Space Missions of 2003
Crewed
China
Shenzhou 5
Target: Low Earth Orbit
China becomes the third nation to launch a human.
Sample Return
Japan
Hayabusa
Target: Asteroid Itokawa
The first mission to return a sample from an asteroid.
Orbiter
ESA
SMART-1
Target: Moon
Testing solar-electric propulsion at the Moon.
Commercial / Test
Japan
Experimental H-IIA Flight 6
Target: Low Earth Orbit
A booster that refused to let go.