SpaceX

LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO 2014

     Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or “SpaceX”, __ (found)¹ by the famous entrepreneur Elon Musk, who __ (become)² a billionaire from his earlier companies – PayPal, SolarCity, and Tesla Motors.  SpaceX began as just a dream in 2002, and within a few years, it quickly became the leading private spacecraft company in the world.

     SpaceX __ (already / launch)³ several kinds of rockets, including the Falcon 1 and the Falcon 9 by the end of 2010.  In 2012, they became the first private company to dock a ship to the International Space Station.  They __ (also / launch)⁴ a number of satellites into orbit for other companies and other countries. 

     SpaceX __ (work on)⁵ a version of their “Dragon” space capsule to carry astronauts to the ISS, and they plan to launch astronauts into space in 2015.  If these manned launches __ (be)⁶ successful, they __ (save)⁷ the U.S. government millions of dollars that it __ (currently / spend)⁸ to send astronauts to the ISS on old-fashioned Russian rockets.  Competitors like Blue Origin and Orbital Sciences __ (not / have)⁹ one successful commercial launch yet.

     Elon Musk’s company __ (already / begin)¹⁰ testing a rocket (“Grasshopper”) that can fly itself back to Earth and use thruster engines to land gently back on the ground next to their factory.  When this system __ (put)¹¹ into operation, it will lower flight costs dramatically.  Mr. Musk __ (believe)¹² that SpaceX __ (make)¹³ the cost of space flight 10 times cheaper than it is now.

     By the beginning of 2013, SpaceX __ (sign)¹⁴ contracts for over $4 billion in launches for both commercial and government customers, so the company is already a financial success.  The company leases space at “Spaceport America” in New Mexico, the first private spaceport in the world.  Several states, including Colorado, __ (consider)¹⁵ opening competing spaceports in the next few years. 

     A competitor of SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, __ (plan)¹⁶ to launch tourists into space starting in 2015.  Each person will pay $250,000 for a very brief loop above the Earth’s atmosphere into the blackness and weightlessness of space.  Like SpaceX, Virgin Galactic __ (start)¹⁷ by a billionaire entrepreneur – in this case, the famous Richard Branson, who __ (run)¹⁸ the Virgin Group, a large collection of companies including cellular service, trains, planes, auto racing, health services, and others.  Would you like to take a trip into space in the future?  These billionaires __ (turn)¹⁹ the dream into reality right now!