Support Equipment

Falcon 9

Also known as
  • F9
  • Falcon 9 Block 5
  • Falcon 9 Full Thrust
  • Falcon 9 v1.0
  • Falcon 9 v1.1
  • Falcon 9R

Falcon 9 is SpaceX's reusable two-stage orbital rocket for crew, cargo, commercial-satellite, and national-security launches from the United States. NASA describes it as the first orbital-class rocket capable of reflight, while U.S. Space Force and Space Development Agency sources document Falcon 9 launches for GPS III and Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture satellite missions.

Falcon 9, Reusable two-stage orbital rocket, Support Equipment
Image source: Space Launch Delta 45 Supports Successful GPS III-5 Launch
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Built by
SpaceX
Type
Reusable two-stage orbital rocket
Service note
2010-present
Unit cost
US$74 million (standard payment plan through 2026)

Specifications

Height
70 m (229.6 ft) with standard fairing; 75.2 m (246.7 ft) with extended fairing
Diameter
3.66 m (12 ft)
Propellant
Liquid oxygen and RP-1
First stage
9 Merlin 1D engines
Second stage
1 Merlin Vacuum engine
Payload to LEO
22,800 kg
Payload to GTO
8,300 kg
Launch sites
LC-39A, SLC-40, and SLC-4E
Variants

Falcon 9 evolved from the original and v1.1 vehicles into Full Thrust and Block 5 reusable configurations. SpaceX's current user guide also separates Falcon 9 missions into payload-fairing and Dragon configurations, with common first- and second-stage systems and a mission-specific payload interface.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Falcon 9 v1.0Original configuration

FAA documentation compares the original Falcon 9 with later v1.1 and Block 5 vehicles and records the first Falcon 9 launch from LC-40 on June 4, 2010.

Sources: SpaceX Falcon Program Final EA and FONSI

Falcon 9 v1.12013 to 2015 configuration

SpaceX identifies v1.1 as the configuration flown from 2013 until the Full Thrust update.

Sources: Falcon Payload User's Guide

Falcon 9 Full ThrustReusable Full Thrust configuration

SpaceX says Falcon 9 was updated from v1.1 to Full Thrust before the program's reusable first-stage operations became routine.

Sources: Falcon Payload User's Guide

Falcon 9 Block 5Current reusable production configuration

SpaceX says Block 5 first flew in spring 2018 and focused on performance, reliability, vehicle life, thermal protection, avionics, thrust-structure commonality, and government mission requirements.

Sources: Falcon Payload User's Guide

Falcon 9 fairing configurationPayload-fairing launch configuration

SpaceX's user guide says Falcon 9 can fly with a payload fairing for satellite missions, using common stage systems with the Dragon configuration.

Sources: Falcon Payload User's Guide

Falcon 9 Dragon configurationDragon spacecraft launch configuration

SpaceX's user guide says Falcon 9 can fly with Dragon, with the second-stage payload interface changing from the fairing configuration.

Sources: Falcon Payload User's Guide

National Security Payloads

Falcon 9 has launched U.S. national-security satellite families documented by Space Systems Command, GPS.gov, and the Space Development Agency.

Launched itemItem typeLaunch evidence
Global Positioning System III / GPS Block III, Military navigation satellite family, Support EquipmentGlobal Positioning System III / GPS Block IIIMilitary navigation satellite family

Space Systems Command records Falcon 9 launches for GPS III space vehicles including SV09 in January 2026 and SV10 in April 2026.

Sources: GPS III SV09 launch - Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force delivers final GPS III to orbit

Transport and Tracking Layer, Proliferated LEO communications and missile-tracking satellite architecture, Support EquipmentTransport and Tracking LayerProliferated LEO communications and missile-tracking architecture

SDA records Falcon 9 launches for PWSA Transport and Tracking Layer space vehicles, including Tranche 0 demonstration satellites and Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites.

Sources: SDA completes first Tranche 1 satellite launch, ON ORBIT - Space Development Agency, SDA and MDA announce Tranche 0 Tracking and HBTSS launch

Timeline

Falcon 9 Key Events

  1. Falcon 9 reaches orbit on demo flight

    SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 Demo mission to low Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral, marking the rocket's first flight.

    Sources: Falcon 9 Demo Mission - SpaceX

  2. ORBCOMM-2 mission lands the first stage

    Falcon 9 launched ORBCOMM-2 and its first stage returned for a successful landing after stage separation.

    Sources: ORBCOMM-2 Mission - SpaceX

  3. SES-10 demonstrates orbital-class reflight

    Falcon 9 launched SES-10 in March 2017; SpaceX's user guide identifies 2017 as the program's first reflight of an orbital-class rocket.

    Sources: SES-10 Mission - SpaceX, Falcon Payload User's Guide

  4. Block 5 era begins

    Falcon 9 launched Bangabandhu Satellite-1 in May 2018, matching SpaceX's account that the Full Thrust Block 5 configuration first flew in spring 2018.

    Sources: Bangabandhu Satellite-1 Mission - SpaceX, Falcon Payload User's Guide

  5. First GPS III launch on Falcon 9

    The U.S. Air Force launched the first GPS III satellite, Vespucci, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40.

    Sources: First GPS III satellite successfully launched

  6. Falcon 9 launches NASA astronauts

    NASA's Demo-2 mission launched astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley on Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center.

    Sources: SpaceX Demo-2 Mission Launches into History

  7. GPS III SV05 uses a previously flown booster

    The U.S. Space Force launched GPS III SV05 on a Falcon 9 Block 5 vehicle and later described it as the first National Security Space Launch on a previously flown Falcon 9 booster.

    Sources: GPS III SV05 Receives Operational Acceptance

  8. First Tranche 1 Transport Layer launch reaches orbit

    The Space Development Agency reported that a Falcon 9 delivered 21 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.

    Sources: SDA completes first Tranche 1 satellite launch

  9. Falcon 9 delivers final GPS III satellite

    Space Systems Command reported that Falcon 9 launched GPS III SV10, the final GPS III satellite, from Cape Canaveral for the National Security Space Launch program.

    Sources: U.S. Space Force delivers final GPS III to orbit

Media

Falcon 9 Videos

Falcon 9 Images

Falcon 9, Reusable two-stage orbital rocket, Support Equipment - view 1
Source: Falcon 9 NG-20 Launch (8217536).jpg
Falcon 9, Reusable two-stage orbital rocket, Support Equipment - view 2
Source: Falcon 9 Polaris Dawn Launch (8634899).jpg
Falcon 9, Reusable two-stage orbital rocket, Support Equipment - view 3
Source: NASA SpaceX Crew-9 Launch (NHQ202409280009)
Related Weapon Systems
Salman space launcher, Iranian bio-space capsule launch vehicle, Support EquipmentSupport EquipmentSalman space launcherIranian bio-space capsule launch vehicleThe Salman space launcher is an Iranian launch vehicle used in the December 2023 Kavous bio-space capsule test, a suborbital flight reported at about 130 km with a 500 kg capsule. Iranian government and news sources attribute the launcher to the Aerospace Industries Organization of Iran's Defense Ministry; this relationship-only catalog page covers the AIO-built launch system without implying battlefield or conflict use.
X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, Reusable unmanned orbital test vehicle, Support EquipmentSupport EquipmentX-37B Orbital Test VehicleReusable unmanned orbital test vehicleThe X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is a Boeing-built, uncrewed autonomous spaceplane operated for U.S. government orbital experimentation by the Department of the Air Force and U.S. Space Force. Public mission reporting describes it as a returnable test platform that has launched on Atlas V, Falcon 9, and Falcon Heavy rockets, landed autonomously at runway sites, and flown eight missions as of the OTV-8 launch in August 2025.

Sources

Falcon 9 | SpaceXPublisher: SpaceX | Note: Supports Falcon 9 manufacturer background and SpaceX's official description of the vehicle as a reusable two-stage orbital rocket. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Falcon Payload User's GuidePublisher: SpaceX | Note: Supports Falcon 9 height, diameter, propellant, Merlin engine count, stage layout, launch sites, configuration families, Full Thrust, Block 5, and reflight background. | Accessed: 2026-07-02CAPABILITIES & SERVICES - SpaceXPublisher: SpaceX | Note: Supports Falcon 9 published launch-service pricing and payload-to-orbit figures. | Accessed: 2026-07-02NASA Commercial Crew Program Press KitPublisher: NASA | Note: Supports NASA's description of Falcon 9 as a two-stage SpaceX rocket for satellites and Dragon, and its first orbital-class reflight framing. | Accessed: 2026-07-02SpaceX Falcon Program Final EA and FONSIPublisher: Federal Aviation Administration | Note: Supports Falcon 9 launch-site and version-background context, including the original Falcon 9 configuration compared with later vehicles. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Falcon 9 Demo Mission - SpaceXPublisher: SpaceX | Note: Supports the June 4, 2010 Falcon 9 demonstration mission timeline entry. | Accessed: 2026-07-02ORBCOMM-2 Mission - SpaceXPublisher: SpaceX | Note: Supports the December 21, 2015 Falcon 9 ORBCOMM-2 launch and first-stage landing timeline entry. | Accessed: 2026-07-02SES-10 Mission - SpaceXPublisher: SpaceX | Note: Supports the March 30, 2017 Falcon 9 SES-10 launch timeline entry. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Bangabandhu Satellite-1 Mission - SpaceXPublisher: SpaceX | Note: Supports the May 11, 2018 Falcon 9 Bangabandhu Satellite-1 launch timeline entry. | Accessed: 2026-07-02First GPS III satellite successfully launchedPublisher: U.S. Space Force / Los Angeles Air Force Base | Note: Supports the December 2018 first GPS III launch aboard Falcon 9. | Accessed: 2026-07-02SpaceX Demo-2 Mission Launches into HistoryPublisher: NASA | Note: Supports the May 30, 2020 Demo-2 Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon astronaut launch timeline entry. | Accessed: 2026-07-02SMC launches fifth GPS III satellitePublisher: U.S. Space Force / Los Angeles Air Force Base | Note: Supports Falcon 9 launching GPS III SV05 for the U.S. Space Force and the reusable-booster national-security launch context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02GPS III SV05 Receives Operational AcceptancePublisher: U.S. Space Force / Los Angeles Air Force Base | Note: Supports the Falcon 9 Block 5 GPS III SV05 launch and the first National Security Space Launch on a previously flown Falcon 9 booster. | Accessed: 2026-07-02GPS III SV09 launch - Space Systems CommandPublisher: U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command | Note: Supports the Falcon 9 launch of GPS III SV09 for the GPS III relationship row. | Accessed: 2026-07-02U.S. Space Force delivers final GPS III to orbitPublisher: U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command | Note: Supports Falcon 9 launching GPS III SV10, the final GPS III satellite, as a National Security Space Launch mission. | Accessed: 2026-07-02SDA completes first Tranche 1 satellite launchPublisher: Space Development Agency | Note: Supports Falcon 9 delivering 21 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. | Accessed: 2026-07-02ON ORBIT - Space Development AgencyPublisher: Space Development Agency | Note: Supports SDA on-orbit context for Falcon 9 launches of Tranche 0 and Tranche 1 Transport and Tracking Layer satellites. | Accessed: 2026-07-02SDA and MDA announce Tranche 0 Tracking and HBTSS launchPublisher: Space Development Agency | Note: Supports the Falcon 9 National Security Space Launch carrying Tranche 0 Tracking Layer and HBTSS satellites. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Videos | GPS.govPublisher: GPS.gov | Note: Supports GPS III Falcon 9 launch video catalog context, including GPS III Space Vehicle 05 and 04 mission videos. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Space Launch Delta 45 Supports Successful GPS III-5 LaunchPublisher: Wikimedia Commons / U.S. Space Force | Note: Supports provenance and public-domain status for the Falcon 9 GPS III-5 launch image used as the primary image. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Falcon 9 NG-20 Launch (8217536).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports provenance for a Falcon 9 launch image used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Falcon 9 Polaris Dawn Launch (8634899).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports provenance for a Falcon 9 launch image used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-07-02NASA SpaceX Crew-9 Launch (NHQ202409280009)Publisher: Wikimedia Commons / NASA | Note: Supports provenance and public-domain NASA context for the Falcon 9 Crew-9 launch image used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-07-02