SpaceX is increasingly reserving launch capacity for its own Starlink satellites, reducing availability for commercial customers that have long relied on the company to place spacecraft into orbit, according to a Reuters analysis.
The share of Falcon 9 missions dedicated to Starlink has risen from 54% in 2020 to about 79% in 2026, based on launch data compiled by astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell.
According to Reuters, at least seven space companies have recently been told that Falcon 9 is fully booked until 2028 or 2029, with sources attributing the shortage to SpaceX’s transition to its next-generation Starship rocket.
Industry analysts say launching additional Starlink satellites is more profitable for SpaceX than carrying commercial payloads, as expanding the satellite internet network is expected to generate significantly higher long-term revenue.
Starlink accounted for an estimated 60% of SpaceX’s revenue last year, making it a key driver of the company’s business.
Even as SpaceX shifts to Starship, analysts expect the company’s launch schedule to remain dominated by Starlink deployments and NASA missions, leaving limited capacity for other customers.
SpaceX did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment. The company has said it is targeting late 2026 for Starship’s first orbital mission, which is expected to deploy a batch of next-generation Starlink satellites.