History of SpaceX launch vehicles in Timeline

SpaceX designs, manufactures, and operates launch vehicles, most notably the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy. Both utilize reusable first stages, powered by Merlin engines. Currently under development is Starship, a fully reusable launch system intended to replace the Falcon series and Dragon spacecraft. SpaceX uses these vehicles for its launch services and to achieve its space exploration objectives.

December 2011: Stratolaunch Systems Announces Contract with SpaceX

In December 2011, Stratolaunch Systems announced that it would contract with SpaceX to develop the Falcon 9 Air, an air-launched, multiple-stage launch vehicle, based on Falcon 9 technology, as part of the Stratolaunch project.

November 27, 2012: Stratolaunch partners with Orbital Sciences

On November 27, 2012, Stratolaunch announced that they would partner with Orbital Sciences Corporation—initially on an air-launched vehicle study contract—instead of SpaceX, effectively ending development of the Falcon 9 Air.

2012: SpaceX and Stratolaunch end contractual relationship

In 2012, SpaceX and Stratolaunch amicably agreed to end their contractual relationship because the Stratolaunch launch vehicle design had departed significantly from the Falcon derivative vehicle envisioned by SpaceX, and did not fit well with SpaceX's long-term strategic business model.

May 2013: Falcon 9 Air replaced by Orbital Sciences Pegasus II

In May 2013, the Falcon 9 Air was eventually replaced in the Stratolaunch development plan by the Orbital Sciences Pegasus II air-launched rocket.

December 2013: SpaceX launched its first satellite to geostationary orbit

In December 2013, SpaceX launched its first satellite (SES-8) to geostationary orbit and followed that a month later with its second, Thaicom 6. This began to offer competition to the European and Russian launch providers in the commercial communications satellite market.

2013: SpaceX builds a large manifest of over 50 launches

By late 2013, SpaceX's Falcon rockets were being offered to the launch industry at highly competitive prices, allowing SpaceX to build a large manifest of over 50 launches, with two-thirds of them for commercial customers exclusive of US government flights.

2013: ULA requires large annual subsidy

In early 2013, United Launch Alliance (ULA) maintained that it required a large annual subsidy, which neither SpaceX nor Orbital Sciences received, in order to remain financially viable, with the reason cited as a lack of market opportunity. This was in conflict with the market itself.

2015: First test flight of carrier aircraft expected

In 2015, the first test flight of the Stratolaunch carrier aircraft, designed by Burt Rutan but built by Scaled Composites, was originally expected to take place from Scaled Composites' facilities in Mojave, California.

2016: First test launch of the rocket expected

In 2016, the first test launch of the rocket in the Stratolaunch Systems project was not expected to occur before this time, as the project was underway.

January 10, 2023: SpaceX had four rockets and two Dragon 2s on orbit

On January 10, 2023, SpaceX had a rare coincidence of four rockets (all types of operational and under-development rockets) on all four of its orbital launch pads and two Dragon 2s (both types of Dragon 2s) on orbit.