Space exploration in 2018 (original) (raw)
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Anatoly Zak
Major developments in 2018:
Super-heavy rocket (Variant 3)
Super-heavy rocket (Variant 4)
Russian launch vehicle strategy in 2018
Variant 1 of the super-heavy rocket
PTK Docking port interface redesign in 2018
Angara pad in Vostochny in 2018
Russian space program and rocket development in 2018
At the beginning of the year, Roskosmos listed 23 missions in its 2018 flight manifest, which if fulfilled, would increase the previous year's record of 21 attempts (including one failure). In reality, Russia performed 20 orbital launch attempts in 2018, including one failure, despite a false claim by the head of Roskosmos Dmitry Rogozin on December 29 about 22 launches.
For missions in 2017 click here
In his count, Rogozin likely included two suborbital launches of the 14A042 Nudol anti-satellite missile, bringing a total of launches from Plesetsk to eight. Even if their flights were successful, the Nudols are not known to carry satellites or to achieve orbital velocity. However, their designation contains letter "A" associated with space launch vehicles in the current Russian nomenclature.
In any case, as long expected, the annual launch rate left Russia in a distant third place after China and the United States in this key indicator of space activity. For comparison, on January 4, the official Chinese press promised 35 launches of the liquid-propellant Chang Zheng series of space rockets and five orbital shots of the solid-propellant Kuaizhou launchers. As of December 30, China had apparently made a total of 39 orbital launch attempts with one failure.
According to Rogozin, the Russian orbital assets increased by eight spacecraft, reaching a total of 156. In the official Roskosmos tally at the end of the year, Russia operated 89 civilian or dual-use spacecraft, including nine remote-sensing satellites, among them two for observation of natural resources, three for meteorology and four for monitoring of natural and man-made disasters.
In the field of military rocketry, the Russian Ministry of Defense promised to boost its strategic arsenal with 20 new Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles and to conduct 12 test launches, or twice as many as in 2017, according to the commander of Strategic Missile Forces, RVSN, Col. General Sergei Karakaev quoted by the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper in December 2017. At the end of 2018, the Ministry of Defense confirmed that one regiment of Yars ballistic missiles had entered operational readiness. At the same time, the Peresvet laser battle complex and the Kinzhal aircraft-based ballistic missile system were reported as undergoing deployment tests.
In the course of the year, the Russian military also performed a salvo test launch of four Bulava ballistic missiles from the Yuri Dolgorukiy submarine and fired 12 Kh-101 cruise missiles from the Tupolev-160 aircraft. On December 26, Russia also claimed flight-testing an Avangard maneuverable reentry vehicle, while releasing footage of the Strela booster (converted from the Soviet-era UR-100NU ballistic missile) lifting off from a silo originally built for the R-36M-2 ICBM in the Dombarovsky deployment area. Satellite imagery revealed six such silos around Dombarovsky in the apparent process of being converted for the UR-100NU-based missiles.
The world's orbital launch attempts in 2018 (as ofJune 9, 2025 ):
| - | Country | Launch date | Time of launch | Payload | Payload type | Launch vehicle | Launch site | Launch complex | Launch pad | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | Jan. 8 | 01:00 GMT | Zuma (USA-280) | Military | Falcon-9 (048, B1043) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Failure* |
| 2 | China | Jan. 9 | 11:24:33.475 Beijing Time | GaoJing-1 (3), GaoJing-1 (4) | Application / remote sensing | Chang Zheng-2D | Taiyuan | LC-9 | - | Success |
| 3 | China | Jan. 12 | 07🔞04.434 Beijing Time | Beidou-3MEO7 (26), Beidou-3MEO8 (27) | Military / navigation | Chang Zheng-3B/Yuazheng-1 | Xichang | LC-2 | - | Success |
| 4 | India | Jan. 12 | 09:28 India Standard Time | Cartosat-2F, Microsat-TD, LEO Vantage-1 (Telesat Phase-1 LEO), Carbonite-2, ICEYE-X1, INS-1C, Arkyd-6, CICERO-7, Corvus-BC-3 (Landmapper), Lemur-2 (1), Lemur-2 (2), Lemur-2 (3), Lemur-2 (4), Flock-3p (1), Flock-3p (2), Flock-3p (3), Flock-3p (4), SpaceBEE (1), SpaceBEE (2), SpaceBEE (3), SpaceBEE (2), MicroMAS-2, PicSat, Canyval-X1, Canyval-X2, CNUSail-1, Kausat-5, SIGMA (Khusat-3), DemoSat-2, Tyvak-61C, Fox-1D, STEP Cube Lab | Application / remote sensing | PSLV | Sriharikota | - | - | Success |
| 5 | USA | Jan. 12 | 2:11 p.m. Pacific Standard Time | NROL-47 (Topaz-5, USA-281) | Military | Delta-4-M+ (5,2) D-379 | Vandenberg | SLC-6 | - | Success |
| 6 | China | Jan. 13 | 07:10 GMT | Ludikancha Weixing (LKW-3) | Military / reconnaissance | Chang Zheng-2D (Y49) | Jiuquan | LC-43/603 | - | Success |
| 7 | Japan | Jan. 17 | 21:06:11 GMT | Asnaro-2 | - | Epsilon | - | - | - | Success |
| 8 | China | Jan. 19 | 04:12 GMT | Jilin 1-07 (Dequing-1), Jilin 1-08, Huaian 'Zhou Enlan', Xiaoxiang-2 (TY-2 Tianyi-2), Quantutong-1 (QTT-1), Kepler-1 | - | Chang Zheng-11 | Jiuquan | - | - | Success |
| 9 | USA | Jan. 20 | 00:48:00 GMT | SBIRS-GEO-4 | Military / Early warning | Atlas-5 (411, AV-076) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-41 | - | Success |
| 10 | USA | Jan. 21 | 01:43 GMT | Dove-0F1C (Dove Pioneer), Lemur-2 (Tallhamn-ATC), Lemur-2 (Marshall) | Application / remote sensing | Electron | Mahia Peninsula | - | - | Success |
| 11 | China | Jan. 25 | 05:39 GMT | Yaogan 30 No. 10, Yaogan 30 No. 11, Yaogan 30 No. 12, NanoSat-1A | Military / reconnaisance | Chang Zheng-2C | Xichang | - | - | Success |
| 12 | Europe | Jan. 25 | 22:20 GMT | SES-14, Al Yah-3 | Application / communications | Araine-5 ECA (VA-241) | Kourou | ELA-3 | - | Success** |
| 13 | USA | Jan. 31 | 21:25 GMT | GovSat-1 (SES-16) | Application / communications | Falcon-9 | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Success |
| 14 | Russia | Feb. 1 | 05:07:18 Moscow Time | Kanopus-V No. 3, Kanopus-V No. 4, S-Net-1, S-Net-2, S-Net-3, S-Net-4, Lemur-2-Kadi, Lemur-2-Thenickmolo, Lemur-2-Jin-Luen, Lemur-2-Uramchansol, D-StarOne | Application / remote sensing | Soyuz-2-1a | Vostochny | 1S | - | Success |
| 15 | China | Feb. 2 | 15:51:04.428 GMT | Zhangheng-1 (ZH-1), Fengmaniu-1, Shaonian Xing (Youth Star), ÑuSat-4 "Ada" (Aleph-1-4), ÑuSat-5 "Maryam" (Aleph-1-5), GomX-4A (Ulloriaq), GomX-4B | Science / geophysics | Chang Zheng-2D | Jiuquan | LC-43/94 | - | Success |
| 16 | Japan | Feb. 3 | - | Tricom-1R (Tasuki) | Application / experimental communications | SS-520-5 | Uchinoura | - | - | Success |
| 17 | USA | Feb. 6 | 3:45:00 p.m. EDT | Tesla Roadster | Planetary / experimental | Falcon Heavy | Cape Canaveral (KSC) | 39A | A | Success |
| 18 | China | Feb. 12 | 05:03:04.218 | Beidou-3MEO3 (Beidou-28); Beidou-3MEO4 (Beidou-29) | Military / navigation | Chang Zheng-3B/YZ-1 | Xichang | LC-2 | - | Success |
| 19 | Russia | Feb. 13 | 11:13:33.233 Moscow Time | Progress MS-08 | Manned / cargo supply | Soyuz-2-1a | Baikonur | 31 | 6 | Success |
| 20 | USA | Feb. 22 | 14:17 GMT | Paz, Tintin-A (MicroSat-2a), Tintin-B (MicroSat-2b) (SpaceX Starlink Satellite System-Precursor) | Military / reconnaissance | Falcon-9-051 (B1038.2) | Vandenberg | SLC-4E | E | Success |
| 21 | Japan | Feb. 27 | 04:34:00 GMT | IGS Optical-6 | Military / reconnaissance | H-2A F38 | Tanegashima | - | - | Success |
| 22 | USA | March 1 | 22:02 GMT | GOES-17 (GOES-S) | Application / Weather forecasting | Atlas-5 (541/AV-077) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-41 | - | Success |
| 23 | USA | March 6 | 12:33 a.m. EST | Hispasat-30W-6 | Application / communications | Falcon-9 | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Success |
| 24 | Russia | March 9 | 1:37:06 p.m. French Guiana time | O3b FM13, O3b FM14, O3b FM15, O3b FM16 | Application / communications | Soyuz ST-B | Kourou | ELS | - | Success |
| 25 | China | March 17 | 15:10 Beijing Time | Ludikancha Weixing (LKW-4) | Military / reconnaissance | Chang Zheng-2D | Jiuquan | - | - | Success |
| 26 | Russia | March 21 | 20:44:23.396 Moscow Time | Soyuz MS-08 | Manned | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur | 1 | 5 | Success |
| 27 | India | March 29 | 16:56 India Standard Time | GSAT-6A | Application / communications | GSLV (F08) | Sriharikota | - | - | Success |
| 28 | Russia | March 29 | 20:38:43 Moscow Time | Kosmos-2525 (EMKA) | Military / reconnaissance | Soyuz-2-1v | Plesetsk | 43 | 4 | Success |
| 29 | China | March 29 | 17:50 GMT | Beidou-3 M9 (30), Beidou-3 M10 (31) | Military / navigation | Long March-3B/YZ-1 | Xichang | 2 | - | Success |
| 30 | USA | March 30 | 7:13:51 a.m. PDT | Iridium-5 Next 140, Iridium-5 Next 142, Iridium-5 Next 143, Iridium-5 Next 144, Iridium-5 Next 145, Iridium-5 Next 146, Iridium-5 Next 148, Iridium-5 Next 149, Iridium-5 Next 150, Iridium-5 Next 157 | Application / communications | Falcon-9 | Vandenberg | SLC-4E | E | Success |
| 31 | China | March 31 | 11:22 a.m. Beijing Time | Gaofen-1, Gaofen-1, Gaofen-1 | Application / remote sensing | Chang Zheng-4C | Taiyuan | - | - | Success |
| 32 | USA | April 2 | 4:30 p.m. EDT | Dragon CRS-14 | Manned / cargo supply | Falcon-9 | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Success |
| 33 | Europe | April 5 | 18:34 French Guiana time | DSN-1/Superbird-8, Hylas-4 | Communications | Ariane-5 ECA | Kourou | ELA-3 | - | Success |
| 34 | China | April 10 | 12:25 local time | Yaogan-31, Yaogan-31, Yaogan-31 | Military / reconnaissance | Chang Zheng-4C | Jiuquan | - | - | Success |
| 35 | India | April 12 | 04:04 India Standard Time | IRNSS-1I | Application / navigation | PSLV-C41 | Sriharikota | - | - | Sucess |
| 36 | USA | April 14 | 7:13 p.m. EDT | AFSPC-11, EAGLE (ESPA Augmented Geostationary Laboratory Experiment): HTI-SpX, MYCROFT, CEASE-III-RR, ISAL, ARMOR | Military / communications | Atlas-5 551 (AV-079) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-41 | - | Success |
| 37 | Russia | April 19 | 01:12:00 Moscow Time | Kosmos-2526 (Blagovest No. 12L) | Military / communications | Proton-M/Briz-M | Baikonur | 81 | 24 | Success |
| 38 | USA | April 19 | 6:51 p.m. Eastern Time | TESS | Science / astronomy | Falcon-9 | Cape Canaveral | - | - | Success |
| 39 | Russia | April 25 | 20:57:52.016 Moscow Time | Sentinel-3B | Application / remote sensing | Rockot/Briz-KM | Plesetsk | 133 | - | Success |
| 40 | China | April 26 | - | Zhuhai-1 (A), Zhuhai-1 (B), Zhuhai-1 (C), Zhuhai-1 (D), Zhuhai-1 (E) | Application / remote sensing | Chang Zheng-11 | - | - | - | Success |
| 41 | China | May 3 | 16:06 UTC | Apstar-6C | Application / communications | Chang Zheng-3B | Xichang | - | - | Success |
| 42 | USA | May 5 | 4:05:00 a.m. PDT | InSight, MarCO-A, MarCO-B | Planetary / Mars | Atlas-5 (401)/Centaur | Vandenberg | SLC-3 | - | Success |
| 43 | China | May 8 | 18:28 GMT | Gaofen-5 | Application / remote sensing | Chang Zheng-4C | Taiyuan | LC-9 | - | Success |
| 44 | USA | May 11 | 4:14 p.m. | Bangabandhu-1 | Application / communications | Falcon-9 (B1046) | Cape Canaveral (KSC) | LC-39A | A | Success |
| 45 | China | May 20 | 21:28 GMT | Queqiao, Longjiang-1 (DSLWP-A1), Longjiang-2 (DSLWP-A2) | Planetary / Lunar orbiter / data relay | Chang Zheng-4C (Y-27) | Xichang | LC-3 | - | Success |
| 46 | USA | May 21 | 4:44:09.7 a.m. EDT | Cygnus OA9 (CRS-9) | Manned / cargo supply | Antares-230 | Wallops | 0A | - | Success |
| 47 | USA | May 22 | 19:47:58 GMT | Iridium-NEXT-110, Iridium-NEXT-147, Iridium-NEXT-152, Iridium-NEXT-161, Iridium-NEXT-162, GRACE-FO-1, GRACE-FO-2 | Applications / communications Science / geophysics | Falcon-9 (B1043.2) | Vandenberg | SLC-4E | E | Success |
| 48 | China | June 2 | 12:13 Beijing Time | Gaofen-6, Luojia-1 | Application / remote sensing | Chang Zheng-2D | Jiuquan | - | - | Success |
| 49 | USA | June 4 | 04:45 GMT | SES-12 | Application / communications | Falcon-9 (B1040.2) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Success |
| 50 | China | June 5 | 13:07:03.898 GMT | Fengyun-2H | Application / weather forecasting | Chang Zheng-3A | Xichang | LC-2 | - | Success |
| 51 | Russia | June 6 | 14:12:39.519 Moscow Time | Soyuz MS-09 | Manned | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur | Site 1 | 5 | Success |
| 52 | Japan | June 12 | 04:20:00 GMT | IGS Radar-6 | Military / reconnaissance | H-2A 202 (F39) | Tanegashima | - | - | Success |
| 53 | Russia | June 17 | 00:46 Moscow Time | GLONASS-M No. 56 (Kosmos-2527) | Military / navigation | Soyuz-2-1b | Plesetsk | 43 | 4 | Success |
| 54 | China | June 27 | 03:30:05.854 GMT | Xin Jishu Shiyan-A, Xin Jishu Shiyan-B | Military | Chang Zheng-2C | Xichang | LC-2 | - | Success |
| 55 | USA | June 29 | 5:42:42 a.m. EDT | Dragon SpX-15, Ecostress, Lee | Manned / cargo supply | Falcon-9 B1045.2 | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Success |
| 56 | China | July 9 | 03:56 GMT | PRSS-1, PakTESS-1A | Application / remote sensing | Chang Zheng-2C/SMA | Jiuquan | - | - | Success |
| 57 | China | July 9 | 20:58 GMT | Beidou-2 | Military / navigation | Chang Zheng-3A | Xichang | - | - | Success |
| 58 | Russia | July 10 | 00:51:34.452 Moscow Time | Progress MS-09 | Manned / cargo supply | Soyuz-2-1a | Baikonur | 31 | 6 | Success |
| 59 | USA | July 22 | 05:50 GMT | Telstar-19 Vantage | Application / communications | Falcon-9 | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Success |
| 60 | Europe | July 25 | 11:25 GMT | Galileo-FOC-M8-23, Galileo-FOC-M8-24, Galileo-FOC-M8-25, Galileo-FOC-M8-26 | Application / navigation | Ariane-5 ES (VA-244) | Kourou | ELA-3 | - | Success |
| 61 | USA | July 25 | 04:39:26 PDT | Iridium Next-7, Iridium Next-7, Iridium Next-7, Iridium Next-7, Iridium Next-7, Iridium Next-7, Iridium Next-7, Iridium Next-7, Iridium Next-7,Iridium Next-7 | Application / communications | Falcon-9 (B1048.1) | Vandenberg | SLC-4E | E | Success |
| 62 | China | July 29 | 09:48 Beijing Time | Beidou-33 (3M5), Beidou-34 (3M6) | Military / navigation | Chang Zheng-3B/YZ-1 | Xichang | LC3 | - | Success |
| 63 | China | July 31 | 11:00 Beijing Time | Gaofen-11 | Application / remote sensing | Chang Zheng-4B | Taiyuan | - | - | Success |
| 64 | USA | Aug. 7 | 05:18 UTC | Merah Putih (Telkom-4) | Application / communications | Falcon-9 Block 5 | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Success |
| 65 | USA | Aug. 12 | 03:31 EDT | Solar Probe (Parker) | Planetary / Sun | Delta-4 Heavy/Star-48BV (D-380) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-37B | B | Success |
| 66 | Europe | Aug. 22 | 21:20:09.478 GMT | Aeolus | Application / remote sensing | Vega | Kourou | ELA-1 | - | Success |
| 67 | China | Aug. 24 | 23:52:04.550 GMT | Beidou-3M11 (Beidou-35); Beidou-3M12 (Beidou-36) | Military / navigation | Chang Zheng-3B/YZ-1 | Xichang | LC3 | - | Success |
| 68 | China | Sept. 7 | 11:15:05 Beijing Time | Haiyang-1C | Application / remote-sensing / oceanography | Chang Zheng-2C | Taiyuan | LC-9 | - | Success |
| 69 | USA | Sept. 10 | 04:45 GMT | Telstar-18-Vantage (APStar-5C) | Application / communications | Falcon-9-062 B1049.1 | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Success |
| 70 | USA | Sept. 15 | 13:02 GMT | ICESat-2, ELaNa-18: ELFIN, ELFIN-STAR, SurfSat, CP-7 | Application / remote-sensing | Delta-2 7420-10C (D-381) | Vandenberg | SLC-2W | W | Success |
| 71 | India | Sept. 16 | 16:38 GMT | SSTL S1-4 & NovaSAR-1 | Application / remote sensing | PSLV-CA (C42) | Sriharikota | - | - | Success |
| 72 | China | Sept. 19 | 22:07 Beijing Time (14:07 GMT) | Beidou-3 (13-37), Beidou-3 (14-38) | Military / navigation | Chang Zheng-3B/YZ-1 | Xichang | 2 | - | Success |
| 73 | Japan | Sept. 22 | 17:52:27 GMT | HTV-7 | Manned / cargo supply | H-2B (F7) | Tanegashima | - | - | Success |
| 74 | Europe | Sept. 25 | 22:38 GMT | Horizons-3e, Azerspace-2/Intelsat-38 | Application / communications | Ariane-5 (VA-243) | Kourou | ELA-3 | - | Success |
| 75 | China | Sept. 29 | 04:13 GMT | CentiSpace-1-S1 | Military / navigation | Kuaizhou-1A (Y8) | Jiuquan | - | - | Success |
| 76 | USA | Oct. 7 | 7:21:28 p.m. Pacific Standart Time | SAOCOM-1A (Satélite Argentino de Observación Con Microondas-1A) | Application / remote sensing | Falcon-9 Block-5 (F9-063, B1048.2) | Vandenberg | SLC-4E | E | Success |
| 77 | China | Oct. 9 | 02:43:03 GMT | Yaogan Weixing-32 (32-01A), Yaogan Weixing-32 (32-01B) | Military / navigation | Chang Zheng-2C/YZ-1S | Jiuquan | 43/94 | - | Success |
| 78 | Russia | Oct. 11 | 11:40 Moscow Time | Soyuz MS-10 | Manned | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur | 1 | 5 | Failure |
| 79 | China | Oct. 15 | 04:23 GMT | Beidou-3 (15-39), Beidou-3 (16-40) | Military / navigation | Chang Zheng-3B/YZ-1 | Xichang | - | - | Success |
| 80 | USA | Oct. 17 | 04:17 GMT | AEHF-4 (Advanced Extremely High Frequency) | Military / communications | Atlas-5/551 | Cape Canaveral | SLC-41 | - | Success |
| 81 | Europe | Oct. 19 | - | BepiColombo | Planetary / Mercury | Ariane-5 | Kourou | ELA-3 | - | Success |
| 82 | China | Oct. 25 | 06:57 local time | Haiyang-2B | Science / remote-sensing | Chang Zheng-4B | Taiyuan | - | - | Success |
| 83 | Russia | Oct. 25 | 03:15 Moscow Time | Kosmos-2528 (Lotos-S1) | Military / electronic intelligence | Soyuz-2-1b | Plesetsk | 43 | 4 | Success |
| 84 | China | Oct. 27 | 08:00 GMT | Weilai-1 | Application / communications | Zhuque-1 | Jiuquan | mobile | - | Failure |
| 85 | China | Oct. 29 | 08:43:13.576 Beijing Time | CFOSat (China-France Oceanography SATellite) Zhongfa Haiyang Weixing, Zhaojin-1 'Tongchuan-1' (TY4-02); Xiaoxiang-1 (02) (TY1-02); Xinghe (Tianfuguoxing-1 / TY1-03); Changshagaoxin (TY4-01); Tiangue-1; Unknown Sat; CubeBel-1 (BSUSat-1) | Application / remote sensing | Chang Zheng-2C (Y22) | Jiuquan | 43/94 | - | Success |
| 86 | Japan | Oct. 29 | 13:08:00 Japan Standard Time | GOSAT-2, KhalifaSat, DIWATA-2B, (Tenkou), 1U CubeSatsx2 (Stars-AO (Aoi), AUTcube2 | Application / remote sensing | H-2A-202 F40 | Tanegashima | - | - | Success |
| 87 | China | Oct. 31 | 23:57 local | Beidou-3 GEO-1 (Beidou-41) | Military / navigation | Chang Zheng-3B | Xichang | 2 | - | Success |
| 88 | Russia | Nov. 3 | 23:17 Moscow Time | GLONASS M-57 (Kosmos-2529) | Military / navigation | Soyuz-2-1b | Plesetsk | 43 | 4 | Success |
| 89 | Russia | Nov. 6 | 9:47:27 p.m. French Guiana time | MetOp-C | Application / meteorology | Soyuz-2-1b | Kourou | ELS | - | Success |
| 90 | USA | Nov. 11 | 03:50 GMT | Outernet-1, CICERO, Lemur-2, Lemur-2, IRVINE01, NABEO, Proxima-1, Proxima-2 | Application | Electron | Mahia Peninsula | - | - | Success |
| 91 | India | Nov. 14 | 11:38 GMT | GSAT-29 | Application / communications | GSLV Mk.3 D2 | Sriharikota | - | - | Success |
| 92 | USA | Nov. 15 | 3:46 p.m. EST | Es'hail-2 (AmSat-P4A) | Application / communications | Falcon-9 (B1047.2) | Cape Canaveral | LC-39A | A | Success |
| 93 | Russia | Nov. 16 | 21:14 Moscow Time | Progress MS-10 | Manned / cargo supply | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur | 1 | 5 | Success |
| 94 | USA | Nov. 17 | 4:01 a.m. EST | Cygnus-10 (CRS-10, NG-10, John Young) | Manned / cargo supply | Antares-230 | Wallops | LP-0A | - | Success |
| 95 | China | Nov. 18 | 18:07 GMT | Beidou-42 (3M17), Beidou-43 (3M18) | Military / navigation | Chang Zheng-3B | Xichang | LC-3 | - | Success |
| 96 | China | Nov. 19 | 23:40 GMT | Shiyan Weixing-6, Jiading-1 (OKW-01), Tianzhi-1, Tianping-1A, Tianping-1B | Military / experimental / communications | Chang Zheng-2D | Jiuquan | 43/94 | - | Success |
| 97 | Europe | Nov. 20 | 10:42:31 p.m. French Guiana time | Mohammed-6B | Application / remote sensing | Vega | Kourou | ELA-1 | - | Success |
| 98 | India | Nov. 28 | - | HysIS, Centauri-1, Kepler (CASE), FACSAT, Reaktor Hello World, InnoSat-2, HIBER-1, 3Cat-1, CICERO-8, Flock-3R, Flock-3R, Flock-3R, Flock-3R, Flock-3R, Flock-3R, Flock-3R, Flock-3R, Flock-3R, Flock-3R, Flock-3R, Flock-3R, Flock-3R, Flock-3R, Flock-3R, Flock-3R, Global-1, HSAT-1, Lemur-2-Orzulak, Lemur-2-Vladimir, Lemur-2-Kobyszcze, Lemur-2-Duly | Application / remote sensing | PSLV-C43 | Sriharikota | 1 | - | Success |
| 99 | Russia | Nov. 30 | 05:27 Moscow Time | Kosmos-2530, Kosmos-2531, Kosmos-2532 (Rodnik) | Military / communications | Rockot/Briz-KM | Plesetsk | 133 | 3 | Success |
| 100 | Russia | Dec. 3 | 14:31:52 Moscow Time | Soyuz MS-11 | Manned | Soyuz-FG | Baikonur | 1 | 5 | Success |
| 101 | USA | Dec. 3 | 18:34:05 GMT | Spaceflight SSO-A/SHERPA SSO: SkySat-14, SkySat-15, STPSat-5, Eu:CROPIS, NEXTSat-1, FalconSat-6, KazSTSAT, eXCITe, SeeMe, ICEYE-X2, BlackSky Global-2, ESEO (FUNcube 4), Hawk-A, Hawk-B, Hawk-C, Capella-1, SIRION Pathfinder-2, AISTECHSAT-2, BlackHawk, CSIM-FD, Hiber-2, ITASAT-1, Landmapper-BC 4 (Corvus-BC-4), ORS-7A (Polar Scout-1), ORS-7B (Polar Scout-2), Al-Farabi-2, Astrocast-0.1, Audacy-0, BRIO, Centauri 2, Eaglet 1, ENOCH, Flock-3s 1, Flock-3s 2, Flock-3s 3, ICE-Cap, K2SAT, KazSciSat 1, MinXSS 2, Orbital Reflector (ORS 1), RAAF M1, SeaHawk 1, SNUSAT 2, THEA, VESTA, PW-Sat 2, SNUGLITE, VisionCube, RANGE-A, RANGE-B, Elysium-Star-2, ExseedSat-1, Fox-1C, Irvine-02, JY1-Sat, KNACKSAT, MOVE-2, Suomi-100, SpaceBEE-5, SpaceBEE-6, SpaceBEE-7, WeissSat-1 | = | Falcon-9 (B1046.3) | Vandenberg | SLC-4E | E | Success |
| 102 | Europe | Dec. 4 | 20:37:07.3 GMT | GSAT-11, GEO-KOMPSAT-2A (GK2A, Cheollian 2A) | Application | Ariane-5 ECA (VA-246) | Kourou | ELA-3 | - | Success |
| 103 | USA | Dec. 5 | 18:16:16 GMT | Dragon SpX-16 (CRS-16), GEDI, RRM3 | Manned / cargo supply | Falcon-9 (B1050) | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Success |
| 104 | China | Dec. 7 | 04:12:05.223 | SaudiSAT-5A, SaudiSAT-5B, Douyu-666 (TFSTAR), Xijiang Jiantong-1 (TY3-01), Sagittarius-01, Hua Mi Xing, PiaoChong-1 (LadyBird-1), PiaoChong-2 (LadyBird-2) "Elvis Presley", PiaoChong-3 (LadyBird-3) "Hua Mi", PiaoChong-5 (LadyBird-5) "Linda Education Satellite”, PiaoChong-6 (LadyBird-6) “Tmall International”, PiaoCong-7 (LadyBird-7) “RE: X" | Application | Cahng Zheng-2D (Y38) | Jiuquan | LC43/94 | - | Success |
| 105 | China | Dec. 7 | 18:23 GMT | Chang'e-4 | Planetary / lunar | Chang Zheng-3B | Xichang | LC-3 | - | - |
| 106 | USA | Dec. | 06:33 GMT | VCLS-1 (ELaNa XIX): ALBus, CeREs, CHOMPTT, Da Vinci, NMTSat, ISX, RSat-P, Shields-1, STF-1, CubeSail-1, CubeSail-2, TomSat Eagle Scout, TomSat-R3, SHFT-1 | Application | Electron | Mahia Peninsula | - | - | Success |
| 107 | India | Dec. 19 | 16:10 India Standard Time | GSAT-7A | Application / communications | GSLV-F11 | Sriharikota | SLP | 2 | Success |
| 108 | Russia | Dec. 19 | 13:37:14 French Guiana Time | CSO-1 | Military / reconnaissance | Soyuz ST-A | Kourou | ELS | - | Success |
| 109 | Russia | Dec. 21 | 03:20:00.020 Moscow Time | Kosmos-2533 (Blagovest No. 13L) | Military / communications | Proton-M/Briz-M | Baikonur | 81 | 24 | Success |
| 110 | China | Dec. 22 | 07:51:00.228 Beijing Time | Hongyun Engineering Test Satellite | Application / communications | Chang Zheng-11 | Jiuquan | 01-100 | - | Success |
| 111 | USA | Dec. 23 | 8:51 a.m. EST | GPS-3 SV01 Vespucci | Military / navigation | Falcon-9 | Cape Canaveral | SLC-40 | - | Success |
| 112 | China | Dec. 25 | 00:53:04.321 Beijing Time | TJS-3 | Application / communications | Chang Zheng-3C/G2Y17 | Xichang | 07-98 | 3 | Success |
| 113 | Russia | Dec. 27 | 05:07:18.231 Moscow Time | Kanopus-V No. 5, Kanopus-V No. 6, Flock-3k Dove-1, Flock-3k Dove-2, Flock-3k Dove-3, Flock-3k Dove-4, Flock-3k Dove-5, Flock-3k Dove-6, Flock-3k Dove-7, Flock-3k Dove-8, Flock-3k Dove-9, Flock-3k Dove-10, Flock-3k Dove-11, Flock-3k Dove-12, ZACube-2, Lume-1, D-Star ONE (iSat), D-Star ONE (Sparrow), Lemur-2-30-Remy-Colton, Lemur-2-31-Gustavo, Lemur-2-32-Christina-Holt, Lemur-2-33-Zo, Lemur-2-34-Tinkyev, Lemur-2-35-Sarah-Betty-Boo, Lemur-2-36-Natalie-Murray, Lemur-2-37-Daisy-Harper, UWE-4 | Application / remote sensing | Soyuz-2-1a/Fregat-M | Vostochny | 1S | - | Success |
| 114 | China | Dec. 29 | 16:00 Beijing Time | Yunhai-2, Yunhai-2, Yunhai-2, Yunhai-2, Yunhai-2, Yunhai-2, Hongyan | Application / remote sensing | Chang Zheng-2D/Yuanzheng-3 | Jiuquan | - | - | Success |
*The launch vehicle reported operating as planned, but its payload failed to separate from the upper stage. **An anomaly during orbital insertion
The 2018 space launch score card (as ofJune 9, 2025 ):,
| ** | **Country | **Launch vehicle | **Launch vehicle | **Launch vehicle | **Launch vehicle | **Launch vehicle | **Launch vehicle | **Launch vehicle | **Launch vehicle | **Launch vehicle | **Launch vehicle | **Total | **Failed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | Chang Zheng-2D : 8 | Chang Zheng-3B: 11 | Chang Zheng-11: 3 | Chang Zheng-2C: 6 | Chang Zheng-4C: 4 | Chang Zheng-3A: 2 | Chang Zheng-4B: 2 | Kuaizhou-1A: 1 | Zhuque-1: 1*** | Chang Zheng-3C: 1 | 39 | 1 |
| 2 | USA | Falcon-9: 20 (1)* | Delta-4: 1 | Atlas-5: 5 | Electron: 3 | Falcon Heavy: 1 | Antares-230: 2 | Delta-4 Heavy: 1 | Delta-2: 1 | - | - | 34 | 1 |
| 3 | Russia | Soyuz-2-1a/b/ST: 10 | Soyuz-FG: 5 (1***) | Soyuz-2-1v: 1 | Proton-M: 2 | Rockot: 2 | - | - | - | - | - | 20 | 1 |
| 4 | Europe | Ariane-5: 6 | Vega: 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 | 0 |
| 5 | India | PSLV: 4 | GSLV: 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7 | 0 |
| 6 | Japan | Epsilon: 1 | SS-520: 1 | H-2A: 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 0 |
| - | World: | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 114 | 3 |
*The launch vehicle reported operating as planned, but its payload failed to separate from the upper stage; **In case of an equal number of launches, the country that reached that number first is listed at the top; ***Failed launch
For missions in 2019 click here
This page is compiled by Anatoly Zak; Last update:June 9, 2025
Page editor: Alain Chabot; Last edit: December 30, 2018
All rights reserved
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Soyuz-2-1a lifts off on Feb. 1, 2018, with a pair of Kanopus-V satellites and nine secondary payloads. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos
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A Soyuz-2-1v rocket lifts off with the EMKA satellite on March 29, 2018. Click to enlarge. Credit: Russian Ministry of Defense
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A long-exposure shot captures the ascent trajectory of the Progress MS-10 spacecraft on Nov. 17, 2018. Click to enlarge. Credit: RKK Energia
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Soyuz-ST-A launches CSO-1 (Composante Spatiale Optique) satellite on Dec. 19, 2018. Click to enlarge. Credit: CNES
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