How many space launches happen per year?

Annual orbital launch attempts surpassed 200 for the first time in 2023, continued rising in 2024 and 2025, and are tracking toward 300+ in 2026. SpaceX alone now accounts for roughly half of all launches in any given year, driven by Falcon 9 reusability and Starlink cadence.

Orbital launch counts are a leading indicator for the commercial space economy. The cadence has more than doubled since 2020, driven mostly by reusability and a handful of fast-iterating operators.

The trajectory

2018: 114 launch attempts globally
2019: 102
2020: 114
2021: 145
2022: 186
2023: 222 (first year over 200)
2024: ~260
2025: ~290

The pace through 2025 reflected near-weekly Falcon 9 cadence, expanding Chinese commercial launchers (Galactic Energy, LandSpace, iSpace, Space Pioneer), and accelerated rideshare scheduling.

Who flies how often

In any given year, the distribution skews heavily toward the top few operators:

SpaceX (Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy): roughly half of global launches in 2024-25
China’s state and commercial operators (CASC + commercial): ~25%
Roscosmos: declining from historic share, ~5-7%
Rocket Lab (Electron): ~10-15 per year
Arianespace / ESA: Ariane 6 ramp; Vega-C
United Launch Alliance (Vulcan): ramping
ISRO: PSLV, GSLV, LVM3; growing commercial slate
All others combined: Japan, Iran, North Korea, South Korea, emerging US small launchers

What the count doesn’t capture

Launch attempts ≠ successful orbital insertions. Failures still happen. See Astra, Virgin Orbit, Firefly’s early flights, Chinese commercial test failures, and (for category context) Starship’s iterative test campaign. Annual “successful launches” is typically 5-10% lower than “launch attempts.”

The count also masks growing mass-to-orbit. Even a flat launch count would not mean flat industry activity; reused Falcon 9 boosters and Starship’s eventual ramp mean more kilograms per launch than ever before.

For the live launch tracker and breakdowns by operator and rocket, see /insights/launches.

COMPANIES MENTIONED44

Agnikul Cosmos Designs, manufactures, and launches small-lift orbital rockets powered by single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic engines for dedicated small-satellite missions
Arianespace Operates Ariane 6 and Vega C launch vehicles from the Guiana Space Centre, serving European institutional and global commercial satellite customers
Astra Space Develops small-lift launch vehicles with mobile launch infrastructure and manufactures Hall-effect electric propulsion systems for satellite constellations
Avio Manufactures solid and liquid propulsion systems for European space launchers and produces the Vega family of small-lift launch vehicles
Blue Origin Develops reusable heavy-lift launch vehicles, rocket engines, lunar landers, in-space logistics platforms, and satellite communications constellations
CAS Space Develops solid and liquid-propellant launch vehicles for dedicated and rideshare satellite missions, suborbital scientific experimentation, and space tourism
China National Space Administration Governs China's civil space programs, oversees lunar and planetary exploration missions, and coordinates international space cooperation
Deep Blue Aerospace Develops reusable liquid-fueled launch vehicles and kerosene rocket engines for commercial orbital and suborbital launch services
European Space Agency Intergovernmental agency coordinating European space programs across science, Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications, and human spaceflight
ExPace Operates the Kuaizhou family of solid-fueled small-lift launch vehicles for commercial and government satellite delivery to low Earth orbit
Exolaunch Provides rideshare launch services, mission management, and satellite deployment hardware for smallsats and CubeSats across multiple launch vehicles worldwide
Firefly Aerospace Designs and operates small- and medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and in-space maneuvering vehicles for defense, civil, and commercial space missions
Galactic Energy Develops and operates solid-propellant orbital launch vehicles and liquid-fueled reusable rockets for commercial satellite constellation deployment
Gilmour Space Technologies Develops hybrid-propellant launch vehicles, a modular satellite bus, and operates Australia's first licensed orbital spaceport
HyImpulse Technologies Develops suborbital and orbital launch vehicles and an orbital transfer vehicle using paraffin-based hybrid rocket propulsion technology
ISRO India's national space agency developing launch vehicles, satellites, and interplanetary missions for societal benefit
Innospace Hybrid rocket-powered small satellite launch vehicles delivering low-cost, customized rapid access to sun-synchronous and low Earth orbit
Isar Aerospace Designs, manufactures, and operates the Spectrum launch vehicle for dedicated and rideshare small satellite missions from European spaceports
JAXA Japan's national space agency conducting launch operations, satellite development, Earth observation, asteroid exploration, and human spaceflight research
LandSpace Designs, manufactures, and operates liquid oxygen-methane launch vehicles for commercial satellite deployment and space station cargo missions
Long Wall Develops containerized missile defense systems, low-cost liquid boosters for flight testing, and rapidly deployable ground support equipment
MaiaSpace Develops a partially reusable methane-fueled mini-launcher for small satellite delivery to low Earth and sun-synchronous orbits
NASA Conducts civilian space exploration, aeronautics research, and space science across human spaceflight, robotic missions, and Earth observation programs
OneSpace Develops small solid-fuel launch vehicles and rocket propulsion systems, and provides rapid-response commercial launch services for microsatellite and nanosatellite customers
Orbex Developed the Prime micro-launch vehicle for dedicated small satellite missions to LEO, using bio-propane fuel and 3D-printed engines
Orienspace Designs and manufactures solid and liquid-fueled launch vehicles for commercial satellite deployment via sea and land launches
PLD Space Develops reusable launch vehicles for dedicated and rideshare small satellite missions, with in-house liquid propulsion and vertically integrated manufacturing
Perigee Aerospace Develops small-lift methane-fueled launch vehicles and manufactures liquid propulsion systems, composite tanks, and satellite thrusters
Phantom Space Develops mass-manufactured small-lift launch vehicles, modular satellite systems, and an orbital data center constellation for in-space computing
Relativity Space Manufactures reusable medium-to-heavy-lift launch vehicles using large-scale metal 3D printing and autonomous robotics
Rocket Factory Augsburg Designs small-lift orbital launch vehicles using oxygen-rich staged combustion engines and serial manufacturing techniques from commercial industries
Rocket Lab USA
Skyroot Aerospace Develops small-lift launch vehicles for the small satellite market using solid-fuel boosters, 3D-printed liquid engines, and cryogenic propulsion
Skyrora Designs and manufactures small-lift orbital launch vehicles and orbital transfer vehicles from Scotland, using 3D-printed engines and Ecosene fuel derived from waste plastic
Southern Launch Operates two spaceports in South Australia providing orbital launch, suborbital testing, orbital re-entry, and range services for domestic and international customers
Space One Develops and launches the solid-fuel KAIROS small satellite launch vehicle from its private Spaceport Kii facility in southern Japan
Space Pioneer Develops reusable kerosene-liquid oxygen launch vehicles and rocket engines for commercial and government satellite deployment missions
SpaceX
Spaceport Cornwall UK's first licensed spaceport enabling horizontal small satellite launches and hosting advanced aerospace testing from Cornwall Airport Newquay
SpinLaunch Builds kinetic launch systems using ground-based centrifuges and develops the Meridian LEO broadband constellation for enterprise communications
Stoke Space Develops fully and rapidly reusable medium-lift launch vehicles for orbital access, in-space mobility, and cargo return
Swedish Space Corporation Provides global ground station networks, satellite launch services, sounding rocket and balloon systems, and spacecraft engineering from Esrange Space Center and stations on six continents
United Launch Alliance Manufactures and operates the Vulcan Centaur and Atlas V launch vehicles for national security, NASA, and commercial customers
i-Space Develops solid and liquid-fueled launch vehicles including the Hyperbola series, with China's first privately-built orbital rocket and a reusable methane rocket in development

FREQUENTLY ASKED