AI illustration: Well over a dozen Falcon 9 launches in 2016
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Missed

Well over a dozen Falcon 9 launches in 2016 (missed)

Elon Musk promised Well over a dozen Falcon 9 launches in 2016 by the end of 2016. The deadline passed and it didn't happen.

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“We have quite a big flight manifest and we should be doing well over a dozen flights next year.”
— Elon Musk · Dec 21, 2015 · Post-Landing Telecon — First Falcon 9 Landing (December 21, 2015), video, ~00:07:03 00:07:03 ↗
Video: Post-Landing Telecon — First Falcon 9 Landing (December 21, 2015), video, ~00:07:03
▶ WATCH HIM SAY IT @ 00:07:03 — POST-LANDING TELECON — FIRST FALCON 9 LANDING (DECEMBER 21, 2015), VIDEO, ~00:07:03
What actually happened

SpaceX flew 8 Falcon 9 missions in 2016, and the Amos-6 pad explosion on Sep 1 grounded the fleet for the rest of the year. Wikipedia: Falcon 9 launches 2010-2019 (8 in 2016) ↗

The Progression

Dec 21, 2015
The promise: “We have quite a big flight manifest and we should be doing well over a dozen flights next year.” · Post-Landing Telecon — First Falcon 9 Landing (December 21, 2015), video, ~00:07:03 00:07:03 ↗
Dec 31, 2016
Deadline passed. SpaceX flew 8 Falcon 9 missions in 2016, and the Amos-6 pad explosion on Sep 1 grounded the fleet for the rest of the year. Wikipedia: Falcon 9 launches 2010-2019 (8 in 2016) ↗
Today · Oct 12, 2026
Status: Missed · 3,572 days past due. Never happened.

After the first booster landing in December 2015, Elon Musk said SpaceX should fly well over a dozen times in 2016. It flew eight.

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LAST CHECKED 2026-10-12

SpaceX’s record

Delivered
31
38% of resolved claims delivered.
Missed
50
Deadline passed, still no-show.
Still open
43
On the clock now. All 124 SpaceX claims →

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