Since June 2010, rockets from the Falcon 9 family have been launched 338 times, with 336 full mission successes, two failures,[a] and one partial success. Designed and operated by SpaceX, the Falcon 9 family includes the retired versions Falcon 9 v1.0, v1.1, and v1.2 "Full Thrust" (blocks 3 and 4), along with the currently active Block 5 evolution. Falcon Heavy is a heavy-lift derivative of Falcon 9, combining a strengthened central core with two Falcon 9 first stages as side boosters.[1]
The Falcon design features reusable first-stage boosters, which land either on a ground pad near the launch site or on a drone ship at sea.[2] In December 2015, Falcon 9 became the first rocket to land propulsively after delivering a payload into orbit.[3] This reusability results in significantly reduced launch costs, as the cost of the first stage constitutes the majority of the cost of a new rocket.[4][5] Falcon family boosters have successfully landed 301 times in 312 attempts. A total of 42 boosters have flown multiple missions, with a record of 20 missions by a booster. SpaceX has also reflown fairing halves more than 300 times, with some being reflown for eleven or more times.[6]
Typical missions include launches of SpaceX's Starlink satellites (accounting for a majority of the Falcon manifest), Dragon crew and cargo missions to the International Space Station, and launches of commercial and military satellites to LEO, polar, and geosynchronous orbits. The heaviest payloads launched on Falcon are batches of 24 Starlink V2-Mini satellites weighing 17,500 kg (38,600 lb) total, a configuration first flown February 2024,[7] landing on ASDS. The heaviest payload launched to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) was the 9,200 kg (20,300 lb) Jupiter-3 on 29 July 2023. Launches to higher-orbits have included DSCOVR to Sun–Earth Lagrange point L1, TESS to a lunar flyby, a Tesla Roadster to a heliocentric orbit extending past the orbit of Mars, DART to the asteroid Didymos, Euclid to Sun-Earth Lagrange point L2, and Psyche to the asteroid Psyche.
Launch statistics
Rockets from the Falcon 9 family have been launched 338 times over 14 years, resulting in 336 full successes (99.4%), one in-flight failure (SpaceX CRS-7), and one partial success (SpaceX CRS-1 delivered its cargo to the International Space Station (ISS), but a secondary payload was stranded in a lower-than-planned orbit). Additionally, one rocket and its payload AMOS-6 were destroyed before launch in preparation for an on-pad static fire test. The active version, Falcon 9 Block 5, has flown 273 missions, all full successes.
In 2022 Falcon 9 set a new record of 60 launches (all successful) by the same launch vehicle type in a calendar year. The previous record was held by Soyuz-U, which had 47 launches (45 successful) in 1979.[8]In 2023 Falcon 9 family set a new record of 96 launches (all successful) by the same launch vehicle family in a calendar year. The previous record was held by R-7 rocket family, which had 63 launches (61 successful) in 1980.[b][9]
The first rocket version Falcon 9 v1.0 was launched five times from June 2010 to March 2013, its successor Falcon 9 v1.1 15 times from September 2013 to January 2016, and the Falcon 9 Full Thrust 309 times from December 2015 to present. The latest Full Thrust variant, Block 5, was introduced in May 2018.[10] While the Block 4 boosters were only flown twice and required several months of refurbishment, Block 5 versions were certified to sustain 10 flights and have since been recertified for 15 and then 20 flights per booster.[11] SpaceX is currently planning to further increase the Falcon re-flight certification to 40 flights per booster; the limit of 20 flights has been reached.[12]
The Falcon Heavy derivative consists of a strengthened Falcon 9 first stage as its center core, with two additional Falcon 9 first stages attached and used as boosters, both of which are fitted with an aerodynamic nosecone instead of a usual Falcon 9 interstage.[13]
Falcon 9 first-stage boosters landed successfully in 301 of 312 attempts (96.5%), with 276 out of 280 (98.6%) for the Falcon 9 Block 5 version. A total of 275 re-flights of first stage boosters have all successfully launched their payloads.
Rocket configurations
- Falcon 9 v1.0
- Falcon 9 v1.1
- Falcon 9 Full Thrust
- Falcon 9 FT (reused)
- Falcon 9 Block 5
- Falcon 9 Block 5 (reused)
- Falcon Heavy
Launch sites
Launch outcomes
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
'10
'11
'12
'13
'14
'15
'16
'17
'18
'19
'20
'21
'22
'23
'24
- Loss before launch
- Loss during flight
- Partial failure
- Success (commercial and government)
- Success (Starlink)
- Planned (commercial and government)
- Planned (Starlink)
Past launches
2010 to 2019
2020 to 2022
2023
SpaceX launched vehicles of the Falcon family 96 times (91 Falcon 9 and 5 Falcon Heavy launches) in 2023. SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk, and SpaceX President, Gwynne Shotwell, had stated in late 2022 and early 2023 respectively, that the company would attempt up to 100 Falcon launches in 2023.[14][15] In any event, SpaceX did increase their launch cadence, exceeding their previous yearly record of 61 launches and the previous yearly world record of 64 launches by a rocket family by September 2023. Then they went on to become the first[citation needed] family to complete 70 launches, 80 launches, 90 launches in a year by October, November and December 2023 respectively.[16] Notably, SpaceX completed 100 launches (including Starship, two of which have flown this year) in a consecutive 365 days (a year) time period between 8 December 2022, 22:27 UTC and 8 December 2023, 8:03 UTC.[17] Excluding undisclosed payload masses, SpaceX has launched over 1,238 tonnes of payload to orbit this year,[18] or 2.25 times the mass of a Falcon 9 rocket ready for takeoff.[19]
| Flight No. | Date and time (UTC) | Version, booster[c] | Launch site | Payload[d] | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome | Booster landing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 195 | 3 January 2023 14:56[20] | F9 B5 ♺ B1060.15[21] | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Transporter-6: (115 payloads Smallsat Rideshare) | Unknown[e] | SSO | Various | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to Sun-synchronous orbit. It included six space tugs, also known as orbital transfer vehicles (OTV), which are two of D-Orbit's ION Satellite Carriers, Epic Aerospace's Chimera LEO 1, Momentus's Vigoride-5, Skykraft's OTV and Launcher's Orbiter SN1.[22][23] Orbiter SN1 failed shortly after deployment from Falcon and before deploying payloads. One of the payloads, EWS RROCI failed to deploy from Falcon 9 and the satellite re-entered with the upper stage.[24] This was not a SpaceX failure as brokered dispensers and deployers are used on Transporter missions.[25] | |||||||||
| 196 | 10 January 2023 04:50[26] | F9 B5 ♺ B1076.2 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | OneWeb Flight #16 / SpaceX Flight 2[27][28] (40 satellites)[29] | 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) | Polar LEO | OneWeb | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, OneWeb suspended launches on Soyuz rockets.[30] In March 2022, OneWeb announced that they had signed an agreement with SpaceX to resume satellite launches.[31] | |||||||||
| FH 5 | 15 January 2023 22:56[32] | Falcon Heavy B5 B1070 (core) | KSC, LC-39A | USSF-67 (CBAS-2 & LDPE-3A)[33] | ~3,750 kg (8,270 lb) | GEO | USSF | Success | No attempt |
| B1064.2 (side) ♺ | Success (ground pad) | ||||||||
| B1065.2 (side) ♺ | Success (ground pad) | ||||||||
| First launch of Phase 2 US Air Force contract. US$316 million cost for the fiscal year of 2022, for the first flight,[34] mostly includes the cost of an extended payload fairing, upgrades to the company's West Coast launch pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, and a vertical integration facility required for NRO missions, while the launching price does not increase.[35] SpaceX deliberately expended the center core, which thus lacked grid fins and landing gear, while the two side-boosters were recovered at Landing Zones 1 and 2, and it was the fourth second stage featuring Falcon long coast mission-extension kit as the mission requirements are same as the USSF-44 mission.[36] | |||||||||
| 197 | 18 January 2023 12:24[37] | F9 B5 ♺ B1077.2 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | USA-343 / GPS III-06 (Amelia Earhart)[38][39] | 4,352 kg (9,595 lb) | MEO | USSF[40] | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| Space vehicle manufacturing contract awarded February 2013.[41] In September 2018, the space vehicle was integrating harnesses.[42] In March 2018, the Air Force announced it had awarded the launch contract for three GPS satellites to SpaceX. | |||||||||
| 198 | 19 January 2023 15:43[43] | F9 B5 B1075.1 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 2-4 (51 satellites) | 15,000 kg (33,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast Starlink network launch to a 570 km circular orbit at an inclination of 70°. This launch was the first launch of Starlink satellites using a non-reused booster. | |||||||||
| 199 | 26 January 2023 09:32[44] | F9 B5 ♺ B1067.9 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 5-2 (56 satellites) | ~17,400 kg (38,400 lb)[45] | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast Starlink launch for the Generation 2 network. Heaviest payload flown on Falcon 9.[45] | |||||||||
| 200 | 31 January 2023 16:15[46] | F9 B5 ♺ B1071.7[47] | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 2-6[48] (49 satellites) ION SCV009 Eclectic Elena[49] | ~15,200 kg (33,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX D-Orbit | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast Starlink network launch to a 570 km circular orbit at an inclination of 70°. | |||||||||
| 201 | 2 February 2023 07:58[46] | F9 B5 ♺ B1069.5 | KSC, LC-39A | Starlink Group 5-3 (53 satellites)[50] | 16,500 kg (36,400 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast Starlink launch for the Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 202 | 7 February 2023 01:32[51] | F9 B5 ♺ B1073.6[52] | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Amazonas Nexus | 4,146 kg (9,140 lb)[53] | GTO | Hispasat | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A high-throughput telecommunications satellite.[54] Hosted payloads included USSF Pathfinder 2[55] and Tele Greenland A/S's GreenSat.[56] | |||||||||
| 203 | 12 February 2023 05:10[57] | F9 B5 ♺ B1062.12[58] | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 5-4 (55 satellites)[59] | 17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast Starlink launch for the Generation 2 network. This launch marked a pad turn around record for SpaceX; the launch occurred five days, three hours, and 38 minutes after SpaceX's previous mission from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral.[60] | |||||||||
| 204 | 17 February 2023 19:12[57] | F9 B5 ♺ B1063.9[61] | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 2-5 (51 satellites) | 15,900 kg (35,100 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast Starlink network launch to a 570 km circular orbit at an inclination of 70°. | |||||||||
| 205 | 18 February 2023 03:59[62] | F9 B5 ♺ B1077.3[63] | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Inmarsat-6 F2[64][65] | 5,470 kg (12,060 lb)[62] | GTO | Inmarsat | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| Inmarsat maintained its launch option after a scheduled 2016 Falcon Heavy launch (a European Aviation Network satellite) was switched for an Ariane 5 launch in 2017.[66] This option could be used for launching Inmarsat-6B.[67] In February 2022, Inmarsat confirmed Inmarsat-6 F2 will launch on a Falcon 9 rocket.[64] The satellite reached the supersynchronous geostationary transfer orbit of 387 km × 41,592 km inclined at 27°. | |||||||||
| 206 | 27 February 2023 23:13[68] | F9 B5 ♺ B1076.3[69] | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-1[70] (21 satellites)[71] | ~15,300 kg (33,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. First launch of downsized Starlink V2 satellites – officially referred to as the F9-2 bus, but colloquially known as "Starlink V2 Mini". With the unknown of when Starship will be able to launch the second generation satellites, SpaceX modified the original V2 blueprint into a smaller, more compact one named “V2 Mini.” This adjustment, allowed Falcon 9 to transport these satellites, though not as many, into orbit.[72] The first launch of the second satellites occurred on Monday, February 27, 2023, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida from SLC-40. Falcon 9 successfully carried 21 of these satellites into orbit later that evening. SpaceX committed to reduce debris by keeping the Starlink tension rods, which hold the V2 mini satellites together, attached to the Falcon 9 second stage. These tension rods were discarded into orbit while launching earlier version of Starlink satellites.[73] Observations confirm these V2 mini satellites host two solar panels like the Starship V2 satellites.[74] This flight marked the 100th consecutive landing success of a Falcon 9 booster since 16 February 2021. | |||||||||
| 207 | 2 March 2023 05:34[75] | F9 B5 B1078.1 | KSC, LC-39A | Crew-6 | ~13,000 kg (29,000 lb) | LEO (ISS) | NASA (CTS)[77] | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| Last USCV launch out of original NASA award of six Crew Dragon missions, to carry up to four astronauts and 100 kg (220 lb) of cargo to the ISS, as well as feature a lifeboat function to evacuate astronauts from ISS in case of an emergency.[77] | |||||||||
| 208 | 3 March 2023 18:38[68] | F9 B5 ♺ B1061.12 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 2-7[78] (51 satellites) | 15,900 kg (35,100 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast Starlink network launch to a 570 km circular orbit at an inclination of 70°. | |||||||||
| 209 | 9 March 2023 19:13[79] | F9 B5 ♺ B1062.13 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | OneWeb #17 / SpaceX OneWeb-3 (40 satellites)[31][28] | 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) | LEO | OneWeb | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, OneWeb suspended launches on Soyuz rockets.[30] In March 2022, OneWeb announced they had signed an agreement with SpaceX to resume satellite launches.[31] | |||||||||
| 210 | 15 March 2023 00:30[80] | F9 B5 ♺ B1073.7[81] | KSC, LC-39A | SpaceX CRS-27 (Dragon C209.3 ♺)[82] | 2,852 kg (6,288 lb) | LEO (ISS) | NASA (CRS) | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| Three more CRS-2 missions for Dragon 2 covering up to CRS-29 were announced in December 2020.[83] This flight used a partial boostback burn to bring the first-stage booster to its drone ship closer to the coast. The maneuver was meant to cut down processing time by decreasing the time spent moving the ship back for refurbishment.[84] | |||||||||
| 211 | 17 March 2023 19:26[85] | F9 B5 ♺ B1071.8 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 2-8 (52 satellites) | ~16,200 kg (35,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast Starlink network launch to a 570 km circular orbit at an inclination of 70°. | |||||||||
| 212 | 17 March 2023 23:38[85] | F9 B5 ♺ B1069.6 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | SES-18 and SES-19 | ~7,000 kg (15,000 lb) | GTO | SES | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| SpaceX launched two C-band satellites for SES, with the option to launch a third satellite on a second flight.[86][87] SpaceX set a new record for the shortest time between two Falcon 9 launches at 4 hours and 12 minutes. The previous record time was 7 hours and 10 minutes, set between the Crew-5 (Crew Dragon C210.2 Endurance) and Starlink Group 4-29 missions on October 5, 2022. | |||||||||
| 213 | 24 March 2023 15:43[88] | F9 B5 ♺ B1067.10 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 5-5[89] (56 satellites) | ~17,400 kg (38,400 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 214 | 29 March 2023 20:01[90] | F9 B5 ♺ B1077.4 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 5-10 (56 satellites) | ~17,400 kg (38,400 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. This launch marked the first time SpaceX completed 8 launches in a calendar month. | |||||||||
| 215 | 2 April 2023 14:29[91] | F9 B5 ♺ B1075.2 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Transport and Tracking Layer (Tranche 0A) (8 Transport and 2 Tracking Layer satellites) | Unknown | LEO | SDA | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| First launch of SDA Transport and Tracking Layer satellites. Out of 10 satellites, 8 are York Space Systems built Transport layer satellites and 2 are SpaceX-Leidos built, Starlink-derived Tracking Layer satellites.[92] The Transport layer is an interoperable mesh network of satellites intended to provide periodic low-latency and high-capacity data connectivity, while the Tracking Layer consists of interconnected satellites with cross-links and wide field of view infrared sensors for hypersonic missile tracking. | |||||||||
| 216 | 7 April 2023 04:30[93] | F9 B5 ♺ B1076.4 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Intelsat 40e TEMPO | ~5,588 kg (12,319 lb)[94] | GTO | Intelsat NASA | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| Maxar Technologies-built satellite that will service North and Central America.[95] | |||||||||
| 217 | 15 April 2023 06:47[96] | F9 B5 ♺ B1063.10 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Transporter-7: (51 payloads Smallsat Rideshare) | Unknown | SSO | Various | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to Sun-synchronous orbit. This launch debuts a new MVac nozzle extension design aimed at increasing cadence and reducing costs. This new nozzle extension is shorter, and as a result, the engine has a lower specific impulse and therefore performance. Due to this, it will only fly on missions that don't need Falcon 9's full performance capability.[97] This also is the reason Falcon 9 first stage for the first time ever to perform a single engine entry burn and 3-engine landing burn, similar to one in Falcon Heavy side booster landings.[98] Fifth second stage featuring Falcon long coast mission-extension kit, as this mission requires four second-stage burns while deploying payloads, excluding deorbit burn. | |||||||||
| 218 | 19 April 2023 14:31[99] | F9 B5 ♺ B1073.8 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-2 (21 satellites) | ~15,300 kg (33,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 Mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network.[100] | |||||||||
| 219 | 27 April 2023 13:40[101] | F9 B5 ♺ B1061.13 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 3-5 (46 satellites) | ~14,100 kg (31,100 lb) | SSO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast Starlink launch to a 560 km Sun-synchronous orbit at an inclination of 97.6°. | |||||||||
| 220 | 28 April 2023 22:12[102] | F9 B5 ♺ B1078.2[103] | CCSFS, SLC-40 | O3b mPOWER 3 & 4 | ~4,100 kg (9,000 lb) | MEO | SES | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| Second part of SES' MEO satellites for its O3b low-latency, high-performance connectivity services.[104][105] | |||||||||
| FH 6 | 1 May 2023 00:26[106] | Falcon Heavy B5 B1068 (core)[107] | KSC, LC-39A | ViaSat-3 Americas[108][109] Aurora 4A (Arcturus)[110][111] G-Space 1 (aka Nusantara-H1-A) | ~6,722 kg (14,819 lb) | GEO | ViaSat Astranis / Pacific Dataport PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara | Success | No attempt |
| B1052.8 (side) ♺[107] | No attempt | ||||||||
| B1053.3 (side) ♺[107] | No attempt | ||||||||
| This mission directly delivered the satellites to geostationary orbit, thus the core and side boosters were all expendable alongside having the sixth second stage featuring Falcon long coast mission-extension kit. Satellites of the ViaSat-3 class use electric propulsion, which requires less fuel for stationkeeping operations over their lifetime,[109] making them the heaviest all-electric satellites ever launched into space. First mission to expend all three cores, and first FH mission with reused fairing halves. They were recovered at the farthest distance, almost 2000 km downrange. | |||||||||
| 221 | 4 May 2023 07:31[112] | F9 B5 ♺ B1069.7[112] | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 5-6[113] (56 satellites) | ~17,400 kg (38,400 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 222 | 10 May 2023 20:09[114] | F9 B5 ♺ B1075.3[115] | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 2-9 (51 satellites) | 15,900 kg (35,100 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast Starlink network launch to a 570 km circular orbit at an inclination of 70°. | |||||||||
| 223 | 14 May 2023 05:03[116] | F9 B5 ♺ B1067.11 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 5-9[117] (56 satellites) | ~17,400 kg (38,400 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 224 | 19 May 2023 06:19[118] | F9 B5 ♺ B1076.5 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-3[119] (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 Mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 225 | 20 May 2023 13:16[118] | F9 B5 ♺ B1063.11 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Iridium-NEXT[120] (5 satellites) OneWeb (15 Gen1 plus a Gen2 test satellite)[121] | ~6,600 kg (14,600 lb) | Polar LEO | Iridium & OneWeb | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| Iridium-9 rideshare mission, carrying five on-orbit spare Iridium-NEXT satellites along with 15 Gen1 and a demo Gen2 OneWeb satellites.[112] Second mission featuring a shorter MVac nozzle extension, suitable for low-energy missions.[122] | |||||||||
| 226 | 21 May 2023 21:37[123] | F9 B5 B1080.1 | KSC, LC-39A | Ax-2 (Crew Dragon C212.2 Freedom ♺) [120] | ~13,000 kg (29,000 lb) | LEO (ISS) | Axiom Space | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Axiom contracted for three additional private crewed missions in June 2021.[124] Peggy Whitson and John Shoffner were signed on as commander and pilot for Ax-2.[125][126] The third and fourth seats were bought by Saudi Arabia.[127] The Saudi crew members were revealed to be Ali AlQarni and Rayyanah Barnawi.[128] First time a booster landed on a ground pad after a crewed launch. | |||||||||
| 227 | 27 May 2023 04:30[129] | F9 B5 ♺ B1062.14 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | ArabSat 7B (Badr-8)[130] | ~4,500 kg (9,900 lb) | GTO | Arabsat | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| Includes Airbus's TELEO optical communications payload demonstrator.[131] | |||||||||
| 228 | 31 May 2023 06:02[132] | F9 B5 ♺ B1061.14 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 2-10[133] (52 satellites) | ~16,400 kg (36,200 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast Starlink launch to a 570 km circular orbit at an inclination of 70°. The 200th consecutive successful Falcon 9 mission. This launch marked the first time SpaceX completed 9 launches in a calendar month. | |||||||||
| 229 | 4 June 2023 12:20[132] | F9 B5 ♺ B1078.3 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-4[134] (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 Mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 230 | 5 June 2023 15:47[135] | F9 B5 ♺ B1077.5[136] | KSC, LC-39A | SpaceX CRS-28 (Dragon C208.4 ♺ )[137] | ~9,525 kg (20,999 lb) | LEO (ISS) | NASA (CRS) | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| Three more CRS-2 missions for Dragon 2 covering up to CRS-29 were announced in December 2020.[83] Third mission featuring a shorter MVac nozzle extension, suitable for low-energy missions. | |||||||||
| 231 | 12 June 2023 07:10[138] | F9 B5 ♺ B1073.9 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 5-11[139] (52 satellites) | ~16,400 kg (36,200 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 232 | 12 June 2023 21:35[140] | F9 B5 ♺ B1071.9 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Transporter-8: (72 payloads Smallsat Rideshare) | Unknown[e] | SSO | Various | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to Sun-synchronous orbit. Expected to fly on this mission are Launcher's Orbiter SN3 vehicle[22] and the first of Satellite Vu Mid-wave Infrared imaging satellite. This mission marked the 200th overall successful booster landing. Fourth mission featuring a shorter MVac nozzle extension, suitable for low-energy missions. | |||||||||
| 233 | 18 June 2023 22:21[141] | F9 B5 ♺ B1067.12[142] | CCSFS, SLC-40 | SATRIA[143] | ~4,580 kg (10,100 lb) | GTO | PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| PSN selected Falcon 9 in September 2020, to launch its satellite instead of a Chinese rocket or Ariane 5. | |||||||||
| 234 | 22 June 2023 07:19[141] | F9 B5 ♺ B1075.4[144] | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 5-7[145] (47 satellites) | ~14,500 kg (32,000 lb)[146] | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast Starlink launch. Seventh second stage featuring Falcon long coast mission-extension kit. Reaching 43° inclination orbit from Vandenberg, makes it the lowest orbital inclination ever reached by a rocket launched from the US west coast. | |||||||||
| 235 | 23 June 2023 15:35[147] | F9 B5 ♺ B1069.8 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 5-12 (56 satellites) | ~17,400 kg (38,400 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 236 | 1 July 2023 15:12[148] | F9 B5 ♺ B1080.2 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Euclid[149] | ~2,160 kg (4,760 lb) | Sun–Earth L2 injection | ESA | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| Euclid is a visible to near-infrared space telescope to better understand dark energy and dark matter by accurately measuring the acceleration of the universe. At $1.5 bn construction cost for the satellite, it is the most expensive payload launched on Falcon 9. | |||||||||
| 237 | 7 July 2023 19:29[150] | F9 B5 ♺ B1063.12[151] | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 5-13[152] (48 satellites) | ~14,900 kg (32,800 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 238 | 10 July 2023 03:58[150] | F9 B5 ♺ B1058.16 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-5[153] (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. B1058 was the first booster to launch and land 16 times, pushing the envelope and surpassing its previous record, which was 15 flights. | |||||||||
| 239 | 16 July 2023 03:50[154] | F9 B5 ♺ B1060.16[155] | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 5-15[156] (54 satellites) | ~16,700 kg (36,800 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. Last v1.5 launch. Second booster flying for the 16th time. | |||||||||
| 240 | 20 July 2023 04:09[157] | F9 B5 ♺ B1071.10 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 6-15[158](15 satellites)[159] | ~12,000 kg (26,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. First Starlink V2 mini launch from West Coast. | |||||||||
| 241 | 24 July 2023 00:50[157] | F9 B5 ♺ B1076.6 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-6[160] (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 242 | 28 July 2023 04:01[161] | F9 B5 ♺ B1062.15 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-7 (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. The launch occurred 4 days 3 hours and 11 minutes after SpaceX's previous mission from the same pad, setting a new record that was broken again ten days later with flight 244. | |||||||||
| FH 7 | 29 July 2023 03:04[162] | Falcon Heavy B5 B1074 (core) | KSC, LC-39A | Jupiter-3 (EchoStar-24)[163] | ~9,200 kg (20,300 lb) | GTO | EchoStar | Success | No attempt |
| B1064.3 (side) ♺ | Success (ground pad) | ||||||||
| B1065.3 (side) ♺ | Success (ground pad) | ||||||||
| Largest and heaviest geostationary communication satellite ever launched.[163] Both side boosters returned to the launch site while the center core was expended.[164] First second stage featuring Falcon medium coast mission-extension kit.[165] | |||||||||
| 243 | 3 August 2023 05:00[166] | F9 B5 ♺ B1077.6 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Galaxy 37[167] Horizons-4 | ~5,063 kg (11,162 lb) | GTO | Intelsat | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| Intelsat originally contracted both SpaceX and Arianespace to launch its seventh C-band replacement satellite, Galaxy 37.[167] Launch was previously awarded to Arianespace.[168][169] Also known as Galaxy 13R, as it will replace Galaxy 13.[170] The spacecraft also contains a Ku-band payload to be known as Horizons-4, which will be Japan-licensed. | |||||||||
| 244 | 7 August 2023 02:41[171] | F9 B5 ♺ B1078.4 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-8 (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. This launch marked a pad turn around record for SpaceX; the launch occurred 3 days, 21 hours, and 41 minutes after SpaceX's previous mission from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral. The previous record was set the month before at the same launch pad. | |||||||||
| 245 | 8 August 2023 03:57[172] | F9 B5 ♺ B1075.5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 6-20[158](15 satellites) | ~12,000 kg (26,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 246 | 11 August 2023 05:17[173] | F9 B5 ♺ B1069.9 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-9[174] (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. 1st time flying a fairing half for the 11th time. 100th launch of a batch of Starlink satellites (excluding launch of test satellites Tintin A&B). | |||||||||
| 247 | 17 August 2023 03:36[175] | F9 B5 ♺ B1067.13 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-10[176] (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 248 | 22 August 2023 09:37[177] | F9 B5 ♺ B1061.15 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-1[178] (21 satellites) | ~15,300 kg (33,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 249 | 26 August 2023 07:27[179] | F9 B5 B1081.1[180] | KSC, LC-39A | Crew-7[181] (Crew Dragon C210.3 Endurance ♺)[182] | ~13,000 kg (29,000 lb) | LEO (ISS) | NASA (CTS)[77] | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| After first six Crew Dragon launches of NASA USCV award, a further three missions for SpaceX were announced on 3 December 2021. These launches carry up to four astronauts and 100 kg (220 lb) of cargo to the ISS as well as feature a lifeboat function to evacuate astronauts from ISS in case of an emergency.[77] | |||||||||
| 250 | 27 August 2023 01:05[183] | F9 B5 ♺ B1080.3 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-11[184] (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 251 | 1 September 2023 02:21[185] | F9 B5 ♺ B1077.7 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-13[186] (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 252 | 2 September 2023[187] 14:25[188] | F9 B5 ♺ B1063.13 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Transport and Tracking Layer (Tranche 0B) (11 Transport and 2 Tracking Layer satellites) | Unknown | LEO | SDA | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Second launch of SDA Transport and Tracking Layer satellites. Originally intended to launch remaining 18 satellites but a late change reduced this to 13. One is York Space Systems built and 10 are Lockheed Martin-Tyvak Space systems built Transport layer satellites and 2 are SpaceX-Leidos built, Starlink-derived Tracking layer satellites.[92] The Transport layer is an interoperable mesh network of satellites intended to provide periodic low-latency and high-capacity data connectivity, while the Tracking Layer consists of interconnected satellites with cross-links and wide field of view infrared sensors for hypersonic missile tracking. Fifth mission featuring a shorter MVac nozzle extension, suitable for low-energy missions. This was the 61st launch of a Falcon rocket this year, the same number of launches carried out in all of 2022. | |||||||||
| 253 | 4 September 2023 02:47[189] | F9 B5 ♺ B1073.10 | KSC, LC-39A | Starlink Group 6-12[190] (21 satellites) | ~15,300 kg (33,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. SpaceX's Falcon family thus broke the yearly world record for most successful launches by any rocket family, first set by the R-7 family in 1980 after this launch. | |||||||||
| 254 | 9 September 2023 03:12[191] | F9 B5 ♺ B1076.7 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-14[192] (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 255 | 12 September 2023 06:57[193] | F9 B5 ♺ B1071.11 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-2[194] (21 satellites) | ~15,300 kg (33,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 256 | 16 September 2023 03:38[195] | F9 B5 ♺ B1078.5 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-16 (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. This was the 200th flight and 200th success of the Block 5 version of Falcon 9. SpaceX's Falcon family thus broke the yearly world record for most launches attempted (irrespective of launch outcome) by any rocket family, i.e., 64 set by the R-7 family in 1980 after this launch.[196][197] | |||||||||
| 257 | 20 September 2023 03:38[198] | F9 B5 ♺ B1058.17 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-17 (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. SpaceX set a new record using the same booster for the 17th time. | |||||||||
| 258 | 24 September 2023 03:38[199] | F9 B5 ♺ B1060.17 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-18 (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. Second booster to fly for the 17th time. | |||||||||
| 259 | 25 September 2023 08:48[200] | F9 B5 ♺ B1075.6 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-3 (21 satellites) | ~15,300 kg (33,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 260 | 30 September 2023 02:00[201] | F9 B5 ♺ B1069.10 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-19 (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. This launch marked the first time SpaceX completed 10 launches in a calendar month. | |||||||||
| 261 | 5 October 2023 05:36[202] | F9 B5 ♺ B1076.8 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-21 (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 262 | 9 October 2023 07:23[203] | F9 B5 ♺ B1063.14 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-4 (21 satellites) | ~15,300 kg (33,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| FH 8 | 13 October 2023 14:19[204] | Falcon Heavy B5 B1079 (core)[205] | KSC, LC-39A | Psyche[206] | ~2,608 kg (5,750 lb) | Heliocentric | NASA (Discovery) | Success | No attempt |
| B1064.4 (side) ♺ | Success (ground pad) | ||||||||
| B1065.4 (side) ♺ | Success (ground pad) | ||||||||
| Discovery Program mission designed to explore asteroid 16 Psyche to investigate the formation of the early Solar System.[207] Center core has been expended, while both side-boosters returned to Cape Canaveral for landings at LZ-1 and LZ-2.[208] | |||||||||
| 263 | 13 October 2023 23:01[209] | F9 B5 ♺ B1067.14 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-22 (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. Launch of 2 rockets in single calendar day. | |||||||||
| 264 | 18 October 2023 00:39[210] | F9 B5 ♺ B1062.16 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-23 (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 265 | 21 October 2023 08:23[211] | F9 B5 ♺ B1061.16 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-5 (21 satellites) | ~15,300 kg (33,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 266 | 22 October 2023 02:17[212] | F9 B5 ♺ B1080.4 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-24 (23 satellites) | ~16,800 kg (37,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. First time 23 Starlinks V2 Mini were launched and new Falcon 9 payload mass record of 18,400 kg. | |||||||||
| 267 | 29 October 2023 09:00[213] | F9 B5 ♺ B1075.7 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-6 (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. New record of launching 22 v2 mini satellites from the West Coast. | |||||||||
| 268 | 30 October 2023 23:20[214] | F9 B5 ♺ B1077.8 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-25 (23 satellites) | ~16,800 kg (37,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 269 | 4 November 2023 00:37[215] | F9 B5 ♺ B1058.18 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-26 (23 satellites) | ~16,800 kg (37,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. First booster to fly for the 18th time. | |||||||||
| 270 | 8 November 2023 05:05[216] | F9 B5 ♺ B1073.11 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-27 (23 satellites) | ~16,800 kg (37,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 271 | 10 November 2023 01:28[217] | F9 B5 ♺ B1081.2 | KSC, LC-39A | SpaceX CRS-29 (Dragon C211.2 ♺) | ~9,525 kg (20,999 lb) | LEO (ISS) | NASA (CRS) | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Three more CRS-2 missions for Dragon 2 covering up to CRS-29 were announced in December 2020.[83] Mission will launch 2,381 kilograms (5,249 lb) of pressurized cargo and 569 kilograms (1,254 lb) of unpressurized cargo and then spend approximately one month on station. Among the cargo is station supplies and science experiments, including NASA's ILLUMA-T (Laser Communication from Space) and AWE (Atmospheric Waves Experiment) experiments, and ESA's Aquamembrane-3 experiment.[218] | |||||||||
| 272 | 11 November 2023 18:49[219] | F9 B5 ♺ B1071.12 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Transporter-9: (113 payloads Smallsat Rideshare) | Unknown[e] | SSO | Various | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to Sun-synchronous orbit. Sixth mission featuring a shorter MVac nozzle extension, suitable for low-energy missions. Momentus has announced that three sats manifested by them failed to deploy from the Transporter-9 mission. The satellites were destroyed when second stage deorbited.[220] | |||||||||
| 273 | 12 November 2023 21:08[221] | F9 B5 ♺ B1076.9 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | O3b mPOWER 5 & 6 | ~4,100 kg (9,000 lb) | MEO | SES | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| Third part of SES' MEO satellites for its O3b low-latency, high-performance connectivity services.[104] | |||||||||
| 274 | 18 November 2023 05:05[222] | F9 B5 ♺ B1069.11 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-28 (23 satellites) | ~16,800 kg (37,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 275 | 20 November 2023 10:30[223] | F9 B5 ♺ B1063.15 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-7 (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 276 | 22 November 2023 07:47[224] | F9 B5 ♺ B1067.15 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-29 (23 satellites) | ~16,800 kg (37,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 277 | 28 November 2023 04:20[225] | F9 B5 ♺ B1062.17 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-30 (23 satellites) | ~16,800 kg (37,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. First time SpaceX conducted 50th orbital launch in year from a single launch pad, i.e., CCSFS SLC-40 (all Falcon 9). | |||||||||
| 278 | 1 December 2023 18:19[226] | F9 B5 ♺ B1061.17 | VSFB, SLC-4E | 425 Project SAR satellite[227][228] EIRSAT-1 and others 23 secondary payloads[229] | ~800 kg (1,800 lb) (main satellite) | SSO | Republic of Korea Armed Forces | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| A military satellite of South Korea with a mass of 800 kg. EIRSAT-1 is an Irish 2U cubesat that carries a gamma-ray detector and an experiment of thermal coatings for other spacecraft.[230] SpaceX completing 250th landing of a Falcon first-stage booster this mission. | |||||||||
| 279 | 3 December 2023 04:00[231] | F9 B5 ♺ B1078.6 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-31 (23 satellites) | ~16,800 kg (37,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 280 | 7 December 2023 05:07[232] | F9 B5 ♺ B1077.9 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-33 (23 satellites) | ~16,800 kg (37,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. SpaceX's 90th orbital launch of the year including Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy. | |||||||||
| 281 | 8 December 2023 08:03[233] | F9 B5 ♺ B1071.13 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-8 (22 satellites) | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. 200th landing on a droneship by a Falcon booster. Fastest turnaround of VSFB SLC-4E pad at 6 days 13 hours 44 minutes. USA broke the world record of most launches by a nation (108), held by Soviet Union in 1982.[234][235] SpaceX completed 100 launches in 365 days (a year) between 8 December 2022, 22:27 UTC and 8 December 2023, 8:03 UTC.[236] | |||||||||
| 282 | 19 December 2023 04:01[237] | F9 B5 ♺ B1081.3 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-34 (23 satellites) | ~16,800 kg (37,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 283 | 23 December 2023 05:33[238] | F9 B5 ♺ B1058.19 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-32 (23 satellites) | ~16,800 kg (37,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success[f] (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. First booster to fly for the 19th time. Despite the successful landing, the booster tipped over during transit due to rough seas, high winds and waves, the stage was unable to be secured to the deck for recovery and later tipped over in transit. SpaceX has already equipped newer Falcon boosters with upgraded landing legs that have the capability to self-level and mitigate this type of issue.[239] | |||||||||
| 284 | 24 December 2023 13:11[240] | F9 B5 ♺ B1075.8 | VSFB, SLC-4E | SARah 2 & 3[241] | ~3,600 kg (7,900 lb) | SSO | German Intelligence Service | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| In January 2019, the satellites were expected to be launched between November 2020 and September 2021.[242] 90th Falcon 9 orbital launch of the year. Seventh mission featuring a shorter MVac nozzle extension, suitable for low-energy missions. | |||||||||
| FH 9 | 29 December 2023 01:07[243] | Falcon Heavy B5 B1084 (core)[244] | KSC, LC-39A | USSF-52 (Boeing X-37B OTV-7) | 6,350 kg (14,000 lb) + OTV payload | High Elliptical HEO[245] | Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office[246]/USSF | Success | No attempt |
| B1064.5 (side) ♺ | Success (ground pad) | ||||||||
| B1065.5 (side) ♺ | Success (ground pad) | ||||||||
| Classified payload contract awarded in June 2018 for US$130 million,[247] increased to $149.2 million in August 2021, due to "a change in the contract requirements" and expected to be completed by 14 April 2022.[248] Draft solicitation said the launch was 6,350 kg (14,000 lb) to GTO.[249] A month before launch, the Air Force announced that the mission will fly an X-37B (fourth flight of second X37-B) spaceplane.[250] | |||||||||
| 285 | 29 December 2023 04:01[251] | F9 B5 ♺ B1069.12 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-36 (23 satellites) | ~16,800 kg (37,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. SpaceX set a new record for the shortest time between two Falcon launches at 2 hours and 54 minutes. The previous record time was 4 hours and 12 minutes, set between the Starlink Group 2-8 and SES-18 and SES-19 missions on March 17, 2023. | |||||||||
2024
As of April 28, 2024, there have been 43 launches in 2024. Bill Gerstenmaier told the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee's space subcommittee in October 2023 that the company is targeting roughly 144 flights, or 12 flights per month, for 2024.[252] Kiko Dontchev stated that the launch system (pads, recovery, flight hardware) needs to be capable of 13 launches per month to catch up average launch cadence when planned maintenance, debacles and weather inevitably slows down the cadence.[253] Musk stated that SpaceX aims to increase the total launch mass to orbit by Falcon family by ~50% in 2024.[254] Later, Jon Edwards stated a slightly higher goal of 148 Falcon launches for this year at the 2024 Annual Astro Awards Ceremony organised by Tim Dodd.[255]
Flight No. | Date and time (UTC) | Version, booster[c] | Launch site | Payload[d] | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome | Booster landing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 286 | 3 January 2024 03:44[256] | F9 B5 B1082.1 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-9 (21 satellites) | ~16,800 kg (37,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. Includes the first six satellites with direct-to-cell connectivity. | |||||||||
| 287 | 3 January 2024 23:04[257] | F9 B5 ♺ B1076.10 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Ovzon-3 | 1,800 kg (4,000 lb) | GTO | Ovzon | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Broadband internet provider satellite.[258] First Falcon 9 launch to GTO with a return-to-launch-site (RTLS) landing. First commercial satellite with Roll Out Solar Array that were deployed on 10 January 2024.[259][260] | |||||||||
| 288 | 7 January 2024 22:35[261] | F9 B5 ♺ B1067.16 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-35 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. Falcon record for total time from hangar rollout to launch at 6 hours, 33 minutes.[262] | |||||||||
| 289 | 14 January 2024 08:59[263] | F9 B5 ♺ B1061.18 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-10 (22 satellites) | ~16,700 kg (36,800 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. Second booster to fly for the 18th time. | |||||||||
| 290 | 15 January 2024 01:52[264] | F9 B5 ♺ B1073.12 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-37 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. 190th landing in a row since the last landing failure and this was also the shortest time between landings on any droneship at just a bit over seven days. 300th successful mission for SpaceX.[265] Launches from SLC-40 will be now halted for some time for maintenance and to upgrade systems for even more rapid falcon flight cadence as required to achieve the 148 launches target of this year.[266] | |||||||||
| 291 | 18 January 2024 21:49[267] | F9 B5 ♺ B1080.5 | KSC, LC-39A | Ax-3 (Crew Dragon C212.3 Freedom ♺) [124][268] | ~13,000 kg (29,000 lb) | LEO (ISS) | Axiom Space | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Axiom contracted for three additional private crewed missions in June 2021. The crew consisted of American Michael López-Alegría, Italian astronaut Walter Villadei, ESA Swedish Project astronaut Marcus Wandt and Turkish astronaut Alper Gezeravcı.[269] | |||||||||
| 292 | 24 January 2024 00:35[270] | F9 B5 ♺ B1063.16 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-11 (22 satellites) | ~16,700 kg (36,800 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 293 | 29 January 2024 01:10[271] | F9 B5 ♺ B1062.18 | KSC, LC-39A | Starlink Group 6-38 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 294 | 29 January 2024 05:57[272] | F9 B5 ♺ B1075.9 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-12 (22 satellites) | ~16,700 kg (36,800 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. This landing marked the fastest turnaround of a droneship at just over 5 days. The launch also marked the fastest turnaround time from SLC-4E at 5 days, 5 hours, 22 minutes, and 20 seconds, beating previous record of 6.5 days. | |||||||||
| 295 | 30 January 2024 17:07[273] | F9 B5 ♺ B1077.10 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | CRS NG-20 (Cygnus (enhanced) S.S. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson)[274] | 3,726 kg (8,214 lb) | LEO (ISS) | Northrop Grumman (CRS) | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| First Cygnus flight on Falcon 9. Northrop Grumman acquired three flights from SpaceX while a replacement engine is developed for its Antares rocket. Eighth mission featuring a shorter MVac nozzle extension, suitable for low-energy missions. Cygnus is the only cargo freighter to launch on four different orbital launchers, that is, Antares 100 series, Atlas V, Antares 200 series and Falcon 9 Block 5 rockets. SpaceX modified their fairing for this mission to add a ~5’x4’ door side hatch for late loads of cargo onto the Cygnus spacecraft via mobile cleanroom.[275] | |||||||||
| 296 | 8 February 2024 06:33[276] | F9 B5 ♺ B1081.4 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | PACE | 1,694 kg (3,735 lb) | SSO | NASA (LSP) | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem is a 1.7 tonne, US$800 million craft that orbits at a 676 km (420 mi) altitude. It has the Ocean Color Imager intended to study phytoplankton in the ocean, as well as two polarimeters for studying properties of clouds, aerosols and the ocean. The launch price was US$80.4 million.[277] | |||||||||
| 297 | 10 February 2024 00:34[278] | F9 B5 ♺ B1071.14 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-13 (22 satellites) | ~16,700 kg (36,800 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 298 | 14 February 2024 22:30[279] | F9 B5 ♺ B1078.7 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | USSF-124 (2 HBTSS and 4 SDA Tranche 0 Tracking Layer satellites)[280] | Unknown | LEO | USSF SDA | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Launch part of Phase 2 US Space Force contract awarded in 2022. Second time a second stage featured Falcon medium coast mission-extension kit. 1st time flying a fairing half for the 15th time. | |||||||||
| 299 | 15 February 2024 06:05[281] | F9 B5 ♺ B1060.18 | KSC, LC-39A | IM-1 Nova-C Odysseus lander | 1,931 kg (4,257 lb) | TLI | NASA (CLPS) Intuitive Machines | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Second mission of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, and would be the first private American company to land a spacecraft on the Moon. The lander is expected to carry five payloads of up to 100 kg (220 lb) total (LRA, NDL, LN-1, SCALPSS, and ROLSES), a deployable camera namely, EagleCam and transmit data from the lunar surface in a mission lasting 2 weeks.[282][283][284] The LC-39A's Transporter erector is modified to fuel liquid oxygen and liquid methane onto the lander alongside Falcon 9 fueling operations, shortly before liftoff.[285] | |||||||||
| 300 | 15 February 2024 21:34[286] | F9 B5 ♺ B1082.2 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-14 (22 satellites) | ~16,700 kg (36,800 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| 300th Falcon 9 launch for a West Coast v2 mini Starlink mission to their Generation 2 network. 200th consecutive successful landing of a booster. First time SpaceX launched three rockets within 24 hours. SpaceX has started to ditch the stiffener ring around the regular nozzle of Merlin Vacuum Engine on their starlink missions from this launch.[287] | |||||||||
| 301 | 20 February 2024 20:11[288] | F9 B5 ♺ B1067.17 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Merah Putih 2 / Telkomsat HTS 113BT[289] | 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) | GTO | Telkom Indonesia | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| 300th successful Falcon 9 mission carrying an Indonesian satellite to provide more capacity over Indonesia. | |||||||||
| 302 | 23 February 2024 04:11[290] | F9 B5 ♺ B1061.19 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-15 (22 satellites) | ~16,700 kg (36,800 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. Second booster to fly for the 19th time. One of the nine Merlin engines powering this first stage is flight leader, powering its 22nd mission to Earth orbit. It is already the most renowned rocket engine to date, surpassing Space Shuttle Main Engine no. 2019's record of 19 flights on its 20th flight.[291] | |||||||||
| 303 | 25 February 2024 22:06[292] | F9 B5 ♺ B1069.13 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-39 (24 satellites) | ~17,500 kg (38,600 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. First launch with 24 v2 mini and new mass record on Falcon 9 taking 17,500 kg (38,600 lb) to low Earth orbit.[293] | |||||||||
| 304 | 29 February 2024 15:30[294] | F9 B5 ♺ B1076.11 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-40 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 305 | 4 March 2024 03:53[295] | F9 B5 B1083.1 | KSC, LC-39A | Crew-8 (Crew Dragon C206.5 Endeavour ♺ )[181] | ~13,000 kg (29,000 lb) | LEO (ISS) | NASA (CTS)[77] | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| After first six Crew Dragon launches of NASA USCV award, a further three missions for SpaceX were announced on 3 December 2021. These launches carry up to four astronauts and 100 kg (220 lb) of cargo to the ISS as well as feature a lifeboat function to evacuate astronauts from ISS in case of an emergency. SpaceX sent the 50th astronaut on this Crew Dragon launch.[296] | |||||||||
| 306 | 4 March 2024 22:05[297] | F9 B5 ♺ B1081.5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Transporter-10:(53 payloads SmallSat Rideshare)[298] | Unknown[e] | SSO | Various | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to sun-synchronous orbit including the 1,000th satellite of SpaceX rideshare program.[299] Third time a second stage featured Falcon medium coast mission-extension kit. | |||||||||
| 307 | 4 March 2024 23:56[300] | F9 B5 ♺ B1073.13 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-41 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. SpaceX set a new record for the shortest time between two Falcon launches at 1 hour and 51 minutes. The previous record time was 2 hours and 54 minutes, set between the USSF-52 (Boeing X-37B OTV-7) and Starlink Group 6-36 missions on December 29, 2023. Thus for the first time, SpaceX launch operations for a mission coincided with that of a preceding launch (in this case, payload deployment of Transporter-10:(53 payloads SmallSat Rideshare).[301] It is a new record for the shortest time between three Falcon launches at 20 hours and 3 minutes. The previous record time was 23 hours and 4 minutes, set between flights 298 and 300 on 14/15 February 2024. | |||||||||
| 308 | 10 March 2024 23:05[302] | F9 B5 ♺ B1077.11 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-43 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 309 | 11 March 2024 04:09[303] | F9 B5 ♺ B1063.17 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-17 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. First time 23 Starlinks v2 minis are launched from Vandenberg. | |||||||||
| 310 | 16 March 2024 00:21[304] | F9 B5 ♺ B1062.19 | KSC, LC-39A | Starlink Group 6-44 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 311 | 19 March 2024 02:28[305] | F9 B5 ♺ B1075.10 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-16 (20 Starlink and 2 Starshield satellites)[306][307] | ~16,100 kg (35,500 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. Two SpaceX Starshield satellites as rideshare.[308][307] | |||||||||
| 312 | 21 March 2024 20:55[309] | F9 B5 ♺ B1080.6 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | SpaceX CRS-30 (Dragon C209.4 ♺)[310] | 2,721 kg (5,999 lb) | LEO (ISS) | NASA (CRS) | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Six additional CRS-2 missions for Dragon 2 were announced in March 2022, resupplying the ISS until 2026. First launch of Dragon 2 from SLC-40. | |||||||||
| 313 | 24 March 2024 03:09[311] | F9 B5 ♺ B1060.19 | KSC, LC-39A | Starlink Group 6-42 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 314 | 25 March 2024 23:42[312] | F9 B5 ♺ B1078.8 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-46 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. Least time taken between landing and port's arrival at 50 hours and fastest turnaround of a pad switching from Dragon to Fairing mission, that was completed in 4 days.[313] | |||||||||
| 315 | 30 March 2024 21:52[314] | F9 B5 ♺ B1076.12 | KSC, LC-39A | Eutelsat 36D | 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) | GTO | Eutelsat | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| Television broadcast satellite. First time SpaceX completed 11 Falcon launches in a calendar month. | |||||||||
| 316 | 31 March 2024 01:30[315] | F9 B5 ♺ B1067.18 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-45 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. This marks the first time SpaceX has completed 12 Falcon launches in a calendar month. | |||||||||
| 317 | 2 April 2024 02:30[316] | F9 B5 ♺ B1071.15 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 7-18 (22 satellites) | ~16,700 kg (36,800 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 318 | 5 April 2024 09:12[317] | F9 B5 ♺ B1069.14 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-47 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 319 | 7 April 2024 02:25[318] | F9 B5 ♺ B1081.6 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 8-1 (21 satellites) | ~16,800 kg (37,000 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. Including six satellites with direct-to-cell connectivity. | |||||||||
| 320 | 7 April 2024 23:16[319] | F9 B5 ♺ B1073.14 | KSC, LC-39A | Bandwagon-1, SmallSat Rideshare (11 Payloads)[298][320] | Unknown[e] | LEO | Various | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to 45 degree inclination 550–600 km altitude. The mission includes flight 2 of 425 Project SAR satellite, a military satellite of South Korea with a mass of ~800 kg. | |||||||||
| 321 | 10 April 2024 05:40[321] | F9 B5 ♺ B1083.2 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-48 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 322 | 11 April 2024 14:25[322] | F9 B5 ♺ B1082.3 | VSFB, SLC-4E | USSF-62 (WSF-M 1)[323][280] | 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) | SSO | USSF | Success | Success (ground pad) |
| Launch part of Phase 2 US Space Force contract awarded in 2022. Mission will launch the first Weather System Follow-on Microwave weather satellite, which will replace the aging Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellites. | |||||||||
| 323 | 13 April 2024 01:40[324] | F9 B5 ♺ B1062.20 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-49 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. First booster to fly for the 20th time, new record. | |||||||||
| 324 | 17 April 2024 21:26[325] | F9 B5 ♺ B1077.12 | KSC, LC-39A | Starlink Group 6-51 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 325 | 18 April 2024 22:40[326] | F9 B5 ♺ B1080.7 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-52 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
| 326 | 23 April 2024 22:17[327] | F9 B5 ♺ B1078.9 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-53 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. 300th Falcon booster landing, including both Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy boosters.[328] | |||||||||
| 327 | 28 April 2024 00:34[329] | F9 B5 ♺ B1060.20 | KSC, LC-39A | Galileo-L12 (FOC FM25 & FM27) | 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) | MEO | ESA | Success | No attempt |
| First Galileo satellites booked on a US rocket following delays to the European Ariane 6 program. The booster was expended on this mission due to the performance needed to get the payload to the desired 23,616 km orbit. | |||||||||
| 328 | 28 April 2024 22:08[330] | F9 B5 ♺ B1076.13 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-54 (23 satellites) | ~17,100 kg (37,700 lb) | LEO | SpaceX | Success | Success (drone ship) |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||||||
Future launches
Future launches are listed chronologically when firm plans are in place. The order of the later launches is much less certain, as the official SpaceX manifest does not include a schedule.[331] Tentative launch dates are cited from various sources for each launch.[332][333][334][335] Launches are expected to take place "no earlier than" (NET) the listed date. The number of Starlink satellites per launch indicated with an ~ is an expectation based on previous launches to the same orbit, as the exact number is rarely published more than three days in advance.
2024
| Date and time (UTC) | Version, booster[c] | Launch site | Payload[d] | Orbit | Customer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 May 2024 ~18:30[335] | F9 B5 ♺ | VSFB, SLC-4E | WorldView Legion 1 & 2 Mission 1 (2 satellites)[336] | SSO | Maxar Technologies |
| Two Maxar Technologies satellites built by subsidiary SSL for subsidiary DigitalGlobe.[336] | |||||
| 3 May 2024 ~01:17[335] | F9 B5 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-55 (~23 satellites) | LEO | SpaceX |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||
| 4 May 2024 ~02:59[335] | F9 B5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Starlink Group 8-2 (~22 satellites) | LEO | SpaceX |
| A West Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||
| 6 May 2024 ~15:34[335] | F9 B5 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Starlink Group 6-56 (~23 satellites) | LEO | SpaceX |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||
| 7 May 2024 ~22:09[335] | F9 B5 | KSC, LC-39A | Starlink Group 6-57 (~23 satellites) | LEO | SpaceX |
| An East Coast v2 mini Starlink launch to their Generation 2 network. | |||||
| May 2024[337][338] | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | EarthCARE[339] | ESA | |
| EarthCARE (Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer) satellite is the sixth mission in ESA's Earth Explorer program and it aims to advance our understanding of the role clouds and aerosols play in reflecting incident solar radiation back into space and trapping infrared radiation emitted from Earth's surface. | |||||
| May 2024 | F9 B5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | NROL-146 | Northrop Grumman/NRO | |
| The first of up to 6 launches of SpaceX/Northrop built satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office. | |||||
| 25 June 2024[340] | Falcon Heavy B5 B1087 (core) | KSC, LC-39A | GOES-U[341] | GEO | NOAA |
| B1072.1 (side) | |||||
| B1086.1 (side) | |||||
| In September 2021, NASA awarded SpaceX a $152.5 million contract to provide launch services for the GOES-U weather satellite. | |||||
| June 2024[342] | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A | Nusantara Lima[343] | GTO? | PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara |
| A hot backup system for SATRIA-1.[344] | |||||
| June 2024[345] | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40 / LC-39A | SpaceX CRS-31[310] | LEO (ISS) | NASA (CRS) |
| Six additional CRS-2 missions for Dragon 2 were announced in March 2022, resupplying the ISS until 2026. | |||||
| Q2 2024[346] | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | BlueBird Block 1 (5 Satellites)[347] | LEO | AST SpaceMobile |
| Cellphone-compatible broadband constellation. Each satellite is to be a similar size and weight to its 1,500-kilogram BlueWalker 3 prototype and have a 64 square meter phased array antenna. | |||||
| Q2 2024[348] | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A | GSAT-20[349] (CMS-03) | GTO | New Space India Limited[349] Dish TV[350] |
| Indian telecommunications satellite for Dish TV. Originally planned to launch on ISRO's LVM3,[351] but later shifted to Falcon 9 due to mass and scheduling issues.[348] It will be the first ISRO-made satellite to move from geostationary transfer orbit to geosynchronous orbit using electric propulsion.[352] | |||||
| H1 2024[335][353] | F9 B5[354] | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A | NROL-69 | TBA | USSF |
| Launch part of Phase 2 US Space Force contract awarded in 2021.[355] | |||||
| Mid 2024[356][357] | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A | MicroGEO (4 satellites)[358] | GEO | Astranis |
| Dedicated Falcon 9 launch to put four Astranis MicroGEO communications satellites into service in 2023.[358] The MicroGEOs will be launched to a custom geostationary orbit, with the four satellites individually conducting on-orbit maneuvers to inject themselves into their orbital slots. However, it is unclear whether this will be a direct to geostationary orbit insertion, or an optimized geostationary transfer orbit. The four spacecraft will be mounted to a standard adapter ring, known as an ESPA-Grande, for ease of deployment. | |||||
| Mid 2024[359][360] | F9 B5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | ASBM 1 (GX 10A),[361] ASBM 2 (GX 10B) | HEO | Space Norway / Inmarsat |
| Space Norway will launch 2 satellites of the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) system into highly elliptical orbits (apogee: 43,509 km (27,035 mi), perigee: 8,089 km (5,026 mi), 63.4° inclination)[362] to provide communication coverage to high latitudes not served by geosynchronous satellites.[363] | |||||
| 8 July 2024[364] | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A | Türksat 6A[365] | GTO | Türksat |
| First domestically produced Turkish communications satellite. | |||||
| July 2024[366] | F9 B5 | TBD | 2× Galileo | MEO | ESA |
| Second launch of Galileo satellites. | |||||
| July 2024 | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | Transporter-11, SmallSat Rideshare[298] | SSO | Various |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to sun-synchronous orbit. | |||||
| Mid August 2024[367] | F9 B5 ♺ | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A | Crew-9[181] | LEO (ISS) | NASA (CTS)[77] |
| After first six Crew Dragon launches of NASA USCV award, a further three missions for SpaceX were announced on 3 December 2021. These launches carry up to four astronauts and 100 kg (220 lb) of cargo to the ISS as well as feature a lifeboat function to evacuate astronauts from ISS in case of an emergency.[77] | |||||
| August 2024 | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40 / LC-39A | CRS NG-21 (Cygnus (enhanced))[368] | LEO (ISS) | Northrop Grumman (CRS) |
| Second of three launches Northrop Grumman acquired from SpaceX while a replacement engine is developed for its Antares rocket. | |||||
| H2 2024[369][370] | F9 B5 | KSC, LC-39A | Polaris Dawn[371] (Crew Dragon C207.3 Resilience ♺ ) | LEO | Jared Isaacman / Polaris Program |
| First of two Crew Dragon missions for the Polaris Program. Crew will consist of Jared Isaacman, Scott Poteet, Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon and will spend up to five days in orbit. Flying higher than any crewed Earth orbiting spacecraft has ever flown, Polaris Dawn will conduct research with the aim of better understanding the effects of spaceflight and space radiation on human health. At approximately 500 kilometers above the Earth, the crew will attempt the first-ever commercial extravehicular activity (EVA) with SpaceX-designed EVA spacesuits, derived from the existing intravehicular (IVA) suit. | |||||
| H2 2024[372] | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A | Astra 1P/SES-24[372] | GTO | SES |
| Will serve major broadcasters across Europe. | |||||
| H2 2024[373] | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40 / LC-39A | Spainsat-NG I[374] | GTO | Hisdesat |
| Communications satellite built on the Eurostar-Neo platform, to be utilized by the Spanish government and its allies.[375] First of two launches for the Spainsat-NG program. | |||||
| September 2024[376] | F9 B5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | SDA Tranche 1 Tracking layer T1TL-B[377] | Polar LEO | SDA |
| Launch part of Phase 2 US Space Force contract awarded in 2022. | |||||
| Late Q3 / Early Q4 2024[378] | F9 B5 | KSC, LC-39A | Blue Ghost M1[379][380] | TLI | Firefly Aerospace NASA (CLPS) |
| Firefly Aerospace has selected SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket to deliver the Blue Ghost lunar lander to the lunar surface.[381] Blue Ghost will carry 10 payloads for NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services task order 19D mission along with other separately contracted payloads.[382] | |||||
| 8 October 2024[149] | F9 B5 | CCSFS, SLC-40 | Hera with Juventas and Milani | Heliocentric | ESA |
| Hera is a space mission in development at the European Space Agency in its Space Safety program. Its primary objective is to study the Didymos binary asteroid system that was impacted by DART and contribute to validation of the kinetic impact method to deviate a near-Earth asteroid in a colliding trajectory with Earth. It will measure the size and the morphology of the crater created by and momentum transferred by an artificial projectile impacting an asteroid, which will allow measuring the efficiency of the deflection produced by the impact. It will also carry two nano-satellite CubeSats, called Milani and Juventas. | |||||
| 10 October 2024[383] | Falcon Heavy B5 B1090 (core) | KSC, LC-39A | Europa Clipper | Heliocentric | NASA |
| B1064.6 ♺ (side)[384] | |||||
| B1065.6 ♺ (side)[384] | |||||
| Europa Clipper will conduct a detailed survey of Europa and use a sophisticated suite of science instruments to investigate whether the icy moon has conditions suitable for life. Key mission objectives are to produce high-resolution images of Europa's surface, determine its composition, look for signs of recent or ongoing geological activity, measure the thickness of the moon's icy shell, search for subsurface lakes, and determine the depth and salinity of Europa's ocean.[385] The mission will fly past Mars and Earth before arriving at Jupiter in April 2030.[386][387] The side boosters and the center core will all be expended. | |||||
| October 2024[298] | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | Transporter-12, SmallSat Rideshare | SSO | Various |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to sun-synchronous orbit. | |||||
| October 2024[376] | F9 B5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | SDA Tranche 1 Tracking layer T1TL-C[377] | Polar LEO | SDA |
| Launch part of Phase 2 US Space Force contract awarded in 2022. | |||||
| October 2024[388] | F9 B5 | KSC, LC-39A | Ax-4[124] | LEO (ISS) | Axiom Space |
| Contract for 3 additional missions was signed in June 2021. | |||||
| November 2024[389] | Falcon Heavy B5 B10××.1 (core) | KSC, LC-39A | Griffin Mission 1[390] | TLI | Astrobotic NASA (Artemis) |
| B1072.2 (side) | |||||
| B1086.2 (side) | |||||
| Astrobotic's Griffin lunar lander was expected to deliver NASA's VIPER spacecraft to the lunar south pole, but this is now extremely unlikely.[391] Booster recovery method is unconfirmed, but could possibly feature the first Falcon Heavy center core recovery attempt since STP-2.[392] | |||||
| November 2024 | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | Bandwagon-2, SmallSat Rideshare[298][320] | LEO | Various |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to 45 degree inclination 550–600 km altitude. | |||||
| November 2024[376] | F9 B5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | SDA Tranche 1 Tracking layer T1TL-D[377] | Polar LEO | SDA |
| Launch part of Phase 2 US Space Force contract awarded in 2022. | |||||
| November 2024 | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | 425 Project SAR satellite flight 3[393] | LEO? | Republic of Korea Armed Forces |
| A military satellite of South Korea with a mass of ~800 kg. Expected to be a part of Bandwagon-2.[394] | |||||
| December 2024[376] | F9 B5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | SDA Tranche 1 Tracking layer T1TL-E[377] | Polar LEO | SDA |
| Launch part of Phase 2 US Space Force contract awarded in 2022. | |||||
| Q4 2024[376] | F9 B5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | SDA Tranche 1 Transport layer T1TR-C[377] | Polar LEO | SDA |
| Launch part of Phase 2 US Space Force contract awarded in 2022. | |||||
| Q4 2024[395] | F9 B5 | KSC, LC-39A[396] | IM-2 Nova-C lunar lander Sherpa-ES | TLI | NASA (CLPS) Intuitive Machines Spaceflight, Inc. |
| Intuitive Machines is sending its second lander aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, with a projected launch time frame in late 2024. In February 2024, Intuitive Machines has completed its first lander mission via SpaceX, which is also hosting payloads for other private companies seeking to make lunar landfall under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. NASA's PRIME-1 is expected to be included.[397] The Sherpa-ES Go Beyond orbital transfer vehicle will deploy rideshare payloads to trans-lunar orbit, low-lunar orbit and beyond to GEO.[398][399][400] NASA's Lunar Trailblazer mission will fly as a secondary payload on this mission.[401] | |||||
| Q4 2024[402] | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A | Koreasat 6A[403] | GTO | KT Sat |
| South Korean communications satellite built on the Spacebus-4000B2 platform. To be positioned at 116° East.[404] | |||||
| H2 2024[335][353] | F9 B5[354] | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A[405] | USSF-36 | TBA | USSF |
| Launch part of Phase 2 US Space Force contract awarded in 2021.[355] | |||||
| H2 2024[406] | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A | O3b mPOWER 7 & 8 | MEO | SES |
| In August 2020, SES expanded the O3b mPOWER contract with two additional launches, raising the number of satellites from 7 to 11 satellites at nearly 2 tons each.[407][408] In October 2023 the mission was delayed to the second half of 2024 due to electrical issues discovered in the first four satellites of the constellation.[406] | |||||
| H2 2024[409] | F9 B5 ♺[336][410] | CCSFS, SLC-40[333] | WorldView Legion 3-4 Mission 2 (2 sats)[411][412][413] | SSO | Maxar Technologies |
| Maxar Technologies built satellites. | |||||
| H2 2024[409] | F9 B5 ♺[336][410] | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A[335] | WorldView Legion 5 & 6 Mission 3 (2 sats)[411][412][413] | SSO | Maxar Technologies |
| Maxar Technologies built satellites. | |||||
| 2024[335] | F9 B5 ♺ | KSC, LC-39A | DOGE-1 Possible rideshare | TLI | Geometric Energy |
| Originally expected to be a secondary rideshare payload on IM-1 mission but the 40 kg was later postponed to a later date due to incomplete radio and launch requirements.>[414][non-primary source needed] | |||||
| 2024[415] | F9 B5 | Unknown | ispace 2nd lunar lander[416] | TLI | ispace |
| Second lunar lander built by Japanese company ispace. | |||||
| 2024[417] | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40 / LC-39A | Thuraya 4-NGS | GTO | Thuraya |
| Planned replacement for Thuraya 2.[418] | |||||
| 2024 | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40 / LC-39A | CRS NG-22 (Cygnus (enhanced))[274] | LEO (ISS) | Northrop Grumman (CRS) |
| Third of three launches Northrop Grumman acquired from SpaceX while a replacement engine is developed for its Antares rocket. | |||||
| 2024 | F9 B5 | Unknown | Reentry demonstration capsule Possible rideshare | LEO | The Exploration Company |
| 1600 kg 2.5 metre diameter reduced scale test of a reentry capsule, the full-scale version Nyx (4 metre diameter 8000 kg) is planned to deliver payloads to the ISS and return them back to Earth.[419] | |||||
| 2024? | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A | USSF-31[377] | TBA | USSF |
| Classified mission, part of Phase 2 US Space Force contract awarded in 2022. | |||||
2025
| Date and time (UTC) | Version, booster[c] | Launch site | Payload[d] | Orbit | Customer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 2025 | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | Transporter-13, SmallSat Rideshare[298] | SSO | Various |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to sun-synchronous orbit. | |||||
| February 2025 | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | Bandwagon-3, SmallSat Rideshare[298][320] | LEO | Various |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to 45 degree inclination 550–600 km altitude. | |||||
| February 2025[420] | F9 B5 | KSC, LC-39A | Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP)[421] | Sun–Earth L1 | NASA |
| In September 2020, NASA selected SpaceX to launch the IMAP mission, which will help researchers better understand the boundary of the heliosphere, a magnetic barrier surrounding our solar system. The total launch cost is approximately US$109.4 million. The secondary payloads include two NASA heliophysics missions of opportunity and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) mission.[421] | |||||
| Q1 2025[395] | F9 B5 | KSC, LC-39A | IM-3 Nova-C lunar lander | TLI | NASA (CLPS) Intuitive Machines |
| Third mission for Intuitive Machines, with multiple rideshare payloads.[422] This mission was selected by NASA under the CLPS program in November 2021.[423][424] | |||||
| April 2025[425] | F9 B5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | SPHEREx PUNCH[426] | SSO[427] | NASA |
| In February 2021, NASA announced a $99 million contract for its Astrophysics Division. | |||||
| April 2025 | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | TRACERS[428] | SSO | NASA |
| Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS) is a Small Explorers program mission. Expected to be part of a rideshare mission.[429] | |||||
| April 2025 onwards | F9 B5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | 12 launches for Rivada broadband constellation[430] | LEO | Rivada Space Networks |
| In March 2023, Rivada contracted SpaceX to launch 300 B2B broadband satellites over 12 Falcon 9 launches between April 2025 and June 2026. | |||||
| May 2025 | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | Bandwagon-4, SmallSat Rideshare[298][320] | LEO | Various |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to 45 degree inclination 550–600 km altitude. | |||||
| June 2025 | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | Transporter-14, SmallSat Rideshare[298] | SSO | Various |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to sun-synchronous orbit. | |||||
| H2 2025 onwards (3 flights)[431][432] | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | Project Kuiper constellation deployment | LEO | Kuiper Systems / Amazon |
| Announced Dec 1st, 2023. Three Falcon 9 launches beginning in the second half of 2025 in support of Amazon's Project Kuiper megaconstellation. | |||||
| August 2025 | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | Haven-1[433] | LEO | Vast |
| Launch of a new commercial space station by Vast Space. | |||||
| September 2025 | F9 B5 | KSC, LC-39A | Vast-1[433] | LEO | Vast |
| First crewed mission to the Haven-1 space station. | |||||
| October 2025 | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | Transporter-15, SmallSat Rideshare[298] | SSO | Various |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to sun-synchronous orbit. | |||||
| November 2025 | F9 B5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | Sentinel-6B[434] | LEO | NASA/NOAA/EUMETSAT/ESA |
| Identical to Sentinel-6A.[435] | |||||
| Q4 2025[436] | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40 / LC-39A | CHORUS | LEO | MDA |
| Announced in October 2023, CHORUS will be a commercial Earth observation constellation owned and operated by MDA Ltd. Will utilize C and X-band SAR. | |||||
| 2025[437] | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | CAS500-4[438] Likely Rideshare | SSO | Korea Aerospace Industries |
| A satellite to monitor Korean agriculture. | |||||
| 2025 | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40 / LC-39A | Globalstar-3 M104–120 (17 satellites)[439] | LEO | Globalstar |
| Globalstar's third-generation satellite constellation, launching to a 52 degree inclination orbit at an altitude of 1,410 km.[440] | |||||
| 2025[406] | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40 / LC-39A | O3b mPOWER 9-11[441] | MEO | SES |
| In August 2020, SES expanded the O3b mPOWER contract with a fourth launch.[408][442] In October 2023 the mission was delayed to 2025 due to electrical issues discovered in the first four satellites of the constellation.[406] | |||||
| 2025[443] | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40 / LC-39A | Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) × 1[444] Mission Extension Pod (MEP) × 3 | GTO | Northrop Grumman |
| Developed from Northrop Grumman's 2,000 kg Mission Extension Vehicle architecture. One MEP (400 kg each) will be attached to Optus D3.[445] | |||||
| 2025 | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A | Skynet 6A[446] | GTO | Airbus / UK Ministry of Defence |
| British military communications satellite ordered to bridge the gap between Skynet-5 and its successor.[447] | |||||
| 2025 | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A | Spainsat NG II[374] | GTO | Hisdesat |
| Communications satellite built on the Eurostar-Neo platform, to be utilized by the Spanish government and its allies.[375] Second of two launches for the Spainsat-NG program. | |||||
| ~2025 | F9 B5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | SDA Tranche 1 Transport layer T1TL-F[448][449] | Polar LEO | SDA |
| Launch is part of Phase 2 US Air Force contract awarded in 2022. | |||||
| ~2025 | F9 B5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | SDA Tranche 1 Transport layer T1TR-A[448][449] | Polar LEO | SDA |
| Launch is part of Phase 2 US Air Force contract awarded in 2022. | |||||
| ~2025 | F9 B5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | SDA Tranche 1 Transport layer T1TR-E[448][449] | Polar LEO | SDA |
| Launch is part of Phase 2 US Air Force contract awarded in 2022. | |||||
| ~2025 | F9 B5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | SDA Tranche 1 Transport layer T2TL-A[448][449] | Polar LEO | SDA |
| Launch is part of Phase 2 US Air Force contract awarded in 2022. | |||||
| ~2025 | F9 B5 | VSFB, SLC-4E | SDA Tranche 1 Transport layer T2TL-C[448][449] | Polar LEO | SDA |
| Launch is part of Phase 2 US Air Force contract awarded in 2022. | |||||
| ~2025 | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A | NROL-77[448][449] | Classified | NRO |
| Launch is part of Phase 2 US Air Force contract awarded in 2022. | |||||
| ~2025 | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A | GPS III-10[448][449] | MEO | USSF |
| Launch is part of Phase 2 US Air Force contract awarded in 2022. | |||||
| 2025[450] | Falcon Heavy B5 | KSC, LC-39A | Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO)[451] | TLI | NASA (Artemis) |
| First elements for the Gateway station as part of the Artemis program, awarded in February 2021. The launch will cost NASA $331.8 million and will utilize Falcon Heavy's extended fairing. | |||||
| 2025–2026 (4 flights) | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40 / LC-39A | SpaceX CRS-32 to SpaceX CRS-35[310] | LEO (ISS) | NASA (CRS) |
| Six additional CRS-2 missions for Dragon 2 were announced in March 2022, resupplying the ISS until 2026. | |||||
2026 and beyond
| Date and time (UTC) | Version, booster[c] | Launch site | Payload[d] | Orbit | Customer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | Transporter-16, SmallSat Rideshare[298] | SSO | Various |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to sun-synchronous orbit. | |||||
| Q2 2026 | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | Transporter-17, SmallSat Rideshare[298] | SSO | Various |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to sun-synchronous orbit. | |||||
| Q4 2026 | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | Transporter-18, SmallSat Rideshare[298] | SSO | Various |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to sun-synchronous orbit. | |||||
| ~2026 | Falcon Heavy B5 | KSC, LC-39A | USSF-75[448][449] | GSO | USSF |
| ~2026 | Falcon Heavy B5 | KSC, LC-39A | USSF-70[448][449] | GSO | USSF |
| 2026[452] | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A | Arabsat 7A[130][453] | GTO | Arabsat |
| Announced in September 2022, Arabsat 7A will enter a geostationary orbit after its launch by a Falcon 9 rocket. | |||||
| 2026[406] | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40 / LC-39A | O3b mPOWER 12 & 13 | MEO | SES |
| Two additional satellites were announced in October 2023 due to electrical issues discovered in the first four satellites of the constellation.[406] | |||||
| 2026[454] | Falcon Heavy B5 | KSC, LC-39A | Astrobotic Technology Lunar Lander[455] | TLI | Astrobotic Technology |
| Astrobotic's third upcoming lander mission to the Moon. Targeting a South Pole landing in 2026. | |||||
| 2026 and later (14 flights) | F9 B5 | VSFB and CC | Telesat Lightspeed × 18 | LEO | Telesat |
| Announced in September 2023, Telesat has booked 14 launches of up to 18 satellites each.[456] | |||||
| 2026–2030 | F9 B5 | CC, SLC-40/LC-39A | 5 more launches (Crew-10 through Crew-14)[457] | LEO (ISS) | NASA (ISS) |
| In June 2022, NASA announced it purchased an additional 5 crewed flights from SpaceX in addition to the previous 9 missions on top of the $3.5 billion contract.[458] | |||||
| Q1 2027 | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | Transporter-19, SmallSat Rideshare[298] | SSO | Various |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to sun-synchronous orbit. | |||||
| May 2027[459] | Falcon Heavy B5 | KSC, LC-39A | Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope[460] | Sun–Earth L2 | NASA |
| Flagship-class infrared space telescope. | |||||
| Q2 2027 | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | Transporter-20, SmallSat Rideshare[298] | SSO | Various |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to sun-synchronous orbit. | |||||
| Q4 2027 | F9 B5 | VSFB or CC | Transporter-21, SmallSat Rideshare[298] | SSO | Various |
| Dedicated SmallSat Rideshare mission to sun-synchronous orbit. | |||||
| 2027[461][462] | Falcon Heavy B5 | KSC, LC-39A | GPS IIIF-1[448][463] | MEO | USSF |
| First GPS Block IIIF launch. | |||||
| 2028[454][464] | Falcon Heavy B5 | KSC, LC-39A | GLS-1 (Dragon XL) | TLI | NASA (Gateway Logistics Services) |
| In March 2020, NASA announced its first contract for the Gateway Logistics Services that guarantees at least two launches on a new variant of the Dragon spacecraft that will carry over 5 tonnes of cargo to the Lunar Gateway on 6–12 months long missions.[465][466] | |||||
| 2029[454] | Falcon Heavy B5 | KSC, LC-39A | GLS-2 (Dragon XL)[467] | TLI | NASA (Gateway Logistics Services) |
| Second Dragon XL logistics module.[467] | |||||
Notable launches
First flights and contracts
On 4 June 2010, the first Falcon 9 launch successfully placed a test payload into the intended orbit.[468] The second launch of Falcon 9 was COTS Demo Flight 1, which placed an operational Dragon capsule in orbit on 8 December 2010.[469] The capsule re-entered the atmosphere after two orbits, allowing for testing the reentry procedures. The capsule was recovered off the coast of Mexico[470] and then placed on display at SpaceX headquarters.[471] The remaining objectives of the NASA COTS qualification program were combined into a single Dragon C2+ mission, on the condition that all milestones would be validated in space before berthing Dragon to the ISS.[472] The Dragon capsule was propelled to orbit in May 2012, and following successful tests in the next days it was grabbed with the station's robotic arm (Canadarm2) and docked to the ISS docking port for the first time on 25 May. After successfully completing all the return procedures, the recovered Dragon C2+ capsule was put on display at Kennedy Space Center.[473] Thus, Falcon 9 and Dragon became the first fully commercially developed launcher to deliver a payload to the International Space Station, paving the way for SpaceX and NASA to sign the first Commercial Resupply Services agreement for cargo deliveries.[474]
The first operational cargo resupply mission to ISS, the fourth flight of Falcon 9, was launched in October 2012. An engine suffered a loss of pressure at 76 seconds after liftoff, which caused an automatic shutdown of that engine, but the remaining eight first-stage engines continued to burn and the Dragon capsule reached orbit successfully and thus demonstrated the rocket's "engine out" capability in flight.[475] Due to ISS visiting vehicle safety rules, at NASA's request, the secondary payload Orbcomm-2 was released into a lower-than-intended orbit.[476] Despite this incident, Orbcomm said they gathered useful test data from the mission and later in 2014, launched more satellites via SpaceX.[477] The mission continued to rendezvous and berth the Dragon capsule with the ISS where the ISS crew unloaded its payload and reloaded the spacecraft with cargo for return to Earth.[478]
Following unsuccessful attempts at recovering the first stage with parachutes, SpaceX upgraded to a much larger first stage booster and with greater thrust, termed Falcon 9 v1.1, and performed a demonstration flight of this version in September 2013.[479] After the second stage separation and delivering CASSIOPE, a very small payload relative to the rocket's capability, SpaceX conducted a novel high-altitude, high-velocity flight test wherein the booster attempted to reenter the lower atmosphere in a controlled manner and decelerate to a simulated over-water landing.[480]
Loss of CRS-7 mission
In June 2015, Falcon 9 Flight 19 carried a Dragon capsule on the seventh Commercial Resupply Services mission to the ISS. The second stage disintegrated due to an internal helium tank failure while the first stage was still burning normally. This was the first (and only as of Sep 2023) primary mission loss for any Falcon 9 rocket.[481] In addition to ISS consumables and experiments, this mission carried the first International Docking Adapter (IDA-1), whose loss delayed preparedness of the station's US Orbital Segment (USOS) for future crewed missions.[482]
Performance was nominal until T+140 seconds into launch when a cloud of white vapor appeared, followed by rapid loss of second-stage LOX tank pressure. The booster continued on its trajectory until complete vehicle breakup at T+150 seconds. The Dragon capsule was ejected from the disintegrating rocket and continued transmitting data until impact with the ocean. SpaceX officials stated that the capsule could have been recovered if the parachutes had deployed; however, the Dragon software did not include any provisions for parachute deployment in this situation.[483] Subsequent investigations traced the cause of the accident to the failure of a strut that secured a helium bottle inside the second-stage LOX tank. With the helium pressurization system integrity breached, excess helium quickly flooded the tank, eventually causing it to burst from overpressure.[484][485] NASA's independent accident investigation into the loss of SpaceX CRS-7 found that the failure of the strut which led to the breakup of the Falcon-9 represented a design error. Specifically, that industrial grade stainless steel had been used in a critical load path under cryogenic conditions and flight conditions, without additional part screening, and without regard to manufacturer recommendations.[486]
Full-thrust version and first booster landings
.jpg)
After pausing launches for months, SpaceX launched on 22 December 2015, the highly anticipated return-to-flight mission after the loss of CRS-7. This launch inaugurated a new Falcon 9 Full Thrust version of its flagship rocket featuring increased performance, notably thanks to subcooling of the propellants. After launching a constellation of 11 Orbcomm-OG2 second-generation satellites,[487] the first stage performed a controlled-descent and landing test for the eighth time, SpaceX attempted to land the booster on land for the first time. It managed to return the first stage successfully to the Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral, marking the first successful recovery of a rocket first stage that launched a payload to orbit.[488] After recovery, the first stage booster performed further ground tests and then was put on permanent display outside SpaceX's headquarters in Hawthorne, California.[489]
On 8 April 2016, SpaceX delivered its commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station marking the return-to-flight of the Dragon capsule, after the loss of CRS-7. After separation, the first-stage booster slowed itself with a boostback maneuver, re-entered the atmosphere, executed an automated controlled descent and landed vertically onto the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You, marking the first successful landing of a rocket on a ship at sea.[490] This was the fourth attempt to land on a drone ship, as part of the company's experimental controlled-descent and landing tests.[491]
Loss of AMOS-6 on the launch pad
On 1 September 2016, the 29th Falcon 9 rocket exploded on the launchpad while propellant was being loaded for a routine pre-launch static fire test. The payload, Israeli satellite AMOS-6, partly commissioned by Facebook, was destroyed with the launcher.[492] On 2 January 2017, SpaceX released an official statement indicating that the cause of the failure was a buckled liner in several of the COPV tanks, causing perforations that allowed liquid and/or solid oxygen to accumulate underneath the COPVs carbon strands, which were subsequently ignited possibly due to friction of breaking strands.[493]
Zuma launch
Zuma was a classified United States government satellite and was developed and built by Northrop Grumman at an estimated cost of US$3.5 billion.[494] Its launch, originally planned for mid-November 2017, was postponed to 8 January 2018 as fairing tests for another SpaceX customer were assessed. Following a successful Falcon 9 launch, the first-stage booster landed at LZ-1.[495] Unconfirmed reports suggested that the Zuma spacecraft was lost,[496] with claims that either the payload failed following orbital release, or that the customer-provided adapter failed to release the satellite from the upper stage, while other claims argued that Zuma was in orbit and operating covertly.[496] SpaceX's COO Gwynne Shotwell stated that their Falcon 9 "did everything correctly" and that "Information published that is contrary to this statement is categorically false".[496] A preliminary report indicated that the payload adapter, modified by Northrop Grumman after purchasing it from a subcontractor, failed to separate the satellite from the second stage under the zero gravity conditions.[497][494] Due to the classified nature of the mission, no further official information is expected.[496]
Falcon Heavy test flight
.jpg)
.jpg)
Liftoff of Falcon Heavy on its maiden flight (left) and its two side-boosters landing at LZ-1 and LZ-2 a few minutes later (right)
The maiden launch of the Falcon Heavy occurred on 6 February 2018, temporarily making it the most powerful rocket since the Saturn V, with a theoretical payload capacity to low Earth orbit more than double the Delta IV Heavy.[498][499] Both side boosters landed nearly simultaneously after a ten-minute flight. The central core failed to land on a floating platform at sea.[500] The rocket carried a car and a mannequin to an eccentric heliocentric orbit that reaches further than aphelion of Mars.[501]
First crewed flights
On 2 March 2019, SpaceX launched its first orbital flight of Dragon 2 (Crew Dragon). It was an uncrewed mission to the International Space Station. The Dragon contained a mannequin named Ripley, which was equipped with multiple sensors to gather data about how a human would feel during the flight. Along with the mannequin was 300 pounds of cargo of food and other supplies.[502] Also on board was Earth plush toy referred to as a "Super high tech zero-g indicator".[503] The toy became a hit with astronaut Anne McClain, who showed the plushy on the ISS each day[504] and also deciding to keep it on board to experience the crewed SpX-DM2.
The Dragon spent six days in space, including five days docked to the International Space Station. During the time, various systems were tested to make sure the vehicle was ready for US astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to fly in it in 2020. The Dragon undocked and performed a re-entry burn before splashing down on 8 March 2019, at 08:45 EST, 320 km (200 mi) off the coast of Florida.[505]
SpaceX held a successful launch of the first commercial orbital human space flight on 30 May 2020, crewed with NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken. Both astronauts focused on conducting tests on the Crew Dragon capsule. Crew Dragon successfully returned to Earth, splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico on 2 August 2020.[506]
Reuse of the first stage
SpaceX has developed a program to reuse the first-stage booster, setting multiple booster reflight records:
- B1021 became, on 30 March 2017, the first booster to be successfully recovered a second time, on Flight 32 launching the SES-10 satellite. After that, it was retired and put on display at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.[507]
- B1046, the first Block 5 booster, became the first to launch three times, carrying Spaceflight SSO-A on 3 December 2018.
- B1048 was the first booster to be recovered four times on 11 November 2019, and the first to perform a fifth flight on 18 March 2020, but the booster was lost during re-entry.
- B1049 was the first booster to be recovered five times on 4 June 2020, six times on 18 August 2020, and seven times on 25 November 2020.
- B1051 became the first booster to be recovered eight times on 20 January 2021, nine times on 14 March 2021, and ten times on 9 May 2021, achieving one of SpaceX's milestone goals for reuse. It then became the first booster to be recovered eleven times on 18 December 2021, and twelve times on 19 March 2022.[508][509][510][511]
- B1060 became the first booster to be recovered 13 times on 17 June 2022.
- B1058 became the first booster to be recovered 14 times on 11 September 2022, 15 times on 17 December 2022, 16 times on 10 July 2023, 17 times on 20 September 2023, 18 times on 4 November 2023 and 19 times on 23 December 2023.
- B1069 launched and returned a hosted box containing two FIFA 2022 World Cup Adidas Al Rihla on 15 October 2022 for a sub-orbital flight, the first payload on a Falcon 9 booster.[512]
- B1061 became the only booster on 30 December 2022 to launch from all SpaceX's different launch sites and on all of SpaceX's different landing zones and drone ships (except rarely used LZ-2 that is located nearby LZ-1).
- B1062 booster holds the record for fastest turnaround at 21 days. It launched on 8 April and again on 29 April 2022.[27]
- B1080 became the first booster to land onshore after launching a crewed mission (Ax-2) on 21 May 2023.
- B1062 became the first booster to fly twenty times on 13 April 2024.
See also
Notes
References
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