Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age

By Eric Berger

The behind-the-scenes story of the most important rocket ever built – SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 – and the people who brought humankind one giant leap closer to Mars

SpaceX began with a simple distinct goal: to put a single-engine rocket into orbit. Achieving that goal in 2008 was ground-breaking, but not revolutionary – humanity has been putting rockets into orbit for over 60 years.

What SpaceX has done in the subsequent decade, however, is truly transformative. Since 2008 the company has launched more than 120 missions, developed 3 new rockets, flown 10 astronauts (and counting) into orbit, begun testing Starship, the craft that promises to take humans to Mars, and now operates more satellites in space than any other company – or country – in the world.

SpaceX’s massive success has been made possible by one fundamental breakthrough that will enable humans to return to the Moon and then forge ahead to Mars: the ability to launch a rocket into orbit, guide it back to Earth’s surface safely and launch it again, and again, and again. Through the eyes of engineers on test stands in Texas, the launchpads in Florida and the factory floor in California, REENTRY tells the story of this revolutionary reusable rocket, the Falcon 9, and the behind-the-scenes drama as SpaceX built the future of human space exploration.