The SpaceX mission: Names to know

Placing names to faces for the SpaceX mission to the International Space Station.

5 Seconds

00:00

SpaceX, a private company, launches its Falcon 9 rocket and a unmanned Dragon capsule during liftoff from a Cape Canaveral launch pad early on May 22. In this photo, the rocket streaks over a model of NASA's space shuttle at the Kennedy Space Center. The launch represents the first by a private company to deliver supplies to the International Space Station.

Craig Rubadoux / AP

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk unveils the Falcon Heavy rocket at the National Press Club in Washington on April 5, 2011. Musk is the founder, CEO and chief designer for SpaceX, after having made his name as one of the co-founders of PayPal in the 1990s. Musk is also the CEO and product architect of electric car company Tesla Motors.

Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell, right, answers questions at a news conference at Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral on May 19. Shotwell joined SpaceX in 2002, starting as the vice president of business development. Shotwell has worked for Aerospace Corp. and eventually became the director of Microcosm’s Space Systems Division. In 2004, she was elected to the California Space Authority Board of Directors, serving on its executive committee.

Mike Brown / Reuters

Dutch astronaut Andre Kuipers, left, and American astronaut Donald Pettit await the arrival of the SpaceX Dragon supply capsule after its scheduled launch aboard the Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral to the International Space Station.

AP / AP

Bill Gerstenmaier, right, is NASA's associate administrator for space operations. Gerstenmaier has worked along with SpaceX as the private company coordinates with NASA on the first commercial spaceflight mission to deliver materials to the International Space Station.

NASA / Reuters

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden speaks to the media after the Falcon 9 test rocket was launched successfully from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral on May 22. “We’re handing off to the private sector our transportation to the International Space Station so that NASA can focus on what we do best: Exploring even deeper into our solar system,” Bolden said.

Michael R. Brown / Reuters

Back to gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.