Humans have been exploring space since 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1. While government agencies previously conducted all space missions, that's no longer the case. Private space companies now launch satellites, transport astronauts, and are in the early stages of offering space tourism.
The development of the space industry is exciting from a technological and scientific standpoint. It could also be profitable for investors who have space stocks in their portfolios.
But how much is space exploration growing, and which space companies have been the most successful so far? Find out in this detailed look at space launch statistics.
Multiple metrics are used to track space launches. Orbital space launches are spaceflights in which a craft could be in space for at least one orbit. Spacecraft launched include all vehicles that reach outer space. Upmass, measured in kilograms, is the payload carried into orbit on a spaceflight.
Orbital space launches have rapidly increased. New records have been set for the last four years. In 2024, there was an orbital launch attempt every 34 hours. Spaceflights are also carrying more -- total upmass more than doubled from 2022 to 2024.
Much of that success is because of two companies: SpaceX and the China Aerospace Science Corporation (CASC), a state-owned enterprise. In 2021, CASC had the most orbital launches, 48, followed by SpaceX. After that, SpaceX took the lead and hasn't looked back. The two space companies have accounted for more than half of all orbital launches for the last four years (in 2024, SpaceX alone managed that). In 2024, CASC was responsible for 47 launches while SpaceX recorded 134.
In less than two decades, SpaceX has become arguably the biggest success story in the space industry. It was on the brink of bankruptcy in 2008 before the successful orbital launch of the Falcon 1 rocket. SpaceX reached another milestone in 2010 when it became the first private company to launch and recover an orbital spacecraft, the Dragon.
In 2014, SpaceX accounted for 6 out of 12 U.S. space launches. A year later, it raised $1 billion in funding, started developing its Starlink internet satellites, and was responsible for 7 out of 9 U.S. launches. In 2017, it achieved an impressive 45% global market share of awarded commercial space contracts, making it the top commercial launch provider.
SpaceX’s dominance has continued to grow in the 2020s. It hit new launch records every year from 2020 to 2024, and it's now responsible for more than 80% of U.S. space launches.
Space launches by country
Sources
- Federal Aviation Administration (2025). "Commercial Space Data."
- McKinsey & Company (2024). "Space: The $1.8 trillion opportunity for global economic growth."
- Orbiting Now (2025). "Active Satellite TLE Data and Information."
- United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (2024) -- with major processing by Our World in Data. "Cumulative number of objects launched into space -- UNOOSA."
About the Author
Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends L3Harris Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends Lockheed Martin. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.