In 2025, SpaceX again broke its own record for launches in a single year, reaching an impressive 165 missions. This marks the sixth consecutive year of record-setting launches for Elon Musk’s company. Just six years ago, in 2020, the number was 25. The growth in SpaceX’s launch frequency is staggering—2021 saw 31 launches, 2022 had 61, 2023 reached 96, and 2024 brought 134.
That’s almost a launch every other day! This pace dwarfs not only other private companies but even entire nations. For instance, SpaceX’s 2025 numbers nearly double China’s orbital missions this year, making up about 85% of the total U.S. space launches.
All 165 of these launches utilized the Falcon 9 rocket, known for its reusable first stage. While the Falcon Heavy didn’t take off this year, nearly all Falcon 9 boosters returned safely after launch. Only three missions saw the boosters unable to land successfully. Two were due to the weight of heavy satellites, which left little fuel for return. The third involved a landing mishap caused by a fire after a launch.
Starlink missions were the backbone of SpaceX’s launch schedule, with 123 out of the 165 missions dedicated to deploying more than 3,000 satellites. Currently, the Starlink constellation boasts over 9,300 working satellites, bringing high-speed internet to underserved areas around the world.
2025 was a milestone year for SpaceX beyond just launch numbers. The company completed its 500th rocket landing and achieved the 500th launch using a previously flown rocket. The Falcon 9 booster has also broken records, with one booster flying 32 times.
In addition to orbital launches, SpaceX conducted five suborbital test flights of Starship, its most powerful rocket. While earlier flights faced issues, recent ones in August and October were successful, paving the way for exciting future developments. In 2026, we may see Starship’s first orbital flight and even an uncrewed mission to Mars.
As the aerospace industry evolves, the demand for satellite communication and space exploration continues to grow. An industry report revealed that the global space economy is projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030, partly driven by innovations from companies like SpaceX.
Stay tuned, as 2026 promises to be a groundbreaking year for space travel, and SpaceX is at the forefront.
