Human Space Launch
Orbital Human Space Launch
2017 – Russia Human Launch – Snapshot
Russia remained the only nation to launch humans to orbit during 2017, using its Soyuz launch vehicle and capsule. The continued depression of Russian launch activity during the year did…
2017 – U.S. Human Launch – Snapshot
The last U.S. human space launch was conducted in 2011. NASA now relies on Russia’s Soyuz space launch system, paying hundreds of millions of dollars to transport U.S. astronauts to…
2015 – China Launch, Human
China’s most recent human mission to space was in June 2013, when three taikonauts docked a capsule with the Tiangong-1 space station. Since then, China has announced plans to launch…
2015 – Russia Launch, Human
In 2015, Russia continued to be the only nation flying humans into space since June 2013. The Russian Soyuz capsule was conceived, designed, and first launched nearly five decades prior…
2015 – U.S. Launch, Human
Nearly five years have passed since the United States stepped back from launching humans with its own space vehicles, the last of which flew in July 2011. The country conducts…
2014 – Orbital Human Space Launch
It is relatively simple to place a satellite into orbit when compared with launching humans to space. Humans have more complex needs, such as breathable air, food, staying warm, staying…
2016 – Orbital Human Space Launch – Snapshot
The 52 years since the inauguration of human spaceflight have witnessed great strides in developing the technology required to support human life in orbit and beyond. Due to the fragility…
2016 – U.S. Human Launch – Snapshot
The United States is approaching its sixth year without a space launch vehicle capable of transporting humans to space and back. NASA has instead paid the Russian Federal Space Agency…
2016 – Russia Human Launch – Snapshot
Russia continued to be the only nation ferrying humans to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2016 with its Soyuz space launch vehicle and capsule. In spite of an overall…
2016 – China Human Launch – Snapshot
China was one of two nations with human space launch vehicles active in 2016. After a three-year hiatus, China launched its sixth human spaceflight mission aboard a Long March 2…