Elon Musk has outlined an ambitious plan to launch rockets at an average rate of one per hour within five years, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The government agency disclosed the target after a meeting with SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell, who informed FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford on Wednesday that the company intends to scale its annual launch count from 170 in 2025 to 10,000 by 2031.
FAA Conditions for Approval
The FAA stated that SpaceX would need to demonstrate enhanced reliability in its operations to secure licenses for such a high launch frequency. This comes as SpaceX already holds the record for the most rocket launches in a single year, having completed 165 orbital missions and five suborbital Starship launches in 2025. That figure more than doubled China's orbital missions last year and accounted for approximately 85% of all US rocket launches.
Historic IPO Filing
The launch goal was revealed as SpaceX prepares for what could be the largest initial public offering (IPO) in history. The company filed its IPO on Wednesday, valuing SpaceX at $1.25 trillion. In the filing, SpaceX outlined plans to expand its space dominance, with Musk already controlling over two-thirds of all active satellites. Future projects include in-orbit data centres, lunar and Martian factories, space tourism, and asteroid mining.
Key IPO Statement: "We believe space represents the largest economic frontier in human history. We currently stand alone in our ability to deliver revolutionary breakthroughs across spaceflight and exploration, global connectivity, and artificial intelligence, enabling an age of abundance that we believe has the potential to propel an unprecedented expansion in the global economy."
Upcoming Starship Test
The success of the IPO may hinge on an upcoming test of Starship, the world's largest rocket, which will perform its first orbital flight test of 2026. This test will involve Starship Version 3, an upgraded system intended for crew and cargo transport as part of NASA's Artemis IV mission to the lunar surface in 2028.
