SpaceX launch vehicles

The company is notable for its pioneering work in rocket reusability. Its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles are designed to have their first-stage boosters return to Earth for vertical landings, a technology known as vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL). This reusability significantly lowers the cost of access to space and has revolutionized the launch industry.

Recently, SpaceX has been in the news due to a high frequency of launch activity. In late 2025, the company resumed early evening launches from Florida after a temporary restriction was lifted by the Federal Aviation Administration. This has allowed the company to continue its busy launch manifest, which included a mission to deploy a joint NASA-European satellite designed to monitor global sea levels.

This particular launch also marked a significant milestone for the company's reusability program, as it involved the 500th flight of a previously used rocket booster. The consistent launch cadence and repeated success of re-flown rockets underscore the operational maturity of SpaceX's reusable launch system as it continues to develop its next-generation Starship vehicle.