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
June 2010
Falcon 9 debuts from Cape Canaveral
December 2015
First successful first-stage landing
March 2017
First reflight of a recovered orbital booster
May 2020
Launches NASA astronauts on Crew Dragon's Demo-2
Next up
Ongoing Starlink, Dragon, and customer launches
Latest Falcon 9 News

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB
The Starlink 17-48 mission will add another 24 satellites to the low Earth orbit constellation. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled for 8 p.m. PDT (11 p.m. EDT / 0300 UTC).
Commercial Crew
Falcon 9

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch Falcon 9 rocket on record-breaking 36th flight
The flight-leading booster, B1067, will launch the Starlink 10-42 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff from pad 40 is scheduled for 5:25 a.m. EDT (0925 UTC) on Thursday morning.
Commercial Crew
Falcon 9

Launch Preview: Long March 10B and Vikram-I debut
Six orbital launches are scheduled internationally this week. Three Falcon 9 flights are expected from… The post Launch Preview: Long March 10B and Vikram-I debut appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
Commercial Crew
Falcon 9

Live coverage: Fire detectors, military tech demos, 3D printers among SpaceX rideshare payloads launching on midnight Falcon 9 flight
SpaceX will launch a series of 81 payloads to a Sun-synchronous Earth orbit over a roughly 2.5-hour-long deployment period. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled during a 95-minute window that o
Commercial Crew
Falcon 9

Live coverage: Semiconductor manufacturing test bed to fly alongside Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 launch
Liftoff of the Starlink 10-50 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 is currently scheduled for 6:46 a.m. EDT (1046 UTC). The rocket's first-stage booster will carry two semiconductor manufacturing pods for Besxar Space In
Commercial Crew
Falcon 9

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 7.5-ton SiriusXM satellite as part of constellation refresh
The SXM-11 satellite was built by Intuitive Machines and is more than 230-feet-tall. Liftoff on SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled during a window that opens at 10:25 p.
Commercial Crew
Falcon 9

Small satellite operators confront a bottleneck to space access
For years, small satellite manufacturers have built their business plans around the idea that SpaceX could launch their payload to space. Through its Falcon 9 Transporter and Bandwagon rideshare missions, […] The post Sm
Commercial Crew
Falcon 9

Live Coverage: West Coast Falcon 9 launch to continue expansion of SpaceX’s Starlink network
Liftoff of the Starlink 17-45 mission from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California is scheduled for 8:19 p.m. PDT (11:19 p.m. EDT / 0319 UTC).
Commercial Crew
Falcon 9

Launch Preview: Pegasus XL to launch amongst Falcon 9 and Chinese missions
This week’s launch manifest includes six orbital launches worldwide, including the first Pegasus XL launch… The post Launch Preview: Pegasus XL to launch amongst Falcon 9 and Chinese missions appeared first on NASASpaceF
Commercial Crew
Falcon 9

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg
The Starlink 17-28 mission is the 58th mission launching the broadband satellites into low Earth orbit. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled for 8:12:16 a.m. PDT (11:12:16 a.m. EDT / 1512:16 UT
Commercial Crew
Falcon 9

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch intelligence-gathering satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office
The Falcon 9 rocket will launch an undisclosed number of satellites, which are believed to be Starshield satellites, a government variant of Starlink. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled durin
Commercial Crew
Falcon 9

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch its first Falcon 9 rocket since Nasdaq debut
The Starlink 17-54 mission includes the 1,500th Starlink satellite launched so far in 2026. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled during a window that opens at 7 a.m. PDT (10 a.m. EDT / 1400 UTC
Commercial Crew
Falcon 9

A Falcon 9 booster turns five years old—and just set a remarkable reuse record
We take the Falcon 9 rocket for granted. But we probably shouldn't.
Commercial Crew
Falcon 9

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch Falcon 9 rocket booster on record-breaking 35th flight
The Starlink 10-35 mission will be the 53rd dedicated launch for the satellite constellation. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled during a window that opens at 6:07 a.m. EDT (1007 UTC).
Commercial Crew
Falcon 9
Facts last reviewed 2026-07-12. Official mission page: spacex.com
