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

nasa astronaut reaching for display panel inside of a spacesuit

Veteran astronaut Tom Marshburn retires from NASA

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's Tom Marshburn visited the International Space Station three times with three different spacecraft, accruing nearly a year in space over his career.

Screenshot from a SpaceX video deck showing an illustration of the company's Starship vehicle deploying next-gen Starlink internet satellites.

SpaceX gets permission to deploy 7,500 next-generation Starlink satellites

By Mike Wall published

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has approved SpaceX to deploy 7,500 next-generation Starlink internet satellites — one-quarter of the company's planned constellation.

A twice-flown SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule arrives at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois for its permanent display on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022.

SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft lands at Chicago museum ahead of exhibit

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Dragon that twice splashed down has now landed for its last time — in Chicago. The spacecraft, which flew to the International Space Station, arrived at the Museum of Science and Industry.

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.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket topped with the private Japanese Hakuto-R moon lander stands on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The rocket was supposed to launch on Dec. 1, 2022, but SpaceX is standing down to perform more checks on the rocket.

SpaceX delays launch of Japanese moon lander again, citing rocket issues

By Mike Wall published

For the second day in a row, SpaceX stood down from the launch of Japan's Hakuto-R moon lander to address possible rocket issues. A new target date has not yet been announced.

Artist's impression of the Hakuto-R lander on the moon.

SpaceX delays launch of Japanese moon lander for last-minute rocket checks

By Brett Tingley published

SpaceX delayed the launch of Japan's Hakuto-R moon lander carrying a United Arab Emirates' rover until Thursday (Dec. 1) at 3:37 a.m. EST (0837 GMT) to allow for additional pre-flight checks.

SpaceX fired 11 of the 33 Raptor engines on its Booster 7 Starship prototype during a test on Nov. 29, 2022.

SpaceX fires 11 engines of Starship Super Heavy booster ahead of test flight (video)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX ignited multiple Raptor engines on a Starship prototype called Booster 7 during a test in South Texas on Tuesday (Nov. 29).

Tokyo-based company ispace's Hakuto-R moon lander is seen here being readied for its liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which is scheduled for Nov. 30, 2022.

SpaceX will launch Japanese moon lander, UAE rover early Thursday. Here's how to watch.

By Mike Wall published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Japanese lander and UAE rover to the moon early Thursday (Dec. 1), and you can watch the action live.

The SpaceX Dragon CRS-26 cargo ship seen in space with the blue Earth below.

SpaceX Dragon cargo ship docks at space station to deliver solar arrays, seeds and more

By Mike Wall last updated

The robotic Dragon supply ship linked up with he ISS around 7:30 a.m. EST on Sunday (Nov. 27).

launch screenshot of rocket launching

SpaceX Dragon launches science, solar arrays to International Space Station

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft launched science and solar arrays to the International Space Station on Saturday.

close-up of spacecraft with spindly legs on the surface of the moon with the black of space in behind

SpaceX to launch Japanese moon lander, UAE rover on Nov. 30

By Elizabeth Howell published

Tokyo-based ispace aims to pull off the first-ever soft landing on the moon by a private company — and its Hakuto-R lander will deploy a UAE rover, if all goes to plan.

Polaris Dawn crewmembers Anna Menon, Scott Pottet, Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis.

Polaris Dawn crew prepares for world's 1st private spacewalk with SpaceX

By Leonard David published

The crewmembers of the Polaris Dawn mission are busily training for their orbital flight early next year, one that will see the first commercial spacewalk.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Eutelsat 10B communications satellite on Nov. 22, 2022.

SpaceX launches Eutelsat 10B communications satellite (video)

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

SpaceX launched the Eutelsat 10B communications satellite to space Tuesday (Nov. 22) to serve air and sea traffic.

SpaceX's CRS-26 cargo mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to launch on Nov. 22, 2022.

SpaceX's next NASA cargo launch to space station delayed to Nov. 22

By Jeff Spry published

SpaceX's next cargo launch to the International Space Station (ISS) has been pushed back a day, to Tuesday (Nov. 22).

A train of SpaceX's Starlink satellites seen in the sky above Istanbul.

Better space weather forecast could have saved SpaceX Starlink satellites from solar storm

By Tereza Pultarova published

SpaceX's loss of 40 Starlink satellites in February was preceded by the company using an inaccurate space weather forecasting model to decide to launch following a geomagnetic storm warning.

NASA's Artemis 1 mission successfully launched on November 16, 2022.

Artemis 1 launch success makes NASA's SLS the most powerful rocket ever to fly

By Mike Wall published

With Wednesday morning's (Nov. 16) Artemis 1 launch, NASA's Space Launch System became the most powerful rocket ever to fly a successful mission.

This SpaceX concept shows the company's massive Starship vehicle on the moon as a lunar lander for NASA Artemis astronauts.

NASA taps SpaceX for 2nd astronaut moon landing with Starship

By Mike Wall published

NASA has selected SpaceX's next-generation Starship vehicle to carry astronauts to the lunar surface on the Artemis 4 mission, which is targeted to fly in 2027.

sun shines over solar panels with black of space in behind

BlueWalker 3 satellite unfurls biggest commercial communications array ever

By Elizabeth Howell published

AST SpaceMobile's BlueWalker 3 satellite unveiled an array that is about the same size as a small apartment, to provide high-speed communications from orbit.

Booster 7, a prototype of SpaceX's Starship Super Heavy first stage, fires up 14 of its Raptor engines during a static fire test on Nov. 14, 2022.

SpaceX's Starship Super Heavy booster test-fires record 14 engines (video)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX just conducted its most ambitious and powerful Starship test to date, firing up 14 engines on one of its Super Heavy booster prototypes.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches two Intelsat spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Nov. 12, 2022. It was the record-tying 14th liftoff this Falcon 9's first stage.

SpaceX rocket launches 2 big telecom satellites on record-tying 14th mission

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX launched two heavy telecom satellites for Intelsat on Saturday (Nov. 12), using a Falcon 9 rocket flying on its record-tying 14th mission.