scientific satellite

Scientific/research/technology
satellites


Below are checklists of Scientific/research/technology satellites, including launch dates and images of the satellites. If readers know of additional information or images, please contact the authors using the e-mail addresses at the bottom of this page.

More-specific scientific/research/technology disciplines/categories are covered elsewhere on this Website.


Satellite series covered:


USA Explorer-series satellites:

Notes on the Explorer series: The numbering of the Explorer-series satellites is consistent among sources only through Explorer-55. Beyond that number there is controversy over what constitutes an Explorer satellite. Of the numbered Explorer satellites, only Explorer-2 and Explorer-5 failed but were numbered in sequence. This occurred before it was common practice to delay final numbering until a launch was successful.

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Explorer-11958-01-31 Explorer-1
Explorer-1
Explorer-1
Explorer-1Explorer-1
Explorer-2 [failed]1958-03-05Explorer
(except Explorer-1)
Explorer
(except Explorer-1)
Explorer-31958-03-26
Explorer-41958-07-26Explorer-4
Explorer-5 [failed]1958-08-24
Explorer-S1 / Explorer-7X [failed]1959-07-16
Explorer-6 (S2) (like Pioneer-5)11959-08-07 Explorer-6
Explorer-6
Explorer-6
Explorer-6
Explorer-7 (S1A)1959-10-13 Explorer-7
Explorer-7
Explorer-7
Explorer-7
Explorer-7
Explorer-7
Explorer-7 (folder, page1)
Explorer-7 (folder, page2)
Explorer-7 (folder, page3)
Explorer-7 (folder, page4)
Explorer-S46 [failed]1960-03-23Explorer-S46
Explorer-8 (S30)1960-11-03 Explorer-8
Explorer-8
Explorer-S56 [failed]1960-12-04
Explorer-9 (S56A) (identical to Explorer-19)1961-02-16
Explorer-S45 [failed]1961-02-24 Explorer-S45
Explorer-S45
Explorer-S45
Explorer-10 (P14)1961-03-25 Explorer-10
Explorer-10
Explorer-11 (S15)1961-04-27 Explorer-11
Explorer-11
Explorer-S45A [failed]1961-05-24
Explorer-S55 [failed]1961-06-30
Explorer-12 (EPE-A, S3)1961-08-16Explorer-12
Explorer-13 (S55A)1961-08-25 Explorer-13
Explorer-13
Explorer-14 (EPE-B, S3A)1962-10-02
Explorer-15 (EPE-C, S3B)1962-10-29
Explorer-16 (S55B)1962-12-16
Explorer-17 (AE-A, S6)1963-04-03Explorer-17
Explorer-18 / IMP-1 (IMP-A)1963-11-27 Explorer-18
Explorer-18/21/28 type
Explorer-19 (ADE-A, S56B) (identical to Explorer-9)1963-12-19
Explorer-S66 (BE-A) [failed]1964-03-19
Explorer-20 (IE-A, S48, Topsi)1964-08-25Explorer-20
Explorer-21 / IMP-2 (IMP-B)1964-10-04 Explorer-18/21/28 type
Explorer-21
Explorer-22 (S66a, BE-B)1964-10-09Explorer-22
Explorer-23 (S55C)1964-11-06
Explorer-24 (ADE-B, S56C)1964-11-21 Explorer-24
Explorer-24+25
Explorer-25 (IE-B) / Injun-41964-11-21 Explorer-25
Explorer-25
Explorer-24+25
Explorer-26 (EPE-D)1964-12-21
Explorer-27 (BE-C)1965-04-29Explorer-27
Explorer-28 / IMP-3 (IMP-C)1965-05-29Explorer-18/21/28 type
Explorer-29 / GEOS-1 (GEOS-A)1965-11-06 Explorer-29
Explorer-29
Explorer-30 (SE-A) / SolRad-81965-11-19Explorer-30
Explorer-31 (DME-A) / ISIS-X1965-11-28Explorer-31
Explorer-32 (AE-B)1966-05-25 Explorer-32
Explorer-32
Explorer-33 / AIMP-1 (IMP-D)1966-07-01 Explorer-33
Explorer-33/35 type
Explorer-34 / IMP-4 (IMP-F)1967-05-24Explorer-34
Explorer-35 / AIMP-2 (IMP-E)1967-07-19 Explorer-35
Explorer-33/35 type
Explorer-36 / GEOS-2 (GEOS-B)1968-01-11
Explorer-37 (SE-B) / SolRad-91968-03-05 Explorer-37
Explorer-37
Explorer-38 / RAE-1 (RAE-A)1968-07-04 Explorer-38
Explorer-38/49 type
Explorer-38/49 type
Explorer-38 (newspaper article)
Explorer-39 (ADE-C)1968-08-08Explorer-39/40 (in cutaway on Scout-D rocket)
Explorer-40 (IE-C) / Injun-51968-08-08 Explorer-40
Explorer-40
Explorer-41 / IMP-5 (IMP-G)1969-06-21Explorer-41
Explorer-42 (SAS-A) / Uhuru1970-12-12 Explorer-42 (Uhuru)
Explorer-42
Explorer-43 / IMP-6 (IMP-H)1971-03-13Explorer-43
Explorer-44 (SE-C) / SolRad-101971-07-09Explorer-44
Explorer-45 (SSS-A / S-Cubed-A)1971-11-15Explorer-45
Explorer-46 / MTS1972-08-13Explorer-46
Explorer-47 / IMP-7 (IMP-I)1972-09-22Explorer-47
Explorer-48 (SAS-B)1972-11-15 Explorer-48
Explorer-48
Explorer-49 / RAE-2 (RAE-B)1973-06-10 Explorer-38/49 type
Explorer-38/49 type
Explorer-49
Explorer-49
Explorer-50 / IMP-8 (IMP-J)1973-10-26 Explorer-50
Explorer-50
Explorer-51 (AE-C)1973-12-16Explorer-51
Explorer-52 (IE-D) / Hawkeye / Injun-61974-06-03 Explorer-52
Explorer-52
Explorer-53 (SAS-C)1975-05-07Explorer-53
Explorer-54 (AE-D)1975-10-06Explorer-54
Explorer-55 (AE-E)1975-11-20
Explorer: DAD-A (DADE-A), DAD-B (DADE-B) [failed]1975-12-05DAD-A
Explorer-56 / ISEE-1 (ISEE-A)1977-10-22 ISEE-1
ISEE-1
ISEE-1/2
Explorer-57 (SAS-D) / IUE1978-01-26 Explorer-57 (IUE)
Explorer-57 (IUE)
Explorer-58 / HCMM / AEM-1 (AEM-A)1978-04-26 Explorer-58
Explorer-58/60 type
Explorer-59 / ISEE-3 (ISEE-C) / ICE21978-08-14 ISEE-3
ISEE-3
ISEE-3
Explorer-60 / SAGE / AEM-2 (AEM-B)1979-02-18 Explorer-60
Explorer-58/60 type
Explorer-61 / MagSat1979-10-30 Explorer-61
Explorer-61
Explorer-62 (DE-1)1981-08-03 Explorer-62/63 type
Explorer-62/63 type
Explorer-63 (DE-2)1981-08-03
Explorer-64 / SME1981-10-06 Explorer-64 (SME)
Explorer-64 (SME)
Explorer-65 / AMPTE (CCE, IRM, and UKS)1984-08-16 Explorer-65 (AMPTE)
UKS
Explorer-66 / COBE1989-11-18 COBE (patch, early-design)3
Explorer-66 (COBE, early-design)3
Explorer-66 (COBE, final-design)3
Explorer-66 (COBE, final-design)3
Explorer-67 / EUVE1992-06-07 Explorer-67 (EUVE)
Explorer-67 (EUVE)
Explorer-68 / SMEX-1 / SAMPEX (solar-observing mission)1992-07-03 Explorer-68 (SAMPEX)
Explorer-68 (SAMPEX)
SAMPEX (patch)
Explorer-69 / MIDEX-(-2) / XTE / RXTE (astronomy/telescope mission)1995-12-30 Explorer-69 (XTE)
Explorer-69 (XTE)
Explorer-70 / SMEX-2 / FAST (plasma physics of auroral phenomena)1996-08-21 Explorer-70 (FAST)
Explorer-70 (FAST)
FAST (patch)
Explorer-71 / MIDEX-(-1) / ACE (particle observations)1997-08-25 Explorer-71 (ACE)
Explorer-71 (ACE)
Explorer-71 (ACE)
ACE (patch)
Explorer-72 / STEDI-1 / SNOE (nitric oxide density)1998-02-26Explorer-72 (SNOE)
Explorer-73 / SMEX-4 / TRACE (solar-observing mission)1998-04-02 Explorer-73 (TRACE)
TRACE (patch)
Explorer-74 / SMEX-3 / SWAS (astronomy/telescope mission)1998-12-06 Explorer-74 (SWAS)
Explorer-74 (SWAS)
SWAS (patch)
Explorer-75 / SMEX-5 / WIRE (astronomy/telescope mission) [failed]1999-03-05Explorer-75 (WIRE)
Explorer-76 / STEDI-2 / TERRIERS (solar-observing mission) [failed]1999-05-18Explorer-76 (TERRIERS)
Explorer-77 / MIDEX-0 / FUSE (astronomy/telescope mission)1999-06-23 Explorer-77 (FUSE)
Explorer-77 (FUSE)
FUSE (patch)
Explorer-78 / MIDEX-1 / IMAGE (determine the directly driven response of the magnetosphere to solar wind changes)2000-03-25Explorer-78 (IMAGE)
Explorer-79 / HETE-2 (high-energy astronomy)2000-10-09Explorer-79 (HETE-2)
Explorer-80 / MIDEX-2 / MAP / WMAP (astronomy/telescope mission)2001-06-30Explorer-80 (WMAP)
Explorer-81 / SMEX-6 / HESSI / RHESSI (solar-observing mission)2002-02-05 Explorer-81 (HESSI)
Explorer-81 (HESSI)
Explorer-82 / UNEX-1 / CHIPSat (astronomy/telescope mission)2003-01-12Explorer-82 (CHIPSat)
Explorer-83 / SMEX-7 / GALEX (astronomy/telescope mission)2003-04-28Explorer-83 (GALEX)
Explorer-84 / MIDEX-3 / Swift (astronomy/telescope mission)2004-11-20Explorer-84 (Swift)
Explorer-85/89 / MIDEX-5A/5E / THEMIS-A/E / ARTEMIS-P1/P2 (magnetospheric substorm instability)2007-02-17Explorer-85/89 type (THEMIS)
Explorer-90 / SMEX-9 / AIM (study of polar mesospheric clouds)2007-04-25Explorer-90 (AIM)
Explorer-91 / SMEX-10 / IBEX (solar-observing mission)2008-10-19Explorer-91 (IBEX)
Explorer-92 / MIDEX-6 / WISE / NGSS / now NEOWISE (astronomy/telescope mission)2009-12-14Explorer-92 (WISE)
Explorer-93 / SMEX-11 / NuSTAR (astronomy/telescope mission)2012-06-13 Explorer-93 (NuSTAR)
Explorer-93 (NuSTAR patch)
Explorer-94 / SMEX-12 / IRIS (solar-observing mission)2013-06-28 Explorer-94 (IRIS)
Explorer-94 (IRIS patch)
Explorer-95 / MIDEX-7 / TESS (astronomy/telescope mission)2018-04-18Explorer-95 (TESS)
Explorer-96 / MIDEX-8 / ICON (ionosphere explorer)2019-10-11 Explorer-96 (ICON)
Explorer-96 (ICON)
Explorer-97 / SMEX-14 / IXPE (X-ray astronomy)2021-12-09Explorer-97 (IXPE)

1Explorer-6 and Pioneer-5 were similar "paddlewheel" satellites. It is believed that Explorer-6 contained two short antennas on its "top", whereas Pioneer-5 contained only a single short antenna. When there are no antennas on top, the distinction is unclear, but of the two, Pioneer-5 is assumed.
2Explorer-59 / ISEE-3 was renamed ICE (International Cometary Explorer) in 1983.
3COBE (early-design) was intended for Space Shuttle launch; COBE (final-design) was intended for rocket launch.

USA Injun-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Injun-11961-06-29 Injun-1
Injun-1 (+ SolRad-3)
Injun-1 (+ Transit-4A + SolRad-3)
Injun-1 (+ Transit-4A + SolRad-3)
InjunInjun
Injun-21962-01-24Injun-2
Injun-31962-12-13Injun-3
Injun-4 / Explorer-25 (IE-B)1964-11-21 Explorer-25
Explorer-25
Explorer-24+25
Injun-4
Injun-5 (Injun-C) / Explorer-40 (IE-C)1968-08-08 Explorer-40
Explorer-40
Injun-6 (Injun-F) / Explorer-52 (IE-D) / Hawkeye1974-06-03 Explorer-52
Explorer-52

USA Geodetic Earth Orbiting Satellite (GEOS-1/2), PAssive Geodetic Earth Orbiting Satellite (PAGEOS), and Geodynamics Experimental Ocean Satellite (GEOS-3) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
GEOS-1 (GEOS-A) / Explorer-291965-11-06 Explorer-29
Explorer-29
GEOSGEOS
PAGEOS1966-06-23PAGEOS
GEOS-2 (GEOS-B) / Explorer-361968-01-11
GEOS-3 (GEOS-C)1975-04-09GEOS-3

USA International Sun-Earth Explorer (ISEE) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
ISEE-1 (ISEE-A) / Explorer-561977-10-22 ISEE-1
ISEE-1
ISEE-1/2
ISEEISEE
ISEE-2 (ISEE-B)1977-10-22 ISEE-2
ISEE-1/2
ISEE-3 (ISEE-C) / Explorer-59 / ICE11978-08-14 ISEE-3
ISEE-3
ISEE-3

1ISEE-3 / Explorer-59 was renamed ICE (International Cometary Explorer) in 1983.

USA Vanguard-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Vanguard-TV0 [sub-orbital]1956-12-08VanguardVanguard
Vanguard-TV1 [sub-orbital]1957-05-01
Vanguard-TV2 [sub-orbital]1957-10-23
Vanguard-TV3 [failed]1957-12-06 Vanguard-TV3
Vanguard-1
Vanguard-1
Vanguard-1
Vanguard-1
Vanguard-1 (cutaway)
Vanguard-TV3 (backup) [failed]1958-02-05
Vanguard-1 (TV4)1958-03-17
Vanguard-TV5 [failed]1958-04-28Vanguard-TV5
Vanguard-SLV1 [failed]1958-05-27Vanguard-SLV2
Vanguard-SLV2 [failed]1958-06-26
Vanguard-SLV3 [failed]1958-09-26 Vanguard-2
Vanguard-2
Vanguard-2
Vanguard-2
Vanguard-2 (cutaway)
Vanguard-2 (cutaway)
Vanguard-2 (SLV4)1959-02-17
Vanguard-SLV5 [failed]1959-04-13Vanguard-SLV5
Vanguard-SLV6 [failed]1959-06-22Vanguard-SLV6
Vanguard-3 (SLV7)1959-09-18 Vanguard-3
Vanguard-3
Vanguard-3
Vanguard-3 (cutaway)

(Earlier) USA Pioneer-series (non-planetary) spacecraft:

Of the numbered Pioneer satellites, only Pioneer-2 failed but was numbered in sequence. This occurred before it was common practice to delay final numbering until a launch was successful.

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Pioneer-0 (lunar orbit attempt) [failed]1958-08-17 Pioneer-0/1/2 type
Pioneer-1
Pioneer-1
Pioneer (non-planetary)Pioneer (non-planetary)
Pioneer-1 (lunar orbit attempt)1958-10-11
Pioneer-2 (lunar orbit attempt) [failed]1958-11-08
Pioneer-3 (lunar flyby attempt)1958-12-06 Pioneer-3
Pioneer-3/4 type
Pioneer-4
Pioneer-4
Pioneer-4 (solar orbit)1959-03-03
Pioneer-P1 (lunar orbit attempt) [failed]1959-09-24Pioneer-P3
Pioneer-P3 (lunar orbit attempt) [failed]1959-11-26
Pioneer-5 (P2) (like Explorer-6)1 (interplanetary)1960-03-11 Pioneer-5
Pioneer-5
Pioneer-5
Pioneer-5
Pioneer-5 (mockup)
Pioneer-P30 (lunar orbit attempt) [failed]1960-09-25Pioneer-P3
Pioneer-P31 (lunar orbit attempt) [failed]1960-12-15
Pioneer-6 (Pioneer-A) (solar orbit)1965-12-16 Pioneer-6
Pioneer-6
Pioneer-6
Pioneer-6
Pioneer-7 (Pioneer-B) (solar orbit)1966-08-17Pioneer-7
Pioneer-8 (Pioneer-C) (solar orbit)1967-12-13 Pioneer-6/7/8/9 type
Pioneer-6/7/8/9 type
Pioneer-9 (Pioneer-D) (solar orbit)1968-11-08
Pioneer-E (solar orbit) [failed]1969-08-27Pioneer-E
(Later) Pioneer-series spacecraft
(planetary: Pioneer-10 — Pioneer-13)
referencePioneer (planetary)Pioneer (planetary)

1Pioneer-5 and Explorer-6 were similar "paddlewheel" satellites. It is believed that Explorer-6 contained two short antennas on its "top", whereas Pioneer-5 contained only a single short antenna. When there are no antennas on top, the distinction is unclear, but of the two, Pioneer-5 is assumed.

USA Orbiting Geophysical Observatory (OGO) / Polar Orbiting Geophysical Observatory (POGO) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
OGO-1 (OGO-A)1964-09-05 OGO
OGO-1
OGOOGO
OGO-2 (OGO-C) / POGO-11965-10-14OGO-2
OGO-3 (OGO-B)1966-06-07"OGO-3"
OGO-4 (OGO-D) / POGO-21967-07-28
OGO-5 (OGO-E)1968-03-04
OGO-6 (OGO-F) / POGO-31969-06-05"OGO-6"

USA SURveillance CALibration (SurCal) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
SurCal-1 [failed]1962-01-24SurCal-1SurCal-1 (with Injun-2 and SolRad-4A and SECOR-(1))
SurCal-2 [partial failure]1962-12-13SurCal-5SurCal-2 (with Injun-3)
SurCal-3 [partial failure]1963-06-15SurCal-3 (with SolRad-6)
SurCal-41965-03-09SurCal-4 (with SolRad-7B (carried by Poppy-4A) and OSCAR-3 and SECOR-3)
SurCal-51965-08-13

USA CalSphere (CALibration SPHERE) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
CalSphere-11962-12-13CalSphereCalSphere-1 (with Injun-3)
CalSphere-21966-08-13
CalSphere-3, CalSphere-41967-05-31Calsphere-3/4 (with Poppy-5A/5B/5C/5D and Timation-1)

USA DODECAhedron (Dodecapole) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Dodecapole-1 / Porcupine-11965-03-09 Dodecapole-1
Dodecapole-1
Dodecapole-1 (with SolRad-7B (carried by Poppy-4A) and OSCAR-3 and SECOR-3)
Dodecapole-2 / Porcupine-21965-08-13

USA Owl-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Owl-1Never launched Owl
Owl-1
Owl-2Never launched

USA Pegasus-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Pegasus-11965-02-16 Pegasus
Pegasus
PegasusPegasus
Pegasus-21965-05-25
Pegasus-31965-07-30

USA [Apollo-deployed] Particles and Fields Sub-satellite (P&FS) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
P&FS [Apollo-15 deployed]1971-07-26 (launched with Apollo-15)
1971-08-04 (deployed from Apollo-15)
P&FS
P&FS
P&FS (with Apollo)
P&FS
P&FSP&FS
P&FS [Apollo-16 deployed]1972-04-16 (launched with Apollo-16)
1972-04-24 (deployed from Apollo-16)

USA [Mercury and Gemini-deployed] Sub-satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Mercury Balloon-1 [Mercury-MA-7 deployed]1962-05-24 (launched with Mercury-MA-7) [Carpenter]
1962-05-25 (deployed from Mercury-MA-7)
Mercury Balloon-2[Mercury and Gemini-deployed] Sub-satellites[Mercury and Gemini-deployed] Sub-satellites
Mercury Balloon-2, Flashing Light Unit [Mercury-MA-9 deployed]1963-05-15 (launched with Mercury-MA-9) [Cooper]
1963-05-15 (deployed from Mercury-MA-9)
Mercury Balloon-2
Flashing Light Unit
REP [Gemini-5 deployed]1965-08-21 (launched with Gemini-5) [Cooper and Conrad]
1965-08-21 (deployed from Gemini-5)
REP
REP

USA-Italy LAser GEOdynamics Satellite (LAGEOS) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
LAGEOS-1 (LAGEOS-A)1976-05-04 LAGEOS
LAGEOS
LAGEOSLAGEOS
LAGEOS-2 (LAGEOS-B) [STS-52/Columbia-deployed]1992-10-22 LAGEOS-2
LAGEOS-2 (patch)
LAGEOS-2 (patch, with STS-52/Columbia)
LAGEOS-2 (patch, with STS-52/Columbia)
LAGEOS-2 (patch, with STS-52/Columbia, back)
LAGEOS-2 (deploy by STS-52/Columbia)

Italian LAser RElativity Satellite (LARES) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
LARES-12012-02-13LARES-1LARESLARES
LARES-22022-07-13LARES-2

USA Gravity Probe (GP) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
GP-A [sub-orbital]1976-06-18GP-AGPGP
GP-B2004-04-20 GP-B
GP-B
GP-B (prototype)
GP-B (newspaper article)
GP-B (newspaper article)

USA Space Electric Rocket Test (SERT) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
SERT-11964-07-20SERT-1SERTSERT
SERT-21970-02-03 SERT-2
SERT-2

USA TEst and TRaining (TETR) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
TETR-1 (TETR-A)1967-12-13TETRTETR-1 (with Pioneer-8)
TETR-2 (TETR-B)1968-11-08TETR-2 (with Pioneer-9)
TETR-3 (TETR-C) [failed]1969-08-27TETR-3 (with Pioneer-E)
TETR-4 (TETR-D)1971-09-29TETR-4 (with OSO-7)

USA Beacon-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Beacon-1 [failed]1958-10-23
Beacon-2 [failed]1959-08-14Beacon-2 (Goldcraft Cachets, but Mercury boilerplate capsule depicted)

USA Plasma Interaction eXperiment (PIX) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
PIX-11978-03-05PIXPIX-1 (with Landsat-3 and OSCAR-8)
PIX-21983-01-26PIX-2 (with IRAS)

USA Wake Shield Facility (WSF) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
WSF-1 [STS-60/Discovery-deployed, failed]1994-02-03WSF-1
WSF-2 [STS-69/Endeavour-deployed]1995-09-07WSF-2WSF-2 (with SPARTAN-201-F3)
WSF-3 [STS-80/Columbia-deployed]1996-11-19 WSF-3 (patch, with STS-80/Columbia)
WSF-3 (patch, with STS-80/Columbia)
WSF-3 (patch, with STS-80/Columbia, back)
WSF-3 (with ORFEUS-SPAS-2)

USA Student Tracked Atmospheric Research Satellite for Heuristic International Networking Equipment (STARSHINE) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
STARSHINE-1 [STS-96/Discovery-deployed]1999-05-27 STARSHINE-1
STARSHINE-1 (patch)
STARSHINESTARSHINE
STARSHINE-2 [STS-108/Endeavour-deployed]2001-12-05 STARSHINE-2
STARSHINE-2 (patch)
STARSHINE-3 / OSCAR-432001-09-30 STARSHINE-3
STARSHINE-3 (patch)
STARSHINE-4 [failed]2020-05-25 STARSHINE-4/5 (patch)
STARSHINE-5
STARSHINE-5Canceled

USA Orbital DEbris RAdar Calibration Sphere (ODERACS) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
ODERACS [STS-53/Discovery-carried, but not deployed?]1992-12-02ODERACS-1ODERACS (with SDS-2-3)
ODERACS-1 [STS-60/Discovery-deployed]1994-02-03ODERACS-1
ODERACS-2 [STS-63/Discovery-deployed]1995-02-03ODERACS-2 (with SPARTAN-204)

USA Transtage-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Transtage-1 [failed]1964-09-01 Transtage-1/2/5 type
Transtage (artist's concept)
Transtage (artist's concept info)
TranstageTranstage
Transtage-21964-12-10Transtage-2 (newspaper article)
Transtage-51965-06-18

USA Micro Electro-mechanical systems-based PicoSat Inspector (MEPSI) [tethered] series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
MEPSI-1A/1B [STS-113/Endeavour-deployed]2002-11-23MEPSI-1A/1B+PLAMEPSI-1
MEPSI-2A/2B [STS-116/Discovery-deployed]2006-12-10MEPSI-2A/2B (with OSCAR-60/61/62)

USA PicoSatellite Solar Cell Testbed (PSSCT) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
PSSCT-1 [STS-126/Endeavour-deployed]2008-11-14PSSCT-1PSSCT-1
PSSCT-2 [STS-135/Atlantis-deployed]2011-07-08PSSCT-2PSSCT-2

USA Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) satellite [Shuttle-deployed and recovered]:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
LDEF [STS-41C/Challenger-deployed]1984-04-06 LDEF
LDEF (patch, with STS-41C/Challenger)
SMM (patch, with STS-41C/Challenger)
LDEF (deployed)LDEF
LDEF [STS-32R/Columbia-recovered]1990-01-09LDEF (recovered)

(Selected) USA Space Technology (ST) series spacecraft:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
ST-3 / DS-3 / Starlight / NMPCanceledDeep SpaceDeep Space
ST-4 / DS-4 / Champollion / NMPCanceled Deep Space-4 (single-spacecraft concept)
Deep Space-4 (original concept)
ST-5a, b, c / NCT-1, 2, 3 / NMP2006-03-22ST-5a,b,cST-5a,b,c
ST-6 / NMPUnknown
ST-7 / LISA-Pathfinder (NASA-ESA) / NMP2015-12-03 LISA-Pathfinder
LISA-Pathfinder (patch)
LISA-PathfinderLISA-Pathfinder
ST-8 / NMPCanceledST-8

USA Space Technology Research Vehicle (STRV) series spacecraft:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
STRV-1A, STRV-1B1994-06-17STRV-1ASTRV-1A/1B (with Intelsat-702)
STRV-1C, STRV-1D2000-11-15STRV-1C/1D (with Panamsat-1R and OSCAR-40)

USA Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) and Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment - Follow-On (FO):

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
GRACE-1 and 2 / ESSP-2A and 2B / Tom and Jerry2002-03-17 GRACE
GRACE
GRACE and GRACE-FOGRACE and GRACE-FO
GRACE-FO-1 and 22018-05-22 GRACE-FO
GRACE-FO-1/2 (+ Iridium-NEXT-110/147/152/161/162)

USA Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV):

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
MEV-12019-10-09MEV-1MEVMEV
MEV-22020-08-15

Canadian Alouette-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Alouette-1 (Alouette-A)1962-09-28 Alouette-1
Alouette-1
Alouette-1
Alouette-1 (sketch)
AlouetteAlouette
Alouette-2 (Alouette-B)1965-11-28Alouette-2 (newspaper article)

Canadian International Satellite for Ionospheric Studies (ISIS) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
ISIS-X / Explorer-31 (DME-A)1965-11-28Explorer-31ISISISIS
ISIS-1 (ISIS-A)1969-01-29 ISIS-1
ISIS-1
ISIS-2 (ISIS-B)1971-03-31ISIS-2
ISIS-CCanceled

United Kingdom (UK) / Ariel-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Ariel-1 / UK-1 (S-51)1962-04-26 Ariel-1
Ariel-1
Ariel / UKAriel / UK
Ariel-2 / UK-2 (UK-C, S-52)1964-03-27Ariel-2
Ariel-3 / UK-3 (UK-E)1967-05-05 Ariel-3
Ariel-3
Ariel-3
Ariel-3
Ariel-3/4 type
Ariel-3/4 type
Ariel-4
Ariel-4
Ariel-4 / UK-41971-12-11
Ariel-5 / UK-51974-10-15 Ariel-5
Ariel-5
Ariel-6 / UK-61979-06-02 Ariel-6
Ariel-6

Italian San Marco-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
San Marco-1 [sub-orbital] test rocket (Shotput-6)1963-04-22ShotputSan MarcoSan Marco
San Marco-2 [sub-orbital] test rocket (Shotput-7)1963-08-02
San Marco-1 (San Marco-A)1964-12-15 San Marco-1
San Marco-1
San Marco-2 (San Marco-B)1967-04-26San Marco-2
San Marco-3 (San Marco-C)1971-04-24San Marco-4
San Marco-4 (San Marco-C2)1974-02-18
San Marco-5 (San Marco-D/L)1988-03-25 San Marco-5
San Marco-5
San Marco-5
San Marco-D/MCanceled

German Aeros-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Aeros-1 (Aeros-A)1972-12-16AerosAeros
Aeros-2 (Aeros-B)1974-07-16 Aeros-2
Aeros-2

French A-1, FR-1, and D-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
A-1 / Astérix1965-11-26 A-1
A-1
A-1 / AstérixA-1 / Astérix
FR-1 / France-11965-12-06FR-1FR-1 / France-1FR-1 / France-1
D-1A / Diapason1966-02-18 D-1
D-1
D-1A
D-1A
D-seriesD-series
D-1BCanceled
D-1C / Diadème-1 [partial failure]1967-02-08D-1C/1D type
D-1D / Diadème-21967-02-15
D-2A / Tournesol1971-04-15 D-2A
D-2A
D-2A / Polaire [failed]1971-12-06
D-2B / Aura1975-09-27D-2B
D-3Changed to FR-2 or CAS-B and then canceled
D-4Unknown/canceled
D-5A / Pollux, D-5B / Castor [failed]1973-05-21 D-5A
D-5B
D-5A / Pollux, D-5B / Castor1975-05-17
SIGNE-31 (D-2B type)1977-06-17D-2B

1SIGNE-1 and SIGNE-2 were payloads on Prognoz-2 and (possibly) Prognoz-6 spacecraft, respectively.

French Éole / Cooperative Applications Satellite (CAS) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Péole (Preliminary Éole)1970-12-12PéoleÉoleÉole
Éole / FR-2 / CAS-A1971-08-16 Éole
Éole

French-Russian Satellite de Recherches et d'Études Technologiques (SRET) / Maliy Avtonomiy Sputnik (MAS) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
SRET-1 / MAS-11972-04-04SRET-1SRET / MASSRET / MAS
SRET-2 / MAS-21975-06-05SRET-2

European Scientific Research Organization (ESRO) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
ESRO-2A / IRIS-1 [failed]1967-05-29 ESRO-2
ESRO-2A
ESROESRO
ESRO-2B / IRIS-21968-05-16 ESRO-2B
ESRO-2B
ESRO-1A / Aurorae1968-10-03 ESRO-1
ESRO-1
ESRO-1A
ESRO-1B / Boreas1969-10-01
ESRO-TD1A1972-03-11 ESRO-TD1A
ESRO-TD1A
ESRO-41972-11-21 ESRO-4
ESRO-4

European (ESRO) Highly Eccentric Orbit Satellite (HEOS) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
HEOS-1 (HEOS-A1)1968-12-05 HEOS-1
HEOS-1
HEOS-1
HEOSHEOS
HEOS-2 (HEOS-A2)1972-01-31

European Space Agency (ESA) Geostationary Earth Orbit Satellite (GEOS) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
ESA-GEOS-11977-04-20 ESA-GEOS
ESA-GEOS
ESA-GEOS
ESA-GEOS-1
ESA-GEOSESA-GEOS
ESA-GEOS-21978-07-14

Japanese Ionospheric Sounding Satellite (ISS) / Ume series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
ISS-1 (ISS-A) / Ume-11976-02-29ISS-1ISS / UmeISS / Ume
ISS-2 (ISS-B) / Ume-21978-02-16

Japanese EXOspheric Satellite (EXOS) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
EXOS-A / Kyokko1978-02-04EXOS-AEXOSEXOS
EXOS-B / Jikiken1978-09-16EXOS-B
EXOS-C / Ohzora1984-02-14EXOS-C
EXOS-D / Akebono1989-02-21 EXOS-D
EXOS-D

Japanese Engineering Test Satellite (ETS) / Kiku series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
ETS-1 / Kiku-11975-09-09 ETS-1
ETS-1
ETS / KikuETS / Kiku
ETS-2 / Kiku-21977-02-23ETS-2
ETS-4 / Kiku-31981-02-11ETS-3
ETS-3 / Kiku-41982-09-03ETS-4
ETS-5 / Kiku-51987-08-27ETS-5
ETS-6 / Kiku-6 [failed]1994-08-28 ETS-6
ETS-6
ETS-6
ETS-6
ETS-7 / Kiku-7 (Orihime, Hikoboshi)1997-11-27 ETS-7
ETS-7
ETS-8 / Kiku-82006-12-18ETS-8

Japanese Tansei-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Tansei-1 / MS-T11971-02-16Tansei-1TanseiTansei
Tansei-2 / MS-T21974-02-16Tansei-2
Tansei-3 / MS-T31977-02-19Tansei-3
Tansei-4 / MS-T41980-02-17Tansei-4
MS-T5 / Sakigake

Japanese Ohsumi-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Ohsumi (#1) [failed]1966-09-26OhsumiOhsumiOhsumi
Ohsumi (#2) [failed]1966-12-20
Ohsumi (#3) [failed]1967-04-13
Ohsumi (#4) [failed]1969-09-22
Ohsumi (#5)1970-02-11

Japanese COsmic Radiation SAtellite (CORSA) / Hakucho series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
CORSA-A [failed]1976-02-04CORSA / HakuchoCORSA / Hakucho
CORSA-B / Hakucho1979-02-21 CORSA-B
CORSA-B

Japanese Solarsail Subpayload SATellite (SSSat) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
SSSat-12006-02-21SSSatSSSat-1 (with Astro-F and OSCAR-56)
SSSat-22006-09-22SSSat-2 (with Solar-B and OSCAR-59)

Japanese Horyu series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Horyu-1CanceledHoryu-1
Horyu-22012-05-17Horyu-2Horyu-2 (with Kompsat-3 and GCOM-W)
Horyu-3CanceledHoryu-3
Horyu-4 / AEGIS2016-02-17Horyu-4Horyu-4 (with Astro-H)

Japanese/JAXA Small Demonstration Satellite (SDS) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Japan-SDS-12009-01-23Japan-SDS-1
Japan-SDS-2Unknown
Japan-SDS-3Unknown
Japan-SDS-42012-05-17Japan-SDS-4Japan-SDS-4 (with Kompsat-3 and GCOM-W)

(Other) Japanese scientific/research/technology satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Shinsei / SS-11971-09-28ShinseiShinseiShinsei
REXS / Denpa1972-08-19REXSREXS
SRATS / Taiyo1975-02-24SRATS
MABES / Jindai1986-08-12MABESMABES
EGP / EGS / Ajisai1986-08-12EGSEGS (with OSCAR-12)
DEBUT / Orizuru1990-02-07DEBUTDEBUT (with MOS-1b and OSCAR-20)
COMETS / Kakehashi1998-02-21 COMETS
COMETS (sketch)
COMETS / KakehashiCOMETS / Kakehashi
MDS-1 / Tsubasa2002-02-04MDS-1MDS-1
SERVIS-12003-10-30SERVIS-1
INDEX / Reimei2005-08-23INDEXOICETS / Kirari (and INDEX / Reimei)OICETS / Kirari (and INDEX / Reimei)
OICETS / Kirari2005-08-23OICETS
IKAROS2010-05-20IKAROSIKAROSIKAROS
UNITEC-1 / Shin'en2010-05-20UNITEC-1"UNITEC-1"
KSAT / Hayato2010-05-20KSAT"KSAT"
NegaiStar2010-05-20NegaiStar"Negai"Star
WasedaSAT-22010-05-20WasedaSAT-2"WasedaSAT-2"
SERVIS-22010-06-02SERVIS-1SERVIS-2
ChubuSat-2 / Kinshachi-2, ChubuSat-3 / Kinshachi-32016-02-17ChubuSat-2ChubuSat-2 and 3 (with Astro-H)

(Selected) Indian scientific/research/technology satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Aryabhata (Ariabata)1975-04-20AryabhataAryabhataAryabhata
Bhaskara-1 / SEO-11979-06-07BhaskaraBhaskara / SEOBhaskara / SEO
Bhaskara-2 / SEO-21981-11-20Bhaskara-2 (+ Rohini-1B)
Rohini-1A [failed]1979-08-10Rohini-1RohiniRohini
Rohini-1 (Rohini-1B)1980-07-18 Rohini-1B
Bhaskara-2 (+ Rohini-1B)
Rohini-21981-05-31
Rohini-31983-04-17
SROSS-1 (SROSS-A) [failed]1987-03-24 SROSS-1
SROSS-A
SROSS-2 (SROSS-B) / SRS-2 [failed]1988-07-13SROSS-B
SROSS-3 (SROSS-C) [partial failure]1992-05-20SROSS-C
SROSS-C21994-05-04

Pakistan Badr-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Badr-1 (Badr-A)1990-07-16 Badr-1
Badr-1
BadrBadr
Badr-2 (Badr-B)2001-12-10Badr-2

(South) Korean Science and Technology SATellite (STSAT) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
STSAT-1 (KAISTSat)2003-09-27STSAT-1
STSAT-2a [failed]2009-08-25STSAT-2STSAT-2
STSAT-2b [failed]2010-06-10
STSAT-2c2013-02-30STSAT-2c"STSAT-2c"
STSAT-32013-11-21STSAT-3

China/PRC Shi Jian (SJ) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
SJ-1 / PRC-2 / China-21971-03-03SJ-1SJSJ
SJ-21981-09-19SJ-2
SJ-2A / PRC-11 / China-111981-09-19SJ-2A
SJ-2B / PRC-9 / China-91981-09-19SJ-2B
SJ-2C / PRC-10 / China-101981-09-19
SJ-3Canceled
SJ-41994-02-08SJ-4
SJ-51995-05-10SJ-5
SJ-6A, SJ-6B2004-09-08SJ-6A/6B
SJ-6C, SJ-6D2006-10-23
SJ-72005-07-05SJ-7
SJ-82006-09-09SJ-8
SJ-9A2012-10-14SJ-9A
SJ-9B2012-10-14SJ-9B
SJ-102016-04-05SJ-10
SJ-11-012009-11-12SJ-11
SJ-11-022011-07-29
SJ-11-052013-07-15
SJ-122010-06-15
SJ-132017-04-12SJ-13
SJ-152013-07-19
SJ-16-012013-10-25SJ-16
SJ-16-022016-06-29
SJ-172016-11-03SJ-17
SJ-18 [failed]2017-07-02SJ-18
SJ-19202x
SJ-202019-12-27SJ-20
SJ-21, SJ-21 sub-satellite2021-10-24
SJ-232023-01-08

China/PRC Chuang Xin (CX) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
CX-1-012003-10-21CX-1CX-1-01 (with ZY-1-02)
CX-1-022008-11-05
CX-1-032011-11-20
CX-1-042014-09-04

Korea (North) Kwangmyongsong (KMS) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Kwangmyongsong-1 / KMS-1 [failed]1998-08-30KMS-1KwangmyongsongKwangmyongsong
Kwangmyongsong-2 / KMS-2 [failed]2009-04-05 KMS-2
KMS-2
Kwangmyongsong-3 / KMS-3 [failed]2012-04-12 KMS-3
KMS-3
Kwangmyongsong-3-2 / KMS-3-22012-12-12
Kwangmyongsong-4 / KMS-4 [partial failure]2016-02-07KMS-4

Swedish scientific/research/technology satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Viking1986-02-22 Viking
Viking
Viking
VikingViking
Freja1992-10-06 Freja
Freja
FrejaFreja
Astrid-11995-01-24 Astrid-1
Astrid-1
AstridAstrid
Astrid-21998-12-10Astrid-2
Munin2000-11-21MuninMuninMunin
Odin2001-02-20OdinOdinOdin
PRISMA2010-06-15PRISMAPRISMAPRISMA

German-USA Shuttle PAllet Satellite (SPAS) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
SPAS-1 [STS-7/Challenger-deployed-and-recovered]1983-06-22SPAS-1SPASSPAS
SPAS-1A1 [STS-41B/Challenger]1984-02-03
IBSS-SPAS (SPAS-2) [STS-39/Discovery-deployed-and-recovered]1991-04-28SPAS-2
ORFEUS-SPAS-1 [STS-51/Discovery-deployed-and-recovered]1993-09-12ORFEUS-SPAS
CRISTA-SPAS-1 [STS-66/Atlantis-deployed-and-recovered]1994-11-03 CRISTA-SPAS
CRISTA-SPAS
CRISTA-SPAS-1 (patch, with STS-66/Atlantis)
CRISTA-SPAS-1 (patch, with STS-66/Atlantis)
CRISTA-SPAS-1 (patch, with STS-66/Atlantis, back)
ORFEUS-SPAS-2 [STS-80/Columbia-deployed-and-recovered]1996-11-19 ORFEUS-SPAS
ORFEUS-SPAS-2 (patch, with STS-80/Columbia)
ORFEUS-SPAS-2 (patch, with STS-80/Columbia)
ORFEUS-SPAS-2 (patch, with STS-80/Columbia, back)
CRISTA-SPAS-2 [STS-85/Discovery-deployed-and-recovered]1997-08-07 CRISTA-SPAS
CRISTA-SPAS
CRISTA-SPAS-2 (patch, with STS-85/Discovery)
CRISTA-SPAS-2 (patch, with STS-85/Discovery)
CRISTA-SPAS-2 (patch, with STS-85/Discovery, back)

1No free flight was scheduled for SPAS-1A during the STS-41B mission; rather, the plan was to manipulate it with the RMS (Remote Manipulator System, or Canadarm) to gain experience in handling such an object with the RMS. It turned out that that was not possible due to an electrical problem with the RMS, so SPAS-1A remained stowed in the payload bay.

Italian Tethered Satellite System (TSS) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
TSS [STS-46/Atlantis-deployed-and-recovered]1992-07-31 TSS-1
TSS-1
TSS-1 (patch)
TSS-1 (patch, with STS-46/Atlantis)
TSSTSS
TSS-1R [STS-75/Columbia-deployed-and-recovered]1996-02-22STS-75/Columbia (patch)

EUropean Space Agency (ESA) REtrievable CArrier (EURECA) satellite [Shuttle-deployed and recovered]:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
EURECA-1 [STS-46/Atlantis-deployed]1992-07-31 EURECA (early-design)
EURECA-1
EURECA-1 (deployment)
EURECA-1 (deployment)
EURECA-1 (deployment)
EURECA-1 (deployment)
EURECA-1 (deployment)
TSS-1 (patch, with STS-46/Atlantis)
EURECA-1 (retrieval)
EURECA-1 (retrieval)
EURECA-1 (retrieval)
EURECAEURECA
EURECA-1 [STS-57/Endeavour-recovered]1993-06-21

European Space Agency (ESA) Capsule Ariane Technologique (CAT) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
CAT-11979-12-24CAT-1CATCAT
CAT-2 [failed]1980-05-23
CAT-31981-06-19
CAT-4 / Thesee1981-12-20

European Space Agency (ESA) PRoject for On-Board Autonomy (PROBA) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
PROBA-12001-10-22PROBA-1PROBAPROBA
PROBA-22009-11-02PROBA-2
PROBA-32024-12-05PROBA-3
PROBA-V2013-05-07PROBA-V
PROBA-V-CC / PVCC2023-10-09PROBA-V-CC

European (ELDO) Satellite Test Vehicle (STV) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
STV-1 [Europa-1 F7 rocket failed]1968-11-29STV-1(sub-orbital)
Atmospheric and Other Scientific Research Rockets
(sub-orbital)
Atmospheric and Other Scientific Research Rockets
STV-2 [Europa-1 F8 rocket failed]1969-07-02
STV-3 [Europa-1 F9 rocket failed]1970-06-12
STV-4 [Europa-2 F10 rocket failed]1971-11-05STV-4

UK X-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
X-0 [sub-orbital] [failed]1969-06-28X-seriesX-series
X-1 / Puck [sub-orbital]1970-03-04
X-2 / Orba [failed]1970-09-02Orba
X-3 / Prospero1971-10-28 Prospero
Prospero
Prospero
Prospero
X-4 / Miranda1974-03-08Miranda

China/PRC Tan Ce (TC) / DoubleStar series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
TC-1 / DoubleStar-12003-12-30 TC-1
TC (patch)
TC / DoublestarTC / Doublestar
TC-2 / DoubleStar-22004-07-26

(Selected) China/PRC Fanhui Shi Weixing (FSW) / Jian Bing (JB) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
FSW-1-4 / JB-1A-41992-10-06FSW-1FSWFSW
FSW-1-5 / JB-1A-51993-10-08
FSW-2-2 / JB-1B-21994-07-03FSW-2
FSW-4-1 / JB-4-12004-08-29
FSW-3-2 / JB-2-22004-09-27FSW-3

European Space Agency (ESA) Cluster-series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Cluster-1 (FM1, FM2, FM3, FM4) [failed]1996-06-04 Cluster
Cluster-2 (patch)
ClusterCluster
Cluster-2 (FM6/Salsa, FM7/Samba)2000-07-16
Cluster-2 (FM5/Rumba, FM8/Tango)2000-08-09

European Space Agency (ESA) MAQuette SATellite (MaqSat) satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
MaqSat-B, MaqSat-H, TEAMSAT [partial failure]1997-10-30 MaqSat-B
MaqSat-H (+ TEAMSAT)
MaqSatMaqSat
MaqSat-31998-10-21MaqSat-3
MaqSat-B22005-02-12MaqSat-B2

Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiments (CanX) series satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
CanX-12003-06-30CanX-1CanXCanX
CanX-22008-04-28CanX-2
CanX-3A — 3F satellites; see BRITE series satellites
CanX-42014-06-30CanX-4CanXCanX
CanX-52014-06-30
CanX-62008-04-28CanX-6
CanX-72016-09-26CanX-7

(Selected) USA (Planet Labs) Flock / Dove constellation satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
Dove-1 [Cygnus-MS-A1 launched]2013-04-21 (launched to ISS)
2014-? (deployed from ISS)
Dove-1Flock / DoveFlock / Dove
Dove-22013-04-19Dove-2
Dove-3, Dove-42013-11-21Dove-3
Flock-1-1/28 [Cygnus-CRS-1 launched]2014-01-09 (launched to ISS)
2014-02-11 — 2014-02-15 (deployed from ISS)
Flock-1
Flock-1
Flock-1
Flock-1c-1/112014-06-19
Flock-1b-1/28 [Cygnus-CRS-2 launched]2014-07-13 (launched to ISS)
2014-? (deployed from ISS)
Flock-1d-1/26 [Cygnus-CRS-3 failed]2014-10-28 (launched to ISS)
2014-? (deployed from ISS)
Flock-1d'-1/14 [Dragon-CRS-5 launched]2015-01-10 (launched to ISS)
2015-? (deployed from ISS)
Flock-1e-1/14 [Dragon-CRS-6 launched]2015-04-14 (launched to ISS)
2015-? (deployed from ISS)
Flock-1f-1/8 [Dragon-CRS-7 failed]2015-06-28
Flock-2b-1/14 [HTV-5 launched]2015-08-18 (launched to ISS)
2015-? (deployed from ISS)
Flock-2e1-1/12 [Cygnus-CRS-4 launched]2015-12-06 (launched to ISS)
2016-? (deployed from ISS)
Flock-2e'-1/12 [Cygnus-CRS-6 launched]2016-03-23 (launched to ISS)
2016-? (deployed from ISS)
Flock-3p-1/882017-02-15
Flock-3m-1/42017-10-31
Flock-3p'-1/42018-01-12
Dove Pioneer (Flock-type)2018-01-21
Flock-3s-1/3 [SmallSat Express group]2018-12-03
Flock-4v-1/262020-09-03
Flock-4e-1/92020-10-28
Flock-4s-1/48 [Transporter-1 group]2021-01-24
Flock-4x-1/44 [Transporter-3 group]2022-01-13
Flock-4y-1/36 [Transporter-6 group]2023-01-03
Flock-4q-1/36 [Transporter-9 group]2023-11-11
Flock-4be-1/36 [Transporter-11 group]2024-08-16

NASA Ames Research Center TECHnology EDucation SATellite (TechEdSat) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
TechEdSat-1 [HTV-3 launched]2012-07-21 (launhed to ISS)
2012-? (deployed from ISS)
TechEdSatTechEdSat
TechEdSat-2 / PhoneSat-1.0 / Bell2013-04-21
TechEdSat-3 [HTV-4 launched]2013-08-03 (launched to ISS)
2013-11-20 (deployed from ISS)
TechEdSat-3
TechEdSat-4 [Cygnus-CRS-2 launched]2014-07-13 (launched to ISS)
2014-? (deployed from ISS)
TechEdSat-5 [HTV-6 launched]2016-12-09 (launched to ISS)
2017-01-16 (deployed from ISS)
TechEdSat-5
TechEdSat-6 [Cygnus-CRS-8 launched]2017-11-12 (launched to ISS)
2017-? (deployed from ISS)
TechEdSat-6
TechEdSat-72021-01-17
TechEdSat-8 [Dragon-CRS-16 launched]2018-12-05 (launched to ISS)
2018-? (deployed from ISS)
TechEdSat-9202x
TechEdSat-10 [Cygnus-CRS-13 launched]2020-02-15 (launched to ISS)
2020-07-13 (deployed from ISS)
TechEdSat-10
TechEdSat-112024-07-04TechEdSat-11
TechEdSat-12202x
TechEdSat-132022-01-13TechEdSat-13
TechEdSat-15 [partial failure]2022-10-01TechEdSat-15

NASA Ames Research Center PhoneSat (PHONE SATellite) series:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
PhoneSat-1.0 / Graham / Bell / TechEdSat-22013-04-21 PhoneSat-1.0_Graham
PhoneSat-1.0_Bell
"PhoneSat-1.0"
PhoneSat-2.4 [ELaNA-4 cubesat group]2013-11-20
PhoneSat-2.5 [Dragon-CRS-3 launched]2014-04-18

Long Duration Propulsive EELV Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) (LDPE) / Rapid On-Orbit Space Technology and Evaluation Ring (ROOSTER) series spacecraft:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
LDPE-1 / ROOSTER-12021-12-07LDPE-1LDPE-1 (with STPSat-6 and Ascent)
LDPE-2 / ROOSTER-22022-11-01
LDPE-3A / ROOSTER-3A / USSF-672023-01-15LDPE-3A (with CBAS-2)
LDPE-4 / ROOSTER-42026-?

Other solar-sail spacecraft:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
NanoSail-D [failed]2008-08-03NanoSail-DNanoSailNanoSail
NanoSail-D22010-11-20
LightSail-12015-05-20 LightSail-1
LightSail-1 (deployed)
LightSailLightSail
LightSail-22019-06-25
ACS32024-04-23 ACS3
ACS3
ACS3ACS3

Other (selected) USA scientific/research/technology satellites:

SatelliteLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
TAVE1962-09-29TAVETAVE (with Alouette-1)
SEV1965-08-10SEV (+ SECOR-5)SEV (with SECOR-5)
Aurora1967-06-29AuroraAurora (with SECOR-9)
PAC-1 (PAC-A)1969-08-09PAC-1 (with OSO-6)
RM-1 / RMS1970-11-09RM-1RM-1RM-1
CEP-11970-12-11CEP-1 (with NOAA-1)
Radcat-2, Radsat (Pi-in-the-Sky)1972-10-02Radsat and RadcatRadcat-2 and RadsatRadcat and Radsat
SPHINX [failed]1974-02-11SPHINXSPHINX (with Viking-DS)
CAMEO1978-10-24CAMEO (with Nimbus-7)
SCATHA / P78-21979-01-30SCATHASCATHASCATHA
NUSat [amateur-built, STS-51B/Challenger-deployed]1985-04-29 NUSat
NUSat
NUSat-1 (mockup)
STS-51B/Challenger (Spacelab-3 patch)
STS-51B/Challenger (Spacelab-3 patch)
NUSatNUSat
PDP [STS-51F/Challenger-deployed]1985-07-29PDPPDP
OEX-Target [STS-61B/Atlantis-deployed]1985-11-26OEX-TargetOEX-Target (with Aussat-2 and Morelos-2 and Satcom-Ku2)
PegSat1990-04-05PegSat PegSat (+ SECS)
PegSat (+ SECS)
StackSat-1/2/3 (POGS & SSR / TEX / SCE) / USA-56/57/581990-04-11Stacksat-1/2/3Stacksat-1/2/3 (+ PDD)
PDD1990-04-11PDDPDD (+ Stacksat-1/2/3)
CRRES / P86-11990-07-25CRRESCRRESCRRES
Geotail / GTL1992-07-24 Geotail
Geotail (patch)
Geotail
METEOR [formerly COMET] [NASA, failed]1995-10-23METEORMETEOR (payload included materials, biological, and GPS/radar correlation tracking experiments)
MSX1996-04-24MSX
PAMS-STU [STS-77/Endeavour-deployed]1996-05-19PAMS-STU (STS-77/Endeavour-deployment)PAMS-STU (with SPARTAN-207)
AERCam-Sprint [STS-87/Columbia-deployed]1997-11-18AERCam-SprintAERCam-Sprint (with SPARTAN-201-F4)
Celestis-3 (space burial)1998-02-10Celestis-4Celestis-3 (not "Celestis-2", with GFO)
ACRIMSAT1999-12-20 ACRIMSAT
ACRIMSAT (animation)
ACRIMSAT
ACRIMSAT (and Kompsat) (patch)
ACRIMSATACRIMSAT
STEPProposedSTEPSTEP
SimpleSat [STS-105/Discovery-deployed]2001-08-10SimpleSatSimpleSat
PICOSat2001-08-31PICOSatPICOSat (with OSCAR-43/44/45)
TIMED2001-12-07 TIMED
TIMED (patch)
TIMED (patch)
TIMEDTIMED
UNOSAT [failed]2003-08-22UNOSAT
CX-1 (USA)Never launchedCX-1 (USA)
IMEX / UNEX-2CanceledIMEX
Bevo-1 / PARADIGM / DRAGONSAT-1 [STS-127/Endeavour-deployed]2009-07-15Bevo-1Bevo-1
AggieSat-2 / DRAGONSAT-2 [STS-127/Endeavour-deployed]2009-07-15AggieSat-2AggieSat-2
ANDE-2-AA (Active, Castor), ANDE-2-PA (Passive, Pollux) [STS-127/Endeavour-deployed]2009-07-15ANDE-2-AA/PAANDE-2
FASTSat2010-11-20FASTSatFASTSat
KySat-1 [failed]2011-03-04KySat-1KySat-1 (with Glory)
E1P / HRBE [failed]2011-03-04E1PE1P (with Glory)
RBSP-A/B2012-08-30RBSPRBSPRBSP
MMS2015-03-13MMS MMS
MMS
ISARA (with imaging payload)2017-11-12ISARA
PODSat2018-03-06PODSat-1PODSat-1 (with Hispasat-30W-6)
TDO-12019-08-08TDO-1 (with AEHF-5)
TDO-22020-03-26TDO-2TDO-2 (with AEHF-6)
First Light2020-08-31 First LightFirst Light (with Capella-2)
Astro Digital Demo-8 / Tenzing / RAFTI, Astro Digital Demo-9 / Shasta2021-06-30 Astro Digital Demo-8
Astro Digital Demo-9
RAFTI (pre-launch)
RAFTI (pre-launch)
Serenity (and others) [failed]2021-09-03SerenitySerenity (+ others)
Recurve (and others)2022-07-02Recurve Recurve (+ others) (Ranski)
Recurve (+ others) (Ranski, back)
LOFTID2022-11-10LOFTIDLOFTID (with JPSS-2 / NOAA-21)
Cert-22024-10-04Cert-2 Cert-2 (GSC)
Cert-2 (GSC, back)
TRACERS-A/B (SMEX-16A/16B)2025-?TRACERS
Sunjammer20xx Sunjammer
Sunjammer

Japanese Large-scale Deployable Reflector EXperiment (LDREX) series spacecraft:

SatelliteCountryLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
LDREX-12000-12-20LDREXLDREX-1 (with Astra-2D and GE-8/AMC-8)
LDREX-22006-10-13LDREXLDREX-2 (with Optus-D1 and DirecTV-9S)

Other (selected) non-USA scientific/research/technology satellites:

SatelliteCountryLaunch DateImages
referencelaunch coversother postal items
WRESATAustralia1967-11-29WRESATWRESATWRESAT
Azur / GRSWest Germany1969-11-07AzurAzur / GRSAzur / GRS
Dial-WikaFrance-West Germany1970-03-10Dial-WikaDial-WikaDial-Wika
Dial-MikaFrance-West Germany1970-03-10Dial-Mika
IntasatSpain1974-11-15IntasatIntasatIntasat
STARLET (STARLETTE)France1975-02-06Stella (nearly identical)STARLETSTARLET
Firewheel, Firewheel Subsats-1/2/3/4 [failed]West Germany-USA1980-05-23 Firewheel
Firewheel Subsat
FirewheelFirewheel
TUBsat-AGermany1991-07-17TUBsat-ATUBsat-A (with ERS-1 and OSCAR-22)
CarianeFrance (CNES)CanceledCariane
StellaFrance1993-09-26StellaStellaStella
BremSat [STS-60/Discovery-deployed]Germany1994-02-03BremSatBremSat
OREX / RyuseiJapan (NASDA)1994-02-03OREX OREX
OREX (insert)
EXPRESS [partial failure]Germany-Japan1995-01-15EXPRESS EXPRESS-1
"EXPRESS"
CERISEFrance1995-07-07CERISECERISE (with Helios-1A)
UPM-LBSatSpain1995-07-07UPM-LBSatUPM-LBSat (with Helios-1A)
FASat-Alpha [failed]Chile-UK1995-08-31
YES [partial failure]Europe (ESA)1997-10-30YESYES (with MaqSat-B/H)
Equator-SGermany1997-12-02Equator-SEquator-SEquator-S
FASat-BravoChile-UK1998-07-10FASat-Bravo
ARDEurope (ESA)1998-10-21ARDARD (with MaqSat-3)ARD (with MaqSat-3)
OerstedDenmark-USA1999-02-23OerstedOerstedOersted
MegSat-0Italy1999-04-28Megsat-1MegSat (+ ABRIXAS)
SNAP-1UK2000-06-28SNAP-1
CHAMPGermany2000-07-15CHAMPCHAMP+MITA+Bird-Rubin
MITAItaly (ASI)2000-07-15MITA
Bird-RubinGermany2000-07-15Bird-Rubin
MegSat-1Italy2000-09-26Megsat-1
BIRD-1Germany2001-10-22BIRD-1
Rubin-3-DSIGermany2002-11-28Rubin-3-DSIRubin-3-DSI (with AlSat-1 and RS-20)
DEMETERFrance (CNES)2004-06-29DEMETERDEMETER (with OSCAR-51) "DEMETER"
"DEMETER"
"DEMETER"
Nanosat-01Spain2004-12-18Nanosat-01Nanosat-01 (with Helios-2A)
Sloshsat-FLEVONetherlands2005-02-12Sloshsat-FLEVOSloshsat-FLEVO (with MaqSat-B2)SloshSat-FLEVO (at right in fdc cachet)
Turkmenistan Memorial CapsuleTurkmenistan2005-08-23Turkmenistan Memorial CapsuleTurkmenistan Memorial Capsule (with OICETS)Turkmenistan Memorial Capsule (launch)
Libertad-1 [amateur-built]Colombia2007-04-17Libertad-1Libertad-1 (with EgyptSat-1)"Libertad-1"
YES-2Europe (ESA)2007-09-14YES-2 "YES-2" [known illegal issue]
"YES-2" (fdc)
"YES-2" [known illegal issue]
OmidIran2009-02-02Omid "Omid"
"Omid"
"Omid" (fdc)
"Omid" (back)
"Omid" (front)
Omid-2 (+ Mesbah-2)
GOCE / Earth Explorer-1Europe (ESA)2009-03-17GOCEGOCEGOCE
BeeSat-1Germany2009-09-23BeeSat-1
SwissCube-1Switzerland2009-09-23SwissCube "SwissCube" [known illegal issue]
"SwissCube" [known illegal issue]
ALMASat-1Italy2012-02-13ALMASat-1ALMASat-1ALMASat-1
PROITERESJapan (Osaka Institute of Technology)2012-09-09PROITERESPROITERES (with SPOT-6)
mRESINSIndia (ISRO)2012-09-09mRESINS (with SPOT-6)
AAUSat-3Denmark2013-02-25AAU-CubesatAAUSAT-3 (with SARAL and CanX-3A/3B)"AAUSat-3"
STRaND-1United Kingdom2013-02-25STRaND-1"STRaND-1"
OSSIKorea (South)2013-04-19OSSI-1"OSSI-1"
BeeSat-2, BeeSat-3Germany2013-04-19BeeSat-1BeeSat-2 (not "BeeSat-1")
SOMPGermany2013-04-19SOMP"SOMP"
CubeBug-1Argentina2013-04-26CubeBug-1"CubeBug-1"
NEE-01 / PegasoEcuador2013-04-26NEE-01 "NEE-01 / Pegaso"
"NEE-01" / "Pegaso"
ESTCube-1Estonia2013-05-07ESTCube-1 "ESTCube-1"
"ESTCube-1" (fdc)
"ESTCube-1" (but GOSAT-1 depicted)
"ESTCube-1"
CASSIOPECanada2013-09-29CASSIOPE-1
NEE-02 / KrysaorEcuador2013-11-21NEE-02
CubeBug-2Argentina2013-11-21CubeBug-1
Swarm-A/B/C / Earth Explorer-5A/5B/5CEurope (ESA)2013-11-22 Swarm-A/B/C
Swarm-A/B/C
Swarm-A/B/CSwarm-A/B/C
AntelsatUruguay2014-06-19Antelsat "Antelsat"
"Antelsat"
"Antelsat"
"Antelsat"
"Antelsat"
CBNT-1 / Carbonite-1UK2015-07-10CBNT-1
DeorbitSailUK2015-07-10DeorbitSail
XY-2 / Kaituo-1AChina/PRC2015-09-19XY-2XY-2+19-others
LISA-Pathfinder / ST-7 / NMPESA-NASA2015-12-03 LISA-Pathfinder
LISA-Pathfinder (patch)
LISA-PathfinderLISA-Pathfinder
MICROSCOPEFrance2016-04-25 MICROSCOPE
MICROSCOPE
MICROSCOPE (with Sentinel-1B)
OUFTI-1Belgium2016-04-25OUFTI-1OUFTI-1 (with Sentinel-1B) "OUFTI-1" (in text, but AAUSAT-4 depicted)
"OUFTI-1" (in text, but AAUSAT-4 depicted)
AAUSAT-4Denmark2016-04-25AAUSAT-5AAUSAT-4 (with Sentinel-1B) AAUSAT-4 (depicted, but "OUFTI-1" in text)
AAUSAT-4 (depicted, but "OUFTI-1" in text)
M3MSatCanada2016-06-22M3MSat
DFFCChina/PRC2016-06-25DFFC DFFC (recovery)
DFFC (recovery)
QSS (QUESS, Mozi, Micius)China/PRC2016-08-15 QSS
QSS
QSSQSS
DEOSGermany (DLR)CanceledDEOSDEOS
TKChina/PRC2017-03-02TK-1TK-1
Venta-1Latvia2017-06-23Venta-1Venta-1
Pegasus (cubesat)Austria2017-06-23Pegasus (cubesat)Pegasus (cubesat)
Humanity StarNew Zealand2018-01-21 Humanity StarHumanity Star (with Dove Pioneer) Humanity Star
Humanity Star
S-Net-AGermany2018-02-01S-NetS-Net-A (+ others)
Reaktor Hello WorldFinland2018-11-29 Reaktor Hello World
Reaktor Hello World
Reaktor Hello World
Reaktor Hello World
OPS-SATEurope (ESA)2019-12-18OPS-SATOPS-SAT (with CSG-1 and CHEOPS) "OPS-SAT"
"OPS-SAT"
"OPS-SAT"
"OPS-SAT"
TARANIS [failed]France2020-11-17TARANIS
ELSA-d target, ELSA-d chaserJapan2021-03-22 ELSA-d Target
ELSA-d Chaser
RadCubeHungary2021-08-17RadCubeRadCube (with Pleiades-Neo4)
INSPIREsat 1, RISAT-1A, INS-2TDIndia (ISRO)-USA2022-02-14 INSPIREsat-1
RISat-1
INS-2TD
INSPIREsat-1+INS-2TD+RISat-1A (launch, Red Eagle)
BDSatCzech Republic2022-04-01 BDSat
BDSat (artist drawing)
BDSat (with ÑuSat-23/27 and others)
PVSAT, and othersSouth Korea (KARI)2022-06-21PVSatOther non-USA
Prometheus-2A/2B [failed]United Kingdom2023-01-09Prometheus-2Prometheus-2A/2B (+ AMBER + others)
ADRAS-JJapan (JAXA)2024-02-18ADRAS-J ADRAS-J
(GSC) ADRAS-J (GSC, back)
Mesbah-1, Mesbah-2Iran20xx Mesbah-1
Mesbah-2
Mesbah-2 (+ Omid-2)
"Mesbah-2"


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