In response to recent reports suggesting SpaceX has monopolized the global rocket launch market, CEO Elon Musk argued that competitors simply lacked the ambition. The mission of SpaceX, he emphasized, is to facilitate multi-planetary life.
According to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, who tracks space activity, SpaceX rockets powered 66% of customer flight missions launched from U.S. sites in 2022. In the first six months of this year, that figure rose to 88%.
These figures underline SpaceX's de facto monopoly in the rocket launch industry, including astronaut transport and satellite deployment. The company's launch frequency is unmatched by its competitors, and its pricing is also more competitive.
This dominant position is likely to continue. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has forced many launch service buyers to forego the Russian Soyuz rocket, a potential alternative. The competing launch vehicles of Blue Origin and French launch company Arianespace have yet to take flight.
Additionally, some competitors transitioning to new rockets are gradually phasing out their existing ones. In June, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) deployed a government satellite using a Delta IV Heavy rocket, marking its penultimate use of this vehicle. On July 5, local time, Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket completed its final launch mission.
Former Air Force Space Command officer John Holst told The Wall Street Journal, "Competitors currently have no products to offer, making SpaceX the de facto monopolist."
In response to these reports, Musk posted on Twitter last Friday, "The goals of nations and companies are too low. Their lack of ambition is their shortfall. The mission of SpaceX is to enable life on multiple planets. Even minor success in this goal will yield improved performance in Earth's orbit."
Founded by Musk in 2002, SpaceX aims to transport humans to other planets. Since then, the company has gradually established its monopoly in the rocket launch business through vigorous testing and improvement of launch vehicles.
SpaceX is also the only company ferrying NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. A few years ago, SpaceX began handling U.S. national security space flights, breaking ULA's previous monopoly in this area.
Under the government's prioritization and the impetus of commercial satellite operators, SpaceX's launch demand continues to grow. Musk stated on Twitter in March, "Barring serious launch anomalies, SpaceX will deliver 80% of Earth's effective payload into orbit this year. And that's not even counting Starship."
