The SpaceX Falcon is a family of reusable rockets designed and manufactured by SpaceX, an American aerospace company founded by Elon Musk. The Falcon 1 was the first privately developed liquid-fueled rocket to reach orbit in 2008. Its successors, the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, are used for a variety of missions, including satellite launches and resupply missions to the International Space Station. The Falcon 9 features nine engines and is known for its ability to land back on Earth after launching payloads into space. The Falcon Heavy, which is essentially three Falcon 9 cores strapped together, is one of the most powerful operational rockets in the world. Both rockets have significantly reduced the cost of access to space.