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SpaceX



 
 
Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) is an American space-transportation startup company
Startup company

A startup company or start-up is a company with a limited operating history. These companies, generally newly created, are in a phase of development and research for markets....
 founded by PayPal
PayPal

PayPal is an e-commerce business allowing payments and money transfers to be made through the Internet. PayPal serves as an electronic alternative to traditional paper methods such as Cheque and money orders....
 co-founder Elon Musk
Elon Musk

Elon Musk is an entrepreneur and a co-founder of SpaceX. He was an early investor in PayPal. He is chairman of Tesla Motors and SolarCity....
. It is developing partially reusable launch vehicle
Rocket launch

A rocket launch is the first phase of the flight of a rocket. For orbital spaceflights, or for launches into interplanetary space, which is usually a fixed location on the ground but may also be on a floating platform such as the San Marco platform, or the Sea Launch launch vessel....
s - the Falcon 1
Falcon 1

The Falcon 1 is a partially reusable launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket uses liquid oxygen/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine....
 and Falcon 9
Falcon 9

The Falcon 9 is a reusable launch vehicle planned by SpaceX and scheduled to launch in 2009. Several variants are proposed with payloads of between 9,900 kg and 27,500 kg to low Earth orbit , and between 4,900 kg and 12,000 kg to geostationary transfer orbit....
 - and the Dragon series of space capsules. SpaceX designs, tests and fabricates the majority of their components in-house, including the Merlin
Merlin (rocket engine)

Merlin is a rocket engine developed by SpaceX for use on its Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 rockets. Merlin uses RP-1 and liquid oxygen as propellants in a Gas-generator cycle power cycle....
, Kestrel
Kestrel (rocket engine)

The Kestrel engine is an RP-1/liquid oxygen Pressure-fed cycle rocket engine. The Kestrel engine was developed by SpaceX for upper stage use on the Falcon 1 rocket....
, and Draco
Draco (rocket engine)

Draco is a small rocket engine designed by SpaceX for use on their SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and the upper stage of their Falcon 9 rocket. Draco thrusters generate 90 pounds-force of force using a mixture of monomethyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide....
 rocket engines.

Originally based in El Segundo
El Segundo, California

El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California on the Santa Monica Bay, incorporated on January 18, 1917. The population was 16,033 at the 2000 census....
, SpaceX now operates out of Hawthorne
Hawthorne, California

Hawthorne is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California. The city in 2000 had a population of 84,112....
, California
California

California is a U.S. state on the West Coast of the United States of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada to the east, Arizona to the southeast, and to the south the Mexico state of Baja California....
.

eX was founded in June 2002 by PayPal founder Elon Musk who has invested $100 million of his own money as of March 2006.






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Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) is an American space-transportation startup company
Startup company

A startup company or start-up is a company with a limited operating history. These companies, generally newly created, are in a phase of development and research for markets....
 founded by PayPal
PayPal

PayPal is an e-commerce business allowing payments and money transfers to be made through the Internet. PayPal serves as an electronic alternative to traditional paper methods such as Cheque and money orders....
 co-founder Elon Musk
Elon Musk

Elon Musk is an entrepreneur and a co-founder of SpaceX. He was an early investor in PayPal. He is chairman of Tesla Motors and SolarCity....
. It is developing partially reusable launch vehicle
Rocket launch

A rocket launch is the first phase of the flight of a rocket. For orbital spaceflights, or for launches into interplanetary space, which is usually a fixed location on the ground but may also be on a floating platform such as the San Marco platform, or the Sea Launch launch vessel....
s - the Falcon 1
Falcon 1

The Falcon 1 is a partially reusable launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket uses liquid oxygen/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine....
 and Falcon 9
Falcon 9

The Falcon 9 is a reusable launch vehicle planned by SpaceX and scheduled to launch in 2009. Several variants are proposed with payloads of between 9,900 kg and 27,500 kg to low Earth orbit , and between 4,900 kg and 12,000 kg to geostationary transfer orbit....
 - and the Dragon series of space capsules. SpaceX designs, tests and fabricates the majority of their components in-house, including the Merlin
Merlin (rocket engine)

Merlin is a rocket engine developed by SpaceX for use on its Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 rockets. Merlin uses RP-1 and liquid oxygen as propellants in a Gas-generator cycle power cycle....
, Kestrel
Kestrel (rocket engine)

The Kestrel engine is an RP-1/liquid oxygen Pressure-fed cycle rocket engine. The Kestrel engine was developed by SpaceX for upper stage use on the Falcon 1 rocket....
, and Draco
Draco (rocket engine)

Draco is a small rocket engine designed by SpaceX for use on their SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and the upper stage of their Falcon 9 rocket. Draco thrusters generate 90 pounds-force of force using a mixture of monomethyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide....
 rocket engines.

Originally based in El Segundo
El Segundo, California

El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California on the Santa Monica Bay, incorporated on January 18, 1917. The population was 16,033 at the 2000 census....
, SpaceX now operates out of Hawthorne
Hawthorne, California

Hawthorne is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California. The city in 2000 had a population of 84,112....
, California
California

California is a U.S. state on the West Coast of the United States of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada to the east, Arizona to the southeast, and to the south the Mexico state of Baja California....
.

Background

Spacex Falcon in Warehouse
SpaceX was founded in June 2002 by PayPal founder Elon Musk who has invested $100 million of his own money as of March 2006. On August 4, 2008 SpaceX accepted a further $20 million investment from the Founders Fund
The Founders Fund

The Founders Fund is a San Francisco, California venture capital firm that has led several early stage funding rounds for well known Web 2.0 start-up companies....
.

SpaceX had 160 employees in November 2005 and more than 500 by July 2008. The launch crew in the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands , officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands , is a Micronesian island nation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator....
 has 25 people with 6 in mission control. This small number, compared to similar space launch companies is part of Musk's design to reduce costs. Musk believes the high prices of other space-launch services are driven in part by unnecessary bureaucracy. He has stated that one of his goals is to improve the cost and reliability of access to space
Outer space

Outer space comprises the relatively empty regions of the universe outside the atmospheres of celestial bodies. Outer space is used to distinguish it from airspace and terrestrial locations....
, ultimately by a factor of ten.

In January 2005, SpaceX bought a 10% stake in Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, or SSTL, is a spin-off company of the University of Surrey that builds and operates Miniaturized satellites. Its satellites began as amateur radio satellites known by the UoSAT name or by an OSCAR designation....
.

On 18 August 2006, SpaceX announced that it has won a NASA
NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an agency of the Federal government of the United States, responsible for the nation's public list of space agencies....
 Commercial Orbital Transportation Services
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services

Commercial Orbital Transportation Services is a NASA program to coordinate the commercial delivery of crew and cargo to the International Space Station....
 (COTS) contract to demonstrate cargo delivery to the space station with a possible option for crew transport.

On 23 December 2008, SpaceX announced that it had won a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract (as part of the COTS program) which guarantees NASA missions worth of 1.6 billion dollars for resupplying the International Space Station
International Space Station

The International Space Station is a research facility Assembly of the International Space Station in outer space. On-orbit construction of the station began in 1998, and is scheduled to be complete by 2011, with operations continuing until around 2015....
 after the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle

NASA's Space Shuttle, officially called the Space Transportation System , is the spacecraft currently used by the United States government for its human spaceflight missions....
 retires in 2010.

Space vehicles

SpaceX is manufacturing two main space launch vehicles; the Falcon 1
Falcon 1

The Falcon 1 is a partially reusable launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket uses liquid oxygen/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine....
 which made its first successful flight on September 28, 2008, and the large EELV
EELV

The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle is a United States government program, primarily a United States Department of Defense?sponsored effort begun in the 1990s....
 class Falcon 9
Falcon 9

The Falcon 9 is a reusable launch vehicle planned by SpaceX and scheduled to launch in 2009. Several variants are proposed with payloads of between 9,900 kg and 27,500 kg to low Earth orbit , and between 4,900 kg and 12,000 kg to geostationary transfer orbit....
 which is scheduled to have its first launch in 2009. A Falcon 5
Falcon 5

The Falcon 5 was a proposed two-stage-to-orbit partially reusable launch vehicle designed by SpaceX, since canceled and replaced by the Falcon 9....
 launcher was also planned, but its development was stopped in favor of the Falcon 9. SpaceX is also designing the SpaceX Dragon, a human-rated orbital vehicle that will be launched on top of a Falcon 9 rocket.

On May 2, 2005, SpaceX announced that it had been awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity
IDIQ

IDIQ is a contracting acronym meaning Indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity. This is a type of contract that provides for an indefinite quantity of supplies or services during a fixed period of time....
 (IDIQ) contract for Responsive Small Spacelift (RSS) launch services by the United States Air Force
United States Air Force

The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Military of the United States and one of the uniformed services of the United States....
, which could allow the Air Force to purchase up to $100,000,000 worth of launches from the company. On April 22, 2008, NASA announced that it had awarded an IDIQ Launch Services contract to SpaceX for Falcon 1 and Falcon 9
Falcon 9

The Falcon 9 is a reusable launch vehicle planned by SpaceX and scheduled to launch in 2009. Several variants are proposed with payloads of between 9,900 kg and 27,500 kg to low Earth orbit , and between 4,900 kg and 12,000 kg to geostationary transfer orbit....
 launches. The contract will be worth between $20,000 and $1 billion, depending on the number of missions awarded. The contract covers launch services ordered by June 30, 2010, for launches through December 2012.

Elon Musk stated in the same April 22 announcement that SpaceX has sold 14 contracts for flights on the various Falcon vehicles.

Falcon 1

Spacex Falcon Verticle On the Launch Pad
:Main articles: Falcon 1
Falcon 1

The Falcon 1 is a partially reusable launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket uses liquid oxygen/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine....
 and Falcon 1 Flight 4
Falcon 1 Flight 4

Falcon 1 Flight 4 was a test flight of the SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket, which was launched on 28 September 2008, at 23:15 GMT from Omelek Island, part of the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands....
The Falcon 1 is a small, partially reusable rocket capable of placing several hundred kilograms into low earth orbit. It also functions as a testbed for developing concepts and components for the larger Falcon 9.

The Falcon 1 succeeded in reaching orbit at its fourth attempt on September 28th, 2008, becoming the first privately funded, liquid-fueled rocket to do so.

Falcon 9


On September 8, 2005, SpaceX announced the development of the Falcon 9
Falcon 9

The Falcon 9 is a reusable launch vehicle planned by SpaceX and scheduled to launch in 2009. Several variants are proposed with payloads of between 9,900 kg and 27,500 kg to low Earth orbit , and between 4,900 kg and 12,000 kg to geostationary transfer orbit....
 rocket, which will have nine Merlin
Merlin (rocket engine)

Merlin is a rocket engine developed by SpaceX for use on its Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 rockets. Merlin uses RP-1 and liquid oxygen as propellants in a Gas-generator cycle power cycle....
 engines in its first stage. The design is an EELV
EELV

The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle is a United States government program, primarily a United States Department of Defense?sponsored effort begun in the 1990s....
-class vehicle, intended to compete with the Delta IV
Delta IV rocket

Delta IV is an active expendable launch system in the Delta rocket family. Delta IV uses rockets designed by Boeing's Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and built in the United Launch Alliance facility in Decatur, Alabama....
 and the Atlas V rockets. Both stages will be designed to be reusable. A similarly designed Falcon 5
Falcon 5

The Falcon 5 was a proposed two-stage-to-orbit partially reusable launch vehicle designed by SpaceX, since canceled and replaced by the Falcon 9....
 rocket was also envisioned to fit between the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9, but development was dropped to concentrate on the Falcon 9.

The company purchased the McGregor, Texas testing facilities of defunct Beal Aerospace
Beal Aerospace

Beal Aerospace was a launch vehicle development company, founded in February 1997 by Andrew Beal, president of Beal Bank in Dallas, Texas. The goal of the company was to build and operate a privately developed heavy lift launch vehicle....
, where it refit the largest test stand at the facilities for Falcon 9 testing. The stand tested the nine Merlin 1C engines of the Falcon 9, which deliver 350-metric-tons-force
Kilogram-force

The unit kilogram-force or kilopond is defined as the magnitude of the force exerted on one kilogram of mass by a gravitational field ....
 (3.4-meganewtons
Newton

The newton is the International System of Units SI derived unit of force, named after Isaac Newton in recognition of his work on classical mechanics....
) of thrust, well under the stand's capacity of 1,500 metric-tons-force (15 meganewtons).

Musk said "Long-term plans call for development of a heavy lift product and even a super-heavy, if there is customer demand. We expect that each size increase would result in a meaningful decrease in cost per pound to orbit. For example, dollar cost per pound to orbit dropped from $4,000 to $1,300 ($8,800/kg to $2,900/kg) between Falcon 1 and Falcon 5. Ultimately, I believe $500 per pound ($1,100/kg) or less is very achievable."

The Falcon 9 vehicle was integrated at Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral

Cape Canaveral, from the Spanish language Cabo Ca?averal, is a headlands and bays in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of that state's Atlantic Ocean coast 45 minutes East of Orlando by car....
 on December 30, 2008 and flight is pending for 2009.

Dragon

SpaceX announced plans to pursue a manned commercial space program through the end of the decade.

On Friday 18 August 2006, NASA
NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an agency of the Federal government of the United States, responsible for the nation's public list of space agencies....
 announced that the company was one of two selected to provide crew and cargo resupply demonstration contracts to the International Space Station
International Space Station

The International Space Station is a research facility Assembly of the International Space Station in outer space. On-orbit construction of the station began in 1998, and is scheduled to be complete by 2011, with operations continuing until around 2015....
 (ISS) under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services

Commercial Orbital Transportation Services is a NASA program to coordinate the commercial delivery of crew and cargo to the International Space Station....
 (COTS) program. SpaceX will demonstrate crew and cargo resupply using the SpaceX Dragon, a conventional blunt-cone ballistic capsule, which is capable of carrying 7 persons or a mixture of personnel and cargo to and from low Earth orbit. It will be launched atop a Falcon 9 vehicle. The nose cone of the vehicle has a hinged cap, which opens to reveal a standard ISS Common Berthing Mechanism
Common Berthing Mechanism

The Common Berthing Mechanism is used to connect all non-Russian pressurized modules of the International Space Station.The Common Berthing Mechanism consists of two components: the Active Common Berthing Mechanism and the Passive Common Berthing Mechanism ....
, which allows the Dragon to dock to the U.S. segment of the ISS. NASA's plan calls for SpaceX demonstration flights between 2008 and 2010. SpaceX may receive up to $278 million if it meets all NASA milestones.

First flight of Dragon is planned for 2009 from Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral

Cape Canaveral, from the Spanish language Cabo Ca?averal, is a headlands and bays in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of that state's Atlantic Ocean coast 45 minutes East of Orlando by car....
.

Launcher versions

Launcher Versions Falcon 1
Falcon 1

The Falcon 1 is a partially reusable launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket uses liquid oxygen/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine....
Falcon 1e Falcon 9
Falcon 9

The Falcon 9 is a reusable launch vehicle planned by SpaceX and scheduled to launch in 2009. Several variants are proposed with payloads of between 9,900 kg and 27,500 kg to low Earth orbit , and between 4,900 kg and 12,000 kg to geostationary transfer orbit....
Falcon 9 Heavy
Stage 1 1 × Merlin 1A
Merlin (rocket engine)

Merlin is a rocket engine developed by SpaceX for use on its Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 rockets. Merlin uses RP-1 and liquid oxygen as propellants in a Gas-generator cycle power cycle....
 (2006-2007); 1 x Merlin 1C
Merlin (rocket engine)

Merlin is a rocket engine developed by SpaceX for use on its Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 rockets. Merlin uses RP-1 and liquid oxygen as propellants in a Gas-generator cycle power cycle....
 (2008 ff)
1 x Merlin 1C 9 × Merlin 1C 3 boosters with 9 × Merlin 1C each
Stage 2 1 × Kestrel
Kestrel (rocket engine)

The Kestrel engine is an RP-1/liquid oxygen Pressure-fed cycle rocket engine. The Kestrel engine was developed by SpaceX for upper stage use on the Falcon 1 rocket....
1 x Kestrel 1 × Merlin 1C 1 × Merlin 1C
Height
(max; m
Metre

The metre or meter is a Unit of measurement of length. It is the SI base unit of length in the metric system and in the International System of Units , used around the world for general and scientific purposes....
)
21.3 26.83 50 or 54 54
Diameter
(m
Metre

The metre or meter is a Unit of measurement of length. It is the SI base unit of length in the metric system and in the International System of Units , used around the world for general and scientific purposes....
)
1.7 1.7 3.6 3.6
Initial thrust
(kN
Newton

The newton is the International System of Units SI derived unit of force, named after Isaac Newton in recognition of his work on classical mechanics....
)
318 454 3,400 12,258
Takeoff weight
(tonne
Tonne

A tonne or metric ton , also referred to as a metric tonne, is a measurement of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms, or 2204.6226 pounds....
s)
27.2 38.56 325 885
Fairing diameter
(Inner; m
Metre

The metre or meter is a Unit of measurement of length. It is the SI base unit of length in the metric system and in the International System of Units , used around the world for general and scientific purposes....
)
1.5 1.71 3.6 or 5.2 5.2
Payload
(LEO
Low Earth orbit

A Low Earth Orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the Locus extending from the Earth?s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km. Given the rapid orbital decay of objects below approximately 200 km, the commonly accepted definition for LEO is between 160 - 2,000 km above the Earth surface....
; kg
Kilogram

The kilogram or kilogrammeThe spelling kilogram is used by the International Committee for Weights and Measures and the U.S....
)
570 1010 (430 to SSO
Sun-synchronous orbit

A sun-synchronous orbit is a geocentric orbit which combines altitude and inclination in such a way that an object on that orbit passes over any given point of the Earth's surface at the same local solar time....
)
9,900 27,500
Payload
(GTO
Geostationary transfer orbit

A Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit or Geostationary Transfer Orbit is anintermediate orbit used to reach geostationary orbit. It is a highly ellipse earth orbit with apogee at about 35,700 km, geostationary orbit altitude, and a argument of perigee such that apogee occurs on or near the equator....
; kg
Kilogram

The kilogram or kilogrammeThe spelling kilogram is used by the International Committee for Weights and Measures and the U.S....
)
4,900 12,000
Price
(Mil. USD
United States dollar

The United States dollar is the unit of currency of the United States and was defined by the Coinage Act of 1792 to be between 371 and 416 grains of silver ....
)
6.7 9.1 35 to LEO
Low Earth orbit

A Low Earth Orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the Locus extending from the Earth?s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km. Given the rapid orbital decay of objects below approximately 200 km, the commonly accepted definition for LEO is between 160 - 2,000 km above the Earth surface....
 or GEO
Geostationary transfer orbit

A Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit or Geostationary Transfer Orbit is anintermediate orbit used to reach geostationary orbit. It is a highly ellipse earth orbit with apogee at about 35,700 km, geostationary orbit altitude, and a argument of perigee such that apogee occurs on or near the equator....
90 to LEO
Low Earth orbit

A Low Earth Orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the Locus extending from the Earth?s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km. Given the rapid orbital decay of objects below approximately 200 km, the commonly accepted definition for LEO is between 160 - 2,000 km above the Earth surface....
 or between 55 and 90 (according to Satellite Mass) to GEO
Geostationary transfer orbit

A Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit or Geostationary Transfer Orbit is anintermediate orbit used to reach geostationary orbit. It is a highly ellipse earth orbit with apogee at about 35,700 km, geostationary orbit altitude, and a argument of perigee such that apogee occurs on or near the equator....
minimal Price/kg
(LEO
Low Earth orbit

A Low Earth Orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the Locus extending from the Earth?s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km. Given the rapid orbital decay of objects below approximately 200 km, the commonly accepted definition for LEO is between 160 - 2,000 km above the Earth surface....
; USD
United States dollar

The United States dollar is the unit of currency of the United States and was defined by the Coinage Act of 1792 to be between 371 and 416 grains of silver ....
)
11,754 9,010 (21,163 to SSO
Sun-synchronous orbit

A sun-synchronous orbit is a geocentric orbit which combines altitude and inclination in such a way that an object on that orbit passes over any given point of the Earth's surface at the same local solar time....
)
3,535 3,273
minimal Price/kg
(GTO
Geostationary transfer orbit

A Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit or Geostationary Transfer Orbit is anintermediate orbit used to reach geostationary orbit. It is a highly ellipse earth orbit with apogee at about 35,700 km, geostationary orbit altitude, and a argument of perigee such that apogee occurs on or near the equator....
; USD
United States dollar

The United States dollar is the unit of currency of the United States and was defined by the Coinage Act of 1792 to be between 371 and 416 grains of silver ....
)
7,143 7,826
Success ratio
(successful/total)
1/4


Cancelled launcher designs

  • Falcon 5
    Falcon 5

    The Falcon 5 was a proposed two-stage-to-orbit partially reusable launch vehicle designed by SpaceX, since canceled and replaced by the Falcon 9....


Launch sites

The first four launches were conducted at Kwajalein Atoll
Kwajalein

Kwajalein Atoll is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands . The southernmost and largest island in the atoll is named Kwajalein Island....
 using the SpaceX launch facility on Omelek Island
Omelek Island

Omelek Island is part of the Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands. It is controlled by the United States military under a long-term lease and is part of the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site....
 and range
Rocket range

A rocket range or missile range is a large area associated with a rocket launch site. The range includes the area over which launched rockets are expected to fly, and within which some components of the rockets may land....
 facilities of the Reagan Test Site. All upcoming Falcon 1 flights shown on the SpaceX manifest are also planned for Kwajalein. Other launch sites which have been discussed for Falcon 1 flights include:
  • Vandenberg Air Force Base
    Vandenberg Air Force Base

    Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States military installation with a spaceport, in Santa Barbara County, California, California, United States....
    , Pad 3W
    Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 3

    Vandenberg Air Force Base's Space Launch Complex 3 is a launch site that has been used by a variety of rocket systems including most recently Atlas ....
    . According to Elon Musk, SpaceX may be evicted from Vandenberg because of safety concerns expressed by United Launch Alliance
    United Launch Alliance

    United Launch Alliance is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin that operates space Launch vehicles using the Atlas V, Delta II, and Delta IV rocket....
    , which launches the Atlas V
    Atlas V

    The Atlas V rocket is an expendable launch vehicle formerly built by Lockheed Martin and now built by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance....
     rocket from neighboring site SLC-3E
    Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 3

    Vandenberg Air Force Base's Space Launch Complex 3 is a launch site that has been used by a variety of rocket systems including most recently Atlas ....
    .


  • Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 40
    Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 40

    Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 40 is a List of Merritt Island launch sites at Merritt Island, Cape Canaveral, Florida. The site was used by the United States Air Force, for Titan III and Titan IV launches....
    .


External links

    • (pdf
      Portable Document Format

      Portable Document Format is a file format created by Adobe Systems in 1993 for document exchange. PDF is used for representing two-dimensional documents in a manner independent of the application software, hardware, and operating system....
      )
  • (October 23, 2005)
  • (Michael Belfiore, November 18, 2005)
  • (Candid and highly unofficial blog by Elon Musk's brother Kimbal
    Kimbal Musk

    Kimbal Musk is an entrepreneur who has helped found, advise and invest in several software and technology companies. He is the Chef-Owner of ?The Kitchen? restaurant in Boulder, Colo....
    , with on-site pictures and reporting.)
  • (Space Fellowship
    Space Fellowship

    The International Space Fellowship is an international news and information network dedicated to the development of the aerospace industry.The organisation works to report and communicate aerospace news and information to its valued community....
    )


Articles

  • (BBC, December 30, 2008)
  • (The Space Review, February 27 - March 13, 2006): Parts , ,
  • (SpaceRef, March 6, 2006)
  • (New York Times, February 5, 2006)
  • (NasaSpaceFlight.com, January 20, 2006)
  • (The Space Review, November 14, 2005)
  • (Discover Magazine cover article, September 2005)
  • (ScienCentral News, August 12, 2005)
  • (Space.com, August 12, 2005)
  • (Spaceflight Now, May 27, 2005)
  • (Space.com, May 23, 2005)
  • (Santa Maria Times, April 27, 2005)
  • (Fast Company, February 2005)
  • (Spaceflight Now, January 20, 2005)
  • (The Space Show)