U.S. and China top Russia for most launches in 2016The competition heats up: In 2016 it appears that the United States will complete the most rocket launches, at 20, followed by China with 19 and Russia with 18.
For the past two decades Russia has generally been the yearly leader in launches, but recent competition from the U.S. private sector and China’s surging government program, combined with lagging quality control problems and budget shortages in Russia, has had their launch rate decline to third. I also fully expect the U.S. lead to grow in the coming years as a range of low cost new companies come on line.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
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The competition heats up: In 2016 it appears that the United States will complete the most rocket launches, at 20, followed by China with 19 and Russia with 18.
For the past two decades Russia has generally been the yearly leader in launches, but recent competition from the U.S. private sector and China’s surging government program, combined with lagging quality control problems and budget shortages in Russia, has had their launch rate decline to third. I also fully expect the U.S. lead to grow in the coming years as a range of low cost new companies come on line.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon. from any other book seller, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
18, 19, & 20, respectively, are what the Russians, Chinese, and Americans have now. They also have at least 2, 3, and 3 more scheduled this year, respectively. However, the Chinese have been known to launch missions unannounced, and they for some reason launch heavily in November and December. I wouldn’t be surprised to see China pop off another two unannounced.
Despite what has been reported at the link and elsewhere, it won’t be the first time America led in the annual orbital launch count. She did that every year from 1958 to 1965. Perhaps other years too, but I’m too lazy to dig through all of the stats right now.
Proton has been out of traffic since the summer, but so too Falcon 9 since 3 months now. So in terms of capacity without such problems, China seems to be slightly behind.
mkent,
The article has been corrected. It now acknowledges the US lead in the early years, and also mentions a US lead in the mid 1990s. Good eye on your part.
If SpaceX successfully makes its launch vehicles reusable, thereby slashing costs, do you think the U.S. launch rate will surge ahead of both Russia and China?