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MARCH 20 Proton; EchoStar 14 launch from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage will deploy the EchoStar 14 telecommunications spacecraft. The satellite will provide direct-to-home broadcast services to the United States for EchoStar Communications. 24 Ariane 5; Astra 3B & COMSATBw 2 launch from Kourou ELA-3. Arianespace Flight 194 will use an Ariane 5 rocket with a cryogenic upper stage to launch the Astra 3B direct-to-home television and broadband satellite for Europe and COMSATBw 2 communications satellite for the German military. ++ Dnepr; launch of CryoSat 2 from Baikonur. An ISC Kosmotras Dnepr rocket will launch the European Space Agency's CryoSat 2 Earth observation satellite. CryoSat 2 will monitor precise changes in the polar ice caps and floating see ice to determine the rate the planet's ice cover is diminishing. ++ Planned first test flight of the unmanned DARPA/USAF Boeing X-51A ('Waverider') hypersonic demonstrator aircraft. APRIL 02 Soyuz TMA-18 (ISS 22S) launch from Baikonur to the ISS. A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the manned Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft to the International Space Station with members of the next Expedition crew. The capsule will remain at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the crew. 05 STS-131, (19A) Discovery launch to the ISS from KSC pad 39A; MPLM, LMC. STS-131 will be the 33rd U.S. mission to the International Space Station. The flight will carry a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module with supplies and experiments for utilization aboard the station. 06  Dnepr; Prisma & Picard launch from Yasny, Russia. An ISC Kosmotras Dnepr rocket will launch the Sweden's Prisma demonstration mission, including two satellites that will rendezvous and fly in formation using new and inexpensive technologies. The French space agency's Picard satellite will also launch to study the sun. 12 SpaceX Falcon 9; Planned first launch of the Falcon 9 rocket, from Cape Canaveral Complex 40, on a demonstration mission. The mission will carry the qualification unit for SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, which the company plans to fly on resupply missions to the International Space Station. 19/20 Atlas 5; X-37B OTV launch from Cape Canaveral SLC-41. The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket (AV-022) will launch the U.S. military's X-37B, a prototype space plane also called the Orbital Test Vehicle. The rocket will fly in the 501 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. 22 Ariane 5; Arabsat 5A & COMS 1 launch from Kourou ELA-3. Arianespace Flight 195 will use an Ariane 5 rocket with a cryogenic upper stage to launch the Arabsat 5A communications satellite to cover the Middle East and Africa and South Korea's COMS 1 satellite to monitor weather, observe oceans and test communications. 28 Soyuz; Progress 37P launch from Baikonur to the ISS. A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch another Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. ++  Proton; SES 1 launch from Baikonur. An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage will deploy the SES 1 telecommunications spacecraft. The satellite will provide direct-to-home services to North America for SES World Skies. MAY 14 STS-132 (ULF4), last flight of Atlantis. ICC, MRM1 launch to the ISS from KSC. STS-132 will be the 34th U.S. mission to the International Space Station. The flight will carry the Russian Mini-Research Module 1 to be attached to the Zarya module of the station. Atlantis will also haul maintenance supplies and spare parts to the station on an integrated cargo carrier. 17 H-2A; planned launch of Japan's Akatsuki (Venus Climate Orbiter / Planet-C) to Venus. Secondary payload will be the Ikaros solar sail mission. The Japanese H-2A rocket will launch the Akatsuki spacecraft to Venus. Also called Planet-C or Venus Climate Orbiter, the mission will study the planet's smothering, thick atmosphere from orbit. 17 Delta 4; GPS 2F-1 launch from Cape Canaveral SLC-37B. The United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket will launch the Air Force's first Block 2F navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System. The rocket will fly in the Medium+ (4,2) configuration with two solid rocket boosters. 28 Minotaur 4; STP S26 launch from Kodiak Island, Alaska. The Air Force Minotaur 4 rocket will launch a group of satellites in a launch opportunity sponsored by the Air Force's Space Test Program. The payloads include the Air Force's STPSat 2 satellite, NASA's FASTSAT (Fast, Affordable, Science and Technology Satellite), two FASTRAC spacecraft from the University of Texas, the Air Force Academy's FalconSat 5 satellite, and NASA's O/OREOS CubeSat mission. ++ Dnepr; TanDEM-X launch from Baikonur. An ISC Kosmotras Dnepr rocket will launch the TanDEM-X satellite for the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Astrium. TanDEM-X stands for TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurement. The satellite will fly in close formation with the TerraSAR-X spacecraft launched in 2007 to gather precise elevation data. JUNE 02 Rockot; SERVIS 2 launch from Plesetsk, Russia. A Eurockot Rockot vehicle will launch the SERVIS 2 satellite for Japan's Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer (USEF) to test commercial off-the-shelf technologies for space applications. 10 Japan's Hayabusa (MUSES-C) return capsule hopes to make a parachuted touchdown in the Australian outback. 14 Soyuz TMA-19 launch (ISS 23S) to the ISS. A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the manned Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft to the International Space Station with members of the next Expedition crew. The capsule will remain at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the crew. 28 Soyuz; Progress 38P launch from Baikonur to the ISS.  A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 38th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. JULY 10 Rosetta encouters asteroid Lutetia. 27 Soyuz; Progress 39P launch from Baikonur to the ISS. A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 39th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. 29 STS-134 (ULF 6), Endeavour. STS-134 will be the 35th U.S. mission to the International Space Station. The flight will carry the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to be attached for research at the station. Endeavour will also haul maintenance supplies and spare parts to the station on the third ExPRESS Logistics Carrier. 30 Atlas 5; AEHF 1 military comm. satellite launch from Cape Canaveral SLC-41. The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the first Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite. Built by Lockheed Martin, this U.S. military spacecraft will provide highly-secure communications. The rocket will fly in the 531 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, three solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage.  ++ Falcon 9; Dragon C1 launch, from Cape Canaveral pad 40. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the first active Dragon spacecraft, called Dragon C1. The mission will demonstrate the capabilities of the Dragon in a four-and-a-half hour test flight. The company is building the Dragon to fly on resupply missions to the International Space Station. AUGUST 31 Soyuz; Progress 40P launch from Baikonur to the ISS. A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 40th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. ++ Minotaur 4; SBSS launch from Vandenberg SLC-8. The Air Force Minotaur 4 rocket will launch the first satellite of the Space-Based Surveillance System. SBSS will join a network of ground sensors that track satellites in orbit around Earth. The launch will be the maiden flight of the Minotaur 4 rocket, which is partially comprised of retired Peacekeeper motors. ++ Proton; Glonass launch from Baikonur. A Russian government Proton rocket will launch a trio of spacecraft for the Glonass satellite navigation constellation. SEPTEMBER 08 Delta 2; COSMO-SkyMed 4 launch from Vandenberg SLC-2W. The United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket will launch the fourth Italian COSMO-SkyMed radar Earth-imaging satellite. The X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar payload on the spacecraft will be used for civil and military applications. The rocket will fly in the 7420-10 vehicle configuration. ULA will conduct this commercial launch for Boeing. 16 STS-133 (ULF 5), Discovery. STS-133 will be the 36th U.S. mission to the International Space Station. The flight will carry the fourth ExPRESS Logistics Carrier with spare parts for the station. Discovery will also deliver the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM). 30 Soyuz TMA-20 (ISS 24S) launch from Baikonur to the ISS. A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the manned Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station with members of the next Expedition crew. The capsule will remain at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the crew. ++ Ares transonic Ascent Abort Test from White Sands, NM. ++  Soyuz; 6 Globalstar launch from Baikonur. An Arianespace Soyuz rocket will launch six second-generation Globalstar mobile communications satellites. The Soyuz rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. Arianespace will oversee the commercial launch. ++ Soyuz; HYLAS launch from Kourou. An Arianespace Soyuz rocket will launch on its first mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The payload for this flight will likely be the HYLAS communications satellite for Avanti Communications of the United Kingdom. The Soyuz 2-1a rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. Arianespace will oversee the commercial launch. OCTOBER 27 Soyuz; Progress 41P launch from Baikonur to the ISS. A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 41st Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. ++ Delta 4-Heavy; NROL-32 launch from Cape Canaveral SLC-37B. The United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket will launch a classified spy satellite cargo for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The largest of the Delta 4 family, the Heavy version features three Common Booster Cores mounted together to form a triple-body rocket. ++ Atlas 5; NROL-41 launch from Vandenberg SLC-3E. The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 (AV-025) rocket will launch a classified spacecraft payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The rocket will fly in the 501 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. ++ Long March 3A; Chang'e 2 launch from Xichang, China. A Chinese Long March 3A rocket will launch Chang'e 2, China's second lunar orbiter. The probe follows the mission of Chang'e 1, which surveyed the moon between 2007 and 2009. ++ Soyuz; Pleiades 1 launch from Kourou. An Arianespace Soyuz rocket will launch on its second mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The payloads for this flight are the Pleiades 1 optical high-resolution Earth observation satellite, four ELISA electronic intelligence satellites and the SSOT remote sensing spacecraft for Chile. The Soyuz 2-1a rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. Arianespace will oversee the launch. NOVEMBER 18 Ariane 5; ATV 2 launch from Kourou ELA-3 to the ISS. The Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket will launch the European Space Agency's second Automated Transfer Vehicle, named Johannes Kepler. The ATV is a cargo-carrying spacecraft to deliver supplies and equipment to the orbiting International Space Station. 22 Taurus; Glory launch from Vandenberg. The Orbital Sciences Taurus rocket will launch NASA's Glory Earth observation satellite. Glory will collect data on black carbon and aerosols in the Earth's atmosphere and solar irradiance and its affects on Earth's long-term climate record. 30 Soyuz; ISS 25S launch from Baikonur to the ISS. A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the manned Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station with members of the next Expedition crew. The capsule will remain at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the crew. ++ Soyuz; Galileo launch from Kourou. An Arianespace Soyuz rocket will launch on its third mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will launch two Galileo in-orbit validation satellites for the Galileo navigation constellation. The Soyuz 2-1b rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. Arianespace will oversee the launch. DECEMBER 01 Delta 4-Heavy; NROL-49 launch from Vandenberg. The United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket will launch a classified spy satellite cargo for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The largest of the Delta 4 family, the Heavy version features three Common Booster Cores mounted together to form a triple-body rocket. ++ Planned OSC Cygnus COTS demonstration mission, launched from Wallops, Virginia. ++ Japan's Akatsuki (Venus Climate Orbiter) will arrive at Venus. ++ Delta 4; GPS 2F-2 launch from Cape Canaveral SLC-37B. The United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket will launch the Air Force's second Block 2F navigation satellite for the Global Positioning System. The rocket will fly in the Medium+ (4,2) configuration with two solid rocket boosters. Also in 2010 ++ Planned launch of the central satellite of the (NASA/JAXA) Global Precipitation Measurement mission. ++ Completion of Virgin Galactic's new headquarters / mission control at Spaceport America (Southwest Regional Spaceport), New Mexico. ++ Planned launch of the Bigelow Aerospace 'Sundancer' human-rated orbital habitat, a predecessor to the larger BA 330 module. ++ Planned start of commercial operations of the Blue Origin New Shepard manned RLV. ++ The NASA/DLR SOFIA Boeing 747SP will be fully operational to conduct astronomy missions. ++ Russia plans to launch the Spektr-UF ultraviolet observatory on a Soyuz 2 Fregat. ++ Planned first launch of the Ukranian Mayak booster. ++ Rocketplane Global will start flying their XP Spaceplane, from the Oklahoma Spaceport. ++ NASA plans to launch the nuclear-powered Mars Science Laboratory (rover) on an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral. It will test soil and rock samples for traces of biological activity. ++ Russia plans to launch the Bion M biological experimental satellite on a Soyuz rocket. ++ Planned launch of Cassiope, a Canadian Mission to demonstrate an experimental store and forward delivery system for transmitting large data packages. ++ Planned first flight of the XCOR Lynx from Mojave, CA. ++ First launch of the European Vega rocket. ++ Delta 2; NASA Aquarius launch from Vandenberg. ++ Planned launch of NASA's SMAP (Soil Moisture Active & Passive) spacecraft. ++ Proton+Breeze M; OS 1 launch from Baikonur. ++  Rockot; Gonets launch from Plesetsk, Russia. 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