• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechSpaceX

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Block 5 Launch Kicks Off a New Era in Reusability

By
David Z. Morris
David Z. Morris
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
David Z. Morris
David Z. Morris
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 21, 2018, 1:03 PM ET

Early Sunday morning, SpaceX will conduct a fairly routine launch that also marks a new era for the company. From this point on, SpaceX will only launch the final “Block 5” version of the Falcon 9 rocket, optimized both for power and reusability.

The launch window for the Telstar 19 VANTAGE mission opens at 1:50 a.m. Eastern time Sunday morning. The rocket will launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida and carry a Telesat communication satellite which will provide data services in North and South America. A live stream of the launch will be available from SpaceX.

As is now routine for SpaceX launches, the first stage of the rocket is expected to return to Earth and land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. Portions of the Block 5 rocket, according to SpaceX, can be reused up to 10 times with minimal refurbishing and quick turnaround, and dozens of times with more thorough refurbishment. The previous version of the Falcon 9, the Block 4, was designed to be reused far fewer times before being retired.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

The Block 5 was first flown and successfully landed in May, but the Block 4 rockets weren’t fully retired until a final launch on June 29, a resupply mission to the International Space Station.

The transition to the Block 5 advances SpaceX’s overarching goal of lowering spaceflight costs by reusing major rocket components. That pursuit has already given the company a commercial edge, and reusability is also key to CEO Elon Musk’s plans for a future Mars colony.

The Block 5 is planned to be the version of the Falcon 9 that carries human crew members to the International Space Station. To qualify for that task, the rocket must be safely launched in the same configuration seven times. That landmark is expected to be reached quickly, with NASA currently targeting December of this year for a crewed SpaceX trip to the ISS. Boeing is scheduled for a November crewed mission, which will use a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to deliver a Boeing Starliner capsule to the station.

About the Author
By David Z. Morris
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Big TechStreaming
Trump warns Netflix-Warner deal may pose antitrust ‘problem’
By Hadriana Lowenkron, Se Young Lee and BloombergDecember 7, 2025
7 hours ago
Big TechOpenAI
OpenAI goes from stock market savior to burden as AI risks mount
By Ryan Vlastelica and BloombergDecember 7, 2025
7 hours ago
AIData centers
HP’s chief commercial officer predicts the future will include AI-powered PCs that don’t share data in the cloud
By Nicholas GordonDecember 7, 2025
10 hours ago
Future of WorkJamie Dimon
Jamie Dimon says even though AI will eliminate some jobs ‘maybe one day we’ll be working less hard but having wonderful lives’
By Jason MaDecember 7, 2025
14 hours ago
CryptoCryptocurrency
So much of crypto is not even real—but that’s starting to change
By Pete Najarian and Joe BruzzesiDecember 7, 2025
19 hours ago
Elon Musk
Big TechSpaceX
SpaceX to offer insider shares at record-setting $800 billion valuation
By Edward Ludlow, Loren Grush, Lizette Chapman, Eric Johnson and BloombergDecember 6, 2025
1 day ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Real Estate
The 'Great Housing Reset' is coming: Income growth will outpace home-price growth in 2026, Redfin forecasts
By Nino PaoliDecember 6, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
AI
Nvidia CEO says data centers take about 3 years to construct in the U.S., while in China 'they can build a hospital in a weekend'
By Nino PaoliDecember 6, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
The most likely solution to the U.S. debt crisis is severe austerity triggered by a fiscal calamity, former White House economic adviser says
By Jason MaDecember 6, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon says Europe has a 'real problem’
By Katherine Chiglinsky and BloombergDecember 6, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Big Tech
Mark Zuckerberg rebranded Facebook for the metaverse. Four years and $70 billion in losses later, he’s moving on
By Eva RoytburgDecember 5, 2025
3 days ago
placeholder alt text
Politics
Supreme Court to reconsider a 90-year-old unanimous ruling that limits presidential power on removing heads of independent agencies
By Mark Sherman and The Associated PressDecember 7, 2025
16 hours ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.