In this piece, we will take a look at the five biggest rocket companies in the world. For more rocket companies, head on over to 15 Biggest Rocket Companies in the World.
5. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Number of Launches: 43
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. operates the HII-A and HII-B rockets, which are orbital systems capable of carrying 4.1 tonnes to geostationary transfer orbit. While the rocket has launched 46 missions, 12 of these were conducted by JAXA before the rocket was privatized. The company is the primary rocket provider for the Japanese space agency and it is also Arianespace’s backup lauch provider.
4. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)
Number of Launches: 89
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is a diversified rocket company that makes several rockets for space use as well as missile products that include hypersonics, warheads, air to air, ground to ground and air to ground tactical propulsion, missile defense rockets, fuzzing systems, and tactical subsystems. Not to mention, Grumman is also slated to make the LGM-35 Sentinel ICBM, which will replace the Minuteman missile in 2029.
As of December 2022, 49 of the 943 hedge funds surveyed by Insider Monkey had bought Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)’s shares. Rajiv Jain’s GQG Partners is its largest investor through a $428 million stake.
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3. United Launch Alliance
Number of Launches: 154
The United Launch Alliance is a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin. It is America’s most diverse rocket company, which is capable of launching to a wide variety of orbits and destinations such as geostationary transfer, geosynchronous equatorial, sun synchronous, Earth escape, and middle Earth orbits.
2. Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX)
Number of Launches: 223
SpaceX is the world’s only company capable of autonomously landing a medium lift rocket vertically. Its Falcon 9 rocket has conducted hundreds of successful flights, and to build on this, the firm is developing the Starship rocket in Boca Chica, Texas. Starship aims to be the world’s biggest rocket at launch and it will use a whopping 33 engines on its first stage for flights to Moon and Mars. Determined to do everything on its to save costs, SpaceX makes its own rocket engines, its own satellites, and other crucial components for its rockets internally. Its Raptor 2 rocket engine is also America’s first full flow staged combustion rocket engine and will power Starship.
1. Arianespace SA
Number of Launches: 247
Arianespace SA is the world’s oldest commercial rocket launch company. It operates the Ariane 5, Soyuz, and Vega rockets, with its first rocket, the Ariane 1 being launched in 1979. It was the world’s largest rocket company in terms of market share before SpaceX reduced the cost to orbit by reusing the Falcon 9 first stage. Its parent also makes the M51 submarine ballistic missiles for France.
Disclosure: None. You can also take a look at 16 Best Places in New York for Young Adults and 17 Most Valuable E-Commerce Companies in the World.
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