On the occasion of the successful launch of the SpaceX Falcon 1 vehicle, the National Space Society released the following statement:

The members of the National Space Society congratulate the SpaceX team and its founder, Elon Musk, on the success of tonight’s launch. The Falcon I launch vehicle reached orbit on a picture-perfect launch from the Kwajalein launch site, a milestone for the company and for commercial space. Private ventures such as SpaceX offer the promise of lower-cost launch, opening space to new ventures and people while enabling NASA to explore beyond. This hard-won success demonstrates again that space can in fact be accessed by small teams and companies, and confirms the promise of a new age in space. Congratulations to all involved and Ad Astra!

For more information, visit: www.spacex.com

For NSS’s positions on commercial space, visit: www.nss.org

About National Space Society

The National Space Society (NSS) is an independent, grassroots organization dedicated to the creation of a spacefaring civilization. Founded in 1974, NSS is widely acknowledged as the preeminent citizen’s voice on space. NSS counts thousands of members and more than 50 chapters in the United States and around the world. The society also publishes Ad Astra magazine, an award-winning periodical chronicling the most important developments in space. For more information about NSS, visit www.nss.org.