Launches in 2026
Orbital launch activity continues to accelerate in 2026, building on the record-breaking pace set in previous years. The figures above update automatically from verified launch data. Visit the live launch schedule to see upcoming missions with countdown timers and embedded webcasts.
Launch Trends
SpaceX's Falcon 9 has become the workhorse of the modern launch industry, conducting 165 launches in 2025 alone — many carrying batches of Starlink satellites. China has also significantly increased its launch cadence to over 90 launches per year, with the Long March family of rockets supporting military, commercial and scientific missions, alongside new commercial vehicles.
Other active launch providers include Rocket Lab (Electron), Blue Origin (New Glenn), the European Space Agency (Ariane 6), United Launch Alliance (Vulcan, Atlas V), India's ISRO (PSLV, GSLV), and Japan's JAXA (H3). The US and China together accounted for approximately 88% of all orbital launches in 2025.
Launches by Country & Operator
The United States dominates global launch activity, driven almost entirely by SpaceX. In 2025, US-based providers conducted roughly 190 of the year's 320+ orbital launches. China was second with over 90 launches, its highest ever, using a mix of state-operated Long March rockets and newer commercial vehicles like Zhuque-2 and Ceres-1.
Europe, India, Japan, and Russia each conducted a smaller but steady number of launches. For full breakdowns of which nations operate the most spacecraft, see Satellites by Country. For operator-level fleet data including commercial and government entities, see Satellites by Operator.
Historical Milestones
Frequently Asked Questions
Since the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, more than 19,000 satellites have been launched into orbit. The vast majority of these — over 70% — were launched after 2019, driven by SpaceX's Starlink constellation and other mega-constellation deployments. The total number of objects currently tracked in orbit is significantly higher because it includes spent rocket bodies and debris.
In 2025, there were approximately 320 orbital launch attempts — a new annual record. The number has been rising sharply: from about 114 launches in 2020, to 186 in 2022, 223 in 2023, 259 in 2024, and 320 in 2025. SpaceX alone conducted 165 Falcon 9 flights in 2025. Visit the launch schedule for live year-to-date counts.
The United States launches the most rockets, primarily driven by SpaceX. In 2025, the US accounted for roughly 60% of all orbital launches, with China in second place at approximately 28%. Together they represented about 88% of global launch activity. See the full satellites by country breakdown for current fleet sizes.
SpaceX deployed over 3,000 Starlink satellites in 2025 alone, across 165 Falcon 9 missions. Each Falcon 9 Starlink mission carries approximately 20–23 satellites. SpaceX also launches third-party payloads, making it the world's most prolific launch provider by a wide margin. Track the constellation live on the Starlink Tracker.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 is the most-launched active orbital rocket, with over 430 successful flights by the end of 2025. Its reusable first stage has demonstrated over 20 flights per booster. The Soviet/Russian Soyuz family holds the all-time record with over 1,900 launches since 1966. Other frequently flown vehicles include China's Long March family and Europe's Ariane series.
Orbital Radar's Launch Schedule shows upcoming launches with live countdown timers, embedded webcasts, and real-time flight telemetry. After launch, newly deployed satellites appear on the live 3D tracker within hours. You can also set up notifications for specific missions and add launches to your calendar via the launch schedule page.