A world record of 210 successful orbital launches was set in 2023, but Europe has slipped further behind the global leaders. The continent contributed just three of the year’s launches — its lowest total since 2004. It’s a figure that pales in comparison to several individual nations. The US alone had 109 successful orbital launches — the most a single country has ever completed. The previous record holder was the Soviet Union, which sent 108 rockets into orbit in 1982. Taking the silver medal for 2023 was China, with 66 successful launches. Russia, which is categorised separately from Europe due…
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