In 2013, the maiden spaceflight of the Orbital Sciences' Antares launch vehicle, designated A-ONE, took place on 13 April. Orbital Science also launched its first spacecraft, Cygnus, that docked with the International Space Station in late September 2013.
A total of 81 orbital launches were attempted in 2013, of which 77 were successful, one was partially successful and three were failures. The year also saw eleven EVAs by ISS astronauts. The majority of the year's orbital launches were conducted by Russia, the United States and China, with 31, 19 and 15 launches respectively.
Overview India's Indian Space Research Organisation launched its first mission to Mars with the Mars Orbiter Mission that successfully reached Mars orbit on 23 September 2014.
Numerous significant milestones in robotic spaceflight occurred in 2013, including the landing of China's Chang'e 3 lander at Moon's Mare Imbrium on 14 December; it is China's first attempt and first successful soft landing by its spacecraft on an extraterrestrial surface.
Five crewed orbital launches were conducted during 2013, all successfully, carrying a total of 15 astronauts into orbit. Four of these missions were flown with the Russian Soyuz spacecraft and one with the Chinese Shenzhou.
Orbital launches
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January
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February
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March
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April
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May
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June
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July
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August
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September
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October
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November
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December
Suborbital flights
Deep space rendezvous Date (UTC)SpacecraftEventRemarks16 FebruaryCassini 90th flyby of TitanClosest approach: .9 MarchCassini 4th flyby of RheaClosest approach: . Last Cassini flyby of Rhea.5 AprilCassini 91st flyby of TitanClosest approach: .12 AprilCassini Flyby of PolydeucesClosest approach: .23 MayCassini 92nd flyby of TitanClosest approach: .10 JulyCassini 93rd flyby of TitanClosest approach: .26 JulyCassini 94th flyby of TitanClosest approach: .12 SeptemberCassini 95th flyby of TitanClosest approach: .6 OctoberLADEEInjection into Selenocentric orbit Preliminary orbit was x , inclined 157 deg to the equator.9 OctoberJuno Flyby of EarthGravity assist, closest approach: .13 OctoberCassini 96th flyby of TitanClosest approach: .30 NovemberCassini 97th flyby of TitanClosest approach: .6 DecemberChang'e 3Injection into Selenocentric orbit Preliminary orbit was , reduced to on 10 December.14 DecemberChang'e 3Landing at Mare ImbriumFirst Chinese lunar soft lander and rover, coordinates .28 DecemberMars ExpressFlyby of PhobosClosest approach: .
Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVAs) Start Date/TimeDurationEnd TimeSpacecraftCrewRemarks19 April14:036 hours20:41ISS Pirs Pavel Vinogradov Roman RomanenkoInstalled the Obstanovka plasma waves and ionosphere experiment to the exterior of the Zvezda service module. Also replaced a faulty retro-reflector device used as navigational aids for the Automatic Transfer Vehicle and retrieved the Biorisk microbe exposure experiment. An attempt to retrieve the Vinoslivost materials sample experiment failed when it was accidentally dropped while being taken back to the Pirs module airlock.11 May12:445 hours30 minutes18:14Expedition 35/36 ISS QuestReplaced the 2B Pump Flow Control Subassembly (PFCS) on the Port 6 truss in attempting to locate the source of an ammonia coolant leak on the Port 6 truss Photo Voltaic Thermal Control System (PVTCS).24 June13:326 hours34 minutes20:06Expedition 36/37 ISS Pirs Fyodor Yurchikhin Aleksandr MisurkinReplaced a fluid flow regulator on the Zarya module, testing of the Kurs docking system on the station ahead of the arrival of a new Russian module, installing the "Indicator" experiment, installing gap spanners on to the outside of the station and photographing the multilayer insulation (MLI) protecting the Russian segment from micrometeoroids and taking samples from the exterior surface of the pressure hull underneath the MLI to identify signs of pressure hull material microscopic deterioration.9 July12:026 hours7 minutes18:09Expedition 36/37 ISS Quest Christopher Cassidy Luca ParmitanoReplaced a failed Space-to-Ground Transmitter Receiver Controller and the Mobile Base Camera Light Pan-Tilt Assembly, retrieved the MISSE-8 and ORMatE-III experiments, photographed the AMS-02, moved two Radiator Grapple Bars to either sides of the truss, routed power cables to support the addition of the new Russian MLM and installed a multi-layer insulation cover to protect the docking interface of PMA-2.16 July11:571 hours32 minutes13:29Expedition 36/37 ISS Quest Christopher Cassidy Luca ParmitanoInstalled a Y-bypass jumper on power lines on the Z1 truss, routing 1553 data cables for a grapple fixture and Ethernet cables for a future Russian station module. The spacewalk was then cut short after Parmitano reported excess water leaking inside his helmet.16 August14:367 hours29 minutes22:05Expedition 36/37 ISS Pirs Fyodor Yurchikhin Aleksandr MisurkinRouted power and Ethernet cables for later attachment to the future Nauka module. Also installed connectors between modules and a material science experiment.22 August11:345 hours58 minutes17:32Expedition 36/37 ISS Pirs Fyodor Yurchikhin Aleksandr MisurkinRemoved a laser communication and installed an EVA work station and camera pointing platform outside the Zvezda service module, inspection and tightening of various antenna covers on Zvezda, and installed new spacewalk aids.9 November14:345 hours50 minutes20:24Expedition 37/38 ISS Pirs Oleg Kotov Sergey RyazanskyTook the Olympic torch for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games to the outside of ISS. They also continued work on an extravehicular activity workstation and biaxial pointing platform by removing launch brackets and bolts, as well as retrieving an experimental package. The planned installation of a foot restraint on the mounting seat of the workstation was deferred to a future spacewalk after the spacewalkers noticed some issues with its alignment.21 December12:015 hours28 minutes17:29Expedition 38/39 ISS Quest Richard Mastracchio Michael S. HopkinsRemoved ammonia fluid lines from Active Thermal Control System pump module; removed pump module from starboard truss and stowed it on Payload Orbital Replacement Unit Accommodation.24 December11:537 hours30 minutes19:23Expedition 38/39 ISS Quest Richard Mastracchio Michael S. HopkinsRetrieved spare ammonia pump module, installed it on starboard truss, and connected it to Loop A of Active Thermal Control System.27 December13:008 hours7 minutes21:07Expedition 38/39 ISS Pirs Oleg Kotov Sergey RyazanskyAttempted installation of 2 HD cameras for commercial Earth observation on the outside of the Zvezda module, cancelled after one of the cameras failed to provide data to the ground during testing. Also installed and jettisoned experimental equipment outside the Russian segment. Longest Russian EVA in history.
Orbital launch statistics
By country For the purposes of this section, the yearly tally of orbital launches by country assigns each flight to the country of origin of the rocket, not to the launch services provider or the spaceport. For example, Soyuz launches by Arianespace in Kourou are counted under Russia because Soyuz-2 is a Russian rocket.
Country Launches Successes Failures Partial failures 15 14 1 0 4 4 0 0 3 3 0 0 1 1 0 0 3 3 0 0 31 28 2 1 1 1 0 0 4 4 0 0 19 19 0 0 World
By rocket
By family Family Country Launches Successes Failures Partial failures RemarksAngara 1 1 0 0 Antares 2 2 0 0 Maiden flightAriane 4 4 0 0 Atlas 8 8 0 0 Delta 3 3 0 0 Epsilon 1 1 0 0 Maiden flightFalcon 3 3 0 0 H-II 2 2 0 0 Kuaizhou 1 1 0 0 Maiden flightLong March 14 13 1 0 Minotaur 2 2 0 0 Pegasus 1 1 0 0 PSLV 3 3 0 0 R-7 16 16 0 0 R-36 2 2 0 0 Universal Rocket 15 13 1 1 Vega 1 1 0 0 Zenit 2 1 1 0
By type Rocket Country Family Launches Successes Failures Partial failures RemarksAntares 100 Antares 2 2 0 0 Maiden flightAriane 5 Ariane 4 4 0 0 Atlas V Atlas 8 8 0 0 Delta IV Delta 3 3 0 0 Dnepr R-36 2 2 0 0 Epsilon Epsilon 1 1 0 0 Maiden flightFalcon 9 Falcon 3 3 0 0 H-IIA H-II 1 1 0 0 H-IIB H-II 1 1 0 0 Kuaizhou 1 Kuaizhou 1 1 0 0 Maiden flightLong March 2 Long March 5 5 0 0 Long March 3 Long March 3 3 0 0 Long March 4 Long March 6 5 1 0 Minotaur I Minotaur 1 1 0 0 Minotaur V Minotaur 1 1 0 0 Naro / Angara 1 1 0 0 Final flightPegasus Pegasus 1 1 0 0 PSLV PSLV 3 3 0 0 Proton Universal Rocket 10 9 1 0 Soyuz R-7 8 8 0 0 Soyuz-2 R-7 8 8 0 0 UR-100 Universal Rocket 5 4 0 1 Vega Vega 1 1 0 0 Zenit Zenit 2 1 1 0
By configuration Rocket Country Type Launches Successes Failures Partial failures RemarksAntares 110 Antares 2 2 0 0 Maiden flightAriane 5 ECA Ariane 5 3 3 0 0 Ariane 5 ES Ariane 5 1 1 0 0 Atlas V 401 Atlas V 5 5 0 0 Atlas V 501 Atlas V 1 1 0 0 Atlas V 531 Atlas V 1 1 0 0 Atlas V 551 Atlas V 1 1 0 0 Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) Delta IV 2 2 0 0 Delta IV Heavy Delta IV 1 1 0 0 Dnepr Dnepr 2 2 0 0 Epsilon Epsilon 1 1 0 0 Maiden flightFalcon 9 v1.0 Falcon 9 1 1 0 0 Final flightFalcon 9 v1.1 Falcon 9 2 2 0 0 Maiden flightH-IIA 202 H-IIA 1 1 0 0 H-IIB H-IIB 1 1 0 0 Kuaizhou 1 Kuaizhou 1 1 1 0 0 Maiden flightLong March 2C Long March 2 2 2 0 0 Long March 2D Long March 2 2 2 0 0 Long March 2F Long March 2 1 1 0 0 Long March 3B/E Long March 3 3 3 0 0 Long March 4B Long March 4 2 1 1 0 Long March 4C Long March 4 4 4 0 0 Minotaur I Minotaur I 1 1 0 0 Minotaur V Minotaur V 1 1 0 0 Maiden flightNaro-1 / Naro 1 1 0 0 Final flightPegasus-XL Pegasus 1 1 0 0 PSLV-CA PSLV 1 1 0 0 PSLV-XL PSLV 2 2 0 0 Proton-M / Briz-M Proton 9 9 0 0 Proton-M / Blok DM-03 Proton 1 0 1 0 Rokot / Briz-KM UR-100 4 3 0 1 Soyuz-2.1a Soyuz-2 1 1 0 0 Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat-M Soyuz-2 1 1 0 0 Soyuz-2.1b Soyuz-2 2 2 0 0 Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat-M Soyuz-2 1 1 0 0 Soyuz ST-B / Fregat-MT Soyuz-2 2 2 0 0 Soyuz-2-1v / Volga Soyuz-2 1 1 0 0 Maiden flightSoyuz-FG Soyuz 4 4 0 0 Soyuz-U Soyuz 4 4 0 0 Strela UR-100 1 1 0 0 Vega Vega 1 1 0 0 Zenit-3SL Zenit 1 0 1 0 Zenit-3SLB Zenit 1 1 0 0
By spaceport
Site Country Launches Successes Failures Partial failures RemarksBaikonur 23 22 1 0 Cape Canaveral 10 10 0 0 Dombarovsky 2 2 0 0 Kourou 7 7 0 0 Jiuquan 7 7 0 0 MARS 4 4 0 0 Naro 1 1 0 0 Ocean Odyssey International waters 1 0 1 0 Plesetsk 7 6 0 1 Satish Dhawan 3 3 0 0 Tanegashima 2 2 0 0 Taiyuan 5 4 1 0 Uchinoura 1 1 0 0 Vandenberg 5 5 0 0 Includes Pegasus-XL launch whose carrier aircraft took off from VandenbergXichang 3 3 0 0 Total 81 77 3 1
By orbit
Orbital regime Launches Failures Accidentallyachieved RemarksTransatmospheric 0 0 0 0 Low Earth 48 47 1 0 12 to ISS, 1 to Tiangong-1 Medium Earth / Molniya 4 3 1 0 Geosynchronous / GTO 24 23 1 0 High Earth / Lunar transfer 3 3 0 0 MOM was initially placed in a highly elliptical Earth orbit and performed Trans-Mars injection under its own power Heliocentric / Planetary transfer 2 2 0 0 Total 81 78 3 0
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