Jonathan's Space Report

Uncataloged ('U') Launches

The U designation

In the launch designations section we mention the 'U' entries. These are launches for which I assign designations for the form 1969-U01, etc. They are launches which are not in the usual lists of orbital launches, but which are close to making the cut for various reasons, and most of them are pretty interesting.

Orbital launches usually have international designations (`COSPAR designations'). Assignment of these designations was delegated in the early 1960s by the UN COSPAR to the World Data Center A for Rockets and Satellites, who at some point further delegated it to NORAD, today in the form of the US Space Force 18th Space Control Squadron.

The traditional rule was that any launch from the Earth which resulted in an object completing one or more orbits of the Earth would receive a designation. This rule has not always been followed.

I assign U designations for several categories of launch that I consider interesting:

'Skipped launches': Launches which should have received international designations but did not, either because the US failed to track them or because the rule was not followed.
'Marginal orbit': Attempted orbital launches which failed to reach a sustained orbit, but fell just short; typically perigee between -500 km and +100 km. Since the exact orbit attained is often uncertain, I have tended to be inclusive when deciding whether to assign such launches a 'U' rather than an 'F' designation. You can think of this category as a way to pull out `interesting' launch failures that were really close to succeeding, as opposed to ones that blew up just above the pad.
'Suborbital with orbital energy': Suborbital launches that have a high apogee (more than a few thousand kilometres) have a total energy (kinetic plus potential) that is greater than a low orbit satellite, in contrast to the vast majority of suborbital sounding rocket and missile flights which are well short of orbital energy. Thus, these are `interesting' suborbital launches than are in some sense close to being orbital.
'Reentry with orbital energy': suborbital launches with stages that fire their payload down fast into the atmosphere to test reentry behaviour. In some cases these even have escape velocity, but going in the `wrong' direction. They may only traverse a small segment of the indicated orbit; for example the orbital parameters of Meteor 4/5 have a large apogee but the vehicle didn't ever get to that apogee, flying on a small segment of the downward arc of the orbit with a maximum actual altitude of 110 km.
'Extraterrestrial launches': launches from worlds other than the Earth. (So far, that's just the Moon). `Worlds' here means large (self-gravitatingly round) bodies; departures from comets and small asteroids are considered equivalent to undockings rather than launches and are not given separate launch designations.

For convenience, here is an annotated table of all the U launches. 'Actual Apo' indicates the actual maximum height above Earth reached. 'Orbit Peri' and 'Orbit Apo' define the orbit that the spacecraft was on for at least a few moments, even if they did not reach either orbit extreme. Recall that negative apogees represent hyperbolic (above escape velocity) trajectories, albeit in this case heading downwards into the atmosphere.

The C3 value, usually used for Earth escape launches, is a measure of the orbital binding energy per unit mass, in km**2/s**2 or (equivalently) MJ/kg; the SpE value is the total kinetic plus potential energy per unit mass, in the same units; the two are not independent, as SpE = 0.5* C3 + 62.5. C3 is negative for objects bound to Earth and positive if they have escape velocity; SpE is always positive and I find it more intuitive for the marginal-orbit cases.

Designation Launch Date Launch Vehicle Site Payload Orbit Peri Orbit Apo Orbit inc Actual Apo Central Body U Type C3 SpE Description

1957-U01 1957 Oct 17 0505 Aerobee USAF 88 Holloman ADC USAF 88 Charge A -2000? -20000? 90.0 114 Earth Energy 86.2 105.6 Artifical meteor (Poulter pellet)

1958-U01 1958 Sep 26 1538 Vanguard SLV-3 Canaveral LC18A Vanguard Cloud Cover Satellite 65 425 32.8 425 Earth Marginal -60.2 32.4 Satellite, positive perigee

1959-U01 1959 Jun 25 2247 Thor Agena A 179 Vandenberg 75-3-5 CORONA C-1/FTV 1023 80? 170? 86.3 170? Earth Marginal -61.3 31.9 Satellite, positive perigee

1960-U01 1960 Apr 15 1506 Vostok-L L1-9 Baykonur LC1/5 Luna E-3 No. 1 50? 200000? 65.0 200000? Earth Skipped/Energy -3.8 60.6 Failed lunar probe

1960-U02 1960 Sep 21 1301 Blue Scout Jr D-1 Canaveral LC18A D-1 Probe -5040 26709 30.0? 26709 Earth Energy -23.2 50.9 Space physics probe

1960-U03 1960 Oct 4 1523 Scout X-1 ST-2 Wallops LA3 ST-2 Probe -4400 5630 38.0? 5630 Earth Energy -57.0 34.0 Space physics probe

1961-U01 1961 Aug 17 1429 Blue Scout Jr D-1 Canaveral LC18A O-1 Probe -5000? 100000? 30.0? 100000? Earth Energy -7.4 58.8 Space physics probe, apogee unconfirmed

1961-U02 1961 Apr 21 0556 Trailblazer I Wallops Trailblazer 1g -6166 18199 106.10 283 Earth Reentry -32.2 46.4 Artificial meteor

1961-U03 1961 Oct 19 1738 Scout X-1 ST-7 Wallops LA3 ST-7 Probe -5022 6855 32.0 6855 Earth Energy -54.6 35.2 Space physics probe

1961-U04 1961 Dec 4 0400 Blue Scout Jr O-2 Point Arguello LC-A O-2 Probe -300? 44400 94.0? 44400 Earth Energy -14.0 55.5 Space physics probe

1962-U01 1962 Mar 29 0727 Scout X-2 ST-9 Wallops LA3 ST-9 Probe -5540 6290 38.0? 6290 Earth Energy -59.0 33.0 Space physics probe

1962-U02 1962 May 6 0541 Trailblazer 2 Wallops Meteor 1 pellet -6251 -54735 104.3 280 Earth Reentry 16.5 70.8 Artificial meteor

1962-U03 1962 Aug 31 1625 Scout X-3A S114 Wallops LA3 Reentry 2 -6000 7000 38.0 217 Earth Reentry -58.0 33.5 Reentry test

1963-U01 1963 Jul 30 1616 Blue Scout Jr 22-1 Canaveral LC18A AFCRL-1/21 -1840? 11100 31.0 11100 Earth Energy -36.2 44.4 Space physics probe

1964-U01 1964 Mar 12 0417 Nike Cajun Wallops Meteor 2/3 -6160 12200 105.6 100 Earth Reentry -42.4 41.3 Artificial meteor

1964-U02 1964 Apr 14 2142 Atlas 263D Kennedy LC12 FIRE 1 -219 -51626 32.1 840 Earth Reentry 20.4 72.7 Reentry test for Apollo

1964-U03 1964 Apr 21 1850 Thor Ablestar 379/AB014 Vandenberg 75-1-1 Transit VBN-3 50? 500? 90.0 500? Earth Marginal -59.9 32.5 Satellite, positive perigee

1964-U04 1964 Aug 18 0605 Scout X-4A S129R Wallops LA3 Reentry 4 -117 5069 48.0 183 Earth Reentry -45.0 40.0 Reentry test

1964-U05 1964 Nov 7 0138 Nike Cajun Wallops Meteor 4/5 -6100? 241000 106.0 110 Earth Reentry -3.2 60.9 Artificial meteor

1965-U01 1965 Dec 16 1409 R-36O U22502-01L Baykonur LC67/21 OGCh No. 01L -650? 220 64.5 220 Earth Marginal -64.7 30.2 Weapons test flight

1965-U02 1965 Jan 19 1404 Titan II GLV-2 Kennedy LC19 Gemini GT-2 -48 493 31.7 493 Earth Marginal -60.4 32.3 Spaceship test flight

1965-U03 1965 May 4 0550 Nike Cajun Wallops Meteor 6/7 -6100? 241000 105.0 110 Earth Reentry -3.2 60.9 Artificial meteor

1965-U04 1965 May 22 2155 Atlas 264D Kennedy LC12 FIRE 2 -234 -65491 32.5 825 Earth Reentry 15.1 70.0 Reentry test for Apollo

1965-U05 1965 Mar 30 1609 Blue Scout Jr 22-4 Kennedy LC18A AFRCL-35 -1250? 16100? 30.0? 16100? Earth Energy -28.9 48.1 Space physics probe

1965-U06 1965 Apr 9 1810 Blue Scout Jr 22-9 Kennedy LC18A AFWL-14 -3300? 25500 30.0 25500 Earth Energy -22.8 51.1 Space physics probe

1965-U07 1965 May 12 1602 Blue Scout Jr 22-8 Kennedy LC18A AFCRL-335 -2000? 15640 30.0 15640 Earth Energy -30.2 47.4 Space physics probe

1965-U08 1965 Jun 9 1626 Blue Scout Jr 22-5 Kennedy LC18A AFWL-304 -1200? 17533 30.0 17533 Earth Energy -27.4 48.8 Space physics probe

1966-U01 1966 Feb 5 1219 R-36O U22502-02L Baykonur LC67/21 OGCh No. 02L -650? 220 64.5 220 Earth Marginal -64.7 30.2 Weapons test flight

1966-U02 1966 May 19 1930 R-36O U22502-04L Baykonur LC67/21 OGCh No. 04L -650? 220 64.5 220 Earth Marginal -64.7 30.2 Weapons test flight

1966-U03 1966 Feb 10 0055 Scout X-4A S141C Wallops LA3A Reentry E -1500? 4300? 47.0 175 Earth Reentry -51.3 36.9 Reentry test

1966-U04 1966 Feb 26 1612 Saturn IB SA-201 Kennedy LC34 Apollo AS-201 -565 1674 30.7 493 Earth Reentry -57.5 33.8 Reentry test of Apollo CM

1966-U05 1966 Mar 18 0115 Trailblazer 2 Wallops Meteor 8 -6100? 136000 107.0 280 Earth Reentry -5.6 59.7 Artificial meteor

1966-U06 1966 Aug 25 1715 Uprated Saturn I SA-202 Kennedy LC34 Apollo AS-202 59 4082 31.4 1143 Earth Marginal -47.2 38.9 Flight and reentry test of Apollo CSM

1966-U07 1966 Sep 17 0157 Nike Cajun Wallops Meteor 9 -6080? -146000 107.0 110 Earth Reentry 5.72 65.4 Artificial meteor

1966-U08 1966 Dec 21 2215 Atlas SLV-3 7001 Vandenberg SLC3E SV-5D FV-1 -1179 170 145.3 170 Earth Marginal -67.9 28.6 Lifting body test

1967-U01 1967 Feb 14 0552 Trailblazer 2 Wallops Meteor 10 -5792 -12485 109.4 280 Earth Reentry 144.4 134.7 Artificial meteor

1967-U02 1967 Mar 5 2305 Atlas SLV-3 7002 Vandenberg SLC3E SV-5D FV-2 -562 201 145.2 201 Earth Marginal -64.3 30.3 Lifting body test

1967-U03 1967 Apr 20 0135 Atlas SLV-3 7003 Vandenberg SLC3E SV-5D FV-3 -488 211 144.6 211 Earth Marginal -63.9 30.6 Lifting body test

1967-U04 1967 Oct 19 1733 Scout B S159C Wallops LA3A RAM C-1 -1355? 2011? 39.9 217 Earth Reentry -59.4 32.8 Reentry test

1968-U01 1968 May 20 2205 R-36O Ya22500-18L Baykonur LC162/36 OGCh No. 18LU -200? 200? 49.7 200? Earth Marginal -62.5 31.3 Weapons test flight

1968-U02 1968 May 27 2315 R-36O Ya22501-19L Baykonur LC161/35 OGCh No. 19LU -200? 200? 49.7 200? Earth Marginal -62.5 31.3 Weapons test flight

1968-U03 1968 Aug 22 1516 Scout B S168C Wallops LA3A RAM C-2 -1850? 1420? 41.8 221 Earth Reentry -64.7 30.2 Reentry test

1969-U01 1969 Jul 21 1754 LM 5 Ascent Stage Tranquility Base LM 5 Eagle 17 91 161.8 Moon ExtraT - - Human lunar return

1969-U02 1969 Nov 20 1425 LM 6 Ascent Stage Surveyor 3 Site LM 6 Intrepid 19 95 144.1 Moon ExtraT - - Human lunar return

1969-U03 1969 Jan 25 1114 Tsiklon-2A No. 12L Baykonur LC90/19 US-A No. 212 -50? 245? 65.1 245? Earth Marginal -61.5 31.7 Satellite launch failure

1970-U01 1970 Sep 21 0743 E-8-5 VS Luna-16 site,Mare Fecunditatis E-8-5 No. 406 VA ? 400000? Moon ExtraT - - Robotic sample return

1970-U02 1970 Jun 12 0110 Europa I F-9 Woomera LA6A ELDO STV 3 -744 673 84.1 673 Earth Marginal -62.8 31.1 Satellite launch failure

1970-U03 1970 Nov 30 2240 Atlas Centaur AC-21 Kennedy LC36B OAO B -50? 600? 35.0 600? Earth Marginal -59.9 32.5 Satellite launch failure

1971-U01 1971 Feb 6 1848 LM 8 Ascent Stage Fra Mauro Base LM 8 Antares 17 113 167.9 Moon ExtraT - - Human lunar return

1971-U02 1971 Aug 2 1711 LM 10 Ascent Stage Hadley Base LM 10 Falcon 3 63 143.4 Moon ExtraT - - Human lunar return

1971-U03 1971 Sep 20 2331 Scout B S166C Wallops LA3A Barium Ion Cloud -4600 32100 38.9 32100 Earth Energy -19.8 52.6 Space physics probe

1972-U01 1972 Feb 22 2258 E-8-5 VS Luna-20 site, Apollonius C E-8-5 No. 408 VA ? 400000? Moon ExtraT - - Robotic sample return

1972-U02 1972 Apr 24 0125 LM 11 Ascent Stage Descartes Base LM 11 Orion 28 108 172.0 Moon ExtraT - - Human lunar return

1972-U03 1972 Dec 14 2254 LM 12 Ascent Stage Taurus-Littrow Base LM 12 Challenger 21 114 ? Moon ExtraT - - Human lunar return

1973-U01 1973 Apr 25 0910 Tsiklon-2 No. 17L Baykonur LC90 US-A No. 314 -800? 250? 65.0 250? Earth Marginal -65.3 29.8 Satellite launch failure

1973-U02 1973 May 21 0847 Diamant B No. 5 Kourou ELD D-5A/D-5B 40? 300 20.0 300? Earth Marginal -60.9 32.1 Satellite launch failure, positive perigee

1976-U01 1976 Aug 19 0525 E-8-5 VS Luna-24 site, Mare Crisium E-8-5 No. 413 VA ? 400000? Moon ExtraT - - Robotic sample return

1976-U02 1976 Jun 18 1141 Scout D-1 No. S193C Wallops LA3A Gravity Probe A -6263 10230 39.4 10230 Earth Energy -47.7 38.7 Physics experiment probe

1979-U01 1979 Oct 12 1230 Soyuz-U 77025-419 Plesetsk LC43/3 Argon (Zenit-6) No. 12L -200? 200? 72.9 200 Earth Marginal -62.5 31.3 Satellite launch failure

1980-U01 1980 Dec 9 0718 Atlas 68E Vandenberg SLC3W NRO PARCAE 4 -1000? 1050? 63.5 1050? Earth Marginal -62.3 31.4 Satellite launch failure

1987-U01 1987 May 15 1730 Energiya No. L1506SL Baykonur LC250 Skif-DM -15 155 64.6 155 Earth Marginal -61.8 31.6 Satellite launch failure

1995-U01 1995 Jan 15 1345 Mu-3S-II M-3S2-8 Kagoshima Mu EXPRESS 110 245 31.0 245 Earth Skipped -60.8 32.1 Made 3 orbits but not tracked

2000-U01 2000 Feb 10 0130 M-V-4 Kagoshima M-V ASTRO-E 80? 410 31.3 410 Earth Marginal -60.2 32.4 Satellite launch failure, possibly positive perigee

2001-U01 2001 Sep 21 1849 Taurus 2110 T6 Vandenberg 576E Orbview-4/QuikTOMS -50? 427 97.3 427 Earth Marginal -60.7 32.1 Satellite launch failure

2003-U01 2003 Sep 16 1030 KT-1 Taiyuan KT-1 test payload 112? 307 92.0 307 Earth Marginal -60.5 32.2 Satellite launch failure, possibly positive perigee

2004-U01 2004 Nov 8 1830 Soyuz-2-1A No. 001 Plesetsk LC43/4 Oblik No. 103 -150? 180? 82.5? 180? Earth Marginal -62.4 31.3 Suborbital launch vehicle test

2013-U01 2013 May 13 1258 DF-21? Xichang Kunpeng-7 -3000? 10000? 32.0 10000? Earth Energy -40.4? 42.3? Launch vehicle test, orbit uncertain

2015-U01 2015 Feb 11 1340 Vega VV04 Kourou ZLV AVUM VV04 220 430 5.4 430 Earth Skipped -59.5 32.8 AVUM stage completed more than one orbit, IXV orbit 76 x 416

2020-U01 2020 Nov 17 0152 Vega VV17 Kourou ZLV SEOSAT/Taranis -500? 250? 98.5 250? Earth Marginal -63.7 30.6 Satellite launch failure

2020-U02 2020 Dec 3 1510 CE-5 SSQ Louville Omega N Chang'e-5 Shangsheng Qi 15 181 42.4 Moon ExtraT - - Robotic sample return

2021-U01 2021 Jul 27 Chang Zheng 2C Taiyuan? CZ Orbital RV 100? 200? 137? 200? Earth Skipped/Marginal -61.1 32.0 Weapons test flight

2022-U01 2022 Mar 24 0534 Hwasong-15? Sunan HS-17 RV -6261 6200 41.3 6200 Earth Energy -62.70 31.1 Lofted ICBM test flight

2022-U02 2022 Aug 7 0348 SSLV-D1 Satish Dawah FLP EOS-02/AzaadiSAT 76 356 41.6? 356 Earth Marginal -60.5 32.3 Satellite launch failure, positive perigee

2022-U03 2022 Nov 18 0114 Hwasong-15? Sunan HS-17 RV -6260 6100 41.6 6100 Earth Energy -63.30 30.9 Lofted ICBM test flight

2023-U01 2023 Feb 18 0822 Hwasong-15? Sunan HS-17 RV -6260 5768 41.6 5768 Earth Energy -65.07 30.0 Lofted ICBM test flight

2023-U02 2023 Mar 15 2210 Hwasong-17? Sunan HS-17 RV -6260? 5800? 41.6 5800? Earth Energy -65.07 30.0 Lofted ICBM test flight

2023-U03 2023 Jul 12 0059 Hwasong-18 Pyongyang HS-18 RV -6260? 6648 41.6 6648 Earth Energy -60.70 32.1 Lofted ICBM test flight

2023-U04 2023 Dec 17 2324 Hwasong-18 Pyongyang HS-18 RV -6260? 6518 41.6 6518 Earth Energy -61.3 31.9 Lofted ICBM test flight

2024-U01 2024 Mar 14 1325 Starship Starbase Ship 28 -50? 234 26.50 234 Earth Marginal -61.61 31.69 Launch vehicle test

2024-U02 2024 Jun 3 2338 CE-6 SSQ Apollo Basin S Chang'e-6 Shangsheng Qi 15 180 43.0 Moon ExtraT - - Robotic sample return

2024-U03 2024 Jun 6 1250 Starship Starbase Ship 29 -15? 213 26.80 213 Earth Marginal -61.54 31.73 Launch vehicle test

2024-U04 2024 Oct 13 1225 Starship Starbase Ship 30 -15? 212 26.80 212 Earth Marginal -61.54 31.72 Launch vehicle test

2024-U05 2024 Oct 30 2211 Hwasong-19 Pyongyang HS-19 RV -6243? 7687 42.0 7687 Earth Energy -56.14 34.43 Lofted ICBM test flight

2024-U06 2024 Nov 19 2200 Starship Starbase Ship 31 50 228 26.3 190 Earth Marginal -61.16 31.91 Launch vehicle test

GCAT: General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects

Jonathan C. McDowell

Definitions

Uncataloged ('U') Launches

The U designation

Designation	Launch Date	Launch Vehicle	Site	Payload	Orbit Peri	Orbit Apo	Orbit inc	Actual Apo	Central Body	U Type	C3	SpE	Description
1957-U01	1957 Oct 17 0505	Aerobee USAF 88	Holloman ADC	USAF 88 Charge A	-2000?	-20000?	90.0	114	Earth	Energy	86.2	105.6	Artifical meteor (Poulter pellet)
1958-U01	1958 Sep 26 1538	Vanguard SLV-3	Canaveral LC18A	Vanguard Cloud Cover Satellite	65	425	32.8	425	Earth	Marginal	-60.2	32.4	Satellite, positive perigee
1959-U01	1959 Jun 25 2247	Thor Agena A 179	Vandenberg 75-3-5	CORONA C-1/FTV 1023	80?	170?	86.3	170?	Earth	Marginal	-61.3	31.9	Satellite, positive perigee
1960-U01	1960 Apr 15 1506	Vostok-L L1-9	Baykonur LC1/5	Luna E-3 No. 1	50?	200000?	65.0	200000?	Earth	Skipped/Energy	-3.8	60.6	Failed lunar probe
1960-U02	1960 Sep 21 1301	Blue Scout Jr D-1	Canaveral LC18A	D-1 Probe	-5040	26709	30.0?	26709	Earth	Energy	-23.2	50.9	Space physics probe
1960-U03	1960 Oct 4 1523	Scout X-1 ST-2	Wallops LA3	ST-2 Probe	-4400	5630	38.0?	5630	Earth	Energy	-57.0	34.0	Space physics probe
1961-U01	1961 Aug 17 1429	Blue Scout Jr D-1	Canaveral LC18A	O-1 Probe	-5000?	100000?	30.0?	100000?	Earth	Energy	-7.4	58.8	Space physics probe, apogee unconfirmed
1961-U02	1961 Apr 21 0556	Trailblazer I	Wallops	Trailblazer 1g	-6166	18199	106.10	283	Earth	Reentry	-32.2	46.4	Artificial meteor
1961-U03	1961 Oct 19 1738	Scout X-1 ST-7	Wallops LA3	ST-7 Probe	-5022	6855	32.0	6855	Earth	Energy	-54.6	35.2	Space physics probe
1961-U04	1961 Dec 4 0400	Blue Scout Jr O-2	Point Arguello LC-A	O-2 Probe	-300?	44400	94.0?	44400	Earth	Energy	-14.0	55.5	Space physics probe
1962-U01	1962 Mar 29 0727	Scout X-2 ST-9	Wallops LA3	ST-9 Probe	-5540	6290	38.0?	6290	Earth	Energy	-59.0	33.0	Space physics probe
1962-U02	1962 May 6 0541	Trailblazer 2	Wallops	Meteor 1 pellet	-6251	-54735	104.3	280	Earth	Reentry	16.5	70.8	Artificial meteor
1962-U03	1962 Aug 31 1625	Scout X-3A S114	Wallops LA3	Reentry 2	-6000	7000	38.0	217	Earth	Reentry	-58.0	33.5	Reentry test
1963-U01	1963 Jul 30 1616	Blue Scout Jr 22-1	Canaveral LC18A	AFCRL-1/21	-1840?	11100	31.0	11100	Earth	Energy	-36.2	44.4	Space physics probe
1964-U01	1964 Mar 12 0417	Nike Cajun	Wallops	Meteor 2/3	-6160	12200	105.6	100	Earth	Reentry	-42.4	41.3	Artificial meteor
1964-U02	1964 Apr 14 2142	Atlas 263D	Kennedy LC12	FIRE 1	-219	-51626	32.1	840	Earth	Reentry	20.4	72.7	Reentry test for Apollo
1964-U03	1964 Apr 21 1850	Thor Ablestar 379/AB014	Vandenberg 75-1-1	Transit VBN-3	50?	500?	90.0	500?	Earth	Marginal	-59.9	32.5	Satellite, positive perigee
1964-U04	1964 Aug 18 0605	Scout X-4A S129R	Wallops LA3	Reentry 4	-117	5069	48.0	183	Earth	Reentry	-45.0	40.0	Reentry test
1964-U05	1964 Nov 7 0138	Nike Cajun	Wallops	Meteor 4/5	-6100?	241000	106.0	110	Earth	Reentry	-3.2	60.9	Artificial meteor
1965-U01	1965 Dec 16 1409	R-36O U22502-01L	Baykonur LC67/21	OGCh No. 01L	-650?	220	64.5	220	Earth	Marginal	-64.7	30.2	Weapons test flight
1965-U02	1965 Jan 19 1404	Titan II GLV-2	Kennedy LC19	Gemini GT-2	-48	493	31.7	493	Earth	Marginal	-60.4	32.3	Spaceship test flight
1965-U03	1965 May 4 0550	Nike Cajun	Wallops	Meteor 6/7	-6100?	241000	105.0	110	Earth	Reentry	-3.2	60.9	Artificial meteor
1965-U04	1965 May 22 2155	Atlas 264D	Kennedy LC12	FIRE 2	-234	-65491	32.5	825	Earth	Reentry	15.1	70.0	Reentry test for Apollo
1965-U05	1965 Mar 30 1609	Blue Scout Jr 22-4	Kennedy LC18A	AFRCL-35	-1250?	16100?	30.0?	16100?	Earth	Energy	-28.9	48.1	Space physics probe
1965-U06	1965 Apr 9 1810	Blue Scout Jr 22-9	Kennedy LC18A	AFWL-14	-3300?	25500	30.0	25500	Earth	Energy	-22.8	51.1	Space physics probe
1965-U07	1965 May 12 1602	Blue Scout Jr 22-8	Kennedy LC18A	AFCRL-335	-2000?	15640	30.0	15640	Earth	Energy	-30.2	47.4	Space physics probe
1965-U08	1965 Jun 9 1626	Blue Scout Jr 22-5	Kennedy LC18A	AFWL-304	-1200?	17533	30.0	17533	Earth	Energy	-27.4	48.8	Space physics probe
1966-U01	1966 Feb 5 1219	R-36O U22502-02L	Baykonur LC67/21	OGCh No. 02L	-650?	220	64.5	220	Earth	Marginal	-64.7	30.2	Weapons test flight
1966-U02	1966 May 19 1930	R-36O U22502-04L	Baykonur LC67/21	OGCh No. 04L	-650?	220	64.5	220	Earth	Marginal	-64.7	30.2	Weapons test flight
1966-U03	1966 Feb 10 0055	Scout X-4A S141C	Wallops LA3A	Reentry E	-1500?	4300?	47.0	175	Earth	Reentry	-51.3	36.9	Reentry test
1966-U04	1966 Feb 26 1612	Saturn IB SA-201	Kennedy LC34	Apollo AS-201	-565	1674	30.7	493	Earth	Reentry	-57.5	33.8	Reentry test of Apollo CM
1966-U05	1966 Mar 18 0115	Trailblazer 2	Wallops	Meteor 8	-6100?	136000	107.0	280	Earth	Reentry	-5.6	59.7	Artificial meteor
1966-U06	1966 Aug 25 1715	Uprated Saturn I SA-202	Kennedy LC34	Apollo AS-202	59	4082	31.4	1143	Earth	Marginal	-47.2	38.9	Flight and reentry test of Apollo CSM
1966-U07	1966 Sep 17 0157	Nike Cajun	Wallops	Meteor 9	-6080?	-146000	107.0	110	Earth	Reentry	5.72	65.4	Artificial meteor
1966-U08	1966 Dec 21 2215	Atlas SLV-3 7001	Vandenberg SLC3E	SV-5D FV-1	-1179	170	145.3	170	Earth	Marginal	-67.9	28.6	Lifting body test
1967-U01	1967 Feb 14 0552	Trailblazer 2	Wallops	Meteor 10	-5792	-12485	109.4	280	Earth	Reentry	144.4	134.7	Artificial meteor
1967-U02	1967 Mar 5 2305	Atlas SLV-3 7002	Vandenberg SLC3E	SV-5D FV-2	-562	201	145.2	201	Earth	Marginal	-64.3	30.3	Lifting body test
1967-U03	1967 Apr 20 0135	Atlas SLV-3 7003	Vandenberg SLC3E	SV-5D FV-3	-488	211	144.6	211	Earth	Marginal	-63.9	30.6	Lifting body test
1967-U04	1967 Oct 19 1733	Scout B S159C	Wallops LA3A	RAM C-1	-1355?	2011?	39.9	217	Earth	Reentry	-59.4	32.8	Reentry test
1968-U01	1968 May 20 2205	R-36O Ya22500-18L	Baykonur LC162/36	OGCh No. 18LU	-200?	200?	49.7	200?	Earth	Marginal	-62.5	31.3	Weapons test flight
1968-U02	1968 May 27 2315	R-36O Ya22501-19L	Baykonur LC161/35	OGCh No. 19LU	-200?	200?	49.7	200?	Earth	Marginal	-62.5	31.3	Weapons test flight
1968-U03	1968 Aug 22 1516	Scout B S168C	Wallops LA3A	RAM C-2	-1850?	1420?	41.8	221	Earth	Reentry	-64.7	30.2	Reentry test
1969-U01	1969 Jul 21 1754	LM 5 Ascent Stage	Tranquility Base	LM 5 Eagle	17	91	161.8		Moon	ExtraT	-	-	Human lunar return
1969-U02	1969 Nov 20 1425	LM 6 Ascent Stage	Surveyor 3 Site	LM 6 Intrepid	19	95	144.1		Moon	ExtraT	-	-	Human lunar return
1969-U03	1969 Jan 25 1114	Tsiklon-2A No. 12L	Baykonur LC90/19	US-A No. 212	-50?	245?	65.1	245?	Earth	Marginal	-61.5	31.7	Satellite launch failure
1970-U01	1970 Sep 21 0743	E-8-5 VS	Luna-16 site,Mare Fecunditatis	E-8-5 No. 406 VA	?	400000?			Moon	ExtraT	-	-	Robotic sample return
1970-U02	1970 Jun 12 0110	Europa I F-9	Woomera LA6A	ELDO STV 3	-744	673	84.1	673	Earth	Marginal	-62.8	31.1	Satellite launch failure
1970-U03	1970 Nov 30 2240	Atlas Centaur AC-21	Kennedy LC36B	OAO B	-50?	600?	35.0	600?	Earth	Marginal	-59.9	32.5	Satellite launch failure
1971-U01	1971 Feb 6 1848	LM 8 Ascent Stage	Fra Mauro Base	LM 8 Antares	17	113	167.9		Moon	ExtraT	-	-	Human lunar return
1971-U02	1971 Aug 2 1711	LM 10 Ascent Stage	Hadley Base	LM 10 Falcon	3	63	143.4		Moon	ExtraT	-	-	Human lunar return
1971-U03	1971 Sep 20 2331	Scout B S166C	Wallops LA3A	Barium Ion Cloud	-4600	32100	38.9	32100	Earth	Energy	-19.8	52.6	Space physics probe
1972-U01	1972 Feb 22 2258	E-8-5 VS	Luna-20 site, Apollonius C	E-8-5 No. 408 VA	?	400000?			Moon	ExtraT	-	-	Robotic sample return
1972-U02	1972 Apr 24 0125	LM 11 Ascent Stage	Descartes Base	LM 11 Orion	28	108	172.0		Moon	ExtraT	-	-	Human lunar return
1972-U03	1972 Dec 14 2254	LM 12 Ascent Stage	Taurus-Littrow Base	LM 12 Challenger	21	114	?		Moon	ExtraT	-	-	Human lunar return
1973-U01	1973 Apr 25 0910	Tsiklon-2 No. 17L	Baykonur LC90	US-A No. 314	-800?	250?	65.0	250?	Earth	Marginal	-65.3	29.8	Satellite launch failure
1973-U02	1973 May 21 0847	Diamant B No. 5	Kourou ELD	D-5A/D-5B	40?	300	20.0	300?	Earth	Marginal	-60.9	32.1	Satellite launch failure, positive perigee
1976-U01	1976 Aug 19 0525	E-8-5 VS	Luna-24 site, Mare Crisium	E-8-5 No. 413 VA	?	400000?			Moon	ExtraT	-	-	Robotic sample return
1976-U02	1976 Jun 18 1141	Scout D-1 No. S193C	Wallops LA3A	Gravity Probe A	-6263	10230	39.4	10230	Earth	Energy	-47.7	38.7	Physics experiment probe
1979-U01	1979 Oct 12 1230	Soyuz-U 77025-419	Plesetsk LC43/3	Argon (Zenit-6) No. 12L	-200?	200?	72.9	200	Earth	Marginal	-62.5	31.3	Satellite launch failure
1980-U01	1980 Dec 9 0718	Atlas 68E	Vandenberg SLC3W	NRO PARCAE 4	-1000?	1050?	63.5	1050?	Earth	Marginal	-62.3	31.4	Satellite launch failure
1987-U01	1987 May 15 1730	Energiya No. L1506SL	Baykonur LC250	Skif-DM	-15	155	64.6	155	Earth	Marginal	-61.8	31.6	Satellite launch failure
1995-U01	1995 Jan 15 1345	Mu-3S-II M-3S2-8	Kagoshima Mu	EXPRESS	110	245	31.0	245	Earth	Skipped	-60.8	32.1	Made 3 orbits but not tracked
2000-U01	2000 Feb 10 0130	M-V-4	Kagoshima M-V	ASTRO-E	80?	410	31.3	410	Earth	Marginal	-60.2	32.4	Satellite launch failure, possibly positive perigee
2001-U01	2001 Sep 21 1849	Taurus 2110 T6	Vandenberg 576E	Orbview-4/QuikTOMS	-50?	427	97.3	427	Earth	Marginal	-60.7	32.1	Satellite launch failure
2003-U01	2003 Sep 16 1030	KT-1	Taiyuan	KT-1 test payload	112?	307	92.0	307	Earth	Marginal	-60.5	32.2	Satellite launch failure, possibly positive perigee
2004-U01	2004 Nov 8 1830	Soyuz-2-1A No. 001	Plesetsk LC43/4	Oblik No. 103	-150?	180?	82.5?	180?	Earth	Marginal	-62.4	31.3	Suborbital launch vehicle test
2013-U01	2013 May 13 1258	DF-21?	Xichang	Kunpeng-7	-3000?	10000?	32.0	10000?	Earth	Energy	-40.4?	42.3?	Launch vehicle test, orbit uncertain
2015-U01	2015 Feb 11 1340	Vega VV04	Kourou ZLV	AVUM VV04	220	430	5.4	430	Earth	Skipped	-59.5	32.8	AVUM stage completed more than one orbit, IXV orbit 76 x 416
2020-U01	2020 Nov 17 0152	Vega VV17	Kourou ZLV	SEOSAT/Taranis	-500?	250?	98.5	250?	Earth	Marginal	-63.7	30.6	Satellite launch failure
2020-U02	2020 Dec 3 1510	CE-5 SSQ	Louville Omega N	Chang'e-5 Shangsheng Qi	15	181	42.4		Moon	ExtraT	-	-	Robotic sample return
2021-U01	2021 Jul 27	Chang Zheng 2C	Taiyuan?	CZ Orbital RV	100?	200?	137?	200?	Earth	Skipped/Marginal	-61.1	32.0	Weapons test flight
2022-U01	2022 Mar 24 0534	Hwasong-15?	Sunan	HS-17 RV	-6261	6200	41.3	6200	Earth	Energy	-62.70	31.1	Lofted ICBM test flight
2022-U02	2022 Aug 7 0348	SSLV-D1	Satish Dawah FLP	EOS-02/AzaadiSAT	76	356	41.6?	356	Earth	Marginal	-60.5	32.3	Satellite launch failure, positive perigee
2022-U03	2022 Nov 18 0114	Hwasong-15?	Sunan	HS-17 RV	-6260	6100	41.6	6100	Earth	Energy	-63.30	30.9	Lofted ICBM test flight
2023-U01	2023 Feb 18 0822	Hwasong-15?	Sunan	HS-17 RV	-6260	5768	41.6	5768	Earth	Energy	-65.07	30.0	Lofted ICBM test flight
2023-U02	2023 Mar 15 2210	Hwasong-17?	Sunan	HS-17 RV	-6260?	5800?	41.6	5800?	Earth	Energy	-65.07	30.0	Lofted ICBM test flight
2023-U03	2023 Jul 12 0059	Hwasong-18	Pyongyang	HS-18 RV	-6260?	6648	41.6	6648	Earth	Energy	-60.70	32.1	Lofted ICBM test flight
2023-U04	2023 Dec 17 2324	Hwasong-18	Pyongyang	HS-18 RV	-6260?	6518	41.6	6518	Earth	Energy	-61.3	31.9	Lofted ICBM test flight
2024-U01	2024 Mar 14 1325	Starship	Starbase	Ship 28	-50?	234	26.50	234	Earth	Marginal	-61.61	31.69	Launch vehicle test
2024-U02	2024 Jun 3 2338	CE-6 SSQ	Apollo Basin S	Chang'e-6 Shangsheng Qi	15	180	43.0		Moon	ExtraT	-	-	Robotic sample return
2024-U03	2024 Jun 6 1250	Starship	Starbase	Ship 29	-15?	213	26.80	213	Earth	Marginal	-61.54	31.73	Launch vehicle test
2024-U04	2024 Oct 13 1225	Starship	Starbase	Ship 30	-15?	212	26.80	212	Earth	Marginal	-61.54	31.72	Launch vehicle test
2024-U05	2024 Oct 30 2211	Hwasong-19	Pyongyang	HS-19 RV	-6243?	7687	42.0	7687	Earth	Energy	-56.14	34.43	Lofted ICBM test flight
2024-U06	2024 Nov 19 2200	Starship	Starbase	Ship 31	50	228	26.3	190	Earth	Marginal	-61.16	31.91	Launch vehicle test