |
CSICE | Low Earth (SSO) | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
March | ||||||||
| 1 March 22:02:00 |
Atlas V 541 |
AV-077 | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 |
ULA | ||||
| GOES-17 (GOES-S) |
NESDIS | Geosynchronous | Meteorology | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 6 March 05:33 |
Falcon 9 Block 4 |
F9-050 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 |
SpaceX | ||||
| Hispasat 30W-6[55] |
Hispasat | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ PODSAT[56] |
NovaWurks/DARPA | Geosynchronous transfer orbit | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| First-stage booster was expended at sea and was not recovered. | ||||||||
| 9 March 17:10:06 |
Soyuz ST-B / Fregat-MT |
VS18 | Kourou ELS |
Arianespace | ||||
| O3b × 4 |
SES S.A. | Medium Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 17 March 07:10 |
Long March 2D |
2D-Y50[6] | Jiuquan SLS-2 |
CASC | ||||
| LKW-4 |
CAS | Low Earth | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 21 March 17:44:23 |
Soyuz-FG |
Baikonur Site 1/5 |
Roscosmos | |||||
| Soyuz MS-08 / 54S |
Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 55/56 | 4 October 2018 11:45 | Successful | |||
| Crewed flight with three cosmonauts | ||||||||
| 29 March 11:26 |
GSLV Mk II |
F08[57] | Satish Dhawan SLP |
ISRO | ||||
| GSAT-6A |
ISRO | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Spacecraft failure[58] | |||
| 29 March 17:38:43[59][60] |
Soyuz-2-1v |
Plesetsk Site 43/4 |
Roscosmos | |||||
| EMKA (Kosmos 2525) |
Ministry of Defence | Low Earth (SSO) | Reconnaissance | 1 April 2021[61] | Successful | |||
| 29 March 17:50 |
Long March 3B / YZ-1 |
3B-Y48[7] | Xichang LC-2 |
CASC | ||||
| BeiDou-3 M9 |
CNSA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| BeiDou-3 M10 |
CNSA | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 30 March 14:14 |
Falcon 9 Block 4 |
F9-051 | Vandenberg SLC-4E |
SpaceX | ||||
| Iridium NEXT 41–50 |
Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Re-used first-stage booster B1041.[62] First stage was not recovered, did a simulated landing test at sea. Fairing recovery attempt failed due to parafoil issues. | ||||||||
| 31 March 03:22 |
Long March 4C |
4C-Y26[63] | Taiyuan LC-9 |
CASC | ||||
| Gaofen-1 02 |
CNSA | SSO | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Gaofen-1 03 |
CNSA | SSO | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Gaofen-1 04 |
CNSA | SSO | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
April | ||||||||
| 2 April 20:30 |
Falcon 9 Block 4 |
F9-052 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 |
SpaceX | ||||
| SpaceX CRS-14 |
NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 5 May 2018 | Successful | |||
 RemoveDEBRIS |
University of Surrey | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 4 December 2021[64] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ DebrisSat 1 |
University of Surrey | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 2 March 2019 | Successful | |||
| ⚀ DebrisSat 2 |
University of Surrey | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 30 May 2020 | Successful | |||
⚀  Ubakusat |
ITU/JPF/KIT | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 27 December 2020 | Successful | |||
⚀  1KUNS-PF |
UoN | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 11 June 2020 | Successful | |||
⚀  Proyecto Irazú |
CAAE/ITCR | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | 4 March 2020 | Successful | |||
| Re-used first-stage booster B1039, used to launch CRS-12 in 2017; and the Dragon capsule from CRS-8 in 2016.[65] First stage was not recovered. Ubakusat, 1KUNS-PF, and Proyecto Irazú were deployed from the ISS on 11 May 2018.[66] RemoveDEBRIS was deployed into orbit on 20 June 2018.[67] | ||||||||
| 5 April 21:34 |
Ariane 5 ECA |
VA242 | Kourou ELA-3 |
Arianespace | ||||
| Superbird-B3 / DSN-1 |
JSAT / DSN / JSDF | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| HYLAS-4 |
Avanti | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| First flight of Ariane 5 since off-target launch of VA241 in January 2018. | ||||||||
| 10 April 04:25 |
Long March 4C[68] |
4C-Y25[63] | Jiuquan SLS-2 |
CASC | ||||
| Yaogan 31 A |
CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Yaogan 31 B |
CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Yaogan 31 C |
CAS | Low Earth | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Weina 1B |
Shanghai Micro Satellite Engineering Center[36] | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 11 April 22:34 |
PSLV-XL |
C41 | Satish Dhawan FLP |
ISRO | ||||
| IRNSS-1I |
ISRO | Geosynchronous | Satellite navigation (IRNSS) | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 14 April 23:13 |
Atlas V 551 |
AV-079 | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 |
ULA | ||||
| AFSPC-11 / CBAS (USA-283)[69][70] |
U.S. Air Force | Geosynchronous | Communications (military) | In orbit | Operational | |||
| EAGLE (USA-284 + USA-285/286/287)[71] |
Air Force Research Laboratory | Geosynchronous | Technology experiments (Space Test Program) | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 18 April 22:12 |
Proton-M / Briz-M |
? | Baikonur |
RVSN RF | ||||
| Blagovest-12L / Kosmos 2526 |
VKS | Geosynchronous | Communications (military) | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 18 April 22:51 |
Falcon 9 Block 4 |
F9-053 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 |
SpaceX | ||||
| TESS |
NASA | HEO | Space observatory | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Block 4 first-stage booster, serial number B1045. | ||||||||
| 25 April 17:57 |
Rokot / Briz-KM |
Plesetsk Site 133/3 |
/ Eurockot | |||||
 Sentinel-3B |
ESA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 26 April 04:42 |
Long March 11 |
Y4[28] | Jiuquan LS-95A |
CASC | ||||
| Zhuhai-1 OHS 2A–2D[72] |
Zhuhai Orbita Control Engineering | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Zhuhai-1 OVS 2A[73] |
Zhuhai Orbita Control Engineering | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
May | ||||||||
| 3 May 16:05 |
Long March 3B/G2 |
3B-Y55[7] | Xichang LC-2 |
CASC | ||||
| Apstar 6C |
APT Satellite Holdings | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 5 May 11:05 |
Atlas V 401 |
AV-078 | Vandenberg SLC-3E |
ULA | ||||
| InSight |
NASA / JPL | TMI to Martian Surface | Mars lander | 26 November 19:52:59 | Successful | |||
| ⚀ MarCO A (WALL-E)[74] |
NASA / JPL | Heliocentric | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| ⚀ MarCO B (Eva)[74] |
NASA / JPL | Heliocentric | Communications | In orbit | Successful | |||
| 12th mission of the Discovery program. Mars lander mission dedicated to geological and seismological studies of the planet.[75] | ||||||||
| 8 May 18:28 |
Long March 4C |
4C-Y20[63] | Taiyuan LC-9 |
CASC | ||||
| Gaofen 5 |
CAST | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 11 May 20:14 |
Falcon 9 Block 5 |
F9-054 | Kennedy LC-39A |
SpaceX | ||||
 Bangabandhu-1 |
SPARRSO | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| First launch of a Falcon 9 Block 5 first-stage booster, serial number B1046. The booster was recovered.[76] | ||||||||
| 20 May 21:28 |
Long March 4C |
4C-Y27[63] | Xichang LC-3[63] |
CASC | ||||
| Queqiao |
CNSA | Earth–Moon L2, halo orbit | Communications | In orbit | Operational[77][78] | |||
| Longjiang-1 |
CNSA | Selenocentric, elliptical orbit | Radio astronomy | In orbit | Spacecraft Failure[79][80] | |||
| Longjiang-2 |
CNSA | Selenocentric, elliptical orbit | Radio astronomy | 31 July 2019[81] 14:20 | Successful | |||
| The relay satellite Queqiao, or "Magpie Bridge" will stay in a halo orbit around the second Earth-Moon Lagrange point (E-M L2) and support communications from the Chang'e 4 rover exploring the far side of the Moon.[82] | ||||||||
| 21 May 08:44 |
Antares 230 |
MARS LP-0A |
Orbital ATK | |||||
| Cygnus CRS OA-9E S.S. J.R. Thompson |
NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 30 July 2018 09:17 | Successful | |||
| ⚀ Aerocube 12A |
The Aerospace Corporation | Low Earth (ISS) | Technology demonstration | 26 May 2023[83] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ Aerocube 12B |
The Aerospace Corporation | Low Earth (ISS) | Technology demonstration | 14 August 2023[84] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ CubeRRT |
OSU | Low Earth (ISS) | Technology demonstration | 26 November 2020[85] | Successful | |||
⚀  EnduroSat One |
EnduroSat / Space Challenges Program | Low Earth (ISS) | Technology demonstration | 15 October 2020[86] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ EQUiSat |
Brown University | Low Earth (ISS) | Technology demonstration | 26 December 2020[87] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ HaloSat |
UI | Low Earth (ISS) | X-ray astronomy | 4 January 2021[88] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ Lemur-2 × 4 |
Spire Global | Low Earth | Earth observation | First: 13 January 2023 Last: 13 February 2023[89] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ MemSat[90] |
Rowan University | Low Earth (ISS) | Technology demonstration | 27 September 2020[91] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ Radix |
Analytical Space | Low Earth (ISS) | Technology demonstration | 7 April 2020[92] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ RadSat-g[93] |
MSU | Low Earth (ISS) | Technology demonstration | 5 April 2021[94] | Successful[95] | |||
| ⚀ RainCube |
JPL | Low Earth (ISS) | Technology demonstration | 24 December 2020[96] | Successful | |||
| ⚀ TEMPEST-D |
CSU/JPL | Low Earth (ISS) | Technology demonstration | 21 June 2021[97] | Successful | |||
| RainCube, Radix, CubeRRT, HaloSat, TEMPEST-D, EnduroSat One, EQUISat, MEMSat, RadSat-g are carried aboard Cygnus to be deployed from ISS later.[98] CubeRRT, EQUISat, HaloSat, MemSat, RadSat-g, RainCube, TEMPEST-D, EnduroSat One, Radix were deployed on 13 July 2018.[99] Four Lemur-2s and two Aerocubes were carried in the external deployer of Cygnus and deployed into orbit on 16 July 2018 after it departed from ISS.[100] | ||||||||
| 22 May 19:47:58[101] |
Falcon 9 Block 4[102] |
F9-055 | Vandenberg SLC-4E |
SpaceX | ||||
| Iridium NEXT 51–55 |
Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| GRACE-FO 1, 2 |
DLR | Low Earth | Gravitational science | In orbit | Operational | |||
| DLR arranged a rideshare of GRACE-FO on a Falcon 9 with Iridium following the cancellation of their Dnepr launch contract in 2015.[103] Iridium CEO Matt Desch disclosed in September 2017 that GRACE-FO would be launched on the sixth Iridium NEXT mission.[104] Re-used a first-stage booster.[105] | ||||||||
June | ||||||||
| 2 June 04:13 |
Long March 2D |
2D-Y20[6] | Jiuquan SLS-2 |
CASC | ||||
| Gaofen 6 |
CAST | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| ⚀ Luojia 1 |
Wuhan University | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 4 June 04:45 |
Falcon 9 Block 4 |
F9-056 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 |
SpaceX | ||||
| SES-12 |
SES S.A. | Geosynchronous | Communications | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 5 June 13:07[106] |
Long March 3A |
3A-Y25[7] | Xichang LC-2 |
CAST | ||||
| Fengyun 2H |
CMA | Geosynchronous | Meteorology | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 6 June 11:12:41 |
Soyuz-FG |
Baikonur Site 1/5 |
Roscosmos | |||||
| Soyuz MS-09 / 55S |
Roscosmos | Low Earth (ISS) | Expedition 56/57 | 20 December 2018 01:42 | Successful | |||
| SiriusSat 1, 2 |
SPUTNIX | Low Earth (ISS) | Space research, Education | In orbit | Operational | |||
| Crewed flight with three cosmonauts. SiriusSat satellites were deployed on 15 August 2018 during a spacewalk.[107] Crew return was delayed due to the launch failure of Soyuz MS-10; it was rescheduled for 20 December, after the MS-11 crew arrives on 3 December. | ||||||||
| 12 June 04:20[108] |
H-IIA 202 |
F39[54] | Tanegashima |
MHI | ||||
| IGS Radar-6 |
CSICE | Low Earth (SSO) | Reconnaissance | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 16 June 21:30 |
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat-M |
Plesetsk Site 43/4 |
RVSN RF | |||||
| GLONASS-M 756 / Kosmos 2527 |
VKS | Medium Earth | Navigation | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 27 June 03:30 |
Long March 2C |
2C-Yxx[6] | Xichang LC-3 |
CASC | ||||
| XJSS A |
CAST[109] | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| XJSS B |
CAST | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | In orbit | Operational | |||
| 29 June 09:42 |
Falcon 9 Block 4 |
F9-057 | Cape Canaveral SLC-40 |
SpaceX | ||||
| SpaceX CRS-15 |
NASA | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS logistics | 3 August 2018 | Successful | |||
⚀  BHUTAN-1 |
Kyushu Institute of Technology | Low Earth (ISS) | Technology demonstration | 18 November 2020[110] | Successful | |||
⚀  Maya-1 |
UP / DOST | Low Earth (ISS) | Technology demonstration | 20 November 2020[111] | Successful | |||
⚀  UiTMSAT-1 |
UiTM | Low Earth (ISS) | Technology demonstration | 20 November 2020[112] | Successful | |||
| Last orbital flight of a Block 4 booster version. Bhutan-1, Maya-1, UiTMSAT-1 were deployed into orbit from ISS on 10 August 2018. | ||||||||
Suborbital flights
| Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
| Remarks | |||||||
| 18 January 05:53 |
Agni V |
Integrated Test Range Launch Complex IV |
DRDO | ||||
| DRDO | Suborbital | Missile test | 18 January | Successful | |||
| Apogee: ~800 kilometres (500 mi) | |||||||
| 19 January 12:17 |
Black Brant IX |
Poker Flat Research Range |
NASA | ||||
| DXL-3 |
U of M | Suborbital | Astronomy | 19 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 230 kilometres (140 mi)[113] | |||||||
| 26 January 14:11:15 |
Terrier–Improved Orion |
Poker Flat Research Range |
NASA | ||||
| Super Soaker |
ASTRA | Suborbital | Atmospheric | 26 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: ~160 kilometres (99 mi) | |||||||
| 26 January 14:48:00 |
Terrier–Improved Orion |
Poker Flat Research Range |
NASA | ||||
| Super Soaker |
ASTRA | Suborbital | Atmospheric | 26 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: ~97 kilometres (60 mi) | |||||||
| 26 January 14:49:30 |
Terrier–Improved Orion |
Poker Flat Research Range |
NASA | ||||
| Super Soaker |
ASTRA | Suborbital | Atmospheric | 26 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: ~160 kilometres (99 mi) | |||||||
| 31 January | IRBM ? |
C-17, Pacific Ocean |
MDA | ||||
| FTM-29 Target |
MDA | Suborbital | ABM target | 31 January | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi) | |||||||
| 31 January | SM-3 Block IIA |
Pacific Missile Range Facility |
US Navy | ||||
| FTM-29 Interceptor |
MDA | Suborbital | ABM test | 31 January | Failure | ||
| Test of a land-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) weapon system, failed to intercept the target | |||||||
| 5 February | B-611? |
Shuangchengzi |
PLA | ||||
| PLA | Suborbital | ABM target | 5 February | Successful | |||
| Target | |||||||
| 5 February | SC-19 |
Korla |
PLA | ||||
| PLA | Suborbital | ABM test | 5 February | Successful | |||
| Interceptor, successful intercept[114] | |||||||
| 6 February 03:00 |
Agni I |
Integrated Test Range |
IDRDL | ||||
| IDRDL | Suborbital | Missile test | 6 February | Successful | |||
| Apogee: ~500 kilometres (310 mi)? | |||||||
| 17 February 07:00 |
 / VS-31/Improved Malemute |
 Esrange |
DLR / SSC | ||||
| MAPHEUS-7 |
DLR | Suborbital | Technology demonstration | 17 February | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 248 kilometres (154 mi) | |||||||
| 18 February 23:30 |
 Arrow III |
Negev |
IAF | ||||
| IAI/IDF | Suborbital | Flight test | 18 February | Successful | |||
| Successful flight test of the Arrow-III weapon system[115] | |||||||
| 20 February 03:08 |
Agni II |
Integrated Test Range |
Indian Army / DRDO | ||||
| Indian Army/DRDO | Suborbital | Missile test | 20 February | Successful | |||
| 25 March 10:51 |
Terrier–Improved Malemute |
Wallops Flight Facility |
NASA | ||||
| USIP |
NASA | Suborbital | Student payloads | 25 March | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 172 kilometres (107 mi)[116] | |||||||
| 27 March 02:40? |
UGM-133 Trident II |
USS Nebraska (SSBN-739), Pacific Missile Range Facility |
US Navy | ||||
| US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 March | Successful | |||
| Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) 28 | |||||||
| 27 March 02:40? |
UGM-133 Trident II |
USS Nebraska (SSBN-739), Pacific Missile Range Facility |
US Navy | ||||
| US Navy | Suborbital | Missile test | 27 March | Successful | |||
| Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) 28 | |||||||
| 31 March 16:19 |
Black Brant IX |
Wallops Flight Facility |
NASA | ||||
| ASPIRE-2 |
NASA | Suborbital | Technology demonstration | 31 March | Successful | ||
| Tested Mars 2020's parachute | |||||||
| 4 April 10:40 |
Black Brant IX |
 Kwajalein Atoll |
NASA | ||||
| WRX-R |
PSU | Suborbital | XR Astronomy | 4 April | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 205 kilometres (127 mi)[117] | |||||||
| 4 April 18:00 |
Hyperbola-1S (Shian Quxian 1S) |
Hainan Island |
i-Space | ||||
| Mass simulator | i-Space | Suborbital | Test flight | 4 April | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 108 kilometres (67 mi) | |||||||
| 6 April 14:00 |
RH-300 Mk-II |
TERLS |
ISRO | ||||
|
ISRO VSSC | Suborbital | Ionosphere research | 6 April | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 107 kilometres (66 mi)[118] | |||||||
| 16 April 16:47 |
Black Brant IX |
Kwajalein Atoll |
NASA | ||||
| CHESS-4 |
University of Colorado | Suborbital | UV Astronomy | 16 April | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi) | |||||||
| 25 April 12:26 |
Minuteman-III |
Vandenberg Air Force Base LF-10 |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 25 April | Successful | |||
| 29 April 17:06 |
New Shepard |
Corn Ranch |
Blue Origin | ||||
| Suborbital Flight Experiment Monitor-2[119] |
NASA | Suborbital | Technology demonstration | 29 April | Successful | ||
| Schmitt Space Communicator |
Solstar | Suborbital | Technology demonstration | 29 April | Successful | ||
| Daphnia |
University of Bayreuth | Suborbital | Microgravity Research | 29 April | Successful | ||
| EQUIPAGE |
Otto von Guericke University | Suborbital | Microgravity Research | 29 April | Successful | ||
| EUPHORIE |
University of Duisburg-Essen | Suborbital | Microgravity Research | 29 April | Successful | ||
| 8th flight, Apogee: ~107 kilometres (66 mi) | |||||||
| 13 May 08:30 |
VSB-30 |
Esrange |
 EuroLaunch | ||||
| / TEXUS-54 |
DLR / ESA | Suborbital | Microgravity | 13 May | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 261 kilometres (162 mi) | |||||||
| 14 May 08:23 |
Minuteman-III |
Vandenberg Air Force Base LF-04 |
US Air Force | ||||
| US Air Force | Suborbital | Test flight | 14 May | Successful | |||
| 17 May 00:33 |
OS-X, Chongqing Liangjiang (Twin-River) Star[120] |
Undisclosed location in northwest China |
OneSpace | ||||
| OneSpace | Suborbital | Test flight | 17 May | Successful | |||
| 22 May | RSM-56 Bulava[121] |
K-535 Yury Dolgorukiy, White Sea |
VMF | ||||
| VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 May | Successful | |||
| 22 May | RSM-56 Bulava |
K-535 Yury Dolgorukiy, White Sea |
VMF | ||||
| VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 May | Successful | |||
| 22 May | RSM-56 Bulava |
K-535 Yury Dolgorukiy, White Sea |
VMF | ||||
| VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 May | Successful | |||
| 22 May | RSM-56 Bulava |
K-535 Yury Dolgorukiy, White Sea |
VMF | ||||
| VMF | Suborbital | Missile test | 22 May | Successful | |||
| 23 May | Terrier Malemute |
Pacific Missile Range Facility |
NNSA | ||||
| HOT SHOT 1 |
NNSA | Suborbital | Technology experiments | 23 May | Successful | ||
| Apogee: ~360 kilometres (220 mi)[122] | |||||||
| 29 May 18:54 |
Black Brant IX |
White Sands |
NASA | ||||
| Hi-C 2.1 |
NASA/MSFC | Suborbital | Solar research | 29 May | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 290 kilometres (180 mi) | |||||||
| 31 May 04:00 |
VSB-30 |
Esrange |
EuroLaunch | ||||
| / TEXUS-55 |
DLR / ESA | Suborbital | Microgravity | 31 May | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 255 kilometres (158 mi) | |||||||
| 3 June 04:18 |
Agni V |
Integrated Test Range Launch Complex IV |
DRDO | ||||
| DRDO | Suborbital | Missile test | 3 June | Successful | |||
| Apogee: ~800 kilometres (500 mi) | |||||||
| 7 June | Boosted Zombi (ATACMS) |
White Sands |
NASA | ||||
| US Army | Suborbital | Missile test | 7 June | Successful | |||
| Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)? | |||||||
| 18 June 19:00 |
Black Brant IX |
White Sands |
NASA | ||||
| EVE |
CU Boulder | Suborbital | SDO calibration | 18 June | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi) | |||||||
| 19 June | RS-24 Yars |
Plesetsk |
RVSN | ||||
| RVSN | Suborbital | Missile test | 19 June | Successful | |||
| 21 June 09:30 |
Terrier–Improved Orion |
Wallops Flight Facility |
NASA | ||||
| RockOn |
University of Colorado | Suborbital | Student payloads | 21 June | Successful | ||
| Apogee: 120 kilometres (75 mi)[123] | |||||||
| 29 June | Momo 2 |
Taiki Aerospace Research Field |
Interstellar Technologies | ||||
|
Kochi University of Technology | Suborbital | Technology demonstration | 29 June | Launch failure | ||
| Two seconds after launch, the engine failed and the vehicle fell back to the pad and exploded | |||||||
