Introduction to Space Exploration - Space Launches

NASA tracks the number of spacecraft launches conducted worldwide each year. Table 1.1 shows the figures for 1998 through 2005. The United States and Russia accounted for 74% of all launches. However, both countries launch satellites for other nations.

Only a handful of launches take place each year to support human spaceflight programs operated by the United States, Russia, and China. The vast majority of launches take place to put unmanned commercial, science, and military satellites into Earth orbit. The science missions are largely devoted to earth science, studying Earth's weather, climate patterns, atmospheric conditions, etc. Military satellites perform reconnaissance (spying) from space or support the communication and navigation needs of armed forces around the world.