SpaceX’s shift to Starship raises concerns about rocket availability

The rocket-launch industry had a record year in 2025, but satellite operators are worried there may not be enough launches in the years ahead.

SpaceX is the main concern because its Falcon 9 is a relatively low-cost, reliable option used by many customers.

The company is developing Starship, a much larger rocket that it hopes will eventually replace the Falcon 9.

SpaceX has begun using Starship to place its own Starlink satellites in orbit, and the vehicle is also important to its plans for other satellite networks.

That could leave fewer Starship launches available to other customers, while the market expects Falcon 9 flights to decline and says bookings may not be available after 2028.

Rocket Lab is a competitor, but its Electron rocket carries less than 2% of the Falcon 9’s payload capacity.

The timing of any Falcon 9 retirement is not known, and Starship is still in development.