SpaceX Timeline

By Adam Mann. Originally published on Timeglider.

Events

Elon Musk founds SpaceX

2002-06-01

SpaceX buys stake in SST

2005-01-27

SpaceX buys a 10% stake in Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., which builds small satellites

U.S. Air Force contract

2005-05-02

The company is awarded a $100 million contract with the U.S. Air Force to provide launch vehicles for various projects

1st Falcon 1 test flight fails

2006-03-26

The first flight test of the Falcon 1 rocket ends in failure due to a fuel line rupture

SpaceX gets NASA COTS contract

2006-08-18

SpaceX is awarded a Commercial Orbital Transportation Services contract from NASA, worth $278 million in seed money, to shuttle cargo and crew to the International Space Station

2nd Falcon 1 test flight fails

2007-03-22

The second test flight of Falcon 1 rocket ends in failure

SpaceX wins NASA launch services contract

2008-04-22

The company is awarded a NASA Launch Services contract for Falcon 1 and 9 rockets, potentially worth up to $1 billion.

3rd Falcon 1 test flight fails

2008-08-02

The third test flight of Falcon 1 rocket ends in failure, with the rocket spinning out of control

4th Falcon 1 test flight succeeds

2008-09-28

The fourth test flight of Falcon 1 rocket succeeds in reaching orbit, the first privately funded liquid rocket to do so

SpaceX wins NASA CRS contract

2008-12-23

SpaceX wins a Commercial Resupply Services contract from NASA to provide at least 12 missions carrying supplies and crew to the International Space Station, worth $1.6 billion

SpaceX launches first private satellite

2009-07-13

SpaceX launches its first low-Earth orbiting satellite, the private Malaysian RazakSAT, using a Falcon 1 booster

1st Falcon 9 test flight

2010-06-04

SpaceX launches the first flight of its Falcon 9 heavy lift rocket, which successfully reaches low-Earth orbit.

SpaceX wins Iridium contract

2010-06-24

The company lands a $492 million contract with satellite operator Iridium, which provides mobile and data services, the largest-ever commercial space launch deal.

2nd Falcon 9 test flight

2010-12-09

SpaceX becomes the first private company to successfully launch, orbit, and recover a spacecraft around the Earth.

Groundbreaking for space launch complex

2011-07-13

The company breaks ground on new pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base space launch complex, which will be used to launch the Falcon 9 rocket. The company hopes to have 16 flights per year from this site by 2015

SpaceX is reportedly worth roughly $1.3 billion

2012-02-01

Planned launch of Dragon to ISS

2012-05-07

SpaceX plans to launch its Dragon spaceship to dock with the International Space Station

Planned launch of 1st geostationary satellite

2013-04-27

SpaceX plans to launch its first geostationary satellite using a Falcon 9 rocket. The flight will carry the SES-8, a medium-sized communications satellite, for the SES S.A., a European satellite operator.

SpaceX expects to have an initial public offering.

2013-07-17

First human crew expected

2015-04-27

First human crew expected to launch to the International Space Station aboard the Dragon spacecraft. Elon Musk originally stated in 2009 and 2010 that he expected to have a human-rated version of Dragon within 2 to 3 years, but that was pushed back.

1st Falcon Air test flight

2016-04-27

SpaceX expects first test launch of their Falcon Air rocket â€" an rocket launched from an aircraft designed in collaboration with Stratolaunch Systems â€" sometime this year or later.

Planned NASA Mars probe launch

2018-04-27

The company plans to launch a NASA robotic probe to Mars.

Human mission to Mars

2021-04-27 - 2031-04-27

Elon Musk has stated that he hopes to land a human on Mars within this time frame.