Blue Origin and ULA (and they may soon be the same company) are pretty clearly threatened by SpaceX.
On the other hand, there have never been launch operations at this scale, anywhere. SpaceX should be getting on to sea launch as soon as possible, particularly given the much greater flexibility of orbital destinations this will give them.
[Update a while later]
More from Stephen Clark.
[Tuesday-afternoon update]
More from Jeff Foust. I was amused at this: “Ariane 6 is an answer to their needs. We’ll go through the inaugural launch, we’ll serve those customers, and we will continue to innovate.”
“Continue” to innovate? I’m still waiting for them to start.
[Bumped]
[Update a few minutes later]
Meanwhile, in French Guiana:
Just wow!#Ariane6 pic.twitter.com/r1tCtgWAFe
— Deutsche Raumfahrtagentur (@DLR_SpaceAgency) July 9, 2024