Looking ahead: SpaceX appears to be preparing for a future without Falcon 9, even though the rocket remains one of the most important launch systems in service. The company is reportedly no longer accepting Falcon 9 launch reservations beyond 2028. That suggests a plan to shift customers to Starship, the much larger rocket SpaceX is developing for high-volume satellite launches, deep-space missions, and NASA's lunar program.

Meanwhile, Falcon 9 is still doing much of the work in the commercial launch market. In 2025, it launched 165 times, successfully delivered every payload to orbit, and had one unsuccessful booster recovery. The rocket accounted for nearly half of all launches worldwide.

Falcon 9 changed the economics of launch through reusable boosters and a rapid launch cadence. It also made rideshare missions more common, allowing several satellite companies to place spacecraft on the same launch. That has been especially important for startups and smaller operators that cannot afford a dedicated mission.

If SpaceX stops offering Falcon 9 after 2028, those customers will need other options. Other launch providers could pick up some of the demand, but none currently launches at Falcon 9's pace. The industry has already raised concerns about a shortage of rockets and launch capacity as demand for satellite deployments grows.

Musk has said SpaceX will shift its engineering and manufacturing resources away from Falcon and toward Starship once the newer vehicle is flying often enough to justify the move. He said the company would make the shift only after Starship can fly dependably several times a week.

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