SpaceX
Overview
SpaceX, officially known as Space Exploration Technologies Corp., is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company. It was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, with the goal of reducing space transportation costs to enable the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, including the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
History
SpaceX was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk, who had previously co-founded PayPal and Zip2. Musk's vision for SpaceX was to make life multi-planetary and to establish a human colony on Mars. The company's first two launch vehicles were the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 rockets, and its first spacecraft was the Dragon.
Launch Vehicles
SpaceX's launch vehicles include the Falcon 1, Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and the upcoming Starship. The Falcon 1 was the company's first launch vehicle and was designed to minimize price per launch. The Falcon 9, named for its use of nine engines, has been the company's workhorse for satellite delivery and resupply missions to the International Space Station. The Falcon Heavy is a larger version of the Falcon 9, capable of carrying larger payloads to orbit and beyond. The Starship is currently in development and is intended to be a fully reusable spacecraft that will be capable of carrying up to 100 people to Mars.
Dragon Spacecraft
The Dragon spacecraft is a capsule designed to carry cargo and people to orbiting destinations. It made history in 2012 when it became the first commercial spacecraft to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. In 2020, the Dragon 2, also known as Crew Dragon, became the first commercial spacecraft to carry astronauts to the International Space Station.
Mars Colonization
One of SpaceX's long-term goals is to colonize Mars. The company plans to use its Starship spacecraft to transport humans to Mars, with the goal of establishing a self-sustaining colony. SpaceX's plans for Mars colonization have been met with both excitement and criticism from the scientific and space communities.