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Russian space program in 2021

On February 20, Head of Roskosmos Dmitry Rogozin paid a visit to the Kremlin for a report to the president on the year-end status of the Russian space sector. In a public transcript of his exchange with Vladimir Putin, Rogozin said that 29 space launches had been planned for 2021, including missions postponed from the previous year, referring primarily to the OneWeb Internet satellites, but also to the long-delayed launch of the Luna-25 lander and the Obzor-R radar-carrying satellite. Two modules for the Russian Segment of the International Space Station, ISS, (Nauka and Prichal) were also promised to fly. Finally, one Angara-5 and two Angara-1.2 launchers were scheduled to continue flight testing of the new rocket family. According to Rogozin, the Russian civilian satellite constellation included 89 spacecraft at the time. In the meantime, as of August 2021, the Russian Strategic Missile Forces, RVSN, promised to deploy 15 new ICBMs before the end of the year and test several new strategic missile systems.

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A Proton rocket with the MLM-U Nauka module lifts off on July 21, 2021.

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In reality, by the end of the year, Russia conducted 25 orbital launch attempts, which was a healthy increase from 17 missions in 2020, even though it was primarily thanks to a controversial contract with the OneWeb company. Oneweb was one of three major international customers still relying on Russian rockets in 2021, not counting unofficial reports about potential deals (INSIDER CONTENT) for future commercial launches on a Proton rocket. OneWeb satellites accounted for 284 spacecraft out of 340 which Roskosmos launched in 2021. Another 38 satellites, including two European Galileo satellites and a South-Korean Earth-watching satellite were launched under international commercial contracts and the rest were light-weight piggy-back payloads. A total of 18 Russian-built spacecraft were launched in 2021, including eight for the International Space Station, ISS, (among them, the long-awaited Nauka and Prichal modules), while four missions delivered military payloads and three carried civilian application satellites. Three small educational satellites built in Russia were also launched. No Russian deep-space or dedicated scientific missions left the ground during the year.

Based on recent launch statistics, there was clear evidence of improved quality control in the Russian launch vehicle fleet, even though the overall record in 2021 wasn't flawless and was accompanied by a continuous trend to curb transparency and free exchange of information between the industry and the outside world.

By all available accounts, one Russian military observation satellite entered orbit without signs of life, but whether it was damaged at launch or suffered an internal fatal problem was impossible to tell due to secrecy. Also, a Proton rocket delivered two Ekspress communications satellites into an out-of-specifications orbit due to misfiring of the Briz-M's upper stage, which, fortunately, did not result in the loss of payloads, but Roskosmos never publicly admitted, let alone explained the issue. Finally, the third test mission (INSIDER CONTENT) of the Angara-5 rocket on December 27 resulted in a failure of the Block DM-03/Persei upper stage, following a seemingly good performance of the rocket's lower stages.

The Ministry of Defense and Roskosmos publicized the Angara's liftoff with North-Korean-style fanfares in the state-controlled media, promising that the latest mission would help the new rocket family enter the international market and "...give the Russian defense ministry a capability to deliver satellites of any mass to any distance from Earth, making Russia the only space power capable of launching objects with the mass of 20, 25 and even 30 tons to a distance of more than 40,000 kilometers from Earth..." The same media, as well as official channels, then remained silent for days about the results of the launch that had left the upper stage and its simulated cargo on a path to an uncontrolled reentry. As of December 30, Russian authorities had made no statements on the status of the stranded Persei space tug.

In a subsequent summary of activities for the year, Roskosmos resorted to the use of clever language in an attempt to gas-light the public and to skew overall launch statistics. The state corporation claimed 25 successful "pusks" during the year and 76 accident-free "starts" in a row. Using such terms, which technically mean "liftoff" rather than "launch," Roskosmos apparently tried to limit the technical definition of a success essentially to the rocket's clearing the launch pad or entering an initial orbit, without regard for the fate of its cargo or its destination. Ironically, in the same report, Roskosmos went on to contrast its "record" with launch failures in other countries, particularly, in China and in the United States, even though these space powers consistently doubled Russian launch rates in recent years, launched far more domestically built satellites on missions that Roskosmos could not even dream of, while their failures were mostly associated with the introduction of new-generation launch systems by a new crop of privately funded industrial players, the likes of which were barely on the horizon in Russia.

In the meantime, even a passing scan of headlines in increasingly self-censored Russian media still revealed that the nation's space program and the overall high-tech industry in the country continued struggling with brain drain, corruption, low efficiency and international isolation, while the effort to modernize the production and testing infrastructure and increase self-reliance of the Russian space sector was ongoing...

 

The world's orbital launch attempts in 2021 (as of January 20, 2024 ):

Country
Launch date
Time of launch
Payload
Payload type
Launch vehicle
Launch site
Launch complex
Launch pad
Status
1
USA
Jan. 7
9:15 p.m. EST
Turksat-5A
Application / communications
Falcon-9 (104, B1060.4)
Cape Canaveral
SLC-40
-
Success
2
USA
Jan. 17
10:38 a.m. PST
10 ELaNa CubeSats: CACTUS-1, ExoCube-12, MiTEE, CoSGC, PolarCube, Cu-PACE, TechEdSat-7, CAPE-3, RadExSat-2, PICS-1, -2
Experimental
LauncherOne Rocket 3/Boeing-747 Cosmic Girl
Mojave
-
-
Success
3
China
Jan. 20
00:25 Beijing Time
Tiangong-1-03
Application / communications
Chang Zheng-3/G2
Xichang
2
-
Success
4
USA
Jan. 20
07:26 UTC
GMS-T
-
Electron
Mahia
LC1
-
Success
5
USA
Jan. 20
8:02 a.m. EST
Starlink Flight 17 (956-1,014) (60)
Application / communications
Falcon-9-105 (B1051.8 S)
Cape Canaveral (KSC)
39A
A
Success
6
USA
Jan. 24
10:00 a.m. EST
Transporter-1: Starlink (x10), ASELSAT, Capella-3 (Whitney-1), Capella-4 (Whitney-2), Charlie, PIXL-1 (CubeL, OSIRIS4Cubesat), Flock-4s (x40), GHGSat-C2 (Hugo), ICEYE-X8, -X9, -X10, IDEASSat, ION-SVC 2 (ION-SVC Laurentius, PULSE) [Flock-4s (x8), SpaceBEE (x12)], Kepler (x8), Landmapper-Demo-6, -7, Lemur-2 (x8), Prometheus-2.10 (P2-10), ELaNa-35: PTD-1, QPS-SAR-2 Izanami (IQPS-2), ADELIS-SAMSON-1, -2, -3, SOMP-2b, SpaceBEE (x24), SXRS-3 / Sherpa-FX 1 [ARCE-1A, ARCE-1B, ARCE-1C, Astrocast (x5), Hawk-2A, -2B, -2C, hosted payloads: Celestis-17, ELROI, EyeStar-Tag], UVSQ-SAT, V-R3X (x3), XR-1, YUSAT
Application
Falcon-9 (106-B1063.2S)
Cape Canaveral
SLC-40
-
Success
7
China
Jan. 29
12:47 Beijing Time
Yaogan Weixing-31 Group-2
Military
Chang Zheng-4C (Y31)
Jiuquan
43/94
-
Success
8
China
Feb. 1
16:15 Beijing Time
Fangzhou-2
Experimental
Shuang Quxian-1 (Y2)
Jiuquan
43/95
-
Failure
9
Russia
Feb. 2
23:45:28.079 Moscow Time
Military / electronic intelligence
4
Success
10
USA
Feb. 4
1:19 a.m. EST
Starlink Flight 18 (60 sats: 1,014-1,074)
Application / communications
Falcon-9-107 v1.2 (Block 5)
Cape Canaveral
LC-40
-
Success
11
China
Feb. 4
23:36:04.286 Beijing Time
TJSW-6
Military
Chang Zheng-3B/G3 Y77
Xichang
3
-
Success
12
Russia
Feb. 15
07:45:06.310 Moscow Time
Piloted / cargo supply
6
Success
13
USA
Feb. 15
10:59 p.m. EST
Starlink Flight 19 (60 satellites)
Application / communications
Falcon-9 v1.2 Block 5, Flight 108 (B1059.6 S)
Cape Canaveral
LC-40
-
Success
14
USA
Feb. 20
12:36:54.4 p.m. EST
Cygnus NG-15 (CRS-15, S.S. Katherine Johnson), ThinSat 2 (x30), DhabiSat (MYSat-2), Gunsmoke-J-2 (Jacob's Ladder-2), IT-Spins, Classified U.S. government payload (x2)
Piloted / cargo supply
Wallops Isl.
-
-
Success
15
China
Feb. 21
10:22 Beijing Time
Yaogan Weixing-31 Group-3 (x3)
Military
Chang Zheng-4C
Jiuquan
-
-
Success
16
India
Feb. 28
10:24 a.m. India Standard Time
Amazonia-1, SindhuNetra, SDSat, NanoConnect-2, UNITYsat-1 - 3, SpaceBEE-76 - 87
Application / remote sensing
PSLV-C51
Sriharikota
-
-
Success
17
Russia
Feb. 28
09:55:01.415 Moscow Time
Application / weather forecasting
6
Success
18
USA
March 4
03:24:54 a.m. EST
Starlink Flight 20 (60 sats)
Application / communications
Falcon-9 (B1049.8)
Cape Canaveral, KSC
39A
A
Success
19
USA
March 11
03:13:29 a.m. EST
Starlink Flight 21 (60 sats)
Application / communications
Falcon-9-110 (B1058.6 S)
Cape Canaveral
SLC-40
-
Success
20
China
March 12
01:51 Beijing Time
Shiyan-9
Experimental
Chang Zheng-7A (Y2)
Wenchang
-
-
Success
21
China
March 13
10:19 Beijing Time
Yaogan Weixing-31 Group-4 (x3)
Military
Chang Zheng-4C (Y42)
Jiuquan
43/94
-
Success
22
USA
March 14
6:01 a.m. EDT
Starlink Flight 22 (v1.0 L21) (60 sats)
Application / communications
Falcon-9 (111 - B1051.9 S)
Cape Canaveral, KSC
39A
A
Success
23
Russia
March 22
09:07:12.770 Moscow Time
Application / remote sensing
6
Success
24
USA
March 23
11:30 New Zealand Decree Time
BlackSky-7, Centauri-3, Gunsmoke-J-1 (Jacob's Ladder-1), M2-A, M2-B, Myriota-7, Veery RL1-v0.1
Various
Electron/Photon
Mahia
LC-1A
A
Success
25
USA
March 24
4:28 a.m. EDT
Starlink Flight 23 (60 satellites)
Application / communications
Falcon-9
Cape Canaveral
SLC-40
-
Success
26
Russia
March 25
05:47:33.180 Moscow Time
Application / communications
-
Success
27
China
March 31
06:45 Beijing Time
Gaofen-12 02
Application / remote-sensing
Chang Zheng-4C (Y43)
Jiuquan
-
-
Success
28
USA
April 7
12:34 p.m. EDT
Starlink (60 satellites)
Application / communications
Falcon-9
Cape Canaveral
SLC-40
-
Success
29
China
April 9
07:01 Beijing Time
Shiyan-6-3
Experimental
Chang Zheng-4B (Y49)
Taiyuan
9
-
Success
30
Russia
April 9
10:42:40.496 Moscow Time
6
Success
31
USA
April 23
5:49 a.m. EDT
Crew Dragon (Endeavour)
Piloted
Falcon-9
Cape Canaveral, KSC
39A
A

Success

32
Russia
April 26
01:14:08.194 Moscow Time
Application / communications
-
Success
33
USA
April 26
1:47 p.m. Pacific Time
NROL-82
Military
Delta-4 Heavy
Vandenberg
SLC-6
-
Success
34
China
April 26
11:20 Beijing Time
Qilu-1, Qilu-4, Foshan-1, Zhongan Guotong-1, Tianqi-09, Taijing-2-01, Jinzijing-1, Qiyuan taikong NEO-1
Application
Chang Zheng-6
Taiyuan
16
-
Success
35
Europe
April 28
10:50 p.m. French Guiana Time
Pleiades Neo-3, NorSat-3, Tyvak-182A (Eutelsat ELO alpha)
Military / reconnaissance
-
Success
36
China
April 29
-
Tianhe
Unpiloted / space station module
Chang Zheng-5B (Y2)
Wenchang
-
-
Success
37
USA
April 28
11:44 p.m. EDT
Starlink (60 satellites)
Application / communications
Falcon-9
Cape Canaveral
SLC-40
-
Success
38
China
April 30
15:27 Beijing Time
Yaogan-34
Application / remote-sensing
Chang Zheng-4C
Jiuquan
-
-
Success
39
USA
May 4
2:01 p.m. EDT
Starlink (No. 1,505-1,565)
Application / communications
Falcon-9FT Block 5 (F9-116)
Cape Canaveral, KSC
39A
A
Success
40
China
May 7
02:11 Beijing Time
Yaogan-30 (Group 8: A, B, C), Tianqi-12
Application / remote-sensing
Chang Zheng-2C
Xichang
3
-
Success
41
USA
May 9
2:42 a.m. EDT
Starlink (60 satellites)
Application / communications
Falcon-9 B1051 (10th flight)
Cape Canaveral
SLC-40
-
Success
42
USA
May 15
22:11 New Zealand Time
BlackSky Global (Group 20: 2 satellites)
Application / remote-sensing
Electron
Mahia
1
-
Failure
43
USA
May 15
6:56 p.m. EDT
Starlink (Flight 28: 52 satellites), Tyvak-0130, Capella-6 (Capella Whitney-4)
Application / communications
Falcon-9-118 (B1058.8S)
Cape Canaveral, KSC
LC-39A
A

Success

44
USA
May 18
1:37 p.m. EDT
SBIRS Geo-5, TDO-3, TDO-4
Military / early warning
Atlas-5 (421)
Cape Canaveral
SLC-41
-
Success
45
China
May 19
04:03 UTC
Haiyang-2D
Application / remote-sensing
Chang Zheng-4B (Y48)
Jiuquan
43/94
-
Success
46 USA May 26 2:59:35 p.m. EDT Starlink (60 satellites)
Application / communications
Falcon-9-119 (B1063.2)
Cape Canaveral
SLC-40
-
Success
47 Russia May 28 20:38:39.549 Moscow Time OneWeb-7 (36 satellites: 183-218) Application / communications Soyuz-2-1b/Fregat Vostochny 1S - Success
48 China May 29 - Tianzhou-2 Unpiloted / cargo supply Chang Zheng-7 (Y3) Wenchang 201 - Success
49 China June 2 - Fengyun-4B Application / weather forecasting Chang Zheng-3B Xichang - - Success
50 USA June 3 1:29 p.m. EDT Cargo Dragon V2 SpX-22 (CRS-22) Unpiloted / cargo supply Falcon-9 (120) (B1067) Cape Canaveral, KSC 39 - Success
51 USA June 6 00:26 EDT Sirius-XM-8 Application / broadcasting Falcon-9 (121) (B1061.3 S) Cape Canaveral SLC-40 - Success
52 China June 11 11:03 Bejing Time Beijing Xilie-3 dai xing, Haisi-2, Yangwang-1, Taikong Shiyan-1 'Tianjian Weixing' Science, Application Chang Zheng-2D Taiyuan - - Success
53 Iran June 12 ? Tolou-2 (?) Military Simorgh (Safir-2) Semnan 2 - Failure
54 USA June 13 08:11:05 UTC Odyssey (TacRL-2, USA-316) Military Pegasus-XL/L-1011 Stargazer Vandenberg Air-launched - Success
55 USA June 15 9:35 a.m. Eastern Time NROL-111: USA-317, USA-318, USA-319 Military Minotaur-1 Wallops Isl. MARS LP-0B B Success
56 China June 17 09:22 Beijing Time Shenzhou-12 Piloted Chang Zheng-2F (Y12) Jiuquan 43/91 - Success
57 USA June 17 16:09:35 UTC GPS-3 SV05 (Navstar-78, Neil Armstrong) Military / navigation Falcon-9 (122) (B1062.2 S) Cape Canaveral SLC-40 - Success
58 China June 18 06:30 UTC Yaogan-30-09 (1), Yaogan-30-09 (2),
Yaogan-30-09 (2),
Tianqi-14
Military / electronic intelligence Chang Zheng-2C Xichang - - Success
59 Russia June 25 22:50:00 Moscow Time Kosmos-2550 (Pion-NKS No. 901) Military / ELINT Soyuz-2-1b Plesetsk 43 4 Success
60 Russia June 30 02:27:20.324 Moscow Time Progress MS-17 Piloted / cargo supply Soyuz-2-1a
6
Success
61
USA
June 30
14:47 UTC
"Tubular Bells: Part One": HALO-Net Free Flyer, Gunsmoke-J 3, CNCE Block-1 (x2), (STP-27VPA/DIU), BRIK-2, STORK-4, STORK-5 (MARTA)
Experimental
LauncherOne/Boeing-747 Cosmic Girl
Mojave
Runway 12/30
-
Success
62 USA June 30 3:31 p.m. Eastern Time Transporter-2: Starlink (x3) [v1.0 R1], Capella-5 (Whitney-3), Centauri-4, D2/AtlaCom-1, EarthTV-1, EG-3 (Tyvak-0173), GNOMES-2, ICEYE-X11, ICEYE-X12, ICEYE-X13, ION-SCV-003 (Dauntless David, Wild Ride) [NAPA-2 (RTAF-SAT-2), Spartan, Neptuno, W-Cube, Ghalib, QMR-KWT, hosted payload: LaserCube, Nebula, Worldfloods], LINCS-A, LINCS-B, LEMUR-2 (x2), Mandrake-2A, Mandrake-2B, ÑuSat-19-22, SAI-2, Sherpa-FX2 [Astrocast (x5), Hawk-3A, -3B, -3C, LEMUR-2 (x3), Lynk-06 (Shannon), PAINANI-2, SpaceBEE (x12), hosted payload: TagSat-2], Sherpa-LTE1 [ARTHUR-1, Astro Digital Demo-8 (Tenzing, Tanker-001), Astro Digital Demo-9 (Shasta), Faraday Phoenix, KSF-1A (PVM-1A), KSF-1B (PVM-1B), KSF-1C (PVM-1C), KSF-1D (PVM-1D) {KSM-2, Kleos Polar Vigilance Mission}, LEMUR-2, Tiger-2], SpaceBEE (xTBD), TUBIN, Umbra-2001, XR-2, YAM-2, YAM-3 Experimental Falcon-9 (123) (B1060.8 L)
Cape Canaveral
SLC-40
-
Success
63 Russia July 1 15:48:33.383 Moscow Time 36 OneWeb (Satellites 219-254) Application / communications Soyuz 2-1b /Fregat
-
Success
64 China July 3 10:51 Beijing Time Jilin-1 Kuanfu-01B “Neimenggu-1”, Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 01 "Xueersi" Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 02, Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D 03, Xingshidai-10 "Guangdong Hengjian" Military Chang Zheng-2D (Y74) Taiyuan 9 - Success
65 China July 5 07:28 Beijing Time Fengyun san hao 05 xing, i.e. FY-3 Satellite-05 Application / weather forecasting Chang Zheng-4C Jiuquan 43/94 - Success
66 China July 6 23:55 Beijing Time Tianlian-1 (05) Application / data relay Chang Zheng-3C/G3 (Y18) Xichang 3 - Success
67 China July 9 19:59 Beijing Time Ningxia-1 (Group 2) Application / remote-sensing Chang Zheng-6 (Y6) Taiyuan 16 - Success
68 China July 19 08:19 Beijing Time Yaogan-30 Group-10, Tianqi-15 "Ruijin-1" Military / signal intelligence Chang Zheng-2C (Y49) Xichang 3 -

Success

69 Russia July 21 17:58:24.938 Moscow Time MLM-U Nauka Piloted / space station module Proton-M Baikonur 200 39 Success
70 USA July 29 18:00 New Zealand Time "It's A Little Chile Up Here" STP-27RM: Monolith Military Electron/Kick Stage Mahia LC-1A A Success
71 China July 29 12:01 p.m. Beijing Time Tianhui-1 (04) Cartography Chang Zheng-2D Jiuquan - - Success
72 Europe July 30 6:00:07.3 p.m. French Guiana Time Star One D2, Eutelsat Quantum Application / communications Ariane-5 ECA+ Kourou ELA-3 - Success
73 China Aug. 3 15:39:30 Beijing Time Jilin-1, Mofang-01A, Tianshu Application / remote sensing Shian Quxian-1 (Y5) Jiuquan 43/95B - Failure
74 China Aug. 4 11:01 UTC KL-beta (A, B) - Chang Zheng-6 (Y7) Taiyuan 16 - Success
75 China Aug. 5 16:30 UTC Shentong 2-05 (Zhongxing-2E) Military / communications Chang Zheng-3B Xichang - - Success
76 USA Aug. 10 6:01:09.300 p.m. EDT Cygnus NG-16 Onizuka (CRS-16) Piloted / cargo supply Antares-230+ Wallops Isl. LP-0A - Success
77 India Aug. 12 05:43 India Standard Time EOS-03 (GISAT-1) Application / remote sensing GSLV Mk.2 (F10) Sriharikota - - Failure
78 Europe Aug. 16 10:47 French Guiana time Pléiades Neo-4, BRO-4, SUNSTORM, LEDSAT, RADCUBE Application / remote sensing Vega Kourou ELA-1 - Success
79 China Aug. 19 06:32 Beijing Time Tianhui-2-02-1, Tianhui-2-02-2 Military / reconnaissance Chang Zheng-4B Taiyuan - -

Success

80 Russia Aug. 22 01:13:40.425 Moscow Time 36 OneWeb (Satellites 255-288) Application / communications Soyuz 2-1b /Fregat
6
Success
81 China Aug. 24 19:15 Beijing Time Ronghe Shiyan Weixing-1, -2, Experimental maneuverable satellite Application / communications Chang Zheng-2C/YZ-1S
Jiuquan
53/94
-
Success
82 China Aug. 24 23:41 Beijing Time TJS-7 Military / early warning? Chang Zheng-3B
Xichang
3
-
Success
83 USA Aug. 28 3:35:00 p.m. Pacific Time STP-27AD1 Military Astra Rocket 3.3 LV0006
Kodiak
LP-3B
-
Failure
84 USA Aug. 29 03:14:49 a.m. EDT Dragon v2 SpX-23 (CRS-23) Piloted / cargo supply Falcon-9-124 (B1061.4 S)
Cape Canaveral, KSC
LC-39A
A
Success
85 USA Sept. 2 6:59 p.m. PST SUV [BSS1, CRESST DREAM COMET, FossaSat-1B (Fossa-1B), FossaSat-2 (Fossa-2), GENESIS-L, GENESIS-N, Hiapo, NPS-CENETIX-Orbital 1, Qubik-1, Qubik-2, TIS Serenity (TISSCCE), Spinnaker 3, Firefly Capsule-1 Experimental Firefly's Alpha FLTA0001
Vandenberg
SLC-2W
W
Failure
86 China Sept. 7 03:01 UTC Gaofen-5 Application / remote sensing Chang Zheng-4C (Y40)
Taiyuan
9
-
Success
87 China Sept. 9 11:50 UTC Zhongxing-9B Application / communications Chang Zheng-3B
Xichang
2
-
Success
88 Russia Sept. 9 22:59:47.491 Moscow Time Kosmos-2551 (EMKA-2) Military Soyuz-2-1v
4
Success
89 USA Sept. 13 8:55:50 p.m. PDT Starlink Group 2-1 (51 satellites) Application / communications Falcon-9-125 (B1049.10S) Vandenberg
4E
E
Success
90 Russia Sept. 14 21:07:19.121 Moscow Time 36 OneWeb (Satellites 289-322) Application / communications Soyuz 2-1b /Fregat
6
Success
91 USA Sept. 15 8:02:56 p.m. EDT Crew Dragon (Inspiration) Piloted / tourism Falcon-9-126 (B1062.3S)
Cape Canaveral, KSC
39A
A
Success
92 China Sept. 20 - Tianzhou-3 Piloted / cargo supply Chang Zheng-7 (Y4)
Wenchang
-
-
Success
93 China Sept. 27 - Shiyan-10 - Chang Zheng-3B
Xichang
-
-
Failure
94 China Sept. 27 06:19 UTC Jillin-1, Gaofen-02D Application / remote-sensing Kuaizhou-1A
Jiuquan
-
-
Success
95 USA Sept. 27 18:12:00 UTC Landsat-9, ELaNa-34: CUTE, CuPID, Cesium-M1A, -M1B Application / remote sensing Atlas-5-401 (AV-092)
Vandenberg
SLC-3E
E
Success
96 Russia Oct. 5 11:55 Moscow Time Soyuz MS-19 Piloted Soyuz-2-1a
6
Success
97 Russia Oct. 14 12:40 Moscow Time
Application / communications
-
Success
98 China Oct. 14 12:40:10.356 Moscow Time
Xihe, SSS-2A
Science / astronomy
Chang Zheng-2D
Taiyuan
-
-
Success
99 China Oct. 15 16:23 UTC
Shenzhou-13
Piloted
Chang Zheng-2F (Y13)
Jiuquan
-
-
Success
100 USA Oct. 16 5:34:00.192 a.m. EDT
Lucy
Planetary / asteroids
Atlas-5 (401)
Cape Canaveral
SLC-41
-
Success
101 South Korea Oct. 21 17:00 Korean Time
NEXTSat dummy
Experimental
Naro
LC-2
-
Failure
102 China Oct. 24 01:27:03.780 UTC
Shijian-21
Application / space debris
Chang Zheng-3B/G2
Xichang
2
-
Success
103 Europe Oct. 24 02:10 UTC
SES-17, Syracuse-4A
Application, Military / communications
Ariane-5
-
Success
104 Japan Oct. 26 11:19 Japan Time
QZS-1R
Application / navigation
H-2A
Tanegashima
-
-
Success
105 China Oct. 27 06:19 UTC
Jilin-1 Gaofen-2F
Application / remote-sensing
Kuaizhou-1A
Jiuquan
-
-
Success
106
Russia
Oct. 28
03:00:32.525 Moscow Time
Piloted / cargo supply
6
Success
107 China Nov. 3 07:43 UTC
Yaogan-32 (02-1), (02-2)
Military / electronic intelligence
Chang Zheng-2C/Y-1S
Jiuquan
-
-
Success
108 China Nov. 5 02:19 UTC
Guangmu Diqiu Kexue Weixing (SDGSat-1)
Application / remote-sensing
Chang Zheng-6 (Y8)
Taiyuan
16
-
Success
109 China Nov. 6 03:00 UTC

Yaogan-35 (1),
Yaogan-35 (2),

Military / Electronic intelligence
Chang Zheng-2D (Y63)
Xichang
-
-
Success
110
Japan
Nov. 9
9:55 a.m. Japan Time
RAISE-2 and 8 other satellites
Application / space debris mitigation
Epsilon F5
Uchinoura
-
-
Success
111 USA Nov. 10 9:03 p.m. EST
Crew Dragon
Piloted
Falcon-9
Cape Canaveral
39
A
Success
112 USA Nov. 13 12:19:30 UTC
Starlink 4-1 (53 satellites)
Application / communications
Falcon-9 B1058
Cape Canaveral
SLC-40
-
Success
113 Europe Nov. 16 06:27 French Guiana Time
Ceres-1, -2, -3
Military / observation
-
Success
114 USA Nov. 17 14:38 New Zealand Time
Black Sky-1, -2
Application / remote sensing
Electron (F22)
Mahia
LC-1
-
Success
115 China Nov. 20 09:51 Beijing Time
Gaofen-11 03
Application / remote-sensing
Chang Zheng-4B
Taiyuan
-
-
Success
116 USA Nov. 19 22:16 Pacific Time
STP-27AD2
Military
Astra Rocket-3.3 (LV0007)
Kodiak
-
-
Success
117 China Nov. 23 07:45 Beijing Time
Gaofen-3-02
Application / remote sensing
Chang Zheng-4C
Jiuquan
-
-
Success
118 USA Nov. 23 22:21 Pacific Time
DART
Deep space / asteroid
Falcon-9-129 (B1063.3 S)
Vandenberg
SLC-4E
-
Success
119 Russia Nov. 24 16:06:35.042 Moscow Time
Piloted / space station module
6
Success
120 China Nov. 24 23:41 UTC
Shiyan-11
Military
Kuaizhou-1A
Jiuquan
-
-
Success
121 Russia Nov. 25 04:09:13.491 Moscow Time
Military / early warning
4
Success
122 China Nov. 26 16:40 UTC
Zhongxing-1D
Communications
Chang Zheng-3B
Xichang
-
-
Success
123 USA Dec. 2 - Starlink (48 satellites) BlackSky (2 satellites)
Application / communications
Falcon-9 (B1060.9)
Cape Canaveral
-
-
Success
124
Russia
Dec. 4
21:19:20.687 French Guiana Time
Application / navigation
-
Success
125 USA Dec. 7 5:19 a.m. EST STPSat-6 (9 payloads), ESPA LDPE-1,
Application / remote-sensing
Atlas-5 (551)
Cape Canaveral
SLC-41
-
Success
126 China Dec. 7 04:12 UTC Tianjin Daxue-1, Baoyun, Lize-1, Jinzijing-5, Jinzijing-1 (03)
-
Gushenxing-1 (Y2)
Jiuquan
-
-
Success
127 Russia Dec. 8
10:38:15.584 Moscow Time
Soyuz MS-20
Piloted
6
Success
128 USA Dec. 9 00:02:07 UTC Black Sky Global-16, Black Sky Global-17, Fly
Application / remote sensing
Electron F23
Mahia
LC-1
-
Success
129
USA
Dec. 9
01:00 EST
Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, IXPE
Astronomy
Falcon-9FT (F9-131)
Cape Canaveral, KSC
LC-39A
A
Success
130 China Dec. 10 08:11 Beijing Time

Shijian-6 05-1,
Shijian-6 05-2,

Military
Chang Zheng-4B
Jiuquan
-
-
Success
131 Russia Dec. 13 15:07:00 Moscow Time Ekspress-AMU3, Ekspress-AMU7
39
Success**
132 China Dec. 13 16:09 UTC Tinalian-2-02
Application / data relay
Chang Zheng-3B
Xichang
2
-
Success
133
China
Dec. 15
02:00 UTC
Weili Kongjian 1-3S (GeeSat-1A, GeeSat-1B)
-
Kuaizhou-1A
Jiuquan
-
-
Failure
134 USA Dec. 18 04:41:40 a.m. PST Starlink Group 4-4, Flight 33 (52 satellites)
Application / communications
Falcon-9
Vandenberg
SLC-4E
E
Success
135 USA Dec. 18 10:58:39 p.m. EST Turksat-5B
Application / communications
Falcon-9-133 (B1067.3 S)
Cape Canaveral
SLC-40
-
Success
136 USA Dec. 21 5:07 a.m. EST Dragon CRS-24
Piloted / cargo supply
Falcon-9 FT Block-5 (F9-134)
Cape Canaveral (KSC)
LC-39A
A
Success
137 Japan Dec. 23 00:32:00 Japan Standard Time Inmarsat-6 F1
Application / communications
H-2A
Tanegashima
-
-
Success
138 China Dec. 23 10:12 UTC Shiyan-12-01, Shiyan-12-02 Military Chang Zheng-7A Wenchang 201 - Success
139 Europe Dec. 25 9:20:07 a.m. French Guiana time James Webb Space Telescope Astronomy Ariane-5 Kourou ELA-3 - Success
140 China Dec. 26 03:11 UTC Ziyuan-1-02E, XW-3/CAS-9 Application / remote sensing Chang Zheng-4C Taiyuan - - Success
141 Russia Dec. 27 16:10:37.088 Moscow Time OneWeb-12 (36 satellites: 359-394) Application / communications Soyuz 2-1b /Fregat
6
Success
142 Russia Dec. 27 22:00:00 Moscow Time Dummy cargo (INSIDER CONTENT) Test Angara-5/Persei Plesetsk 35 - Failure
143 China Dec. 29 11:13 UTC Tianhui-4 Application / remote sensing Chang Zheng-2D (Y41) Jiuquan - - Success
144 China Dec. 29 16:43 UTC Tongxin Jishu Shiyan-9 Application / communications Chang Zheng-3B (Y84) Xichang - - Success
145 Iran Dec. 30 - 3 satellites - Simorgh - - - Failure

*Failed launch;

**Delivery into an out-of-specification orbit.

 

The 2021 space launch score card (as of January 20, 2024 ):

China
USA
Russia
Europe
India
Japan
Iran
South Korea
World
Launch vehicles
Chang Zheng-3B:
10 (1*)
Falcon-9:
31
Vega:
3
PSLV:
1
H-2A:
2
Simorgh (Safir-2):
2*
KSLV-2 Nuri:
1*
Chang Zheng-4C:
9
LauncherOne:
2
Ariane-5:
3
GSLV Mk.2:
1*
Epsilon:
1
Shuang Quxian-1:
2 (2)*
Electron:
6 (1*)
Proton-M:
2 (1**)
 
 
Chang Zheng-7/7A:
4
Antares:
2
 
 
Chang Zheng-4B:
5
Delta-4:
1
Angara-5:
1*
 
 
Chang Zheng-6:
4
Atlas-5:
4
   
 
Chang Zheng-5B:
1
Pegasus-XL:
1
   
 
Chang Zheng-2D:
6
Minotaur-1:
1
   
 
Chang Zheng-2C:
5
Astra Rocket 3.3:
2 (1*)
   
 
Chang Zheng-2F:
2
Firefly's Alpha:
1*
   
 
Chang Zheng-3C:
1
   
 

Kuaizhou-1:
4 (1*)

           
 
Gushenxing-1:
1
               
China total:
55
USA total:
51
Russia total:
25
Europe total:
6
India total:
2
Japan total:
3
Iran total:
2
South Korea total:
1
World total:
145
China failed:
4
USA failed:
3
Russia failed:
1 (1**)
Europe failed:
0
India failed:
1
Japan failed:
0
Iran failed:
2
South Korea failed:
1
World failed:
12
Launch sites
Xichang:
16
Cape Canaveral:
31
Sriharikota:
2
Tanegashima:
2
Semnan:
2
Naro:
1
World:
19
Jiuquan:
21
Mojave:
2

Baikonur:
14

   
Uchinoura:
1
Wenchang:
5
Mahia:
6
     
Taiyuan:
12
Wallops Island:
3
       
 
 
Vandenberg:
7
       
 
 
Kodiak:
2
         
 

*Failed launch;

**Delivery into an out-of-specification orbit.

 

This page is compiled by Anatoly Zak; Last update: January 20, 2024

Editor: Alain Chabot; Last edit: December 30, 2021

All rights reserved

insider content

 

vacuum

Soyuz-2-1a rocket lifts off with the Progress MS-16 cargo ship on Feb. 15, 2021. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos


vacuum

Soyuz-2-1b with Arktika-M1 satellite lifts off on Feb. 28, 2021. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos


vacuum

Soyuz-2-1a lifts off from Baikonur on March 22, 2021, with CAS-500-1 and 38 secondary payloads. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos


vacuum

Soyuz MS-18 lifts off on April 9, 2021. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos


FGB-2

The FGB-2/MLM module for the Russian segment of the International Space Station, ISS. Copyright © 2001 Anatoly Zak


vacuum

A Proton rocket with the MLM nauka module shortly after arriving at the launch pad on July 17, 2021. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos


vacuum

A Soyuz-2-1b rocket shortly after arrival at Pad No. 6 at Site 31 in Baikonur on August 16, 2021, for the ninth launch into the OneWeb constellation. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos


cluster

Soyuz-2-1b lifts off from Baikonur with 34 OneWeb satellites on August 22, 2021. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos


docking

As of August 2020, the launch of the UM Prichal module was planned for September 6, 2021. Click to enlarge. Credit: RKK Energia


cluster

Proton lifts off with a pair of Ekspress satellites on Dec. 13, 2021. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos


cluster

The third Angara-5 rocket on the launch pad before its launch on December 27. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos