Contents

Launches

This is a list of spaceflights launched in 2008.


Date/Time
(GMT)
Rocket Site LSP Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay
(GMT)
Outcome Remarks
11 January
05:32[1]
Flag of Canada Black Brant IX Flag of the United StatesLC-36, White Sands Flag of the United States NASA Flag of the United States LIDOS NASA/JHU Sub-orbital Ultraviolet astronomy 11 January
05:42
Successful Apogee: 315 km (196 mi)
15 January
11:49[2]
Flag of Ukraine Zenit-3SL Flag of Norway Ocean Odyssey Flag of the United Nations Sea Launch Flag of the United Arab Emirates Thuraya 3 Thuraya GEO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far
17 January[3] Flag of Israel Jericho III Flag of Israel Palmachim Flag of Israel IAF IAF Sub-orbital Missile test 17 January Successful
18 January
07:30[4]
Flag of Canada Black Brant XII Flag of Norway Andøya Flag of the United States NASA Flag of the United States SCIFER-2 NASA/Cornell/Dartmouth Sub-orbital Ionospheric research 18 January Successful Apogee: 1,460 km (910 mi)
21 January
03:45[2]
Flag of India PSLV-CA Flag of IndiaFLP, Sriharikota Flag of India ISRO Flag of Israel Polaris (TechSAR) IAI LEO Radar imaging Still in orbit Successful so far
25 January[5] Flag of Pakistan Shaheen-I Flag of Pakistan Sonmiani Flag of Pakistan PAF PAF Sub-orbital Missile test 25 January Successful
28 January
00:18[2]
Flag of Russia Proton-M Flag of Kazakhstan LC-200/39, Baikonur Flag of Russia RKA Flag of Russia Ekspress AM-33 RSCC GSO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far
31 January
19:14[6]
Flag of Brazil/Flag of the United States VS-30-Orion Flag of Norway Andøya Flag of Germany/Flag of Norway DLR/ARR Flag of the United Kingdom HotPay-2 University of Leeds Sub-orbital Ionospheric research 31 January Successful Apogee: 380.6 km (236.5 mi)
January[7] Flag of the United States SM-3 Flag of the United States White Sands Flag of the United States US Navy/MDA ABM US Navy/MDA Sub-orbital ABM test Within 15 minutes of launch Successful
4 February[8] Flag of Iran Safir Flag of Iran Semnan Flag of Iran IARI Flag of Iran Kavoshgar-1 ISA Sub-orbital 4 February Successful
5 February
13:02:54[2]
Flag of Russia Soyuz-U Flag of Kazakhstan LC-1/5, Baikonur Flag of Russia RKA Flag of Russia Progress M-63 RKA LEO (ISS) Resupply ISS 7 April
11:50[9]
Successful
6 February
09:14:40[10]
Flag of Japan S-310 Flag of Japan Uchinoura Flag of Japan JAXA JAXA Sub-orbital Ionosphere research 6 February Successful
7 February
11:30[11]
Flag of Brazil VSB-30 Flag of Sweden Esrange Flag of Germany/Flag of Europe DLR/ESA Flag of Germany/Flag of Europe TEXUS-44 DLR/ESA Sub-orbital Microgravity research 7 February Successful Apogee: 264 km (164 mi)
7 February
19:45:30[2]
Flag of the United StatesSpace Shuttle Atlantis Flag of the United States LC-39A, Kennedy Flag of the United States USA Flag of the United States STS-122 NASA LEO (ISS) Manned orbital flight 20 February
14:07:10[12]
Successful ISS assembly
7 astronauts
Flag of the United NationsColumbus ESA LEO (ISS) ISS component Still in orbit Successful so far
11 February
11:34[2]
Flag of Russia Proton-M Flag of Kazakhstan LC-200/39, Baikonur Flag of the United Nations ILS Flag of Norway Thor-5 Telenor GSO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far
21 February
03:26[13]
Flag of the United States SM-3 Flag of the United StatesUSS Lake ErieTemplate:WP Ships USS instances Flag of the United States US Navy/MDA ASAT US Navy/MDA Sub-orbital ASAT satellite intercept Destroyed
21 February
03:29[13]
Successful Destroyed USA-193 satellite[14][15]
21 February
06:15[11]
Flag of Brazil VSB-30 Flag of Sweden Esrange Flag of Germany/Flag of Europe DLR/ESA Flag of Germany/Flag of Europe TEXUS-45 DLR/ESA Sub-orbital Microgravity research 21 February Successful
23 February
08:55[2]
Flag of Japan H-IIA 2024 Flag of JapanLA-Y, Tanegashima Flag of Japan MHI Flag of Japan WINDS (Kizuna) JAXA/NICT GEO Comsat/Technology Still in orbit Successful so far
26 February
07:28[16]
Flag of India K-15 Flag of India INS Kalinga Flag of India Indian Navy Indian Navy Sub-orbital SLBM test 26 February Successful
9 March
04:03:07[2]
Flag of Europe Ariane 5ES Flag of France ELA-3, CSG (Kourou) Flag of France Arianespace Flag of Europe Jules Verne ATV ESA LEO (ISS) Test spacecraft
Resupply ISS
29 September
13:31
Successful Maiden flight of Ariane 5ES and ATV
11 March
06:28:14[2]
Flag of the United StatesSpace Shuttle Endeavour Flag of the United States LC-39A, Kennedy Flag of the United States USA Flag of the United States STS-123 NASA LEO (ISS) Manned orbital flight 27 March
00:39:08[17]
Successful ISS assembly
7 Astronauts
Flag of Europe/Flag of the United States Spacelab MD002[18] ESA/NASA LEO Transport Dextre Successful Final flight of Spacelab programme[18]Attached to the ISS and Endeavour throughout the mission
Flag of the United NationsJEM ELM-PF JAXA LEO (ISS) ISS module Still in orbit Successful so far First JEM component
Flag of the United NationsDextre (SPDM) MDA LEO (ISS) ISS component Still in orbit Successful so far
13 March
10:02[2]
Flag of the United States Atlas V (411) Flag of the United States SLC-3E, Vandenberg Flag of the United States ULA Flag of the United States USA-200 (NRO L-28/Trumpet-5)[19] US NRO Molniya[19] ELINT[19] Still in orbit Successful so far First Atlas V launch from Vandenberg
14 March
23:18:55[2][20]
Flag of Russia Proton-M/Briz-M Flag of Kazakhstan LC-200/39, Baikonur Flag of Russia/Flag of the United States ILS Flag of the United States AMC-14 SES Americom GSO Comsat Still in orbit Partial failure[21]
still in operation
Upper stage malfunction during second burn left spacecraft in wrong orbit[22][23]
Initial recovery attempted but abandoned due to legal issues.[24][25] Later sold and recovery efforts restarted.[26]
15 March
06:10[27]
Flag of the United States Delta II (7925-9.5) Flag of the United States LC-17A, Canaveral Flag of the United States ULA Flag of the United States USA-201 (GPS IIR-19/M6)[28] US Air Force MEO Navigation Still in orbit Successful so far 80th consecutive successful Delta II launch.[27]
19 March
22:47:59[29]
Flag of Ukraine Zenit-3SL Flag of Norway Ocean Odyssey Flag of the United Nations Sea Launch Flag of the United States DirecTV-11 DirecTV GEO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far
23 March
04:45[30]
Flag of India Agni 1 Flag of IndiaLC-4, Wheeler Island[30] Flag of India Indian Army SFC/DRDO Sub-orbital Missile test 23 March Successful[30]
27 March
17:15[31]
Flag of Russia Kosmos-3M Flag of RussiaLC-132/1,Plesetsk Flag of Germany COSMOS International Flag of Germany SAR-Lupe 4 KSA, Bundeswehr Polar LEO Military reconnaissance Still in orbit Successful so far
28 March Flag of Brazil VSB-30 Flag of Norway Andoya Flag of Norway ARR Flag of Norway Mini-DUSTY 14 ARR Sub-orbital Ionospheric research 28 March Successful
2 April
08:01[32]
Flag of the United States Minuteman III Flag of the United StatesLF-09, Vandenberg Flag of the United States US Air Force Flag of the United StatesGT-196GM US Air Force Sub-orbital ICBM test 2 April Successful Range: 6,759 km (4,200 mi)[32]
8 April
11:16:39[9][33]
Flag of Russia Soyuz-FG Flag of Kazakhstan LC-1/5, Baikonur Flag of Russia RKA Flag of Russia Soyuz TMA-12 RKA LEO (ISS) Manned orbital flight 24 October
03:37[34]
Successful ISS Expedition 17[33]
3 cosmonauts
First South Korean in space[9]
First second-generation cosmonaut[35]
Docked on 10 April at 12:57 GMT[33]
14 April
16:58[36]
Flag of Canada Black Brant IX Flag of the United StatesLC-36, White Sands Flag of the United States NASA Flag of the United States SEE NASA/UoC LASP Sub-orbital Ultraviolet astronomy[37] 14 April
17:08[36]
Successful
14 April
20:12:00[38]
Flag of the United States Atlas V (421) Flag of the United States LC-41, Canaveral Flag of the United States ULA Flag of the United States ICO G1 ICO GSO Mobile communications Still in orbit Successful so far Heaviest single commercial satellite to be placed in GSO.
Heaviest satellite to be launched by an Atlas rocket.[38]
15 April Flag of Israel Blue Sparrow Flag of Israel/Flag of the United States F-15 Eagle, Israel Flag of Israel IAF IAF Sub-orbital Test flight 15 April Successful Maiden flight of Blue Sparrow
16 April
17:01[39]
Flag of the United States Pegasus-XL Flag of the Marshall Islands L-1011, Kwajalein Atoll Flag of the United States Orbital Flag of the United States C/NOFS STP/NASA LEO Electrodynamics Still in orbit Successful so far
18 April
22:17[40]
Flag of Europe Ariane 5-ECA Flag of France ELA-3, CSG (Kourou) Flag of France Arianespace Flag of Vietnam Vinasat-1 VNPT GSO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far First Vietnamese satellite
Flag of Brazil Star One C2 Star One GSO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far
19 April[41][42] Flag of Pakistan Shaheen-II Flag of Pakistan Sonmiani Flag of Pakistan Army of Pakistan[43] Army of Pakistan[43] Sub-orbital IRBM test 19 April Successful
21 April[44] Flag of Pakistan Shaheen-II Flag of Pakistan Sonmiani Flag of Pakistan Army of Pakistan Army of Pakistan Sub-orbital IRBM test 21 April Successful
25 April
15:35[45]
Flag of the People's Republic of China Long March 3C Flag of the People's Republic of ChinaLA-2, Xichang Flag of the People's Republic of China CNSA Flag of the People's Republic of China Tianlian-1 CASC GEO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far Maiden flight of Long March 3C
26 April
22:16:02[46]
Flag of Russia Soyuz-FG/Fregat Flag of Kazakhstan LC-31/6, Baikonur Flag of Europe/Flag of Russia Starsem Flag of Europe GIOVE-B ESA MEO Experimental navigation satellite Still in orbit Successful so far
28 April
03:53:51
[47][48]
Flag of India PSLV-C Flag of IndiaSLP, Sriharikota Flag of India ISRO Flag of India Cartosat-2A[49] ISRO LEO Remote Sensing Still in orbit Successful so far
Flag of India TWSAT[49] ISRO LEO Remote sensing Still in orbit Successful so far
Flag of Canada CanX-2[50] UTIAS LEO Technology[50] Still in orbit Successful so far NSL-4[51]
Flag of Japan Cute-1.7+APD II[52] Tokyo Institute of Technology LEO Technology Still in orbit Successful so far NSL-4[51]
Flag of the Netherlands Delfi-C3[53] Delft University LEO Technology Still in orbit Successful so far NSL-4[51]
Flag of Denmark AAUSAT-II[54] Aalborg University LEO Radiation research[54] Still in orbit Successful so far NSL-4[51]
Flag of Germany COMPASS-1[55] Aachen University LEO Remote sensing
Technology
Still in orbit Successful so far NSL-4[51]
Flag of Japan SEEDS-2[56] Nihon University LEO Technology Still in orbit Successful so far NSL-4[51]
Flag of Canada CanX-6[57] UTIAS/COM DEV LEO Technology Still in orbit Successful so far NSL-5[51]
Flag of Germany RUBIN-8[58] OHB System LEO Technology demonstration Still in orbit Successful so far Attached to upper stage
28 April
05:00[59]
Flag of Ukraine Zenit-3SLB Flag of Kazakhstan LC-45/1, Baikonur Flag of the United Nations Land Launch Flag of Israel AMOS-3 (AMOS-60) SCL GSO Comsat Still in orbit Successful so far First Land Launch flight
Maiden flight of Zenit-3SLB.
Placed in incorrect orbit due to carrier rocket underperformance.[60] Corrected by satellite through use of spare fuel, without affecting operational life.
1 May
05:30[61][62]
Flag of Canada Black Brant IX Flag of the United StatesLC-36, White Sands Flag of the United States NASA NASA/JHU Sub-orbital Ultraviolet astronomy 1 May
05:40
Successful
7 May
04:26[63][64]
Flag of India Agni-III Flag of IndiaLC-4, ITR Flag of India Indian Army SFC/DRDO Sub-orbital Missile test 7 May
04:41
Successful
8 May Flag of the United States Trident D-5 Flag of the United StatesUSS NebraskaTemplate:WP Ships USS instances Flag of the United States US Navy US Navy Sub-orbital SLBM test 8 May Successful
8 May Flag of the United States Trident D-5 Flag of the United StatesUSS NebraskaTemplate:WP Ships USS instances Flag of the United States US Navy US Navy Sub-orbital SLBM test 8 May Successful
14 May
20:22:54
[65][66]
Flag of Russia Soyuz-U Flag of Kazakhstan LC-1/5, Baikonur Flag of Russia RKA Flag of Russia Progress M-64 RKA LEO (ISS) Resupply ISS 8 September[67] Successful
15 May
04:00
[68][69][70]
Flag of Brazil VSB-30 Flag of Sweden Esrange Flag of Sweden/Flag of Germany SSC/DLR Flag of Sweden/Flag of Europe MASER-11 SSC/ESA Sub-orbital Microgravity research 15 May Successful[70] Apogee: 252 km (157 mi)[70]
21 May
09:43[71]
Flag of Ukraine Zenit-3SL Flag of Norway Ocean Odyssey