SpaceX has stopped taking Falcon 9 bookings past 2028, betting everything on Starship
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. Read Entire Article
SpaceX has announced it will stop accepting bookings for its Falcon 9 rocket after 2028, with the company betting heavily on its larger Starship vehicle for future launches. The decision suggests a shift in SpaceX's strategy, with Starship intended to handle high-volume satellite launches, deep-space missions, and NASA's lunar program.
While Falcon 9 currently dominates the commercial launch market, accounting for nearly half of all launches worldwide, Starship is designed to carry larger payloads and perform missions beyond Earth's orbit. However, Starship has not yet achieved orbit, with its first orbital attempt scheduled for September 28. The retirement of Falcon 9 could pose challenges for NASA's International Space Station, as the rocket is currently used for delivering cargo and astronauts.
NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon by 2028, may necessitate SpaceX's Starship vehicle to be fully prepared for lunar missions. SpaceX's decision to phase down Falcon 9 operations hinges on Starship's ability to fly dependably several times a week.
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