falcon 9

In October 2005, SpaceX announced plans to launch Falcon 9 in the first half of 2007.{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2005/10/spacex-reveals-falcon-1-halloween-date/|title=SpaceX reveals Falcon 1 Halloween date|publisher=NASASpaceflight|date=October 10, 2005|access-date=January 31, 2019|archive-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131093831/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2005/10/spacex-reveals-falcon-1-halloween-date/|url-status=live}} The initial launch would not occur until 2010.{{Cite book |last=Administration |first=National Aeronautics and Space |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6JCFKrOquPgC&q=falcon+9+development |title=Commercial Orbital Transportation Services: A New Era in Spaceflight |date=2014 |publisher=Government Printing Office |isbn=978-0-16-092392-0 |language=en |access-date=May 20, 2022 |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526010610/https://books.google.com/books?id=6JCFKrOquPgC&q=falcon+9+development |url-status=live}}

SpaceX spent its own capital to develop and fly its previous launcher, Falcon 1, with no pre-arranged sales of launch services. SpaceX developed Falcon 9 with private capital as well, but did have pre-arranged commitments by NASA to purchase several operational flights once specific capabilities were demonstrated. Milestone-specific payments were provided under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program in 2006. The NASA contract was structured as a Space Act Agreement (SAA) "to develop and demonstrate commercial orbital transportation service", including the purchase of three demonstration flights.{{citation-attribution|1={{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/offices/c3po/partners/spacex/|title=Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX)|publisher=NASA|date=October 24, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-date=October 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024040728/http://www.nasa.gov/offices/c3po/partners/spacex/|url-status=live}}}} The overall contract award was US$278 million to provide three demonstration launches of Falcon 9 with the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft. Additional milestones were added later, raising the total contract value to US$396 million.{{citation-attribution|1={{cite web |url=http://science.house.gov/sites/republicans.science.house.gov/files/documents/hearings/052611_Gerstenmaier%20Testimony.pdf |title=Statement of William H. Gerstenmaier Associate Administrator for Space Operations before the Committee on Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics U.S. House of Representatives|date=May 26, 2011 |publisher=U.S. House of Representatives |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908162906/https://science.house.gov/sites/republicans.science.house.gov/files/documents/hearings/052611_Gerstenmaier%20Testimony.pdf|archive-date=September 8, 2016|access-date=September 8, 2016|url-status=live}}}}

In 2008, SpaceX won a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract in NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program to deliver cargo to ISS using Falcon 9/Dragon.{{cite news|quote="The government is the necessary anchor tenant for commercial cargo, but it's not sufficient to build a new economic ecosystem", says Scott Hubbard, an aeronautics researcher at Stanford University in California and former director of NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California.|first=Stewart|last=Money|url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2042/2|title=Competition and the future of the EELV program (part 2)|publisher=The Space Review|date=March 12, 2012|access-date=October 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006130240/http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2042/2|archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=live}} Funds would be disbursed only after the demonstration missions were successfully and thoroughly completed. The contract totaled US$1.6 billion for a minimum of 12 missions to ferry supplies to and from the ISS.{{cite press release|url=http://www.spacex.com/press/2012/12/19/nasa-selects-spacexs-falcon-9-booster-and-dragon-spacecraft-cargo-resupply|title=NASA selects SpaceX's Falcon 9 booster and Dragon spacecraft for cargo resupply|date=December 23, 2008|author=SpaceX|access-date=March 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323030810/http://www.spacex.com/press/2012/12/19/nasa-selects-spacexs-falcon-9-booster-and-dragon-spacecraft-cargo-resupply|archive-date=March 23, 2017|url-status=live}}

In 2011, SpaceX estimated that Falcon 9 v1.0 development costs were approximately US$300 million. NASA estimated development costs of US$3.6 billion had a traditional cost-plus contract approach been used. A 2011 NASA report "estimated that it would have cost the agency about US$4 billion to develop a rocket like the Falcon 9 booster based upon NASA's traditional contracting processes" while "a more commercial development" approach might have allowed the agency to pay only US$1.7 billion".

In 2014, SpaceX released combined development costs for Falcon 9 and Dragon. NASA provided US$396 million, while SpaceX provided over US$450 million.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYocHwhfFDc |title=Discussion with Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO, SpaceX|publisher=Atlantic Council|first=Gwynne|last=Shotwell|time=12:20–13:10|date=June 4, 2014|access-date=June 8, 2014|quote="NASA ultimately gave us about $396 million; SpaceX put in over $450 million ... [for an] EELV-class launch vehicle ... as well as a capsule".|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125082949/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYocHwhfFDc|archive-date=January 25, 2017|url-status=live}}

Congressional testimony by SpaceX in 2017 suggested that the unusual NASA process of "setting only a high-level requirement for cargo transport to the space station [while] leaving the details to industry" had allowed SpaceX to complete the task at a substantially lower cost. "According to NASA's own independently verified numbers, SpaceX's development costs of both the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 rockets were estimated at approximately $390 million in total."

SpaceX originally intended to follow its Falcon 1 launch vehicle with an intermediate capacity vehicle, Falcon 5. The Falcon line of vehicles are named after the Millennium Falcon, a fictional starship from the Star Wars film series.{{cite news |last1=Malik |first1=Tariq |title=It's Star Wars Day and SpaceX Just Launched Its Own 'Falcon' Into Space |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-falcon-star-wars-day-launch.html |access-date=June 18, 2023 |work=Space.com |date=May 4, 2019 |archive-date=June 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618222012/https://www.space.com/spacex-falcon-star-wars-day-launch.html |url-status=live}} In 2005, SpaceX announced that it was instead proceeding with Falcon 9, a "fully reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle", and had already secured a government customer. Falcon 9 was described as capable of launching approximately {{convert|9500|kg}} to low Earth orbit and was projected to be priced at US$27 million per flight with a {{convert|3.7|m|abbr=on}} payload fairing and US$35 million with a {{convert|5.2|m|abbr=on}} fairing. SpaceX also announced a heavy version of Falcon 9 with a payload capacity of approximately {{convert|25000|kg}}. Falcon 9 was intended to support LEO and GTO missions, as well as crew and cargo missions to the ISS.

The original NASA COTS contract called for the first demonstration flight in September 2008, and the completion of all three demonstration missions by September 2009. In February 2008, the date slipped into the first quarter of 2009. According to Musk, complexity and Cape Canaveral regulatory requirements contributed to the delay.

The first multi-engine test (two engines firing simultaneously, connected to the first stage) was completed in January 2008. Successive tests led to a 178-second (mission length), nine engine test-fire in November 2008. In October 2009, the first flight-ready all-engine test fire was at its test facility in McGregor, Texas. In November, SpaceX conducted the initial second stage test firing, lasting forty seconds. In January 2010, a 329-second (mission length) orbit-insertion firing of the second stage was conducted at McGregor.{{cite web|title=Merlin Vacuum Engine Test|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkdReoxGHG8|website=Youtube|access-date=February 23, 2015|date=November 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212202538/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkdReoxGHG8|archive-date=February 12, 2015|url-status=live}}

The elements of the stack arrived at the launch site for integration at the beginning of February 2010. The flight stack went vertical at Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, and in March, SpaceX performed a static fire test, where the first stage was fired without launch. The test was aborted at T−2 due to a failure in the high-pressure helium pump. All systems up to the abort performed as expected, and no additional issues needed addressing. A subsequent test on March 13 fired the first-stage engines for 3.5 seconds.

{{see also|List of Falcon 9 first-stage boosters}}

In December 2010, the SpaceX production line manufactured a Falcon 9 (and Dragon spacecraft) every three months. By September 2013, SpaceX's total manufacturing space had increased to nearly {{convert|93000|m2|abbr=on}}, in order to support a production capacity of 40 rocket cores annually.{{cite web|title=Production at SpaceX|work=SpaceX |url=http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/09/24/production-spacex|date=September 24, 2013|access-date=September 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403055117/http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/09/24/production-spacex|archive-date=April 3, 2016|url-status=live |last1=Shanklin |first1=Emily }} The factory was producing one Falcon 9 per month {{as of|2013|November|lc=y}}.{{cite news|last=Svitak|first=Amy|title=SpaceX Says Falcon 9 To Compete For EELV This Year|url=http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_03_10_2014_p48-668592.xml|access-date=March 11, 2014|publisher=Aviation Week|date=March 10, 2014|quote=Within a year, we need to get it from where it is right now, which is about a rocket core every four weeks, to a rocket core every two weeks... By the end of 2015, says SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell, the company plans to ratchet up production to 40 cores per year.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310123118/http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_03_10_2014_p48-668592.xml|archive-date=March 10, 2014|url-status=live}}

By February 2016 the production rate for Falcon 9 cores had increased to 18 per year, and the number of first stage cores that could be assembled at one time reached six.{{cite news|last=Foust|first=Jeff|url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-seeks-to-accelerate-falcon-9-production-and-launch-rates-this-year/|title=SpaceX seeks to accelerate Falcon 9 production and launch rates this year|publisher=SpaceNews|date=February 4, 2016|access-date=February 6, 2016|archive-date=February 9, 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160209152801/http://spacenews.com/spacex-seeks-to-accelerate-falcon-9-production-and-launch-rates-this-year/|url-status=live}}

Since 2018, SpaceX has routinely reused first stages, reducing the demand for new cores. In 2023, SpaceX performed 91 launches of Falcon 9 with only 4 using new boosters and successfully recovered the booster on all flights. The Hawthorne factory continues to produce one (expendable) second stage for each launch.

{{transcluded section|List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches (2010–2019)}}

{{#section-h::List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches|Launches}}

{{transcluded section|List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches}}

{{#section-h::List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches|Past launches}}

{{transcluded section|List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches}}

{{#section-h::List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches|Future launches}}

{{Cleanup section|date=June 2024|reason=Many flights/payloads do not seem especially notable}}

{{See also|List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches#Notable launches|l1=Notable launches of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy}}

File:SpaceX Falcon 9 launch with COTS Demo Flight 1 (low quality).ogv

File:ORBCOMM-2 First-Stage Landing (23271687254).jpg historic first-stage landing at Cape Canaveral, Landing Zone 1, on December 21, 2015]]

• Flight 1, Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit — June 4, 2010, first flight of Falcon 9 and first test of Dragon,
• Flight 3, Dragon C2+ — first cargo delivery to the International Space Station,
• Flight 4, CRS-1 — first operational cargo mission to the ISS, and the first demonstration of the rocket's engine-out capability due to the failure of a first-stage Merlin engine,
• Flight 6, CASSIOPE — first v1.1 rocket, first launch from Vandenberg AFB, first attempt at propulsive return of the first stage,
• Flight 7, SES-8 — first launch to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), first non-governmental payload,
• Flight 9, CRS-3 — added landing legs, first fully controlled descent and vertical ocean touchdown,
• Flight 15, Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) — first mission injecting spacecraft into Sun–Earth L₁ point,
• Flight 19, CRS-7 — total loss of mission due to structural failure and helium overpressure in the second stage,
• Flight 20, Orbcomm OG-2 — first vertical landing of an orbital-class rocket booster,
• Flight 23, CRS-8 — first vertical landing achieved on an autonomous spaceport drone ship at sea,
• AMOS-6 — total vehicle and payload loss prior to static fire test (would have been Flight 29),
• Flight 30, CRS-10 — first launch from LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center,
• Flight 32, SES-10 — first reflight of a previously flown orbital class booster (B1021, previously used for SpaceX CRS-8), first recovery of a fairing,{{cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/30/15117096/spacex-launch-reusable-rocket-success-falcon-9-landing|title=SpaceX makes aerospace history with successful launch and landing of a used rocket |last=Grush|first=Loren|date=March 30, 2017|publisher=The Verge|access-date=May 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330232640/http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/30/15117096/spacex-launch-reusable-rocket-success-falcon-9-landing|archive-date=March 30, 2017|url-status=live}}
• Flight 41, X-37B OTV-5 — first launch of a spaceplane,
• Flight 54 Bangladesh Satellite-1 — first flight of the Block 5 version,
• Flight 58 Telstar 19V — heaviest communications satellite delivered to GEO, at the time,{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/07/spacex-falcon-9-telstar-19v-launch/|title=SpaceX Falcon 9 sets new record with Telstar 19V launch from SLC-40|date=July 21, 2018|website=nasaspaceflight.com|access-date=February 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722100004/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/07/spacex-falcon-9-telstar-19v-launch/|archive-date=July 22, 2018|url-status=live}}{{efn|Jupiter 3/EchoStar XXIV has a larger mass, when comparing both initial mass (~9,200 kg vs. 7,076 kg) and dry mass (5,817 kg vs. 3,031 kg){{cite web|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/jupiter-3.htm|title=Jupiter 3 / EchoStar 24|work=Gunter's Space Page|author=Krebs, Gunter D.|access-date=November 26, 2023|archive-date=May 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517133839/https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/jupiter-3.htm|url-status=live}}}}
• Flight 69 Crew Dragon Demo-1 — first launch of the Crew Dragon (did not carry astronauts),
• Flight 72, RADARSAT Constellation — most valuable commercial payload put into orbit,{{cite web|last1=Ralph|first1=Eric|title=SpaceX Falcon 9 bids temporary goodbye to West Coast in launch and landing photos|date=June 13, 2019 |url=https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-california-radarsat-launch-in-photos/|publisher=Teslarati|access-date=June 13, 2020|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613060243/https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-california-radarsat-launch-in-photos/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Ralph|first1=Eric|title=SpaceX's Falcon 9 sticks foggy booster recovery at California landing zone|date=June 12, 2019 |url=https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-radarsat-launch-watch-live/|publisher=Teslarati|access-date=June 13, 2020|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117011725/https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-radarsat-launch-watch-live/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 with RADARSAT Constellation|date=June 12, 2019 |url=https://www.spacetv.net/live/launch-of-spacex-falcon-9-block-5-with-radarsat-constellation/|publisher=Spacetv|access-date=June 13, 2020|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302070936/https://www.spacetv.net/live/launch-of-spacex-falcon-9-block-5-with-radarsat-constellation/|url-status=live}}
• Flight 81 — Starlink launch, was a successful flight, but had the first recovery failure of a previously flown and recovered booster,
• Flight 83 — successful Starlink launch, saw the first failure of a Merlin 1D first-stage engine during ascent, and the second ascent engine failure on the rocket following CRS-1 on flight 4,
• Flight 85, Crew Dragon Demo-2 — first crewed launch of the Crew Dragon, carrying two astronauts,
• Flight 98, Crew-1 — first crewed operational launch of the Crew Dragon, holding the record for the longest spaceflight by a US crew vehicle,
• Flight 101, CRS-21 — first launch of the Cargo Dragon 2, an uncrewed variant of the Crew Dragon,
• Flight 106, Transporter-1 — first dedicated smallsat rideshare launch arranged by SpaceX,{{efn|The first dedicated smallsat rideshare launch was flight 64, SSO-A: SmallSat Express, arranged by Spaceflight, Inc. (a division Spaceflight Industries at the time). It carried two SHERPA dispensers and nothing else.}} set the record of the most satellites launched on a single launch with 143 satellites, surpassing the previous record of 108 satellites held by the November 17, 2018, launch of an Antares,
• Flight 108 — routine Starlink launch which experienced early shut-down of a first-stage Merlin 1D engine during ascent due to damage, but still delivered the payload to the target orbit,
• Flight 126, Inspiration4 — first orbital spaceflight of an all-private crew,
• Flight 129, DART — first planetary defense mission against near-Earth objects,
• Flight 134, CRS-24 — 100th successful vertical landing of an orbital-class rocket, on the sixth anniversary of the first landing in 2015,
• Flight 232 — 200th overall successful booster landing,
• Flight 236 — first launch with a fairing half flying for the tenth time,{{cite news |last1=Romera |first1=Alejandro Alcantarilla |title=SpaceX record-breaking first half of 2023 following Starlink launch |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/06/starlink-5-12-launch/ |work=NASASpaceFlight.com |date=June 23, 2023 |access-date=September 22, 2023 |archive-date=June 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623082410/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/06/starlink-5-12-launch/ |url-status=live}}
• Flight 300 — 200th consecutive successful vertical landing for the orbital class Falcon booster,
• Flight 323 — B1062 becomes the first Falcon 9 booster to fly and land 20 times; this was preceded by certification of boosters to fly that often, double the initial goal,{{cite news |last1=Pearlman |first1=Robert |title=SpaceX launches Starlink satellites on record 20th reflight of a Falcon 9 rocket first stage |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-falcon-9-20th-launch-starlink-group-6-49 |access-date=May 6, 2024 |work=space.com |date=April 13, 2024 |language=en-us |archive-date=April 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413031118/https://www.space.com/spacex-falcon-9-20th-launch-starlink-group-6-49 |url-status=live}}
• Flight 328 — 300th consecutive successful Falcon 9 mission.
• Flight 354 — Starlink Group 9–3 — Second stage failed to relight, Starlink satellites deployed into lower orbit than planned. This resulted in loss of all 20 Starlink satellites.{{Cite news |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=July 12, 2024 |title=SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket suffers failure during Starlink satellite launch |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-launch-anomaly-july-2024 |access-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-date=July 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712220530/https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-launch-anomaly-july-2024 |url-status=live}}

• AMOS-17
• Bangabandhu Satellite-1
• Beresheet lunar lander
• Boeing X-37
• Crew and Cargo Dragon
• Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART)
• EchoStar 23
• Euclid
• GPS IIIA launches
• Iridium NEXT constellation
• Launches for the US National Reconnaissance Office, NROL
• Maxar Worldview Legion{{Cite web |title=Maxar Successfully Launches Fifth and Sixth WorldView Legion Satellites {{!}} Maxar |url=https://www.maxar.com/press-releases/maxar-successfully-launches-fifth-and-sixth-worldview-legion-satellites |access-date=February 5, 2025 |website=www.maxar.com}}
• Odysseus IM-1
• Orbcomm OG2
• RADARSAT Constellation
• SES-10
• Sirius XM launches
• SpaceX Starlink
• Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)
• Zuma

F9 is a two-stage, LOX/RP-1-powered launch vehicle.

;First stage

;Second stage

{{main|SpaceX Merlin}}

File:Falcon 9.stl

Both stages are equipped with Merlin 1D rocket engines. Every Merlin engine produces {{cvt|854|kN}} of thrust.{{cite web |date=April 2020 |title=Falcon User's Guide |url=https://www.spacex.com/media/falcon_users_guide_042020.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202093334/https://www.spacex.com/media/falcon_users_guide_042020.pdf |archive-date=December 2, 2020 |access-date=June 28, 2021 |publisher=SpaceX}} They use a pyrophoric mixture of triethylaluminum-triethylborane (TEA-TEB) as an engine igniter.

The booster stage has 9 engines, arranged in a configuration that SpaceX calls Octaweb.{{cite web |date=April 12, 2013 |title=Octaweb |work=SpaceX |url=http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/04/12/falcon-heavy-octaweb |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703135212/http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/04/12/falcon-heavy-octaweb |archive-date=July 3, 2017 |access-date=August 2, 2013 |publisher=SpaceX News |last1=Shanklin |first1=Emily }} The second stage of the Falcon 9 has 1 short or regular nozzle, Merlin 1D Vacuum engine version.

Falcon 9 is capable of losing up to 2 engines and still complete the mission by burning the remaining engines longer.

Each Merlin rocket engine is controlled by three voting computers, each having 2 CPUs which constantly check the other 2 in the trio. The Merlin 1D engines can vector thrust to adjust trajectory.

The propellant tank walls and domes are made from an aluminum–lithium alloy. SpaceX uses an all friction-stir welded tank, for its strength and reliability. The second stage tank is a shorter version of the first stage tank. It uses most of the same tooling, material, and manufacturing techniques.

The F9 interstage, which connects the upper and lower stages, is a carbon-fibre aluminium-core composite structure that holds reusable separation collets and a pneumatic pusher system. The original stage separation system had twelve attachment points, reduced to three for v1.1.

File:Fairing F9.png

Falcon 9 uses a payload fairing (nose cone) to protect (non-Dragon) satellites during launch. The fairing is {{cvt|13|m}} long, {{cvt|5.2|m}} in diameter, weighs approximately 1900 kg, and is constructed of carbon fiber skin overlaid on an aluminum honeycomb core.{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflight101.net/falcon-9-launch-vehicle-information.html|title=Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle Information|website=Spaceflight101 |access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012214449/http://www.spaceflight101.net/falcon-9-launch-vehicle-information.html|archive-date=October 12, 2018|url-status=live}} SpaceX designed and fabricates fairings in Hawthorne. Testing was completed at NASA's Plum Brook Station facility in spring 2013 where the acoustic shock and mechanical vibration of launch, plus electromagnetic static discharge conditions, were simulated on a full-size test article in a vacuum chamber.{{cite news|last=Mangels|first=John|url=http://www.cleveland.com/science/index.ssf/2013/05/nasas_plum_brook_station_tests.html|title=NASA's Plum Brook Station tests rocket fairing for SpaceX|newspaper=Cleveland Plain Dealer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604062855/http://www.cleveland.com/science/index.ssf/2013/05/nasas_plum_brook_station_tests.html|date=May 25, 2013|access-date=May 27, 2013|archive-date=June 4, 2013|url-status=live}} Since 2019, fairings are designed to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and are reused for future missions.

SpaceX uses multiple redundant flight computers in a fault-tolerant design. The software runs on Linux and is written in C++. For flexibility, commercial off-the-shelf parts and system-wide radiation-tolerant design are used instead of rad-hardened parts. Each stage has stage-level flight computers, in addition to the Merlin-specific engine controllers, of the same fault-tolerant triad design to handle stage control functions. Each engine microcontroller CPU runs on a PowerPC architecture.{{cite web|url=https://schedule.gdconf.com/session/engineer-the-future-presented-by-spacex|title=Schedule|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225161708/http://schedule.gdconf.com/session/engineer-the-future-presented-by-spacex|archive-date=February 25, 2015|url-status=dead}}

Boosters that will be deliberately expended do not have legs or fins. Recoverable boosters include four extensible landing legs attached around the base.{{cite web |date=April 12, 2013 |title=Landing Legs |url=http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/04/12/falcon-heavy-landing-legs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703135207/http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/04/12/falcon-heavy-landing-legs |archive-date=July 3, 2017 |access-date=August 2, 2013 |publisher=SpaceX News |quote=The Falcon Heavy first stage center core and boosters each carry landing legs, which will land each core safely on Earth after takeoff.}}

To control the core's descent through the atmosphere, SpaceX uses grid fins that deploy from the vehicle{{cite web |last1=Kremer |first1=Ken |date=January 27, 2015 |title=Falcon Heavy Rocket Launch and Booster Recovery Featured in Cool New SpaceX Animation |url=http://www.universetoday.com/118549/falcon-heavy-rocket-launch-and-booster-recovery-featured-in-cool-new-spacex-animation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825183922/https://www.universetoday.com/118549/falcon-heavy-rocket-launch-and-booster-recovery-featured-in-cool-new-spacex-animation/ |archive-date=August 25, 2017 |access-date=February 12, 2015 |publisher=Universe Today}} moments after stage separation. Initially, the V1.2 Full Thrust version of the Falcon 9 were equipped with grid fins made from aluminum, which were eventually replaced by larger, more aerodynamically efficient, and durable titanium fins. The upgraded titanium grid fins, cast and cut from a single piece of titanium, offer significantly better maneuverability and survivability from the extreme heat of re-entry than aluminum grid fins and can be reused indefinitely with minimal refurbishment.{{cite tweet |number=879080848359686144 |user=elonmusk |title=New titanium grid fins worked even better than expected. Should be capable of an indefinite number of flights with no service. |date=June 26, 2017 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}{{cite tweet |number=1071531687220113408 |user=elonmusk |title=As far as we know, it's the largest single piece titanium casting in the world. Major improvement over the old aluminum grid fins, as the titanium doesn't need heat shielding or even paint. |date=December 9, 2018 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}

File:Falcon 9 version comparison.png, v1.1, Full Thrust and Block 5. Also seen are the various configurations; reusable with capsule, reusable with payload fairing and expendable with payload fairing.|center|450px]]

The Falcon 9 has seen five major revisions: v1.0, v1.1, Full Thrust (also called Block 3 or v1.2), Block 4, and Block 5.

V1.0 flew five successful orbital launches from 2010 to 2013. The much larger V1.1 made its first flight in September 2013. The demonstration mission carried a small {{cvt|500|kg}} primary payload, the CASSIOPE satellite. Larger payloads followed, starting with the launch of the SES-8 GEO communications satellite.{{cite book |author=Forrester |first=Chris |title=Beyond Frontiers |publisher=Broadgate Publications |year=2016 |page=12}} Both v1.0 and v1.1 used expendable launch vehicles (ELVs). The Falcon 9 Full Thrust made its first flight in December 2015. The first stage of the Full Thrust version was reusable. The current version, known as Falcon 9 Block 5, made its first flight in May 2018.

{{main|Falcon 9 v1.0}}

File:SpX CRS-2 launch - further - cropped.jpg to deliver cargo to the ISS in 2012]]

F9 v1.0 was an expendable launch vehicle developed from 2005 to 2010. It flew for the first time in 2010. V1.0 made five flights, after which it was retired. The first stage was powered by nine Merlin 1C engines arranged in a 3 × 3 grid. Each had a sea-level thrust of {{cvt|556|kN}} for a total liftoff thrust of about {{cvt|5000|kN}}. The second stage was powered by a single Merlin 1C engine modified for vacuum operation, with an expansion ratio of 117:1 and a nominal burn time of 345 seconds. Gaseous N{{sub|2}} thrusters were used on the second-stage as a reaction control system (RCS).{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/Falcon9UsersGuide_2009.pdf|title=Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle Payload User's Guide, 2009|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=February 3, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429015952/http://www.spacex.com/Falcon9UsersGuide_2009.pdf|archive-date=April 29, 2011}}

Early attempts to add a lightweight thermal protection system to the booster stage and parachute recovery were not successful.

In 2011, SpaceX began a formal development program for a reusable Falcon 9, initially focusing on the first stage.

{{main|Falcon 9 v1.1}}

File:Falcon 9 v1.0 and v1.1 engine.svg

File:Launch of Falcon 9 carrying CASSIOPE (130929-F-ET475-012).jpg (Falcon 9 Flight 6) in September 2013]]

V1.1 is 60% heavier with 60% more thrust than v1.0. Its nine (more powerful) Merlin 1D engines were rearranged into an "octagonal" pattern{{citation-attribution|1={{cite web |date=February 2013 |title=The Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2012 |url=https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/The_Annual_Compendium_of_Commercial_Space_Transporation_2012.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224083957/https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/media/The_Annual_Compendium_of_Commercial_Space_Transporation_2012.pdf |archive-date=February 24, 2017 |access-date=June 24, 2017 |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration}}}}{{cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=May 18, 2012 |title=Q&A with SpaceX founder and chief designer Elon Musk |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/003/120518musk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119021051/http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/003/120518musk/ |archive-date=January 19, 2017 |access-date=June 24, 2017 |publisher=Spaceflight Now}} that SpaceX called Octaweb. This is designed to simplify and streamline manufacturing.{{cite web |date=July 29, 2013 |title=Octaweb |work=SpaceX |url=http://www.spacex.com/news/2006/01/01/octaweb |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802104416/http://www.spacex.com/news/2006/01/01/octaweb |archive-date=August 2, 2013 |access-date=June 24, 2017 |last1=Shanklin |first1=Emily }}{{cite web|title=Falcon 9's commercial promise to be tested in 2013|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1211/17f9customers/|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018125241/http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1211/17f9customers/#.UKfUruQ0V8E|archive-date=October 18, 2016|url-status=live}} The fuel tanks were 60% longer, making the rocket more susceptible to bending during flight.

The v1.1 first stage offered a total sea-level thrust at liftoff of {{cvt|5885|kN}}, with the engines burning for a nominal 180 seconds. The stage's thrust rose to {{cvt|6672|kN}} as the booster climbed out of the atmosphere.

The stage separation system was redesigned to reduce the number of attachment points from twelve to three, and the vehicle had upgraded avionics and software.

These improvements increased the payload capability from {{cvt|9000|kg}} to {{cvt|13150|kg}}. SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell stated the v1.1 had about 30% more payload capacity than published on its price list, with the extra margin reserved for returning stages via powered re-entry.{{cite news|last=de Selding|first=Peter|title=SpaceX Says Requirements, Not Markup, Make Government Missions More Costly|url=http://spacenews.com/40006spacex-says-requirements-not-markup-make-government-missions-more-costly/|date=March 27, 2014|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-date=October 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001052244/https://spacenews.com/40006spacex-says-requirements-not-markup-make-government-missions-more-costly/|url-status=live}}

Development testing of the first stage was completed in July 2013,{{cite web |author=Leone |first=Dan |date=July 16, 2013 |title=SpaceX Test-fires Upgraded Falcon 9 Core for Three Minutes |url=http://spacenews.com/36286spacex-test-fires-upgraded-falcon-9-core-for-three-minutes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150220001212/http://spacenews.com/36286spacex-test-fires-upgraded-falcon-9-core-for-three-minutes/ |archive-date=February 20, 2015 |access-date=June 24, 2017 |publisher=Space News}}{{cite web |last=Bergin |first=Chris |date=June 20, 2013 |title=Reducing risk via ground testing is a recipe for SpaceX success |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/06/reducing-risk-ground-testing-recipe-spacex-success/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607145855/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/06/reducing-risk-ground-testing-recipe-spacex-success/ |archive-date=June 7, 2017 |access-date=June 24, 2017 |publisher=NASASpaceFlight}} and it first flew in September 2013.

The second stage igniter propellant lines were later insulated to better support in-space restart following long coast phases for orbital trajectory maneuvers.{{cite news |last=Svitak |first=Amy |date=November 24, 2013 |title=Musk: Falcon 9 Will Capture Market Share |newspaper=Aviation Week |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_11_24_2013_p0-640244.xml |url-status=live |access-date=November 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131128130723/http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_11_24_2013_p0-640244.xml |archive-date=November 28, 2013 |quote=SpaceX is currently producing one vehicle per month, but that number is expected to increase to '18 per year in the next couple of quarters'. By the end of 2014, she says SpaceX will produce 24 launch vehicles per year.}} Four extensible carbon fiber/aluminum honeycomb landing legs were included on later flights where landings were attempted.{{cite web |date=July 29, 2013 |title=Landing Legs |work=SpaceX |url=http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/03/26/landing-leg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806151503/http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/03/26/landing-leg |archive-date=August 6, 2013 |access-date=June 24, 2017 |last1=Shanklin |first1=Emily }}{{cite news |last=Messier |first=Doug |date=March 28, 2013 |title=Dragon Post-Mission Press Conference Notes |publisher=Parabolic Arc |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/03/28/dragon-post-mission-press-conference-notes/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531230305/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/03/28/dragon-post-mission-press-conference-notes/ |archive-date=May 31, 2013}}

SpaceX pricing and payload specifications published for v1.1 {{as of|2014|03|lc=y}} included about 30% more performance than the published price list indicated; SpaceX reserved the additional performance to perform reusability testing. Many engineering changes to support reusability and recovery of the first stage were made for v1.1.

{{main|Falcon 9 Full Thrust}}

File:Second-generation titanium grid fins, Iridium-2 Mission (35533873795).jpg first flown for the second Iridium NEXT mission in June 2017]]

The Full Thrust upgrade (also known as FT, v1.2 or Block 3),{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cT7_iySwP8?t=9000 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/2cT7_iySwP8 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Gwynne Shotwell comments at Commercial Space Transportation Conference|publisher=Commercial Spaceflight|first=Gwynne|last=Shotwell|time=2:43:15–3:10:05|date=February 3, 2016|access-date=February 4, 2016}}{{cbignore}} made major changes. It added cryogenic propellant cooling to increase density allowing 17% higher thrust, improved the stage separation system, stretched the second stage to hold additional propellant, and strengthened struts for holding helium bottles believed to have been involved with the failure of flight 19.{{cite web |author=Foust |first=Jeff |date=December 15, 2015 |title=SpaceX Preparing for Launch of "Significantly Improved" Falcon 9 |url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-preparing-for-launch-of-significantly-improved-falcon-9/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170818211315/http://spacenews.com/spacex%2Dpreparing%2Dfor%2Dlaunch%2Dof%2Dsignificantly%2Dimproved%2Dfalcon%2D9/ |archive-date=August 18, 2017 |access-date=June 24, 2017 |publisher=SpaceNews}} It offered a reusable first stage. Plans to reuse the second-stage were abandoned as the weight of a heat shield and other equipment would reduce payload too much. The reusable booster was developed using systems and software tested on the Falcon 9 prototypes.

The Autonomous Flight Safety System (AFSS) replaced the ground-based mission flight control personnel and equipment. AFSS offered on-board Positioning, Navigation and Timing sources and decision logic. The benefits of AFSS included increased public safety, reduced reliance on range infrastructure, reduced range spacelift cost, increased schedule predictability and availability, operational flexibility, and launch slot flexibility".{{cite web |date=March 16, 2017 |title=45th SW supports successful Falcon 9 EchoStar XXIII launch |url=http://www.patrick.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1120143/45th-sw-supports-successful-falcon-9-echostar-xxiii-launch/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713140726/http://www.patrick.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1120143/45th-sw-supports-successful-falcon-9-echostar-xxiii-launch |archive-date=July 13, 2017 |access-date=June 24, 2017 |publisher=45th Space Wing}}

FT's capacity allowed SpaceX to choose between increasing payload, decreasing launch price, or both.{{cite AV media |url=http://archived.thespaceshow.com/shows/2212-BWB-2014-03-21.mp3 |title=Broadcast 2212: Special Edition, interview with Gwynne Shotwell |date=March 21, 2014 |medium=audio file |publisher=The Space Show |time=08:15–11:20 |access-date=March 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322013556/http://archived.thespaceshow.com/shows/2212-BWB-2014-03-21.mp3 |archive-date=March 22, 2014 |url-status=dead |format=mp3 |id=2212 |people=Gwynne Shotwell}}

Its first successful landing came in December 2015{{cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/12/21/10640306/spacex-elon-musk-rocket-landing-success|title=SpaceX successfully landed its Falcon 9 rocket after launching it to space|publisher=The Verge|first=Loren |last=Grush|date=December 21, 2015|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628014841/https://www.theverge.com/2015/12/21/10640306/spacex-elon-musk-rocket-landing-success|archive-date=June 28, 2017|url-status=live}} and the first reflight in March 2017.{{cite news |author=Dean |first=James |date=March 31, 2017 |title=Reusable Falcon 9 rocket a triumph for SpaceX, Elon Musk |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/03/31/reusable-falcon-9-rocket-triumph-spacex-elon-musk/99895708/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827054538/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/03/31/reusable-falcon-9-rocket-triumph-spacex-elon-musk/99895708/ |archive-date=August 27, 2017 |access-date=June 24, 2017 |publisher=USA Today}} In February 2017, CRS-10 launch was the first operational launch utilizing AFSS. All SpaceX launches after March 16 used AFSS. A June 25 mission carried the second batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites, for which the aluminum grid fins were replaced by larger titanium versions, to improve control authority, and heat tolerance during re-entry.

In 2017, SpaceX started including incremental changes to the Full Thrust, internally dubbed Block 4.{{cite news|last=Henry|first=Caleb|title=SpaceX's Final Falcon 9 Design Coming This Year, 2 Falcon Heavy Launches in 2018|url=https://www.space.com/37343-spacex-final-falcon-9-design.html|access-date=June 29, 2017|publisher=Space.com|date=June 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629163619/https://www.space.com/37343-spacex-final-falcon-9-design.html|archive-date=June 29, 2017|url-status=live}} Initially, only the second stage was modified to Block 4 standards, flying on top of a Block 3 first stage for three missions: NROL-76 and Inmarsat-5 F5 in May 2017, and Intelsat 35e in July 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/falcon9ft.html|title=SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.2 Data Sheet|publisher=Space Launch Report|date=August 14, 2017|access-date=August 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825204357/http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/falcon9ft.html|archive-date=August 25, 2017|url-status=usurped}} Block 4 was described as a transition between the Full Thrust v1.2 Block 3 and Block 5. It includes incremental engine thrust upgrades leading to Block 5.{{cite web|last1=Gebhardt|first1=Chris|title=Home Forums L2 Sign Up ISS Commercial Shuttle SLS/Orion Russian European Chinese Unmanned Other Falcon 9 Block 4 debut a success, Dragon arrives for Station berthing |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/08/falcon-9-block-4-debut-success-dragon-station-berthing/|publisher=NASASpaceFlight|date=August 16, 2017|access-date=August 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816153259/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/08/falcon-9-block-4-debut-success-dragon-station-berthing/|archive-date=August 16, 2017|url-status=live}} The maiden flight of the full Block 4 design (first and second stages) was the SpaceX CRS-12 mission on August 14.{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=William |date=August 14, 2017 |title=SpaceX Falcon 9 launches CRS-12 Dragon mission to the ISS |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/08/spacex-falcon-9-launch-crs-12-dragon-mission-iss/ |access-date=July 9, 2022 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US |archive-date=August 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815032810/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/08/spacex-falcon-9-launch-crs-12-dragon-mission-iss/ |url-status=live}}

{{main|Falcon 9 Block 5}}

In October 2016, Musk described Block 5 as coming with "a lot of minor refinements that collectively are important, but uprated thrust and improved legs are the most significant".{{cite news |last=Boyle |first=Alan |date=October 23, 2016 |title=SpaceX's Elon Musk geeks out over Mars interplanetary transport plan on Reddit |publisher=GeekWire |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2016/spacex-elon-musk-geeks-out-mars-reddit/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618143820/https://www.geekwire.com/2016/spacex-elon-musk-geeks-out-mars-reddit/|archive-date=June 18, 2017}} In January 2017, Musk added that Block 5 "significantly improves performance and ease of reusability".{{cite news|url= https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/01/spacex-may-be-about-to-launch-its-final-expendable-rocket/|title=SpaceX may be about to launch its final expendable rocket|first= Eric|last= Berger|publisher=Ars Technica|date=January 22, 2017|access-date=June 24, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170903074338/https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/01/spacex-may-be-about-to-launch-its-final-expendable-rocket/|archive-date= September 3, 2017|url-status=live}} The maiden flight took place on May 11, 2018,{{cite web|url=http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html|title=Rocket Launch Viewing Guide for Cape Canaveral|website=launchphotography.com|first=Ben |last=Cooper|date=April 25, 2018|access-date=May 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209063848/http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html|archive-date=February 9, 2016|url-status=live}} with the Bangabandhu Satellite-1 satellite.{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/04/24/spacex-set-to-debut-falcon-9-rocket-upgrades-with-launch-next-week/|title=SpaceX set to debut Falcon 9 rocket upgrades with launch next week|last=Clark|first=Stephen|date=April 24, 2018|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=May 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429052714/https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/04/24/spacex-set-to-debut-falcon-9-rocket-upgrades-with-launch-next-week/|archive-date=April 29, 2018|url-status=live}}

As of {{Falcon rocket statistics|statsdate}}, Falcon 9 had achieved {{Falcon rocket statistics|F9success}} out of {{Falcon rocket statistics|F9launch}} full mission successes ({{percent|{{Falcon rocket statistics|Totalsuccess}}|{{Falcon rocket statistics|Totallaunch}}|1}}). SpaceX CRS-1 succeeded in its primary mission, but left a secondary payload in a wrong orbit, while SpaceX CRS-7 was destroyed in flight. In addition, AMOS-6 disintegrated on the launch pad during fueling for an engine test. Block 5 has a success rate of {{percent|{{Falcon rocket statistics|F9FTBlock5success}}|{{Falcon rocket statistics|F9FTBlock5launch}}|1}} ({{Falcon rocket statistics|F9FTBlock5success}}/{{Falcon rocket statistics|F9FTBlock5launch}}). For comparison, the industry benchmark Soyuz series has performed 1880 launches{{cite web|url=http://www.kosmonavtika.com/lanceurs/soyouz/liste/tous.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205234/http://www.kosmonavtika.com/lanceurs/soyouz/liste/tous.html |title=Liste de tous les lancements Soyouz |website=kosmonavtika.com |date=June 24, 2021 |archive-date=June 24, 2021}} with a success rate of 95.1% (the latest Soyuz-2's success rate is 94%),{{citation-attribution|1={{cite web|url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20100014848.pdf|title=Estimating the Reliability of a Soyuz Spacecraft Mission|date=January 2010 |publisher=NASA|at=Figure 2: Historical Rocket Launch Data (Soyuz Rocket Family)|access-date=May 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216081104/http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20100014848.pdf|archive-date=February 16, 2015|url-status=live}}}} the Russian Proton series has performed 425 launches with a success rate of 88.7% (the latest Proton-M's success rate is 90.1%), the European Ariane 5 has performed 117 launches with a success rate of 95.7%, and Chinese Long March 3B has performed 85 launches with a success rate of 95.3%.

F9's launch sequence includes a hold-down feature that allows full engine ignition and systems check before liftoff. After the first-stage engine starts, the launcher is held down and not released for flight until all propulsion and vehicle systems are confirmed to be operating normally. Similar hold-down systems have been used on launch vehicles such as Saturn V and Space Shuttle. An automatic safe shut-down and unloading of propellant occur if any abnormal conditions are detected. Prior to the launch date, SpaceX sometimes completes a test cycle, culminating in a three-and-a-half second first stage engine static firing.{{cite web|last1=Clark|first1=Stephen|title=Falcon 9 completes full-duration static fire|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2014/12/20/falcon-9-completes-full-duration-static-fire/|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=May 10, 2015|date=December 20, 2014|quote=SpaceX conducts the static fire test — that typically ends with a 3.5-second engine firing — before every launch to wring out issues with the rocket and ground systems. The exercise also helps engineers rehearse for the real launch day.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605035551/http://spaceflightnow.com/2014/12/20/falcon-9-completes-full-duration-static-fire/|archive-date=June 5, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen|title=Starlink satellite deployments continue with successful Falcon 9 launch|publisher=Spaceflight Now|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/06/13/starlink-satellite-deployments-continue-with-successful-falcon-9-launch/|access-date=July 27, 2020|archive-date=October 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017190720/https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/06/13/starlink-satellite-deployments-continue-with-successful-falcon-9-launch/|url-status=live}} F9 has triple-redundant flight computers and inertial navigation, with a GPS overlay for additional accuracy.

Since the middle of 2024, the Falcon 9 has been involved in a number of mission anomalies, which have raised reliability concerns about the rocket. On July 2024 the upper stage engine of the Falcon 9 malfunctioned during the launch of the Starlink Group 9-3 mission, resulting in the total loss of the payload and the Federal Aviation Administration grounding the rocket for two weeks.{{cite web | url=https://spacenews.com/falcon-9-suffers-upper-stage-engine-failure | title=Falcon 9 suffers upper stage engine failure | date=July 12, 2024 }} On August 2024 a Falcon 9 booster tipped over and was destroyed during landing after a successful Starlink launch, resulting in the first unsuccessful booster landing in over three years for SpaceX. The rocket was briefly grounded for two days.{{cite web | url=https://spacenews.com/falcon-9-booster-lost-in-rare-unsuccessful-landing/ | title=Falcon 9 booster lost in rare unsuccessful landing | date=August 28, 2024 }} In September 2024, after the successful launch of the Crew-9 mission, the upper stage engine again malfunctioned during a deorbit burn, causing it to reenter outside its designed zone and resulting in another grounding of the Falcon fleet. This anomaly occurred only ten days before the planned launch date of NASA's flagship Europa Clipper mission, which had a limited launch window and required two burns of the rocket's upper stage, prompting NASA to participate in the investigation and convene its own independent anomaly review board.{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/09/engineers-investigate-another-malfunction-on-spacexs-falcon-9-rocket/ | title=Engineers investigate another malfunction on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket | date=September 30, 2024 }}{{cite web | url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2024/09/29/spacex-grounds-its-falcon-rocket-fleet-after-upper-stage-misfire/ | title=SpaceX grounds its Falcon rocket fleet after upper stage misfire – Spaceflight Now }}{{cite web | url=https://spacenews.com/europa-clipper-ready-for-launch/ | title=Europa Clipper ready for launch | date=October 14, 2024 }} Europa Clipper eventually launched successfully on October 14.{{cite web | url=https://spacenews.com/falcon-heavy-launches-nasas-europa-clipper-mission/ | title=Falcon Heavy launches NASA's Europa Clipper mission | date=October 14, 2024 }} These anomalies were mentioned on NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel 2024 Annual Report, which warned that SpaceX's fast cadence of launches may "interfere with sound judgment, deliberate analysis, and careful implementation of corrective actions", while also praising the company's "openness with NASA and willingness to address each situation".{{cite web | url=https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasas-aerospace-safety-advisory-panel-releases-2024-annual-report/ | title=NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel Releases 2024 Annual Report - NASA }}

On February 2025, another upper stage malfunction occurred after the launch of the Starlink Group 11-4 mission, which prevented the stage from executing its planned deorbit burn. It remained in orbit for two weeks before eventually falling near the city of Poznań, Poland in an uncontrolled reentry. Similar to the July 2024 failure, this anomaly was also caused by a liquid oxygen leak in the upper stage's engine.{{cite web | url=https://spacenews.com/propellant-leak-blamed-for-falcon-9-upper-stage-uncontrolled-reentry/ | title=Propellant leak blamed for Falcon 9 upper stage uncontrolled reentry }} On March 2025, a Falcon 9 booster was lost when it caught fire and tipped over after a droneship landing following a Starlink launch.{{cite web | url=https://spacenews.com/falcon-9-booster-lost-after-droneship-landing/ | title=Falcon 9 booster lost after droneship landing }} This failure was blamed on a fuel leak that occurred inside one of the first stage engines during ascent.{{Cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/fuel-leak-blamed-for-falcon-9-booster-loss-after-landing/|title=Fuel leak blamed for Falcon 9 booster loss after landing|first=Jeff|last=Foust|date=March 8, 2025|website=SpaceNews}} Space journalist Eric Berger has argued that the main factor behind the recent anomalies is SpaceX's "ever-present pressure to accelerate, even while taking on more and more challenging tasks", noting that the company may have reached "the speed limit for commercial spaceflight". He also noted that SpaceX is under intense pressure to develop its super-heavy Starship rocket, with many talented engineers being moved off from the Falcon and Dragon programs onto Starship.{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/03/after-years-of-acceleration-has-spacex-finally-reached-its-speed-limit/|title=What’s behind the recent string of failures and delays at SpaceX?|first=Eric|last=Berger|date=March 10, 2025|website=Ars Technica}}

Like the Saturn family of rockets, multiple engines allow for mission completion even if one fails. Detailed descriptions of destructive engine failure modes and designed-in engine-out capabilities were made public.{{cite web|title=Updates: December 2007|url=http://www.spacex.com/updates_archive.php?page=121007|work=Updates Archive|publisher=SpaceX |access-date=December 27, 2012|quote="Once we have all nine engines and the stage working well as a system, we will extensively test the "engine out" capability. This includes explosive and fire testing of the barriers that separate the engines from each other and from the vehicle. ... It should be said that the failure modes we've seen to date on the test stand for the Merlin 1C are all relatively benign – the turbo pump, combustion chamber and nozzle do not rupture explosively even when subjected to extreme circumstances. We have seen the gas generator (that drives the turbo pump assembly) blow apart during a start sequence (there are no checks in place to prevent that from happening), but it is a small device, unlikely to cause major damage to its own engine, let alone the neighbouring ones. Even so, as with engine nacelles on commercial jets, the fire/explosive barriers will assume that the entire chamber blows apart in the worst possible way. The bottom close-out panels are designed to direct any force or flame downward, away from neighbouring engines and the stage itself. ... we've found that the Falcon 9's ability to withstand one or even multiple engine failures, just as commercial airliners do, and still complete its mission is a compelling selling point with customers. Apart from the Space Shuttle and Soyuz, none of the existing [2007] launch vehicles can afford to lose even a single thrust chamber without causing loss of mission".|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104061453/http://www.spacex.com/updates_archive.php?page=121007 |archive-date=January 4, 2011}}

SpaceX emphasized that the first stage is designed for "engine-out" capability. CRS-1 in October 2012 was a partial success after engine number 1 lost pressure at 79 seconds, and then shut down. To compensate for the resulting loss of acceleration, the first stage had to burn 28 seconds longer than planned, and the second stage had to burn an extra 15 seconds. That extra burn time reduced fuel reserves so that the likelihood that there was sufficient fuel to execute the mission dropped from 99% to 95%. Because NASA had purchased the launch and therefore contractually controlled several mission decision points, NASA declined SpaceX's request to restart the second stage and attempt to deliver the secondary payload into the correct orbit. As a result, the secondary payload reentered the atmosphere.{{cite news |url=http://spacenews.com/orbcomm-craft-launched-by-falcon-9-falls-out-of-orbit/ |title=Orbcomm Craft Launched by Falcon 9 Falls out of Orbit |quote=Orbcomm requested that SpaceX carry one of their small satellites (weighing a few hundred pounds, versus Dragon at over 12,000 pounds)... The higher the orbit, the more test data [Orbcomm] can gather, so they requested that we attempt to restart and raise altitude. NASA agreed to allow that, but only on condition that there be substantial propellant reserves, since the orbit would be close to the International Space Station. It is important to appreciate that Orbcomm understood from the beginning that the orbit-raising maneuver was tentative. They accepted that there was a high risk of their satellite remaining at the Dragon insertion orbit... |last=de Selding |first=Peter B. |publisher=Space News |date=October 15, 2012 |access-date=October 15, 2012 |archive-date=May 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150512125706/http://spacenews.com/orbcomm-craft-launched-by-falcon-9-falls-out-of-orbit/ |url-status=live}}

Merlin 1D engines have suffered two premature shutdowns on ascent. Neither has affected the primary mission, but both landing attempts failed. On an March 18, 2020, Starlink mission, one of the first stage engines failed 3 seconds before cut-off due to the ignition of some isopropyl alcohol that was not properly purged after cleaning.{{cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/22/spacex-engine-issue-on-last-starlink-mission-caused-by-cleaning-fluid-according-to-elon-musk/|title=SpaceX engine issue on last Starlink mission caused by cleaning fluid according to Elon Musk|date=April 23, 2020|access-date=April 24, 2020|archive-date=February 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203164356/https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/22/spacex-engine-issue-on-last-starlink-mission-caused-by-cleaning-fluid-according-to-elon-musk/|url-status=live}} On another Starlink mission on February 15, 2021, hot exhaust gasses entered an engine due to a fatigue-related hole in its cover.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |title=Component fatigue caused early shutdown of Merlin engine on last SpaceX launch – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/03/01/component-fatigue-caused-early-shutdown-of-merlin-engine-on-last-spacex-launch/ |access-date=January 25, 2023 |language=en-US |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422141135/https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/03/01/component-fatigue-caused-early-shutdown-of-merlin-engine-on-last-spacex-launch/ |url-status=live}} SpaceX stated the failed cover had the "highest... number of flights that this particular boot [cover] design had seen."{{Cite tweet |last=Bergin |first=Chris |date=March 1, 2021 |title=Falcon 9 B1059.6 landing failure update. A Merlin engine boot (a life leader) developed a hole and sent hot gas to 'where it wasn't supposed to be' and shut down during first stage flight. Not enough thrust for landing. |user=NASASpaceflight |number=1366455049036136450 |access-date=January 25, 2023}}

{{main|SpaceX reusable launch system development program}}

File:Falcon 9 First Stage Reusability Graphic.jpg

SpaceX planned from the beginning to make both stages reusable. The first stages of early Falcon flights were equipped with parachutes and were covered with a layer of ablative cork to allow them to survive atmospheric re-entry. These were defeated by the accompanying aerodynamic stress and heating. The stages were salt-water corrosion-resistant.

In late 2011, SpaceX eliminated parachutes in favor of powered descent. The design was complete by February 2012.

Powered landings were first flight-tested with the suborbital Grasshopper rocket.{{cite news|last=Boyle|first=Alan|title=SpaceX launches its Grasshopper rocket on 12-story-high hop in Texas|url=http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/23/16114180-spacex-launches-its-grasshopper-rocket-on-12-story-high-hop-in-texas|access-date=December 25, 2012 |publisher=MSNBC Cosmic Log|date=December 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194358/http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/23/16114180-spacex-launches-its-grasshopper-rocket-on-12-story-high-hop-in-texas|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=live}} Between 2012 and 2013, this low-altitude, low-speed demonstration test vehicle made eight vertical landings, including a 79-second round-trip flight to an altitude of {{cvt|744|m}}. In March 2013, SpaceX announced that as of the first v1.1 flight, every booster would be equipped for powered descent.

{{main|Falcon 9 first-stage landing tests}}

File:CRS-8 first stage landing (26366878046).jpg for the first time, following the launch of SpaceX CRS-8 to the ISS]]

For Flight 6 in September 2013, after stage separation, the flight plan called for the first stage to conduct a burn to reduce its reentry velocity, and then a second burn just before reaching the water. Although not a complete success, the stage was able to change direction and make a controlled entry into the atmosphere. During the final landing burn, the RCS thrusters could not overcome an aerodynamically induced spin. The centrifugal force deprived the engine of fuel, leading to early engine shutdown and a hard splashdown.

After four more ocean landing tests, the CRS-5 booster attempted a landing on the ASDS floating platform in January 2015. The rocket incorporated (for the first time in an orbital mission) grid fin aerodynamic control surfaces, and successfully guided itself to the ship, before running out of hydraulic fluid and crashing into the platform.{{cite web|title=Dragon successfully launched, rocket recovery demo crash lands|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/01/10/dragon-successfully-launched-rocket-recovery-demo-crash-lands/|last1=Clark|first1=Stephen|access-date=May 5, 2015|date=January 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110182505/http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/01/10/dragon-successfully-launched-rocket-recovery-demo-crash-lands/|archive-date=January 10, 2015|url-status=live}} A second attempt occurred in April 2015, on CRS-6. After the launch, the bipropellant valve became stuck, preventing the control system from reacting rapidly enough for a successful landing.{{cite web |author=Norris |first=Guy |date=April 16, 2015 |title=SpaceX Checks Throttle Valve After Flawed Falcon 9 Recovery Attempt |url=http://aviationweek.com/space/spacex-checks-throttle-valve-after-flawed-falcon-9-recovery-attempt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901070502/http://aviationweek.com/space/spacex-checks-throttle-valve-after-flawed-falcon-9-recovery-attempt |archive-date=September 1, 2017 |access-date=June 24, 2017}}

The first attempt to land a booster on a ground pad near the launch site occurred on flight 20, in December 2015. The landing was successful and the booster was recovered.{{cite news|url=http://www.space.com/31420-spacex-rocket-landing-success.html|title=Wow! SpaceX Lands Orbital Rocket Successfully in Historic First|publisher=Space.com|first=Mike|last=Wall|date=December 21, 2015|access-date=May 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128061324/https://www.space.com/31420-spacex-rocket-landing-success.html|archive-date=November 28, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite tweet |user=SpaceX |number=679114269485436928 |date=December 22, 2015 |access-date=May 8, 2016 |title=The Falcon 9 first stage landing is confirmed. Second stage continuing nominally.}} This was the first time in history that after launching an orbital mission, a first stage achieved a controlled vertical landing. The first successful booster landing on an ASDS occurred in April 2016 on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You during CRS-8.

Sixteen test flights were conducted from 2013 to 2016, six of which achieved a soft landing and booster recovery. Since January 2017, with the exceptions of the centre core from the Falcon Heavy test flight, Falcon Heavy USAF STP-2 mission, the Falcon 9 CRS-16 resupply mission and the Starlink-4, 5, and 19 missions,{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=February 16, 2021 |title=SpaceX launches Starlink satellites, but booster landing fails |url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-starlink-satellites-but-booster-landing-fails/ |access-date=December 28, 2023 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Atkinson |first=Ian |date=March 18, 2020 |title=SpaceX successfully launches sixth Starlink launch despite engine issue |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/03/spacex-sixth-starlink-fifth-booster-reflight/ |access-date=December 28, 2023 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US |archive-date=February 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210013636/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/03/spacex-sixth-starlink-fifth-booster-reflight/ |url-status=live}} every landing attempt has been successful. Two boosters have been lost or destroyed at sea after landing: the center core used during the Arabsat-6A mission,{{Cite web |title=Falcon Heavy core booster tips over in rough seas after drone ship landing – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/04/15/falcon-heavy-core-booster-lost-in-rough-seas-after-drone-ship-landing/ |access-date=December 28, 2023 |language=en-US |archive-date=April 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415233117/https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/04/15/falcon-heavy-core-booster-lost-in-rough-seas-after-drone-ship-landing/ |url-status=live}} and B1058 after completing a Starlink flight.{{Cite web |title=Historic SpaceX Falcon 9 booster topples over and is lost at sea – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/12/27/historic-spacex-falcon-9-booster-topples-over-and-is-lost-at-sea/ |access-date=December 28, 2023 |language=en-US |archive-date=December 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231227213143/https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/12/27/historic-spacex-falcon-9-booster-topples-over-and-is-lost-at-sea/ |url-status=live}}

File:SES-10 Launch - world's first reflight of an orbital class rocket (32915200224).jpg

The first operational relaunch of a previously flown booster was accomplished in March 2017{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|title=Launch Schedule |publisher=Spaceflight Now|last=Clark|first=Stephen|date=February 18, 2017|access-date=February 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224185459/http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ |archive-date=December 24, 2016|url-status=live}} with B1021 on the SES-10 mission after CRS-8 in April 2016.{{cite press release |url=https://www.ses.com/press-release/ses-10-launched-successfully-spacexs-flight-proven-falcon-9-rocket |title=SES-10 launched successfully on SpaceX's flight-proven Falcon 9 rocket |publisher=SES S.A. |date=March 30, 2017 |access-date=June 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408193257/https://www.ses.com/press-release/ses-10-launched-successfully-spacexs-flight-proven-falcon-9-rocket |archive-date=April 8, 2017 |url-status=live |last1=Payer |first1=Markus}} After landing a second time, it was retired.{{cite news |author=Leahy |first=Bart |date=April 4, 2017 |title=Twice-launched Falcon 9 first stage returned to Port Canaveral |url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/twice-launched-falcon-9-first-stage-returned-port-canaveral/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517133200/http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/twice-launched-falcon-9-first-stage-returned-port-canaveral/ |archive-date=May 17, 2017 |access-date=June 28, 2017 |publisher=SpaceFlight Insider}} In June 2017, booster B1029 helped carry BulgariaSat-1 towards GTO after an Iridium NEXT LEO mission in January 2017, again achieving reuse and landing of a recovered booster.{{cite news |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/05/05/bulgarias-first-communications-satellite-to-ride-spacexs-second-reused-rocket/|title=Bulgaria's first communications satellite to ride SpaceX's second reused rocket |publisher=Spaceflight Now|first=Stephen|last=Clark|date=May 5, 2017|access-date=May 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506042515/https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/05/05/bulgarias-first-communications-satellite-to-ride-spacexs-second-reused-rocket/|archive-date=May 6, 2017|url-status=live}} The third reuse flight came in November 2018 on the SSO-A mission. The core for the mission, Falcon 9 B1046, was the first Block 5 booster produced, and had flown initially on the Bangabandhu Satellite-1 mission.{{cite web |url=https://everydayastronaut.com/prelaunch-preview-spacex-spaceflight-sso-a/|title=Prelaunch Preview: SpaceX {{!}} Spaceflight SSO-A|date=November 11, 2018|publisher=Everyday Astronaut|access-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216074059/https://everydayastronaut.com/prelaunch-preview-spacex-spaceflight-sso-a/|archive-date=December 16, 2018|url-status=live}}

In May 2021 the first booster reached 10 missions. Musk indicated that SpaceX intends to fly boosters until they see a failure in Starlink missions.{{cite web |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/04/27/spacex-to-resume-starlink-launches-stretching-reused-falcon-boosters-to-their-limits/ |title=SpaceX to resume Starlink flights, stretching reused Falcon rockets to their limits |date=April 27, 2021 |publisher=spaceflightnow.com |access-date=April 30, 2021 |archive-date=April 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430023100/https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/04/27/spacex-to-resume-starlink-launches-stretching-reused-falcon-boosters-to-their-limits/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-27-10th-falcon-9-rocket-launch-landing-success |title=SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites in record 10th liftoff (and landing) of reused rocket |date=May 9, 2021 |publisher=space.com |access-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-date=May 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511135124/https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-27-10th-falcon-9-rocket-launch-landing-success |url-status=live}} As of {{Falcon rocket statistics|statsdate}}, the record is {{Falcon rocket statistics|Mostflights}} flights by the same booster.

SpaceX developed payload fairings equipped with a steerable parachute as well as RCS thrusters that can be recovered and reused. A payload fairing half was recovered following a soft-landing in the ocean for the first time in March 2017, following SES-10. Subsequently, development began on a ship-based system involving a massive net, in order to catch returning fairings. Two dedicated ships were outfitted for this role, making their first catches in 2019.{{cite web|last=Ralph|first=Eric|date=June 25, 2019|title=SpaceX successfully catches first Falcon Heavy fairing in Mr. Steven's/Ms. Tree's net|url=https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-first-successful-falcon-fairing-catch-mr-steven-ms-tree/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626154342/https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-first-successful-falcon-fairing-catch-mr-steven-ms-tree/|archive-date=June 26, 2019|access-date=June 25, 2019|website=Teslarati.com}} However, following mixed success, SpaceX returned to water landings and wet recovery.{{cite news|last1=Berger|first1=Eric|date=April 9, 2021|title=Rocket Report: SpaceX abandons catching fairings...|publisher=Ars Technica|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/rocket-report-spacex-abandons-catching-fairings-ula-bets-on-upper-stages/|url-status=live|access-date=April 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420105824/https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/04/rocket-report-spacex-abandons-catching-fairings-ula-bets-on-upper-stages/|archive-date=April 20, 2021}}

Despite public statements that they would endeavor to make the second-stage reusable as well, by late 2014, SpaceX determined that the mass needed for a heat shield, landing engines, and other equipment to support recovery of the second stage was prohibitive, and abandoned second-stage reusability efforts.{{cite web |author=Borogove |first=Russell |date=July 31, 2015 |title=reuse – How does SpaceX plan to achieve reusability of the Falcon 9 *second* stage? |url=https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/10391/how-does-spacex-plan-to-achieve-reusability-of-the-falcon-9-second-stage |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222084351/http://space.stackexchange.com/questions/10391/how-does-spacex-plan-to-achieve-reusability-of-the-falcon-9-second-stage |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |access-date=January 5, 2016 |publisher=StackExchange}}

{{main|SpaceX launch facilities}}

File:Falcon 9 NG-20 Launch (8217536).jpg in Florida carrying CRS NG-20 to the ISS in January 2024 with the newly constructed tower and crewed access arm visible.]]

The Falcon 9 launches from three orbital launch sites: Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida (operational since 2007),{{cite web |author=Gebhardt |first=Chris |date=April 12, 2017 |title=Falcon Heavy build up begins; SLC-40 pad rebuild progressing well |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/04/falcon-heavy-build-up-slc-40-pad-rebuild-progressing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517125302/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/04/falcon-heavy-build-up-slc-40-pad-rebuild-progressing/ |archive-date=May 17, 2017 |access-date=June 15, 2017 |publisher=NASASpaceFlight}} Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) of Vandenberg Space Force Base in California (operational since 2013), and Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida (operational since 2017).{{cite web |date=February 17, 2017 |title=SpaceX Poised to Launch from Historic Pad 39A |url=http://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/spacex-poised-launch-historic-pad-39a-180962224/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218013518/http://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/spacex-poised-launch-historic-pad-39a-180962224/ |archive-date=February 18, 2017 |access-date=February 18, 2017 |publisher=Smithsonian Air & Space}}

SpaceX has designated specific roles for each launch site based on mission profiles. SLC-40 serves as the company’s high-volume launch pad for missions to medium-inclination orbits (28.5–55°). SLC-4E is optimized for launches to highly inclined polar orbits (66–145°). LC-39A is primarily reserved for complex missions, such as Crew Dragon or Falcon Heavy launches. However, in 2024, SLC-40 was upgraded to accommodate Crew Dragon launches as a backup to LC-39A.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=March 20, 2024 |title=SpaceX's workhorse launch pad now has the accoutrements for astronauts |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/03/spacexs-workhorse-launch-pad-now-has-the-accoutrements-for-astronauts/ |access-date=March 21, 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}

On April 21, 2023, the United States Space Force granted SpaceX permission to lease Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6). This will become SpaceX’s fourth orbital launch site, providing a second pad for highly inclined polar orbit launches and enabling Falcon Heavy launches from the West Coast.{{Cite web |title=SPACE LAUNCH DELTA 30 TO LEASE SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX 6 TO SPACE X |url=https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3351366/space-launch-delta-30-to-lease-space-launch-complex-6-to-space-x/ |access-date=June 10, 2023 |website=Vandenberg Space Force Base |date=April 24, 2023 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609105503/https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3351366/space-launch-delta-30-to-lease-space-launch-complex-6-to-space-x/ |url-status=live}}

At the time of the Falcon 9's maiden flight in 2010, the advertised price for commercial satellite launches using the v1.0 version was $49.9–56 million. Over the years, the price increased, keeping pace with inflation. By 2012, it rose to $54–59.5 million, followed by $56.5 million for the v1.1 version in 2013, $61.2 million in 2014, $62 million for the Full Thrust version in 2016, and $69.75 million for the Block 5 version in 2024.{{Cite web |date=January 2024 |title=Capabilities & Services |url=https://www.spacex.com/media/Capabilities&Services.pdf |access-date=December 9, 2024 |website=SpaceX}}

Government contracts typically involve higher prices, determined through competitive bidding processes. For instance, Dragon cargo missions to the ISS cost $133 million under a fixed-price contract with NASA, which included the spacecraft's use.{{cite web |date=May 4, 2011 |title=Why the US can beat China: the facts about SpaceX costs |url=http://www.spacex.com/usa.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328121051/http://www.spacex.com/usa.php |archive-date=March 28, 2013}} Similarly, the 2013 DSCOVR mission for NOAA, launched aboard a Falcon 9, cost $97 million.{{cite web |date=December 12, 2012 |title=SpaceX books first two launches with U.S. military |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1212/06spacexdod/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200053/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1212/06spacexdod/#.Vf3_4_lViko |archive-date=October 29, 2013}} As of 2020, U.S. Air Force launches using the Falcon 9 cost $95 million due to added security requirements.{{Cite web |last=Sheetz |first=Michael |date=April 16, 2020 |title=Elon Musk touts low cost to insure SpaceX rockets as edge over competitors |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/16/elon-musk-spacex-falcon-9-rocket-over-a-million-dollars-less-to-insure.html |access-date=December 10, 2024 |website=CNBC |language=en}} Because of the higher prices charged to government customers, in 2020, Roscosmos administrator Dmitry Rogozin accused SpaceX of price dumping in the commercial marketplace.{{Cite web |title=Russia will cut space launch prices by 30 percent in response to SpaceX predatory pricing |url=https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Russia_will_cut_space_launch_prices_by_30_percent_in_response_to_SpaceX_predatory_pricing_999.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412001044/https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Russia_will_cut_space_launch_prices_by_30_percent_in_response_to_SpaceX_predatory_pricing_999.html |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |access-date=April 12, 2020}}

The declining costs of Falcon 9 launches prompted competitors to develop lower-cost launch vehicles. Arianespace introduced the Ariane 6, ULA developed the Vulcan Centaur, and Roscosmos focused on the Proton-M.{{cite web |last=Ralph |first=Eric |date=March 14, 2018 |title=SpaceX to fly reused rockets on half of all 2018 launches as competition lags far behind |url=https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-use-reused-rockets-50-percent-all-2018-launches/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808024139/https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-use-reused-rockets-50-percent-all-2018-launches/ |archive-date=August 8, 2018 |access-date=February 2, 2019 |website=teslarati.com}} ULA CEO Tory Bruno stated that in their estimates, each booster would need to fly ten times to break even on the additional costs of designing and operating reusable rockets.{{Cite tweet |number=1251155738421899273 |user=thesheetztweetz |title=ULA CEO Tory Bruno's view on the economics of reusing rockets by propulsive flyback |access-date=September 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508125456/https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1251155738421899273?lang=en |archive-date=May 8, 2021 |url-status=live}} Musk countered, asserting that Falcon 9's recovery and refurbishment costs were under 10%, achieving breakeven after just two flights and yielding substantial savings by the third.

As of 2024, SpaceX's internal costs for a Falcon 9 launch are estimated between $15 million{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Berger (journalist) |date=December 2, 2024 |title=Falcon 9 reaches a flight rate 30 times higher than shuttle at 1/100th the cost |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/12/spacex-has-set-all-kinds-of-records-with-its-falcon-9-rocket-this-year/ |access-date=December 4, 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-US}} and $28 million, factoring in workforce expenses, refurbishment, assembly, operations, and facility depreciation.{{Cite web |last=Lionnet |first=Pierre |date=June 7, 2024 |title=SpaceX and the categorical imperative to achieve low launch cost |url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-and-the-categorical-imperative-to-achieve-low-launch-cost/ |access-date=December 10, 2024 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}} These efficiencies are primarily due to the reuse of first-stage boosters and payload fairings.{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Berger (journalist) |date=June 26, 2024 |title=Some European launch officials still have their heads stuck in the sand |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/06/some-european-launch-officials-still-have-their-heads-stuck-in-the-sand/ |access-date=June 27, 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} The second stage, which is not reused, is believed to be the largest expense per launch, with the company's COO stating that each costs $12 million to produce.{{cite web |date=August 6, 2024 |title=Fireside Chat with SpaceX President & COO Gwynne Shotwell |website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66a8XFet4ac}}

SpaceX provides two rideshare programs, regularly scheduled Falcon 9 flights for small satellite deployment: Transporter and Bandwagon. The Transporter program started in 2021 and specializes in delivering payloads to sun-synchronous orbits, primarily serving Earth observation missions, with flights typically operating every four months. The Bandwagon program started in 2024, offers access to mid-inclination orbits of approximately 45 degrees, with flights typically operating every six months.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=April 8, 2024 |title=SpaceX launches first mid-inclination dedicated rideshare mission |url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-first-mid-inclination-dedicated-rideshare-mission/ |access-date=August 19, 2024 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US |archive-date=September 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902011847/https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-first-mid-inclination-dedicated-rideshare-mission/ |url-status=live}} Unlike traditional secondary payload arrangements, these programs do not rely on a primary mission. Instead, SpaceX provides a unique "cake topper" option for larger satellites between {{convert|500|and|2500|kg}}. Price for 50 kg payload is US$300,000 to SSO.{{cite web |title=Smallsat Rideshare Program |url=https://www.spacex.com/rideshare/ |website=spacex |access-date=March 17, 2025}}

SpaceX also offers more traditional rideshares where small satellites piggyback on the launch of a large primary payload. In the past, the company has offered clients the option to mount payloads using the EELV Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) ring, the same interstage adapter first used for launching secondary payloads on US DoD missions that use the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles (EELV) Atlas V and Delta IV.

Even though the Falcon 9 is a medium-lift launch vehicle, through these programs, SpaceX has become the leading provider of rideshare launches. Given the company's frequent launch cadence and low prices, operators of small-lift launch vehicles have found it difficult to compete.

SpaceX first put a Falcon 9 (B1019) on public display at their headquarters in Hawthorne, California, in 2016.{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/08/20/spacex-puts-historic-flown-rocket-on-permanent-display/|title=SpaceX puts historic flown rocket on permanent display|access-date=May 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216073145/http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/08/20/spacex-puts-historic-flown-rocket-on-permanent-display/|archive-date=February 16, 2017|url-status=live}}

In 2019, SpaceX donated a Falcon 9 (B1035) to Space Center Houston, in Houston, Texas. It was a booster that flew two missions, "the 11th and 13th supply missions to the International Space Station [and was] the first Falcon 9 rocket NASA agreed to fly a second time".{{cite news |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/05/spacex-donates-first-stage-booster-to-space-museum-in-houston/ |last1=Berger |first1=Eric |title=Old Falcon 9 rockets done firing their engines will now inflame imaginations |date=May 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510042304/https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/05/spacex-donates-first-stage-booster-to-space-museum-in-houston/|archive-date=May 10, 2019 |url-status=live |work=Ars Technica}}{{cite web|url=https://spacecenter.org/spacex/#:~:text=In%20our%20newest%20exhibit%2C%20the,exhibit%20for%20Space%20Center%20Houston|title=SpaceX Falcon 9 booster exhibit – Now open|access-date=December 6, 2020|archive-date=December 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212202602/https://spacecenter.org/spacex/#:~:text=In%20our%20newest%20exhibit%2C%20the,exhibit%20for%20Space%20Center%20Houston|url-status=live}}

In 2021, SpaceX donated a Falcon Heavy side booster (B1023) to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.{{Cite news|url=https://spaceexplored.com/2021/10/02/spacex-falcon-heavy-booster-arrives-at-kennedy-space-center-visitor-complex-for-permanent-display/|title=[Update: New arrival footage] SpaceX Falcon Heavy Booster arrives at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for permanent display|date=October 2, 2021 |first=Jared |last=Locke |work=Space Explored |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206182808/https://spaceexplored.com/2021/10/02/spacex-falcon-heavy-booster-arrives-at-kennedy-space-center-visitor-complex-for-permanent-display/ |archive-date=February 6, 2023 |url-status=live}}

In 2023, a Falcon 9 (B1021){{cite tweet |last1=Edwards |first1=Jon |user=edwards345 |number=1718813738504183859 |title=2021 |access-date=December 18, 2023}} has been put on public display outside Dish Network's headquarters in Littleton, Colorado.{{cite news |last1=Lynn |first1=Nate |title=SpaceX rocket escorted through Colorado |url=https://www.9news.com/article/tech/spacex-rocket-centennial-arapahoe-county-colorado/73-2cd8e8a8-0893-4119-a347-48d7cccfb35b |access-date=October 30, 2023 |publisher=KUSA-TV |date=October 28, 2023 |archive-date=September 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902011849/https://www.9news.com/article/tech/spacex-rocket-centennial-arapahoe-county-colorado/73-2cd8e8a8-0893-4119-a347-48d7cccfb35b |url-status=live}}

The Russian space agency has launched the development of Soyuz-7 which shares many similarities with Falcon 9, including a reusable first stage that will land vertically with the help of legs.{{cite web | url=https://newizv.ru/news/2024-09-01/roskosmos-v-pogone-za-spacex-smozhem-li-dognat-maska-432934 | title=Роскосмос в погоне за SpaceX: сможем ли догнать Маска?}} The first launch is planned for 2028-2030.{{cite news | url=https://tass.ru/kosmos/18387525 | title=Первый пуск метановой ракеты "Амур" планируется в 2028-2030 годах | newspaper=Tacc}}

China's Beijing Tianbing Technology company is developing Tianlong-3, which is benchmarked against Falcon 9. In 2024, China’s central government designated commercial space as a key industry for support, with the reusable medium-lift launchers being necessary to deploy China’s planned low Earth orbit communications megaconstellations.

{{#invoke:Portal|portal|Spaceflight}}

• Comparison of orbital launch systems
• List of Falcon 9 first-stage boosters
• SpaceX launch vehicles

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|refs=

{{citation-attribution|1={{cite web|url=http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/MissionData.php?mission=Falcon-9%20ELV%20First%20Flight%20Demonstration|title=Detailed Mission Data – Falcon-9 ELV First Flight Demonstration |publisher=NASA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016081034/http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/MissionData.php?mission=Falcon-9%20ELV%20First%20Flight%20Demonstration|access-date=May 26, 2010 |archive-date=October 16, 2011}}}}

{{cite press release|title=SpaceX Falcon 9 Upper Stage Engine Successfully Completes Full Mission Duration Firing|url=http://www.spacex.com/press/2012/12/19/spacex-falcon-9-upper-stage-engine-successfully-completes-full-mission-duration|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213023346/http://www.spacex.com/press/2012/12/19/spacex-falcon-9-upper-stage-engine-successfully-completes-full-mission-duration|publisher=SpaceNews|date=March 10, 2009|access-date=December 12, 2014|archive-date=December 13, 2014|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/falcon9.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222155322/http://www.spacex.com/falcon9.php|title=Falcon 9 Overview (2010)|publisher=SpaceX |access-date=May 8, 2010|archive-date=December 22, 2010}}

[http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/001/status.html Mission Status Center, June 2, 2010, 19:05 UTC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530232910/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html|date=May 30, 2010}}, SpaceflightNow, accessed 2010-06-02, Quotation: "The flanges will link the rocket with ground storage tanks containing liquid oxygen, kerosene fuel, helium, gaserous nitrogen and the first stage ignitor source called triethylaluminum-triethylborane, better known as TEA-TAB".

{{cite news|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/01/musk-ambition-spacex-aim-for-fully-reusable-falcon-9/|publisher=NASAspaceflight.com|quote="With Falcon I's fourth launch, the first stage got cooked, so we're going to beef up the Thermal Protection System (TPS). By flight six we think it's highly likely we'll recover the first stage, and when we get it back we'll see what survived through re-entry, and what got fried, and carry on with the process. That's just to make the first stage reusable, it'll be even harder with the second stage – that has got to have a full heatshield, it'll have to have deorbit propulsion and communication".|title=Musk ambition: SpaceX aim for fully reusable Falcon 9|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605120626/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/01/musk-ambition-spacex-aim-for-fully-reusable-falcon-9/|date=January 12, 2009|archive-date=June 5, 2010|access-date=May 9, 2013|url-status=live}}

{{citation-attribution|1={{cite web|url=https://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/SP-4204/ch13-4.html|title=Hold-Down Arms and Tail Service Masts|publisher=NASA|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161102234513/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/SP-4204/ch13-4.html|archive-date=November 2, 2016|url-status=live}}}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a5073/4328638/|title=Behind the Scenes With the World's Most Ambitious Rocket Makers|date=September 1, 2009|author=Michael Belfiore|publisher=Popular Mechanics|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213161703/http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a5073/4328638/|archive-date=December 13, 2016 |url-status=live}}

{{cite web|last=Lindsey|first=Clark S.|title=Interview* with Elon Musk|url=http://www.hobbyspace.com/AAdmin/archive/Interviews/Systems/ElonMusk.html|publisher=HobbySpace|access-date=June 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604015845/http://www.hobbyspace.com/AAdmin/archive/Interviews/Systems/ElonMusk.html|archive-date=June 4, 2010|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|last=Simburg|first=Rand|title=SpaceX Press Conference|date=June 16, 2010 |url=http://www.transterrestrial.com/?p=27574|access-date=June 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218184836/http://www.transterrestrial.com/?p=27574|archive-date=December 18, 2010|url-status=live}}. Musk quote: "We will never give up! Never! Reusability is one of the most important goals. If we become the biggest launch company in the world, making money hand over fist, but we're still not reusable, I will consider us to have failed".

{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/elon-musk-says-spacex-will-attempt-to-develop-fully-reusable-space-launch-vehicle/2011/09/29/gIQAnN9E8K_story.html|title=Elon Musk says SpaceX will attempt to develop fully reusable space launch vehicle|quote=Both of the rocket's stages would return to the launch site and touch down vertically, under rocket power, on landing gear after delivering a spacecraft to orbit.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001052541/http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/elon-musk-says-spacex-will-attempt-to-develop-fully-reusable-space-launch-vehicle/2011/09/29/gIQAnN9E8K_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 29, 2011|archive-date=October 1, 2011|access-date=October 11, 2011|url-status=dead}}

{{cite news|last=Wall|first=Mike|title=SpaceX Unveils Plan for World's First Fully Reusable Rocket|url=http://www.space.com/13140-spacex-private-reusable-rocket-elon-musk.html |access-date=October 11, 2011|publisher=SPACE.com|date=September 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010191516/http://www.space.com/13140-spacex-private-reusable-rocket-elon-musk.html |archive-date=October 10, 2011|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/falcon9.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716114442/http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/falcon9.html|title=Space Launch report, SpaceX Falcon Data Sheet|archive-date=July 16, 2011|access-date=July 29, 2011|url-status=usurped}}

{{citation-attribution|1={{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/453605main_Commercial_Space_Minutes_4_26_2010.pdf|title=Minutes of the NAC Commercial Space Committee|date=April 26, 2010|author=David J. Frankel|publisher=NASA|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313043013/https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/453605main_Commercial_Space_Minutes_4_26_2010.pdf|archive-date=March 13, 2017 |url-status=live}}}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/usa.php|title=The Facts About SpaceX Costs|publisher=spacex.com|date=May 4, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328121051/http://www.spacex.com/usa.php|archive-date=March 28, 2013}}

{{citation-attribution|1={{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/586023main_8-3-11_NAFCOM.pdf|title=Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle NAFCOM Cost Estimates|publisher=nasa.gov|date=August 2011|access-date=February 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302191523/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/586023main_8-3-11_NAFCOM.pdf|archive-date=March 2, 2012|url-status=live}}}}

{{cite press release|url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=18|title=SpaceX Announces the Falcon 9 Fully Reusable Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle|date=September 8, 2005|publisher=SpaceX |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815163222/http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=18|archive-date=August 15, 2008}}

{{cite news|last=Foust|first=Jeff|title=New opportunities for smallsat launches|url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1913/1|newspaper=The Space Review|date=August 22, 2011|access-date=September 27, 2011|quote=SpaceX ... developed prices for flying those secondary payloads ... A P-POD would cost between $200,000 and $325,000 for missions to LEO, or $350,000 to $575,000 for missions to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). An ESPA-class satellite weighing up to 180 kilograms would cost $4–5 million for LEO missions and $7–9 million for GTO missions, he said.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223114019/http://thespacereview.com/article/1913/1|archive-date = December 23, 2011|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.space.com/10443-spacex-ceo-elon-musk-master-private-space-dragons.html|title=Q & A with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk: Master of Private Space Dragons |date=December 8, 2010|author=Denise Chow|publisher=Space.com|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818154057/https://www.space.com/10443-spacex-ceo-elon-musk-master-private-space-dragons.html|archive-date=August 18, 2017|url-status=live}}

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{{cite news|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/02/27/221883/spacex-falcon-9-maiden-flight-delayed-by-six-months-to-late-q1.html|title=SpaceX Falcon 9 maiden flight delayed by six months to late Q1 2009|publisher=Flight Global|access-date=February 28, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302014629/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/02/27/221883/spacex-falcon-9-maiden-flight-delayed-by-six-months-to-late-q1.html|first=Rob|last=Coppinger|date=February 27, 2008|archive-date=March 2, 2008|url-status=live}}

{{cite press release|url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=35|title=SpaceX Conducts First Multi-Engine Firing of Falcon 9 Rocket|date=January 18, 2008|publisher=SpaceX |access-date=March 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103023559/https://spacex.com/press.php?page=35|archive-date=January 3, 2010|url-status=dead}}

{{cite press release|date=November 23, 2008|url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20081123|title=SpaceX successfully conducts full mission-length firing of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=November 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209213502/http://spacex.com/press.php?page=20081123|archive-date=February 9, 2009|url-status=dead}}

{{cite news|url=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/2010/02/spacex-announces-falcon-9-assembly-underway-at-the-cape.html|title=SpaceX announces Falcon 9 assembly underway at the Cap|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217042318/http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/2010/02/spacex-announces-falcon-9-assembly-underway-at-the-cape.html|archive-date=February 17, 2010|date=February 11, 2010|access-date=February 12, 2010|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/updates.php|title=Updates|date=February 25, 2010|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=June 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817041652/http://www.spacex.com/updates.php | archive-date = August 17, 2011 | url-status = live}}

{{cite news|url=http://www.universetoday.com/2010/03/13/successful-engine-test-firing-for-spacex-inaugural-falcon-9/|title=Successful Engine Test Firing for SpaceX Inaugural Falcon 9|last=Kremer|first=Ken|publisher=Universe Today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315172112/http://www.universetoday.com/2010/03/13/successful-engine-test-firing-for-spacex-inaugural-falcon-9/|date=March 13, 2010|archive-date=March 15, 2010|access-date=June 4, 2010|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802105223/http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities|title=Capabilities & Services (2013)|work=SpaceX |archive-date=August 2, 2013|date=November 28, 2012 |author1=Spacexcmsadmin }}

{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607113251/http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities|archive-date=June 7, 2014|title=Capabilities & Services (2014)|work=SpaceX |date=November 28, 2012 |author1=Spacexcmsadmin }}

{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505162124/http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities|archive-date=May 5, 2016|title=Capabilities & Services (2016)|work=SpaceX |date=March 24, 2022 |author1=Spacexcmsadmin }}

{{cite web|title=Falcon 9 Overview (2012)|url=http://www.spacex.com/falcon9.php|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=September 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323073919/http://www.spacex.com/falcon9.php|archive-date=March 23, 2012|date=November 16, 2012}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/falcon9|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=December 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129020000/http://www.spacex.com/falcon9 |title=Falcon 9 (2013)|archive-date=November 29, 2013|date=November 16, 2012}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/falcon9|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=December 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209044716/http://www.spacex.com/falcon9 |title=Falcon 9 (2015)|archive-date=December 9, 2015|date=November 16, 2012}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/falcon9|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=May 3, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130715094112/http://www.spacex.com/falcon9 |title=Falcon 9 (2016)|archive-date=July 15, 2013|date=November 16, 2012}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.spacex.com/media/Capabilities&Services.pdf|title=Capabilities & Services|publisher=SpaceX|year=2024|access-date=July 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607074502/https://www.spacex.com/media/Capabilities&Services.pdf|archive-date=June 7, 2024|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/12/spacex-rtf-core-return-attempt-og2/|title=SpaceX returns to flight with OG2, nails historic core return|last1=Graham|first1=William|publisher=NASASpaceFlight|access-date=December 22, 2015|date=December 21, 2015|quote=The launch also marked the first flight of the Falcon 9 Full Thrust, internally known only as the "Upgraded Falcon 9"|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222224303/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/12/spacex-rtf-core-return-attempt-og2/|archive-date=December 22, 2015|url-status=live}}

{{cite web|title=Falcon 9|url=http://www.spacex.com/falcon9.php|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=September 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501002858/http://www.spacex.com/falcon9.php|archive-date=May 1, 2013|date=November 16, 2012}}

{{citation-attribution|1={{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/offices/c3po/about/cots_demo_competition.html|title=COTS 2006 Demo Competition|date=January 18, 2006|publisher=NASA|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622173238/https://www.nasa.gov/offices/c3po/about/cots_demo_competition.html|archive-date=June 22, 2017|url-status=dead}}}}

{{cite press release|author=SpaceX|url=http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/02/09/spacexs-dragon-spacecraft-successfully-re-enters-orbit|title=SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft successfully re-enters from orbit|date=December 15, 2010|access-date=October 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006095016/http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/02/09/spacexs-dragon-spacecraft-successfully-re-enters-orbit|archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/07/spacex-urges-lawmakers-to-commercialize-deep-space-exploration/ |title=SpaceX goes there—seeks government funds for deep space |publisher=Ars Technica |date=July 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715014322/https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/07/spacex-urges-lawmakers-to-commercialize-deep-space-exploration/ |archive-date=July 15, 2017}}

{{cite web|last=David|first=Leonard|title=SpaceX tackles reusable heavy launch vehicle|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/9262092|work=MSNBC|date=September 9, 2005 |publisher=NBC News|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=May 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521101625/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9262092|url-status=dead}}

{{cite news |last=Klotz|first=Irene|title=Musk Says SpaceX Being "Extremely Paranoid" as It Readies for Falcon 9's California Debut|url=http://www.spacenews.com/article/launch-report/37094musk-says-spacex-being-%E2%80%9Cextremely-paranoid%E2%80%9D-as-it-readies-for-falcon-9%E2%80%99s|access-date=September 13, 2013|publisher=Space News|date=September 6, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130913134639/http://www.spacenews.com/article/launch-report/37094musk-says-spacex-being-%E2%80%9Cextremely-paranoid%E2%80%9D-as-it-readies-for-falcon-9%E2%80%99s|archive-date=September 13, 2013 |url-status=dead}}

{{cite news|last=Svitak|first=Amy|title=Dragon's "Radiation-Tolerant" Design|url=http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog%3a04ce340e-4b63-4d23-9695-d49ab661f385&plckPostId=Blog%3a04ce340e-4b63-4d23-9695-d49ab661f385Post%3aa8b87703-93f9-4cdf-885f-9429605e14df|access-date=November 22, 2012|newspaper=Aviation Week|date=November 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203204735/http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog%3A04ce340e-4b63-4d23-9695-d49ab661f385&plckPostId=Blog%3A04ce340e-4b63-4d23-9695-d49ab661f385Post%3Aa8b87703-93f9-4cdf-885f-9429605e14df|archive-date=December 3, 2013|url-status=dead}}

{{cite news|last=Simberg|first=Rand|title=Elon Musk on SpaceX's Reusable Rocket Plans |url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a7446/elon-musk-on-spacexs-reusable-rocket-plans-6653023/|publisher=Popular Mechanics|date=February 8, 2012|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624061845/http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a7446/elon-musk-on-spacexs-reusable-rocket-plans-6653023/|archive-date=June 24, 2017|url-status=live}}

{{cite news |last=Lindsey |first=Clark |date=March 28, 2013 |title=SpaceX moving quickly towards fly-back first stage |publisher=NewSpace Watch |url=http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-moving-quickly-towards-fly-back-first-stage.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416030256/http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-moving-quickly-towards-fly-back-first-stage.html |archive-date=April 16, 2013}}

{{cite web|title=Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle Payload User's Guide, Rev. 2.0|url=http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/falcon_9_users_guide_rev_2.0.pdf|access-date=June 24, 2017|date=October 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314002928/http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/falcon_9_users_guide_rev_2.0.pdf|archive-date=March 14, 2017|url-status=dead}}

{{cite tweet |number=878821062326198272 |user=elonmusk |title=Flying with larger & significantly upgraded hypersonic grid fins. Single piece cast & cut titanium. Can take reentry heat with no shielding. |date=June 25, 2017 |access-date=November 30, 2023}}

{{cite web|last1=Foust|first1=Jeff|title=SpaceX To Debut Upgraded Falcon 9 on Return to Flight Mission|url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-to-debut-upgraded-falcon-9-on-return-to-flight-mission/|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=September 18, 2015|date=August 31, 2015|archive-date=September 1, 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150901124801/http://spacenews.com/spacex-to-debut-upgraded-falcon-9-on-return-to-flight-mission/|url-status=live}}

{{cite news|last=Graham|first=William|title=SpaceX successfully launches debut Falcon 9 v1.1|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/09/spacex-debut-falcon-9-v1-1-cassiope-launch/|access-date=September 29, 2013|publisher=NASAspaceflight|date=September 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929164727/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/09/spacex-debut-falcon-9-v1-1-cassiope-launch/|archive-date=September 29, 2013|url-status=live}}

{{cite news|last1=Lopatto|first1=Elizabeth|title=SpaceX even landed the nose cone from its historic used Falcon 9 rocket launch|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/30/15132314/spacex-launch-fairing-landing-falcon-9-thruster-parachutes|access-date=March 31, 2017 |publisher=The Verge|date=March 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630140852/https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/30/15132314/spacex-launch-fairing-landing-falcon-9-thruster-parachutes|archive-date=June 30, 2017|url-status=live}}

{{cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y13jbl7ASxY&t=14m20s| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202113143/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y13jbl7ASxY| archive-date=February 2, 2015 |url-status=dead|title=Elon Musk MIT Interview|time=14:20|first=C. Scott|last=Ananian|date=October 24, 2014|access-date=July 16, 2017|via=YouTube}}

{{Cite web |title=SpaceX: Elon Musk breaks down the costs of reusable rockets |url=https://www.inverse.com/innovation/spacex-elon-musk-falcon-9-economics |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823071213/https://www.inverse.com/innovation/spacex-elon-musk-falcon-9-economics |archive-date=August 23, 2020 |access-date=September 10, 2020}}

{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=August 10, 2023 |title=SpaceX to offer mid-inclination smallsat rideshare launches |url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-to-offer-mid-inclination-smallsat-rideshare-launches/ |access-date=August 19, 2024 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US |archive-date=March 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301013655/https://spacenews.com/spacex-to-offer-mid-inclination-smallsat-rideshare-launches/ |url-status=live}}

{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=August 16, 2024 |title=SpaceX launches Transporter-11 smallsat rideshare mission |url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-transporter-11-smallsat-rideshare-mission/ |access-date=August 19, 2024 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US |archive-date=September 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902012008/https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-transporter-11-smallsat-rideshare-mission/ |url-status=live}}

{{cite web |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-space-pioneer-pushes-towards-launch-despite-static-fire-debacle/ |title=China's Space Pioneer pushes towards launch despite static-fire debacle | date=July 31, 2024}}

}}

{{Commons category|Falcon 9}}

{{Wikinews|SpaceX successfully test fires Falcon 9 rocket in Texas}}

• [https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/falcon-9/ Falcon 9 official page]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXgLyCYuYA4 SAOCOM 1B | Launch and Landing]
• Test firing of two Merlin 1C engines connected to Falcon 9 first stage, [http://mfile.akamai.com/22165/wmv/spacex.download.akamai.com/22165/PR35-1.asx Movie 1], [http://mfile.akamai.com/22165/wmv/spacex.download.akamai.com/22165/PR35-2.asx Movie 2] (January 18, 2008)
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130326183411/http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=18 Press release announcing design] (September 9, 2005)
• [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2005/09/13/201518/spacex-hopes-to-supply-iss-with-new-falcon-9-heavy-launcher.html SpaceX hopes to supply ISS with new Falcon 9 heavy launcher] (Flight International, September 13, 2005)
• [http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/09/spacex-launches-falcon-9-with-a-customer/index.php SpaceX launches Falcon 9, With A Customer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611193512/http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/09/spacex-launches-falcon-9-with-a-customer/index.php |date=June 11, 2007}} (Defense Industry Daily, September 15, 2005)

{{Dragon spaceflights}}

{{SpaceX}}

{{Falcon rocket launches}}

{{Expendable launch systems}}

{{Reusable launch systems}}

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