Launch Roundup – Russia’s Luna 25 Moon Mission is Country’s First Since 1970s
Welcome to this week’s Launch Roundup! We were on vacation last week, so we’ve got some catching up to do. On August 10, Russia will launch its first spacecraft to land on the Moon since the Soviet Union did so 47 years ago. Last week, Northrop Grumman launched the second version of the Antares rocket for the final time and announced a slip in the maiden flight of its replacement.
Upcoming Launches
Luna 25 (Luna-Glob) is Russia’s first-ever mission to the Moon, not counting Soviet missions that it led. The spacecraft is set to land near the Moon’s south pole at the Boguslavsky crater later this month. The lander has eight scientific instruments and a robotic arm that will retrieve soil samples for analysis.
Luna 25 is named after an ambitious series of lunar missions conducted by the Soviet Union during the 1960s and 1970s. The final mission was Luna 24, which returned 170.1 grams (6 ounces) of lunar soil to Earth in August 1976.
Upcoming Launches
| Date | Launcher – Organization | Payloads – Organization | Purpose(s) | Launch Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 8 | Long March 2C – CASC* | TBA | TBA | Taiyuan |
| Aug. 10 | Ceres-1 – Galactic Energy | MN 30-3 – Beijing Minospace Technologies | TBA | Jiuquan |
| MN 100-2 – Beijing Minospace Technologies | TBA | |||
| Aug. 10 | Soyuz-2.1b – Roscosmos | Luna 25 – IKI RAN+ | Lunar lander | Vostochny |
| Aug. 10 | Falcon 9 – SpaceX | 22 Starlink – SpaceX | Communications | Cape Canaveral |
| Aug. 11 | Long March 3B – CASC* | Ludi Tance-4 01A – Ministry of Natural Resources | Earth observation | Xichang |
| Aug. 14 | Falcon 9 – SpaceX | Starlink – SpaceX | Communications | Cape Canaveral |
| TBA | Electron – Rocket Lab | Acadia 1 – Capella Space | Earth observation | Mahia |
+ Russian Space Research Institute
China has three launches scheduled this week as the country aims for at least 60 launches this year. It has launched 32 times to date.
Recent Launches
SpaceX’s third Falcon Heavy launch of the year carried EchoStar’s Jupiter-3 communications satellite into orbit on July 29. Jupiter-3, which weighs in at more than 9,000 kg (19842 lb), is the largest comsat ever placed into geosynchronous orbit.
Northrop Grumman launched the S.S. Laurel Clark Cygnus resupply ship to the International Space Station on August 1. It was the 19th Cygnus mission since the first cargo ship reached the station half a decade ago in September 2018.
It was the final launch of the current version of the Antares rocket, which featured a Ukrainian first stage powered by two Russian RD-181 engines. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 cut off Northrop Grumman’s supply of first stages. Russia stopped shipping the RD-181 engines to Northrop Grumman after the U.S. imposed sanctions over the invasion.
When it first flew in April 2013, Antares featured a Ukrainian first stage powered by repurposed NK-33 engines left over from the Soviet Union’s manned lunar program. Aerojet Rocketdyne imported the engines and renamed them the AJ-26.
Recent Launches
| Date | Launcher – Organization | Payloads – Organization | Purpose(s) | Launch Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 26 | Long March 2D – CASC | Yaogan 36-05A | Reconnaissance | Xichang |
| Yaogan 36-05B | Reconnaissance | |||
| Yaogan 36-05C | Reconnaissance | |||
| July 28 | Falcon 9 | 22 Starlink – SpaceX | Communications | Cape Canaveral |
| July 29 | Falcon Heavy | Jupiter-3 (EchoStar-24) – EchoStar | Communications | Kennedy |
| July 30 | PSLV – ISRO | DS-SAR – DSTA* | Earth observation | Satish Dhawan |
| ARCADE – NTU+ | Ionospheric research | |||
| Galassia-2 – NUS^ | Tech demo | |||
| NuLIon – NuSpace | Internet of Things | |||
| ORB-12 STRIDER – OrbAstro | Tech demo | |||
| SCOOB-II – NTU+ | Tech demo | |||
| Velox-AM – NTU+ | Tech demo | |||
| Aug. 1 | Antares – Northrop Grumman | Cygnus NG-19 – Northrup Grumman | ISS Resupply | MARS~ |
| DUPLEX – CU Aerospace | Tech demo | |||
| SeaLion (VSCP-1A) – ODU**/USCGA++ | Communications | |||
| Ut ProSat-1 (VSCP-1B) – Virginia Tech | Communications | |||
| Aug. 3 | Long March 4C – CASC | Fengyun 3F – CMA^^ | Meteorology | Jiuquan |
| Aug. 6 | Falcon 9 – SpaceX | 22 Starlink – SpaceX | Communications | Cape Canaveral |
| Aug. 7 | Soyuz-2.1b – RVSN RF*** | GLONASS-K2 13L – VKS+++ | Navigation | Plesetsk |
| Aug. 7 | Falcon 9 – SpaceX | 15 Starlink – SpaceX | Communications | Vandenberg |
+ Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)
^ National University of Singapore
~ Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport
** Old Dominion University
++ U.S. Coast Guard Academy
^^ China Meteorological Administration
*** Strategic Rocket Forces of the Russian Federation
+++ Russian Aerospace Forces
Source: Wikipedia
The engines were seen as a temporary solution due to their limited number and advanced age. Engineers were already seeking a replacement engine when an AJ-26 exploded shortly after Antares lifted off on October 28, 2014. The spectacular nighttime explosion grounded the rocket and sped up the replacement effort.
Northrop Grumman has contracted with Firefly Aerospace to supply a new first stage powered by seven Miranda engines. Prior to last week’s launch, Northrop Grumman officials announced that the maiden flight has slipped from an expected 2024 launch date to one in 2025. In the meantime, SpaceX will launch Cygnus cargo ships to the space station on Falcon 9 rockets.
Launches by Nation
The United States leads the world with 66 launches, 62 of which were successful. The number represents more than half of the 121 launches conducted this year worldwide.
China has launched 32 times without fail. Russia, which long led the world in launches, hit double digits when it launched for the 10th time on August 7.
Launches by Company/Agency
SpaceX continues to lead the world with 55 launches that carried 1,645 payloads into orbit.
Launches by Company/Agency
| Company/Agency | Successes | Failures | Total | Payloads Orbited | Payloads Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SpaceX (USA) | 54 | 1 | 55 | 1,633 | 12* |
| China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | 23 | 0 | 23 | 95 | 0 |
| Roscosmos (Russia) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 49 | 0 |
| Indian Space Research Organisation | 6 | 0 | 6 | 50 | 0 |
| Rocket Lab (USA) | 6 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 0 |
| Strategic Rocket Forces (Russia) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Arianespace (Europe) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| ExPace (China) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 0 |
| CAS Space (China) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 0 |
| Galactic Energy (China) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| Korea Aerospace Research Institute (South Korea) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1^ |
| Northrop Grumman (USA) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Israel Aerospace Industries | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Space Pioneer (China) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| United Launch Alliance (USA) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| i-space (China) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| LandSpace (China) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Virgin Orbit+ (USA) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| ABL Space Systems (USA) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| National Aerospace Development Administration (North Korea) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Relativity Space (USA) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 115 | 6 | 121 | 1,908 | 26 |
^ Deployment failure
+ Company defunct
Thirty SpaceX launches were dedicated to launching 1,252 Starlink broadband satellites and two spacecraft owned by other companies. The company has launched 4,919 Starlink satellites into orbit since February 2018.
Starlink Launches
| Year | Launches | Satellites |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 30 | 1,253+ |
| 2018-2023 | 100^ | 4,919* |
^ Includes 97 dedicated launches, two Transporter missions and the launch of two test satellites as secondary payloads.
* Does not include 16 secondary payloads from other companies.
Launches by Booster
SpaceX leads the world with 51 Falcon 9 launches. China’s Long March 2C and Long March 2D rockets have launched a combined 10 times. Russia’s Soyuz-2.1a and Soyuz-2.1b boosters have launched eight times, followed by the six flights of Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket.
Launches by Booster
| Launch Vehicle | Company/Agency | Successes | Failures | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcon 9 | SpaceX | 51 | 0 | 51 |
| Long March 2C, 2D | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Soyuz-2.1a, 2.1b | Roscosmos, Russia Strategic Rocket Forces | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Electron | Rocket Lab | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Long March 3B/E | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Kuaizhou 1A | ExPace | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Falcon Heavy | SpaceX | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Long March 4C | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Long March 7, 7A | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Proton | Roscosmos | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Ariane 5 | Arianespace | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| LVM III | Indian Space Research Organisation | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Ceres-1 | Galactic Energy | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| PSLV | Indian Space Research Organisation | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Antares | Northrop Grumman | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Delta IV Heavy | United Launch Alliance | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| GSLV Mk II | Indian Space Research Organisation | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| H-IIA | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Hyperbola 1 | i-space | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Long March 2F | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Long March 4B | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Long March 6 | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Long March 11 | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Nuri | Korea Aerospace Research Institute | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Shavit 2 | Israel Defense Forces | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| SSLV | Indian Space Research Organisation | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Soyuz-2.1v | Russia Strategic Rocket Forces | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Tianlong-2^ | Space Pioneer | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Zhuque-2 | LandSpace | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Chollima-1^ | National Aerospace Development Administration | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| H3^ | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| LauncherOne* | Virgin Orbit+ | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| RS1^ | ABL Space Systems | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Starship/Super Heavy^ | SpaceX | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Terran 1*^ | Relativity Space | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 115 | 6 | 121 |
* Launch vehicle retired
+ Company defunct
Launches by Spaceport
Florida has hosted 40 launches from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and the Kennedy Space Center. Vandenberg Space Force Base in California has hosted 16 launches.
Launches by Spaceport
| Location | Nation | Successes | Failures | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. LAUNCH PROVIDERS | ||||
| Cape Canaveral | USA | 31 | 1 | 32 |
| Vandenberg | USA | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Kennedy | USA | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Mahia Peninsula | New Zealand | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport | USA | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Cornwall | UK | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska | USA | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Starbase | USA | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| CHINESE LAUNCH PROVDERS | ||||
| Jiuquan | China | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| Taiyuan | China | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Xichang | China | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Wenchang | China | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| RUSSIAN LAUNCH PROVIDERS | ||||
| Baikonur | Kazakhstan | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Plesetsk | Russia | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Vostochny | Russia | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| INDIAN LAUNCH PROVIDERS | ||||
| Satish Dhawan | India | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| EUROPEAN LAUNCH PROVIDERS | ||||
| Guiana Space Centre | French Guiana | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| JAPANESE LAUNCH PROVIDERS | ||||
| Tanegashima | Japan | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| OTHER LAUNCH PROVIDERS | ||||
| Naro | South Korea | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Palmchim | Israel | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Sohae | North Korea | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 115 | 6 | 121 |
The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center leads all Chinese spaceports with 19 launches. The nation’s other three spaceports have combined for 13 launches.
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