Launch Calendar: The Year's Space Mission Schedule

The Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM 4 (WGS-4) satellite blasts off aboard a Delta 4 rocket on Jan. 19, 2012 in this screenshot from a United Launch Alliance webcast. CREDIT: ULA View full size image

LAST UPDATED March 15, 2012: These dates are subject to change, and will be updated throughout the year as firmer dates arise. Please DO NOT schedule travel based on a date you see here:

2012

January 10: A Chinese Long March 4B rocket launched the Ziyuan 3 remote sensing satellite into space from Taiyuan, China. The VesselSat 2 communications satellite for Orbcomm Inc., was also lofted into orbit. 11:17 a.m. Beijing time. SUCCESS! [Full Story from Spaceflight Now]

January 13: A Chinese Long March 3A rocket launched a Long March 3A rocket carrying the Fengyun 2F weather satellite into space from the Xichang space launch center in the southwestern Sichuan province. 8:56 a.m. Beijing time. SUCCESS! [Full Story from Spaceflight Now]

January 19: A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket launched the new Wideband Global SATCOM 4 satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for the U.S. Air Force. 7:38 p.m. EST (0038 Jan. 20 GMT). SUCCESS! [Full Story and Launch Photo]

January 25: A Russian Soyuz rocket launched a Progress cargo freighter to deliver supplies to the International Space Station from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch is scheduled to occur at 6:11 p.m. EST (2311 GMT).SUCCESS! [Full Story]

February 2: The Iranian Space Agency launched an Earth-observing satellite into orbit on a Safir 1-B rocket from Semnan, Iran. SUCCESS! [Full Story]

February 13: A European Vega rocket launched from Kourou, French Guiana on its maiden carrying the Laser Relativity Satellite (LARES), a small satellite called ALMASat, and nine CubeSats. Delayed from Jan. 26 and Feb. 9. SUCCESS! [Full Story and Launch Photo]

February 15: A Russian-built Proton rocket launched a telecommunications satellite, called SES 4 from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. This satellite will provide services over North and South America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. The launch was delayed from Dec. 26 and Jan. 28. SUCCESS! [Full Story]

February 24: A Chinese Long March 3C rocket launched a Beidou navigation satellite into orbit from Xichang, China. Liftoff occurred at 11:12 a.m. EST (1612 GMT).SUCCESS! [Full Story from Spaceflight Now]

February 24: A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket carried the first Mobile User Objective System  satellite (MUOS-1) into orbit for the U.S. Navy. The satellite, which launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, will help improve ground communications for U.S. forces. Liftoff occurred at 5:15 p.m. EST (2215 GMT). Delayed from Feb. 16, Feb. 17 and Feb. 22. SUCCESS! [Full Story and Launch Photo]

March 21: Orbital Sciences Corporation's air-launched Pegasus XL rocket will deliver NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) spacecraft from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. NuSTAR will allow astronomers to study high energy X-rays in the universe. Delayed from Feb. 3 and March 14. The launch window extends from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. EDT (1530-1930 GMT).

March 23: A European Ariane 5 rocket will launch the European Space Agency's third Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) cargo ship to the International Space Station. The ATV, named Edoardo Amaldi, will deliver supplies and equipment to the orbiting outpost. Launch time, from Kourou, French Guiana, is tentatively set for 12:34 a.m. EDT (0434 GMT). The ATV is scheduled to dock to the space station on March 28 at 6:34 p.m. EDT (2234 GMT). Delayed from March 9.

March 27: A Russian Proton rocket will launch the Intelsat 22 satellite into orbit from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The satellite will provide communication services over Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Launch is scheduled to occur at 8:08 a.m. EDT (1208 GMT).

March 29: A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket will launch with a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, the secretive U.S. government agency responsible for the country's fleet of spy satellites. Launch time, from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, is to be determined.

March: India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle will carry the RISAT 1 Earth observation satellite into orbit. The spacecraft includes a radar payload to perform all-weather, day-and-night observations for national security and environmental studies. The launch time, from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India, is to be determined.

April 5: A Russian Proton rocket will launch an Oko early warning satellite into space from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch time is to be determined.

April 20: A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch the 47th unmanned Progress cargo freighter to the International Space Station. The launch time, from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, is to be determined.

April 27: A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will deliver the second Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite into orbit. This spacecraft will provide secure communications services to the U.S. military. Launch time, from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, will occur between 3:08 p.m. to 5:08 p.m. EDT (1908 to 2108 GMT).

*No Earlier Than April 30: SpaceX will launch its Falcon 9 rocket and second Dragon spacecraft on a cargo demonstration flight to rendezvous and dock with the International Space Station. The mission is part of NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. Two small communications satellites will also be onboard. The launch, from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, is delayed from Feb. 7 and March 20. [Photos: The Falcon and Dragons of SpaceX]

April: A Russian-built Proton rocket will loft the Yahsat 1B satellite for the Al Yah Satellite Communications Co. of Abu Dhabi. The spacecraft will provide commercial and government services to regions in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Southwest Asia. The launch, from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, will take place at a time to be determined. Delayed from Feb. 17.

May 5: A Sea Launch Zenit rocket will carry the Intelsat 19 satellite into orbit from the commercial launch services provider's Odyssey platform in the Pacific Ocean. The communications satellite will provide services to the Asia-Pacific region. Launch time is to be determined.

May 14: A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch a manned Soyuz spacecraft carrying three new residents to the International Space Station. The Soyuz capsule will stay at the orbiting complex for about six months, acting as an escape pod for the onboard crew. The launch, from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, will occur at 10:58 p.m. EDT (0258 GMT May 15). Delayed from March 30 because of damage to the descent module.

May 23: A Russian Soyuz rocket will carry a weather satellite into orbit for the European Space Agency and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites. The satellite, called MetOp B, will launch from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 12:28 p.m. EDT (1628 GMT).

*No Earlier Than Mid-May: A European Ariane 5 rocket will launch two communications satellites into space from Kourou, French Guiana. JCSAT 13 will provide communications and broadcast services to Japan, and Vinasat 2 is a Vietnamese communications satellite. The launch time is to be determined.

June 20: A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch a classified spacecraft into orbit for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The NROL-38 launch, from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, will occur at a time to be determined.

June 28: A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Heavy rocket will loft a classified spy satellite into space for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The NROL-15 launch, from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, will utilize the largest rocket in the Delta 4 fleet. Launch time is to be determined. Delayed from December 2011.

*No Earlier Than June: A Chinese Long March 2F rocket will launch the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft to dock with the Tiangong 1 space lab module. The crewed Shenzhou 9 spacecraft will be China's fourth manned space mission. The launch, from Jiuquan, China, will occur at a time to be determined.

June: Orbital Sciences Corporation's Antares rocket (formerly called the Taurus 2 rocket) will launch on a test flight, as part of NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program. The launch date and time, from Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Va., is to be determined. Delayed from October, December and Jan. 23 and February.

July 15: A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch a manned Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station with three new residents for the orbiting laboratory. The capsule will remain at the station for roughly six months, acting as an escape pod for the onboard crew. The launch, from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, will occur at a time to be determined. Delayed from May 30.

July 16: A Eurockot Launch Services Rockot booster will carry three satellites into space for the European Space Agency's Swarm mission. The satellites will maintain different polar orbits to measure Earth's geomagnetic field to help scientists better understand the planet's interior and climate. The launch, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia, will occur at a time to be determined.

July 18: A Japanese H-2B rocket will launch the country's third H-2 Transfer Vehicle to the International Space Station. The robotic HTV cargo freighter will deliver equipment and supplies to the orbiting outpost. The launch, from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan, will occur at a time to be determined. Delayed from Jan. 20, Feb. 18 and June 26.

July 31: A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch the 48th unmanned Progress cargo freighter to the International Space Station. The launch, from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazkhastan, will occur at a time to be determined. Delayed from July 25.

*Summer: A Russian-built Soyuz rocket will loft six Globalstar mobile communications satellites into orbit from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in a commercial launch managed by Arianespace. The launch time is to be determined. Delayed from June, September and November.

August 18: SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket will launch the third robotic Dragon spacecraft on the first cargo mission to the International Space Station. The flight is part of NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. The launch, from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, will occur at a time to be determined. Delayed from Aug. 9.

August 23: A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the Radiation Belt Storm Probes for NASA. The two spacecraft will fly in highly elliptical orbits to study Earth's radiation belts. The launch, from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, will occur at a time to be determined. Delayed from May and Aug. 23.

August: An Arianespace Soyuz rocket will launch two Galileo in-orbit validation satellites for Europe's Galileo navigation fleet. The mission will be the Soyuz rocket's third launch from Kourou, French Guiana, managed by Arianespace.

August: A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will carry a classified spacecraft into orbit for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The NROL-36 launch, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, will occur at a time to be determined. Delayed from June.

*No Earlier Than 3rd Quarter: A Sea Launch Zenit rocket will carry the Intelsat 21 satellite into orbit. The communications satellite will provide video distribution and television services to Latin America. The launch, from the commercial launch services provider's Odyssey platform in the Pacific Ocean, will occur at a time to be determined.

September: Orbital Sciences Corporation's Antares rocket (formerly called the Taurus 2 rocket) will launch the company's first Cygnus cargo ship on a test flight to the International Space Station. This test flight is part of NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program. Launch time, from Wallops Island in Virginia, is to be determined. Delayed from Feb. 23, April 28 and Aug. 20.

September: A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket will launch a navigation satellite for the Air Force from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The Block 2F satellite will be part of the Global Positioning System. Launch time is to be determined.

October 15: A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch a manned Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station with three new residents for the orbiting laboratory. The capsule will remain at the station for roughly six months, acting as an escape pod for the onboard crew. The launch, from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, will occur at a time to be determined. Delayed from Sept. 26.

November 1: A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch the 49th unmanned Progress cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station. The launch, from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, will occur at a time to be determined.

*No Earlier Than 4th Quarter: A Sea Launch Zenit rocket will carry the Eutelsat 70B satellite into space. The communications satellite will enable government communications services and broadband access in Europe, Africa, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. The launch time, from the Odyssey platform in the Pacific Ocean, is to be determined.

December 1: Orbital Sciences' air-launched Pegasus XL rocket will carry NASA's Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) mission into space. IRIS will study the flow of energy and plasma through the sun's atmosphere and heliosphere. The launch time, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, is to be determined.

December 5: A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch a manned Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station with three new residents for the orbiting laboratory. The capsule will remain at the station for about six months, acting as an escape pod for the onboard crew. The launch will occur at the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at a time to be determined.

December 26: A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch the 50th unmanned Progress cargo freighter to the International Space Station. The launch, from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, will occur at a time to be determined.

December: A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will carry the TDRS K satellite into space for NASA. The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) facilitates communication between Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and the International Space Station and other orbiting satellites. The launch, from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, will occur at a time to be determined. Delayed from June 12.

*To Be Determined: A Russian-built Proton rocket will launch a satellite for Sirius XM Radio, called Sirius FM6, from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The launch date and time are to be determined.

Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.