Rocket Race 2023

10 months ago

In the realm of space exploration and satellite deployment, 2023 witnessed remarkable achievements and significant milestones. At the forefront of this space race was SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, whose ambitious goal for the year was to accomplish 100 launches. While the final tally fell just short at 95 launches, the year marked substantial growth compared to the 61 launches achieved in 2022. In October 2023, Bill Gerstenmaier hinted at SpaceX's even more ambitious plans for 2024, with a target set at 144 flights. This post is focusing on the workhorses that dominated the space launch industry.

Workhorses of Rocket Families:

Falcon 9 by SpaceX:

SpaceX's Falcon 9 was the star performer in 2023, significantly contributing to the company's total launches. The year-by-year breakdown illustrates the consistent growth of Falcon 9 launches, from a modest 2 in 2010 to an impressive 95 in 2023. The cumulative launches for Falcon 9 reached 170, highlighting SpaceX's dominance in the space launch market.

SpaceX has increased their share of launches for Starlink from 56% last year to 65% this year. Roughly a doubling of launches for Starlink compared to 2022.

Year	# Falcon 9 Launch	# Launch for Starlink	% Starlink
2019	13	2	15%
2020	25	14	56%
2021	31	17	55%
2022	61	34	56%
2023	95	62	65%

Long March by China:

China's Long March rocket family has been a stalwart in the global space launch arena. With 47 launches in 2023, Long March continued to play a pivotal role in China's space ambitions.

R-7 by Russia:

Russia's R-7 rocket family maintained a steady presence in the launch landscape, contributing 17 launches in 2023. While not reaching the heights of some competitors, the reliability and historical significance of the R-7 make it a noteworthy participant in the global space race.

Electron by Rocket Lab:

Rocket Lab's Electron, a small-sat launcher, faced challenges in 2023 due to a failed orbit deployment. The setback led to lost time as the company investigated and addressed failure modes. Despite this obstacle, Electron remains a key player in the small satellite launch market, contributing 8 launches in 2023.

PSLV by India:

India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) demonstrated its capability and ambition with 3 launches in 2023. Although the launch cadence remains relatively low, the PSLV is gaining recognition for its cost-effectiveness and reliability, making it an attractive option for satellite deployment.

Table of Launches for each Rocket Family

Year	Falcon 9	Long March	R-7	Electron	PSLV
2010	2	15	13	0	1
2011	0	19	19	0	3
2012	2	19	14	0	2
2013	3	14	16	0	3
2014	6	15	21	0	3
2015	7	19	17	0	4
2016	28	22	14	0	6
2017	17	16	15	1	3
2018	21	37	16	3	4
2019	13	26	18	6	5
2020	25	34	15	7	2
2021	31	48	22	6	1
2022	61	53	19	9	3
2023	95	47	17	8	3