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Rocket and Space Exploration Technologies

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Rocket and Space Exploration Technologies
Running head: SpaceX

SpaceX

Abstract

SpaceX is a well known private launch service provider in the commercial space transportation industry. Awarded with a NASA Launch Services contract, SpaceX is taking the industry by storm with low cost and ambitious operations. This paper will describe their background, operations, successes, shortcomings, safety aspects and their role in commercial space transportation.

SpaceX

Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) is a launch vehicle service provider in the commercial space travel industry. Their main focus is to increase the capability and reliability of commercial launch vehicles while reducing the cost of accessing space (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, 2008). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines the term commercial space transportation as “the launch of an object into space or the reentry of an object from space by a private, nongovernment entity” (Chapter IX, 2005). SpaceX has introduced three launch vehicles; Falcon 1, Falcon 9, and Falcon 9 Heavy. They also developed a spacecraft called the Dragon. Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, says he’s going to cut the cost of space missions by at least one third the price of any competitors using these vehicles (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, 2008).

SpaceX is the third company founded by entrepreneur Elon Musk who serves as CEO. Musk started SpaceX in El Segundo, CA in 2002. Before SpaceX, Musk co-founded the world’s largest electronic payment system known as Pay Pal. After selling Pay Pal to EBay for $1.5 billion, he set his eyes on space in hopes of taking over NASA’s space missions (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, 2008).

NASA will be shutting down their space shuttle operations in 2010 because of funding issues. SpaceX is one of the two winners of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) contracts that NASA awarded in August 2006. The other contract winner is


References: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation. (2008). Retrieved Sept 2, 2008, from http://www.spacex.com American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 15, 2008, from http://www.spaceflorida.gov/news/11-01-07_SpaceX.php NASA Invests in Private Sector Space Flight with SpaceX, Rocketplane-Kistler Retrieved Sept 5, 2008, from http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/exploration/news/COTS_selection.html
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