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 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.

Osom Brand's socks, the first upcycled footwear worn in space, are seen floating in the multi-window Cupola on the International Space Station during astronaut Doug Hurley's 2020 stay.

First upcycled socks worn in space inspire astronaut's new limited edition footwear

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Now you can dress like an astronaut, or at least your feet can, with limited edition socks of the Osom Brand style used by Doug Hurley on the International Space Station.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the company's CRS-25 cargo mission to the International Space Station on July 14, 2022.

Tropical Storm Nicole delays next SpaceX cargo launch to Nov. 21

By Mike Wall published

Tropical Storm Nicole has pushed the liftoff of SpaceX's next cargo mission to the International Space Station back by three days.

A stainless steel propellant tank produced by Chinese launch startup Space Epoch.

Mini Starship? Chinese startup wants to make its own version of SpaceX Mars rocket

By Andrew Jones published

A new Chinese startup is attempting to develop its own reusable stainless-steel rockets, apparently taking inspiration from SpaceX's next-generation Starship vehicle.

Astronaut Bob Behnken is retiring from NASA after 22 years with the space agency.

Astronaut Bob Behnken retires from NASA after trailblazing 22-year career

By Mike Wall published

Bob Behnken is retiring from NASA after a pioneering 22-year career that includes three spaceflights, including SpaceX's first-ever crewed mission.