U.S. Space Launch

This data repository visualizes the cumulative space launches among the major American rocket families between 2002 and 2020. The data is current as of June 29, 2020.

We encourage corrections, additions, and suggestions. Please direct all messages to aerospace@csis.org.

Methodology

This data repository utilizes publicly available launch data, including Gunter’s Space Page (GSP)¹, SpaceX’s launch manifest², and the United Launch Alliance’s launch manifest³ to collect the number of space launches per rocket by year.

The rockets included in this repository were chosen because they make up the bulk of America’s launches since 2002. Despite relatively low launch numbers, “Heavy” variants of the rockets were included to illustrate their growing usage.

This data repository considers successful launches to be those whose payloads reach their intended orbit. Missions where the rocket failed but the payload reached its destination, like Falcon 9’s October 8, 2012 launch, are considered successes in this repository.