SpaceX Stops Falcon 9 Bookings Beyond 2028, Raising Launch Questions for Canadian Satellite Companies

SpaceX has reportedly stopped accepting Falcon 9 launch bookings from Canadian companies for missions beyond 2028, as it prepares to shift toward its larger Starship rocket. The Times of India reported the cutoff, which is prompting investors to question how planned Canadian satellites will reach orbit.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 Cutoff and Canadian Launch Plans

SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is phasing out Falcon 9 missions in favor of Starship as Canadian satellite companies seek investment to expand. Kepler CEO Mina Mitry said reduced access to shared rocket launches could make it harder for smaller companies to launch experimental satellites. "That's a huge problem for the industry," he told The Logic.

At the SpaceBound conference in Gatineau, Quebec, Kristen Cote, chief technology officer of Edmonton-based Earth-observation company Wyvern, said launch access had become a question during fundraising discussions. "I think this is the first time where we've had serious questions from investors about, 'You have all these plans—that's great. How are you going to launch all these satellites?'" Cote said.

Canada has companies developing rockets and launch sites, but none had yet launched anything into orbit, according to the report. The Canadian government's Launch the North competition is providing $25 million in incentives to three companies, prioritizing smaller rockets that could carry only a limited number of satellites.

Telesat has booked SpaceX launches for its 225-satellite Lightspeed communications network before the anticipated Falcon 9 phaseout. CEO Dan Goldberg said Telesat needs a provider that can carry many satellites, launch frequently, and keep prices competitive. "For us to be competitive, all of our cost inputs need to be world-class competitive," Goldberg said. Launches are expected to account for about 20 per cent of Lightspeed's budget, or roughly US$1 billion.

Maritime Launch Services' site near Canso, Nova Scotia, has approvals for medium-lift rockets, according to CEO Stephen Matier, though the company is not currently preparing for those launches. "We could start construction tomorrow. I just need a rocket to put there," he said. Canada Rocket Company is developing a medium-lift vehicle; CEO Hugh Kolias estimated preparing a new rocket for orbit takes six to eight years and costs about $1 billion, and said the company wouldn't be ready by 2028.

SpaceX's Recent Falcon 9 and Starship Activity

SpaceX launched 27 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base on October 31, with the Falcon 9 first stage landing on a drone ship, Space.com reported. The satellites join over 11,000 in the Starlink constellation, and the launch was the 118th Falcon 9 flight of 2026.

SpaceX's Starship rocket stands 407 feet tall with 18.1 million pounds-force of liftoff thrust, making it the tallest and most powerful rocket ever flown, Engadget reported. SpaceX launched 26 Starlink satellites on September 28, but an engine shutdown cut the flight to three hours, The Motley Fool reported.

Maritime Launch Services' Spaceport Nova Scotia Work

Maritime Launch Services and Isar Aerospace finalized the statement of work and programmatic milestones for their facilities usage agreement at Spaceport Nova Scotia, PR Newswire reported on September 14, 2026. The two companies had extended the deadline to finalize that statement of work from September 1 to September 15, 2026, Stock Titan reported on September 2, 2026.

Galaxia and Maritime Launch Services announced a partnership to develop an Autonomous Flight Safety System for Spaceport Nova Scotia, PR Newswire reported on October 7, 2026. The system will process launch vehicle sensor data onboard to determine termination criteria, reducing reliance on ground-based range safety.