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Author
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Topic: Every single launch... ever!
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-14-2007 12:56 AM
   
From Popular Mechanics:
The First 50 Years of Space: Every Single Launch... Ever! 
quote:
It is the first of its kind: a graph representing every single space launch, starting with Sputnik 1 on Oct. 4, 1957—6039 spacecraft in all.
The graph is based on a database of launches compiled by Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist, "fanatic space historian" and the editor of Jonathan's Space Report. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 09-15-2007 12:35 AM
Jonathan Space Report is a fantastic source of info and I've used it to compile my own launch database. As of June 15, 2007, I have 4,837 launches! Does this graph include suborbital flights (I don't)? Or does it illustrate the number of satellites placed into orbit (which would explain the difference between Jonathan's total and mine)?Chris. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-18-2007 01:44 AM
Indeed, the graph appears to include both suborbital missions (e.g. Mercury-Redstone 3) and satellites in orbit (e.g. Telstar), which explains the difference between your count and theirs. |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 09-18-2007 07:50 AM
Well, now you've got me wondering. You are talking about a difference of 1100 launches. There were not that many suborbital missions unless you start talking about failed attempts and ICBM flights; and if they were included, then I notice right away some are missing at the beginning. (Note that they do list 51L).I wouldn't mind getting a clarification, because knowing just how many successful orbital missions there have been or how many missions reached the 100km height would be nice to have. While this graph is cool looking, personally I feel it doesn't do much other than give you a sense of how the launch rate has changed. You can't tell what's what, and the circles highlighting certain missions are just randomly placed on the graph. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 09-18-2007 09:40 AM
Ben,My database might not be 100% accurate (and lots of blanks here and there because it's hard to find information and I've been rather lazy regarding about this database especially regarding the 1957-1980's timeframe; it takes too much time but I have listed the following: Spacecraft, cospar, day, month, year, launch site, pad, launcher, launch vehicle type, satellite type; but again with blanks especially in the satellite type entry) but from what I've looked at, if you add the launch failures and the numerous multiple satellite launches (especially the C(K)osmos series of military satellites launched from Plesetsk using C(K)osmos SL-8/C1 11K65M) I'm sure you can find the 1100 "missing satellites/launches". Chris. | |
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