In 2007, we observed that:

•	Russia launched the greatest number of rockets (27 of the 68) and spacecrafts (53 of the 123), as it did in previous years.
•	United States launched the same amount of rockets (19) as it did in 2006 and about the same number of payloads (34, compared to 38 in 2006).
•	China launched a record number of satellites (11), including its first planetary (lunar) probe.
•	Europe launched about the same number of satellites (12) as it did in 2006.
•	Japan launched only 2 rockets and 5 payloads, including its first trio of lunar probes.

Who Sponsored What?

Of the 123 spacecrafts launched this year, 32 were American, 20 were commercial, 18 Russian, 9 European, 9 Chinese, 7 Japanese, 6 Saudian, 5 Indian, 2 Canadian and there were 9 amateur/student-built satellites. There were also 1 Brazilian, 1 Israelian, 1 Indonesian, 1 Egyptian, 1 Nigerian and 1 Pan-african satellites.

Civilian vs. Military Spacecrafts
        84 of the 123 spacecrafts launched during 2007 were civilian – which represents 68% of the total – and 39 were military. From 1960 to 1990, two-third of all spacecrafts launched were military, but since 1995, the majority are civilian. Nevertheless, 55.75% of all spacecrafts ever launched are military. (See Table 4.)

For What Purpose?

Of the 84 civilian spacecrafts, 32 provided communications services, 18 were for technology R&D, 9 were part of piloted programs, 6 studied Earth and space environment, 6 explored the Solar System and 1 observed the Universe. There were also 10 satellites for Earth remote sensing, 2 for material processing, and 9 were built by students.
Of the 39 military satellites, 9 were for ground surveillance with photo and radar as 2 other scout the ocean, 11 provided navigation aids, 1 was a listening devices (elint), 5 relayed communications, 2 provide missile early warning, 1 was an antisatellite testbed and 8 were for science & technology research.

The Year of the Radar satellites

2007 also marks the year in which Earth remote sensing by radar – which provide capabilities to view the ground in all weather conditions during night and day – came to its age with the launch of 9 satellites for 5 countries (see list at right).  Since those satellites could be used as well as for civilian and military purpose, it is sometime difficult to distinguish their true nature.

2007 Radar Satellites: • IGS Radar-2 Japan • Haiyang 1B / HY-1B China • COSMO-Skymed 1 Italy • TerraSAR-X Germany • SAR-Lupe 2 Germany • SAR-Lupe 3 Germany • Yaogan III China  • COSMO SkyMed-2 Italy • Radarsat 2 Canada

 

Space Failures
     In 2007, there were three major failures -- NSS 8, DemoFlight 2 and JCSAT 11 --, three satellites lost during launch phase. There was also a partial launch failure which put two secret satellites (NROL-30) in lower-thatn-planned orbit. But it is report that these crafts were probably able to achieve their intentedorbit.  Finally, the YES-2 / Fotino experiment final outcome remained unknown.  We may also note that NASA was unable to launch four Space Shuttle as intended, for multiple tecunical reasons.

Launcher Statistics
 

The 123 spacecrafts launched during 2007 were carried by 68 rockets. 27 of which were Russian (40%), 19 were American, 10 were Chinese, 6 were European, 3 were Indian, 2 were Japanese and 1 was Israelian. (See Spacecrafts/Launches Summary below.)

Come Fly With Us

Russian rockets launched 53 of the 123 spacecrafts (43%), American rockets carried 34 payloads, European Ariane orbited 12 spacecrafts, Chinese Chang Zheng propelled 11 spacecrafts, as India's SLV transported 7 spacecrafts, Japanese launchers H-II carried 5 payloads and Israelian  iyt carried one.

Payloads Tonnage

Some 270 tons of payloads were put into space during 2007. Of this, Russia orbited 38% of the tonnage, United States 33%, Europe 16%, as China and Japan orbited 9 and 2% and India 1% (see table at right).      If we add the weight of the three Space Shuttle Orbiters flown by NASA, the total tonnage orbited more than double (to 610 tons) and then the United States would be credited for orbiting the two-thirds of this mass.       See 2006 Payloads Weights Orbited below.

Launch Provider Number of Payloads Total Weight Orbited % of Total Russia 53 102 tons 38 % United States 34 89 tons* 33 % Europe 12 43½ tons 16 % Japan 5 5 tons 2 % China 11 25½ tons 9½ % India 5 4 tons 1« % Israel 1 0,3 tons 0,1 % Total 270 tons Lost Payloads (at launch) 3 4 tons * Not counting the 342 tons orbited as three Space Shutlle Orbiters

 

Launch Failures
        There were 3 launch failures this year: a Zenit exploded on its platform with its NSS 8 satellite, the second Falcon-1 failed during lift-off as well as a Proton carrying JCSAT 11. This represents a 96% rate of success, which is better than the average 91.5 % success cumulated from 1957 to 2006. (See Table 11 - Launchers Ranking.)

Launcher Scorecard

    Of the 68 launches accomplished during 2007:

•	The Russian Soyuz launcher score 12 successes in 12 launches.
•	The Chinese Chang Zheng score 10 successes in 10 launches.
•	The American Delta score 9 successes in 9 launches.
•	The Russian Proton score 6 successes in 7 launches.
•	The European Ariane score 6 successes in 6 launches.
•	The American Atlas score 4 successes in 4 launches.
•	The American Space Shuttle, the Russian Kosmos 3M & Dnepr and Indian SLV each score 3 successes in 3 launches.
•	The Japanese H-2A score 2 successes in 2 launches.
•	The Russian Zenit score 1 success in 2 launches.
•	The American Pegasus & Minotaur, as well as the Israelian Shaviyt each score 1 success in 1 launch.
•	The American Falcon score its second consecutive failure.

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Summary of Spacecrafts Launched in 2007