HQ-09750.INDD

Administration

Federal Aviation

Commercial Space

Transportation:

2008 Year In Review

January 2009

• i •

2008 Year in Review

About the Office of Commercial Space Transportation

The Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial  

Space Transportation (FAA/AST) licenses and regulates U.S. commercial space 

launch and reentry activity, as well as the operation of non-federal launch and 

reentry sites, as authorized by Executive Order 12465 and Title 49 United States 

Code, Subtitle IX, Chapter 701 (formerly the Commercial Space Launch Act). 

FAA/AST’s mission is to ensure public health and safety and the safety of  

property while protecting the national security and foreign policy interests  

of the United States during commercial launch and reentry operations.  

In addition, FAA/AST is directed to encourage, facilitate, and  

promote commercial space launches and reentries. Additional  

information concerning commercial space transportation can be  

found on FAA/AST’s web site at http://ast.faa.gov.

Cover: Art by John Sloan (2009)

NOTICE 

Use of trade names or names of manufacturers in this document does not 

constitute an official endorsement of such products or manufacturers, either 

expressed or implied, by the Federal Aviation Administration.

• ii •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Table of Contents

Introduction    .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .1

2008 FAA-Licensed Orbital Launch Summary  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .3

U.S. and FAA-Licensed Orbital Launch Activity in Detail   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .5

2008 Worldwide Orbital Launch Activity   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .8

Worldwide Orbital Payload Summary   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .11

Launch Activities by Country  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .13

Five-Year Worldwide Space Transportation Trends   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .17

2008 FAA Experimental Permit Flight Summary   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .21

Appendix : 2008 Worldwide Orbital Launch Events  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .22

• 1 •

2008 Year in Review

InTrODUCTIOn 

The 

Commercial Space Transportation: 2008 Year in Review

 summarizes U.S. and 

international launch activities for calendar year 2008 and provides a historical look 

at the past five years of commercial launch activity. 

The Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation 

(FAA/AST) licensed eleven commercial orbital launches in 2008, over twice the 

four licensed launches in 2007. The year included the first successful launch of a 

new U.S. rocket, the Falcon 1 built by SpaceX. 

Of the eleven orbital licensed launches, six used U.S.-built vehicles. Two launches 

were on the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II operated by Boeing Launch 

Services, while one was a ULA Atlas V operated by Lockheed Martin. Two 

launches were by the privately-developed SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket. One launch was 

carried out by Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Pegasus XL rocket. The other five 

launches used the multinational Sea Launch Zenit-3SL.

Overall, 28 commercial orbital launches occurred worldwide in 2008, representing 

41 percent of the 69 total launches for the year. This marked an increase over 2007, 

which saw 23 commercial orbital launches worldwide. 

Russia conducted 11 commercial launch campaigns in 2008, bringing its 

international commercial launch market share to 39 percent for the year, a decrease 

from 2007. FAA/AST-licensed orbital launch activity accounted for 39 percent 

of the worldwide commercial launch market in 2008 while Europe attained an 18 

percent market share, conducting five commercial Ariane 5 launches.

Of the 69 worldwide orbital launches, there were three launch failures, including 

one non-commercial launch and two commercial launches. The non-commercial 

launch failure is attributed to Iran’s August 17 launch attempt of the Safir vehicle. 

On the commercial side, a Russian Proton launch and a SpaceX Falcon 1 failed. 

Five low-altitude flights under FAA experimental permits took place in 2008.  

Four suborbital permitted flights were carried out by Armadillo Aerospace and  

one permitted flight was performed by TrueZer0. 

The following definitions apply to the 

Commercial Space Transportation: 2008 Year 

in Review.

Commercial Suborbital or Orbital Launch

A commercial suborbital or orbital launch has one or more of the following 

characteristics:

The launch is licensed by FAA/AST.

• 

The primary payload’s launch contract was internationally competed (see 

• 

definition of internationally competed below). A primary payload is generally 

• 2 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

defined as the payload with the greatest mass on a launch vehicle for a given 

launch.
The launch is privately financed without government support.

• 

Internationally Completed

An internationally competed launch contract is one in which the launch 

opportunity was available in principle to any capable launch service provider. Such 

a launch is considered commercial.

Commercial Payload

A commercial payload is described as having one or both of the following 

characteristics:

The payload is operated by a private company.

• 

The payload is funded by the government, but provides satellite service 

• 

partially or totally through a private or semi-private company. This distinction 

is usually applied to certain telecommunication satellites whose transponders 

are partially or totally leased to a variety of organizations, some or all of which 

generate revenues. Examples are Russia’s Express and Ekran series of spacecraft. 

All other payloads are classified as non-commercial (government civil, 

government military, or non-profit).

Orbits

A spacecraft in geostationary Earth orbit (GSO) is synchronized with the 

• 

Earth’s rotation, orbiting once every 24 hours, and appears to an observer on 

the ground to be stationary in the sky. GEO is a broader category used for any 

circular orbit at an altitude of 35,852 kilometers (22,277 miles) with a low 

inclination (i.e., over the equator).
Non-geosynchronous orbit (NGSO) satellites are those in orbits other than 

• 

GEO. They are located in low Earth orbit (LEO, lowest achievable orbit to 

about 2,400 kilometers, or 1,491 miles), medium Earth orbit (MEO, 2,400 

kilometers to GEO), and all other high or elliptical orbits or trajectories. ELI 

is used to describe a highly elliptical orbit (such as those used for Russian 

Molniya satellites), and EXT is a designation used for orbits beyond GEO 

(such as interplanetary trajectories).

• 3 •

2008 Year in Review

2008 FAA-LICEnSED OrbITAL LAUnCh 

SUmmArY

Recent trends in annual FAA-licensed orbital launches show that after a rough 

year in 2007, GEO launches took back center stage with 6 of 11 FAA-licensed 

commercial launches in 2008. In 2005 and 2006, FAA-licensed launches were 

dominated by GEO launches. After a Sea Launch failure in early 2007, there were 

no further launches of the Zenit-3SL and the majority of licensed flights were 

made by Delta II rockets to LEO, carrying 

remote sensing satellites. With the 

successful return of the Zenit-3SL rocket 

on January 15, 2008, Sea Launch went 

on to complete five successful launches. 

These eleven launches are summarized in 

Table 1.

The two Delta II launches both took place 

from a U.S. range: Vandenberg Air Force 

Base (VAFB) in California. The launches 

both successfully placed their respective 

remote sensing payloads into LEO.

Five Zenit-3SL launches from the Sea 

Launch Odyssey platform occurred during 

2008. All five launches successfully placed 

their communications satellite payloads 

into GEO.

The 11 FAA-licensed launches included the 

following characteristics:

Eight of the launches were conducted 

• 

for commercial clients (DISH 

Network, DirecTV, Intelsat, SES New 

Skies, ICO, Thuraya, and Geoeye 

Inc.), while two were launches of the 

privately-developed Falcon 1 (one 

with a U.S. government customer) and 

a Delta II launch was for the Italian 

government.
The eleven launches were worth an 

• 

estimated US$640 million.

1

1 

Revenues for both U.S. and foreign commercial launches are based on open source information 

and estimates by FAA/AST. They are only approximations. Actual revenue received for a single launch may 

be spread over several years.

Table 1. 2008 FAA-Licensed Orbital Launch Events

Date

Vehicle

Payload

Orbit

Launch 

Outcome

15-Jan-08

Zenit-3SL

Thuraya 3

GEO

Success

19-Mar-08

Zenit-3SL

DirecTV 11

GEO

Success

14-Apr-08

Atlas V 421

ICO G1

GEO

Success

16-Apr-08

Pegasus XL

C/NOFS

LEO

Success

21-May-08

Zenit-3SL

Galaxy 18

GEO

Success

15-Jul-08

Zenit-3SL

Echostar XI

GEO

Success

03-Aug-08

Falcon 1

Jumpstart, et al.

LEO

Failure

06-Sep-08

Delta II 7420-10

GeoEye 1

LEO

Success

24-Sep-08

Zenit-3SL

Galaxy 19

GEO

Success

28-Sep-08

Falcon 1

Flight 4

LEO

Success

24-Oct-08

Delta II 7420-10 COSMO-SkyMed 3

LEO

Success

Figure 1. FAA-Licensed Orbital Launch Events, 2004-2008

9

5

7

4

11

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Number of O

rbital Launches

ss

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

• 4 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

The number of FAA-licensed orbital launches in 2008 was the highest since 1999.  

Since 2004, launch rates have fluctuated (see Figure 1) but the resurgence of the Sea 

Launch system saw revenues climb. A trend similar to that for annual launches is 

evident for estimated FAA-licensed commercial orbital launch revenues from 2004 

to 2008 (see Figure 2).

Figure 2. Estimated Revenues for FAA-Licensed 

Orbital Launch Events, 2004-2008

$585

$350

$490

$220

$640

$0

$100

$200

$300

$400

$500

$600

$700

$US Millions 

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

• 5 •

2008 Year in Review

U.S. AnD FAA-LICEnSED OrbITAL LAUnCh 

ACTIvITY In DETAIL 

U.S. vehicles carried out a total of 15 launches in 2008, six of which were licensed 

by FAA/AST. Of the nine non-commercial U.S. launches, four were Space Shuttle 

missions, two carried U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) payloads or were 

sponsored by the DoD, and the remaining three were National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration (NASA) civil government missions.

Sea Launch conducted five FAA-licensed commercial launches. 

See Table 2 for a detailed breakdown of U.S. launch activity (including Sea 

Launch) during 2008 by vehicle.

Table 2. U.S. and FAA-Licensed Launch Vehicle Performance in 2008

UNITED STATES

SEA LAUNCH

Vehicle

Pegasus XL

Falcon 1

Delta II

Atlas V

Shuttle

Zenit-3SL

2008 Total Launches

2

2

5

2

4

5

2008 Licensed 

Launches

1

2

2

1

0

5

Launch Reliability 

(2008)

2/2 

100%

1/2 

50%

5/5 

100%

2/2 

100%

4/4 

100%

5/5 

100%

Launch Reliability 

(Last 10 Years)

13/13 

100%

1/4 

25%

62/62 

100%

14/14 

100%

31/31 

100%

28/30 

93%

Year of First Launch

1994

2006

1990

2002

1981

1999

Active Launch Sites

CCAFS, 

Kwajalein, 

VAFB, WFF

Kwajalein

CCAFS, 

VAFB

CCAFS, 

VAFB

KSC

Odyssey Pacific 

Ocean Platform

LEO kg (lbs)

443 

(977)

454 

(1,000)

6,100 

(13,440)

20,520 

(45,240)

23,435 

(51,557)

15,246 

(33,541)

GTO kg (lbs)

--

--

2,170 

(4,790)

8,670 

(19,110)

5,663 

(12,459)

6,100 

(13,440)

CCAFS - Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, KSC - Kennedy Space Center, VAFB - Vandenberg Air Force 

Base, WFF - Wallops Flight Facility 

Note: Launch reliability is determined by analyzing the number of successful and failed launches of a partic-

ular vehicle; mission outcome (success or failure) is not used in the calculation of launch vehicle reliability.

• 6 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

bOEInG LAUnCh SErvICES (bLS)

BLS is the provider of Delta series rockets for commercial customers. BLS 

conducted two commercial launches in 2008, both using the Delta II vehicle.  In 

September, a Delta II 7420-10 was used to launch the GeoEye-1 earth observation 

satellite, while the third COSMO-SkyMed satellite was launched by a Delta II in 

October. The COSMO-SkyMed satellites are the Italian government’s new series of 

remote sensing spacecraft. All U.S. government Delta vehicle launches were carried 

out by the United Launch Alliance (ULA), detailed below.

LOCKhEED mArTIn COmmErCIAL LAUnCh SErvICES

Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services (LMCLS) manages all commercial 

launches of the Atlas V rocket. In 2008, LMCLS performed one launch. The 

launch took place in April and was commercially licensed, placing the ICO G1 

communications satellite into GEO. ICO G1 is owned and operated by ICO 

Global Communications and provides mobile satellite services.

OrbITAL SCIEnCES COrPOrATIOn (OSC)

OSC provides the Minotaur, Pegasus, and Taurus vehicles for orbital launch. 

OSC performed two successful launches in 2008, one of which was commercially 

licensed and the other non-commercial. The April 16 launch of the commercially-

licensed Pegasus XL placed the Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting 

System (C/NOFS) into orbit, which is owned and operated by the U.S. Air Force. 

The second OSC launch took place on October 19 put the NASA Interstellar 

Boundary Explorer mission into a highly elliptical orbit using a Pegasus XL vehicle.

SEA LAUnCh COmPAnY, LLC

Sea Launch offers the Zenit-3SL for commercial launches to GEO. The Zenit-3SL 

is launched from the mobile Odyssey Launch Platform along the Equator in the 

Pacific Ocean. Sea Launch returned to flight in 2008, following a January 2007 

launch failure. In 2008, Sea Launch carried out five successful commercial launches, 

taking communications satellites in GEO for DirecTV, the Dish Network, Intelsat, 

and Thuraya. 2008 also saw the April 28 premiere of the Land Launch system, 

operated by Sea Launch LLC and launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome. Boeing 

is the majority shareholder (40 percent) of Sea Launch. Other partners include S. P. 

Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia of Russia (25 percent), Aker ASA 

of Norway (20 percent), and SDO Yuzhnoye/NPO Yuzhmash of Ukraine (15 

percent).

SPACE EXPLOrATIOn TEChnOLOGIES COrPOrATIOn 

(SPACEX)

SpaceX is developing the Falcon series of launch vehicles for the commercial 

market, as well as for government clients. SpaceX conducted its third and fourth 

Falcon 1 launches in August and September. Both launches took place at the 

SpaceX launch site on Omelek Island in the Kwajalein Atoll. The third launch was 

• 7 •

2008 Year in Review

nominal until an error in stage separation timing caused the expended first stage to 

collide with the second shortly after separation, preventing the craft from attaining 

orbit. The fourth launch was completely successful, carrying a dummy payload into 

LEO and marking the first successful orbital flight of a privately-developed and 

operated liquid-fueled rocket.

UnITED LAUnCh ALLIAnCE (ULA)

ULA, which was formed on December 1, 2006, conducts launches for the non-

commercial U.S. government launch market. Boeing-heritage Delta vehicles and 

Lockheed Martin-heritage Atlas vehicles are manufactured and operated by ULA. 

The company is a 50-50 joint partnership between The Boeing Company and 

Lockheed Martin Corporation. In 2008, ULA conducted four U.S. government 

non-commercial launches. Three Delta II vehicles launched the following payloads: 

the Navstar GPS 2RM-6 for the DoD, the GLAST (Gamma-ray Large Area Space 

Telescope) and Jason 2 ocean topography spacecraft for NASA. A ULA Atlas V 

vehicle was launched April, placing the NRO L-28 reconnaissance satellite into an 

elliptical orbit.

UnITED SPACE ALLIAnCE (USA)

USA is the launch service company for NASA Space Shuttle missions. Like ULA, 

USA is jointly owned by Boeing and Lockheed Martin. USA conducted four 

successful shuttle launches from the Kennedy Space Center in 2008. Shuttles 

Atlantis, Endeavour, and Discovery all made flights to assist in the completion of 

the International Space Station.

• 8 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

2008 WOrLDWIDE OrbITAL LAUnCh 

ACTIvITY

Launch providers from the United States, 

Russia, Europe, China, Japan, India, Iran, and 

the multinational consortium Sea Launch 

conducted a total of 69 launch events in 2008, 

28 of which were commercial (see Table 3 and 

Figure 3). 2008 saw a significant increase in 

commercial launches from 2007, helped in 

part by the return of the Sea Launch Zenit-3SL 

to service. See Table 4 for a list of non-FAA-

licensed commercial launches. 

U.S.-built vehicles conducted six commercial 

launches in 2008, accounting for 21 percent 

of the global commercial launch market (see 

Figure 4). Russia led with 11 commercial 

launches, capturing 39 percent of the market, a decrease from last year. Europe 

conducted five Ariane 5 commercial launches in 2008, for a 18 percent market 

share. Sea Launch  had five commercial launches while its Land Launch joint 

venture conducted its first-ever launch to comprise a 21 percent share for 

Multinational launch entitites.

The Appendix at the end of this report shows all 69 orbital launches worldwide in 

2008, including commercial, civil, and military missions.

Table 3. 2008 Worldwide Orbital Launch Events

Commercial 

Launches

Non-

commercial 

Launches

Total 

Launches

United States

6

9

15

Russia

11

15

26

Europe

5

1

6

China

0

11

11

Multinational

6

0

6

India

0

3

3

Japan

0

1

1

Iran

0

1

1

TOTAL

28

41

69

Figure 3. 2008 Total Worldwide Launch Activity

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

s

United

States

Russia Europe China Multi-

national

India Japan Iran Israel

Non-commercial

Commercial

N

umber 

of 

Launches

Figure 4. 2008 Worldwide Commercial Market Share

United States

6 (21%)

Europe

5 (18%)

Total: 28 Commercial orbital launches

Russia

11 (39%)

Multinational

6 (21%)

• 9 •

2008 Year in Review

WOrLDWIDE LAUnCh rEvEnUES

Revenues from the 28 commercial launch events in 2008 amounted to an estimated 

US$1.97 billion, an increase of about US$360 million from the commercial 

revenues achieved in 2007. U.S. commercial launch revenues for 2008 were 

estimated to be US$215 million and Russian revenues were approximately US$581 

million. European revenues were about US$700 million and Sea Launch had an 

estimated US$475 million in commercial 

launch revenue (see Figure 5).

Payments for launch services are typically 

spread over one to two years prior to 

launch, but for the purposes of this report, 

revenue is counted in the year a customer’s 

payload launches. Launch revenues are 

attributed to the country in which the 

primary vehicle manufacturer is based, 

with the exception of Sea Launch, which is 

designated simply as “multinational.”

In the past, most launch vehicles were 

manufactured, sold, and launched by the 

same organization entirely in one country 

Table 4. 2008 Non-FAA-Licensed Commercial Launch Events

Date

Vehicle

Payload(s)

Orbit

Launch 

Outcome

11-Feb-08

Proton M

Thor 5

GEO

Success

14-Mar-08

Proton M

AMC 14

GEO

Failure

27-Mar-08

Kosmos 3M

SAR Lupe 4

LEO

Success

18-Apr-08

Ariane 5 ECA

Star One C2, Vinasat

GEO

Success

28-Apr-08

Zenit-3SLB

Amos 3

GEO

Success

12-Jun-08

Ariane 5 ECA

Turksat 3A, Skynet 5C

GEO

Success

19-Jun-08

Kosmos 3M

ORBCOMM CDS 3, 

ORBCOMM Replacement 

1-5, UGATUSAT

LEO

Success

07-Jul-08

Ariane 5 ECA

BADR-6, Protostar 1

GEO

Success

22-Jul-08

Kosmos 3M

SAR Lupe 5

LEO

Success

14-Aug-08

Ariane 5 ECA

AMC 21, Superbird 7

GEO

Success

19-Aug-08

Proton M

Inmarsat-4 F3

GEO

Success

29-Aug-08

Dnepr 1

RapidEye 1-5

LEO

Success

20-Sep-08

Proton M

Nimiq 4

GEO

Success

01-Oct-08

Dnepr 1

THEOS

LEO

Success

06-Nov-08

Proton M

Astra 1M

GEO

Success

10-Dec-08

Proton M

Ciel 2

GEO

Success

20-Dec-08

Ariane 5 ECA

Eutelsat W2M, Hotbird 9

GEO

Success

Figure 5. Approximate 2008 Commercial Launch Revenues

$215

$581

$700

$475

$0

$100

$200

$300

$400

$500

$600

$700

$800

$900

US$ Millions

United

States

Russia

Europe

India Multinational

• 10 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

or, in the case of Europe, within a particular economic region. With the rise of 

multinational launch service corporations, however, a clean division of revenue 

among countries for individual launches is difficult to assess. 

Because of the proprietary nature of business transactions and the internal 

financing of each organization, estimated shared revenue totals are the basis for 

revenue analysis. Thus, it is difficult to determine exact annual revenues for each 

launch service or to characterize them in terms of allocated percentages between 

international partners. This is also true of some major component suppliers, such 

as NPO Energomash of Russia, which provides the RD-180 engines used to power 

the U.S. Atlas V vehicle.

For these reasons, all prices and revenue shares quoted throughout this report are 

estimates.

• 11 •

2008 Year in Review

WOrLDWIDE OrbITAL PAYLOAD SUmmArY

In 2008, 69 launches carried a total of 106 payloads into orbit (see Figure 6, Figure 

7, and Table 5). Of the 106 payloads, 42 provide commercial services (see Figure 8 

for a breakdown of these payloads by launch country). The remaining 64 payloads 

were used for non-commercial civil government, military, or non-profit purposes.

COmmErCIAL LAUnChES

Twenty-eight commercial launches carried a 

total of 46 commercial and non-commercial 

payloads into orbit. Two of these launches 

failed. These vehicles were a Proton M 

carrying AMC 14 and the third Falcon 1 

carrying Celestis 6, PREsat, NanoSail-D, 

and Jumpstart. All other commercial 

launches were successful. 

Of the 46 commercially-launched payloads, 

35 provide commercial services. Fourteen of 

these are NGSO satellites and 21 are GEO 

satellites:

NGSO: ORBCOMM Replacements 

• 

1-5, ORBCOMM CDS 3, Celestis 6, Falcon 1 Flight 4’s 

Mass Simulator, five RapidEye Sats, and GeoEye-1.
GEO: Star One C2, Turksat 3A, BADR-6, AMC 21, 

• 

Superbird 7, Protostar 1, Eutelsat W2M, Hot Bird 9, 

Thuraya 3, DirecTV 11, Amos 3, Galaxy 18, Echostar 

XI, Galaxy 19, Thor 5, AMC 14, Inmarsat-4 F3, Nimiq 

4, Astra 1M, Ciel 2, and ICO G1.

Figure 6. 2008 Total Worldwide Launch Activity by Payload

0

10

20

30

40

50

N

umber 

of 

Payl

oads

s

United

States

Russia Europe China Multi-

national

India Japan Iran

Non-commercial

Commercial

Table 5. Payloads Launched by Country in 2008

Commercial 

Payloads 

(by service type)

Non-Commercial 

Payloads 

(by service type)

Total 

Payloads

United States

4

14

18

Russia

22

21

43

Europe

8

3

11

China

1

13

14

Multinational

6

0

6

India

1

11

12

Japan

0

1

1

Iran

0

1

1

TOTAL

42

64

106

Figure 7. Total Payloads Launched by Country in 2008

United 

States

18 (17%)

Iran

1 (1%)

Japan

1 (1%)

India

12 (11%)

Multinational

6 (6%)

China

14 (13%)

Europe

11 (10%)

Russia

43 (40%)

Total: 106 Payloads

Figure 8. Commercial Payloads Launched  

by Country in 2008

6 (14%)

India

1 (2%)

United 

States

4 (10%)

China

1 (2%)

Europe

8 (19%)

Multinational

Total: 42 Payloads

Russia 

22 (53%)

• 12 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Eleven payloads were commercially launched to perform civil government, military, 

or non-profit missions:

Five civil government satellites were launched: Vinasat to GEO, NanoSail-D, 

• 

PRESat, Cosmo-Skymed 3 , and THEOS to NGSO.
Five military satellites were launched: Skynet 5C to GEO, SAR Lupe 4, SAR 

• 

Lupe 5, C/NOFS, and Jumpstart to LEO.
And one non-profit launch of UGATUSAT to LEO.

• 

nOn-COmmErCIAL LAUnChES

Of the 69 orbital launches, 41 were non-commercial launches carrying a total of 

60 commercial and non-commercial payloads. Only one of these non-commercial 

launches failed: Iran’s August 18 launch of its Safir vehicle with a dummy payload. 

All 40 of the remaining non-commercial launches were successful.

Seven payloads were launched non-commercially to provide commercial services:

China’s Chinasat 9 and Russia’s Express AM33 to GEO; and

• 

Germany’s Rubin-8 and Russia’s Gonets D1M 2, Gonets D1M 3, Gonets D1M 4, 

• 

and Yubileiny.

Thirty-one payloads were launched non-commercially for civil government purposes: 

Seven U.S. payloads: Interstellar Boundary Explorer, ISS 1E-STS 122, ISS 

• 

1J/A-STS 123, STS 124, GLAST, Jason 2, and STS 126;
Six Russian payloads: Progress ISS 28P through 31P and Soyuz ISS 16S and 

• 

17S;
Eleven Chinese payloads: Tianlian 1, Fengyun 2E, HJ 1B, Shijian 6E and 

• 

6F, HJ 1A, Shenzhou 7, Chuangxin 1-02, Shiyan Weixing 3, Yaogan 5, and 

Fengyun 3A;
Two European payloads: ATV 1 and GIOVE B;

• 

One Japanese payload: WINDS;

• 

Two Indian payloads: Chandrayaan-1 and IMS-1; 

• 

One Venezuelan payload: VENESAT 1; and

• 

One Iranian payload: Safir dummy payload, believed to be named Omid.

• 

Fifteen payloads were launched non-commercially for military use: 

Two U.S. payloads: NRO L-28 and Navstar GPS 2RM-6;

• 

Ten Russian payloads: Glonass M R-13 through R-18, Kosmos 2440, Kosmos 

• 

2441, Kosmos 2445, and Kosmos 2446;
One Chinese payload: Yaogan 4;

• 

One Indian payload: CartoSat 2A; and

• 

One Israeli payload: TECSAR.

• 

• 13 •

2008 Year in Review

Finally, seven payloads were launched non-commercially for non-profit missions:

One Danish payload: AAUsat 2;

• 

One German payload: Compass 1;

• 

Two Japanese payloads: Cute 1.7 + APD 2 and SEEDS 2;

• 

One Dutch payload: Delfi C3; and

• 

Two Canadian payloads: CanX-2 and NLS-5.

• 

LAUnCh ACTIvITIES bY COUnTrY

rUSSIA

In 2008, 26 Russian launches took place. Of these, 11 were commercial launches. 

ILS launched six Proton M vehicles during the year, one of which failed. All 

launches each carried one commercial GEO communications satellite.  ISC 

Kosmotras launched two Dnepr rockets, carrying THEOS and RapidEye 1-5. Two 

commercial launches were carried out by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Both 

launches used Kosmos 3M vehicles and deployed the SAR Lupe 4 and 5 satellites 

for the German government. A final Kosmos 3M launch put 6 ORBCOMM 

satellites into orbit. See Table 6 for a detailed breakdown of 2007 Russian launch 

activity by vehicle.

Table 6. Russian Vehicle Performance in 2008

RUSSIA

Vehicle

Kosmos 3M

Molniya

Dnepr

Rockot

Soyuz

Proton K

Proton M

2008 Total Launches

3

1

2

1

9

3

7

Launch Reliability 

(2008)

3/3 

100%

1/1 

100%

2/2 

100%

1/1 

100%

9/9 

100%

3/3 

100%

6/7 

86%

Launch Reliability 

(Last 10 Years)

11/11 

100%

12/13 

92%

11/12 

92%

8/9 

89%

94/95 

99%

51/54 

95%

23/26 

88%

Year of First Launch

2004

1960

1999

1994

1963

1967

2000

Active Launch Sites

Plesetsk

Plesetsk

Baikonur 

Dombarovskiy

Baikonur 

Plesetsk

Baikonur 

Plesetsk

Baikonur

Baikonur

LEO kg (lbs)

1,350 

(2,970)

1,800 

(3,960)

3,700 

(8,150)

1,850 

(4,075)

6,708 

(14,758)

19,760 

(43,570)

21,000 

(46,305)

GTO kg (lbs)

--

--

--

--

1,350 

(2,975)

4,430 

(9,770)

5,500 

(12,125)

• 14 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

Russia conducted 15 non-commercial launches in 2008. Six of these were dedicated 

to ISS missions. Four were Soyuz rockets carrying Progress spacecraft (ISS 28P 

through 31P), while two were Soyuz vehicles carrying manned Soyuz spacecraft 

that ferried individuals to and from the ISS (ISS 16S and 17S). This was the same 

number of launches as 2007.

Russia conducted seven other government non-commercial launches in 2008. One 

launch, of a Soyuz rocket deploying GIOVE B, was for a civil mission, while the 

rest were for military purposes. Two Proton K vehicles successfully launched three 

Glonass K satellites each during the year. Four Kosmos satellites were launched 

during the year, each using a different vehicle: Molniya, Proton K, Soyuz, and a 

Soyuz 2 1B.

Russia also conducted two non-commercial launches of commercial payloads. A 

Proton M was used to lift Russia’s Express AM33 communications satellite into 

GEO. Also, a Rockot was used to place three Gonets and one Yubileiny satellite 

into LEO.

EUrOPE

Europe conducted six Ariane 5 launches in 2008. Five were dual-manifested 

commercial launches from Kourou that placed communications satellites into 

GEO. The sixth was a non-commercial launch that sent ESA’s Jules Verne ATV to 

the ISS. Five Ariane 5 ECA versions were used for the commercial launches and 

one ES version was used to launch the ATV. In March an ES launched the ATV 

for ESA. The second launch, using an ECA, took place in April, orbiting Star One 

C2 and Vietnam’s Vinasat. In June the second ECA launch deployed the British 

military’s Skynet 5C and the Turksat 3A satellite. In July, an ECA version launched 

the Saudi BADR-6 and the Protostar 1 into orbit. In August an ECA version 

placed the AMC 21 and the Superbird 7 into orbit. The final European launch of 

2008 took place in December using an ECA version. This launch placed Eutelsat 

W2M and Hot Bird 9 into orbit.

Table 7 summarizes the 2008 European launch activity, as well as Chinese, Indian, 

Japanese, and Iranian launch activity, organized by country and vehicle.

ChInA

China had an eventful 2008, conducting a record high 11 orbital launches, which 

were all non-commercial. This total is one more launch than what China conducted 

in 2007. China did not have any commercially-competed launches in 2008, though 

they did launch two GEO satellites that will provide commercial communications 

services: Chinasat 9 on a Long March 3B and Venezuela’s VENESAT 1 on a Long 

March 3B, both from the Xichang launch site.

The remaining nine Chinese launches carried primary payloads with government 

missions. Most notable was the September launch of Shenzhou 7. This was China’s 

third manned space launch and the first to carry a full compliment of three 

taikonauts. Two taikonauts also performed a spacewalk, a first for China. Two 

• 15 •

2008 Year in Review

launches carried multiple satellites: a Long March 2C from Taiyuan in September 

that deployed HJ 1A and HJ 1B, and a Long March 4B, also from Taiyuan, that 

deployed Shijian 5 and 6. The rest of the flights used various Long March vehicles 

launching one government satellite each.

InDIA

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) performed three successful 

launches in 2008, including its first-ever lunar probe, the Chaadrayaan-1. The 

lunar launch occurred in October using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). 

Chandryaan-1 reached the Moon in early November and deployed a sub-probe to 

impact the lunar surface.

Table 7. European, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Iranian, and Ukrainian Launch Vehicle Performance in 2008

EUROPE

CHINA

INDIA

JAPAN

IRAN

LAND 

LAUNCH

Vehicle

Ariane 5

Long 

March 

4B

Long 

March 

2C

Long 

March 

2D

Long 

March 

2F

Long 

March 

3C

Long 

March 

4C

Long 

March 

3A

Long 

March 

3B

PSLV

H 2A

Safir

Zenit-3SLB

Country/

Region

Europe

China

China

China

China

China

China

China

China

India

Japan

Iran

Ukraine

2008 Total 

Launches

6

2

1

2

1

1

1

1

2

3

1

1

1

Launch 

Reliability 

(2008)

6/6 

100%

2/2 

100%

1/1 

100%

2/2 

100%

1/1 

100%

1/1 

100%

1/1 

100%

1/1 

100%

2/2 

100%

3/3 

100%

1/1 

100%

0/1 

0%

1/1 

100%

Launch 

Reliability 

(Last 10 

Years)

38/39 

97%

12/12 

100%

10/10 

100%

7/7 

100%

7/7 

100%

1/1 

100%

2/2 

100%

13/13 

100%

6/6 

100%

10/10 

100%

13/15 

87%

0/1 

0%

1/1 

100%

Year of First 

Launch

1996

1999

1975

1992

1999

2008

2007

1994

1996

1993

2001

2008

2007

Active 

Launch Sites

Kourou

Taiyuan

Jiuquan, 

Taiyuan, 

Xichang

Jiuquan Jiuquan Xichang Taiyuan Taiyuan, 

Xichang Xichang

Satish 

Dhawan Tanegashima

Iran 

Space 

Center

Baikonur 

Cosmodrome

LEO kg (lbs)

17,250     

(37,950)

2,800 

(6,170)

3,200 

(7,048)

3,500 

(7,700)

9,500 

(20,900)

3,700 

(8,200)

4,200 

(9,250)

6,000 

(13,225)

13,562 

(29,900)

3,700 

(8,150)

11,730 

(25,860)

?

13,920       

(30,624)

GTO kg (lbs)

10,500     

(23,127)

--

1,000 

(2,203)

1,250 

(2,750)

3,500 

(7,700)

--

1,500 

(3,300)

2,600 

(5,700)

4,491 

(9,900)

800 

(1,760)

5,800 

(12,800)

?

4120            

(9060)

• 16 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

A non-commercial PSLV launch occurred in January 2008, carrying the TECSAR 

radar imaging satellite for the Israeli military. A second non-commercial PSLV 

launch took place in April placing ten satellites into orbit. The main payload was 

the Indian military’s Cartosat 2A. Also aboard was an civilian Indian IMS imaging 

satellite. The German commercial Rubin-8 technology demonstrator was deployed. 

The remaining seven satellites were a series of experimental cubesats deployed on 

a non-profit basis from several European countries. All Indian launches took place 

from the Satish Dhawan Space Center.

JAPAn

Japan had one successful launch in 2008 which used an H-2A vehicle launched 

from the government site at Tanegashima in February. The launch carried a satellite 

for the Japanese government. The WINDS experimental wideband internet satellite 

was placed in GEO.

IrAn

Iran conducted its first orbital launch attempt on August 18. The payload, Omid, 

was believed to be a dummy satellite. The launch vehicle was a Safir two-stage 

orbital rocket. The non-commercial flight did not reach orbit and is considered 

a launch failure. Further information has not been released by the Iranian 

government. 

• 17 •

2008 Year in Review

FIvE-YEAr WOrLDWIDE SPACE 

TrAnSPOrTATIOn TrEnDS

OvErvIEW

Between 2004 and 2008, there was an average 

of 62 orbital launches per year worldwide (see 

Figure 9). 

Over the past five years, Russia and the United 

States have conducted the most orbital launches, 

followed by China and Europe (see Figure 10). 

There have been a total of 312 orbital launches 

conducted during the past five years.

One hundred and six commercial orbital 

launches took place during the same five-year 

period, with an increasing trend from 15 in 2004 

to 28 in 2008. Since 2004, the United States has 

carried out 18 commercial launches. Russia and Europe both exceed this count 

with 45 and 22 commercial launches, respectively. The multinational Sea Launch 

Company performed 19 commercial launches, while India and China each have 

one (see Figure 11). 

The demand for commercial NGSO launches, which reached its zenith in the late 

1990s, had been lagging during the four years prior to 2007. Both 2007 and 2008 

showed a significant rebound in this demand. See Figure 12 for a breakdown of 

commercial launches by orbit type for the last five years.

Figure 13 shows the number of payloads providing commercial services launched 

on commercial and non-commercial vehicles over the past five years. The number 

of commercial GEO satellites launched each year since 2003 has remained between 

Figure 9. Five-Year Summary (2004–2008) of Commercial and  

Non-commercial Launch Events

15

39

18

37

21

45

24

44

28

41

0

20

40

60

80

100

Numbe

r of Orbita

l La

unc

he

s

s

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Non-Commercial Launches
Commercial Launches

Figure 10. Five-Year Worldwide Total Orbital  

Commercial and Non-commercial  

Launch Industry Share (2004–2008)

Russia

125 (39%)

Europe

25 (8%)

China

40 (13%)

Multinational

19 (6%)

Japan

11 (4%)

India

9 (3%)

United States

80 (26%)

Iran, 1, (0.3%)

Israel

1 (0.3%)

Total: 312 Launches

Figure 11. Five-Year Worldwide Commercial Orbital 

Launch Market Share (2004–2008)

India

1 (1%)

Europe

22 (21%)

United States

18 (17%)

China

1 (1%)

Multinational

19 (18%)

Total: 106 Launches

Russia

45 (42%)

• 18 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

15 and 23 satellites. The number of commercial NGSO satellites launched per year 

averaged two from 2004 to 2006, but the 13 payloads in 2007 and 19 in 2008 breaks 

this previous low trend. There was a slight dip in the number of commercial NGSO 

launches in 2008, but it still remains higher than the three years previous to 2007.

Commercial launch revenues 

during the period, highlighted in 

Figure 14 and Table 8, showed a 

similar trend to the total number 

of commercial launches. Revenues 

steadily increased from 2004 to 

2008. Revenues grew almost 100 

percent between 2004 and 2008, 

from roughly US$1 billion to 

nearly US$2 billion.

Figure 12. Five-Year Worldwide Commercial GEO and NGSO Launch 

Events (2004–2008)

2

13

3

15

5

16

12

12

10

18

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Number of O

rbi

tal

 Launc

hes

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

GEO

NGSO

Figure 13. Five-Year Summary of Commercial Payloads Launched  

by Orbit (2004–2008)

2

15

19

3

20

13

18

19

23

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

GEO

NGSO

Number of O

rbi

tal

 Commercial payloads

1

Figure 14. Approximate Launch Revenues for Commercial Launch Events 

(2004–2008)

1

$0

$500

$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

India

Multinational

Russia

Europe

USA

U

S$ 

M

ill

io

ns

Table 8. Approximate Launch Revenues for  

Commercial Launch Events 2004–2008 (US$M)

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

United States

375

70

140

150

215

Russia

290

350

374

477

700

Europe

140

490

560

840

581

India

0

0

0

11

0

Multinational

210

280

350

70

475

TOTAL 1,015 1,190 1,424 1,548 1,971

• 19 •

2008 Year in Review

COmmErCIAL SATELLITE AnD LAUnCh TrEnDS

The commercial space transportation market is driven largely by the demand for 

launches of GEO telecommunications satellites and, to a lesser extent, a variety of 

NGSO satellites, especially in the last two years. Since 2004, nearly 70 percent of 

commercial launches have been to GEO, which generates more revenue than the 

NGSO market and generally deploys larger payloads. GEO satellites lead again in 

2008 and they will likely still be the primary commercial market driver in the near 

term. The following trends are expected:

Limited growth of launch demand for GEO communications satellites;

• 

A near-term trend of heavier GEO satellites followed by a decline;

• 

Some limited growth in small mass GEO satellites; and

• 

Some growth in launch demand for NGSO communications satellites as 

• 

existing constellations are replenished or replaced with next-generation systems 

and as new vehicles become available. 

These satellite industry trends will be augmented by continued competition among 

the United States, Europe, Russia, India, Japan, and multinational firms such as Sea 

Launch to provide launch services. China is likely to continue with non-competed 

launches of commercial satellites, some of which, known as “ITAR-free” satellites, 

have excluded U.S. components in order to avoid U.S. export controls. 

SpaceX made two FAA-licensed launches in 2008, being the third and fourth  

launches of the Falcon 1 rocket. The fourth launch, which took place in September, 

was the first completely successful launch of the Falcon 1. SpaceX is also developing 

its larger Falcon 9 rocket. With its first test launch scheduled for 2009, the Falcon 9 

could grow to compete with other heavy-lift rockets such as the Zenit-3SL, Proton, 

and Ariane 5. The Taurus II medium-class vehicle is being developed by Orbital 

Sciences for a 2010 debut.

2008 also saw the debut of the Land Launch Zenit-3SLB rocket. It is essentially a 

Zenit-3SL slightly modified to launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome instead of the 

Sea Launch platform. Its April launch lifted the Israeli AMOS-3 communications 

satellite into GEO. Land Launch is a collaboration between Sea Launch and 

Moscow-based Space International Services.

South Korea is also developing a small launch vehicle, designated the Korea 

Space Launch Vehicle (KSLV), that may eventually help that country enter the 

commercial market. Europe’s Vega small launch vehicle could also enter the 

commercial market in 2010. 

InTErnATIOnALLY COmPETED LAUnChES

As commercial space business increases and replaces various forms of traditionally 

government-operated activities, the definitions of “commercial payload” and 

• 20 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

“commercial launch” become more complex 

and open to interpretation. Figure 15 shows 

trends for each country whose launch providers 

compete in the international marketplace. The 

chart reflects only launch service providers 

competing in the international marketplace for 

open-bid launch service contracts.

From 2004 to 2008, there were 97 internationally-

competed launch events.

Figure 15. Five-Year Worldwide Internationally Competed Launch Events 

(2004-2008)*

1

N

umber 

of 

Launches

6

5

1

3

1

8

5

4

1

9

5

5

3

12

6

1

1

2

8

4

6

0

5

10

15

20

25

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

India

Multinational

Europe

Russia

United States

* An internationally competed launch contract is one in which the launch opportunity was available 

in principle to any capable launch service provider. For Figure 15 only, this definition precludes 

government sponsored payloads launched commercially (some have been licensed by FAA/AST) 

when government policy prohibits open competition for the launch. The definition also does not 

cover payloads captive to their own launch providers (a distinction that is made by either a country 

or launch service company), test payloads, dummy payloads, or small secondary payloads.

• 21 •

2008 Year in Review

2008 FAA EXPErImEnTAL PErmIT FLIGhT 

SUmmArY

In 2008, there were five low-altitude flights conducted under the authority of FAA 

experimental permits. This total is four less than what ocurred in 2007. All 2008 

flights used developmental vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing vehicles. Four were 

conducted by perennial flyer Armadillo Aerospace with two different vehicles 

(Pixel and MOD-1) and one was conducted by a new entrant, TrueZer0. 

All five permit flights took place at Las Cruces International Airport in New 

Mexico as part of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. Table 9 lists 

details of the five flights that took place in 2008.

In contrast to FAA-licensed flights, permitted flights are limited to reusable 

suborbital launch vehicles and intended for technology development, particular 

testing for crew, or testing prior to obtaining a license. Vehicles cannot carry 

property or people for compensation or hire. The first permit flights took place in 

2006 after authority was granted by the U.S. Congress in 2004. 

Table 9. FAA-Permitted Launches in 2008

Flight Date

Operator

Vehicle

Launch Site

October 24

TrueZer0

Ignignokt

Las Cruces International Airport, NM

October 24

Armadillo Aerospace

MOD 1

Las Cruces International Airport, NM

October 24

Armadillo Aerospace

MOD 1

Las Cruces International Airport, NM

October 24

Armadillo Aerospace

MOD 1

Las Cruces International Airport, NM

October 25

Armadillo Aerospace

Pixel

Las Cruces International Airport, NM

• 22 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

APPEnDIX: 2008 WOrLDWIDE OrbITAL LAUnCh EvEnTS

  Date

Vehicle

Site

Payload(s)

Orbit Operator

Manufacturer

Use

Comm'l 

Price

L M

15-Jan-2008 V Zenit-3SL

Odyssey Launch Platform * Thuraya 3

GEO

Thuraya Satellite 

Communications Company

Boeing Satellite Systems

Communications $85M

S S

21-Jan-2008

PSLV

Satish Dhawan Space 

Center

TECSAR

LEO

Israel MoD

Israel Aerospace Industries Intelligence

S S

28-Jan-2008

Proton M

Baikonur

* Express AM33 GEO

Russian Satellite 

Communciation Co.

NPO PM

Communications

S S

5-Feb-2008

Soyuz

Baikonur

Progress ISS 28P LEO

Roscosmos

RSC Energia

Supply

S S

7-Feb-2008

Shuttle Atlantis

Kennedy Space Center

STS 122

Columbus

ISS 1E

LEO

LEO

LEO

NASA

European Space Agency

NASA

Rockwell International

EADS

EADS

Crewed

Space Station

Space Station

S

S

S

S

S

S

11-Feb-2008 V Proton M

Baikonur

* Thor 5

GEO

Telenor A.S.

Orbital Sciences Corp.

Communications $85M

S S

23-Feb-2008

H 2A 2024

Tanegashima

WINDS

GEO

JAXA

JAXA

Development

S S

9-Mar-2008

Ariane 5 ES-ATV Kourou

ATV 1

LEO

European Space Agency

EADS

Space Station

S S

11-Mar-2008

Shuttle Endeavour Kennedy Space Center

STS 123

ISS 1J/A

LEO

LEO

NASA

JAXA

Rockwell International

Mitsubishi

Crewed

Space Station

S

S

S

S

13-Mar-2008

Atlas 5 411

Vandenberg AFB

NRO L-28

ELI

NRO

The Boeing Company

Classified

S S

14-Mar-2008 V Proton M

Baikonur

* AMC 14

GEO

SES Americom

Lockheed Martin 

Commercial Space Systems

Communications $85M

F F

15-Mar-2008

Delta 2 7925-10 Cape Canaveral AFS

Navstar GPS 

2RM-6

MEO

U.S. Air Force

Lockheed Martin Corp.

Navigation

S S

19-Mar-2008 V Zenit-3SL

Odyssey Launch Platform * DirecTV 11

GEO

DirecTV, Inc.

Boeing Satellite Systems

Communications $85M

S S

27-Mar-2008 V Kosmos 3M

Plesetsk

SAR Lupe 4

LEO

German Defense Ministry OHB System

Intelligence

$12M

S S

8-Apr-2008

Soyuz

Baikonur

Soyuz ISS 16S LEO

Roscosmos

RSC Energia

Space Station

S S

14-Apr-2008 V Atlas 5 421

Cape Canaveral AFS

* ICO G1

GEO

ICO Global 

Communications

Space Systems/Loral

Communications $85M

S S

16-Apr-2008 V Pegasus XL

Kwajalein Island

C/NOFS

LEO

U.S. Air Force

Spectrum Astro, Inc.

Scientific

$16M

S S

18-Apr-2008 V Ariane 5 ECA

Kourou

 

 

*

Vinasat

 

 

Star One C2

GEO

 

 

GEO

Vietnamese Ministry 

of Post and 

Telecommunications

Star One

Lockheed Martin Corp.

 

 

Alcatel Espace

Communications

 

 

Communications

$140M

S

 

 

S

S

 

 

S

25-Apr-2008

Long March 3C

Xichang

Tianlian 1

GEO

Chinese National Space 

Administration

Chinese Academy of Space 

Technology

Communications

S S

27-Apr-2008

Soyuz

Baikonur

GIOVE B

MEO

European Space Agency

Galileo Industries

Navigation

S S

28-Apr-2008 V Zenit-3SLB

Baikonur

* Amos 3

GEO

SpaceCom Limited

Israel Aerospace Industries Communications $50M

S S

28-Apr-2008

PSLV

Satish Dhawan Space

Cartosat 2A

LEO

ISRO

ISRO

Remote Sensing

S S

Center

* Rubin-8

LEO

Cosmos International 

GmbH

Cosmos International GmbH Communications

S S

AAUsat 2

LEO

Aalborg University

Aalborg University

Development

S S

Cute 1.7 + 

APD 2

LEO

Tokyo Institute of 

Technology

Tokyo Institute of 

Technology

Development

S S

Delfi C3

LEO

Delft University

Delft University

Development

S S

NLS-5

LEO

University of Toronto

University of Toronto

Remote Sensing

S S

CanX-2

LEO

University of Toronto

University of Toronto

Development

S S

IMS 1

LEO

ISRO

ISRO

Remote Sensing

S S

SEEDS 2

LEO

Nihon University

Nihon University

Development

S S

Compass 1

LEO

Aachen University of 

Applied Sciences

Aachen University of 

Applied Sciences

Development

S S

V Denotes commercial launch, defined as a launch that is internationally competed or FAA-licensed, or privately-financed launch activity.  
* Denotes a commercial payload, defined as a spacecraft that serves a commercial function or is operated by a commercial entity. 
See page 1 and 2 for definitions of payload orbits. 
L and M refer to the outcome of the Launch and Mission: S=Success, P=Partial Success, F=Failure. 
Note: All launch dates are based on local time at the launch site. 
Note: All prices are estimates.

• 23 •

2008 Year in Review

APPEnDIX: 2008 WOrLDWIDE OrbITAL LAUnCh EvEnTS (COnT’D)

  Date

Vehicle

Site

Payload(s)

Orbit Operator

Manufacturer

Use

Comm'l 

Price

L M

15-May-2008

Soyuz

Baikonur

Progress ISS 29P LEO

Roscosmos

RSC Energia

Supply

S S

21-May-2008 V Zenit-3SL

Odyssey Launch Platform * Galaxy 18

GEO

Intelsat

Space Systems/Loral

Communications $85M

S S

23-May-2008

Rockot

Plesetsk

*

*

*

*

Gonets D1M 2

Yubileiny

Gonets D1M 3

Gonets D1M 4

LEO

LEO

LEO

LEO

Roscosmos

Roscosmos

Roscosmos

Roscosmos

NPO PM

NPO PM

NPO PM

NPO PM

Communications

Communications

Communications

Communications

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

27-May-2008

Long March 4C

Taiyuan

Fengyun 3A

SSO

China Meteorological 

Administration

Shanghai Bureau of 

Astronautics

Meteorological

S S

31-May-2008

Shuttle Discovery Kennedy Space Center

STS 124

Cupola 1

Port Rails 1

JEM RMS

Solar Arrays SPP

LEO

LEO

LEO

LEO

LEO

NASA

NASA

NASA

NASA

NASA

Rockwell International

NASA

NASA

Mitsubishi

NASA

Crewed

Space Station

Space Station

Space Station

Space Station

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

9-Jun-2008

Long March 3B

Xichang

* Chinasat 9

GEO

Chinese 

Telecommunications 

Broadcasting Satellite 

Corp.

Alcatel Alenia Space

Communications

S S

11-Jun-2008

Delta 2 7920H

Cape Canaveral AFS

GLAST

LEO

NASA

General Dynamics

Scientific

S S

12-Jun-2008 V Ariane 5 ECA

Kourou

 

 

*

Skynet 5C
Turksat 3A

GEO
GEO

Paradigm Secure 

Communications Ltd. 

Turkish Telecom

EADS
Alcatel Alenia Space

Communications

 

Communications

$140M

S

 

S

S

 

S

19-Jun-2008 V Kosmos 3M

Kapustin Yar

* Orbcomm 

CDS 3

LEO

Orbital Communications 

Corp. (ORBCOMM)

OHB System

Development

$12M

S S

* Orbcomm 

Replacement 1

LEO

Orbital Communications 

Corp. (ORBCOMM)

OHB System

Communications

S S

* Orbcomm 

Replacement 2

LEO

Orbital Communications 

Corp. (ORBCOMM)

OHB System

Communications

S S

* Orbcomm 

Replacement 3

LEO

Orbital Communications 

Corp. (ORBCOMM)

OHB System

Communications

S S

* Orbcomm 

Replacement 4

LEO

Orbital Communications 

Corp. (ORBCOMM)

OHB System

Communications

S S

* Orbcomm 

Replacement 5

LEO

Orbital Communications 

Corp. (ORBCOMM)

OHB System

Communications

S S

UGATUSAT

LEO

UGATU

UGATU

Scientific

S S

20-Jun-2008

Delta 2 7320

Vandenberg AFB

Jason 2

LEO

Eumetsat

Alcatel Alenia Space

Meteorological

S S

27-Jun-2008

Proton (SL-12)

Baikonur

Kosmos 2440 GEO

Russian MoD

NPO PM

Military

S S

7-Jul-2008

V Ariane 5 ECA

Kourou

*

*

Protostar

BADR-6

GEO

GEO

Protostar Ltd.

Arab Satellite 

Communications 

Organization (Arabsat)

Space Systems/Loral

EADS Astrium

Communications

Communications

$140M

S

S

S

S

15-Jul-2008 V Zenit-3SL

Odyssey Launch Platform * Echostar XI

GEO

Echostar Communications 

Corporation

Space Systems/Loral

Communications $85M

S S

22-Jul-2008 V Kosmos 3M

Plesetsk

SAR Lupe 5

LEO

German Defense Ministry OHB System

Intelligence

$12M

S S

26-Jul-2008

Soyuz 2 1B

Plesetsk

Kosmos 2441 MEO

Russian MoD

NPO PM

Military

S S

3-Aug-2008 V Falcon 1

Kwajalein Island

* Jumpstart

Celestis 6

NanoSail-D

PRESat

LEO

LEO

LEO

LEO

ORS Office

Celestis, Inc.

NASA

NASA

SpaceDev, Inc.

Celestis, Inc.

NASA

NASA

Development

Other

Scientific

Scientific

$7M

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

F

14-Aug-2008 V Ariane 5 ECA

Kourou

* 

*

Superbird 7

AMC 21

GEO

GEO

Space Communications Corp.

SES Americom

Mitsubishi Electric Corp.

Alcatel Alenia Space

Communications

Communications

$140M

S

S

S

S

V Denotes commercial launch, defined as a launch that is internationally competed or FAA-licensed, or privately-financed launch activity.  
* Denotes a commercial payload, defined as a spacecraft that serves a commercial function or is operated by a commercial entity. 
See page 1 and 2 for definitions of payload orbits. 
L and M refer to the outcome of the Launch and Mission: S=Success, P=Partial Success, F=Failure. 
Note: All launch dates are based on local time at the launch site. 
Note: All prices are estimates.

• 24 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation

  Date

Vehicle

Site

Payload(s)

Orbit Operator

Manufacturer

Use

Comm'l 

Price

L M

17-Aug-2008

Safir

Iran

Iran Dummy 

Satellite

LEO

Iran's Aerospace 

Organization

Iran’s Aerospace 

Organization

Development

F F

19-Aug-2008 V Proton M

Baikonur

* Inmarsat-4 F3 GEO

Inmarsat

EADS Astrium

Communications $85M

S S

29-Aug-2008 V Dnepr 1

Baikonur

* RapidEye 1

SSO

RapidEye AG

MacDonald, Dettwiler and 

Associates

Remote Sensing $17.5M

S S

* RapidEye 2

SSO

RapidEye AG

MacDonald, Dettwiler and 

Associates

Remote Sensing

S S

* RapidEye 3

SSO

RapidEye AG

MacDonald, Dettwiler and 

Associates

Remote Sensing

S S

* RapidEye 4

SSO

RapidEye AG

MacDonald, Dettwiler and 

Associates

Remote Sensing

S S

* RapidEye 5

SSO

RapidEye AG

MacDonald, Dettwiler and 

Associates

Remote Sensing

S S

6-Sep-2008 V Delta 2 7420-10 Vandenberg AFB

* GeoEye 1

SSO

GeoEye

General Dynamics

Remote Sensing $50M

S S

06-Sep-08

Long March 2C

Xichang

HJ 1A

HJ 1B

LEO

LEO

China National Space 

Administration

China National Space 

Administration

CAST

CAST

Remote Sensing

Remote Sensing

S

S

S

S

10-Sep-08

Soyuz

Baikonur

Progress ISS 30P LEO

Roscosmos

RSC Energia

Supply

S S

20-Sep-08

V Proton M

Baikonur

* Nimiq 4

GEO

Telesat Canada

EADS Astrium

Communications $85M

S S

24-Sep-08

V Zenit-3SL

Odyssey Launch Platform * Galaxy 19

GEO

Intelsat

Space Systems/Loral

Communications $85M

S S

25-Sep-08

Long March 2F

Jiuquan

Shenzhou 7

LEO

China National Space 

Administration

Shanghai Academy of 

Spaceflight Technology 

Division

Crewed

S S

25-Sep-08

Proton (SL-12)

Baikonur

Glonass M R13

Glonass M R14

Glonass M R15

MEO

MEO

MEO

Russian MoD

Russian MoD

Russian MoD

NPO PM

NPO PM

NPO PM

Navigation

Navigation

Navigation

S

S

S

S

S

S

28-Sep-08

V Falcon 1

Kwajalein Island

* Flight 4

LEO

Space Exploration 

Technologies

Space Exploration 

Technologies

Development

$7M

S S

01-Oct-08

V Dnepr 1

Dombarovskiy

THEOS

SSO

GISTDA

EADS Astrium

Remote Sensing $17.5M

S S

12-Oct-08

Soyuz

Baikonur

Soyuz ISS 17S LEO

Roscosmos

RSC Energia

Space Station

S S

19-Oct-08

Pegasus XL

Kwajalein Island

Interstellar 

Boundary 

Explorer

ELI

NASA

Orbital Sciences Corp.

Scientific

S S

22-Oct-08

PSLV

Satish Dhawan Space 

Center

Chandrayaan 1 EXT

ISRO

ISRO

Scientific

S S

24-Oct-08

V Delta 2 7420-10 Vandenberg AFB

Cosmo-

Skymed 3

LEO

Italian Space Agency (ASI) Alenia Spazio

Remote Sensing $50M

S S

25-Oct-08

Long March 4B

Taiyuan

Shijian 6F 

Shijian 6E

LEO 

LEO

China National Space 

Administration

China National Space 

Administration

China Great Wall Industry 

Corp. (CGWIC)

China Great Wall Industry 

Corp. (CGWIC)

Scientific 

Scientific

S 

S

S 

S

30-Oct-08

Long March 3B

Xichang

VENESAT 1

GEO

Venezuelan Ministry of 

Science and Technology

China Great Wall Industry 

Corp. (CGWIC)

Communications

S S

05-Nov-08

Long March 2D Jiuquan

Shiyan 

Weixing 3

Chuangxin 1-02

LEO 

LEO

China 

China Meteorological 

Administration

Harbin Institute of 

Technology

Chinese Academy of 

Sciences

Development

 

Meteorological

S 

S

S 

S

06-Nov-08

V Proton M

Baikonur

* Astra 1M

GEO

SES Astra

EADS Astrium

Communications $85M

S S

V Denotes commercial launch, defined as a launch that is internationally competed or FAA-licensed, or privately-financed launch activity.  
* Denotes a commercial payload, defined as a spacecraft that serves a commercial function or is operated by a commercial entity. 
See page 1 and 2 for definitions of payload orbits. 
L and M refer to the outcome of the Launch and Mission: S=Success, P=Partial Success, F=Failure. 
Note: All launch dates are based on local time at the launch site. 
Note: All prices are estimates.

APPEnDIX: 2008 WOrLDWIDE OrbITAL LAUnCh EvEnTS (COnT’D)

• 25 •

2008 Year in Review

  Date

Vehicle

Site

Payload(s)

Orbit Operator

Manufacturer

Use

Comm'l 

Price

L M

14-Nov-08

Soyuz

Baikonur

Kosmos 2445 LEO

Russian MoD

Russia - TBA

Intelligence

S S

14-Nov-08

Shuttle Endeavour Kennedy Space Center

STS 126

MPLM 5

LEO

LEO

NASA

NASA

Rockwell International

NASA

Crewed

Space Station

S

S

S

S

26-Nov-08

Soyuz

Baikonur

Progress ISS 31P LEO

Roscosmos

RSC Energia

Supply

S S

01-Dec-08

Long March 2D Jiuquan

Yaogan 4

LEO

China National Space 

Administration

Chinese Academy of Space 

Technology

Remote Sensing

S S

02-Dec-08

Molniya

Plesetsk

Kosmos 2446 ELI

Russian Space Forces

NPO Lavotchkin

Military

S S

10-Dec-08

V Proton M

Baikonur

* Ciel 2

GEO

Ciel Satellite

Thales Alenia Space

Communications $85M

S S

15-Dec-08

Long March 4B

Taiyuan

Yaogan 5

LEO

China National Space 

Administration

CAST

Remote Sensing

S S

20-Dec-08

V Ariane 5 ECA

Kourou

*

*

Hot Bird 9

Eutelsat W2M

GEO

GEO

Eutelsat

Eutelsat

EADS Astrium

EADS Astrium

Communications

Communications

$140M

S

S

S

S

23-Dec-08

Long March 3A

Xichang

Fengyun 2E

GEO

China Meteorological 

Administration

Shanghai Academy of 

Spaceflight Technology 

Division

Meteorological

S S

25-Dec-08

Proton (SL-12)

Baikonur

Glonass M R16

Glonass M R17

Glonass M R18

MEO

MEO

MEO

Russian MoD

Russian MoD

Russian MoD

NPO PM

NPO PM

NPO PM

Navigation

Navigation

Navigation

S

S

S

S

S

S

V Denotes commercial launch, defined as a launch that is internationally competed or FAA-licensed, or privately-financed launch activity.  
* Denotes a commercial payload, defined as a spacecraft that serves a commercial function or is operated by a commercial entity. 
See page 1 and 2 for definitions of payload orbits. 
L and M refer to the outcome of the Launch and Mission: S=Success, P=Partial Success, F=Failure. 
Note: All launch dates are based on local time at the launch site. 
Note: All prices are estimates.

APPEnDIX: 2008 WOrLDWIDE OrbITAL LAUnCh EvEnTS (COnT’D)

• 26 •

Federal Aviation Administration / Commercial Space Transportation