Active mission

Falcon 9

SpaceX's partially reusable workhorse, the most-flown orbital rocket in the world.

Image: SpaceX (CC0) via Wikimedia Commons

Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket whose first stage flies itself back to a landing pad or drone ship, is refurbished, and launches again. That reusability, proven in 2015 when a booster first landed intact, turned rockets from single-use hardware into vehicles that fly dozens of times.

The current Block 5 version launches Starlink internet satellites, cargo and crew to the International Space Station aboard Dragon, and payloads for commercial and government customers. Its launch cadence is higher than any rocket in history, with individual boosters flying well over 20 times.

Falcon 9 made orbit cheaper and more routine than at any point in the space age. By landing and reflying boosters, SpaceX drove down the cost per launch and drove up the pace, reshaping the economics that every other launch company now competes against.

Key Facts

Operator
SpaceX
First flight
June 4, 2010
First booster landing
December 21, 2015
Reusability
First stage lands and reflies; Block 5
Payload to LEO
About 22.8 t (expendable)

Timeline

  1. June 2010

    Falcon 9 debuts from Cape Canaveral

  2. December 2015

    First successful first-stage landing

  3. March 2017

    First reflight of a recovered orbital booster

  4. May 2020

    Launches NASA astronauts on Crew Dragon's Demo-2

  5. Next up

    Ongoing Starlink, Dragon, and customer launches

Latest Falcon 9 News

Covered bySpaceflight NowNASASpaceflightSpaceNewsNASANASA News
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 27 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg
SpaceXSpaceflight NowAug 25, 2026

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 27 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg

The Falcon 9 rocket will fly on a south-easterly trajectory upon launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Liftoff is scheduled for 2:34 a.m. PDT (5:34 a.m. EDT / 0934 UTC).

Commercial Crew
NASA buys rides: private spacecraft carrying astronauts to the space station. Learn more →
Falcon 9
SpaceX's partially reusable workhorse, the most-flown orbital rocket in the world. Learn more →
Launch Preview: Falcon Heavy to launch Roman telescope, Falcon 9 to launch Starlink satellites
SpaceXNASASpaceflightAug 24, 2026

Launch Preview: Falcon Heavy to launch Roman telescope, Falcon 9 to launch Starlink satellites

This week will see five orbital launches from China, the United States, and French Guiana.… The post Launch Preview: Falcon Heavy to launch Roman telescope, Falcon 9 to launch Starlink satellites appeared first on NASASp

Commercial Crew
NASA buys rides: private spacecraft carrying astronauts to the space station. Learn more →
Falcon 9
SpaceX's partially reusable workhorse, the most-flown orbital rocket in the world. Learn more →
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch Starlink mission on a Falcon booster’s record-breaking 37th flight
SpaceXSpaceflight NowAug 24, 2026

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch Starlink mission on a Falcon booster’s record-breaking 37th flight

The Starlink 10-49 mission is set to be the 100th launch of a Falcon 9 rocket in 2026. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled for 5:33 a.m. EDT (0933 UTC).

Commercial Crew
NASA buys rides: private spacecraft carrying astronauts to the space station. Learn more →
Falcon 9
SpaceX's partially reusable workhorse, the most-flown orbital rocket in the world. Learn more →
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 100th orbital mission of 2026
SpaceXSpaceflight NowAug 21, 2026

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 100th orbital mission of 2026

The Starlink 15-20 mission represents the 99th Falcon 9 rocket launch of the year. Liftoff from pad 4 East is scheduled for 12:25 a.m. PDT (3:25 a.m. EDT / 0725 UTC).

Commercial Crew
NASA buys rides: private spacecraft carrying astronauts to the space station. Learn more →
Falcon 9
SpaceX's partially reusable workhorse, the most-flown orbital rocket in the world. Learn more →
Portal Space Systems to include rideshare payloads on Falcon 9 launch of Supernova
SpaceXSpaceNewsAug 20, 2026

Portal Space Systems to include rideshare payloads on Falcon 9 launch of Supernova

Portal Space Systems has acquired a Falcon 9 to launch its first Supernova spacecraft and will offer excess capacity on the vehicle for rideshare payloads. The post Portal Space Systems to include rideshare payloads on F

Commercial Crew
NASA buys rides: private spacecraft carrying astronauts to the space station. Learn more →
Falcon 9
SpaceX's partially reusable workhorse, the most-flown orbital rocket in the world. Learn more →
NASA’s LRO Images Falcon 9 Crater on Moon, Learns New Details
NASANASAAug 18, 2026

NASA’s LRO Images Falcon 9 Crater on Moon, Learns New Details

Between Aug. 11 and 12, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) captured a series of images of a new crater on the Moon. The crater formed on Aug. 5, when a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage impacted the surface following it

Commercial Crew
NASA buys rides: private spacecraft carrying astronauts to the space station. Learn more →
Falcon 9
SpaceX's partially reusable workhorse, the most-flown orbital rocket in the world. Learn more →
A rocket crashed into the moon. It was harmless, but the next one might not be.
SpaceXSpaceNewsAug 17, 2026

A rocket crashed into the moon. It was harmless, but the next one might not be.

Earlier this month, a discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage crashed into the lunar surface at 8,700 kilometers per hour. This was not a controlled landing. The stage had been […] The post A rocket crashed into the moon.

Commercial Crew
NASA buys rides: private spacecraft carrying astronauts to the space station. Learn more →
Falcon 9
SpaceX's partially reusable workhorse, the most-flown orbital rocket in the world. Learn more →
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB
SpaceXSpaceflight NowAug 11, 2026

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB

The Starlink 17-49 mission will be the 73rd mission flying SpaceX’s broadband internet satellites to orbit. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled during a window that opens at 7 p.m. PDT (10 p.m

Commercial Crew
NASA buys rides: private spacecraft carrying astronauts to the space station. Learn more →
Falcon 9
SpaceX's partially reusable workhorse, the most-flown orbital rocket in the world. Learn more →
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 29 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
SpaceXSpaceflight NowAug 10, 2026

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 29 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral

The Starlink 10-19 mission is SpaceX’s 72nd flight of its broadband internet satellites this year. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled for 12:20 p.m. EDT (1620 UTC).

Commercial Crew
NASA buys rides: private spacecraft carrying astronauts to the space station. Learn more →
Falcon 9
SpaceX's partially reusable workhorse, the most-flown orbital rocket in the world. Learn more →
NASA Will Attempt to Observe Rocket Part’s Lunar Impact
NASANASA NewsAug 4, 2026

NASA Will Attempt to Observe Rocket Part’s Lunar Impact

Using ground-based telescopes and space-based assets, NASA and SpaceX are tracking a used Falcon 9 upper stage from a commercial mission expected to impact the Moon on Wednesday, Aug. 5, near the Einstein and Bell crater

Commercial Crew
NASA buys rides: private spacecraft carrying astronauts to the space station. Learn more →
Falcon 9
SpaceX's partially reusable workhorse, the most-flown orbital rocket in the world. Learn more →
SpaceX wins $1.6 billion in launch orders for military satellite networks
SpaceXSpaceNewsJul 29, 2026

SpaceX wins $1.6 billion in launch orders for military satellite networks

Falcon 9 will launch satellites supporting missile tracking, targeting and military communications The post SpaceX wins $1.6 billion in launch orders for military satellite networks appeared first on SpaceNews.

Commercial Crew
NASA buys rides: private spacecraft carrying astronauts to the space station. Learn more →
Falcon 9
SpaceX's partially reusable workhorse, the most-flown orbital rocket in the world. Learn more →
Launch Preview: Falcon 9 and Chang Zheng rockets set to launch this week
SpaceXNASASpaceflightJul 27, 2026

Launch Preview: Falcon 9 and Chang Zheng rockets set to launch this week

Five orbital launches are scheduled worldwide for this week. In China, a Chang Zheng 6A… The post Launch Preview: Falcon 9 and Chang Zheng rockets set to launch this week appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.

Commercial Crew
NASA buys rides: private spacecraft carrying astronauts to the space station. Learn more →
Falcon 9
SpaceX's partially reusable workhorse, the most-flown orbital rocket in the world. Learn more →
Robotic Servicing Mission Launches with NASA Support
NASANASA NewsJul 22, 2026

Robotic Servicing Mission Launches with NASA Support

Following its liftoff from Cape Canaveral on July 21 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) hosting the NASA-supported Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) payload is now en r

Commercial Crew
NASA buys rides: private spacecraft carrying astronauts to the space station. Learn more →
Falcon 9
SpaceX's partially reusable workhorse, the most-flown orbital rocket in the world. Learn more →

Facts last reviewed 2026-07-12. Official mission page: spacex.com