Rocket & Space Shuttle Launches 2012

By James | Last updated August 23, 2023

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On this page, you will find details of all rocket and space shuttle launches during 2012 from the Kennedy Space Center.

See bottom of page for all past, present and future launch schedules.

February 25, 2012 – United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket, MUOS 1

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket launched the first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite for the U.S. Navy.

Launch was from launch pad SLC–41.

Delayed from February 16 and 17, 2012 due to bad weather.

May 3, 2012 – United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket, AEHF 2

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket launched the second Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite for the U.S. military.

Launch was from launch pad SLC–41 with a launch window of 2:46 to 4:46 pm EDT. Delayed from February 2011 after delays with AEHF 1 and April 27, 2012.

May 22, 2012 – SpaceX Falcon 9, Dragon C2+

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the second Dragon spacecraft, Dragon C2+. The purpose of the mission was to rendezvous with the International Space Station in a test flight named COTS 2.

Launch was from launch pad SLC–40 with the launch window starting at 3:44 a.m. EDT.

Delayed from June 6 and December 19, 2011 and then January 7, February 7, March 20, April 30, and May 7 and 19.

June 20, 2012 – United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket, NROL–38

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket launched a classified spacecraft payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.

Launch was from launch pad SLC–41 with a launch window between 8:28 and 9:27 a.m. EDT.

Delayed from June 18 because of a ground equipment issue.

June 29, 2012 – United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Heavy Rocket, NROL–15

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 heavy rocket has launched a classified spy satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.

Launch was from launch pad SL–37B at 9:15 a.m. EDT. Delayed from December 2011 and then June 28 2012 because of bad weather.

August 30, 2012 – United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket, RBSP

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket launched the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission for NASA. There are two satellites which will fly in a highly elliptical orbit to study the Earth’s radiation belts.

Launch was from launch pad SLC–41 with a launch window from 4:05 to 4:25 am EDT.

Delayed from May 2012. Further delayed by technical issues and then bad weather August 23, 24 and 26, 2012.

October 4, 2012 – United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Rocket, GPS 2F–3

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket launched the third Block 2F navigation satellite for the Air Force’s Global Positioning System (GPS).

Launch was from launch pad SL–37B with a window from 8:10 to 8:29 am EDT.

Delayed from September 20, 2012.

October 7, 2012 – SpaceX Falcon 9, Dragon C3

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the third Dragon spacecraft, Dragon C3. The purpose of the mission was to take the first resupply cargo load to the International Space Station in a test flight named COTS 3.

Launch was from launch pad SLC–40 at 8:35 pm EDT.

Delayed from August 9, 2011 and then September 24, 2012.

Whilst the Dragon capsule successfully reached the International Space Station, one of the main rockets failed during the launch which meant that a satellite on board failed to reach its correct orbit.

November 13, 2012 – United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket, OTV 3

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 Rocket deployed the U.S. secret military X–37B prototype spaceplane, Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), on the program’s third mission.

Launch was from launch pad SLC–41 with a launch window from 11:45 am to 3:45 pm EST.

Moved up from October 26 and then delayed on October 25 and 30.

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