Launch capable countries

This list includes countries with an independent capability to place satellites in orbit, including production of the necessary launch vehicle. Note: many more countries have the capability to design and build satellites — which relatively speaking, does not require much economic, scientific and industrial capacity — but are unable to launch them, instead relying on foreign launch services. This list does not consider those numerous countries, but only lists those capable of launching satellites indigenously, and the date this capability was first demonstrated. Does not include consortium satellites or multi-national satellites.

First launch by country

Country	Year of first launch	First satellite	Payloads in orbit in 2006[1]
Soviet Union	1957	Sputnik 1	1390 (Russia)
United States	1958	Explorer 1	999
France	1965	Astérix	43
Japan	1970	Osumi	102
China	1970	Dong Fang Hong I	53
United Kingdom	1971	Prospero X-3	23[citation needed]
India	1981	Rohini	31
Israel	1988	Ofeq 1	6

Both North Korea and Iraq have claimed orbital launches but these are unconfirmed, and unlikely. As of 2006, only eight countries and one regional space organisation have independently launched satellites into orbit on their own indigenously developed launch vehicles - in chronological order: USSR, USA, France, Japan, China, UK, ESA, India and Israel.

First launch by country including help of another parties

Country	Year of first launch	First satellite	Payloads in orbit in 2006[2]
Soviet Union	1957	Sputnik 1	1390 (Russia)
United States	1958	Explorer 1	999
Canada	1962	Alouette 1
France	1965	Astérix	43
Italy	1967	San Marco 2
Australia	1967	[[]]
Japan	1970	Osumi	102
China	1970	Dong Fang Hong I	53
United Kingdom	1971	Prospero X-3	23[citation needed]
India	1981	Rohini	31
Israel	1988	Ofeq 1	6
Kazakhstan	2006	KazSat 1	1

It should be noted that while Kazakhstan did launch their satellite independently, it was built by the Russians, and the rocket was not independently designed. While Canada was the third country to build a satellite which was launched into Space, it was launched aboard a U.S. rocket from a U.S. spaceport. The same goes for Australia, who launched on-board a donated Redstone rocket. The first Italian-launched was San Marco 2, launched on 26 April1967 on a U.S. Scout rocket with U.S. support.[3] Australia's launch project, in November 1967, involved a donated U.S. missile and U. S. support staff as well as a joint launch facility with the United Kingdom.[4] The launch capabilities of the United Kingdom and France now fall under the European Space Agency (ESA), and the launch capabilities of the Soviet Union fall under Russia, reducing the number of political entities with active satellite launch capabilities to seven - six 'major' space powers: USA, Russia, China, India, EU, Japan, and a minor space power - Israel.

Several other countries such as South Korea, Pakistan, Iran, Brazil and Egypt are in the early stages of developing their own small-scale launch capabilities, and seek to become 'minor' space powers - others may have the scientific and industrial capability, but not the economic or political will.