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How many rocket launches have there been in 2026?

So far in 2026, there have been 246 orbital launch attempts, and 239 succeeded. 2026 stands at 246 through October 16, 3 ahead of the 243 at the same point in 2025. The United States led with 131, and SpaceX flew 120.

246

Launch attempts so far

239

Successful

120

By SpaceX

Carrying Starlink

The Space Launch System rocket rising on a column of flame and smoke — NASA's Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft lifts off on the Artemis II test flight from Launch Complex 39B on April 1, 2026. Photo: NASA/Michael DeMocker.

3,642 payloads were carried into orbit. 7 launches failed. 3 Starship test flights are included in the total.

Launches by month

Orbital launch attempts each month of 2026. The year is partial, through October 16.

By country

United States131 (53.3%)
China72 (29.3%)
New Zealand15 (6.1%)
Russia14 (5.7%)
France4 (1.6%)
India3 (1.2%)
Japan3 (1.2%)
Italy2 (0.8%)

By rocket

Falcon 9114 (46.3%)
Electron15 (6.1%)
Chang Zheng 6A8 (3.3%)
Soyuz-2-1B7 (2.8%)
Chang Zheng 8A5 (2.0%)
Chang Zheng 125 (2.0%)
Chang Zheng 2D5 (2.0%)
Lijian-15 (2.0%)

Launches in every year since 1957.

Sources and method

GCAT by Jonathan McDowell, CC BY 4.0. Updated October 17, 2026. Data from GCAT (J. McDowell, planet4589.org/space/gcat).
Counts are one per launch, not per satellite, and include failures and Starship test flights. 2026 is partial, through October 16.

How many rocket launches have there been in 2026?

Launches by month

By country

By launch site

By rocket

Sources and method