Elon Musk's SpaceX makes history with 500th Falcon 9 launch, marking reusability milestone

Falcon 9 Completes 500 Missions (Image: SpaceX)

SpaceX has marked a special moment in its journey. Its trusted Falcon 9 rocket has now flown 500 missions into space.

The latest launch lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It was celebrated widely by SpaceX engineers and CEO Elon Musk. In a post on X, Musk praised the achievement. He said the team made the impossible feel routine with reusable rockets.

Congratulations @SpaceX team on 500 Falcon flights! https://t.co/Wf2XweIkrX
Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 13, 2025

Reusability Transforms Space Industry

Since its first flight in 2010, Falcon 9 has changed expectations. Its first-stage boosters land back safely after launch. They are then reused, reducing costs and waste.

Starship Super Heavy pic.twitter.com/ytfUnm1LKf Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 13, 2025

Many of these boosters have flown more than 20 times. This has helped speed up launch schedules and save resources. The rocket supports missions ranging from satellite launches to ISS supply runs.

Falcon 9 has become the reliable backbone of SpaceX operations. It frequently carries Starlink batches, government payloads, and human spaceflights.

Launch Amid Delay of Ax-4 Mission

This milestone comes during a pause in another project. The Ax-4 mission to the ISS was recently postponed. The reason was a technical issue linked to the Falcon 9’s LOx system.

Still, the rocket remains key to SpaceX’s launch plans. Its performance has raised the bar for space reliability.

SpaceX’s 500th launch is more than a number. It shows how regular and affordable space travel could be in the future. With every flight, the idea of orbiting Earth feels a little closer to normal life.