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0 pointsAdamJacobMuller1y ago0 comments

The thing is, it's not even remotely close.

SpaceX had 98 launches in 2023.

ULA, the closest competitor, had 3.

For all of these others, considering that this article is from 2022, how many of them even still exist?

Don't get me wrong, I hope SpaceX gets some stiff competition because I believe that competition breeds innovation. At the moment, however, I have no idea where that is going to come from or when it might reasonably come.

0 comments

tw041y ago

So you didn't click the link? Because ULA wasn't second, rocket labs had 9 launches last year and 24 scheduled this year.

As I said, the launch industry in the US is robust.

lupusreal1y ago

When/if SpaceX gets Starship operational, small outfits like Rocket Lab won't be able to compete. ULA will probably survive in some form though either due to being a well established in Washington (read: old trusted corruption), or through a merger with Blue Origin (read: bailed out by Bezos.)

AdamJacobMullerOP1y ago

I did?

No. 1: SpaceX

No. 2: United Launch Alliance

From TFA

Even if you're right, having 1 company with 10x of the #2 is not what I would describe as healthy.

perilunar1y ago

> I hope SpaceX gets some stiff competition because I believe that competition breeds innovation

They are the competition and the innovation. I don't see them slacking off until they get to Mars at least.

TulliusCicero1y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Electron_launches ?

blkhawk1y ago

Maybe he meant "copetitors at the same scale"- At oleast thats how I read it.

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