SpaceX breaks record with 135th orbital launch of the year
What's the story
SpaceX has set a new record by completing its 135th orbital launch of the year. The milestone was achieved on October 25, when one of the company's Falcon 9 rockets lifted off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base. The mission carried 28 Starlink internet satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO). This beats the previous record set by SpaceX in 2024.
Launch comparison
As many missions as NASA's space shuttle
All of SpaceX's orbital flights this year have been carried out by Falcon 9 rockets. In fact, these rockets have now completed as many missions in the last 11 months as NASA's space shuttle did in its three-decade-long career. The latest launch was the 19th for this particular booster, designated as 1081. It successfully landed in the Pacific Ocean on drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" about eight-and-a-half minutes after liftoff.
Upcoming missions
Five Starship test flights this year
In addition to the 135 orbital launches, SpaceX has also conducted five suborbital test flights of its Starship megarocket this year. The company has already broken its own record for most annual launches. In 2024, SpaceX completed 132 Falcon 9 missions, two flights of the more powerful Falcon Heavy rocket, and four Starship suborbital tests.