Some people may say that the space age started the day the first rocket left the atmosphere. For others it's sputnik or Luka the first living organism that we sent to space. The Russian space agency never made any provision for her to survive, and the entire craft including the unfortunate dog burned up in reentry. Then we have Yuri Gagarin the first human in space in April 12, 1961 or Neil Armstrong the first person to set foot on the moon at 02:56 GMT on 21 July 1969.

The trend in the average rocket launches per year for each decade reflects key historical and technological developments:

1920s: This was the decade when rocket engines were first successfully working.

1930s: Further developement in to the technology created better engines

1940s: (1 space launch per year on average this decade)

Developed by Germany during World War II, the V-2 was the first long-range guided ballistic missile. It was capable of reaching altitudes that classified it as a suborbital space vehicle, with the first successful test flight reaching space in 1944.

After the war, many German rocket scientists, including Wernher von Braun, were brought to the United States as part of Operation Paperclip, contributing to future U.S. space efforts.

1950s: Early Tests: The 1950s saw limited rocket launches primarily focused on military applications and early research. Notably, the U.S. and the Soviet Union conducted several tests with sounding rockets and missile technology.

Sputnik 1 (1957): The Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, on October 4, 1957. This event marked the beginning of the space age and initiated a rapid increase in rocket launches.

Explorer 1 (1958): The United States followed with its first satellite, Explorer 1, launched on January 31, 1958, further solidifying the space race.

While these early efforts were critical for developing rocket technology and space exploration, the frequency of launches during the 1940s and 1950s remained low compared to later decades. The establishment of space agencies and the drive for exploration in the 1960s greatly increased the number of launches.

1960s (30 space launches/year on average this decade): The space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union resulted in a surge of launches, primarily driven by missions to explore space and demonstrate technological superiority, including milestones like the first manned spaceflights and lunar missions.

1970s (125 space launches/year on average this decade): The 1970s saw an expansion in both crewed and uncrewed missions, particularly with space stations like Skylab and Salyut. There was also a rise in satellite launches as space applications became more practical for communications, weather, and military use.

1980s (132 space launches/year on average this decade): The 1980s continued this growth, with the introduction of the Space Shuttle program. However, the 1986 Challenger disaster caused some temporary setbacks in launch numbers for the U.S., though overall activity remained strong, especially in satellite deployments.

1990s (82 space launches/year on average this decade): Launch numbers dipped in the 1990s, partly due to the end of the Cold War and the resulting decline in military-driven space launches. However, advancements in commercial satellite technology began emerging during this period.

2000s (61 space launches/year on average this decade): A further decrease in launches occurred in the early 2000s, largely due to the retirement of older launch systems and a shift towards more efficient and reusable systems. However, by the late 2000s, the commercial space industry, led by companies like SpaceX, began to emerge.

2010s (92 space launches/year on average this decade): The 2010s marked the rise of commercial spaceflight, particularly with SpaceX's reusable rockets, driving launch numbers upward again. This period also saw increased activity from China and other nations.

2020s (154 space launches/year on average this decade, so far): The 2020s are experiencing the highest rate of launches ever, fueled by an increase in commercial satellite constellations (e.g., Starlink), global competition, and the normalization of reusable rocket technology. This decade also features frequent crewed and uncrewed missions to the International Space Station, lunar exploration, and Mars missions.

Overall, the trend shows peaks in the 1960s and 1970s, followed by a decline through the 1990s and early 2000s, and then a significant rise starting in the 2010s, driven by advances in technology, commercialization, and global interest in space exploration.

About The Author
Markus Woznica
Chewells Contributor

Markus is a renewable energy expert. The technology in this sector is changing fast. There is a... »

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Replies

• Cosmic (Oct 18, 2024)
  Imagine being able to go to the moon on holiday! That would be the ultimate trip, don't you think?
• Joe (Sep 30, 2024)
  Its wild that were talkin bout living on Mars I remember when this was all just sci-fi stuff.
• Real-Talk (Jul 11, 2024)
  Space is a distraction. Governments should focus more on fixing real issues like poverty and hunger instead of wasting money on going to Mars.
• Confused Tom (Jun 18, 2024)
  Wait, so how does a rocket even work? It goes up, but how come it doesn't fall back down?
• Mags & Clare (Apr 8, 2024)
  I love using pages like this in my classroom. My students are fascinated with space exploration and this page really helps them see how far we've come!
• Leon (Apr 3, 2024)
  Exploring the stars is part of our human nature, but we must ask ourselves' what is the purpose of conquering new frontiers if we cannot find peace and harmony on Earth first?
• History Guy (Mar 25, 2024)
  Rocketry's roots in Russia should not be underestimated. Without Tsiolkovsky's early work, much of modern rocketry might not exist today.
• Janito (Mar 22, 2024)
  We gonna have space vacations soon looking down on the big blue planet from our space hotel window.
• Marco Italy (Feb 28, 2024)
  I remember watching the moon landing on TV. It's amazing how we've moved from that to now considering interplanetary travel as a real possibility. Space things seemed to go so slow for years, now its advancing fast again. Mr Musk is really shaking it up.
• JG (Feb 23, 2024)
  Space is cool and all, but how bout we fix Earth first before spending billions up there
• TechNate (Feb 18, 2024)
  This space thing just keeps getting cooler! Can't wait to see what they come up with next! AI-controlled spacecraft?
• Miss Vivian (Feb 15, 2024)
  Teaching my students about space has never been more fun. I love how this page breaks down complex concepts into easy-to-understand milestones! Bar graphs are great too! V from Brazilxx
• Priya_K (Jan 28, 2024)
  The history of rocketry is so inspiring. I'm studying engineering. One day, I hope to contribute to space exploration myself.
• John77 (Jan 28, 2024)
  Wow, what a journey! From Sputnik to SpaceX, it's crazy to think how far we've come. Can't wait to see what the next century brings!
• Johnny Boy (Jan 28, 2024)
  There are many people who do not believe that the moon landings happened I group these people with the flat earth idiots.
• Aba Selassie (Jan 28, 2024)
  Where space officially starts and where the atmosphere truly ends are actually two different places. Space begins at a point where there is still a very thin atmosphere.

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