What do you need to know about SpaceX?

Recoverable, reusable rocket stages that touch down on dry land have been talked about for decades as a way to keep costs down and speed turnaround times, but no one had been able to do it—until now. Here are 10 other things you need to know about the SpaceX. 1. Who is Elon Musk and why is he building rockets?

Is SpaceX the future of space tourism?

Orbital trips are very much the second phase of space tourism; Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are only capable of taking people to the edge of space, not into orbit. SpaceX is therefore likely to be about one-off and extremely expensive private orbital and/or lunar expeditions rather than space tourism.

Where does SpaceX launch its rockets?

It has a factory and a launch site in South Texas, and launch facilities at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (where it launches its reusable rockets) and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (where it lands its reusable rockets) in Florida. It also has a launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU…

How much money has SpaceX made from space missions?

SpaceX has earned over $12 billion (about £9 billion, AU$17 billion) taking large satellites and military payloads into orbit, and has conducted over 100 launches, including a record-breaking 19 launches in 2018. Don’t confuse Blue Origin’s reusable rockets with those of SpaceX.

Is SpaceX’s “Super Heavy Starship” the future of SpaceX?

SpaceX can still compete in the second phase of the program, but it looks like the government will not be funding development of a new launch vehicle or rocket engine for SpaceX. That vehicle, previously known as the Big Falcon Rocket, is pivotal to SpaceX’s plans for the future – a fact reflected in its new name, the “Super Heavy Starship.”

What did SpaceX do with the Crew Dragon?

NASA and SpaceX completed a launch escape demonstration of the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket on Jan. 19, 2020. This was the final major flight test of the spacecraft before it begins carrying astronauts to the International Space Station under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

How has Elon Musk’s SpaceX transformed the space market?

In the 16 years since Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corporation – SpaceX – was founded, the company has transformed the commercial space market. It has proven that launch services can be provided at far less cost than previously thought.