SpaceX Shifts Focus from Falcon 9 to Starship Development

SpaceX is adjusting its launch operations, decreasing the frequency of Falcon 9 missions to concentrate on developing the larger Starship rocket. This shift aligns with the company's objectives of conducting missions to the Moon and Mars, deploying orbital data centers, and advancing the Starlink network.

In 2025, SpaceX executed 165 Falcon 9 launches, an increase from 134 in 2024 and 96 in 2023. However, the company plans to reduce this number to approximately 140-145 in 2026. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell stated earlier this year, "This year we’ll still launch a lot, but not as much. And then we’ll tail off our launches as Starship is coming online."

The transition is most evident at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Launch Complex-39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is being converted to accommodate Starship launches, limiting its availability for Falcon 9 missions. Additionally, SpaceX has retired one of its two East Coast drone ships, repurposing it to transport Starship components from Texas to Florida. Kiko Dontchev, SpaceX’s vice president of launch, explained, "With 39A becoming a primarily Falcon Heavy and Starship pad, we don’t actually need two operational droneships on the East Coast to maintain our Falcon manifest."

Consequently, Vandenberg Space Force Base in California is becoming SpaceX’s primary launch site. The base now supports Falcon 9 launches every three to four days, primarily for deploying Starlink satellites. This increased activity positions Vandenberg to potentially surpass Cape Canaveral in launch frequency this year.

Despite the focus on Starship, the Falcon 9 will remain operational for the foreseeable future. It continues to be essential for missions to the International Space Station and for fulfilling commitments to the U.S. Space Force. The ISS is now expected to remain active until at least 2032, ensuring the Falcon 9's role in crew transportation.

SpaceX is also progressing with Starship development. The company recently conducted a full-duration static-fire test of the next-generation Starship "Version 3" upper stage, marking a significant milestone ahead of its first launch scheduled for early to mid-May 2026. This flight will be the 12th overall Starship mission but the debut for the more advanced V3 model. Version 3 is an upgrade from the previous Version 2, standing taller at 408.1 feet and capable of carrying over 100 tons to low Earth orbit—nearly three times the V2’s capacity—thanks to its new Raptor V3 engines.

The shift in launch operations reflects SpaceX's strategic focus on advancing Starship to support future missions, including potential crewed lunar landings as part of NASA's Artemis program.