1. a) What was historic about the successful launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket this week?
b) What other historic first did SpaceX accomplish in 2010?

2.  What is the purpose of the Dragon capsule's trip to the ISS?

3.  What is the U.S. government's goal for allowing private companies to provide trips to the ISS?

4.  How does SpaceX's Dragon capsule differ from other current cargo ships in existence today?

5.  SpaceX is a private company, which has a $1.6 billion contract with NASA to supply the ISS with cargo in the coming years.
a) How much has SpaceX spent on its space program?
b) How much has the U.S. government given SpaceX, through NASA, as seed money? (seed money is money that is used to start a business or other activity)

6.  Do you think the U.S. government should give private companies tax-payer dollars to start certain businesses (such as the space travel, solar energy, wind power, etc.)?  Explain your answer.