SpaceX might ramp up its already-impressive launch cadence significantly subsequent yr.
SpaceX has launched 39 orbital missions thus far in 2022 — about one each six days. The ever-growing tally has shattered the corporate’s earlier file for many liftoffs in a yr, 31, which was set in 2021.
However SpaceX will apparently purpose even larger in 2023. Ars Technica’s Eric Berger tweeted Wednesday (opens in new tab) that he is heard the corporate intends to launch 100 missions subsequent yr — a rumor that SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk quickly confirmed.
“Yeah, aiming for as much as 100 flights subsequent yr,” the billionaire entrepreneur stated in a Wednesday tweet of his personal (opens in new tab).
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Lots of these upcoming missions will seemingly launch massive batches of satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband constellation. In any case, 25 of SpaceX’s 39 launches this yr have been devoted Starlink flights, which loft about 50 satellites into orbit at a time.
All Starlink missions up to now have launched atop SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9 rocket, however that would change subsequent yr. The corporate is working to get its next-generation spaceflight system, an enormous rocket-spaceship combo generally known as Starship, up and operating within the close to future.
Certainly, the primary Starship orbital check flight might raise off within the subsequent few months from Starbase, SpaceX’s South Texas facility. The corporate has not too long ago began conducting “static fireplace” engine exams with Booster 7 and Ship 24, the 2 Starship prototype components that can launch on that mission.
Starship is essential to SpaceX’s plans; the totally reusable car might be cost-effective sufficient to make Mars colonization economically possible, Musk has stated. And SpaceX will depend on the enormous rocket to loft its massive and ponderous Starlink Model 2 satellites, which might be able to beaming service on to smartphones.
Mike Wall is the creator of “Out There (opens in new tab)” (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate), a e book concerning the seek for alien life. Observe him on Twitter @michaeldwall (opens in new tab). Observe us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) or on Fb (opens in new tab).
