[[Image:SpaceX Dragon on launch pad.jpg|thumb|[[SpaceX Dragon COTS-2]] prepares for launch, becoming the first commercial spacecraft to dock with the [[International Space Station]].]] [[Image:Curiosity Mars Rover landing.jpg|thumb|An artist's concept of the [[Mars Science Laboratory]] spacecraft during its final descent to Mars, carrying the [[Curiosity rover]].]]
2012 in spaceflight was a significant year that marked major milestones in both commercial and scientific space exploration. Key events included the first commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) and the successful landing of the Curiosity rover on Mars.
Commercial Spaceflight Milestones
- SpaceX Dragon COTS-2/3: On May 25, 2012, [[SpaceX]]'s Dragon spacecraft became the first commercial vehicle to successfully dock with the [[International Space Station]] (ISS). This mission, officially [[SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 2|COTS Demo Flight 2/3]], represented a pivotal moment for the [[Commercial Resupply Services]] (CRS) program, demonstrating the capability of private companies to transport cargo to low-Earth orbit. This achievement paved the way for regular commercial cargo missions to the ISS.
Planetary Science and Exploration
- Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) / Curiosity Rover: On August 6, 2012, [[NASA]]'s [[Mars Science Laboratory]] mission successfully landed the [[Curiosity rover]] in [[Gale Crater]] on Mars. The complex "sky crane" landing maneuver was executed flawlessly. Curiosity's primary mission is to assess whether Mars ever had an environment capable of supporting microbial life. Its immediate discoveries included evidence of ancient streambeds and water activity.
Human Spaceflight
- International Space Station (ISS): The ISS continued to be permanently crewed throughout 2012, with a series of [[Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz]] missions transporting new crews and returning others.
- Soyuz TMA-03M returned to Earth in July.
- Soyuz TMA-04M launched in May, carrying three new crew members for Expedition 31/32.
- Soyuz TMA-05M launched in July, beginning Expedition 32/33.
- Soyuz TMA-06M launched in October for Expedition 33/34.
- Soyuz TMA-07M launched in December, the final crew launch of the year for Expedition 34/35.
- Shenzhou 9: On June 16, 2012, [[China Manned Space Program|China]] launched its [[Shenzhou 9]] mission, which included [[Liu Yang]], the first Chinese woman in space. The mission performed both an automated and a manual docking with the [[Tiangong-1]] space laboratory, further demonstrating China's growing capabilities in human spaceflight.
Notable Launches and Developments
- European Space Agency (ESA): Launched several [[Ariane 5]] missions, including those carrying communications satellites and the [[ATV-3]] (Edoardo Amaldi) cargo spacecraft to the ISS.
- Russia: Maintained an extensive launch schedule using [[Soyuz-FG|Soyuz]], [[Proton-M]], and [[Zenit (rocket family)|Zenit]] rockets for a variety of military, scientific, and commercial payloads.
- United States: In addition to SpaceX's historic flight, [[United Launch Alliance]] (ULA) conducted multiple successful launches using [[Atlas V]] and [[Delta IV]] rockets for government and commercial clients.
- India: The [[Indian Space Research Organisation|ISRO]] successfully launched its [[PSLV]] rocket, deploying several satellites.
- Japan: The [[Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency|JAXA]] launched an [[H-IIB]] rocket carrying the [[HTV-3]] (Kounotori 3) resupply vehicle to the ISS.
Launch Statistics (Approximate)
- Total orbital launches worldwide: Approximately 78
- Successful orbital launches: Approximately 73
- Launch failures: Approximately 5
Conclusion
2012 was a landmark year that solidified the role of commercial space companies in supporting government space programs and showcased ambitious robotic exploration. These achievements set important precedents for the future of spaceflight, particularly in the realm of private sector involvement and the ongoing search for life beyond Earth.