1997 Space Launch Chronology
Every orbital and deep-space launch attempt of 1997, successes and failures alike, drawn from the GCAT launch catalog.
Data current as of 2026-07-19.
89
Launch attempts
85
Successes
4
Failures
96%
Success rate
Launches by vehicle family
Ariane
12
Delta
11
Soyuz
10
Proton
9
Space Shuttle
8
Atlas
8
Long March
6
Titan
5
Other
20
| Date | Designator | Payloads | Vehicle | Site / Pad | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1997 (3) | |||||
| Jan 12 | 1997-001 | STS-81 : OV-104, Spacehab LDM | Space Shuttle | KSC / LC39B | Success |
| Jan 17 | 1997-F01 | D241 : GPS SVN 42 | Delta 7925 | CC / LC17A | Failure |
| Jan 30 | 1997-002 | V93 L465b : GE 2, Nahuel 1A | Ariane 44L | CSG / ELA2 | Success |
| February 1997 (6) | |||||
| Feb 10 | 1997-003 | Kh15000-650 : Soyuz 7K-STM No. 74 | Soyuz-U | GIK-5 / LC1 | Success |
| Feb 11 | 1997-004 | STS-82 : OV-103, SAC, PLT F009 (ORUC SM-2) +1 more, FSS | Space Shuttle | KSC / LC39A | Success |
| Feb 12 | 1997-005 | M-V-1 : MUSES-B | M-V | KASC / M-V | Success |
| Feb 14 | 1997-006 | 51091-703 : Strela-3, Gonets-D1 No. 16L (322), Gonets-D1 No. 17L (323) +1 more, Gonets-D1 No. 18L (324) | Tsiklon-3 | GIK-1 / LC32/1 | Success |
| Feb 17 | 1997-007 | AC-127 : JCSAT 4 | Atlas IIAS | CC / LC36B | Success |
| Feb 23 | 1997-008 | 4B-24 (K-24, 45D-4) : DSP 20 | Titan 402B/IUS | CC / LC40 | Success |
| March 1997 (3) | |||||
| Mar 01 | 1997-009 | V94 L464c : INTELSAT 801 | Ariane 44P | CSG / ELA2 | Success |
| Mar 04 | 1997-010 | RS-16 | Start-1.2 | GIK-2 / LC5 | Success |
| Mar 08 | 1997-011 | AC-128 : Tempo 2 | Atlas IIA | CC / LC36A | Success |
| April 1997 (8) | |||||
| Apr 04 | 1997-012 | 23G-6 : DMSP Block 5D-2 S-14 | Titan II SLV | VS / SLC4W | Success |
| Apr 04 | 1997-013 | STS-83 : OV-102, Spacelab Long Module 1, EDO | Space Shuttle | KSC / LC39A | Success |
| Apr 06 | 1997-014 | Kh15000-652 : Progress 7K-TGM No. 234 | Soyuz-U | GIK-5 / LC1 | Success |
| Apr 09 | 1997-015 | 76032 -647 : Oko 73D6 No. 6066 | Molniya 8K78M | GIK-1 / LC16/2 | Success |
| Apr 16 | 1997-016 | V95 L467d : Thaicom 3, BSAT 1a | Ariane 44LP | CSG / ELA2 | Success |
| Apr 17 | 1997-017 | 53765-635 : Parus No. 415 | Kosmos 11K65M | GIK-1 / LC132/1 | Success |
| Apr 21 | 1997-018 | F15 : Minisat-01, CPAC (Celestis Founders) | Pegasus XL | GANC / RW03/21 | Success |
| Apr 25 | 1997-019 | AC-79 : GOES K | Atlas I | CC / LC36B | Success |
| May 1997 (8) | |||||
| May 05 | 1997-020 | D242 : Iridium SV008, Iridium SV007, Iridium SV006 +2 more, Iridium SV005, Iridium SV004 | Delta 7920-10C | V / SLC2W | Success |
| May 11 | 1997-021 | Y3 : Zhongxing 6 | Chang Zheng 3A | XSC / LC2 | Success |
| May 14 | 1997-022 | 77031 -673 : Oko 73D6 No. 6065 | Molniya 8K78M | GIK-1 / LC43/4 | Success |
| May 15 | 1997-023 | STS-84 : OV-104, Spacehab LDM | Space Shuttle | KSC / LC39A | Success |
| May 15 | 1997-024 | 77031 -168 : Don No. 6L, SpK-1, SpK-2 +6 more, SpK-3, SpK-4, SpK-5, SpK-6, SpK-7, SpK-8 | Soyuz-U | GIK-5 / LC31 | Success |
| May 20 | 1997-F02 | 45013-302/1-90 : Tselina-2 No. 13L | Zenit-2 | GIK-5 / LC45/1 | Failure |
| May 20 | 1997-025 | D243 : Thor 2A | Delta 7925 | CC / LC17A | Success |
| May 24 | 1997-026 | 380-02 : Telstar 5 | Proton-K/DM-2M | GIK-5 / LC81/23 | Success |
| June 1997 (5) | |||||
| Jun 03 | 1997-027 | V97 L468b : INMARSAT III F-4, Insat 2D | Ariane 44L | CSG / ELA2 | Success |
| Jun 06 | 1997-028 | 380-01 : Araks-N No. 6420 | Proton-K/17S40 | GIK-5 / LC200/39 | Success |
| Jun 10 | 1997-029 | Y11 : FY-2 01 xing | Chang Zheng 3 | XSC / LC3 | Success |
| Jun 18 | 1997-030 | 390-02 : Iridium SV014, Iridium SV012, Iridium SV009 +4 more, Iridium SV010, Iridium SV013, Iridium SV016, Iridium SV011 | Proton-K/17S40 | GIK-5 / LC81/23 | Success |
| Jun 25 | 1997-031 | V96 L466b : INTELSAT 802 | Ariane 44P | CSG / ELA2 | Success |
| July 1997 (5) | |||||
| Jul 01 | 1997-032 | STS-94 : OV-102, Spacelab Long Module 1, EDO | Space Shuttle | KSC / LC39A | Success |
| Jul 05 | 1997-033 | S 15000-653 : Progress 7K-TGM No. 235 | Soyuz-U | GIK-5 / LC1 | Success |
| Jul 09 | 1997-034 | D244 : Iridium SV015, Iridium SV017, Iridium SV020 +2 more, Iridium SV018, Iridium SV021 | Delta 7920-10C | V / SLC2W | Success |
| Jul 23 | 1997-035 | D245 : GPS SVN 43 | Delta 7925 | CC / LC17A | Success |
| Jul 28 | 1997-036 | AC-133 : Superbird C | Atlas IIAS | CC / LC36B | Success |
| August 1997 (11) | |||||
| Aug 01 | 1997-037 | F16 : Seastar | Pegasus XL | V / RW30/12 | Success |
| Aug 05 | 1997-038 | S 15000-655 : Soyuz 7K-STM No. 75 | Soyuz-U | GIK-5 / LC1 | Success |
| Aug 07 | 1997-039 | STS-85 : OV-103, ASTRO-SPAS, MPESS F004 +2 more, MPESS HH, STP S96-5 | Space Shuttle | KSC / LC39A | Success |
| Aug 08 | 1997-040 | V98 L469e : PAS 6 | Ariane 44P | CSG / ELA2 | Success |
| Aug 14 | 1997-041 | 381-01 : Oko-S No. 7425 | Proton-K/DM-2 | GIK-5 / LC200/39 | Success |
| Aug 19 | 1997-042 | Y2 : Agila 2 | Chang Zheng 3B | XSC / LC2 | Success |
| Aug 21 | 1997-043 | D246 : Iridium SV026, Iridium SV025, Iridium SV023 +2 more, Iridium SV022, Iridium SV024 | Delta 7920-10C | V / SLC2W | Success |
| Aug 23 | 1997-044 | LM-002 : SSTI/Lewis | LMLV-1 | VS / SLC6 | Success |
| Aug 25 | 1997-045 | D247 : Advanced Composition Expl. | Delta 7920-8 | CC / LC17A | Success |
| Aug 28 | 1997-046 | 387-02 : PAS 5 | Proton-K/DM-2M | GIK-5 / LC81/23 | Success |
| Aug 29 | 1997-047 | 019/F17 : FORTE | Pegasus XL | V / RW30/12 | Success |
| September 1997 (10) | |||||
| Sep 01 | 1997-048 | Y1 : Iridium MFS 1, Iridium MFS 2 | Chang Zheng 2C-III/SD | TYSC / LC7 | Success |
| Sep 02 | 1997-049 | V99 L470g : Eutelsat HB3, MTP 1 | Ariane 44LP | CSG / ELA2 | Success |
| Sep 04 | 1997-050 | AC-146 : GE 3 | Atlas IIAS | CC / LC36A | Success |
| Sep 14 | 1997-051 | 391-01 : Iridium SV029, Iridium SV032, Iridium SV033 +4 more, Iridium SV027, Iridium SV028, Iridium SV030, Iridium SV031 | Proton-K/17S40 | GIK-5 / LC81/23 | Success |
| Sep 23 | 1997-052 | 47165-637 : Parus No. 412, FAISAT-2V | Kosmos 11K65M | GIK-1 / LC132/1 | Success |
| Sep 23 | 1997-053 | V100 L471e : INTELSAT 803 | Ariane 42L | CSG / ELA2 | Success |
| Sep 24 | 1997-054 | 78051 -678 : Molniya-1T No. 98L | Molniya 8K78M | GIK-1 / LC43/3 | Success |
| Sep 26 | 1997-055 | STS-86 : OV-104, Spacehab LDM | Space Shuttle | KSC / LC39A | Success |
| Sep 27 | 1997-056 | D248 : Iridium SV019, Iridium SV037, Iridium SV036 +2 more, Iridium SV035, Iridium SV034 | Delta 7920-10C | V / SLC2W | Success |
| Sep 29 | 1997-057 | PSLV-C1 : IRS-1D | PSLV | SHAR / FLP | Success |
| October 1997 (9) | |||||
| Oct 05 | 1997-058 | S 15000-064 : RS-17, Progress 7K-TGM No. 237, Inspector | Soyuz-U | GIK-5 / LC1 | Success |
| Oct 05 | 1997-059 | AC-135 : Echostar 3 | Atlas IIAS | CC / LC36B | Success |
| Oct 09 | 1997-060 | S 15000-057 : Foton No. 11L, Mirka | Soyuz-U | GIK-1 / LC43/3 | Success |
| Oct 15 | 1997-061 | 4B-33/TC-21 (45E-13) : Cassini, Huygens Descent Module | Titan 401B/Centaur | CC / LC40 | Success |
| Oct 16 | 1997-062 | Y3 : Apstar 2R | Chang Zheng 3B | XSC / LC2 | Success |
| Oct 22 | 1997-063 | F18 : STEP M4 | Pegasus XL | WIMB / RW04/22 | Success |
| Oct 24 | 1997-064 | 4A-18 (K-18, 45F-3) : ONYX 3 | Titan 403A | VS / SLC4E | Success |
| Oct 25 | 1997-065 | AC-131 MLV-6/IABS-6 : DSCS III B-13, Falcon Gold | Atlas IIA | CC / LC36A | Success |
| Oct 30 | 1997-066 | V101 (502) : TEAMSAT, Maqsat-B, Young Engineers Satellite +1 more, Maqsat-H | Ariane 5G | CSG / ELA3 | Success |
| November 1997 (9) | |||||
| Nov 02 | 1997-F03 | V01 : SCD-2A | VLS-1 | ALCA / VLS | Failure |
| Nov 06 | 1997-067 | D249 : GPS SVN 38 | Delta 7925 | CC / LC17A | Success |
| Nov 08 | 1997-068 | 4A-17/TC-16 (45E-) : TRUMPET 3, STP S96-1 | Titan 401A/Centaur | CC / LC41 | Success |
| Nov 09 | 1997-069 | D250 : Iridium SV043, Iridium SV041, Iridium SV040 +2 more, Iridium SV039, Iridium SV038 | Delta 7920-10C | V / SLC2W | Success |
| Nov 12 | 1997-070 | 382-01 : K95K No. 9520 | Proton-K/DM-2M | GIK-5 / LC200/39 | Success |
| Nov 12 | 1997-071 | V102 L472d : Sirius 2, Indostar 1 | Ariane 44L | CSG / ELA2 | Success |
| Nov 18 | 1997-072 | S 15000-054 : Resurs F-1M No. 18L | Soyuz-U | GIK-1 / LC43/3 | Success |
| Nov 19 | 1997-073 | STS-87 : OV-102, SPTN-201, MPESS F006 (USMP-4) +3 more, MPESS F002 (USMP-4), EDO, Sprint | Space Shuttle | KSC / LC39B | Success |
| Nov 27 | 1997-074 | H-II-6F : TRMM, ETS-7, ETS-7 Target | H-II | TNSC / Y | Success |
| December 1997 (12) | |||||
| Dec 02 | 1997-075 | V103 L473 : JCSAT 5, Equator-S | Ariane 44P | CSG / ELA2 | Success |
| Dec 02 | 1997-076 | 382-02 : Astra 1G | Proton-K/DM-2M | GIK-5 / LC81/23 | Success |
| Dec 08 | 1997-077 | Y2 : Iridium SV042, Iridium SV044 | Chang Zheng 2C-III/SD | TYSC / LC7 | Success |
| Dec 08 | 1997-078 | AC-149 : Galaxy 8-i | Atlas IIAS | CC / LC36B | Success |
| Dec 09 | 1997-079 | 670-33- 303 : US-PU No. 6L | Tsiklon-2 | GIK-5 / LC90/19 | Success |
| Dec 15 | 1997-080 | 76024 -763 : Kobal't No. 552, SpK | Soyuz-U-PVB | GIK-1 / LC16/2 | Success |
| Dec 20 | 1997-081 | S 15000-654 : Progress 7K-TGM No. 236 | Soyuz-U | GIK-5 / LC1 | Success |
| Dec 20 | 1997-082 | D251 : Iridium SV046, Iridium SV045, Iridium SV047 +2 more, Iridium SV048, Iridium SV049 | Delta 7920-10C | V / SLC2W | Success |
| Dec 22 | 1997-083 | V104 L474b : INTELSAT 804 | Ariane 42L | CSG / ELA2 | Success |
| Dec 23 | 1997-084 | F19 : Orbcomm FM8, Orbcomm FM10, Orbcomm FM11 +5 more, Orbcomm FM12, Orbcomm FM9, Orbcomm FM5, Orbcomm FM6, Orbcomm FM7 | Pegasus XL/HAPS | WIMB / RW04/22 | Success |
| Dec 24 | 1997-085 | EarlyBird | Start-1 | GIK-2 / LC5 | Success |
| Dec 24 | 1997-086 | 394-01 : Asiasat 3 | Proton-K/DM-2M | GIK-5 / LC81/23 | Failure |