Launch Log (2004-2008)

A Russian government Proton rocket launched another trio of spacecraft for the Glonass satellite navigation constellation. Read our launch story. [Dec. 25]

The Long March 3A rocket launched the Feng Yun 2E spacecraft, which will join a fleet of geostationary weather satellites operated by the China Meteorological Administration. Read our launch story. [Dec. 23]

Arianespace Flight 186 used an Ariane 5 rocket with an ECA cryogenic upper stage to launch the European Hot Bird 9 television broadcast spacecraft and the W2M telecommunications satellite for Central Europe and Indian Ocean region. Both spacecraft will be operated by Eutelsat. Delayed from Oct. 29 and NSS 9 satellite replaced by W2M. Delayed from late November and Dec. 10. Read our launch story. [Dec. 20]

A Chinese Long March 4B rocket launched the country’s Yaogan 5 satellite for Earth observations. Read our launch story. [Dec. 15]

An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage deployed the Canadian Ciel 2 telecommunications spacecraft to serve North America. [Dec. 10]

A Russian Molniya-M rocket launched a military reconnaissance satellite into an elliptical high-altitude orbit. Read our launch story. [Dec. 2]

A Chinese Long March 2D rocket launched the country’s Yaogan 4 satellite for Earth observations. Read our launch story. [Dec. 1]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the 31st Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Read our launch story. [Nov. 26]

STS-126 was the 27th U.S. mission to the International Space Station. The flight delivered equipment and supplies with a reusable Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. Delayed from Sept. 18, Oct. 16, Nov. 10 and Nov. 12. Moved up from Nov. 16. See our Mission Status Center. [Nov. 15]

A Russian Soyuz rocket launched a classified military spacecraft formally known as Kosmos 2445. Read our launch story. [Nov. 14]

An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage carried the European ASTRA 1M direct-to-home television broadcasting spacecraft. Delayed from Oct. 30 and Nov. 2. Read our launch story. [Nov. 5]

A Chinese Long March 2D rocket launched the country’s Shiyan 3 and Chuangxin 1-02 satellites. Read our launch story. [Nov. 5]

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket launched the VENESAT 1 communications satellite for Venezuela. [Oct. 30]

The United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket launched the third Italian COSMO-SkyMed radar Earth-imaging satellite. The X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar payload on the spacecraft will be used for civil and military applications. The rocket flew in the 7420-10 vehicle configuration. ULA conducted this commercial launch for Boeing. See our Mission Status Center. [Oct. 25]

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) launched the Chandrayaan 1 spacecraft bound the moon. It is country’s first lunar orbiter. The mission carries a slate of instruments provided by scientists from India, Bulgaria, the European Space Agency and NASA. Delayed from April and Sept. 19. Read our launch story. [Oct. 22]

The air-launched Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket deployed NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer. IBEX will study the interaction between the solar wind and the interstellar medium. Delayed from July 15, Aug. 9, Sept. 13 and Oct. 5. Read our Mission Status Center. [Oct. 19]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the manned Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft to the International Space Station with members of the Expedition 18 crew. The capsule remained at the station for several months, providing an escape pod for the crew. Read our launch story. [Oct. 12]

A Kosmotras Dnepr rocket launched the THEOS Earth observation satellite for Thailand’s national space agency. Delayed from Jan. 30, Feb. 27 and Aug. 6 due to concerns about rocket stage downrange impact zone. Read our launch story. [Oct. 1]

The SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket launched on its first successful flight. It carried a mass satellite simulator during the demonstration test launch. See our Mission Status Center. [Sept. 28]

A Chinese Long March 2F rocket launched the country’s third human spaceflight. The Shenzhou spacecraft capsule made its seventh flight after a series of unmanned test missions and the historic first two manned launches. Moved up from October. Read our launch story. [Sept. 25]

A Russian government Proton rocket launched another trio of spacecraft for the Glonass satellite navigation constellation. Read our launch story. [Sept. 25]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket carried into orbit the Galaxy 19 communications satellite for Intelsat. The Loral-built spacecraft will replace the Galaxy 25 satellite and be used for telecommunication services across North America. Delayed from Sept. 23 due to unfavorable weather during transit to the launch site. Read our launch story. [Sept. 24]

An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage deployed the Nimiq 4 direct television broadcasting spacecraft to serve Canada. Delayed from Sept. 18 to replace faulty avionics unit on the first stage. [Sept. 19]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the 30th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Read our launch story. [Sept. 10]

The United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket launched the GeoEye 1 commercial Earth-imaging spacecraft into a Sun-synchronous orbit for the GeoEye company. ULA conducted this commercial launch for Boeing. The rocket flew in the 7420 configuration. Delayed from 2007, April 16, Aug. 22 and Sept. 4. See our Mission Status Center. [Sept. 6]

A Chinese Long March 2C rocket launched two Huan Jing satellites for Earth observations and environmental monitoring. Delayed from August. Read our launch story. [Sept. 6]

A Kosmotras Dnepr rocket launched five commercial RapidEye remote sensing satellites to collect imagery of agricultural regions and natural disasters. Read our launch story. [Aug. 29]

An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage deployed the Inmarsat 4-F3 mobile communications spacecraft. This was the third of three next-generation satellites in the Inmarsat 4-series. The launch marked the return-to-flight for ILS and the Proton/Breeze M following the March failure. Delayed from Aug. 13 to replace and retest the flight computer on the Breeze M upper stage. Read our launch story. [Aug. 18]

Arianespace Flight 185 used an Ariane 5 rocket with an ECA cryogenic upper stage to launch the Japanese Superbird 7 telecommunications satellite and the American AMC 21 television broadcast spacecraft. Delayed from Aug. 12. Read our launch story. [Aug. 14]

The SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket failed in its launch of the Jumpstart mission for the U.S. Air Force Operationally Responsive Space initiative. The Jumpstart mission flew the Trailblazer spacecraft built by SpaceDev, Inc. Delayed from late June. See our Mission Status Center. [Aug. 3]

A Russian Kosmos 3M rocket launched the SAR-Lupe 5 spacecraft into Earth orbit. The craft is the fifth in a series of five German radar reconnaissance satellites. Moved up from July 29/30. Read our launch story. [July 22]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket carried into orbit the EchoStar 11 direct-to-home television broadcast satellite. The Loral-built spacecraft will provide services for DISH Network subscribers. Read our launch story. [July 16]

Arianespace Flight 184 used an Ariane 5 rocket with an ECA cryogenic upper stage to launch the ProtoStar 1 communications satellite to provide high definition TV and broadband Internet to Southeast Asia and Arabsat’s BADR 6 communications spacecraft for the Middle East and North Africa. Delayed from July 4 to replace equipment unit in the electrical interface between the rocket and launch table. Read our launch story. [July 7]

The United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket launched the Jason 2 spacecraft to measure sea surface height. The Ocean Surface Topography Mission is a joint U.S. and European project. Delayed from June 15 and June 19 due to high winds preventing satellite’s delivery to pad. See our Mission Status Center. [June 20]

A Russian Kosmos 3M rocket launched six replacement ORBCOMM data communications satellites for the U.S.-based ORBCOMM Inc. Delayed from May 22. Read our launch story. [June 19]

Arianespace Flight 183 used an Ariane 5 rocket with an ECA cryogenic upper stage to launch the British Skynet 5C military communications satellite and the Turkish Turksat 3A communications spacecraft. Delayed from May 23. Scrubbed from May 30 by software problem. Read our launch story. [June 12]

The United Launch Alliance Delta 2-Heavy rocket deployed NASA’s Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope observatory into orbit. The rocket flew in the 7920-Heavy vehicle configuration. Delayed from Oct. 7, Dec. 14, Jan. 31 and Feb. 5. Moved up from May 29. Delayed from May 16 due to second stage stacking problem. Delayed from June 3, June 5, June 7 and June 8 to resolve final engineering issues. See our Mission Status Center. [June 11]

The Long March 3B rocket launched the Chinasat 9 spacecraft. The direct-to-home television broadcasting satellite will provide communications services to homes and businesses across China. The high-power spacecraft was built by Thales Alenia Space of France. Read our launch story. [June 9]

STS-124 was the 26th U.S. mission to the International Space Station. This flight by the space shuttle Discovery delivered and installed the massive Kibo science laboratory module and and robotic arm system to the space station for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The STS-124 mission was the second of three flights that launched components to complete the Japanese contribution to the station. Delayed from April 24 and May 25. See our Mission Status Center. [May 31]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket carried into orbit the Galaxy 18 communications satellite for Intelsat. The Loral-built spacecraft will replace the Galaxy 10R satellite and be used for telecommunication services across North America. Delayed from May 13. Read our launch story. [May 21]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the 29th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Read our launch story. [May 14]

The Land Launch Zenit 3SLB rocket carried into orbit the AMOS 3 telecommunications satellite for Israeli satellite operator Spacecom Ltd. The craft will serve markets in the Middle East, Europe and the United States. Delayed from March. Scrubbed on April 24 due to problem retracting the rocket transporter/erector system. Read our launch story. [April 28]

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) carried into orbit the Cartosat 2A satellite for Earth observation and a cluster of other small spacecraft. Delayed from March 4 and April 21. Read our launch story. [April 28]

A Russian Soyuz rocket with a Fregat upper stage launched the second Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element, or GIOVE B satellite. This was the second demonstration satellite for Europe’s Galileo navigation system. The launch was managed by Starsem, an affiliate of Arianespace. Delayed from April 2007. Read our launch story. [April 26]

A Chinese Long March 3C launched the Tianlian 1 satellite, a data relay spacecraft to serve as a communications link between ground controllers and the country’s next human space mission. Read our launch story. [April 26]

Arianespace Flight 182 used an Ariane 5 rocket with an ECA cryogenic upper stage to launch the Vinasat 1 satellite for the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corporation and the Brazilian Star One C2 communications spacecraft. Read our launch story. [April 18]

The air-launched Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket deployed the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) spacecraft for the U.S. military. The satellite carries instruments to study ionospheric scintillations and give warning to communication outages and GPS navigation degradations. Delayed from April 14. Read our launch story. [April 16]

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket (AV-014) launched the ICO G1 mobile communications satellite. Space Systems/Loral built the geostationary spacecraft. The rocket flew in the 421 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, two solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. ULA conducted this commercial launch for Lockheed Martin. Delayed from May 31, Aug. 28, late 2007, Jan. 7 and March 21. See our Mission Status Center. [April 14]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the manned Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft to the International Space Station to begin the Expedition 17 mission. Members of the crew launching on Soyuz were station commander Sergei Volkov, flight engineer Oleg Kononenko and South Korean spaceflight participant So-yeon Yi. The capsule remained at the station for several months, providing an escape pod for the crew. See our Mission Status Center. [April 8]

A Russian Kosmos 3M rocket launched the SAR-Lupe 4 spacecraft into Earth orbit. The craft is the fourth in a series of five German radar reconnaissance satellites. Moved up from March 27. Scrubbed March 25 and March 26 due to upper level winds. Read our launch story. [March 27]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket carried into orbit the DirecTV 11 direct-to-home television broadcast satellite. The Boeing-built craft will be used to increase the number of local and national HDTV channels available to DirecTV subscribers. Delayed from March 17. Read our launch story. [March 19]

The United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket launched the sixth modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block 2R military navigation satellite. The launch was run by the U.S. Air Force. The rocket flew in the 7925 vehicle configuration. Delayed from March 13. See our Mission Status Center. [March 15]

An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage failed in its launch of the AMERICOM 14 communications spacecraft. The Lockheed Martin-built satellite was slated for use by EchoStar’s DISH Network service. Read our launch story. [March 15]

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket (AV-006) launched a classified spacecraft payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. It was the first Atlas 5 launch from Vandenberg. The rocket flew in the 411 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, one strap-on solid rocket booster and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from Spring and Nov. 15, 2006, Jan. and April 3, 2007, Feb. 19, Feb. 26 and Feb. 29. See our Mission Status Center. [March 13]

STS-123 was the 25th U.S. mission to the International Space Station. The flight delivered the Japanese experiment logistics module to the station for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, along with the Canadian Dextre robotics system. Delayed from Nov. 29, Dec. 8 and Feb. 14. See our Mission Status Center. [March 11]

The Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket on Flight 181 launched the European Space Agency’s first Automated Transfer Vehicle, named Jules Verne. The ATV is a cargo-carrying spacecraft to deliver supplies and equipment to the orbiting International Space Station. Delayed from July 25. Delayed from Sept. Delayed from Nov. Delayed from Feb. 22 and March 7. See our Mission Status Center. [March 9]

The Japanese H-2A rocket launched the Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite (WINDS) for JAXA. The H-2A flew in the 2024 configuration with two large solid rocket boosters and four smaller motors. Delayed from Feb. 15. Read our launch story. [Feb. 22]

An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage launched the Thor 5 communications satellite for Telenor of Norway. The Orbital Sciences-built spacecraft will serve Scandinavia, Europe, and Middle East. Delayed from Feb. 10. Read our launch story. [Feb. 11]

STS-122 was the 24th U.S. mission to the International Space Station. The flight delivered the European Space Agency’s Columbus science laboratory module to the station. Delayed from Sept. 27 and Oct. 17. Mission switched from shuttle Discovery to shuttle Atlantis. Attempt on Dec. 6 was scrubbed. Delayed from Dec. 7. Scrubbed on Dec. 9. Delayed from Jan. 2, Jan. 10 and Jan. 24. See our Mission Status Center. [Feb. 7]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the 28th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Moved up from Feb. 12 and Feb. 7. [Feb. 5]

A Russian government Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage launched the Express AM33 communications satellite for the Russian Satellite Communications Co. Read our launch story. [Jan. 28]

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) carried into orbit the Polaris spacecraft, an Israeli radar reconnaissance spy satellite. Delayed from Sept. 17. Read our launch story. [Jan. 21]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket carried the Boeing-built Thuraya 3 mobile communications satellite into orbit. Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company of the United Arab Emirates provides space-based telephone services. Delayed from earlier in the year due to January’s launch failure of Zenit rocket. This will be Sea Launch’s return to flight. Delayed from October, Nov. 13, Nov. 14, Nov. 18, Nov. 19, Nov. 20, Nov. 21 and Nov. 25. Read our launch story. [Jan. 15]

A Russian government Proton rocke launched another trio of spacecraft for the Glonass satellite navigation constellation. Read our launch story. [Dec. 26]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the 27th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. [Dec. 23]

Arianespace Flight 180 used an Ariane 5 rocket with a storable propellant upper stage to launch the Rascom 1 communications satellite to serve Africa and the Horizons 2 telecommunications spacecraft to cover the continental United States, the Caribbean and parts of Canada. Delayed from Dec. 20 to perform additional checks on the rocket. Read our launch story. [Dec. 21]

The United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket launched the fifth modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block 2R military navigation satellite. The launch was run by the U.S. Air Force. The rocket flew in the 7925 vehicle configuration. See our Mission Status Center. [Dec. 20]

A Russian Soyuz rocket launched the Canadian Radarsat 2 observation spacecraft into a sun-synchronous orbit around Earth. The launch was managed by Starsem, an affiliate of Arianespace. Delayed from Dec. 8. Read our launch story. [Dec. 14]

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket (AV-015) launched a classified spacecraft payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The rocket flew in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from Sept. 6, Oct. 5, Oct. 25 and Nov. 7. See our Mission Status Center. [Dec. 10]

The United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket launched another Italian COSMO-SkyMed radar Earth-imaging satellite. The X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar payload on the spacecraft will be used for civil and military applications. The rocket flew in the 7420-10 vehicle configuration. ULA conducted this commercial launch for Boeing. Scrubbed Dec. 5 due to upper level winds. Delayed from Dec. 6 due to insulation problem. Scrubbed Dec. 7 due to bad weather. See our Mission Status Center. [Dec. 9]

A Russian government Proton rocket launched a secret military payload. [Dec. 9]

An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage launched the SIRIUS 4 communications spacecraft for operator SES SIRIUS. The Lockheed Martin-built satellite will serve the Nordic and Baltic markets as well as to enhance coverage in Eastern Europe and Russia. [Nov. 18]

Arianespace Flight 179 used an Ariane 5 rocket with an ECA cryogenic upper stage to launch the British Skynet 5B military communications satellite and the Brazilian STAR ONE C1 telecommunications spacecraft. Scrubbed on Nov. 9 and Nov. 12. Read our launch story. [Nov. 14]

The United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket launched the 23rd and final Defense Support Program missile-warning satellite. The largest of the Delta 4 family, the Heavy version features three Common Booster Cores mounted together to form a triple-body rocket. The vehicle delivered DSP 23 directly into geostationary orbit. Delayed from Oct. 28, 2005, Jan. 31, 2006 and Jan. 31, 2007. Delayed from April 1. Launch delayed to repair pad cracks. Delayed from Aug. 28, Oct. 4, Nov. 2 and Nov. 8. See our Mission Status Center. [Nov. 11]

A Russian Kosmos 3M rocket launched the SAR-Lupe 3 spacecraft into Earth orbit. The craft is the third in a series of five German radar reconnaissance satellites. Read our launch story. [Nov. 1]

A Russian government Proton rocket launched another trio of spacecraft for the Glonass satellite navigation constellation. Delayed from Oct. 25. Read our full story. [Oct. 26]

A Chinese Long March 3A rocket launched Chang’e 1, China’s first mission to the moon. The probe created three-dimensional maps of the moon and chart mineral deposits on the lunar surface, according to Chinese news reports. Read our full story. [Oct. 24]

STS-120 was the 23rd U.S. mission to the International Space Station. The flight delivered the Node 2, or Harmony, connecting module to the station to serve as the portal to the international partners’ laboratories. Delayed from Aug. 9. Moved up from Sept. 7. Delayed from Aug. 26. Mission switched from Atlantis to Discovery. Delayed from Oct. 20. See our Mission Status Center. [Oct. 23]

A Russian Soyuz rocket launched four more replacement spacecraft for the Globalstar mobile communications satellite constellation. The commercial launch was managed by Starsem. Delayed from May. Read our full story. [Oct. 21]

The United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket launched the fourth modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block 2R military navigation satellite. The launch was run by the U.S. Air Force. The rocket flew in the 7925 vehicle configuration. Delayed from September. See our Mission Status Center. [Oct. 17]

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket (AV-011) launched the first 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 flew in the 421 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, two solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from June 28, July 2, Aug. 11, Aug. 24, Aug. 31, Sept. 13 and Sept. 21. Scrubbed 24 hours. See our Mission Status Center. [Oct. 11]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the manned Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft to the International Space Station with members of the Expedition 16 crew and a Malaysian tourist. The capsule remained at the station for several months, providing an escape pod for the crew. Delayed from Sept. 1. Moved up from Oct. 6. Delayed from Oct. 2. Landing of the Expedition 15 crew and tourist was planned for Oct. 21. Read our launch story. [Oct. 10]

Arianespace Flight 178 used an Ariane 5 GS rocket with a storable propellant upper stage to launch the Intelsat 11 and Optus D2 communications satellites. Both craft were built by Orbital Sciences. Intelsat 11 will relay direct-to-home broadcasting and data networking services to Latin America. The Optus D2 satellite will be used for television and communications services to Australia. Delayed from late September and Oct. 2. Read our launch story. [Oct. 5]

The United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket launched NASA’s Dawn spacecraft that used an ion propulsion system to visit and orbit the asteroids Vesta and Ceres. The rocket flew in the 7925-Heavy vehicle configuration. Delayed from June 2006 for a program review that led to cancellation. Mission was restored after controversy. Delayed from June 20. Delayed from June 30 due to launch pad crane problem that postponed rocket assembly. Delayed from July 7 due to second stage fueling hold. Delayed from July 8 and July 9 due to downrange tracking assets. Delayed from July 15. Delayed from Sept. 26. See our Mission Status Center. [Sept. 27]

The Chinese Long March 4B rocket launched the third China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite, which will conduct remote sensing observations for both nations for at least two years. Read our launch story. [Sept. 19]

The United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket launched the WorldView 1 commercial Earth-imaging spacecraft into a Sun-synchronous orbit for the DigitalGlobe company. ULA conducted this commercial launch for Boeing. See our Mission Status Center. [Sept. 18]

A Russian Soyuz rocket launched the Foton M3 microgravity research capsule and the YES2 tether demonstration spacecraft. Read our launch story. [Sept. 14]

The Japanese H-2A rocket launched the Selonological and Engineering Explorer. SELENE was to orbit the moon. Delayed from July and Aug. 15. Delayed 24 hours due to bad weather. Read our launch story. [Sept. 14]

An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage failed during the launch of the Japanese JCSAT 11 communications spacecraft. The Lockheed Martin-built satellite was destroyed. The craft was supposed to serve Japan, the Asia-Pacific region and Hawaii for operator JSAT Corporation. Read our launch story. [Sept. 6]

India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) carried the country’s INSAT 4CR communications satellite into orbit. The spacecraft replaces the INSAT 4C satellite, which was lost in the GSLV launch failure of 2006. Delayed from Sept. 1 by weather. Read our launch story. [Sept. 2]

Arianespace Flight 177 used an Ariane 5 rocket with the ECA cryogenic upper stage to launch the American Spaceway 3 broadband communications satellite and the Japanese BSAT 3A direct-to-home TV spacecraft. Read our launch story. [Aug. 14]

STS-118 was the 22nd U.S. mission to the International Space Station. The flight delivered and attached the third starboard truss segment to the station — the Integrated Truss Structure S5. A Spacehab module riding in Endeavour’s payload bay ferried supplies and equipment to the outpost. Delayed from June 11 and 28. Moved up from Aug. 9. Delayed from Aug. 7. See our Mission Status Center.

The United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket launched NASA’s next lander to Mars. The Phoenix spacecraft used a robotic arm to examine samples of the soil at its landing spot on the arctic plains. The rocket flew in the 7925 vehicle configuration. See our Mission Status Center. Delayed from August 3. [Aug. 4]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the 26th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Moved up from August and September. Delayed from July 22. Docking is planned for 2:40 p.m. EDT on Aug. 5. [Aug. 2]

An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage launched the DirecTV 10 broadcasting spacecraft. The Boeing-built satellite will be used for DirecTV’s direct-to-home service, specifically aiding in the expansion of HDTV offerings. [July 7]

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket launched the Chinasat 6B satellite for China Satellite Communications Corp. Chinasat 6B will provide television broadcast services for up to 15 years. Read our launch story. [July 5]

A Russian Kosmos 3M rocket launched the SAR-Lupe 2 spacecraft into Earth orbit. The craft is the second in a series of five German radar reconnaissance satellites. Scrubbed July 1 due to upper level wind conditions. Read our launch story. [July 2]

A Kosmotras Dnepr rocket launched the second prototype inflatable space module, called Genesis 2, for Las Vegas-based Bigelow Aerospace. Delayed from late April and late May. Read our launch story. [June 28]

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket (AV-009) launched a classified spacecraft payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The rocket flew in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from May 3 and May 18. See our Mission Status Center. Scrubbed June 14 due to Range problem. [June 15]

An ISC Kosmotras Dnepr rocket launched the German TerraSAR-X radar Earth-imaging spacecraft into orbit. Delayed from Feb. 27. Read our launch story. [June 15]

STS-117 was the 21st U.S. mission to the International Space Station. The flight delivered and attached the next starboard truss segment to the station — the Integrated Truss Structure S3/S4 and associated set of power-generating solar arrays. Delayed from Oct. 2, 2003 in wake of Columbia tragedy. Delayed from Feb. 22. Moved up from March 16. Delayed from March 15 to repair hail damage to external tank. See our Mission coverage. [June 8]

The United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket launched the first Italian COSMO-SkyMed radar Earth-imaging satellite. The X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar payload on the spacecraft will be used for civil and military applications. The rocket flew in the 7420-10 vehicle configuration. ULA conducted this commercial launch for Boeing. See our Mission Status Center. [June 8]

A Russian Soyuz rocket launched four replacement spacecraft for the Globalstar mobile communications satellite constellation. The commercial launch was managed by Starsem, an affiliate of Arianespace. Delayed from late March. Read our launch story. [May 26]

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket launched the Nigcomsat 1 telecommunications spacecraft. The Nigerian communications satellite was designed to cover western Africa. Read our launch story [May 14]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the 25th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Docking was planned for May 15. [May 12]

Arianespace Flight 176 used an Ariane 5 rocket with the ECA cryogenic upper stage to launch the European ASTRA 1L direct-to-home television satellite for SES ASTRA and Intelsat’s Galaxy 17 telecommunications spacecraft to serve Latin America. Launch scrubbed May 3 due to high-altitude winds. See our Mission Status Center. [May 4]

The air-launched Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket carried NASA’s Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere (AIM) satellite into orbit to observe clouds at the edge of space. Delayed from Sept. 29 and March 29. See our Mission Status Center. [April 25]

The Orbital Sciences Minotaur rocket launched the Near Field Infrared Experiment (NFIRE) spacecraft for the Missile Defense Agency. The four-stage rocket used U.S. government-supplied Minuteman 2 motors and Pegasus rocket stages. Delayed from April 21. Scrubbed on April 23. Read our launch story. [April 24]

An Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket carried the AGILE spacecraft into orbit. AGILE is a gamma ray astrophysics observatory sponsored by the Italian Space Agency. Delayed from April 18. Read our launch story. [April 23]

An ISC Kosmotras Dnepr rocket launched into orbit a cluster of tiny CubeSats and other small international payloads. Delayed from Jan. 16 and March 27. Read our launch story. [April 17]

A Chinese Long March 3A rocket launched a Beidou satellite for the nation’s Compass space-based navigation system. Read our launch story. [April 13]

A Chinese Long March 2C rocket launched the Haiyang 1B spacecraft. It is China’s second oceanographic satellite. Read our launch story. [April 11]

An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage launched the Anik F3 communications spacecraft for Canada’s Telesat. The EADS Astrium-built satellite was designed to be used for telecommunications relay, broadcasting and Internet services across North America. See our Mission Status Center. [April 10]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the manned Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft to the International Space Station with members of the Expedition 15 crew. The capsule remained at the station for several months, providing an escape pod for the crew. Delayed from March 9. Then moved up from April 9. Read our launch story. [April 7]

The SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket performed a launch demonstration flight for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The mission failed to reach orbit. This marked the second launch of the Falcon 1 vehicle. Delayed from Jan. 21. Delayed from Jan. 22 to replace thrust vector control pitch actuator on the second stage. Delayed from late February due to Range availability. Delayed from March 9. Scrubbed on March 19. See our Mission Status Center. [March 21]

An Arianespace Ariane 5 ECA rocket launched the European Skynet 5A military communications satellite and the INSAT 4B telecommunications spacecraft for the Indian Space Research Organization. Delayed from late February. Delayed from March 9. Scrubbed on March 10. See our Mission Status Center. [March 11]

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket (AV-013) carried six satellites during a complex launch of the Air Force’s Space Test Program-1 mission. The payload list was led by the Orbital Express in-space refueling demonstration mission consisting of the Autonomous Space Transfer and Robotic Orbiter, or ASTRO, prototype servicing satellite and the NextSat serviceable spacecraft. Atlas deployed four auxiliary satellites from the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adapter, or ESPA ring, including MidSTAR 1, FalconSat 3, STPSat 1 and CFESat. The rocket flew in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from Oct. 12, Nov. 2, Dec. 7, Jan. 18. Delayed from Feb. 23 while Sea Launch failure investigation proceeds. The Atlas 5’s first stage engine shares commonality with Sea Launch Zenit engine. See our Mission Status Center. [March 9]

The Japanese H-2A rocket launched the country’s third Information Gathering Satellite radar reconnaissance spy spacecraft and the fourth optical imaging craft. Delayed from Feb. 15 due to bad weather. Scrubbed on Feb. 16 by weather. Delayed from Feb. 22 due to continued bad weather. See our launch story.[Feb. 21]

The United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket launched NASA’s Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) satellites. THEMIS consisted of five spacecraft with identical instruments to study the Earth’s magnetosphere. The rocket flew in the 7925 vehicle configuration. Delayed from Oct. 19, Nov. 27, Dec. 19 and Feb. 15. Scrubbed Feb. 16 due to upper level winds. See our Mission Status Center. [Feb. 17]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket exploded at liftoff on its mission to carry the New Skies Satellite 8 communications spacecraft into orbit. The Boeing-built craft would have flown in geostationary orbit to serve the Indian Ocean region. Delayed from Jan. 25, 26, 27 and 28 due to unfavorable sea conditions at the launch site. Scrubbed on Jan. 29 for technical issue. See our Mission Status Center. [Jan. 30]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the 24th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Delayed from Dec. 20 and Jan. 16. [Jan. 18]

An Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket launched the Indian CARTOSAT 2 remote sensing satellite into Sun-synchronous orbit. Other payloads on the rocket included the Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE), Indonesia’s Lapan Tubsat and Argentina’s Pehuensat 1 nano-sat. See our launch story. [Jan. 10]

A Russian Soyuz 2-1b rocket with a Fregat upper stage launched the European CoRoT space observatory. The French-led mission will look for rocky planets around other stars. CoRoT stands for Convection Rotation and planetary Transits. Delayed from Dec. 21. See our launch story. [Dec. 27]

A Russian government Proton rocket launched another trio of spacecraft for the Glonass satellite navigation constellation. See our launch story. [Dec. 25]

A Russian Kosmos 3M rocket launched the SAR-Lupe 1 spacecraft into Earth orbit. The craft will be first in a series of five German radar reconnaissance satellites. See our launch story. [Dec. 19]

The Japanese H-2A rocket launched the Engineering Test Satellite 8. The spacecraft tested technologies, including two large deployable antenna reflectors, to improve mobile communications. Dec. 16 launch attempt scrubbed due to unfavorable weather conditions. See our launch story. [Dec. 18]

The Orbital Sciences Minotaur rocket launched the Air Force Research Laboratory’s TacSat 2 advanced technology research spacecraft and NASA’s GeneSat 1 payload. The four-stage rocket used U.S. government-supplied Minuteman 2 motors and Pegasus rocket stages. Launch scrubbed Dec. 11 due to concern with TacSat 2 flight software. See our launch story. [Dec. 16]

The first United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket launched a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The rocket flew in the 7920 vehicle configuration. Delayed from Sept. 30, 2005. Delayed from Dec. 7. See our Mission Status Center. [Dec. 14]

An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage launched the third Malaysia-East Asia Satellite (MEASAT 3) communications spacecraft. The Boeing-built satellite will be used for communications, data relay and direct TV broadcasting across Africa, Middle East, Asia and Australia. See our Mission Status Center. [Dec. 12]

STS-116 was the twentieth U.S. mission to the International Space Station. The flight delivered and attached the third port truss segment to the station — the Integrated Truss Structure P5. A Spacehab module riding in Discovery’s payload bay ferried supplies and equipment to the outpost. Delayed from July 24, 2003, in wake of Columbia tragedy. Moved up from Dec. 14. Scrubbed at T-minus 5 minutes on Dec. 7 due to weather. See our mission coverage. [Dec. 10]

Arianespace used an Ariane 5 ECA rocket with a cryogenic upper stage to launch the WildBlue 1 broadband spacecraft and the AMERICOM 18 communications satellite. See our Mission Status Center. [Dec. 8]

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launched the third modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block 2R military navigation satellite. The launch was run by the U.S. Air Force. The rocket flew in the 7925 vehicle configuration. Delayed from Nov. 14 and 15 to replace suspect pitch actuator on second stage. Scrubbed Nov. 16 early in countdown before tower rollback due to weather. See our Mission Status Center. [Nov. 17]

An International Launch Services Proton M rocket with a Breeze M upper stage launched the BADR 4 communications spacecraft for the Arab Satellite Communications Organization. EADS Astrium built the spacecraft, previously known as ARABSAT 4B. See our launch coverage. [Oct. 12]

The Boeing Delta 4 Medium rocket launched the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program 17 spacecraft for the U.S. Air Force. Built by Lockheed Martin, this polar-orbiting weather satellite will be used by the military for global weather forecasting. Delayed from June and December 2005, February 2006 and Oct. 6. See our Mission Status Center. [Nov. 4]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket deployed the fourth broadcasting spacecraft for XM Satellite Radio. Built by Boeing, this craft will fly in geostationary orbit to provide radio programming to subscribers across the U.S. Countdown on Oct. 26 scrubbed. See our Mission Status Center. [Oct. 30]

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launched NASA’s Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory mission. STEREO consists of two nearly identical satellites launched aboard one rocket to provide 3-D measurements of the Sun for studying coronal mass ejections. The rocket flew in the 7925 configuration. Delayed from April 11, May 26, June 23, July 22 and July 30. Delayed from Aug. 1 due to spacecraft fuel leak. Delayed from Aug. 20 to perform leak check on rocket second stage. Delayed from Aug. 31, Sept. 18 and Oct. 18 for continued analysis of second stage concerns. See our launch coverage. [Oct. 26]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the 23rd Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Delayed from Oct. 18. See our launch story. [Oct. 23]

A Russian Soyuz/ST rocket with a Fregat upper stage launched the METOP-A polar-orbiting weather satellite for Europe’s EUMETSAT organization. The launch was managed by Starsem. Delayed from June 30. Scrubbed on July 17 due to an incorrect parameter during final calibration of the rocket’s inertial guidance system. Scrubbed again July 18 due to configuration problem with rocket after first scrub. Delayed again July 19 due to transmitter failure. Launch placed on hold for program review. Delayed from Oct. 7 for spacecraft checks after handling incident in processing facility. Countdown aborted on Oct. 17 by ground control problem. Scrubbed on Oct. 18 due to upper level wind conditions. See our launch story. [Oct. 19]

Arianespace used an Ariane 5 ECA rocket with a cryogenic upper stage to launch the American DirecTV 9S direct-to-home broadcasting spacecraft and the Australian Optus D1 communications satellite. The Japanese LDREX antenna technology demonstration mission also flew into space aboard the Ariane 5 as a secondary payload. Delayed from Sept. 19. Delayed from Oct. 12 for additional checks on the rocket. See our launch Cue Card and our Mission Status Center. [Oct. 13]

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launched the second modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block 2R military navigation satellite. The launch was run by the U.S. Air Force. The rocket flew in the 7925 vehicle configuration. Delayed from Sept. 14, 21 and 24. See our launch Cue Card and our Mission Status Center. [Sept. 25]

A Japanese M-5 rocket launched the Solar-B space observatory to study the interaction between the Sun’s magnetic field and its corona. See our launch story. [Sept. 22]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the manned Soyuz TMA-9 spacecraft to the International Space Station with the Expedition 14 crew. The capsule remained at the station for several months, providing an escape pod for the crew. Delayed from Sept. 14. See our launch story. [Sept. 18]

The Japanese H-2A rocket launched the country’s third Information Gathering Satellite optical reconnaissance spacecraft. A radar spy satellite originally planned as a co-passenger was removed from this launch and scheduled aboard its own H-2A rocket. The classified spacecraft followed the loss of the second pair of reconnaissance satellite in an earlier launch failure. Delayed from Sept. 10. See our launch story. [Sept. 11]

The Chinese Long March 2C rocket launched the country’s Shijian-8 recoverable science spacecraft loaded with at least 2,000 types of seed samples. The craft is designed to orbit for two weeks and then return to Earth. See our launch story. [Sept. 11]

STS-115 was the nineteenth U.S. mission to the International Space Station. The flight delivered and attached the next port truss segment to the station — the Integrated Truss Structure P3/P4 and associated set of power-generating solar arrays. Delayed from April 10, 2003, as ripple effect from shuttle fuel flow liner crack problem. Delayed from May 23, 2003, in wake of Columbia tragedy. Shuttle Endeavour, originally slated to fly STS-115, was removed from flight and entered an overhaul down period. Moved up to Aug. 27 from original date of Aug. 28. Then delayed 48 hours from Aug. 27 to complete testing after launch pad hit by lightning. Delayed from Aug. 29 to begin rollback preparations due to tropical storm Ernesto. Scrubbed Sept. 6 by fuel cell problem; Sept. 7 attempt skipped for continued analysis of fuel cell issue. Scrubbed Sept. 8 for failed engine cutoff sensor. See our mission coverage. [Sept. 9]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket launched the the Koreasat 5 dual commercial and military communications satellite. It will replace the aging Koreasat 2 spacecraft. See our launch Cue Card and our Mission Status Center. [Aug. 10]

Arianespace used an Ariane 5 ECA rocket with a cryogenic upper stage to launch the commerical Japanese JCSAT 10 communications spacecraft and the French Syracuse 3B military communications satellite. See our launch Cue Card and our Mission Status Center. [Aug. 11]

An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage launched Eutelsat’s Hot Bird 8 direct-to-home TV broadcasting satellite. Delayed from April 28. Delayed from May 17 by the Breeze M failure during launch of ARABSAT 4A. Delayed from July 7 and 21. See our Mission Status Center. [Aug. 5]

A Eurockot Rockot launched the KOMPSAT 2 Earth observation satellite for the Korea Aerospace Research Institute. Launch delayed in the wake of October 2005 Rockot failure that lost the CryoSat spacecraft. See our launch story. [July 28]

The ISC Kosmotras Dnepr rocket failed in its launch of 18 small spacecraft including BelKA, Baumanets, UniSat 4 and 14 CubeSat nanosatellites for a variety of international institutions. See our launch story. [July 26]

A Russian Molniya-M rocket deployed a military satellite believed to be an early warning spacecraft to alert Russian forces of foreign missile launches. See our launch story. [July 21]

A Kosmotras Dnepr rocket launched a prototype inflatable space module called Genesis 1 for Las Vegas-based Bigelow Aerospace. See our launch story. [July 12]

India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) carrying the country’s INSAT 4C communications satellite into orbit failed. The vehicle malfunctioned and crashed into the sea. See our launch story. [July 10]

The STS-121 mission was developed as part of NASA’s space shuttle return-to-flight plan to complete testing of new inspection and thermal protection system repair techniques before resuming International Space Station construction. STS-121 became the eighteenth U.S. flight to the space station. Delayed from Nov. 2004, May, July and Sept. 2005, and March 4, May 3 and 10. Scrubbed on July 1 and July 2 due to weather. See our mission coverage. [July 4]

Boeing Delta 4 Medium+ rocket launched a classified spy satellite cargo for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The rocket flew in a configuration with two strap-on solid rocket boosters. This was the first Delta 4 mission from the West Coast. Delayed from 2004, then March 1, Aug. 30 and late Sept. Delayed from Oct. 2 and 3. Delayed from Oct. 5 due to second stage fuel slosh modeling problem. Delayed from December by the strike and Range closure period. See our Mission Status Center. [June 28]

A Ukrainian-built Tsyklon 2 rocket launched the classified Kosmos 2421 spacecraft, which was believed to be a US-PU reconnaissance satellite to provide the Russian Navy with electronic intelligence data for military operations at sea. See our launch story. [June 24]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the 22nd Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Moved up twice, from June 30 and then June 28. [June 24]

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launched the Microsatellite Technology Experiment (MITEX) for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The experimental military mission featured two small satellites and a Navy-developed fourth stage headed for geosynchronous orbit. The launch was run by the U.S. Air Force. The vehicle flew in the 7925 configuration. Delayed from early 2006 by union strike. Delayed from June 19 to replace leaky valve in first stage fuel system. Delayed from June 20 due to problem during payload fairing installation. See our Mission Status Center. [June 21]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket carried the Galaxy 16 telecommunications satellite into orbit for PanAmSat. Built by Space Systems/Loral, the spacecraft will cover the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and Canada. Delayed from June 5, 12 and 17. See our launch story. [June 18]

A Russian Proton K rocket with a Block DM upper stage launched the KazSat communications satellite to serve the country of Kazakhstan. Delayed from Dec. 29 and June 8. See our launch story. [June 18]

A Russian Soyuz rocket launched the Russian Resurs DK-1 remote sensing spacecraft into orbit. See our launch story. [June 15]

Arianespace used an Ariane 5 ECA rocket with a cryogenic upper stage to launch the SATMEX 6 and the THAICOM 5 telecommunications spacecraft. Delayed from May 26. See our Mission Status Center. [May 27]

A Shtil rocket launched from a submarine in the Barents Sea to place the Kompass 2 spacecraft into orbit. Kompass 2 was a small Russian scientific satellite designed to aid in earthquake detection and the development of possible forecasting. Scrubbed from May 24. See our launch story. [May 26]

The Boeing Delta 4 rocket launched the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite N, or GOES N, for NASA and NOAA. The weather satellite orbits 22,300 miles above the planet to monitor conditions across the U.S. The GOES N spacecraft was the first in a new series of weather satellites built by Boeing. The rocket flew in the Medium+ (4,2) configuration with two solid rocket boosters. Delayed from Dec. 1, 2004, late Jan., March, April and May 4. Delayed from June 23 to replace first stage engine turbopump. Delayed from June 24 to check for problems after lightning strikes. Delayed from June 26 due to rocket battery issues. Delayed to replace rocket’s guidance computer. Delayed from July 28 for shuttle/range conflict. Delayed from July 29 due to spacecraft problem. Delayed from Aug. 12, 13 and 14. Scrubbed on Aug. 15 by pressurization system readings. Scrubbed on Aug. 15 by red alarm on second stage battery. Extended delay caused by need to replace flight termination system batteries and the spacecraft eclipse season. Delayed from Oct. 6. Pushed from 2005 due to technical issues and union strike. Delayed from NET May 3, 12, 18 and 20. See our Mission Status Center. [May 24]

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launched the NASA’s CloudSat and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) spacecraft. CloudSat uses radar to measure the vertical structure of clouds and cloud properties from orbit. CALIPSO is a joint mission with France to study the effects of clouds and aerosols on changes in the Earth’s climate. The rocket flew in the 7420 vehicle configuration and used a dual-payload structure to carry both satellites. Delayed from Jan. 29, April 15, May 26, June 17, July 15, Aug. 22, Sept. 29, Oct. 1 and 26, 2005. Delayed from Nov. 7 due to looming workforce strike. Delayed from December by the strike and Range closure period. Delayed from April 20. Scrubbed on April 21 due to loss of communications link between CALIPSO officials and France. April 22 attempt called off due to unavailable support aircraft. Same problem scrubbed April 23 countdown. Scrubbed on April 25 due to unacceptable upper level wind conditions. Scrubbed on April 26 due to bad weather. The April 27 attempt called off due to concerns with sensor on the second stage. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [April 27]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the 21st Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Delayed from April 10 and 16. See our launch story. [April 24]

The Lockheed Martin Atlas 5 rocket (AV-008) launched the ASTRA 1KR television broadcasting spacecraft for SES ASTRA of Luxembourg. The satellite joined a fleet of orbiting ASTRA craft transmitting programming to the leading direct-to-home satellite system in Europe. The rocket flew in the 411 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, one strap-on solid rocket booster and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. The satellite was moved from Ariane 5 to Proton, then to Atlas. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [April 20]

The Orbital Sciences Minotaur 1 rocket launched a cluster of six tiny satellites for the joint Taiwan-U.S. project called COSMIC to study the atmosphere. COSMIC is the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate. The four-stage rocket used U.S. government-supplied Minuteman 2 motors and Pegasus rocket stages. Dealyed from December and March 30. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [April 15]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket lofted the Japanese JCSAT 9 telecommunications satellite. The spacecraft was built by Lockheed Martin for JSAT. Delayed from April 11. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [April 12]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the manned Soyuz TMA-8 spacecraft to the International Space Station with the Expedition 13 crew. The capsule remained at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the crew. Delayed from March 22. See our launch story. [March 29]

The inaugural flight of the SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket failed in its launch the Air Force Academy’s cadet-built FalconSat-2 science spacecraft. The tiny satellite would have probed space plasma that can impact communications and GPS navigation accuracy. Delayed from Nov. 25 due to range scheduling conflict. Scrubbed on Nov. 26 by loss of liquid oxygen and helium and engine computer issue. Scrubbed on Dec. 19 by damage to first stage fuel tank. Pushed back from Feb. 8, 9 and 10 to complete testing. Delayed further to replace second stage tank and replenish liquid oxygen supplies at the remote launch site. Delayed from March 23 to complete data review after engine firing test. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [March 24]

The air-launched Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket carried three small microsatellites into orbit for NASA’s Space Technology 5 mission. ST5 tested new technologies and help scientists probe the environment of the Earth’s magnetosphere. Delayed from Feb. 28 to review spacecraft separation system test results. Delayed from March 6 due to conflict with Deep Space Network and its support of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Delayed from March 11 due to Range availability. Delayed from March 14 due to dismal weather forecast. Scrubbed on March 15 because of problem retracting first stage starboard fin aerosurface locking pin. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [March 22]

Arianespace used an Ariane 5 ECA rocket with a cryogenic upper stage to launch Eutelsat’s Hot Bird 7A direct-to-home TV broadcasting satellite and the SPAINSAT communications spacecraft for the Spanish Ministry of Defense. Launch attempt on Feb. 21 scrubbed by a ground equipment problem. Scrubbed on Feb. 24 by telemetry relay concern with Hot Bird. Then delayed further to replace faulty purge line connector. Scrubbed on March 9 due to low pressure reading on upper stage. See our Mission Status Center. [March 11]

An International Launch Services Proton M rocket with a Breeze M upper stage failed to launch the first of two new-generation ARABSAT 4 communications spacecraft for the Arab Satellite Communications Organization. EADS Astrium built the ARABSAT 4A spacecraft. Delayed from Jan. 30 and Feb. 21. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [Feb. 28]

The Japanese M-5 rocket launched the ASTRO-F infrared space observatory to study the formation and evolution of galaxies. Delayed from Feb. 18. Launch attempt on Feb. 20 scrubbed due to rain. See our launch story. [Feb. 21]

The Japanese H-2A rocket launched the Multi-functional Transport Satellite 2 for air traffic control and weather observations. This spacecraft is a follow-on to MTSAT 1R launched in February 2005. Delayed from late 2005. Pushed back from Feb. 15 due to delays launching the H-2A/ALOS mission in January from the same pad. See our launch story. [Feb. 18]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket launched the EchoStar 10 direct-to-home television broadcast satellite to serve subscribers of DISH Network across the U.S. The spacecraft was built by Lockheed Martin for EchoStar. Scrubbed on Feb. 8 by undisclosed ground system problem. Attempt planned for Feb. 12 called off the day before because of ocean currents unfavorable to positioning the launch platform and control ship. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [Feb. 15]

The Japanese H-2A rocket launched the Advanced Land Observation Satellite environmental research mission. Delayed from Jan. 19 to repair problem with telemetry transmitter on the rocket and unfavorable weather conditions. Delayed from Jan. 23 due to problem with ground monitoring system for satellite fairing air-conditioning temperature. See our launch story. [Jan. 24]

The Lockheed Martin Atlas 5 rocket (AV-010) launched NASA’s Pluto New Horizons spacecraft to visit our solar system’s most distant planet. The rocket flew in the 551 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, five strap-on solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. In addition, the spacecraft featured a solid-fueled kick motor serving as a third stage. Launch time moved 12 hours later than originally announced. Delayed from Jan. 11 to perform precautionary inspections of Atlas 5 first stage fuel tank. Launch scrubbed Jan. 17 due to high winds. Scrubbed on Jan. 18 by power outage of spacecraft’s mission operations center. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [Jan. 19]

A commercial International Launch Services Proton M rocket with a Breeze M upper stage launched the AMERICOM 23 communications spacecraft for SES AMERICOM. The Alcatel Alenia Space-built satellite was designed to serve local, transcontinental and transoceanic customers throughout the Pacific Region, including North America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and the islands of the South Pacific. This craft was known as WORLDSAT 3. Delayed from December 1. Delayed from December 5 after pre-launch testing indicated anomalous behavior of the flight control unit on the Breeze M upper stage. See our launch story. [Dec. 29]

A Russian Soyuz rocket launched the first Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element, or GIOVE A satellite. This was the first demonstration satellite for Europe’s Galileo navigation system. Delayed from December. 26 due to ground station issue. See our launch story. [Dec. 28]

A Russian government Proton K rocket launched a trio of spacecraft for the Glonass satellite navigation constellation. See our launch story. [Dec. 25]

The Arianespace used an Ariane 5GS rocket to launch the European MSG 2 weather observatory and the Indian Insat 4A communications satellite. Delayed from mid-November. See our Mission Status Center. [Dec. 21]

A Russian government Kosmos 3M rocket launched Kosmos rocket launched a modernized Gonets civil security communications satellite and a defense ministry craft known as Rodnik. See our launch story. [Dec. 25]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the twentieth Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. See our launch story. [Dec. 21]

The Arianespace Ariane 5 ECA rocket launched the Spaceway 2 communications satellite for The DIRECTV Group and the Indonesian Telkom 2 communications satellite. The Boeing-built Spaceway 2 spacecraft was designed to use its Ka-Band payload to expand and enhance DIRECTV’s direct-to-home television service and provide broadband services across the United States. The Orbital Sciences-built Telkom 2 carried 24 C-band transponders to transmit telecommunications services to Indonesia. Delayed from June 24 due to Telkom problem. Delayed from late Oct., Nov. 9 and Nov. 10. Scrubbed countdown on Nov. 12 due to mobile launch platform problems that forced rollback to hangar for repairs. See our Mission Status Center. [Nov. 16]

A Russian Soyuz-Fregat rocket launched the Venus Express probe for the European Space Agency. The craft orbited Venus to study the planet’s atmosphere and create global maps of surface temperatures. Delayed from Oct. 26 due to contamination detected inside the rocket’s nose cone. See our launch story. [Nov. 9]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket launched the Inmarsat 4-F2 mobile communications satellite to provide broadband services to South America, most of North America, the Atlantic Ocean and part of the Pacific Ocean. This was the second of the Inmarsat 4-series of spacecraft built by Astrium. Delayed from Sept. and Oct. Delayed from Nov. 4 due to rough seas encountered during transit to launch site. Scrubbed on Nov. 5. Attempt on Nov. 7 passed up. See our launch story. [Nov. 8]

A Kosmos 3M rocket launched the China DMC+4 observation satellite, the TopSat imaging satellite for the British government, the Student Space Education and Technology Initiative (SSETI) Express satellite, three small CubeSats and a group of Russian and Iranian research craft. Delayed from Sept. 27 and 30. See our launch story. [Oct. 27]

The Air Force Titan 4B, known as B-26, launched a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. This was the last Titan 4 flight, ending the program that began launches in 1989. Launch delayed from 2003, Feb. 2004, June 30, July 10 and Sept. 9. See our Mission Status Center. [Oct. 19]

Arianespace used an Ariane 5GS rocket to launch the French military Syracuse 3A communications satellite and PanAmSat’s commercial Galaxy 15 broadcast spacecraft to relay cable television across the U.S. Delayed from Sept. 29 to replace rocket’s equipment bay module. See our Mission Status Center. [Oct. 13]

A Chinese Long March rocket launched the country’s second manned spaceflight. The Shenzhou spacecraft capsule made its sixth flight after a series of unmanned test missions and the historic first manned launch in 2003. Moved up 24 hours. See our launch story. [Oct. 12]

A Eurockot Rockot tried to launch the European Space Agency’s CryoSat scientific research spacecraft. However, the vehicle malfunctioned and crashed into the Arctic Ocean near the North Pole. The CryoSat radar altimetry mission would have examined variations in the thickness of the Earth’s continental ice sheets and marine ice cover. Delayed from November, March 25, June, July, Sept. 15 and late Sept. See our launch story. [Oct. 8]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the manned Soyuz TMA-7 spacecraft to the International Space Station with Expedition 12. The capsule remained at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the crew. Delayed from Sept. 27. See our Mission Status Center. [Oct. 1]

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launched the first modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block 2R military navigation satellite. The launch was run by the U.S. Air Force. The rocket flew in the 7925 vehicle configuration. Delayed from December. Delayed from Feb. 1 and March 17. Moved up from May 20 to May 4. Then delayed from May 4 by spacecraft issues. Delayed from July 29, Aug. 26 and Sept. 22. See our Mission Status Center. [Sept. 26]

The Orbital/Suborbital Program Space Launch Vehicle, nicknamed Minotaur 1, launched the STP-R1 experimental satellite into space for DARPA. The four-stage rocket used U.S. government-supplied Minuteman 2 motors and Pegasus rocket stages. Delayed from July. See our Mission Status Center. [Sept. 23]

An ILS Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage launched the Anik F1R communications spacecraft for the Canadian operator Telesat. The EADS Astrium-built satellite was designed to be used for telecommunications, TV broadcasting and internet services across Canada and North America. Delayed from Aug. 9 to return spacecraft from Baikonur to factory for additional tests. See our Mission Status Center. [Sept. 8]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the nineteenth Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Delayed from Aug. 24. See our launch story. [Sept. 8]

A Rockot booster launched the first Russian Monitor E environmental research satellite into Earth orbit. Delayed from June 30. See our launch story. [Aug. 26]

The ISC Kosmotras Dnepr rocket launched the Optical Inter-orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite (OICETS) and the INnovative technology Demonstration Experiment (INDEX) piggyback spacecraft for the Japanese space program. See our launch story. [Aug. 23]

A commercial Russian Soyuz rocket launched the Galaxy 14 telecommunications satellite for PanAmSat. Built by Orbital Sciences, this C-band spacecraft was built to provide television, Internet and other services across the U.S. Delayed from March, April, June, mid-July, Aug. 1 and Aug. 6. Aborted on Aug. 12 by liquid oxygen valve problem. See our launch story. [Aug. 13]

The Lockheed Martin Atlas 5 rocket (AV-007) launched NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The spacecraft circles the Red Planet and snap super-sharp images of the surface. The rocket flew in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no strap-on solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from Aug. 10 to check rate gryo units in rocket control system. Scrubbed on Aug. 12 due to liquid hydrogen fueling issue. See our Mission Status Center. [Aug. 12]

The Arianespace Ariane 5G rocket launched the iPSTAR 1 broadband communications spacecraft for Shin Satellite of Thailand. The Space Systems/Loral-built satellite was designed to use its Ka- and Ku-band payload to provide direct-to-desktop multi-media and data services to customers in Asia, India, and Australia. Delayed from July 7. Delayed from July 11 by rocket upper stage replacement. our Mission Status Center. [Aug. 11]

The first post-Columbia space shuttle mission was STS-114 — the seventeenth U.S. flight to the International Space Station. Discovery delivered supplies and equipment to station using the Italian “Raffaello” Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. The crew tested new orbiter inspection procedures and thermal protection system repair techniques. Three spacewalks were conducted, including one to replace the station’s failed Control Moment Gyroscope. Delayed from Sept. 12, 2004 and March 2005. Moved from May 14 to permit better external tank separation lighting conditions. Delayed from May 15 and 22. Scrubbed on July 13 due to engine cutoff fuel sensor problem. See our Mission Status Center. [July 26]

The Japanese M-5 rocket launched the ASTRO-E2 X-ray observatory to study the structure and evolution of black holes and galaxy clusters. This satellite replaced the ASTRO-E probe lost in a February 2000 launch failure. The mission was a joint project between Japan and the U.S. Delayed from June 26 for third stage nozzle issue. Delayed 48 hours from July 6 due to bad weather. Another 48-hour delay weather and spacecraft servicing. See our launch story. [July 10]

A Russian government Proton K rocket with a Block DM upper stage launched the domestic Express AM-3 communications satellite. It was built to provide television, telephony, videoconferencing, data transmission and the Internet access services. Delayed from June 23. See our launch story. [June 24]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket carried the Intelsat Americas 8 communications satellite into orbit. Built by Space Systems/Loral, the tri-band spacecraft was designed to provide C-band, Ku-band and Ka-band for expanded coverage of North and South America. Originally was Loral Skynet’s Telstar 8 satellite, but acquired and renamed by Intelsat. Delayed from 2002, 2003 and third quarter. Launch delayed from December due to IA-7 failure investigation. See our Mission Status Center. [June 23]

A Volna converted ballistic missile launched from a Russian Navy submarine in the Barents Sea above the Arctic Circle to carry the Cosmos 1 solar sail experiment into Earth orbit for The Planetary Society. But the spacecraft went missing during ascent. See our launch story. [June 21]

A Molniya M rocket lifted off with a Molniya 3K communications satellite payload for the Russian Defence Ministry. But the third stage malfunctioned about six minutes into flight. The vehicle failed to reach orbit, crashing back to Earth. Russian media reports indicated the impact site was in Siberia. See our launch story. [June 21]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the eighteenth Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Delayed from June 10. See our launch story. [June 16]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the Foton-M2 satellite loaded with experiments to be conducted in the microgravity environment of space. See our launch story. [May 31]

An ILS Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage launched the DIRECTV 8 direct-to-home television broadcasting spacecraft. The Loral-built satellite was designed to be used to provide services across the U.S. for DIRECTV subscribers. Delayed from May 21 due to technical problem with the rocket. See our Mission Status Center.[May 21]

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launched the NOAA-N civilian weather satellite into polar orbit for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The rocket flew in the 7320 vehicle configuration. Delayed from June 30, February, March 10 and March 19. Scrubbed for 24 hours twice due to high winds. Then delayed 24 hours for pad electrical problem. Then delayed to inspect spacecraft for possible contamination. See our Mission Status Center. [May 20]

An Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket lofted the CARTOSAT 1 into Sun-synchronous orbit. This was the eleventh satellite in the Indian Remote Sensing satellite series. Also aboard the PSLV rocket was an amateur radio microsatellite called HAMSAT. See our launch story. [May 5]

The Lockheed Martin Titan 4B, known as B-30, launched a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The launch was run by the U.S. Air Force. Launch delayed from Dec. 18, 2001 and July 3, 2002. It was then transferred from the original launch site of Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, to Cape Canaveral. Delayed from October 2004. Delayed from Feb. 20 due to payload issue. Delayed from April 6. Delayed from April 10 and 11 due to problems with ground equipment used in oxidizer loading. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [April 29]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket lofted the Spaceway 1 communications satellite for The DIRECTV Group. The spacecraft’s Ka-Band payload was designed to expand and enhance DIRECTV’s direct-to-home television service and to provide satellite broadband services across the United States. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [April 26]

An Orbital Sciences air-launched Pegasus XL rocket carried NASA’s Demonstration for Autonomous Rendezvous Technology spacecraft into orbit. The DART craft was designed to perform its autonomous operations to locate and rendezvous with the existing MUBLCOM communications test satellite. Delayed from April 15, Oct. 18 and Oct. 19. Attempt on Oct. 26 scrubbed due to GPS problem on MUBLCOM. Delayed from Oct. 28 due to contamination found in rocket’s nose cone. Delayed from Nov. 4 by Range scheduling conflicts. Delayed from Nov. 9 for launch loads analysis. Delayed from March 2. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [April 15]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the manned Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft to the International Space Station. The capsule remained at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the crew. See our Mission Status Center coverage.

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket launched the Apstar 6 telecommunications satellite to cover the Asia-Pacific region. See our launch story. [April 12]

The Orbital/Suborbital Program Space Launch Vehicle, nicknamed Minotaur 1, carried the Experimental Satellite System-11 (XSS-11) microsatellite into orbit for the Air Force Research Laboratory. The craft was built by Lockheed Martin. The four-stage rocket used U.S. government-supplied Minuteman 2 motors and Pegasus rocket stages. Delayed from March 6 and March 18. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [April 11]

A Russian government Proton K rocket with a Block DM upper stage launched the domestic Express AM-2 communications satellite. It was designed to provide television, telephony, videoconferencing, data transmission and the Internet access services. Moved up from March 31. See our launch story. [March 30]

The Lockheed Martin Atlas 5 rocket (AV-004) launched the Inmarsat 4 F-1 next-generation mobile communications satellite. Built by Astrium, the spacecraft was designed to be used for Inmarsat’s Broadband Global Area Network. The rocket flew in the 431 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, three strap-on solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Pushed back from Oct. and late Feb. Scrubbed on March 10. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [March 11]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket launched the third broadcasting spacecraft for XM Satellite Radio. Built by Boeing, this craft flies in geostationary orbit to provide radio programming to subscribers across the U.S. Delayed from Feb. 17 and 18 by sea conditions. Delayed from Feb. 23 due to rocket problem. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [March 1]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the seventeenth Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Docking to the station was to occur March 2. See our launch story. [Feb. 28]

The Japanese H-2A rocket launched the Multi-functional Transport Satellite 1R. Built by Space Systems/Loral, the MTSAT 1R spacecraft was built for Japan’s Ministry of Transport for air traffic control and weather observation. It replaced the MTSAT 1 that was lost during a failed launch of an H-2 rocket in 1999. Delayed from mid-2003 to early 2004. Then put on hold in wake of H-2A launch failure. Delayed from Feb. 24 due to weather. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [Feb. 27]

The Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket with the new ECA cryogenic upper stage flew a demonstration test flight. The rocket carried the XTAR-EUR X-band military communications satellite for Loral and Hisdesat and a satellite simulator mass. Delayed from summer, late-October, Nov. 3, Nov. 8 and Jan. targets. Delayed 24 hours due to ground equipment problem. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [Feb. 12]

An ILS Proton M rocket with a Breeze M upper stage launched the AMC 12 telecommunications spacecraft. The Alcatel-built satellite was designed to cover North America, the Caribbean, South America, Europe and Africa. Originally named AMC 12 for SES Global, then changed to WORLDSAT 2, then changed back to AMC 12. Delayed from 2003 and the First and Second Quarters of 2004. Delayed from Dec. 9. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [Feb. 3]

Lockheed Martin’s Atlas rocket, AC-206, launched a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. This was the final flight for Atlas 3 and last Atlas use of Complex 36. Delayed from Sept. 15, Jan. 13 and Jan. 27. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [Feb. 3]

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launched NASA’s Deep Impact spacecraft to Comet Tempel 1. The mission used an impactor to blast the comet. The mothership studied the impact and provided the first view inside a comet. The rocket flew in the 7925 vehicle configuration. Delayed from Dec. 30 to give more time for launch preparations. Delayed from Jan. 8 to replace interstage components on the rocket. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [Jan. 12]

A Russian government Proton K rocket launched a trio of spacecraft for the Glonass satellite navigation constellation. [Dec. 26]

A Tsiklon 3 rocket launched the Russian-Ukrainian Sich 1M remote sensing satellite and a Ukrainian microsatellite. A problem with the third stage failed to deliver the craft into the desired circular orbit. [Dec. 24]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the sixteenth Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Delayed from Nov. 24 and Dec. 22. See our launch story. [Dec. 23]

The first Boeing Delta 4 Heavy rocket launched on a demonstration mission for the U.S. Air Force. The largest of the Delta 4 family, the Heavy version features three Common Booster Cores mounted together to form a triple-body. This launch carried only a dummy payload as its primary cargo in an effort to demonstrate that the rocket works before it blasts off on future flights with critical and expensive satellites for the U.S. government. Delayed from Sept. 23 and December 2003, July 3 and Sept. 10, 2004. Delayed from Oct. 20 and Nov. 18. Delayed from Dec. 10 due to weather. Scrubbed on Dec. 11 by countdown sequencer problem. Scrubbed on Dec. 12 by environmental control system problem. See our Mission Status Center. [Dec. 21]

The Arianespace Ariane 5G rocket launched the French Helios 2A military reconnaissance satellite into polar orbit. The payload also included the French Parasol science spacecraft and a cluster of small military micro-satellites. Delayed from Dec. 10 to replace suspect part on the rocket. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [Dec. 18]

The Lockheed Martin Atlas 5 rocket (AV-005) launched the AMC 16 communications satellite for SES AMERICOM. Built by Lockheed Martin, AMC-16 was designed to provide television, broadband and other services across the U.S. The rocket flew in the 521 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, two strap-on solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from Dec. 6 due to hurricanes. Delayed from Dec. 16 to replace part in flight termination system. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [Dec. 17]

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launched NASA’s Swift gamma-ray burst research spacecraft. The satellite was built to focus on studying the recently-discovered afterglow from such bursts. The rocket flew in the 7320 vehicle configuration. Delayed from Dec. 5 and 29, Jan. 14, April 29, July 15, Sept. 1, Oct. 7, Oct. 26, Nov. 2, Nov. 8 and Nov. 11. Delayed from Nov. 17 by Range safety system problem. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [Nov. 20]

A Russian Soyuz 2 rocket made its first launch, carrying out a demonstration flight of the upgraded vehicle. Read our launch story. [Nov. 8]

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launched the next NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block 2R military navigation satellite. The launch was run by the U.S. Air Force. The rocket flew in the 7925 vehicle configuration. Delayed from Sept. 22 in the wake of Hurricane Frances. Delayed from Oct. 8 due to Hurricane Jeanne. Delayed from Oct. 25 due to technical concerns with the rocket. Delayed from Oct. 30 to replace third stage batteries. Scrubbed on Nov. 5. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [Nov. 6]

A Russian government Proton K rocket with a Block DM upper stage launched the domestic Express AM-1 communications satellite. It was designed to provide digital television, telephony, videoconferencing, data transmission and the Internet access services. Delayed from June. [Oct. 29]

An ILS Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage launched the AMC 15 telecommunications spacecraft for operator SES AMERICOM. The Lockheed Martin-built satellite was designed to provide video, Internet and broadband services across the U.S. including Alaska and Hawaii. Pushed back from late August and Sept. 14. Delayed from Sept. 23 for additional testing of an avionics subsystem onboard the upper stage. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [Oct. 15]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the manned Soyuz TMA-5 spacecraft to the International Space Station carrying the Expedition 10 resident crew. The capsule remained at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the crew. Delayed from Oct. 9 due to explosive bolt problem on the spacecraft. Delayed from Oct. 11 due to further technical concerns with the Soyuz. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [Oct. 14]

India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle carried the EDUSAT educational services satellite into orbit. This marked the GSLV rocket’s first operational mission following two earlier demonstration flights. See our launch story. [Sept. 20]

Lockheed Martin’s Atlas rocket, AC-167, launched a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. This was the final Atlas 2AS rocket and the last planned Atlas launch from pad 36A. Delayed from June 24. Delayed from June 30/July 1 for check of Remote Control Unit. Delayed from July 27 to Aug. 31 replace transistors in Remote Control Unit. Moved up from Aug. 31 because repair work was going faster than anticipated. Scrubbed 24 hours from Aug. 27 to conduct tests of rocket batteries. Scrubbed 24 hours from Aug. 28 due to liquid oxygen shortage. Scrubbed 24 hours from Aug. 29 due to weather. Scrubbed 24 hours from Aug. 30 due to weather. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [Aug. 31]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the fifteenth Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Delayed from July 28. See our launch coverage. [Aug. 11]

An ILS Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage launched the Amazonas communications spacecraft for operator HISPASAT. The Astrium-built Amazonas satellite was designed to cover Brazil and the rest of America, Europe and Northern Africa. Delayed from July 25. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [Aug. 4]

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launched NASA’s MESSENGER space probe to orbit the planet Mercury. MESSENGER is the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging mission. The rocket flew in the Delta 2-Heavy vehicle configuration using the larger strap-on solid rocket booters. Delayed from March 10 and May 11. Delayed from July 30 as ripple effect from earlier delays launching GPS 2R-12 satellite from same pad. Scrubbed August 2 due to bad weather. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [Aug. 3]

The Chinese Long March 2C rocket launched the second of two Double Star satellites to study Earth’s magnetosphere. The Double Star Program was a joint effort between the European Space Agency and the Chinese National Space Administration. One Double Star spacecraft was placed into an equatorial orbit while the other went into polar orbit. Delayed from June and July 20. Moved up from July 26. See launch story. [July 25]

The Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket launched the Anik F2 communications satellite for Telesat Canada. Built by Boeing Satellite Systems, this Boeing 702 model spacecraft was designed to provide telecommunications and Ka-band multimedia services across North America. Delayed from the spring. Delayed from July 9. Scrubbed on night of July 12/13 due to problem with rocket. Scrubbed on night of July 15/16 due to bad weather. Scrubbed on night of July 16/17 due to ground equipment problem. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [July 17]

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launched NASA’s Aura spacecraft for the Earth Observing System. The satellite carries a suite of instruments to study atmospheric chemistry. The rocket flew in the 7920 configuration. Delayed from Jan. 29, Feb. 6, March 19, June 17, June 19, June 26 and July 8. Delayed from July 10 for records check. Delayed from July 11 due to ordnance separation connector on rocket’s nose cone. Scrubbed on July 13 due to concerns with satellite’s solid-state recorder. Scrubbed on July 14 due to second stage battery low power reading. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [July 15]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket launched the Telstar 18 communications satellite. Built by Space Systems/Loral, the spacecraft was designed to provide services across the Asia-Pacific region for the Loral and APT Satellite firms. Delayed from April. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [June 29]

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launched the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System 2R-12 military navigation satellite. The launch was run by the U.S. Air Force. The rocket flew in the 7925 vehicle configuration. Moved up from July 20 to accommodate the MESSENGER launch in late-July. Delayed from June 4 (local time) to replace first stage hydraulic pump. Delayed from June 11 to complete review of wiring harness issue. Delayed from June 13, 14, 16 and 18. Scrubbed on June 19, 20 and 21 by weather. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [June 23]

An ILS Proton M rocket with a Breeze M upper stage launched the Intelsat 10-02 telecommunications spacecraft. The Astrium-built satellite was designed to cover portions of the Americas, Europe, Africa and western Asia. Delayed from 2003. Scrubbed on June 15 to complete spacecraft battery charging. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [June 15]

The Ukrainian Zenit 2 rocket launched a classified Kosmos satellite payload into orbit for the Russian military. The craft was thought to be an electronic reconnaissance satellite. Launch delayed from mid-February, March 17, March 31, April 25 and April 26. [June 10]

A Tsiklon 2 booster launched a classified satellite, named Kosmos 2407, for the Russian military. The spacecraft was believed to be an electronic intelligence satellite for the Russian Navy. [May 28]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the 14th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Delayed from Jan. 30 as ripple effect from earlier Progress launch slip. Delayed from May 19. See our launch coverage. [May 25]

The Orbital Sciences Taurus XL rocket launched the ROCSAT 2 remote sensing satellite for Republic of China’s National Space Program Office. It marked the Taurus vehicle’s return to flight following a failure in September 2001, and the inaugural mission of the more powerful XL version. Delayed from Nov. 25. Delayed from Jan. 17 to fix electrical issue with the launch vehicle. Delayed from Feb. 26, late March, April 9, April 22 and May 17. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [May 20]

Lockheed Martin’s Atlas rocket, AC-166, launched the AMC 11 communications satellite for SES AMERICOM. The Lockheed Martin-built C-band spacecraft was designed to relay cable television programming across the United States. It will replace the aging Satcom C3 satellite. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [May 19]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket launched the DIRECTV 7S direct-to-home TV broadcasting satellite. Built by Space Systems/Loral, the spacecraft was designed to provide entertainment programming and local channel service to DIRECTV subscribers across the United States. Originally slated to fly aboard an Ariane 5 rocket, DIRECTV 7S was switched to Sea Launch due to scheduling conflicts. Delayed from 1st Quarter due to Estrela do Sul solar array deployment problem. Delayed from May 2. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [May 4]

A Russian government Proton K rocket with a Block DM upper stage launched the domestic Express AM-11 communications satellite. It was designed to provide digital television, telephony, videoconferencing, data transmission and the Internet access services. Delayed from April 10. See our launch story. [April 27]

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket launched NASA’s Gravity Probe-B to measure how space and time are warped by the presence of the Earth, and how the Earth’s rotation drags space-time around with it. The spacecraft tested the predictions of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. The rocket flew in the 7920 configuration. Delayed from Oct. 30 due to spacecraft readiness. Delayed from April 24, July 20, Sept. 18, Nov. 6. Delayed from Nov. 14 due to solid rocket booster nozzle delamination issue. Delayed from Dec. 6 to fix issue associated with spacecraft electronics box. Delayed from April 17. Scrubbed on April 19 due to upper level wind issues. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [April 20]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the manned Soyuz TMA-4 spacecraft to the International Space Station with the Expedition 9 crew. The capsule remained at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the resident crew. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [April 19]

A Chinese Long March 2C rocket launched the experimental Shiyan 1 and Naxing 1 satellites into polar orbit. [April 18]

Lockheed Martin’s Atlas rocket, AC-163, launched the Japanese Superbird 6 communications satellite. The spacecraft was built by Boeing Satellite Systems for Space Communications Corporation. Superbird 6 features Ku- and Ka-band transponders. Delayed from 2003. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [April 16]

A Russian Proton K rocket launched a classified satellite for the military. The spacecraft has been named Kosmos 2406. [March 27]

Boeing Delta 2 launched the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System 2R-11 military navigation satellite. The launch was run by the U.S. Air Force. The rocket flew in the 7925 vehicle configuration. Delayed from Dec. 19 and March 8. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [March 20]

An ILS Proton M rocket with a Breeze M upper stage launched the W3A telecommunications spacecraft for operator Eutelsat. The Astrium-built satellite was designed to provide pan-European and pan-African coverage. Delayed from 2003. See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [March 15]

Lockheed Martin’s Atlas rocket, AC-202, launched the MBSAT satellite for Japan’s Mobile Broadcasting Corporation. Built by Space Systems/Loral, the mobile communications spacecraft was designed to serve Japan and South Korea. Delayed from late 2003 and Feb. 27. Delayed 24 hours from March 12 at the request of satellite builder for “administrative purposes.” See our Mission Status Center launch coverage. [March 13]

Arianespace Ariane 5G+ rocket launched the European Space Agency’s Rosetta spacecraft on a mission to rendezvous with Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko for detailed observations. Delayed from Jan. 12, 2003 in wake of Ariane 5 launch failure. The delay forced the mission to be replanned from the original target of Comet 46P/Wirtanen. Scrubbed on Feb. 26 due to unfavorable high-altitude winds. Scrubbed on Feb. 27 due to detached insulating foam on rocket’s main stage. See our launch coverage. [March 2]

A Molniya M rocket launched a classified satellite payload into orbit for the Russian military. The launch was part of a Russian nationwide military exercise. See our launch story. [Feb. 16]

The Lockheed Martin Titan 4B, known as B-39, launched the 22nd Defense Support Program missile-warning satellite with the Boeing Inertial Upper Stage-10. The launch was run by the U.S. Air Force. Delayed from Nov. 4 and Jan. 17 as ripple effect from delays of Titan 4 B-36. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [Feb. 14]

Lockheed Martin’s Atlas rocket, AC-165, launched the AMC 10 communications satellite for SES AMERICOM. The Lockheed Martin-built C-band spacecraft was designed to relay cable television programming across the United States. It replaced the aging Satcom C4 satellite. See our Mission Status Center coverage. [Feb. 5]

A Russian government Soyuz rocket launched the 13th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Delayed from Nov. 20. Read our launch story. [Jan. 29]

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket successfully launched the Telstar 14/Estrela do Sul 1 communications satellite. Built by Space Systems/Loral, the spacecraft was designed to provide Ku-band coverage to Brazil, North and South America and the North Atlantic Ocean Region. It was built for video broadcasting, cable programming, data relay and Internet-to-aircraft services. Originally slated to fly aboard the third Delta 4 rocket mission, Estrela do Sul 1 was switched to Sea Launch. Delayed 24 hours due to weather during the transit from Home Port to the launch site. See our coverage here. [Jan. 11]