SpaceX plans to retire its Falcon 9 rocket once its next-generation Starship begins regular operational flights, according to company founder and CEO Elon Musk.
What Happened
Musk outlined the transition timeline in an Aug. 22 post on X, saying that "once Starship is flying reliably several times per week, it makes sense to shift production resources to Starship to get launch rate to several times per day." Falcon 9 has launched nearly 700 times since its first flight in 2010 and is on track to surpass Russia's Soyuz rocket—operating since 1957—as the world's most-flown orbital vehicle next year. Industry reports suggest SpaceX may discontinue all but a few Falcon 9 missions beginning in 2028, with remaining flights likely limited to crew and cargo missions for NASA to the International Space Station through at least 2030.
Why It Matters
Starship represents a fundamental shift in SpaceX's launch architecture. The V3 version stands 408 feet tall compared to Falcon 9's 230 feet and is designed for full reusability, with both the Super Heavy booster and Ship upper stage intended to return for reflight. Starship can deliver more than 100 tons to low Earth orbit—more than double Falcon 9's roughly 25-ton capacity. The rocket is also central to NASA's Artemis lunar program, slated for use on Artemis III and IV missions in 2025 and 2028 respectively. As SpaceX phases out Falcon 9, commercial operators currently relying on the workhorse will need to transition to Starship or seek alternative providers.
The Bottom Line
SpaceX's planned sundown of Falcon 9 hinges entirely on Starship reaching Musk's threshold of reliability. The vehicle has completed 13 suborbital test flights and another launch attempt is expected within the next month—potentially its first full orbital flight. How quickly SpaceX can scale Starship to match Falcon 9's turnaround time will determine when the legacy rocket is largely phased out.