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 NowNASASpaceflightSpaceNewsArstechnica
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB
SpaceXSpaceflight NowJul 10, 2026

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
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 Falcon 9 rocket on record-breaking 36th flight
SpaceXSpaceflight NowJul 9, 2026

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
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: Long March 10B and Vikram-I debut
SpaceXNASASpaceflightJul 6, 2026

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
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: Fire detectors, military tech demos, 3D printers among SpaceX rideshare payloads launching on midnight Falcon 9 flight
SpaceXSpaceflight NowJul 6, 2026

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
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: Semiconductor manufacturing test bed to fly alongside Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 launch
SpaceXSpaceflight NowJul 4, 2026

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
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 7.5-ton SiriusXM satellite as part of constellation refresh
SpaceXSpaceflight NowJun 28, 2026

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
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 →
Small satellite operators confront a bottleneck to space access
SpaceXSpaceNewsJun 25, 2026

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
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: West Coast Falcon 9 launch to continue expansion of SpaceX’s Starlink network
SpaceXSpaceflight NowJun 24, 2026

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
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: Pegasus XL to launch amongst Falcon 9 and Chinese missions
SpaceXNASASpaceflightJun 23, 2026

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
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
SpaceXSpaceflight NowJun 20, 2026

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
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 intelligence-gathering satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office
SpaceXSpaceflight NowJun 18, 2026

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
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 its first Falcon 9 rocket since Nasdaq debut
SpaceXSpaceflight NowJun 14, 2026

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
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 Falcon 9 booster turns five years old—and just set a remarkable reuse record
SpaceXArstechnicaJun 8, 2026

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
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 Falcon 9 rocket booster on record-breaking 35th flight
SpaceXSpaceflight NowJun 7, 2026

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
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