SpaceRef Business: SpaceX Archives

Sentinel-6 First Stage Booster Landing

The first-stage booster of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket flies down to a landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California during the launch of the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich mission. The Falcon 9 carrying the satellite lifted off from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex 4 on Nov. 21, 2020, at 9:17 a.m. PST (12:17 p.m. EST).

Loading Up A Space Cargo Droid

The remaining time-sensitive payloads bound for the International Space Station on SpaceX's 21st Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-21) mission are loaded into the Cargo Dragon spacecraft on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020.

Study Confirms Dark Coating Can Reduce Satellite Reflectivity

Observations conducted by the Murikabushi Telescope of Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory confirmed that dark coating can reduce satellite reflectivity by half.

NASA Astronauts Work Aboard The Commercial SpaceX Crew Dragon Spacecraft

NASA astronauts (from left) Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker work inside the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft as they get ready for their approach and rendezvous with the International Space Station.

SpaceX Crew Dragon Rolls Out To The Launch Pad

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard is seen as it is rolled out of the horizontal integration facility at Launch Complex 39A.

Crew Dragon And Falcon 9 In The Hangar

@SpaceX Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 in the hangar at Launch Complex 39A ahead of launching four astronauts to the @Space_Station; liftoff targeted for Saturday, November 14 at 7:49 p.m. EST

SpaceX Falcon 9 And Crew Dragon a Poised For Launch

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the Crew Dragon atop, stands poised for launch at historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 21, 2020, ahead of NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 mission.

Preparing A Dragon For Flight

The Crew Dragon spacecraft that will be used for the Crew-1 mission for NASA's Commercial Crew Program undergoes processing inside the clean room at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California.

Full Launch Simulation For SpaceX Dragon

On March 19 and March 20, SpaceX teams in Firing Room 4 at Kennedy Space Center and SpaceX Mission Control along with NASA flight controllers in Houston, executed a full simulation of launch and docking of the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

SpaceX Crew Dragon Being Prepared For Launch

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft for its first crew launch from American soil arrived at the launch site on Feb. 13, 2020.

SpaceX Cargo Dragon Launched

A SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station after launching at 11:50 p.m. EST Friday.

NASA, SpaceX Complete Final Major Flight Test of Crew Spacecraft

NASA and SpaceX completed a launch escape demonstration of the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket Sunday.

SpaceX, NASA Gear up for In-Flight Abort Demonstration

NASA and SpaceX are preparing to launch the final, major test before astronauts fly aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Program.

Testing The New SpaceX Spacesuits

NASA and SpaceX conducted a formal verification of the company's emergency escape system on Sept. 18, 2019, at Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A in Florida.

SpaceX In-Flight Abort Test Falcon 9 Arrives In Florida

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that will be used for the company's In-Flight Abort Test arrives at SpaceX's hangar at Launch Complex 39 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX Dragon Heads to Space Station with NASA Science, Cargo

After launching at 2:48 a.m. EDT Saturday, a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station with approximately 5,500 pounds of NASA cargo and science investigations that include research into Earth's carbon cycle and the formation of asteroids and comets.

SpaceX Crew Access Arm

At NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A, the crew access arm has been extended to the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft on Jan. 3, 2019.

SpaceX Demo-1 Spacecraft and Falcon 9 Being Prepared For Launch

SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket are positioned at the company's hangar at Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, ahead of the Demo-1 flight test targeted for January 17, 2019.

SpaceX Rehearses Helicopter Landing at Sea

When astronauts splash down into the ocean after their journey to the International Space Station on SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, recovery teams must be able to transport them to land quickly.

Trying Out The SpaceX Spacesuit

NASA Astronaut Suni Williams, fully suited in SpaceX's spacesuit

SpaceX Launches CRS-15 to the International Space Station

Experiments investigating cellular biology, Earth science and artificial intelligence are among the research heading to the International Space Station following Friday's launch of a NASA-contracted SpaceX Dragon spacecraft at 5:42 a.m. EDT.

SpaceX Successfully Launches Hispasat 30W-6 Satellite

Not long after midnight today, at 12:33 a.m. ET, SpaceX successfully launched the Hispasat 30W-6 satellite from the Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. It was the 50th launch for the Falcon 9.

The First Falcon Heavy

Elon Musk has tweeted three pictures of the first Falcon Heavy under assembly at Cape Canaveral. It is expected to be launched in early 2018.

SpaceX Launches EchoStar XXIII

On March 16, 2017, SpaceX's Falcon 9 successfully delivered EchoStar XXIII, a commercial communications satellite for EchoStar Corporation, to a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).

SpaceX Dragon Splashes Down with Crucial NASA Research Samples

SpaceX's Dragon cargo spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 11:47 a.m. EDT Friday, Aug. 26, southwest of Baja California with more than 3,000 pounds of NASA cargo, science and technology demonstration samples from the International Space Station.

NASA Orders Second SpaceX Crew Mission to ISS

NASA took another important step Friday in returning U.S. astronaut launches from U.S. soil with the order of a second post-certification mission from commercial provider SpaceX in Hawthorne, California.

SpaceX Test Fires Falcon 9 First Stage from May Mission

SpaceX disclosed and provided a video of the test firing yesterday of the previously used first stage from the Falcon 9 which flew in early May on the Japanese JCSAT-14 satellite mission. On that flight the first stage landed on a barge in the ocean east of Cape Canaveral at night.

SpaceX Crewed Dragon Undergoes Load Testing

The first test article of a SpaceX Crew Dragon undergoes structural load testing to demonstrate the spacecraft's ability to withstand the tremendous forces it's exposed to during space flight.

SpaceX Successfully Launches EUTELSAT 117 West B and ABS-2A Satellites

A SpaceX Falcon 9 successfully launched and placed the EUTELSAT 117 West B and ABS-2A communications satellites into nominal orbits today.

What Would a Dragon Mission to Mars Cost?

SpaceX would use a Falcon Heavy which they sell for $90 million. Of course it costs SpaceX a lot less to make the rocket than what they sell it for.

Changing The Way We Explore Space

Earlier this week SpaceX announced that it was going to start sending its own missions to Mars. Many people were overjoyed. Others were less than enthusiastic.

NASA Cargo Headed to Space Station Includes Habitat Prototype, Medical Research

Tucked in the trunk of the latest commercial cargo spacecraft to head for the International Space Station is an expandable structure that has the potential to revolutionize work and life on the space station.

SpaceX Tests Crew Dragon Parachutes

Four red-and-white parachutes unfurled high above the desert near Coolidge, Arizona

Video: SpaceX Recap of Falcon 9 Launch and Landing

On December 21, 2015, SpaceX's Falcon 9 delivered 11 satellites to low-Earth orbit and landed the first stage of the rocket back on land.

NASA Orders SpaceX Crew Mission to International Space Station

NASA took a significant step Friday toward expanding research opportunities aboard the International Space Station with its first mission order from Hawthorne, California based-company SpaceX to launch astronauts from U.S. soil.

SpaceX Upgraded Falcon 9 First-Stage Static Fire

SpaceX has released the following video of the first static fire test of the upgraded Falcon 9's first stage with densified propellant which occurred on September 21.

SpaceX Concept of Commercial Crew Launch Operations at Pad 39A

SpaceX released this artist concept of Launch Pad 39A as it would look for the launch of its Crew Dragon spacecraft on top of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying astronauts to the International Space Station.

SpaceX, NASA Managers Discuss Vehicle Mishap Following Falcon 9 Launch Failure

During a post-launch press conference on June 28, mangers from SpaceX and NASA discuss the mishap following the liftoff of the SpaceX CRS-7 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Mishap: More Details Emerge

Sunday morning a Falcon 9 rocket carrying cargo to the International Space Station experienced a catastrophic failure 2:19 into its flight.

NASA Research Returns to Earth Aboard SpaceX Dragon

SpaceX's Dragon cargo spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 12:42 p.m. EDT Thursday with almost 3,100 pounds of NASA cargo from the International Space Station, including research on how spaceflight and microgravity affect the aging process and bone health.

NASA Briefing: SpaceX Commercial Crew Pad Abort Test

A May 1 news briefing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, previewed the pad abort test of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, scheduled for no earlier than Wednesday, May 6.

SpaceX Successfully Launches TurkmenÄlem52E/MonacoSat Satellite

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the TurkmenÄlem52E/MonacoSat satellite
into a geosynchronous transfer orbit after a weather delay on the evening of April 27, 2015. The launch was delayed 49 minutes due to a weather violation, in this case, thick and anvil clouds. But a small window of opportunity opened up, and at 7:03 pm EDT the Falcon 9 launched.

SpaceX Successfully Launches Cargo Resupply Mission to the ISS but Fails to Recover Falcon 1st Stage

SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket with the Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station today to deliver over 1950kg of supplies. The attempt to land the Falcon 9 first stage on the drone ship in the Atlantic failed as the rocket toppled over after landing according to CEO Elon Musk.

Video: SpaceX Launch Footage in Ultra HD 4K

SpaceX has release the following montage of their launches in Ultra HD 4K. Watch it full screen with the speakers up.

SpaceX Launches Dual Payload to GTO

A SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched the ABS 3A and EUTELSAT 115 West B satellites towards a supersynchronous transfer orbit. The launch took place on time when the launch window opened at 10:50 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 1, 2015, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

NASA Science Returns to Earth aboard SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft

SpaceX's Dragon cargo spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean about 7:44 p.m. EST Tuesday 259 miles southwest of Long Beach, California, with nearly 3,700 pounds of NASA cargo, science and first-of-its-kind technology demonstration samples from the International Space Station.

SpaceX Releases New Animation of Falcon Heavy and Booster Recovery

SpaceX has released a new animation depicting the launch of a Falcon Heavy from famed Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) with the controlled recovery of both boosters and the first stage.

NASA News Conference: Update on the Commercial Crew Program

NASA, Boeing and SpaceX will held a news briefing on NASA Television at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston on Jan. 26, to highlight key development activities, test plans and objectives for achieving certification of two American crew transportation systems.

It's Early Days in 2015 But SpaceX is Starting at Light Speed with a Satellite Constellation and Possible Google Investment [Updated]

2014 was a busy year for SpaceX. They managed to launch six rockets, less than hoped, but six nonetheless, all successful. 2015 though is starting with a bang and at light speed. So far they have one rocket launched completed, one drone ship landing miss and another attempt set for February 8th when SpaceX is scheduled to launch NOAA's DSCOVR satellite.

Elon Musk Releases Pictures of Falcon 9 "Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly" (UPDATED)

Elon Musk has released several images through Twitter of what he charaterizes as the "rapid unscheduled disassembly" of the Falcon 9 first stage as it approaches the SpaceX Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship. The pictures are spectacular.

Archived news coming soon.