Elon Musk

SpaceX and Space Exploration

This timeline details the significant milestones and achievements of SpaceX under Elon Musk's leadership.

Founding of SpaceX

May 2002

Musk founded SpaceX with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars.

First Privately Funded Rocket to Reach Orbit

September 28, 2008

SpaceX's Falcon 1 became the first privately funded, liquid-fueled rocket to reach orbit.

First Private Company to Launch, Orbit, and Recover a Spacecraft

December 9, 2010

SpaceX successfully launched, orbited, and recovered the Dragon spacecraft.

First Private Company to Send a Spacecraft to the ISS

May 25, 2012

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft docked with the International Space Station (ISS).

First Landing of an Orbital-Class Rocket's First Stage

December 22, 2015

SpaceX successfully landed the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket on land.

First Private Company to Send Humans into Orbit

May 30, 2020

SpaceX's Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission sent humans to the ISS.