Oct. 15 CZ-2F • Shenzhou 5
Launch window: TBA
Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China

A Chinese Long March rocket is scheduled to launch the country’s historic first manned spaceflight. The Shenzhou spacecraft capsule will be making its fifth flight after a series of unmanned test missions. [Aug. 26]

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History in the making people!

Sept. 22 H-2A • Classified
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Tanegashima, Japan

The sixth flight of the H-2A rocket will launch the second pair Japanese reconnaissance satellites — one using radar observing technology and one optical. The spacecraft are classified. Delayed from Sept. 10 due to solid rocket booster issue. [Sept. 3]

Sept. 10 H-2A • Classified
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Tanegashima, Japan

The sixth flight of the H-2A rocket will launch the second pair Japanese reconnaissance satellites — one using radar observing technology and one optical. The spacecraft are classified. [Aug. 3]

Aug. 29 Soyuz • Progress 12P
Launch time: 0147 GMT (2147 EDT on the 28th)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the twelfth Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Delayed from July 30. Moved up from Sept. 18 and Aug. 30. [Aug. 4]

Aug. 28 Delta 4 • DSCS 3-B6
Launch window: 2313-0030 GMT (1913-2030 EDT)
Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

Boeing Delta 4 Medium rocket will launch the Defense Satellite Communications System 3-B6 spacecraft under the Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. Delayed from July 1, 11, 23. Delayed from Aug. 3 to complete tests on rocket’s thermal protection system. Delayed from Aug. 4 to replace safety-destruct antenna. [Aug. 15]

Aug. 25 Delta 2 • SIRTF
Launch time: 0535:39 GMT (0135:39 EDT)
Launch site: SLC-17B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

Boeing Delta 2 will launch NASA’s Space Infrared Telescope Facility, or SIRTF. The spacecraft is the fourth and final member of NASA’s Great Observatories series. The rocket will fly in the 7920-Heavy vehicle configuration. Delayed from July 15 and Dec. 5 due to spacecraft readiness. Delayed from Jan. 9 as ripple effect from delay of GPS 2R-8 on same pad. Delayed from Jan. 29 due to spacecraft valve issue. Delayed from April 15. Delayed from April 18, 27 and 28 due to solid rocket booster nozzle issue. Moved up from Aug. 27 to Aug. 23. Delayed from Aug. 23 because tracking ship not in position. [Aug. 19]

Aug. 23 Delta 2 • SIRTF
Launch time: 0537:29 GMT (0137:29 EDT)
Launch site: SLC-17B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

Boeing Delta 2 will launch NASA’s Space Infrared Telescope Facility, or SIRTF. The spacecraft is the fourth and final member of NASA’s Great Observatories series. The rocket will fly in the 7920-Heavy vehicle configuration. Delayed from July 15 and Dec. 5 due to spacecraft readiness. Delayed from Jan. 9 as ripple effect from delay of GPS 2R-8 on same pad. Delayed from Jan. 29 due to spacecraft valve issue. Delayed from April 15. Delayed from April 18, 27 and 28 due to solid rocket booster nozzle issue. Moved up from Aug. 27 to Aug. 23. [Aug. 11]

Aug. 23 Delta 2 • SIRTF
Launch time: 0537:43 GMT (0137:43 EDT)
Launch site: SLC-17B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

Boeing Delta 2 will launch NASA’s Space Infrared Telescope Facility, or SIRTF. The spacecraft is the fourth and final member of NASA’s Great Observatories series. The rocket will fly in the 7920-Heavy vehicle configuration. Delayed from July 15 and Dec. 5 due to spacecraft readiness. Delayed from Jan. 9 as ripple effect from delay of GPS 2R-8 on same pad. Delayed from Jan. 29 due to spacecraft valve issue. Delayed from April 15. Delayed from April 18, 27 and 28 due to solid rocket booster nozzle issue. Moved up from Aug. 27 to Aug. 23. [July 9]

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Aug. 18 Titan 4B • NRO
Launch period: 0340-0900 GMT (2340 on the 17th to 0500 EDT)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

The Lockheed Martin Titan 4B, known as B-36, will launch a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office with Centaur upper stage. The launch will be run by the U.S. Air Force. Delayed from April 28, 2002. Then delayed from June 3 due to spacecraft issue. Then delayed again from Aug. 6 and December 2002 by payload issue. Officials decided to slip this mission until after the Titan/Milstar 6 mission. Delayed from June 9, 2003 by Milstar slip. Moved up from Sept. 15. [Aug. 2]

Aug. 18 Titan 4B • NRO
Launch window:TBA
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

The Lockheed Martin Titan 4B, known as B-36, will launch a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office with Centaur upper stage. The launch will be run by the U.S. Air Force. Delayed from April 28, 2002. Then delayed from June 3 due to spacecraft issue. Then delayed again from Aug. 6 and December by payload issue. Officials decided to slip this mission until after the Titan/Milstar mission. Delayed from June 9 by Milstar slip. Moved up from Sept. 15. [May 21]

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Aug. 13 Pegasus XL • SciSat 1
Launch window: 0204:10-0301:26 GMT (2204:10-2301:26 EDT on the 12th)
Launch site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

An Orbital Sciences air-launched Pegasus XL rocket will carry the NASA-sponsored, Canadian-built SciSat-1 spacecraft into orbit to study atmospheric ozone depletion. Delayed from June 28, Dec. 20, Jan. 19, May 20, mid-June, July 26 and Aug. 3 targets. [Aug. 7]

Aug. 13 Pegasus XL • SciSat 1
Launch window: 0206-0302 GMT (2206-2302 EDT on 12th)
Launch site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

An Orbital Sciences air-launched Pegasus XL rocket will carry the NASA-sponsored, Canadian-built SciSat-1 spacecraft into orbit to study atmospheric ozone depletion. Delayed from June 28, Dec. 20, Jan. 19, May 20, mid-June, July 26 and Aug. 3 targets. [July 9]

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Aug. 12 Soyuz • Military
Launch time: TBA
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch a classified satellite cargo for the country’s Defence Ministry. [July 28]

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Aug. 8 Sea Launch • EchoStar 9-Telstar 13
Launch time: 0331-0531 GMT (2331 EDT on the 7th to 0131 EDT)
Launch site: Odyssey platform, Pacific Ocean (154° West, 0° North)

The Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket will launch a combo satellite to be used jointly between EchoStar and Loral Skynet. Dubbed EchoStar 9, the craft’s Ku-band and Ka-band payload will be operated by EchoStar for its DISH Network direct-to-home entertainment service. The C-band payload will be operated by Loral Skynet as Telstar 13. Delayed from May. [Aug. 1]

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Aug. 3 Delta 4 • DSCS B6
Launch window: 2258-0021 GMT (1858-2021 EDT)
Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

Boeing Delta 4 Medium rocket will launch the Defense Satellite Communications System B6 spacecraft under the Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. Delayed from July 1, 11 and 23. [July 28]

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