Only three nations - Russia, the U.S. and China - have
independently launched astronauts
into orbit, though the pursuit of human and unmanned space exploration remains
strong.
Swarms of rockets launch each year to send
unmanned satellites and probes on
their way, while NASA
and its partner nations continue assemble of the International Space
Station (ISS) with Soyuz and space
shuttle flights. Meanwhile, a host of private enterprises are working to
build their own vehicles to expand access to space to the fare-paying public.
Below is a collection of links pointing to SPACE.com?s
coverage of historic launch and mission events, as well as a year-by-year
archive of launches from around the world:
Jump
Points:
- Year-by-Year Launch Coverage
- International Space Station Expeditions
- Space Shuttle Missions
- Private Spaceflight Features
- Human Spaceflight Special Reports
International
Space Station Mission Archives
Expedition 1 | Expedition 2 | Expedition 3 | Expedition 4 | Expedition 5 | Expedition 6 | Expedition 7 | Expedition 8 | Expedition 9 | Expedition 10 | Expedition 11 | Expedition 12 | Expedition 13 | Expedition 14 | Expedition 15 | Expedition 16
|
Click the links below for a year-by-year
rundown of each major space launch: 2008
Launch Log Atlas
3 Inaugural Launch 2000 Launch Log 1999 Launch Log. |
Major ISS Construction Steps (in
chronological order)
Space
Station Begins: Russian Zarya Control Module Reaches
Orbit
Zarya, the first component of the International Space Station (ISS),
launched flawlessly at 1:40 a.m. (EST) on November 20, 1998, from Baikonur
Cosmodrome, Kazahkstan. The module unfurled
its solar arrays after the successful launch.
A
New Room: ISS Finds Unity
NASA?s STS-88 shuttle
mission aboard the Endeavour orbiter delivered the U.S.-built Unity node to the
free flying Zarya module in December 1998 to form the
core of the International Space Station.
Proton
Launches Zvezda
(July, 26, 2000) ? After years of delays the Russians finally launched the Zvezda
service module to the embryonic space station, clearing the way for NASA to
begin an ambitious construction plan.
Truss-ing Up ISS
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Oct. 15, 2000) -- Spacewalking
astronauts waltzed through six hours of construction work at the International
Space Station Sunday, whistling while they wired up a new metal truss at the
orbital outpost. Full
STS-92 mission coverage.
Discovery
Spacewalkers Help Install New ISS Docking Port
CAPE
CANAVERAL, Fla. (Oct. 16, 2000) - Two spacewalkers and a construction crane
operator outfitted the International Space Station with a new shuttle docking
port Monday, and that's good news for NASA's next two outpost assembly crews. Full
STS-92 mission coverage.
Space
Station Wired Up For Power
CAPE
CANAVERAL, Fla. (Dec. 5, 2000) - Spacewalking astronauts wired up the International
Space Station's new $600 million electric tower Tuesday, routing a crucial
stream of direct current from its newly sprouted solar
wings to the power-hungry outpost. Full
STS-97 mission coverage.
Destiny
Lab Opened for Business at ISS
CAPE
CANAVERAL, Fla. (Feb. 11, 2001) - The $1.4 billion U.S. Destiny lab opened for
business at the International Space Station Sunday, cracking the hatch on a new
era of scientific discovery that one day could lead to human expeditions beyond
Earth orbit. Full
STS-98 mission coverage.
Station
Crane Erected During Spectacular Spacewalk
CAPE
CANAVERAL, Fla. (April 22, 2001) -- Two spacewalking astronauts raised a
high-tech Erector set at the International Space Station Sunday, unfurling a
Canadian construction crane during an otherworldly excursion that left both in
awe. Full
STS-100 mission coverage.
Quest
Airlock Makes Orbital Debut as Astronauts Wrap Up Station Construction Work
CAPE
CANAVERAL, Fla. (July 21, 2001) -- Two Atlantis astronauts made fast work of a
debut spacewalk from the International Space Station's new Quest airlock
Saturday, taking time to stage a cosmic photo op after finishing up a
successful week of construction work at the frontier outpost. Full
STS-104 mission coverage.
Russian Pirs
Docking Module Reaches International Space Station
CAPE
CANAVERAL, Fla. (Sept. 16, 2001) -- A barrel-shaped Russian docking compartment
that will double as an airlock successfully attached itself to the
International Space Station on Sunday.
S-Zero
Truss Solidly Attached to ISS During Second Spacewalk of STS-110 Mission
CAPE
CANAVERAL, Fla. (April 13, 2002) -- The $600 million central truss segment
carried into orbit by shuttle Atlantis became a permanent fixture of the
International Space Station on Saturday after NASA's first pair of spacewalking
grandfathers finished making the necessary structural connections. Full
STS-110 mission coverage.
Mission
Atlantis: S1 Truss Installed at International Space Station
CAPE
CANAVERAL, Fla. (Oct. 12, 2002) -- The International Space Station has a fresh
look thanks to the successful attachment Thursday of the $390 million S-One
(S1) truss to the orbiting complex. Full
STS-112 mission coverage.
Mission
Atlantis: New ISS Radiator Panel Deployed
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. (Oct. 14, 2002) -- A new heat-dispelling radiator panel was successfully extended at the
International Space Station (ISS) early Monday, a good start to a busy day that
is to see the final planned spacewalk of Atlantis' STS-112 mission. Full
STS-112 mission coverage.
Endeavour
Spacewalkers Wrap Up P1 Truss Outfitting
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. (Nov. 30, 2002) -- Trouble with the International Space Station's railroad
car forced mission managers to re-plan Saturday's final spacewalk, but NASA
officials said the astronauts were able to get everything done anyway. Full
STS-113 mission coverage.
Spacewalkers
Prime New ISS Solar Arrays for Deployment
HOUSTON (Sept. 12,
2006) ? The first new addition to the International Space
Station (ISS) in more than three years is safely attached to the orbital
laboratory thanks to two spacewalking astronauts and some precision robotic arm
work. Full
STS-115 mission coverage.
Astronauts
Unfurl New Solar Wings at ISS
HOUSTON (Sept. 14,
2006) ? The International
Space Station (ISS) unfurled a new set of solar
wings Thursday despite a software glitch that cast early doubt on the
entire activity. Full
STS-115 mission coverage.
Spacewalkers
Help Deploy New ISS Radiator
HOUSTON (Sept. 15,
2006) ? Despite a late start caused by airlock glitches, two Atlantis shuttle astronauts
pushed through their mission?s final spacewalk to help deploy a vital new solar
array radiator among other maintenance outside the International Space
Station (ISS). Full
STS-115 mission coverage.
Spacewalkers
Add New Piece to Space Station
HOUSTON (Dec. 12, 2006) ? The International Space
Station (ISS) grew a bit larger Tuesday after two spacewalking astronauts
helped install a new piece of the orbital laboratory?s metallic backbone. Full
STS-116 mission coverage.
Astronauts
Rewire ISS, Fourth Spacewalk Set
HOUSTON -- Two spacewalkers
working outside the International
Space Station (ISS) shook a troublesome solar array late Saturday to help
fold it away, but ultimately ran out of time during an extended
spacewalk to finish rewiring the orbital laboratory. Full
STS-116 mission coverage.
Astronauts
Successfully Furl ISS Solar Wing in Extra Spacewalk
HOUSTON -- A reluctant solar wing is finally furled atop the International Space
Station (ISS) after two spacewalking
astronauts poked and prodded it with tape-covered tools. Full
STS-116 mission coverage.
Spacewalkers Prime New ISS Solar Arrays for Action
HOUSTON -- Two astronauts primed the International Space Station's (ISS) newest solar wings for full operations Sunday during an extra spacewalk by NASA's Atlantis shuttle crew. Full
STS-117 mission coverage.
Orbital Construction: Spacewalkers Add New Piece to Space Station
HOUSTON ? Two spacewalking astronauts added a new piece to the growing International Space Station (ISS) Saturday while engineers on Earth analyzed a U.S computer glitch and damage to the shuttle Endeavour. Full
STS-118 mission coverage.
Astronauts Open Space Station's New Room
HOUSTON - Astronauts the International Space Station (ISS) celebrated the grand opening of their orbital laboratory's latest addition on Saturday to christen the hub-like node dubbed Harmony. Full
STS-120 mission coverage.
Space Station Surgery: Astronauts Mend Torn Solar Wing
HOUSTON - Dangling on the end of a shaky robotic arm today, a NASA astronaut rescued a torn solar blanket and ensured the short-term future of the International Space Station (ISS). Full
STS-120 mission coverage.
Space Shuttle Mission Coverage
Mission
Endeavour: STS-123
Cmmanded by astronaut Dominic Gorie, Atlantis's STS-123 crew launched March 11, 2008 on a record-long 16-day mission to the International Space Station to deliver a Japan-built room and Canadian robot to the orbiting lab.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Atlantis: STS-122
Led by astronaut Stephen Frick, Atlantis's STS-122 crew launched Feb. 7. 2008 to deliver the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory to the International Space Station during a 13-day mission.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Discovery: STS-120
Commanded by veteran spaceflyer Pamela Melroy, the seven-astronaut STS-120 crew delivered the Harmony connecting node to the International Space Station, moved old solar power segment and repaired a torn solar array during a 15-day mission.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Endeavour: STS-118
Commanded by veteran astronaut Scott Kelly, the Endeavour orbiter's 13-day STS-118 mission delivered more than two tons of cargo and a new starboard truss segment to the International Space Station in August 2007. Educator-astronaut Barbara Morgan, backup for Teacher in Space Christa McAuliffe, was among the crew.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Atlantis: STS-117
NASA
launched the space shuttle Atlantis on an extended 14-day mission to the
International Space Station on June 8. 2007. Atlantis's seven-astronaut crew delivered new starboard solar wings and retract an older solar array
extending from the outpost's mast-like Port 6 truss.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Discovery: STS-116
NASA
closed out 2006 with the shuttle Discovery?s 13-day mission to deliver
the Port 5 truss segment to the International Space Station, rewire
the outpost?s power grid and retract
one of two solar arrays extending from its mast-like Port
6 truss during a flight that featured four spacewalks and a one-astronaut
station crew rotation.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Atlantis: STS-115
The six-astronaut crew of Atlantis? STS-115 mission jump-started
construction of the International Space Station by installing two new portside
solar arrays during three spacewalks conducted on the 12-day spaceflight.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Discovery: STS-121
This 13-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS)
featured three spacewalks to complete NASA?s Return to Flight tests of new
shuttle flight safety improvements and procedures. The mission also returned
the ISS to a three-person crew complement and resupplied
the orbital laboratory.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Discovery: STS-114
NASA?s first
shuttle mission since the 2003
Columbia accident tested new shuttle inspection and flight safety
techniques, and also resupplied and maintained the
International Space Station during a 14-day flight.
Fixing
NASA: SPACE.com?s Return to Flight Special Report
Mission
Columbia: STS-107
A marathon 16-day science mission ended in tragedy when Columbia
broke apart during re-entry, killing all seven astronauts. Our archives of this
mission and the subsequent investigation is divided into two sections:
Pre-Launch and Mission Archive | Landing
and Investigation Coverage | Return to Flight Coverage
Mission
Endeavour: STS-113
The P-1 truss
was installed during this space station assembly mission that included three
spacewalks.
Direct Link to Story Archive
Mission
Atlantis: STS-112
The S-One
truss was installed during this space station assembly mission that included
three spacewalks.
Direct Link to Story Archive
Mission
Endeavour: STS-111
The
Expedition Five crew replaced the Expedition Four crew during this space
station re-supply mission.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Atlantis: STS-110
The S-Zero truss and the Mobile Transporter were installed during this space
station assembly mission.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Columbia: STS-109
A fourth
Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission featured five back-to-back spacewalks.
Direct Link to Story Archive
Mission
Endeavour: STS-108
The
Expedition Three and Expedition Four crews exchanged places with the help of
shuttle Endeavour.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Discovery: STS-105
The
Expedition Two and Expedition Three crews exchanged places with the help of
shuttle Discovery.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Atlantis: STS-104
The
U.S.-built docking module dubbed Quest was delivered and installed at space
station Alpha.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Endeavour: STS-100
Canada's
major contribution to the International Space Station program ? a robotic arm ?
was carried into orbit, as was the Raffaello supply
module.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Discovery: STS-102
The first changing of the guard of flight crews took place at the International
Space Station during this flight that also featured first use of an Italian
supply module, in this case Leonardo.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Atlantis: STS-98
The $1.4 billion Destiny U.S. science laboratory was delivered to the
International Space Station during this critical assembly mission in Earth
orbit.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Endeavour: STS-97
With the
Expedition One crew watching from inside the International Space Station,
Endeavour's five astronauts deployed a new 240-foot-wide solar array just in
time for the holidays.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Discovery: STS-92
NASA's
100th shuttle mission saw Discovery dock with the International Space Station during
October 2000 to prepare it for its first occupants.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission
Atlantis: STS-106
NASA began
an ambitious schedule of launching nine shuttle missions during the next 12
months with this September 2000 flight of Atlantis to the International Space
Station.
Direct
Link to Story Archive
Mission Atlantis: STS-101
The first crew in a year to visit the early station -- comprising
only the Unity and Zarya modules -- delivered
supplies and came home with ideas on making the station a nicer home.
Chronicling Private Spaceflight Missions
Bigelow's Second Orbital Module Launches Into Space
A privately-built space station prototype successfully launched into orbit Thursday from a Russian missile base, kicking off the second test flight for the U.S. firm Bigelow Aerospace.
Orbital Trek 'Beyond Wildest Dreams' for Space Tourist
American billionaire Charles Simonyi is reacquainting himself with gravity after a two-week voyage to the International Space Station (ISS); an orbital trip chock full of precious moments. Direct
Link to Story Archive. Simonyi's Personal Spaceflight Chronicle
BLOG:
Jeff Bezos? Blue Origin Reveals Rocket Launch Details
Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos and his Blue Origin commercial space firm have
debuted images and video of their first successful launch test.
Special
Report: The New Space Race
The space playing field if ripe with contenders hoping to be the next big thing
in private spaceflight.
Space Tourism: A
Multimedia Special Report
Ride along with the ongoing efforts to bring spaceflight to the masses in this
special report
UP
Aerospace Rocket Crashes on Maiden Launch
The inaugural rocket from New Mexico?s Spaceport America crashed in
the desert today after failing in its mission to reach sub-orbital space.
The Ansari X Prize is Won
SpaceShipOne, a privately-built
suborbital piloted vehicle, won the $10 mission Ansari
X Prize on Oct. 4, 2004 after launching two successful spaceflights within two
weeks.
Now Boarding:
Zero G Flights for the Public
The Zero Gravity
Corporation has been given the thumbs up by the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) to conduct "weightless flights" for the general public,
providing the sensation of floating in space.
New
$50 Million Prize for Private Orbiting Spacecraft
While a team of
aerospace engineers takes aim this week on the $10 million Ansari
X Prize competition for privately developed suborbital spaceflight, a Nevada
millionaire is planning an even loftier contest.
The First
Crewed Civilian Space Mission
SpaceShipOne already made history on June 21, 2004
with Mike Melvill being the first civilian to pilot a
craft into space. It was a successful test run for the X Prize flights. SPACE.com covered the historic event
with pictures and reports from the scene.
The Rise of Space Tourism
U.S. entrepreneur Dennis Tito made history by becoming the first tourist
to pay $20 million to visit the International Space Station.
- Anousheh Ansari: First
Female Private Space Explorer Visits ISS
- NASA's
Space Shuttle Fleet Celebrates 25 Years of Spaceflight
- Shenzhou
Rising: Complete Coverage of China?s Second Manned Spaceflight
- Gregory
Olsen: Third Space Tourist Aims for Orbit
- Making
History: China?s First Human Spaceflight
- Mark
Shuttleworth's Space Adventure
- First Space Tourist: Dennis Tito's
Flight to Station Alpha
- Fiery
Finale: Mir Falls to Earth
- Special
Report: 40 Years of Human Spaceflight
- Special
Report: 20 Years of the Space Shuttle
- Apollo
11: Man on the Moon
- Apollo 12: Ocean of Storms
- Apollo 13:
Successful Failure
- Thirty
Years Ago: Apollo 14's Explorations Continue
- A
Tribute to Challenger: 15 Years Later
- Five
Decades in Space
- Florida's Space
Coast At 50
SPACE.com?s archive of special reports on a variety of topics
