Infrastructure
Launch Log, 2022
Interested in global space launch vehicle satellite activity? Please select the associated link to read about it. Launch data is updated every day during weekdays, excluding U.S. holidays.
New Launch Vehicles Expected to Make 2022 Maiden Flights
Sixteen new launch vehicles were expected to debut this year. In late March, Blue Origin delayed its debut to 2023. Here’s a look at New Glenn and the class of 2022, including their expected capabilities.
Record Number of New Launch Vehicles Set for 2022 Debut
With 15 new launch vehicles expected to make maiden flights this year, 2022 is set to be the busiest year for new rockets since the dawn of the Space Age.
2022 TSRQ1 – As Launches Climb, Concerns Rise About Capacity of U.S. Spaceport Infrastructure
While global launch activity has ebbed and flowed over the past 50 years, with a previous peak of 129 orbital launch attempts in 1984 and a trough of 55 in 2004.
2022 TSRQ1 – Satellite Data from Tonga Eruption Brings New Insight into Volcanoes
The recent eruption of an underwater volcano on Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai, an uninhabited island in the South Pacific archipelago of Tonga, was possibly the largest eruption ever witnessed during the satellite era.
Active Space Telescopes
At the end of 2021, the highly anticipated James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) became the latest telescope to make its way to space. Including JWST, there are 29 currently active spacecraft with telescopes.
Ranked Spacecraft Deployments by the Three Most Active Nations, 2021
The United States continued to be the dominant leader of spacecraft deployments in 2021. Use the tools just above the table for sorting, advanced filtering, and other options, which will then be reflected on the live chart. For more data source information click to read the entire resource.
Spacecraft Mission Segment Shares by Nation
2021 analysis shows how strongly communications spacecraft deployments continued to dominate payload launches.
Total Orbital Launch Attempts by China and U.S., 2012-2021
From 2012 to 2021, as China’s space program has matured, it has traded dominance with the United States on annual orbital launch attempts.
Global Orbital Launch Attempts, 2021
Seven nations conducted orbital launches in 2021, with China, the United States and Russia continuing a years-long lead in launch activity.