2006 in spaceflight

Orbital launches
Launch of New Horizons, the first probe to Pluto, on the first Atlas V 551
First	19 January
Last	27 December
Total	66 or 67
Successes	62
Failures	4 or 5
Partial failures	0
Catalogued	63
National firsts
Satellite	Kazakhstan
Space traveller	Brazil Iran Sweden
Rockets
Maiden Flights	Atlas V 411 Atlas V 551 Long March 4B-II (4C) Falcon 1 H-IIA 204 Soyuz-2.1b
Retirements	Tsyklon-2 M-V
Manned flights
Orbital	5
Total travellers	26

Launches

← Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec →

Date and time (UTC)	Rocket		Launch site		LSP
	Payload	Operator	Orbit	Function	Decay (UTC)	Outcome
	Remarks
January
19 January 19:00:00	Atlas V 551		Cape Canaveral SLC-41		International Launch Services
	New Horizons	NASA	Galactocentric	Pluto flyby	In orbit	Operational
	Maiden flight of Atlas V 551, will explore Pluto and the Kuiper belt, first spacecraft planned to visit Pluto
18 January 11:48^[1]	Sounding Rocket V		Jiu Peng		NSPO
		NSPO/NCU	Suborbital	Ionospheric	11:57	Successful
	Apogee: 282 kilometres (175 mi)
22 January 04:00	S-310		Uchinoura		JAXA
	Furoshiki	JAXA	Suborbital	Technology	22 January	Successful
	Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
24 January 01:33	H-IIA 2022		Tanegashima LA-Y1		JAXA^[4]
	Daichi (ALOS)	JAXA	Sun-synchronous	Remote Sensing	In orbit	Partial spacecraft failure Operational
	Poor quality images returned due to attitude control and noise problems^[2] was resolved by software adjustment.^[3]
February
6 February	Dong Feng 21		Xichang		PLA
		PLA	Suborbital	ASAT	6 February	Spacecraft failure
	Apogee: 800 kilometres (500 mi), missed satellite
8 February 18:47	Black Brant IX		White Sands LC-36		NASA
	MOSES		Suborbital	Solar	8 February	Successful
	Apogee: 282 kilometres (175 mi)
15 February 23:34:55	Zenit-3SL		Ocean Odyssey		Sea Launch
15 February 23:34:55	EchoStar X	EchoStar	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
16 February 08:01	LGM-30G Minuteman III		Vandenberg LF-10		US Air Force
	SERV-3	US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	16 February	Successful
	Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
18 February 06:27	H-IIA 2024		Tanegashima LA-Y1		RSC^[5]^[6]
	MTSAT-2	MILT/JMA	Geosynchronous	ATC/Weather	In orbit	Operational
	Last launch conducted by RSC
21 February 21:28:00	M-V		Uchinoura		JAXA
	Akari (ASTRO-F)	JAXA	Sun-synchronous	IR astronomy	In orbit	Operational
	Cute-1.7+APD	TiTech	Low Earth	Amateur radio	In orbit	Operational
	Cute-1.7+APD is a 2U CubeSat
23 February 16:09	UGM-27 Polaris (STARS)		Kodiak		Sandia
	FT-03-1		Suborbital	Target	23 Februar	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
28 February 20:10:00	Proton-M/Briz-M		Baikonur Site 200/39		International Launch Services
	Arabsat 4A	Arabsat	Intended: Geosynchronous Achieved: Medium Earth	Communications	24 March^[7]	Launch failure
	Upper stage malfunction left payload in useless orbit, deorbited after attempts to raise orbit failed
March
8 March 08:45	RIM-161 Standard Missile 3		USS Lake Erie, PMRF		US Navy
	JCTV-1	US Navy/MDA/JMSDF	Suborbital	Missile test	8 March	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
11 March 22:33	Ariane 5ECA		Kourou ELA-3		Arianespace
	SpainSat-1	Hisdesat	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
	Hot Bird 7A	Eutelsat	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
22 March 14:03	Pegasus-XL		Stargazer, Vandenberg		Orbital Sciences
	ST-5A	NASA	Low Earth	Technology	In orbit	Successful
	ST-5B	NASA	Low Earth	Technology	In orbit	Successful
	ST-5C	NASA	Low Earth	Technology	In orbit	Successful
	All three satellites deactivated on 30 June
24 March 22:30	Falcon 1		Omelek		SpaceX
	FalconSat 2	USAF Academy	Intended: Low Earth	Plasma research	T+60 seconds	Launch failure
	Maiden flight of Falcon 1, rocket lost power shortly after launch due to engine fire caused by corrosion of a nut on a fuel line.
25 March 03:15	Terrier-Orion		Woomera LA-2		Queensland
	Hyshot-3	Queensland	Suborbital	Hypersonic research	03:25	Successful
	Apogee: 325 kilometres (202 mi)
30 March 02:30:20	Soyuz-FG		Baikonur Site 1/5		Roskosmos
	Soyuz TMA-8	Roskosmos	Low Earth (ISS)	ISS Expedition 13	29 September 01:13	Successful
	Manned orbital flight with 3 cosmonauts, first Brazilian in space
30 March 02:40	Terrier-Orion		Woomera LA-2		Queensland
	Hyshot-4	Queensland/JAXA	Suborbital	Hypersonic research	30 March	Launch failure
	Apogee: 290 kilometres (180 mi), nosecone failed to separate
April
7 April 13:00	LGM-30G Minuteman III		Vandenberg LF-26		US Air Force
	GT-190GM	US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	7 April	Successful
	Long-range test, aimed at Guam, apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
12 April 18:10	Black Brant IX		White Sands LC-36		NASA
	EUNIS	NASA	Suborbital	Solar	12 April	Successful
	Apogee: 318 kilometres (198 mi)
12 April 23:29:59	Zenit-3SL		Ocean Odyssey		Sea Launch
12 April 23:29:59	JCSAT-9	JCSAT	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
13 April	SR19-SR19		PMRF		Sandia
	FTC-02B	MDA	Suborbital	Target	13 April	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
15 April 01:40:00	Minotaur I		Vandenberg SLC-8		Orbital Sciences
	COSMIC-FM1 (FORMOSAT-3A)	NASA/NSPO	Low Earth	Atmospheric	In orbit	Operational
	COSMIC-FM2 (FORMOSAT-3B)	NASA/NSPO	Low Earth	Atmospheric	In orbit	Partial spacecraft failure Operational
	COSMIC-FM3 (FORMOSAT-3C)	NASA/NSPO	Low Earth	Atmospheric	In orbit	Partial spacecraft failure Operational
	COSMIC-FM4 (FORMOSAT-3D)	NASA/NSPO	Low Earth	Atmospheric	In orbit	Operational
	COSMIC-FM5 (FORMOSAT-3E)	NASA/NSPO	Low Earth	Atmospheric	In orbit	Operational
	COSMIC-FM6 (FORMOSAT-3F)	NASA/NSPO	Low Earth	Atmospheric	In orbit	Operational
	Power system and solar panel malfunctions on FM2 and FM3, control issues with FM6 during 2007
20 April 20:27:00	Atlas V 411		Cape Canaveral SLC-41		International Launch Services
	Astra 1KR	SES Astra	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
	Maiden flight of Atlas V 411, final ILS Atlas launch
22 April 16:40	Kosmos-3MR		Kapustin Yar Site 107/1		RVSN
	PBS-2	RVSN	Suborbital	REV test	22 April	Successful
	Apogee: 675 kilometres (419 mi)
24 April 16:03:25	Soyuz-U		Baikonur Site 1/5		Roskosmos
	Progress M-56	Roskosmos	Low Earth (ISS)	Logistics	18 September	Successful
	ISS flight 21P
25 April 16:47:16	Start-1		Svobodny Site 5		United Start
	EROS-B	ImageSat	Low Earth (polar)	Imaging	In orbit	Operational
	Final launch from Svobodny Cosmodrome
26 April 22:48	Long March 4B-II (4C)		Taiyuan LC-1		CNSA
	Yaogan 1	CAST	Low Earth	Imaging	In orbit	Operational
	Maiden flight of Long March 4B-II, redesignated Long March 4C by November 2007
28 April 10:02:16	Delta II 7420-10C		Vandenberg SLC-2W		Boeing IDS
	CALIPSO	NASA/CNES	Sun-synchronous	Climatology	In orbit	Operational
	CloudSat	NASA	Sun-synchronous	Climatology	In orbit	Operational
	Both satellites part of the A-train constellation, spacecraft study aerosols and clouds respectively
28 April	SR19-SR19		PMRF		Sandia
	FTC-02	MDA	Suborbital	Target	28 April	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
29 April	Shaheen-II		Sonmiani		Army of Pakistan
		Army of Pakistan	Suborbital	Target	29 April	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
May
2 May 06:16	Maxus (Castor 4B)		Esrange		EuroLaunch
	MAXUS 9	ESA/SSC	Suborbital	Microgravity	2 May	Successful
	Apogee: 702 kilometres (436 mi)
3 May 17:38	Soyuz-U		Plesetsk Site 16/2		RVSN
3 May 17:38	Kosmos 2420 (Kobal't-M)	VKS	Low Earth	Optical imaging	In orbit	Operational
10 May 08:12	VSB-30		Esrange		EuroLaunch
	TEXUS-43	DLR/SSC	Suborbital	Microgravity	10 May	Successful
	Apogee: 237 kilometres (147 mi)
11 May	THAAD		White Sands		US Army
	FTT-02	MDA	Suborbital	ABM test	11 May	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), simulated intercept
22 May 09:30	Terrier-Orion		White Sands		NASA
	ACS	NASA	Suborbital	Test	22 May	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
22 May	Shahab-3		Shahrood		IRG
		IRG	Suborbital	Missile test	22 May	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
24 May 22:11:00	Delta IV-M+ (4,2)		Cape Canaveral SLC-37B		Boeing IDS
24 May 22:11:00	GOES 13 (GOES-N)	NASA/NOAA	Geostationary	Weather	In orbit	Operational
26 May 18:50	Shtil'		K-84 Ekaterinburg, Barents Sea		VMF
	Kompass 2	Roskosmos	Low Earth	Earthquake detection	28 December 2011	Partial spacecraft failure
	Control and power problems made satellite unusable. Written off on 29 May 2006. Problems cleared by November, and satellite re-activated.^[8]
27 May 21:09	Ariane 5ECA		Kourou ELA-3		Arianespace
	Satmex 6	SatMex	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
	Thaicom 5	Shin Satellite	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
	Record for heaviest dual-payload to geosynchronous transfer orbit, stood until May 2007
June
5 June 16:05	Terrier-Orion		White Sands		NASA
		NAWC	Suborbital	Target	5 June	Successful
	Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
7 June 22:00	Terrier-Orion		PMRF		NASA
		NAWC	Suborbital	Target	7 June	Successful
	Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
8 June 16:00	Terrier-Orion		White Sands		NASA
	DUNDEE	NAWC	Suborbital	Target	8 June	Successful
	Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
14 June 08:22	LGM-30G Minuteman III		Vandenberg LF-04		US Air Force
	GT-191GM	US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	14 June	Successful
	Carried three Mk. 21 re-entry vehicles, Apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
15 June 08:00:00	Soyuz-U		Baikonur Site 1/5		Roskosmos
15 June 08:00:00	Resurs-DK-1	Roskosmos	Low Earth	Remote sensing	In orbit	Operational
17 June 22:44:05	Proton-K/DM-3		Baikonur Site 200/39		Khrunichev
	KazSat-1	JSC KazSat	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Spacecraft failure
	First Kazakh satellite, satellite suffered control problems and was unusable by October 2008
18 June 07:50	Zenit-3SL		Ocean Odyssey		Sea Launch
	Galaxy 16	Intelsat	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
	Launched for PanAmSat, transferred to Intelsat before entry into service due to merger
21 June 22:15	Delta II 7925		Cape Canaveral SLC-17A		Boeing IDS
	USA-187 (MiTEx-A)	US Air Force/DARPA	Geostationary	Technology	In orbit	Operational
	USA-188 (MiTEx-B)	US Air Force/DARPA	Geostationary	Technology	In orbit	Operational
	USA-189 (MiTEx Carrier)	NRL/DARPA	Geostationary	Technology	In orbit	Operational
22 June 22:00	MRT (Castor 4B)		PMRT		US Navy
	FTM-10 Target	US Navy/MDA	Suborbital	Target	22 June	Successful
	Intercepted by SM-3, apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
22 June 22:04	RIM-161 Standard Missile 3		USS Shiloh, PMRF		US Navy
	FTM-10	US Navy/MDA	Suborbital	ABM test	22 June	Successful
	Intercepted MRT, apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
23 June 23:02	Terrier-Orion		PMRF		NASA
	TRACKEX	NAWC/MDA	Suborbital	Target	23 June	Successful
	Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
24 June 15:08:18	Soyuz-U		Baikonur Site 1/5		Roskosmos
	Progress M-57	Roskosmos	Low Earth (ISS)	Logistics	17 January 2007	Successful
	ISS flight 22P
25 June 04:00	Tsyklon-2		Baikonur Site 90/20		VKS
	Kosmos 2421 (US-PU)	VMF	Low Earth	ELINT	20 March 2008	Partial spacecraft failure
	Final flight of Tsyklon-2 rocket. One of satellite's solar panels failed to deploy,^[9] ceased operations in February or March 2008 and destroyed in orbit on 20 March. Spacecraft carried KONUS-A gamma-ray astronomy experiment for Roskosmos
28 June 03:30:00	Delta IV-M+ (4,2)		Vandenberg SLC-6		Boeing IDS
	USA-184 (Prowler)	NRO	Molniya	ELINT	In orbit	Operational
	First EELV launch from Vandenberg, carried SBIRS-HEO-1 and TWINS-A experiments for the US Air Force and NASA respectively, NRO Launch 22
30 June 06:25	R-29RMU Sineva		K-84 Ekaterinburg, Barents Sea		VMF
		VMF	Suborbital	Missile test	30 June	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
July
1 July 06:39	Terrier-Orion		Andøya		Andøya/NASA
	/SPIRIT-III	ESPRIT	Suborbital	Ionospheric Plasma research	1 July	Successful
	Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi)
1 July 06:39	Terrier-Orion		Andøya		Andøya
	HotPay-1	Andøya	Suborbital	Aeronomy	1 July	Launch failure
	Apogee: 40 kilometres (25 mi)
4 July 18:32	Hwasong-6		Kittaeryong		KPA
		KPA	Suborbital	Missile test	4 July	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), first of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
4 July 18:37:55	Space Shuttle Discovery		Kennedy LC-39B		United Space Alliance
	STS-121	NASA	Low Earth (ISS)	ISS assembly	17 July 13:14	Successful
	Leonardo MPLM	ASI/NASA	Low Earth (ISS)	Logistics	17 July 13:14	Successful
	Manned flight with 7 astronauts, second Return to Flight mission after Columbia accident
4 July 19:04	Rodong-1		Kittaeryong		KPA
		KPA	Suborbital	Missile test	4 July	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), second of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
4 July 20:01	Taepodong-2		Musudan-ri		KPA
	Gwangmyeongseong-2	KPA	Intended: Low Earth (unconfirmed)	Weather/Communication	+42 seconds	Launch failure
	Maiden flight of Taepodong-2, rocket failed shortly after launch, reaching an apogee of 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), intended as an orbital launch attempt,^[10] but later North Korea claimed for a suborbital missile self-destruct test and destruction success (not launch failure),^[11] third of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
4 July 22:31	Rodong-1		Kittaeryong		KPA
		KPA	Suborbital	Missile test	4 July	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), fourth of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
4 July 22:12	Hwasong-6		Kittaeryong		KPA
		KPA	Suborbital	Missile test	4 July	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), fifth of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
4 July 23:20	Rodong-1		Kittaeryong		KPA
		KPA	Suborbital	Missile test	4 July	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), sixth of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
5 July 08:20	Rodong-1		Kittaeryong		KPA
		KPA	Suborbital	Missile test	5 July	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi), last of seven North Korean launches in fourteen hours
9 July 05:33	Agni III		Integrated Test Range LC-4		DRDO
		DRDO	Suborbital	Missile test	9 July	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
10 July 12:08	GSLV		Satish Dhawan		ISRO
	INSAT 4C	ISRO	Intended: Geostationary	Communications	T+60 seconds	Launch failure
	Loss of control due to LRB engine failure, self-destructed 60 seconds into flight
12 July 11:17	Hera		White Sands		US Army
	FFT-4 Target	US Army/MDA	Suborbital	Target	12 July	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), Intercepted after reentry by endoatmospheric THAAD launched at 11:20
12 July 14:53:36	Dnepr-1		Dombarovskiy		ISC Kosmotras
	Genesis I	Bigelow	Low Earth	Technology	In orbit	Operational
	First unmanned prototype of a commercial space station module
21 July 10:14	LGM-30G Minuteman III		Vandenberg LF-09		US Air Force
	GT-192GM	US Air Force	Suborbital	Missile test	21 July	Successful
	Carried three Mk.21 reentry vehicles, apogee: 1,300 kilometres (810 mi)
21 July 04:20:03	Molniya-M		Plesetsk Site 16/2		VKS
21 July 04:20:03	Kosmos 2422 (Oko)	VKS	Molniya	Missile defence	In orbit	Operational
26 July 19:43:05	Dnepr-1		Baikonur Site 109/95		ISC Kosmotras
	BelKA	NAS	Intended: Low Earth	Observation	T+74 seconds	Launch failure
	Unisat-4	Sapienza	Intended: Low Earth	Technology
	Baumanets	Roskosmos	Intended: Low Earth	Technology
	PicPot	POLITIO	Intended: Low Earth	Technology
	SACRED	Arizona Montpelier Alcatel	Intended: Low Earth	Radiation
	ION	Illinois	Intended: Low Earth	Technology Ionospheric
	Rincon 1	Arizona	Intended: Low Earth	Technology
	ICECube-1	Cornell	Intended: Low Earth	Technology
	KUTESat Pathfinder	Kansas	Intended: Low Earth	Technology
	SEEDS	Nichidai	Intended: Low Earth	Amateur radio
	nCube-1	NSSP	Intended: Low Earth	Technology
	HAUSAT-1	HAU	Intended: Low Earth	Technology
	MEROPE	Montana	Intended: Low Earth	Technology
	CP2	CalPoly	Intended: Low Earth	Technology
	AeroCube-1	Aerospace	Intended: Low Earth	Technology
	CP1	CalPoly	Intended: Low Earth	Technology
	Mea Huaka'i (Voyager)	Hawaii	Intended: Low Earth	Technology
	ICECube-2	Cornell	Intended: Low Earth	Technology
	First-stage engine hydraulic pump failure, thrust termination system activated
28 July 07:05:43	Rokot/Briz-KM		Plesetsk Site 133/3		Eurockot
28 July 07:05:43	Arirang-2 (KOMPSAT-2)	KARI	Low Earth	Earth Observation	In orbit	Operational
August
3 August 10:38	RT-2PM Topol (RS-12M)		Plesetsk		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	11:04	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), impacted Kura Test Range
4 August 21:48:00	Proton-M/Briz-M		Baikonur Site 200/39		International Launch Services
4 August 21:48:00	Hot Bird 8	Eutelsat	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
11 August 22:15	Ariane 5ECA		Kourou ELA-3		Arianespace
	JCSat 10	JSAT	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
	Syracuse 3B	DGA	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
21 August 14:30	Black Brant IX		White Sands LC-36		NASA
		MDA	Suborbital	Target	21 August	Successful
	Apogee: 380 kilometres (240 mi)
22 August 03:27:01	Zenit-3SL		Ocean Odyssey		Sea Launch
22 August 03:27:01	Koreasat 5	KT/ADD	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
25 August 14:30	Black Brant IX		White Sands LC-36		NASA
		MDA	Suborbital	Target	21 August	Successful
	Apogee: 382 kilometres (237 mi), THAAD target
September
1 September 17:22	UGM-27 Polaris (STARS)		Kodiak		Sandia
	GMD FTG-02 target	MDA	Suborbital	Target	1 September	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), intercepted by GBI
1 September 17:39	Orbital Boost Vehicle		Vandenberg LF-23		Orbital Sciences/MDA
	GMD FTG-02	MDA	Suborbital	ABM test	1 September	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi), intercepted STARS
4 September	Dong Feng 31		Taiyuan		PLA
		PLA	Suborbital	Missile test	4 September	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
7 September 15:50	RSM-56 Bulava (R-30)		RFS Dmitriy Donskoy, White Sea		VMF
		VMF	Suborbital	Missile test	7 September	Launch failure
	Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi), first stage malfunction
9 September 07:00	Long March 2C		Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-2		CNSA
	Shi Jian 8	CASC	Low Earth	Biological	24 September 02:43	Successful
	Investigated exposure of seeds to microgravity and radiation, spacecraft recovered after reentry
9 September 11:20	R-29RMU Sineva		K-84 Ekaterinburg, North Pole		VMF
		VMF	Suborbital	Missile test	9 September	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
9 September 15:14:55	Space Shuttle Atlantis		Kennedy LC-39B		United Space Alliance
	STS-115	NASA	Low Earth (ISS)	ISS assembly	21 September 10:21	Successful
	ITS P3/4 Truss	NASA	Low Earth (ISS)	ISS component	In orbit	Operational
	Manned orbital flight with 6 astronauts, first ISS assembly mission since 2002
9 September 22:17:00	Nike-Orion		Andøya		Andøya
	ECOMA-1	Andøya/DLR	Suborbital	Atmospheric	9 September	Successful
	Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi)
10 September 14:50	R-29R Volna		K-433 Svyaity Georgiy, Simushir		VMF
		VMF	Suborbital	Missile test	10 September	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
11 September 04:35	H-IIA 202		Tanegashima LA-Y1		JAXA
11 September 04:35	IGS-3A	CSICE	Low Earth	Optical imaging	In orbit	Operational
12 September 16:02	Long March 3A		Taiyuan LC-1		CNSC
12 September 16:02	ChinaSat 22A	ChinaSat	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
13 September 10:30	Hera		White Sands		US Army
	FFT-5 Target	US Army/MDA	Suborbital	Target	13 September	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), THAAD target
14 September 13:41:00	Soyuz-U		Baikonur Site 31/6		VKS
	Kosmos 2423 (Don)	VKS	Low Earth	Optical imaging	17 November	Successful
	Ceased operations on 14 November, self-destructed 3 days later
17 September 21:06:46	Nike-Orion		Andøya		Andøya
	ECOMA-2	Andøya/DLR	Suborbital	Atmospheric	17 September	Successful
	Apogee: 129 kilometres (80 mi)
18 September 04:08:42	Soyuz-FG		Baikonur Site 1/5		Roskosmos
	Soyuz TMA-9	Roskosmos	Low Earth (ISS)	ISS Expedition 14	21 April 2007 12:31	Successful
	Manned orbital flight with 3 cosmonauts including the first female space tourist and Iranian-born space traveller
22 September 21:36:00	M-V		Uchinoura		JAXA
	Hinode (SOLAR-B)	JAXA	Sun-synchronous	Solar	In orbit	Operational
	HIT-SAT	HIT	Low Earth	Technology	18 June 2008 08:48	Successful
	SSSAT	JAXA		Solar sail	26 September	Spacecraft failure
	Final flight of M-V rocket and Mu family, SSSat failed to establish communications with ground^[12]
23 September 15:17:54	Black Brant XI		Wallops Island		NASA
		NASA	Suborbital	Test	23 September	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
25 September 18:50	Delta II 7925		Cape Canaveral SLC-17A		Boeing IDS
25 September 18:50	USA-190 (GPS IIR-15/M2)	US Air Force	Medium Earth	Navigation	In orbit	Operational
25 September 20:14	SpaceLoft XL		Spaceport America		UP Aerospace
		Various	Suborbital	Various	T+60 seconds	Launch failure
	Maiden flight of SpaceLoft XL sounding rocket, first flight from Spaceport America, rocket went out of control and failed to reach space, apogee: 12 kilometres (7.5 mi)
October
13 October 20:56	Ariane 5ECA		Kourou ELA-3		Arianespace
	DirecTV-9S	DirecTV	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
	Optus D1	Optus	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
	LDREX-2	JAXA	Geosynchronous transfer	Technology	30 September 2010 02:23^[13]	Successful
19 October 16:28:13	Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat		Baikonur Site 31/6		Starsem
	MetOp-A	EUMETSAT	Sun-synchronous	Weather	In orbit	Operational
	Maiden flight of Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat
23 October 13:40:36	Soyuz-U		Baikonur Site 1/5		Roskosmos
	Progress M-58	Roskosmos	Low Earth (ISS)	Logistics	27 March 2007 22:44	Successful
	ISS flight 23P, antenna stowage issues on 26 October initially prevented full mechanical docking, second attempt was successful.
23 October 23:34	Long March 4B		Taiyuan LC-1		CNSA
	Shi Jian 6-2A	CASC	Low Earth	Environmental	In orbit	Operational
	Shi Jian 6-2B	CASC	Low Earth	Environmental	In orbit	Operational
25 October 13:05	RSM-56 Bulava (R-30)		RFS Dmitriy Donskoy, Beloye More		VMF
		VMF	Suborbital	Missile test	25 October	Launch failure
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), first stage malfunction
26 October 00:52:00	Delta II 7925		Cape Canaveral SLC-17B		Boeing IDS
	STEREO-A	NASA	Heliocentric	Solar	In orbit	Operational
	STEREO-B	NASA	Heliocentric	Solar	In orbit	Operational
28 October 16:20	Long March 3B		Xichang LA-2		CASC
	Sinosat-2	Sinosat	Intended: Geosynchronous Achieved: Subsynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Spacecraft failure
	Solar panels and communications antenna failed to deploy
28 October 17:58:00	Black Brant IX		White Sands LC-36		NASA
	LASP		Suborbital	Solar	28 October	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
30 October 23:48:59	Zenit-3SL		Ocean Odyssey		Sea Launch
30 October 23:48:59	XM-4 "Blues"	XM Satellite Radio	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
November
2 November	Shahab-3		Shahrood		IRG
		IRG	Suborbital	Missile test	2 November	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
4 November 13:53	Delta IV-M		Vandenberg SLC-6		Boeing IDS
4 November 13:53	USA-191 (DMSP F17)	US Air Force/NOAA	Sun-synchronous	Weather	In orbit	Operational
7 November 19:30	Black Brant IX		White Sands LC-36		NASA
	USC-7		Suborbital	Solar	7 November	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
8 November 20:01:00	Proton-M/Briz-M		Baikonur Site 200/39		International Launch Services
8 November 20:01:00	Badr-4 (ARABSAT 4B)	ARABSAT	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
9 November 08:51	M51		Biscarosse		French Navy
		French Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	9 November	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
9 November 11:35	UR-100NU		Baikonur Site 175/2		RVSN
		RVSN	Suborbital	Missile test	9 November	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
16 November	Terrier-Orion		PMRF		US Navy
	ARAV-B	US Navy	Suborbital	Target	16 November	Successful
	Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi)
16 November	Ghauri		Tilla		Army of Pakistan
	Haft-5	Army of Pakistan	Suborbital	Missile test	16 November	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
17 November 19:12:00	Delta II 7925		Cape Canaveral SLC-17A		Boeing IDS
17 November 19:12:00	USA-192 (GPS IIR-16/M3)	US Air Force	Medium Earth	Navigation	In orbit	Operational
21 November 02:00	Black Brant IX		White Sands LC-36		NASA
	CyXESS		Suborbital	XR Astronomy	21 November	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi)
21 November	UGM-133 Trident II (D5)		USS Maryland, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	21 November	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
21 November	UGM-133 Trident II (D5)		USS Maryland, ETR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test	21 November	Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
26 November	Prithvi		Integrated Test Range LC-3		DRDO
		DRDO	Suborbital	Missile test	26 November	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
27 November 04:45	Prithvi		Integrated Test Range LC-3		DRDO
		DRDO	Suborbital	Target	27 November	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), intercepted by another Prithvi
27 November 04:46	Prithvi		Integrated Test Range LC-4		DRDO
		DRDO	Suborbital	ABM test	27 November	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi), intercepted another Prithvi
29 November	Shaheen-I		Sonmiani		Army of Pakistan
	Haft-4	Army of Pakistan	Suborbital	Target	29 November	Successful
	Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi)
December
7 December	Aries		PMRF		US Navy
	FTM-11 Target	US Navy/MDA	Suborbital	Target	7 December	Successful
	Apogee: 300 kilometres (190 mi), AEGIS target
8 December 00:53	Long March 3A		Xichang LA-2		CASC
8 December 00:53	Feng Yun 2D	CMA	Geosynchronous	Weather	In orbit	Operational
8 December 22:08	Ariane 5ECA		Kourou ELA-3		Arianespace
	WildBlue 1	WildBlue	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
	AMC-18	SES Americom	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
10 December 01:47:35	Space Shuttle Discovery		Kennedy Space Center LC-39B		United Space Alliance
	STS-116	NASA	Low Earth (ISS)	ISS assembly	22 December 22:32	Successful
	Spacehab LSM	NASA	Low Earth (STS)	Logistics	22 December 22:32	Successful
	ITS P5 Truss	NASA	Low Earth (ISS)	ISS component	In orbit	Operational
	ANDE-MAA	US Naval Academy	Low Earth	Technology	9 February 2007	Partial spacecraft failure
	ANDE-FACL	US Naval Academy	Low Earth	Technology	9 February 2007	Successful
	RAFT1	US Naval Academy	Low Earth	Calibration	In orbit	Operational
	MARScom (NMARS)	US Naval Academy	Low Earth	Calibration	In orbit	Operational
	MEPSI-2	DARPA	Low Earth	Technology	8 March 2007	Successful
	Manned orbital flight with 7 astronauts, including the first Swedish space traveller; ISS crew exchange. ANDE-MAA failed to deploy after becoming stuck in launch canister, but still transmitted data; RAFT1, MARScom, and MEPSI-2 were cubesats.
11 December 23:28:43	Proton-M/Briz-M		Baikonur Site 200/39		International Launch Services
11 December 23:28:43	MEASAT-3	MEASAT	Geosynchronous	Communications	In orbit	Operational
14 December 21:00:00	Delta II 7920-10		Vandenberg SLC-2W		United Launch Alliance
	USA-193	NRO	Low Earth	Radar imaging Technology (unconfirmed)	21 February 2008 03:29	Spacecraft failure
	NRO Launch 21, first launch to be conducted by United Launch Alliance. Satellite failed to contract ground, destroyed by SM-3 ASAT on 21 February 2008.
16 December 12:00:00	Minotaur I		MARS LP-0B		Orbital Sciences
	TacSat 2	NRL	Low Earth	Optical imaging Technology	5 February 2011	Successful
	GeneSat	NASA	Low Earth	Biological	4 August 2010 20:43^[14]	Successful
	First launch from Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. Little or no imagery returned by TacSat due to politial dispute. TacSat lost contact with ground in January 2008.
18 December 06:32	H-IIA 204		Tanegashima LA-Y1		JAXA
	Kiku-8 (ETS-VIII)	JAXA	Geosynchronous	Technology	In orbit	Operational
	Maiden flight of H-IIA 204, full spacecraft antenna deployment one day late^[15]
19 December 14:00:19	Kosmos-3M		Plesetsk Site 132/1		COSMOS International
19 December 14:00:19	SAR-Lupe 1	Bundeswehr	Low Earth	Radar imaging	In orbit	Operational
24 December 08:34:44	Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat		Plesetsk Site 43/4		VKS
24 December 08:34:44	Meridian 1 (11L)	VKS	Molniya	Communications	In orbit	Operational
24 December	RSM-56 Bulava (R-30)		RFS Dmitriy Donskoy, Beloye More		VMF
		VMF	Suborbital	Missile test	24 December	Launch failure
	Apogee: 1 kilometre (0.62 mi), first stage malfunction
25 December 20:18:12	Proton-K/DM-2		Baikonur Site 81/24		VKS
	Kosmos 2424 (GLONASS-M)	KNITs	Medium Earth	Navigation	In orbit	Operational
	Kosmos 2425 (GLONASS-M)	KNITs	Medium Earth	Navigation	In orbit	Operational
	Kosmos 2426 (GLONASS-M)	KNITs	Medium Earth	Navigation	In orbit	Operational
27 December 14:23:38	Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat		Baikonur Site 31/6		Starsem
	CoRoT	CNES	Low Earth	Astronomy	In orbit	Operational
	Maiden flight of Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat
Unknown	UGM-133 Trident II (D5)		Submarine, WTR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)
Unknown	UGM-133 Trident II (D5)		Submarine, WTR		US Navy
		US Navy	Suborbital	Missile test		Successful
	Apogee: 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)

← Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec →

Deep Space Rendezvous in 2006

Date (GMT)	Spacecraft	Event	Remarks
15 January	Stardust	Capsule landing on Earth with cometary samples
15 January	Cassini	10th flyby of Titan	Closest approach: 2,042 kilometres (1,269 mi)
27 February	Cassini	11th flyby of Titan	Closest approach: 1,812 kilometres (1,126 mi)
10 March	Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter	Areocentric orbit injection
18 March	Cassini	12th flyby of Titan	Closest approach: 1,947 kilometres (1,210 mi)
11 April	Venus Express	Cytherean orbit injection
30 April	Cassini	13th flyby of Titan	Closest approach: 1,853 kilometres (1,151 mi)
20 May	Cassini	14th flyby of Titan	Closest approach: 1,879 kilometres (1,168 mi)
2 July	Cassini	15th flyby of Titan	Closest approach: 1,911 kilometres (1,187 mi)
22 July	Cassini	16th flyby of Titan	Closest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi)
4 September	SMART-1	Lunar impact
7 September	Cassini	17th flyby of Titan	Closest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi)
23 September	Cassini	18th flyby of Titan	Closest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi)
9 October	Cassini	19th flyby of Titan	Closest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi)
23 October	MESSENGER	1st flyby of Venus	Gravity assist
25 October	Cassini	20th flyby of Titan	Closest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi)
12 December	Cassini	21st flyby of Titan	Closest approach: 950 kilometres (590 mi)
28 December	Cassini	22nd flyby of Titan	Closest approach: 1,500 kilometres (930 mi)

EVAs

Start Date/Time	Duration	End Time	Spacecraft	Crew	Function	Remarks
3 February 09:55	5 hours 43 minutes	16:27	Expedition 12 ISS Pirs	William S. McArthur Valery Tokarev	Released SuitSat-1, retrieved the Biorisk experiment, photographed a sensor for a micrometeoroid experiment, and tied off the surviving umbilical of the Mobile Transporter.^[16]
1 June 23:48	6 hours 31 minutes	2 June 06:19	Expedition 13 ISS Pirs	Pavel Vinogradov Jeffrey Williams	Repaired a vent for the Elektron unit, retrieved a Biorisk experiment, retrieved a contamination-monitoring device from Zvezda, and replaced a malfunctioning camera on the Mobile Base System.^[17]
8 July 13:17	7 hours 31 minutes	20:48	STS-121 ISS Quest	/Piers Sellers Michael E. Fossum	Installed a blade blocker in the zenith Interface Umbilical Assembly (IUA) to protect the undamaged power, data and video cable, rerouted the cable to prepare for the second EVA. Tested the combination of the SSRMS and the Orbiter Boom Sensor System as a platform for astronauts to make repairs to a damaged orbiter.^[18]
10 July 12:14	6 hours 47 minutes	19:01	STS-121 ISS Quest	/Piers Sellers Michael E. Fossum	Restored the Mobile Transporter to full operation, and delivered a spare pump module for the station’s cooling system.^[19]
12 July 07:11	6 hours 20 minutes	13:31	STS-121 ISS Quest	/Piers Sellers Michael E. Fossum	Used an infrared camera to shoot 20 seconds of video of selected reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) panels on the shuttle wing’s leading edge, and then moved to the payload bay to test a shuttle tile repair material known as NOAX on pre-damaged shuttle tiles that were flown in a test container.^[20]
3 August 14:04	5 hours 54 minutes	19:58	Expedition 13 ISS Quest	Jeffrey Williams Thomas Reiter	Installed the Floating Potential Measurement Unit, two MISSE containers, a controller for a thermal radiator rotary joint on the S1 truss, a starboard jumper and spool positioning device on S1, a light on the truss railway handcart, and installed and replaced a malfunctioning GPS antenna. Tested an infrared camera designed to detect damage in a shuttle's thermal protection tiles. Inspection and photography of a scratch on the Quest airlock hatch.^[21]
12 September 10:17	5 hours 26 minutes	15:43	STS-115 ISS Quest	Joseph R. Tanner Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper	Initial installation of the P3/P4 truss. Connected power cables on the truss, released the launch restraints on the solar array blanket box, the Beta Gimbal Assembly, and the solar array wings. Configured the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint, and removed two circuit interrupt devices to prepare for STS-116.^[22]	Piper became the 7th American and the 8th female spacewalker.
13 September 09:05	7 hours 11 minutes	16:16	STS-115 ISS Quest	Daniel C. Burbank Steven MacLean	Continued installation of the P3/4 truss onto the station, and activated the SARJ.^[23]
15 September 10:00	6 hours 42 minutes	16:42	STS-115 ISS Quest	Joseph R. Tanner Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper	Installed a radiator onto the P3/4 truss, powered up a cooling radiator for the new solar arrays, replaced an S-Band radio antenna, and installed insulation for another antenna. Tanner took photos of the shuttle's wings using an infrared camera.^[24]
22 November 23:17	5 hours 38 minutes	23 November 04:55	Expedition 14 ISS Pirs	Mikhail Tyurin Michael Lopez-Alegria	"Orbiting golf shot" event sponsored by a Canadian golf company. Lopez-Alegria put the tee on the ladder outside Pirs, while Tyurin set up a camera, and then performed the golf shot. Inspected and photographed a Kurs antenna, relocated an ATV WAL antenna, installed a BTN neutron experiment, and jettisoned two thermal covers from the BTN.^[25]
12 December 20:31	6 hours 36 minutes	13 December 03:07	STS-116 ISS Quest	Robert Curbeam Christer Fuglesang	Installed the P5 Truss, and replaced a video camera on the S1 truss.^[26]
14 December 19:41	5 hours	15 December 00:41	STS-116 ISS Quest	Robert Curbeam Christer Fuglesang	Reconfigured channels 2–3 on the P3/P4 truss to take advantage of the new solar arrays, relocated two handcarts that run along the station's main truss, put a thermal cover on the station's robotic arm, and installed bags of tools for future spacewalkers.^[27]
16 December 19:25	7 hours 31 minutes	17 December 02:57	STS-116 ISS Quest	Robert Curbeam Sunita Williams	Reconfigured channels 1 and 4 on the P3/P4 truss to take advantage of the new solar arrays, installed a robotic arm grapple fixture, and positioned three bundles ofdebris shield panels outside Zvezda. Additional time was spent trying to help retract the P6 solar array panel by shaking the panel's blanket box from its base.^[28]	Williams became the 8th American and the 9th female spacewalker.
18 December 19:00	6 hours 38 minutes	19 December 01:38	STS-116 ISS Quest	Robert Curbeam Christer Fuglesang	Assisted ground controllers with retracting the P6 solar array panels.^[29]

Orbital launch summary

By country

	China (PRC)
	Europe
	India
	International
	Japan
	North Korea
	Russia
	United States

Orbital launch attempts by country in 2006

Country	Launches	Successes	Failures	Remarks
Europe	5	5	0
India	1	0	1
International	5	5	0	(Sea Launch)
Japan	6	6	0
North Korea	1	0	1	Disputed
People's Republic of China	6	6	0
Russia	25	23	2
United States	18	17	1

By rocket

By family

Rocket	Country	Launches	Successes	Failures	Remarks
Ariane	Europe	5	5	0
Atlas	United States	2	2	0
Delta	United States	9	9	0
Energia	Ukraine	5	5	0
Falcon	United States	1	0	1	Maiden flight
H-II	Japan	4	4	0
Long March	People's Republic of China	6	6	0
Minotaur	United States	2	2	0
Mu	Japan	2	2	0	Retired
Pegasus	United States	1	1	0
R07R-7	Russia	12	12	0
R14R-14	Russia	1	1	0
R29R-29	Russia	1	1	0
R36R-36	Ukraine	3	2	1
SLV	India	1	0	1
Space Shuttle	United States	3	3	0
Topol	Russia	1	1	0
Unha	North Korea	1	0	1	Maiden flight, disputed
Universal Rocket	Russia	7	6	1

By type

Rocket	Country	Family	Launches	Successes	Failures	Remarks
Ariane 5	Europe	Ariane	5	5	0
Atlas V	United States	Atlas	2	2	0
Delta II	United States	Delta	6	6	0
Delta IV	United States	Delta	3	3	0
Dnepr	Ukraine	R-36	2	1	1
Falcon 1	United States	Falcon	1	0	1	Maiden flight
GSLV	India	GSLV	1	0	1
H-IIA	Japan	H-II	4	4	0
Kosmos	Russia	R-12/R-14	1	1	0
Long March 2	People's Republic of China	Long March	1	1	0
Long March 3	People's Republic of China	Long March	3	3	0
Long March 4	People's Republic of China	Long March	2	2	0
M-V	Japan	Mu	2	2	0	Retired
Minotaur I	United States	Minotaur	2	2	0
Molniya	Russia	R-7	1	1	0
Pegasus	United States	Pegasus	1	1	0
Proton	Russia	Universal Rocket	6	5	1
Shtil'	Russia	R-29	1	1	0
Soyuz	Russia	R-7	11	11	0
Space Shuttle	United States	Space Shuttle	3	3	0
Start	Russia	Topol	1	1	0
Tsyklon	Ukraine	R-36	1	1	0
Unha	North Korea	Unha	1	0	1	Maiden flight, disputed
UR-100	Russia	Universal Rocket	1	1	0
Zenit	Ukraine	Energia	5	5	0

By configuration

Rocket	Country	Type	Launches	Successes	Failures	Remarks
Ariane 5ECA	Europe	Ariane 5	5	5	0
Atlas V 411	United States	Atlas V	1	1	0	Maiden flight
Atlas V 551	United States	Atlas V	1	1	0	Maiden flight
Delta II 7420	United States	Delta II	1	1	0
Delta II 7920	United States	Delta II	1	1	0
Delta II 7925	United States	Delta II	4	4	0
Delta IV-M	United States	Delta IV	1	1	0
Delta IV-M+(4,2)	United States	Delta IV	2	2	0
Dnepr-1	Ukraine	Dnepr	2	1	1
Falcon 1	United States	Falcon 1	1	0	1	Maiden flight
GSLV Mk.I	India	GSLV	1	0	1
H-IIA 202	Japan	H-IIA	1	1	0
H-IIA 204	Japan	H-IIA	1	1	0	Maiden flight
H-IIA 2022	Japan	H-IIA	1	1	0
H-IIA 2024	Japan	H-IIA	1	1	0
Kosmos-3M	Russia	Kosmos	1	1	0
Long March 2C	People's Republic of China	Long March 2	1	1	0
Long March 3A	People's Republic of China	Long March 3	2	2	0
Long March 3B	People's Republic of China	Long March 3	1	1	0
Long March 4B	People's Republic of China	Long March 4	1	1	0
Long March 4B-II	People's Republic of China	Long March 4	1	1	0	Maiden flight, later Long March 4C
M-V	Japan	M-V	2	2	0	Retired
Minotaur I	United States	Minotaur I	2	2	0
Molniya-M/2BL	Russia	Molniya	1	1	0
Pegasus-XL	United States	Pegasus	1	1	0
Proton-K/DM-2	Russia	Proton	1	1	0
Proton-K/DM-3	Russia	Proton	1	1	0
Proton-M/Briz-M	Russia	Proton	4	3	1
Rokot/Briz-KM	Russia	UR-100	1	1	0
Shtil'	Russia	Shtil'	1	1	0
Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat	Russia	Soyuz	2	2	0	Maiden flight, first orbital launch of Soyuz-2
Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat	Russia	Soyuz	1	1	0	Maiden flight of Soyuz-2.1b
Soyuz-FG	Russia	Soyuz	2	2	0
Soyuz-U	Russia	Soyuz	6	6	0
Space Shuttle	United States	Space Shuttle	3	3	0
Start-1	Russia	Start	1	1	0
Tsyklon-2	Ukraine	Tsyklon	1	1	0	Retired
Unha	North Korea	Unha	1	0	1	Maiden flight, disputed
Zenit-3SL	Ukraine	Zenit	5	5	0

By launch site

Site	Country	Launches	Successes	Failures	Partial failures	Remarks
Baikonur	Kazakhstan	17	15	2	0
Barents	Russia	1	1	0	0	Launched from K-84 Ekaterinburg submarine
Cape Canaveral	United States	7	7	0	0
Dombarovsky	Russia	1	1	0	0	First launch
Jiuquan	People's Republic of China	1	1	0	0
Kennedy	United States	3	3	0	0
Kwajalein Atoll	Marshall Islands	1	0	1	0
Kourou	France	5	5	0	0
MARS	United States	1	1	0	0	First launch
Ocean Odyssey	International	5	5	0	0
Plesetsk	Russia	5	5	0	1
Satish Dhawan	India	1	0	1	0
Svobodny	Russia	1	1	0	0	Final launch
Taiyuan	People's Republic of China	2	2	0	0
Tanegashima	Japan	4	4	0	0
Tonghae	North Korea	1	0	1	0
Uchinoura	Japan	2	2	0	0
Vandenberg	United States	6	6	0	0	One launch used Stargazer aircraft
Xichang	People's Republic of China	3	3	0	0

By orbit

Orbital regime	Launches	Successes	Failures	Accidentally Achieved	Remarks
Low Earth	35	32	3	0	8 to ISS, Includes disputed North Korean launch failure
Medium Earth	3	3	0	1
Geosynchronous/transfer	24	22	2	0
High Earth	3	3	0	0	Including lunar transfer and Molniya orbits
Heliocentric	2	2	0	0	Including planetary transfer orbits

References

Kyle, Ed. "Space Launch Report". http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/.
Wade, Mark. "Encyclopedia Astronautica". http://www.astronautix.com.
Krebs, Gunter. "Chronology of Space Launches". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/chrono.htm.
"Space Information Center". JAXA. http://spaceinfo.jaxa.jp.
McDowell, Jonathan. "Jonathan's Space Report". Jonathan's Space Page. http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
"Mission Set Database". NASA GSFC. http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/launches.php.
"NASASpaceFlight.com". http://www.nasaspaceflight.com.
"Launch Logs". Orbital Report News Agency. http://www.orbireport.com/Log.html.
"Space Calendar". NASA JPL. http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/calendar/.
"Southwest Space Archive". http://www.spacearchive.info/index.htm.
"Launch Forecast". SPACE.com. http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/launches/launch_schedule.html.
"Spaceflight Now". http://www.spaceflightnow.com.
Pietrobon, Steven. "Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive". http://www.sworld.com.au/steven/space/.
"U.S. Space Objects Registry". http://www.usspaceobjectsregistry.state.gov/.
"Хроника освоения космоса" (in Russian). http://www.cosmoworld.ru/spaceencyclopedia/chrono/index.shtml.

Generic references:

Footnotes

^ "Press Release of the "Sounding Rocket V" Experiment". NSPO. 2006-01-18. http://www.nspo.org.tw/2008e/news/news_content.php?id=000159. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
^ "55 bil. yen JAXA map-making satellite sends useless data". Yomiuri Online. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080110TDY02309.htm.
^ "Utilization of Data Acquired by "DAICHI" (Advanced Land Observing Satellite) for Maps" (Press release). JAXA. 2008-01-16. http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2008/01/20080116_sac_daichi_e.html. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
^ JAXA. "平成１７年度ロケット打上げ及び追跡管制計画書陸域観測技術衛星（ＡＬＯＳ）Ｈ－IIＡロケット８号機（Ｈ－IIＡ・Ｆ８）" (in Japanese) (PDF). JAXA. p. 1. http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2005/11/20051130_sac_h2a-f8_3.pdf. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
^ "Rocket System Corporation". Archived from the original on May 28, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080528074536/http://h2a.mhi.co.jp/en/RSC/mtsat2/press/rsc.pdf. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
^ "平成１７年度ロケット受託打上げ及び追跡管制支援計画書運輸多目的衛星新２号（ＭＴＳＡＴ－２）Ｈ－ⅡＡロケット９号機（Ｈ－ⅡＡ・Ｆ９）" (in Japanese) (PDF). JAXA. http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2005/12/20051207_sac_h2a-f9.pdf. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
^ Oberg, James (2006-03-24). "ArabSat bites the dust, dashing hopes". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11999597/. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
^ "COMPASS". Russian Space Web. 2006-12-28. http://www.russianspaceweb.com/compass.html. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
^ Krebs, Gunter. "US-PM". Gunter's Space Page. http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/us-pm.htm.
^ David, Leonard (2006-06-18). "North Korea's Missile Launch Site Under Watchful Eyes". Space.com. http://www.space.com/news/060619_nkorea_missile.html. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
^ Shinya Matsuura (2009-04-04). "杞憂のような事態に備える：松浦晋也のL/D" (in Japanese). http://smatsu.air-nifty.com/lbyd/2009/04/post-4c99.html. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
^ "M-V-7号機により打ち上げた副衛星（SSSAT）の実験結果について" (in Japanese). ISAS. JAXA. http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/j/snews/2006/1031_sssat.shtml. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
^ LDREX
^ GeneSat
^ "Deployment Result of the Large Deployable Antenna Reflectors of the Engineering Test Satellite VIII "KIKU No. 8"". Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. 2006-12-26. http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2006/12/20061226_kiku8-2_e.html.
^ NASA (2006). "Crew Back in Station After Spacewalk". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition12/exp12_eva2.html. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
^ NASA (2006). "Station Crew Winds Up Successful Spacewalk". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition13/eva1.html. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
^ NASA (2006). "STS-121 MCC Status Report No. 09". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts121/news/STS-121-09.html. Retrieved October 21. 2008.
^ NASA (2006). "STS-121 MCC Status Report #13". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts121/news/STS-121-13.html. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
^ NASA (2006). "STS-121 MCC Status Report #17". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts121/news/STS-121-17.html. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
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^ NASA (2006). "STS-115 MCC Status Report #09". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts115/news/STS-115-09.html. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
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^ NASA (2006). "Spacewalkers Tee Off on Science, Mechanics". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition14/exp14_eva_112206.html. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
^ NASA (2006). "STS-116 MCC Status Report No. 07". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts116/news/STS-116-07.html. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
^ NASA (2006). "STS-116 MCC Status Report #11". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts116/news/STS-116-11.html. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
^ NASA (2006). "STS-116 MCC Status Report #15". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts116/news/STS-116-15.html. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
^ NASA (2006). "STS-116 MCC Status Report #19". NASA. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts116/news/STS-116-19.html. Retrieved October 21, 2008.

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1980s

1990s

2000s

2006

2010s

Preceded by 2005	Timeline of spaceflight 2006	Succeeded by 2007

← 2005 · Orbital launches in 2006 · 2007 →

New Horizons \| Daichi \| EchoStar X \| Himawari 7 \| Akari · Cute-1.7+APD \| Arabsat-4A \| SpainSat-1 · Hot Bird 7A \| ST-5 \| FalconSAT-2 \| Soyuz TMA-8 \| JCSAT-5A \| COSMIC \| Astra 1KR \| Progress M-56 \| EROS-B \| Yaogan 1 \| Kosmos 2420 \| GOES 13 \| Satmex 6 · Thaicom 5 \| Resurs-DK1 \| KazSat-1 \| Galaxy 16 \| USA-187 · USA-188 · USA-189 \| Progress M-57 \| Kosmos 2421 \| USA-184 \| STS-121 (MPLM) \| Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 \| INSAT-4C \| Genesis I \| Kosmos 2422 \| BelKA · Baumanets · PicPot · SACRED · ION · Rincon 1 · ICECube-1 · KUTESat Pathfinder · SEEDS · nCube-1 · HAUSAT-1 · MEROPE · CP-2 · AeroCube-1 · CP-1 · Mea Huaka'i · ICECube-2 \| Arirang-2 \| Hot Bird 8 \| JCSAT-10 · Syracuse 3B \| Koreasat 5 \| Shijian 8 \| STS-115 (ITS P3/4) \| IGS-3A \| Chinasat-22A \| Kosmos 2423 \| Soyuz TMA-9 \| Hinode · HIT-SAT · SSSAT \| USA-190 \| DirecTV-9S · Optus D1 · LDREX \| MetOp-A \| Progress M-58 \| Shijian 6C · Shijian 6D \| STEREO \| Sinosat-2 \| XM-4 \| USA-191 \| Badr-4 \| USA-192 \| Feng Yun 2D \| WildBlue 1 · AMC-18 \| STS-116 (ITS P5 · SpaceHab LSM · ANDE-MAA · ANDE-FACL · RAFT1 · MARScom · MEPSI-2) \| MEASAT-3 \| USA-193 \| TacSat-2 · GeneSat \| Kiku 8 \| SAR-Lupe 1 \| Meridian 1 \| Kosmos 2424 · Kosmos 2425 · Kosmos 2426 \| COROT

Payloads are separated by bullets ( · ), launches by pipes ( \| ). Manned flights are indicated in bold text. Uncatalogued launch failures are listed in italics. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are denoted in brackets.

2006 in spaceflight

Contents

Launches

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December