China Seen Outpacing US in Orbital Launch Attempts in 2018
There were 114 orbital launch attempts worldwide in 2018, with China accounting for 39, surpassing the U.S.' 34, Jonathan McDowell, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics astronomer, tweeted Monday. He said the U.S. had more launch attempts in three of the four…
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previous years, with the two nations tying in 2016. Of those 114 launch attempts -- 112 successful -- 24 were by commercial operators under host government contract and 28 for commercial customers that included foreign governments. The year had 461 satellite launches, up from 441, with the U.S. having 205. Of the 190 with mass of 100 kilograms or more, 62 were U.S. manufactured, with China at 58. McDowell said 18,995 objects in orbit or beyond were cataloged by Dec. 31. Fourteen geostationary satellites were retired last year, with seven satellite breakups or debris events.