Physics at SpaceX

SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 to revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets. Since its founding, SpaceX has reinvigorated the US space launch industry, delivering cargo to and from the International Space Station and dominating the world’s commercial satellite launch market. Along the way, SpaceX has developed the world’s first re-usable orbital class booster, the world’s most powerful operational rocket, and the world’s most advanced spacecraft.

This talk will review SpaceX’s recent achievements with the flight-proven Falcon9, the first flight of Falcon Heavy, and the upcoming maiden flight of the manned Crew Dragon.  The reliable and accurate delivery of payloads to orbit is a tremendous technical and organizational achievement;  it also one of the most dramatic and awe inspiring applications of physics imaginable.

Throughout the talk, I’ll highlight some of the jobs that scientists in general â€" and physicists in particular -- do at SpaceX today.

Speaker: Sam Waldman, SpaceX