2017 in spaceflight

2017 in spaceflight
Cassini portrait of Saturn, backlit by the Sun
Peggy Whitson in the International Space Station's Cupola module
A Falcon 9 awaiting launch at Kennedy LC-39A
A Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III launching from Sriharikota Second
Highlights from spaceflight in 2017[a]
Orbital launches
First5 January
Last26 December
Total91
Successes83
Failures6
Partial failures2
Catalogued86
National firsts
Satellite
Rockets
Maiden flights
Retirements
Crewed flights
Orbital4
Total travellers11
EVAs10
2017 in spaceflight
← 2016
2018 →

Notable spaceflight activities in 2017 included the maiden orbital flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (also called LVM3) on 5 June and the first suborbital test of Rocket Lab's Electron rocket, inaugurating the Mahia spaceport in New Zealand. The rocket is named for its innovative Rutherford engine which feeds propellants via battery-powered electric motors instead of the usual gas generator and turbopumps.


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