May 2012
May 17 Soyuz • Kobalt
Launch time: Approx. 1400 GMT (10 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia
A Soyuz rocket will launch a Kobalt optical reconnaissance satellite for the
Russian ministry of defense. [May 15]
May 17 H-2A • GCOM W1 & Kompsat 3
Launch window: 1639-1642 GMT (12:39-12:42 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
The Japanese H-2A rocket will launch the GCOM W1 and Kompsat 3 satellites. GCOM
W1, nicknamed Shizuku, is the first Global Change Observation Mission dedicated
to tracking precipitation and the water cycle around the world. Kompsat 3 is a
South Korean Earth observation satellite. The rocket will fly in the H-2A-202
configuration with two large solid rocket boosters. Delayed from February.
[March 23]
An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage will
deploy the Nimiq 6 satellite. Nimiq 6 will provide Ku-band HDTV and other video
services across Canada for Telesat. [May 9]
May 19 Falcon 9 • Dragon C2+
Launch time: 0855 GMT (4:55 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the second Dragon spacecraft, called
Dragon C2+, to demonstrate rendezvous and berthing with the International Space
Station for cargo-delivery. The company is building the Dragon to fly on
operational resupply missions to the orbiting lab. Delayed from June 6, Oct. 8,
Nov. 30, Dec. 19, Jan. 7, Feb. 7, March 20, April 30, and May 7. See our Mission
Status Center. [May 4]
May Long March 3B • Chinasat 1B
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Xichang, China
A Long March 3B rocket will launch the Chinasat 1B military communications
satellite. [May 15]
A Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket will deliver the Intelsat 19 communications
satellite into orbit. Intelsat 19 will provide C-band and Ku-band communications
services to the Asia-Pacific region, reaching users from Australia to the United
States. [April 12]
June 2012
June Soyuz • Kanopus-V & BelKA 2
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Soyuz rocket and Fregat upper stage will launch the Kanopus-Vulkan remote
sensing satellite for the Russian government, the BelKA 2 Earth observation
spacecraft for Belarus, and several other secondary payloads. [April 26]
The air-launched Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket will deploy NASA's Nuclear
Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) spacecraft. NuSTAR will study high energy
X-rays in the universe. Delayed from Feb. 3, March 14, March 21 and March 22.
See our Mission Status Center. [April 26]
June 18 Atlas 5 • NROL-38
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket (AV-023) will launch a classified
spacecraft payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The rocket will
fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket
boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Moved up from June 20. [May 2]
Arianespace will use an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA207, to launch the
EchoStar 17 and MSG 3 communications satellites. EchoStar 17, formerly known as
Jupiter 1, will provide high-throughput broadband services across North America
for Hughes Network Systems. MSG 3 is a geostationary weather satellite for
Eumetsat, the European satellite meteorology agency. [April 27]
June 21 Proton • SES 5
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage will
deploy the SES 5 satellite. SES 5 will provide communications services over
Africa, Europe and the Middle East. SES 5 will also carry the first hosted
L-band payload for the European Commission's European Geostationary Navigation
Overlay Service (EGNOS). [May 15]
June 28 Delta 4-Heavy • NROL-15
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
The United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket will launch a classified spy
satellite cargo for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The largest of the
Delta 4 family, the Heavy version features three Common Booster Cores mounted
together to form a triple-body rocket. Delayed from December 2011. [Feb. 1]
An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage will
deploy the Sirius FM6 satellite for Sirius XM Radio. Delayed from January, Feb.
20 and March 5. [Feb. 22]
NET June Long March 2F • Shenzhou 9
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Jiuquan, China
July 2012
A Long March 2F rocket will launch the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft, a crewed mission
to dock with the orbiting Tiangong 1 laboratory module. The flight will be
China's fourth human space mission. [Feb. 17]
July 15 Soyuz • ISS 31S
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the manned Soyuz spacecraft to the
International Space Station with members of the next Expedition crew. The
capsule will remain at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod
for the crew. Delayed from May 30. [Feb. 3]
July 20/21 H-2B • HTV 3
Launch time: 0218 GMT on 21st (10:18 p.m. EDT on 20th)
Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
The Japanese H-2B rocket will launch the third H-2 Transfer Vehicle. The HTV
serves as an unmanned cargo vehicle to deliver equipment and supplies to the
International Space Station. Delayed from Jan. 20, Feb. 18, June 26 and July 18.
[March 23]
Late July Soyuz • MetOp B
Launch time: 1628 GMT (12:28 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Starsem Soyuz rocket will launch the MetOp B weather satellite for the
European Space Agency and the European Organization for the Exploitation of
Meteorological Satellites, or Eumetsat. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz 2-1a
configuration with a Fregat upper stage. Delayed from April and May 23. [April
27]
A Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket will deliver the Intelsat 21 communications
satellite into orbit. Intelsat 21 will serve video distribution and
direct-to-home television markets in Latin America. [March 15]
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