Timeline of private spaceflight

Image:Satellites For Sale - GPN-2000-001036.jpg holding a "For Sale" sign in 1984, referring to recovered non-functional private satellites (Palapa B-2 and Westar 6, both were later successfully relaunched)]]

The following is a timeline of important events in the history of private spaceflight, including important technical as well as legislative and political advances. Though the industry has its origins in the early 1960s, soon after the beginning of the Space Age, private companies did not begin conducting launches into space until the 1980s, and it was not until the 21st century that multiple companies began privately developing and operating launch vehicles and spacecraft in earnest.

Before 1980

12 December 1961 – OSCAR 1, the first amateur built satellite, is launched aboard an American Thor-Agena rocket.{{cite web|url=http://www.arrl.org/news/oscar-i-and-amateur-radio-satellites-celebrating-50-years|title=OSCAR I and Amateur Radio Satellites: Celebrating 50 Years|publisher=ARRL|date=May 11, 2011|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=April 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416060532/http://www.arrl.org/news/oscar-i-and-amateur-radio-satellites-celebrating-50-years|url-status=live}}

File:Oscar 2.ogg in 1961 (recording from OSCAR 2, 1962)]]

10 July 1962 – Telstar 1, the first satellite to be used commercially, is launched on the first commercially sponsored space launch, aboard a Thor-Delta rocket.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/features/telstar.html|title=July 12, 1962: The Day Information Went Global|publisher=NASA|date=July 9, 2012|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=July 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710144811/https://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/features/telstar.html|url-status=dead}}
31 August 1962 – President John F. Kennedy signs the Communications Satellite Act of 1962 providing the regulatory framework for private companies in the United States to own and operate their own satellites.
6 April 1965 – Intelsat Intelsat 1 known as "Early Bird" was the first commercial communications satellite to be placed in geosynchronous orbit.
9 November 1972 – Canadian Telesat Anik A1 launched world's first domestic communications satellite in geostationary orbit operated by a commercial company.
13 April 1974 – Western Union Westar 1 becomes America's first domestic and commercially launched geostationary communications satellite.
1975 – OTRAG, the first company to attempt private development and manufacture of space propulsion systems, is founded in Stuttgart, Germany, though its program is ultimately abandoned in the early 1980s.{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/o/otrag.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716070911/http://www.astronautix.com/o/otrag.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 16, 2016|title=Otrag|publisher=astronautix|access-date=12 February 2020}}

1980s

File:Conestoga I prepared for launch.jpg

9 September 1982 – Conestoga I, a repurposed Minuteman second stage, is launched from Matagorda Island to an altitude of 309 km (192 miles) by Space Services Inc., becoming the first privately owned and operated rocket to reach space.{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2009/09/dayintech0909privaterocket/|last=Abell|first=John|title=Sept. 9, 1982: 3-2-1 ... Liftoff! The First Private Rocket Launch|publisher=Wired|date=September 9, 2009|access-date=September 29, 2017|archive-date=October 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009131018/https://www.wired.com/2009/09/dayintech0909privaterocket/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.spaceservicesinc.com/#!company-heritage/c1z05 |title=Heritage: Pioneering the Commercial Space Frontier |publisher=Space Services Inc. |access-date=17 June 2016 |archive-date=3 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803174817/http://www.spaceservicesinc.com/#!company-heritage/c1z05 |url-status=live }}
10 September 1982 or 16 June 1983 – Europe's Arianespace becomes the world's first commercial launch service provider.

{{Cite conference |conference=Proceedings of the 15th International Symposium on Space Technology and Science |location=Tokyo, Japan |date=May 1986 |title=Ariane — The first commercial space transportation system |bibcode=1986spte.conf.1431J |publisher=AGNE Publishing, Inc. |publication-date=1986 |volume=2 |id=A87-32276 13–12 |author1=Jaeger, Ralph-W. |author2=Claudon, Jean-Louis }}

{{cite web |title=Arianespace was founded in 1980 as the world's first launch services company |url=http://www.arianespace.com/site/about/arianespace_today_sub_index.html |publisher=arianespace.com |access-date=7 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218002917/http://www.arianespace.com/site/about/arianespace_today_sub_index.html |archive-date=18 February 2008}}

30 October 1984 – President Ronald Reagan signs the Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984, which mandates NASA to encourage private spaceflight, and authorizes the Office of Commercial Space Transportation to regulate private spaceflight in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=11559|title=Fact Sheet – Commercial Space Transportation|publisher=FAA/AST|access-date=17 June 2016|archive-date=13 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013064440/http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=11559|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/98th-congress/house-bill/3942|title=H.R.3942 – Commercial Space Launch Act|date=30 October 1984 |publisher=Congress.gov|access-date=17 June 2016|archive-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810234806/https://www.congress.gov/bill/98th-congress/house-bill/3942|url-status=live}}
15 June 1988 – PanAmSat PAS-1 becomes the first privately owned international telecommunications satellite.
29 March 1989 – Starfire, a repurposed Black Brant sounding rocket launched by Space Services Inc., is the first rocket to launch with a commercial launch license from the Office of Commercial Space Transportation.{{cite web|url=https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/about/|title=About the Office|publisher=FAA/AST|access-date=17 June 2016|archive-date=14 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714020658/http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/about/|url-status=live}}

1990s

File:Pegasus Air Launch.jpg.]]

5 April 1990 – Pegasus, an air launched rocket developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation becomes the first launch vehicle fully developed by a private company to reach space, as well as the first air launched rocket of any kind to reach orbit{{cite web|url=https://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/pegasus/|title=Pegasus|publisher=Orbital ATK|access-date=17 June 2016|archive-date=23 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623145457/http://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/pegasus/|url-status=live}}
16 November 1992 – Space Flight Europe-America 500, an orbital mission consisting of a space capsule bearing gifts from Russia to the United States, is launched by the Russian company TsSKB-Progress aboard a Soyuz rocket, before landing six days later off the coast of Grays Harbor in the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.joc.com/maritime-news/russian-satellite-splash-down-near-washingtons-grays-harbor_19921117.html|title=Russian Satellite to Splash Down Near Washington's Grays Harbor|publisher=Journal of Commerce|date=November 17, 1992|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=June 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630140945/http://www.joc.com/maritime-news/russian-satellite-splash-down-near-washingtons-grays-harbor_19921117.html|url-status=dead}}
November 1995 – The Office of Commercial Space Transportation is transferred to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), becoming the FAA Associate Administrator for Space Transportation, or FAA/AST.
May 1996 – Creation of the Ansari X-Prize.
24 December 1997 – DigitalGlobe EarlyBird-1 becomes the first commercial Earth imaging satellite.
13 May 1998 – HGS-1, a communications satellite operated at the time by Hughes Global Services Inc., becomes the first commercial spacecraft to visit the Moon, after flying to within 6,200 km of the lunar surface on a free return trajectory to salvage it from an unusable orbit.{{cite web|url=http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Hughes_Salvages_HGS1_With_Geo_Orbit_Transfer_Via_Moon.html|title=Hughes Salvages HGS-1 With Geo Orbit Transfer Via Moon|publisher=Space Daily|date=June 8, 1998|access-date=September 29, 2017|archive-date=September 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929183723/http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Hughes_Salvages_HGS1_With_Geo_Orbit_Transfer_Via_Moon.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/1998/06/satellite-dramas-happy-end/|title=Satellite Drama's Happy End|publisher=Wired|date=June 19, 1998|access-date=September 29, 2017|archive-date=September 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929183411/https://www.wired.com/1998/06/satellite-dramas-happy-end/|url-status=live}}

2000s

File:Kluft-photo-SS1-landing-June-2004-Img 1406c.jpg.]]

File:Falcon 1 Flight 4 liftoff.jpg

4 April 2000 – Soyuz TM-30, a crewed mission to the space station Mir arranged by the company MirCorp in collaboration with the Russian Federal Space Agency, launches, becoming the first privately funded space station expedition.{{cite web|url=https://spaceref.com/status-report/soyuz-tm-30-return-to-earth-timeline/|title=Soyuz TM-30 Return-to-Earth Timeline|publisher=Space Ref|date=June 15, 2000}}
28 April 2001 – Dennis Tito becomes the first space tourist, launching to the International Space Station on Expedition 2 aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft after paying for a seat arranged by the American company Space Adventures.{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/11492-space-tourism-pioneer-dennis-tito.html|title=First Space Tourist: How a U.S. Millionaire Bought a Ticket to Orbit|last=Wall|first=Mike|publisher=Space.com|date=April 27, 2011|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=June 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617211917/http://www.space.com/11492-space-tourism-pioneer-dennis-tito.html|url-status=live}}
17 May 2004 – The Civilian Space eXploration Team (CSXT) becomes the first amateur organization to send a rocket into space, with the launch of their "GoFast" rocket to 116 km (72 miles) altitude.{{cite web|url=http://archive.spacefrontier.org/PressReleases/2004/20040519gofastflight.html|title=Go "GoFast"! Space Frontier Foundation Congratulates First Amateur Team to Enter Space|publisher=Space Frontier Foundation|date=May 19, 2004|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=March 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307005116/http://archive.spacefrontier.org/PressReleases/2004/20040519gofastflight.html|url-status=dead}}
21 June 2004 – Scaled Composites’ SpaceShipOne conducts the first privately flown and funded crewed spaceflight, piloted by Mike Melvill.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/06/21/suborbital.test/|title=Private craft soars into space, history|last=Coren|first=Michael|publisher=CNN|date=July 14, 2004|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=August 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812064912/http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/06/21/suborbital.test/|url-status=live}}
4 October 2004 – Scaled Composites Tier One officially wins the Ansari X Prize with SpaceShipOne.
23 December 2004 – President George W. Bush signs the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004, which provides a basic legal framework for commercial human spaceflight.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6682611|title=Private-spaceflight bill signed into law|last=Boyle|first=Alan|publisher=NBC|date=December 23, 2004|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=December 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231001919/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6682611/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/private-spaceflight-bill-signed-law/#.V2P1srS4nR0|url-status=live}} It also creates the so-called "learning period," a temporary restriction on the FAA's ability to regulate the private spaceflight industry, which has since been extended multiple times.{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/11/16/9744298/private-space-government-regulation-spacex-asteroid-mining|title=Private space companies avoid FAA oversight again, with Congress' blessing|last=Grush|first=Loren|publisher=The Verge|date=November 16, 2015|access-date=September 16, 2017|archive-date=June 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170601130030/https://www.theverge.com/2015/11/16/9744298/private-space-government-regulation-spacex-asteroid-mining|url-status=live}}
12 July 2006 – A Russian-Ukrainian Dnepr rocket launches Genesis I, an experimental inflatable space habitat developed and owned by Bigelow Aerospace that is the first inflatable habitat module to reach orbit.{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/05/iss-inflatable-module-beam-expansion/|title=ISS controllers complete BEAM module expansion|last=Harding|first=Pete|publisher=NASA Spaceflight|date=May 28, 2016|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=June 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618005623/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/05/iss-inflatable-module-beam-expansion/|url-status=live}}
28 September 2008 – SpaceX conducts the first successful launch of its Falcon 1 rocket, the first privately developed fully liquid fueled rocket to reach orbit.{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon/004/|title=Sweet success at last for Falcon 1 rocket|last=Clark|first=Stephen|date=September 28, 2008|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=October 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003061138/http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon/004/|url-status=live}}

2010s

File:ISS-31 SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft is grappled by Canadarm2.jpg

File:ORBCOMM-2 (23802553412).jpg touches down at Landing Zone 1.]]

8 December 2010 – SpaceX successfully launches and recovers its Dragon capsule on its first mission, marking the first time a privately developed and operated spacecraft is recovered from orbit.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/space/9281509/SpaceX-becomes-first-private-firm-to-launch-craft-to-space-station.html|title=SpaceX becomes first private firm to launch craft to space station|publisher=The Telegraph|date=May 22, 2012|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-date=August 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826112907/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/space/9281509/SpaceX-becomes-first-private-firm-to-launch-craft-to-space-station.html|url-status=live}}
25 May 2012 – The second mission of SpaceX's Dragon capsule completes a successful rendezvous and berthing with the International Space Station, making it the first private spacecraft to do so.
3 December 2013 – SpaceX successfully launches SES-8 with its Falcon 9 rocket, marking the first time a privately developed rocket reached geostationary transfer orbit.
May–July 2014 – A private initiative known as the ISEE-3 Reboot Project successfully contacts and takes control of NASA's defunct ISEE-3 space probe with support from NASA and the Arecibo Observatory, making them the first private group to command a spacecraft in deep space, though their plans to change the probe's orbit are abandoned weeks later when its thrusters fail to respond properly.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/science/space/calling-back-a-zombie-ship-from-the-graveyard-of-space.html?_r=1|title=Calling Back a Zombie Ship From the Graveyard of Space|last=Chang|first=Kenneth|work=The New York Times|date=June 14, 2014|access-date=March 3, 2017|archive-date=January 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104014022/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/science/space/calling-back-a-zombie-ship-from-the-graveyard-of-space.html?_r=1|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/2014/20140814-isee-3-spacecraft-for-all.html|title=Data From the Rescued ISEE-3 Spacecraft Have a New Internet Home|last=Davis|first=Jason|publisher=The Planetary Society|date=August 8, 2014|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=May 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501040545/http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/2014/20140814-isee-3-spacecraft-for-all.html|url-status=live}}
23 October 2014 – LuxSpace, an aerospace contractor based in Luxembourg, launches the Manfred Memorial Moon Mission (4M), the first commercial payload sent to fly by the Moon, attached to the third stage of the rocket that lifted Chinese lunar flyby spacecraft Chang'e 5-T1.{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2014/10/25/first-commercial-mission-to-the-moon-launched-from-china/|last=Clark|first=Stephen|title=First commercial mission to the moon launched from China|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=October 25, 2014|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=May 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521184551/http://spaceflightnow.com/2014/10/25/first-commercial-mission-to-the-moon-launched-from-china/|url-status=live}}
11 February 2015 – SpaceX launches NOAA's DSCOVR spacecraft to the Lagrange point on a Falcon 9, marking the first time a privately developed rocket flew a payload beyond geostationary transfer orbit.
23 November 2015 – Blue Origin successfully launches its New Shepard launch system into space and lands it vertically, making it the first VTVL rocket to land on Earth from space.{{cite web|url=http://spacenews.com/blue-origin-successfully-flies-new-shepard-suborbital-vehicle/|title=Blue Origin Flies — and Lands — New Shepard Suborbital Spacecraft|last=Foust|first=Jeff|publisher=Space News|date=November 24, 2015|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=March 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327180425/https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-successfully-flies-new-shepard-suborbital-vehicle/|url-status=live}}
25 November 2015 – President Barack Obama signs the U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act, also known as the Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act or SPACE Act of 2015, which codifies the ability of American companies to own material resources extracted in outer space.
21 December 2015 – SpaceX lands the first stage of its Falcon 9 at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral, marking the first recovery of a VTVL stage from an orbital rocket.{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/12/spacex-just-landed-rocket-ground-first-time/|title=SpaceX's Falcon Rocket Finally Sticks the Landing|last=Zhang|first=Sarah|publisher=Wired|date=December 12, 2015|access-date=March 12, 2017|archive-date=March 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322044245/https://www.wired.com/2015/12/spacex-just-landed-rocket-ground-first-time/|url-status=live}}
22 January 2016 – Blue Origin successfully launches and lands the same New Shepard booster flown in November, making it the first VTVL rocket to reach space twice.{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/commercial/blue-origin-re-flies-new-shepard/|last=Rhian|first=Jason|title=Blue Origin re-flies New Shepard used on Nov. 2015 flight|publisher=Spaceflight Insider|date=January 22, 2016|access-date=September 29, 2017|archive-date=June 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620231510/http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/commercial/blue-origin-re-flies-new-shepard/|url-status=live}}
30 March 2017 – SpaceX launches SES-10, during which they successfully launch and land the first stage of a Falcon 9 that had previously flown as part of their CRS-8 mission in April 2016, making it the first VTVL rocket to be used on two orbital flights.{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/03/spacex-historic-falcon-9-re-flight-ses-10/|last=Graham|first=William|title=SpaceX conducts historic Falcon 9 re-flight with SES-10 – Lands booster again|publisher=NASA Spaceflight|date=March 30, 2017|access-date=September 29, 2017|archive-date=May 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517125334/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/03/spacex-historic-falcon-9-re-flight-ses-10/|url-status=live}}
13 July 2017 – The Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies adopts a law guaranteeing companies the right to own resources extracted in space, making Luxembourg the first European nation to do so.{{cite web|url=http://delano.lu/d/detail/news/lux-passes-space-mining-law/151384|title=Lux. Passes Space Mining Law|publisher=Delano|date=July 13, 2017|access-date=September 29, 2017|archive-date=September 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909093500/https://delano.lu/d/detail/news/lux-passes-space-mining-law/151384|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mining.com/luxembourg-becomes-first-european-country-pass-space-mining-law/|last=Jamasmie|first=Cecilia|title=Luxembourg becomes first European country to pass space mining law|publisher=Mining.com|date=July 13, 2017|access-date=September 29, 2017|archive-date=September 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922215913/http://www.mining.com/luxembourg-becomes-first-european-country-pass-space-mining-law/|url-status=live}}
21 January 2018 – American aerospace company Rocket Lab successfully launched its Electron rocket from Mahia Launch Center 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.
6 February 2018 – SpaceX launches a demonstration mission on their inaugural Falcon Heavy flight, during which they marked the first privately developed rocket to reach heliocentric orbit.

2020s

30 May 2020 – SpaceX successfully launches a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew Dragon space capsule during the Demo-2 mission, marking the first privately-developed crewed mission to orbit, the first to visit the ISS, and the first American crewed mission in general since STS-135 in 2011.
11 July 2021 – Virgin Galactic successfully launches Richard Branson on a SpaceShipTwo to space, marking the first privately-developed crewed mission to space carrying a founder of a space company. It however did not reach the Karman Line.
20 July 2021 – Blue Origin successfully launches Jeff Bezos on a New Shepard rocket to space above the Karman Line, marking the first privately-developed crewed mission to space with a company founder to get above the Karman Line. The mission also launched the first person born in the 21st century in space and first teenager in space (Oliver Daemen).{{Cite news |date=2021-07-19 |title=Jeff Bezos launches to space aboard New Shepard rocket ship |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57849364 |access-date=2023-02-06 |archive-date=2023-02-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204102953/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57849364 |url-status=live }}
2 September 2021 – Firefly Aerospace launches its Alpha FLTA001 rocket DREAM Test Flight carrying demonstration payloads.Clark, Stephen (2 September 2021) [https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/09/02/firefly-set-for-inaugural-test-launch-from-vandenberg/ Firefly set for inaugural test launch from Vandenberg]... SpaceflightNow Retrieved September 9, 2024.
16 September 2021 – SpaceX operates the Inspiration4 mission, the first orbital spaceflight with only private citizens aboard.{{cite news |last1=Davenport|first1=Christian|title=SpaceX makes history by launching Inspiration4, first all-civilian crew, to orbit|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/09/15/spacex-launch-civilian-flight/ |newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210916121803/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/09/15/spacex-launch-civilian-flight/|archive-date=16 September 2021|date=15 September 2021|url-status=live|quote=The Inspiration4 mission may be the first time a spaceflight crew is {{sic|comprised |hide=y|entirely}} of civilians – nongovernment astronauts. There has been a long history of ordinary citizens going to space. In fact, that was NASA's goal at the beginning of the space shuttle era – to fly regular people on a routine basis}}
8 April 2022 – Axiom Mission 1 by Axiom Space is the first wholly commercially-operated crewed mission to the International Space Station.
1 October 2022 – Firefly Aerospace launches its Alpha FLTA002 rocket for the TO THE BLACK mission. The mission was the first successful orbital launch for the company.Sesnic, Trevor (1 October 2022) [https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/10/firefly-to-the-black/ Firefly succeeds on second Alpha flight]... NASASpaceflight Retrieved September 9, 2024
20 April 2023 – SpaceX launches Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket to date, with twice the thrust of the Saturn V. It however fails 4 minutes into flight.{{Cite web |title=SpaceX's gigantic Starship rocket blasts off and then explodes in its first test flight |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/spacexs-starship-rocket-blasts-first-test-flight-rcna79988 |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=NBC News |date=20 April 2023 |language=en |archive-date=2023-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514143844/https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/spacexs-starship-rocket-blasts-first-test-flight-rcna79988 |url-status=live }}
21 May 2023 – Axiom Mission 2 marks the first time a commercially operated crewed mission was used to fly government astronauts as well as being the first private mission with a female commander.
14 September 2023 – Firefly Aerospace conducts a successful orbital launch with the VICTUS NOX mission for the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command. Firefly launched this mission 27 hours after receiving notice to launch, setting a new national security mission responsive-launch record.Erwin, Sandra (26 September 2023) [https://spacenews.com/after-setting-new-record-for-responsive-launch-space-force-eyes-next-challenge/ After setting new record for responsive launch, Space Force eyes next challenge]...SpaceNews Retrieved September 9, 2024.
22 December 2023 – Firefly Aerospace launches the Fly the Lightning mission, carrying a Lockheed Martin payload, on its Alpha FLTA004 rocket.Quijas, Ryan (22 December 2023) [https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3625730/fireflys-fly-the-lightning-mission-launches-from-vandenberg/ Firefly's Fly the Lightning Mission Launches from Vandenberg]... U.S. Space Force Retrieved September 9, 2024.
22 February 2024- IM-1 Odysseus marks the first successful private lunar landing and the first to do so with cryogenic propellants.{{Cite web |author1=Michael Sheetz |date=2024-02-22 |title=Intuitive Machines lands on the moon in historic first for a U.S. company |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/22/intuitive-machines-lunr-im-1-moon-landing-for-nasa.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222205425/https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/22/intuitive-machines-lunr-im-1-moon-landing-for-nasa.html |archive-date=2024-02-22 |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=CNBC.com |language=en}}
5 June 2024– ULA successfully launches an Atlas V rocket carrying the Boeing Starliner space capsule during the CFT mission, marking the Starliner operational to conduct crewed mission to orbit and visit the ISS.
21 June 2024 - Rocket Lab's Electron becomes the fastest privately developed orbital launch vehicle to 50 launches in history.{{Cite web |title=Rocket Lab successfully launches its 50th Electron rocket – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2024/06/20/live-coverage-rocket-lab-to-launch-50th-electron-rocket/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |language=en-US}}
3 July 2024 – Firefly Aerospace launches the Noise of Summer mission for NASA's Venture Class Launch Services.... McCrea, Aaron (1 July 2024) [https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/07/firefly-noise-of-summer/ Firefly successfully launched Alpha on Noise of Summer] NASASpaceflight Retrieved September 9, 2024
10 September 2024 – Polaris Dawn gets launched and performs the first commercial extravehicular activity, as well as breaks the non-Apollo record of highest orbit flown set by Gemini 11 in 1966. It is being funded by the Polaris Program, founded by Jared Isaacman.
16 January 2025 - Blue Origin launches their maiden flight of their New Glenn rocket, the company's orbital launcher.
April 2025 At 01:46 (UTC), Fram2 launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, becoming the first crewed spaceflight to enter a polar retrograde orbit,{{Cite tweet |first=Jonathan |last=McDowell |author-link=Jonathan McDowell|user=planet4589 |number=1906922678067560513|title=First Space Force orbit data for Fram-2 out , showing it in a 202 x 413 km x 90.01 deg orbit|note=0.01° means it entered Retrograde orbit too}} i.e., to fly over Earth's poles.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=2025-04-01 |title=SpaceX launches Fram2 private astronaut mission |url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-fram2-private-astronaut-mission/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

Future

NET 2026 – Planned launch of Rocket Lab's Venus Life Finder, an atmospheric probe anticipated to be the first private mission to another planet.
Mid 2020s – Polaris III is a planned mission that will involve the first ever crewed launch of SpaceX's Starship vehicle with a crew onboard, it is being funded by the Polaris Program, founded by Jared Isaacman.{{Cite news |last=Kurkowski |first=Seth |date=April 14, 2024 |title=Polaris Dawn is getting closer and closer to being launch ready |url=https://spaceexplored.com/2024/04/14/polaris-dawn-is-getting-closer-and-closer-to-being-launch-ready/ |access-date=April 25, 2024 |website=Space Explored}}

References

Private

Category:Lists of firsts in outer space