Space exploration in 2013

For missions in 2012 click here


Continuing its steady growth during the 2010s, the Russian space budget got further increase in the new year to 128.3 billion rubles ($4.2 billion), including 13 billion ($430.4 million) allocated for the construction of the Soyuz launch site in Vostochny, AmurInfo news agency reported.

According to the official federal budget approved by President Putin on Dec. 3, 2012, Roskosmos would receive 167,630 billion rubles ($5.5 - 5.174 billion) during the year, increasing its share in the federal spending by 0.11 percent from 1.14 percent in 2012, Igor Lisov, a leading expert in space budget reported. The Russian space budget would grow by 16.4 percent comparing to the previous year, for the first time bringing the Russian space program to the same funding level ($5.2 billion; €4,02 billion) as that of the European Space Agency, ESA. Russia would still spend only 29-33 percent from the amount of money that NASA would have available during the year ($17.8 billion), Lisov estimated.

Following a collegium meeting on March 1, Roskosmos announced that the Russian civilian orbital assets had been comprised of 75 spacecraft, including 29 navigation satellites, 26 communications satellites, two observation satellites, two weather-forecasting satellites, two scientific and five experimental spacecraft, as well as five ISS modules, two manned transport vehicles and two cargo ships. According to Roskosmos, the Russian spacecraft made up 10 percent out of a total 1,140 space vehicles functioning in orbit as of Jan. 1, 2013.

Russia's military finally jumped-started its state-of-the-art reconnaissance from space with the encore launch of its flagship Persona satellite on June 7. Three weeks later, speaking at a press-conference dedicated to the activities of TsSKB Progress, which built Persona, the head of the company Aleksandr Kirilin promised yet another military launch before the end of the year.

In the meantime, the Russian Ministry of Defense promised to conduct a total of 16 launches of various ICBMs during 2013. This number included eight orbital launches from Baikonur and Dombarovsky.

Cygnus

Astronauts onboard the International Space Station use a robotic arm to attach the first Cygnus cargo ship to the US segment of the station. Credit: NASA

A US-based company Orbital launched first Cygnus cargo ship to the International Space Station, ISS, giving the outpost another supply vehicle.


 

World's orbital launch attempts in 2013 (as of May 6, 2024 ):

 
Country
Launch date
Time of launch
Payload
Payload type
Launch vehicle
Launch site
Launch complex
Launch pad
Status
1
Jan. 15
20:24:59 Moscow Time
Military / communications
3
Success*
2
Japan
Jan. 27
04:40 GMT

IGS- 4 (radar), IGS-5 (optical demo)

Military / reconnaissance
H-2A F-22
Tanegashima
Yoshinobu
1
Success
3
South Korea
Jan. 30
4 p.m. Korean Time

STSAT-2C

Application
Naro
-
-
Success
4
USA
Jan. 30
8:48 p.m. EST

TDRS-K

Application / data relay
Atlas-5 401
Cape Canaveral
SLC-41
-
Success
5
Jan. 31
22:56 Pacific Time

Intelsat-27

Application / communications
Odyssey
-
Failure
6
Feb. 6
20:04:24 Moscow Time

Globalstar-2 (FM19, FM20, FM21, FM22, FM23, FM24)

Application / communications
6
Success
7
Europe
Feb. 7
21:36 GMT

Amazonas-3, Azerspace-1/Africasat-1a

Application / communications
Ariane-5 ECA
-
Success
8
Feb. 11
18:41:47 Moscow Time

Progress M-18M

Manned / cargo supply
1
5
Success
9
USA
Feb. 11
18:02:00 GMT

LDCM (Landsat-8)

Application / remote sensing
Atlas-5 401
Vandenberg
SLC-3E
E
Success
10
India
Feb. 25
12:31 GMT

SARAL, Sapphire , NEOSSat, BRITE, UniBRITE, AAUSAT3, STRaND-1

Application / experimental
PSLV
Sriharikota
-
-
Success
11
USA
March 1
10:10 a.m. EST

Dragon (No. 3)

Manned / cargo supply
Falcon-9
Cape Canaveral
40
-
Success
12
USA
March 19
5:21 p.m. EDT

SBIRS-GEO-2

Military / early warning
Atlas-5 401
Cape Canaveral
SLC-41
-
Success
13
March 26
23:06:48 Moscow Time

SatMex-8

Application / communications
39
Success
14
March 29
00:43:20 Moscow Time

Soyuz TMA-08M

Manned
1
5
Success
15
April 15
22:36 Moscow Time
Application / communications
39
Success
16
April 19
14:00 Moscow Time
Bion-M No. 1, Aist, BeeSat-2, Beesat-3, SOMP, DOVE-2, G.O.D. Sat
6
Success
17
USA
April 21
5 p.m. EDT
Cygnus mass simulator, DOVE-1, PhoneSat v1a, PhoneSat v1b, PhoneSat v1c
Manned / cargo supply
Antares-110
Wallops Island
0A
A
Success
18
April 24
14:16:12 Moscow Time
Manned / cargo supply
1
5
Success
19
China
April 26
04:13 GMT
GF-1 Gaofen-1, NEE-01 Pegasus, Turksat-3USAT, CubeBug-1 'Capitán Beto'
-
Chang Zheng-2D
Jiuquan
-
-
Success
20
April 26
09:23:41 Moscow Summer Time
Application / navigation
4
Success
21
China
May 1
16:06:04 GMT
Zhongxing-11 (Chinasat-11), Supremesat-II
Application / communications
Chang Zheng-3B/E
Xichang
2
-
Success
22
Europe
May 6
11:06:31 p.m. local time
Proba-V, VNREDSat-1A, ESTCube-1
Application / experimental
-
Success
23
May 14
20:01:59 Moscow Time

Eutelsat-3D (W3D)

Application / communications
39
Success
24
USA
May 15
5:38 p.m. EDT

GPS 2F-4

Application / navigation
Atlas-5 401
Cape Canaveral
41
-
Success
25
USA
May 24
8:27 p.m. EDT

WGS-5

Application
Delta-4-M+
Cape Canaveral
37
B
Success
26
May 29
00:31:24 Moscow Summer Time

Soyuz TMA-09M

Manned
1
5
Success
27
June 3
13:18:30 Moscow Summer Time

SES-6

Application / communications
39
Success
28
Europe
June 5
6:52:18 p.m. local time

ATV-4

Manned / cargo supply
Ariane-5ES
-
Success
29
June 7
22:37 Moscow Time

Persona No. 2 (Kosmos-2486)

Military / reconnaissance
-
Success
30
China
June 11
09:38:02 GMT

Shenzhou-10

Manned
Chang Zheng-2F
Jiuquan
921
43
Success
31
June 25
21:28:48 Moscow Summer Time
Application / remote-sensing
6
Success
32
June 25
19:27:03 GMT
Application / communications
-
Success
33
June 27
20:53:00 Moscow Summer Time
Application / remote-sensing
-
Success
34
USA
June 27
7:27 p.m. PDT
IRIS
Science / astronomy
Pegasus-XL
Vandenberg AFB
L-1011
-
Success
35
India
July 1
18:11 GMT

IRNSS-R1A

Application
PSLV
Sriharikota
-
-
Success
36
06:38:22 Moscow Time

GLONASS-M (No. 48), GLONASS-M (No. 49), GLONASS-M (No. 50)

Application / Navigation
24
Failure
37
China
July 15
09:27 GMT

Shijian 11-05

Application
Chang Zheng-2C
Jiuquan
43
-
Success
38
China
July 19
23:37 GMT

Chuangxin-3, Shiyan Weixing-7, Shijian-15

Application
Chang Zheng-4C
Taiyuan
9
-
Success
39
USA
July 19
13:00 GMT

MUOS-2

Application
Atlas-5 (551)
Cape Canaveral
41
1
Success
40
Europe
July 25
4:54 p.m. local

Alphasat, INSAT-3D

Application / communications / meteorology
Ariane-5 ECA
-
Success
41
July 28
00:45:10 Moscow Time

Progress M-20M

Manned / cargo supply
6
Success
42
Japan
Aug. 4
04:48 local time

HTV-4

Manned / cargo supply
H-2B
Tanegashima
Yoshinobu
1
Success
43
USA
Aug. 7
8:29 p.m. EDT

WGS-6

Military / communications
Delta-4 Medium+ (5,4)
Cape Canaveral
37B
B
Success
44
Aug. 22
18:38 Moscow Summer Time

KOMPSat-5 (Arirang-5)

Application / remote sensing
13
-
Success
45
USA
Aug. 28
11:03 PDT

NROL-65

Military
Delta-4
Vandenberg
SLC-6
6
Success
46
Europe
Aug. 29
5:30 p.m. local time

EUTELSAT 25B/Es’hail 1, GSAT-7

Application / communications
Ariane-5 ECA
-
Success
47
Sept. 1
00:05 Moscow Time
Application / communications
Zenit-3SLB/DM-SLB
1
Success
48
China
Sept. 1
03:16 Beijing Time
Yaogan Weixing-17A, 17B, 17C
Military
Chang Zheng-4C
Jiuquan
-
-
Success
49
USA
Sept. 7
11:27 EDT
LADEE
Planetary / Lunar
Minotaur-5
Wallops
-
-
Success
50
Sept. 12
03:23 Moscow Summer Time
Gonets-M, Gonets-M, Gonets-M
3

Success

51
Japan
Sept. 14
14:00 Japan Standard Time, JST
SPRINT-A (Hisaki)
Application / remote sensing
Epsilon-1
Uchinoura
-
-
Success
52
USA
Sept. 18
4:10 a.m. EDT
AEHF-3
Military / communications
Atlas-5 (531)
Cape Canaveral
41
-
Success
53
USA
Sept. 18
10:58:02 a.m. EDT
Cygnus Orb-D1 (COTS Demo)
Manned / cargo supply
Antares-110
Wallops Island
LP-0A
-
Success
54
China
Sept. 23
11:07 a.m. Beijing time
Fengyun-3C
Application / remote sensing
Chang Zheng-4C
Taiyuan
-
-
Success
55
China
Sept. 25
12:37 Beijing Time
Kuaizhou-1
Application / remote-sensing
Kuaizhou (KZ)
Jiuquan
-
-
Success
56
Sept. 26
00:58:50 Moscow Time
Manned
1
Success
57
USA
Sept. 29
09:00 local time
CASSIOPE, POPACS (3), CUSat-1 and 2, DANDE
Science / Experimental
Falcon-9 v1.1
Vandenberg AFB
SLC-4E
E
Success
58
Sept. 30
01:38:10 Moscow Time
Application / communications
39
Success
59
China
Oct. 25
03:50 GMT
Shijian-16 (SJ-16)
Experimental
Chang Zheng-4B
Jiuquan
43
603
Success
60
Oct. 25
22:08:54 Moscow Time
Application / communications
39
Success
61
China
Oct. 29
02:50 GMT
Yaogan Weixing-18
Military
Chang Zheng-2C
Taiyuan
9
-
Success
62
India
Nov. 5
09:08 GMT
MOM (Mangalyaan)
Planetary / Mars
PSLV
Sriharikota
-
-
Success
63
Nov. 7
08:14:15 Moscow Time
1
Success
64
Nov. 12
03:46:00 Moscow Time
24
Success
65
USA
Nov. 18
18:28:00 GMT
MAVEN
Planetary / Mars
Atlas-5 (401)
Cape Canaveral
SLC-41
-
Success
66
USA
Nov. 20
01:15:00 GMT
STPSat 3, ORSES, ORS Tech 1, ORS Tech 2, Prometheus 1, Prometheus 2, Prometheus 3, Prometheus 4, SENSE 1, SENSE 2, Firefly, STARE B (Horus), NPS-SCAT, CSIP, Rampart, CAPE 2, KYSat 2, Lunar Orbiter&Lander CubeSat, SwampSat, Black Night 1, SPA-1 Trailblazer, TetherSat, DragonSat 1, COPPER, PhoneSat 2.0
-
Minotaur-1
Wallops Island
LP-OB
-
Success
67
China
Nov. 20
03:31:04 GMT
Yaogan Weixing-19
Military
Chang Zheng-4C
Taiyuan
9
-
Success
68
Nov. 21
11:10:11 Moscow Time
DubaiSat-2, STSat-3, WNISAT-1, SkySat-1, UniSat-5, AprizeSat-7, AprizeSat-8, BRITE-PL (Lem), BPA-3, UWE-3, Delfi-n3Xt, Triton 1, Cinema-2, Cinema-3, Dove-4, FUNcube-1, I-Cube, GOMX-1, eSt@r 2, PUCP-SAT 1, Humsat-D, BeakerSat, Wren, Pocket-PUCP, QBScout 1, First-Move, CubeBug 2, NEE-02 Krysaor, HiNCube, ZACUBE-1, VELOX-P 2, $50SAT, OPTOS
-
370
13
Success
69
Nov. 22
16:02:29 Moscow Time
Science / geophysics
33
Success
70
China
Nov. 25
02:12:04 GMT
Shiyan Weixing-5
-
Chang Zheng-2D
Jiuquan
43
603
Success
71
Nov. 26
00:53:06 Moscow Time
Manned / cargo supply
Soyuz-U
Baikonur
6
Success
72
China
Dec. 2
01:30 Beijing Time
Chang'e-3
Planetary / lunar
Chang Zheng-3B
Xichang
-
-
Success
73
USA
Dec. 3
5:41 p.m. EST
SES-8
Application / communications
Falcon-9
Cape Canaveral
SLC-40
-
Success
74
USA
Dec. 5
11:14:30 p.m. PST
NROL-39, Aerocube-5a, Aerocube-5b, ALICE, CUNYSAT-1, Firebird A, Firebird B, IPEX (CP8 ), M-Cubed 2 (COVE 2), SMDC-ONE 2.3, SMDC-ONE 2.4, SNAP, TacSat-6
Military / reconnaissance
Atlas-5 (501)
Vandenberg
SLC-3
E
Success
75
Dec. 8
16:11:59 Moscow Time
Application / communications
39
Success
76
China
Dec. 9
03:26 GMT
CBERS-3
Application / remote-sensing
Chang Zheng-4B
Taiyuan
9
-
Failure
77
Dec. 19
06:12:19 local time
-
Success
78
China
Dec. 20
16:42 GMT
Tupac Katari
Applications / communications
Chang Zheng-3B
Xichang
-
-
Success
79
Dec. 25
04:31 Moscow Time
Kosmos-2488, Kosmos-2489, Kosmos-2490 (Rodnik), Kosmos-2491
Military / communications
3
Success
80
Dec. 26
14:49:56 Moscow Time
24
Success
81
16:30 Moscow Time
Application / experimental
4
Success

*A technical problem during the operation of the Briz-KM upper stage. Payload delivered successfully.

 

The 2013 space launch score card (as of May 6, 2024 ):

-
Country***
Launch vehicle
Launch vehicle
Launch vehicle
Launch vehicle
Launch vehicle
Launch vehicle
Launch vehicle
Launch vehicle
Total
Failed
1
Rockot/Briz-KM: 4 (1*)
Zenit-3SL: 2 (1)
Proton-M: 10 (1**)
35
2
2
USA
Atlas-5: 8
Falcon-9: 2
Antares: 2
Delta-4: 3
Pegasus-XL: 1
Minotaur-5: 1
Falcon-9 v1.1: 1
Minotaur-1: 1
19
0
3
China
Chang Zheng-2D: 2
Chang Zheng-3B/E: 3
Chang Zheng-2F: 1
Chang Zheng-2C: 2
Chang Zheng-4C: 4
Kuaizhou (KZ): 1
Chang Zheng-4B: 2
15
1
4
Europe
Ariane-5 ECA/ES: 4
Vega: 1
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
0
5
Japan
H-2A: 1
H-2B: 1
Epsilon-1: 1
-
-
-
-
-
3
0
6
India
PSLV: 3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3
0
7
South Korea
KSLV: 1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
0
-
World***:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
81***
3

*A technical problem during the operation of the Briz-KM upper stage. Payload delivered successfully. **Failed after ~30 seconds in flight.

***Does not include a purported failed Iranian launch attempt

 

For missions in 2014 click here


This page is compiled by Anatoly Zak, with edits and contributions from George H. Chambers, Janez Mihovec and S. Günes

Last update: May 6, 2024

All rights reserved

Bion-M

A scale model of the Bion-M research satellite launched on April 19. Copyright © 2010 Anatoly Zak


Persona

Second Persona satellite was launched on June 7. Copyright © 2012 Anatoly Zak


Resurs-P

On June 25, Russia's flagship remote-sensing satellite was upgraded to a new version, known as Resurs-P (47KS). Copyright © 2008 Anatoly Zak


Kondor

After two decades in development, Kondor satellite finally reached orbit on June 27. Copyright © 2002 Anatoly Zak


Swarm

A trio of European SWARM satellites was scheduled for launch on a Rockot booster. Copyright © 2010 Anatoly Zak


Gaia

A Russian vehicle was to send the Gaia astronomy satellite 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth. Copyright © 2009 Anatoly Zak


Soyuz-1

After many delays, Soyuz-2-1v rocket was finally introduced on Dec. 28, 2013. Click to enlarge. Copyright © 2008 Anatoly Zak


Aist

The Aist satellite (shown in real size) was carried during the first mission of the Soyuz-2-1v rocket. Copyright © 2009 Anatoly Zak