SpaceX launch vehicles

<p><a href="/facts/SpaceX/2tKHsVdJ">SpaceX</a> manufactures <a href="/facts/Launch_vehicle/g1GCGFJB">launch vehicles</a> to operate its <a href="/facts/Launch_service_provider/zAIh2zt4">launch provider services</a> and to execute its various exploration goals. SpaceX manufactures and operates two members of the <a href="/facts/Falcon_9/mNck6vby">Falcon 9</a> family, the <a href="/facts/Falcon_9_Block_5/0QqsLwWb">Falcon 9 Block 5</a> <a href="/facts/Medium-lift_launch_vehicle/lYXwEPwC">medium-lift launch vehicle</a> and the <a href="/facts/Falcon_Heavy/vh7so7BW">Falcon Heavy</a> <a href="/facts/Heavy-lift_launch_vehicle/IUfQAwcI">heavy-lift launch vehicle</a> – both of which are powered by <a href="/facts/SpaceX_Merlin/95qreG8R">SpaceX Merlin</a> engines and employ <a href="/facts/VTVL/wqg2WnRq">VTVL</a> technologies to <a href="/facts/Reusable_launch_system/j0WC10op">reuse</a> the first stage. As of 2024, the company is also developing the fully reusable <a href="/facts/SpaceX_Starship/zkm1P9kA">Starship</a> launch system, which will replace Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Dragon.
</p><p>SpaceX's first launch vehicle, the <a href="/facts/Falcon_1/F4DBbpCS">Falcon 1</a>, was the first <a href="/facts/Private_spaceflight/9rSz8Lhh">privately developed</a> liquid fueled launch vehicle to be launched into orbit, and used SpaceX's Merlin and <a href="/facts/Kestrel_(rocket_engine)/vR9v6htG">Kestrel</a> engines for its first and second stages, respectively. It was launched five times from <a href="/facts/Omelek_Island/FxyAKgsL">Omelek Island</a> between 2006 and 2009 – the <a href="/facts/Falcon_1e/RF4Ylp7q">Falcon 1e</a> and <a href="/facts/Falcon_5/RF4Ylp7q">Falcon 5</a> variants were planned but never developed. The <a href="/facts/Falcon_9_v1.0/Y1XbcEsn">Falcon 9 v1.0</a>, using upgraded Merlin engines on both its stages, was developed as part of the <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">United States Air Force</a>'s <a href="/facts/National_Security_Space_Launch/uIrh9NXV">Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle</a> program and <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a>'s <a href="/facts/Commercial_Orbital_Transportation_Services/wYMHLjrk">Commercial Orbital Transportation Services</a> program. It was first launched from <a href="/facts/Cape_Canaveral_Air_Force_Station/dwJ9MCPH">Cape Canaveral</a> in 2010 and later replaced by the <a href="/facts/Falcon_9_v1.1/2fd9FJJQ">Falcon 9 v1.1</a> series in 2013, which was also launched from <a href="/facts/Vandenberg_Air_Force_Base/CHNed3F4">Vandenberg Air Force Base</a> in California. The <a href="/facts/Falcon_9_Full_Thrust/L5HWctap">Falcon 9 Full Thrust</a> and <a href="/facts/Falcon_Heavy/vh7so7BW">Falcon Heavy</a> variants followed in 2015 and 2018. Falcon Heavy launches from <a href="/facts/Kennedy_Space_Center/zmwszuPr">Kennedy Space Center</a> in Florida, and Falcon 9 additionally launches from <a href="/facts/Cape_Canaveral_Space_Force_Station/dwJ9MCPH">Cape Canaveral Space Force Station</a> in Florida and <a href="/facts/Vandenberg_Space_Force_Base/CHNed3F4">Vandenberg</a>.
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SpaceX launch vehicles open-in-new

SpaceX launch vehicles