Spacefaring
As a space nation or spacefaring state is called a country that is able to convey with their own launchers own satellite into space. In addition, countries are listed here that are working on their own supporting missile projects, but so far have not been successful (eg, Brazil).
Argentina
The Argentine space agency CONAE is currently developing the two-stage launch vehicle Tronador 2 is capable of carrying a satellite of 250 kg into orbit. The first launch is scheduled for June or July 2014 a new rocket launch site at the naval base of Puerto Belgrano.
Brazil
Brazil is also trying to gain a foothold in space, but so far with little luck. In 1997, the first Brazilian launcher VLS -1 crashed shortly after take-off into the Atlantic. 1999 had to be a rocket destroyed shortly after launch and on August 23, 2003 called for an explosion of the missile VLS -1 at the base in the state of Maranhão Alcântara in 21 deaths.
China
For some time, the People's Republic of China promotes space to a greater extent. On October 15, 2003, sent the first taikonauts with a Shenzhou spacecraft into orbit. Besides Russia and the U.S. China is thus perform the third country capable of manned space flights. The focus of the country is currently on the further development of the Shenzhou program. The plan also has its own space station, an unmanned lunar landing mission by 2016 and a manned landing mission are found by the year 2024. The first launch of an unmanned lunar probe, Chang'e -1, named place on 24 October 2007.
European States combined ESA
Europe has taken the Ariane rocket a dominant position in the transport of commercial satellites into space, after previously developing its own launcher Europe was unsuccessful in the 1960s and 1970s. However, in the 1960s and 1970s brought several French launchers from diamond and 1971 a British rocket of the type Black Arrow satellite successfully into orbit. After the ESA closely worked in the 1980s with the U.S., for example, with the Spacelab project arose after the fall of the Iron Curtain also other opportunities for cooperation. First steps have been completed by the visit of European astronauts on the space station Mir. On the construction and operation of the International Space Station (ISS) Europe takes part with specially designed elements. The Columbus module is a science laboratory that was mounted on 11 February 2008 at the ISS. The Automated Transfer Vehicle ( ATV), a fully autonomous unmanned cargo spacecraft will be launched on Ariane 5 and docked independently to the ISS. Its main function is the transport of fuel, water, experiments and other supplies to the ISS. In the subsequent waste disposal, the ATV burns up loaded with trash from the ISS in Earth's atmosphere.
India
India is also stepping up its space activities and has already built several at home satellite and launch vehicle ( ASLV, PSLV, GSLV ) refer. The first successful satellite launch led India on 18 July 1980 the first lunar probe Chandrayaan -1 was launched on 22 October 2008 on the way. Driving force behind the development was the former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who was formerly responsible for the development of the missile and space program of the country and is next to Vikram Sarabhai as the father of Indian space. The long term, following the Indian space agency, the goal of a manned space flight.
Iran
On 2 February 2009, it is Iran succeeded for the first time to carry a satellite ( Omid ) into space. The satellite orbited Iran reportedly 15 times a day the earth and did not take before further specified measurements.
Israel
In 1988 Israel launched the first successful launch of its carrier rocket Shavit performed. Since then, further launches were made, mostly with several years of distance. The payload consisted of military spacecraft of the Ofeq. The launches from the launch site Palm Achim done, unusually, in a westerly direction in the starting phase not to have to fly over the eastern neighboring countries.
Japan
In Japan also have their own launchers, satellites and space probes are being developed. In addition, Japan involved with the Kibo module and on the International Space Station. But so far the very visionary oriented space policy could not be fully implemented in practice. Again and again, setbacks and financial problems delayed, although the population in contrast to the Europeans opposed to the more open-minded projects.
North Korea
The space program of North Korea is based on the ICBM Taepodong -2, and is thus in tension with the resolution 1718 of the UN Security Council in 2006, the North Korean launch of ballistic missiles prohibited. However, North Korea refers to the right of space exploration under the Outer Space Treaty.
A launch of this missile took place on April 5, 2009. North Korea claimed the satellite Kwangmyŏngsŏng -2 have reached the orbit as planned, but U.S. radar stations that followed the launch, reported that the rocket did not reach orbit and was plunged into the Pacific Ocean. The other hand, was a successful start on 12 December 2012 in which a satellite was launched into orbit.
Soviet Union and Russia
The Soviet space reach the late 1950s and early 1960s many firsts, especially the launch of the first artificial satellite ( Sputnik 1, 1957) and the first manned space flight ( Vostok 1, 1961). The Soviet manned lunar program failed, however, and according to the U.S. moon landing, the Soviet space program focused on space stations in orbit and on long -duration flights. With its own Buran space shuttle was to be developed, the program was discontinued after only one unmanned test flight.
Even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia is one of the leading space- faring nations. Always belongs to the crew of the International Space Station at least a Russian cosmonaut and Soyuz spaceships are an essential part of the operation, as well as the unmanned Progress cargo.
Also in the unmanned space Russia plays a strong leadership role to. As before, most satellite launches are carried out with Russian missiles, especially with the types Soyuz and Proton.
South Korea
Since 2002, South Korea was planning on the basis of independently developed sounding rocket KSR own launcher with the name " KSLV - I" build to transport small up to 100 -kilogram satellite into space can. But soon, the South Korean government decided that South Korea is 2015 among the ten leading space-faring nations. In order to achieve the ambitious plans, the original KSLV program was too limited. Then the end of 2004 the Russian space company GKNPZ Khrunichev was tasked with developing the first stage of KSLV - I, which is now based on the much larger Angara. South Korea plans to continue to develop, and then to build the stronger successor models " KSLV -2" and " KSLV -3".
After two false starts in 2009 and 2010, the third start of KSLV -1 from the Naro Space Center was successful on 30 January 2013. STSAT As the satellite -2C schedule reached orbit, South Korea belongs therefore to the space-faring States.
USA
The history of space exploration in the United States officially began under the pressure of the race into space with the on July 29, 1958, signed by President Eisenhower, " National Aeronautics and Space Act ," which provided for the creation of NASA. The new authority adopted on 1 October 1958 their work. At that time it consisted of four laboratories and some 8,000 employees, who came from the now 43 -year-old National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics ( NACA ).