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

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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.

A camera on the International Space Station shows an apparent coolant leak on a Soyuz MS-22 crewed spacecraft docked at the station that forced Russian Mission Control to cancel a spacewalk by two cosmonauts on Dec. 14, 2022. The coolant leak appears as frozen white mist around the spacecraft.

Russia to launch new Soyuz capsule to replace leaky spacecraft on space station

By Tariq Malik last updated

Russia will launch an empty Soyuz capsule to the International Space Station February to replace a damaged spacecraft that is unsafe to return its crew.

SpaceX's "Mechazilla" launch tower stacks the Ship 24 Starship prototype atop the Booster 7 Super Heavy vehicle at the company's Starbase facility in South Texas in this image, which is a screenshot from a video SpaceX posted on Twitter on Jan. 9, 2023.

SpaceX stacks giant Starship rocket again to prep for test flight (video)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX has stacked its giant Starship rocket once again, as a dramatic new video shows.

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket conducts a static fire test at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to prep for a planned Jan. 14, 2023 liftoff. SpaceX posted this photo on Twitter on Jan. 10.

SpaceX fires up Falcon Heavy rocket ahead of Saturday launch (photo)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's powerful Falcon Heavy rocket has flexed its muscles ahead of a planned liftoff this weekend.

Artist's rendering of a Gama solar sail in space.

SpaceX launches 1st European solar sail on Transporter 6 mission

By Andrew Jones published

French firm's solar sail launched on SpaceX mission last week.

The four crew members who comprise the SpaceX Crew-6 mission 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.

SpaceX and NASA target Crew-6 astronaut launch in mid-February

By Josh Dinner published

NASA and SpaceX are targeting mid-February for the launch of the next commercial crew mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

SpaceX is planning to launch the fifth Falcon Heavy mission in January 2023. This photo, which the company posted on Twitter on Jan. 7, shows the engines of the vehicle's three first-stage boosters in a hangar at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX's next Falcon Heavy rocket is gearing up for launch in these photos

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's next Falcon Heavy rocket is in the hangar at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, prepping for a launch in the coming days.

SpaceX's Ship 24 Starship prototype lights one its six Raptor engines during a brief static fire test on Dec. 15, 2022 in this overhead view.

SpaceX could launch 1st Starship orbital flight in February, Elon Musk says

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's huge Starship vehicle could go orbital for the first time next month, if all goes according to plan.

spacex rocket lifting off into a cloudy sky

SpaceX launches 51 Starlink internet satellites today after delays

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX launched another big batch of its Starlink internet satellites to orbit on Thursday (Jan. 19), and brought a new Falcon 9 stage back to a drone ship.

A robotic SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule leaves the International Space Station on Jan. 9, 2023.

SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule heads home from space station

By Mike Wall published

A robotic SpaceX cargo craft departed the International Space Station on Monday afternoon (Jan. 9), wrapping up a six-week orbital stay.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 40 OneWeb internet satellites lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Jan. 9, 2023.

SpaceX launches 40 OneWeb internet satellites, lands rocket (video)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX just launched 40 more satellites for OneWeb's internet constellation and pulled off a successful rocket landing.