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Launch Vehicles
Vehicle family profile

Falcon 9

Family-level launch record combining canonical variants, historical missions, public cadence forecasts, and available payload performance specs.

SpaceXActive
Admin
Variants
5
Canonical variants linked to this family.
Historical missions
663
Missions in the public mission table with actual launch dates.
Peak listed capacity
22,000 kg
Maximum payload capacity across listed variants and orbits.

Launch Cadence

Historical missions are grouped by actual launch year. Forecast cadence uses family-level launch-rate rows.

YearHistorical missionsForecast launches
2019110
2020250
2021310
2022600
2023910
20241320
20251650
202682140
20270157
20280185
20290203
20300211
20310211
20320210
20330209
20340209
20350

Performance Specs

Payload capacity by variant and target orbit when structured capacity rows are available.

VariantOrbitCapacityAltitudeInclinationSource
Falcon 9
LEO22,000 kgUnknownUnknownSpaceX Capabilities & Services
Falcon 9 FT5
LEO22,000 kgUnknownUnknownSpaceX Capabilities & Services (live vehicle spec sheet)

Recent Missions

Latest launched missions using variants in this family.

MissionVariantLaunch
Starlink-408
Falcon 9 FT5
Jul 11, 2026
Starlink-407
Falcon 9 FT5
Jul 9, 2026
Transporter-17
Falcon 9 FT5
Jul 7, 2026
Starlink-406

Variants

Canonical variants rolled up into this launch vehicle family.

VariantStagesMissionsStatus
Falcon 9
Not stated7Retired
Falcon 9 1.1
Not stated14Retired
Falcon 9 FT3
Not stated24Retired
Falcon 9 FT4
Not stated12Retired
209
20360209
20370209
20380209
20390209
20400209
20410209

Forecast Location Split

4 launch locations represented.

YearLocationLaunchesConfidenceBasis
2026Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida)8585%SLC-40 is the Falcon high-throughput workhorse. Base stays below the FAA-analyzed 120/year cap to reflect range weather, maintenance, pad turnarounds, drone-sh...
2026Launch Complex 39A, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida (NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida)1565%LC-39A remains useful for crewed Dragon, high-priority NASA/commercial missions, and Falcon Heavy, but Falcon 9 single-stick work shifts toward SLC-40 and Vand...
2026Space Launch Complex 4-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)4085%SLC-4E already supports high polar/SSO and NRO/Starshield cadence. Base rises to about half of the authorized VSFB combined Falcon capacity once SLC-6 is also ...
2026Space Launch Complex 6, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)065%SLC-6 provides the main incremental West Coast capacity. Ramp starts after pad modifications and operational shakeout, then reaches a mature cadence just below...
2027Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida)9585%SLC-40 is the Falcon high-throughput workhorse. Base stays below the FAA-analyzed 120/year cap to reflect range weather, maintenance, pad turnarounds, drone-sh...
2027Launch Complex 39A, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida (NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida)1265%LC-39A remains useful for crewed Dragon, high-priority NASA/commercial missions, and Falcon Heavy, but Falcon 9 single-stick work shifts toward SLC-40 and Vand...
2027Space Launch Complex 4-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)4585%SLC-4E already supports high polar/SSO and NRO/Starshield cadence. Base rises to about half of the authorized VSFB combined Falcon capacity once SLC-6 is also ...
2027Space Launch Complex 6, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)565%SLC-6 provides the main incremental West Coast capacity. Ramp starts after pad modifications and operational shakeout, then reaches a mature cadence just below...
2028Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida)10585%SLC-40 is the Falcon high-throughput workhorse. Base stays below the FAA-analyzed 120/year cap to reflect range weather, maintenance, pad turnarounds, drone-sh...
2028Launch Complex 39A, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida (NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida)1065%LC-39A remains useful for crewed Dragon, high-priority NASA/commercial missions, and Falcon Heavy, but Falcon 9 single-stick work shifts toward SLC-40 and Vand...
2028Space Launch Complex 4-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)5085%SLC-4E already supports high polar/SSO and NRO/Starshield cadence. Base rises to about half of the authorized VSFB combined Falcon capacity once SLC-6 is also ...
2028Space Launch Complex 6, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)2065%SLC-6 provides the main incremental West Coast capacity. Ramp starts after pad modifications and operational shakeout, then reaches a mature cadence just below...
2029Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida)11085%SLC-40 is the Falcon high-throughput workhorse. Base stays below the FAA-analyzed 120/year cap to reflect range weather, maintenance, pad turnarounds, drone-sh...
2029Launch Complex 39A, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida (NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida)865%LC-39A remains useful for crewed Dragon, high-priority NASA/commercial missions, and Falcon Heavy, but Falcon 9 single-stick work shifts toward SLC-40 and Vand...
2029Space Launch Complex 4-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)5085%SLC-4E already supports high polar/SSO and NRO/Starshield cadence. Base rises to about half of the authorized VSFB combined Falcon capacity once SLC-6 is also ...
2029Space Launch Complex 6, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)3565%SLC-6 provides the main incremental West Coast capacity. Ramp starts after pad modifications and operational shakeout, then reaches a mature cadence just below...
2030Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida)11085%SLC-40 is the Falcon high-throughput workhorse. Base stays below the FAA-analyzed 120/year cap to reflect range weather, maintenance, pad turnarounds, drone-sh...
2030Launch Complex 39A, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida (NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida)665%LC-39A remains useful for crewed Dragon, high-priority NASA/commercial missions, and Falcon Heavy, but Falcon 9 single-stick work shifts toward SLC-40 and Vand...
2030Space Launch Complex 4-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)5085%SLC-4E already supports high polar/SSO and NRO/Starshield cadence. Base rises to about half of the authorized VSFB combined Falcon capacity once SLC-6 is also ...
2030Space Launch Complex 6, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)4565%SLC-6 provides the main incremental West Coast capacity. Ramp starts after pad modifications and operational shakeout, then reaches a mature cadence just below...
2031Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida)11085%SLC-40 is the Falcon high-throughput workhorse. Base stays below the FAA-analyzed 120/year cap to reflect range weather, maintenance, pad turnarounds, drone-sh...
2031Launch Complex 39A, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida (NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida)665%LC-39A remains useful for crewed Dragon, high-priority NASA/commercial missions, and Falcon Heavy, but Falcon 9 single-stick work shifts toward SLC-40 and Vand...
2031Space Launch Complex 4-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)5085%SLC-4E already supports high polar/SSO and NRO/Starshield cadence. Base rises to about half of the authorized VSFB combined Falcon capacity once SLC-6 is also ...
2031Space Launch Complex 6, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)4565%SLC-6 provides the main incremental West Coast capacity. Ramp starts after pad modifications and operational shakeout, then reaches a mature cadence just below...
Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida)
2026 · 85% confidence
85

SLC-40 is the Falcon high-throughput workhorse. Base stays below the FAA-analyzed 120/year cap to reflect range weather, maintenance, pad turnarounds, drone-ship cycles, and Stars...

Launch Complex 39A, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida (NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida)
2026 · 65% confidence
15

LC-39A remains useful for crewed Dragon, high-priority NASA/commercial missions, and Falcon Heavy, but Falcon 9 single-stick work shifts toward SLC-40 and Vandenberg as Starship i...

Space Launch Complex 4-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)
2026 · 85% confidence
40

SLC-4E already supports high polar/SSO and NRO/Starshield cadence. Base rises to about half of the authorized VSFB combined Falcon capacity once SLC-6 is also online.

Space Launch Complex 6, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)
2026 · 65% confidence
0

SLC-6 provides the main incremental West Coast capacity. Ramp starts after pad modifications and operational shakeout, then reaches a mature cadence just below SLC-4E.

Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida)
2027 · 85% confidence
95

SLC-40 is the Falcon high-throughput workhorse. Base stays below the FAA-analyzed 120/year cap to reflect range weather, maintenance, pad turnarounds, drone-ship cycles, and Stars...

Falcon 9 FT5
LEO17,400 kgUnknownUnknownFalcon 9 - Wikipedia (citing SpaceX Capabilities & Services spec sheet, archived 2025-08-06)
Falcon 9 FT5
GTO8,300 kgUnknownUnknownSpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle page
Falcon 9
GTO8,300 kgUnknown28.5 degSpaceX Capabilities & Services
Falcon 9
SSO7,742 kg500 km97.4 degSpaceX Falcon 9 User's Guide 2009, Table 4-3 via Spaceflight Now
Falcon 9 FT5
SSO7,742 kg500 km97.4 degSpaceX Falcon 9 User's Guide 2009, Table 4-3 via Spaceflight Now
Falcon 9 FT5
GTO5,800 kgUnknownUnknownFalcon 9 - Wikipedia (citing SpaceX Capabilities & Services spec sheet, archived 2025-08-06)
Falcon 9
GTO5,500 kgUnknown28.5 degSpaceX Capabilities & Services
Falcon 9 FT5
escape4,020 kgUnknownUnknownSpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle page
Falcon 9
escape4,020 kgUnknownUnknownSpaceX Capabilities & Services
Falcon 9 FT5
Jul 5, 2026
Starlink-405
Falcon 9 FT5
Jul 2, 2026
SXM-11 Mission
Falcon 9 FT5
Jun 29, 2026
Starlink-404
Falcon 9 FT5
Jun 28, 2026
Starlink-403
Falcon 9 FT5
Jun 24, 2026

Forecasted Missions

Upcoming mission rows with announced launch timing.

MissionVariantAnnounced

No forecasted missions

No upcoming announced mission rows are linked to this vehicle family.

Falcon 9 FT5
Not stated606Active
Track
Launch Complex 39A, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida (NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida)
2027 · 65% confidence
12

LC-39A remains useful for crewed Dragon, high-priority NASA/commercial missions, and Falcon Heavy, but Falcon 9 single-stick work shifts toward SLC-40 and Vandenberg as Starship i...

Space Launch Complex 4-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)
2027 · 85% confidence
45

SLC-4E already supports high polar/SSO and NRO/Starshield cadence. Base rises to about half of the authorized VSFB combined Falcon capacity once SLC-6 is also online.

Space Launch Complex 6, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)
2027 · 65% confidence
5

SLC-6 provides the main incremental West Coast capacity. Ramp starts after pad modifications and operational shakeout, then reaches a mature cadence just below SLC-4E.

Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral (Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida)
2028 · 85% confidence
105

SLC-40 is the Falcon high-throughput workhorse. Base stays below the FAA-analyzed 120/year cap to reflect range weather, maintenance, pad turnarounds, drone-ship cycles, and Stars...

Launch Complex 39A, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida (NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida)
2028 · 65% confidence
10

LC-39A remains useful for crewed Dragon, high-priority NASA/commercial missions, and Falcon Heavy, but Falcon 9 single-stick work shifts toward SLC-40 and Vandenberg as Starship i...

Space Launch Complex 4-East, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)
2028 · 85% confidence
50

SLC-4E already supports high polar/SSO and NRO/Starshield cadence. Base rises to about half of the authorized VSFB combined Falcon capacity once SLC-6 is also online.

Space Launch Complex 6, Vandenberg AFB (South Vandenberg AFB, California)
2028 · 65% confidence
20

SLC-6 provides the main incremental West Coast capacity. Ramp starts after pad modifications and operational shakeout, then reaches a mature cadence just below SLC-4E.

Mentions
2745
All verified mentions of this launch vehicle family in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

The Falcon 9 vehicle is authorized to return to flight following the Starlink 17-32 investigation.

LegalGeneralValue 3.8Feb 6, 2026RT by @GewoonLukas_: FAA has authorized SpaceX to resume Falcon 9 launches after an upper stage deorbit burn failure Monday. pic.
Page14of138

The Federal Aviation Administration authorized SpaceX to resume Falcon 9 launches.

LegalRelationshipsValue 4.3Feb 6, 2026RT by @GewoonLukas_: FAA has authorized SpaceX to resume Falcon 9 launches after an upper stage deorbit burn failure Monday. pic.

The final mishap report identifies the probable root cause as the Falcon 9 stage 2 engine's failure to ignite prior to the deorbit burn.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Feb 6, 2026RT by @GewoonLukas_: FAA has authorized SpaceX to resume Falcon 9 launches after an upper stage deorbit burn failure Monday. pic.

The SERV spacecraft bus has a 1.5-ton dry mass configured to fit within standard Falcon 9 fairing dimensions.

CapabilityValue 4.0Feb 4, 2026ExLabs Selects Adds CUS-GNC SpacePilot Autonomy Software Heading to Asteroid Apophis

The Starlink satellites on the affected Falcon 9 mission were successfully deployed.

GeneralValue 3.0Feb 4, 2026SpaceX grounds Falcon 9 missions, could impact ISS launch

The Falcon 9 grounding could potentially delay NASA Crew-12, which is currently slated to launch on February 11.

PlanValue 3.0Feb 4, 2026SpaceX grounds Falcon 9 missions, could impact ISS launch

SpaceX has paused flights of its Falcon 9 rocket after a Falcon 9 second stage experienced an off-nominal condition during preparation for the deorbit burn.

PlanCapabilityValue 3.5Feb 4, 2026SpaceX grounds Falcon 9 missions, could impact ISS launch

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the Falcon 9 mishap from Monday.

LegalGeneralValue 2.2Feb 4, 2026SpaceX grounds Falcon 9 missions, could impact ISS launch

On the Starlink Group 17-32 mission, the Falcon 9 second stage was unable to deorbit itself.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Feb 3, 2026Yesterday, on the Starlink Group 17-32 mission, SpaceX had another failed deorbit burn. While the stage was unable to deorbit itself, the propellant was vented which did lower the perigee to 110km. SpaceX has already delayed several Starlink mission as they investigate the issue.

The first two MVac burns on that Falcon 9 mission were nominal and deployed all 25 Starlink satellites to their intended orbit.

CapabilityValue 4.0Feb 3, 2026Interestingly F9 2nd stage de-orbit problems wasn't uncommon, 5 happened in 2020-21 alone (Starlink L4, L12, L14, L17, 2-1), plus of course Starlink 9-3 in 2024 during the primary mission. There's also Dragon Crew-9 where S2 de-orbited in the wrong zone.

The Falcon 9 upper stage that re-entered over Poland in early 2025 was associated with the Starlink 15-4 mission.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Feb 3, 2026I forgot a 9th case last year - Starlink 15-4 last February that ultimately left debris landing in Poland, a case that @ESA is now going to investigate further about similar possible cases in the future:

Amazon added 10 additional Falcon 9 launches and 12 more New Glenn missions to its launch manifest in January 2026.

PlanGrowthValue 4.0Feb 3, 2026Amazon Leo seeks 24-month extension from FCC due to launch shortages

A Falcon 9 second-stage de-orbit anomaly occurred on the Starlink 9-3 mission in 2024 during the mission's primary phase.

GeneralPlanCapabilityValue 3.6Feb 3, 2026Interestingly F9 2nd stage de-orbit problems wasn't uncommon, 5 happened in 2020-21 alone (Starlink L4, L12, L14, L17, 2-1), plus of course Starlink 9-3 in 2024 during the primary mission. There's also Dragon Crew-9 where S2 de-orbited in the wrong zone.

During the Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites on the Starlink Group 17-32 mission, the Falcon 9 second stage experienced an off-nominal condition during preparation for the deorbit burn.

GeneralPlanValue 4.0Feb 3, 2026Yesterday, on the Starlink Group 17-32 mission, SpaceX had another failed deorbit burn. While the stage was unable to deorbit itself, the propellant was vented which did lower the perigee to 110km. SpaceX has already delayed several Starlink mission as they investigate the issue.

Propellant was vented from the Falcon 9 second stage on Starlink Group 17-32, lowering the stage perigee to 110 km.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Feb 3, 2026Yesterday, on the Starlink Group 17-32 mission, SpaceX had another failed deorbit burn. While the stage was unable to deorbit itself, the propellant was vented which did lower the perigee to 110km. SpaceX has already delayed several Starlink mission as they investigate the issue.

Five Falcon 9 second-stage de-orbit problems occurred in 2020–2021 on Starlink missions L4, L12, L14, L17, and 2-1.

GeneralValue 4.0Feb 3, 2026Interestingly F9 2nd stage de-orbit problems wasn't uncommon, 5 happened in 2020-21 alone (Starlink L4, L12, L14, L17, 2-1), plus of course Starlink 9-3 in 2024 during the primary mission. There's also Dragon Crew-9 where S2 de-orbited in the wrong zone.

The Falcon 9 second stage performed as designed to successfully passivate the stage after the off-nominal condition.

CapabilityValue 4.0Feb 3, 2026Yesterday, on the Starlink Group 17-32 mission, SpaceX had another failed deorbit burn. While the stage was unable to deorbit itself, the propellant was vented which did lower the perigee to 110km. SpaceX has already delayed several Starlink mission as they investigate the issue.

The first two MVac burns on the Falcon 9 mission were nominal and deployed all 25 Starlink satellites to their intended orbit.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Feb 3, 2026Yesterday, on the Starlink Group 17-32 mission, SpaceX had another failed deorbit burn. While the stage was unable to deorbit itself, the propellant was vented which did lower the perigee to 110km. SpaceX has already delayed several Starlink mission as they investigate the issue.

The Falcon 9 vehicle performed passivation of the second stage after the off-nominal condition.

GeneralValue 2.5Feb 3, 2026Interestingly F9 2nd stage de-orbit problems wasn't uncommon, 5 happened in 2020-21 alone (Starlink L4, L12, L14, L17, 2-1), plus of course Starlink 9-3 in 2024 during the primary mission. There's also Dragon Crew-9 where S2 de-orbited in the wrong zone.

Amazon booked its first three Falcon 9 launches with SpaceX in December 2023 to place prototype satellites into orbit.

RelationshipsPlanValue 4.0Feb 3, 2026Amazon Leo seeks 24-month extension from FCC due to launch shortages