Previous Spaceflight Launches
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Long March 11 | Xiaoxiang-1, XPNAV-1 & 3 others.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaJiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Nov. 9, 2016, 11:42 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
XPNAV-1 (X-Ray Pulsar Navigation) is the first ever satellite to test the technology of spacecraft navigation by using signals from X-ray pulsars. It is launched along with the Xiaoxiang 1 cubsat and several other small satellites.
Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Long March 5 / YZ-2 | Shijian 17
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaWenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
Nov. 3, 2016, 12:43 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
This will be the maiden flight of the Long March 5, which is China's next-generation heavy-lift space launch system, comparable in performance to the European Ariane 5 and the U.S. Delta IV Heavy. The rocket is powered by RP-1 and Hydrogen, and will be able to place 25 tonnes into low earth orbit. It is carrying Shijian-17, an experimental satellite, reportedly tasked with testing ion propulsion systems for future space station keeping uses.
Geostationary Orbit
SpaceShipTwo | VSS Unity CC03
Virgin Galactic | United States of AmericaAir launch to Suborbital flight
Nov. 3, 2016, noon
H-IIA 202 | Himawari-9
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | JapanTanegashima Space Center, Japan
Nov. 2, 2016, 6:20 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Himawari-9 is a geostationary weather satellite operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency. It will be placed at 140 degrees East and will replace Himawari-8 in 2022. The satellite is about 3,500 kilograms and has a design life of around 15 years with operational life lasting 8 years.The main instrument aboard is a 16 channel multispectral imager to capture visible light and infrared images of the Asian-Pacific region.
Geostationary Transfer OrbitSpaceShipTwo | VSS Unity CC02
Virgin Galactic | United States of AmericaAir launch to Suborbital flight
Nov. 1, 2016, noon
Soyuz-FG | Soyuz MS-02
Progress Rocket Space Center | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Oct. 19, 2016, 8:05 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Soyuz MS-02 begins expedition 49 by carrying Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov, Andrei Borisenko and NASA astronaut Robert Kimbrough to the International Space Station. After launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, they will rendezvous to the station where they will remain for their 5 month stay.
Low Earth Orbit
Antares 230 | Cygnus CRS OA-5 (S.S. Alan Poindexter)
Northrop Grumman Space Systems | United States of AmericaWallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
Oct. 17, 2016, 11:45 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
This is the seventh flight of the Orbital ATK's unmanned resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its sixth flight to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. Orbital ATK named the vehicle after astronaut Alan Poindexter who was the commander of STS-131.
Low Earth Orbit
Long March 2F/G | Shenzhou-11
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaJiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Oct. 16, 2016, 11:30 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
This is the sixth crewed mission for China's Shenzhou program. Shenzhou-11 will carry two taikonauts, Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong, to the Tiangong-2 space station launched earlier in the year. The taikonauts will stay in Tiangong-2 for 30 days.
Low Earth Orbit
Ariane 5 ECA | Sky Muster II (NBN-Co 1B) & GSAT-18
ArianeGroup | FranceGuiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Oct. 5, 2016, 8:30 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
NBN-Co 1B, nicknamed Sky Muster II, is a high-throughput communications satellite tasked with providing high-speed broadband service to rural and remote areas of Australia. Launched along with it is the Indian geostationary communications satellite GSAT-18.
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
New Shepard | NS-6
Blue Origin | United States of AmericaCorn Ranch, Van Horn, TX, USA
Oct. 5, 2016, 4:36 p.m.
