Business of Space

SpaceX Has a Stranglehold on Launches as Competitors Flounder

Flight suspensions following rocket failures threaten to increase a launch backlog.

The Blue Origin New Glenn rocket stands ready for launch at the Cape Canaveral Space Force station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on April 18.Photographer: John Raoux/AP

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By Bruce Einhorn

May 6, 2026 at 2:37 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Hi, it’s Bruce Einhorn in Princeton, New Jersey. Last month’s New Glenn failure is just the latest setback by SpaceX rivals that have strengthened the company’s dominant position ahead of its IPO. But first ...

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