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.
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.
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.