SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is gearing up for an impressive 144 rocket launches in the upcoming year, according to a statement provided to Ars Technica.
The space company is already on track to break its previous records for annual launches in 2023, targeting 100 rockets launched by the end of December.
This surge in launch activity is closely tied to SpaceX’s expanding Starlink satellite internet service.
In 2021, SpaceX conducted 31 missions, but this number nearly doubled to 61 in the following year.
The planned surge in launches in 2024 is aimed at supporting the Starlink Direct to Cell service, which partners with T-Mobile to offer mobile services through Starlink satellites, making it especially valuable in areas with no cell coverage, including during emergencies.
“With our 2 million users, we need that constellation refreshed,” noted a SpaceX official.
Achieving the ambitious target for 2024 will necessitate a launch every 2.5 days, compared to the current pace of one launch every 3.5 days.