- 2006 in spaceflight
|
19 January , 19:00GMT
|flagicon|USAAtlas V (551)
|flagicon|USALC-41, Cape Canaveral
|flagicon|RUS/flagicon|USAILS
|flagicon|USANew Horizons
|NASA
|Solar Escape
|Flyby ofPluto and other KBOs
|N/A
|Successful so far
|First probe to visit Pluto
-
|24 January , 01:33GMT
|flagicon|JPNH-IIA
|flagicon|JPNTanegashima
|flagicon|JPNJAXA Fact|date=April 2008
|flagicon|JPNDaichi (ALOS)
|JAXA
|SSO
|Observation satellite
|Still in Orbit
|Partial failure, still in operation
|Poor quality images returned due to attitude control and noise problems [ [http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080110TDY02309.htm 55 bil. yen JAXA map-making satellite sends useless data] ] was resolved by software adjustment. [cite press release |title=Utilization of Data Acquired by "DAICHI" (Advanced Land Observing Satellite) for Maps |publisher=JAXA |date=2008-01-16 |url=http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2008/01/20080116_sac_daichi_e.html |accessdate=2008-04-23]
-
|15 February , 23:35GMT
|flagicon|UKRZenit-3SL
|flagicon|NOROcean Odyssey
Pacific Ocean
|flagicon|UNSea Launch
|flagicon|USAEchoStar 10
|EchoStar
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in Orbit
|Successful so far
-
|16 February , 08:01GMT
|flagicon|USAMinuteman III
|flagicon|USALF-10,Vandenberg AFB
|flagicon|USAUSAF
|flagicon|USAMk. 21 re-entry vehicle
|USAF
|Sub-orbital
|ICBM test launch
|16 February 2006
|Successful
-
|18 February , 06:27GMT
|flagicon|JPNH-IIA
|flagicon|JPNTanegashima
|flagicon|JPNRSC [cite web |url=http://h2a.mhi.co.jp/en/RSC/mtsat2/press/rsc.pdf |title=Rocket System Corporation |accessdate=2008-04-23]
|flagicon|JPNMTSAT-2
|Japanese Government
|Geosynchronous
|ATC and weather satellite
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
rowspan=2 |21 February , 21:28GMT
rowspan=2 |flagicon|JPNM-V
rowspan=2 |flagicon|JPNUchinoura
rowspan=2 |flagicon|JPNJAXA
|flagicon|JPNAkari (ASTRO-F)
|JAXA
|SSO
|Infrared astronomy
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|JPNCute-1.7+APD
|Tokyo Institute of Technology
|Amateurcomsat
|LEO
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
|DoubleCubeSat
-
|28 February , 20:10GMT
|flagicon|RUSProton-M/Briz-M
|flagicon|KAZBaikonur
|flagicon|RUS/flagicon|USAILS
|flagicon|SAUARABSAT 4A
|ARABSAT
|Intended: Geosynchronous
Achieved: MEO
|Comsat
|2007
|Failure
|Upper stage malfunction.
-
rowspan=2 |11 March , 22:33GMT
rowspan=2 |flagicon|EUAriane 5ECA
rowspan=2 |flagicon|FRAELA-3 , CSG (Kourou )
rowspan=2 |flagicon|FRAArianespace
|flagicon|ESPSPAINSAT
|Spanish Government
|Geosynchronous
|Military comsat
|Still in Orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|FRAHot Bird 7A
|Eutelsat
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in Orbit
|Successful so far
-
rowspan="3"|22 March , 14:03GMT
rowspan="3"|flagicon|USAPegasus-XL
rowspan="3"|flagicon|USAL-1011,Vandenberg AFB
rowspan="3"|flagicon|USAOSC
|flagicon|USAST-5A
|NASA
|LEO
|Study Earth'sMagnetosphere .
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|USAST-5B
|NASA
|LEO
|Study Earth'sMagnetosphere .
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|USAST-5C
|NASA
|LEO
|Study Earth'sMagnetosphere .
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|24 March , 22:30GMT
|flagicon|USAFalcon 1
|flagicon|MHLOmelek
|flagicon|USASpaceX
|flagicon|USAFalconSat 2
|USAF Academy
|Intended: LEO
|Plasma research satellite.
|T+60 seconds
|Failure
|Rocket lost power shortly after launch due to engine fire.
-
|30 March , 02:30GMT
|flagicon|RUSSoyuz FG
|flagicon|KAZLC-1/5, Baikonur
|flagicon|RUSRKA
|flagicon|RUSSoyuz TMA-8
3 Cosmonauts
|RKA
|LEO, docked to ISS
|Manned orbital flight
|29 September 2006
|Successful
|ISSExpedition 13
First Brazilian in Space
-
|7 April , 13:00GMT
|flagicon|USAMinuteman III
|flagicon|USALF-26,Vandenberg AFB
|flagicon|USAUSAF
|flagicon|USAMk. 21 re-entry vehicle
|USAF
|Sub-orbital
|ICBM test
|7 April 2006
|Successful
-
|12 April , 23:30GMT
|flagicon|UKRZenit-3SL
|flagicon|NOROcean Odyssey
|flagicon|UNSea Launch
|flagicon|JPNJCSAT-9
|JCSAT
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
rowspan="5"|14 April , 01:40GMT
rowspan="5"|flagicon|USAMinotaur
rowspan="5"|flagicon|USASLC-8,Vandenberg AFB
rowspan="5"|flagicon|USAOrbital
|flagicon|USA/flagicon|ROCCOSMIC-1 (FORMOSAT-3A)
|NASA /NSPO
|LEO
|Study atmosphere
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|USA/flagicon|ROCCOSMIC-2 (FORMOSAT-3B)
|NASA /NSPO
|LEO
|Study atmosphere
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|USA/flagicon|ROCCOSMIC-3 (FORMOSAT-3C)
|NASA /NSPO
|LEO
|Study atmosphere
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|USA/flagicon|ROCCOSMIC-4 (FORMOSAT-3D)
|NASA /NSPO
|LEO
|Study atmosphere
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|USA/flagicon|ROCCOSMIC-5 (FORMOSAT-3E)
|NASA /NSPO
|LEO
|Study atmosphere
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|20 April , 20:27GMT
|flagicon|USAAtlas V (411)
|flagicon|USALC-41, Cape Canaveral
|flagicon|RUS/flagicon|USAILS
|flagicon|LUXAstra 1KR
|SES Astra
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
|Final ILS Atlas launch
-
|24 April , 16:03GMT
|flagicon|RUSSoyuz-U (R-7 11A511U)
|flagicon|KAZLC-1/5, Baikonur
|flagicon|RUSRFSA
|flagicon|RUSProgress 21P
|RFSA
|LEO, docked to ISS
|Resupply ISS
|18 September 2006
|Successful
-
|25 April , 16:47GMT
|flagicon|RUSStart-1
|flagicon|RUSLC-5,Svobodniy
|flagicon|RUSUnited Start
|flagicon|ISREROS-B
|ImageSat
|LEO, polar
|Civilian imaging satellite
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|26 April , 22:48GMT
|flagicon|PRCLong March 4B-II (Long March 4C)
|flagicon|PRCTaiyuan
|flagicon|PRCCAST
|flagicon|PRCYaogan 1
|CAST
|LEO
|Imaging Satellite
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
|Maiden flight ofLong March 4C . Designated Long March 4B-II at time of launch, redesignated in November2007
-
rowspan=2 |28 April , 10:02GMT
rowspan=2 |flagicon|USADelta II
rowspan=2 |flagicon|USASLC-2W,Vandenberg AFB
rowspan=2 |flagicon|USABoeing IDS
|flagicon|USACALIPSO
|NASA
|LEO (A-Train)
|Study aerosols
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|USACloudSat
|NASA
|LEO (A-Train)
|Study clouds
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|3 May , 17:38GMT
|flagicon|RUSSoyuz-U (R-7 11A511U)
|flagicon|RUSLC-16, Plesetsk
|flagicon|RUSRKA
|flagicon|RUSKosmos 2420
|Russian Government
|LEO
|Spy Satellite
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|24 May , 22:11GMT
|flagicon|USADelta IV
|flagicon|USALC-37B, Cape Canaveral
|flagicon|USABoeing IDS
|flagicon|USAGOES-13 (GOES-N)
|NASA /NOAA
|Geostationary
|Weather satellite
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|26 May , 18:50GMT
|flagicon|RUSShtil (Volna )
|flagicon|RUSSubmarine inBarents Sea
|flagicon|RUSVMF
|flagicon|RUSKompass 2
|RKA
|LEO
|Earthquake detection
|Still in orbit
|Partial failure
|Control and power problems made satellite unusable. Written off on29 May 2006 . Problems cleared by November, and satellite re-activated. [cite web|url=http://www.russianspaceweb.com/compass.html|publisher=Russian Space Web|title=COMPASS|date=2006-12-28|accessdate=2008-07-18|language=English]
-
rowspan=2 |27 May , 21:09GMT
rowspan=2 |flagicon|EUAriane 5ECA
rowspan=2 |flagicon|FRAELA-3 , CSG (Kourou )
rowspan=2 |flagicon|FRAArianespace
|flagicon|MEXSATMEX 6
|Satellites Mexicanas
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
rowspan=2 |Record for heaviest dual-payload togeosynchronous transfer orbit , stood until May 2007
-
|flagicon|THATHAICOM 5
|Shin Satellite
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|14 June , 14:08:22GMT
|flagicon|USAMinuteman III
|flagicon|USALF-04,Vandenberg AFB
|flagicon|USAUSAF
|flagicon|USA3 xMk. 21 re-entry vehicle
|USAF
|Sub-orbital
|ICBM test launch
|14 June 2006
|Successful
-
|15 June , 08:00GMT
|flagicon|RUSSoyuz-U (R-7 11A511U)
|flagicon|KAZLC-1/5, Baikonur
|flagicon|RUSRKA
|flagicon|RUSResurs
|RKA
|LEO
|Remote Sensing Spacecraft
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|18 June , 07:50GMT
|flagicon|UKRZenit 3SL
|flagicon|NOROcean Odyssey
|flagicon|UNSea Launch
|flagicon|USAGalaxy 16
|PanAmSat
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|18 June , 22:44GMT
|flagicon|RUSProton-K/DM-2
|flagicon|KAZLC-200/39, Baikonur
|flagicon|RUSKhrunichev
|flagicon|KAZKazSat-1
|Government of Kazakhstan
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
|First Kazakh satellite
-
rowspan = "3"|21 June , 22:15GMT
rowspan = "3"|flagicon|USADelta II
rowspan = "3"|flagicon|USALC-17A, Cape Canaveral
rowspan = "3"|flagicon|USABoeing IDS
|flagicon|USAMITEX-A (USA-187)
|DARPA
|Geostationary
|Experimental military satellite
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|USAMITEX-B (USA-188)
|DARPA
|Geostationary
|Experimental military satellite
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|USAMITEX Carrier (USA-189)
|DARPA
|Geostationary
|Experimental military satellite
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|24 June , 15:08GMT
|flagicon|RUSSoyuz-U (R-7 11A511U)
|flagicon|KAZLC-1/5, Baikonur
|flagicon|RUSRKA
|flagicon|RUSProgress 22P
|RKA
|LEO, docked to ISS
|Resupply ISS
|17 January 2007
|Successful
-
|25 June , 04:00GMT
|flagicon|RUSTsyklon-2
|flagicon|KAZLC-90, Baikonur
|flagicon|RUSVKS
|flagicon|RUSKosmos 2421 (US-PU )
|Russian Navy
|LEO
|SIGINT
|20 March 2008 (destroyed in orbit)
|Partial failure
|Final flight ofTsyklon-2 rocket.
One of satellite's solar panels failed to deploy [ [http://space.skyrocket.de/index_frame.htm?http://www.skyrocket.de/space/doc_sdat/us-pm.htm Gunter's Space Page - US-PM] ] , ceased operations in February 2008.
-
|27 June , 03:30GMT
|flagicon|USADelta IV
|flagicon|USASLC-6,Vandenberg AFB
|flagicon|USABoeing IDS
|flagicon|USANRO L-22 (USA-184, Trumpet)
|US National Reconnaissance Office
|Molniya
|Classified
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
|FirstEELV launch fromVandenberg AFB
-
rowspan=2 |4 July , 18:38GMT
rowspan=2 |flagicon|USASpace Shuttle "Discovery"
rowspan=2 |flagicon|USALC-39B, Kennedy
rowspan=2 |flagicon|USAUSA
|flagicon|USASTS-121 , 7astronaut s
|NASA
|LEO, docked to ISS
|Manned Orbital Flight
rowspan="2"|17 July 2006 , 13:14GMT
|Successful
|Return to flight test, visit ISS
-
|Leonardo MPLM
|NASA /ESA
|LEO, docked to ISS
|Resupply ISS
|Successful
-
|10 July , 12:38GMT
|flagicon|INDGSLV
|flagicon|INDSatish Dhawan
|flagicon|INDISRO
|flagicon|INDINSAT 4C
|ISRO
|Intended: GSO
|Comsat
|T+60 seconds
|Failure
|Loss of control due to LRB engine failure. Self-destructed 60 seconds into flight
-
|12 July , 15:53GMT
|flagicon|UKRDnepr
|flagicon|RUSDombarovskiy
|flagicon|RUSISC Kosmotras
|flagicon|USAGenesis I
|Bigelow Aerospace
|LEO
|Experimental inflatableSpace Station
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
|First commercial space station (uninhabitable prototype)
-
|20 July , 10:14GMT
|flagicon|USAMinuteman III
|flagicon|USALF-09,Vandenberg AFB
|flagicon|USAUSAF
|flagicon|USA3Mk. 21 re-entry vehicle s
|USAF
|Sub-orbital
|ICBM test launch
|20 July 2006
|Successful
-
|21 July , 04:20GMT
|flagicon|RUSMolniya-M
|flagicon|RUSLC-16, Plesetsk
|flagicon|RUSVKS
|flagicon|RUSKosmos 2422 (Oko )
|VKS
|Molniya
|Early warning missile defence
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
rowspan=18 |26 July , 19:43GMT
rowspan=18 |flagicon|UKRDnepr
rowspan=18 |flagicon|KAZLC-109, Baikonur
rowspan=18 |flagicon|RUSISC Kosmotras
|flagicon|BLRBelKA
|National Academy of Sciences of Republic of Belarus
|LEO
|Earth Observation Satellite
rowspan=18 |T+74 seconds
rowspan=18 |Failure
rowspan=18 |First-stage engine hydraulic pump failure caused emergency shutdown
-
|flagicon|ITAUnisat-4
|University of Rome La Sapienza
|Intended:LEO
|Technology demonstration satellite
-
|flagicon|RUSBaumanets
|MGTU/RKA
|Intended:LEO
|Earth observation and amateur radio satellite
-
|flagicon|ITAPICPOT
|Politecnico di Torino
|Intended:LEO
|Earth observation satellite
-
|flagicon|USASACRED
|University of Arizona
|Intended:LEO
|Cubesat
-
|flagicon|USAION
|University of Illinois
|Intended:LEO
|DoubleCubesat
-
|flagicon|USARincon 1
|University of Arizona
|Intended:LEO
|Cubesat
-
|flagicon|USAICECube1
|Cornell
|Intended:LEO
|Cubesat
-
|flagicon|USAKUTESat Pathfinder
|University of Kansas
|Intended:LEO
|Cubesat
-
|flagicon|JPNSEEDS
|Nihon University
|Intended:LEO
|Cubesat
-
|flagicon|NORnCube 1
|Government of Norway
|Intended:LEO
|Cubesat
-
|flagicon|KORHAUSAT-1
|Government of South Korea
|Intended:LEO
|Cubesat
-
|flagicon|USAMEROPE
|University of Montana
|Intended:LEO
|Cubesat
-
|flagicon|USACP2
|CalPoly
|Intended:LEO
|Cubesat
-
|flagicon|USAAeroCube-1
|AerospaceCorp
|Intended:LEO
|Cubesat
-
|flagicon|USACP1
|CalPoly
|Intended:LEO
|Cubesat
-
|flagicon|USAVoyager
|University of Hawaii
|Intended:LEO
|Cubesat
-
|flagicon|USAICECube2
|Cornell
|Intended:LEO
|Cubesat
-
|28 July , 07:05GMT
|flagicon|RUSRockot
|flagicon|KAZLC-133, Plesetsk
|flagicon|EU/flagicon|RUSEurockot
|flagicon|KORKOMPSAT 2
|KARI
|LEO
|Earth Observation satellite
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|4 August , 21:48GMT
|flagicon|RUSProton
|flagicon|KAZBaikonur
|flagicon|RUS/flagicon|USAILS
|flagicon|EUHot Bird 8
|Eutelsat
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
rowspan=2 |11 August , 22:15GMT
rowspan=2 |flagicon|EUAriane 5 ECA
rowspan=2 |flagicon|FRAELA-3 , CSG (Kourou )
rowspan=2 |flagicon|FRAArianespace
|flagicon|JPNJCSat 10
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|FRASyracuse 3B
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|22 August , 03:27GMT
|flagicon|UKRZenit 3SL
|flagicon|NOROcean Odyssey
|flagicon|UNSea Launch
|flagicon|KORKoreasat 5
|KT Corporation /Agency for Defence Development
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|9 September , 07:00GMT
|flagicon|PRCCZ-2C
|flagicon|PRCJiquan
|flagicon|PRCCASC
|flagicon|PRCShi Jian 8
|CASC
|LEO
|Investigate exposure of seeds tomicrogravity andradiation
|24 September 2006 , 02:43GMT
|Successful
-
rowspan=2 |9 September , 15:15GMT
rowspan=2 |flagicon|USASpace Shuttle "Atlantis"
rowspan=2 |flagicon|USALC-39B, Kennedy
rowspan=2 |flagicon|USAUSA
|flagicon|USASTS-115 , 6astronaut s
|NASA
|LEO, docked to ISS
|Manned Orbital Flight
|21 September 2006 , 10:21GMT
|Successful
|ISS assembly flight
-
|flagicon|UNISS P3/4 Truss
|NASA
|LEO, attached to ISS
|ISS component
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|11 September , 04:35GMT
|flagicon|JPNH-IIA
|flagicon|JPNTanegashima
|flagicon|JPNMHI
|flagicon|JPNIGS
|Japanese government
|LEO
|Reconnaissance satellite
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|12 September , 16:02GMT
|flagicon|PRCLong March 3A
|flagicon|PRCTaiyuan
|flagicon|PRCCAST
|flagicon|PRCZhongxing 22A
|Geosynchronous
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|14 September , 13:41GMT
|flagicon|RUSSoyuz-U (R-7/A-2)
|flagicon|KAZLC-31/6, BaiknourFact|date=April 2008
|flagicon|RUSVKS
|flagicon|RUSKosmos 2423 (Don)
|VKS
|LEO
|Classified
|Still in orbit
|Successful
|Ceased operations17 November 2006 .
Destroyed
-|
18 September , 04:08GMT [cite web | url = http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/database/MasterCatalog?sc=2006-040A | title = Soyuz TMA-9 - NSSDC ID: 2006-040A | publisher = National Space Science Data Center]
|flagicon|RUSSoyuz FG
|flagicon|RUSLC-1/5,Baikonur
|flagicon|RUSRKA
|flagicon|RUSSoyuz TMA-9
3 Cosmonauts
|RKA
|LEO, docked to ISS
|Manned orbital flight
|21 April 2007 , 12:31GMT
|Successful
|ISSExpedition 14
First femaleSpace tourist
-
rowspan=3 |22 September , 21:36GMT
rowspan=3 |flagicon|JPNM-V
rowspan=3 |flagicon|JPNUchinoura
rowspan=3 |flagicon|JPNJAXA
|flagicon|JPNHinode
(Solar-B)
|JAXA
| LEO (Sun synchronous polar orbit)
|Solar telescope
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
rowspan=3|Final flight ofM-V rocketSSSat failed to establish communications [ [http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/j/snews/2006/1031_sssat.shtml ISAS] ]
-
|flagicon|JPNHIT-SAT
|Hokkaido Institute of Technology
|LEO
| Technology developmentnanosatellite
|18 June 2008 , 08:48GMT [ [http://www.reentrynews.com/2006041f.html Re-entry News - HITSAT Satellite] ]
|Successful
-
| flagicon|JPNSSSAT
|JAXA
|ExperimentalSolar sail nanosatellite
|26 September 2006
| Failure
-
|nowrap|25 September , 18:50GMT
|flagicon|USADelta II (7925)
|flagicon|USALC-17A, Cape Canaveral
|flagicon|USABoeing IDS
|flagicon|USAGPS IIR-15 (M2) (USA-190)
|US Air Force
|MEO
|GPS navigation satellite
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|25 September , 20:14GMT
|flagicon|USASpaceLoft XL
|flagicon|USASpaceport America ,Upham, New Mexico
|flagicon|USAUP Aerospace
|N/A
|Various
|Suborbital
|Various experiments
|T+60 seconds
|Failure
|Maiden flight ofSpaceLoft XL Sounding rocket
First flight fromSpaceport America
Went out of control and failed to reach space.
-
rowspan=3 |13 October , 20:56GMT
rowspan=3 |flagicon|EUAriane 5 ECA
rowspan=3 |flagicon|FRAELA-3 , CSG (Kourou )
rowspan=3 |flagicon|FRAArianespace
|flagicon|USADirecTV-9S
|DirecTV
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|AUSOptus D1
|Optus
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|JPNLDREX-2
|JAXA
|GTO
|Technology development
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|19 October , 16:28GMT
|flagicon|RUSSoyuz-2.1a
|flagicon|KAZLC-31/6,Baikonur
|flagicon|EU/flagicon|RUSStarsem
|flagicon|EUMetOp-A
|EUMETSAT
|LEO (Sun synchronous polar orbit)
|Weather satellite
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|23 October , 13:41GMT
|flagicon|RUSSoyuz-U (R-7 11A511U)
|flagicon|RUSLC-1/5, Baikonur
|flagicon|RUSRKA
|flagicon|RUSProgress 23P (M-58)
|RKA
|LEO, docked to ISS
|Resupply ISS
|27 March 2007 , 22:44GMT
|Successful
|Antenna stowage issues on26 October initially prevented full mechanical docking. A second docking attempt was successful.
-
rowspan = 2|24 October , 23:34GMT
rowspan = 2|flagicon|PRCLong March 4B
rowspan = 2|Taiyuan
rowspan = 2|flagicon|PRCCASC
|flagicon|PRCShi Jian 6-2A
|CASC
|LEO
|Environmental research
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|PRCShi Jian 6-2B
|CASC
|LEO
|Environmental research
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
rowspan = 2|26 October , 00:52GMT
rowspan = 2|flagicon|USADelta II (7925)
rowspan = 2|flagicon|USALC-17B, Cape Canaveral
rowspan = 2|flagicon|USABoeing IDS
|flagicon|USASTEREO-A
|NASA
|Heliocentric
|Study Sun and Earth
|Still In Orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|USASTEREO-B
|NASA
|Heliocentric
|Study Sun and Earth
|Still In Orbit
|Successful so far
-
|28 October , 16:20GMT
|flagicon|PRCLong March 3B
|flagicon|PRCXichang
|flagicon|PRCCASC
|flagicon|PRCSinosat-2
|Sinosat
|Intended: Geosynchronous
Actual: Subsynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Failure
|Solar panels and communications antenna failed to deploy
-
|30 October , 23:48GMT
|flagicon|UKRZenit 3SL
|flagicon|NOROcean Odyssey
Pacific Ocean
|flagicon|UNSea Launch
|flagicon|USAXM-4 "Blues"
|XM Satellite Radio
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|4 November , 13:53GMT
|flagicon|USADelta IV-M
|flagicon|USASLC-6,Vandenberg AFB
|flagicon|USABoeing IDS
|flagicon|USADMSP F17
|US Air Force /NOAA
|LEO (Polar)
|Weather Satellite
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|8 November , 20:01GMT
|flagicon|RUSProton-M/Briz-M
|flagicon|KAZLC-200/39, Baikonur
|flagicon|RUSILS
|flagicon|SAUBadr-4 (ARABSAT 4B)
|ARABSAT
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|9 November , 08:45GMT
|flagicon|FRAM51 SLBM
|flagicon|FRABiscarosse , Landes
|flagicon|FRAFrench Navy
|flagicon|FRATN 75
|French Navy
|Sub-orbital
|SLBM test launch
|9 November 2006
|Successful
-
|17 November , 19:12GMT
|flagicon|USADelta II (7925)
|flagicon|USALC-17A, Cape Canaveral
|flagicon|USABoeing IDS
|flagicon|USAGPS IIR-16 (M3)
|US Air Force
|MEO
|GPS navigation satellite
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|8 December , 00:53GMT
|flagicon|PRCLong March 3A (CZ-3A)
|flagicon|PRCTaiyuan
|flagicon|PRCCASC
|flagicon|PRCFeng Yun 2D
|CSMA
|Geosynchronous
|Weather Satellite
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
rowspan=2 |8 December , 22:07GMT
rowspan=2 |flagicon|FRAAriane 5 ECA
rowspan=2 |flagicon|FRAELA-3 , CSG (Kourou )
rowspan=2 |flagicon|FRAArianespace
|flagicon|USAWildBlue 1
|WildBlue
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|USAAmericom 18
|SES Americom
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
rowspan=8 |10 December , 01:47GMT
rowspan=8 |flagicon|USASpace Shuttle "Discovery"
rowspan=8 |flagicon|USALC-39B, Kennedy
rowspan=8 |flagicon|USAUSA
|flagicon|USASTS-116 , 7astronaut s
|NASA
|LEO, docked to ISS
|Manned Orbital Flight
rowspan="2"|22 December 2006 , 22:32GMT
|Successful
|ISS assembly flightExpedition 14 partial crew change
-
|flagicon|USASpacehab module
|NASA
|LEO, attached to "Discovery"
|Resupply ISS
|Successful
-
|flagicon|UNISS P5 truss
|NASA
|LEO, attached to ISS
|ISS component
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|USAANDE-MAA
|US Naval Academy
|LEO
|Technology development
|9 February 2007
|Partial failure
|Failed to deploy after becoming stuck in launch canister, still transmitted data
-
|flagicon|USAANDE-FACL
|US Naval Academy
|LEO
|Technology development
|9 February 2007
|Successful
-
|flagicon|USARAFT1
|US Naval Academy
|LEO
|Calibration target
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
|Cubesat
-
|flagicon|USAMARScom
|US Naval Academy
|LEO
|Calibration target
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
|Cubesat
-
|flagicon|USAMEPSI-2
|DARPA
|LEO
|Technology development
|8 March 2007
|Successful
|Cubesat
-
|11 December , 23:28GMT
|flagicon|RUSProton-M/Briz-M
|flagicon|KAZLC-200/39, Baikonur
|flagicon|RUS/flagicon|USAILS
|flagicon|MASMEASAT 3
|MEASAT
|Geosynchronous
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|14 December , 21:00GMT
|flagicon|USADelta II (7920-10)
|flagicon|USASLC-2W,Vandenberg AFB
|flagicon|USAULA
|flagicon|USAUSA-193 (NRO L-21)
|NRO
|LEO
|Classified
|21 February 2008 , 03:29GMT
|Failure
|First launch to be contracted by ULA
Satellite failed to contact ground.
Destroyed by ASAT on21 February 2008 .
-
rowspan="2"|16 December , 12:00GMT
rowspan="2"|flagicon|USAMinotaur
rowspan="2"|flagicon|USAPad-0B,Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (Wallops Island )
rowspan="2"|flagicon|USAOSC
|flagicon|USATacSat 2
|US Naval Research Laboratory
|LEO
|Experimental satellite
|Still in orbit
|Partial failure
rowspan="2"|First launch fromMid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport . Little or no imagery returned by TacSat due to politial dispute. TacSat lost contact with ground in January 2008.
-
|flagicon|USAGeneSat
|NASA
|LEO
|Scientific research
|Still in orbit
|Successful
-
|18 December , 06:32GMT
|flagicon|JPNH-IIA
|flagicon|JPNTanegashima
|flagicon|JPNJAXA
|flagicon|JPNETS 8
|JAXA
|Geosynchronous
|Technology demonstration
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
|Full antenna deployment one day late [ [http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2006/12/20061226_kiku8-2_e.html Deployment Result of the Large Deployable Antenna Reflectors of the Engineering Test Satellite VIII "KIKU No. 8"] .Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency ,26 December ,2006 ]
-
|19 December , 14:00GMT
|flagicon|RUSKosmos-3M
|flagicon|RUSLC-132, Plesetsk
|flagicon|GER/flagicon|RUSCOSMOS International
|flagicon|GERSAR-Lupe 1
|Kommando Strategische Aufklärung ,Bundeswehr
|LEO
|Radar reconnaissance
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|24 December , 08:34GMT
|flagicon|RUSSoyuz 2.1a /Fregat
|flagicon|RUSPlesetsk
|flagicon|RUSVKS
|flagicon|RUSKosmosFact|date=April 2008 (Meridian)
|VKS
|Molniya
|Comsat
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
rowspan=3 |25 December , 20:18GMT
rowspan=3 |flagicon|RUSProton-K/DM-2
rowspan=3 |flagicon|KAZLC-81/23,Baikonur Cosmodrome
rowspan=3 |flagicon|RUSVKS
|flagicon|RUSKosmos 2424 (Glonass )
|KNITs
|MEO
|Navigation
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|RUSKosmos 2425 (Glonass )
|KNITs
|MEO
|Navigation
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|flagicon|RUSKosmos 2426 (Glonass )
|KNITs
|MEO
|Navigation
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-
|27 December , 14:23GMT
|flagicon|RUSSoyuz 2.1b /Fregat
|flagicon|KAZLC-31/6, Baikonur
|flagicon|EU/flagicon|RUSStarsem
|flagicon|FRACoRoT
|CNES
|LEO
|Astronomy satellite
|Still in orbit
|Successful so far
-Orbital launch summary
By country
Deep Space Rendezvous in 2006
*
15 January — Capsule from Stardust landed on Earth with cometary samples
*15 January — Cassini flyby of Titan - T10 (2,042 km)
*27 February — Cassini flyby of Titan - T11 (1,812 km)
*10 March —Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter enters Martian orbit
*18 March — Cassini flyby of Titan - T12 (1,947 km)
*11 April —Venus Express enters Venerian orbit
*30 April — Cassini flyby of Titan - T13 (1,853 km)
*20 May — Cassini flyby of Titan - T14 (1,879 km)
*2 July — Cassini flyby of Titan - T15 (1,911 km)
*22 July — Cassini flyby of Titan - T16 (950 km)
*4 September —SMART-1 deliberately impacted theMoon
*7 September — Cassini flyby of Titan - T17 (950 km)
*23 September — Cassini flyby of Titan - T18 (950 km)
*9 October — Cassini flyby of Titan - T19 (950 km)
*23 October —MESSENGER 1st flyby of Venus
*25 October — Cassini flyby of Titan - T20 (950 km)
*12 December — Cassini flyby of Titan - T21 (950 km)
*28 December — Cassini flyby of Titan - T22 (1,500 km)References
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