"Which US rocket companies achieved the most during 2025? Once again, Ars Technica is here to provide some answers in the form of our annual power ranking of US launch companies. We began doing this in 2022 and have since put out a top-10 list every year (see 2023 and 2024). Our intent, as always, is to spark debate, discussion, and appreciation for the challenge of operating a successful rocket company. It's a demanding business, both technically and financially."
"As of the first week of December, SpaceX has launched 165 rockets in 2025, the vast majority of which were used Falcon 9 boosters. The company has put more than 1 million tons of cargo into orbit and remains NASA's essential contractor for keeping the International Space Station operating with a steady rotation of crew and consumables. Regarding the larger Starship vehicle, this was a frustrating year for SpaceX."
There are fresh faces entering the 2025 rankings of US rocket companies. An annual top-10 power ranking combines subjective judgment with hard metrics such as total launches, tonnage to orbit, and success rate. The evaluation focuses solely on accomplishments during 2025. SpaceX led the industry with 165 launches and delivered more than one million tons to orbit while serving as a primary NASA contractor for International Space Station resupply and crew rotations. Starship development suffered early upper-stage failures in January, March, and May, followed by two improved flights and a catastrophic Block 3 Super Heavy booster failure during pressure testing. Blue Origin rose from fourth to second in the rankings.
Read at Ars Technica
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