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 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
Falcon 9

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
Falcon 9

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
Falcon 9

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
Falcon 9

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
Falcon 9

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
Falcon 9

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
Falcon 9

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
Falcon 9

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
Falcon 9

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
Falcon 9

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
Falcon 9

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
Falcon 9

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
Falcon 9
Facts last reviewed 2026-07-12. Official mission page: spacex.com
