What Happened
Industry Braces for Falcon 9 Retirement Amid Launch Bottleneck Fears
SpaceX’s Starship has successfully reached orbit, marking a new era for the company and potentially the beginning of the end for its iconic Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. As Starship flights ramp up, SpaceX plans to phase out the use of these vehicles, which has sparked concerns among satellite operators about a looming launch bottleneck. The company’s decision may be driven by financial reasons, as its Starlink internet and connectivity business has been more profitable than its space segment. The development was first reported by CNN.