2006 January 15 - -
 Cassini, Titan Flyby Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cassini.
2006 January 15 - - Stardust, Capsule Return To Earth Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Stardust.
2006 January 18 - 11:48 GMT - Launch Site: Jiu Peng AB. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Terrier. Model: Sounding Rocket. LV Configuration: Sounding Rocket 5. -
 Space science Ionosphere / aeronomy mission Nation: Taiwan. Agency: NSPO. Apogee: 282 km (175 mi). References: 2.
2006 January 19 - 19:00 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC41. Launch Pad: SLC41. Launch Vehicle: Atlas V. Model: Atlas V 551. LV Configuration: Atlas V 551 AV-010 / Star-48. - New Horizons Nation: USA. Mass: 478 kg (1,053 lb). Class: Planetary. Type: Pluto. Spacecraft: New Horizons. Manufacturer: JHU-APL. Agency: NASA/JPL. COSPAR: 2006-001A. USAF Sat Cat: 28928. Last robotic mission to an unexplored planet in our solar system. New Horizons was due to receive a gravity boost from Jupiter in February 2007, then fly by Pluto in 2015. During launch toward Jupiter it reached a higher velocity than any manmade object, and was the first to be boosted directly to solar escape velocity. The trajectory had a perihelion of 0.98 AU, an inclination of 0.87 deg and an eccentricity of 1.03. After the Jupiter encounter it was to have a perihelion of 2.2 AU, an inclination of 2.3 deg and an eccentricity of 1.40. At encounter with Pluto on July 14, 2015, the spacecraft would be 1.1 AU above the ecliptic plane and 32.9 AU from the Sun, leaving the solar system toward the star Xi Sgr.
References: 2.
2006 January 22 - 04:00 GMT - Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Complex: L. Launch Pad: K. Launch Vehicle: S. Model: S-310. LV Configuration: S-310-36. -
 Furoshiki Technology test Nation: Japan. Agency: JAXA. Apogee: 130 km (80 mi). References: 2.
2006 January 24 - 01:33 GMT - Launch Site: Tanegashima. Launch Complex: Y. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: H-2. Model: H-IIA 2022. LV Configuration: H-IIA 2022 H-IIA-8F. - Daichi Nation: Japan. Payload: ALOS-1. Mass: 3,850 kg (8,480 lb). Class: Surveillance. Spacecraft: Daichi. Manufacturer: NEC Toshiba. Agency: JAXA. Perigee: 693 km (430 mi). Apogee: 697 km (433 mi). Inclination: 98.20 deg. Period: 98.70 min. COSPAR: 2006-002A. USAF Sat Cat: 28931. Advanced Land Observing Satellite, which carried an L-band synthetic aperture radar, an optical 2.5-meter resolution mapping camera, and a 10-meter resolution visible/near-infrared radiometer. References: 2.
2006 February 3 - 09:55 GMT - - EVA ISS EO-12-2 Nation: USA. Program: ISS. Crew: Tokarev, McArthur. Flight: ISS EO-12. EVA Duration: 0.24 days. Wearing Orlan suits, the crew emerged from the Pirs airlock of the station and first released a surplus Orlan suit with its radio transmitter activated, dubbed SuitSat. SuitSat broadcast greetings in six languages to radio amateurs for two orbits before its batteries failed. The crew then moved to the Zarya module and relocated the Strela crane grapple fixture to the Unity module. This cleared Zarya for the future temporary stowage of debris shields. The crew moved on to the station's center truss, where they safed a cutting mechanism on one of two umbilicals to the Mobile Transporter rail car. Returning to Pirs, they retrieved a microorganism experiment and photographed the exterior of Zvezda.
2006 February 8 - 18:47 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant 9. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX NASA 36.193. - MOSES Solar extreme ultraviolet mission Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC. Apogee: 282 km (175 mi). References: 2.
2006 February 15 - 23:35 GMT - Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 0.0 N x 154.0 W. Launch Vehicle: Zenit. Model: Zenit-3SL. LV Configuration: Zenit-3SL 15. - Echostar 10 Nation: USA. Program: Echostar. Payload: A2100AX. Mass: 4,333 kg (9,552 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: AS 2100. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin, Sunnyvale. Agency: Echostar. Perigee: 35,780 km (22,230 mi). Apogee: 35,794 km (22,241 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2006-003A. USAF Sat Cat: 28935. Ku-band communications payload; station in geosynchronous orbit at 110.17 deg W. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 110.21W drifting at 0.004W degrees per day. References: 2.
2006 February 16 - 08:01 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LF10. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 3. - SERV-3 Mk 21 Nation: USA. Agency: USAF AFSPC. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi). References: 2.
2006 February 18 - 06:27 GMT - Launch Site: Tanegashima. Launch Complex: Y. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: H-2. Model: H-IIA 2024. LV Configuration: H-IIA 2024 H-IIA-9F. - MTSAT-2 Nation: Japan. Payload: MT-Sat 2. Mass: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). Class: Meteorology. Spacecraft: DS2000. Manufacturer: Mitsubishi. Agency: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Perigee: 35,771 km (22,227 mi). Apogee: 35,803 km (22,246 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2006-004A. USAF Sat Cat: 28937. Multifunctional Transport Satellite. An aeronautical payload provided communications relay between aircraft and air traffic control; GPS augmentation navigation for aircraft; and transmitted the location of aircraft to air traffic control. A Japan Advanced Meteorological Imager weather camera had one visible and four infrared channels. MTSAT-2 was built by Mitsubishi using the new DS2000 bus. As of 2007 Mar 8 located at 144.93E drifting at 0.016W degrees per day.
References: 2.
2006 February 21 - 21:28 GMT - Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Complex: M-V. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: M-V. Model: M-V. LV Configuration: M-V-1 M-V-8. - Astro F (Akari) Nation: Japan. Mass: 960 kg (2,110 lb). Class: Astronomy. Type: Infrared. Spacecraft: Akari. Manufacturer: NEC Toshiba. Agency: JAXA. Perigee: 705 km (438 mi). Apogee: 719 km (446 mi). Inclination: 98.20 deg. Period: 99.00 min. COSPAR: 2006-005A. USAF Sat Cat: 28939. Carried a 0.67m-diameter liquid-helium-cooled infrared telescope with detectors ranging from the near infrared to 60 and 170 micron channels in the far IR. It was to carry out the first far infrared sky
survey since IRAS in 1983. References: 2.
- Cute 1.7 Nation: Japan. Mass: 3.00 kg (6.60 lb). Class: Technology. Manufacturer: Tokyo Inst. Tech. Agency: Tokyo Inst. Tech. Perigee: 297 km (184 mi). Apogee: 685 km (425 mi). Inclination: 98.20 deg. Period: 94.40 min. COSPAR: 2006-005C. USAF Sat Cat: 28941. Student subsatellite ejected from the M-V-8 third stage at 21:45 GMT. References: 2.
2006 February 23 - 16:09 GMT - Launch Site: Kodiak. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Polaris. Model: STARS. LV Configuration: STARS M-7 FT04-1. - GMD FT04-1 Target Nation: USA. Agency: USA SMDC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). References: 2.
2006 February 27 - - Cassini, Titan Flyby Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cassini.
2006 February 28 - 20:10 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC200/39. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Proton. Model: Proton-M/Briz-M. LV Configuration: Proton-M/Briz-M 535-11. FAILURE: Briz-M stage shut down 27.5 minutes into a
planned 31-minute burn and could not be restarted. The failure left the satellite in a useless orbit from which it quickly decayed.. -
 Arabsat 4 Nation: Arab States. Payload: ES-2000+. Mass: 3,341 kg (7,365 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Eurostar 2000. Manufacturer: EADS Astrium. Agency: Arabsat. Perigee: 497 km (308 mi). Apogee: 14,684 km (9,124 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 273.80 min. COSPAR: 2006-006A. USAF Sat Cat: 28943. Decay Date: 2006-03-24. The satellite seperated from the stage but the mission could not be rescued. It was ordered to fire its apogee engine around 00:20 GMT on March 24 to lower its perigee into the atmosphere. It reportedly burned up over the South Pacific at 02:07 GMT. References: 2.
2006 March 8 - 08:45 GMT - Launch Site: Barking Sands. Launch Complex: POA. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Standard-ER. Model: Standard SM-3. LV Configuration: SM-3 JCTV-1. - Japanese RV Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). References: 2.
2006 March 10 -
2006 March 10 - - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter arrives at Mars. Nation: USA. At 21:12 GMT the MRO's six MR-107N engines, each with a thrust of 170 N, ignited and braked the spacecraft into a 279 km x 44,500 km x 93.3 deg capture orbit. The spacecraft then began several months of aerobraking to lower its apogee and attain its operational orbit for imaging of the surface.
2006 March 11 - 22:33 GMT - Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: ELA3. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5. Model: Ariane 5ECA. LV Configuration: Ariane 5ECA V170 (527). -
 Spainsat Nation: Spain. Payload: LS-1300. Mass: 3,683 kg (8,119 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: FS-1300. Manufacturer: SS/Loral. Agency: Hisdesat. Perigee: 35,777 km (22,230 mi). Apogee: 35,797 km (22,243 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2006-007A. USAF Sat Cat: 28945. Spainsat was to provide secure X and Ku band communications for the Spanish defense ministry. It had a dry mass of 1467 kg and a solar panel span of 31.4m. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 29.99W drifting at 0.010W degrees per day. References: 2.
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 Hot Bird 7A Nation: Europe. Program: Eutelsat. Payload: SB-3000B3. Mass: 4,100 kg (9,000 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Spacebus 3000. Manufacturer: Alcatel Alenia Space. Agency: Eutelsat. Perigee: 35,767 km (22,224 mi). Apogee: 35,806 km (22,248 mi). Inclination: 0.30 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2006-007B. USAF Sat Cat: 28946. Hot Bird 7A had a dry mass of 1740 kg and a solar panel span of 36.9m. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 13.03E drifting at 0.010E degrees per day. References: 2.
2006 March 19 - - Cassini, Titan Flyby Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cassini.
2006 March 20 - - Soyuz TMA-7 moved. Nation: USA. Program: ISS. Flight: ISS EO-12. At 06:49 GMT ISS crewmen McArthur and Tokarev flew Soyuz TMA-7 from the Zarya docking port to the docking port at the aft end of Zvezda, docking there at 07:11 GMT. This leaves the Zarya port free for the planned arrival of Soyuz TMA-8 on April 1.
2006 March 22 - 14:03 GMT - Launch Site: Point Arguello WADZ. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: 36.0 N x 123.0 W. Launch Vehicle: Pegasus. Model: Pegasus XL. LV Configuration: Pegasus XL F37. - ST5-A Nation: USA. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Class: Technology. Manufacturer: NASA/GSFC. Agency: NASA/GSFC. Perigee: 302 km (187 mi). Apogee: 4,539 km (2,820 mi). Inclination: 105.60 deg. Period: 136.90 min. COSPAR: 2006-008A. USAF Sat Cat: 28980. Space Technology 5 was one of NASA's New Millenium Program projects. It consisted of three small spacecraft, each a half meter in each dimension, with a small extensible magnetometer boom. Study of the magnetosphere was however secondary to the Nanosat Constellation Trailblazer technology mission. This was to demonstrate fully functional nanosatellites, which included a cold gas microthruster and miniaturized telemetry/command and power systems. The Pegasus rocket was dropped from the L-1011 carrier aircraft over the Pacific at 123 deg W x 36 deg N.
References: 2.
- ST5-B Nation: USA. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Class: Technology. Manufacturer: NASA/GSFC. Agency: NASA/GSFC. Perigee: 301 km (187 mi). Apogee: 4,540 km (2,820 mi). Inclination: 105.60 deg. Period: 136.90 min. COSPAR: 2006-008B. USAF Sat Cat: 28981. References: 2.
- ST5-C Nation: USA. Mass: 22 kg (48 lb). Class: Technology. Manufacturer: NASA/GSFC. Agency: NASA/GSFC. Perigee: 303 km (188 mi). Apogee: 4,539 km (2,820 mi). Inclination: 105.60 deg. Period: 136.90 min. COSPAR: 2006-008C. USAF Sat Cat: 28982. References: 2.
2006 March 24 - Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: OM. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Falcon. Model: Falcon I. LV Configuration: Falcon 1 1. FAILURE: Fuel leak at T+25 seconds caused a fire in the first stage
engine area. - Falconsat-2 Nation: USA. Mass: 20 kg (44 lb). Class: Technology. Manufacturer: USAFA. Agency: USAFA. COSPAR: F20060324. The satellite fell through the roof of SpaceX's machine shop on the atoll. References: 2.
2006 March 25 - 03:15 GMT - Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Terrier. Model: Terrier Mk 70 Orion. -
 HyShot 3 Nation: Australia. Agency: UQU. Apogee: 325 km (201 mi). The 100-kg test British-design scramjet engine was boosted to an altitude of 314 km during a 10-minute flight. It and the attached second stage then were re-oriented to point back to the Earth. The scramjet was successfully ignited at a speed of Mach 8 in the tiny six-second window of opportunity shortly before impact.
References: 2.
2006 March 25 - 09:00 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hawk. Model: Orion. LV Configuration: Orion NASA 30.064DR. - Target Nation: USA. Agency: NASA/NAWC. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). References: 2.
2006 March 25 - 13:07 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Hawk. Model: Orion. LV Configuration: Orion NASA 30.065DR. - Target Nation: USA. Agency: NASA/NAWC. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). References: 2.
2006 March 30 - 02:30 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Model: Soyuz FG. LV Configuration: Soyuz-FG P15000-018. -
 Soyuz TMA-8 Nation: Russia. Program: ISS. Payload: Soyuz TMA s/n 218. Mass: 7,250 kg (15,980 lb). Class: Manned. Type: Spacecraft. Spacecraft: Soyuz TMA. Manufacturer: RKK Energia. Agency: Roskosmos, NASA. Perigee: 336 km (208 mi). Apogee: 349 km (216 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 91.40 min. COSPAR: 2006-009A. USAF Sat Cat: 28996. Duration: 182.95 days. Crew: Vinogradov, Williams Jeffrey, Pontes. Flight: ISS EO-13, ISS EO-12, ISS EP-10. Soyuz TMA-8 docked with the Zarya nadir port of the ISS at 04:19 GMT on April 1. It undocked from Zarya on 28 September at 21:53 GMT, with the return crew of Vinogradov, Williams and space tourist Ansari aboard. It landed in Kazakhstan at 01:13 GMT on 29 September.
References: 2.
2006 March 30 - 02:40 GMT - Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: -. Launch Pad: -. Launch Vehicle: Terrier. Model: Terrier Mk 70 Orion. - Hyshot 4 (JAXA) Nation: Australia. Agency: UQU. Apogee: 290 km (180 mi). A repeat of the test four days earlier, this time with a Japanese-designed scramjet. The nosecone of the rocket failed to jettison and therefore scramjet ignition was not achieved. The scramjet and second stage remains were located in the desert and recovered after only 20 minutes of searching.
References: 2.
2006 March 31 - - Cassini, Titan Flyby Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cassini.
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