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 rocket carves an arc of flame into a cloudy night sky during a launch.

SpaceX rocket launches Starlink satellites on record-breaking 17th flight (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched for a record-setting 17th time Tuesday night (Sept. 19), sending 22 Starlink satellites to orbit.

a white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches with the ocean and a blue sky in the background.

SpaceX inks 14-launch deal to loft Telesat's 'Lightspeed' internet constellation

By Robert Lea published

SpaceX has signed a 14-launch deal to loft Telesat's Lightspeed internet constellation, beginning in 2026. Each liftoff will see a Falcon 9 carry up to 18 satellites to low Earth orbit.

A SpaceX Starship enters Mars' atmosphere and decelerates aerodynamically.

When SpaceX's Starship is ready to settle Mars, will we be? (op-ed)

By Volodymyr Usov published

The challenges of settling Mars stretch beyond the boundaries of rocket technology, impacting our biology and fundamentally questioning our identity as a species.

SpaceX Starship engine passes key test for Artemis 3 moon-landing mission (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX fired one of its Raptor engines last month to test its ability to land the company's Starship vehicle on the moon in cold conditions, which it will have to do on the Artemis 3 mission.

a big rocket launches into a cloudy gray sky.

SpaceX could get license for 2nd Starship launch in October, FAA says

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX may get approval for its second-ever Starship launch sometime next month, according to an official with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a night sky.

SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites after 1-day delay (video)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX launched 22 more of its Starlink internet satellites late on Friday night (Sept. 15) after a one-day delay.

a rocket flies through the sky trailing a plume of fire behind it

SpaceX completes required 'corrective actions' ahead of 2nd Starship flight, Elon Musk says

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX has taken all 57 corrective actions required by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration ahead of the second test flight of its Starship vehicle, Elon Musk said.

a man floats in front on windows in space. The Earth is visible

UAE's 1st long-duration astronaut says a moon mission is within reach

By Elizabeth Howell published

Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi finished 6 months in space, and wants to go back.

two frames showing a spacex falcon 9 rocket's first stage heading down toward earth at night and the upper stage's single engine burning orange while powering its way to orbit.

SpaceX launches 21 new Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket

By Josh Dinner last updated

SpaceX launched another batch of its Starlink internet satellites early Tuesday (Sept. 12) and landed the returning rocket on a ship at sea.

SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites in nighttime liftoff (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX launched 22 more of its Starlink internet satellites to orbit tonight (Sept. 8) and landed the returning rocket on a ship at sea.

a rocket launches into a gray sky

FAA closes investigation of SpaceX's Starship rocket launch mishap, 63 fixes needed

By Mike Wall published

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has closed its investigation into the first flight of SpaceX's giant Starship vehicle, which ended with a bang this past April.

black-and-white satellite photo of a large rocket standing next to a launch tower with dirt and white buildings in the background

SpaceX's Starship rocket spotted from space ahead of key test flight (satellite photo)

By Mike Wall published

Maxar Technologies' WorldView-1 satellite captured a great photo of SpaceX's Starship vehicle on the launch pad in South Texas ahead of its upcoming test flight.

technicians in white coats work on a shiny silvery spacecraft inside a white-walled room.

SpaceX launch of NASA's Psyche mission to bizarre metal asteroid just 1 month away

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Psyche mission is scheduled to launch atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on Oct. 5 and begin heading toward its metal-asteroid namesake.

a shiny silver rocket stands on a launch pad next to the ocean.

SpaceX stacks giant Starship rocket ahead of 2nd test flight (video, photos)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX has stacked its giant Starship vehicle on the launch pad in South Texas, a major milestone ahead of an impending test flight from the site.

Infrared view of SpaceX's Crew Dragon "Endeavour" as it splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. The capsule returned from the International Space Station with Crew-6 — Steve Bowen, Woody Hoburg, Sultan AlNeyadi and Andrey Fedyaev — after 186 days. (NASA TV)

SpaceX's Crew-6 astronauts splash down after 6-month stay on ISS

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The SpaceX Crew-6 astronauts Stephen Bowen, Woody Hoburg, Sultan AlNeyadi and Andrey Fedyaev are back on Earth, having each completed their first long-duration spaceflight on the ISS.

a black and white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a nighttime sky.

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites on record-breaking 62nd mission of the year

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX launched 21 of its Starlink internet satellites to orbit tonight (Sept. 3) on its 62nd mission of 2023, setting a new record for most orbital flights in a year.

four astronauts floating in a space station module in spacesuits. they are visible face-up and each one of them is poised 90 degrees from each other, forming a circle

SpaceX Dragon with Crew-6 astronauts undocks from space station. Here's how to watch its landing live tonight.

By Mike Wall last updated

A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying four Crew-6 astronauts is headed back to Earth and you can watch its splashdown live online early Monday (Sept. 4).

four astronauts in white and gray spacesuits floating in four different directions with their heads pointed to center

SpaceX, NASA delay Crew-6 Dragon astronauts' return to Earth due to bad weather

By Tariq Malik published

SpaceX and NASA say the Crew Dragon capsule carrying four Crew-6 astronauts will now depart the International Space Station no earlier than Sept. 3, a 24-hour delay.

The SpaceX Crew-6 astronauts on the International Space Station. Clockwise from bottom are NASA astronaut Stephen Bowen; UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi; NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg; and Russian space agency (Roscosmos) cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.

SpaceX Crew-6 astronauts say goodbye from ISS and prepare for return to Earth

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX's Crew-6 astronauts bade farewell from orbit in a livestreamed event on Aug. 31. They will undock from the ISS no sooner than Sept. 2, pending the effects of Hurricane Idalia.

a black-and-white spacex falcon 9 rocket launches into a nighttime sky.

SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites toward orbit

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX launched 22 of its Starlink internet satellites toward orbit tonight (Aug. 31) and aced a rocket landing at sea.