The year 2024 witnessed a new high in orbital launches, reaching a record-breaking 259 attempts. This remarkable surge is primarily attributed to the exceptional performance of SpaceX.
SpaceNews analysis of publicly available data reveals a 17% increase compared to 2023's 221 attempts. This count excludes suborbital launches like SpaceX's Starship/Super Heavy tests and Rocket Lab's HASTE missions.
SpaceX's contribution was instrumental, with 134 Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches—a significant increase from the 96 launches in 2023. The company's launch numbers exceeded the combined total of all other global entities.
From the Eastern Range in Florida, SpaceX conducted 88 out of 93 launches, and from the Western Range, 46 out of 47. Other U.S. entities only managed 20 launches, including 13 Electron launches by Rocket Lab from New Zealand.
China also made significant strides, achieving 68 launches, surpassing its previous record of 67 in 2023. Russia launched 17 times, followed by Japan (7), India (5), Iran (4), Europe (3), and North Korea (1).
Despite the record-breaking numbers, six launches ended in failures. These included failures by Kairos, a Hyperbola-1, and a Lijian-1, as well as a malfunctioning Falcon 9 upper stage and the sole North Korean launch attempt.
Although SpaceX dramatically increased its launch rate, it fell short of its internal target of 148 Falcon launches. In December, Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's president and COO, announced a revised goal of 136 launches for 2024.
At a CSIS event, Shotwell revealed plans for 175 to 180 Falcon launches in 2025, driven by a desire to combat complacency. “We just keep pushing the limits,” she said. “That’s how you stay in fighting weight.”
SpaceX is also preparing for increased Starship launches in 2025, including its first orbital missions. Shotwell mentioned Elon Musk's ambitious goal: “Elon [Musk] is like, ‘I want to launch 1,000 times a year,’” she said. “We’ve got to figure that out, but that will be Starship, not Falcon.”