Skip to content
Defdex

Launch vehicle · Space

Falcon 9

SpaceX orbital launch vehicle powered by the Merlin engine family.

by SpaceX · Unveiled Sep 8, 2005

FieldedLaunch vehicleSpaceFirst flightJun 4, 2010
new.spacex.com/vehicles/falcon-9
A Falcon 9 lifting off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center on the SES-10 mission

Photo: SpaceX · CC0 1.0

Milestones20052010
  1. UnveiledSpaceX announces Falcon 9, confirmed
  2. First flightFalcon 9 inaugural launch, confirmed

Timeline2

  1. UnveiledConfirmed

    SpaceX announces Falcon 9

    SpaceX publicly announced the Falcon 9 launch vehicle in a September 8, 2005 press release, describing it as an upgrade of the planned Falcon 5. Falcon 5 is treated as a separate design, not a designation the product kept.

    SourcesSpaceNews (SpaceX press release)

  2. First flightConfirmed

    Falcon 9 inaugural launch

    SourcesNASA

Solid entries are confirmed, outlined reported, dashed estimated or still to come; dotted italic entries are speculative. Dates show only the precision the sources give.

Built with1

  • Two Merlin 1D engines mounted in a dual test stand

    Merlin

    FieldedEngine

    Merlin family powers first and second stages, with sea-level and vacuum variants.

    Link Confirmed

Cost to the government

  • Contract unit priceEstimated
    $88.9M
    18 units

    NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 task orders (Jul 2026): $1.6B (rounded) for 18 Falcon 9 launches; $1,600,000,000 / 18 = $88.9M per launch (division by us).

    Space Systems Command

Unit costs and contract unit prices for this product, and budget figures for the programs that buy it. Each figure states its dollar basis and links its source; contract values are under Programs & awards.

Sources4

  1. 1.
    Government recordSpace Force Awards Task Orders to Launch Space Based Sensing and Targeting Capabilities

    Space Systems Command · Jul 29, 2026 · Supports: Cost · amount

    “The task orders, awarded to SpaceX for a total of $1.6 billion, assure 18 Falcon 9 launches in support of the Space Based Sensing and Targeting (SBST) portfolio.”
  2. 2.
    CompanySpaceX Announces the Falcon 9 Fully Reusable Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle

    SpaceNews (SpaceX press release) · Sep 8, 2005 · Supports: System milestone

    “El Segundo, CA – September 8, 2005 – SpaceX today announced its new launch vehicle, the Falcon 9, an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) class vehicle.”
  3. 3.
    Government recordNASA FY 2010 Performance and Accountability Report

    NASA · Supports: System milestone

    “SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 spacecraft on June 4, 2010”
  4. 4.
    CompanyFalcon User’s Guide

    SpaceX · Supports: System, System · system component:merlin

    “10 Merlin engines (Falcon 9) or 28 engines (Falcon Heavy)”

Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.