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Several Asian countries have
and are actively competing to achieve scientific and technological advancements in , a situation sometimes referred to as the Asian space race in the popular media as a reference to the earlier
between the United States and the . Like the previous space race, issues involved in the current push to space include , which has spurred many countries to send artificial
as well as
and beyond. A number of Asian countries are seen as contenders in the ongoing race to be the pre-eminent power in space.
Of the ten countries that have independently , seven are Asian: , , , , ,
China's first manned spacecraft entered orbit in October 2003, making China the first Asian nation to
into space.
India expects to demonstrate independent human spaceflight by 2015, and Iran and Japan have plans for independent manned spaceflights around 2020.
While the achievements of space programs run by the main Asian space players (China, India, and Japan) pale in comparison to the milestones set by the former
and the United States, some experts believe Asia may soon lead the world in space exploration. China has been the leader of Asia's space race since the beginning of the 21st century. The first Chinese manned spaceflight, in 2003, marked the beginning of a space race in the region. At the same time, the existence of a space race in Asia is still debated. China, for example, denies that there is an Asian space race. In January 2007 China became the first Asian military-space power to send an
missile into orbit, to destroy an aging Chinese Feng Yun 1C
in polar orbit. The resulting explosion sent a wave of debris hurtling through space at more than 6 miles per second. A month later,
launched an experimental communications satellite designed to enable super high-speed data transmission in remote areas.
After successful achievement of
technology, India's
launched its first Moon mission, , which discovered , India launched on 5 November 2013 its maiden interplanetary mission, the . The primary objective is to determine Mars' atmospheric composition and attempt to detect methane. The spacecraft completed its journey on 24 September, 2014 when it entered its intended orbit around Mars, making India the first Asian country to successfully place a Mars orbiter and the only country in history to do so in the first attempt. India became the fourth space agency in the world to send a spacecraft to Mars.
In addition to increasing national pride, countries are commercially motivated to operate in space. Commercial satellites are launched for communications, weather forecasting, and atmospheric research. According to a report by the
released in 2006, the "space economy" is estimated to be worth about $180 billion, with more than 60% of space-related economic activity coming from commercial goods and services. China and India propose the initiation of a commercial launch service.
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Milestones and many firsts have been set by the former
thanks to the . It is still involved with the
and has various space programs on board including The
Moon orbiter with penetrators, The
Venus lander and The
Mars mission.
What other Asian powers are trying to accomplish have long been accomplished by the
resulting in a slow down of Russia's space program and new innovations such as unsuccessful Gecko Mating Experiment.
As a result of a series of reliability problems, and proximate to the failure of a July 2013 Proton M launch, a major reorganization of the Russian space industry was undertaken. The
was formed as a
corporation by the government in August 2013 to consolidate the Russian space sector.
Also so with the break up of the ,
has faced budget constraints with 50% of it's budget going into the
unlike the
which has a far higher budget and other nations which do not keep permanent manned presence in it.
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China has a space program with an independent
capability. It has developed a sizable family of successful . It has launched two lunar orbiters,
and . On 2 December 2013 China launched a modified Long March 3B rocket, China's
Moon lander and its rover Yutu toward the Moon. It also has plans to land a rover on the Moon to retrieve samples. In 2011, China embarked on a program to establish a manned , starting with the launch of . China attempted to send a Mars orbiter () in 2011 on a joint mission with Russia, which failed to leave Earth orbit. China has collaborative projects with Russia, , and , and has launched commercial satellites for other countries. Some analysts suggest that the Chinese space program is linked to the nation's efforts at developing advanced military technology.
China's advanced technology is the result of the integration of various related technological experiences. Early Chinese satellites, such as the
series, have undergone many
tests. In the 1990s China had commercial launches, resulting in more launch experiences and a high success rate after the 1990s. China has aimed to undertake scientific development in fields like Solar System exploration. China's Shenzhou 7 spacecraft successfully performed an
in September 2008. China's Shenzhou 9 spacecraft successfully performed a manned docking in June 2012. Furthermore, China's Chang'e 2 explorer became the first object to reach Sun-Earth Langrangian point in August 2011. On 13 December 2012,
flew by asteroid
successfully, becoming the first probe to orbit the Moon, orbit the Lissajous orbit at Sun-Earth
and fly by an asteroid at the closest distance of 3.2 km .
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India's interest in space travel began in the early 1960s, when scientists launched a small rocket above . Under , the program focused on the practical uses of space in increasing the standard of living. Remote sensing and communications satellites were placed into orbit.
Just a few days after China said that it would send a human into orbit in the second half of 2003, Indian Prime Minister
publicly urged his country's scientists to work towards sending a man to the Moon. It successfully sent its probe to the Moon in October 2008 and is planning its second Moon mission,
launched its
on November 5, 2013(informally called "Mangalyaan") which successfully entered into the orbit around Mars on 24 September 2014. India is the first in Asia and fourth in the world to perform a successful Mars mission. It is also the only one to do so on the first attempt and that too at a record cost of $74 million.
has demonstrated its re-entry technology and till date has launched as many as 41 foreign satellites in about 27 launches using its workhorse
launch vehicles gaining significant expertise in space technologies, successfully conducted many commercial launches. In 2008, India set a record by launching 10 satellites simultaneously.
Recent reports indicate that human spaceflight will occur after 2017, on a , as the mission is not included in the government's 12th five-year plan ().
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F11 launch vehicle lifts off from
Japan has been cooperating with the United States on missile defence since 1999.
nuclear and Chinese military programs represent a serious issue for Japan's foreign relations. Japan is working on military and civilian space technologies, developing missile defence systems, new generations of military spy satellites, and planning for manned stations on the Moon. Japan started to construct spy satellites after North Korea test fired a
missile over Japan in 1998. The North Korean government claimed the missile was merely launching a satellite to space, and accused Japan of causing an arms race. The Japanese constitution adopted after World War II limits military activities to defensive operations. On May 2007 Prime Minister
called for a bold review of the
to allow the country to take a larger role in global security and foster a revival of national pride. Japan has not yet developed its own manned spacecraft and does not have a program in place to develop one. The Japanese space shuttle , to be launched by the conventional space launcher , was developed but the program was postponed and eventually cancelled. Then the simpler manned capsule
was proposed but not adopted. Pioneer projects of ,
horizontal takeoff and landing ASSTS and
were developed but have not been adopted. A more conservative new () project is proposed to launch by 2025 as part of the Japanese plan to send manned missions to the Moon.
is doubtful about the Japanese manned Moon project, and suspects the project is a euphemism for participation in the American . JAXA planned to send a
(such as ) to the Moon.[]
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Iran has developed its own satellite launch vehicle, named the
SLV, based on the
series of . On 2 February 2009, Iranian state television reported that Iran's first domestically made satellite
(from the Persian ????, meaning "Hope") had been successfully launched into
by a version of Iran's Safir rocket, the Safir-2. The launch coincided with the 30th anniversary of the . Iran is also developing a new launch vehicle .
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Israel became the tenth country in the world to build its own satellite and launch it with its own launcher on 19 September 1988. Israel launched its first satellite, -1, using an Israeli-built
three-stage launch vehicle. The launching was the high point of a process that began in 1983 with the establishment of the
under the aegis of the Ministry of Science. Space research by university-based scientists began in the 1960s, providing a ready-made pool of experts for Israel's foray into space. Since then, local universities, research institutes, and private industry, backed by the Israel Space Agency, have made progress in space technology. The agency's role is to support "private and academic space projects, coordinate their efforts, initiate and develop international relations and projects, head integrative projects involving different bodies, and create public awareness for the importance of space development."
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has many years of experience with rocket technology, which it has passed along to Pakistan and other countries. On December 12, 2012, North Korea placed its first satellite in orbit with the launch of . On 12 March 2009 North Korea signed the
and the , after a previous declaration of preparations for the launch of . North Korea twice announced satellite launches:
on 31 August 1998 and Kwangmy?ngs?ng-2 on 5 April 2009. Neither of these claims were confirmed by the rest of the world, but the United States and South Korea believe there were tests of military ballistic missiles. The North Korean space agency is the , which operates the
rocket launching sites and has developed the
space launchers and
satellites. In 2009 North Korea announced several future space projects, including manned space flights and the development of a manned partially reusable launch vehicle.
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is a newer player in the Asian space race. In August 2006 South Korea launched its first military communications satellite, the Mugunghwa-5. The satellite was placed in
and collects surveillance information about North Korea. The South Korean government is spending hundreds of millions of dollars in space technology and was due to launch its first space launcher, the , in 2008.[] South Korea's government justifies the cost for reasons of long-term commercial benefits and national pride. South Korea has long seen North Korea's significantly longer
as a serious threat to its national security. With the nation's first astronaut launched into space, , South Korea gained confidence in entering the Asian space race. They are completing the construction of . Once it is operational,[] South Korea will be able to build satellites and missiles with local technology. South Korea is pursuing a space program that could defend the peninsula while lessening their dependency on the United States.
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Bangladesh is one of the first Asian countries to operate their own communication satellite purchased abroad, and is set to join Asian space powers with launch of highly capable
satellite. Bangladesh Space Agency intends to launch more satellites soon after 2020. Bangladesh's government has stressed that the country seeks an "entirely peaceful and commercial" role in space.
was one of the first Asian countries to operate their own communication satellites purchased abroad, and intends to join the Asian space powers by developing and using their own small space launch vehicle
Other space players are
and , that announced multi-task space programs in 2006 and 2007.[] They intend to develop their own satellites and launchers in the near future, and manned space facilities. As of 2012 Turkey was developing its own . The first
is planned to be launched in 2013.[] The Turkish satellite is planned to be capable of taking satellite images of greater than two meters per pixel resolution, thus making Turkey the second nation in the world capable of such a feat, after the United States.
Also see the section:
     – Indigenous manned missions
   
     – Manned missions
     – Lunar or Interplanetary missions
     – Other missions
The firsts in Asia
World achievements
4 October 1957
(now under  )
The first satellite, , was launched.
11 February 1970
The smallest satellite launch vehicle (; 9.4t weight, 1.4m diameter)
24 February 1975
26 October 1975
26 October 1975
– 10m (1975)
– 4m (1992)
– 0.5m (till 2007)
8 July 1976
(launched by NASA)
23 February 1977
Geosynchronous launch
21 February 1979
23 July 1980
Asian in space ()
20 September 1981
Simultaneous satellite launch
8 January 1985
Leaving Earth orbit
The first interplanetary launch by
19 March 1990
7 April 1990
Commercial launch ()
10 April 1993
Intentional lunar impact
8 July 1994
Asian woman in space ()
19 November 1997
28 November 1997
3 July 1998
30 October 2000
10 September 2002
15 October 2003
First man in space launched by an Asian space program
15 October 2003
19 November 2005
Soft-landed probe on extraterrestrial object
The first asteroid ascent
11 January 2007
Highest in history with altitude 865 km, also the fastest with speed 18k miles
23 February 2008
The fastest internet satellite
11 March 2008
Manned foundations in space (, , )
The world’s largest pressurized volume in space
25 April 2008
Indigenous
First TDRS system to support manned missions
27 September 2008
Indigenous
27 September 2008
Manned spacecraft-launched satellite
14 November 2008
Probe designed for
Discovered water on the Moon before impact.
23 January 2009
20 May 2010
21 May 2010
The first spacecraft to successfully demonstrate solar-sail technology in interplanetary space
25 August 2011
Lunar probe with extended deep space missions (asteroid mission to ).
The first probe to reach Sun-Earth
from the lunar orbit and from there directly to an asteroid. Closest flyby of an asteroid at a distance of only 3.2 km.
29 September 2011
18 June 2012
First manned space docking (with )
14 December 2013
First lunar soft landing and .
24 September 2014
First successful
by an Asian country
First Martian mission by an individual country to succeed on the first attempt.
Most numerical multiple-satellite payload transfer capability –   (, 10 satellites in one launch)
First Asian country to collaborate on the
–  []
Timeline of the heaviest satellite launch vehicle in Asia
First success
11 Feb 1970
(26 kg)
First launch was 1966 (failed 4 times).
24 Apr 1970
First launch failed in 1969.
26 Jul 1975
Suborbital flight was performed in 1972.
(LEO 2t) failed in 1974.
16 Jul 1990
(LEO 9.2 t / GTO 3.5 t)[]
20 Aug 1997
(LEO 12 t / GTO 5.2 t)[]
18 Dec 2006
204 (LEO 15 t / GTO 5.8 t)[]
10 Sep 2009
(LEO 19 t / GTO 8 t)[]
planned (2015)
(LEO 25 t / GTO 14 t)
First achieved attempts (or future plans) of each country are listed by chronological order unless otherwise noted.
Indigenous
  – 2003 –
  – 2020 –
  - 2018+ –
  – 2021 –
Including shuttle-shaped hypersonic reentry vehicles reach to space.
  – 1996 –
  – 2020 –
(approved by ISRO)
  – ? – ,
  - 2011 -
Orbiters to the
  – 1990 – ； 2007 -
  – 2007 – ； 2010 -
  – 2008 –
Orbiters to
  – 1998 –
  – 2011 –
  – 2013 – (success)
Orbiter to
  - 2010 -
(Mission complications)
explorations---
  - 2003 - Sample ret+rn -
  - 2012 - Flyby -
Intentional
  – 1993 –
(controlled impact at end of its mission)
  – 2008 –
(Moon impactor)
  – 2009 –
(controlled impact at end of its mission)
  – 2013 –
  – 2016-17 –
  – 2017 –
Multi-satellite simultaneous launches (by number)
  – 10 Satellites ( C9, 2008)
  – 8 Satellites ( F15, 2009)
  – 4 Satellites ( F19, 2013)
The heaviest satellite launch vehicle in each country (in active, by capacity)
– LEO 19t / GTO 8t (2009 – active)[]
– LEO 12t / GTO 5.5t (1996 – active)[]
(2001 – active)
– LEO 52 kg (2008 – active)
Continuous satellite launch success (by number)
– 3 times for 8 years ()[]
– 4 times for 6 years ()[]
Capability of Launch Vehicle (Payload to )
- Payload to GTO: 8,000 kg[]
- Payload to GTO: 2,500 kg[]
Capability of Launch Vehicle (Payload to )
- Payload to LEO: 19,000 kg[]
- Payload to LEO: 12,000 kg[]
- Payload to LEO: 5,000 kg
- Payload to LEO: 60 kg
  - 2012 - ,
(Vac.)：454s, Thrust (Vac.)：73 kN；Under Development - ,
(Vac.)：443s, Thrust (Vac.)：200 kN[]
  - S-139, Burn time 100s,
(Vac.)：166s, Thrust (Vac.)：4,700 kN.
  - SRB-A, Burn time 100s,
(Vac.)：280s, Thrust (Vac.)：2,260 kN.
  - Shavit's First Stage, Burn time 82s,
(Vac.)：280s, Thrust (Vac.)：0;kN.
(by resolution)
  - 2013 - Optical 5V - Highest available resolution：0.4 meter
  - 2010 - Ofeq 9 - Highest available resolution：0.5 meter
  - 2012 - KOMPSAT-3 - Highest available resolution：0.7 meter
  - 2007 - Cartosat 2 - Highest available resolution：0.8 meter
  - 2012 - ZY-3 - Highest available resolution：2.1 meters
  - 2011 -
- Highest available resolution：150 meters
(by resolution)
  - 2013 - Radar 4 Highest available resolution：less than 1 meter
  - 2008 - TechSAR 1 Highest available resolution：1 meter
  - 2013 - KOMPSat 5 Highest available resolution：1 meter
  - 2012 - RISAT 1 Highest available resolution：1 meter
  - 2012 - HJ-1C Highest available resolution：5 meters
technology
  - 2005 - INSAT-4A 3,460 kg, 24 transponders, Solar Array provide a power of 5.9 kW.
  - 2011 - NIGCOMSAT 1R 5,150 kg, 28 transponders, Solar Array provide a power of 10.5 kW.
  - 2011 - ST-2 5,090 kg, 51 transporters
Resupply spacecraft
  - 2009 -
spacecraft
  - 2010 -
Spacecraft powered by
  - 2003 - []
  - 2010 - GSAT-4 (Launch failure)
  - 2012 - Shijian 9
Other comparable technologies
Multi-satellite simultaneous launches
Launch of foreign satellite
Geostationary launches
science satellite
DLR-Tubsat
2017/18 (planned)
2015 (planned)
(orbiter) (Failure)
? : Date is assumed
Only projects with under-development or above status have been listed
and manned spaceflights are major space technologies in the public eye. Since , the first interplanetary probe in Asia, was launched in 1985, Japan has completed the most planetary exploration, but other nations are catching up.
The Moon is thought to be rich in , which could one day be used in
to fuel future
in Asia. All three main Asian space powers plan to send men to the Moon in the distant future and have already sent .
Japan was the first Asian country to launch a lunar probe. The
(Japanese: "flying angel") spacecraft (known before the launch as Muses-A), built by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science of Japan, was launched on 24 January 1990. In many ways, the mission did not go as was planned. , the second Japanese lunar orbiter spacecraft, was launched on 14 September 2007.
China launched its first lunar probe, , on 24 October 2007 and successfully entered lunar orbit on 5 November 2007.
India launched its first lunar probe, , on 22 October 2008 and successfully entered its final lunar orbit on 2 November 2008. The mission was considered a major success and the probe detected water on the lunar surface.
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The first confirmed Moon landing from Asia was Hiten's mission in 1993. An intentional hard landing at the end of the mission, some pictures of the lunar surface were taken before impact. Hiten was not designed as a Moon lander and had few scientific instruments for lunar exploration. The next Japanese Moon landing program was the , developed from 1992. Although the LUNAR-A orbiter was cancelled, its penetrators are integrated into the Russian
program, which was scheduled to launch in 2011. The penetrators are "relatively" hard landers, but they are not expected to be destroyed at impact.
The first Asian probe that was part of a lunar landing program was the Indian
(MIP) released from
in 2008. MIP was a hard lander and was designed to move the ground under for research purposes. MIP was designed to be destroyed at impact. Its instruments performed lunar observations to within 25 minutes before impact. The landing test will be applied to future soft landings such as , planned for 2016.
The Chinese Chang'e-1 spacecraft also achieved a systematic hard landing at the end of its mission in 2009, when China became the sixth country to reach the lunar surface. One purpose of the lander was to pre-test for future soft landings. A Chinese lunar soft lander is achieved with the Chang'e-3 mission.
Japanese interplanetary probes have been limited to
and . JAXA's
was launched in 1998, but contact was lost with the probe due to electrical failures before visiting the planet Mars. The second Japanese probe for the planet Venus, , was launched in 2010 but has failed as for now.
Chinese scientists expect that China will take 20 years to launch independent planetary probes. The Chinese manned Mars exploration program is planned for around 2050 by the .
India has successfully launched
on November 5, 2013. It reached Mars on September 2014. India has become the only country to successfully insert a satellite into Martian orbit i it also became the first Asian country to achieve this feat.
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