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

Elon Musk discusses Coverage Above and Beyond, a collaboration between SpaceX and T-Mobile that aims to boost cellphone connectivity by using SpaceX Starlink satellites, during a presentation at SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas on Aug. 25, 2022.

SpaceX Starlink satellites to beam service straight to smartphones

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's Starlink satellite network will start beaming service straight to smartphones next year, if all goes according to plan.

The crew of SpaceX’s Crew-5 mission to the International Space Station. From left: Koichi Wakata of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), Roscosmos cosmonaut Anna Kikina, and NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada.

SpaceX's next astronaut launch for NASA delayed to Oct. 3

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's next astronaut launch for NASA has been delayed four days to Oct. 3, an adjustment made to avoid spacecraft traffic coming to and from the International Space Station.

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying Starlink satellites blasted off on July 17, 2022.

Watch Elon Musk's SpaceX and T-Mobile chief make 'special' announcement tonight (Aug. 25)

By Mike Wall published

Elon Musk will make a special announcement on Thursday evening (Aug. 25), and you can watch the proceedings live.

SpaceX's "Mechazilla" tower lifts the 33-engine Super Heavy Booster 7 onto the orbital launch mount on Aug. 23, 2022.

SpaceX lifts 33-engine Starship Super Heavy booster onto launch pad (photo)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's latest Starship Super Heavy booster is back on the launch pad, this time with its full complement of 33 engines.

SpaceX's first Starlink satellite fleet of the year is seen in orbit in a stacked configuration after a successful launch on Jan. 20, 2021.

How SpaceX's Starlink Maritime launch will affect cruise lines and satellite providers (op-ed)

By Nicholas Kyriakides published

Other providers will have to dramatically increase their satellite output or adopt similar technology as Starlink Maritime to compete in the cruise line industry over the next few years.

The SpaceX-25 Dragon cargo ship with a sliver of Earth illuminated by the sun in the background on July 16, 2022.

SpaceX Dragon cargo ship returns to Earth from space station

By Tariq Malik published

A SpaceX Dragon cargo ship returned to Earth with an ocean splashdown on Saturday (Aug. 20).

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 53 Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Aug. 19, 2022.

SpaceX launches 53 more Starlink satellites, lands rocket at sea again

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX launched another big batch of its Starlink internet satellites to orbit today (Aug. 19) and aced a rocket landing at sea.

The SpaceX Dragon CRS-25 spacecraft departs the International Space Station during orbital sunrise.

SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule departs space station for trip back to Earth

By Mike Wall published

A SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule undocked from the International Space Station Friday (Aug. 19) to begin a trip back to Earth.

SpaceX's Starship SN24 prototype test-fires two Raptor engines at sunset in Boca Chica, Texas on Aug. 9, 2022.

SpaceX's giant Starship rocket to launch Japanese satellite in 2024

By Mike Wall published

The Japanese company Sky Perfect JSat has chosen Starship to launch its Superbird-9 communications satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit in 2024.

SpaceX launch Starlink group 3-3, rocket rising in sky with plume underneath

SpaceX launches 46 Starlink satellites, lands rocket on drone ship

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX sent a batch of 46 Starlink satellites into orbit Friday (Aug. 12) at 5:40 p.m. EDT (2140 GMT). The target orbit seems prone to space debris from a Russian anti-satellite test.

rocket launching into the sky with the sun shining nearby

New rules needed to fix growing space debris problem, FCC says

By Elizabeth Howell published

The FCC opened a new inquiry Aug. 5 focusing on how space manufacturing may help the fight against space debris — or hinder it.

SpaceX's Booster 7 Super Heavy prototype fires one of its Raptor engines for 20 seconds during a test on Aug. 11, 2022.

SpaceX fires up Starship Super Heavy booster again in long engine test

By Mike Wall published

The Super Heavy prototype Booster 7 fired one of its 33 Raptor engines for 20 seconds on Thursday (Aug. 11).

spacex rocket firing in static test on launch pad

SpaceX's Starship won't launch on 1st orbital test flight this month

By Mike Wall published

The first orbital test flight of SpaceX's Starship deep-space transportation vehicle won't get off the ground this month.

rocket lifting off from launch pad with clouds billowing around

SpaceX Starlink satellites face Russia space debris 'squalls' in orbit: report

By Elizabeth Howell published

An Aug. 6 close encounter saw hundreds of Starlink satellites get uncomfortably close to debris generated in a Russian anti-satellite test in November 2021.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket fires up its first-stage engines to launch 52 Starlink satellites from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 9, 2022.

SpaceX launches 52 Starlink satellites, lands rocket at sea

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX launched 52 of its Starlink internet satellites Tuesday night (Aug. 9) on a mission that also featured a rocket landing on a ship at sea.

SpaceX's Starship SN24 rocket test-fires two Raptor engines at sunset in Boca Chica, Texas on Aug. 9, 2022.

SpaceX fires up Starship and Super Heavy Booster 7 ahead of test flight

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX fired up a Super Heavy booster on the launch pad today (Aug. 9) for the first time ever, notching a big milestone in the development of its Starship deep-space transportation system.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 53 Starlink satellites to orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on May 14, 2022.

Weather looks good for SpaceX Starlink launch on Tuesday

By Elizabeth Howell published

There's a 70% chance that the weather will be good enough to allow another batch of SpaceX's Starlink satellites to get off the ground from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The Super Heavy Booster 7 to support Starship rolls to the launch pad on Aug. 6.

SpaceX's Starship Super Heavy rocket returns to launch pad (photos)

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX's massive "Booster 7" Super Heavy rocket prototype moved back to the launch pad Aug. 5 and 6 to prep for an orbital test flight with Starship later this year.

An artist's depiction of the SPHEREx mission at work.

SpaceX will launch solar wind mission with space telescope in 2025

By Elizabeth Howell published

Two NASA missions will be launching on a single SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, using a 'carpool' arrangement to overcome supply chain issues affecting PUNCH.

A possible piece of SpaceX Crew-1 debris was announced in Australian media July 29, 2022.

SpaceX team headed to Australia to investigate Dragon space junk crash

By Elizabeth Howell published

Officials with SpaceX are going to Australia to examine a crash site possibly associated with space debris generated from the Crew-1 Dragon spacecraft.