Falcon 9

Overview

Two-stage partially-reusable launch vehicle. Block 5 (current) is rated for 10+ flights. As of 2026 Falcon 9 has flown 300+ times with first-stage recovery on the vast majority.

Photos

Falcon 9 Iridium-1 launch — January 2017, carrying 10 Iridium NEXT satellites to polar orbit

Falcon 9 Block 5 is rated for 10+ reuses — first-stage recovery now routine on >90% of missions

Long-exposure composite showing Falcon 9 launch arc and first-stage return burn

First stage booster upright at LZ-1 after landing — the image that proved reusability was real

Falcon 9 at Vandenberg SLC-4E — the West Coast pad for polar and sun-synchronous orbits

Specifications

Notable Launches