As a company, SpaceX has been around for twenty-three years. Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002. The company’s full name is Space Exploration Technologies Corporation. In 2006, the company was selected to help NASA resupply the International Space Station (ISS). In 2008, one SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket did not reach orbit. It was set to be used as a launch vehicle. Another Falcon 1 rocket used as a launch vehicle reached orbit later that year. Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy are two current SpaceX rockets. Two current spacecraft used by the company are Starship and Dragon.
SpaceX recently worked to bring three NASA astronauts and a Roscosmos cosmonaut to Earth. They were returning from the International Space Station. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying these four people arrived safely on March 18, 2025. Two of the NASA astronauts were Sunita (Suni) Williams and Barry (Butch) Wilmore. They had been at the ISS for months longer than anticipated. The space innovation company has two upcoming launches scheduled. One is set to launch on April 20, 2025. The other is expected to launch on April 21, 2025.
SpaceX Beginnings
SpaceX has existed for twenty-three years. The complete name of the company is Space Exploration Technologies Corporation. The company was started in 2002 by Elon Musk. It focuses on space transport and aerospace manufacturing. The company experienced early success in 2006. NASA selected SpaceX to resupply the International Space Station. In 2008, the company experienced an early setback. A SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket used as a launch vehicle did not make it into orbit. However, orbit was reached later in 2008 with a subsequent Falcon 1 launch vehicle.
Current Transportation Developments
The company’s website features two rockets. Falcon 9 is an orbital-class two-stage rocket. It is the first such rocket in the world to be reusable. This rocket is designed for transportation purposes. Falcon Heavy is another rocket. According to SpaceX, “Falcon Heavy is composed of three Falcon 9-engine cores.” This rocket is capable of carrying into orbit almost sixty-four metric tons.
The website also features two spacecraft. One is the Dragon spacecraft. This spacecraft can bring up to seven people into space. It has brought people to the International Space Station. It can also bring cargo back to Earth. The other is Starship. SpaceX states that Starship combines the “Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy Rocket.” Starship is reusable and can carry cargo and people into space.
Dragon Spacecraft Astronaut Retrieval
A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft arrived on Earth at 5:57 Eastern Daylight Time on March 18, 2025. The spacecraft was named Freedom. It landed in the ocean near Tallahassee, Florida. Freedom carried NASA astronauts Sunita Williams (known as Suni) and Barry (known as Butch) Wilmore. These two astronauts had been at the International Space Station for over nine months. They were only supposed to be at the ISS for eight days. The spacecraft also carried Nick Hague, a NASA astronaut, and Aleksandr Gorbunov, a Roscosmos cosmonaut.
Upcoming Launch Events
One upcoming mission is set for April 20, 2025. The mission will launch the Falcon 9 rocket. The rocket is scheduled to lift off at 5:29 a.m. Pacific Time. There is an alternate launch time scheduled in case it is needed. The alternate launch is set for 5:08 a.m. Pacific Time on April 21, 2025. The title of this launch is the NROL-145 Mission. This launch will depart from California. SpaceX states that people in nearby California counties might hear noise from the launch.
A launch called the CRS-32 Mission is set for April 20, 2025. The liftoff for this launch is scheduled for 4:15 a.m. Eastern Time. If it is needed, there is a backup time scheduled for this launch, as well. The alternate launch time is set for 3:53 a.m. Eastern Time on April 22, 2025. During this launch, a Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Dragon spacecraft. The purpose of the launch is a resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch will depart from the NASA Kennedy Space Center located in Florida.
