# Spacex Falcon 9
*launch services*

## Specifications
- **merge suggestions**: [{"slug":"spacex-transporter","name":"SpaceX Transporter Smallsat Rideshare Programme","score":0.5,"matchedOn":"slug","matchedValue":"spacex-transporter"}]
- **entity type**: launch_service
- **last verified date**: 2026-06-16
- **verified by**: operator
- **claim status**: unclaimed
- **attributes**: {"merge_suggestions":"[{\"slug\":\"spacex-transporter\",\"name\":\"SpaceX Transporter Smallsat Rideshare Programme\",\"score\":0.5,\"matchedOn\":\"slug\",\"matchedValue\":\"spacex-transporter\"}]"}
- **relevance**: in-scope

## Editorial
Falcon 9 is a two-stage orbital launch vehicle using RP-1/LOX propellants across both stages. The first stage carries nine Merlin 1D engines; the second stage uses a single Merlin 1D Vacuum engine. The vehicle stands 70 m tall with a 5.2 m diameter fairing.[^spacex-falcon-users-guide-2025] Payload capacity to LEO is 22,800 kg expended or 18,500 kg reusable.[^spacex-falcon-users-guide-2025] Payload capacity to GTO is listed at 8,300 kg expended[^wiki-falcon9-b5] or 5,500 kg in a reusable configuration;[^spacex-falcon-users-guide-2025] the difference reflects expendable versus reusable booster configuration. The first stage is designed for powered-descent recovery and reuse.[^spacex-falcon-users-guide-2025] First flight was 2010-06-04; the Block 5 variant entered service on 2018-05-11.[^wiki-falcon9-b5] The vehicle is currently active.[^spacex-falcon-users-guide-2025] EO missions carried include SWOT (2022, water surface topography), Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (2020), and a quarterly SSO rideshare programme serving small-satellite EO constellations from 2021 onward.[^gunters-falcon9]

## Sources
- [gunters-falcon9] | Falcon-9 - Gunter's Space Page | https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/falcon-9.htm | tier=community | accessed=2026-06-16
- [gunters-falcon9-b5] | Falcon-9 v1.2 Block 5 - Gunter's Space Page | https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_det/falcon-9_v1-2_b5.htm | tier=community | accessed=2026-06-16
- [wiki-falcon9-b5] | Falcon 9 Block 5 - Wikipedia | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_9_Block_5 | tier=community | accessed=2026-06-16
- [spacex-falcon-users-guide-2025] | Falcon Payload User's Guide, SpaceX, May 2025 | https://www.spacex.com/assets/media/falcon-users-guide-2025-05-09.pdf | tier=operator-engineering | accessed=2026-06-16

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Source: https://eo-atlas.org/launch_services/spacex-falcon-9
Maintainer: SpectraWorks B.V. (CC-BY 4.0)