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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SpaceX rolled its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule out to the launch pad at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on May 18, 2023, ahead of the planned May 22 launch of the Ax-2 private astronaut mission.

SpaceX rolls rocket to pad for Sunday's Ax-2 private astronaut launch (photos)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX rolled its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule out to the launch pad on Thursday (May 18) ahead of Sunday's (May 21) planned Ax-2 private astronaut launch.

SpaceX rolls the Ship 25 Starship prototype out to a suborbital pad at its Starbase facility in South Texas in the early-morning hours of May 18, 2023, ahead of a planned static fire test.

SpaceX rolls next Starship prototype out to pad for engine test (photo)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX rolled the Ship 25 Starship upper-stage prototype out to the launch pad early Thursday morning (May 18) to test-fire its six Raptor engines.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 of the company's "V2 mini" Starlink internet satellites lifts off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on May 19, 2023.

SpaceX launches 22 next-gen Starlink satellites to orbit, lands rocket at sea

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX launched 22 of its 'V2 mini' Starlink broadband satellites to orbit early Friday morning (May 19) and landed the returning rocket at sea.

Members of Axiom SpaceX's Ax-2 mission to the International Space Station, from left to right: Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot John Shoffner, and Mission Specialists Ali Alqarni and Rayyanah Barnawi.

Axiom Space's Ax-2: What to know about the 2nd private astronaut mission to the space station

By Josh Dinner published

Here's what you need to know about the four-person Ax-2 mission to the International Space Station, which is scheduled to launch on May 21.

four headshots side by side of ax-2 crew members

Meet the 4 astronauts of SpaceX's Ax-2 mission for Axiom Space

By Elizabeth Howell published

The second all-private mission to the International Space Station by Axiom Space will launch no earlier than May 21. Learn more about the 4 crew members on board.

The crewof Axiom Space's Ax-2 mission on SpaceX's crew access arm at Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. From left: Saudi astronaut Ali Alqarni, Axiom Space's Peggy Whitson, paying customer John Shoffner and Saudi astronaut Rayyanah Barnawi.

Ax-2 private astronauts can't wait for their May 21 SpaceX launch to the space station

By Mike Wall published

The four astronauts of the upcoming Ax-2 mission are eager to leave Earth and head for the International Space Station.

NASA human spaceflight chief Kathy Lueders will retire at the end of April 2023 after 31 years with the agency.

SpaceX hires former NASA human spaceflight chief Kathy Lueders: report

By Mike Wall published

Kathy Lueders, who retired as NASA's human spaceflight chief at the end of April, will help SpaceX develop its giant new Starship deep-space transportation system.

fisheye view of space shuttle payload bay with a robotic arm at center. in foreground is hubble space telescope with two solar panels floating into space

New private plan to rescue Hubble Space Telescope may also target space junk

By Elizabeth Howell published

A second consortium has plans to possibly boost the Hubble Space Telescope and extend its science mission, after SpaceX raised the idea in 2022.

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

SpaceX Ax-2 private astronaut mission is 'go' for May 21 launch

By Mike Wall published

The four-person Ax-2 will launch at 5:37 p.m. ET on May 21 and arrive at the International Space Station about 16 hours later, if all goes according to plan.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 56 Starlink satellites launches at night from Florida on May 14, 2023.

SpaceX launches 56 new Starlink satellites into orbit and lands rocket at sea

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX plans to launch another batch of its Starlink broadband satellites to orbit early Sunday morning (May 14), and you can watch the action live.

Artist's illustration of a SpaceX Dragon capsule approaching Vast Space's planned Haven-1 orbiting outpost.

Vast Space to launch 1st private station on SpaceX rocket in 2025

By Mike Wall published

California-based startup Vast Space plans to launch its Haven-1 space station aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than August 2025.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 51 of the company's Starlink internet satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on May 10, 2023.

SpaceX launches 51 Starlink satellites, lands rocket on ship at sea

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX launched another big batch of its Starlink internet satellites toward orbit and landed the returning rocket on a ship at sea today (May 10).

a cell glows green under a microscope

SpaceX Ax-2 private astronaut mission will grow 1st stem cells in space

By Robert Lea published

The Ax-2 mission will test the effect of microgravity in space on the growth of stem cells.

ramiro saide stands in front of a set of radio telescopes in a field with blue sky in behind

Will SpaceX's Starlink megaconstellation make Earth more detectable to aliens?

By Elizabeth Howell published

Intelligent aliens looking for life in the universe might be able to find Earth using our radio signals, a new SETI study suggests.

Four private Axiom Space Ax-2 astronauts post inside a space station mockup

SpaceX launch of Ax-2 private astronaut mission now targeted for May 21

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's launch of Ax-2, the second private crewed mission to the International Space Station, is now targeted for the evening of May 21.

a spacex crew dragon capsule maneuvers to relocate at the international space station

Astronauts relocate SpaceX Dragon capsule on space station

By Mike Wall last updated

Astronauts flew the SpaceX Dragon capsule Endeavour to a new port on the International Space Station early Saturday (May 6).

Four private Axiom Space Ax-2 astronauts post inside a space station mockup

SpaceX won't launch next private astronaut crew for Axiom Space in early May after all

By Mike Wall published

The launch of Ax-2, the second private crewed mission to the International Space Station, has been delayed beyond early May. A new target date has not yet been announced.

a fairing is visible at left of the image with outgassing visible on the right in dramatic colors

Watch SpaceX Falcon Heavy fairing make fiery re-entry to Earth's atmosphere (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

The satellite-protecting payload fairing on SpaceX's Falcon Heavy made dramatic waves when it came back to Earth after the powerful rocket's launch last weekend.

a streak of light stretches across the night sky

SpaceX Falcon Heavy lights up the night sky in these incredible launch photos

By Robert Lea published

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, April 30, and the moment was captured in incredible images and videos.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket topped with 56 Starlink satellites launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on May 4, 2023.

SpaceX launches 56 Starlink satellites, lands rocket at sea

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX launched another big batch of its Starlink internet satellites and landed the returning rocket at sea early Thursday morning (May 4).