Slowburn
Go SpaceX!
It is time to put NASA out of the Launch business.
Rocky Stefano
@ Slowburn. I agree how I can just wait until something happens. On the third trip, let's assume the capsule explodes on takeoff or it burns up in re-entry.. whatever, I can just hear new media "Is space flight ready for corporate just yet?" Sure they are I'd respond, after all Nasa still get can't it right after 60 years.
Jon A.
Congratulations to SpaceX! I really look forward to seeing what they come up with next. Particularly their plans for a flyback first stage.
habakak
So much better than that debacle we called the Space Shuttle. What a romantic waste that was. I wonder who made all the wonderful predictions on that one ($10 million re-launch cost anyone?). Good luck SpaceX!
Michael Dijk
What is so historic about old NASA technology, funded and handholded by them? Whom are they trying to fool? Any third world country could do better with that kind of support.
Lorin Ricker
Bravo, SpaceX! This is a historic turning point. Thank you for finally doing what governments could not do: opening the doors to space!
nehopsa
@Michael Van Dijk: Really? Check your facts.
The point is Space X is is the first US company in commercial competitive launch business after several decades (commercial(!) - not taxpayer subsidized, as NASA, or military paid for USAF). This area has been domain for the Russian, European or Chinese providers. Space X can cut the cost of a launch by an order of magnitude in comparison to other "standard" options in the US. Even the Chinese cannot compete with Space X on costs.
Additionally, you have Falcon Heavy in the works (essentially three Falcon 9s combined)- the currently largest and third historically largest rocket in the world (after Saturn V and Russian Energia). It is not true that Falcon Heavy is unfunded: just recently (May 29th press release) Space X signed an agreement with Intelsat to place new class of geostationary satellites in orbit with Falcon Heavy. As mentioned above, reusable first and second stages are in development. (That is better than shuttle, which was not really "reusable" but merely "reflyable". You do not fish out the SBRs out of the Atlantic and deal with salt water damage and splash shock - but they soft-touch down on the landing pad). Finally you have an air launch platform, in which Space X is also involved.
I do not see that much of a third world country here. (That is ...unless somebody moved to lightcraft, magnetic launch, space loop or space elevators real fast. But that would have been a completely new ball game which is not on the horizon anytime soon.)
Bill Bennett
Like North Korea Michael? Spacex was hardly "handholded" by NASA, it is a competition for private companies.
agulesin
Well done SpaceX!!
Any of you experts out there know why it's got a 'crack' across the top? has some of the heat-shield been lost?
Theo Viljoen
http://www.gizmag.com/spacex-dragon-to-visit-iss/19563/picture/140295/ Crack by design...