In an extraordinary sequence of events, six rockets blasted off toward orbit in less than 18 hours, setting a new Space Launch Record for the most launches in a single 24-hour period. This flurry of activity surpassed the previous record by two launches and offered a glimpse into the rapidly accelerating pace of global space operations.
The launch marathon began in China on Monday, April 28, at 4:10 p.m. EDT, when a Long March 5B rocket lifted off from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island. It carried satellites for the Guowang broadband megaconstellation, China’s answer to global internet service from space. Just 32 minutes later, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, deploying 27 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit.
By 7:01 p.m. EDT, yet another rocket—United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V—took flight from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This mission marked the beginning of Amazon’s Project Kuiper, placing 27 satellites into orbit for its upcoming internet constellation. The launch activity didn’t stop there. About three and a half hours later, SpaceX returned with another Falcon 9 mission—this time from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center—sending an additional 23 Starlink satellites into orbit and contributing to its growing Space Launch Record.
A Day Dominated by Internet Megaconstellations
Monday’s four successful launches all occurred within just 6.5 hours and originated from four separate sites: China, California, and two locations in Florida. They also shared a common goal—expanding internet access via low Earth orbit satellite constellations. SpaceX’s Starlink is already operational, while Guowang and Project Kuiper are in the early stages of deployment.
These launches illustrate the global race to establish space-based broadband infrastructure, a sector poised to redefine internet access and competition in the coming years. With companies and governments investing heavily in satellite networks, the need for rapid, frequent launches is escalating.
This milestone also highlights the growing capabilities of commercial and state-run space entities to coordinate back-to-back missions at unprecedented speeds. Notably, all four broadband-related launches succeeded without incident, showcasing reliability in an industry known for complexity and risk.
Tuesday Brings Two More Launches—One Success, One Setback
The momentum continued into Tuesday, April 29, with two additional liftoffs. At 5:15 a.m. EDT, an Arianespace Vega-C rocket launched from Kourou, French Guiana, delivering the European Space Agency’s Biomass satellite to orbit. The satellite will monitor forest density and carbon levels, supporting climate change research. This mission marked Vega-C’s fourth launch and its second successful flight following a 2022 failure.
A few hours later, at 9:37 a.m. EDT, Firefly Aerospace launched its Alpha rocket from Vandenberg. The mission carried a satellite technology demonstrator for Lockheed Martin. However, the launch encountered a problem during stage separation, resulting in the loss of the payload.
Despite the setback, five out of six launches were successful, marking a historic day in spaceflight. With the pace of launches accelerating due to growing demand for satellite services and technological demonstrations, industry watchers suggest this Space Launch Record-breaking day could be a preview of the future.
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