Elon Musk’s SpaceX carried out 134 rocket launches into orbit in 2024 – this is 51.74% of the 259 space flights carried out by all countries and companies in the world, which is a new record in the entire history of the space industry. reports SpaceNews.
SpaceX sets a record for orbital launches in 2024
Author: Mikhail Zelenin
In 2023, 221 orbital launches were carried out worldwide, according to statistics collected by the publication from open sources. This figure does not include suborbital flights such as SpaceX’s Starship rocket and Rocket Lab’s HASTE mission.
Most of the launches carried out by SpaceX, according to data portal SpaceXStats (131) is a reusable Falcon 9 rocket that delivers cargo and crews to the ISS using the Dragon spacecraft, as well as launches satellites into orbit, including for the Starlink satellite Internet project. Two more launches used the Falcon Heavy rocket.
Thus, Elon Musk’s company has conducted more orbital launches than all the countries of the world combined. However, in 2023, SpaceX conducted only 96 flights.
SpaceX COO and President Gwen Shortwell at the CSIS conference last December statedthat the company deliberately sets inflated targets to “combat the conservatism” of employees.
“Just keep raising the bar for what you’re trying to do. We just keep pushing the boundaries (of what’s possible). This is how you stay in shape,” Shortwell emphasized. According to her, the company plans to conduct 180 launches in 2025.
Cover photo: Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle/
Source: rb.ru
