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

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 52 Starlink internet satellites to orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Oct. 5, 2022.

SpaceX launches 52 Starlink satellites, lands rocket on ship in Pacific

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX launched 52 more of its Starlink internet satellites Wednesday evening (Oct. 5), just hours after launching the Crew-5 astronaut mission for NASA.

An Albert Einstein toy doll floats on board the SpaceX Crew Dragon "Endurance" as the Crew-5 astronauts' zero-g indicator.

Astronauts fly Albert Einstein doll to demo physicist's 'happiest thought'

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Albert Einstein's "happiest thought" has been proven again by astronauts and a doll made in his likeness. The crew on Dragon "Endurance" revealed their zero-g indicator, a plush of the physicist.

SpaceX Crew-5 astronaut Anna Kikina, mission specialist, gets suited up to participate in a crew equipment interface test (CEIT) at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, on Aug. 13, 2022.

1st Russian cosmonaut to launch with SpaceX heads to space station

By Josh Dinner published

Anna Kikina is the first cosmonaut to catch a ride on a SpaceX Dragon, and the first Russian to fly aboard an American spacecraft since the space shuttle era.

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 live updates

By Elizabeth Howell published

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

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina onboard, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX's Crew-5 astronaut launch amazing photos

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's Crew-5 mission for NASA launched toward the International Space Station on Oct. 5, 2022. See photos of the liftoff and the mission here.

A small Albert Einstein doll floats in weightlessness as the zero gravity indicator of the Crew-5 astronauts on SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft.

Watch SpaceX's Crew-5 astronaut flight to the International Space Station live online

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX's Crew-5 mission is flying four people, including a Russian cosmonaut, to the International Space Station. Watch it live through docking on Oct. 6 here.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina onboard, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX launches Crew-5 astronauts on historic flight to space station for NASA

By Josh Dinner published

A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying the four Crew-5 astronauts launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center today (Oct. 5), kicking off a roughly 29-hour journey to the orbiting lab.

cylinder shaped space station in deep space with earth in the far distance

Nanoracks tests tech to slice up space junk in orbit for 1st time

By Elizabeth Howell published

A robotic arm softened up metal in space in an aim to address the growing space debris problem.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 46 Starlink internet satellites stands atop SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida for a launch on Feb. 21, 2022.

SpaceX delays launch of Starlink satellites to make way for Crew-5 astronaut flight

By Tariq Malik published

SpaceX has delayed the liftoff of its next Starlink satellite batch in order to launch four Crew-5 astronauts for NASA on Oct. 5.

Elon Musk discusses SpaceX's latest plans to launch its new Starship rocket in 2022 during a project update at the company's Starbase facility in South Texas on Feb. 10, 2022.

Elon Musk re-ups offer to buy Twitter for $44 billion: reports

By Mike Wall published

Elon Musk has proposed proceeding with his purchase of Twitter at the original price of $54.20 per share, according to media reports.

The IWC Schaffhausen Pilot's Watch Chronograph Edition "Polaris Dawn" will be worn by the Polaris Dawn crew.

IWC Schaffhausen creates wristwatches for private Polaris Dawn crew

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

When astronauts venture out on the first commercial spacewalk next year, they will be able to mark the time with special wristwatches. IWC Schaffhausen has created chronographs for Polaris Dawn.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule that will fly the Crew-5 mission for NASA stand on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center ahead of a planned Oct. 5, 2022 launch.

SpaceX still on track to launch Crew-5 astronaut mission for NASA on Oct. 5

By Mike Wall published

The Crew-5 astronaut mission is on target to launch Wednesday (Oct. 5), provided SpaceX and NASA clear up three minor issues.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule that will fly the Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station stand on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida shortly after rolling out on Oct. 1, 2022.

SpaceX rolls rocket to pad ahead of Crew-5 astronaut launch (photos)

By Mike Wall published

The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule that will fly SpaceX's next astronaut mission for NASA is poised and ready on the pad.

From left to right: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata, NASA’s Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada, and cosmonaut Anna Kikina wave on Oct. 1, 2022, after arriving at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center ahead of SpaceX’s Crew-5 mission launch.

SpaceX Crew-5 astronauts arrive at launch site for Oct. 5 liftoff

By Mike Wall published

The crewmembers of SpaceX's Crew-5 astronaut mission for NASA made it to Kennedy Space Center in Florida Saturday (Oct. 1), a few days later than originally planned due to Hurricane Ian.

NASA's Jupiter-exploring spacecraft Juno made a close pass at the giant planet's ice-covered moon Europa on Sept. 29. 2022.

Space photos: The most amazing images this week!

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

An astrophotographer takes an epic composite image of Jupiter, NASA slams a spacecraft into an asteroid, and Hurricane Ian is monitored from space. These are some of this week's top stories.

A time-lapse view of the asteroid Dimorphos getting bigger as the DART spacecraft hit it.

The top space stories of the week!

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

NASA slams into an asteroid, astronomers analyze ancient mega-supernovas and an astronaut watches Hurricane Ian from space. These are some of this week's top stories.

hurricane ian from space as category 1 storm with white clouds off South Carolina coast

Hurricane Ian regains strength, heads toward South Carolina as NASA's Florida spaceport recovers

By Tariq Malik published

Hurricane Ian regained strength as it barreled toward South Carolina on Friday (Sept. 30) after passing over NASA's Kennedy Space center spaceport in Florida a day earlier.

NASA and SpaceX are conducting a six-month feasibility study to assess whether a Dragon mission could safely boost the orbit of, and perhaps also otherwise service, the Hubble Space Telescope.

SpaceX, NASA look at launching Dragon to service Hubble Space Telescope

By Mike Wall published

Astronauts could visit the Hubble Space Telescope again someday, this time on a SpaceX Dragon.

NASA has taken the Hubble Space Telescope back online after a recent glitch.

Update: SpaceX, NASA studying possible reboost mission to Hubble Space Telescope

By Mike Wall published

NASA, SpaceX and Hubble officials will hold a press conference today (Sept. 29) to discuss "potential commercial space opportunities for NASA science missions," and you can listen live.

eye of Hurricane Ian from space station

Astronaut looks inside eye of Hurricane Ian from space as storm weakens over Florida (photos)

By Elizabeth Howell published

An International Space Station astronaut photographed Hurricane Ian as the powerful storm battered Florida. NASA, SpaceX and others have postponed launches from the Space Coast.