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Destination Mars: 20 Incredible SpaceX Milestones, Past and Future
Here's a recap of some of the company's most important rocket launches, landings, payloads, and tests to date.
Science & Tech
SpaceX has had some incredible highs and lows. Founded in 2002, the company has become a key player in rocket missions and accomplished founder Elon Musk's goal of getting U.S. space travel back on track after NASA ended the shuttle program.
Here's a recap of some of the company's most important rocket launches, landings, payloads, and tests to date – as well as a look ahead at what's in store for future launches that will take humans to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
1. The first successful flight of Falcon 1
Things didn't start off smoothly for SpaceX. The first launch of its first rocket, the Falcon 1, lasted only one minute. The second and third attempts also failed.
On its fourth launch, however, in September 2008, the Falcon 1 successfully reached orbit, making it “the first privately developed liquid-fuel rocket to reach Earth's orbit,” according to SpaceX. In total, the vehicle was launched five times.