Browse Resources by Year

2012 – U.S. Suborbital

A new aspect of space infrastructure is the development of suborbital reusable launch vehicles (RLVs). Unlike sounding rockets, these vehicles are designed to land intact and be flown again. Stimulated by the $## million Ansari X PRIZE, won in 2004 by Scaled Composites’ SpaceShipOne vehicle, several companies are actively developing such vehicles to serve space tourism, research, and other applications. The technical approaches of the companies vary, from vehicles that take off and land horizontally on runways to vehicles that launch and land vertically.

2012 – Other Countries, Launch, Payload

In 2012, several smaller countries and organizations demonstrated their ability, or at least ambitions, to conduct an orbital space launch. The privately held Sea Launch company, which focuses on deploying commercial communications satellites to geosynchronous orbit (GEO), declared bankruptcy in 2010.

2012 – India Launch, Payload

In 2012, the Indian space program carried out ## launches, consistent with recent launch tempos for the Indian space program. India has worked to create and maintain an independent space launch capability and is poised to enhance its capabilities over the next several years with the development of a new cryogenic engine that will be used to power a new, larger final propulsion stage for India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

2012 – Japan Launch, Payload

Japan successfully conducted ## orbital launches in 2012. There are seven total HTV missions planned, launching roughly every year until 2016, after which the future of the HTV has yet to be decided.

2012 – Europe Launch, Payload

Europe operates a three-member family of launch vehicles from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. The newest and smallest member of this family, Vega, carried out its inaugural launch in February 2012, placing several small scientific and technology demonstration satellites into orbit.

2012 – China Launch, Payload

In 2012, China continued to outpace the United States in number of orbital launches, making ## orbital launch attempts in 2012, all of which were successful. This makes 2012 the second consecutive year in which China has surpassed the United States as the world’s second-most active launch operator, due primarily to China’s accelerating progress in deploying new scientific and communications satellites, and continued steady deployment of its Beidou satellite navigation constellation.

2012 – Russia Launch, Payload

Russia maintained its legacy as the world’s most prolific orbital launch operator in 2012. The Russian space program’s launches consisted mainly of cargo and crew transfer flights to the ISS and launches of commercial communications satellites. With little change anticipated in the amount of launch demand generated by these sources, Russia appears poised to retain its launch lead for the foreseeable future.

2012 – U.S. Launch, Payload

The United States made ## orbital launch attempts in 2012, all of which were successful. This total placed it third, behind Russia and China for the number of orbital launches performed in 2012. Among the 2012 U.S. launches were several noteworthy missions. The year saw the successful commercial debut of the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft, the first privately developed spacecraft to berth with the ISS.

2012 – Orbital Launch Reports and Forecasts

Global launch activity in 2012 was similar to activity during the previous five years in both the total number and the balance between commercial and non-commercial payloads. Throughout 2012, there were ## orbital launch attempts, all but ## of which were fully or partially successful.

2012 – Other Countries, Launch, Human

Although Japan and India have both expressed interest in developing human spaceflight capabilities, neither has yet demonstrated strong commitment toward that goal. Japan is in early stage feasibility studies for its own crewed spacecraft, which would not be expected to fly before 2022. India identifies development of a human spaceflight program as an objective within its Five-Year Plan. However, specific details are sparse; India just states that it will focus on development of the technologies and systems necessary to support a human spaceflight program at some point.