List of first satellites by country

As of 29 December 2024, over eighty countries have operated artificial satellites.

   Denotes international organisations
   Denotes countries formerly part of another country which already had a spacecraft in orbit
   Denotes countries with disputed sovereignty or recognition and autonomous dependent territories
Country Satellite Operator Manufacturer Carrier rocket[1] Launch site[1] Date (UTC)[1] Remarks
 Soviet Union Sputnik 1[2] OKB-1 Soviet Union OKB-1 Soviet Union Sputnik 8K71PS Soviet Union Baikonur 4 October 1957 First satellite launched
 United States Explorer 1[3] ABMA United States JPL United States Juno I RS-29 United States Cape Canaveral 1 February 1958
 United Kingdom Ariel 1[4] RAE United States NASA / United Kingdom SERC United States Thor DM-19 Delta United States Cape Canaveral 26 April 1962
 Canada Alouette 1[5] DRDC Canada DRDC United States Thor DM-21 Agena-B United States Vandenberg 29 September 1962
 Italy San Marco 1[6] CNR Italy CRA[6] United States Scout X-4 United States Wallops 15 December 1964
 France Astérix[7] CNES France CNES France Diamant A Algeria Hammaguir 26 November 1965
 Australia WRESAT[8] WRE Australia WRE United States Sparta Australia Woomera 29 November 1967
10 European countries
  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
 ESRO 2B[9] ESRO United Kingdom Hawker Siddeley[9] United States Scout B United States Vandenberg 17 May 1968[10]
 West Germany Azur[11] DLR Germany DLR / United States NASA United States Scout B United States Vandenberg 8 November 1969
 Japan Ohsumi[12] ISAS Japan ISAS Japan Lambda-4S Japan Kagoshima 11 February 1970
 People's Republic of China Dongfanghong I[13] CAST China CAST China Chang Zheng 1 China Jiuquan 24 April 1970
 Netherlands ANS[14] SRON / NASA Netherlands Philips United States Scout D-1 United States Vandenberg 30 August 1974
 Spain Intasat[14] INTA Spain Standard Electrica United States Delta 2310 United States Vandenberg 15 November 1974
 India Aryabhata[14] ISRO India ISRO Soviet Union Kosmos-3M Soviet Union Kapustin Yar 19 April 1975
 Indonesia Palapa A1[14] Perumtel United States Hughes United States Delta 2914 United States Cape Canaveral 8 July 1976
 Czechoslovakia Magion 1[14] IAP Czechoslovakia IG Soviet Union Kosmos-3M Soviet Union Plesetsk 24 October 1978
 Bulgaria Bulgaria 1300[14] BSA Bulgaria Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Soviet Union Vostok-2M Soviet Union Plesetsk 7 August 1981
 Saudi Arabia Arabsat-1A Arabsat France Aérospatiale Ariane 3 France Kourou 8 February 1985
 Brazil Brasilsat A1[14] Embratel United States Hughes
 Mexico Morelos 1[14] SCT United States Hughes United States Space Shuttle Discovery United States Kennedy 17 June 1985 Deployed using PAM-D during STS-51-G
 Sweden Viking SSC United States Boeing/
Sweden Saab		 Ariane 1 France Kourou 22 February 1986
 Israel Ofek-1 Israel IAI Israel Shavit Israel Palmachim 19 September 1988
 Luxembourg Astra 1A SES Astra United States GE Astrospace Ariane 44LP France Kourou 11 December 1988
 Argentina Lusat AMSAT Argentina Ariane 40 France Kourou 22 January 1990
 Hong Kong AsiaSat 1 AsiaSat United States Hughes China Chang Zheng 3 China Xichang 7 April 1990 Hong Kong, a British Overseas Territory, became part of the People's Republic of China in July 1997
 Pakistan Badr-1 SUPARCO Pakistan SUPARCO China Chang Zheng 2E China Xichang 16 July 1990
 Russia Kosmos 2175 Russia Russia Soyuz-U Russia Plesetsk 21 January 1992 Successor state to the Soviet Union
 South Korea Kitsat-1 KAIST United Kingdom SSTL Ariane 42P France Kourou 10 August 1992
 Portugal PoSAT-1 PoSAT United Kingdom SSTL Ariane 40 France Kourou 26 September 1993
 Thailand Thaicom-1 Shin Satellite United States Hughes Ariane 44L France Kourou 18 December 1993
 Turkey Turksat 1B Türksat France Aérospatiale Ariane 44LP France Kourou 10 August 1994
 Czech Republic Magion 4 IAP Czech Republic IAP Russia Molniya-M Russia Plesetsk 2 August 1995 Formerly part of Czechoslovakia
 Ukraine Sich-1 Ukraine Tsyklon-3 Russia Plesetsk 31 August 1995 Formerly part of the Soviet Union
 Chile FASat-Alfa United Kingdom SSTL Failed to separate
 Malaysia MEASAT-1 MEASAT United States Hughes Ariane 44L France Kourou 13 January 1996
 Norway Thor 2 Telenor United States Hughes United States Delta II 7925 United States Cape Canaveral 20 May 1997
 Philippines Mabuhay (Agila 1)
(former Palapa B2P)		 Mabuhay United States Delta-3920 United States Cape Canaveral 20 March 1987 Originally operated and launched for Indonesian company PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara. Acquired while on orbit by Mabuhay in 1996 making it the first Philippine owned satellite.
Mabuhay 1 (Agila 2) United States SS/Loral China Chang Zheng 3B China Xichang 19 August 1997 First Philippine satellite to be launched from space
 Egypt Nilesat 101 Nilesat Astrium Ariane 44P France Kourou 28 April 1998
 Singapore
 Taiwan		 ST-1 SingTel
Chunghwa		 Astrium Ariane 44P France Kourou 25 August 1998
 Taiwan Formosat-1 NSPO United States TRW United States Athena I United States Cape Canaveral 27 January 1999
 South Africa SUNSAT Stellenbosch South Africa Stellenbosch United States Delta II 7920 United States Vandenberg 23 February 1999 Launched on same rocket as first Danish satellite
 Denmark Ørsted DMI[15] Denmark CRI[15] Launched on same rocket as first South African satellite
Georgia (country) Georgia[16] Reflektor Energia-GPI Space Georgia (country) Russia Energia-GPI Space Russia Soyuz-U Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 1/5 17 July 1999 Formerly part of the Soviet Union
 United Arab Emirates Thuraya 1 Thuraya United States Boeing Ukraine Zenit-3SL United Nations Odyssey 21 October 2000
 Belgium PROBA-1 ESA Belgium Verhaert Space India Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle India Satish Dhawan 22 October 2001
 Morocco Maroc-Tubsat Germany TU Berlin Ukraine Zenit-2 Kazakhstan Baikonur 10 December 2001
 Tonga Esiafi 1
(formerly Comstar D4)		 TONGASAT United States SS/Loral United States Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1AR United States Cape Canaveral 21 February 1981 A private American satellite that transferred ownership to Tonga in April 2002
 Algeria AlSAT-1 United Kingdom SSTL Russia Kosmos-3M Russia Plesetsk 28 November 2002
 Greece Hellas-Sat 2 Hellas-Sat Astrium United States Atlas V 401 United States Cape Canaveral 13 May 2003
 Nigeria NigeriaSat-1 United Kingdom SSTL Russia Kosmos-3M Russia Plesetsk 27 September 2003
 Iran Sina-1 Russia NPO Polyot Russia Kosmos-3M Russia Plesetsk 27 October 2005
 Kazakhstan KazSat-1 Russia Khrunichev Russia Proton-M/DM3 Kazakhstan Baikonur 17 June 2006 Formerly part of the Soviet Union
 Colombia Libertad-1 United StatesColombia Ukraine Dnepr Kazakhstan Baikonur 17 April 2007
 Mauritius Rascom-QAF 1 Rascom France Alcatel Ariane 5GS France Kourou 21 December 2007
 Vietnam Vinasat-1 Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group United States Lockheed Martin Ariane 5ECA France Kourou 18 April 2008
 Venezuela Venesat-1 China CAST China Chang Zheng 3B/E China Xichang 29 October 2008
Afghanistan Afghanistan Eutelsat 48D / Afghansat 1 Afghanistan Ministry of Communications and Information EADS Astrium France Ariane 5ECA France Kourou 20 December 2008 Satellite leased to the Afghanistan Ministry of Communications and Information in January 2014
 Switzerland SwissCube-1 Switzerland India PSLV-CA India Satish Dhawan 23 September 2009
 Singapore X-Sat South Korea SATREC India PSLV-C India Satish Dhawan 20 April 2011
 Isle of Man ViaSat-1 ViaSat-IOM, ManSat, Telesat-IOM United States SS/Loral Russia Proton-M/Briz-M Kazakhstan Baikonur 19 October 2011 Isle of Man is a Crown Dependency of the British sovereign
 Hungary MaSat-1[17] Hungary BME Vega France Kourou 13 February 2012
 Poland PW-Sat[17] Warsaw University of Technology, Space Research Centre Deorbit on 28 October 2014
 Romania Goliat[17] United StatesRomania
 Belarus BelKA-2[18][19] Russia Russia Soyuz-FG/Fregat Kazakhstan Baikonur 22 July 2012
 North Korea Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2[20] KCST North Korea North Korea Unha-3 North Korea Sohae 12 December 2012 Failed to operate in orbit
 Azerbaijan Azerspace-1/Africasat-1a[21] Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azercosmos) United States Orbital Sciences Ariane 5ECA France Kourou 7 February 2013 Independent since 1991
 Austria TUGSAT-1/UniBRITE[22] Canada UTAIS India PSLV-CA India Satish Dhawan 25 February 2013 Austria's first two satellites were launched together
 Bermuda Bermudasat 1
(former EchoStar VI)		 Bermudasat United States SS/Loral United States Atlas IIAS United States Cape Canaveral 14 July 2000 Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory; Bermudasat 1 (former private American EchoStar VI) satellite was transferred in April 2013 to Bermuda being at orbit
 Ecuador NEE-01 Pegaso[23] EXA Ecuador EXA China Chang Zheng 2D China Jiuquan 26 April 2013
 Estonia ESTCube-1 Estonia Vega France Kourou 7 May 2013 Estonia was formerly part of the Soviet Union.
 Jersey O3b-1/O3b-2/O3b-3/O3b-4 O3b Networks France Thales Alenia Space Russia Soyuz-STB/Fregat-MT France Kourou 25 June 2013 Jersey's first four satellites were launched together. Jersey is a Crown Dependency of the British sovereign
 France
 Qatar		 Eutelsat 25B / Es'hail 1 Eutelsat
Es'hailSat		 United States SS/Loral Ariane 5ECA France Kourou 29 August 2013 Qatar's first satellite flew as a joint project with the French corporation Eutelsat
 Qatar Es'hail 1 Es'hailSat United States SS/Loral Ariane 5ECA France Kourou 29 August 2013 Full ownership of the joint France-Qatar satellite Eutelsat 25B / Es'hail 1 was sold to Es'hailsat in 2018 [24]
 Peru PUCP-Sat 1 Peru Ukraine Dnepr Russia Dombarovsky 21 November 2013
Pocket-PUCP
 Bolivia Túpac Katari 1 China CAST China Chang Zheng 3B/E China Xichang 20 December 2013
 Lithuania LitSat-1/Lituanica SAT-1 Lithuania United States Antares 120 United States MARS LP-0A 9 January 2014 The first two Lithuanian satellites were launched together; both carried to the International Space Station and deployed later in the year. Lithuania was formerly part of the Soviet Union.
 Iraq Tigrisat MOST / La Sapienza Italy La Sapienza Russia Dnepr Russia Dombarovsky 19 June 2014
 Uruguay ANTELSAT ANTEL Uruguay UdelaR
 Turkmenistan TurkmenAlem52E/MonacoSAT TNSA France Alcatel United States Falcon 9 United States Cape Canaveral 27 April 2015 Formerly part of the Soviet Union.
 Laos Laosat-1 Laos National Authority for Science and Technology China CAST China Chang Zheng 3B/E China Xichang 20 November 2015
 Finland Aalto-2 Aalto University Finland Aalto University United States Atlas V 401 United States Cape Canaveral 18 April 2017
 Bangladesh BRAC ONNESHA BRACU Japan KIT United States Falcon 9 Full Thrust United States Kennedy 3 June 2017 Launched on same rocket as first Ghanaian and Mongolian satellites
 Ghana GhanaSat-1 All Nations University Launched on same rocket as first Bangladeshi and Mongolian satellites
 Mongolia Mazaalai (satellite) National University of Mongolia Launched on same rocket as first Ghanaian and Bangladeshi satellites
 Latvia Venta 1 Ventspils University College Latvia Ventspils University College India PSLV-CA India Satish Dhawan 23 June 2017 Formerly part of the Soviet Union, Launched on same rocket as first Slovakian satellite
 Slovakia skCUBE SOSA Slovakia SOSA Formerly part of Czechoslovakia, Launched on same rocket as first Latvian satellite
 Angola AngoSat 1 AngoSat Russia RSC Energia Ukraine Zenit-3F / Fregat-SB Kazakhstan Baikonur 26 December 2017 Launch was successful but contact was lost quickly afterwards.[25] On 28 December 2017, communication was restored and telemetry was received.[26]
 New Zealand Humanity Star Rocket Lab United States Rocket Lab New Zealand Electron New Zealand Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 21 January 2018 First satellite launched by New Zealand launcher.
 Costa Rica Proyecto Irazú Costa Rica Institute of Technology Costa Rica Costa Rica Institute of Technology United States Falcon 9 United States Cape Canaveral 2 April 2018 First satellite of Central America. Manufactured in Costa Rica.[27]
 Kenya 1KUNS-PF University of Nairobi University of Nairobi Kenya Launched on same rocket as first Costa Rican satellite.
 Bhutan Bhutan 1 Bhutanese students under Kyutech-led second Joint Global Multination Birds Project (Birds-2) Japan Kyushu Institute of Technology United States Falcon 9 Full Thrust United States Cape Canaveral 29 June 2018
 Jordan JY1-SAT Jordanian students under the Crown Prince Foundation United States Falcon 9 Full Thrust United States Vandenberg 3 December 2018
 Nepal NepaliSat-1 NAST for Nepal Academy of Science and Technology Japan Kyushu Institute of Technology United States Antares 230 United States MARS LP0A 17 April 2019
 Sri Lanka Raavana 1 Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies Japan Kyushu Institute of Technology
 Rwanda RWASAT-1 Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority Rwandan engineers with support from the Japan University of Tokyo Japan H-IIB Japan Tanegashima Space Center Yoshinobu Launch Complex 24 September 2019 Decay from orbit 27 April 2022
 Sudan Sudan Remote Sensing Satellite 1 (SRSS-1) Sudan ISRA China Long March 4B China Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre LC-9 3 November 2019
 Ethiopia Ethiopian Remote Sensing Satellite 1 (ETRSS-1) Ethiopia  Ethiopia Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute China Long March 4B China Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre 20 December 2019
 Guatemala Quetzal-1 Universidad del Valle de Guatemala  Guatemala Students from the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala United States Falcon 9 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-40 7 March 2020
Slovenia Slovenia TRISAT University of Maribor University of Maribor Vega France Kourou 3 September 2020 Launched on same rocket as first Monégasque satellite.
NEMO-HD Space-SI UTIAS / Space-SI
Monaco Monaco OSM-1 Cicero Orbital Solutions Monaco Monaco Orbital Solutions Monaco Launched on same rocket as first two Slovenian satellites.
Paraguay Paraguay GuaraniSat-1 Paraguayan Space Agency and Kyutech-led fourth Joint Global Multination Birds Project Japan Kyushu Institute of Technology United States Antares 230 United States MARS LP0A 20 February 2021 Launched on same rocket as first Myanma satellite.
Myanmar Myanmar Lawkanat-1[28] Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University Japan Hokkaido University / Myanmar Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University Launched on same rocket as first Paraguayan satellite.
 Tunisia Challenge-1 Telnet Tunisie Telnet Tunisie Russia Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat Kazakhstan Baikonur Site 31/6 22 March 2021
Kuwait Kuwait QMR-KWT Orbital Space Kuwait Orbital Space Kuwait United States Falcon 9 United States CCSFS SLC-40 30 June 2021
Bahrain Bahrain
 United Arab Emirates		 Light-1 New York University Abu Dhabi Engineers from Bahrain's space agency, NSSA, in collaboration with United Arab Emirates Khalifa University United States Falcon 9 United States CCSFS 21 December 2021 Bahrain's first satellite flew as a joint project with the UAE Space Agency
Armenia Armenia
Spain Spain 		ARMSAT_1 Satlantis / Geocosmos Satlantis United States Falcon 9 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-40 25 May 2022 Joint satellite between Satlantis and Geocosmos
Moldova Moldova TUMnanoSAT Technical University of Moldova Technical University of Moldova United States Falcon 9 United States Kennedy LC-39A 15 July 2022 Formerly part of the Soviet Union
 Uganda PearlAfricaSat-1 Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation United States Antares United States MARS LP-0A 7 November 2022 Launched on the same rocket as the first Zimbabwean satellite
 Zimbabwe ZIMSAT-1 Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency Launched on the same rocket as the first Ugandan satellite
 Albania Albania-1 State Authority for Geospatial Information Argentina Satellogic United States Falcon 9 United States Cape Canaveral SLC-40 3 January 2023 First Albanian satellites, launched as a pair
Albania-2
Vatican City Vatican City
Italy Italy 		SpeiSat Dicastery for Communication/ASI Italy ASI United States Falcon 9 United States Vandenberg SLC-4E 12 June 2023 Joint satellite between the Italian Space Agency and the Vatican Dicastery for Communication
 Oman AMAN-1 ETCO Poland SatRev United States Falcon 9 United States Vandenberg SLC-4E 11 November 2023 Launched on the same rocket as the first Djiboutian satellite
 Djibouti Djibouti-1A University of Djibouti France University of Montpellier Launched on the same rocket as the first Omani satellite
 Armenia Hayasat-1 Bazoomq Space Research Laboratory Armenia Bazoomq Space Research Laboratory, Center of Scientific Innovation and Education United States Falcon 9 United States Vandenberg SLC-4E 1 December 2023 Formerly part of the Soviet Union. Launched on the same rocket as the first Irish satellite
 Ireland EIRSAT-1 University College Dublin Republic of Ireland University College Dublin Launched on the same rocket as the first Armenian satellite
 Senegal GAINDESAT-1A [fr] SenSat France University of Montpellier United States Falcon 9 United States Vandenberg SLC-4E 16 August 2024
 Croatia CroCube Društvo EVO Slovakia Spacemanic United States Falcon 9 United States Vandenberg SLC-4E 21 December 2024

Suborbital only

In addition, some countries have only attained a suborbital spaceflight, and have yet to launch a satellite into orbit.

Country Payload Carrier rocket Launch site Date (UTC)
 Lebanon[29] ARZ-3 Lebanon Ceadar-3 Lebanon Dbayeh 21 November 1962
 Yemen[30] Warhead Yemen Burkan-2 Yemen Sa'dah 4 November 2017
 Sealand[31] Postcard United States New Shepard United States Corn Ranch, Launch Site One 13 October 2020 13:36
British Antarctic Territory British Antarctic Territory[32] Postcard United States New Shepard United States Corn Ranch, Launch Site One 14 January 2021 16:57

See also

References

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  2. ^ Zak, Anatoly. "Sputnik's Mission". RussianSpaceWeb. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  3. ^ "Explorer 1". Milestones of Flight. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Timeline: 1960s". Space Research: 50 Years and Beyond. University of Leicester. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  5. ^ "Alouette I and II". Canadian Space Agency. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  6. ^ a b Russo, Arturo (2002). The Century of Space Science. Vol. 1. Springer. p. 52. ISBN 0-7923-7196-8.
  7. ^ Kramer, Herbert J. (2002). Observation of the Earth and Its Environment: Survey of Missions and Sensors. Springer. p. 160. ISBN 3-5404-2388-5.
  8. ^ Williamson, Mark (2006). Spacecraft Technology: The Early Years. Institution of Engineering and Technology. p. 85. ISBN 978-0-86341-553-1.
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  11. ^ "When did the first German satellite go into space?". DLR. 23 November 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  12. ^ "Ohsumi". Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  13. ^ Long, Wei (25 April 2000). "China Celebrates 30th Anniversary Of First Satellite Launch". Space Daily. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h "First Time in History". The Satellite Encyclopedia. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  15. ^ a b Ørsteds Resultater [Results of the Ørsted satellite] (PDF) (Technical report) (in Danish). Copenhagen: Danish Meteorological Institute. 1 March 2002. ISSN 0906-897X. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Reflektor".
  17. ^ a b c "Central and Eastern Europe Make History with Small Satellites". European Space Agency. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  18. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "BKA (BelKa 2)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  19. ^ "Belarus' first satellite enters orbit". Xinhua. 24 July 2012. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  20. ^ Fisher, Max (12 December 2012). "Real-time satellite tracker shows precise location of North Korea's new satellite". Washington Post. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  21. ^ Agayev, Zulfugar (8 February 2013). "First Azeri Satellite Launched, Two More Planned in 2015-2016". Bloomberg. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  22. ^ "AUSTRIAN SATELLITES: BRITE-AUSTRIA & UniBRITE". BRITE-Constellation. Universität Wien. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  23. ^ Barbosa, Rui C. (26 April 2013). "China back in action with Long March 2D launch of Gaofen-1". NASASpaceflight.com. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  24. ^ "Es'hailSat Makes Deal with Eutelsat to Fully Own Satellite - Via Satellite -". Via Satellite. 10 August 2018.
  25. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "AngoSat 1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  26. ^ "Источник: со спутником "Ангосат" восстановлена связь". ТАСС.
  27. ^ "Costa Rica Launches Its First Satellite Into Space with SpaceX". The Costa Rica Star. 2 April 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  28. ^ "Lawkanat 1, 2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  29. ^ "Cedre 3". astronautix. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  30. ^ "Burkan 2H". astronautix. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  31. ^ "Sealand stamps blasted into space". 13 November 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  32. ^ "NEW SHEPARD MISSION NS-14 CARRIES MORE THAN 50,000 POSTCARDS TO SPACE FROM 13 COUNTRIES". 14 January 2021. British research station in Antarctica