SpaceX’s abrupt plan to retire its Falcon 9 rocket is jeopardizing the Pentagon’s ability to launch military satellites, Politico reported, leaving the Space Force in a launch "scramble."
The company is phasing out its most popular rocket to make way for Starship, a larger vehicle SpaceX says will be more efficient and profitable. Many military satellites aren’t designed to fit on it, according to the report.
The Pentagon’s dependence on Elon Musk’s company makes the problem harder to solve. Politico reported SpaceX accounted for 85% of U.S. launches in 2025, and that few alternatives exist.
The Space Force recently tried to book rides for three future satellite missions, "but SpaceX declined" and no other rocket company offered to take them, according to two people familiar with the missions. Two of the three belong to the Space Development Agency, which is building a network of hundreds of military satellites in low-Earth orbit, Politico reported.
Competitors are struggling. United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket was grounded earlier this year after booster problems, and a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded on the company’s only Florida launchpad in May, leaving it likely out of commission until next year, the outlet reported.
“Everybody’s having problems, so the Space Force is freaking out a little bit about launch,” said one former Space Force official, who was granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue.
A top Space Force official played down the concern. “I wouldn’t say there [are] missions I’m worried about being able to fly; I would say we’re working through the right way to support those customers,” said Brig. Gen. Eric Zarybnisky, the service’s acting portfolio acquisition executive for space access, told Politico.
He acknowledged growing pains, though. “Temporarily, there are some things we’ll need to work through, again, as we get new providers flying,” Zarybnisky said.
SpaceX did not respond to Politico’s request for comment.
Musk’s reach into national security extends beyond rockets. Politico noted that Kyiv depends on his Starlink satellite internet service. And as Raw Story reported, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly tapped Musk for a Pentagon commission on the future of warfare, a move nine current and former officials told Politico raises conflict-of-interest concerns.