SpaceX is launching its Falcon 9 rocket less frequently as the company shifts focus to its next-generation Starship spacecraft. The change is evident at Cape Canaveral, where Falcon 9 launches from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex-39A have declined since late 2023. SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell told Time earlier this year the company plans to cut Falcon 9 launches to around 140-145 in 2026, down from 165 in 2025. "This year we’ll still launch a lot, but not as much," Shotwell said. "And then we’ll tail off our launches as Starship is coming online."
The Falcon 9 has been SpaceX’s workhorse since 2010, conducting 165 launches last year alone. But the company is now prioritizing Starship, a fully reusable spacecraft designed for deep-space missions. SpaceX has already launched Starship prototypes from Boca Chica, Texas, and is preparing to begin orbital test flights from Florida. The shift is also visible at Kennedy Space Center, where SpaceX is converting Launch Complex-39A for Starship operations. The site, which hosted Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches for years, is now reserved for Starship missions and occasional Falcon Heavy flights.
SpaceX launched the first Falcon Heavy in 18 months from LC-39A in late 2024, with more planned later this year. The Falcon Heavy, which uses three Falcon 9 cores, has become a smaller part of SpaceX’s operations as the company focuses on Starship. "We’re beginning to see what the long, slow tail-off will look like," said a SpaceX insider. "The Falcon 9 is still reliable, but Starship is where the future is."
The transition has not disrupted SpaceX’s overall launch schedule. The company still plans to conduct around 100 Falcon 9 launches in 2025, though the number will gradually decrease as Starship capabilities expand. SpaceX aims to begin crewed Starship missions by 2027, with plans for lunar landings by 2028. Meanwhile, Falcon 9 will continue supporting satellite deployments and commercial cargo missions until Starship is fully operational.
The change reflects SpaceX’s broader goals under Elon Musk’s vision. "Starship is the enabler of what we want to do in space," Shotwell said. "Whether it’s orbital data centers, Mars missions, or lunar landings, Starship is the vehicle that will get us there." The company’s shift has already reshaped Florida’s Space Coast, where SpaceX now focuses on preparing Starship for its next phase of testing and eventual orbital flights.