Events

For missions in 2010 click here


In January 2011, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin promised to allocate 115 billion rubles from the federal budget for national space projects during that year. A total of about 50 spacecraft would be delivered to orbit (during 2011), Putin said at the meeting of a committee on the 50th anniversary of Gagarin's mission. (451) In the meantime, the head of Roskosmos, Anatoly Perminov, promised 48 space launches during 2011. He also promised agreements on space cooperation with Israel, Vietnam, Nigeria, Belarus, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. On the military side, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the purchase during 2011 of 36 strategic ballistic missiles (apparently including Bulava and Topol-M ICBMs), 20 aircraft-carried cruise missiles and the a total of 21 air-defense missile systems S-300V4, Buk-M2 and Tor-M. (462)

The Year of Space, as the Russian government hailed the coming of 2011, ended up to be the most disastrous 12 months for the Russian space industry in the post-Soviet era. A total of four missions which left their launch pads during 2011 either never made it into space (Progress M-12M, Meridian No. 5) or ended up in wrong orbits (Geo-IK-2, Ekspress-AM4). To top it off, Russia's loudly advertised return to planetary exploration after a 15-year hiatus ended in a high-profile fiasco, when the Phobos-Grunt spacecraft got stranded in low Earth orbit almost immediately after its launch on November 9. However all these failures coincided with an extremely hectic launch rate, almost matching that of two other leading space nations -- US and China -- combined! Despite setbacks, Russia has succeeded in bolstering or reviving space capabilities that the nation had lacked for many years, including the launch of a major astrophysics observatory -- Spektr-R; the return to geostationary orbit with a weather satellite Elektro-L; the re-introduction of a data-relay network with Luch-5A and the beginning of flight testing of an upgraded navigation satellite -- GLONASS-K. Last but not least, the Soyuz rocket received a brand-new launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana, which increased the capabilities of the veteran launch vehicle family in delivering commercial payloads into space.

The 2011 space launch score card (as of May 6, 2024 ):

 
Country
LV
LV
LV
LV
LV
LV
LV
LV
Total
Failed
1
Russia:
Zenit-2/3SLBF: 5 (1**)
Soyuz-U/FG: 10 (1*)
Rockot: 1 (1*)
Proton: 9 (1*)
   
35
5
2
China:
Chang Zheng-3A: 4
Chang Zheng-3B/E: 5
Chang Zheng-2F: 2
Chang Zheng-2C: 3
Chang Zheng-3C: 1
Chang Zheng-2D: 1
Chang Zheng-4B: 3
19
1
3
US:
Delta-4 Heavy: 1
Minotaur-1: 2
Minotaur-4: 1
Space Shuttle: 3
Taurus XL: 1 (1*)
Atlas-5: 5
Delta-4: 2
Delta-2: 3
18
1
4
Europe:
Ariane 5 ES: 1
Ariane 5 ECA: 4
5
0
5
India:
PSLV: 3
3
0
6
Japan:
H-IIB: 1
H-IIA: 2
3
0
7
Iran:
Safir: 1
1
0
 
World:
84
7

*failed launch; **payload failed to leave Earth orbit after a successful operation of the launch vehicle


 

The world's orbital launch attempts in 2011 (as of May 6, 2024 ):

 
Country
Launch date
Time of launch
Payload
Type
Launch vehicle
Launch site
Launch complex
Launch pad
Status
1 Russia
1/20/2011
15:29 Moscow Time

Elektro-L No. 1

Weather forecasting
-
Success
2 US
1/20/2011
1:10 p.m. PST

NROL-49

Military
Delta-4 Heavy
Vandenberg
SLC-6
-
Success
3 Japan
1/22/2011
2:37:57 p.m. Japan Standard Time

HTV2 Kountori2

Cargo transport for ISS
H-IIB
Tanegashima
-
-
Success
4 Russia
1/28/2011
04:31 Moscow Time
Cargo transport for ISS
1
5
Success
5 Russia
2/1/2011
17:00:14 Moscow Decree Time
Military/geodesy
3
Failure
6 US
2/6/2011
4:26 a.m. local
NROL-66 (Rapid Pathfinder Program)
Military
Minotaur-1
Vandenberg
SLC-8
8
Success
7 Europe
2/16/2011
6:50 p.m. local
Cargo transport for ISS
Ariane 5 ES
3
Success
8 US
2/24/2011
4:50:20 p.m. local
Discovery
Manned
Space Shuttle
Cape Canaveral
39
-
Success
9 Russia
2/26/2011
06:07 Moscow Time
Kosmos-2471 (GLONASS-K1 (No. 11))
Navigation
43
4
Success
10 US
3/4/2011
2:09:43 a.m. PST
Glory
Remote-sensing
Taurus XL
Vandenberg
SLC-576E
E
Failure
11 US
3/5/2011
5:46 p.m. EST
X-37B
Military
Atlas 5 (AV-026)
Cape Canaveral
SLC-41
-
Success
12 US
3/11/2011
6:38 p.m. EST
NROL-27
Military
Delta-4
Cape Canaveral
SLC-37B
B
Success
13 Russia
4/5/2011
02:18:20 Moscow Summer Time
Manned transport
1
5
Success
14 China
4/10/2011
04:47 local

BeiDou-8 (COMPASS)

Navigation
Chang Zheng-3A
Xichang
LC-3
-
Success
15 US
4/14/2011
09:24 p.m. local

NROL-34

Military
Atlas-5-411
Vandenberg
SLC-3E
E
Success
16 India
4/20/2011
04:42 GMT

Resourcesat 2

Remote-sensing
PSLV-C16
Sriharikota
-
-
Success
17 Europe
4/22/2011
21:37 GMT

Yahsat 1A
Intelsat New Dawn**

Communications
Ariane 5 ECA
-
Success
18 Russia
4/27/2011
17:05:21 Moscow Time
Cargo transport for ISS
1
5
Success
19 Russia
5/4/2011
21:41 Moscow Time
Military, communications
43
4
Success
20 US
5/7/2011
2:10 p.m. EDT

SBIRS GEO-1

Military, early warning
Atlas-5 (AV-022)
Cape Canaveral
SLC-41
41
Success
21 US
5/16/2011
8:56 a.m. local
Endeavour
Manned
Space Shuttle
Cape Canaveral
39
A
Success
22 Russia
5/20/2011
23:15 Moscow Summer Time
Communications
39
Success
23 Europe
5/20/2011
5:38 p.m. local time
ST-2
GSAT-8
Communications
Ariane-5 ECA
3
Success
24 Russia
5/8/2011
00:12:45 Moscow Summer Time
Manned transport
1
5
Success
25 US
6/10/2011
10:20 a.m. EDT

SAC-D

Remote sensing
Delta-2 7320
Vandenberg
SLC-2
2
Success
26 Iran
6/15/2011
~09:30 UTC

Rasad-1

Remote sensing
Safir
Semnan
-
-
Success
27 China
6/20/2011
16:13 GMT

Chinasat 10

Communications
Chang Zheng-3BE
Xichang
LC-2
-
Success
28 Russia
6/21/2011
18:38:15 Moscow Time
Cargo transport for ISS
1
5
Success
29 Russia
6/27/2011
20:00 Moscow Time
Military (imaging)
16
2
Success
30 US
6/29/2011
11:09 p.m.

ORS 1

Military
Minotaur-1
Wallops Island
OB
-
Success
31 China
7/6/2011
04:28:03 GMT

Shi Jian-11 No. 3

Experimental
Chang Zheng-2C
Jiuquan
SLS-2
-
Success
32 US
7/8/2011
11:29 a.m. EDT
Atlantis
Manned
Space Shuttle
Cape Canaveral
39
-
Success
33 China
7/11/2011
23:41 Beijing Time

Tianlian 1-02

Data relay
Chang Zheng-3C
Xichang
LC-2
-
Success
34 Russia
7/13/2011
06:27:04 Moscow Summer Time

Six Globalstar-2

Communications
6
Success
35 India
7/15/2011
11:18 GMT (16:48 local)

GSAT 12

Remote-sensing
PSLV-XL
Sriharikota
-
-
Success
36 Russia
7/16/2011
03:16 Moscow Summer Time
KazSat-2
SES-3
Communications
-
Success
37 US
7/16/2011
2:41 a.m. EDT
GPS-IIF-2
Military/Navigation
Delta-4 medium+ (4,2)
Cape Canaveral
SLC-37
-
Success
38 Russia
7/18/2011
06:31 Moscow Summer Time
Science/astronomy
-
Success
39 China
7/26/2011
21:44:28 UTC

BeiDou-2 (Compass-IGSO-4)

Navigation
Chang Zheng-3A
Xichang
LC-3
-
Success
40 China
7/29/2011
07:42 UTC

Shi Jian-11 No. 2

Experimental
Chang Zheng-3A
Jiuquan
SLS-2
-
Success
41 US
8/5/2011
16:25 GMT

Juno

Planetary/Jupiter
Atlas-5 551
Cape Canaveral
SLS-41
-
Success
42 Europe
8/6/2011
7:52 p.m. local time
ASTRA 1N
BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R
Communications
Ariane-5 ECA
3
Success
43 China
8/11/2011
16:15:04 GMT
PakSat-1R
-
Chang Zheng-3B/E
Xichang
LC-3
-
Success
44 China
8/15/2011
22:57:19 GMT
Hai Yang-2A
-
Chang Zheng-4B
Taiyuan
LC-2
-
Success
45 Russia
8/17/2011

11:12:20 Moscow Time

Sich-2, Nigeriasat-2, Nigeriasat-X, RASAT, EDUSAT, Aprizesat-5, Aprizesat-6, BPA-2
Remote-sensing
-
-
Success
46 Russia
8/18/2011

01:25 Moscow Summer Time

Proton-M/Briz-M
39
Failure
47 China
8/18/2011

09:28 GMT

Shi Jian 11 No. 4
Experimental
Chang Zheng-2C
Jiuquan
SLS-2
-
Failure
48 Russia
8/24/2011
17:00:08 Moscow Summer Time
Cargo transport for ISS
1
5
Failure
49 USA
9/10/2011
9:08:52 a.m. EDT

GRAIL-A
GRAIL-B

Lunar
Delta-2 Heavy
Cape Canaveral
17
B
Success
50 China
9/19/2011
00:33:04 Beijing Time
ZhongXing- 1A
Military/communications
Chang Zheng 3B
Xichang
2
1A
Success
51 Russia 9/21/2011
02:47:00 Moscow Summer Time
Military/data relay
24
Success
52 Europe 9/21/2011
18:38 local time
Arabsat 5C
SES-2
Communications
Ariane 5 ECA
3
Success
53 Japan 9/23/2011
04:36:50 GMT
IGS
Military/Optical reconnaissance
H-2A
Tanegashima
LP-1
1
Success
54 Russia 9/24/2011
20:18 GMT
Atlantic Bird 7
Communications
-
-
Success
55 USA 9/27/2011
15:49 GMT
TacSat-4
Military
Minotaur-4/Star-48B
Kodiak
LP-1
1
Success
56 China 9/29/2011
21:16 local time
Tiangong-1
Manned/space station
Chang Zheng 2F
Jiuquan
1
921
Success
57 Russia 9/29/2011
22:32 Moscow Time
QuetzSat-1
Proton-M /Briz-M
39
Success
58 Russia
10/3/2011
00:15
GLONASS-M No. 42 (Kosmos-2474)
Navigation
43
4
Success
59 Russia
10/5/2011
01:00:02 Moscow Summer Time
Intelsat-18
Communications
1
Success
60 China 10/7/2011
08:21 UTC
Eutelsat-W3C
Communications
Chang Zheng 3B/E
Xichang
LC2
2
Success
61 India 10/12/2011
05:31 UTC
Megha-Tropiques, Vesselsat-1, SRMSAT, Jugnu
Remote-sensing
PSLV C18
Sriharikota
-
-
Success
62 Russia
10/19/2011
22:48 Moscow Time
ViaSat-1
Communications
Proton-M/Briz-M
39
Success
63 Russia
10/21/2011
10:30:26 GMT
Navigation
Soyuz-ST-B
-
Success
64 USA
10/28/2011
09:48:01
NPP-Bridge, AubieSat, RAX 2, DICE 1, DICE 2, M-Cubed, Explorer 1 Prime
Remote-sensing
Delta-2 7920-10
Vandenberg
SLC-2W
W
Success
65 Russia
10/30/2011
14:11 Moscow Time
Progress M-13M, Chibis-M
Manned (Cargo transport for ISS)
5
Success
66 China 11/1/2011
05:58:10 Beijing Time
Shenzhou-8
Manned (prototype)
Chang Zheng 2F
Jiuquan
-
-
Success
67 Russia 11/4/2011
16:51:41 Moscow Time
Navigation
Proton-M/Briz-M
24
Success
68 China 11/9/2011
03:21:05 GMT
YaoGan Weixing-12, Tian Xun-1
-
Chang Zheng-4B
Taiyuan
LC-9
-
Success
69 Russia 11/09/2011
00:16:02 Moscow Time
Planetary/Mars
1
Success*
70 Russia
11/14/2011
08:14:03 Moscow Time
Manned/ISS
5
Success
71 China 11/20/2011
00:15 GMT
Shiyan 4, Chuangxin 1-03
Remote-sensing/
experimental/
meteorology
Chang Zheng-2D
Jiuquan
-
-
Success
72 Russia 11/25/2011
23:10 Moscow Time
AsiaSat 7
Communications
Proton-M /Briz-M
39
Success
73 USA 11/26/2011
10:02 a.m. EST
MSL
Mars rover
Atlas-5 (541)
Cape Canaveral
41
-
Success
74 Russia 11/28/2011
12:25 Moscow Time
GLONASS-M
Application/navigation
43
4
Success
75 China 11/29/2011
18:50:04.467 GMT
YaoGan Weixing-13
Military/reconnaissance
Chang Zheng 2C
Jiuquan
9
-
Success
76 China 12/1/2011
21:07:04.189 GMT
Compass-I5
Navigation
Chang Zheng 3A
Xichang
3
-
Success
77 Russia 12/11/2011
15:17 Moscow Time
Luch-5A/Amos-5
Proton-M/Briz-M
24
Success
78 Japan 12/12/2011
01:21 GMT
Radar reconsat
Military/reconnaissance/radar
H-2A
Tanegashima
-
-
Success
79 Russia 12/17/2011
11:03:08 p.m. French Guiana
Military/observation
Soyuz-ST-A/Fregat
-
Success
80 China 12/19/2011
16:41 GMT
Nigcomsat 1R
Communications
Chang Zheng 3B
Xichang
-
-
Success
81 Russia 12/21/2011
17:16:14 Moscow Summer Time
Manned
Soyuz-FG
5
Success
82 China
12/22/2011
03:26:14 GMT
Zi Yuan-1
-
Chang Zheng-4B
Taiyuan
LC-9
-
Success
83 Russia 12/23/2011
16:08 Moscow Time
43
4
Failure
84 Russia
21:09 Moscow Time
Globalstar-2 (13), Globalstar-2 (14), Globalstar-2 (15), Globalstar-2 (16), Globalstar-2 (17), Globalstar-2 (18)
6
Success

*Failed to depart to Mars after a successful delivery into the Earth orbit by a launch vehicle;

**Re-assigned mission

Delayed from first quarter 2011: Ariane-5 or Soyuz to launch the Intelsat New Dawn satellite from Kourou into a geostationary orbit for New Dawn Satellite Company Ltd. ("New Dawn"), a joint venture between Intelsat and a South African investor group led by Convergence Partners. The contract for the mission was announced on April 14, 2009, with the launch planned for the end of 2010. By June 2010, the mission slipped to the first quarter of 2011. It was an addition to the agreement signed by Intelsat and Arianespace in December 2008. New Dawn will provide critical communications infrastructure to Africa supporting wireless backhaul, broadband, direct-to-home and video applications. The satellite will weigh about 3,000 kg at launch, and has a design life exceeding 15 ye ars. Built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, Intelsat New Dawn will be fitted with 28 C-band and 24 Ku-band 36 MHz transponder units. It will be positioned at 33 degrees East and will deliver new capacity to Africa for voice, wireless backhaul, Internet and media applications. The satellite was launched on Ariane-5, its C-band antenna did not deploy and Intelsat took a full ownership of the spacecraft.

For missions in 2012 click here


This page was compiled by Anatoly Zak, S. Günes and George H. Chambers III, Last update: May 6, 2024

Page editor: Alain Chabot; Last edit: December 30, 2011

All rights reserved

Electro-L

In 2011, Elektro-L has become Russia's first geostationary weather-watching satellite since 1990s. Click to enlarge. Copyright © 2009 Anatoly Zak


GLONASS-K

A new version of Russia's global positioning satellite, known as GLONASS-K, was to be introduced in 2010 with the launch on the Soyuz rocket from Plesetsk, but the mission slipped to 2011 at the very end of 2010. Click to enlarge. Copyright © 2008 Anatoly Zak


Kazsat-2

The KazSat-2 communications satellite was originally scheduled for launch in 2009, then in 2010. In February 2010, the mission was targeted for 2011. Click to enlarge. Copyright © 2008 Anatoly Zak


Spektr-R

As of 2009, the Spektr-R orbital radio telescope had a chance to fly at the end of 2010, however by the middle of that year, the mission slipped to 2011. Click to enlarge. Copyright © 2009 Anatoly Zak


Sich-2

A Ukrainian microsatellite platform would provide a base for the Sich-2 satellite. Copyright © 2009 Anatoly Zak


Soyuz in Kourou

General layout of the Soyuz launch complex in Kourou, French Guiana, which was scheduled to enter service in 2008, but had to be delayed until 2010 and 2011. Click to enlarge. Copyright © 2005 Anatoly Zak


Galileo

A fully assembled Soyuz rocket slated to make the first flight from a brand-new launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana, undergoes final preparation at the center's integration building. Credit: Arianespace


Kourou

Workers at Kourou launch site take pictures of each other as the first Soyuz rocket to fly from the equatorial site is being raised in position on its brand-new launch pad. Credit: Arianespace


Fobos-Grunt

A scale model of Russia's flagship planetary mission, Phobos-Grunt was demonstrated at the ILA 2008 air and space show in Berlin. Despite official promises to launch the mission in 2009, most industry insiders considered such schedule unrealistic. The official Russian media reported a delay to 2011 only in September 2009. The mission was finally launched on Nov. 9, 2011, with disastrous results. Click to enlarge. Copyright © 2008 Anatoly Zak


MSL

As a small consolation for the failure of Phobos-Grunt, NASA successfully launched its Mars Science Laboratory, MSL, carrying a Russian-built instrument. Copyright © 2009 Anatoly Zak


Luch-5A

The Luch-5A communications satellite flew on Dec. 11, 2011. Copyright © 2008 Anatoly Zak