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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Polaris Dawn crewmembers Anna Menon, Scott Pottet, Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis.

Polaris Dawn crew prepares for world's 1st private spacewalk with SpaceX

By Leonard David published

The crewmembers of the Polaris Dawn mission are busily training for their orbital flight early next year, one that will see the first commercial spacewalk.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Eutelsat 10B communications satellite on Nov. 22, 2022.

SpaceX launches Eutelsat 10B communications satellite (video)

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

SpaceX launched the Eutelsat 10B communications satellite to space Tuesday (Nov. 22) to serve air and sea traffic.

SpaceX's CRS-26 cargo mission to the International Space Station is scheduled to launch on Nov. 22, 2022.

SpaceX's next NASA cargo launch to space station delayed to Nov. 22

By Jeff Spry published

SpaceX's next cargo launch to the International Space Station (ISS) has been pushed back a day, to Tuesday (Nov. 22).

A train of SpaceX's Starlink satellites seen in the sky above Istanbul.

Better space weather forecast could have saved SpaceX Starlink satellites from solar storm

By Tereza Pultarova published

SpaceX's loss of 40 Starlink satellites in February was preceded by the company using an inaccurate space weather forecasting model to decide to launch following a geomagnetic storm warning.

NASA's Artemis 1 mission successfully launched on November 16, 2022.

Artemis 1 launch success makes NASA's SLS the most powerful rocket ever to fly

By Mike Wall published

With Wednesday morning's (Nov. 16) Artemis 1 launch, NASA's Space Launch System became the most powerful rocket ever to fly a successful mission.

This SpaceX concept shows the company's massive Starship vehicle on the moon as a lunar lander for NASA Artemis astronauts.

NASA taps SpaceX for 2nd astronaut moon landing with Starship

By Mike Wall published

NASA has selected SpaceX's next-generation Starship vehicle to carry astronauts to the lunar surface on the Artemis 4 mission, which is targeted to fly in 2027.

sun shines over solar panels with black of space in behind

BlueWalker 3 satellite unfurls biggest commercial communications array ever

By Elizabeth Howell published

AST SpaceMobile's BlueWalker 3 satellite unveiled an array that is about the same size as a small apartment, to provide high-speed communications from orbit.

Booster 7, a prototype of SpaceX's Starship Super Heavy first stage, fires up 14 of its Raptor engines during a static fire test on Nov. 14, 2022.

SpaceX's Starship Super Heavy booster test-fires record 14 engines (video)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX just conducted its most ambitious and powerful Starship test to date, firing up 14 engines on one of its Super Heavy booster prototypes.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches two Intelsat spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Nov. 12, 2022. It was the record-tying 14th liftoff this Falcon 9's first stage.

SpaceX rocket launches 2 big telecom satellites on record-tying 14th mission

By Elizabeth Howell published

SpaceX launched two heavy telecom satellites for Intelsat on Saturday (Nov. 12), using a Falcon 9 rocket flying on its record-tying 14th mission.

Osom Brand's socks, the first upcycled footwear worn in space, are seen floating in the multi-window Cupola on the International Space Station during astronaut Doug Hurley's 2020 stay.

First upcycled socks worn in space inspire astronaut's new limited edition footwear

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Now you can dress like an astronaut, or at least your feet can, with limited edition socks of the Osom Brand style used by Doug Hurley on the International Space Station.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the company's CRS-25 cargo mission to the International Space Station on July 14, 2022.

Tropical Storm Nicole delays next SpaceX cargo launch to Nov. 21

By Mike Wall published

Tropical Storm Nicole has pushed the liftoff of SpaceX's next cargo mission to the International Space Station back by three days.

A stainless steel propellant tank produced by Chinese launch startup Space Epoch.

Mini Starship? Chinese startup wants to make its own version of SpaceX Mars rocket

By Andrew Jones published

A new Chinese startup is attempting to develop its own reusable stainless-steel rockets, apparently taking inspiration from SpaceX's next-generation Starship vehicle.

Astronaut Bob Behnken is retiring from NASA after 22 years with the space agency.

Astronaut Bob Behnken retires from NASA after trailblazing 22-year career

By Mike Wall published

Bob Behnken is retiring from NASA after a pioneering 22-year career that includes three spaceflights, including SpaceX's first-ever crewed mission.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 54 of the company's Starlink internet satellites lifts off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Sept. 18, 2022.

1,300 SpaceX Starlink terminals with Ukraine's military went offline due to funding shortfall: report

By Mike Wall published

Ukraine's space-based communications infrastructure took a serious hit recently due to funding problems, according to a media report.

A long-exposure photo of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching the Hotbird 13F satellite for Eutelsat on Oct. 15, 2022.

Subtropical Storm Nicole delays SpaceX launch to Saturday

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX had been aiming to launch two telecom satellites on Tuesday (Nov. 8), but the developing Subtropical Storm Nicole has nixed that plan.

a sideways view of a falcon heavy rocket launching to orbit

SpaceX's next Falcon Heavy rocket launch may fly before Christmas

By Elizabeth Howell published

The next SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch date is up in the air, but the most optimistic projections have Viasat-3 flying in December. A Space Force payload is just behind, in 2023.

Estes' SpaceX Falcon 9 with Crew Dragon model rocket comes out of the box ready to fly or "land" on desktop display.

Estes launches SpaceX Falcon 9 as new fly and display model rocket

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A new Estes' SpaceX Falcon 9 with Crew Dragon model rocket is ready to launch and land just like the real vehicle on which it is based.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Hotbird 13G satellite for Eutelsat on Nov. 3, 2022.

SpaceX launches Hotbird 13G telecom satellite, lands rocket at sea

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX launched a telecom satellite to orbit and landed a rocket on a ship at sea early Thursday (Nov. 3).

view of a dragon spacecraft docked with the international space station. the black of space is visible in the background

SpaceX will fly 2 Saudi astronauts to space station on private Axiom Space mission

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

NASA and Axiom Space are adding two Saudi astronauts to the Ax-2 manifest that already includes a NASA astronaut and a motorsports racing driver.

An artist's depiction of the first ispace lander, scheduled to launch in 2022, on the moon.

SpaceX launch of Japanese moon lander, UAE rover delayed to Nov. 22

By Mike Wall published

The Tokyo company ispace's Mission 1, which will carry a tiny moon rover for the United Arab Emirates, has been delayed about a week, to no earlier than Nov. 22.