SpaceX facts for kids
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Company headquarters, SpaceX Starbase near Brownsville, Texas
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Trade name
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SpaceX |
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| Founded | March 14, 2002 in El Segundo, California, U.S. |
| Founder | Elon Musk |
| Headquarters | SpaceX Starbase,
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Key people
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| Revenue |  US$4.6 billion (2022) |
| ▲ US$-559 million (2022) | |
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Number of employees
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13,000+ (September 2023) |
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SpaceX is an American company that builds rockets and spacecraft. It was started by Elon Musk in 2002. SpaceX is based near Brownsville, Texas.
Since it began, SpaceX has made huge steps forward in space travel. They have improved how rockets launch, how to reuse parts of rockets, and how to send people into space. They also work on groups of satellites that provide internet. As of 2024, SpaceX is the top company for launching things into space around the world. They launch more rockets than any other company or country. SpaceX often works with NASA and the United States Armed Forces on important space missions.
Elon Musk founded SpaceX because he wanted to make space travel cheaper. His big dream is to help create a colony on Mars. In 2008, their first rocket, Falcon 1, successfully reached orbit after three tries. After that, they built the larger Falcon 9 rocket and the Dragon 1 capsule. These were used to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA.
By 2012, SpaceX was regularly sending supplies to the ISS. Around this time, they also started working on making the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage reusable. This means the bottom part of the rocket can land back on Earth and be used again. In 2015, they landed a Falcon 9 first stage successfully for the first time. In 2017, they launched a reused first stage into space again. The Falcon Heavy rocket, which is made of three Falcon 9 boosters, first flew in 2018. As of October 2024, Falcon 9 rockets have landed and flown again over 330 times. They now launch 1 to 2 times a week!
These successes helped SpaceX get more money. The company then started to find new ways to earn money. In 2019, they launched the first working satellites for Starlink, which provides internet from space. Starlink now brings in most of SpaceX's money. It also led to Starshield, a similar system for military use. In 2020, SpaceX started using its Dragon 2 capsules to send astronauts for NASA and other groups. Around this time, SpaceX also began building test versions of Starship. This is the biggest rocket ever built. Starship aims to make space travel fully reusable, affordable, and flexible. SpaceX is also creating its own space suits and training astronauts for its Polaris program. They are also building a human lander for moon missions as part of NASA's Artemis program.
Contents
About SpaceX
How SpaceX Started
Early Days (2001-2004)
In 2001, Elon Musk met Robert Zubrin and gave money to the Mars Society, which works on Mars exploration. Musk wanted to send a greenhouse to Mars to grow plants. He first tried to buy old Russian rockets for this project.
When Musk went to Russia, the people there were not interested in selling rockets cheaply. On the flight home, Musk decided he would start his own company to build affordable rockets. He believed he could make rockets much cheaper by building most parts himself and using simple, ready-made components.
In early 2002, Elon Musk started looking for people to work at his new company, which he named SpaceX. Many early employees came from other big aerospace companies. By 2005, SpaceX had 160 employees. Musk's main goal was to make space travel much cheaper and more reliable.
First Rockets: Falcon 1 (2005-2009)
SpaceX built its first rocket, the Falcon 1, using its own money. The Falcon 1 was a small rocket that could launch things into orbit. It cost about $90 million to $100 million to develop. The Falcon rockets are named after the Millennium Falcon spacecraft from Star Wars.
In 2006, NASA chose SpaceX to help deliver cargo and crew to the International Space Station (ISS). They gave SpaceX $396 million for this project.
The first three Falcon 1 launches, from 2006 to 2008, all failed. This almost caused the company to go out of business. Elon Musk was under a lot of stress because his other companies were also having financial problems.
Things changed with the fourth launch on September 28, 2008. This launch was successful! Musk then put his remaining money into SpaceX and his car company, Tesla. NASA also gave SpaceX a $1.6 billion contract in December, which saved the company. Because of this success, the Falcon 1 was retired after its fifth launch in July 2009. SpaceX then focused on building a bigger rocket called the Falcon 9.
Bigger Rockets and Dragon (2010-2012)
SpaceX decided to build the Falcon 9, a much larger rocket that could be reused. NASA helped speed up the development of the Falcon 9 by promising to buy flights if certain goals were met. In 2006, NASA gave SpaceX money to develop the Dragon spacecraft and the Falcon 9. The Falcon 9 first launched in June 2010 with a test version of the Dragon spacecraft.
The first real Dragon spacecraft launched in December 2010. It returned safely to Earth after orbiting twice. By December 2010, SpaceX was building one Falcon 9 and Dragon every three months.
In 2011, NASA gave SpaceX more money to develop a way for the Dragon spacecraft to escape quickly if there was a problem during launch. This was to make it safe for astronauts.
By early 2012, Elon Musk owned about two-thirds of SpaceX. The company was valued at about $1.3 billion. In May 2012, the Dragon spacecraft became the first commercial (non-government) spacecraft to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. After this flight, SpaceX's value almost doubled to $2.4 billion.
SpaceX also started testing how to land the Falcon 9 first stage vertically. They began with low-altitude tests in late 2012.
Growing Fast (2013-2015)
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In 2013, SpaceX launched its first mission for a private customer. In 2014, SpaceX won many new contracts. Other rocket companies in Europe even asked their governments for more money to compete with SpaceX's lower prices. SpaceX also started to compete for U.S. military launches, which had been very expensive and controlled by one company for a long time.
In January 2015, SpaceX received $1 billion in funding from companies like Google. This made SpaceX worth about $12 billion. The same month, SpaceX announced a new project called Starlink. This project aims to provide global internet service using 4,000 satellites.
The Falcon 9 had its first big failure in June 2015. A rocket carrying supplies to the ISS exploded two minutes after launch. The problem was a broken steel part that caused high-pressure helium to leak, leading to the explosion.
Reusable Rockets (2015-2017)
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SpaceX successfully landed a Falcon 9 first stage on land in December 2015. In April 2016, they achieved the first successful landing on a floating platform in the ocean, called an autonomous spaceport drone ship. By October 2016, SpaceX offered customers a 10% discount if they chose to fly their payload on a reused Falcon 9 first stage.
Another rocket explosion happened in September 2016. A Falcon 9 exploded during a test before launch. A satellite worth $200 million was destroyed. The explosion was caused by super-cold liquid oxygen reacting with carbon parts. This stopped launches for four months while SpaceX investigated. They started launching again in January 2017.
In March 2017, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 that had been used before. This was the first time a used orbital rocket carried a payload back into space. The first stage was recovered again, making it the first time a reused rocket was landed.
Becoming a Global Leader (2017-2018)
In July 2017, SpaceX raised $350 million, increasing its value to $21 billion. By 2017, SpaceX was responsible for 45% of all commercial launch contracts worldwide. By March 2018, SpaceX had over 100 launches planned, worth about $12 billion. This made SpaceX the top commercial launch provider in the world.
In 2017, SpaceX started a new company called The Boring Company. This company began building a short test tunnel near SpaceX's headquarters. The Boring Company later became a separate company.
Starship and More (2019-Present)
In 2019, SpaceX raised $1.33 billion more. By May 2019, SpaceX was valued at $33.3 billion, and by March 2020, it reached $36 billion.
In February 2021, SpaceX raised another $1.61 billion, making the company worth about $74 billion. By 2021, SpaceX had raised over $6 billion. Most of this money was used for the Starlink satellite internet system and the development of the Starship rocket. By October 2021, SpaceX's value had grown to over $100 billion.
In April 2021, Starship HLS won a contract to be the human lander for NASA's Artemis program to the Moon. SpaceX also made deals with Google and Microsoft to help with Starlink's ground services. In 2022, SpaceX was valued at $127 billion.
In July 2021, SpaceX launched another drone ship called A Shortfall of Gravitas. They landed a booster on it for the first time in August 2021. In 2022, SpaceX had 18 rocket launches and two astronaut splashdowns in just the first 130 days. In December 2021, Elon Musk announced that SpaceX was starting a program to turn captured carbon dioxide into rocket fuel.
In August 2022, the European Space Agency (ESA) started talking with SpaceX about using their rockets. This was because Russia had stopped providing Soyuz rockets due to the war in Ukraine. Starlink was also used a lot in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
In 2022, SpaceX's Falcon 9 set a world record for the most launches of a single rocket type in one year. SpaceX launched a rocket about every six days in 2022, with 61 launches in total.
Starship: The Giant Rocket
In January 2019, SpaceX announced it would lay off 10% of its workers to help pay for the Starship and Starlink projects. The goal of Starship is to carry many people and a lot of cargo to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. SpaceX's Starship is the largest and most powerful rocket ever flown. It can carry over 100 tons. Building and testing Starship started in early 2019 in Florida and Texas. All Starship work later moved to the new SpaceX South Texas launch site.
On April 20, 2023, Starship's first orbital flight test ended with an explosion in the air. Several engines on the booster failed, and the rocket lost control. The automatic safety system then destroyed the rocket. Elon Musk and others in the space industry still called the test a success.
Musk said it would take "six to eight weeks" to get ready for another launch. In October 2023, a SpaceX executive said they were ready to launch in September. He said government rules were slowing things down and that China might reach the Moon before the U.S.
On November 18, 2023, SpaceX launched Starship on its second flight test. Both parts of the rocket flew for a few minutes before exploding separately.
On March 14, 2024, Starship launched for the third time. For the first time, Starship reached its planned path in space. The booster had a problem before landing, and the ship was lost during its return over the Indian Ocean.
On June 4, 2024, SpaceX got permission for Starship's fourth flight test. This time, the permission allowed SpaceX to launch future tests without a long investigation if they had similar flights and hardware. This could make development faster.
On October 12, 2024, SpaceX got approval for Starship's fifth flight test. This flight was the first without any engine failures, and the first time the booster was successfully caught by the launch tower.
SpaceX launched Starship on its sixth flight test on November 19, 2024. The booster did not try to be caught, and the ship successfully restarted its engine in space.
On January 16, 2025, SpaceX launched Starship on its seventh flight test. This was the first time they used a new version of the ship, Ship 33, which is 123 meters (403 feet) tall. This test also carried a fake Starlink satellite. The booster was caught by the tower for the second time. However, after 8 minutes, SpaceX lost contact with the ship (the upper part of Starship), and it failed during its climb. The spacecraft reportedly exploded over the Atlantic Ocean. The FAA started an investigation into the failure.
On March 7, 2025, another Starship rocket launched from Texas. Contact was lost minutes into the flight, and the spacecraft broke apart. A first look suggested an oxygen leak and fires caused the engines to shut down and the self-destruct system to activate.
Sending Astronauts to Space
A big moment happened in May 2020. SpaceX successfully launched two NASA astronauts, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, into orbit on a Crew Dragon spacecraft. This was the first time a private company sent astronauts to the International Space Station. It was also the first time astronauts launched from American soil in 9 years. The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A in Florida.
Starlink Internet
In May 2019, SpaceX launched the first large group of 60 Starlink satellites. This began the process of building the world's largest commercial satellite network. In 2022, most SpaceX launches were for Starlink, which is a business that sends internet-beaming satellites into space. Starlink now has over 2,200 satellites in orbit.
In December 2022, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allowed SpaceX to launch up to 7,500 of its next-generation Starlink satellites.
Cool Things SpaceX Has Done
| Date | Achievement | Flight |
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| 28 September 2008 | First privately funded rocket to reach orbit using only liquid fuel. | Falcon 1 Flight 4 |
| 14 July 2009 | First privately funded rocket to put a commercial satellite in orbit. | Falcon 1 Flight 5 |
| 9 December 2010 | First private company to launch, orbit, and bring back a spacecraft. | SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1 |
| 25 May 2012 | First private company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). | SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 2 |
| 22 December 2015 | First time an orbital rocket's first stage landed successfully on land. | Falcon 9 Flight 20 |
| 8 April 2016 | First time an orbital rocket's first stage landed successfully on a ship in the ocean. | SpaceX CRS-8 |
| 30 March 2017 | First time a used orbital first stage was launched again and landed. | SES-10 |
| First time a rocket's nose cone (payload fairing) was controlled and recovered. | ||
| 3 June 2017 | First time a commercial cargo spacecraft was reused. | SpaceX CRS-11 |
| 6 February 2018 | First private spacecraft launched into orbit around the Sun. | Falcon Heavy test flight |
| 2 March 2019 | First private company to send a spacecraft designed for humans into orbit. | Crew Dragon Demo-1 |
| 3 March 2019 | First private company to automatically connect a human-rated spacecraft to the ISS. | |
| 25 July 2019 | First flight of a new type of powerful engine (Raptor). | Starhopper |
| 11 November 2019 | First time a rocket's nose cone (payload fairing) was reused. | Starlink 2 v1.0 |
| 30 May 2020 | First private company to send humans into orbit. | Crew Dragon Demo-2 |
| First private company to send humans to the ISS. | ||
| 24 January 2021 | Most spacecraft launched on a single mission (143 satellites). | Transporter-1 |
| 23 April 2021 | First time a used space capsule carried a crew. | SpaceX Crew-2 / Endeavour |
| First time a reused booster sent humans into orbit. | ||
| 17 June 2021 | First time a reused booster launched a national security mission. | GPS III-05 |
| 16 September 2021 | First orbital launch with an all-private crew. | Inspiration4 |
| 24 November 2021 | Longest streak of successful orbital launches for a single rocket type (Falcon 9, 101 launches). | Double Asteroid Redirection Test |
| 9 April 2022 | First all-private crew to connect with the International Space Station. | Axiom Mission 1 |
| 20 October 2022 | Highest number of launches of a single rocket type in a year (Falcon 9, 48 launches). | Starlink 4-36 |
| 20 April 2023 | Tallest, heaviest, and most powerful rocket ever launched. | SpaceX Starship orbital test flight |
| 14 March 2024 | Starship reaches its planned speed for orbit for the first time. | SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 3 |
| 12 April 2024 | A single Falcon 9 booster used for the 20th time. | Booster 1062 |
| 12 September 2024 | First commercial spacewalk. | Polaris Dawn |
| 13 October 2024 | First time the Super Heavy booster was caught by the tower. | Starship flight test 5 |
| 19 November 2024 | First time a Raptor engine was restarted in space. | Starship flight test 6 |
Where SpaceX Works
SpaceX's main office is in Hawthorne, California. This is also where they build most of their rockets. They have a research center in Redmond, Washington, and a test site in Texas. SpaceX also uses three launch sites and is building another one.
Main Headquarters and Factories
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SpaceX's main office is in Hawthorne, California. This large building used to be where parts of Boeing 747 airplanes were made. Now, it holds SpaceX's offices, mission control, and Falcon 9 rocket factories.
This area has many space companies, so SpaceX can find many skilled engineers. SpaceX builds almost all of its rocket parts, engines, spacecraft, and software in-house. This is unusual for the space industry.
In January 2015, SpaceX announced it would start making satellites and providing global satellite internet. Their first satellite facility is in Redmond, Washington. In July 2016, SpaceX also got an office in Irvine, California to work on satellite communications.
Test Sites
SpaceX has a Rocket Development and Test Facility in McGregor, Texas. All SpaceX rocket engines are tested here. They also tested the Falcon 9 "Grasshopper" prototype for vertical landings here in 2012–2013. The much larger Starship prototypes are tested at SpaceX Starbase near Brownsville, Texas.
SpaceX bought the McGregor facility from another company and improved it. They have many test stands that run almost all the time. After a Dragon capsule returns from space, it is sent to McGregor to be cleaned and prepared for future missions.
Launch Pads
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SpaceX uses four main launch sites for rockets going into orbit. These are at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Vandenberg Space Force Base in California for Falcon rockets, and SpaceX Starbase in Texas for Starship. SpaceX believes each site is important and has enough launches to keep them busy. The Vandenberg site is for rockets going into specific orbits (like polar orbits), while the Florida sites are for other types of orbits.
Before it was retired, all Falcon 1 rockets launched from Omelek Island in the Marshall Islands.
In 2007, the U.S. military approved SpaceX to use Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40). This site has been used since 2010 for Falcon 9 launches. The former Launch Complex 13 at Cape Canaveral is now called Landing Zones 1 and 2. Since 2015, it has been used for Falcon 9 first-stage booster landings.
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Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4E) was leased from the military in 2011. It is used for satellites going into polar orbits. This site can launch both Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. The nearby SLC-4W was changed into Landing Zone 4 in 2015 for booster landings.
On April 14, 2014, SpaceX signed a 20-year lease for Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A. This pad was changed to support Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches. As of 2024, it is the only pad that launches Falcon Heavy. SpaceX launched its first mission with astronauts to the ISS from Pad 39A on May 30, 2020. Pad 39A has also been getting ready to launch Starship rockets since 2019.
SpaceX builds and flies Starship test rockets from SpaceX Starbase in Boca Chica, near Brownsville, Texas. They announced plans for this site in August 2014. The first suborbital (not full orbit) launches from this site happened in 2019, and orbital launches started in 2023. Some local residents and environmental groups have criticized the site and the Starship development.
How SpaceX Helps NASA and the Military
SpaceX has won contracts from NASA to deliver cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). SpaceX is also approved to launch satellites for the U.S. military. In 2018, SpaceX had over $12 billion worth of contracts.
Helping NASA with Cargo
In 2006, SpaceX won a NASA contract to show they could deliver cargo to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA gave SpaceX $396 million to develop the cargo version of the Dragon spacecraft. SpaceX used its own money to develop the Falcon 9 rocket. These agreements saved NASA a lot of money compared to if NASA had developed the rockets itself.
In December 2010, SpaceX became the first private company to successfully launch, orbit, and bring back a spacecraft. The Dragon spacecraft successfully connected with the ISS in May 2012. This was a first for a private spacecraft.
NASA also signed contracts with SpaceX to deliver cargo and supplies to the International Space Station. The first contracts in 2008 gave SpaceX $1.6 billion for 12 cargo missions until 2016. The first of these missions launched in October 2012. Dragon connected with the ISS and stayed for 20 days before returning to Earth.
SpaceX has flown cargo missions to the ISS about twice a year since then. In 2015, NASA ordered more supply flights from SpaceX, bringing the total to twenty cargo missions. The last original Dragon mission left the ISS in April 2020. SpaceX will now fly up to nine more cargo flights using the newer Dragon 2 spacecraft. In March 2020, NASA also hired SpaceX to develop the Dragon XL spacecraft to send supplies to the Lunar Gateway space station. Dragon XL will launch on a Falcon Heavy rocket.
Helping NASA with Astronauts
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SpaceX is in charge of taking NASA astronauts to and from the ISS. NASA started programs to help private companies develop spacecraft to carry astronauts. SpaceX won its first contract in 2011 and another in 2012 to keep developing its Dragon 2 spacecraft.
In September 2014, NASA chose SpaceX and Boeing to develop systems to transport U.S. crews to the ISS. SpaceX received $2.6 billion to finish and get Dragon 2 approved by 2017. The contracts required at least one test flight with NASA astronauts. Once Crew Dragon was approved for human spaceflight, SpaceX had to conduct at least two, and up to six, missions to the space station with crews.
SpaceX completed its first key test flight of the Crew Dragon spacecraft in May 2015. They successfully flew an uncrewed test flight in early 2019. The capsule connected to the ISS and then landed in the Atlantic Ocean. In January 2020, SpaceX did a test where the Dragon spacecraft fired its escape engines in a practice emergency. This was the last test before flying astronauts.
On May 30, 2020, the Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission launched to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley. This was the first time a crewed vehicle launched from the U.S. since 2011, and the first time SpaceX launched astronauts to the ISS. The Crew-1 mission successfully launched to the ISS on November 16, 2020, with four astronauts. On April 23, 2021, Crew-2 launched to the ISS with four more astronauts.
SpaceX also offers paid spaceflights for private people. The first of these missions, Inspiration4, launched in 2021. This mission sent four private citizens into orbit around Earth. All four crew members received special training from SpaceX. This training included learning about how things move in space, how to work in zero gravity, and what to do in emergencies.
Working with the Military
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In 2005, SpaceX announced it had a contract allowing the United States Air Force to buy up to $100 million worth of launches from the company. In December 2012, SpaceX announced its first two launch contracts with the United States Department of Defense (DoD). These were for the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) and Space Test Program 2 (STP-2) missions. DSCOVR launched on a Falcon 9 in 2015, and STP-2 launched on a Falcon Heavy in June 2019.
The Falcon 9 was approved for national security launches in 2015. This ended a monopoly that another company had since 2006 for U.S. Air Force launches. In April 2016, the U.S. Air Force gave SpaceX its first national security launch contract to launch a GPS satellite for $82.7 million. This was about 40% less than similar missions had cost before. SpaceX also launched more GPS satellites for the Air Force.
The U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) also bought launches from SpaceX. In August 2020, the United States Space Force gave SpaceX a contract for $316 million for one launch. SpaceX will also handle 40% of the U.S. military's satellite launch needs over the next few years.
SpaceX also designs and launches special military satellites for the Space Development Agency. These are part of a new missile defense system in low Earth orbit. This system would help the United States detect and stop nuclear missiles and hypersonic weapons. Some countries and groups are worried this program could lead to an arms race in space.
In March 2024, it was reported that SpaceX is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites as part of a $1.8-billion contract with the National Reconnaissance Office. This new network would work together in low orbits.
Hardware
Launch Vehicles
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SpaceX has built three types of rockets. The small Falcon 1 was their first rocket, but it was retired in 2009. The Falcon 9 (medium-lift) and the Falcon Heavy (heavy-lift) are both still in use.
The Falcon 1 was a small rocket that could put a few hundred kilograms into orbit. It launched five times between 2006 and 2009, with two successful flights. It was the first privately funded, liquid-fueled rocket to reach orbit.
The Falcon 9 is a medium-sized rocket that can carry up to 22,800 kilograms (50,265 pounds) into orbit. It competes with other rockets around the world. It has nine Merlin engines in its first stage. The Falcon 9 successfully reached orbit on its first try in June 2010. Its third flight in May 2012 launched the first commercial spacecraft to reach and connect with the International Space Station (ISS). The Falcon 9 has been updated several times, with the latest version being the Falcon 9 Block 5 in 2018. The first stage of the Falcon 9 is designed to land and be reused.
The Falcon Heavy is a very powerful rocket that can carry up to 63,800 kilograms (140,700 pounds) into low Earth orbit. It uses three slightly changed Falcon 9 first stages, with a total of 27 Merlin 1D engines. The Falcon Heavy successfully flew its first mission on February 6, 2018. It launched Elon Musk's personal Tesla Roadster into orbit around the Sun.
Both the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy are approved to launch satellites for national security missions. As of December 2024, the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy have launched 397 times, with 395 full successes, one partial success, and one failure during flight. Also, a Falcon 9 had a failure before a test in 2016.
SpaceX is also developing a fully reusable, super-heavy rocket system called Starship. It has a reusable first stage called Super Heavy and a reusable upper stage called Starship. This system is meant to replace SpaceX's current rockets in the early 2020s.
Rocket Engines
Since 2002, SpaceX has developed several rocket engines: Merlin, Kestrel, and Raptor. They also have Draco engines for controlling the Dragon spacecraft, and SuperDraco engines for emergency escapes in the Crew Dragon.
Merlin engines use liquid oxygen (LOX) and rocket fuel (RP-1). Merlin engines were first used on the Falcon 1 and are now used on both stages of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. Kestrel engines use the same fuels and were used on the Falcon 1's second stage.
Draco and SuperDraco engines use special liquid fuels that ignite when mixed. Draco engines are used to control the Dragon and Dragon 2 spacecraft. The SuperDraco engine is more powerful. Eight SuperDraco engines provide an emergency escape system for the Crew Dragon spacecraft if there's a problem during launch.
Raptor is a new family of engines that use liquid oxygen and liquid methane as fuel. These engines will power the first and second stages of the Starship rocket system, which is still being developed. Test versions were fired in late 2016, and the engine first flew in 2019 on the Starhopper test vehicle.
Dragon Spacecraft
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SpaceX developed the Dragon spacecraft to carry cargo and astronauts to the International Space Station. The first version of Dragon, used only for cargo, first launched in 2010. The current version, Dragon 2, flew its first uncrewed test flight to the ISS in early 2019. This was followed by a crewed flight of Dragon 2 in 2020. The cargo version of Dragon 2 first flew in December 2020, delivering supplies to the Space Station for NASA.
In March 2020, SpaceX showed off the Dragon XL. This spacecraft is designed to resupply NASA's planned Lunar Gateway space station. Dragon XL is planned to launch on the Falcon Heavy and can carry over 5,000 kilograms (11,000 pounds) to the Gateway. Dragon XL will stay connected to the Gateway for six to twelve months.
SpaceX also designed a spacesuit for astronauts to wear inside the Dragon spacecraft. This suit protects them if the cabin loses air pressure. On May 4, 2024, SpaceX showed a second spacesuit designed for spacewalks. This suit is planned for use during the Polaris Dawn mission.
Drone Ships for Landing Rockets
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SpaceX regularly lands the first stage of its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets after they launch into orbit. The rocket lands at a specific site using its engines. If the rocket doesn't have enough fuel to return to the launch site, it lands on a floating platform in the ocean called an autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS).
SpaceX also plans to use floating launch platforms. These are changed oil rigs that will be used in the 2020s to launch their next-generation Starship system from the sea.
Starlink Satellites
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Starlink is a satellite internet system being built by Starlink Services, a company owned by SpaceX. It uses thousands of connected communications satellites orbiting about 550 kilometers (340 miles) above Earth. Its goal is to provide affordable internet to places around the world that don't have good service.
Development began in 2015. In May 2019, SpaceX launched the first group of 60 satellites. Testing of the system began in late 2020, and customers started ordering service in early 2021. Customers were told to expect internet speeds of 50 to 150 megabits per second. In December 2022, Starlink had over 1 million subscribers worldwide.
Astronomers have criticized the large number of Starlink satellites because they can be bright and interfere with scientific observations. SpaceX has made changes to the satellites to make them less bright. The many satellites also create a risk of space debris collisions. However, the satellites have special engines that allow them to move out of orbit at the end of their life. They are also designed to avoid collisions on their own.
In December 2022, SpaceX announced Starshield. This program will put military or government payloads on satellites similar to Starlink. The Space Development Agency is a key customer, buying satellites for a space-based missile defense system.
Other Projects
Fun Projects
In June 2015, SpaceX announced it would sponsor a Hyperloop competition. They built a 1.6-kilometer (1-mile) test track near their headquarters for the event. The company has held this competition every year since 2017.
In 2020, SpaceX invited its employees to help with a COVID-19 antibody-testing program. Over 4,300 employees volunteered to give blood samples. This led to a scientific paper that suggested a certain level of COVID-19 antibodies might protect against the virus.
In July 2018, Elon Musk arranged for his employees to build a mini-submarine. This was to help rescue children stuck in a flooded cave in Thailand. Engineers at SpaceX and The Boring Company built the mini-submarine from a rocket part in eight hours. They personally delivered it to Thailand. However, by that time, most of the children had already been rescued, so the submarine was not needed.
Images for kids
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SpaceX logo
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SpaceX Starbase near Brownsville, Texas
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The first successful Falcon 1 launch in September 2008
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Launch of Falcon 9 carrying ORBCOMM OG2-M1, July 2014
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Falcon 9 first stage on an autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) barge after the first successful landing at sea, SpaceX CRS-8 mission
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Starship in launch position
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Merlin 1D engine undergoes a test at SpaceX's Rocket Development and Test Facility in McGregor, Texas
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The SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, designed to deliver crew to and from the International Space Station as part of the Commercial Crew Development program
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Autonomous spaceport drone ship in position prior to CRS-6 mission
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Sixty Starlink satellites stacked together before deployment
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SpaceX Headquarters in Hawthorne, California at night during a Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base
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Aerial view of the SpaceX McGregor engine testing facility, 2008
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Falcon Heavy Side Boosters landing on LZ1 and LZ2 at Cape Canaveral
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SpaceX west coast launch facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base, during the launch of CASSIOPE
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The Starship assembly building at SpaceX Starbase in Texas
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The COTS 2 Dragon is berthed to the International Space Station (ISS) by Canadarm2
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NASA astronauts inside the Dragon spacecraft during the Crew-1 mission rendezvous with the International Space Station
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Resilience after splashdown
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Launch of the STP-2 mission on a Falcon Heavy in June 2019
See also
In Spanish: SpaceX para niños
