SpaceX limits Falcon 9 bookings through 2028

SpaceX has reportedly closed bookings for its Falcon 9 rocket beyond 2028, informing satellite manufacturers that the flight manifest is full through 2029. This shift is driven by the company’s decision to redirect engineering and production resources toward the development of its Starship vehicle, which Elon Musk stated is intended to eventually enable multiple launches per day.

The capacity reduction particularly impacts rideshare missions, where multiple small satellites share a single launch. This development poses a challenge for European space agencies, which relied on SpaceX for approximately one third of the small satellites launched via rideshare in 2025. With Falcon 9 availability limited, Europe faces increased pressure to accelerate the launch cadence of its Ariane 6 rocket.

In a separate development, Leonardo has announced plans to launch its Space Guardian Earth observation constellation starting in late 2028. The project involves an investment of 500 million euros to deploy 18 satellites equipped with laser interconnection, onboard computing, and artificial intelligence. Leonardo intends to use SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets for the initial launches of the first nine satellites in early 2029.