Previous Spaceflight Launches
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Long March 2F/G | Tiangong-2
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaJiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Sept. 15, 2016, 2:04 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
China's second space station, Tiangong-2 is tasked to verify key technologies such as cargo transportation, on-orbit propellant resupply, and a medium-term stay of astronauts. It will also carry an array of scientific experiments, and will be equipped with a robotic arm to help the assembly and maintenance of the station.
Low Earth Orbit
Shavit-2 | Ofeq-11
Israel Aerospace Industries | IsraelPalmachim Airbase, State of Israel
Sept. 13, 2016, 2:38 p.m.
Atlas V 411 | OSIRIS-REx
United Launch Alliance | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Sept. 8, 2016, 11:05 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The Origins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource Identification-Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS REx) mission will be the first U.S. mission to carry samples from an asteroid back to Earth and will help scientists investigate how planets formed and how life began, as well as improve our understanding of asteroids that could impact Earth.
Heliocentric N/A
SpaceShipTwo | VSS Unity CC01
Virgin Galactic | United States of AmericaAir launch to Suborbital flight
Sept. 8, 2016, noon
GSLV Mk II | INSAT-3DR
Indian Space Research Organization | IndiaSatish Dhawan Space Centre, India
Sept. 8, 2016, 11:20 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
INSAT-3DR is an advanced weather satellite designed for enhanced meteorological observations and will replace INSAT-3D. This involves monitoring land and ocean surfaces, as well as the atmosphere, to provide weather forecasting and disaster warnings. The satellite weighs 2061kg and will operate in a geo-synchronous orbit for its 7 year lifespan.
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Falcon 9 Full Thrust | Amos 6 (Failure before launch)
SpaceX | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Sept. 3, 2016, 7 a.m.
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:
**FAILURE: Rocket and payload lost during anomaly originating around the upper stage oxygen tank during propellant load few minutes before static fire on Sept 1, 1307UTC.** Built to replace the existing AMOS-2 satellite, AMOS-6 will be positioned in a geostationary orbit at 4 degrees west. The 5500kg craft will contain 43 Ku/Ka-band transponders and 2 S-band transponders to provide communications coverage for Africa, Europe and the Middle East. The 2 solar arrays on the craft will provide 9kW of power for the satellite’s 16 year expected lifetime.
Geostationary Transfer Orbit B1028 - Maiden Flight Of Course I Still Love You
Long March 4C | Gaofen 10
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaTaiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Aug. 31, 2016, 6:55 p.m.
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:
Gaofen is a series of civilian Earth observation satellites developed and launched for the China High-definition Earth Observation System (CHEOS), a state-sponsored programme aimed to develop a near-real time, all-weather, global surveillance network consisting of satellite, near-space (stratosphere) airships, and aerial observation platforms.
Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Ariane 5 ECA | Intelsat 33e & Intelsat 36
ArianeGroup | FranceGuiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Aug. 24, 2016, 10:16 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Intelsat 33e and Intelsat 36 are communication satellites. Intelsat 33e will cover Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Intelsat 36 will cover Africa and South Asia. Both contain C-band transponders, Ku-band transponders and have an expected life span or about 15 years.
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Delta IV M+(4,2) | AFSPC-6
United Launch Alliance | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Aug. 19, 2016, 4:52 a.m.
Long March 2D | QUESS (Micius)
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaJiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Aug. 15, 2016, 5:40 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS) is the first satellite purpose-built for quantum experiments in the world. The 600kg satellite will test long range quantum communications at longer range than ever before. So far scientists have managed to reach up to around 300km, but they hope that in space the range can be increased significantly. They will be testing it up to around 1200km. The mission is expected to last 2 years
Sun-Synchronous Orbit
