Global Orbital Space Launches Q4 2020
Orbital Launches by Launch Provider Last quarter, SpaceX conducted the most orbital launches 10 9 4 3 2 1
Counts include unsuccessful launches
Spacecraft Launched by Provider In Q4, SpaceX launched 247 spacecraft, the most of any launch provider
SpaceX
Rocket Lab
Arianespace
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Northrop Grumman Space Systems
Roscosmos/Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN RF)
United Launch Alliance
Astra Space
MHI Launch Services
Galactic Energy
0 50 100 150 200 250
Number of Spacecraft Launched
Includes spacecraft launched regardless of operational status
Upmass Carried by Launch Provider SpaceX launched about 100,000 kg of upmass in Q4, followed by CASC with nearly 29,000 kg
SpaceX
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
United Launch Alliance
Arianespace
Roscosmos/Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN RF) Northrop Grumman Space Systems MHI Launch Services Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Rocket Lab
Galactic Energy
Astra Space
0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000
Total Upmass (kg)
Orbital Launches by Country Seventeen launches were conducted by U.S.-based providers, while Chinese providers conducted 10 orbital launches
4
Russia
4 10 1 17 Europe China 2 Japan USA
India
*Rocket Lab is headquartered in the U.S. with a subsidiary in New Zealand. It is counted here as a U.S. company **A December 18 Soyuz launch carrying OneWeb satellites conducted by Arianespace from Vostochny Comosdrome is counted as Europe.
Spacecraft by Service Type Driven by continued deployment of the Starlink constellation, most spacecraft launched in Q4 were communications satellites
<1% Navigation 1% Other 1% Crew and Cargo Transportation 79% Communications 3% Scientific
3% Development
13% Remote Sensing 392 spacecraft in Q4 2020
Spacecraft by Mass Class Most spacecraft launched in Q4 were in the mini mass class
250
200
150
100
50
0 Femto Pico Nano Micro Mini Small Medium Intermediate Large Heavy Extra Heavy (.01-.09) (.1-1) (1.1-10) (11-200) (201-600) (601-1,200) (1,201-2,500) (2,501-4,200) (4,201-5,400) (5,401-7000) (7,000+)
Mass Class
Spacecraft by Operator Type Most spacecraft launched in Q4 were operated by commercial operators
346 20 Commercial Civil 17 Military 9 Non-Profit