Space exploration in 2016 (original) (raw)

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Soyuz in 2016

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INSIDER CONTENT

Space exploration in 2016

For space missions in 2015 click here

T he world's orbital launch attempts in 2016 (as ofMay 6, 2024 ):

| | Country | Launch date | Time of launch | Payload | Payload type | Launch vehicle | Launch site | Launch complex | Launch pad | Status | | | ---------- | ----------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | --------------------------------- | ------ | --------------------------------------------- | | 1 | China | Jan. 16 | 00:57 Beijing Time | Belintersat-1 | Application / communication | Chang Zheng-3B | Xichang | LC-3 | 3 | Success | | 2 | US | Jan. 17 | 10:42 a.m. Pacific Time | Jason-3 | Science / Oceanography | Falcon-9 v1.1 | Vandenberg | SLC-4E | E | Success | | 3 | India | Jan. 20 | 04:01 UTC | IRNSS-1E | Application / navigation | PSLV-C31 (XL) | Sriharikota | - | - | Success | | 4 | Europe | Jan. 27 | 8:20:41 p.m. Guiana time | Intelsat-29e (EpicNG) | Application / communications | Ariane-5 ECA | Kourou | ELA-3 | 3 | Success | | 5 | Russia | Jan. 30 | 01:20:09.03 Moscow Time | Eutelsat-9B | Application / communications | Proton-M/Briz-M | Baikonur | 200 | 39 | Success | | 6 | China | Feb. 1 | 3:29 p.m. Beijing Time | Beidou-3 M3-S (No. 21) | Application / navigation | Chang Zheng-3C | Xichang | 2 | - | Success | | 7 | US | Feb. 5 | 8:38 a.m. EST | GPS-2F-12 (SV-9) | Application / navigation | Atlas-5-401 (AV-057) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-41 | 41 | Success | | 8 | Russia | Feb. 7 | 03:21:07 Moscow Time | GLONASS-M-51 (Kosmos-2514) | Military / navigation | Soyuz-2-1b | Plesetsk | 43 | 4 | Success | | 9 | North Korea | Feb. 7 | 09:31 Korean Time | Kwangmyongsong-4 | Application / remote sensing | Unha | Sohae | - | - | Success | | 10 | US | Feb. 10 | 11:40:32 GMT | NROL-45/USA-267 (Topaz-4) | Military | Delta-4M+ (5,2) | Vandenberg | SLC-6 | 6 | Success | | 11 | Russia | Feb. 16 | 20:57:45 Moscow Time | Sentinel-3A | Application / remote sensing | Rockot/Briz-KM | Plesetsk | 133 | - | Success | | 12 | Japan | Feb. 17 | 5:45 p.m. Japan Standard Time | Astro-H (Hitomi), ChubuSat-2 (Kinshachi-2), ChubuSat-3 (Kinshachi-3), HORYU-IV (AEGIS) | Science / astronomy | H-2A F30 | Tanegashima | - | - | Success | | 13 | US | March 4 | 6:35 p.m. EST | SES-9 | Application / communications | Falcon-9 v1.1 (modified) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Success | | 14 | Europe | March 9 | 2:20 a.m. Guiana time | Eutelsat-65 West A | Application / communications | Ariane-5 ECA | Kourou | ELA-3 | - | Success | | 15 | India | March 10 | 10:31 GMT | IRNSS-1F | Application / navigation | PSLV (XL) C32 | Sriharikota | - | - | Success | | 16 | Russia | March 13 | 21:56:00.333 Moscow Time | Resurs-P3 | Application / remote sensing | Soyuz-2-1b | Baikonur | 31 | 6 | Success | | 17 | Russia | March 14 | 12:31:42 Moscow Time | TGO/Schiaparelli (ExoMars-2016) | Planetary / Mars | Proton-M/Briz-M | Baikonur | 200 | 39 | Success | | 18 | Russia | March 19 | 00:26:38.355 Moscow Time | Soyuz TMA-20M | Manned | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur | 1 | 5 | Success | | 19 | US | March 22 | 11:05 p.m. EDT | Cygnus OA-6 (CRS5) | Manned / cargo supply | Atlas-5 401 (AV-064) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-41 | 41 | Success | | 20 | Russia | March 24 | 12:42:00.241 Moscow Time | Bars-M2 (Kosmos-2515) | Military / cartography | Soyuz-2-1a | Plesetsk | 43 | 4 | Success | | 21 | China | March 30 | 4:11:04 a.m. Beijing Time | Beidou-2-IGSO6 (No. 22) | Application / navigation | Chang Zheng-3A | Xichang | LC2 | - | Success | | 22 | Russia | March 31 | 19:23:57.351 Moscow Time | Progress MS-02 | Manned / cargo supply | Soyuz-2-1a | Baikonur | 31 | 6 | Success | | 23 | China | April 6 | 01:38 Beijing Time | Shijian-10 | Science / material science | Chang Zheng-2D | Jiuquan | 43/603 | - | Success | | 24 | US | April 8 | 4:43 p.m. EDT | Dragon SpX-8 | Manned / cargo supply | Falcon-9 | Cape Canaveral | 40 | - | Success | | 25 | Russia | April 25 | 06:02:13 p.m. Guiana Time | Sentinel-1B | Application / remote-sensing | Soyuz-ST-A | Kourou | ELS | - | Success | | 26 | Russia | April 28 | 05:01:21 Moscow Time | Lomonosov, Aist-2D, SamSat-218 | Science / astrophysics | Soyuz-2-1a/Volga (Vostochny) | Vostochny | 1S | - | Success | | 27 | India | April 28 | 07:20 GMT | IRNSS-1G | Application / navigation | PSLV (XL) C33 | Sriharikota | - | - | Success | | 28 | USA | May 6 | 01:21 a.m. EDT | JCSat-14 | Application / communications | Falcon-9 | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Success | | 29 | China | May 15 | 02:43 GMT | Yaogan Weixin-30 | Military / reconnaissance | Chang Zheng-2D | Jiuquan | 43/603 | - | Success | | 30 | Russia | May 24 | 05:48:43 French Guiana Time | Galileo FOC M5, Sat 13, FM10 Danielè; Galileo FOC M5, Sat 14, FM11 Alizée | Application / navigation | Soyuz-ST-B | Kourou | ELS | - | Success | | 31 | US | May 27 | 5:39 p.m. EDT | Thaicom-8 | Application / communications | Falcon-9 (025) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Success | | 32 | Russia | May 29 | 11:44:35.411 Moscow Time | GLONASS-M-53 (Kosmos-2516) | Military / navigation | Soyuz-2-1b | Plesetsk | 43 | 4 | Success* | | 33 | China | May 30 | 11:17 Beijing Time | Ziyuan ZY-3, Ñusat-1 Fresco, Ñusat-2 Batata | Application / remote sensing | Chang Zheng-4B | Taiyuan | - | - | Success | | 34 | Russia | June 4 | 17:00 Moscow Time | Geo-IK-2 No. 12L (Kosmos-2517) | Military / geodesy | Rockot/Briz-KM | Plesetsk | 133 | 3 | Success | | 35 | Russia | June 8 | 10:10:00.019 Moscow Time | Intelsat-31 (DLA-2) | Application / communications | Proton-M/Briz-M | Baikonur | 81 | 24 | Success | | 36 | USA | June 11 | 1:51 p.m. EDT | NROL-37 (Orion-9, Mentor-7 | Military | Delta-4-Heavy | Cape Canaveral | SLC-37B | B | Success | | 37 | China | June 12 | 23:30 Beijing Time | Beidou-2-G7 (No. 23) | Application / navigation | Chang Zheng-3C | Xichang | LC-3 | 3 | Success | | 38 | USA | June 15 | 10:29 a.m. EDT | Eutelsat-117 West B (Satmex-9), ABS-2A | Application / communications | Falcon-9 (026) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Success | | 39 | Europe | June 18 | 18:38 p.m. French Guiana time | EchoStar-18, BRisat | Application / communications | Ariane-5 ECA (VA230) | Kourou | ELA-3 | - | Success | | 40 | India | June 22 | 03:55 UTC | Cartosat-2C, GHGSat-D, BIROS, Swayam, SathyaBamaSat, Skysat-C1, Dove (3x4), Lapan-A3, M3MSat | Application / remote sensing | PSLV (XL) C34 | Sriharikota | - | - | Success | | 41 | USA | June 24 | 10:30 a.m. EDT | MUOS-5 | Military / communications | Atlas-5 551 (AV-063) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-41 | - | Failure** | | 42 | China | June 25 | 20:30 Beijing Time | Descent module prototype, Ao Long Yi Hao, Aoxiang Zhixing, Tiange Feixingqi-1, Tiange Feixingqi-2 | Experimental | Chang Zheng-7/YZ-1A | Wenchang | - | - | Success | | 43 | China | June 29 | 11:21 Beijing Time | Shijian-16-02 | Military / Electronic intelligence | Chang Zheng-4B | Jiuquan | - | - | Success | | 44 | Russia | July 7 | 04:36:40.208 Moscow Time | Soyuz MS-01 | Manned | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur | 1 | 5 | Success | | 45 | Russia | July 17 | 00:41:46 Moscow Time | Progress MS-03 | Manned / cargo supply | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | 31 | 6 | Success | | 46 | US | July 18 | 04:45:29.318 GMT | Dragon SpX-9 | Manned / cargo supply | Falcon-9-027 | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Success | | 47 | US | July 28 | 8:37 a.m. EDT | NROL-61 (Quasar) | Military | Atlas-5 421 (AV-065) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-41 | - | Success | | 48 | China | Aug. 6 | 00:22 Beijing Time | Tiantong-1-01 (TT-1-01) | Application / communications | Chang Zheng-3B/G2 | Xichang | LC-3 | - | Success | | 49 | China | Aug. 10 | 06:55:25.077 local time | GaoFen-3 | Application / remote sensing | Chang Zheng-4C | Taiyuan | LC-9 | - | Success | | 50 | USA | Aug. 14 | 09:26 a.m. EDT | JCSat-16 | Application / communications | Falcon-9 (028) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Success | | 51 | China | Aug. 16 | 01:40:04.546 local time | Mozi (Micius QUESS), 3Cat-2, LiXing-1 (LX-1) | Application / communications | Chang Zheng-2D | Jiuquan | LC43/603 | - | Success | | 52 | USA | Aug.19 | 08:52 a.m. EDT | AFSPC-6: GSSAP3, GSSAP4 (USA 270) | Military | Delta-4-M+ (4,2) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-37B | - | Success | | 53 | Europe | Aug. 24 | 07:16 p.m. Guiana Time | Intelsat-33e, Intelsat-36 | Application / communications | Ariane-5 ECA (VA-232) | Kourou | ELA-3 | - | Success | | 54 | China | Sept. 1 | 02:55 Beijing Time | Gaofen-10 (?) | Millitary / remote sensing | Chang Zheng-4C | Taiyuan | - | - | Failure (?) | | 55 | India | Sept. 8 | 16:50 India Standard Time | Insat-3DR | Application / weather forecasting | GSLV-Mk2-F05 | Sriharikota | - | - | Success | | 56 | USA | Sept. 8 | 7:05 p.m. EDT | OSIRIS-Rex | Planetary / asteroid sample return | Atlas-5-411 (AV-067) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-41 | - | Success | | 57 | Israel | Sept. 13 | 17:37 local Time | Ofeq-11 | Military / reconnaissance | Shavit | Palmachim | - | - | Success*** | | 58 | China | Sept. 15 | 22:04:12 Beijing Time | Tiangong-2, Banxing-2 | Manned / space station | Chang Zheng-2F No. T2 | Jiuquan | LC-43/921 | - | Success | | 59 | Europe | Sept. 15 | 10:43:35 p.m. French Guiana time | PerúSAT-1, SkySat-4, SkySat-5, SkySat-6, SkySat-7 | Application / remote sensing | Vega | Kourou | ELA-1 | - | Success | | 60 | India | Sept. 26 | 09:12 India Standard Time | SCATSAT-1, ALSAT-1N, NLS-19, PRATHAM, PISAT, ALSAT-1B, ALSAT-2B, Pathfinder-1 | Application / remote sensing | PSLV-C35 | Sriharikota | - | - | Success | | 61 | Europe | Oct. 5 | 5:30 p.m. French Guiana time | GSAT-18, Sky Muster-2 | Application / communications | Ariane-5 ECA (VA-231) | Kourou | ELA-3 | - | Success | | 62 | China | Oct. 17 | 07:30:31.409 Beijing Time | Shenzhou-11 | Manned | Chang Zheng-2F/G | Jiuquan | LC-43/921 | - | Success | | 63 | USA | Oct. 17 | 7:45:40 p.m. EDT | Cygnus CRS OA-5 | Manned / cargo supply | Antares-230 | Wallops Island | LP-0A | - | Success | | 64 | Russia | Oct. 19 | 11:05:14.378 Moscow Time | Soyuz MS-02 | Manned | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur | 31 | 6 | Success | | 65 | Japan | Nov. 2 | 06:20:00 GMT | Himawari-9 | Application / remote sensing | H-2A F-31 202 | Tanegashima | - | - | Success | | 66 | China | Nov. 3 | 20:43:13.998 Beijing Time | Shijian-17 and unidentified payload | Application / communications | Chang Zheng-5 | Wenchang | LC-101 | - | Success | | 67 | China | Nov. 9 | 23:42 GMT | Maichong Xing Shiyan Weixing XPNAV-1, Xiaoxing-1 (CubeSat-3U), Lishui-1-10 (CubeSat-3U), Pina-2 (CubeSat); KS-1Q/CAS-2T), Fengtai-1 (CubeSat-2U - remains attached to 4th stage) | Application / navigation | Chang Zheng-11 | Jiuquan | - | - | Success | | 68 | USA | Nov. 11 | 18:30:33 GMT | WorldView-4, Prometheus-A (2.1), Prometheus-B (2.2), U2U, CELTEE-1, Aerocube-8C, Aerocube-8D, RAVAN | Military / reconnaissance | Atlas-5 401 (AV-062) | Vandenberg | SLC-3E | E | Success | | 69 | China | Nov. 11 | 23:14 GMT | Yunhai-1 | Application / remote-sensing | Chang Zheng-2D | Jiuquan | LC-43/903 | - | Success | | 70 | Europe | Nov. 17 | 10:06:48 French Guiana Time | Galileo FOC M6, Sat 15 FM07 Antonianna, Sat 16 FM12 Lisa, Sat 17 FM13 Kimberley, Sat 18 FM14 Tijmen | Application / navigation | Ariane-5 ES | Kourou | ELA-3 | 3 | Success | | 71 | Russia | Nov. 17 | 23:20:13.099 Moscow Time | Soyuz MS-03 | Manned | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur | Site 1 | 5 | Success | | 72 | USA | Nov. 19 | 6:42 p.m. EST | GOES-R (GOES-16) | Application / weather-forecasting | Atlas-5 (541/AV-069) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-41 | - | Success | | 73 | China | Nov. 22 | 11:24:04 Beijing Time | Tianlian-1-04 | Application / Data relay | Chang Zheng-3C | Xichang | - | - | Success | | 74 | Russia | Dec. 1 | 17:51:52.474 Moscow Time | Progress MS-04 | Manned / cargo supply | Soyuz-U | Baikonur | Site 1 | 5 | Failure | | 75 | Europe | Dec. 5 | 10:51:44 a.m. French Guiana Time | Göktürk-1 | Application / remote sensing | Vega | Kourou | ELA-1 | - | Success | | 76 | India | Dec. 7 | 10:25 India Standard Time | Resourcesat-2A | Application / remote sensing | PSLV (XL) C36 | Sriharikota | - | - | Success | | 77 | USA | Dec. 7 | 6:53 p.m. EST | WGS-8 | Military / communications | Delta-4-M+(5.4) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-37 | - | Success | | 78 | Japan | Dec. 9 | 22:26:47 Japan Standard Time | HTV-6 | Manned / cargo supply | H-2B | Tanegashima | - | - | Success | | 79 | China | Dec. 11 | 00:11 Beijing Time | Fengyun-4A | Application / weather forecasting | Chang Zheng-3B | Xichang | - | - | Success | | 80 | USA | Dec. 15 | 8:37 a.m. EST | CYGNSS-1, CYGNSS-2, CYGNSS-3, CYGNSS-4, CYGNSS-5, CYGNSS-6, CYGNSS-7, CYGNSS-8 | Science / climatology | Pegasus-XL | Cape Canaveral | L-1011 aircraft | - | Success | | 81 | USA | Dec. 19 | 2:13 p.m. EST | EchoStar-19 | Application / communications | Atlas-5 (V431/AV-071) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-41 | - | Success | | 82 | Japan | Dec. 20 | 11:00:00 GMT | ERG, Arase | Science / geophysics | Epsilon (Flight 2) | - | - | - | Success | | 83 | Europe | Dec. 21 | 5:30 p.m. French Guiana Time | Star One-D1, JCSAT-15 | Application / communications | Ariane-5 ECA (VA-234) | Kourou | ELA-3 | - | Success | | 84 | China | Dec. 22 | 03:22 Beijing Time | TanSat, Spark-01, Spark-02 | Science / atmospheric ressearch | Chang Zheng-2D | Jiuquan | - | - | Success | | 85 | China | Dec. 28 | 11:23 a.m. Beijing time | GaoJing-1-01, GaoJing-1-02 | Application / remote sensing | Chang Zheng-2D | Taiyuan | - | - | Failure |

*Third stage underperformed during the launch; compensated by Fregat's extended firing.

**Spacecraft failed to reach its orbit as planned after nominal operation of the launch vehicle;

***Unspecified problems were reported aboard the satellite immediately after orbital insertion.

The 2016 space launch score card (as ofMay 6, 2024):

*Delivered into wrong orbit;

**failed launch;

***In case of an equal number of launches, the country that reached that number first is listed at the top;

****Includes on-pad pre-launch explosion of a Falcon-9 rocket with the AMOS-6 satellite, which is not added to the total tally of orbital launch attempts.

Canceled missions

April: A Dnepr booster to launch a pair of Iridium NEXT satellites from Silo facility No. 370/11 in Dombarovsky. (The mission was postponed from June 2015 and later moved to a Falcon rocket.)

2015: Soyuz-2-1b/Fregat-SB rocket to launch the Arkon-2M No. 1 remote-sensing satellites for all-weather radar observations of the Earth surface from a 550-600-kilometer Sun-synchronous orbit. The launch was originally promised in 2009 (299) and later in 2012-2013. In 2010, a pair of spacecraft was scheduled for launch in 2013, however by 2012, the first Arkon-2M was expected to fly in 2015 and the second in 2016. The Arkon-2M program was canceled by November 2012 to free funds for Arktika, Resurs and Obzor projects.

2014-2015: Russia to launch a solar telescope -- Koronas-4-Monitor -- to replace a failed Koronas-Foton spacecraft. (A February 2010 proposal from Astrophysics Institute at the National Nuclear Research University.) By the end of March 2010, a project to replace Koronas-Foton was identified as Solaris by the Solar System division within Space Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The division recommended Lebedev Physics Institute, FIAN, as a main developer of the satellite's payload. The issue of the spacecraft bus remained open at the time, with NPO Lavochkin's yet-to-be-flown Navigator platform as one of the contenders. Unlike Koronas-Foton, the new telescope was expected to be narrowly specialized in solar observations and it was to be inserted into very high orbit to minimize the shadow from Earth and the influence of the planet's radiation belt. As of April 2010, the project was yet to be approved for the inclusion into the Russian space program or to receive any funding.

2015: Russia to launch MKA FKI No. 5 ARKA orbital solar observatory. (Canceled in March 2014, later re-configured.

For missions in 2017 click here

This page is compiled by Anatoly Zak

All rights reserved

A Soyuz-2-1b rocket lifts off with the GLONASS-M-51 satellite on Feb. 7, 2016. Click to enlarge. Credit: Russian Ministry of Defense

A Proton rocket lifts off with ExoMars-2016 spacecraft on March 14. Click to enlarge. Credit: ESA

A 1-to-4 scale model of the Entry, Descent and Landing Demonstrator Module from the first phase of the ExoMars project launched on March 14. Copyright © 2010 Anatoly Zak

Soyuz MS-01 lifts off on July 7, 2016. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos