Satellite operators are in panic mode due to a worsening launch crisis

What happens if the Falcon rockets stop flying?

The short version

• During the last three years, an average of 270 orbital rockets have launched from Earth, a more than threefold increase from only a decade ago.
• By every metric available, the launch industry is crushing it: Prices have never been more competitive, launches never more frequent, and access to space never more rapid.
• Paradoxically, though, there is a growing crunch in launch availability.

What happened

As part of his job as the director of research at Quilty Space, Caleb Henry speaks with satellite operators all the time. And he is hearing a constant and increasingly loud refrain from companies that want to put stuff into space.

Why it matters

And if things are bad now, there are reasons to believe they may get even worse over the next two to four years.

Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Ars Technica via the links above and below.