Entering the Commercial Space Age
After making headlines in December with the successful test launch of its Dragon capsule, SpaceX may represent the biggest space story of 2011--the continuing privatization of space flight. The new year will see the completion of testing for the Dragon capsule, which is intended to carry cargo or crew to the International Space Station, and the large Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX's first paid mission for the Falcon 9 will be to deliver CASSIOPE, a research and communications satellite, into orbit. Soon after, the Falcon 9/Dragon combo will start running supply delivery missions to the International Space Station.
Image: SpaceX