How SpaceX Breaks Records: 200 Rockets Launched in a Year

How Elon Musk's SpaceX helped in creating a new ‘record’ for humanity

By - Randeep Paramanik

Record-Breaking Achievement

[{"selector":"#anim-b75ffef5-5b12-4e5d-aea9-e646341ca17b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-111.78248%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-be852144-3774-4d90-a69a-ad786160fd89","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-800c94b6-6ced-46e7-b749-909f2b465f6c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b60d986e-5413-4785-8d47-9bb01fa51086","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-943330e0-65f2-490a-b5dd-26d42d1cde55","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d27ef9a7-d7bb-4e38-9ade-10e8afbea6cb","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Falcon 9's Role

[{"selector":"#anim-375a95fa-dab9-4777-ad99-d8c5711fe9ac","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-134.84163%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6e17f06-6498-448f-a343-4caea2305d5a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f9c9c8f-85b1-43ee-8179-79e159be1d36","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b69e42db-fdb7-4164-920e-ea683197c29f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-04b6cd2a-42db-4047-9f50-37a2cb10e3a4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a54059a8-8090-44f8-9a37-fbaf2f93b732","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Reusability Milestone

[{"selector":"#anim-17d02746-b924-497d-8e65-4904755625a4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(122.55891%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-87ba1b12-a588-473f-91a1-8c485e14d0df","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7ef14129-19b9-4187-98e4-c0e4dcc01273","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e1727d41-6e04-4246-b42a-3457097512b8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d4e25dcd-35d6-4e8a-86e4-b8c18ecd17c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4b55d0e-c2a4-431f-b42f-7ffc1be008c2","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] In 2023, SpaceX set a new record by flying a single Falcon 9 first stage booster 17 times, highlighting advancements in rocket reusability.

100 Launches in 365 Days

[{"selector":"#anim-046c5e9c-cacd-467f-bfab-18fc333bda3d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(118.21193%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-feb05b59-4d6d-41b8-9478-dad163f2d831","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2a48334d-5731-44e5-9340-cfe94fbedc71","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-40e29349-e7e1-4905-bc12-1423e5415acc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.53399%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c68ad6f-f8fc-43a5-99b8-d17c14682e6b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07318c57-1fd3-46f9-9808-54a18d1aba6d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Starlink Satellite Constellation

[{"selector":"#anim-48b55ee1-d266-4153-b65d-cff068399518","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.0274%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-25860892-e7ca-479d-8bf5-a6caf1b9bab0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3499b777-a34d-437d-9c0f-d5015191e515","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3eec80f8-9ab1-4086-bc1f-8041687f7593","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.82278%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d87ecede-0087-440f-91f0-b06b8963c4bd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef8b689b-ae90-4b49-88a6-dcf47c71b5a4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Astronomer Jonathan McDowell's Announcement

[{"selector":"#anim-8ca1a5af-dcec-42c8-bb37-760cfea21282","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c9fa019e-d07b-4f19-af71-39a0a7027848","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e102f8b5-7b1c-4b63-b066-58fa4518625b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2a1fcc09-bb93-4c92-b4a4-804350e2b094","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd42dd14-2968-4bab-9a26-bb485ee62eeb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-649a9fbb-a099-4968-8957-54242d434759","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Cape Canaveral Launch Site

[{"selector":"#anim-4005b345-5310-4cee-8e6d-bdc910865c46","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(117.04179%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b05bd745-fd4c-4647-bd55-9c03d297d88b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9356398-dc5f-4b63-a341-3fe78da2962f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71876d16-ab17-4618-9b54-d134201d2b78","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.43409%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-87d64226-43ec-4873-b635-9cf330d95a4e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-532228b8-acf1-44fe-9489-3b8e1d16fa29","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

SpaceX's Aggressive Launch Schedule

[{"selector":"#anim-3656be9c-4a79-4d20-b72c-45b54618da37","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.28663%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-17331854-1af2-4ae7-96ce-e2f721c1e49a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae6368d2-c85b-4f54-826a-65a058cc12bd","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a00d0ee-dfa6-438a-b44a-7cf2325f6e22","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-96949c0f-940a-4e60-bf5c-87974643fa08","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0169b4c5-f83d-4a54-8a64-8b01ba4fcc24","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Upcoming Launch Plans

[{"selector":"#anim-f07a4586-b0b9-4fc2-a478-7956f2f3207c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a5ed4f9-961b-4d2a-82d6-0832945decb3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6829ee51-2a28-4dc5-ba59-4fbec6e4aaff","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a7931161-402a-40d7-8be0-ac13d7b239b5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.53399%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aff2387a-aedf-443c-8346-b5615ff55d2e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4e0f920-fe67-4ef7-8fbb-0af5a2b21f89","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Combined Launch Tally

[{"selector":"#anim-0e6ca168-1e7f-4946-a8fe-a3d9335faa60","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.89405%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5125ca92-7a77-4c71-a561-c7b3a7127407","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-651a180f-1ddd-43b7-9119-8d94ca6c34c3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-90beec04-8709-4611-a2b5-cd6f9a5d7df7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-69aa35b5-0299-4d74-99db-5d3f710a5298","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cb9671c3-dd9a-4732-adfd-2d7f360b7695","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

How Elon Musk's SpaceX helped in creating a new ‘record’ for humanity

Record-Breaking Achievement

SpaceX and Chinese rocket agencies collectively launched a historic 200 rockets from Earth into space in a single year.

Falcon 9's Role

SpaceX's Falcon 9, the world's only fully reusable medium lift launch vehicle, played a pivotal role in this achievement.

Reusability Milestone

100 Launches in 365 Days

SpaceX achieved the milestone of completing 100 launches within 365 days, showcasing the company's capability for rapid and frequent launches.

Starlink Satellite Constellation

The majority of Falcon 9 launches in 2023 were dedicated to deploying satellites for the Starlink constellation, advancing SpaceX's satellite internet goals.

Astronomer Jonathan McDowell's Announcement

Astronomer Jonathan McDowell announced the record on social media, emphasizing the historic significance of launching 200 rockets in a single year.

Cape Canaveral Launch Site

The launches contributing to this record occurred at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, a key space launch site for SpaceX.

SpaceX's Aggressive Launch Schedule

SpaceX demonstrated its capability by launching four rockets within eight days in December, showcasing an aggressive launch schedule.

Upcoming Launch Plans

Despite the record-breaking achievement, SpaceX plans to complete five more launches

Combined Launch Tally

The combined tally for SpaceX in 2023 includes 92 operational rockets, comprising 88 Falcon 9 rockets and four Falcon Heavy rockets.