Spaceflight Now Worldwide launch schedule (original) (raw)
March 29, 2013 - A regularly updated listing of planned missions from spaceports around the globe. Dates and times are given in Greenwich Mean Time. "NET" stands for no earlier than. "TBD" means to be determined. Recent updates appear in red type. Please send any corrections, additions or updates by e-mail to: sclark@spaceflightnow.com
Latest changes:
2/26: Adding Epsilon/SPRINT-A; Adding PSLV/Mars Orbiter Mission
2/27: Adding date for Antares demo
2/28: Pegasus XL/IRIS delayed; Adding Falcon 9/Thaicom 6
3/02: Soyuz/Bion M1 moved forward; Adding date for Soyuz/Glonass; Ariane 5/ATV 4 delayed; H-2B/HTV 4 delayed; Falcon 9/SpaceX CRS 3 delayed
3/03: Adding time for Soyuz/Progress 51P; Adding Proton/SES 6; Adding Proton/ASTRA 2E; Adding second launch of Soyuz/O3b; Soyuz/Galileo FOC-1 delayed
3/04: Adding window for Atlas 5/SBIRS GEO 2
3/08: Pegasus XL/IRIS delayed
3/12: Adding date and window for Atlas 5/GPS 2F-4
3/13: Adding time for Vega/Proba-V & VNREDSat 1A
3/16: Antares demo delayed; Adding date for Proton/Anik G1; Adding timeframe for Falcon 9/Orbcomm OG2
3/28: Antares demo delayed; Adding Long March 2D/Gaofen 1; Adding time for Soyuz/Glonass M; Adding date for Delta 4/WGS 5; GSLV/GSAT 14 delayed; PSLV/IRNSS 1 delayed; Soyuz/O3b moved forward; Adding time for Soyuz 35S; Falcon 9/SES 8 delayed
3/29: Adding window for Delta 4/WGS 5; Adding Proton/Eutelsat 3D; Delta 4/WGS 6 delayed; Minotaur 1/ORS 3 delayed; Adding approximate time for Minotaur 5/LADEE
April 15 | Proton • Anik G1 |
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Launch time: TBD Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage will deploy the Anik G1 satellite. Anik G1 will provide Ku-band direct-to-home television broadcasting services to Canada, C-band and Ku-band programming to South America and North America, and a commercial X-band payload for military users for Telesat of Canada. Delayed from January. [March 16] | |
April 17 | Antares • Demo |
Launch time: 1900 GMT (3 p.m. EDT) Launch site: Pad 0A, Wallops Island, Virginia The first Orbital Sciences Antares rocket, formerly known as the Taurus 2, will launch a simulated Cygnus spacecraft on a demonstration flight. Delayed from October and December 2011. Delayed from Jan. 23, February, July 6, Aug. 9, late September, October and December 2012. Delayed from February and March. Delayed from April 16. See our Mission Status Center. [March 28] | |
April 19 | Soyuz • Bion M1 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the Bion M1 capsule into low Earth orbit with an international payload of live animals, plants and other life sciences experiments for exposure to microgravity. The capsule will parachute back to Earth after a one-month mission. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz 2-1b configuration. Several CubeSat secondary payloads are also aboard the launch. [March 2] | |
April 19/20 | Vega • Proba-V & VNREDSat 1A |
Launch time: 0206:31 GMT on 20th (10:06:31 p.m. EDT on 19th) Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana A European Vega rocket, designated VV02, will launch on its second flight with the Proba-V Earth observation satellite for the European Space Agency and the VNREDSat 1A imaging satellite for Vietnam. Proba-V carries an instrument to provide a daily overview of global vegetation growth, and VNREDSat 1A will collect optical imagery. Delayed from March. [March 13] | |
April 24 | Soyuz • Progress 51P |
Launch time: 1012 GMT (6:12 a.m. EDT) Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 51st Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. [March 3] | |
April 25 | Long March 2D • Gaofen 1 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Jiuquan, China A Chinese Long March 2D rocket will launch the Gaofen 1 high-resolution remote sensing satellite. Gaofen 1 will collect high-resolution images of Earth's surface for research and civil government applications. The main users of the satellite are the Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, and the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection. [March 28] | |
April 26 | Soyuz • Glonass |
Launch time: 0523 GMT (1:23 a.m. EDT) Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch a Glonass M navigation satellite. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz 2-1b configuration with a Fregat upper stage. Delayed from Dec. 25, February and March 1. [March 28] | |
TBD | Long March 3B • Chinasat 11 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Xichang, China A Chinese Long March 3B rocket will launch the Chinasat 11 communications satellite for the China Satellite Communications Corp. Chinasat 11 will provide broadcasting, broadband, and data transmission services over China, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, and the Asia-Pacific region. [Feb. 13] | |
May 8/9 | Delta 4 • WGS 5 |
Launch window: 0022-0103 GMT on 9th (8:22-9:03 p.m. EDT on 8th) Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket will the fifth Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft, formerly known as the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite. Built by Boeing, this geostationary communications spacecraft will serve U.S. military forces. The rocket will fly in the Medium+ (5,4) configuration with four solid rocket boosters. Delayed from Jan. 18, February and March. [March 29] | |
May | Proton • Eutelsat 3D |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage will deploy the Eutelsat 3D satellite. Eutelsat 3D will provide customers in Europe and Africa with communications services. [March 29] | |
May 15 | Atlas 5 • GPS 2F-4 |
Launch window: 2139-2158 GMT (5:39-5:58 p.m. EDT) Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will deploy the Air Force's fourth Block 2F navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from March. [March 12] | |
May 27 | Soyuz • O3b |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana An Arianespace Soyuz rocket, designated VS05, will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will carry four satellites for O3b Networks, which will provide broadband service to developing countries. The Soyuz 2-1b rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. Arianespace will oversee the launch. Delayed from March. Moved forward from May 29. [March 28] | |
May 28 | Soyuz • ISS 35S |
Launch time: 2032 GMT (4:32 p.m. EDT) Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the manned Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station with members of the next Expedition crew. The capsule will remain at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the crew. [March 28] | |
TBD | Long March 4B • CBERS 3 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Taiyuan, China A Chinese Long March 4B rocket will launch the CBERS 3 remote sensing satellite. CBERS 3 is the third China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite for the collection of global imagery for environmental, urban planning and agricultural applications. Delayed from December 2012, January and February. [Jan. 22] | |
June | PSLV • IRNSS 1 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), flying on the PSLV-C22 mission, will launch the IRNSS 1 navigation satellite. The payload is the first spacecraft in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, which aims to improve positioning services over India and neighboring regions. Delayed from May. [March 28] | |
June | Proton • SES 6 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage will deploy the SES 6 satellite. SES 6 will provide Ku-band direct-to-home television, VSAT services and government digital inclusion programs in Latin America, plus C-band cable services to the Americas and Europe. [March 3] | |
TBD | Rockot • Gonets M |
**Launch time:**TBD Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia A Russian government Rockot vehicle will launch three Gonets M communications satellites. Delayed from March 20 and April 23. [Jan. 16] | |
June 7 | Ariane 5 • ATV 4 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana Arianespace will use an Ariane 5 ES rocket, designated VA213, to launch the European Space Agency's fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle, named Albert Einstein. The ATV is a cargo-carrying spacecraft to deliver supplies and equipment to the orbiting International Space Station. Delayed from March 12, April 18 and May 7. [March 2] | |
June | Antares • Cygnus 1 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Pad 0A, Wallops Island, Virginia The Orbital Sciences Antares rocket, formerly known as the Taurus 2, will launch the first Cygnus cargo freighter on a test flight to the International Space Station. Orbital Sciences is developing the Cygnus spacecraft to deliver supplies to the space station. Delayed from June and December 2011. Delayed from Feb. 23, April 28, Aug. 20, Sept. 1, and October 2012. Delayed from April 5 and May 3. [Feb. 8] | |
June | Long March 2F • Shenzhou 10 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Jiuquan, China A Long March 2F rocket will launch the Shenzhou 10 spacecraft, a crewed mission to dock with the orbiting Tiangong 1 laboratory module. The flight will be China's fifth human space mission. [Nov. 13] | |
June 18 | Falcon 9 • Cassiope |
Launch window: TBD Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Cassiope satellite for the Canadian Space Agency. Cassiope carries a communications relay payload for a commercial digital broadcast courier service and an instrument to observe the Earth's ionosphere. The rocket will fly in the Falcon 9 v1.1 configuration with upgraded Merlin 1D engines, stretched fuel tanks, and a payload fairing. Delayed from April. [Feb. 12] | |
TBD | Soyuz • Resurs P1 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the Resurs P1 Earth observation satellite to collect remote sensing data for Russian government agencies and foreign customers. Delayed from Nov. 30. Delayed from February due to disagreement on drop zones. [Feb. 8] | |
June 26 | Pegasus XL • IRIS |
Launch window: TBD Launch site: L-1011, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California The air-launched Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket will deploy NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS). IRIS will make detailed measurements of the flow of energy and plasma through the sun's atmosphere and heliosphere. Delayed from Dec. 1, Jan. 22 and April 28. [March 8] | |
June | Proton • ASTRA 2E |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage will deploy the ASTRA 2E satellite. ASTRA 2E will provide Ku-band and Ka-band broadcast and broadband services to Europe, the Middle East and Africa. [March 3] | |
Summer | Rockot • Swarm |
**Launch time:**TBD Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia A Eurockot Rockot vehicle will launch the Swarm mission for the European Space Agency. Swarm is an Earth Explorer mission comprising three satellites in different polar orbits to probe the geomagnetic field and its temporal evolution, in order to gain new insights into the Earth system by improving our understanding of the Earth's interior and physical climate. Delayed from July 16 by launcher issue. Delayed from November by Breeze M investigation. Delayed from February by launcher issue. Delayed from April and May. [Feb. 13] | |
July | Falcon 9 • SES 8 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the SES 8 communications satellite. SES 8 will provide Ku-band and Ka-band direct-to-home broadcasting and network services over the Asia-Pacific region. The rocket will fly in the Falcon 9 v1.1 configuration with upgraded Merlin 1D engines, stretched fuel tanks, and a payload fairing. [March 28] | |
July | GSLV • GSAT 14 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), flying on the GSLV-D5 mission, will launch the GSAT 14 communications satellite. The rocket will fly in the GSLV Mk.2 configuration with an Indian-built cryogenic third stage. Delayed from October, December, January, February and April. [March 28] | |
July | Atlas 5 • MUOS 2 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the second Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite for the U.S. Navy. Built by Lockheed Martin, this U.S. military spacecraft will provide narrowband tactical communications designed to significantly improve ground communications for U.S. forces on the move. The rocket will fly in the 551 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, five solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. [Nov. 26] | |
July 24 | Soyuz • Progress 52P |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 52nd Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. [Oct. 12] | |
July | Delta 4 • WGS 6 |
**Launch window:**TBD Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket will the fifth Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft, formerly known as the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite. Built by Boeing, this geostationary communications spacecraft will serve U.S. military forces. The rocket will fly in the Medium+ (5,4) configuration with four solid rocket boosters. Delayed from June. [March 29] | |
July | Falcon 9 • Thaicom 6 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Thaicom 6 communications satellite. Thaicom 6 will provide C-band and Ku-band communications services across Southeast Asia and Africa. The rocket will fly in the Falcon 9 v1.1 configuration with upgraded Merlin 1D engines, stretched fuel tanks, and a payload fairing. [Feb. 28] | |
August | Soyuz • O3b |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana An Arianespace Soyuz rocket, designated VS06, will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will carry four satellites for O3b Networks, which will provide broadband service to developing countries. The Soyuz 2-1b rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. Arianespace will oversee the launch. [March 3] | |
Aug. 4 | H-2B • HTV 4 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan A Japanese H-2B rocket will launch the fourth H-2 Transfer Vehicle. The HTV serves as an unmanned cargo vehicle to deliver equipment and supplies to the International Space Station. Delayed from June 10. [March 2] | |
Aug. 12 | Minotaur 5 • LADEE |
Launch time: Approx. 0500 GMT (1 a.m. EDT) Launch site: Pad 0B, Wallops Island, Va. A U.S. Air Force Minotaur 5 rocket will launch the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Experiment, or LADEE, mission for NASA. LADEE will study the moon's tenuous atmosphere and dust from lunar orbit. [March 29] | |
August | Delta 4-Heavy • NROL-65 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: SLC-6, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California A United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket will launch a classified spy satellite cargo for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The largest of the Delta 4 family, the Heavy version features three Common Booster Cores mounted together to form a triple-body rocket. [Nov. 11] | |
September | Atlas 5 • AEHF 3 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the third Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite. Built by Lockheed Martin, this U.S. military spacecraft will provide highly-secure communications. The rocket will fly in the 531 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, three solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. [Nov. 26] | |
Sept. 25 | Soyuz • ISS 36S |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the manned Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station with members of the next Expedition crew. The capsule will remain at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the crew. [Nov. 11] | |
Sept. 29 | Soyuz • Gaia |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana An Arianespace Soyuz rocket will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will launch the Gaia mission, which will survey more than one billion stars, creating an astronomical census and map to help scientists chart the evolution of the Milky Way galaxy. The Soyuz 2-1b rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. Arianespace will oversee the launch. [Jan. 1] | |
September | Minotaur 1 • ORS 3 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Pad 0B, Wallops Island, Va. A U.S. Air Force Minotaur 1 rocket will launch the Operationally Responsive Space 3, or ORS 3, mission. ORS 3 will test space-based rocket tracking technology and an autonomous flight termination system. The rocket will also launch the STPSat 3 satellite, a host platform for several U.S. military experiments. Delayed from June. [March 29] | |
September | Falcon 9 • Orbcomm OG2 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch eight second-generation Orbcomm communications satellites. The satellites will operate for Orbcomm Inc., providing two-way data messaging services for global customers. The rocket will fly in the Falcon 9 v1.1 configuration with upgraded Merlin 1D engines, stretched fuel tanks, and a payload fairing. [March 16] | |
3rd Quarter | Epsilon • SPRINT-A |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Uchinoura Space Center, Japan Japan's Epsilon rocket will launch the SPRINT-A satellite with a small space telescope to observe Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter, focusing on the interaction between the planets' atmospheres and the solar wind. This launch will be the first flight of Japan's small Epsilon launch vehicle. [Feb. 26] | |
Oct. 16 | Soyuz • Progress 53P |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 53rd Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. [Jan. 1] | |
Late 2013 | Long March 3B • Chang'e 3 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Xichang, China A Long March 3B rocket will launch the Chang'e 3 mission, China's third lunar probe and its first robotic lander and rover. [Jan. 1] | |
October | PSLV • Mars Orbiter Mission |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), flying on the PSLV-C25 mission, will launch the Mars Orbiter Mission, India's first probe to the red planet. The Mars orbiter, also named Mangalyaan, will study the red planet with imaging cameras and atmospheric sensors. [Feb. 26] | |
October | Soyuz • Galileo FOC-1 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana An Arianespace Soyuz rocket will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will carry two Galileo full operational capability satellites for Europe's Galileo navigation constellation. The Soyuz 2-1b rocket will use a Fregat-MT upper stage. Arianespace will oversee the launch. Delayed from April and July. [March 3] | |
October | Delta 4 • GPS 2F-5 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket will deploy the Air Force's fifth Block 2F navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System. The rocket will fly in the Medium+ (4,2) configuration with two solid rocket boosters. [Jan. 10] | |
Nov. 18 | Atlas 5 • MAVEN |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution, or MAVEN, mission. The MAVEN orbiter will study the upper atmosphere of Mars and determine the role the loss of atmospheric gas to space played in changing the Martian climate through time. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. [Jan. 1] | |
Nov. 25 | Soyuz • ISS 37S |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the manned Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station with members of the next Expedition crew. The capsule will remain at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the crew. [Jan. 1] | |
Nov. 28 | Falcon 9 • SpaceX CRS 3 |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the fifth Dragon spacecraft on the third operational cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station. The flight is being conducted under the Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. Delayed from April 6 and Sept. 30. [March 2] | |
4th Quarter | H-2A • ALOS 2 |
Launch window: TBD Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan A Japanese H-2A rocket will launch the second Advanced Land Observing Satellite for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. ALOS 2 carries a high-resolution radar payload for environmental, infrastructure and disaster monitoring. [Jan. 4] | |
Late 2013 | Soyuz • Sentinel 1A |
Launch time: TBD Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana An Arianespace Soyuz rocket will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will carry the Sentinel 1A radar observation satellite for the European Space Agency and the European Commission. The Soyuz 2-1b rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. Arianespace will oversee the launch. [Jan. 1] | |
Launch Log
See our Launch Log for a listing of completed space missions in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012.
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