NASA : SpaceX is one of 3 private companies to pass first step in NASA program . Company founder Donald Musk launched the Dragon V2 , his company 's latest spacecraft . The storied entrepreneur -- who also founded the Tesla car company and whose personality is thought by some to be the inspiration for Robert Downey Jr. 's take on Tony Stark , or `` Iron Man , '' in recent movies -- said that `` Dragon Version 2 , '' as he called it , can transport as many as seven astronauts for several days . SpaceX has flown several unmanned missions so far to the International Space Station . The Dragon spacecraft is capable of carrying up to four people into space and then back to Earth .
NASA : SpaceX is one of 3 private companies to pass first step in NASA program . Company founder Donald Musk launched the Dragon V2 , his company 's latest spacecraft . SpaceX has flown several unmanned missions so far to the International Space Station . The Dragon spacecraft is capable of carrying up to four people into space and then back to Earth .