SpaceX

Hawthorne, Calif.-based Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is a commercial company aiming to launch cargo, and eventually people, to low-Earth orbit. The firm is developing its Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 booster under contracts from NASA's Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program and its Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program.

Related Topics: Falcon Heavy, NASA, NASA Space Launch System, Orion Spacecraft

Latest Updates

SpaceX destacks its giant Starship Mars rocket at its South Texas facility on Jan. 25, 2023, to continue gearing up for the vehicle's first-ever orbital test flight.

SpaceX destacks Starship to prep for epic 33-engine test fire (photos)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX destacked its Starship Mars rocket on Wednesday (Jan. 25) to continue gearing up for the giant vehicle's first-ever orbital test flight.

noctilucent clouds over a black horizon

SpaceX Starlink launch spawns gorgeous dawn clouds in Florida sky

By Elizabeth Howell published

Noctilucent clouds hovered over parts of Florida's Space Coast after SpaceX rocketed 56 Starlink satellites to orbit early Thursday morning (Jan. 26).

A Starlink satellite streaks across this image of the Andromeda galaxy from Caltech's Zwicky Transient Facility, highlighting the challenge Starlink satellites in particular present to ground-based astronomical observations.

SpaceX and astronomers come to agreement on reducing Starlink astronomy impact

By John Loeffler published

The National Science Foundation and SpaceX have come to an agreement on how to mitigate the damage to ground-based astronomy that Starlink satellites present.

A Falcon 9 rocket topped with 56 Starlink spacecraft launched from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Thursday at 4:32 a.m. EST (0932 GMT).

SpaceX launches heaviest payload on reused rocket's 9th flight

By Mike Wall, Tereza Pultarova published

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifted its heaviest payload yet to low Earth orbit when it launched 56 Starlink satellites on Thursday morning (Jan. 26).

SpaceX's Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft docked at the International Space Station with black space behind.

SpaceX Crew Dragon may get a shield upgrade after Soyuz spacecraft leak

By Elizabeth Howell published

A micrometeoroid strike on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in December 2022 has spurred NASA to talk to SpaceX about possibly increasing the shielding on its Crew Dragon capsule.

SpaceX Starship covered in frost during a fueling test.

SpaceX's 1st orbital Starship looks supercool in these fueling test photos

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX fueled up a fully stacked Starship vehicle for the first time ever on Monday (Jan. 23), and dramatic photos preserve the process for posterity.

SpaceX conducted a wet dress rehearsal with its fully stacked Starship vehicle on Jan. 23, 2023 at its Starbase facility in South Texas.

SpaceX fuels up fully stacked Starship vehicle for 1st time ever (video)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX fueled up a fully stacked Starship for the first time ever on Monday (Jan. 23), notching a huge milestone on the path toward the vehicle's debut orbital flight.

The Russian-built Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft is seen in the foreground docked to the Rassvet module of the International Space Station in this image taken in October. 2022. Russia's Nauka laboratory module of the station is seen in the background, with its European Robotic Arm folded up.

NASA astronaut and 2 cosmonauts may stay on space station for a full year after Soyuz leak

By Mike Wall published

Frank Rubio and two cosmonaut colleagues may not come home from the International Space Station until late September — six months later than initially planned.

A SpaceX Dragon Endurance capsule in the black of space with a blue Earth below after launch on Oct. 5, 2022.

SpaceX astronaut missions for NASA: Crew-5 updates

By Elizabeth Howell published

Read the latest news about SpaceX's Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station for NASA.

An eerie blue spiral seen over Hawaii following a SpaceX launch on Wednesday (Jan. 18).

SpaceX rocket creates eerie blue spiral in night sky over Hawaii: reports

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Subaru Telescope spotted a spiral shape in the sky shortly after SpaceX sent a GPS satellite to space on Wednesday (Jan. 18).

The four crewmembers of SpaceX's Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station pose for a photo in their spacesuits during a training session at the company’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California. From left are, Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev, Pilot Warren “Woody” Hoburg, Commander Stephen Bowen, and Mission Specialist Sultan Al Neyadi.mission pose for a photo in their spacesuits during a training session at the company’s headquarters in Hawthorne, California. From left: mission specialist Andrey Fedyaev, pilot Warren "Woody" Hoburg, commander Stephen Bowen, and mission specialist Sultan Al Neyadi.

SpaceX and NASA targeting Feb. 26 for Crew-6 astronaut launch

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's sixth contracted astronaut flight to the International Space Station for NASA will launch on Feb. 26, if all goes according to plan.

A high-definition camera on the International Space Station's exterior captured this photo of the plume created by a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket as it launched the USSF-67 mission for the U.S. Space Force on Jan. 15, 2023.

SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch spotted from space station (photo)

By Mike Wall published

A high-definition exterior camera on the International Space Station snapped a shot of the plume created by SpaceX's Falcon Heavy during its Jan. 15 launch.

Backdropped by the rising sun, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches a GPS III satellite on behalf of the United States Space Force on Jan. 18, 2023.

SpaceX GPS launch delivers stunning sunrise views (photos)

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket made an early-morning space run Wednesday (Jan. 18), and the launch photos look like stills from a beachside Hollywood film.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the GPS III Space Vehicle 06, an advanced Global Positioning System satellite, to space on Wednesday at 7:24 a.m. EST (1224 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

SpaceX launches advanced GPS satellite for US Space Force, nails the landing

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX launched a GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force today (Jan. 18) at 7:24 a.m. EST (1224 GMT), the company's fourth launch of 2023.

The Crew-5 SpaceX Dragon Endurance approaches the International Space Station for docking on Oct. 6, 2022.

SpaceX Dragon capsule to be 5-person 'lifeboat' in event of ISS emergency

By Mike Wall published

On Wednesday (Jan. 18), NASA plans to start moving astronaut Frank Rubio's seat liner from a Russian Soyuz spacecraft over to SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule Endurance.

spacex falcon heavy rocket lifts off into darkness of night with big steam cloud beside launch pad

SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket stuns viewers with gorgeous liftoff (photos)

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket aced its liftoff on Sunday (Jan. 15) within view of numerous photographers, who shared their incredible footage on social media.

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launches the USSF-67 mission for the U.S. Space Force from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 15, 2023.

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket launches classified mission for US Space Force

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy launched on its fifth-ever mission on Sunday (Jan. 15), sending multiple satellites aloft for the U.S. Space Force.

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket stands atop Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center ahead of the launch of a classified USSF-67 mission for the U.S. Space Force. Liftoff is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2023.

Watch a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launch a classified military payload today after delay

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX's powerful Falcon Heavy rocket will be back in action on Sunday (Jan. 15), and you can watch the liftoff live.

An Airbus Pléiades Neo satellite captured this view of SpaceX's stacked Starship prototype on its orbital launch mount in South Texas. Airbus posted this photo on Twitter on Jan. 12, 2023.

SpaceX's giant Starship rocket spotted from space by satellite (and poses for epic photos, too)

By Mike Wall published

An Airbus satellite spotted SpaceX's huge Starship vehicle on the launch pad in South Texas being prepped for a landmark test flight.

SpaceX's robotic Dragon cargo capsule leaves the International Space Station on Jan. 9, 2023. The spacecraft splashed down off the coast of Florida two days later.

SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule returns to Earth after 6-week stay at space station

By Mike Wall published

A robotic SpaceX capsule splashed down off the coast of Florida on Wednesday morning (Jan. 11), wrapping up its six-week cargo mission.