# SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket is not launching as often as it used to.

*aerospace · news · 2026-05-06 · Ars Technica*

## Key points

- SpaceX has removed Kennedy Space Center's LC-39A from regular Falcon 9 launches to focus on Starship.
- Over half of SpaceX launches this year are from Vandenberg, up from one-third in 2024.
- SpaceX retired one Florida droneship for use transporting Starships and boosters from Texas to Florida.
- SpaceX plans to launch upgraded Starlink satellites and orbital data centers using Starship as soon as possible.
- Vandenberg may surpass Florida's Space Coast in launch volume for the first time since the late 1980s.

**Companies:** SpaceX, Blue Origin, United Launch Alliance, xAI, Stoke Space, Relativity Space, Rocket Lab, Northrop Grumman, Firefly Aerospace
**Countries:** United States

[Read the full story on Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/05/spacex-is-starting-to-move-on-from-the-worlds-most-successful-rocket/)

---

Canonical: https://newsio.io/n/f1d86ecc-0faf-4dea-be9b-af1267b75364/spacexs-falcon-9-rocket-is-not-launching-as-often-as-it-used-to-the-decline-does
Summarized by Newsio from Ars Technica. https://newsio.io/how-it-works