SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Phaseout Spurs Hunt for New Ways to Launch Payloads

Plus, Trump says a deal to lower fertilizer costs is in the works, and Houthi attacks force Saudi Arabia to return to Hormuz.

SpaceX is moving toward phasing out its Falcon 9 rocket, prompting industry-wide efforts to find alternative launch solutions for satellite and cargo payloads. The shift comes as the company focuses on Starship development and faces increasing competition in the launch market. Meanwhile, former President Trump announced negotiations underway to reduce fertilizer costs, aiming to ease agricultural expenses. In the Middle East, renewed Houthi missile and drone attacks on shipping have compelled Saudi Arabia to resume using the Strait of Hormuz for oil exports, reversing a prior shift to alternative routes to avoid risk.