2010 in Review

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This graph shows the number of rockets (in white) and spacecrafts (in green) launched every year since 1957. In average, 96 rockets are launched every year, carrying 132 spacecrafts. Note that these numbers were much higher in the 1960s-1980s. During the last decade, some 65 rockets were launched yearly, carrying 106 spacecrafts. For the year 2010, 74 rockets were launched, carrying 129 spacecrafts.

Overview

Spacecraft Launched

How many spacecrafts
were launched?

In 2010, 129 spacecrafts were launched, the same number as the previous year, and 23 more than the last ten years average.

. Year
2010 Pre-
vious Last
Ten

Total 129 = +23

. . . .

Civilian 80 -13 +2½

Military 49 +13 +12

This graph shows that 116 spacecrafts were launched In 2006, compared to 129 in 2010.
..

Spacecraft's Nationality

For whom these space-
crafts were launched?

.	Year 2010	Pre- vious	Last Ten
Russian	27	-2	+4
American	25	-3	+2
Chinese	18	+13	+10
European	10	-7	-2
Japanese	6	=	+1
Indian	3	=	=
Canadian	0	-2	-1
Israelian	1	+1	=
Other Gov.	9	=	+2
Commercial	20	+3	+4
Amateur	13	-3	+3

This graph shows that more than half of the spacecrafts launched during 2010 were sponsored by Russia, the United States and China .
..

Failures

How many failure had
occured during the year?

•	4 launchers failed
•	8 spacecrafts were lost

In 2010, four rockets failed, India looses two of its three SLV launchers, Korea its second KSLV and Russia one of its Proton boosters. These launch failures were responsible for six satellites loses. In addition, Eutelsat's W3B fell victim of a significant propellant leak, and the Japanese Planet-C probe failed to enter Venus’ orbit.

Missions

Civilian Spacecrafts

For what purpose 80 civilian spacecrafts were launched?

.	Number	Percent
Exploration:	.	.
• Piloted Flight	12	9.3%
• Sciences	2	1.6%
• Biology	1	0.8%
• Planetary	4	1.6%
• Astronomy	1	1.8%
Applications:	.	.
• Communications	27	20.9%
• Meteorology	3	2.3%
• Remote Sensing	5	3.9%
• Navigation	1	0.8%
R & D:	.	.
• Amateur	10	7.8%
• Technology	16	12.4%
.	.	.
Total	80	62.0%

Military Satellites

For what purpose 49 military satellites were launched?

.	Number	Percent
Applications:	.	.
• Surveillance	8	6.2%
• Early Warning	1	0.8%
• Electronic Int.	0	1.6%
• Nuclear Mon.	0	0%
• Ocean Survey	3	2.3%
Services:	.	.
• Communications	8	6.2%
• Navigation	10	12.4%
• Radar Calib.	0	0%
• Meteorology	0	0%
R & D:	.	.
• Space Defense	1	0.8%
• Antisatellite	0	0%
• Piloted Flight	0	0%
• Sci. & Tech.	12	9.3%
.	.	.
Total	49	38.0%

Spacecraft Categories

To which categories are
related these spacecrafts?

.	Year 2010	Pre- vious	Laet Ten
Civilian:	.	.	.
• Exploration	18	-10	-5
• Applications	36	+2	=
• R & D	26	-5	+7
.	.	.	.
Military:	.	.	.
• Applications	12	+2	+2
• Services	24	+6	+11½
• R & D	13	+5	+7

This graph shows that 62% of the 129 spacecrafts launched in 2010 were of civilian nature.

Launch

Rockets Launched

How many rockets
were launched?

.	Number	Percent
Russian	31	41.9%
American	15	20.3%
Chinese	15	20.3%
European	6	8.1%
Japanese	2	2.7%
Indian	3	4.1%
Israel	1	1.4%
S. Korea	1	1.4%
.	.	.
Total	74	100%

This graph shows that 68 rockets were launched In 2008, compared to 74 in 2010.

Launch Evolution

. How many rockets were launched compared to previous years? .

.	2010	Pre- vious	Last Ten
Russian	31	-2	+2
American	15	-9	-3½
European	6	-1	-1
Chinese	15	+11	+8½
Japanese	2	-1	=
Indian	3	+1	+1½
Other	2	=	+1½
.	.	.	.
Total	74	-3	+8

Explanation: “In 2010, Russia launched 31 rockets, 2 less than the previous year, but 2 more than the previous ten years average.” .

Satellite launched by

Which countries laun-
ched these spacecrafts?

.	Number	Percent
Russia	47	36.4%
U.S.A.	34	26.4%
Chinese	20	15.5%
Europe	12	9.2%
Japan	7	5.4%
India	7	5.4%
Other	2	1.5%
.	.	.
Total	129	100%

Explanation: “In 2010, Russia launched 47 of the 129 spacecrafts, or 36%, launched during the year." .

This graph shows that more thant 60% of all spacecrafts launched during 2010 were made by Russian and American rockets.

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