Rocket launches and space launches are not very common in the scheme of things. There are around 1.5 billion cars in the world, and perhaps 40,000 aeroplanes. By contrast, there have been fewer than.
Moon missions are still difficult and dangerous, with only four countries achieving successful soft landings on the lunar surface. Space missions have a high failure rate, but progress is being made gradually.
With the explosive growth of autonomous machines in both form factors and functions, we may have entered a new technological era. Which country will lead this next phase?