Notable spaceflight activities in 2017 included the maiden orbital flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (also called LVM3) on 5 June and the first suborbital test of Rocket Lab's Electron rocket, inaugurating the Mahia spaceport in New Zealand. The rocket is named for its innovative Rutherford engine which feeds propellants via battery-powered electric motors instead of the usual gas generator and turbopumps.
Overview China launched its new missile-derived Kaituozhe-2 variant on 2 March. The Japanese SS-520, a suborbital sounding rocket modified for orbital flight, failed to reach orbit in January. If successful, it would have become the smallest and lightest vehicle to ever put an object in orbit.
The venerable Russian Soyuz-U workhorse was retired after its 786th mission on 22 February. On 30 March, the SES-10 mission was launched with a previously flown Falcon 9 first stage, achieving a key milestone in the SpaceX reusable launch system development program; several other Falcon 9 first-stage boosters were re-used since then.
After a record-breaking 13-year mission observing Saturn, its rings and moons, the Cassini space probe was deliberately destroyed by plunging into Saturn's atmosphere, on 15 September 2017.
A record number of 466 satellites were attempted to be launched thanks to an increase in the number of small satellites. 289 of all satellites weighted less than 10 kg. The number of small satellites launched exceeded even the most optimistic forecasts.
Orbital launches
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Suborbital flights
Deep-space rendezvous Date (UTC)SpacecraftEventRemarks2 FebruaryJunoA decision was made to cancel a period reduction maneuver and remain in a 53-day orbit for the remainder of the mission over engine concerns.27 MarchJuno5th perijove22 AprilCassini127th flyby of TitanClosest approach: 979 kilometres (608 mi).19 MayJuno6th perijove11 JulyJuno7th perijove1 SeptemberJuno8th perijove15 SeptemberCassiniEnd of missionIntentional destructive entry into Saturn's atmosphere Flyby of Earth Gravity assist to accelerate the probe towards its destination24 OctoberJuno9th perijove16 DecemberJuno10th perijove
Extravehicular activities (EVAs) Start date/timeDurationEnd timeSpacecraftCrewRemarks 6 January 12:23 6 hours 31 minutes 18:54 ISS Quest The crew completed the installation of new batteries on the station's power channel 3A, and then executed a series of tasks to get ahead for the next EVA. Kimbrough collected photos of the AMS-02, then they removed a broken light on the S3 truss and routed Ethernet cables on the Z1 truss. 13 January 11:22 5 hours 58 minutes 17:20 ISS Quest The crew completed the installation of new batteries on the station's power channel 1A, and then executed a series of get ahead tasks. First they installed a new camera on the Mobile Transporter Relay Assembly, then Pesquet replaced a Worksite Interface Adapter on Canadarm-2 and collected photos of Z1 truss and S0 truss, meanwhile Kimbrough removed 2 handrails from the Destiny module. Then they picked up a bundle of covers and brought them to the Tranquillity module where will be installed when Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 will be moved from Node 3 to Node 2. When removed, the PMA's Common Berthing Mechanism will be covered up to protect it from the space environment. 24 March 11:24 6 hours 34 minutes 17:58 ISS Quest Kimbrough replaced the External Control Zone 2 (EXT-2) multiplexer–demultiplexer (MDM) with an upgraded "EPIC MDM" and prepared PMA-3 for its robotic relocation on Sunday. Pesquet inspected the Radiator Beam Valve Module for ammonia leaks, then lubricated one of the Latching End Effectors of Dextre. Kimbrough then replaced a pair of cameras on the Kibo module, and a light on one of the CETA carts. 30 March 11:29 7 hours 4 minutes 18:33 ISS Quest Kimbrough replaced the External Control Zone 1 (EXT-1) multiplexer–demultiplexer (MDM) with an upgraded "EPIC MDM" while Whitson connected heater power and heater feedback telemetry to enable PMA-3 to be repressurized, then released a series of straps to free up a cover that protected the APAS. The astronauts then installed axial shields on PMA-3's former location on Tranquillity module and installed covers on PMA-3. One of the shields was lost but the others were installed successfully. 12 May 13:01 4 hours 13 minutes 17:21 ISS Quest EXT-1 MDM remove and replace Lab EWC antenna install 23 May 11:20 2 hours 46 minutes 14:06 ISS Quest Throughout this hurriedly planned "contingency" spacewalk, both Fischer and Whitson successfully replaced a failed multiplexer–demultiplexer (MDM), and installed a pair of antennas on station to enhance wireless communication for future spacewalks. 17 August 14:36 7 hours 34 minutes 22:10 ISS Pirs Test of an upgraded version of the Orlan space suit, the Orlan MKS Restavratsiya retrieval Deployment of 5 small satellites Impakt installation Adapter installation on Poisk sensors BKDO (БКДО) reposition Test sample collection Hand rail and exposure init installation 5 October 12:05 6 hours 55 minutes 19:00 ISS Quest Removal of LEE-A from SSRMS Removal of POA LEE via 6 EDF bolts Installation of POA LEE as new SSRMS LEE-A Installation of former LEE-A on POA SSRMS power-up and checkout 10 October 11:56 6 hours 26 minutes 18:22 ISS Quest ESP-1 PFCS rotate by 90° CP9 camera group R/R LEE-A ballscrew lubrication POA LEE socket removal MT camera lens replacement Hand rail removal (x2) 20 October 11:47 6 hours 49 minutes 18:36 ISS Quest Dextre EOTP fuse replacement Canadarm2 LEE-A CLA remove and replace CP3 HD camera installation MLI removal from ORUs (x2)
Orbital launch statistics
By country For the purposes of this section, the yearly tally of orbital launches by country assigns each flight to the country of origin of the rocket, not to the launch services provider or the spaceport. For example, Soyuz launches by Arianespace in Kourou are counted under Russia because Soyuz-2 is a Russian rocket.
Country Launches Successes Failures Partial failures 18 16 1 1 6 6 0 0 5 4 1 0 1 0 1 0 3 3 0 0 7 6 1 0 20 18 1 1 1 1 0 0 30 29 1 0 World
By rocket
By family Family Country Launches Successes Failures Partial failures Remarks Antares 1 1 0 0 Ariane 6 6 0 0 Atlas 6 6 0 0 Delta 2 2 0 0 Electron 1 0 1 0 Maiden flight Falcon 18 18 0 0 GSLV 1 1 0 0 GSLV Mk III 1 1 0 0 First orbital flight H-II 6 6 0 0 Kaituozhe 1 1 0 0 Kuaizhou 1 1 0 0 Long March 16 14 1 1 Minotaur 2 2 0 0 PSLV 3 2 1 0 R-7 15 13 1 1 S-Series 1 0 1 0 Simorgh 1 0 1 0 First orbital flight Universal Rocket 5 5 0 0 Vega 3 3 0 0 Zenit 1 1 0 0
By type Rocket Country Family Launches Successes Failures Partial failures Remarks Antares 200 Antares 1 1 0 0 Ariane 5 Ariane 6 6 0 0 Atlas V Atlas 6 6 0 0 Delta II Delta 1 1 0 0 Delta IV Delta 1 1 0 0 Electron Electron 1 0 1 0 Maiden flight Falcon 9 Falcon 18 18 0 0 GSLV GSLV 1 1 0 0 GSLV Mk III GSLV Mk III 1 1 0 0 First orbital flight Kaituozhe-2 Kaituozhe 1 1 0 0 Maiden flight Kuaizhou 1 Kuaizhou 1 1 0 0 Minotaur IV Minotaur 1 1 0 0 Minotaur-C Minotaur 1 1 0 0 H-IIA H-II 6 6 0 0 Long March 2 Long March 6 6 0 0 Long March 3 Long March 5 4 0 1 Long March 4 Long March 2 2 0 0 Long March 5 Long March 1 0 1 0 Long March 6 Long March 1 1 0 0 Long March 7 Long March 1 1 0 0 PSLV PSLV 3 2 1 0 Proton Universal Rocket 4 4 0 0 SS-520 S-Series 1 0 1 0 Simorgh Simorgh 1 0 1 0 First orbital flight Soyuz R-7 5 5 0 0 Soyuz-2 R-7 10 8 1 1 UR-100 Universal Rocket 1 1 0 0 Vega Vega 3 3 0 0 Zenit-3 Zenit 1 1 0 0
By configuration Rocket Country Type Launches Successes Failures Partial failures Remarks Antares 230 Antares 200 1 1 0 0 Ariane 5 ECA Ariane 5 5 5 0 0 Ariane 5 ES Ariane 5 1 1 0 0 Atlas V 401 Atlas V 4 4 0 0 Atlas V 421 Atlas V 1 1 0 0 Atlas V 541 Atlas V 1 1 0 0 Delta II 7920 Delta II 1 1 0 0 Final flight Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) Delta IV 1 1 0 0 Electron Electron 1 0 1 0 Maiden flight Falcon 9 Full Thrust Falcon 9 14 14 0 0 Falcon 9 Block 4 Falcon 9 4 4 0 0 Maiden flight GSLV Mk II GSLV 1 1 0 0 GSLV Mk III GSLV Mk III 1 1 0 0 First orbital flight H-IIA 202 H-IIA 4 4 0 0 H-IIA 204 H-IIA 2 2 0 0 Kaituozhe-2 Kaituozhe-2 1 1 0 0 Maiden flight Kuaizhou 1A Kuaizhou 1 1 0 0 Long March 2C Long March 2 3 3 0 0 Long March 2D Long March 2 3 3 0 0 Long March 3B/E Long March 3 5 4 0 1 Long March 4B Long March 4 1 1 0 0 Long March 4C Long March 4 1 1 0 0 Long March 5 Long March 5 1 0 1 0 Maiden flight Long March 6 Long March 6 1 1 0 0 Long March 7 Long March 7 1 1 0 0 Minotaur IV / Orion 38 Minotaur IV 1 1 0 0 Minotaur-C Minotaur-C 1 1 0 0 Proton-M / Briz-M Proton 4 4 0 0 PSLV-XL PSLV 3 2 1 0 Rokot / Briz-KM UR-100 1 1 0 0 SS-520-4 S-Series 1 0 1 0 Maiden flight Simorgh Simorgh 1 0 1 0 First orbital flight Soyuz-FG Soyuz 4 4 0 0 Soyuz-U Soyuz 1 1 0 0 Final flight Soyuz-2.1a or ST-A Soyuz-2 2 2 0 0 Soyuz 2.1a or ST-A / Fregat-M Soyuz-2 2 1 0 1 Soyuz-2.1b or ST-B / Fregat-M Soyuz-2 4 3 1 0 Soyuz-2.1b or ST-B / Fregat-MT Soyuz-2 1 1 0 0 Soyuz-2-1v / Volga Soyuz-2 1 1 0 0 Vega Vega 3 3 0 0 Zenit-3F Zenit-3 1 1 0 0
By spaceport
Site Country Launches Successes Failures Partial failures Remarks Baikonur 13 12 0 1 Cape Canaveral 7 7 0 0 Jiuquan 6 6 0 0 Kennedy 12 12 0 0 Kourou 11 11 0 0 Mahia 1 0 1 0 First launch MARS 1 1 0 0 Plesetsk 5 5 0 0 Satish Dhawan 5 4 1 0 Semnan 1 0 1 0 Taiyuan 2 2 0 0 Tanegashima 6 6 0 0 Uchinoura 1 0 1 0 Vandenberg 9 9 0 0 Vostochny 1 0 1 0 Wenchang 2 1 1 0 Xichang 8 7 0 1 Total 91 83 6 2
By orbit
Orbital regime Launches Achieved Not achieved Accidentallyachieved Remarks Transatmospheric 0 0 0 0 Low Earth 52 48 4 0 including 13 to ISS, 1 to Tiangong-2 Geosynchronous / transfer 33 31 2 0 Medium Earth 3 3 0 1 IRNSS-1H did not separate from rocket's second stage, and was stuck in an elliptical orbit with 6000 km apogee High Earth 3 3 0 0 including highly elliptical Tundra orbits Total 91 85 6 1
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