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First Satellites A listing of the first satellites by country or international organization

Rockets

So far, twelve countries and one international organization have developed launch vehicles capable of putting satellites into orbit. Russia is the legal successor of the USSR. France and the United Kingdom ended their national programs after the development of a launch vehicle by ESA.

USSR / Russia October 4, 1957 Sputnik-PS

USA February 1, 1958 Juno I

France November 26, 1965 Diamant A

Japan February 11, 1970 Lambda-4S

China April 24, 1970 Long March 1

United Kingdom October 28, 1971 Black Arrow

ESA December 24, 1979 Ariane 1

India July 18, 1980 SLV

Israel September 19, 1988 Shavit

Ukraine September 28, 1991 Tsyklon 3

Iran February 2, 2009 Safir-1A

North Korea December 12, 2012 Unha 3

South Korea June 21, 2022 Nuri (KSLV-2)

Satellites

So far, 100 countries and seven international organizations have built, purchased or registered satellites that were placed into orbit. Russia is the legal successor of the USSR; Czech Republic is the legal successor of Czechoslovakia. Joint ventures between two countries are listed as long as at least one of them has not yet launched an individual satellite. For countries without own launch capability, the satellites were launched by one of the above mentioned nations or organizations.

USSR / Russia October 4, 1957 Sputnik 1

USA February 1, 1958 Explorer 1

United Kingdom (1) April 26, 1962 Ariel 1

Canada (1) September 29, 1962 Alouette 1

Italy (1) December 15, 1964 San Marco 1

Intelsat (1) April 6, 1965 Intelsat I

France November 26, 1965 Asterix

Australia (1) November 29, 1967 WRESAT

Europe (1) March 6, 1968 ESRO 2B

Interkosmos (2) October 14, 1969 Interkosmos 1

Germany (1) November 8, 1969 Azur

Japan February 11, 1970 Ohsumi

NATO (1) March 20, 1970 NATO 2A

China April 24, 1970 Dong Fang Hong I

Netherlands (1) August 29, 1974 ANS

Spain (1) November 15, 1974 Intasat

India (3) April 19, 1975 Aryabhata

Inmarsat (1) February 19, 1976 Marisat 1

Indonesia (1) July 8, 1976 Palapa 1A

Czechoslovakia (3) October 24, 1978 Magion 1

Bulgaria (3) August 7, 1981 Bulgaria 1300

Arabsat (4), (13) February 8, 1985 Arabsat 1A

Brazil (4) February 8, 1985 Brasilsat A1

Mexico (1) June 17, 1985 Morelos I

Sweden (4) May 12, 1987 Viking

Israel September 19, 1988 Ofeq 1

Luxembourg (4) December 11, 1988 Astra 1A

Argentina (4) January 22, 1990 Lusat

Hong Kong (5) April 7, 1990 AsiaSat 1

Pakistan (5) July 16, 1990 Badr 1

South Korea (4) August 10, 1992 Kitsat 1

Portugal (4) September 26, 1993 PoSAT 1

Turkey (4) August 10, 1994 Türksat 1B

Ukraine (3) August 31, 1995 Sich 1

Malaysia (4) January 12, 1996 Measat 1

Norway (4) May 21, 1997 Thor 2

Philippines (1) August 19, 1997 Agila 2

Egypt (4) April 28, 1998 Nilesat 101

Chile (3) July 10, 1998 FASat Bravo

Taiwan (1), (14) January 27, 1999 Formosat-1

Denmark (1) February 23, 1999 Ørsted

South Africa (1) February 23, 1999 SUNSAT

Georgia/Russia (11) July 17, 1999 Reflektor

Saudi Arabia (3), (13) September 26, 2000 Saudisat 1A

UAE (3) October 21, 2000 Thuraya

Morocco (3) October 12, 2001 Maroc-Tubsat

Tonga (6) April 1, 2002 Esafi

Algeria (3) November 28, 2002 Alsat 1

Greece / Cyprus (1) May 13, 2003 Hellas Sat 2

Nigeria (3) September 27, 2003 NigeriaSat 1

Iran (3) October 27, 2005 Sina 1

Kazakhstan (3) June 18, 2006 KazSat-1

Colombia (3) April 17, 2007 Libertad 1

Mauritius (4) December 21, 2007 Rascom-QAF 1

Vietnam (4) April 18, 2008 Vinasat 1

Venezuela (5) October 29, 2008 Venesat 1

Switzerland (7) September 23, 2009 SwissCube-1

SES World Skies (3) April 24, 2010 SES 1

Singapore (7), (14) April 20, 2011 X-Sat

Isle of Man (3) October 19, 2011 ViaSat-1

Poland (4) February 13, 2012 PW-Sat

Hungary (4) February 13, 2012 MaSat-1

Romania (4) February 13, 2012 Goliat

Belarus (3) July 22, 2012 BelKA-2

North Korea December 12, 2012 Kwangmyŏngsŏng 3-2

Azerbaijan (4) February 7, 2013 Azerspace-1

Austria (7) February 25, 2013 TUGSAT-1

Bermuda (8) April 1, 2013 BermudaSat 1

Ecuador (5) April 26, 2013 Pegaso

Estonia (4) May 7, 2013 ESTCube-1

Jersey (3) June 25, 2013 O3b 1

Qatar (4) (9) August 29, 2013 Es'hail 1

Peru (3) November 21, 2013 PUCP-Sat 1

Bolivia (5) December 20, 2013 Túpac Katari 1

Lithuania (1) January 9, 2014 Lituanica SAT-1

Iraq (3) June 19, 2014 TigriSat

Belgium (3) (10) June 19, 2014 QB50P1

Uruguay (3) June 19, 2014 Antelsat

Turkmenistan (1) April 27, 2015 TürkmenÄlem 52E

Laos (5) November 20, 2015 LaoSat 1

Finland (11) April 18, 2017 Aalto 2

Bangladesh (11) June 3, 2017 BRAC Onnesha

Ghana (11) June 3, 2017 GhanaSat-1

Mongolia (11) June 3, 2017 Mazaalai

Latvia (7) June 23, 2017 Venta 1

Slovakia (7) June 23, 2017 skCUBE

Angola (3) December 26, 2017 AngoSat 1

New Zealand (1) January 21, 2018 Humanity Star

Costa Rica (1) April 2, 2018 Irazú

Kenya (1) April 2, 2018 1KUNS-PF

Bhutan (1) June 29, 2018 BHUTAN-1

Jordan (1) December 3, 2018 JY1-Sat

Nepal (1) April 17, 2019 NepaliSat 1

Sri Lanka (1) April 17, 2019 Raavana 1

Rwanda (12) September 24, 2019 RWASAT 1

Sudan (5) November 3, 2019 SRSS 1

Ethiopia (5) December 20, 2019 ETRSS 1

Guatemala (1) March 7, 2020 Quetzal 1

Slovenia (4) September 3, 2020 Trisat

Monaco (4) September 3, 2020 OSM 1

Paraguay (11) March 14, 2021 GuaraníSat-1

Myanmar (11) March 22, 2021 Lawkanat 1

Moldova (11) March 22, 2021 TUMnanoSAT

Tunisia (3) March 22, 2021 ChallengeOne

Kuwait (1) June 30, 2021 OQMR-KWT

Bahrain / UAE (11) Dwcwmbwe 21, 2021 Light 1

(1)	Launched with an US-launch vehicle.
(2)	In official statistics, Interkosmos satellites are listed as Soviet satellites.
(3)	Launched with a Soviet or Russian launch vehicle.
(4)	Launched with an ESA-launch vehicle.
(5)	Launched with a Chinese launch vehicle.
(6)	Former US-satellite, launched in 1981 and bought by Tongasat in April 2002.
(7)	Launched with an Indian launch vehicle.
(8)	Former US-satellite, launched in 2000 and transferred to Bermuda in April 2013.
(9)	Es'hail 1 was a joint operation between Eutelsat and Es'hail
(10)	Some statistics list PROBA-1, launched on October 22, 2001 as the first Belgium satellite. However, PROBA-1, while manufactured by a Belgian company, was an ESA satellite.
(11)	Deployed from ISS.
(12)	Launched with Japanese launch vehicle.
(13)	Some statistics list Arabsat 1A, launched on February 8, 1985 as the first Saudi Arabian satellite. However, Arabsat 1A, while registered in Saudi Arabia, was an Arabsat satellite.
(14)	Before launching their own satellites, on August 25, 1998, Singapore and Taiwan jointly launched the satellite ST-1.

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