SpaceX is phasing out the most frequently used Falcon 9 rocket in the world and instead focusing on the new starship spacecraft, causing commercial space companies to look for new ways to deploy satellites and spacecraft. According to people familiar with the matter, SpaceX has stopped selling multiple companies to share the Falcon 9 assembly mission, and some companies are no longer able to get the chance to launch Falcon 9 after 2028. US government and industry officials say launch demand is expected to continue to exceed supply until at least 2030. Satellites are being developed for use in fields such as national security missions, Earth observation, lunar freight, and internet connectivity, and startups are also developing orbital data centers and power systems. Competitors are trying to fill the gap, but it is difficult to provide immediate relief in the short term because increasing the frequency of rocket launches takes time, and setbacks are frequent in the process.

SpaceX is phasing out the most frequently used Falcon 9 rocket in the world and instead focusing on the new starship spacecraft, causing commercial space companies to look for new ways to deploy satellites and spacecraft. According to people familiar with the matter, SpaceX has stopped selling multiple companies to share the Falcon 9 assembly mission, and some companies are no longer able to get the chance to launch Falcon 9 after 2028. US government and industry officials say launch demand is expected to continue to exceed supply until at least 2030. Satellites are being developed for use in fields such as national security missions, Earth observation, lunar freight, and internet connectivity, and startups are also developing orbital data centers and power systems. Competitors are trying to fill the gap, but it is difficult to provide immediate relief in the short term because increasing the frequency of rocket launches takes time, and setbacks are frequent in the process.