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Timeline of first orbital launches by country

{{Short description|none}}

[[File:Orbital launch projects.svg|thumb|right|400px|Orbital launch projects and capabilities

{{legend|#ff0000|Confirmed orbital launch capable country}}

{{legend|#ff6600|Confirmed orbital launch capable intergovernmental organization (ESA) members}}

{{legend|#008000|Orbital launch project in development or planned}}

{{legend|#0000ff|Abandoned orbital launch project}}

]]

This is a timeline of first orbital launches by country. While a number of countries, incl. Canada, Australia, Germany, Brazil, Algeria, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Argentina, Italy, Malaysia, Poland, South Africa, the Philippines, Egypt, Spain, Mexico, Thailand and Chile, have built or launched satellites, as of 2022, eleven countries, incl. the United States, Japan, China, India, Iran, Israel, France, the United Kingdom and South Korea, have had the capability to send objects into orbit with their own launch vehicles. Russia and Ukraine inherited the capability of the space launchers and satellites from the Soviet Union, following its dissolution in 1991. Russia launches its rockets from its own and foreign (Kazakh) spaceports.

Ukraine launched only from foreign (Kazakh and Russian) launch facilities until 2015, after which political differences with Russia effectively halted Ukraine's ability to produce orbital rockets.{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/12/zenit-swansong-elektro-l-launch/|title=Zenit successfully launches on likely swansong with Elektro-L - NASASpaceFlight.com|website=Nasaspaceflight.com| date=11 December 2015 |access-date=9 August 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://euromaidanpress.com/2017/01/10/dnipro-will-not-let-ukraines-space-glory-be-forgotten/|title=Dnipro will not let Ukraine's space glory be forgotten|date=10 January 2017|website=Euromaidan Press|access-date=9 August 2017}} France became a space power independently, launching a payload into orbit from Algeria, before joining space launcher facilities in the multi-national Ariane project. The United Kingdom became a space power independently following a single payload insertion into orbit from Australia.

Twelve countries and one inter-governmental organization (ESA) presently have a proven orbital launch capability, {{as of|2025|3|lc=on}}. The former Soviet Union and the United Kingdom formerly had such an independent capability. In all cases where a country has conducted independent human spaceflights (as of 2021, three — China, the Soviet Union/Russia, and the United States), these launches were preceded by independent uncrewed launch capability.

The race to launch the first satellite was closely contested by the Soviet Union and the United States, and was the beginning of the Space Race. The launching of satellites, while still contributing to national prestige, is a significant economic activity as well, with public and private rocket systems competing for launches, using cost and reliability as selling points.

File:Sputnik asm.jpg, the first artificial satellite, launched by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957]]

List of first orbital launches by country

Countries like Italy are not included since they have not yet developed an orbital rocket from scratch; i.e., an orbital rocket that was designed and engineered in its entirety in the country in question.

{{sticky header}}

class="wikitable sticky-header"
Order

!CountryThe eleven countries and successor states/union indicated in bold retain orbital launch capability.

!Sector

!Satellite

!Rocket

!Location

!Date (UTC)

scope="row" | 1

|{{flagcountry|Soviet Union}}{{refn|The Soviet Union's successor state, Russia, took over the Soviet space program after the Soviet Union's dissolution in 1991 with Ukraine inheriting a smaller part of the Soviet space program's space launcher and satellite capability. Soviet heritage launcher designs were utilized for the joint Sea Launch system too.{{refn|Sea Launch is currently 85% owned by Russia's Energia.{{cite web|title=Russian money to drive Sea Launch relaunch|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/08/06/345841/russian-money-to-drive-sea-launch-relaunch.html|publisher=Flightglobal.com|access-date=August 9, 2010|date=August 6, 2010}} Previously, it was a consortium of four companies from Norway, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States: Aker Kværner; Energia; Yuzhmash and Yuzhnoye Design Bureau; and Boeing, respectively. Its first demonstration satellite, DemoSat, was launched on 27 March 1999 using a Ukrainian-mainly Zenit 3SL rocket from the Ocean Odyssey (a former drilling-rig) in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Sea Launch has launched numerous satellites since, with few failures.|group=lower-alpha|name=SeaLaunch}}|group=lower-alpha|name=USSR}}

| rowspan="15" |Governmental

|Sputnik 1

|Sputnik-PS

|Baikonur, Soviet Union (today Kazakhstan)

4 October 1957
scope="row" | 2

|{{flagcountry|United States}}

|Explorer 1

|Juno I

|Cape Canaveral, United States

|1 February 1958

scope="row" | 3

|{{Flagicon|FRA}} France{{refn|France launched its first satellite by its own rocket from Algeria, which had been a French territory when the spaceport was built but had achieved independence before the satellite launch. Later France provided a spaceport for ESA space launchers in French Guiana, transferring between 1975 and 1980{{refn|ESA in its current form was founded with the ESA Convention in 1975, when ESRO was merged with ELDO. France signed the ESA Convention on 30 May 1975{{cite web|title=CONVENTION for the establishment of a European Space Agency|url=http://www.esa.int/esapub/sp/sp1300/sp1300EN1.pdf|date=28 January 2012|website=esa.int|access-date=9 August 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128184621/http://www.esa.int/esapub/sp/sp1300/sp1300EN1.pdf|archive-date=28 January 2012}} and deposited the instruments of ratification on 10 October 1980, when the convention came into force. During this interval the agency functioned in a de facto fashion.{{cite web|url=http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/SP1271En_final.pdf |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090706114445/http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/SP1271En_final.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-07-06 |title=Convention for the establishment of a European Space Agency |publisher=ESA |date=2003 |access-date=29 December 2008 }}|group=lower-alpha}} its capability to ESA as a founding member.|group=lower-alpha|name=FRA}}

|Astérix

|Diamant A

|CIEES/Hammaguir, Algeria

|26 November 1965

scope="row" | 4

|{{flagcountry|Japan}}

|Ohsumi

|Lambda-4S

|Uchinoura, Japan

|11 February 1970

scope="row" | 5

|{{flagcountry|China}}

|Dong Fang Hong 1

|Long March 1

|Jiuquan, China

|24 April 1970

scope="row" | 6

|{{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}The United Kingdom only self-launched a single satellite (in 1971) and that from a commonwealth (Australian) spaceport. Later it joined the European Space Agency.

|Prospero

|Black Arrow

|Woomera, Australia

|28 October 1971

December 20 Ethiopia launched its first space satellite into space

| scope="row" | —

|{{flagdeco|Europe}} European Space AgencyThe European Space Agency developed the Ariane rocket family (the second European launcher program after the failed Europa rocket program under ELDO) operating from its Guiana Space Centre spaceport (first successful launch on 24 December 1979 when Ariane 1 launcher placed the technological capsule CAT-1 on orbit). ESA signatories at the time of first launch were Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Private/public companies and/or governments of these countries (with the exception of Ireland and the United Kingdom) became shareholders in the commercial company Arianespace dealing with production, operation, and marketing. Later Norway became an ESA member and Arianespace shareholder. Additional subsequent ESA member states are Austria, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, and Romania.

|CAT-1 (Obélix{{cite web|title=N° 2994 - Rapport de M. Robert Lecou sur le projet de loi autorisant l'approbation de l'accord-cadre entre le Gouvernement de la République française et le Gouvernement de la République de l'Inde relatif à la coopération dans le domaine de l'utilisation de l'espace extra-atmosphérique à des fins pacifiques (n°2709)|url=http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/13/rapports/r2994.asp|website=www.assemblee-nationale.fr|access-date=1 May 2020}}.)

|Ariane 1

|Kourou, French Guiana

|24 December 1979

scope="row" | 7

|{{flagcountry|India}}

|Rohini 1 (RS1)

|SLV

|Sriharikota, India

|18 July 1980

scope="row" | 8

|{{flagcountry|Israel}}

|Ofeq 1

|Shavit

|Palmachim, Israel

|19 September 1988

scope="row" | —

|{{flagcountry|Ukraine}}Ukraine provided its own space launcher to Russia and did not use its own space launcher to put satellites in orbit (first Ukrainian satellite is Sich-1, launched on August 31, 1995 by Ukrainian Tsyklon-3 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia).

|Strela-3 (x6, Russian)

|Tsyklon-3

|Plesetsk, Soviet Union (today Russia)

|28 September 1991

scope="row" | —

|{{flagcountry|Russia}}

|Kosmos 2175

|Soyuz-U

|Plesetsk, Russia

21 January 1992
scope="row" | 9

|{{flagcountry|Iran}}Although it has signed the Outer Space Treaty, Iran is the only space launch capable nation that has not ratified the treaty.

|Omid

|Safir-1A

|Semnan, Iran

|2 February 2009

10

|{{Flagicon|ITA}} Italy

|LARES, ALMASat-1, Xatcobeo, UniCubeSat-GG, Robusta, e-st@r, Goliat, PW-Sat, MaSat-1

|Vega

|Kourou, French Guiana

|3 February 2012

scope="row" | 11

|{{flagcountry|North Korea}}

|Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2

|Unha-3

|Sohae, North Korea

|12 December 2012{{refn|The North Korean government first claimed a successful launch on 31 August 1998 with Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1 from Musudan-ri, which was internationally determined to be a failure. Another launch on 5 April 2009, with the Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 satellite, was also reported by North Korea to have reached orbit;{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/north-korea-fires-longrange-rocket-reports-20090405-9sz1.html |title=North Korea fires long-range rocket: reports |date=5 April 2009 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=22 November 2011}} however, US and South Korean officials stated that the launch failed to reach orbit.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7984254.stm |title=North Korea space launch 'fails' |date=5 April 2009 |work=BBC News |access-date=22 November 2011}}|group=lower-alpha|name=NK}}

scope="row" | 12

|{{flagcountry|South Korea}}

|STSat-2C

|Naro-1

|Goheung, South Korea

|30 January 2013

Category:Lists of firsts in outer space

= Partial contributions to orbital launch systems =

Two countries, Italy and New Zealand, have contributed in the creation or continuation of orbital launch systems.

class="wikitable"
Order

!Country

!Sector

!Satellite

!Rocket

!Location

!Date (UTC)

scope="row" | 1

|{{Flagicon|Italy}} Italy

|Governmental

|San Marco 1

|Scout-X4

|San Marco platform, Kenya

15 December 1964
scope="row" | 2

|{{Flagicon|New Zealand}} New Zealand

|Private

|Humanity Star

|Electron

|Mahia LC-1A, New Zealand

|21 January 2018

= Notes =

{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

Other launches and projects

The above list includes confirmed satellite launches with rockets produced by the launching country, like Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom or the United States. Lists with differing criteria might include the following launches:

=Failed launches=

  • {{flagcountry|Brazil}} had yet to launch a satellite into orbit independently and its space program suffered three satellite launch failures, the latest being the explosion of a VLS-1 rocket on 22 August 2003 at the Alcântara Launch Centre, which resulted in 21 deaths.{{cite news|date=August 23, 2003|title=At Least 21 Killed, 20 Hurt in Brazil Rocket Explosion|page=2A|newspaper=News-Press|agency=Associated Press|location=Fort Myers, Florida|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39500867/newspress/}}

=Launches of non-indigenous launch vehicles=

Some countries have no self-developed rocket systems, but have provided their spaceports for launches of their own and foreign satellites on foreign launchers:

  • {{flagcountry|Algeria}} with the first successful launch from Hammaguir of the French satellite Astérix on 26 November 1965 by French Diamant A. The last orbital launch from Hammaguir was on 15 February 1967 by French Diamant A and there are no further launches scheduled (the first Algerian satellite is AlSAT-1 launched by Russian Kosmos-3M from Plesetsk, Russia on 28 November 2002).
  • {{flagcountry|Italy}} with the first successful launch from the San Marco platform of its satellite San Marco 2 on 26 April 1967 by US Scout B (the first Italian satellite is San Marco 1 launched by another Scout from Wallops, USA on 15 December 1964). The last orbital launch from San Marco was on 25 March 1988 by US Scout G-1 and there are no further launches scheduled.
  • {{flagcountry|Australia}} with the first successful launch from Woomera Test Range of its first satellite WRESAT on 29 November 1967 by US Sparta.{{cite web|title=Woomera, Encyclopedia Astronautica|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/woomera.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030084529/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/woomera.htm|archive-date=30 October 2013|access-date=9 August 2017|website=Astronautix.com}} The second and final successful orbital launch from Woomera was performed on 28 October 1971 by the UK Black Arrow.
  • {{flagcountry|Kazakhstan}} with the first launch after its independence from the Baikonur Cosmodrome{{refn|Currently its Bayterek expansion to accommodate the Russian Angara rockets is delayed into 2017.{{cite web|url=http://en.tengrinews.kz/science/Bayterek-system-launch-shifted-to-2017-834/|title=Bayterek system launch shifted to 2017|website=Tengrinews.kz| date=14 April 2011 |access-date=9 August 2017}}}} on 21 January 1992 of the Russian Soyuz-U2 and Progress M-11 (the first Kazakh satellite is KazSat-1 launched by Russian Proton-K from Baikonur on 17 June 2006). Currently the spaceport continues to be utilized for launches of various Russian rockets.
  • {{flagcountry|Spain}}; a single Pegasus-XL was launched from Orbital Sciences' Stargazer aircraft flying from Gran Canaria Airport in April 1997.
  • {{flagcountry|Marshall Islands}} with a successful launch of a Pegasus-H rocket from Orbital Sciences' Stargazer aircraft flying from Kwajalein Atoll in October 2000. Five ground-based launches were made by SpaceX using Falcon 1 rockets between 2006 and 2009, with the first success on 28 September 2008.{{Cite web|title=SpaceX Launch manifest|url=http://www.spacex.com/launch_manifest.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414160626/http://www.spacex.com/launch_manifest.php|archive-date=April 14, 2009}} Three further Pegasus launches occurred between 2008 and 2012, using the Pegasus-XL configuration. Currently there are no plans announced for a Marshall Islands satellite.

=Privately developed launch vehicles=

  • {{flagcountry|USA}} Orbital Sciences Corporation (USA) became the first company to launch a privately developed rocket into orbit, the Pegasus on April 5, 1990.{{cite web|title=Pegasus Mission History|url=http://www.orbital.com/SpaceLaunch/Pegasus/pegasus_history.shtml|access-date=2013-08-12|publisher=Orbital.com}} Orbital subsequently developed the Minotaur rocket family. Orbital joined SpaceX as one of only two private entities to supply the International Space Station with its launch of the Cygnus Orb-D1 mission on its Antares rocket on September 28, 2013.{{cite web|date=2013-09-23|title=Cygnus Cargo Ship Captured by International Space Station|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cygnus-cargo-ship-captured-by-international-space-station/|publisher=CBS News}}
  • {{flagcountry|USA}} SpaceX (USA) became the second company to launch a rocket into orbit using a rocket developed with private funds.{{cite web|title=Sweet success at last for Falcon 1 rocket by STEPHEN CLARK, SPACEFLIGHT NOW|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon/004/|access-date=2012-10-09|publisher=Spaceflightnow.com}} Its first successful launch was performed on September 28, 2008, by Falcon 1 from the Omelek Island, Marshall Islands and its first launch from a US spaceport was Falcon 9 Flight 1 on June 4, 2010, from Cape Canaveral. Its Dragon spacecraft docked with the International Space Station on October 11, 2012, to deliver supplies. With a launch of Dragon 2 on May 30, 2020 SpaceX became the first company to launch humans to orbit.
  • {{flagcountry|USA}}/{{flagcountry|New Zealand}} New Zealand-American private company Rocket Lab successfully launched its Electron rocket from Mahia Launch Center in New Zealand on January 21, 2018, carrying three cubesats into low Earth orbit. This was the first time that a rocket entered orbit after launching from a privately owned and operated spaceport.
  • {{flagcountry|China}} Chinese private company i-Space successfully launched its Hyperbola-1 rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and sent several small payloads, including the CAS-7B amateur radio satellite into Earth orbit on July 25, 2019.{{cite web|title=iSpace completes China's first private commercial satellite launch|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/ispace-completes-chinas-first-private-commercial-satellite-launch/|access-date=2019-07-27|publisher=ZDNet}}
  • {{flagcountry|China}} Galactic Energy successfully launched its Ceres-1 solid rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center into Sun-synchronous orbit on November 7, 2020, becoming the second Chinese private company capable of launching satellites into orbit.{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Andrew|date=1 October 2019|title=New Chinese commercial rocket firms move toward maiden launches|url=https://spacenews.com/new-chinese-commercial-rocket-firms-move-toward-maiden-launches/|access-date=10 May 2021|work=SpaceNews}}
  • {{flagcountry|USA}} Virgin Orbit successfully achieved orbit on January 17, 2021, using their LauncherOne vehicle to deploy 10 CubeSats into Low Earth orbit for NASA.{{cite news|author=Christian Davenport|date=2021-01-17|title=Virgin Orbit rocket reaches Earth orbit, adding an entrant to the commercial space race|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/01/17/richard-branson-virgin-orbit-launch-success/}} But the company filed for bankruptcy after a launch failure in 2023.{{cite web |last1=Foust |first1=Jeff |title=Virgin Orbit files for bankruptcy |url=https://spacenews.com/virgin-orbit-files-for-bankruptcy/ |website=SpaceNews |access-date=13 January 2024 |date=4 April 2023}}
  • {{flagcountry|USA}} Astra Rocket 3.3 vehicle successfully reached orbit on November 20, 2021, after launching from Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska (PSCA) carrying the demonstration payload STP-27AD2 for the United States Space Force.{{Cite web|last=Sheetz|first=Michael|date=2021-11-22|title=Astra stock surges after the rocket builder reaches orbit successfully|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/22/astra-stock-surges-after-rocket-builder-reached-orbit-successfully.html|access-date=2021-12-01|website=CNBC|language=en}}
  • {{flagcountry|USA}} Firefly Aerospace launched Firefly Alpha rocket, which successfully reached an orbit lower than the expected one, on October 1, 2022.{{cite web |last1=Sesnic |first1=Trevor |title=Firefly looking ahead after "To The Black" payloads reenter early |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/10/firefly-to-the-black-reentry/ |website=NASASpaceflight.com |access-date=3 April 2023 |date=17 October 2022}}
  • {{flagcountry|China}} Space Pioneer successfully launched its first rocket Tianlong-2 into orbit on April 2, 2023. It was the first Chinese company that achieved the goal with the liquid rocket.{{cite web |title=热烈庆祝天龙二号首飞成功 开创我国商业航天新纪元 |url=https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/GLBgMD217IXgFTl83vclag |website=天兵科技微信公众号 |accessdate=2023-04-02 |date=2023-04-02 | lang=zh}}{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |title=China's Space Pioneer reaches orbit with liquid propellant rocket |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-space-pioneer-reaches-orbit-with-liquid-propellant-rocket/ |website=SpaceNews |access-date=3 April 2023 |date=3 April 2023}}
  • {{flagcountry|China}} LandSpace became a private company with orbital launch capability by successfully launched Zhuque-2, world's first methane-fueled rocket to reach orbit, on July 12, 2023.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |title=China's Landspace reaches orbit with methane-powered Zhuque-2 rocket |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-landspace-reaches-orbit-with-methane-powered-zhuque-2-rocket/ |website=SpaceNews |access-date=12 July 2023 |date=12 July 2023}}
  • {{flagcountry|China}} Orienspace was the fifth private company in China to reach orbit after the successful maiden launch of Gravity-1 on January 11, 2024.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |title=Orienspace breaks Chinese commercial launch records with Gravity-1 solid rocket |url=https://spacenews.com/orienspace-breaks-chinese-commercial-launch-records-with-gravity-1-solid-rocket/ |website=SpaceNews |access-date=13 January 2023 |date=11 January 2023}}

=Abandoned projects=

  • {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}}/{{flagcountry|Germany}} was developing larger designs in the Aggregat series as early as 1940. A combination of A9 to A12 components could have produced orbital capability as early as 1947 if work had continued. Further preliminary development of numerous rocket space launchers and re-usable launch systems (Sänger II, etc.) took place after WWII, although these were never realized as national or European projects. Also, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the private German company OTRAG tried to develop low-cost commercial space launchers. Only the sub-orbital tests of the first prototypes of the rockets were carried out.{{cn|date=August 2024}}
  • {{flagcountry|UK}} did not proceed with a 1946 proposal to develop German V-2 technology into the "Megaroc" system to be launched in 1949. The UK also developed the Black Arrow rocket system and successfully launched a satellite in 1971, shortly after the program had been cancelled.
  • {{flagcountry|Canada}} had developed the gun-based space launchers Martlet and GLO as the joint Canadian-American Project HARP in the 1960s. The rockets were never tested. In fact, in different periods, they worked in cooperation with Australia, Brazil, South Korea and the United Kingdom.{{cn|date=August 2024}}
  • {{flagcountry|RSA}} developed the space launcher RSA-3 in the late 1980s in collaboration with Israel, years after Brazil and Argentina launched their first satellites. The rocket was tested three times without a satellite payload in 1989 and 1990. The program was postponed and later canceled in 1994.{{cn|date=August 2024}}
  • {{flagicon|Iraq|1963}} Iraq built and tested the Al-Abid, a three-stage space launch vehicle without a payload or its upper two stages on 5 December 1989. The rocket's design had a clustered first stage composed of five modified scud rockets strapped together and a single scud rocket as the second stage in addition to a SA-2 liquid-fueled rocket engine as the third stage. The video tape of a partial launch attempt which was retrieved by UN weapons inspectors, later surfaced showing that the rocket prematurely exploded 45 seconds after its launch.[http://www.thespacereview.com/archive/1498.pdf UNMOVIC report], United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, p. 434 ff.{{cite web|title=Deception Activities|url=https://fas.org/nuke/guide/iraq/deception.htm|access-date=2017-08-09|website=Fas.org}}{{cite web|title=Al-Abid LV|url=http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/Rest_World/Al_Abid/Description/Frame.htm|access-date=9 August 2017|website=B14643.de}}
  • {{flagcountry|Argentina}} previous attempts at developing space launcher based on their Condor missile were scrapped in 1993.{{cite web|title=ORBIT LSA|url=http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/Rest_World/ORBIT-LSA/Description/Frame.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223012905/http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/Rest_World/ORBIT-LSA/Description/Frame.htm|archive-date=23 February 2012|access-date=9 August 2017|website=B14643.de}}{{cite web|title=Argentina Missile Chronology|url=http://www.nti.org/media/pdfs/argentina_missile.pdf|access-date=9 August 2017|website=Nti.org}}
  • {{flagcountry|Brazil}} The VLS-1 was cancelled after decades of development and high expenditures with poor results and a failed association with Ukraine that slowed the program for years.{{Cite web|title=Problemas de "Governança" e Gestão Explicam em Parte Extinção do VLS-1|url=https://brazilianspace.blogspot.com/2016/05/problemas-de-governanca-e-gestao.html}}
  • {{flagcountry|Egypt}} tried to develop space launcher as part of its various ballistic missile programs in the second half of the 20th century. In different periods, they worked either independently or in cooperation with Algeria, Argentina, Canada, Iraq and North Korea.{{cite web|title=Egypt Missile Chronology|url=http://www.nti.org/media/pdfs/egypt_missile.pdf|access-date=9 August 2017|website=Nti.org}}
  • {{flagcountry|Spain}} developed the space launcher Capricornio (Capricorn) in the 1990s. The rocket was related to the Condor missile from Argentina and its test, scheduled for 1999/2000, was not conducted. As a result, in different periods, they worked in cooperation with Japan and the United States.{{cite web|title=Capricornio|url=http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/West_Europe/Capricornio/Description/Frame.htm|access-date=9 August 2017|website=B14643.de}}
  • {{flagcountry|Switzerland}} Swiss Space Systems company planned to develop the micro satellite launcher-spaceplane SOAR by 2018 but went bankrupt. Thus, in different periods, they worked in cooperation with Chile, Poland and Ukraine

=Other projects=

  • {{flagcountry|Argentina}} developed an orbital rocket called Tronador II, whose maiden flight is expected to take place in the next four years as of late 2020.{{Cite web|title=Argentina Aspires to Have its Own Pitcher in Four Years|url=http://www.infoespacial.com/latam/2020/11/10/noticia-argentina-aspira-contar-propio-lanzador-cuatro.html|access-date=2021-04-28|website=infoespecial.com}}
  • {{flagcountry|Australia}}'s ATSpace developed an orbital launch vehicle called Kestrel, tentatively being launched in 2022 from Whalers Way.{{Cite web|date=30 December 2021|title=As 2021 draws to a close it's great to start looking to 2022 and the next steps we're taking to realise a resilient space launch capability in Australia!|url=https://www.facebook.com/SouthernLaunch/posts/3030369187222203|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211231221155/https://www.facebook.com/SouthernLaunch/posts/3030369187222203|archive-date=31 December 2021|access-date=1 January 2022|website=Facebook}}
  • {{flagcountry|Australia}}'s Gilmour Space Technologies developed an orbital launch vehicle called Eris, scheduled to be launched in 2023.
  • {{flagcountry|Brazil}} announced that it would launch its VLM rocket from the Alcântara Launch Center in 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://revistapesquisa.fapesp.br/en/launch-remains-distant/|title=Launch remains distant|date=2022|accessdate=2022-04-22}}
  • {{flagcountry|Romania}} planned to launch military and security satellites. The first phase began in 2022.{{cite web|title=România vrea să lanseze sateliți de telecomunicații geostaționari în spațiu pentru Armată și alte structuri de securitate. Când ar putea fi lansat primul satelit|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-22826616-romania-vrea-lanseze-sateliti-telecomunicatii-geostationari-spatiu-pentru-armata-alte-structuri-securitate-cand-putea-lansat-primul-satelit.htm|access-date=22 November 2018|website=www.hotnews.ro|date=22 November 2018 }}
  • {{flagcountry|Algeria}} planned to launch military and security satellites. The first phase began in 2024.
  • {{flagcountry|Chile}} announced that it would launch some satellites in 2024 or any later year.
  • {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}} Orbex developed its Prime launch vehicle, whose first launch was planned in 2023 from Sutherland spaceport.
  • {{flagcountry|United States}} Blue Origin developed its New Glenn launch vehicle, whose first launch was completed on January 16th 2025.
  • {{flagcountry|Spain}} The private company PLD Space developed the Miura 1 and Miura 5 suborbital and orbital launch vehicles, whose firsts launches were respectively planned for 2024 and 2026.
  • {{flagcountry|Philippines}} OrbitX, a private company of the Philippines, planned to develop Haribon, a biofuel-powered launch vehicle.{{cite news|last1=Felongco|first1=Gilbert|date=30 August 2019|title=Filipino dreams of developing space vehicle for countrymen|language=en|work=Gulf News|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/philippines/filipino-dreams-of-developing-space-vehicle-for-countrymen-1.66108462|access-date=6 November 2020}}{{cite news|last1=Samson|first1=Oliver|date=14 July 2019|title=Algae as spacecraft fuel? Possible, youth group says|work=BusinessMirror|url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/14/algae-as-spacecraft-fuel-possible-youth-group-says/|access-date=6 November 2020}}
  • {{flagcountry|Malaysia}} The private company of Malaysia Independence-X Aerospace developed an orbital launch vehicle called DNLV, being launched in 2023.{{Cite web |url=http://www.independence-x.com/launch-services.html |title=Launch Services - Independence X |publisher=IDXA |access-date=16 August 2022}}
  • {{flagcountry|Thailand}} Thai Space Consortium developed a satellite called TSC-Pathfinder, being launched in 2023.
  • {{Flagcountry|Poland}}'s Institute Of Aviation developed a rocket named ILR-33 BURSZTYN (ILR-33 AMBER).
  • {{Flagcountry|Mexico}} announced that it would launch some satellites some time in 2024.
  • {{Flagcountry|Japan}} planned to launch several rockets starting in 2023.
  • {{Flagcountry|South Korea}} launched a rocket in early 2023 from the space center in Brazil.
  • {{Flagcountry|Turkey}} planned to launch some satellites beginning in 2024.

=Satellite operators=

Many other countries, such as Mexico, Poland, Chile, Japan and India, launched their own satellites on one of the foreign launchers listed above, the first being British owned and operated; American-built satellite Ariel 1, which was launched by a US rocket in April 1962. In September 1962, the Canadian satellite, Alouette-1, was launched by a US rocket, but unlike Ariel 1, it was constructed by Canada.

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.spacetoday.org/Japan/Japan/FirstSat.html First Satellites Launched By Spacefaring Nations], Anthony R. Curtis, Ph.D., Space Today Online, accessed 17 February 2006.
  • [http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/scud_info/scud_info_refs/n41en009/iraq_b.htm National Briefings: Iraq], Ranger Associates, accessed 17 February 2006.
  • [http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20011123193323/http://cns.miis.edu/research/korea/factsht.htm The 31 August 1998 North Korean Satellite Launch: Factsheet], Kevin Orfall and Gaurav Kampani, with Michael Dutra, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies, accessed 17 February 2006.
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20150409020021/https://fas.org/spp/guide/dprk/new25-98.htm News Release 25-98], United States Space Command, 8 September 1998, accessed 17 February 2006.
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20150409031953/https://fas.org/news/dprk/1998/980914db.html Daily Press Briefing], James P. Rubin, United States Department of State, 14 September 1998, accessed 17 February 2006.
  • [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3948531.stm BBC World: Brazil Launches rocket into space]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20080724224154/http://space.com/missionlaunches/brazil_launch_041023.html Space.com: Brazil completes successful rocket launch]
  • [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/19/america/LA-GEN-Brazil-Rocket.php Herald Tribune: Brazil launches rocket for gravity research]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20080208100458/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hHUK289cXDGGXgORQOZd3sPwrKdQ AFP: Iran rocket test 'unfortunate': White House]
  • [http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Iran_opens_its_first_space_centre_riling_the_US_999.html Space-Travel.com: Iran opens its first space centre, riling the US]
  • [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/world/middleeast/05iran.html?ref=world New York Times: Iran Launches Rocket to Commemorate New Space Center]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20160114215825/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22995937/ MSNBC: Iran unveils space center, launches rocket]

{{Space exploration lists and timelines}}

{{Public-sector space agencies}}

Orbital launches

*orbital