DEVOURED
SpaceX is starting to move on from the world's most successful rocket
SpaceX is throttling back Falcon 9 from 165 launches in 2025 to ~145 in 2026 as it converts Kennedy Space Center's LC-39A to Starship, shifting the bulk of operations to Vandenberg, California, which is on track to become SpaceX's busiest launch site for the first time since the 1987 Challenger grounding.
What: SpaceX launched 165 Falcon 9 rockets in 2025 and plans ~145 in 2026, President Gwynne Shotwell told Time. The company retired one of two Florida landing platforms to transport Starships, converted Kennedy's Launch Complex-39A to Starship-only (except occasional Falcon Heavy), and shifted most Starlink launches to Vandenberg, where over half of 2026's launches have originated versus under 40% in 2025. Falcon 9 remains operational until at least ISS retirement around 2032, while Starship will handle upgraded Starlink satellites, xAI orbital data centers, and NASA lunar refueling missions.
Why it matters: This signals SpaceX's infrastructure bet on Starship as the primary launch vehicle, with Falcon 9 transitioning from growth mode to maintenance supporting committed customers like NASA and the Space Force through the 2030s. The geographic shift to Vandenberg reflects Florida sites being repurposed for Starship rather than technical constraints.
Takeaway: If planning a Falcon 9 launch, expect longer wait times at Cape Canaveral (now ~1 launch per week versus 4-day turnarounds) and consider Vandenberg for faster access.
Deep dive
- SpaceX launched 165 Falcon 9s in 2025 (up from 134 in 2024, 96 in 2023) but plans only 140-145 Falcon launches in 2026 as Starship comes online
- Launch Complex-39A at Kennedy Space Center, SpaceX's historic pad, is transitioning to Starship and Falcon Heavy only, removing it from Falcon 9 rotation
- One of two Florida landing droneships retired and repurposed to ferry Starships from South Texas factory to Florida before Kennedy's Starship factory is operational
- Kiko Dontchev, SpaceX VP of launch, said one remaining Florida droneship can support launches every 4 days, enough for reduced Falcon manifest
- Cape Canaveral now averaging ~1 Falcon 9 launch per week, similar to 2023 cadence, down from peak activity levels
- Vandenberg Space Force Base in California now handles over 50% of SpaceX's 2026 launches so far, versus under 40% in 2025 and one-third in 2024
- In 2020, Vandenberg hosted just a single space launch total, making the turnaround to busiest SpaceX site remarkable
- Last time Vandenberg exceeded Cape Canaveral in total launch activity was 1987-88 during Space Shuttle grounding after Challenger disaster
- Falcon 9 and Dragon remain sole US crew transport to ISS, ensuring operations until station retirement now unlikely before 2032 (pushed from 2030)
- Starship will launch upgraded Starlink satellites, orbital data center nodes from xAI acquisition, and refueling missions for NASA lunar landings
- Col. James Horne at Vandenberg said launch rates could triple in next 5 years; Col. Brian Chatman at Cape Canaveral preparing for up to 500 launches/year by 2036
- Nearly 180 rockets launched from Florida and California spaceports in 2025; numbers may plateau slightly in 2026 before Starship becomes fully operational
- Space Force selected Blue Origin to build new launch pad for New Glenn at Vandenberg; Stoke Space and Relativity Space building pads at Cape Canaveral
Decoder
- Droneship: Autonomous seagoing barge that catches and lands Falcon 9 first-stage boosters after launch, enabling rocket reusability (SpaceX pioneered this capability starting in 2016)
- LC-39A: Launch Complex 39A, historic NASA pad at Kennedy Space Center that launched Apollo 11 and Space Shuttle missions, now leased to SpaceX
- Starlink: SpaceX's satellite internet constellation with 12,000+ satellites in low Earth orbit providing global broadband coverage
- xAI: Elon Musk's AI company that SpaceX acquired to build orbital data centers in space, leveraging Starship's large payload capacity
Original article
SpaceX conducted 165 launches with the Falcon 9 rocket last year. It plans up to around 145 Falcon launches this year. SpaceX is transitioning its sites to launch Starships. The Falcon 9 will still remain operational at least as long as the International Space Station, which is unlikely to retire before 2032. SpaceX will put Starship to work as soon as possible to launch upgraded Starlink Internet satellites.
Explore all 73 articles in today's digest
Fresh dev news, AI-digested daily. Never miss a trend at devoured.fyi