US Launch company Power Rankings
January 6, 2026
By Chris Forrester
Rocket launch observer and acknowledged expert Eric Berger has compiled his annual Power Ranking of the US rocket companies for 2025, and listed in the ArsTechnica specialist publication.
Berger has compiled the list since 2022 with the aim of “[sparking] debate, discussion, and appreciation for the challenge of operating a successful rocket company.”
Top of the list is – inevitably – SpaceX which last year placed more than 1 million kgs of cargo into orbit. This year SpaceX faces the challenge of further refining its massive Starship rocket.
Number 2 – and up from Number 4 in 2024 – is Jeff Bezos and his Blue Origin rocket company. It made global headlines with its famous Katy Perry launch into what is best described as ‘sub-space’. Berger cheekily – but not seriously – says that had they not brought the singer back then he might have placed the Bezos business as Number One!
Number 3 is Rocket Lab having managed 18 of its Electron version launches, and almost three dozen launches without failure. 2026 will see its medium-lift Neutron rocket make its debut flight.
Number 4 – and down from Number 2 – is the United Launch Alliance (ULA). December saw President/CEO Tory Bruno step down (he joined Blue Origin). ULA launched 6 times last year, and is looking to bring into regular use its massive Vulcan rocket.
Number 5 is Northrop Grumman, and a successful launch of its Minotaur IV rocket. It has a busy manifest up ahead with its Antares 330 rocket and the company supplies solid rocket boosters for ULA.
Number 6 is Firefly, and its Blue Ghost lander which reached the Moon, and the first private company to achieve a Moon landing. However, it has to fix a few problems with its Alpha rocket which suffered a mishap in April 2025.
Number 7 is Stoke Space despite not having launched a rocket yet. But work on its Nova project is coming to a head and in October 2025 it raised $510 million in a Series D financing round.
Number 8 is Relatively Space which just a year ago was facing bankruptcy. But former Google boss Eric Schmidt stepped in to keep the company in business. Relatively is building its Terran R rocket, but Berger says is unlikely to launch in 2026.
Number 9 is Astra which is developing its Rocket 4 vehicle which is looking to launch this mid-year.
Number 10 goes to two operators: Phantom Space and Vaya Space. Phantom is building its Daytona rocket, while Vaya is busy with its Dauntless vehicle. Berger is not hopeful that either will fly this year.
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