SpaceX

Headquarters	1310 East Grand Avenue El Segundo , CA USA

Legally known as Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, SpaceX is a NewSpace company in the Aerospace industry.

Company Heritage

The company was founded in 2002 by the entrepreneur Elon Musk. Elon Musk was the founder of PayPal and the proceeds from that creation was used to start SpaceX.

Products and Services

• Merlin Engine - A medium thrust LOX / Kerosene rocket motor. The propellant, of the Merlin engine, is fed via a single shaft, dual impeller turbo-pump using a gas generator cycle. The turbo-pump is also used for hydraulic power during launch. The working hydraulic fluid is the kerosine fuel, saving weight and reducing system complexity.

• Falcon 1 - A two stage to orbit rocket using one Merlin engine on the first stage.
  • Length: 21.3 m (70 ft)
  • Width: 1.7 m (5.5 ft)
  • Mass: 38,555 kg (85 klbs)
  • Liftoff Thrust: 454 kN (102 klbf)

• Falcon 9 - A nine engine rocket.

Historical Events

First Falcon 1 Launch

COTS contract with NASA

Second Falcon 1 Launch

Joint Ventures and Partnerships

With NASA

Future Plans

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Air Force Space Command today announced it has given its blessing for SpaceX to operate Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This may be where the first launches of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle. Complex 40 is the old Titan 4 launch complex on the northern end of the Cape.

Kwajalein Army Range

Future launches at the Kwajalein Army Range (Reagan Test Site) will test the Falcon 1 launch vehicle.

External Links

See Also

• Armadillo Aerospace
• JP Aerospace
• Masten Space Systems
• Scaled Composites - Winner of the first X Prize.
• XCOR Aerospace
• List of Aerospace Companies

Media & Articles

• Interview with Elon Musk and VP of Development Operations (NasaSpaceFlight.com, January 20, 2006)
• Broadcast interviews with Elon Musk about SpaceX (The Space Show)

Related Organizations

• Space Exploration Technologies - SpaceX official website
• National Aeronatutics and Space Administratio