Falcon 9
Sign in to savepartially reusable orbital launch vehicle by SpaceX
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Falcon 9 is a rocket built by SpaceX that can launch cargo and people into space, and its first stage can land back on Earth and be reused for future launches. This reusability makes it cheaper and more efficient than traditional rockets that are discarded after each flight, which is why it has become important for commercial spaceflight and satellite launches.
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Falcon 9 is a partially reusable, two-stage-to-orbit, medium-lift launch vehicle designed and manufactured in the United States by SpaceX. The first Falcon 9 launch was on June 4, 2010, and the first commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched on October 8, 2012. In 2020, it became the first commercial rocket to launch humans to orbit. The Falcon 9 has been noted for its reliability and high launch cadence, with 641 successful launches, two in-flight failures, one partial failure and one pre-flight destruction.
The rocket has two stages. The first (booster) stage carries the second stage and payload to a predetermined speed and altitude, after which the second stage accelerates the payload to its target orbit. The booster is capable of landing vertically to facilitate reuse, a feat which was first achieved on flight 20 in December 2015. Additionally, the fairing halves are scooped out of water after a parachute-assisted landing and can be reflown multiple times. As of May 30, 2026, SpaceX has successfully landed Falcon 9 boosters 598 times. Individual boosters have flown as many as 34 flights. Both stages are powered by SpaceX Merlin engines, using cryogenic liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) as propellants.