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List of space telescopes

{{Short description|None}}

{{Duplicated citations|reason=DuplicateReferences detected:

  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1972-091A (refs: 4, 5)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1975-072A (refs: 6, 7)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1979-082A (refs: 9, 10)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1989-096A (refs: 12, 13)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1991-027B (refs: 16, 17)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2000-061A (refs: 21, 22)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2002-048A (refs: 24, 25)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2004-047A (refs: 26, 27)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-022A (refs: 28, 85, 86)
  • https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3267503/china-france-satellite-launched-monitor-most-powerful-explosions-space (refs: 34, 117, 168)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-107A (refs: 35, 36)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1974-070A (refs: 38, 39)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1975-037A (refs: 43, 44)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=CORSA (refs: 46, 47)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1978-103A (refs: 51, 52)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1979-014A (refs: 53, 54)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1983-011A (refs: 56, 57)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1983-020A (refs: 59, 60)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1983-051A (refs: 62, 63)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1987-012A (refs: 65, 66)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1990-049A (refs: 69, 70)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=ASTRO-1 (refs: 72, 73)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1993-011A (refs: 74, 75)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1993-026A (refs: 76, 77)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1995-074A (refs: 80, 81)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1996-027A (refs: 82, 83)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-040B (refs: 88, 89)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-066A (refs: 90, 91)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2005-025A (refs: 93, 94)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1992-031A (refs: 128, 129)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=ASTRO-2 (refs: 130, 131)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-035A (refs: 132, 133)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-002B (refs: 134, 135)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-017A (refs: 136, 137)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-042G (refs: 139, 140)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1989-062B (refs: 151, 152)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-031D (refs: 154, 155)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2006-063A (refs: 156, 157)
  • http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?project=Planck (refs: 186, 202)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1989-089A (refs: 196, 197)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2001-007A (refs: 198, 199)
  • https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1997-005A (refs: 203, 204)

|date=April 2025}}

{{stack|File:Hubble Space Telescope (27946391011).jpg]]

File:Space telescopes comparison.jpg

File:Space observatories.png}}

This list of space telescopes (astronomical space observatories) is grouped by major frequency ranges: gamma ray, x-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwave, and radio. Telescopes that work in multiple frequency bands are included in all of the appropriate sections. Space telescopes that collect particles, such as cosmic ray nuclei and/or electrons, as well as instruments that aim to detect gravitational waves, are also listed. Missions with specific targets within the Solar System (e.g., the Sun and its planets), are excluded; see List of Solar System probes for these, and List of Earth observation satellites for missions targeting Earth.

Two values are provided for the dimensions of the initial orbit. For telescopes in Earth orbit, the minimum and maximum altitude are given in kilometers. For telescopes in solar orbit, the minimum distance (periapsis) and the maximum distance (apoapsis) between the telescope and the center of mass of the Sun are given in astronomical units (AU).

Gamma ray

{{further|Gamma-ray astronomy}}

Gamma-ray telescopes collect and measure individual, high energy gamma rays from astrophysical sources. These are absorbed by the atmosphere, requiring that observations are done by high-altitude balloons or space missions. Gamma rays can be generated by supernovae, neutron stars, pulsars and black holes. Gamma ray bursts, with extremely high energies, have also been detected but have yet to be identified.{{cite web | url=http://science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/imagers/ems/gamma.html | title=Gamma rays | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-03-01 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229022427/http://science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/imagers/ems/gamma.html | archive-date=2008-02-29 }}

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style="width:7% min-width: 100px;" class="unsortable" | Photo

! style="width:26%;"| Name

! style="width:12%;"| Space agency

! style="width:10%;"| Launch date

! style="width:10%;"| Terminated

! style="width:25%;"| Location

! class="unsortable" style="width:10%;"|Ref(s)

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align="left" | Proton-1USSR{{dts|16 July 1965|abbr=on}}{{dts|11 October 1965|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (183-589 km){{cite web | url=https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heasarc/missions/proton.html | title=NASA's HEASARC: Observatories (Proton 1 & Proton 2) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2017-10-01 | archive-date=2022-01-23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123125149/https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heasarc/missions/proton.html | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Proton-2USSR{{dts|2 November 1965|abbr=on}}{{dts|6 February 1966|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (191-637 km)
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Proton-4USSR{{dts|16 November 1968|abbr=on}}{{dts|24 July 1969|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (248-477 km)[https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-103A Proton 4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123210615/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-103A |date=2022-01-23 }} at NASA NSSDC Master Catalog
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Small Astronomy Satellite 2 (SAS-B)NASA{{dts|15 November 1972|abbr=on}}{{dts|8 June 1973|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (443–632 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1972-091A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (SAS-B) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-11-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129031707/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1972-091A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1972-091A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (SAS-B) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-11-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129031707/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1972-091A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Cos-BESA{{dts|9 August 1975|abbr=on}}{{dts|25 April 1982|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (339.6–99,876 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1975-072A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (COS-B) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003924/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1975-072A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1975-072A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (COS-B) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003924/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1975-072A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://www.esa.int/esaSC/120375_index_0_m.html | title=ESA – Space Science – Cos-B overview | publisher=ESA | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2012-07-16 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716183806/http://www.esa.int/esaSC/120375_index_0_m.html | url-status=live }}
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align="left" | High Energy Astronomy Observatory 3NASA{{dts|20 September 1979|abbr=on}}{{dts|29 May 1981|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (486.4–504.9 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1979-082A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (HEAO 3) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-02-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208091658/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1979-082A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1979-082A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (HEAO 3) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-02-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208091658/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1979-082A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heao3/heao3.html | title=The High Energy Astrophysics Observatory-3 (HEAO-3) | publisher=NASA | date=26 June 2003 | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2011-02-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208171540/http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heao3/heao3.html | url-status=live }}
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align="left" | GranatCNRS & IKI{{dts|1 December 1989|abbr=on}}{{dts|25 May 1999|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (2,000–200,000 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1989-096A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (GRANAT) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2012-01-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127060706/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1989-096A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1989-096A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (GRANAT) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2012-01-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127060706/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1989-096A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url = http://www.aero.org/capabilities/cords/pdfs/1999-reentry-chart.pdf | title = 1999 Reentries | publisher = The Aerospace Corporation, Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies | access-date = 2008-02-26 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110611223528/http://www.aero.org/capabilities/cords/pdfs/1999-reentry-chart.pdf | archive-date = 2011-06-11 | url-status = dead }}
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align=left | GammaUSSR, CNES, RSA{{dts|11 July 1990|abbr=on}}{{dts|1992|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (375 km){{cite web | url=http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heasarc/missions/gamma.html | title=The Gamma Satellite | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-29 | archive-date=2008-03-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309114625/http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heasarc/missions/gamma.html | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO)NASA{{dts|5 April 1991|abbr=on}}{{dts|4 June 2000|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (362–457 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1991-027B | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Compton Gamma Ray Observatory) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304134325/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1991-027B | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1991-027B | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Compton Gamma Ray Observatory) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304134325/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1991-027B | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://cossc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/cgro/index.html | title=CGRO Science Support Center | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2012-07-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718182434/http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/cgro/index.html | url-status=dead }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align=left | Low Energy Gamma Ray Imager (LEGRI)INTA{{dts|19 May 1997|abbr=on}}{{dts|February 2002|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (600 km){{cite web | url=http://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/instrument/legri.html | title=Instrumentation: Low Energy Gamma Ray Imager (LEGRI) | publisher=Birmingham University | date=24 January 2006 | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2018-10-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005082437/http://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/instrument/legri.html | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/sats_n_data/missions/coded_legri.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010417113206/http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/sats_n_data/missions/coded_legri.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=17 April 2001 | title=LEGRI | publisher=NASA | date=4 December 1997 | access-date=2008-02-28}}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | High Energy Transient Explorer 2 (HETE 2)NASA{{dts|9 October 2000|abbr=on}}{{dts|March 2008|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (590–650 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2000-061A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (HETE 2) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094914/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2000-061A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2000-061A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (HETE 2) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094914/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2000-061A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://space.mit.edu/HETE/ | title=The High Energy Transient Explorer (HETE-2) | publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology | date=28 March 2007 | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2009-04-02 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402103246/http://space.mit.edu/HETE/ | url-status=live }}
100pxalign="left" | International Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL)ESA{{dts|17 October 2002|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (639–153,000 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2002-048A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (INTEGRAL) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2012-01-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130164021/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2002-048A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2002-048A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (INTEGRAL) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2012-01-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130164021/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2002-048A | url-status=live }}
100pxalign="left" | Neil Gehrels Swift ObservatoryNASA{{dts|20 November 2004|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (585–604 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2004-047A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Swift) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-05-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509145235/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2004-047A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2004-047A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Swift) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-05-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509145235/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2004-047A | url-status=live }}
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align="left" |Astrorivelatore Gamma ad Immagini Leggero (AGILE)ISA{{dts|23 April 2007|abbr=on}}18 {{dts|January 2024|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (524–553 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-022A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (AGILE) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-02-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218095558/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1999-022A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2007-013A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (AGILE) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-02-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218135832/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2007-013A | url-status=live }}
100pxalign="left" | Fermi Gamma-ray Space TelescopeNASA{{dts|11 June 2008|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (555 km){{cite web | url=http://glast.gsfc.nasa.gov/public/ | title=GLAST Overview – The GLAST Mission | publisher=NASA | date=19 December 2007 | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2007-08-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809141318/http://glast.gsfc.nasa.gov/public/ | url-status=dead }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | Gamma-Ray Burst Polarimeter (IKAROS)JAXA{{dts|21 May 2010|abbr=on}}21 May 2015Heliocentric orbit{{cite web | url=http://astro.s.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/~yonetoku/gap/index.htm | title=GAPホームページ | publisher=Kanazawa University | language=ja | date=26 August 2011 | access-date=2017-01-29 | archive-date=2017-04-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415181232/http://astro.s.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/~yonetoku/gap/index.htm | url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=JAXA {{!}} Small Solar Power Sail Demonstrator "IKAROS" |url=http://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ikaros/topics.html |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=JAXA {{!}} Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency |language=en}}
100pxalign=left | Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM)CNSA & CNES{{dts|22 June 2024|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (625–625 km){{cite web |url=https://www.svom.eu/en/home/ |access-date=12 June 2024 |title=Svom }}{{cite news |last=Xin |first=Ling |date=22 June 2024 |title=China-France satellite launched to monitor most powerful explosions in space |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3267503/china-france-satellite-launched-monitor-most-powerful-explosions-space |work=South China Morning Post |access-date=22 June 2024}}

X-ray

{{further|X-ray astronomy}}

X-ray telescopes measure high-energy photons called X-rays. These can not travel a long distance through the atmosphere, meaning that they can only be observed high in the atmosphere or in space. Several types of astrophysical objects emit X-rays, from galaxy clusters, through black holes in active galactic nuclei to galactic objects such as supernova remnants, stars, and binary stars containing a white dwarf (cataclysmic variable stars), neutron star or black hole (X-ray binaries). Some Solar System bodies emit X-rays, the most notable being the Moon, although most of the X-ray brightness of the Moon arises from reflected solar X-rays. A combination of many unresolved X-ray sources is thought to produce the observed X-ray background.

{{Sticky header}}

class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" style="width:100%; border:0; text-align:center;"
style="width:7% min-width: 100px;" class="unsortable" | Photo

! style="width:26%;"| Name

! style="width:12%;"| Space agency

! style="width:10%;"| Launch date

! style="width:10%;"| Terminated

! style="width:25%;"| Location

! class="unsortable" style="width:10%;"|Ref(s)

style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Uhuru (Small Astronomy Satellite 1, SAS-A)NASA{{dts|12 December 1970|abbr=on}}{{dts|March 1973|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (531–572 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-107A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Uhuru) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2018-08-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810000744/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1970-107A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-107A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Uhuru) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2018-08-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810000744/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1970-107A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/uhuru/uhuru.html | title=The Uhuru Satellite | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2008-05-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514202753/http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/uhuru/uhuru.html | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align=left | Astronomical Netherlands Satellite (ANS)SRON{{dts|30 August 1974|abbr=on}}{{dts|June 1976|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (266–1176 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1974-070A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (ANS) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-02-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218141950/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1974-070A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1974-070A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (ANS) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-02-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218141950/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1974-070A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | Ariel VSRC & NASA{{dts|15 October 1974|abbr=on}}{{dts|14 March 1980|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (520 km){{cite web | url=http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ariel5/ariel5.html | title=The Ariel V Satellite | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-29 | archive-date=2021-03-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318005940/https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ariel5/ariel5.html | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://heasarc.nasa.gov/docs/ariel5/ariel5_about.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929231243/http://heasarc.nasa.gov/docs/ariel5/ariel5_about.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=2006-09-29 | title=The Ariel V Satellite – About | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-29}}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | AryabhataISRO{{dts|19 April 1975|abbr=on}}{{dts|23 April 1975|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (563–619 km){{cite web | url=http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heasarc/missions/aryabhata.html | title=The Aryabhata Satellite | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-29 | archive-date=2012-12-05 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205063643/http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heasarc/missions/aryabhata.html | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | Small Astronomy Satellite 3 (SAS-C)NASA{{dts|7 May 1975|abbr=on}}{{dts|April 1979|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (509–516 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1975-037A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (SAS-C) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081721/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1975-037A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1975-037A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (SAS-C) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081721/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1975-037A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://heasarc.nasa.gov/docs/sas3/sas3.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040113235024/http://heasarc.nasa.gov/docs/sas3/sas3.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=2004-01-13 | title=The Third Small Astronomy Satellite (SAS-3) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-28}}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | Cos-BESA{{dts|9 August 1975|abbr=on}}{{dts|25 April 1982|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (339.6–99,876 km)
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

|

align="left" | Cosmic Radiation Satellite (CORSA)ISAS{{dts|4 February 1976|abbr=on}}{{dts|4 February 1976|abbr=on}}Failed launch{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=CORSA | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (CORSA) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213253/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=CORSA | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=CORSA | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (CORSA) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213253/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=CORSA | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | High Energy Astronomy Observatory 1 (HEAO 1)NASA{{dts|12 August 1977|abbr=on}}{{dts|9 January 1979|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (445 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1977-075A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (HEAO 1) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-06-20 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620132344/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1977-075A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heao1/heao1.html | title=The High Energy Astrophysics Observatory-1 – Overview | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2008-02-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219045226/http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heao1/heao1.html | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heao1/heao1_about.html | title=The High Energy Astrophysics Observatory-1 – Mission Overview | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2008-03-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327143132/http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heao1/heao1_about.html | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | Einstein Observatory (HEAO 2)NASA{{dts|13 November 1978|abbr=on}}{{dts|26 April 1981|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (465–476 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1978-103A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Einstein Observatory) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-06-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612075859/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1978-103A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1978-103A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Einstein Observatory) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-06-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612075859/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1978-103A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | Hakucho (CORSA-b)ISAS{{dts|21 February 1979|abbr=on}}{{dts|16 April 1985|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (421–433 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1979-014A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Hakucho) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055333/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1979-014A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1979-014A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Hakucho) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055333/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1979-014A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/hakucho/hakucho.html | title=The Hakucho (CORSA-B) Satellite | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2021-03-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318002133/https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/hakucho/hakucho.html | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | High Energy Astronomy Observatory 3 (HEAO 3)NASA{{dts|20 September 1979|abbr=on}}{{dts|29 May 1981|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (486.4–504.9 km)
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | Tenma (Astro-B)ISAS{{dts|20 February 1983|abbr=on}}{{dts|19 January 1989|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (489–503 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1983-011A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Tenma) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064726/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1983-011A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1983-011A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Tenma) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064726/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1983-011A | url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/tenma.shtml |title=Institute of Space and Astronautical Science – JAXA – Tenma |publisher=JAXA |access-date=2008-02-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208103229/http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/complate/tenma.shtml |archive-date=February 8, 2007 }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | AstronIKI{{dts|23 March 1983|abbr=on}}{{dts|June 1989|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (2,000–200,000 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1983-020A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (ASTRON) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210841/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1983-020A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1983-020A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (ASTRON) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210841/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1983-020A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heasarc/missions/astron.html | title=The Astron Satellite | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2009-08-26 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826100025/http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/heasarc/missions/astron.html | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | EXOSATESA{{dts|26 May 1983|abbr=on}}{{dts|8 April 1986|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (347–191,709 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1983-051A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Exosat) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105904/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1983-051A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1983-051A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Exosat) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105904/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1983-051A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=32 | title=ESA Science & Technology: Exosat | publisher=ESA | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2013-03-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313082442/http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=32 | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | Ginga (Astro-C)ISAS{{dts|5 February 1987|abbr=on}}{{dts|1 November 1991|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (517–708 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1987-012A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Astro-C) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304134314/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1987-012A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1987-012A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Astro-C) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304134314/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1987-012A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ginga/ginga.html | title=The Ginga Observatory | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2021-03-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318001639/https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ginga/ginga.html | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | GranatCNRS & IKI{{dts|1 December 1989|abbr=on}}{{dts|25 May 1999|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (2,000–200,000 km)
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

|

align="left" | ROSATNASA & DLR{{dts|1 June 1990|abbr=on}}{{dts|12 February 1999|abbr=on}}Re-entry 23 October 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.dlr.de/dlr/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10424|title=ROSAT – latest news|work=DLR Portal|date=25 October 2011|access-date=25 October 2011|archive-date=15 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515232737/https://www.dlr.de/dlr/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10424/|url-status=live}}
Formerly Earth orbit (580 km)		{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1990-049A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (ROSAT) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-04-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427112802/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1990-049A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1990-049A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (ROSAT) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-04-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427112802/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1990-049A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/rosat/rosat.html | title=The Roentgen Satellite | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2020-10-23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023002933/http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/rosat/rosat.html | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | Broad Band X-ray Telescope / Astro 1NASA{{dts|2 December 1990|abbr=on}}{{dts|11 December 1990|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (500 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=ASTRO-1 | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Astro 1) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-05-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513112124/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=ASTRO-1 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=ASTRO-1 | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Astro 1) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-05-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513112124/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=ASTRO-1 | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics (ASCA, Astro-D)ISAS & NASA{{dts|20 February 1993|abbr=on}}{{dts|2 March 2001|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (523.6–615.3 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1993-011A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (ASCA) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052752/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1993-011A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1993-011A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (ASCA) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052752/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1993-011A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | Array of Low Energy X-ray Imaging Sensors (Alexis)LANL{{dts|25 April 1993|abbr=on}}{{dts|2005|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (749–844 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1993-026A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Alexis) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-02-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218140115/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1993-026A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1993-026A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Alexis) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-02-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218140115/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1993-026A | url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=http://www.space.com/spacenews/businessmonday_060605.html |title=AeroAstro Returning to Space With Launch of STPSat-1 This Fall |publisher=Space.com |date=5 June 2006 |access-date=2008-02-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060608025316/http://www.space.com/spacenews/businessmonday_060605.html |archive-date=June 8, 2006 }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" | Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE)NASA{{dts|30 December 1995|abbr=on}}{{dts|3 January 2012|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (409 km){{cite web|title=The RXTE Mission is Approaching the End of Science Operations | url=http://heasarc.nasa.gov/docs/xte/xhp_new.html#endofoperations | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040107162230/http://heasarc.nasa.gov/docs/xte/xhp_new.html#endofoperations | url-status=dead | archive-date=2004-01-07 | date=2012-01-04}}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1995-074A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (X-Ray Timing Explorer) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-05-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509075142/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1995-074A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1995-074A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (X-Ray Timing Explorer) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-05-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509075142/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1995-074A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | BeppoSAXASI{{dts|30 April 1996|abbr=on}}{{dts|30 April 2002|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (575–594 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1996-027A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (BeppoSAX) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-03-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329232611/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1996-027A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1996-027A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (BeppoSAX) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-03-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329232611/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1996-027A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/sax/saxgof.html | title=HEASARC: BeppoSAX Guest Observer Facility | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2021-04-16 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416142034/https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/sax/saxgof.html | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

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align="left" |A Broadband Imaging X-ray All-sky Survey (ABRIXAS)DLR{{dts|28 April 1999|abbr=on}}{{dts|1 July 1999|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (549–598 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-022A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (ABRIXAS) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-02-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218095558/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1999-022A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-022A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (ABRIXAS) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-02-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218095558/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1999-022A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://www.astronautix.com/craft/abrixas.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020208202837/http://www.astronautix.com/craft/abrixas.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 8, 2002 | title=ABRIXAS | publisher=Astronautix.com | access-date=2008-02-28}}
100pxalign="left" | Chandra X-ray ObservatoryNASA{{dts|23 July 1999|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (9,942–140,000 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-040B | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Chandra) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-05-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522132737/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1999-040B | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-040B | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Chandra) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-05-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522132737/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1999-040B | url-status=live }}
100pxalign="left" | XMM-NewtonESA{{dts|10 December 1999|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (7,365–114,000 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-066A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (XMM-Newton) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-25 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123329/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1999-066A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-066A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (XMM-Newton) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-25 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123329/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1999-066A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | High Energy Transient Explorer 2 (HETE 2)NASA{{dts|9 October 2000|abbr=on}}{{dts|March 2008|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (590–650 km){{cite web | url=http://space.mit.edu/HETE/mission_status.html | title=HETE Mission Operations and Status | publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology | date=28 March 2007 | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2020-10-21 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021145331/https://space.mit.edu/HETE/mission_status.html | url-status=live }}
100pxalign="left" | International Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL)ESA{{dts|17 October 2002|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (639–153,000 km)
100pxalign="left" | Neil Gehrels Swift ObservatoryNASA{{dts|20 November 2004|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (585–604 km)
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Suzaku (Astro-E2)JAXA & NASA{{dts|10 July 2005|abbr=on}}{{dts|2 September 2015|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (550 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2005-025A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Suzaku) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193104/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2005-025A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2005-025A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Suzaku) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193104/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2005-025A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" |Astrorivelatore Gamma ad Immagini Leggero (AGILE)ISA{{dts|23 April 2007|abbr=on}}18 {{dts|Jan 2024|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (524–553 km)
100pxalign="left" | Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR)NASA{{dts|13 June 2012|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (603.5 km){{cite web |author=William Harwood |title=NuSTAR X-ray telescope launched on mission to search for black holes |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/home/spacenews/files/nustar_launch.html |publisher=CBS News |date=13 June 2012 |access-date=26 July 2012 |archive-date=17 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517064146/http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/home/spacenews/files/nustar_launch.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.nustar.caltech.edu/quickfacts.html |title=NuSTAR Quickfacts |publisher=California Institute of Technology |access-date=2008-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203024752/http://www.nustar.caltech.edu/quickfacts.html |archive-date=2008-02-03 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | author=F. Harrison | author2=Y. Kim | title=NusTAR Newsletter | url=http://www.nustar.caltech.edu/uploads/updates/NuSTAR_2010may_update.pdf | publisher=NASA JPL | date=May 2010 | access-date=24 June 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624092022/http://www.nustar.caltech.edu/uploads/updates/NuSTAR_2010may_update.pdf | archive-date=24 June 2010 }}
100pxalign="left" |AstroSatISRO{{dts|28 September 2015|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (600–650 km){{cite web | url=http://astrosat.iucaa.in/ | title=ISRO's dedicated site for the Astrosat mission | publisher=ISRO | access-date=2015-09-28 | archive-date=2013-04-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130422111440/http://astrosat.iucaa.in/ | url-status=live }}{{Cite web|title = India's eye in the sky|url = http://www.frontline.in/science-and-technology/indias-eye-in-the-sky/article7655209.ece|access-date = 2015-10-01|first = R.|last = Ramachandran|ref = Astrosat 1|archive-date = 2015-12-23|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223211820/http://www.frontline.in/science-and-technology/indias-eye-in-the-sky/article7655209.ece|url-status = live}}{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/astrosat-indias-unique-space-observatory/article7692305.ece | title=ASTROSAT, India's unique space observatory | newspaper=The Hindu | date=27 September 2015 | publisher=TheHindu | access-date=2015-09-28 | last1=Prasad | first1=R. | archive-date=2015-12-23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223211648/http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/astrosat-indias-unique-space-observatory/article7692305.ece | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align=left | Hitomi (Astro-H)JAXA{{dts|17 February 2016|abbr=on}}{{dts|28 April 2016|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (575 km){{cite web | url=http://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/astro_h/ | title=X-ray Astronomy Satellite "ASTRO-H" | publisher=JAXA | access-date=2015-12-15 | archive-date=2018-09-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930051328/http://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/astro_h/ | url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://spacenews.com/u-s-air-force-no-evidence-malfunctioning-japanese-satellite-was-hit-by-debris/ |title=U.S. Air Force: No evidence malfunctioning Japanese satellite was hit by debris |work=Space News |first=Mike |last=Gruss |date=29 March 2016 |access-date=5 April 2016 |archive-date=2 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702162034/https://spacenews.com/u-s-air-force-no-evidence-malfunctioning-japanese-satellite-was-hit-by-debris/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2016/05/20160531_hitomi_j.html | title=X線天文衛星ASTRO-H「ひとみ」異常事象調査報告書A改訂等について | publisher=JAXA | date=2016-05-31 | access-date=2018-11-19 | archive-date=2020-07-11 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711091304/https://www.jaxa.jp/press/2016/05/20160531_hitomi_j.html | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align=left | Mikhailo LomonosovMoscow State University{{dts| 28 April 2016|abbr=on}}{{dts|30 June 2018|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (478–493 km){{cite news |title=Soyuz prepared for first flight from Siberian cosmodrome |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/01/31/soyuz-prepared-for-first-flight-from-siberian-cosmodrome/ |work=Spaceflight Now |date=31 January 2016 |access-date=21 March 2016 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305155022/http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/01/31/soyuz-prepared-for-first-flight-from-siberian-cosmodrome/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=http://russianspaceweb.com/mikhailo-lomonosov.html|title=Mikhailo Lomonosov|access-date=2019-02-08|archive-date=2016-05-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501160604/http://www.russianspaceweb.com/mikhailo-lomonosov.html|url-status=live}}
100pxalign=left | Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER)NASA{{dts|07 June 2017|abbr=on}}—International Space Station{{cite web | url=https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/nicer/ | title=The Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer | access-date=2021-12-05 | archive-date=2017-05-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513154225/https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/nicer/ | url-status=live }}
100pxalign=left | Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT)CNSA & CAS{{dts|14 June 2017|abbr=on}}—Low Earth orbit (545–554.1 km){{cite web | url=http://www.hxmt.cn/english/index.php | title=Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622111827/http://www.hxmt.cn/english/index.php | archive-date=2012-06-22 }}
100pxalign="left" | Spektr-RGRSRI & MPE{{dts|July 13, 2019|abbr=on}}—Sun-Earth L2{{cite web | url=http://tass.ru/kosmos/3463532 | title="Спектр-РГ" запустят в 2017 г., несмотря на перенос поставки немецкого телескопа | access-date=2016-09-10 | archive-date=2016-09-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919191736/http://tass.ru/kosmos/3463532 | url-status=live }}
100pxalign="left" |Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE)NASA{{dts|9 December 2021|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (540 km){{cite web |url=https://ixpe.msfc.nasa.gov/news.html |title=IXPE In the News: Launch December 9, 2021 |work=Marshall Space Flight Center |publisher=NASA |date=29 September 2021 |access-date=10 November 2021 |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407070902/https://ixpe.msfc.nasa.gov/news.html |url-status=live }}[http://spie.org/Publications/Proceedings/Paper/10.1117/12.2275485 IXPE the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203005848/http://spie.org/Publications/Proceedings/Paper/10.1117/12.2275485 |date=2018-02-03 }} 29 August 2017. Proc. SPIE 10397, UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XX, 103970I (29 August 2017); {{doi|10.1117/12.2275485}}
align="left" |Lobster Eye Imager for Astronomy (LEIA)CAS{{dts|27 July 2022|abbr=on}}—Low Earth orbit{{cite web |title=Einstein Probe Time Domain Astronomical Information Center |url=https://ep.bao.ac.cn/ep/cms/article/view?id=91 |website=ep.bao.ac.cn |access-date=28 December 2023}}{{cite web |title=Einstein Probe factsheet |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Einstein_Probe_factsheet |website=www.esa.int |access-date=28 December 2023 |language=en}}
100pxalign="left" |X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM)JAXA & NASA{{dts|7 September 2023|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (550 km){{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/about-xrism |title=About XRISM |publisher=NASA |date=14 October 2020 |access-date=10 November 2021 |archive-date=10 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110084705/https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/about-xrism/ |url-status=live }}{{cite press release |last1=Kuninaka |first1=Hitoshi |last2=Maejima |first2=Hironori |date=August 2, 2018 |title=X線分光撮像衛星(XRISM)プロジェクト移行審査の結果について |url=http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2018/08/files/20180802_XRISM.pdf |language=ja |publisher=JAXA |access-date=October 12, 2019}}
100pxalign=left | X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat)ISRO & RRI{{dts|1 January 2024|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (638–653 km){{cite web |url=https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/isro-set-to-launch-shukrayaan-and-xposat-missions-to-exploring-the-universes-mysteries-71696664062649.html |title=ISRO set to launch Shukrayaan and XPoSat missions to exploring the universe's mysteries |date=7 October 2023 |access-date=4 November 2023 |work=Hindustan Times}}{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoIdCVfNbfY&t=7719s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/XoIdCVfNbfY |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=International Space Conference and Exhibition - DAY 3 |work=Confederation of Indian Industry |medium=video |time=2:08:39–2:09:20 |date=15 September 2021 |access-date=10 November 2021 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
100pxalign=left | Einstein ProbeCAS & ESA & MPE{{dts|9 January 2024|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (581–593 km){{Cite web|url=https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2024/01/Einstein_Probe_lifts_off_on_a_mission_to_monitor_the_X-ray_sky|title=Einstein Probe lifts off on a mission to monitor the X-ray sky|website=www.esa.int}}
100pxalign=left | Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM)CNSA & CNES{{dts|22 June 2024|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (625–625 km){{cite web |url=https://www.svom.eu/en/home/ |access-date=12 June 2024 |title=Svom }}{{cite news |last=Xin |first=Ling |date=22 June 2024 |title=China-France satellite launched to monitor most powerful explosions in space |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3267503/china-france-satellite-launched-monitor-most-powerful-explosions-space |work=South China Morning Post |access-date=22 June 2024}}

Ultraviolet

{{further|Ultraviolet astronomy}}

Ultraviolet telescopes make observations at ultraviolet wavelengths, i.e. between approximately 10 and 320 nm. Light at these wavelengths is absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere, so observations at these wavelengths must be performed from the upper atmosphere or from space.{{cite book | editor=A. N. Cox | title=Allen's Astrophysical Quantities | date=2000 | publisher=Springer-Verlag | location=New York | isbn=0-387-98746-0}} Objects emitting ultraviolet radiation include the Sun, other stars and galaxies.{{cite web | url=http://science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/imagers/ems/uv.html | title=Ultraviolet Waves | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-28 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017235057/http://science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/imagers/ems/uv.html | archive-date=2013-10-17 }}

{{Sticky header}}

class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" style="width:100%; border:0; text-align:center;"
style="width:7% min-width: 100px;" class="unsortable" | Photo

! style="width:26%;"| Name

! style="width:12%;"| Space agency

! style="width:14%;"| Launch date

! style="width:14%;"| Terminated

! style="width:23%;"| Observing location

! class="unsortable" style="width:7%;"|Ref(s)

style="background:#E8E8E8;"

|100px

align="left" | OAO-2 (Stargazer)NASA{{dts|7 December 1968|abbr=on}}{{dts|January 1973|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (749–758 km){{cite web | url=http://www.sal.wisc.edu/OAO/ | title=Orbiting Astronomical Observatory OAO-2 | publisher=University of Wisconsin–Madison | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2016-10-02 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002084534/http://www.sal.wisc.edu/OAO/ | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

|

align="left" | Orion 1 and Orion 2 Space ObservatoriesUSSR{{dts|19 April 1971|abbr=on}} (Orion 1); (Orion 2) {{dts|18 December 1973|abbr=on}}{{dts|1971|abbr=on}}; 1973Earth orbit (Orion 1: 200–222 km; Orion 2: 188–247 km){{cite journal|author=G. A.Gurzadyan|author2=J.Ohanesyan |title=Observed Energy Distribution of α Lyra and β Cen at 2000–3800 Å |journal=Nature |publisher=Nature.com |date=1972-09-08 |volume=239 |issue=5367 |page=90 |doi=10.1038/239090a0 |bibcode=1972Natur.239...90G |s2cid=4265702 |doi-access=free }}{{cite journal |author=G. A.Gurzadyan |url=http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v250/n5463/abs/250204a0.html |title=Ultraviolet spectra of Capella |journal=Nature |publisher=Nature.com |date=1974-07-19 |volume=250 |issue=5463 |pages=204–205 |doi=10.1038/250204a0 |bibcode=1974Natur.250..204G |s2cid=4225026 |access-date=2012-09-04 |archive-date=2012-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019004649/http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v250/n5463/abs/250204a0.html |url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Far Ultraviolet Camera/Spectrograph (UVC)NASA{{dts|16 April 1972|abbr=on}}{{dts|23 April 1972|abbr=on}}Descartes Highlands on lunar surface{{cite web|title=Experiment Operations During Apollo EVAs |url=http://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/HumanExplore/Exploration/EXLibrary/docs/ApolloCat/Part1/UVC.htm |access-date=15 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130220145727/http://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/HumanExplore/Exploration/EXLibrary/docs/ApolloCat/Part1/UVC.htm |archive-date=20 February 2013 }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | OAO-3 CopernicusNASA{{dts|21 August 1972|abbr=on}}{{dts|February 1981|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (713–724 km){{cite web | url=http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/O/OAO.html | title=Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (OAO) in the Internet Encyclopedia of Science | first=David | last=Darling | author-link=David Darling (astronomer) | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2012-02-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204033707/http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/O/OAO.html | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Astronomical Netherlands Satellite (ANS)SRON{{dts|30 August 1974|abbr=on}}{{dts|June 1976|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (266–1176 km)
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE)ESA & NASA & SERC{{dts|26 January 1978|abbr=on}}{{dts|30 September 1996|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (32,050–52,254 km){{cite web | url=http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=22 | title=ESA Science & Technology: IUE | publisher=ESA | access-date=2008-02-29 | archive-date=2013-05-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518035231/http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=22 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1978-012A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (IUE) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-05-21 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521022609/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1978-012A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | AstronIKI{{dts|23 March 1983|abbr=on}}{{dts|June 1989|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (2,000–200,000 km)
100pxalign="left" |Hubble Space TelescopeNASA & ESA{{dts|24 April 1990|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (586–610 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1990-037B | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Hubble Space Telescope) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2022-04-07 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407205918/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1990-037B | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Broad Band X-ray Telescope / Astro 1NASA{{dts|2 December 1990|abbr=on}}{{dts|11 December 1990|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (500 km)
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE)NASA{{dts|7 June 1992|abbr=on}}{{dts|31 January 2001|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (515–527 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1992-031A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (EUVE) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2012-01-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130193424/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1992-031A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1992-031A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (EUVE) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2012-01-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130193424/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1992-031A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align=left | Astro 2NASA{{dts|2 March 1993|abbr=on}}{{dts|18 March 1993|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (349–363 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=ASTRO-2 | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Astro 2) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-05-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513112130/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=ASTRO-2 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=ASTRO-2 | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Astro 2) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-05-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513112130/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=ASTRO-2 | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE)NASA & CNES & CSA{{dts|24 June 1999|abbr=on}}{{dts|12 July 2007|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (752–767 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-035A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (FUSE) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2012-01-26 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126141727/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1999-035A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-035A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (FUSE) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2012-01-26 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126141727/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1999-035A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align=left | Cosmic Hot Interstellar Spectrometer (CHIPS)NASA{{dts|13 January 2003|abbr=on}}{{dts|11 April 2008|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (578–594 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-002B | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (CHIPS) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-05-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509072022/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2003-002B | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-002B | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (CHIPS) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-05-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509072022/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2003-002B | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX)NASA{{dts|28 April 2003|abbr=on}}{{dts|28 June 2013|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (691–697 km).{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-017A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (GALEX) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-12-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227164156/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2003-017A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-017A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (GALEX) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-12-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227164156/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2003-017A | url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.galex.caltech.edu/newsroom/glx2013-03r.html |title=NASA Decommissions Its Galaxy Hunter Spacecraft |access-date=2013-07-06 |archive-date=2019-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026125640/http://www.galex.caltech.edu/newsroom/glx2013-03r.html |url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

|

align=left | Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Satellite 4 (Kaistsat 4)KARI{{dts|27 September 2003|abbr=on}}{{dts|2007|abbr=on}}?Earth orbit (675–695 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-042G | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Kaistsat 4) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304142307/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2003-042G | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-042G | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Kaistsat 4) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304142307/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2003-042G | url-status=live }}
100pxalign=left | Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory (Swift)NASA{{dts|20 November 2004|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (585–604 km)
100pxalign="left" |Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS)NASA{{dts|27 June 2013|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (387–415 km){{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/iris/news/arrives-vafb.html|title=NASA's Newest Solar Satellite Arrives at Vandenberg AFB for Launch|publisher=NASA|date=2013-04-17|access-date=2013-06-28|archive-date=2013-07-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703025340/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/iris/news/arrives-vafb.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/rss/iris_main_update.xml|title=NASA's IRIS Mission Updates|publisher=NASA|date=2013-06-25|access-date=2013-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110161939/https://www.nasa.gov/rss/iris_main_update.xml|archive-date=2017-01-10|url-status=dead}}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Hisaki (SPRINT-A)JAXA{{dts|14 September 2013|abbr=on}}8 December 2023Earth orbit (957–1151 km){{cite web | url=http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/sprint_a/index_e.html | title=Spectroscopic Planet Observatory for Recognition of Interaction of Atmosphere | publisher=JAXA | access-date=2013-08-08 | archive-date=2013-09-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910083112/http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/sprint_a/index_e.html | url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=HISAKI {{!}} SPRINT-A |url=https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/sprint-a/index_en.html#section04 |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=www.isas.jaxa.jp |language=ja}}
align=left | Venus Spectral Rocket ExperimentNASA{{dts|26 November 2013|abbr=on}}reusableSuborbital to 300 km{{cite web | url = http://www.bu.edu/csp/PASS/science/venusfaq.html | title = What is VeSpR? | access-date = 2013-11-28 | date = November 2013 | work = Center for Space Physics, Boston University | archive-date = 2016-03-04 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040655/http://www.bu.edu/csp/PASS/science/venusfaq.html | url-status = live }}
align=left | Lunar-based ultraviolet telescope (LUT)CNSA{{dts|1 December 2013|abbr=on}}—Lunar surface
(On Chang'e 3 lander)		{{cite web | url = https://gbtimes.com/chinas-telescope-moon-still-working-and-could-do-30-years | title = China's telescope on the Moon is still working, and could do for 30 years | author = Andrew Jones | date = 2017-06-05 | access-date = 2013-11-28 | publisher = GBTimes | archive-date = 2019-05-17 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190517063331/https://gbtimes.com/chinas-telescope-moon-still-working-and-could-do-30-years | url-status = dead }}
100pxalign="left" |AstroSatISRO{{dts|28 September 2015|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (600–650 km)
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

|

|Spatial Heterodyne Interferometric Emission Line Dynamics Spectrometer (SHIELDS)

|NASA

|19 Apr 2021

|19 Apr 2021

|Suborbital to 284.8 km

|{{Cite web|date=15 April 2021|title=SHIELDS Up! NASA Rocket to Survey Our Solar System's Windshield|url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/shields-up-nasa-rocket-to-survey-our-solar-system-s-windshield|access-date=17 April 2021|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415192507/http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/shields-up-nasa-rocket-to-survey-our-solar-system-s-windshield/|url-status=live}}

|Colorado Ultraviolet Transit Experiment (CUTE)

|NASA, Colorado University

|27 Sep 2021

|

|nearly Sun-synchronous orbit with a ~90 minute orbital period

|{{Cite web|url=https://lasp.colorado.edu/cute/|title=Home|website=Colorado Ultraviolet Transit Experiment (CUTE)|access-date=2024-10-15}}

UV ranges listed at Ultraviolet astronomy#Ultraviolet space telescopes.

Visible light

{{further|Visible-light astronomy}}

The oldest form of astronomy, optical or visible-light astronomy, observes wavelengths of light from approximately 400 to 700 nm.{{cite book | author=P. Moore | title=Philip's Atlas of the Universe | date=1997 | publisher=George Philis Limited | location=Great Britain | isbn=0-540-07465-9}} Positioning an optical telescope in space eliminates the distortions and limitations that hamper that ground-based optical telescopes (see Astronomical seeing), providing higher resolution images. Optical telescopes are used to look at planets, stars, galaxies, planetary nebulae and protoplanetary disks, amongst many other things.{{cite web | url=http://hubblesite.org/the_telescope/hubble_essentials/ | title=HubbleSite – The Telescope – Hubble Essentials | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-03-01 | archive-date=2016-03-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194740/http://hubblesite.org/the_telescope/hubble_essentials/ | url-status=live }}

{{sticky header}}

class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" style="width:100%; border:0; text-align:center;"
style="width:7% min-width: 100px;" class="unsortable" | Photo

! style="width:26%;"| Name

! style="width:12%;"| Space agency

! style="width:14%;"| Launch date

! style="width:12%;"| Terminated

! style="width:25%;"| Location

! class="unsortable" style="width:8%;"|Ref(s)

style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | HipparcosESA{{dts|8 August 1989|abbr=on}}{{dts|March 1993|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (223–35,632 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1989-062B | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Hipparcus) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-09-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908020013/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1989-062B | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1989-062B | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Hipparcus) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-09-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908020013/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1989-062B | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?project=HIPPARCOS | title=The Hipparcos Space Astrometry Mission | publisher=ESA | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2016-08-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801015638/http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?project=HIPPARCOS | url-status=live }}
100pxalign="left" |Hubble Space TelescopeNASA & ESA{{dts|24 April 1990|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (586.47–610.44 km)
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

|

align="left" | MOSTCSA{{dts|30 June 2003|abbr=on}}{{dts|March 2019|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (819–832 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-031D | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (MOST) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193516/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2003-031D | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-031D | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (MOST) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193516/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2003-031D | url-status=live }}
100pxalign="left" | Neil Gehrels Swift ObservatoryNASA{{dts|20 November 2004|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (585–604 km)
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | COROTCNES & ESA{{dts|27 December 2006|abbr=on}}{{dts|2013|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (872–884 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2006-063A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (COROT) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175833/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2006-063A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2006-063A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (COROT) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175833/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2006-063A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | KeplerNASA{{dts|6 March 2009|abbr=on}}{{dts|30 October 2018|abbr=on}}Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit{{cite news | author=Staff writers | title=Nasa launches Earth hunter probe | work=BBC News | date=7 March 2009 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7926277.stm | access-date=2009-03-14 | archive-date=2017-12-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218104124/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7926277.stm | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://www.kepler.arc.nasa.gov/ | title=Kepler Mission | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2014-03-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306190326/http://kepler.arc.nasa.gov/ | url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://kepler.nasa.gov/about/news.html |title=Kepler – About – Mission News |publisher=NASA |access-date=2008-02-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070726070942/http://kepler.nasa.gov/about/news.html |archive-date=July 26, 2007 }}
100px

| align="left" | BRITE constellation

Austria, Canada, Poland{{dts|25 February 2013|abbr=on}} - {{dts|19 August 2014|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit{{cite web | url=http://www.brite-constellation.at/ | title=BRITE-Constellation | access-date=2015-03-09 | archive-date=2018-05-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529021813/http://www.brite-constellation.at/ | url-status=live }}
align="left" | Near Earth Object Surveillance Satellite (NEOSSat)CSA, DRDC{{dts|25 February 2013|abbr=on}}—Sun-synchronous Earth orbit (776–792 km){{cite news |url=http://www.space.com/19939-asteroid-satellite-indian-rocket-launch.html |title=Indian Rocket Launches Asteroid-Hunting Satellites, Tiny Space Telescopes |work=Space.com |first=Miriam |last=Kramer |date=February 25, 2013 |access-date=February 25, 2013 |archive-date=August 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818213334/https://www.space.com/19939-asteroid-satellite-indian-rocket-launch.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=39089|title=NEOSSAT Satellite details 2013-009D NORAD 39089|publisher=N2YO|date=January 24, 2015|access-date=January 25, 2015|archive-date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919234454/http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=39089|url-status=live}}
100pxalign="left" | Gaia (astrometry)ESA{{dts|19 December 2013|abbr=on}}—Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point{{cite web | url=http://www.esa.int/esaSC/120377_index_0_m.html | title=ESA – Space Science – Gaia overview | publisher=ESA | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2013-07-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719033722/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Gaia_overview | url-status=live }}
100pxalign=left | AstroSatISRO{{dts|28 September 2015|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (600–650 km)
100pxalign="left" | Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)NASA{{dts|18 April 2018|abbr=on}}—High Earth Orbit{{cite web | url=http://tess.gsfc.nasa.gov/ | title=TESS – Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite | publisher=NASA | access-date=2016-02-26 | archive-date=2018-04-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418020557/https://tess.gsfc.nasa.gov/ | url-status=live }}
align="left" | CHEOPSESA{{dts|18 December 2019|abbr=on}}

|—

|Sun-synchronous orbit

|{{Cite web|title=Flight VS23: Soyuz lifts off from the Spaceport in French Guiana|url=https://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/flight-vs23-soyuz-lifts-off-from-the-spaceport-in-french-guiana/|date=December 28, 2019|website=Arianespace|access-date=May 25, 2020|archive-date=February 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226011916/https://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/flight-vs23-soyuz-lifts-off-from-the-spaceport-in-french-guiana/|url-status=live}}

align="left" | ILO-XILOA{{dts|15 February 2024|abbr=on}}—Lunar surface{{cite web | url=https://iloa.org/iloa_news_release_oct_4_2023/ | title=ILO-X news release | date=26 September 2023 | publisher=ILOA }}
100pxalign=left | Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM)CNSA & CNES{{dts|22 June 2024|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (625–625 km){{cite web |url=https://www.svom.eu/en/home/ |access-date=12 June 2024 |title=Svom }}{{cite news |last=Xin |first=Ling |date=22 June 2024 |title=China-France satellite launched to monitor most powerful explosions in space |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3267503/china-france-satellite-launched-monitor-most-powerful-explosions-space |work=South China Morning Post |access-date=22 June 2024}}

Infrared and submillimetre

{{main|Infrared astronomy|Submillimetre astronomy}}

Infrared light is of lower energy than visible light, hence is emitted by sources that are either cooler, or moving away from the observer (in present context: Earth) at high speed. As such, the following can be viewed in the infrared: cool stars (including brown dwarves), nebulae, and redshifted galaxies.{{cite web | url=http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/ir_tutorial/importance.html | title=Cool Cosmos | publisher=California Institute of Technology | access-date=2008-03-01 | archive-date=2018-10-21 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021130052/http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/ir_tutorial/importance.html | url-status=dead }}

{{sticky header}}

class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" style="width:100%; border:0; text-align:center;"
style="width:7% min-width: 100px;" class="unsortable" | Photo

! style="width:26%;"| Name

! style="width:12%;"| Space agency

! style="width:10%;"| Launch date

! style="width:10%;"| Terminated

! style="width:25%;"| Location

! class="unsortable" style="width:10%;"|Ref(s)

style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | IRASNASA{{dts|25 January 1983|abbr=on}}{{dts|21 November 1983|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (889–903 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1983-004A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (IRAS) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2020-10-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029053857/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1983-004A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Infrared Telescope in SpaceISAS & NASDA{{dts|18 March 1995|abbr=on}}{{dts|25 April 1995|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (486 km){{cite web | url=http://www.ir.isas.ac.jp/irts/irts_E.html | title=IRTS Home Page | publisher=Institute of Space and Astronautical Science | access-date=2008-02-29 | archive-date=2012-02-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210184535/http://www.ir.isas.ac.jp/irts/irts_E.html | url-status=live }}{{cite journal | title=The IRTS (Infrared Telescope in Space) Mission | last1=Murakami | first1=Hiroshi | journal=Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan | volume=48 | issue=5 | pages=L41–L46 | bibcode=1996PASJ...48L..41M | last2=Freund | first2=M. M. | last3=Ganga | first3=K. | last4=Guo | first4=H. | last5=Hirao | first5=T. | last6=Hiromoto | first6=N. | last7=Kawada | first7=M. | last8=Lange | first8=A. E. | last9=Makiuti | first9=S. | last10=Matsuhara | first10=H. | last11=Matsumoto | first11=T. | last12=Matsuura | first12=S. | last13=Murakami | first13=M. | last14=Nakagawa | first14=T. | last15=Narita | first15=M. | last16=Noda | first16=M. | last17=Okuda | first17=H. | last18=Okumura | first18=K. | last19=Onaka | first19=T. | last20=Roellig | first20=T. L. | last21=Sato | first21=S. | last22=Shibai | first22=H. | last23=Smith | first23=B. J. | last24=Tanabe | first24=T. | last25=Tanaka | first25=M. | last26=Watabe | first26=T. | last27=Yamamura | first27=I. | last28=Yuen | first28=L. | display-authors = 8| date=1996 | doi=10.1093/pasj/48.5.l41| doi-access=free }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Infrared Space Observatory (ISO)ESA{{dts|17 November 1995|abbr=on}}{{dts|16 May 1998|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (1000–70500 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1995-062A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (ISO) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2013-03-20 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320212347/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1995-062A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=18 | title=ESA Science & Technology: ISO | publisher=ESA | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2013-06-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605163737/http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=18 | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX)USN{{dts|24 April 1996|abbr=on}}{{dts|26 February 1997|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (900 km){{cite web | url=http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/ipac/msx/msx.html | title=MSX Project Page | publisher=Infrared Processing and Analysis Center | access-date=2008-02-29 | archive-date=2018-01-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114031127/https://www.ipac.caltech.edu/ipac/msx/msx.html | url-status=dead }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS)NASA{{dts|6 December 1998|abbr=on}}{{sort|{{dts|2005|abbr=on}}|Last used in 2005}}Earth orbit (638–651 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1998-071A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (SWAS) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-07-31 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731045802/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1998-071A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Wide Field Infrared Explorer (WIRE)NASA{{dts|5 March 1999|abbr=on}}no observationsRe-entered May 10, 2011{{cite web |author=WIRE Web Team |url=http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/wire/ |title=Caltech: WIRE |publisher=Ipac.caltech.edu |access-date=2012-09-04 |archive-date=2018-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620181522/https://www.ipac.caltech.edu/wire/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-011A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (WIRE) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-05-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514151606/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1999-011A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Spitzer Space TelescopeNASA{{dts|25 August 2003|abbr=on}}{{dts|30 January 2020|abbr=on}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ending-in-2020-nasas-infrared-spitzer-mission-leaves-a-gap-in-astronomy/|title=Ending in 2020, NASA's Infrared Spitzer Mission Leaves a Gap in Astronomy|last=O'Callaghan|first=Jonathan|website=Scientific American|language=en|access-date=2020-02-01|archive-date=2021-02-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212204246/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ending-in-2020-nasas-infrared-spitzer-mission-leaves-a-gap-in-astronomy/|url-status=live}}Solar orbit (0.98–1.02 AU){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-038A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Spitzer) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-12-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205230926/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2003-038A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align=left |Akari (Astro-F)JAXA{{dts|21 February 2006|abbr=on}}{{dts|24 November 2011|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2011/11/20111124_akari_j.html |title=赤外線天文衛星「あかり」（ASTRO-F）の運用終了について |language=ja |publisher=JAXA |date=24 November 2011 |access-date=24 November 2011 |archive-date=24 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224020745/http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2011/11/20111124_akari_j.html |url-status=live }}Earth orbit (586.47–610.44 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2006-005A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Akari) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2017-02-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218135925/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2006-005A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Herschel Space ObservatoryESA & NASA{{dts|14 May 2009|abbr=on}} {{cite web |url=http://herschel.jpl.nasa.gov/newsLatest.shtml |title=Jet Propulsion Laboratory Herschel Mission News |publisher=Herschel.jpl.nasa.gov |access-date=2009-08-19 |archive-date=2016-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129221324/https://herschel.jpl.nasa.gov/newsLatest.shtml |url-status=live }}{{dts|29 April 2013|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21934520 |title=Herschel space telescope finishes mission |work=BBC News |first=Jonathan |last=Amos |date=29 April 2013 |access-date=29 April 2013 |archive-date=21 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221174104/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21934520 |url-status=live }}Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point{{cite web | url=http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=FIRST | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617171714/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=FIRST | url-status=dead | archive-date=2008-06-17 | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Herschel Space Observatory) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27}}{{cite web | url=http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?project=Planck | title=Planck – Home Page | publisher=ESA | date=6 March 2008 | access-date=2008-03-15 | archive-date=2008-08-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080806003940/http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?project=planck | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://herschel.esac.esa.int/overview.shtml | title=Herschel Science Centre – A short Herschel mission overview | publisher=ESA | date=20 November 2007 | access-date=2008-03-15 | archive-date=2018-07-11 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711083322/http://herschel.esac.esa.int/overview.shtml | url-status=live }}
100pxalign=left | Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)NASA{{dts|14 December 2009|abbr=on}}{{sort|{{dts|February 2011|abbr=on}}|(hibernation Feb 2011 – Aug 2013)}}Earth orbit (500 km){{cite web | url=http://wise.ssl.berkeley.edu/ | title=WISE: Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer | publisher=University of California, Los Angeles | access-date=2008-03-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112144939/http://wise.ssl.berkeley.edu/ | archive-date=2010-01-12 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://wise.ssl.berkeley.edu/documents/2007-Fact_Sheet.pdf | title=WISE – Mapping the Infrared Sky | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-03-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708083733/http://wise.ssl.berkeley.edu/documents/2007-Fact_Sheet.pdf | archive-date=2007-07-08 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/WISE/main/index.html | title=Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer | publisher=NASA | access-date=2009-11-30 | archive-date=2009-11-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109045853/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/WISE/main/index.html | url-status=live }}
100pxalign="left" | CHEOPSESA{{dts|18 December 2019|abbr=on}}

|—

|Sun-synchronous orbit

|

100px

| align="left" | James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

|NASA/ESA/CSA

|{{dts|25 December 2021|abbr=on}}

|—

|Sun–Earth {{L2}} Lagrange point

|{{cite web|date=8 September 2021|title=Targeted launch date for Webb: 18 December 2021|url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb/Targeted_launch_date_for_Webb_18_December_2021|access-date=10 November 2021|publisher=ESA|archive-date=30 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030041547/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb/Targeted_launch_date_for_Webb_18_December_2021|url-status=live}}

100pxalign="left" | EuclidESA{{dts|1 July 2023|abbr=on}}—Sun–Earth L2 Lagrange point{{cite tweet |author-link=Josef Aschbacher |user=AschbacherJosef |number=1452582751010439178 |title=Heads of Agencies Plenary is a highlight of IAC, being a chance to summarize for the audience where we are & where we are going. Today was particularly special for me, my 1st as DG. We have huge milestones coming up: JWST, Galileo, JUICE, Vega-C, Ariane-6 and much more. #IAC2021 |date=25 October 2021 |access-date=10 November 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://sci.esa.int/web/home/-/51459-missions |title=ESA Science & Technology - Missions |publisher=ESA |date=8 November 2021 |access-date=10 November 2021 |archive-date=3 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303052856/https://sci.esa.int/web/home/-/51459-missions |url-status=live }}
100pxalign=left | SPHERExNASA{{dts|11 March 2025|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit{{cite web |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/a-new-nasa-space-telescope-spherex-is-moving-ahead |title=A New NASA Space Telescope, SPHEREx, Is Moving Ahead |work=JPL |publisher=NASA |date=5 January 2021 |access-date=10 November 2021 |archive-date=10 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110084045/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/a-new-nasa-space-telescope-spherex-is-moving-ahead |url-status=live }}

Microwave

{{further|Radio astronomy}}

Microwave space telescopes have primarily been used to measure cosmological parameters from the Cosmic Microwave Background. They also measure synchrotron radiation, free-free emission and spinning dust from the Milky Way Galaxy, as well as extragalactic compact sources and galaxy clusters through the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect.{{cite book |last1=Lachièze-Rey |first1=M. |last2=Gunzig |first2=E.| title=The Cosmological Background Radiation|year=1999|pages=168–9|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=0521574374}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; border:0; text-align:center;"
style="width:7% min-width: 100px;" class="unsortable" | Photo

! style="width:26%;"| Name

! style="width:12%;"| Space agency

! style="width:10%;"| Launch date

! style="width:10%;"| Terminated

! style="width:25%;"| Location

! class="unsortable" style="width:10%;"|Ref(s)

style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE)NASA{{dts|18 November 1989|abbr=on}}{{dts|23 December 1993|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (900 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1989-089A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (COBE) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-05-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512042250/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1989-089A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1989-089A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (COBE) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-05-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512042250/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1989-089A | url-status=live }}
align=left | OdinSwedish Space Corporation{{dts|20 February 2001|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (622 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2001-007A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Odin) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203244/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2001-007A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2001-007A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Odin) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-03-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203244/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2001-007A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | WMAPNASA{{dts|30 June 2001|abbr=on}}{{dts|October 2010|abbr=on}}Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2001-027A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (WMAP) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-04-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410064209/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2001-027A | url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | PlanckESA{{dts|14 May 2009|abbr=on}}{{dts|October 2013|abbr=on}}Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point (mission)
Heliocentric (Derelict)		{{cite web | url=http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=PLANCK | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212015409/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=PLANCK | url-status=dead | archive-date=2007-12-12 | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (PLANCK) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27}}{{cite web | url=http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?project=Planck | title=Planck – Home Page | publisher=ESA | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2008-08-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080806003940/http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?project=planck | url-status=live }}

Radio

{{further|Radio astronomy|Very Long Baseline Interferometry}}

As the atmosphere is transparent for radio waves, radio telescopes in space are most useful for Very Long Baseline Interferometry: doing simultaneous observations of a source with both a satellite and a ground-based telescope and by correlating their signals to simulate a radio telescope the size of the separation between the two telescopes. Typical targets for observations include supernova remnants, masers, gravitational lenses, and starburst galaxies.{{fact|date=March 2021}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; border:0; text-align:center;"
style="width:7% min-width: 100px;" class="unsortable" | Photo

! style="width:26%;"| Name

! style="width:12%;"| Space agency

! style="width:10%;"| Launch date

! style="width:10%;"| Terminated

! style="width:25%;"| Location

! class="unsortable" style="width:10%;"|Ref(s)

style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align=left | Highly Advanced Laboratory for Communications and Astronomy (HALCA, VSOP or MUSES-B)ISAS{{dts|12 February 1997|abbr=on}}{{dts|30 November 2005|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (560–21,400 km){{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1997-005A | title=NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (HALCA) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-01-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106144023/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1997-005A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1997-005A | title=NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (HALCA) | publisher=NASA | access-date=2008-02-27 | archive-date=2016-01-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106144023/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1997-005A | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://vsop.mtk.nao.ac.jp/VSOP2TSMAPL07/VSOP2-link-Nov06.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320004540/http://vsop.mtk.nao.ac.jp/VSOP2TSMAPL07/VSOP2-link-Nov06.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=2009-03-20 | title=Minutes of VSOP-2 Tracking Station Meeting, 10/31-11/01/06 | publisher=National Astronomical Observatory of Japan | access-date=2008-02-28 }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align=left | Spektr-R (RadioAstron)ASC LPI{{dts|18 July 2011|abbr=on}}{{dts|11 January 2019|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (10,000–390,000 km){{cite web | url=http://www.asc.rssi.ru/radioastron/description/status_eng.htm | title=Description of the RadioAstron project | publisher=Russian Space Research Institute | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2008-06-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606044237/http://www.asc.rssi.ru/radioastron/description/status_eng.htm | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://www.asc.rssi.ru/radioastron/description/orbit_eng.htm | title=Description of the RadioAstron project – Orbit | publisher=Russian Space Research Institute | access-date=2008-02-28 | archive-date=2008-06-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606044233/http://www.asc.rssi.ru/radioastron/description/orbit_eng.htm | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://www.asc.rssi.ru/radioastron/news/newsl/en/newsl_01_en.pdf | title=RadioAstron Newsletter Number 1, January 1, 2010 | date=January 1, 2010 | publisher=Russian Astro Space Center | access-date=2023-04-30 | archive-date=April 17, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417124117/http://www.asc.rssi.ru/radioastron/news/newsl/en/newsl_01_en.pdf | url-status=live }}

Particle detection

Spacecraft and space-based modules that do particle detection, looking for cosmic rays and electrons. These can be emitted by the Sun (Solar Energetic Particles), the Milky Way galaxy (Galactic cosmic rays) and extragalactic sources (Extragalactic cosmic rays). There are also Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays from active galactic nuclei, those can be detected by ground-based detectors via their particle showers.

{{sticky header}}

class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" style="width:100%; border:0; text-align:center;"
style="width:7% min-width: 100px;" class="unsortable" | Photo

! style="width:26%;"| Name

! style="width:12%;"| Space agency

! style="width:10%;"| Launch date

! style="width:10%;"| Terminated

! style="width:25%;"| Location

! class="unsortable" style="width:10%;"|Ref(s)

style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Proton-1USSR{{dts|16 July 1965|abbr=on}}{{dts|11 October 1965|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (589–183 km)
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | Proton-2USSR{{dts|2 November 1965|abbr=on}}{{dts|6 February 1966|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (637–191 km)
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align="left" | High Energy Astronomy Observatory 3 (HEAO 3)NASA{{dts|20 September 1979|abbr=on}}{{dts|29 May 1981|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (486.4–504.9 km)
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

style="text-align:left;" | SAMPEXNASA / DE{{dts|3 July 1992|abbr=on}}{{dts|30 June 2004|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (512–687 km){{cite web |url=http://www.srl.caltech.edu/sampex/DataCenter/ |title=SAMPEX Data Center |publisher=Srl.caltech.edu |access-date=2012-09-04 |archive-date=2018-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923080139/http://www.srl.caltech.edu/sampex/DataCenter/ |url-status=live }}
style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

align=left | Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer 01 (AMS-01)NASA{{dts|2 June 1998|abbr=on}}{{dts|12 June 1998|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (296 km){{cite journal

| journal=Physics Reports | volume=366 | issue=6 | pages=331–405 |date=August 2002

| author=AMS Collaboration | title=The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) on the International Space Station: Part I – results from the test flight on the space shuttle | bibcode=2002PhR...366..331A | doi=10.1016/S0370-1573(02)00013-3

| last2=Aguilar | first2=M.

| last3=Alcaraz | first3=J.

| last4=Allaby | first4=J.

| last5=Alpat | first5=B.

| last6=Ambrosi | first6=G.

| last7=Anderhub | first7=H.

| last8=Ao | first8=L.

| last9=Arefiev | first9=A.| last10=Azzarello | display-authors = 8| last11=Babucci | last12=Baldini | last13=Basile | last14=Barancourt | last15=Barao | last16=Barbier | last17=Barreira | last18=Battiston | last19=Becker | last20=Becker | last21=Bellagamba | last22=Béné | last23=Berdugo | last24=Berges | last25=Bertucci | last26=Biland | last27=Bizzaglia | last28=Blasko | last29=Boella | last30=Boschini | s2cid=122726107 }}

style="background:#E8E8E8;"

| 100px

style="text-align:left;"| Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics (PAMELA)ISA, INFN, RSA, DLR & SNSB{{dts|15 May 2006|abbr=on}}{{dts|7 February 2016|abbr=on}}Earth orbit (350–610 km){{cite web | url=http://pamela.roma2.infn.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=64&Itemid=129 | title=PAMELA Mission Official Website | publisher=Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare | access-date=2008-03-09 | archive-date=2018-09-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904191919/http://pamela.roma2.infn.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=64&Itemid=129 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://pamela.roma2.infn.it/ | title=PAMELA Mission Official Website – Partners | publisher=Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare | access-date=2008-03-09 | archive-date=2018-11-11 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111030726/http://pamela.roma2.infn.it/ | url-status=live }}
100pxstyle="text-align:left;" | IBEXNASA{{dts|19 October 2008|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (86,000–259,000 km){{cite news | first=Justin | last=Ray | title=Mission Status Center: Pegasus/IBEX | url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/pegasus/ibex/status.html | work=Spaceflight Now | date=October 19, 2008 | access-date=November 27, 2009 | archive-date=September 4, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904191920/https://spaceflightnow.com/pegasus/ibex/status.html | url-status=live }}
100pxstyle="text-align:left;" | Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer 02 (AMS-02)NASA{{dts|16 May 2011|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (353 km) on ISS{{cite web

|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/experiments/AMS-02.html

|title=Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer – 02 (AMS-02)

|publisher=NASA |date=2009-12-18

|access-date=2009-12-24

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816041406/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/experiments/AMS-02.html

|archive-date=2009-08-16

}}

style="text-align:left;" | Calorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET)JAXA{{dts|19 October 2015|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (353 km) on ISS{{cite web

|url=https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/calet/calet.html

|title=CALET

|publisher=Goddard Space Flight Center |date=2024-08-26

|access-date=2024-11-04

|url-status=

|archive-url=

|archive-date=

}}

align="left" | Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE)CNSA & CAS{{dts|17 December 2015|abbr=on}}—Earth orbit (500 km){{cite web | url=http://dpnc.unige.ch/dampe/index.html | title=DArk Matter Particle Explorer | access-date=2013-08-15 | archive-date=2018-07-17 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717000500/http://dpnc.unige.ch/dampe/index.html | url-status=live }}

Gravitational waves

A type of telescope that detects gravitational waves; ripples in space-time generated by colliding neutron stars or black holes.

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align="left" | Lunar Surface GravimeterNASA{{dts|7 December 1972|abbr=on}}{{dts|14 December 1972|abbr=on}}Taurus–Littrow{{cite web | url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1972-096C-09 | title=Lunar Surface Gravimeter on Apollo 17 | publisher=NASA | access-date=2023-08-15 | archive-date=2023-06-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608223859/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1972-096C-09

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Future launches

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! style="width:25%;"| Name

! style="width:10%;"| Space agency

! style="width:15%;" | Planned launch date

! style="width:25%;"| Location

! class="unsortable" style="width:10%;"|Ref(s)

100pxalign=left | Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration ProbeNASA{{dts|2025|abbr=on}}L1 Lagrange point{{cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |url=https://spacenews.com/nasa-delays-launch-of-heliophysics-missions/ |title=NASA delays launch of heliophysics missions |work=SpaceNews |date=22 December 2024 |access-date=23 December 2024}}
100pxalign=left | XuntianCNSA/CAS{{dts|2026|abbr=on}}Low Earth orbit{{cite web|title=China’s giant Xuntian space telescope faces further delay until late 2026|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3262886/chinas-giant-xuntian-space-telescope-faces-further-delay-until-late-2026|website=South China Morning Post|date=16 May 2024|access-date=23 June 2024}}{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/china-to-expand-its-space-station-international-astronaut-selection-underway/ |title=China to expand its space station, international astronaut selection underway |work=SpaceNews |date=28 February 2023 |access-date=12 March 2023 |archive-date=2 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702162133/https://spacenews.com/china-to-expand-its-space-station-international-astronaut-selection-underway/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://english.cas.cn/newsroom/cas_media/202205/t20220507_305162.shtml |title=Flagship Chinese Space Telescope to Unravel Cosmic Mysteries |work=Chinese Academy of Sciences |date=7 May 2022 |access-date=21 July 2022 |archive-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524214136/https://english.cas.cn/newsroom/cas_media/202205/t20220507_305162.shtml |url-status=live }}
100pxalign="left" | PLATOESA{{dts|2026|abbr=on}}Geosynchronous orbit{{cite web |last1=Fisher |first1=Alise |title=NASA to Launch Israel's First Space Telescope |url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-to-launch-israel-s-first-space-telescope |website=NASA |access-date=25 April 2023 |date=17 February 2023 |archive-date=1 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401173258/https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-to-launch-israel-s-first-space-telescope/ |url-status=live }}
100pxalign="left" | ULTRASATIsrael Space Agency{{dts|2026|abbr=on}}Sun–Earth L2 Lagrange point{{Cite web|last=Amos|first=Jonathan|title=European Space Agency picks Plato planet-hunting mission|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-26267918|website=BBC News|access-date=15 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115102815/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-26267918|archive-date=15 November 2019|date=20 February 2014|quote=A telescope to find rocky worlds around other stars has been selected for launch by the European Space Agency's (Esa) Science Policy Committee. Known as Plato, the mission should launch on a Soyuz rocket in 2024.|url-status=live}}
100pxalign=left |Nancy Grace Roman Space TelescopeNASA{{dts|2027|abbr=on}}Sun–Earth {{L2}} Lagrange point{{cite web |last=Balzer |first=Ashley |url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/nasa-s-roman-mission-will-help-empower-a-new-era-of-cosmological-discovery |title=NASA's Roman Mission Will Help Empower a New Era of Cosmological Discovery |work=NASA |date=9 November 2021 |access-date=10 November 2021 |archive-date=8 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208032421/https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/nasa-s-roman-mission-will-help-empower-a-new-era-of-cosmological-discovery/ |url-status=live }}
100pxalign=left |Compton Spectrometer and ImagerNASA{{dts|2027|abbr=on}}Low Earth orbit{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-gamma-ray-telescope-to-chart-milky-way-evolution|title=NASA Selects Gamma-ray Telescope to Chart Milky Way Evolution|publisher=NASA|date=18 October 2021 |access-date=21 October 2021}} {{PD-notice}}
100pxalign=left | ARIELESA{{dts|2029|abbr=on}}Sun–Earth {{L2}} Lagrange point{{cite web |url = https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Ariel_moves_from_blueprint_to_reality |title = Ariel moves from blueprint to reality |publisher = ESA |date = 12 November 2020 |access-date = 20 November 2020 |archive-date = 16 April 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210416211726/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Ariel_moves_from_blueprint_to_reality |url-status = live }}
100pxalign=left | UVEXNASA{{dts|2030|abbr=on}}Highly elliptical orbit{{cite web |title=New NASA Mission will Study Ultraviolet Sky, Stars, Stellar Explosions - NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/new-nasa-mission-will-study-ultraviolet-sky-stars-stellar-explosions/ |publisher=NASA |access-date=31 October 2024}}
align=left | TaijiCNSA/CAS{{dts|2033|abbr=on}}Heliocentric orbit{{cite web|last=Cyranoski |first=David |title=Chinese gravitational-wave hunt hits crunch time|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/531150a|publisher=Nature|date=9 March 2016|access-date=23 June 2024}}
align=left | Advanced Telescope for High Energy Astrophysics (Athena)ESA/NASA/JAXA{{dts|2035|abbr=on}}Sun–Earth L2 Lagrange point{{cite web |url=https://sci.esa.int/web/athena/-/59896-mission-summary |title=Athena {{!}} Mission Summary |work=ESA |date=8 November 2021 |access-date=10 November 2021 |archive-date=10 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110074131/https://sci.esa.int/web/athena/-/59896-mission-summary |url-status=live }}
100pxalign=left | Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA)ESA{{dts|2037|abbr=on}}Heliocentric orbit{{cite web |url=https://sci.esa.int/web/lisa/-/61367-mission-summary |title=LISA {{!}} Mission Summary |work=ESA |date=8 November 2021 |access-date=10 November 2021 |archive-date=10 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110074054/https://sci.esa.int/web/lisa/-/61367-mission-summary |url-status=live }}

See also

References

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External links

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{{Space observatories}}

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