SpaceX Tightens New Falcon 9 Orders and Accelerates Shift to Starship

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 24, SpaceX stopped accepting new commercial dedicated Falcon 9 launch reservations for after 2028 and is no longer taking new bookings for future Falcon 9 rideshare missions, as the company shifts its primary development and production resources to the next-generation Starship launch system. Several satellite operators had previously been informed that the scheduling for various Falcon 9 launch missions has been extended to 2028 to 2029.

Existing Falcon 9 contracts will continue to be fulfilled. SpaceX's current missions include commercial satellites, the Starlink constellation, NASA crew and cargo missions, and U.S. national security launches. In September of this year, NASA added three more International Space Station crew transportation missions to SpaceX, with the contract covering through around 2030; these missions currently still use the Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon combination.

SpaceX has begun adjusting the production schedule for the Falcon series rockets. Public information shows that the company has stopped producing some non-reusable Falcon series components and continues to reduce future launch capacity for new commercial customers. In relevant company documents, SpaceX stated that as primary production and development resources shift to the fully reusable Starship system, demand for Falcon 9 flights is expected to decline in the future; during the period when Starship gradually enters full operational status, Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy will still carry out specific missions such as NASA crew rotation and national security payloads.

The tightening of Falcon 9 commercial launch capacity has already affected the mission arrangements of some satellite operators. Since 2026, Starlink missions have accounted for approximately 79% of Falcon 9 launch missions, up from 54% in 2020. At least seven aerospace companies had previously been informed that SpaceX can no longer provide new Falcon 9 launch slots before 2028 to 2029.

Starship is currently still in the transition phase from flight testing to orbital payload deployment. SpaceX plans to use Starship to transport Starlink satellites, commercial satellites, NASA missions, and other large payloads. The company previously expected Starship to begin orbital payload delivery missions in the second half of 2026. The existing Falcon 9 mission list and some government missions will continue to be carried out.