SpaceX is gradually phasing out the Falcon 9 rocket, the most frequently used rocket globally, to focus on its new Starship spacecraft. This move is forcing commercial space companies to seek new solutions for deploying satellites and spacecraft. According to sources familiar with the matter, SpaceX has stopped selling rideshare services on the Falcon 9, which were shared by multiple companies, and some enterprises are even unable to book launch opportunities beyond 2028. U.S. government and industry officials point out that launch demand will continue to outstrip supply capacity at least until 2030. Currently, satellites are being widely applied in areas such as national security, Earth observation, lunar cargo transportation, and internet connectivity, with startups also exploring the development of orbital data centers and power systems. Although competitors are striving to fill the market gap, they are unlikely to rapidly increase launch frequencies in the short term and face numerous challenges in the process.
