Sputnik 1
Earth-orbit mission · USSR · 1957-10-04
Launched on 1957-10-04; it circles 577 km above Earth in about 96 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
The plate roomPrice: one glance upward
The Celestialer
Stamp Collection
167 engravings in the collection·Computed edition
Every plate here is an original editorial engraving cut for this paper from catalogued mission data. None is a reproduction of an authentic postage stamp.
167 shown
1950s
Sputnik 2 (Laika)
Earth-orbit mission · USSR · 1957-11-03
Launched on 1957-11-03; it circles 1000 km above Earth in about 104 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Explorer 1
Earth-orbit mission · NASA / ABMA · 1958-02-01
Launched on 1958-02-01; it circles 1450 km above Earth in about 115 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Vanguard 1
Earth-orbit mission · US Navy / NASA · 1958-03-17
Launched on 1958-03-17; it circles 2900 km above Earth in about 133 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Luna 1
lunar mission · USSR · 1959-01-02
Launched on 1959-01-02; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Luna 2
lunar mission · USSR · 1959-09-12
Launched on 1959-09-12; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Luna 3
lunar mission · USSR · 1959-10-04
Launched on 1959-10-04; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
1960s
Vostok 1 (Gagarin)
Earth-orbit mission · USSR · 1961-04-12
Launched on 1961-04-12; it circles 215 km above Earth in about 89 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Freedom 7 (Shepard)
Earth-orbit mission · NASA · 1961-05-05
Launched on 1961-05-05; it circles 187 km above Earth in about 16 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Vostok 2 (Titov)
Earth-orbit mission · USSR · 1961-08-06
Launched on 1961-08-06; it circles 210 km above Earth in about 89 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Friendship 7 (Glenn)
Earth-orbit mission · NASA · 1962-02-20
Launched on 1962-02-20; it circles 200 km above Earth in about 89 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Vostok 3
Earth-orbit mission · USSR · 1962-08-11
Launched on 1962-08-11; it circles 218 km above Earth in about 89 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Vostok 4
Earth-orbit mission · USSR · 1962-08-12
Launched on 1962-08-12; it circles 235 km above Earth in about 89 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Mariner 2
inner-space mission · NASA · 1962-08-27
Launched on 1962-08-27; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Vostok 5
Earth-orbit mission · USSR · 1963-06-14
Launched on 1963-06-14; it circles 222 km above Earth in about 88 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Vostok 6 (Tereshkova)
Earth-orbit mission · USSR · 1963-06-16
Launched on 1963-06-16; it circles 231 km above Earth in about 88 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Geostationary ring
Earth-orbit mission · various · 1963-07-26
Launched on 1963-07-26; it circles 35793 km above Earth in about 1436 minutes.
Source: ITU / IADC
Geostationary comms ring
Communications · Intelsat / SES / Eutelsat and others · 1964-08-19
Launched on 1964-08-19; its mean orbit is 35793 km above Earth, inclined 0.05°, with a 1436-minute period.
Source: ITU geostationary registry
Voskhod 1
Earth-orbit mission · USSR · 1964-10-12
Launched on 1964-10-12; it circles 300 km above Earth in about 90 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Mariner 4
inner-space mission · NASA · 1964-11-28
Launched on 1964-11-28; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Voskhod 2 (first EVA)
Earth-orbit mission · USSR · 1965-03-18
Launched on 1965-03-18; it circles 300 km above Earth in about 91 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Molniya-type orbit
Communications · Roscosmos · 1965-04-23
Launched on 1965-04-23; its mean orbit is 20229 km above Earth, inclined 63.4°, with a 718-minute period.
Source: Molniya programme records
Gemini 4
Earth-orbit mission · NASA · 1965-06-03
Launched on 1965-06-03; it circles 250 km above Earth in about 89 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Gemini 6A / 7 rendezvous
Earth-orbit mission · NASA · 1965-12-15
Launched on 1965-12-15; it circles 280 km above Earth in about 90 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Luna 9
lunar mission · USSR · 1966-01-31
Launched on 1966-01-31; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Gemini 8
Earth-orbit mission · NASA · 1966-03-16
Launched on 1966-03-16; it circles 270 km above Earth in about 89 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Soyuz 1
Earth-orbit mission · USSR · 1967-04-23
Launched on 1967-04-23; it circles 220 km above Earth in about 89 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Zond 5
lunar mission · USSR · 1968-09-14
Launched on 1968-09-14; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Apollo 8
lunar mission · NASA · 1968-12-21
Launched on 1968-12-21; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA Apollo mission reports
Apollo 10
lunar mission · NASA · 1969-05-18
Launched on 1969-05-18; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA Apollo mission reports
Apollo 11
lunar mission · NASA · 1969-07-16
Launched on 1969-07-16; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA Apollo 11 mission report
Apollo 12
lunar mission · NASA · 1969-11-14
Launched on 1969-11-14; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA Apollo mission reports
1970s
Apollo 13
lunar mission · NASA · 1970-04-11
Launched on 1970-04-11; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA Apollo 13 mission report
Venera 7
inner-space mission · USSR · 1970-08-17
Launched on 1970-08-17; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Luna 16
lunar mission · USSR · 1970-09-12
Launched on 1970-09-12; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Apollo 14
lunar mission · NASA · 1971-01-31
Launched on 1971-01-31; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA Apollo mission reports
Salyut 1
Earth-orbit mission · USSR · 1971-04-19
Launched on 1971-04-19; it circles 220 km above Earth in about 89 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Apollo 15
lunar mission · NASA · 1971-07-26
Launched on 1971-07-26; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA Apollo mission reports
Pioneer 10
outer-space mission · NASA · 1972-03-03
Launched on 1972-03-03; its catalogued mission reaches Jupiter across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA/ARC
Apollo 16
lunar mission · NASA · 1972-04-16
Launched on 1972-04-16; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA Apollo mission reports
Apollo 17
lunar mission · NASA · 1972-12-07
Launched on 1972-12-07; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA Apollo mission reports
Pioneer 11
outer-space mission · NASA · 1973-04-06
Launched on 1973-04-06; its catalogued mission reaches Jupiter across 3 published milestones.
Source: NASA/ARC
Skylab
Earth-orbit mission · NASA · 1973-05-14
Launched on 1973-05-14; it circles 435 km above Earth in about 93 minutes.
Source: NASA
Mariner 10
inner-space mission · NASA · 1973-11-03
Launched on 1973-11-03; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 5 published milestones.
Source: NASA NSSDCA / JPL post-encounter orbit
Venera 9
inner-space mission · USSR · 1975-06-08
Launched on 1975-06-08; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
Earth-orbit mission · NASA / USSR · 1975-07-15
Launched on 1975-07-15; it circles 220 km above Earth in about 89 minutes.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Viking 1
inner-space mission · NASA · 1975-08-20
Launched on 1975-08-20; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Viking 2
inner-space mission · NASA · 1975-09-09
Launched on 1975-09-09; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Luna 24
lunar mission · USSR · 1976-08-09
Launched on 1976-08-09; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Voyager 2
outer-space mission · NASA · 1977-08-20
Launched on 1977-08-20; its catalogued mission reaches Jupiter across 5 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL mission chronology
Voyager 1
outer-space mission · NASA · 1977-09-05
Launched on 1977-09-05; its catalogued mission reaches Jupiter across 3 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL mission chronology
GPS constellation
Navigation · US Space Force · 1978-02-22
Launched on 1978-02-22; its mean orbit is 20189 km above Earth, inclined 55°, with a 718-minute period.
Source: US Space Force GPS constellation status
1980s
Venera 13
inner-space mission · USSR · 1981-10-30
Launched on 1981-10-30; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
GLONASS constellation
Navigation · Roscosmos · 1982-10-12
Launched on 1982-10-12; its mean orbit is 19139 km above Earth, inclined 64.8°, with a 676-minute period.
Source: Roscosmos GLONASS information
TDRS network
Communications · NASA · 1983-04-04
Launched on 1983-04-04; its mean orbit is 35793 km above Earth, inclined 6°, with a 1436-minute period.
Source: NASA Space Network
Vega 1
smallbody-space mission · USSR / Intercosmos · 1984-12-15
Launched on 1984-12-15; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 3 published milestones.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Vega 2
smallbody-space mission · USSR / Intercosmos · 1984-12-21
Launched on 1984-12-21; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 3 published milestones.
Source: NASA NSSDCA
Giotto
smallbody-space mission · ESA · 1985-07-02
Launched on 1985-07-02; its catalogued mission reaches halley across 3 published milestones.
Source: ESA
Mir
Earth-orbit mission · USSR / Roscosmos · 1986-02-20
Launched on 1986-02-20; it circles 354 km above Earth in about 92 minutes.
Source: Roscosmos / NASA
Magellan
inner-space mission · NASA · 1989-05-04
Launched on 1989-05-04; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL
Galileo
outer-space mission · NASA · 1989-10-18
Launched on 1989-10-18; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 5 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL
1990s
Hubble Space Telescope
Earth-orbit mission · NASA / ESA · 1990-04-24
Launched on 1990-04-24; it circles 535 km above Earth in about 95 minutes.
Source: NASA/STScI
Ulysses
outer-space mission · ESA / NASA · 1990-10-06
Launched on 1990-10-06; its catalogued mission reaches Jupiter across 2 published milestones.
Source: ESA
SOHO
libration-point mission · ESA / NASA · 1995-12-02
Launched on 1995-12-02; it keeps station about the Earth–Sun L1 point, roughly 1.5 million km from Earth.
Source: ESA/NASA
NEAR Shoemaker
smallbody-space mission · NASA · 1996-02-17
Launched on 1996-02-17; its catalogued mission reaches eros across 3 published milestones.
Source: NASA/APL
Mars Pathfinder / Sojourner
inner-space mission · NASA · 1996-12-04
Launched on 1996-12-04; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL
Cassini-Huygens
outer-space mission · NASA / ESA / ASI · 1997-10-15
Launched on 1997-10-15; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 6 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL
Lunar Prospector
lunar mission · NASA · 1998-01-07
Launched on 1998-01-07; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA/ARC
International Space Station
Earth-orbit mission · NASA / Roscosmos / ESA / JAXA / CSA · 1998-11-20
Launched on 1998-11-20; it circles 420 km above Earth in about 93 minutes.
Source: NASA ISS program
Stardust
solar-space mission · NASA · 1999-02-07
Launched on 1999-02-07; its catalogued mission reaches Earth across 3 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL
Chandra X-ray Observatory
Earth-orbit mission · NASA · 1999-07-23
Launched on 1999-07-23; it circles 79629 km above Earth in about 3809 minutes.
Source: NASA/CXC
XMM-Newton
Telescopes · ESA · 1999-12-10
Launched on 1999-12-10; its mean orbit is 60000 km above Earth, inclined 70°, with a 2874-minute period.
Source: ESA XMM-Newton
Terra
Earth observation · NASA · 1999-12-18
Launched on 1999-12-18; its mean orbit is 705 km above Earth, inclined 98.2°, with a 99-minute period.
Source: NASA Terra mission
2000s
Cluster II
Science · ESA · 2000-07-16
Launched on 2000-07-16; its mean orbit is 60000 km above Earth, inclined 90°, with a 3420-minute period.
Source: ESA Cluster
Envisat
Earth observation · ESA · 2002-03-01
Launched on 2002-03-01; its mean orbit is 790 km above Earth, inclined 98.4°, with a 101-minute period.
Source: ESA Envisat
Aqua
Earth observation · NASA · 2002-05-04
Launched on 2002-05-04; its mean orbit is 705 km above Earth, inclined 98.2°, with a 99-minute period.
Source: NASA Aqua mission
Meteosat Second/Third Generation
Weather · EUMETSAT · 2002-08-28
Launched on 2002-08-28; its mean orbit is 35793 km above Earth, inclined 0.5°, with a 1436-minute period.
Source: EUMETSAT Meteosat
Hayabusa
smallbody-space mission · JAXA · 2003-05-09
Launched on 2003-05-09; its catalogued mission reaches itokawa across 4 published milestones.
Source: JAXA
Mars Express
inner-space mission · ESA · 2003-06-02
Launched on 2003-06-02; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: ESA
Spirit (MER-A)
inner-space mission · NASA · 2003-06-10
Launched on 2003-06-10; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL
Opportunity (MER-B)
inner-space mission · NASA · 2003-07-08
Launched on 2003-07-08; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL
SMART-1
lunar mission · ESA · 2003-09-27
Launched on 2003-09-27; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: ESA
Rosetta
smallbody-space mission · ESA · 2004-03-02
Launched on 2004-03-02; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 6 published milestones.
Source: ESA
MESSENGER
inner-space mission · NASA · 2004-08-03
Launched on 2004-08-03; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 6 published milestones.
Source: NASA/APL
Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory
Telescopes · NASA · 2004-11-20
Launched on 2004-11-20; its mean orbit is 585 km above Earth, inclined 20.6°, with a 97-minute period.
Source: NASA Swift mission
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
inner-space mission · NASA · 2005-08-12
Launched on 2005-08-12; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL
Venus Express
inner-space mission · ESA · 2005-11-09
Launched on 2005-11-09; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 2 published milestones.
Source: ESA
New Horizons
outer-space mission · NASA · 2006-01-19
Launched on 2006-01-19; its catalogued mission reaches Jupiter across 3 published milestones.
Source: NASA/APL
CALIPSO
Science · NASA / CNES · 2006-04-28
Launched on 2006-04-28; its mean orbit is 705 km above Earth, inclined 98.2°, with a 99-minute period.
Source: NASA CALIPSO
Phoenix
inner-space mission · NASA · 2007-08-04
Launched on 2007-08-04; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL
Dawn
smallbody-space mission · NASA · 2007-09-27
Launched on 2007-09-27; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 4 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL
Chang'e 1
lunar mission · CNSA · 2007-10-24
Launched on 2007-10-24; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: CNSA
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope
Telescopes · NASA · 2008-06-11
Launched on 2008-06-11; its mean orbit is 535 km above Earth, inclined 25.6°, with a 95-minute period.
Source: NASA Fermi mission
Chandrayaan-1
lunar mission · ISRO · 2008-10-22
Launched on 2008-10-22; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: ISRO
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
lunar mission · NASA · 2009-06-18
Launched on 2009-06-18; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA/GSFC
2010s
Akatsuki
inner-space mission · JAXA · 2010-05-20
Launched on 2010-05-20; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 2 published milestones.
Source: JAXA
QZSS (Michibiki)
Navigation · JAXA / QSS · 2010-09-11
Launched on 2010-09-11; its mean orbit is 35793 km above Earth, inclined 41°, with a 1436-minute period.
Source: Cabinet Office QZSS
Chang'e 2
lunar mission · CNSA · 2010-10-01
Launched on 2010-10-01; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: CNSA
Juno
outer-space mission · NASA · 2011-08-05
Launched on 2011-08-05; its catalogued mission reaches Jupiter across 3 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL
GRAIL (Ebb & Flow)
lunar mission · NASA · 2011-09-10
Launched on 2011-09-10; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA/JPL
Galileo constellation
Navigation · EU / ESA · 2011-10-21
Launched on 2011-10-21; its mean orbit is 23229 km above Earth, inclined 56°, with a 845-minute period.
Source: EUSPA Galileo constellation
Curiosity (MSL)
inner-space mission · NASA · 2011-11-26
Launched on 2011-11-26; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL
NuSTAR
Telescopes · NASA · 2012-06-13
Launched on 2012-06-13; its mean orbit is 600 km above Earth, inclined 6°, with a 97-minute period.
Source: NASA NuSTAR
Van Allen Probes
Science · NASA · 2012-08-30
Launched on 2012-08-30; its mean orbit is 18000 km above Earth, inclined 10°, with a 540-minute period.
Source: NASA Van Allen Probes
MetOp-B / MetOp-C
Weather · EUMETSAT · 2012-09-17
Launched on 2012-09-17; its mean orbit is 817 km above Earth, inclined 98.7°, with a 101-minute period.
Source: EUMETSAT MetOp
Landsat 8 / 9
Earth observation · NASA / USGS · 2013-02-11
Launched on 2013-02-11; its mean orbit is 705 km above Earth, inclined 98.2°, with a 99-minute period.
Source: USGS Landsat missions
NavIC (IRNSS)
Navigation · ISRO · 2013-07-01
Launched on 2013-07-01; its mean orbit is 35793 km above Earth, inclined 29°, with a 1436-minute period.
Source: ISRO NavIC
LADEE
lunar mission · NASA · 2013-09-07
Launched on 2013-09-07; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA/ARC
Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan)
inner-space mission · ISRO · 2013-11-05
Launched on 2013-11-05; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: ISRO
MAVEN
inner-space mission · NASA · 2013-11-18
Launched on 2013-11-18; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA/GSFC
Swarm
Science · ESA · 2013-11-22
Launched on 2013-11-22; its mean orbit is 460 km above Earth, inclined 87.4°, with a 94-minute period.
Source: ESA Swarm
Chang'e 3 / Yutu
lunar mission · CNSA · 2013-12-01
Launched on 2013-12-01; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: CNSA
Inmarsat-5 / 6
Communications · Inmarsat / Viasat · 2013-12-08
Launched on 2013-12-08; its mean orbit is 35793 km above Earth, inclined 0.1°, with a 1436-minute period.
Source: Inmarsat fleet information
Gaia
libration-point mission · ESA · 2013-12-19
Launched on 2013-12-19; it keeps station about the Earth–Sun L2 point, roughly 1.5 million km from Earth.
Source: ESA
Sentinel-1
Earth observation · ESA / Copernicus · 2014-04-03
Launched on 2014-04-03; its mean orbit is 693 km above Earth, inclined 98.2°, with a 99-minute period.
Source: ESA Copernicus Sentinel-1
Himawari-8 / 9
Weather · JMA · 2014-10-07
Launched on 2014-10-07; its mean orbit is 35793 km above Earth, inclined 0.2°, with a 1436-minute period.
Source: JMA Himawari
Hayabusa2
smallbody-space mission · JAXA · 2014-12-03
Launched on 2014-12-03; its catalogued mission reaches ryugu across 4 published milestones.
Source: JAXA
DSCOVR
libration-point mission · NOAA / NASA · 2015-02-11
Launched on 2015-02-11; it keeps station about the Earth–Sun L1 point, roughly 1.5 million km from Earth.
Source: NOAA
BeiDou-3 MEO
Navigation · CNSA · 2015-03-30
Launched on 2015-03-30; its mean orbit is 21507 km above Earth, inclined 55°, with a 773-minute period.
Source: CSNO BeiDou constellation
Sentinel-2
Earth observation · ESA / Copernicus · 2015-06-23
Launched on 2015-06-23; its mean orbit is 786 km above Earth, inclined 98.6°, with a 101-minute period.
Source: ESA Copernicus Sentinel-2
Sentinel-3
Earth observation · ESA / Copernicus · 2016-02-16
Launched on 2016-02-16; its mean orbit is 814 km above Earth, inclined 98.6°, with a 101-minute period.
Source: ESA Copernicus Sentinel-3
Hitomi (ASTRO-H)
Telescopes · JAXA · 2016-02-17
Launched on 2016-02-17; its mean orbit is 575 km above Earth, inclined 31°, with a 96-minute period.
Source: JAXA Hitomi reports
ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter
inner-space mission · ESA / Roscosmos · 2016-03-14
Launched on 2016-03-14; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: ESA
OSIRIS-REx / APEX
smallbody-space mission · NASA · 2016-09-08
Launched on 2016-09-08; its catalogued mission reaches bennu across 4 published milestones.
Source: NASA/GSFC
GOES-16 / GOES-18
Weather · NOAA · 2016-11-19
Launched on 2016-11-19; its mean orbit is 35793 km above Earth, inclined 0.1°, with a 1436-minute period.
Source: NOAA GOES-R series
Iridium NEXT
Communications · Iridium Communications · 2017-01-14
Launched on 2017-01-14; its mean orbit is 780 km above Earth, inclined 86.4°, with a 100-minute period.
Source: Iridium NEXT programme
NOAA-20 (JPSS-1)
Weather · NOAA / NASA · 2017-11-18
Launched on 2017-11-18; its mean orbit is 824 km above Earth, inclined 98.7°, with a 101-minute period.
Source: NOAA JPSS programme
TESS
Telescopes · NASA · 2018-04-18
Launched on 2018-04-18; its mean orbit is 250000 km above Earth, inclined 37°, with a 19710-minute period.
Source: NASA TESS
InSight
inner-space mission · NASA · 2018-05-05
Launched on 2018-05-05; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL
GRACE-FO
Science · NASA / GFZ · 2018-05-22
Launched on 2018-05-22; its mean orbit is 490 km above Earth, inclined 89°, with a 95-minute period.
Source: NASA GRACE-FO
Parker Solar Probe
inner-space mission · NASA · 2018-08-12
Launched on 2018-08-12; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 3 published milestones.
Source: NASA/APL
ICESat-2
Earth observation · NASA · 2018-09-15
Launched on 2018-09-15; its mean orbit is 496 km above Earth, inclined 92°, with a 95-minute period.
Source: NASA ICESat-2
BepiColombo
inner-space mission · ESA / JAXA · 2018-10-20
Launched on 2018-10-20; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 6 published milestones.
Source: ESA
Chang'e 4 / Yutu-2
lunar mission · CNSA · 2018-12-07
Launched on 2018-12-07; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: CNSA
Beresheet
lunar mission · SpaceIL / IAI · 2019-02-22
Launched on 2019-02-22; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: SpaceIL
OneWeb constellation
Communications · Eutelsat OneWeb · 2019-02-27
Launched on 2019-02-27; its mean orbit is 1200 km above Earth, inclined 87.9°, with a 109-minute period.
Source: OneWeb constellation filings
Starlink shell
Communications · SpaceX · 2019-05-24
Launched on 2019-05-24; its mean orbit is 550 km above Earth, inclined 53°, with a 96-minute period.
Source: SpaceX Starlink deployment filings
Low-Earth-orbit constellations
Earth-orbit mission · various · 2019-05-24
Launched on 2019-05-24; it circles 550 km above Earth in about 96 minutes.
Source: Space-Track / operator filings
Chandrayaan-2
lunar mission · ISRO · 2019-07-22
Launched on 2019-07-22; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: ISRO
2020s
Solar Orbiter
solar-space mission · ESA / NASA · 2020-02-10
Launched on 2020-02-10; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 4 published milestones.
Source: ESA
Hope (Emirates Mars Mission)
inner-space mission · UAE Space Agency · 2020-07-19
Launched on 2020-07-19; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: MBRSC
Tianwen-1 / Zhurong
inner-space mission · CNSA · 2020-07-23
Launched on 2020-07-23; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: CNSA
Perseverance / Ingenuity
inner-space mission · NASA · 2020-07-30
Launched on 2020-07-30; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL
Chang'e 5
lunar mission · CNSA · 2020-11-23
Launched on 2020-11-23; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: CNSA
Tiangong space station
Stations · CMSA · 2021-04-29
Launched on 2021-04-29; its mean orbit is 385 km above Earth, inclined 41.5°, with a 92-minute period.
Source: CMSA mission notices
Tiangong
Earth-orbit mission · CNSA · 2021-04-29
Launched on 2021-04-29; it circles 389 km above Earth in about 92 minutes.
Source: CNSA
Lucy
solar-space mission · NASA · 2021-10-16
Launched on 2021-10-16; its catalogued mission reaches Earth across 3 published milestones.
Source: NASA/GSFC
IXPE
Telescopes · NASA / ASI · 2021-12-09
Launched on 2021-12-09; its mean orbit is 600 km above Earth, inclined 0.2°, with a 97-minute period.
Source: NASA IXPE
James Webb Space Telescope
solar-space mission · NASA / ESA / CSA · 2021-12-25
Launched on 2021-12-25; its catalogued mission reaches Earth across 1 published milestones.
Source: NASA/STScI
James Webb Space Telescope (L2)
libration-point mission · NASA / ESA / CSA · 2021-12-25
Launched on 2021-12-25; it keeps station about the Earth–Sun L2 point, roughly 1.5 million km from Earth.
Source: NASA/STScI
CAPSTONE
lunar mission · NASA / Advanced Space · 2022-06-28
Launched on 2022-06-28; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA/ARC
Danuri (KPLO)
lunar mission · KARI · 2022-08-04
Launched on 2022-08-04; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: KARI
Artemis I
lunar mission · NASA · 2022-11-16
Launched on 2022-11-16; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: NASA Artemis I flight report
Hakuto-R Mission 1
lunar mission · ispace · 2022-12-11
Launched on 2022-12-11; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: ispace
SWOT
Earth observation · NASA / CNES · 2022-12-16
Launched on 2022-12-16; its mean orbit is 891 km above Earth, inclined 77.6°, with a 103-minute period.
Source: NASA SWOT
JUICE
outer-space mission · ESA · 2023-04-14
Launched on 2023-04-14; its catalogued mission reaches Venus across 5 published milestones.
Source: ESA
Euclid
libration-point mission · ESA · 2023-07-01
Launched on 2023-07-01; it keeps station about the Earth–Sun L2 point, roughly 1.5 million km from Earth.
Source: ESA
Chandrayaan-3
lunar mission · ISRO · 2023-07-14
Launched on 2023-07-14; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: ISRO
SLIM
lunar mission · JAXA · 2023-09-06
Launched on 2023-09-06; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: JAXA
Psyche
inner-space mission · NASA · 2023-10-13
Launched on 2023-10-13; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 2 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL
Peregrine Mission One
lunar mission · Astrobotic · 2024-01-08
Launched on 2024-01-08; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: Astrobotic
IM-1 Odysseus
lunar mission · Intuitive Machines · 2024-02-15
Launched on 2024-02-15; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: Intuitive Machines
Chang'e 6
lunar mission · CNSA · 2024-05-03
Launched on 2024-05-03; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: CNSA
Europa Clipper
outer-space mission · NASA · 2024-10-14
Launched on 2024-10-14; its catalogued mission reaches Mars across 4 published milestones.
Source: NASA/JPL
Blue Ghost Mission 1
lunar mission · Firefly Aerospace · 2025-01-15
Launched on 2025-01-15; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: Firefly Aerospace
Hakuto-R Mission 2 (Resilience)
lunar mission · ispace · 2025-01-15
Launched on 2025-01-15; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: ispace
IM-2 Athena
lunar mission · Intuitive Machines · 2025-02-26
Launched on 2025-02-26; this catalogued lunar mission travelled from Earth toward the Moon.
Source: Intuitive Machines