Launch Activity Overview
2025 set the standing record with 324 orbital launch attempts, up from 259 in 2024 (Space Foundation). This year: 253 launches to date against 251 by the same date last year, with about 306 projected for the full year at the current pace. SpaceX flies close to half of global launches, and China flew 92 launch attempts in 2025.
The year has already delivered historic milestones: Artemis II carried a crew around the Moon (launched April 1, splashed down April 10, per NASA), and Starship Flight 13 on July 24, still a suborbital test, deployed the first 20 Starlink V3 satellites, which reentered by design; the ship splashed down intact in the Indian Ocean and was loaded onto a recovery vessel about a month later. On September 28, Starship reached orbit for the first time on Flight 14 and deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites, SpaceX reported. Blue Origin's New Glenn has been grounded since a May 28 static-fire explosion damaged LC-36, its only pad, and Blue Origin says flying again this year remains its priority. Ariane 6 is flying from Kourou, and the mega-constellation buildout continues with Starlink and Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper).
Live tracking: SpaceNexus tracks every launch in real time with countdown timers, mission details, and launch vehicle specs. View the live launch dashboard →
Launch Providers in 2026
Providers ranked by orbital launches this year, against their own count on the same date last year. A launch counts when it lifts off (scrubs do not), and the success rate is this year's.