Over 1,800 objects were launched into space in 2021 according to Our World in Data. The annual number has grown greatly in recent years, the first time more than 200 objects were launched into space in a single year was in 2013.
Our World in Data uses the United Nations Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space as a data source, which is maintained by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). UNOOSA describes the history of the register as follows
Since 1962, the United Nations has maintained a Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space. Originally established as a mechanism to aid the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in its discussions on the political, legal and technical issues concerning outer space, the evolution of international space law resulted in space object registration becoming a means of identifying which States' bear international responsibility and liability for space objects.
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To date over 88% of all satellites, probes, landers, crewed spacecraft and space station flight elements launched into Earth orbit or beyond have been registered with the Secretary-General.
According to the Our World in Data the chart Annual number of objects launched into space includes
satellites, probes, landers, crewed spacecrafts, and space station flight elements launched into Earth orbit or beyond.
Will more than 11,000 objects be launched into space in 2025?
This question will resolve based on the global number of objects launched into space in 2025 according to Our World In Data. For example, this figure was 1,807 in 2021.
For this question, "launching" into space is not restricted to conventional rocketry, but includes all means of travelling off Earth, including space elevators, mass drivers, space tethers/skyhooks, and other future launch methods.
The resolution will be determined by the earliest credible data reported by Our World in Data; later updates or revisions by OWID will be irrelevant to the question resolution.
If OWID no longer reports data for 2025, I may use an alternative credible source of data, or resolve as NA.
Close date updated to 2024-12-30 12:59 pm
