SpaceX 2026

[brovane]

SpaceX completed 2025 with 165 Falcon 9 Launches.

85% of US orbital launches this year were SpaceX missions.

SpaceX also completed this year it's 500th rocket landing and 500th launch of a flight proven booster.

Out of those launches 2 where expendable and 1 Falcon 9 booster was not recovered. After landing the booster tipped over after a fire broke out near the base and damaged a landing leg.

Additional 5 missions were Starship suborbital test flights.

Should be a interesting 2026 for US Space launches.

First crewed Artemis launch around the Moon. First crewed BEO launch since Apollo - 17 in December 1972.

Hopefully first orbital attempt for Starship and maybe a recovery of the upper stage.

First launch hopefully of Neutron, Rocket Labs new reusable rocket.

More New Glenn launches.

Of course lots of Falcon 9 launches and landings.

[Johnnie Lyle]

Mid 2026 or 2027 is also the timeframe for their IPO.

[brovane]

Mid 2026 or 2027 is also the timeframe for their IPO.

I have a investment in Rocket Labs from several years ago that I hope the SpaceX IPO pushes up the value of RKLB stock.

[Rocket J Squrriel]

I'm hoping Artemis II gets canceled or changed to unmanned. Some of the details, especially using the type heat shield that was used on the first, make me uneasy.

[brovane]

I'm hoping Artemis II gets canceled or changed to unmanned. Some of the details, especially using the type heat shield that was used on the first, make me uneasy.

I don't know if you have read this blog but it is a good read. The heatshield isn't the only problem with the Orion Capsule and Artemis II.

https://caseyhandmer.wordpress.com/2025 ... g-garbage/

image-49.png

[Rocket J Squrriel]

I haven't seen this but I've heard about some of the issues. Apollo did a number of unmanned test flights testing out the systems. Here its more of a 'That was old tech from slide rule days. We don't need no stinken testing!'

[jemhouston]

I haven't seen this but I've heard about some of the issues. Apollo did a number of unmanned test flights testing out the systems. Here its more of a 'That was old tech from slide rule days. We don't need no stinken testing!'

Artemis Started 2017 First flight 11/16/2022


Apollo Started 1960 First Flight 02/26/1966 I'm counting the first flight using a Saturn booster, not using boilerplates using Little Joe II

https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads ... 73-279.pdf

I'm siding with slide rules on this.

[brovane]

I haven't seen this but I've heard about some of the issues. Apollo did a number of unmanned test flights testing out the systems. Here its more of a 'That was old tech from slide rule days. We don't need no stinken testing!'

Artemis Started 2017 First flight 11/16/2022


Apollo Started 1960 First Flight 02/26/1966 I'm counting the first flight using a Saturn booster, not using boilerplates using Little Joe II

https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads ... 73-279.pdf

I'm siding with slide rules on this.

NASA did a crew test of the CMS in Earth Orbit (Apollo-7) before sending the Capsule to the Moon on Apollo-8. I guess NASA decided to skip that step. The Saturn-V was flown twice unmanned before crew was put aboard for Apollo-8. Apollo7 used a Saturn-1B since it was Earth Orbit.

NASA did perform a unmanned test of the Orion spacecraft in December of 2014 using a Delta IV-H. Since the Service Module wasn't ready at the time, they used a structural test article and the Delta IV upper stage upper stage remained attached.