SpaceX - The Atlantic

SpaceX

2:19 PM ET

A black-and-white cut-out photograph of Musk's face against a background of green arrows chaotically pointing in every direction.

National Security

Elon Musk Moves Against the Russians in Ukraine

Simon Shuster

February 27, 2026

Science

How NASA Engineered Its Own Decline

Franklin Foer

September 2025 Issue

collage with blocks of red, blue, orange, yellow on black background and images including astronaut, moon lander, eagle on moon, orbit diagrams, and Elon Musk waving U.S. flag at rally

Technology

Elon Musk’s Most Alarming Power Grab

Ross Andersen

May 6, 2025

Animated GIF of the Earth with a twinkling network of nodes above it

Technology

Elon Musk Lost His Big Bet

Charlie Warzel

April 2, 2025

Photo illustration of Elon Musk wearing a Wisconsin cheese hat, coming out of a massive piece of cheese

Politics

The FAA’s Troubles Are More Serious Than You Know

Isaac Stanley-Becker

March 9, 2025

A crane is visible on the Potomac River for recovery efforts after the American Airlines crash.

Science

Elon Musk Gets His Mini-Me at NASA

Ross Andersen

December 5, 2024

a close-up photo of Jared Isaacman, in black and white

Science

What to Expect From Elon Musk’s Government Makeover

Marina Koren

November 13, 2024

In a red image, Elon Musk claps and looks at the camera.

Science

MAGA Goes to Mars

Marina Koren

November 5, 2024

collage of trump tower placed on top of a planet in space

The Atlantic Daily

Why Does Elon Musk Still Have a Security Clearance?

Tom Nichols

October 28, 2024

Elon Musk shrugs wearing a MAGA hat in front of an American flag

The Atlantic Daily

Elon Musk Is a New Kind of Political Donor

Lora Kelley

October 24, 2024

Elon Musk stands in front of a giant American flag

Books

What Elon Musk Really Wants

Franklin Foer

October 19, 2024

Split image of Donald Trump on left and Elon Musk on right

The Atlantic Daily

What Happened to Elon Musk

Lora Kelley

September 19, 2024

Two covers of the "Elon Musk" biography by Walter Isaacson

Science

The Scariest Spacewalk in 50 Years

Marina Koren

September 10, 2024

An astronaut floating in space, facing away from the viewer, with a long tether trailing out of the frame like a lasso

Technology

Elon Musk Has the ‘Off’ Switch

Marina Koren

September 5, 2024

A close-up shot of Elon Musk against a dark background

Science

Elon Musk to the Rescue

Marina Koren

August 25, 2024

Elon Musk's head is framed in a bright quadrilateral figure cut into a dark background.

Science

The Most Powerful Rocket in History Had a Good Morning

Marina Koren

March 14, 2024

A pair of onlookers gaze at SpaceX's Starship system, which stands upright on its launchpad on the coast of South Texas.

Science

Another ‘Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly’ for Elon Musk

Marina Koren

November 18, 2023

Spectators watch as SpaceX's Starship lifts off in a cloud of fire and smoke from the Gulf Coast

Science

The Messy Reality of Elon Musk’s Space City

Marina Koren

April 27, 2023

Spectators look on as the Starship rocket lifts off in a blaze in the distance

Science

Elon Musk’s Explosive Day

Marina Koren

April 20, 2023

At left, a photograph of SpaceX's Starship rocket flying in mid-air, engines blazing; at right, a photograph of white smoke left behind after Starship exploded

Science

Well, That’s One Way to Save a Space Telescope From Falling Back to Earth

Marina Koren

September 30, 2022

A picture of the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit, shining against the darkness of space

Science

What’s Standing in Elon Musk’s Way?

Marina Koren

February 11, 2022

A picture of SpaceX's Starship prototype during a launch test, with the sun peeking out from behind it

Science

A Question Only Elon Musk Can Answer

Marina Koren

September 22, 2021

An illustration depicting Elon Musk standing on top of the Earth

Science

Elon Musk Must Be Pretty Relieved

Marina Koren

September 18, 2021

Private astronaut Hayley Arceneaux takes in the view on SpaceX's Dragon capsule

Science

SpaceX’s Private Astronauts Are Flying Higher Than the Space Station

Marina Koren

September 15, 2021

SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission launches over Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Science

Finally, a Private Spaceflight With a Billionaire You’ve Never Heard Of

Marina Koren

September 13, 2021

The crew of SpaceX's first privately funded trip to space is seen training for their journey.

Newsletters

The Atlantic Daily: SpaceX Really Might Change American Spaceflight Forever

Caroline Mimbs Nyce

May 7, 2021

Science

Elon Musk Is Maybe, Actually, Strangely, Going to Do This Mars Thing

Marina Koren

May 6, 2021

A collage of Elon Musk and the Starship prototype launching in South Texas

Science

America’s New Vision of Astronauts

Marina Koren

February 3, 2021

Science

SpaceX’s Riskiest Business

Marina Koren

November 15, 2020

Science

‘Thanks for Flying SpaceX’

Marina Koren

August 3, 2020

Science

Elon Musk’s Lesson in How Not to Celebrate Diversity

Marina Koren

June 21, 2020

Science

A Historic Docking, 250 Miles Above Earth

Marina Koren

May 31, 2020

Science

SpaceX Pulled It Off

Marina Koren

May 30, 2020

NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken in the SpaceX capsule

Newsletters

The Atlantic Daily: Elon Musk Comes Within 20 Minutes of History

Caroline Mimbs Nyce

May 27, 2020

Science

American Spaceflight Is Now in Elon Musk’s Hands

Marina Koren

May 27, 2020

Sections

The Print Edition

SpaceX Is Basically a Huge Meme Stock

Elon Musk Moves Against the Russians in Ukraine

How NASA Engineered Its Own Decline

Elon Musk’s Most Alarming Power Grab

Elon Musk Lost His Big Bet

The FAA’s Troubles Are More Serious Than You Know

Elon Musk Gets His Mini-Me at NASA

What to Expect From Elon Musk’s Government Makeover

MAGA Goes to Mars

Why Does Elon Musk Still Have a Security Clearance?

Elon Musk Is a New Kind of Political Donor

What Elon Musk Really Wants

What Happened to Elon Musk

The Scariest Spacewalk in 50 Years

Elon Musk Has the ‘Off’ Switch

Elon Musk to the Rescue

The Most Powerful Rocket in History Had a Good Morning

Another ‘Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly’ for Elon Musk

The Messy Reality of Elon Musk’s Space City

Elon Musk’s Explosive Day

Well, That’s One Way to Save a Space Telescope From Falling Back to Earth

What’s Standing in Elon Musk’s Way?

A Question Only Elon Musk Can Answer

Elon Musk Must Be Pretty Relieved

SpaceX’s Private Astronauts Are Flying Higher Than the Space Station

Finally, a Private Spaceflight With a Billionaire You’ve Never Heard Of

The Atlantic Daily: SpaceX Really Might Change American Spaceflight Forever

Elon Musk Is Maybe, Actually, Strangely, Going to Do This Mars Thing

America’s New Vision of Astronauts

SpaceX’s Riskiest Business

‘Thanks for Flying SpaceX’

Elon Musk’s Lesson in How Not to Celebrate Diversity

A Historic Docking, 250 Miles Above Earth

SpaceX Pulled It Off

The Atlantic Daily: Elon Musk Comes Within 20 Minutes of History

American Spaceflight Is Now in Elon Musk’s Hands