Key space-program milestones In 1 edition of 36.

• 2002 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (Alsat-1A) built jointly with the UK and launched by Russia
• 2006 - announced a national space program
• 2010 and 2016 - first Algerian-designed and -built RS satellites (Alsat-2A and 2B) launched by India
• 2017 - first communications satellite (Alcomsat-1) built jointly with and launched by China; announced a 2040 national space plan
• 2026 - RS satellite (AlSat-3A) launched by China

• 2017 - first communications satellite (AngoSat-1) built, launched, and operated by Russia (satellite failed in 2018)
• 2022 - second communications satellite (AngoSat-2) with French-built payload, integrated and launched by Russia
• 2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for space exploration
• 2024 - inaugurated a national maritime coordination and surveillance center and country's first satellite mission control center
• 2025 - signed financial agreement with France for construction of country’s first high-resolution remote sensing satellite (ANGEO-1)

2023 - hosted an Africa-wide space industry conference; announced plans to acquire and launch first small remote sensing satellite (Yam-Sat- CI 01)

2024 - began joint project with Tanzania to build a technology-demonstrator cube satellite (TanSat-1)

1960 - initiated a space program

1998 - first communications satellite (NileSat-101) built in Europe and launched on a European rocket (first African country to have its own communications satellite)

2007 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (Egypsat-1) built and launched by Russia

• 2019 - first domestically produced RS cube satellites (NARSSCube-1 and 2) released from International Space Station;
• signed agreement with China for construction of satellite assembly, integrating, and testing facilities

2020 - announced a 10-year national space program, including initiating an astronaut training program and jointly developing with several African countries an RS satellite for monitoring climate changes

• 2022 - inaugurated a “space city” containing a satellite manufacturing facility, a research center, a space academy, and the headquarters of the African Space Agency (AfSA; inaugurated 2025);
• latest NileSat-series (NileSat-301) communications satellite acquired from Europe and launched by the US

• 2023 - three RS satellites (Horus-1, Horus-2, and MisrSat-2) built jointly with and launched by China;
• joined the China-led International Lunar Research Station project

2024 - experimental RS satellite (Nexsat-1) jointly developed with a European commercial company and launched by China

• 2015 - established Entoto Observatory and Space Science Research Center
• 2019 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (Ethiopia RS Satellite or ETRSS-1) built and launched by China
• 2020 - second RS satellite (ET-SMART-RSS) built with assistance from and launched by China; began construction of satellite manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing facility
• 2021 - established a multi-mission ground control station for RS satellites
• 2024 - declared second satellite ground station operational
• 2025 - announced plans to launch third RS satellite (ETRSS-02) in partnership with China in 2026

• 1986 - ESA established a ground station in Gabon
• 2018 - completed mapping Gabon’s forests
• 2019 - founding member of the Space Climate Observatory
• 2021 - began acquisition process for first satellite in joint project with Japan, known as BIRDs
• 2025 - became member of new African Space Agency

• 2017 - first satellite (GhanaSat-1), a technology demonstration/remote sensing nanosatellite built by a Gabonese university with assistance from Japan and released from the International Space Station;
• established Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory

2024 - released a national space policy

• 1970 - first satellite (US-made Uhura) launched from Kenya
• 2008 - established country's first satellite ground station
• 2018 - first remote-sensing (RS)/technology-demonstrator cube nanosatellite (1KUNS-PF) produced jointly with Japan and Italy and deployed from the International Space Station
• 2023 - first domestically designed RS satellite (TAIFA-1) built by Bulgaria and launched by US

• 2003 - first remote sensing (RS) microsatellite (NigeriaSat-1) built jointly with the UK and launched by Russia
• 2007 - first communications satellite (NigSatCom-1) built and launched by China (failed in orbit, 2008)
• 2011 - first domestically built remote sensing (RS) satellite (NigeriaSat-X) launched by Russia
• 2019 - inaugurated a geospatial data analysis center
• 2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration
• 2023 - first military reconnaissance RS satellite (DelSat-1) launched by China

• 2018 - signed cooperation agreement with Japan for training in designing and producing mini-satellites
• 2019 - first remote sensing (RS) nanosatellite (RWASAT-1) built with assistance from and launched by Japan; first commercial communications satellite (Icyerekezo) built and launched by France
• 2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration
• 2025 - joined newly formed African Space Agency

• 2023 - signed cooperation agreement with ESA to leverage space technology for socio-economic growth;
• established a space control center to provide infrastructure for satellite manufacturing and satellite services

• 2024 - first Earth observation/remote sensing nanosatellite (GaindeSat-1A) built with French assistance and launched by US;
• signed agreement with Turkey on space infrastructure advancement;
• agreed to participate in China's lunar exploration/research station project

• 2025 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration;
• signed agreement with France for capacity development in space infrastructure and Earth observation initiatives

• 1976 - established a satellite remote sensing (RS)/radio astronomy center (originally built by the US in 1961 to receive data from US space missions)
• 1980s - conducted program to launch reconnaissance satellites on a domestically produced satellite launch vehicle (abandoned in 1994 along with nuclear program)
• 1999 - first domestically built RS/technology demonstrator microsatellite (Sunsat-1) launched by US
• 2009 - first government-owned and -operated RS/scientific/technology demonstrator satellite (SumbandilaSat) launched by Russia
• 2018 - inaugurated a radio space telescope array (Karoo Array Telescope or MeerKAT)
• 2021 - began construction of the international Square Kilometer Array radio telescope observatory; launched a sounding rocket for research purposes to an altitude of nearly 18,000 km (11,185 mi)
• 2022 - opened Africa's first regional space weather center
• 2023 - agreed to participate in China's international lunar research station project

• 2020 - began a program (BIRDS-5) sponsored by Japan to promote the development of a domestic space program by designing, building, testing, launching, and operating the first satellites for participating countries
• 2021 - established satellite ground communications station and completed national wetlands mapping project
• 2022 - first nano-sized remote sensing/educational satellite (ZIMSAT-1) built with Japan’s assistance and launched by Japan under the BIRDs-5 program
• 2024 - second RS satellite (ZIMSAT-2) built with Russian assistance and launched by Russia

2013 - first communications satellite (Azerspace-1) built by US company and launched on European rocket

2014 - took operational control over remote sensing (RS) satellite (SPOT-7, now Azersky) from a French company (satellite ceased operations in 2023)

2017 - second communications satellite (Azerspace-2) built by US company and launched on European rocket

• 2023 - agreed to participate in China's International Lunar Research Station Cooperation project, which aims to establish a base on the Moon in the 2030s;
• signed agreement with Israel to jointly develop two multi-spectral RS satellites (Azersky-2 program) for scheduled launches in 2026 and 2028 (2025)

• 2017 - first educational/scientific nanosatellite (BRAC-Onnesha) acquired from Japan and launched by US
• 2018 - first communications satellite (Bangabandhu-1) built by a French company and launched by US
• 2025 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for the safe and responsible exploration of space

• 1960s - began launching rockets and initiated satellite and satellite launch vehicle (SLV) programs
• 1970 - launched first communications satellite (Dongfanghong I)
• 2003 - first manned space flight; launched first satellite for global navigational system (Beidou)
• 2011 - placed temporary space station (Tiangong-1) into Earth orbit
• 2013 - first unmanned lunar landing mission (Chang'e-3); placed a second temporary space station (Tiangong-2) in Earth orbit
• 2017 - employed a communications satellite (Micius) to perform the world’s first quantum-encrypted virtual teleconference between Beijing and Vienna
• 2019 - landed a rover vehicle (Chang’e-4) on the far side of the Moon
• 2021 - landed a probe and operated a rover vehicle on Mars; signed agreement with Russia to set up an international manned lunar research station; announced intent to send a manned mission to Mars by 2033
• 2022 - completed construction of a permanent manned space station (Tiangong) in Earth orbit
• 2024 - successful landing and return of robotic spacecraft/probe (Chang'e-6) from the far side the Moon; first launch of "Thousand Sails" commercial communications satellite constellation project
• 2025 - launched asteroid sample return mission probe (Tianwen-2); launched world's first quantum communications microsatellite (Jinan-1)

• 1963 - first sounding (research) rocket launched
• 1975 - first domestically made scientific satellite (Aryabhata) launched by Soviet Union
• 1979 - first experimental remote sensing (RS) satellite (Bhaskara-I) launched by Soviet Union
• 1980 - first successful launch of satellite (Rohini) on Indian satellite launch vehicle (SLV)
• 1984 - first Indian in space on a Soviet rocket
• 1988 - first operational RS satellite (IRS-1A) launched by Soviet Union
• 1994 - first successful launch of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), India’s premier SLV
• 2008 - first lunar orbiter/probe (Chandrayaan-1) launched, reached lunar orbit, and sent a probe to the surface of the Moon
• 2014 - first interplanetary probe (Mangalyaan) reached orbit around Mars
• 2018 - Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (INRSS) became operational
• 2019 - launched lunar orbiter/probe (Chandrayaan-2) with lander and rover (lander lost when it crash-landed on Moon’s surface)
• 2023 - successfully landed uncrewed lander/rover mission (Chandrayaan-3) on Moon's surface
• 2024 - launched satellite (XPoSat) to study black holes and placed solar observatory spacecraft (Aditya-L1) in orbital position to study the Sun
• 2025 - first docking of two orbiting satellites and sent its first astronaut to the International Space Station

• 1966-1970 - initiated satellite launch vehicle (SLV) program and launched first domestically produced satellite (OHSUMI)
• 1985 - launched two Halley’s Comet observation satellites (Japan’s first missions beyond Earth’s orbit)
• 1992 - first astronaut in space on US Space Shuttle
• 1998 - launched its first Mars orbiter (failed to enter orbit)
• 2003 - launched world’s first uncrewed spacecraft (Hayabusa 1) to return with a sample from an asteroid (2010)
• 2007 - launched Lunar orbiter (Kaguya) mission
• 2010 - launched Venus orbiter (Akatsuki) mission
• 2014 - launched asteroid probe with lander/rover (Hayabusa 2); first Japanese International Space Station commander
• 2018 - launched joint Japan-ESA probe to Mercury (BepiColombo); began operation of a navigational/positioning satellite constellation (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, QZSS)
• 2019 - began participating in US-led lunar orbital station and Moon exploration programs
• 2024 - soft-landed unmanned spacecraft (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon or SLIM) on the Moon; conducted first successful test launch of domestically produced H3 medium-lift SLV

• 1991 - first Kazakh in space on the last Soviet Soyuz mission
• 2006 - first communications satellite (KazSat-1) built jointly with Italy and launched by Russia
• 2014 - first remote sensing satellite (KazEOSat-1) built by France and launched on European rocket
• 2024 - joined China-led lunar base project

• 1980s - initiated space program
• 1998 - failed first attempt to place a satellite in orbit on a 3-stage Paektusan-1 satellite launch vehicle (SLV)
• 2012 - successfully placed first satellite (Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 or Bright Star-3) in orbit on Unha-3 SLV (satellite failed to operate)
• 2016 - second satellite (Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4) placed in orbit on Unha-3 SLV (reportedly a remote sensing (RS) satellite that also failed to operate)
• 2023 - placed a military RS satellite (Malligyong-1) in orbit on Chollima-1 SLV
• 2024 - failed attempt to place a second military RS satellite in orbit on new type SLV

1992 - first domestically made technology-demonstrator satellite (KITSAT-1) launched on European rocket

1993-1998 - launched first single-stage sounding rocket (KSR-1) and first two-stage sounding rocket (KSR-2)

1999 - first domestically built multi-purpose satellite (KOMPSAT-1, aka Arirang-1) launched by US

2008 - first South Korean astronaut in space on International Space Station

2013 - first successful satellite launch of two-stage Korean Space Launch Vehicle-I (KSLV-I; aka Naro)

2021 - maiden launch of three-stage KSLV-II (aka Nuri); signed the US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration

• 2022 - first successful attempt to place satellites into orbit on the KSLV-II/Nuri;
• domestically made lunar orbiter (Danuri) reached Moon's orbit;
• began development of the Korea Positioning System (KPS) satellite navigational network

2024 - third successful launch of Nuri SLV placed eight small satellites in orbit, including a remote sensing satellite (NexSat-2) with radar imaging technology

• 1962-1972 - launched about 200 sounding rockets with some US assistance
• 1990 - first domestically built experimental satellite (Badr-1) launched by China
• 2001 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (Badr-2) built jointly with the UK and launched by Russia
• 2011 - first digital communications satellite (PakSat-1R) launched by China
• 2017 - successfully test-launched ballistic missile system (Shaheed-III)
• 2023 - joined China’s International Lunar Research Station program
• 2024 - first lunar orbiter/satellite (iCube Qamar) launched by China and deployed from China's Chang'e-6 spacecraft
• 2025 - first fully domestic RS satellite (PRSC-EO1) launched by China; selected country's first astronauts to be trained by China for mission to China's space station

• 1957 - placed world’s first satellite (Sputnik-1) in orbit
• 1961-1964 - launched first man, first woman, and first multi-member crew into space
• 1965 - launched first probe to successfully land on the Moon
• 1967 - initial launch of Soviet-made Soyuz series space launch vehicle (SLV)
• 1971 - placed first space station (Salyut) in orbit and successfully landed a probe on Venus
• 1975 - joint Soviet (Soyuz)-US (Apollo) space mission
• 1986 - began operation of Mir space station (in orbit until 2001)
• 1995 - Global Navigation Satellite System (GLObalnaya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema or GLONASS) constellation completed
• 2014 - initial launch of Angara SLV series
• 2021 - announced agreements with China to send a robotic probe to an asteroid and jointly establish a station on the Moon
• 2023 - launch first of a planned series of Moon landers (Luna-25; crashed on Moon's surface); announced intent to place first module of a new space station in orbit by 2027

2015 - first commercial telecommunications satellite (Turkmen Sat 52E) built by European company and launched by US

2024 - announced beginning of program to develop or acquire a second communications satellite

2018 - signed space cooperation agreements with France and India

2022 - signed space cooperation agreement with Kazakhstan

• 2025 - Uzbek engineers began two-year satellite development training program in Japan with goal of building country's first satellite;
• signed space cooperation agreement with South Korea;
• announced development of 10-year national space program

• 2018 - first domestically produced remote sensing cube satellite (Irazú) for monitoring tropical forests and climate change launched by US and deployed from the International Space Station
• 2021 - signed protocols for newly established Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency; opened US commercial company’s space radar facility for mapping and space situational awareness
• 2022 - domestically produced scientific device (Proyecto Musa or Musa Project) launched on European rocket
• 2024 - participated in first China-Latin America and the Caribbean Space Cooperation Forum

• 1994 - joined UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
• 2017 - Russia opened a satellite navigation system monitoring station in Nicaragua
• 2021 - signed convention establishing the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency
• 2024 - joined the China-led International Lunar Research Station project, which aims to establish a permanent base on the Moon by the 2030s

• 1981 - became an associate ESA member (full member in 1987)
• 1991 - first Austrian in space on Soviet Mir Space Station
• 2013 - first domestically built science/technology (star observation) satellites (TUGSAT-1 and UniBRITE) launched by India
• 2017 - worked with China to produce world’s first quantum-encrypted satellite communications teleconference from Beijing to Vienna
• 2024 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for cooperative space exploration

• 1986 - joined first European Earth Observation program; founding member of European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites
• 1992 - first Belgian astronaut in space on the US Space Shuttle
• 2001 - first remote sensing satellite (PROBA-1) launched by India
• 2024 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for space exploration

1960s-1990s - participated in the Soviet Interkosmos program, which included the first Bulgarian in space (1979), first domestically produced scientific satellite launched on a Soviet rocket (1981), and participation in the Soviet VEGA project (1985)

2017 - first communications satellite (BulgariaSat-1) built and launched by US

2019 - first domestically built data/educational cube satellite (EnduroSat-1) launched by US

2023 - signed the US-led Artemis Accords outlining principles for cooperation in space exploration

2025 - domestically produced, multispectral remote sensing satellite (Balkan-1) launched by US as part of EU's Copernicus Earth observation program

1979 - first launch of Ariane heavy-lift satellite launch vehicle (SLV)

1980s-2011 - participated in US Space Shuttle program (included more than 20 Spacelab missions, 1983-1998)

1995 - first solar satellite/orbiter (SOHO) launched

1997-2017 - Cassini-Huygens research mission to Saturn

1998-present - participating in a series of missions with varying start dates, including the International Space Station, International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory mission (INTEGRAL), Mars Express orbiter exploration mission, Rosetta comet probe (included world’s first landing on a comet, 2014), Copernicus Earth observation program, Mars orbiter mission (ExoMars), Mercury planetary orbiter mission (BepiColombo), Solar Orbiter mission, US Gateway Lunar orbital station project

2016 - Galileo satellite-based global navigational positioning system reached initial operational capability

2019 - began development of quantum communications infrastructure (EuroQCI)

• 2021 - implemented EU government satellite communications (GOVSATCOM) and Space Surveillance and Awareness (SSA) components of EU space program;
• launched world’s first commercial, fully flexible, reprogrammable quantum satellite;
• launched US-built James Webb Space Telescope

2023 - launched Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission; launched Euclid space observatory/telescope

2024 - successful test launch of Ariane-6 SLV; launched probe (Hera) to study asteroid Didymos and its moon Dimorphos

2025 - announced EU Space Act, a cooperative framework for space activities across the EU

• early 1960s - began rocket program and launched animals into space
• 1965 - launched first domestically produced satellite (Asterix) into space on a French Diamant rocket (third country to do so after the Soviet Union and US)
• 1973 - began development of Ariane heavy-lift satellite launch vehicle (SLV) along with other European states, particularly Germany and the UK; Ariane would become the ESA's SLV
• 1970s-1990s - development of a space plane/shuttle program (Hermes)
• 1982 - first French astronaut into space on a Soviet rocket
• 1986 - launched first joint European Earth observation/remote sensing program (SPOT)
• 2018 - launched project (Spaceship FR) to lay the groundwork for robotic and crewed missions to the Moon and Mars
• 2024 - debut launch of Ariane-6 SLV; claimed world's first satellite to ground communications via laser

• 1969 - first German scientific satellite (Azur) launched by US
• 1973 - participated with other European states, particularly France and the UK, in development of Ariane satellite launch vehicle
• 1978 - first German in space on Soviet Salyut space station
• 1980s-1990s - participated in US Space Shuttle program, including providing astronauts
• 1999 - launched a space-based X-ray telescope (ABRAXIS) on Russian rocket
• 2005 - began development of reusable space plane/shuttle/transporter
• 2019 - launched first space-based X-ray telescope (eROSITA) capable of imaging the entire sky (joint project with Russia)
• 2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for the exploration of space and the Moon; adopted a new national space strategy

• 1994 - signed first cooperation agreement with the ESA
• 2005 - first satellite (Hellas-Sat) for a domestic telecommunications satellite network launched by US; joined ESA (became member state in 2011)
• 2017 - first domestically manufactured communications satellite (UPSat) released from International Space Station
• 2019 - began participating in ESA’s quantum communications infrastructure (EuroQCI or “fiber in the sky”) and the US Gateway Lunar orbital/landing programs
• 2021 - launched ESA-assisted national program to develop, manufacture, launch, and operate small satellites
• 2024 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and Moon exploration
• 2025 - launched demonstrator/experimental RS cube satellite (DUTHSat-2) under ESA-assisted national small satellite program

• 1964 - first domestically manufactured science satellite (San Marco-1) launched by the US
• 1977 - first domestically built telecommunications/research satellite (Sirio) launched by the US
• 1990s-2011 - participated in US Space Shuttle program, resulting in first Italian astronaut in space (1992)
• 1998-present - participated in International Space Station, including the first European astronaut on the station (2001), first Italian to command it (2019-2020), and first woman to command the station (2022)
• 2012 - first launch of Italian-designed VEGA 3-stage satellite launch vehicle (SLV) for ESA
• 2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration
• 2023 - first Italian all-electric satellite (MicroHETSat) built for the ESA and launched by the US; began developing a habitat for the US-led Artemis Lunar Gateway project
• 2025 - passed a national space law to govern Italian space operations

• 1980s - began creating a satellite telecommunications infrastructure for Europe
• 2014 - first privately built probe to successfully fly by the Moon (launched by China)
• 2018 - developed communications satellite (GOVSAT-1) to support the EU’s secure communications and space situational awareness program (GOVSATCOM)
• 2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration and agreed to join the Moon exploration mission
• 2021 - launched Luxembourg’s Quantum Communications Infrastructure project (LuxQCI) in support of the EU’s Quantum Communications Infrastructure (EuroQCI)
• 2025 - launched the Luxembourg Earth Observation System (LUXEOSys) satellite, part of a national space-based remote sensing program

• 1960s - established space program
• 1974-1983 - developed advanced astronomical observatory satellites jointly with US, including the Astronomical Netherlands Satellite and the Infrared Astronomical Satellite
• 1985 - first Dutch citizen in space on the US Space Shuttle
• 2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration
• 2025 - launched the first of four planned synthetic aperture radar (SAR) remote sensing satellites

• 1962 - launched first research rocket
• 1992 - began operating first communications satellite (THOR-1)
• 2010 - built first satellite (AISSat-1) to monitor from polar orbit Automatic Identification Signals from ships (launched by India)
• 2017 - launched two microsatellites (NorSat-1 and -2) to track commercial sea vessels
• 2025 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration

• 1978 - first Polish astronaut in space on Soviet spacecraft
• 1991 - began cooperating with the ESA
• 1994 - began participating in Russia's Koronas solar research missions
• 2012 - joined ESA; first domestically built scientific nanosatellite (PW-Sat) launched on European rocket
• 2021 - joined US-led Artemis Accords for lunar and space exploration
• 2024 - successfully launched domestically developed experimental suborbital rocket (ILR-33 Amber 2K) to altitude of 101 kms
• 2025 - first Polish astronaut and scientific mission on International Space Station

1993 - first technology demonstrator microsatellite (PoSat-1) launched on a European rocket

2000 - joined the ESA

2020 - launched strategic plan for space development (Portugal Space 2030), which included building a spaceport, developing a reusable rocket/satellite launch vehicle, growing the country's domestic commercial space sector, and establishing an Earth observation/remote sensing satellite constellation

2024 - first Portuguese communications satellite (PoSat-2) launched by US as part of a planned constellation of 12 ocean-monitoring/maritime communication satellites

2026 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for responsible space exploration

• 1967-1968 - began participating in Soviet Intercosmos program and established the Romanian Commission for Space Activities to coordinate national space activities
• 1981 - first Romanian in space on Soviet spacecraft
• 2010 - domestically developed commercial rocket launched to an altitude of 40,000 m (24.9 mi)
• 2012 - first domestically produced scientific/experimental microsatellite (Goliat) launched (failed to operate)
• 2022 - joined US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration
• 2023 - digital amateur-radio-repeater microsatellite (ROM-2) launched on US commercial rocket

• 1960s - began working with the US/NASA and the European Space Research Organization (ESRO), the forerunner of the ESA; sounding rocket program (ended in the 1990s)
• 1974 - first satellite (IntaSat) launched by US
• 1990s - satellite launch vehicle (SLV) development program (canceled in 2000)
• 1992 - first communications satellite (Hispasat 1A) launched on European rocket
• 1998 - first astronaut in space on US Space Shuttle
• 2018 - first synthetic-aperture-radar, remote-sensing/reconnaissance satellite (Paz) launched by US
• 2023 - Spanish built Miuri-1 becomes first European private rocket to reach space; joined US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration
• 2025 - communications satellite (SpainSat NG 1) with advanced security technology launched by US

• 1950s - space program initiated with the establishment of a space observatory and the Swedish Space Research Committee
• 1961 - launched first sounding rocket
• 1986 - first scientific satellite (Viking) launched on European rocket
• 1989 - first communications satellite (Tele-X) launched on European rocket
• 2006 - first astronaut into space on US Space Shuttle
• 2019 - established a space data lab for artificial intelligence-based analysis of imagery data
• 2024 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration; launched first military communications satellite (GNA-3); adopted its first defense and security space strategy

• 1995 - first domestically produced remote sensing (RS) satellite (Sich-1) launched on Ukrainian Tsyklon-3 rocket
• 1997 - first Ukrainian astronaut in space on US Space Shuttle
• 1999 - first launch of Dnipro-1, a domestically produced satellite launch vehicle (SLV)
• 2008 - first launch of Zenit-3SLB, a domestically produced SLV
• 2014 - launched first domestically produced microsatellite (PolyITAN-1)
• 2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration
• 2021 - first successful launch of joint Ukrainian-US commercial light SLV (Alpha)
• 2022 - domestically produced RS microsatellite (Sich 2-30) launched by US
• 2024 - first Ukrainian woman to suborbital space on US commercial spacecraft

• 1957 - first suborbital sounding rocket (Skylark) launched
• 1960s - first satellite (Ariel) launched by US; development of Black Arrow satellite launch vehicle (SLV); launched first of Skynet family of communications satellites
• 1971 - first successful placement of satellite (Prospero) in orbit on a 3-stage Black Arrow SLV (Black Arrow SLV program ended in early 1970s)
• 1973 - began participating in development of Ariane SLV along with other European states, particularly France and Germany
• 1991 - first British astronaut into space to Russian Mir space station
• 2015 - first British astronaut on International Space Station
• 2019-2020 - began participating in US Gateway lunar orbital station program and signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration
• 2024 - first military remote sensing satellite (Tyche) launched by US

• 2022 - first scientific nanosatellite (Light-1 CubeSat) built with assistance from the UAE and launched by Japan; joined US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration
• 2023 - first domestically built technology-demonstrator nanosatellite (Kuwait Sat-1) launched by US
• 2025 - first domestically built remote-sensing nanosatellite (Al Munther) launched by US

• 1998 - began development of 2-stage satellite/space launch vehicle (SLV) (Safir)
• 2006 - first successful launch of a small, domestically produced communications and research satellite (Omid) on the Safir SLV
• 2010 - began developing a more capable 2-stage orbital SLV (Simorgh; aka Safir-2)
• 2011 - launched first domestically produced remote sensing (RS) satellite (Rasad) on Safir SLV
• 2020 - placed RS microsatellite (Noor) in orbit on 3-stage SLV (Qased or Messenger)
• 2021 - first launch of road-mobile 3-stage SLV (Zuljanah)
• 2022 - completed suborbital test of new small-lift SLV (Quam-100)

• 1961 - first sounding rocket launched
• 1988 - first operational launch of small-lift satellite launch vehicle (SLV) (Shavit) placed first domestically produced technology-demonstrator satellite (Ofeq-1) in orbit
• 1995 - launched first fully operational remote sensing satellite (Ofeq-3) on Shavit SLV
• 2007 - unveiled Shavit-2 small-lift 3-stage SLV
• 2014 - joined ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) project; domestically built lunar probe (Beresheet) launched by US (crashed on Moon’s surface)
• 2022 - joined US Artemis Moon exploration project

• 1985 - first communications satellite (Arabsat-1A) built and launched by European commercial companies; first Saudi astronaut in space on US Space Shuttle
• 2004 - first domestically built, experimental remote sensing (RS) satellite (SaudiSat-2) launched by Russia
• 2017-2019 - contributed to China’s robotic spacecraft mission (Chang’e-4) to the far side of the Moon
• 2021 - domestically built maritime-tracking satellite (Shaheen Sat) launched by Russia; began participating in Russia's astronaut training program
• 2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords on space and lunar exploration
• 2023 - sent two astronauts, including first Saudi woman, to the International Space Station on a US commercial spacecraft

• 1987 - first and only Syrian astronaut into space as part of a Soviet-crewed mission to the Mir Space Station under the Intercosmos program
• 2016 - signed a scientific cooperation agreement in the field of space technology and remote sensing with Russia
• 2018 - announced that developing a satellite would be a primary goal of the space program

• 1994 - first commercial communications satellite built jointly with and launched by France
• 2003 - first domestically built experimental remote sensing (RS) satellite (BILSAT) launched by Russia
• 2018 - launched first domestically produced solid-fuel sounding rocket to an altitude of 135 km (84 mi)
• 2024 - first Turkish astronaut in space on the International Space Station; first domestically produced communications satellite launched by US
• 2025 - successfully launched 2-stage hybrid rocket more than 200 km (124 mi) in altitude

• 1997 - initiated a national space sector
• 2009 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (DubaiSat-1) developed jointly with South Korea and launched by Russia
• 2017 - announced Mars 2117 project, which included building a “Mars Science City” as the first step to establishing a human settlement on Mars within 100 years
• 2018 - first domestically produced RS satellite (KhalifaSat or DubaiSat-3) launched by Japan
• 2019 - first UAE astronaut (trained by Russia and US) in space on the International Space Station
• 2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration
• 2021 - became first Arab country to successfully place a probe (al Amal or Hope) in Mars orbit; announced plans to launch a probe in 2028 to land on an asteroid between Mars and Jupiter
• 2025 - domestically produced advanced RS/Earth imaging satellite (MBZ-SAT) launched by US

• 1959-1962 - launched first domestically built sounding rocket (Black Brant 1); first domestically designed and built satellite (Alouette) launched by US
• 1972-1973 - first domestic communications satellites (Anik A-1 and Anik A-2) launched by US, making Canada first country to employ satellites for domestic communications
• 1970s - began participating in US Space Shuttle (first Canadian in space on Shuttle in 1984) and US Mars probe/exploration programs
• 1995 - first Canadian-built, radar-capable remote sensing satellite (Radarsat-1) launched by US
• 2019 - began participating in US/NASA Lunar Gateway orbital station program; launched constellation of remote sensing satellites (RADARSAT Constellation Mission)
• 2020 - signed the US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration (active participant in planned Moon missions under the Artemis program)

• 1962-1977 - sounding rocket program
• 1985 - first Mexican in space on US Space Shuttle; first communications satellite (Morelos-1) built by US and released from the US Space Shuttle
• 2015 - first successful launch of MEXSAT series of communications satellites by the US
• 2021 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration
• 2024 - contributed five autonomous micro-robots (Colmena project) on failed US commercial Moon lander mission

• 1958-1963 - Project Mercury first manned space flights
• 1961-1963 - Project Gemini (longer-duration manned flights in preparation for Moon landings)
• 1963-1971 - Project Apollo Moon landings (world's first manned landing on the Moon, 1969)
• 1964 - launched first successful Mars probe (Mariner)
• 1965-1979 - operated Skylab space station
• 1977 - began launching Voyager probes to Jupiter, Saturn, and beyond the solar system
• 1980s-2011 - operated Space Shuttle program (world’s first re-usable space orbiters)
• 1990 - launched Hubble Space Telescope
• 1993 - began participating in International Space Station project
• 2003 - launched surface rover vehicles (Spirit and Opportunity) to Mars
• 2011 - launched orbital probe (Juno) to Jupiter
• 2016 - launched OSIRIS-REx mission to retrieve asteroid sample (landed on asteroid Bennu in 2020 and returned with sample in 2023)
• 2017 - initiated Artemis lunar landing project
• 2019 - initiated Gateway lunar orbital station project
• 2021 - launched James Webb Space Telescope (ESA contributed launch vehicle and launch site); surface rover vehicle (Perseverance) with robot helicopter (Ingenuity) successfully landed on surface of Mars
• 2024 - successfully placed a commercial lander on the Moon and launched probe (Europa Clipper) to study Jupiter's Europa moon

• 1960 - built first space-tracking station outside the US
• 1967 - first domestically built satellite (WRSEA) launched on a US rocket from Australian test range
• 1981 - commissioned first national satellite system
• 1996 - first Australian in space on US Space Shuttle
• 2021 - announced intent to provide a robotic lunar lander for US Artemis project
• 2022 - launched a US NASA rocket from a commercial launch site; joint Australia-US space surveillance telescope based in Western Australia became operational
• 2025 - first attempted launch of Australian-designed and -manufactured orbital launch vehicle failed to reach orbit

• 2009 - launched a 2-stage suborbital sounding rocket (Atea-1)
• 2018 - placed satellite in orbit on rocket built by a New Zealand-US commercial company and launched from a privately owned domestic launch site
• 2019 - began operations of the Kiwi Space Radar, which is designed to track debris in low Earth orbit
• 2021 - signed the US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration
• 2024 - first domestically made science payload sent to International Space Station on US rocket

• 1961-1967 - launched first rocket (Alfa Centauro) and was first country in Latin America to send an animal into space
• 1997 - first domestically built communications satellite (Nahuel-1A) launched on European satellite launch vehicle (SLV)
• 2007 - launch of first sub-orbital test rocket for domestic SLV (Tronador) project
• 2018 - first domestically built, synthetic-aperture-radar remote sensing satellite (SAOCOM 1A) launched by US
• 2020-2021 - worked with Mexico to create the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE)
• 2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for space exploration
• 2025 - continued development of two-stage Tronador SLV

• 2013 - first communications satellite (Túpac Katari, TKSAT-1) built and launched by China
• 2016 - began independently operating the TKSAT-1 satellite
• 2021 - signed protocols for establishment of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency

1960s - established a national space program under the Air Force

1984 - began satellite launch vehicle (SLV) program (Veículo Lançador de Satélites or VLS-1)

1985 - first communications satellite jointly produced with Canada and launched on European SLV

1993 - first domestically built experimental communications satellite (Satélite de Coleta de Dados, SCD-1) launched by US

2004 - launched a sounding rocket into sub-orbital space, but the subsequent catastrophic failure of a VLS-1 during a test launch led to scaling back the program

2006 - first Brazilian astronaut to the International Space Station on a Russian rocket

2008 - began work on a 3-stage microsatellite launch vehicle (Veículo Lançador de Microssatélite or VLM-1) in partnership with Germany

• 2021 - first independently produced remote sensing (RS) satellite (Amazonia-1) launched by India;
• signed US-led Artemis Accords on space exploration cooperation and signed cooperation agreements with the space agencies of China, India, Russia, and South Africa for the joint development of an RS satellite constellation

2022 - successfully launched suborbital rocket more than 225 km (140 miles) in height

• 2007 - first domestically produced technology-demonstration/remote-sensing (RS) nanosatellite (Libertad I) launched by Russia
• 2014 - second experimental RS nanosatellite (UAPSAT) launched by US
• 2018 - first RS satellite (FACSAT-1) for military use purchased from Denmark and launched by India
• 2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration
• 2023 - second RS satellite (FACSAT-2 or Chibiriquete) launched by US

• 2007 - an Ecuadorian completed a suborbital astronaut training program provided by Russia
• 2013 - first two domestically designed and built scientific/technology demonstrator satellites (NEE-01/Pegasus, NEE-02/Krysaor) launched by China and Russia
• 2021 - signed accords for the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency
• 2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration

2017 - organized country’s first international conference on space issues

• 2021 - first research/technology-demonstrator cube satellite (Guaranisat-1) built jointly with Japan, launched by US, and deployed from International Space Station;
• signed protocols for the establishment of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency

2025 - developing Guarani-Sat-2, which will be Paraguay's second satellite and the first designed and built domestically

• 2006 - launched first sounding rocket/space probe (Paulet-1)
• 2013 - first domestically built scientific/research satellite (PUCP-SAT-1) launched by Russia; launched first domestically built rocket (Paulet 1-B) capable of reaching the stratosphere
• 2016 - first remote sensing satellite (PeruSat-1) acquired from France and launched on European rocket
• 2024 - signed US-led Artemis Accords on space and lunar exploration

• 2005 - signed space cooperation partnership with China
• 2008- first communications satellite (Venesat-1 or Bolivar) financed, built, and launched by China
• 2012 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (VRSS-1 or Miranda) built and launched by China
• 2017 - second RS satellite (VRSS-2 or Sucre) built and launched by China
• 2021 - signed agreement to establish the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (formally established in 2022)
• 2023 - joined China-Russia project to construct a permanent base on the Moon by the 2030s
• 2025 - announced intent to participate in planned Mars sample-return mission (Tianwen-3) led by China

• 1964 - launched first sounding rocket (Kartika)
• 1976 - first communications satellite (Palapa A1) built and launched by US
• 2005 - re-started sounding rocket program with goal of producing a satellite launch vehicle (SLV)
• 2007 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (LAPAN-A1) built by Germany and launched by India
• 2015 - first domestically produced RS satellite (LAPAN-A2) launched by India
• 2023-2024 - two communications satellites (SATRIA-1 and Merah Putih 2) to provide high-speed internet access across the Indonesian archipelago built by European company and launched by US

• 1996 - first of a series of domestically produced commercial communications satellites (MEASAT) launched on European rocket
• 2000 - first multipurpose (remote sensing/RS, communications, scientific) microsatellite (TiungSat-1) produced with technology and training from the UK and launched by Russia
• 2007 - first Malaysian astronaut (trained in Russia) to space on International Space Station
• 2009 - first RS satellite (RazakSat) built with assistance from South Korea and launched by US
• 2011 - completed construction of a satellite assembly, integration, and testing facility
• 2025 - first commercial high-resolution RS satellite (UzmaSat-1) launched by US; signed US-led Artemis Accords

1994 - formed a consortium of companies to acquire and operate satellites

1996 - acquired first communications satellite (Agila-1) from Indonesia after it was already in orbit

2014 - initiated a scientific remote sensing (RS) microsatellite development program in collaboration with Japan, resulting in first RS microsatellite (Diwata-1) being deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) in 2016

• 2018 - first domestically designed and built scientific/technology-demonstrator cube satellite (Maya-1) deployed from ISS;
• second RS microsatellite (Diwata-2) developed with assistance from and launched by Japan

2023 - signed agreement with the ESA and EU to expand cooperation on Earth observation/RS data sharing

2025 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration

• 1997 - launched first sounding rocket
• 1999 - first scientific satellite (FORMOSAT-1) built and launched by the US
• 2004 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (FORMOSAT-2) built by France and launched by US
• 2017 - first domestically built RS satellite (FORMOSAT-5) launched by US
• 2021 - initiated development of a commercial 3-stage, hybrid-engine rocket (Hapith-5)
• 2023 - first domestically made RS/meteorological satellite (FormoSat-7R/Triton) launched on European rocket

• 1982 - established first satellite ground station
• 1993 - first foreign-built commercial communications satellite (Thaicom-1) launched on European rocket
• 2008 - first remote sensing satellite (Theos-1; aka Thaichote) co-developed with France and launched by Russia
• 2018 - first domestically produced scientific/research satellite (KNACKSAT) launched by US
• 2024 - signed memorandum of understanding with China for cooperation on Beijing's lunar research station project and space exploration; signed US-led Artemis Accords

1980 - first Vietnamese astronaut/cosmonaut into space on Soviet spacecraft

2008 - first telecommunications satellite (VINASAT-1) built by US company and launched on European rocket

• 2012 - first educational/scientific cube satellite (F-1) built jointly with and launched by Japan;
• second telecommunications satellite (VINASAT-2) built by US and launched on European rocket

• 2013 - first domestically built remote-sensing (RS)/technology-demonstrator cube satellite (PicoDragon) launched by Japan;
• first RS satellite (VNREDSat-1a or Vietnam Natural Resources, Environment, and Disaster Monitoring Satellite) launched on European rocket

2016 - signed an agreement with India to establish a satellite tracking and imaging center in Ho Chi Minh City in exchange for access to Indian RS imagery

2018 - completed National Space Center in Hanoi

• 2021 - announced a developmental roadmap for producing “Made in Vietnam” small satellites as part of a larger effort to increase space sciences and technology through 2030;
• signed an agreement with Japan to increase cooperation on space defense