The aerospace giant SpaceX run by billionaire Elon Musk has made tremendous achievements since it was founded in 2002. Elon’s goal for SpaceX has always been focused on creating a very simple and affordable rocket that could be used again and again. The whole idea began in 2001 when Musk conceptualized "Mars Oasis," a tiny greenhouse filled with seeds and the necessities of life that would be sent to mars. It would be the furthest that life has ever grown from planet Earth. SpaceX is still in development in finding ways to reach Mars quickly and safely.
Six years after the birth of the company, SpaceX launched its first rocket, Falcon 1. It joined the ranks as one of the few privately funded rockets to successfully reach low altitude orbit. Shortly after, SpaceX created the Falcon 9 rocket, with a maximum payload of 50,300 lb- far more capable than the Falcon 1. In the following years after, NASA and SpaceX worked together to further push the boundaries of space travel and exploration of our universe.
What has really put SpaceX on the spot has been its latest developments in rocket landing technology. Just last year, SpaceX was able to pull off the first ever vertical rocket landing, and then again on a small ship in the middle of the ocean. This feat was something SpaceX needed to get right if they ever wanted to succeed in landing on Mars, and reduce cost. SpaceX claims it costs around $60 million dollars to build a reusable Falcon 9 rocket and about $200,000 to refuel it, only paying for fuel would completely shake up the space travel industry. All of the other rovers and data collecting units put on Mars used an unconventional method of dropping them from a rocket that later flew away into the darkness. Elons plan to land the entire rocket on the Red Planet, which could then be reused and sent back to Earth.
Over the next few years, we might have a much greater understanding of our outside universe. SpaceX posted a tweet just last week stating that they plan on landing on Mars as soon as 2018. The first humans on mars will be one of the greatest achievements that mankind has ever achieved.
Achievements of SpaceX
28 September 2008- The first privately funded, liquid-fueled rocket to reach orbit 9 December 2010- The first privately funded company to successfully launch, orbit and recover a spacecraft 25 May 2012- The first private company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station 3 December 2013- The first private company to send a satellite into geosynchronous orbit 22 December 2015- The first landing of a first stage orbital capable rocket 8 April 2016- The first water landing of a first stage orbital capable rocket
