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Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi with SpaceX Crew-6 colleagues in a Dragon Crew Capsule. The mission is scheduled for launch in February 2023 from the Kennedy Space Centre. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
A prototype of a Starship nose cone at SpaceX's centre in Florida. Sarwat Nasir / The National
The centre has been busy, with a record-breaking 61 orbital in 2022. Sarwat Nasir / The National
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SpaceX founder and chief engineer Elon Musk. Reuters
SpaceX's rocket assembly building in Florida. Sarwat Nasir / The National
Starship could head to space as soon as next month and a launch pad for the rocket is under construction in Florida. Sarwat Nasir / The National
A Falcon 9 rocket lifts off in Florida. Sarwat Nasir / The National
A plume of smoke left behind by a Falcon 9 rocket shortly after lift-off. Sarwat Nasir / The National
Models of SpaceX rockets at the Sands Space History Centre in Florida. Sarwat Nasir / The National
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at a Cape Canaveral in Florida. Photo: Salem Al Marri / Twitter
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Nasa's Crew 5 members pose for a picture shortly before boarding a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral in October 2022. Reuters
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Commander Nicole Mann greets her family as she prepares to head to the launch pad in October 2022. Reuters
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Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi with SpaceX Crew-6 colleagues in a Dragon Crew Capsule. The mission is scheduled for launch in February 2023 from the Kennedy Space Centre. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
A prototype of a Starship nose cone at SpaceX's centre in Florida. Sarwat Nasir / The National
The centre has been busy, with a record-breaking 61 orbital in 2022. Sarwat Nasir / The National
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SpaceX founder and chief engineer Elon Musk. Reuters
SpaceX's rocket assembly building in Florida. Sarwat Nasir / The National
Starship could head to space as soon as next month and a launch pad for the rocket is under construction in Florida. Sarwat Nasir / The National
A Falcon 9 rocket lifts off in Florida. Sarwat Nasir / The National
A plume of smoke left behind by a Falcon 9 rocket shortly after lift-off. Sarwat Nasir / The National
Models of SpaceX rockets at the Sands Space History Centre in Florida. Sarwat Nasir / The National
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at a Cape Canaveral in Florida. Photo: Salem Al Marri / Twitter
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F5TFESX2OAP6CLQCF735CLFJCU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c88f0a0e9076a70ac24a4cc0eda2e63a0557618df866c18ecf432f47e13e796f&width=400&height=225)
Nasa's Crew 5 members pose for a picture shortly before boarding a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral in October 2022. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/67CTDYFEI5KJIFOAGPOYL2UE6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=347ee659efe7add72b9ce08dfe5a12a7d07a8483b4ab1ffb27ef733280610128&width=400&height=225)
Commander Nicole Mann greets her family as she prepares to head to the launch pad in October 2022. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/54BBDFSXEZGB3N3G32N6IE5YRQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=e118aa846c319fccc9389ebb53c1bb2693fa36553b7c35cd7a0d9e0d21c07d73&width=400&height=225)
Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi with SpaceX Crew-6 colleagues in a Dragon Crew Capsule. The mission is scheduled for launch in February 2023 from the Kennedy Space Centre. Photo: Nasa / SpaceX
Rise of SpaceX: Record-breaking launch rate despite Musk's Twitter turmoil
Billionaire may be pre-occupied with social media and politics, but his rocket company continues to thrive on Florida's space coast
![Sarwat Nasir](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5a1721d1-b1fc-47a7-8c35-985395d5a5ae.png?smart=true&auth=59b598b8295381dbbb5492b5ef6a2ffa0d77e07c0a1086053fcdbee600f14b7f&width=70&height=70)
Sarwat Nasir
09 January, 2023
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