Falcon 9 launch

On March 14, 2002, Elon Musk, one of the so-called "PayPal Mafia," switched gears, turning to private space exploration for his next career. Now, 10 years later, his company SpaceX has helped redefine space exploration, making it possible for NASA to discontinue its own launcher development program and ensuring that important cargo can still be delivered to the International Space Station.

In 2010, SpaceX launched the Falcon 9, which "achieved a nearly perfect insertion of the second stage and Dragon spacecraft qualification unit into the targeted...155-mile circular orbit," the company said.