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| Now That's A Rocket!!! |
Case in point: Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or SpaceX - is run by billionaire Elon Musk, who made his fortune as a co-creator of PayPal. He also owns the electric car maker Tesla Motors.
In May of last year, SpaceX made history as the world's first privately held company to send a cargo payload, carried on the Dragon spacecraft, to the International Space Station.
Last March, the capsule brought back more than 1 ton of science experiments and old station equipment. It's the only supply ship capable of two-way delivery. NASA is paying SpaceX more than $1 billion for a dozen resupply missions. Space X can reuse their
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| Docking With International Space Station |
SpaceX has signed contracts with private sector companies, non-American government agencies and the American military for its launch services. It has already launched, for a paying customer, a low earth orbiting satellite with its Falcon 1 booster in 2009. The company plans to launch its first commercial geostationary satellite in 2013 from a Falcon 9.
Musk has stated that his intention for the company is to help in the creation of a permanent human presence on Mars.
How's that for vision!
I have more on this company in upcoming posts. Folks, we are on the verge of truly remarkable breakthroughs and discoveries led by the private and the public sector.
Here's a fun short video clip (with a really cool song). This is pretty darn amazing!
Hi Stephen .. vision is the important thing here isn't it .. I have to say it's something I can't quite my head around .. living in space away from earth ... but each to his own!! I couldn't get the video to work .. may be the UK .. or ?
ReplyDeleteThe interesting thing is that other technologies and inventions always appear out of all space research, or air or undersea exploration .. cheers Hilary
It does look like private companies are the future of space travel. This never ends well in sci-fi stories.
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Moody Writing
Videos doesn't exist, Stephen...that's what it says. Interesting post.
ReplyDeleteSays the same for me, video doesn't exist. So much for modern technology. I'd have bet my bottom dollar you would write about SpaceX for S. Fascinating company, incredible man.
ReplyDeleteWho would have believed this a decade ago? As soon as it becomes profitable in some way, I'm sure more entities will find a way into space.
ReplyDeleteRecycling on a galactic level. I love it!
ReplyDeleteI'd be curious who the non-American government agencies are...
ReplyDeleteCan't get the video to work... I hope this trend just keeps going as it will make space available to more and more. Wish I could live long enough to see everyone being about to go... I can't wait till they get teleporting to work!
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