SpaceX Dragon makes history

After being released into orbit by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launcher, the spacecraft Dragon helped  SpaceX to become the first private company to successfully launch a craft into space and recover it after it left orbit.

The mission, which launched four years ago on 8 December 2010, was a huge leap forward for private space travel and put SpaceX on the map as a major player in the private market.

Although it launched, entered orbit and landed back on Earth within a day, the Dragon mission was successful enough to convince NASA to sign a contract with SpaceX to supply the ISS with essential scientific and survival gear.

The craft made its first docking with the ISS on 25 May 2012 and made its most recent rendezvous in September 2014.