On January 21, 2025, SpaceX marked a significant milestone by successfully landing the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket for the 400th time after launching 27 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This mission underscores SpaceX's dominance in reusable rocket technology. The Falcon 9's first stage returned to Earth approximately eight minutes post-launch, landing on a drone ship at sea. Most of the 400 landings have been accomplished by the Falcon 9, with one booster achieving a record of 25 launches and landings. The Falcon Heavy, another SpaceX vehicle, has contributed to this tally with its own landings.
In parallel, China launched 18 satellites as part of its Thousand Sails megaconstellation on January 23, 2025. The Long March 6A rocket lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, successfully deploying the Qianfan satellites into orbit. This launch is part of a broader initiative by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology to establish a constellation aimed at providing low Earth orbit internet services. Following this launch, there are now 72 Qianfan satellites in orbit, with plans to expand to 14,000 satellites by the end of 2025.
The Long March 6A, which combines a liquid propellant core stage with solid propellant side boosters, has been launched ten times since its introduction in 2022. Despite its successful launches, the rocket has faced challenges, including fragmentation of its upper stage, which has generated significant orbital debris. CASC, the organization behind the Long March 6A, anticipates over ten launches of this rocket in 2025, as part of a broader goal to achieve around 100 launches this year.
Both SpaceX's achievement and China's satellite deployment reflect significant advancements in global space exploration and technology, highlighting the competitive landscape of commercial and state-sponsored space initiatives.