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 launches Axiom Space's Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station on April 8, 2022.

SpaceX launches Ax-1, the 1st fully private astronaut mission to the space station

By Chelsea Gohd published

This morning (April 8), a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off, launching the first fully private crewed mission to the International Space Station.

Axiom Space's private Ax-1 crew will ride a SpaceX Dragon capsule to the International Space Station on April 8, 2022. They are (from left): pilot Larry Connor; Mark Pathy, mission specialist; Michael López-Alegría , commander; and Eytan Stibbe, mission specialist.

The private Ax-1 astronaut mission heralds an exciting new era in spaceflight (op-ed)

By Ran Livne published

Private space stations are coming.

The Ax-1 crew takes part in a launch dress rehearsal, from left: Mark Pathy, Larry Connor, Michael Lopez-Alegria and Eytan Stibbe.

Axiom-1 mission all-private crew to make and carry history on space station

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Artifacts from the first heavier-than-air powered flying machine, the first spacecraft to carry humans to land on the moon and the first Israeli to fly in space are headed into orbit with Ax-1.

NASA's Space Launch System lunar rocket and SpaceX Falcon 9 readying for their historic missions at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX launching private Ax-1 astronaut mission today: Watch it live

By Chelsea Gohd published

SpaceX will launch a former NASA astronaut and three paying customers on a journey to the International Space Station. That mission, called Ax-1, lifts off today (April 8)!

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule that will fly the Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station is seen on its launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on April 6, 2022 (at left). At right is NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission, which is on a pad for testing.

Private Ax-1 astronauts ready to launch on SpaceX rocket tomorrow

By Chelsea Gohd published

The first all-private crewed mission to the International Space Station is ready to fly, mission leaders announced today (April 7).

Retired NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria on Feb. 8, 2007 while he was the Expedition 14 commander aboard the ISS.

Don’t call them 'space tourists,' says former NASA astronaut commanding private Ax-1 mission

By Chelsea Gohd published

Former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría is about to fly to orbit with three paying passengers — but the trio aren't "space tourists," the veteran spaceflyer stresses.

Return To Space

Netflix's 'Return To Space' salutes SpaceX's historic 2020 NASA mission (exclusive)

By Jeff Spry published

"Return To Space" is a new Netflix documentary chronicling SpaceX's role in returning America to crewed spaceflight

Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's vice prime minister and the country's minister of digital transformation, shared this photo on Feb. 28, 2022 of Starlink internet terminals that arrived in Ukraine after Russia invaded.

SpaceX and USAID deliver 5,000 Starlink internet terminals to Ukraine

By Stefanie Waldek published

The public-private partnership is providing internet connectivity to Ukraine, whose cities have been besieged by Russian forces since February.

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

SpaceX's Crew-4 astronaut mission delayed a day to April 21

By Mike Wall published

The launch of Crew-4 had been scheduled for April 19. But it'll now lift off no earlier than April 21, and NASA and SpaceX are also considering the backup date of April 23.

NASA's Space Launch System rocket with the Orion spacecraft aboard is seen at right atop a mobile launcher on April 6 at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B as the Artemis 1 launch team prepares for the next attempt of the wet dress rehearsal test. At left, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft aboard is seen on the launch pad at KSC's Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the planned April 8 launch of the Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station.

See NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket, SpaceX's Ax-1 astronaut mission on the launch pad (photos)

By Mike Wall published

The two rockets — NASA's SLS and SpaceX's Falcon 9 — can be seen together in photos that NASA posted to one of its Flickr accounts today (April 6).

The SpaceX Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket that will fly the all-private Ax-1 astronaut mission to the International Space Station roll out to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on April 5, 2022.

SpaceX rolls Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon capsule out to pad for Ax-1 astronaut launch (photos)

By Mike Wall published

On Tuesday (April 5), SpaceX rolled the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule that will fly the Ax-1 mission out to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk and the SpaceX team are recognized by Vice President Mike Pence at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center following the launch of the company’s Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station on May 30, 2020.

Elon Musk buys 9% stake in Twitter, becoming platform's largest shareholder

By Mike Wall published

Elon Musk has purchased a 9.2% stake in Twitter, regulatory documents released on Monday (April 4) reveal.

Artist’s depiction of a future TESSERAE self-assembling space station in orbit around Mars.

SpaceX private Ax-1 mission's science includes self-assembling robots and light-powered air filters

By Elizabeth Howell published

Axiom Space's first mission plans a heavy share of science during eight days on the International Space Station.

The crew of Axiom Space's Ax-1 mission pose for a photo inside a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft while training. They are: (from left) Mark Pathy; Larry Connor; Michael López-Alegría; and Eytan Stibbe.

SpaceX will launch these 4 private astronauts on Axiom Space's Ax-1 space station mission this week

By Elizabeth Howell published

The first all-private mission to the International Space Station by Axiom Space will launch no earlier than April 6.

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket lifts off from New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula carrying two BlackSky satellites, on Dec. 8, 2021 (Dec. 9 local time).

Watch Rocket Lab launch 2 BlackSky satellites into orbit today

By Mike Wall published

Rocket Lab will launch two new Earth-observation satellites into orbit from New Zealand today and you can watch it live online.

Axiom Space's private Ax-1 crew will ride a SpaceX spacecraft to the International Space Station in April 2022. They are (from left): pilot Larry Connor; Mark Pathy, mission specialist; López-Alegría , commander; and Eytan Stibbe, mission specialist.

Axiom's 1st private astronaut crew is ready to fly to space

By Chelsea Gohd published

Axiom Space and its crew are ready to make history.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 40 satellites on the Transporter-4 rideshare mission launches into orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida on April 1, 2022.

SpaceX launches 40 satellites into orbit, lands rocket at sea

By Mike Wall published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 40 spacecraft to orbit for a variety of customers — and the rocket's first stage came down for a landing on a ship at sea.

A novel Brain.Space headset will map how the brain changes during spaceflight during the Ax-1 private mission to the International Space Station by Axiom Space.

This Israeli startup's sci-fi 'headset' will map brain changes in space on private Ax-1 mission

By Elizabeth Howell published

A brain 'headset' aims to provide a high-resolution view of neural changes that happen in the brain while space, and it will fly aboard Axiom Space's first crewed launch, Ax-1.

NASA's SpaceX Crew-4 mission astronauts include (from left) NASA astronaut Bob Hines, ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Kjell Lindgren.

NASA, SpaceX delay Crew-4 launch to April 20 due to busy space schedule

By Chelsea Gohd published

NASA and SpaceX are pushing the Crew-4 mission back one day because of a jam-packed launch schedule, officials announced today (March 31).

A Blue Origin launch to space. In 2021, Blue Origin employees came forward with public allegations of harassment at the company.

The space industry has a big, ugly sexual harassment problem

By Chelsea Gohd published

Humanity is making a giant leap back to the moon and to Mars. But one giant obstacle continues to plague the humans making this progress possible: sexual harassment.