SpaceX: In Just 2026 Space X Delivers A Stunning 28.5% More Cargo Into Orbit Than All Space Shuttle Flights Combined

In just 38 weeks this year, SpaceX has delivered more cargo into orbit in fewer flights than the Space Shuttle delivered in 30 years of service.

This stunning accomplishment shows the geometric change in a number of different fields brought about by the ability to truly reuse rockets and find large scale commercial uses for space flight.

During the Space Shuttle 135 flights, the partially reusable craft with less than 20% of the cargo capacity of the Starship and less than half the cargo of the Falcon, delivered 1,360 metric tons while SpaceX delivered approximately 1,900 tons into low earth orbit.

For decades since the beginning of the space era with the launching of the Sputnik in 1957, the promise of widespread commercial applications for space cargo has fascinated the world. It would appear that SpaceX is delivering on that promise through the launch of over 11,000 Starlink satellites that differ from previous earth orbit communications because of their capability to provide global communications in competition with terrestrial cable and data services.

The Association of Western Employers analysis of the size of historic spacecraft from December 2025 can be seen here.

As the Starship and upgraded V3 Starlink satellites come into regular service in 2027, the availability of high speed internet and data from space will likely continue to rapidly reshape business opportunities across the board.

The Association of Western Employers will continue to track the important opportunities that continue to emerge from the widespread commercialization of space.