Space
A big test for Elon Musk and SpaceX
Sometime today, SpaceX, the privately held rocket company started by Elon Musk, will attempt the maiden launch of its Falcon 9 rocket. The company has already reached orbit, but with a smaller rocket that is only capable of delivering satellites to space. The larger Falcon 9 is designed to carry astronauts to the International Space Station and has been singled out by President Obama as a possible successor to the Space Shuttle program. The company has emphasized that this is a test flight and that the goal is "is to collect as much data as possible," and the Wall Street Journal cautions that "Maiden launches of newly-designed rockets are notoriously risky." You can watch the launch here, and we'll keep you updated on what happens. (For more on Musk, check out this profile, which ran when we named him Entrepreneur of the Year in 2007.)
