SpaceX has completed its final planned Falcon 9 Starlink mission from Florida, ending the company’s East Coast Starlink launches for now. The operations will move to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, according to SpaceX Vice President of Launch Kiko Dontchev, who noted the Falcon 9 has conducted about 260 Starlink missions from Cape Canaveral over the past seven years. Future Starlink launches in Florida will transition to SpaceX’s Starship rocket, a next-generation vehicle currently under construction at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center.
The shift will alter how SpaceX uses Florida’s launch pads, said space analyst Ken Kremer of Space Up Close. While Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy missions will continue from Florida, Kremer highlighted that Starship’s integration into the state’s infrastructure is still in progress. NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set to launch on a Falcon Heavy this weekend, and SpaceX’s Crew-13 mission will depart on a Falcon 9 next month, ensuring continued use of the existing launch systems.
SpaceX’s Starship infrastructure at Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center remains under construction, with Kremer estimating the first Starship launch from Florida could occur as early as early 2025. The timeline is influenced by NASA’s Artemis III mission, which requires Starship to transport astronauts to the Moon. Despite the transition, Falcon 9 will remain a key workhorse for SpaceX, handling both Starlink and government payloads in the near term.
The move marks a significant logistical shift for the Space Coast, which has long relied on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launches. While Starship’s eventual dominance in Florida is anticipated, the timeline for full operational capability remains uncertain. SpaceX has not provided specific dates for when Starship will replace Falcon 9 entirely, but the company’s focus on expanding its fleet underscores the rapid evolution of spaceflight technology in Brevard County.