Cumulative number of objects launched into space in United States
United States: Cumulative number of objects launched into space was 15,677 objects in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Cumulative number of objects launched into space in United States, 1958–2025
Source: United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in objects.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cumulative number of objects launched into space in United States is 15,677 objects, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 68 years on record.
That represents a change of up 31.0% on the previous year and up 559.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative number of objects launched into space in United States peaked at 15,677 objects in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7 objects, in 1958.
That places United States 1st out of 50 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative number of objects launched into space in United States, year by year
| Year | objects | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 7 objects | — |
| 1959 | 18 objects | +157.1% |
| 1960 | 35 objects | +94.4% |
| 1961 | 66 objects | +88.6% |
| 1962 | 121 objects | +83.3% |
| 1963 | 175 objects | +44.6% |
| 1964 | 246 objects | +40.6% |
| 1965 | 340 objects | +38.2% |
| 1966 | 439 objects | +29.1% |
| 1967 | 524 objects | +19.4% |
| 1968 | 585 objects | +11.6% |
| 1969 | 647 objects | +10.6% |
| 1970 | 678 objects | +4.8% |
| 1971 | 724 objects | +6.8% |
| 1972 | 761 objects | +5.1% |
| 1973 | 789 objects | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 808 objects | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 838 objects | +3.7% |
| 1976 | 864 objects | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 888 objects | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 923 objects | +3.9% |
| 1979 | 942 objects | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 958 objects | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 978 objects | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 998 objects | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 1,024 objects | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 1,055 objects | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 1,085 objects | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 1,096 objects | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 1,106 objects | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 1,125 objects | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 1,150 objects | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 1,194 objects | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 1,226 objects | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 1,254 objects | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 1,285 objects | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 1,320 objects | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 1,360 objects | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 1,401 objects | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 1,489 objects | +6.3% |
| 1998 | 1,580 objects | +6.1% |
| 1999 | 1,660 objects | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 1,716 objects | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 1,750 objects | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 1,783 objects | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 1,811 objects | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 1,832 objects | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 1,853 objects | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 1,889 objects | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 1,935 objects | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 1,960 objects | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 1,998 objects | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 2,034 objects | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 2,064 objects | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 2,098 objects | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 2,178 objects | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 2,274 objects | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 2,379 objects | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 2,484 objects | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 2,770 objects | +11.5% |
| 2018 | 2,961 objects | +6.9% |
| 2019 | 3,323 objects | +12.2% |
| 2020 | 4,307 objects | +29.6% |
| 2021 | 5,539 objects | +28.6% |
| 2022 | 7,475 objects | +35.0% |
| 2023 | 9,708 objects | +29.9% |
| 2024 | 11,969 objects | +23.3% |
| 2025 | 15,677 objects | +31.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 15,677 objects is above the median for high income countries, which is 40 objects, 391.9× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative number of objects launched into space in United States changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | +157.1% | 7 objects | 18 objects |
| 1960 | +94.4% | 18 objects | 35 objects |
| 1961 | +88.6% | 35 objects | 66 objects |
| 1962 | +83.3% | 66 objects | 121 objects |
| 1963 | +44.6% | 121 objects | 175 objects |
| 1964 | +40.6% | 175 objects | 246 objects |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12.5 objects | 7 objects | 18 objects | 2 |
| 1960s | 317.8 objects | 35 objects | 647 objects | 10 |
| 1970s | 821.5 objects | 678 objects | 942 objects | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,058 objects | 958 objects | 1,150 objects | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,377 objects | 1,194 objects | 1,660 objects | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,853 objects | 1,716 objects | 1,998 objects | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,456 objects | 2,034 objects | 3,323 objects | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,112 objects | 4,307 objects | 15,677 objects | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cumulative number of objects launched into space in United States?
- Cumulative number of objects launched into space in United States was 15,677 objects in 2025, according to United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cumulative number of objects launched into space recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 15,677 objects in 2025.
- What is the lowest cumulative number of objects launched into space recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 7 objects in 1958.
- How does United States rank for cumulative number of objects launched into space?
- United States ranks 1st out of 50 countries with data for 2025.
- Is cumulative number of objects launched into space rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 559.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Cumulative number of objects launched into space. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 68 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Cumulative number of satellites, probes, landers, crewed spacecrafts, and space station flight elements, launched into Earth orbit or beyond.