In 2025, SpaceX once again rewrote the history of global space exploration, setting an unprecedented record for the number of orbital launches in a single calendar year. Over the past six years, Elon Musk’s company has not only maintained its lead but has also widened the gap with competitors every year. While SpaceX made 25 launches in 2020, by 2025 this number had grown to 163. Such a pace astonishes even the most experienced industry experts and raises doubts about the capabilities of other market players.
It’s not just the sheer number that impresses, but also the consistency: nearly every other day throughout the year, Falcon 9 was sending new payloads into orbit. For comparison, China, its closest competitor, lagged almost twofold, while SpaceX’s share of all US launches reached 85%. This is total dominance that seemed impossible just a short while ago.
Falcon 9 and Its Records
All 163 orbital missions in 2025 were carried out using the reliable Falcon 9 rocket. Its reusable first stage has become a true symbol of efficiency and innovation. Only three boosters failed to return to Earth over the year: twice due to the heavy Spainsat NG satellites, when there simply wasn’t enough fuel for the return journey, and once because of a landing incident on the drone ship after a batch of Starlink satellites was launched. In the latter case, the touchdown was successful, but a fire at the rocket’s base caused it to tip over and damage the landing leg.
However, these incidents did not affect the overall statistics: in 2025, SpaceX marked its 500th successful rocket landing and the 500th launch of a reused booster. Additionally, a new record was set for the number of launches by a single Falcon 9 first stage—32 missions.
Starlink and the Mega-Constellation
Most launches this year were dedicated to deploying Starlink satellites. Of 163 orbital launches, 123 supported this project. More than 3,000 new satellites were sent to orbit in 2025, bringing the total number of operational Starlink spacecraft to over 9,300. This large-scale expansion allowed the company to strengthen its position in the satellite internet market and make the service available in new regions.
Starlink has long since outgrown its status as an ambitious project. Today, it is the world’s largest satellite constellation, transforming access to the internet and communication in even the most remote corners of the planet.
Starship Testing
In addition to Falcon 9 orbital launches, SpaceX actively tested its new giant spacecraft, Starship. In 2025, five suborbital test flights of this fully reusable rocket took place. The first three launches saw the loss of one stage, but the last two, in August and October, were flawless. This is a significant step toward the next goal—the first orbital flight of Starship, expected as early as 2026.
If the tests continue to be just as successful, it’s possible that Starship will make its first uncrewed flight to Mars in the near future. The scale of SpaceX’s ambitions continues to amaze even the most skeptical experts.
Technology and Competition
SpaceX’s technological breakthrough became possible thanks to its focus on reusability and the continuous improvement of its processes. The company not only increases the frequency of launches, but also reduces the cost of putting payloads into orbit, making its services attractive to clients worldwide. While other countries and corporations are still trying to catch up with SpaceX, Elon Musk’s company is already setting new standards for the entire industry.
In 2025, Falcon Heavy did not carry out any launches; the last flight of this heavy rocket took place in October 2024. All attention was focused on Falcon 9 and Starship, which allowed resources to be optimized and maximum efficiency achieved.
In case you didn’t know, SpaceX is a private aerospace company founded by Elon Musk in 2002. It was the first in the world to achieve a successful landing and reuse of an orbital rocket. SpaceX’s main projects include the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and the super-heavy Starship rockets, as well as the global Starlink satellite network. The company actively cooperates with NASA and commercial clients, and its mission is to make spaceflight accessible and prepare humanity for interplanetary travel.
