Company
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 to revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets.
Quick Facts about SpaceX:
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Making History
SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company capable of returning a spacecraft from low Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in 2010. The company made history again in 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft became the first commercial spacecraft to deliver cargo to and from the International Space Station.
SpaceX successfully achieved the historic first reflight of an orbital class rocket in 2017, and the company now regularly launches flight-proven rockets. In 2018, SpaceX began launching Falcon Heavy, the world’s most powerful operational rocket by a factor of two.
CREW DRAGON DOCKS WITH ISS
Crew Dragon docked with the International Space Station on March 3 at 3:02 a.m. PST, becoming the first American spacecraft to autonomously dock with the orbiting laboratory.
Falcon Heavy First Flight
Falcon Heavy is the world’s most powerful operational rocket by a factor of two, capable of carrying large payloads to orbit and supporting missions as far as the Moon or Mars.
First Dragon Reflight
This Dragon resupply mission represented the first reflight of a commercial spacecraft to and from the International Space Station.
FIRST REFLIGHT
On March 30, 2017, SpaceX achieved the world’s first reflight of an orbital class rocket. Following delivery of the payload, the Falcon 9 first stage returned to Earth for the second time.
DRONESHIP LANDING
On April 8, 2016, the Falcon 9 rocket launched the Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station, and the first stage returned and landed on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship.
FIRST LAND LANDING
On December 21, 2015, the Falcon 9 rocket delivered 11 communications satellites to orbit, and the first stage returned and landed at Landing Zone 1 -– the first-ever orbital class rocket landing.
Pad Abort Test
Crew Dragon tests launch abort system, which can provide astronauts with escape capability all the way to orbit.
Drone Ship Landings
SpaceX begins series of first stage landing attempts on an autonomous spaceport
drone ship.
Spacex Awarded $2.6b Commercial Crew Contract
NASA awards SpaceX contract to fly American astronauts.
Falcon 9 Reusable Test Vehicle Flies 1000M
Vehicle completes highest leap to date, lands safely.
First Stage Landing
Falcon 9 first stage successfully lands in Atlantic Ocean.
First Flight of Falcon 9 to GTO
Falcon 9 reaches Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
Grasshopper Completes Half-mile Flight
The Grasshopper program finished with a 744m flight, hover, and landing.
Dragon Visits Station
Dragon becomes the first private spacecraft in history to visit the space station.
Dragon Returns from Earth Orbit
On December 8, 2010, Dragon became the first privately developed spacecraft in history to re-enter from low-Earth orbit.
Falcon 9 First Flight
Met 100% of mission objectives on the first flight!
Falcon 1 Flight 5 Makes History
Falcon 1 Flight 5 makes history, becoming the first privately developed liquid fuel rocket to deliver a commercial satellite to Earth orbit
SpaceX Wins $1.6B CRS Contract
NASA awards SpaceX $1.6B Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract.
Falcon 1 Makes History
Falcon 1 becomes the first privately developed liquid fuel rocket to reach Earth orbit.
Advancing the Future
As one of the world’s fastest growing providers of launch services, SpaceX has secured over 100 missions to its manifest, representing over $12 billion on contract. These include commercial satellite launches as well as US government missions. SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft is flying numerous cargo resupply missions to the space station under a series of Commercial Resupply Services contracts. Dragon was designed from the outset to carry humans to space and will soon fly astronauts under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Building on the achievements of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, SpaceX is working on a next generation of fully reusable launch vehicles that will be the most powerful ever built, capable of carrying humans to Mars and other destinations in the solar system.
Contact SpaceX
SpaceX is a private company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk. The company has more than 6,000 employees across locations, including its headquarters in Hawthorne, CA; launch facilities at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL; Kennedy Space Center, FL; and Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA; a rocket development facility in McGregor, TX; and offices in Redmond, WA; Irvine, CA; Houston, TX; Chantilly, VA; and Washington, DC. SpaceX has suppliers in all 50 states. See our SpaceX Supplier/Contractor Policy and our policy on trademarks, copyrights and other IP.
