Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies plans to sue the US Air Force, saying it should be allowed to compete in a satellite-launch market monopolised by the two biggest defence contractors.

After three decades of space service, Discovery, NASA’s oldest and most travelled shuttle began its new life as a museum relic today with one final takeoff.

A PRIVATE company launched a spacecraft into orbit and then, in a historic first, guided it back to Earth yesterday in a bold test for NASA that could lead to the first commercial space station supply run next year and eventual astronaut rides.

The first commercial spacecraft designed to return to Earth was successfully launched today from Cape Canaveral.