1 of 27
SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Octaweb
Credit: SpaceX
The new circular Octaweb engine arrangement of SpaceX's nine Falcon 9 Merlin 1D engines is seen in this image. [
Read the Full Story Here]
2 of 27
SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket V 1.1
Credit: SpaceX
An upgraded SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands poised to launch from Space Launch Complex 4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in September 2013. Liftoff set for Sept. 29, 2013. [
Read the Full Story Here]
3 of 27
SpaceX New Falcon 9 Engine Test
Credit: SpaceX
SpaceX's new upgraded Falcon 9 rocket undergoes an static fire engine test on Sept. 19, 2013 ahead of a Sept. 29 launch testfrom Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. [
Read the Full Story Here]
4 of 27
SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Night View
Credit: SpaceX
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon space capsule stand poised to launch to the International Space Station just one hour before liftoff (8:35 p.m. ET) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on Oct. 7, 2012.
5 of 27
SpaceX's Passenger-Carrying Dragon Capsule (Infographic)
Credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com Contributor
6 of 27
Dragon Grappled by ISS
Credit: NASA
The SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft is grappled by the International Space Station's Canadarm2 robotic arm on Oct. 10, 2012 during the spacecraft's first cargo delivery mission for NASA under a $1.6 billion deal for commercial cargo delivery.
7 of 27
SpaceX Grasshopper Rocket's Highest Test: March 7, 2013
Credit: SpaceX
On March 7, 2013, SpaceX’s Grasshopper doubled its highest leap to date to rise 24 stories or 262.8 feet (80.1 meters), hovering for approximately 34 seconds and landing safely using closed loop thrust vector and throttle control.
8 of 27
Mannequin Cowboy on SpaceX's Grasshopper Rocket
Credit: SpaceX
A mannequin cowboy dressed in black, nicknamed Johnny, rode SpaceX's Grasshopper reusable rocket during its highest ever test flight on March 7, 2013. The flight in Texas reached a height of 263 feet (80 meters).
9 of 27
SpaceX Dragon Meets Falcon 9
Credit: NASA
Technicians move a SpaceX Dragon capsule into place at the nose of the company's Falcon 9 rocket during preparations to launch the spacecraft on a cargo flight to the International Space Station.
10 of 27
SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rolls Out
Credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann
The Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX, Falcon 9 rocket with Dragon capsule attached on top is lifted into the vertical position during a rollout demonstration test at Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. This image was taken Oct. 2, 2012.
11 of 27
SpaceX Dragon Approaches the ISS
Credit: NASA
The SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft makes its relative approach to the International Space Station prior to grapple by the station's Canadarm2 robotic arm, controlled by Expedition 33 crew members. This image was taken Oct. 10, 2012.
12 of 27
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk with Falcon 9 Rocket
Credit: SpaceX
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stands next to the company's Falcon 9 rocket, which blasted SpaceX's Dragon capsule into orbit in December 2010.
13 of 27
Engines Ignite for SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch
Credit: NASA/Tony Gray and Rick Wetherington
Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida comes alive as the Merlin engines ignite under the Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon capsule to orbit on Oct. 7, 2012.
14 of 27
Falcon 9 and Dragon Liftoff
Credit: NASA
Liftoff of Falcon 9 and Dragon from Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Fl. on Oct. 7, 2012.
15 of 27
SpaceX Dragon Commercial Cargo Craft Approaches ISS
Credit: NASA
Backdropped by a cloud-covered part of Earth, the SpaceX Dragon commercial cargo craft makes its relative approach to the International Space Station prior to grapple by the station's Canadarm2 robotic arm, controlled by Expedition 33 crew members. This image was taken Oct. 10, 2012.
16 of 27
SpaceX Dragon Splashdown
Credit: SpaceX
The SpaceX Dragon capsule splashes down in the Pacific Ocean Oct. 28, 2012 after its first caro delivery mission to the International Space Station.
17 of 27
SpaceX Grasshopper's Highest Hop, Dec. 17
Credit: SpaceX
The SpaceX Grasshopper rocket prototype vertically launched and landed in its most impressive test flight to date on Dec. 17.
18 of 27
SpaceX's Grasshopper
Credit: SpaceX
Grasshopper consists of a Falcon 9 rocket first stage, Merlin 1D engine, four steel landing legs with hydraulic dampers, and a steel support structure. For a sense of its scale, note the blue pick-up truck to the left of Grasshopper in the photo above.
19 of 27
SpaceX's Falcon 9 Unique View
Credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann
A unique view from the ground looking up shows the Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX, Falcon 9 rocket with Dragon capsule attached after it was lifted into the vertical position during a rollout demonstration test to Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. This image was taken Oct. 2, 2012.
20 of 27
SpaceX Dragon Leaves Space Station
Credit: NASA TV
The private Dragon capsule built by SpaceX is seen at the end of the International Space Station's robotic arm during its undocking on Oct. 28, 2012, in this camera view. The Dragon capsule made the first commercial cargo delivery to the space station for NASA.
21 of 27
Elon Musk and Cheering SpaceX Employees
Credit: SpaceX
SpaceX founder Elon Musk stands before cheering SpaceX employees at their Los Angeles facility following the successful launch of their Falcon 9 rocket on May 22, 2012.
22 of 27
SpaceX's Falcon 9 Heavy Rocket Art
Credit: SpaceX
An artist's illustration of a SpaceX Falcon 9 Heavy rocket launching into space.
23 of 27
Falcon Heavy Rocket
Credit: SpaceX
Illustration of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, which the company says will be the most capable rocket operating today.
24 of 27
SpaceX's Falcon 9 Heavy Rocket Explained
Credit: SpaceX
This SpaceX fact sheet points out the major differences between the company's Falcon 9 rocket and its planned Falcon 9 Heavy booster.
25 of 27
Falcon 1 at Sunrise
Credit: SpaceX.
SpaceX's Falcon 1 rocket is being readied for a second test launch in January 2007.
26 of 27
SpaceX's Falcon 1
Credit: SpaceX
SpaceX's Falcon 1 Flight 4 on the launch pad at Omelek Island in the Kwajalein Atoll of the Marshall Islands on Sept. 19, 2008.
27 of 27
SpaceX Successfully Launches Falcon 1 Rocket Into Orbit
Credit: SpaceX.
SpaceX's fourth Falcon 1 rocket successfully launches into orbit from the Kwajalein Atoll on the Pacific Ocean late Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008.
