SpaceX to phase out Falcon 9 as Starship development accelerates

SpaceX has announced plans to gradually phase out the Falcon 9 rocket series as its next-generation Starship vehicle becomes capable of regular flights. Elon Musk stated that manufacturing resources will eventually be reallocated to Starship to enable a goal of multiple daily launches.

Since its first flight in 2010, the Falcon 9 has become a cornerstone of orbital launches, completing nearly 700 missions and pioneering reusable first-stage technology. The transition will also affect the Falcon Heavy, which utilizes Falcon 9 first stages.

To support the Starship program, SpaceX is planning a massive $100 billion investment to build a second, larger spaceport in Louisiana at a former Exxon site. Located in Vermilion Parish near the Gulf of Mexico, this facility aims to support the heavy-lift capabilities required for interplanetary missions to the Moon and Mars. While SpaceX anticipates the first Starship launch from this site by 2029, state officials suggest construction could begin as early as late 2027, with initial operations potentially starting in 2030.