Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes

This timeline of artificial satellites and space probes includes unmanned spacecraft including technology demonstrators, observatories, lunar probes, and interplanetary probes. First satellites from each country are included. Not included are most Earth science satellites, commercial satellites or manned missions.

Timeline
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

1950s
Year DateOriginName Launch vehicleStatusDescription Mass
1957 October 4 Soviet UnionSputnik 1 Sputnik-PSSuccessThe first human-made object to orbit Earth. 83.6 kg (183.9 lb)
November 3 Soviet UnionSputnik 2 Sputnik-PSSuccessThe first satellite to carry a living animal, a dog named Laika. 508 kg (1,118 lb)
December 6 USAVanguard 1A Vanguard TV-3FailedThe first stage engine was improperly started, causing the vehicle to fall back to the launch pad immediately after launch and explode.[1] 1.36 kg (2.99 lb)
1958 January 31 USAExplorer 1 Juno ISuccessThe first American satellite in space.[1] 13.91 kg (30.66 lb)
February 5 USAVanguard 1B Vanguard TV-3BUFailedControl failure caused vehicle breakup at T+57 seconds as vehicle exceeded an angle of attack of 45° due to a control system malfunction.[1] 1.36 kg (2.99 lb)
March 5 USAExplorer 2 Juno IFailedFailed to orbit. Fourth stage did not ignite.[1] 14.52 kg (31.94 lb)
March 17 USAVanguard 1C Vanguard TV-4SuccessVanguard 1. Expected to de-orbit in ~2240AD, this and its upper launch stage are the oldest human-made objects in space. Also the first use of solar cells to power a satellite.[1] 1.47 kg (3.25 lb)
March 26 USAExplorer 3 Juno ISuccessAdded to data received by Explorer 1.[1] 14.1 kg (31.0 lb)
April 27 Soviet UnionSputnik 3 Sputnik 89A1FailedRocket engine failure at 12 – 15 km.[2] 1,327 kg (2,926 lb)
April 29 USAVanguard 2A Vanguard TV-5FailedSecond stage shutdown sequence not completed, preventing proper 3rd stage separation and firing. Did not reach orbit.[1] 9.98 kg (21.96 lb)
May 15 Soviet UnionSputnik 3 SputnikSuccessContained 12 instruments for a wide range of upper atmosphere tests. 1,327 kg (2,926 lb)
May 28 USAVanguard 2B Vanguard SLV-1FailedThe first production model of the series. Nominal flight until a guidance error was encountered on second stage burnout. Did not reach orbit.[1] 9.98 kg (21.96 lb)
June 26  USA Vanguard 2C Vanguard SLV-2 Failed Premature second stage cutoff prevented third stage operation. Did not reach orbit.[1] 9.98 kg (21.96 lb)
July 26  USA Explorer 4 Juno I Success Expanded data set of previous Explorer missions and collected data from Argus high-altitude nuclear explosions.[1] 11.7 kg (25.8 lb)
August 17  USA Pioneer 0 Thor-Able 1 Failed Failed to orbit. First stage engine failure caused explosion at T+77 seconds. 38 kg (84 lb)
August 24  USA Explorer 5 Juno I Failed On-board instruments damaged on first stage separation. Failed to orbit.[1] 11.7 kg (25.8 lb)
September 26  USA Vanguard 2D Vanguard SLV-3 Failed Second stage under-performed, lacking only ~76 m/s (~250 fps) required to achieve orbit.[1] 10.6 kg (23.3 lb)
October 11 USAPioneer 1 Thor-Able 1Partial SuccessFirst spacecraft launched by NASA. Studied Earth's magnetic fields. Third stage provided insufficient thrust to reach the Moon, leaving it sub-orbital.[3] 38 kg (84 lb)
October 22  USA Beacon 1 Jupiter-C Failed A thin plastic sphere (12-feet in diameter) intended to study atmosphere density.[3] Payload dropped due to rotational vibrations.[1] 4.2 kg (9.2 lb)
November 8  USA Pioneer 2 Thor-Able 1 Failed Briefly provided further data on Earth's magnetic field. Third stage provided insufficient thrust to reach the vicinity of the Moon.[3] 38 kg (83 lb)
December 6  USA Pioneer 3 Juno II Partial Success Did not reach moon as intended, but discovered a second radiation belt around Earth.[3] 5.9 kg (13.0 lb)
1959 January 2 Soviet UnionLuna 1 LunaPartial successThe first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon, and the first spacecraft to be placed in heliocentric orbit. 361 kg (794.2 lb)
February 17 USAVanguard 2E Vanguard SLV-4SuccessVanguard 2. Measured cloud cover. First attempted photo of Earth from a satellite; precession motion resulted in difficulty interpreting data (see first images of Earth from space).[3] 10.8 kg (23.7 lb)
March 3  USA Pioneer 4 Juno II Success Passed within 60,030 km (37,300 mi) of the Moon into a heliocentric orbit, returning excellent radiation data.[3] 6.1 kg (13.4 lb)
April 13 USAVanguard 3A Vanguard SLV-5FailedFailed to orbit. Second stage hydraulics failure led to loss of control, damaged at launch. Two spheres included as payload.[3] 10.3 kg (22.7 lb)
June 22 USAVanguard 3B Vanguard SLV-6FailedFailed to orbit. Second stage exploded due to stuck helium vent valve. Intended to measure weather effects related to solar-Earth heating processes.[3] 10.3 kg (22.7 lb)
July 16  USA Explorer S-1 Juno II Failed Did not achieve orbit. Guidance system power malfunction. Destroyed by range safety officer at T+5.5s.[3] 41.5 kg (91.3 lb)
August 7  USA Explorer 6 Thor-Able 3 Success Included instruments to study particles and meteorology.[3] 64.4 kg (141.7 lb)
August 14  USA Beacon 2 Juno II Failed Premature cutoff of first stage caused upper stage malfunction.[3] 4.5 kg (9.9 lb)
September 12 Soviet UnionLuna 2 LunaSuccessThe first spacecraft to reach the surface of the Moon, and the first human-made object to land on another celestial body. 390.2 kg (858.4 lb)
September 18 USAVanguard 3 Vanguard TV-4BUSuccessIncorporated Allegany Ballistics Laboratory X248 A2 as third stage.[1] Solar-powered sphere measured radiation belts and micrometeorite impacts.[3] 22.7 kg (50.0 lb)
October 4 Soviet UnionLuna 3 LunaSuccessThe first mission to photograph the far side of the Moon. 278.5 kg (614 lb)
October 13 USAExplorer 7 Juno IISuccessProvided data on energetic particles, radiation, and magnetic storms. Also recorded the first micrometeorite penetration of a sensor.[3] 41.5 kg (69.4 lb)
November 26  USA Pioneer P-3 Atlas-Able 20 Failed Lunar orbiter probe; payload shroud broke away after 45 seconds.[3] 168.7 kg (371.1 lb)

1960s
Year Launch dateOriginName Launch vehicleTargetStatusDescription
1960 March 11 USAPioneer 5 Thor-AbleSunSuccessSolar monitor. Measured magnetic field phenomena, solar flare particles, and ionization in the interplanetary region[4]
May 15 Soviet UnionKorabl-Sputnik 1 Vostok-LEarthSuccessFirst test flight of the Soviet Vostok programme, and the first Vostok spacecraft
August 19 Soviet UnionKorabl-Sputnik 2 Vostok-LEarthSuccessFirst spaceflight to send animals into orbit and return them safely back to Earth
1961 August 23  USA Ranger 1 Atlas-Agena Moon Failure Rocket malfunction caused the spacecraft to get stranded in low earth orbit.[5]
November 18  USA Ranger 2 Atlas-Agena Moon Failure Booster rocket malfunction caused spacecraft to be trapped in low earth orbit.[6]
1962 January 26  USA Ranger 3 Atlas-Agena Moon Failure NASA's first attempt to land a spacecraft on the moon. A series of malfunctions caused spacecraft to hurtle past the moon.[7]
April 23  USA Ranger 4 Atlas-Agena Moon Mostly Failure Was the first U.S. spacecraft to reach another celestial body. Failure in the onboard computer prevented it from carrying out its scientific objectives.[8]
April 26 UKAriel 1 Thor-DeltaEarthSuccessFirst British satellite in space (on American rocket)
July 10 USATelstar 1 Thor-DeltaEarthSuccessCommunication satellite
July 22  USA Mariner 1 Atlas-Agena Venus Failure Software related guidance system failure, range safety officer ordered destroyed after 294.5 seconds after launch.
August 27 USAMariner 2 Atlas-AgenaVenusSuccessFirst spacecraft to visit another planet
September 29 CanadaAlouette 1 Thor-Agena EarthSuccessFirst Canadian satellite (on American rocket), first satellite not constructed by the US or USSR
October 18  USA Ranger 5 Atlas-Agena Moon Failure Malfunction in the spacecraft's batteries caused them to drain after 8 hours, leaving it inoperable.[9]
1963 First pair - October 17 USAVela 1A and Vela 1B Atlas-AgenaEarthSuccessSeries of satellites to monitor compliance to the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty
1964 December 15 ItalySan Marco 1 Scout X-4EarthSuccessFirst Italian satellite (on American rocket)
February 2  USA Ranger 6 Atlas-Agena Moon Success Lunar impactor. Successful impact but power failure resulted in no pictures.
July 31  USA Ranger 7 Atlas-Agena Moon Success Lunar impactor. Returned pictures until impact.
1965 February 2  USA Ranger 8 Atlas-Agena Moon Success Lunar impactor. Returned pictures until impact.
February 20  USA Ranger 9 Atlas-Agena Moon Success Lunar impactor. Live TV broadcast until impact.
November 26 FranceAsterix Diamant AEarthSuccessFirst French satellite. First orbital launch outside U.S and Soviet Union.
November 28 USAMariner 4 Atlas-AgenaMarsSuccessFirst deep space photographs of another planet and first flyby of Mars
November 29 CanadaAlouette 2 Thor-AgenaEarthSuccessResearch satellite designed to explore Earth's ionosphere
December 16  USA Pioneer 6 Delta E Sun Success A series of solar-orbiting, spin-stabilized, solar-cell and battery-powered satellites designed to obtain measurements on a continuing basis of interplanetary phenomena from widely separated points in space.[10]
1966 January 31 Soviet UnionLuna 9 Molniya MMoonSuccessFirst spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, or any planetary body other than Earth, and to transmit photographic data to Earth from the surface of another planetary body.
February 17  France Diapason Diamant A Earth Success Earth measurement by doppler radio measure
June 2  USA Surveyor 1 Atlas-Centaur Moon Success First US soft landing; Surveyor program performed various tests in support of forthcoming manned landings.[11]
July 1  USA Explorer 33 Delta E1 Earth Partial Success Was intended to orbit the moon but instead orbited the earth. Explored solar winds, interplanetary plasma, and solar X-rays.
August 10  USA Lunar Orbiter 1 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D Moon Success First US spacecraft to orbit the Moon. Designed to photograph smooth areas of the lunar surface for selecting landing sites.
August 17  USA Pioneer 7 Delta E1 Sun Success A series of solar-orbiting, spin-stabilized, solar-cell and battery-powered satellites designed to obtain measurements on a continuing basis of interplanetary phenomena from widely separated points in space.[10]
September 20  USA Surveyor 2 Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D Moon Failure Lunar Lander. A failure in one of its three thrusters caused it to lose control and crash into the moon.[12]
November 6  USA Lunar Orbiter 2 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D Moon Success Designed to photograph smooth areas of the lunar surface to identify landing sites.
1967 February 8  France Diadème 1 Diamant A Earth Partial Success Orbit slightly too low, considered a partial failure by the booster team. Earth measurement by doppler radio and laser ranging from the ground.
February 15  France Diadème 2 Diamant A Earth Success Earth measurement by doppler radio and laser ranging from the ground.
April 17  USA Surveyor 3 Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D Moon Success Second successful lunar surface lander. Conducted experiments to see how the lunar surface would fare against the weight of an Apollo lunar module.[13]
May 5  UK Ariel 3 Scout A Earth Success First entirely British built satellite
July 14  USA Surveyor 4 Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D Moon Failure Despite a perfect flight to the moon, communications was lost 2.5 minutes prior to landing. NASA concluded the spacecraft may have exploded.[14]
September 8  USA Surveyor 5 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D Moon Success Lunar lander. First spacecraft to do a soil analysis of any world. Returned more than 20,000 photos.[15]
November 7  USA Surveyor 6 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D Moon Success Lunar lander. First spacecraft to be launched from the surface of the moon. It lifted itself to a height of about 3 meters.[16]
November 29 AustraliaWRESAT SpartaEarthSuccessFirst Australian satellite (on American rocket) launched from Woomera, Australia.
December 13  USA Pioneer 8 Delta E1 Sun Success A series of solar-orbiting, spin-stabilized, solar-cell and battery-powered satellites designed to obtain measurements on a continuing basis of interplanetary phenomena from widely separated points in space.[10]
1968 January 7  USA Surveyor 7 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D Moon Success Lunar lander. Only spacecraft in the series to land in the lunar highland region and had the most extensive set of instruments.[17]
November 8  USA Pioneer 9 Delta E1 Sun Success A series of solar-orbiting, spin-stabilized, solar-cell and battery-powered satellites designed to obtain measurements on a continuing basis of interplanetary phenomena from widely separated points in space.[10]
1969 January 30 CanadaISIS 1 Delta E1EarthSuccessInternational Satellites for Ionospheric Studies (ISIS)
February 25  USA Mariner 6 Atlas SLV-3D Agena-D1A Mars Success Mars probe attempting to study the surface and atmosphere of Mars during close flybys to establish a basis for further investigations.[18]
March 27  USA Mariner 7 Atlas SLV-3D Agena-D1A Mars Success Mars probe attempting to study the surface and atmosphere of Mars during close flybys to establish a basis for further investigations.[19]
November 8  West Germany Azur / (GRS A) (German Research Satellite) Scout B S169C Earth Success The scientific mission was to: scan the energy spectra of inner zone protons and electrons; measure the fluxes of electrons of energy greater than 40 keV that are parallel, anti-parallel, and perpendicular to the magnetic lines of force over the auroral zone, and measure associated optical emission; and record solar protons on alert.[20]

1970s
YearOriginNameTargetStatusDescription
1970 JapanOhsumiEarthSuccessFirst Japanese satellite
 West Germany DIAL Earth Success Second German satellite. Launch by a French Diamant B from Kourou
 Soviet UnionVenera 7VenusSuccessFirst successful landing of a spacecraft on another planet
 Soviet UnionLuna 16MoonSuccessLander is the first automated return of samples from the Moon
 Soviet UnionZond 8MoonSuccessFlyby
 Soviet UnionLuna 17/Lunokhod 1MoonSuccessLander/rover is the first automated surface exploration of the Moon
 France PEOLE Earth Success First French communication satellite.
 UKOrba (satellite)EarthFailureSecond stage of rocket shutdown 13 seconds early
 USAUhuruEarthSuccessFirst dedicated X-ray astronomy satellite
 ChinaDong Fang Hong IEarthSuccessFirst Chinese satellite
1971 Soviet UnionLuna 18MoonFailureLander
 Soviet UnionLuna 19MoonSuccessOrbiter
 USAMariner 8MarsFailureOrbiter. Lost due to launch failure.
 France Tournesol Earth Success First French satellite with active attitude control. Hydrogen measurement.
 France Polaire Earth Failure Second stage explosion
 Soviet UnionCosmos 419MarsFailureProbe
 Soviet UnionMars 2MarsPartial FailureOrbiter and lander, created the first human artifact on Mars
 Soviet UnionMars 3MarsPartial SuccessOrbiter and lander, first successful landing on Mars
 USAMariner 9MarsSuccessOrbiter, first pictures of Mars' moons (Phobos and Deimos) taken
 CanadaISIS 2EarthSuccess
 JapanShinseiEarthPartial successFirst Japanese science satellite
 UKProspero X-3EarthSuccessSatellite, first satellite launched by Britain using a British rocket
 UKAriel 4EarthSuccess
1972 Soviet UnionVenera 8VenusSuccessLander
 Soviet UnionLuna 20MoonSuccessLander
 USA/ UKCopernicus – Orbiting Astronomical Observatory-3EarthSuccess
 USAPioneer 10JupiterSuccessFirst spacecraft to encounter Jupiter
 USAExplorer 49SunSuccessSolar probe
1973 USAMariner 10Venus/MercurySuccessIt passed by and photographed Mercury, also was the first dual planet probe
 USAPioneer 11Jupiter/SaturnSuccessFirst spacecraft to encounter Saturn
 France Castor Pollux Earth Failure Reached orbit but the fairing failed to deploy, failing the launch
 Soviet UnionLuna 21/Lunokhod 2MoonSuccessLander/rover
 Soviet UnionMars 4MarsFailureOrbiter
 Soviet UnionMars 5MarsSuccessOrbiter
 Soviet UnionMars 6MarsFailureOrbiter and lander
 Soviet UnionMars 7MarsFailureOrbiter and lander
1974 West GermanyHelios 1SunSuccessSolar probe
 Soviet UnionLuna 22MoonSuccessOrbiter
 Soviet UnionLuna 23MoonFailureProbe
 UKAriel 5EarthSuccessX-ray satellite
1975 Soviet UnionVenera 9VenusSuccessReturns the first pictures of the surface of Venus
 Soviet UnionVenera 10VenusSuccessOrbiter and lander
 France Starlette Earth Success Laser reflector for earth based measurement
 France Castor Pollux Earth Success Castor tested a new accelerometer, Pollux tested hydrazine based thrusters
 France Aura Earth Success Far-ultraviolet measurement of the sun. Last launch of the Diamant rocket.
 USAViking 1MarsSuccessOrbiter and lander; lands on Mars 1976
 USAViking 2MarsSuccessOrbiter and lander; lands on Mars 1976
 IndiaAryabhataEarthSuccessLaunched by USSR, the first Indian satellite
1976 West GermanyHelios 2SunSuccessSolar probe
 Soviet UnionLuna 24MoonSuccessLander
 Canada/ USA/ EuropeCommunications Technology SatelliteEarthSuccessPrototype for testing direct broadcast satellite television on the Ku band
 Netherlands/ USAAstronomische Nederlandse Satelliet (ANS)EarthSuccessDiscovered X-ray bursts, first Dutch satellite (with US contributions)[21]
 USAOrbiting Solar ObservatorySunSuccessX-ray satellite shows that X-ray bursts have blackbody spectra
1977 USAHEAO-1EarthSuccessX-ray satellite
 Soviet UnionKosmos 954EarthSuccessReconnaissance satellites
1978 USAPioneer Venus 1VenusSuccessOrbiter
 USAPioneer Venus 2VenusSuccessAtmospheric probe
 Soviet UnionVenera 11VenusPartial SuccessFlyby and lander
 Soviet UnionVenera 12VenusSuccessFlyby and lander
 USA/ UK/ EuropeInternational Ultraviolet ExplorerEarthSuccess
 USAHEAO-2EarthSuccessFirst X-ray photographs of astronomical objects
 CzechoslovakiaMagion 1EarthSuccessFirst satellite for Czechoslovakia
1979 IndiaSatellite Launch VehicleFailureIndia's first rocket launched
 JapanHakuchoEarthSuccessX-ray satellite
 UKAriel 6EarthSuccessCosmic-ray and X-ray satellite
 USAVoyager 1 Voyager 2JupiterSuccessSent back images of Jupiter and its system
 IndiaBhaskara-1EarthSuccessLaunched by ISRO (First Indian low orbit Earth Observation Satellite)

1980s
YearOriginNameTargetStatusDescription
1980 USASolar Maximum MissionSunFailureSolar Maximum Mission solar probe succeeded after being repaired in Earth orbit
1981 IndiaBhaskara-2EarthSuccessBhaskara-2 satellite; launched on Russian Kosmos-3M rocket for ISRO
1981 Soviet UnionVenera 13VenusSuccessVenera 13 launched, it returned the first colour pictures of the surface of Venus
1981 Soviet UnionVenera 14VenusSuccessVenera 14 flyby and lander
1981 BulgariaBulgaria 1300EarthSuccessBulgaria 1300, polar research mission, was Bulgaria's first artificial satellite; launched by the Soviet Union
1983 Soviet UnionVenera 15VenusSuccessVenera 15 orbiter
1983 Soviet UnionVenera 16VenusSuccessVenera 16 orbiter
1983 EuropeEXOSATEarthSuccessLaunch of the EXOSAT X-ray satellite
1983 JapanTenmaEarthSuccessLaunch of the Tenma X-ray satellite (ASTRO-B)
1983 USA /  Netherlands /  UKIRASEarthSuccessLaunch of the IRAS satellite
1984 Soviet UnionVega 1Venus/Halley's CometSuccessVega 1 flyby, atmospheric probe and lander
1984 Soviet UnionVega 2Venus/Halley's CometSuccessVega 2 flyby, atmospheric probe and lander
1985 MexicoMorelos IEarthSuccessMorelos I, the first Mexican satellite
1986 EuropeGiottoHalley's CometSuccessGiotto flyby
1986 USAVoyager 2UranusSuccessVoyager 2 sent back images of Uranus and its system
1987 JapanGingaEarthSuccessLaunch of the Ginga X-ray satellite (ASTRO-C)
1988 Soviet UnionPhobos 1MarsFailurePhobos 1 orbiter and lander
1988 Soviet UnionPhobos 2MarsPartial FailurePhobos 2 flyby and lander
1988 IsraelOfeq 1EarthSuccessOfeq 1 first Israeli satellite, first satellite to be launched in retrograde orbit
1989 USAMagellanVenusSuccessMagellan orbiter launched which mapped 99 percent of the surface of Venus (300 m resolution)
1989 USA /  West GermanyGalileoVenus/Earth/Moon/Gaspra/Ida/JupiterSuccessGalileo flyby, orbiter and atmospheric probe
1989 USAVoyager 2NeptuneSuccessVoyager 2 sent back images of Neptune and its system
1989 EuropeHipparcosEarthSuccessLaunch of the Hipparcos satellite
1989 USACOBEEarthSuccessLaunch of the COBE satellite
1989 Soviet UnionGranatEarthSuccessLaunch of the Granat gamma-ray and X-ray satellite

1990s
YearOriginNameTargetStatusDescription
1990 USA/ EuropeUlyssesSunSuccessUlysses solar flyby
1990 JapanHitenMoonSuccessHiten probe, this was the first non-United States or USSR probe to reach the Moon
1990 USA/ EuropeHubble Space TelescopeEarthSuccessLaunch of the Hubble Space Telescope
1990 GermanyROSATEarthSuccessLaunch of the ROSAT X-ray satellite to conduct the first imaging X-ray sky survey
1991 JapanYohkohSunSuccessYohkoh solar probe
1991 USACompton Gamma-Ray ObservatoryEarthSuccessLaunch of the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory satellite
1992 USAMars ObserverMarsFailureMars Observer orbiter
1993 JapanASCAEarthSuccessLaunch of the ASCA (ASTRO-D) X-ray satellite
1994 USAClementineMoonSuccessClementine orbiter mapped the surface of the Moon (resolution 125–150 m) and allowed the first accurate relief map of the Moon to be generated
1995 MexicoUnamsat 1EarthFailureUnamsat 1, First UNAM built orbiter
1995 EuropeISOEarthSuccessLaunch of the Infrared Space Observatory
1995 Europe/ USASOHOSunSuccessSOHO solar probe
1996 USANEAR Shoemaker433 ErosSuccessNEAR Shoemaker asteroid flybys/orbiter/lander
1996 USAMars Global SurveyorMarsSuccessMars Global Surveyor orbiter
1996 USAMars PathfinderMarsSuccessMars Pathfinder, the first automated surface exploration of another planet
1996 RussiaMars 96MarsFailureMars 96 orbiter and lander
1996 ArgentinaSAC-BEarthFailureSac-B Orbiter
1997 USA/ EuropeCassini-HuygensSaturn and TitanSuccessCassini-Huygens arrived in orbit on July 1, 2004, landed on Titan January 14, 2005
1997 ArgentinaNahuel 1AEarthSuccessNahuel 1A First Argentine satellite - geostationary communications satellites
1998 North KoreaKwangmyongsong-1EarthUnknownClaimed launch of Kwangmyongsong-1 by North Korea though no independent source was able to verify its existence
1998 USALunar ProspectorMoonSuccessLunar Prospector orbiter
1998 JapanNozomiMarsFailureNozomi (Planet B) orbiter, the first Japanese spacecraft to reach another planet
1998 USAMars Climate OrbiterMarsFailureMars Climate Orbiter
1998 Argentina /  USASAC-AEarthSuccessSac-A Orbiter
1999 USAMars Polar LanderMarsFailureMars Polar Lander
1999 USADeep Space 2MarsFailureDeep Space 2 (DS2) penetrators
1999 USAChandraEarthSuccessLaunch of the Chandra X-ray Observatory
1999 EuropeXMM-NewtonEarthSuccessLaunch of the X-Ray Multi-Mirror Mission, XMM-Newton

2000s
YearOriginNameTargetStatusDescription
2000 UKSNAP-1EarthSuccessSNAP-1 robotic camera enabling images to be sent to other spacecraft orbiting the Earth
2000 ArgentinaSAC-CEarthSuccessSAC-C Orbiter
2001 USAGenesisSunPartial SuccessGenesis solar wind sample crash-landed on return
2001 USAWMAPEarthSuccessWilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) performs cosmological observations.
2001 USAMars OdysseyMarsSuccessMars Odyssey
2001 EuropePROBA-1EarthSuccessPROBA-1 Small satellite to observe the Earth (first Belgian Satellite)
2003 CanadaMOSTEarthSuccessMOST the smallest space telescope in orbit.
2002 USACONTOURComet EnckeFailureCONTOUR launched, but lost during early trajectory insertion.
2002 Europe/ Russia/ USAINTEGRALEarthSuccessLaunch of the INTEGRAL gamma-ray satellite.
2003 EuropeSmart 1MoonSuccessSmart 1 orbiter
2003 EuropeMars Express & Beagle 2MarsPartial SuccessMars Express orbiter (successfully reached orbit) and failed Beagle 2 lander
2003 USAMars Exploration RoverMarsSuccessMars Exploration Rovers successful launches, Spirit successfully landed, Opportunity successfully landed
2003 UKUK-DMCEarthSuccessUK-DMC orbiter, part of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation
2003 JapanHayabusa25143 ItokawaSuccessHayabusa, first sample return from asteroid, returned in 2010
2004 EuropeRosettaComet 67PSuccessRosetta space probe launched (arrived on comet 67P on November 12, 2014)
2004 USAMESSENGERMercurySuccessMESSENGER orbiter launched (in Mercury orbit)
2004 USASwiftEarthSuccessLaunch of the Swift Gamma ray burst observatory.
2005 USADeep ImpactComet Tempel 1SuccessDeep Impact
2005 JapanSuzakuEarthPartial successLaunch of the Suzaku X-ray observatory (ASTRO-EII)
2005 USAMROMarsIn orbitMars Reconnaissance Orbiter
2005 IranSinah-1EarthSuccessSinah-1 launched, first Iranian-built satellite
2005 EuropeVenus ExpressVenusSuccessVenus Express
2006 USANew HorizonsPlutoSuccessNew Horizons launched. On July 14, 2015, New Horizons flew within 7,750 miles (12,472 km) of Pluto.
2006 JapanAkariEarthSuccessLaunch of the Akari infrared observatory (ASTRO-F)
2006 France/ EuropeCOROTEarthSuccessCOROT telescope to search for extrasolar planets
2007 USAPhoenixMarsSuccessPhoenix launched and successfully landed in 2008
2007 JapanSELENEMoonSuccessSELENE orbiter and lander
2007 USADawnVesta/CeresIn Ceres OrbitDawn solar powered ion engined probe to 4 Vesta and 1 Ceres.
2007 ChinaChang'e-IMoonSuccessChang'e-I lunar orbiter
2007 NigeriaNigComSat-1EarthInitial successNigComSat-1 launched by China, failed after 1 year
2008 USAIBEXEarthLaunched, operatingThe Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX)'s mission is to study the nature of interactions between solar wind and interstellar medium at the edge of solar system.
2009 EuropePlanckL2SuccessPlanck
2009 EuropeHerschelL2SuccessHerschel Space Observatory
2009 IranOmidEarthSuccessOmid launched by Iranian made launcher Safir. First Iranian-launched satellite
2009 USAKeplerEarthSuccessKepler launched
2009 EuropePROBA-2EarthSuccessPROBA-2 Small satellite to observe the sun
2009 IndiaRISAT-2EarthSuccessRISAT-2 developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, launched by ISRO, India
2009 IndiaChandrayaan-1MoonSuccessChandrayaan-1 developed and launched by ISRO, India
2009 UKUK-DMC 2EarthSuccessUK-DMC 2 orbiter, successor to UK-DMC part of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation

2010s
YearOriginNameTargetStatusDescription
2010 JapanAkatsukiVenusPartial successAkatsuki orbiter, first Japanese spacecraft to orbit another planet (2015)
2010 JapanIKAROSVenusSuccessIKAROS, first solar-sail spacecraft
2010 ChinaChang'e-2MoonSuccessChang'e-2 lunar orbiter/impacter
2011 RussiaSpektr-REarthSuccessLaunch of the Spektr-R radio telescope
2011 USAJunoJupiterSuccessJuno
2011 RussiaFobos-GruntMarsFailureFobos-Grunt lander and sample return
2011 NigeriaNigComSat-1EarthSuccessNigComSat-1 replacement launched by China
2011 Taiwan /  SingaporeST-2EarthSuccessST-2 replacement launched by Taiwan and Singapore
2011 Argentina /  USASAC-DEarthSuccessSAC-D Orbiter
2012 IranNavidEarthLaunchedNavid earth-watching satellite
2012 USAMSLMarsSuccessMars Science Laboratory with Curiosity rover—orbit and landed
2012 North KoreaKwangmyŏngsŏng-3EarthLaunchedKwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2, first successful North Korean orbital rocket launch
2012 PolandPW-SatEarthLaunchedPW-Sat, first Polish satellite
2013 South KoreaSTSAT-2CEarthLaunchedSTSAT-2C, first successful South Korean orbital rocket launch
2013 CanadaNEOSSatEarthSuccessNEOSSat, monitoring near-Earth objects
2013 CanadaSapphireEarthSuccessSapphire, military space surveillance
2013 EcuadorNEE 01 PegasoEarthSuccessNEE-01 Pegaso, Ecuador's first satellite
2013 EstoniaESTCube-1EarthSuccessESTCube-1, Estonia's first satellite
2013 EuropePROBA-VEarthSuccessPROBA-V, small satellite to monitor the vegetation of the Earth
2013 UKSTRaND-1EarthSuccessSTRaND-1, first smartphone-operated satellite to be launched and dubbed the world's first "phonesat"
2013 JapanHisakiEarthLaunchedHisaki planetary atmosphere observatory
2013 CanadaCASSIOPEEarthSuccessCASSIOPE, ionosphere research and communication satellite
2013 IndiaMOMMarsSuccessMOM is India's first interplanetary mission
2013 USAMAVENMarsSuccessMAVEN orbiter
2013 PolandLemEarthLaunchedLem, First Polish scientific satellite
2014  Lithuania LitSat1/LituanicaSAT-1 Earth Success LitSat-1 and LituanicaSAT-1, first Lithuanian satellites
2014 EuropeRosetta / PhilaeComet 67PPartial successRosetta and Philae, Third comet landing at unintended site in suboptimal orientation due to failure of surface anchoring system
2014 PolandHeweliuszEarthLaunchedHeweliusz, Second Polish scientific satellite
2014 JapanHayabusa2162173 RyuguLaunched and en routeHayabusa2, second Japanese asteroid sample return spacecraft
2014 JapanPROCYON2000 DP107Partial failurePROCYON deep space probe
2015 United StatesDSCOVREarth-Sun L1SuccessDSCOVR, Earth and space weather
2015 IndiaAstrosatEarthSuccessAstrosat, Space observatory
2016 European Union /  RussiaExoMars / SchiaparelliMarsPartial successExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, Trace Gas Orbiter in orbit; Schiaparelli lander crashed
2016 CanadaM3MSatEarthSuccessM3MSat, maritime monitoring and communication satellite
2016 United StatesOSIRIS-RExEarthLaunched and en routeOSIRIS-REx, first American asteroid sample return spacecraft
2017 BrazilSGDC-1EarthSuccessSGDC-1, communication satellite
2018 United StatesTesla RoadsterMarsSuccessElon Musk's Tesla Roadster, dummy payload for the February 2018 Falcon Heavy test flight and is now an artificial satellite of the Sun
2018 United States  France  GermanyInSightMarsLaunched and landedInSight, Mars lander for planetary information
2018 European Union/ JapanBepiColomboMercuryLaunched and en routeBepiColombo, two orbiters to study the magnetic field, magnetosphere, and both interior and surface structure of Mercury. Final mission of the Horizon 2000+ programme
2018 United StatesParker Solar ProbeSunLaunched and en routeParker Solar Probe, first spacecraft to visit the outer corona of the Sun
2018 ChinaChang'e 4MoonSuccessChang'e 4, first spacecraft to soft-land on the lunar far side.
2019 EgyptNARSSCube-2EarthSuccessNARSSCube-2, Egypt's first domestically built satellite
2019 IsraelBeresheetMoonFailureBeresheet, first private space probe and moon lander, crashed
2019 Russia /  GermanySpektr-RGEarth-Sun L2SuccessLaunch of the Spektr-RG X-ray observatory
2019 IndiaChandrayaan-2MoonPartial SuccessChandrayaan-2, orbiter achieved orbit, but lander crash-landed
2019 EthiopiaETRSS-1EarthLaunched and en routeETRSS-1, first Ethiopian satellite; built by China

2020s
YearOriginNameTargetStatusDescription
2020 United StatesPerseveranceMarssuccessful launch, currently en route to MarsPerseverance, JPL's new Mars rover

References
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  21. Astronomische Nederlandse Satelliet (ANS)
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