Browse Resources by Country

Earth-centered Orbital Classification Methodology

A description of the way the Space Foundation classifies the orbits of satellites.

2015 – Japan Launch, Payload

Japan’s number of SLVs launched during 2015 equaled their 2014 efforts. The country’s 2015 share of global orbital space launches grew, but only because the total number of SLVs launched globally during 2015 declined. The four SLVs launched during 2015 from Japan helped the nation to maintain a share of nearly 5% of global launches.

2015 – European Spaceports – Snapshot

ESA conducts orbital space launches from its only spaceport: Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. Guiana Space Center launches the Soyuz, Ariane 5, and Vega space launch vehicles. The European spaceport is one of the closest active spaceports to the Earth’s equator.