Rocket Report: California’s New Super-Heavy Pad; 2025 in Review
▼ Summary
– The Rocket Report’s 2026 preview highlights key questions, including whether SpaceX’s Starship will launch Starlink satellites, ULA’s Vulcan will increase its launch rate, and Blue Origin’s New Glenn will be certified by the Space Force.
– Global orbital launch attempts in 2025 set a new record, reaching 329 attempts, which was a 25% increase over the previous record set in 2024.
– SpaceX and China were responsible for the majority of 2025’s launch activity, with SpaceX conducting 165 Falcon 9 launches and five Starship-Super Heavy test flights.
– U.S. launch providers, including Rocket Lab’s Electron launches from New Zealand, contributed 30 orbital launches in 2025, cementing the United States as the global leader in space launch.
– The first week of 2026 saw a slow start with only two SpaceX launches, a pace that would have been considered remarkable for any company just a few years ago.
The global space industry witnessed another year of record-breaking activity in 2025, with orbital launch attempts surging by twenty-five percent over the previous year’s high mark. This impressive growth was primarily driven by the launch cadence of SpaceX and China, which together accounted for the vast majority of missions. According to an annual analysis by Jonathan’s Space Report, the total number of orbital launch attempts worldwide reached 329 last year, a figure that includes the near-orbital flight tests of SpaceX’s massive Starship-Super Heavy system. Out of all these attempts, an overwhelming 321 successfully reached orbit or achieved marginal orbits.
SpaceX itself set a formidable new benchmark. The company launched a staggering 165 Falcon 9 rockets in 2025, handily exceeding its 2024 record of 134 Falcon 9 and two Falcon Heavy flights. Notably, no Falcon Heavy missions flew last year. In addition to these Falcon 9 launches, SpaceX conducted five test flights of its next-generation Starship-Super Heavy vehicle. When combined with other U.S. providers, including Rocket Lab’s Electron launches from its facility in New Zealand, the United States solidified its position as the global leader in space launch activity, contributing another 30 orbital missions to the annual tally.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2026, several major storylines are poised to capture attention. The industry is keenly watching to see if SpaceX’s Starship will begin launching operational Starlink satellites, a critical step for the vehicle’s development. Questions also surround whether United Launch Alliance can achieve a higher operational tempo with its Vulcan rocket and if Blue Origin’s New Glenn will secure certification from the U.S. Space Force. The year has begun at a comparatively slower pace on launch pads around the world, with only a pair of SpaceX missions completed in the first week. It’s worth remembering, however, that just a few years ago, two launches by any single company in one week would have been considered a remarkable achievement.
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(Source: Ars Technica)
