U.S. rocket firm puts Malaysian satellite in orbit

The firm's biggest customer is NASA, which has reservations for more than half of SpaceX's two dozen upcoming missions. The company has contracts to develop and deliver a space station cargo vehicle. It also is petitioning for a $300 million contract addition to upgrade its Dragon capsule to ferry astronauts to and from the space station after NASA retires its space shuttle fleet next year.

"It's a no-lose proposition for the taxpayer," Musk said. "If we don't do what we say we're going to do, we don't get paid."

Falcon 9's debut flight is scheduled for October from a new launch complex at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

(Editing by Eric Walsh)