A regularly updated listing of planned orbital 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.
See our Launch Log for a listing of completed space missions since 2004.
Latest changes:
Feb. 11: PSLV/EMISat delayed; Falcon 9/PSN 6 & Beresheet delayed; Soyuz/OneWeb Pilot delayed; Adding Electron/R3D2; Falcon 9/Crew Dragon Demo-1 delayed; Falcon 9/SpaceX CRS 17 delayed; Atlas 5/CST-100 Starliner Orbital Flight Test delayed; Adding time for Antares/NG-11; Adding Soyuz/Glonass M; Long March 5/Shijian 20 delayed; Soyuz/Progress 73P delayed; Falcon 9/Crew Dragon Demo-2 delayed; H-2B/HTV 8 delayed; Soyuz 59S moved forward; Antares/NG-12 delayed; Falcon 9/SpaceX CRS 19 delayed; Soyuz/Progress 74P delayed
Jan. 28: Adding window for Ariane 5/Hellas-Sat 4/SaudiGeoSat 1 & GSAT 31; Soyuz/EgyptSat-A delayed; Adding date and time for Falcon 9/PSN 6 & SpaceIL Lunar Lander; Falcon 9/Crew Dragon Demo 1 delayed; Soyuz 58S delayed; Adding date and time for Delta 4/WGS 10; Soyuz/Meteor M2-2 delayed; Adding time for Soyuz/Progress 72P; Adding Soyuz/Arktika-M 1; Soyuz 59S moved forward; Soyuz 60S moved forward; Soyuz 61S moved forward
Jan. 16: Epsilon/RAPIS 1 delayed; Adding date and time for Delta 4-Heavy/NROL-71; Adding PSLV/Microsat-R & Kalamsat; PSLV/EMISat delayed; Adding Safir/Dousti; Updating time for Ariane 5/Hellas-Sat 4/SaudiGeoSat 1 & GSAT 31; Adding date and approximate time for Falcon 9/Crew Dragon Demo 1; Falcon 9/PSN 6 & SpaceIL Lunar Lander delayed; GSLV Mk.2/Chandrayaan 2 delayed; Updating time for Soyuz/OneWeb Pilot; Falcon 9/Radarsat Constellation Mission delayed; Adding timeframe for Delta 4/WGS 10; Adding date for Falcon 9/SpaceX CRS 17; Proton/Spektr-RG delayed; Adding Proton/Blagovest No. 14L; Adding Proton/Yamal 601; Minotaur 1/NROL-111 delayed; Falcon 9/SpaceX CRS 18 delayed; Adding date for Atlas 5/AEHF 5; Adding date for Soyuz 59S; Adding timeframe for Delta 4/GPS 3 SV02; Adding Soyuz 60S; Adding Soyuz 61S; Adding Soyuz/Progress 74P; Adding Atlas 5/AFSPC-7/OTV-6
Jan. 9: Adding Long March 3B/Chinasat 2D; Adding time for Falcon 9/Iridium Next 66-75; Adding Long March 11/Jilin 1; Ariane 5/Hellas-Sat 4/SaudiGeoSat 1 & GSAT 31 delayed; Adding date and time for Soyuz/OneWeb Pilot; Adding time for Soyuz 58S; Adding date and time for Vega/PRISMA; Adding timeframe for Falcon Heavy/Arabsat 6A; Adding Soyuz/O3b F5; Soyuz/Progress 72P delayed; Adding timeframe for Falcon Heavy/STP-2; Adding Proton/Spektr-RG; Delta 4/GPS 3 SV02 delayed; Adding Vega/Falcon Eye 1; Adding Proton/Eutelsat 5 West B & MEV 1; Adding Vega/SSMS POC
Jan. 7: Falcon 9/Iridium Next 66-75 delayed; Falcon 9/Crew Dragon Demo 1 delayed; Delta 4/WGS 10 delayed
Feb. 21Soyuz • EgyptSat-A
Launch time: 1647 GMT (11:47 a.m. EST)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the EgyptSat-A Earth observation satellite. EgyptSat-A was built by RSC Energia for Egypt’s National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences. Delayed from Nov. 22, Dec. 27 and Feb. 7. [Jan. 28]
Feb. 21/22Falcon 9 • PSN 6 & Beresheet
Launch time: 0145 GMT on 22nd (8:45 p.m. EST on 21st)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the PSN 6 communications satellite and SpaceIL’s Lunar Lander, named Beresheet. Built by SSL and owned by Indonesia’s PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara, PSN 6 will provide voice and data communications, broadband Internet, and video distribution throughout the Indonesian archipelago. A privately-funded lunar lander developed by Israel’s SpaceIL will ride piggyback on this launch, along with the Air Force Research Laboratory’s S5 payload, under a rideshare arrangement to geostationary transfer orbit and geostationary orbit provided by Spaceflight. Delayed from January, Feb. 13 and Feb. 18. [Feb. 11]
Feb. 22Soyuz • OneWeb Pilot
Launch time: Approx. 2137 GMT (4:37 p.m. EST)
Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana
Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana
An Arianespace Soyuz rocket, designated VS21, will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will carry the first 10 satellites into orbit for OneWeb, which is developing a constellation of hundreds of satellites in low Earth orbit for low-latency broadband communications. The Soyuz 2-1b (Soyuz ST-B) rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. Delayed from late 2018 and Feb. 19. [Feb. 11]
Late FebruaryElectron • R3D2
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
Launch site: Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launched on its fifth flight from a facility on the Mahia Peninsula on New Zealand’s North Island. The Electron rocket and its Curie upper stage will place the Radio Frequency Risk Reduction Deployment Demonstration spacecraft into orbit for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, a research and development agency in the U.S. Defense Department. The R3D2 satellite will demonstrate the performance of a prototype reflect array antenna for use in small spacecraft. [Feb. 11]
NET March 2Falcon 9 • Crew Dragon Demo 1
Launch time: 0748 (2:48 a.m. EST)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Crew Dragon spacecraft on an uncrewed test flight to the International Space Station under the auspices of NASA’s commercial crew program. Delayed from December 2016, May 2017, July 2017, August 2017, November 2017, February 2018, April 2018, August 2018, November 2018 and December 2018. Delayed from Jan. 7, Jan. 17, Feb. 9, Feb. 16 and Feb. 23. [Feb. 11]
First QuarterPegasus XL • ICON
Launch window: 0800-0930 GMT (3:00-4:30 a.m. EST)
Launch site: L-1011, Skid Strip, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Launch site: L-1011, Skid Strip, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
An air-launched Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket will deploy NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) satellite into orbit. ICON will study the ionosphere, a region of Earth’s upper atmosphere where terrestrial weather meets space weather. Disturbances in the ionosphere triggered by solar storms or weather activity in the lower atmosphere can cause disturbances in GPS navigation and radio transmissions. The mission’s staging point was changed from Kwajalein Atoll to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in mid-2018. Delayed from June 15, Nov. 14, and Dec. 8, 2017. Delayed from June 14, Sept. 24, Oct. 6, Oct. 26 and Nov. 3. Scrubbed on Nov. 7. [Dec. 19]
MarchPSLV • EMISat
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), designated PSLV-C45, will launch the EMISat satellite, reportedly an electronic intelligence-gathering spacecraft for the Indian government. Multiple secondary payloads from international customers will ride piggyback on this mission. Delayed from February. [Feb. 11]
MarchFalcon Heavy • Arabsat 6A
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch the Arabsat 6A communications satellite for Arabsat of Saudi Arabia. Arabsat 6A will provide Ku-band and Ka-band communications coverage over the Middle East and North Africa regions, as well as a footprint in South Africa. Delayed from first half of 2018 and late 2018. [Jan. 9]
March 8/9Vega • PRISMA
Launch time: 0150:35 GMT on 9th (8:50:35 p.m. EST on 8th)
Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana
Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana
An Arianespace Vega rocket, designated VV14, will launch with the PRISMA satellite for the Italian space agency — ASI. PRISMA is an Earth observation satellite fitted with an innovative electro-optical instrument, combining a hyperspectral sensor with a medium-resolution panchromatic camera. The mission will support environmental monitoring and security applications. Delayed from November and December 2018. [Jan. 9]
March 13Delta 4 • WGS 10
Launch time: 2258 GMT (6:58 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket will launch the 10th 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 Nov. 1, Dec. 13, Jan. 23 and Jan. 25. [Jan. 28]
March 14Soyuz • ISS 58S
Launch time: 1914 GMT (3:14 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the crewed 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 residents. Moved forward from April 5. [Jan. 28]
NET March 25GSLV Mk.3 • Chandrayaan 2
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk. 3 (GSLV Mk.3) will launch the Chandrayaan 2 mission, India’s second mission to the moon. Chandrayaan 2 will consist of an orbiter, the Vikram lander and rover launched together into a high Earth orbit. The orbiter is designed to use on-board propulsion to reach the moon, then release the lander and rover. Chandrayaan 2 was originally slated to launch on a GSLV Mk.2 vehicle, but Indian officials decided to switch to a larger GSLV Mk.3 vehicle in 2018. Delayed from March, April and October 2018. Delayed from Jan. 3, Jan. 30 and February. [Jan. 16]
March 26Soyuz • O3b F5
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana
Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana
An Arianespace Soyuz rocket, designated VS22, will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will carry the fifth set of four satellites for O3b Networks, which provides broadband service to developing countries. The Soyuz 2-1b (Soyuz ST-B) rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. [Jan. 9]
NET MarchFalcon 9 • Radarsat Constellation Mission
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Radarsat Constellation Mission for the Canadian Space Agency and MDA. Consisting of three radar Earth observation spacecraft launching on a single rocket, the Radarsat Constellation Mission is the next in a series of Canadian Radarsat satellites supporting all-weather maritime surveillance, disaster management and ecosystem monitoring for the Canadian government and international users. Delayed from November and Feb. 18. [Jan. 16]
AprilFalcon Heavy • STP-2
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch the U.S. Air Force’s Space Test Program-2 mission with a cluster of military and scientific research satellites. The heavy-lift rocket is formed of three Falcon 9 rocket cores strapped together with 27 Merlin 1D engines firing at liftoff. Delayed from October 2016, March 2017 and September 2017. Delayed from April 30, June 13, Oct. 30 and Nov. 30. [Jan. 9]
April 4Soyuz • Progress 72P
Launch time: 1101 GMT (7:01 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 72nd Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Delayed from Feb. 7, Feb. 8 and March 28. [Jan. 28]
AprilProton • Blagovest No. 14L
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Proton rocket and Breeze M upper stage will launch the Blagovest No. 14L communications satellite to cover Russian territory and provide high-speed Internet, television and radio broadcast, and voice and video conferencing services for Russian domestic and military users. [Jan. 16]
AprilAtlas 5 • CST-100 Starliner Orbital Flight Test
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-080, will launch Boeing’s first CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on an unpiloted Orbital Test Flight to the International Space Station. The capsule will dock with the space station, then return to Earth to landing in the Western United States after an orbital shakedown cruise ahead of a two-person Crew Test Flight. The rocket will fly in a vehicle configuration with two solid rocket boosters and a dual-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from Aug. 27, 2018. Delayed from January and April. [Feb. 11]
Spring 2019LauncherOne • Inaugural Flight
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Cosmic Girl (Boeing 747), Mojave Air and Space Port, California
Launch site: Cosmic Girl (Boeing 747), Mojave Air and Space Port, California
A Virgin Orbit LauncherOne rocket will made its first orbital test flight after dropping from a modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. [Dec. 13]
2nd QuarterVega • Falcon Eye 1
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana
Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana
An Arianespace Vega rocket, designated VV15, will launch with the Falcon Eye 1 high-resolution Earth-imaging satellite for the United Arab Emirates. Built by Airbus Defense and Space with an optical imaging payload from Thales Alenia Space, Falcon Eye 1 is the first of two surveillance satellites ordered by the UAE’s military. [Jan. 9]
2nd QuarterProton • Yamal 601
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Proton rocket and Breeze M upper stage will launch the Yamal 601 communications satellite for Gazprom Space Systems. Built by ISS Reshetnev with a communications payload from Thales Alenia Space, Yamal 601 will provide video, data and broadband services across Russia, Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. [Jan. 16]
April 17Antares • NG-11
Launch time: 2046 GMT (4:46 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: Pad 0A, Wallops Island, Virginia
Launch site: Pad 0A, Wallops Island, Virginia
A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket will launch the 12th Cygnus cargo freighter on the 11th operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station. The mission is known as NG-11. The rocket will fly in the Antares 230 configuration, with two RD-181 first stage engines and a Castor 30XL second stage. [Feb. 11]
April 25Falcon 9 • SpaceX CRS 17
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida
Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 19th Dragon spacecraft mission on its 17th operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station. The flight is being conducted under the Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. Delayed from Nov. 16, Feb. 1, Feb. 17 and March 16. [Feb. 11]
2nd QuarterFalcon 9 • Amos 17
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida
Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Amos 17 communications satellite. Built by Boeing and owned by Spacecom Ltd. of Israel, Amos 17 will provide high-throughput broadband connectivity and other communications services over Africa, the Middle East and Europe. [Dec. 13]
MayProton • Eutelsat 5 West B & MEV 1
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
An International Launch Services Proton rocket and Breeze M upper stage will launch the Eutelsat 5 West B communications satellite and the first Mission Extension Vehicle for Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems. Both spacecraft are built by Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, formerly known as Orbital ATK. Eutelsat 5 West B will join Eutelsat’s communications fleet in geostationary orbit, replacing the Eutelsat 5 West A spacecraft providing digital and television services primarily in the French, Italian and Algerian markets. The MEV 1 spacecraft is the first in a series of satellite servicing vehicles for SpaceLogistics, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems. MEV 1 will dock with the Intelsat 901 communications satellite and provide propulsion and attitude control functions to extend the spacecraft’s mission. [Jan. 9]
MaySoyuz • Glonass M
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia
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. [Feb. 11]
JuneProton • Spektr-RG
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Proton rocket and Block DM upper stage will launch the Spektr-RG X-ray observatory. Spektr-RG is a joint project between Roscosmos and DLR, the Russian and German space agencies. The mission will conduct an all-sky X-ray survey, observing galaxies and large-scale galactic clusters to help astronomers examine the role of dark energy and dark matter in the evolution of the universe. Delayed from April. [Jan. 16]
June 27Atlas 5 • AEHF 5
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the fifth 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 551 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, five solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Moved forward from July. [Jan. 16]
JuneSoyuz • Meteor M2-2
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia
Launch site: Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch with the Russian Meteor M2-2 polar-orbiting weather satellite, and multiple commercial small satellites on a rideshare flight arranged by GK Launch Services. Delayed from Dec. 6 and March. [Jan. 28]
JuneSoyuz • Arktika-M 1
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch with the Russian Arktika-M 1 remote sensing and communications satellite. The Arktika-M 1 satellite will provide weather monitoring and communications services over the Arctic region from a highly elliptical orbit. [Jan. 28]
Mid-2019Vega • SSMS POC
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana
Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana
An Arianespace Vega rocket will launch on the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) Proof of Concept mission with multiple microsatellites, nanosatellites and CubeSats for commercial and institutional customers. This rideshare launch is the first flight of a multi-payload dispenser funded by the European Space Agency to allow the Vega rocket to deliver numerous small satellites to orbit on a single mission. [Jan. 9]
JulyLong March 5 • Shijian 20
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Wenchang, China
Launch site: Wenchang, China
A Chinese Long March 5 rocket will launch the Shijian 20 communications satellite. Shijian 20 is the first spacecraft based on the new DFH-5 communications satellite platform, a heavier, higher-power next-generation design, replacing the Shijian 18 satellite lost on a launch failure in 2017. Delayed from November 2018. Delayed from January. [Feb. 11]
July 5Soyuz • ISS 59S
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the crewed Soyuz MS-13 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 residents. [Feb. 11]
July 8Falcon 9 • SpaceX CRS 18
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida
Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 20th Dragon spacecraft mission on its 18th operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station. The flight is being conducted under the Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. Delayed from May 7. [Jan. 16]
JulyDelta 4 • GPS 3 SV02
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket will launch the U.S. Air Force’s second third-generation navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System. The satellite is built by Lockheed Martin. The Air Force previously planned to launch the third GPS 3-series satellite on this mission. The rocket will fly in the Medium+ (4,2) configuration with two solid rocket boosters. Delayed from Nov. 1, Dec. 13 and April 4. [Jan. 16]
JulyFalcon 9 • Crew Dragon Demo 2
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Crew Dragon spacecraft on its first test flight with astronauts on-board to the International Space Station under the auspices of NASA’s commercial crew program. NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken will fly on the Demo-2 mission. The Crew Dragon will return to a splashdown at sea. Delayed from June. [Jan. 16]
July 31Soyuz • Progress 73P
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 73rd Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Delayed from June 5. [Feb. 11]
Aug. 22Soyuz • ISS 60S
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the Soyuz MS-14 spacecraft to the International Space Station on a test flight without a crew on-board. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz-2.1a configuration, and will demonstrate the compatibility of the Soyuz spacecraft with the newer Soyuz-2 rocket variant before approving the launcher for future crewed missions. [Jan. 16]
AugustAtlas 5 • CST-100 Starliner Crew Flight Test
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-082, will launch Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on its first mission with astronauts, known as the Crew Test Flight, to the International Space Station. The capsule will dock with the space station, then return to Earth to landing in the Western United States. Boeing astronaut Chris Ferguson and NASA astronauts Eric Boe and Nicole Mann will fly on the Crew Flight Test. The rocket will fly in a vehicle configuration with two solid rocket boosters and a dual-engine Centaur upper stage. [Dec. 13]
SeptemberH-2B • HTV 8
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
A Japanese H-2B rocket will launch the eighth H-2 Transfer Vehicle. The HTV serves as an automated cargo vehicle to deliver equipment and supplies to the International Space Station. Delayed from July. [Feb. 11]
Sept. 25Soyuz • ISS 61S
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the crewed Soyuz MS-15 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 residents. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz-2.1a configuration, the first use of the Soyuz-2 variant on a crewed launch. [Jan. 28]
OctoberFalcon 9 • GPS 3 SV03
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida
Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the U.S. Air Force’s third third-generation navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System. The satellite is built by Lockheed Martin. The Air Force previously planned to launch the second GPS 3-series satellite on this mission. [Sept. 6]
NET Oct. 15Soyuz • CSG 1 & CHEOPS
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana
Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana
An Arianespace Soyuz rocket, designated VS23, will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will carry the first COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation, or CSG 1, radar surveillance satellite for ASI, the Italian space agency. The European Space Agency’s Characterizing Exoplanet Satellite, or CHEOPS, will fly as a secondary payload on the mission. Built by Airbus Defense and Space in Spain with a Swiss-developed science instrument, CHEOPS will observe transits of planets around other stars to measure their radii. The Soyuz 2-1b (Soyuz ST-B) rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. Delayed from Dec. 14, 2017, and early 2019. [Dec. 7]
Oct. 19Antares • NG-12
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Pad 0A, Wallops Island, Virginia
Launch site: Pad 0A, Wallops Island, Virginia
A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket will launch the 13th Cygnus cargo freighter on the 12th operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station. The mission is known as NG-12. The rocket will fly in the Antares 230 configuration, with two RD-181 first stage engines and a Castor 30XL second stage. Delayed from Oct. 1. [Feb. 11]
4th QuarterFalcon 9 • SAOCOM 1B
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the SAOCOM 1B satellite for CONAE, Argentina’s space agency. SAOCOM 1B is the second of two SAOCOM 1-series Earth observation satellites designed to provide radar imagery to help emergency responders and monitor the environment, including the collection of soil moisture measurements. [Dec. 13]
Late 2019Minotaur 1 • NROL-111
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Pad 0B, Wallops Island, Virginia
Launch site: Pad 0B, Wallops Island, Virginia
A U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman Minotaur 1 rocket will launch a classified spy satellite cargo for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. Delayed from December 2018 and 2nd Quarter 2019. [Jan. 16]
Late 2019Long March 5 • Chang’e 5
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Wenchang, China
Launch site: Wenchang, China
A Chinese Long March 5 rocket will launch the Chang’e 5 mission to return samples from the moon. It is the first lunar sample return mission attempted since 1976. Delayed from November. [Sept. 26]
Dec. 4Falcon 9 • SpaceX CRS 19
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida
Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 21st Dragon spacecraft mission on its 19th operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station. The flight is being conducted under the Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. Delayed from Oct. 15. [Feb. 11]
NET DecemberAtlas 5 • AFSPC 7/OTV-6
Launch period: TBD
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the AFSPC 7 mission for the U.S. Air Force. The mission’s primary payload is the X-37B, a spaceplane also called the Orbital Test Vehicle, on the program’s sixth mission. The rocket will fly in the 501 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. [Jan. 16]
Dec. 20Soyuz • Progress 74P
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 74th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. [Feb. 11]