Immediately following SpaceX's inaugural launch of the Falcon 9 rocket, Andy Pasztor wrote in a WSJ article titled "SpaceX Illustrates Privatization Risk" on June 7, 2010 alleging that SpaceX claimed it would require $1 billion to build a launch escape system for its rocket, and that the company would likely require future assistance from US taxpayers.
Most Proton payloads are too massive to launch with the less powerful Falcon 9 rocket, and there are no spare Ariane 5 launch opportunities, so Proton customers cannot easily switch to other launchers.
Likewise, a human-rated version of the SpaceX Falcon 9 has also been suggested by Bigelow as a possible launch system.
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The baseline Boeing 702 is compatible with several orbital launch systems, including Delta IV, Atlas V, Ariane 5, Proton, Sea Launch operated Zenit 3SL and Falcon 9.
The Falcon 9-R, a reusable variant of the Falcon 9 family, is being developed using systems and software technology being developed as part of the SpaceX reusable launch system development program by SpaceX to facilitate rapid reusability of both the first and second stages.
SpaceX currently has two launch facilities in use for the Falcon 9, one at Cape Canaveral, Florida, and a second one near Lompoc, California used for the first flight of the Falcon 9 v1.1 rocket in the fall of 2013.
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SpaceX has used two launch facilities for Falcon 9 launches through 2013, one at Cape Canaveral, Florida, and a second one near Lompoc, California used for the first flight of the Falcon 9 v1.1 rocket in September 2013.
Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4) is a launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base, with two pads one of which is currently used by SpaceX to launch the Falcon 9 rocket.
The Falcon 9 v1.0 first stage was used on the first five Falcon 9 launches, and powered by nine SpaceX Merlin 1C rocket engines arranged in a 3x3 pattern.
First use of the upgraded Merlin 1D engines, generating approximately 56 percent more sea-level thrust than the Merlin 1C engines used on all previous Falcon 9 vehicles.
Both stages of the Falcon 9 arrived at Cape Canaveral for processing before October 2, 2013, after both had trouble-free test firings at the SpaceX Rocket Development and Test Facility at McGregor, Texas.