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As launch failures grow, satellite operators are more resilient to risk

Rocket Lab launched the final pair of TROPICS satellites for NASA on May 26, 2023, after the first two were lost in an Astra rocket failure. Even with this setback, NASA was able to begin mission operations for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season after launching the remaining four satellites in the constellation. Credit: Rocket Lab

Increasing annual launches and new players in the launch market have led to several notable payload delivery failures over the past few years.

U.S. Private Sector Space Employment Shows Steady Growth

A Blue Origin New Glenn launch vehicle rolls out for testing ahead of a planned 2024 maiden flight. The firm had 1,574 job openings posted in March. Credit: Blue Origin

Monitoring trends in this workforce across private, civil, and national security sectors and examining changes in wages and location of employment provides insight into broader space industry dynamics.

2 U.S. spaceports gain funds amid huge upswing in launch pace

A SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket lifts off at Vandenberg Space Force Base in September. The mission carried the Space Development Agency’s second round of satellites.

In the last decade, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (the Cape) in Florida and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California have supported more launches than other U.S. launch facilities.