Previous Spaceflight Launches
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Long March 3B | Fengyun-4A
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaXichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Dec. 10, 2016, 4:11 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Fengyun-4A (also known as FY-4A) is the first unit of the improved meteorological satellites series. Besides its main meteorological mission, it is also capable of solar observations for better space weather monitoring capabilites. The satellite is expected to operate for 5 years.
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
H-IIB 304 | Kounotori 6 (HTV-6)
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | JapanTanegashima Space Center, Japan
Dec. 9, 2016, 1:26 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
This is the sixth flight of an uncrewed cargo spacecraft to International Space Station. It will bring the replacement for the batteries used on the Station to store electricity generated by solar panels, as well as 600 liters of potable water.
Low Earth Orbit
Delta IV M+(5,4) | WGS-8 (USA-272)
United Launch Alliance | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Dec. 7, 2016, 11:53 p.m.
PSLV XL | Resourcesat-2A
Indian Space Research Organization | IndiaSatish Dhawan Space Centre, India
Dec. 7, 2016, 4:54 a.m.
Vega | Göktürk-1A
Avio S.p.A | ItalyGuiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Dec. 5, 2016, 1:51 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Göktürk-1A is a high resolution earth observation satellite (greater than 50 cm) designed and developed for the Turkish Ministry of National Defence by the Italian space service company Telespazio. The Göktürk-1A satellite has a dry weight of about 1,000 kg and a design life of seven years. Its observation payload includes a high resolution optical instrument and an onboard X-band digital imaging system to handle data compression, storage and downloading.
Sun-Synchronous Orbit
SpaceShipTwo | VSS Unity GF01
Virgin Galactic | United States of AmericaAir launch to Suborbital flight
Dec. 3, 2016, noon
Soyuz-U | Progress MS-04 (65P)
Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) | RussiaBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Dec. 1, 2016, 2:51 p.m.
SpaceShipTwo | VSS Unity CC04
Virgin Galactic | United States of AmericaAir launch to Suborbital flight
Nov. 30, 2016, noon
Long March 3C | Tianlian 1-04
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ChinaXichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Nov. 22, 2016, 3:24 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
Tianlian 1 is a Chinese data tracking and relay communications satellite series. Tianlian 1-04 is the fourth satellite in the constellation. It provides communication coverage for the crewed Shenzhou missions, from Shenzhou 7 onwards. Functionally, it is similar to the United States Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRS).
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Atlas V 541 | GOES-R
United Launch Alliance | United States of AmericaCape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Nov. 19, 2016, 11:42 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:
The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R Series (GOES-R) is the next generation of geostationary weather satellites. The four satellites of the series will provide advanced imaging with increased spatial resolution and faster coverage for more accurate forecasts, real-time mapping of lightning activity, and improved monitoring of solar activity. GOES-R is the first satellite of the series, and it will provide continuous imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth’s Western Hemisphere and space weather monitoring. It will be the primary tool for the detection and tracking of hurricanes and severe weather.
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
