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US leads world in 2023 launches, sats on orbit: study
Breaking Defense ^ | January 04, 2024 at 3:51 PM | Theresa Hitchens

Posted on 01/09/2024 8:37:56 AM PST by Fish Speaker

WASHINGTON — The United States led the world, far surpassing both China and Russia, in the number of space launches and satellites placed on orbit in 2023, according to a just-released study.

But rather than the US government it is one US company, billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX, responsible for that victory — a situation that is not new, but one that has been exacerbated since 2019 and the firm’s first launch for its Starlink mega-constellation to provide global internet access.

The numbers capture a number of key trends, including Russia’s failure “to keep up with evolving launch capabilities by the other space powers,” said Victoria Samson, head Secure World Foundation’s Washington Office.

(Excerpt) Read more at breakingdefense.com ...


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: elon; musk; satellites; spacex
SpaceX alone was responsible for 98 of the 109 launch attempts made by the US in 2023, and 1,937 of the 2,234 US satellites successfully orbited.
1 posted on 01/09/2024 8:37:56 AM PST by Fish Speaker
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To: Fish Speaker
But rather than the US government it is one US company, billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX, responsible for that victory

All else being equal, and left to its normal devices, US Government is as corrupt, bloated and inefficient as any government in the world. Often, its worse, because in Asia, they at least have shame culture, and moreover we have cultivated extreme entitlement and narcissism among our ruling elites.

Its NEVER been the case that government is responsible for the advances of this country, or its power and wealth. it has always been civil society and private enterprise.

2 posted on 01/09/2024 8:42:17 AM PST by PGR88
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To: PGR88

If NASA was in charge of music we would still be using eight track tapes—and issuing press releases bragging about it.


3 posted on 01/09/2024 8:46:28 AM PST by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
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To: Fish Speaker

SpaceX is not only the world’s leading provider of orbital launch services, it is also its own largest customer. Most of those 1,937 satellites are Starlink sats.


4 posted on 01/09/2024 8:48:36 AM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: cgbg
If NASA was in charge of music we would still be using eight track tapes—and issuing press releases bragging about it.

Americans are still, thankfully, terrible at marxism. Our present ruling political clique is trying its damnedest to convert us. They may bankrupt the nation in the process

A corollary to my statement is that the more we try to "out-central-plan" countries like China and Russia, the more they will kick our ass.

5 posted on 01/09/2024 8:50:55 AM PST by PGR88
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To: Fish Speaker
Musk watching is Fun Bump!

Thanks, Fish!

6 posted on 01/09/2024 8:55:09 AM PST by Navy Patriot (Celebrate Decivilization)
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To: Fish Speaker

Elon Musk is someone who will be studied by schoolchildren hundreds of years from now.

He’s truly an impressive person.

We won’t remember the other billionaires.


7 posted on 01/09/2024 8:55:54 AM PST by packagingguy
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To: PGR88

The other edge China and Russia have is that they honor their citizens instead of demonizing them and trying to replace them with foreign invaders.

Long term that is a gigantic advantage.

Morale is critical.


8 posted on 01/09/2024 9:00:29 AM PST by cgbg ("Our democracy" = Their Kleptocracy)
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To: PGR88; cgbg
Americans are still, thankfully, terrible at Marxism.

Generally speaking, yes, however American Democrats have perfected it.

They do it better at home than the Communist Chinese do in China.

9 posted on 01/09/2024 9:02:17 AM PST by Navy Patriot (Celebrate Decivilization)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...

10 posted on 01/09/2024 5:11:40 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Politics do not make strange bedfellows, and the enemy of your enemy may still be your enemy.)
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