Polaris Intelligence
Polaris
Intelligence
About
Ctrl K
Sign in
© Polaris Intelligence 2026
PrivacyTermsAdmin
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
2744
All verified mentions of this launch vehicle family in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

The CAS500-2 mission launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 12:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, May 3.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0May 3, 2026Lynk, EarthDaily, True Anomaly Launch Satellites on Weekend SpaceX Rideshare Mission
Page6of138

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 delivered 45 payloads to orbit on the CAS500-2 mission.

GeneralPlanValue 3.8May 3, 2026RT by @GewoonLukas_: Falcon 9 launches the CAS500-2 mission from California and delivers 45 payloads to orbit pic.

SpaceX launched PEARL-1A and PEARL-1B on a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

GeneralPlanValue 4.0May 3, 2026Foxconn Launches Second-Generation PEARL Satellites via SpaceX Falcon 9

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launched the CAS500-2 mission from California.

PlanGeneralValue 3.5May 3, 2026RT by @GewoonLukas_: Falcon 9 launches the CAS500-2 mission from California and delivers 45 payloads to orbit pic.

CRS NG-25 was moved from Antares 330 to Falcon 9 in fall or winter.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0May 2, 2026Couple things to note: - Crew-13 moved from Nov. to Sep. as announced earlier. - CRS SpX-35 delayed from Aug. to Fall (was previously accelerated after the Soyuz/Progress pad got damaged, which has since been repaired) - CRS NG-25 moved from Antares 330 to Falcon 9 in Fall/Winter

SpaceX is scheduled to launch a Falcon 9 rocket on the CAS500-2 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base on May 3, 2026.

PlanValue 4.0May 1, 2026EarthDaily Federal appointed to US space intelligence council as constellation rollout continues

The Falcon 9 upper stage 2025-010D was tracked by s2a_systems.

GeneralCapabilityValue 2.6Apr 29, 2026The Falcon 9 upper stage (2025-010D) from the launch of the Blue Ghost mission 1 & ispace Resilience lunar Landers, tracked by @s2a_systems. The stage moves from bottom-right to centre, flashes indicate tumbling. The stage is projected to impact the Moon Aug. 5 by Bill Gray. pic.

Bill Gray projected that the Falcon 9 upper stage 2025-010D would impact the Moon on Aug. 5.

PlanValue 4.0Apr 29, 2026The Falcon 9 upper stage (2025-010D) from the launch of the Blue Ghost mission 1 & ispace Resilience lunar Landers, tracked by @s2a_systems. The stage moves from bottom-right to centre, flashes indicate tumbling. The stage is projected to impact the Moon Aug. 5 by Bill Gray. pic.

The Falcon 9 upper stage 2025-010D came from the launch of the Blue Ghost mission 1 and ispace Resilience lunar landers.

GeneralValue 4.0Apr 29, 2026The Falcon 9 upper stage (2025-010D) from the launch of the Blue Ghost mission 1 & ispace Resilience lunar Landers, tracked by @s2a_systems. The stage moves from bottom-right to centre, flashes indicate tumbling. The stage is projected to impact the Moon Aug. 5 by Bill Gray. pic.

Atlas V has conducted six Amazon Leo launches, Falcon 9 has conducted three, and Ariane 6 has conducted one.

GeneralValue 2.0Apr 29, 2026Un cohete Atlas V pone en órbita 29 satélites Amazon Leo con un peso de 18 toneladas

A study published in Communications Earth & Environment in February 2026 recorded a ten-fold increase in lithium and aluminum oxide density in the stratosphere after a Falcon 9 re-entry.

GeneralCapabilityValue 4.0Apr 29, 2026Canada Tightens Re-entry Regulations as SpaceX Starlink Constellations Descend

B1075-22 was converted to Falcon 9 after Psyche was delayed.

PlanValue 3.4Apr 27, 2026Encapsulated inside of the payload fairing is the ViaSat-3 F3 GEO communications satellite. Built by Boeing, the satellite weighs ~6,400kg, and has a massive unfurlable antenna. The satellite has a designed capacity of 1 Tbps, and will service the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

Gwynne Shotwell said SpaceX expected Falcon 9 launch cadence to decline to about 140 to 145 launches that year.

PlanValue 3.3Apr 27, 2026The great launch constraint

SpaceX had conducted 50 Falcon 9 launches through April 26 of the following year.

GeneralValue 2.5Apr 27, 2026The great launch constraint

B1075 was converted to Falcon 9 after the Psyche mission was delayed.

PlanValue 3.5Apr 27, 2026Falcon Heavy's PY (left) booster is B1075-22, and the MY (right) booster is B1072-2. Both were built as side boosters for Psyche, as B1064 and B1065 were assigned to USSF-44 back then. When Psyche delayed, B1075 was converted to Falcon 9 and B1072 was kept in storage for GOES-U.

SpaceX performed 165 Falcon 9 launches in 2025.

GrowthValue 4.0Apr 27, 2026The great launch constraint

CZ-12 and early Falcon 9 are described as two-stage medium-lift rockets similar to Soyuz-5 in overall class.

CapabilityValue 3.5Apr 26, 2026And if you can accept that only the 1st stage engine skirt was "copied" from Zenit to allow Soyuz-5 to use already existing infrastructure, you should also accept that the rest of the rocket is just as different as any other two-stage medium-lift vehicle, like CZ-12 or early F9.

SpaceX launched 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 from California on April 23, 2026.

PlanCapabilityGrowthValue 4.0Apr 23, 2026RT by @GewoonLukas_: Falcon 9 launches 24 @Starlink satellites from California pic.

The U.S. Space Force switched the rocket planned for the GPS III-8 mission from Vulcan Centaur to Falcon 9 last month.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Apr 21, 2026Pentagon to Move Forward On AEP Upgrades for GPS, As DoD Cancels GPS OCX

The GPS III-8 launch swap from Vulcan Centaur to Falcon 9 was the fourth such swap since December 2024.

PlanGeneralValue 3.5Apr 21, 2026Pentagon to Move Forward On AEP Upgrades for GPS, As DoD Cancels GPS OCX