SpaceX

Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or SpaceX, is a space transport company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by former PayPal entrepreneur Elon Musk. It has developed the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launch vehicles, both of which were designed from conception to eventually become reusable. SpaceX also developed the Dragon spacecraft to be flown into orbit by the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, initially transporting cargo and later planned to carry humans.

For more information about SpaceX check the Wikipedia article here

ZME Science posts about SpaceX

SpaceX’s Grasshoper makes record hop. One step closer to reusable rockets

Tue, Mar 12, 2013

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SpaceX, a company that has made tremendous leaps forward in the past year alone, has recently completed yet another successful test of its reusable Grasshopper spacecraft. This isn’t the Grasshopper’s first test run, but this time around it bested it previous record after it hoped to an altitude nearly 24 stories high, hovered for 34 [...]

SpaceX Dragon Capsule docks with ISS

Mon, Mar 4, 2013

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After a great deal of excitement following a glitch in the Dragon Capsule’s thrusters, the SpaceX vessel docked with the International Space Station as commander Kevin Ford wielded the lab’s robot arm and secured the spacecraft for berthing. A day late, the Dragon made a near-perfect rendezvous with the ISS 253 miles above northern Ukraine, much to the [...]

SpaceX launches third flight to the ISS, Dragon capsule suffers engine glitch

Fri, Mar 1, 2013

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Just a few hours ago, SpaceX launched its third flight to the International Space Station tasked with carrying precious cargo as part of its current contract with NASA. Shortly after the 10:10 AM EST launch of the Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, however, the Dragon Capsule experienced a glitch shortly after parting with its rocket. The [...]

US private company to offer manned flights to the Moon

Fri, Dec 7, 2012

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After the thrilling success of SpaceX, which is currently the best option to ship equipment and supplies in and out of the International Space Station, another company tries to fill in some big shoes: Golden Spike announces plans to offer manned space flights to the surface of the moon by 2020. The private US company [...]

SpaceX founder envisions 80,000 people colony on Mars

Tue, Nov 27, 2012

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A real life Peter-Weyland, SpaceX founder and self-made billionaire, Elon Musk, has stirred up controversy with his space exploration claims on a number of occasions, mostly because they’re considered rather “too ambitious”. A few months ago Musk suggested that in a mere few decades, his company will be offering $500,000 there and back trips to Mars. [...]

SpaceX spacecraft lands safely on Earth, with creepy cargo

Mon, Oct 29, 2012

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SpaceX has gone where no private company has gone before – and safely returned. They are now officially the only company able of space flight, after successfully delivering cargo to the International Space Station and now, returning, with some rather dubious cargo.   Of the total 907 kilograms of experiments and gear it holds, the [...]

ISS bound astronaut explains scientific breakthroughs will surge in the next decade

Mon, Oct 22, 2012

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Surprisingly many people have question the benefits of building and supporting an international space stations, especially considering the costs, which so far are just over $100 billion in 12 years. But people have to understand that only now can ISS astronauts start doing the science they were supposed to, as the ISS is just barely [...]

SpaceX reaches International Space Station safely with precious cargo

Wed, Oct 10, 2012

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Following what seemed to be a serious problem with one of the engines from the Falcon 9 rocket, the unmanned but highly equipped Dragon capsule successfully latched itself to the International Space Station (ISS). The capsule was capture by astronauts using a robotic arm after what seemed to be a flawless approach – which is [...]

SpaceX begins first cargo mission to International Space Station

Mon, Oct 8, 2012

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We’re entering a new era in terms of low orbit space flight, ladies and gents. SpaceX successfully launched the first in a dozen planned missions to supply the International Space Station, after it successfully tested its Dragon capsule and Falcon rocket earlier this year. Thirty years ago, a private company launching shuttles to the ISS [...]

SpaceX’s Elon Musk meets up with NASA leader [with video]

Fri, Oct 5, 2012

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Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, the biggest private space flight company and so far the only one who managed to fly to the International Space Station teams up with NASA chief Charles Bolden in a Google+ “hangout” today to discuss this weekend’s planned launch trip to the ISS. SpaceX is set to launch [...]

Boeing and SpaceX split $1 billion NASA founds – commercial spaceflight on demand

Fri, Aug 3, 2012

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Both Boeing and SpaceX are set to split as much as $1 billion in federal awards destined to spur development of next-generation manned spacecraft. This follows other funding ventures awarded in the past few years to private space companies, in NASA‘s attempt to delimit itself from suborbital ventures, so that it may concentrate on deep [...]

SpaceX on a roll – lands first customer for Falcon Heavy rocket

Tue, May 29, 2012

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The most successful private space flight venture, SpaceX, continues its successful streak which began with the successful launch and docking of its Dragon capsule with the International Space Station, after the company announced recently it has sealed its first contract for its slated Falcon Heavy rocket, which is expected carry about twice as much payload [...]

Dragon Capsule on course for ISS arrival

Fri, May 25, 2012

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As promised, we’ll be keeping you posted with what the Dragon capsule is doing, on its remarkable way to the International Space Station (ISS). The private capsule, owned by SpaceX, was launched from the Falcon rocket and is now right on track to deliver a half-ton of supplies and become the first commercial vessel to [...]

With milestone launch, SpaceX wants to make space flight cheaper and easier

Tue, May 22, 2012

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As we already told you, after the first launch attempt was stopped with just one second to go, SpaceX finally managed to send its Falcon 9 rocket to the ISS – and to the history books. But for NASA, this is not necessarily a good thing, because for the first time in history, instead of [...]

SpaceX finally launches for the ISS. Sparks new age for private spaceflight

Tue, May 22, 2012

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Last Saturday, after many meticulous preparatory stages and a couple of exasperating postponements, SpaceX was set to launch  its Falcon 9 rocket, along with its Dragon capsule filled with food, supplies and science experiments destined for the International Space Station. A faulty valve, however, signaled officials to abort the launch with just ONE second to go. Years and [...]

SpaceX rocket mission canceled with less than a second to go

Mon, May 21, 2012

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It doesn’t only happen in the movies: the launch of the SpaceX Falcon rocket, destined to hit the International Space Station and the history books was delayed, when there was less than a second to go. Like any dramatic James Bond movie, the clock showed 3 seconds, then 2 seconds, then 1 and then… Cancel [...]

The new Liberty rocket aims to bring manned space launches back on US soil by 2015

Thu, May 10, 2012

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Since the space shuttle program was cancelled last year, NASA has been looking for various alternatives to sending manned crews in space, particularly the International Space Station. A number of private space companies have jumped on the bandwagon since then, spearheaded by SpaceX, which is slated to make its first flight to the International Space [...]

SpaceX founder promises $500,000 there and back trips to Mars

Thu, Mar 22, 2012

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You might have thought I made a typo and that I was probably meaning to say $500 million, but truth be told I’m only citing SpaceX founder Elon Musk word for word, and while most of you might view the man insane, what great visionary wasn’t cast under the same shadow in the beginning, only [...]

International Space Station astronauts thrilled to have first private visit

Sun, Jan 8, 2012

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Life on the ISS has its ups and downs, its perks and downsides; but in February, something which seemed a fantasy two decades ago is about to happen: the first private spaceship will ‘visit’ the International Space Station, marking the start of a new era in spaceflight. The private spaceflight company SpaceX plans to launch [...]

Microsoft co-founder announces new private space flight company

Tue, Dec 20, 2011

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We’re at the dawn of a new exciting era – the private space age. More and more companies and influential businessmen have hopped on the bandwagon in the past decade, with the thought of building something truly incredible, while operating a profitable business at the same time. Richard Branson launched Virgin Galactic, Elon Musk (Paypal [...]

SpaceX to make ISS trip in February 2012

Mon, Dec 12, 2011

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Since NASA retired its space shuttle program this summer, the space agency has been left with no viable means of transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station. As such, NASA is currently dependent on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft to fulfill this duty, whose services come at a hefty cost. Today, NASA announced that the [...]

Private SpaceX Dragon Capsule could go drill for ice on Mars

Wed, Nov 9, 2011

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The privately built SpaceX shuttle is only a few weeks away from its first space flight towards the International Space Station, but NASA already has big dreams for the Dragon; in a presentation held last week, SpaceX and space agency officials discussed sending Dragon to Mars in a revolutionary mission astronomers have called the ‘Red [...]

‘Astronaut Suicide’ inspired by space shuttle retirement [PHOTO GALLERY]

Tue, Aug 23, 2011

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These aren’t the most favorable times for space flight we live in. Last month space shuttle Atlantis completed its final mission, signaling the retirement of the whole three decade long program. Currently NASA is left without a means of its own to  launch astronauts into space for missions, like those to the International Space Station, [...]

SpaceX founder wants man to become a multi-planetary species

Tue, Aug 2, 2011

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More than just a SciFi dream, Paypal founder and billionaire Elon Musk wants to make “man on Mars” a reality. Speaking at a recent spaceflight propulsion conference held by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics on Tuesday, Musk unveiled during his keynote how his company, SpaceX, plans on sending humanity to Mars in coming decades. [...]

On the eve of the shuttle’s “Final Countdown”

Tue, Jul 5, 2011

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Space shuttle Atlantis will embark this Friday on its final journey, symbolizing the end of NASA’s illustrious space shuttle program. Yesterday, the last crew of the orbiter Atlantis arrived at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, where the launch will take place. Commander Chris Ferguson said: “I think I speak for the whole crew in that we [...]

NASA funds commercial space taxi development worth $269 million

Tue, Apr 19, 2011

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As the last two shuttle flights will mark the end of a thirty year long program, NASA is looking for alternatives to transport astronauts, cargo and equipment to and from outer space. The best alternative seems to come from the private sectore, and with this in mind NASA has awarded a total $269 million dived [...]

SpaceX reveals plans for world’s most powerful rocket

Wed, Apr 6, 2011

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  NASA is going through one of it’s hardest periods ever, but that doesn’t mean that the space research and industry is too; take a look at SpaceX, a private company that already successfully launched a rocket, Falcon, into outer space last year. Now, they’re planning something even bigger. Falcon Heavy has about twice as [...]

SpaceX unveil the world’s most powerful private rocket

Wed, Apr 6, 2011

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The dawn of a new space era has begun – the commercial space era! As governments constantly cut space exploration budgets, the world is forced to turn its gaze upon the private sector which is more than willing to lend a commercial hand to space agencies. Space tourism, satellite orbit delivery, ISS cargo taxi, you [...]

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