SpaceX is gearing up for 52 rocket launches in 2022, aiming to shatter its previous record of 31 from 2021.
This past Sunday, SpaceX delayed the launch of an Italian Earth observation satellite due to a cruise liner in the no-go zone near Cape Canaveral. After a weather-related postponement earlier, the mission lifted off successfully on Monday. Just hours ago on Thursday, SpaceX launched an American spy satellite, marking the company's fifth launch of 2022. With this pace, 52 missions by year-end seem within reach.
SpaceX shared this ambitious 52-launch goal during a recent virtual meeting of NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), established in 1968 to assess NASA's safety practices and recommend improvements.
Experts on the panel cautioned about the risks of such an intense schedule. "NASA and SpaceX must ensure adequate resources to maintain this tempo safely," as reported by The Verge.
As NASA's primary partner for crewed missions, SpaceX handles cargo transport to and from the International Space Station. The company is also advancing its Starship vehicle, targeted for lunar landings by 2025 under the Artemis program.
Not all launches serve NASA. SpaceX caters to commercial clients, the U.S. Department of Defense, and deploys its own Starlink satellites roughly every two weeks.
Achieving 52 launches isn't guaranteed. In 2021, Elon Musk targeted 48, but SpaceX completed only 31.
Though SpaceX set a U.S. record last year, China's National Space Administration dominated with 55 launches across all rockets. The U.S. managed 45, predominantly via SpaceX's Falcon 9.
Globally in 2021, China claimed 38% of launches, the U.S. 31%, Russia 17%, and Europe just 4% (six launches total).
