As the year draws to a close, SpaceX has achieved an impressive 90 flights of its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket and four missions using its powerful Falcon Heavy rocket, which is essentially three Falcon 9 boosters linked together. Despite breezing past its current annual record of 60 launches in September, the company is expected to fall just short of its ambitious target of 100 Falcon rocket launches by December 31. However, with plans to fly one more Falcon Heavy rocket mission and two more Falcon 9 missions before the end of the year, the total number of Falcon flights is expected to reach 97. Adding the two failed Starship missions, the total number of liftoffs completed by SpaceX in 2023 would be 99.
SpaceX has come a long way since the launch of its first Falcon rocket in 2010. The company’s goal was to design a spaceflight system that could reuse components, specifically the first-stage booster, for multiple missions. In 2015, SpaceX achieved its first successful booster landing, and since then, it has successfully landed almost all of its Falcon rockets soon after launch. On Saturday, a Falcon 9 mission deploying satellites for SpaceX’s internet-from-space Starlink system saw it land a first-stage booster for a record 19th time. The reusable system developed by SpaceX has enabled the company to offer highly competitive launch rates, opening up space to more companies and organizations keen to send small satellites to orbit.
The reusable system has also enabled SpaceX to achieve a higher launch cadence, with the company planning to launch three more missions before the end of the year. The first mission, scheduled for after the Christmas break, will involve the launch of a satellite from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California for the German Intelligence Service. The remaining two missions will involve the Falcon 9 and the Falcon Heavy, respectively.
SpaceX’s Prolific Year in Launches and Reusability
Despite the busy year, SpaceX is not slowing down. The company is already looking ahead to 2024, with its launch calendar rapidly filling up. With the focus shifting to getting its mighty Starship rocket to orbit, next year looks set to be even busier for SpaceX. The company has been testing its Starship rocket with a series of uncrewed flights, and it is expected to make significant progress in the coming year.
SpaceX has had a prolific year in terms of launches, with the company achieving a record 90 flights of its Falcon 9 rocket and four missions using its Falcon Heavy rocket. Despite falling short of its target of 100 Falcon rocket launches, the company has made significant progress in its reusable launch system, enabling it to offer highly competitive launch rates. With its sights set on achieving even greater success in the coming year, SpaceX is poised to continue making waves in the space industry.
