What is SpaceX?
- SpaceX is a space technologies company founded by South African tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.
- Founded in 2003, SpaceX has quickly grown to become a pioneer in the development of reusable space rockets.
- The company designs and manufactures rockets that sends satellites into orbit around Earth – and one day it hopes to send people into space.
- SpaceX is the only private company ever to bring back a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit. This feat was first accomplished in December 2010.
What is Falcon 9?
- The Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket model designed to allow the transportation of satellites and cargo into orbit.
- The successful launch yesterday marked the first time that a rocket’s first-stage booster was reused and sent back into space again.
- In 2012 the Falcon 9s became the private vessels to deliver cargo to supply the ISS with resources.
- The Falcon 9 model comes in two variants – the Falcon 9 and a bigger vessel known as the Falcon Heavy.
- The Dragon Spacecraft module – a free flying spacecraft which holds the cargo – is attached to the top of the Falcon 9.
- So far the Dragon has only transported satellites and resources for the ISS. But its first manned flight is planned for 2018.
- SpaceX has more 70 future missions planned in its manifest right now, including NASA and private satellite launches.
Source: Express.co.uk