ONE ORBITAL FAA-LICENSED 

LAUNCH IN CALENDAR YEAR (CY) 2011

In CY 2011, the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office 

of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) licensed one orbital 

launch of a Zenit 3SL vehicle from the Sea Launch Odyssey 

Platform.

The total for this year’s FAA-licensed launches is three fewer than 

last year’s count. No commercial suborbital launches occurred in 

CY 2011. 

FIVE-YEAR ORBITAL COMMERCIAL 

LAUNCH TRENDS WORLDWIDE

During the five-year period from CY 2007 to CY 2011, there was 

an average of 16 commercial launches to geosynchronous orbit 

worldwide per calendar year, with a low of 13 in CY 2007 and a high 

of 19 in CY 2009. In the same period, there was an average of eight 

commercial launches to non-geosynchronous orbit worldwide per 

calendar year, with a low of three in CY 2011 and a high of 12 in 

CY 2007.

During the five-year period, there was an average of 23 commercial 

orbital launches worldwide per calendar year. For CY 2011, the 

total number of worldwide commercial orbital launches (18) is 

below the five-year calendar average. CY 2011 had five fewer 

launches than the 23 commercial launches in CY 2010 and was 

10 launches below the five-year high of 28 in CY 2008. The U.S. 

conducted an average of three commercial launches per year from 

CY 2007 to CY 2011, while Sea Launch conducted an average of 

three, Europe an average of five, and Russia an average of 11.

Six to ten FAA-licensed commercial orbital launches are projected 

for CY 2012. This is due to an increase of NASA COTS/CRS 

launches on the Falcon 9 and Antares vehicles, as well as the 

continued use by Sea Launch of the Zenit 3SL vehicle, and possible 

suborbital launches. The first commercial suborbital launch, Virgin 

Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo, is projected for late CY 2012.

FAA-Licensed Commercial Orbital 

and Suborbital Launch Trend

OTHER CY 2011 FAA LICENSES AND PERMITS

In CY 2011, two suborbital launches occurred under an FAA 

Experimental Permit. Both were conducted by Blue Origin, using 

the PM-2 vehicle.

For CY 2012, it is projected that there will be an increase in the 

number of experimental permits issued by FAA/AST due to 

continued testing in the suborbital market.

In CY 2011, there were no reentries conducted under an FAA 

reentry license. The NASA COTS and CRS missions in 2012 are 

expected to use FAA reentry licenses.

Flight Date Operator Vehicle Launch Site

06-May-11 Blue Origin PM-2 West Texas

24-Aug-11 Blue Origin PM-2 West Texas

FAA-Licensed Vehicles Launched in CY 2011

Vehicle Zenit 3SL

2011 Total Launches 1

2011 Licensed Launches 1

2011 Launch Reliability 1/1 (100%)

10-Year Launch Reliability 23/24 (96%)

Maximum GEO Capacity - kg 

(lbs)

6,100 

(13,448)

SEA 

LAUNCH

FAA-Licensed Commercial Orbital and 

Suborbital Launch Revenue Trend

2007 2008910 2021

Projected

0 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12 

6-10 

4 

11 

5 

4 

1 

2007 2008910 2021

Projected

$0 

$100 

$200 

$300 

$400 

$500 

$600 

$700 

$800 

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2011 

Projected 

$220 

$690 

$398 

$307 

$100 

$332-$564 

Europe:

4 (22%)

China:

2 (11%)

Multinational:

2 (11%)

Worldwide Distribution of Orbital 

Commercial Launches in CY 2011

Russia:

10 (56%)

Office of Commercial Space Transportation

FACT SHEET

CY 2011 Year in Review
* Denotes a commercial payload, defined as a spacecraft that serves a commercial function or is operated by a commercial entity. Commercial prices are estimates only.

\/ Denotes a commercial launch licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA/AST).

A commercial suborbital or orbital launch has one or more of the following characteristics:

• The launch is licensed by FAA/AST.

• The primary payload’s launch contract was internationally competed. A primary payload is generally defined as the payload with the greatest mass on a launch vehicle for a given launch.

• The launch is privately financed without government support.

L Denotes launch outcome (S-Success, F-Failure, P-Partial). M Denotes mission outcome (S-Success, F-Failure, P-Partial).

800 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20591

tel 202.267.7793 

fax 202.267.5450

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/

Worldwide Orbital and Suborbital Commercial Launch Events in CY 2011

Date Vehicle Site Payload(s) Operator Manufacturer Use Commercial Price L M

EUROPE

04-22-2011 Ariane 5 ECA Kourou *

*

Yahsat 1A

Intelsat New Dawn

Yah Satellite Communications Co.

Intelsat

EADS Astrium

Orbital Sciences Corp.

Communications

Communications $220M S SS

05-20-2011 Ariane 5 ECA Kourou *

*

Insat 4G/GSAT 8

ST 2

ISRO

Singapore Telecom

ISRO

Mitsubishi Electric Corp.

Communications

Communications $220M S SS

08-06-2011 Ariane 5 ECA Kourou *

*

Astra 1N

BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R

SES Astra

Sky Perfect JSAT Corp.

EADS Astrium

Lockheed Martin

Communications

Communications $220M S SS

09-21-2011 Ariane 5 ECA Kourou *

*

Arabsat 5C

SES-2

Arabsat

SES World Skies

EADS Astrium

Orbital Sciences Corp.

Communications

Communications $220M S SS

MULTINATIONAL

09-24-2011 \/ Zenit 3SL Pacific * Atlantic Bird 7 Eutelsat EADS Astrium Communications $100M S S

10-06-2011 Zenit 3SLB Baikonur * Intelsat 18 Intelsat Orbital Sciences Corp. Communications $100M S S

RUSSIA

05-20-2011 Proton M Baikonur * Telstar 14R Telesat Space Systems/Loral Communications $85M S S

07-13-2011 Soyuz 2 1A Baikonur

*

*

*

*

*

*

Globalstar 2nd Gen 07

Globalstar 2nd Gen 08

Globalstar 2nd Gen 09

Globalstar 2nd Gen 10

Globalstar 2nd Gen 11

Globalstar 2nd Gen 12

Globalstar, Inc.

Globalstar, Inc.

Globalstar, Inc.

Globalstar, Inc.

Globalstar, Inc.

Globalstar, Inc.

Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space

Communications

Communications

Communications

Communications

Communications

Communications

$50M S

S

S

S

S

S

S

07-15-2011 Proton M Baikonur

* SES-3

KazSat 2

SES World Skies

JSC Kazsat

Orbital Sciences Corp.

Khrunichev State Research & 

Productions Space Center

Communications

Communications $85M S

S

S

08-17-2011 Dnepr M Dombaroskiy

*

*

Nigeriasat 2

NX

RASAT

SIch 2

Edusat

BPA 2

AprizeSat 5

AprizeSat 6

NASRDA

NASRDA

TUBITAK-UZAY

National Space Agency of Ukraine

Italian Space Agency

Hartron-Arkos

ExactEarth Ltd.

ExactEarth Ltd.

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.

TUBITAK-UZAY

NPO Yuzhnoye

University of Rome

Hartron-Arkos

SpaceQuest Ltd.

SpaceQuest Ltd.

Remote Sensing

Remote Sensing

Remote Sensing

Remotes Sensing

Scientific

Development

Communications

Communications

$12M S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

08-17-2011 Proton M Baikonur * Express AM4 Russian Satellite Communications Co. Khrunichev/Astrium Satellites Communications $85M F F

09-29-2011 Proton M Baikonur * QuetzSat-1 QuetzSat Space Systems/Loral Communications $85M S S

10-19-2011 Proton M Baikonur * ViaSat 1 ViaSat Space Systems/Loral Communications $85M S S

11-25-2011 Proton M Baikonur * Asiasat 7 Asiasat Space Systems/Loral Communications $85M S S

12-11-2011 Proton M Baikonur *

Luch 5A

Amos 5

Roscosmos

SpaceCom Ltd.

Reshetnev Company

Reshetnev Company

Communications

Communications $85M S SS

12-28-2011 Soyuz 2 1A Baikonur

*

*

*

*

*

*

Globalstar 2nd Gen 13

Globalstar 2nd Gen 14

Globalstar 2nd Gen 15

Globalstar 2nd Gen 16

Globalstar 2nd Gen 17

Globalstar 2nd Gen 18

Globalstar, Inc.

Globalstar, Inc.

Globalstar, Inc.

Globalstar, Inc.

Globalstar, Inc.

Globalstar, Inc.

Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space

Thales Alenia Space

Communications

Communications

Communications

Communications

Communications

Communications

$50M S

S

S

S

S

S

S

CHINA

10-07-2011 Long March 3B Xichang * Eutelsat W3C Eutelsat Thales Alenia Space Communications $70M S S

12-19-2011 Long March 3B Xichang * NigComSat 1R Nigerian Communication Satellite Ltd. CAST Communications $70M S S HQ-121541.INDD