At Cape Canaveral, Florida, a Falcon 9 rocket soared into the night sky on Monday, carrying 29 new Starlink Internet satellites into orbit. This mission marked the 94th rocket launch from Florida's Space Coast in 2025, setting a new record for satellite launches in a single year from the world's busiest spaceport.
This launch followed closely behind a Chinese Long March 11 rocket launch, which took place on Saturday from an oceangoing platform, and marked the 255th mission to reach orbit globally for the year. This achievement set a new record for global launch activity in a single year.
As of Wednesday, the global count of orbital launches has reached 259 missions, raising expectations for approximately 300 launches by the end of 2025. This figure significantly surpasses the global total of 135 orbital launches recorded in 2021.
Routine vs. Complacency
While waiting a few miles away from the launch site, amidst the darkness, there were no large crowds or a line of photographers eagerly awaiting the rocket's ascent. Only this reporter and two cheerful retirees witnessed the Falcon 9's departure, a sight that would have attracted much more attention a decade ago.
In comparison, a visit to a local airport would likely reveal more people at plane-spotting parks near the runways. Yet, rocket launches remain remarkable spectacles. On the same night as the Falcon 9's ascent from Cape Canaveral, Orlando International Airport saw an equal number of plane departures in just a three-hour span.
Significant launches still draw crowds, such as SpaceX’s Starship test flights in Texas or Blue Origin’s upcoming second New Glenn rocket launch this Sunday. These events are exceptions rather than the rule, as the aerospace community is reminded that spaceflight is not to be seen as routine, to avoid the perils of complacency which historically have led to failures, and in some instances, tragic loss of life.