Elon Musk is planning hourly rocket launches in quest to dominate space
SpaceX plans to increase its annual rocket launches from 170 in 2025 to 10,000 by 2031, aiming for an hourly launch rate within five years, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. The company must demonstrate improved reliability to secure FAA licenses for such a high launch cadence, while also preparing for a $1.25 trillion IPO and expanding into in-orbit data centers, lunar/Martian factories, space tourism, and asteroid mining.
SpaceX aims to launch an average of one rocket per hour within five years, targeting 10,000 annual launches by 2031, up from 170 in 2025. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed this goal after meeting with SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell, who stated the company would need to prove improved reliability to secure the necessary launch licenses. The FAA’s disclosure follows SpaceX’s record-breaking 165 orbital launches in 2025, exceeding China’s total and accounting for 85% of U.S. launches. The company’s ambitious expansion aligns with its upcoming IPO, which values SpaceX at $1.25 trillion and outlines plans for in-orbit data centers, lunar and Martian factories, space tourism, and asteroid mining. The IPO filing highlights SpaceX’s dominance in space, with Elon Musk already controlling over two-thirds of all active satellites. Success may hinge on the upcoming orbital test of Starship Version 3, scheduled for 2026, which will support NASA’s Artemis IV mission to the lunar surface in 2028. SpaceX’s vision centers on ‘the largest economic frontier in human history,’ emphasizing breakthroughs in spaceflight, global connectivity, and AI. The company claims its innovations could unlock unprecedented global economic growth, positioning it as the sole provider of revolutionary space solutions.
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