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

The four private astronauts of the Axiom Space Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station wave to students at Space Center Houston during a video call on April 13, 2022. They are (from left): Ax-1 pilot Larry Connor; commander and former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría; Canadian entrepreneur Mark Pathy; and Israeli entrepeneur Eytan Stibbe.

Bad weather nixes Ax-1 mission's planned Tuesday departure from ISS

By Mike Wall published

Ax-1, the first fully private crewed mission to the International Space Station, won't leave the orbiting lab on Tuesday night (April 19) after all.

The Crew-4 astronauts after landing in Florida on April 18, 2022. (From the left) NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins, Kjell Lindgren, ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and NASA astronaut Robert Hines.

SpaceX Crew-4 astronauts arrive in Florida ahead of April 23 launch to ISS (photos)

By Chelsea Gohd published

The astronauts set to launch aboard the SpaceX Crew-4 mission to the International Space Station have arrived in Florida ahead of their planned April 23 liftoff.

A used SpaceX Falcon rocket launches the classified NROL-85 spy satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022.

SpaceX launches US spy satellite, lands rocket in flawless Easter flight

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX launched a spy satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office and landed the returning rocket back on Earth today (April 17), acing yet another spaceflight twofer.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the classified NROL-87 spy satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office on Feb. 3, 2022 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Watch SpaceX launch a US spy satellite and land a rocket today

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX will launch a spy satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on Sunday (April 17), and you can watch the liftoff live.

Crew-4 commander Kjell Lindgren (at right) with pilot Bob Hines, flanked by crewmates Jessica Watkins and Samantha Cristoforetti and backdropped by their Crew Dragon "Freedom."

SpaceX's Crew-4 astronaut mission for NASA cleared for April 23 launch

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's Crew-4 astronaut mission to the International Space Station is 'go' for launch next weekend.

(From the left) ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer and NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Kayla Barron and Tom Marshburn during a Crew-3 news conference on April 15, 2022.

NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts are ready to come home

By Chelsea Gohd published

After months living and working in space, NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts are nearing the end of their mission and ready to come home.

The four private astronauts of the Axiom Space Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station wave to students at Space Center Houston during a video call on April 13, 2022. They are (from left): Ax-1 pilot Larry Connor; commander and former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría; Canadian entrepreneur Mark Pathy; and Israeli entrepeneur Eytan Stibbe.

Ax-1's first all-private crew to space station would love a trip to the moon. 'The sights here are amazing.'

By Elizabeth Howell published

The private Ax-1 astronauts on the International Space Station told students they'd love to go to the moon after their historic trip

Ax-1 private astronaut Eytan Stibbe will celebrate Passover aboard the ISS in 2022 during his mission as the second Israeli to ever fly to space.

Private Ax-1 astronaut Eytan Stibbe of Israel to celebrate Passover in space

By Chelsea Gohd published

Eytan Stibbe, a private astronaut and the second Israeli to ever reach space, prepares to celebrate Passover in orbit.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches Axiom Space's Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station on April 8, 2022.

Ax-1, Israel and the 'New Space' revolution: Q&A with Israel space chief Uri Oron

By Mike Wall published

Space.com caught up recently with Uri Oron, head of the Israel Space Agency, to discuss the private Ax-1 astronaut mission, New Space and Israel's big ambitions in the final frontier.

An artist's illustration of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites in orbit.

Starlink: SpaceX's satellite internet project

By Adam Mann, Tereza Pultarova, Elizabeth Howell published

Starlink is a satellite network created by private spaceflight company SpaceX.

An artist's illustration of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites in orbit. The company has won a U.S. military contract for missile-warning satellites.

French court revokes SpaceX's Starlink internet license, citing monopolization concerns

By Tereza Pultarova published

France's highest court revoked SpaceX's license to provide internet services via its Starlink megaconstellation, citing monopolization concerns due to the size of the company's operations.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk announced his offer to buy 100% of Twitter in cash on Thursday (April 14).

Elon Musk offers to buy Twitter for a reported $43 billion in cash

By Tariq Malik published

Elon Musk wants to buy Twitter. The SpaceX and Tesla chief announced his bid to buy the social media company Thursday (April 14).

Crew-4 astronauts Jessica Watkins, Bob Hines, Kjell Lindgren and Samantha Cristoforetti on the Crew Dragon "Freedom."

SpaceX's Crew-4 astronaut mission delayed again, to April 23

By Elizabeth Howell published

The four astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-4 mission to the International Space Station have had their launch pushed back again, to April 23.

An artist's rendering of a space telescope built with a liquid lens.

A private Ax-1 astronaut will test making a liquid telescope mirror in space

By Stefanie Waldek published

Ax-1's Mission Specialist Eytan Stibbe will perform the Fluidic Telescope Experiment (FLUTE), investigating the use of liquids to construct telescope lenses in microgravity.

The four members of the Axiom-1 (Ax-1) private crew join the seven members of the International Space Station's Expedition 67 crew for a brief welcome ceremony on Saturday, April 9, 2022. From left to right: Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Korsakov and Denis Matveev, NASA astronauts Raja Chari (upside down) and Kayla Barron, Ax-1 mission specialists Mark Pathy of Canada and Eytan Stibbe of Israel, Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev, Ax-1 pilot Larry Connor, European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer (upside down), Ax-1 commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn.

Ax-1, the first private crew to space station, welcomed aboard with astronaut pins

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The three first-time fliers on the first commercial crew to visit the International Space Station arrived on board the orbiting outpost where they were pinned as the world's newest astronauts.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour carrying the Ax-1 private astronaut crew for Axiom Space docks at the International Space Station on April 9, 2022.

SpaceX Dragon arrives at space station with all-private Ax-1 astronaut crew

By Mike Wall published

A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying the four Ax-1 astronauts docked with the International Space Station at 8:29 a.m. EDT (1229 GMT) today (April 9).

SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour carrying the Ax-1 crew closes in on the International Space Station during an orbital sunrise during docking operations on April 9, 2022.

How to watch SpaceX launch the private Ax-1 space station mission online

By Elizabeth Howell published

Four people are scheduled to go to space during Axiom Space's debut mission, and you can watch many of the events live.

Ax-1 crewmembers receive the signal they can lift the visors on their helmets shortly after their launch toward the International Space Station on April 8, 2022.

Private Ax-1 astronauts on SpaceX capsule to mint NFT artwork in space

By Mike Wall published

The astronauts of the first-ever fully private crewed mission to the International Space Station will commemorate their groundbreaking flight with some digital artwork.

The Axiom-1 crew's "zero-g indicator," the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation dog mascot "Caramel," began floating about their SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft when the mission entered Earth orbit on Friday, April 8, 2022.

Hospital mascot, not Disney rabbit, floats on Ax-1 mission as zero-g indicator

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A longed-eared toy dog was mistaken for a famous Disney rabbit when it was revealed as the "zero-g indicator" on the first private mission to the International Space Station.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the crewed Ax-1 mission toward the International Space Station on April 8, 2022.

A 'beautiful, beautiful launch:' Teams celebrate private Ax-1 mission's landmark liftoff

By Chelsea Gohd published

Four private astronauts left Earth this morning (April 8), riding a SpaceX capsule toward the International Space Station on a history-making liftoff that wowed observers.