Less than an hour after Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) made spaceflight history by becoming the first commercial company ever to dock a spacecraft at the International Space Station, an independent aerospace model-making company based on BC's Sunshine Coast made history of its own.

SpaceX formally concluded signing a license agreement with Proach Models of Sechelt, BC that allows them to produce and sell scale-model replicas of the Falcon 9 rockets and Dragon spacecraft to the public.

Proach Models has been producing these models exclusively for SpaceX since 2009. CEO Nick Proach is thrilled to be able to offer high quality replicas of them for sale to the public.

"Space X is a great company to work with and we are very happy for their success this morning as they ushered in a new era of space exploration," Nick Proach says. "These are incredibly exciting times for the space industry and we look forward to working more closely with SpaceX as they continue to lead the way in commercial spaceflight."

This marks the first time Proach Models has entered into such an agreement with an aerospace company.

The Falcon 9 rocket measures 178 feet tall - about the same as an 18-story office building. Proach Models will be offering three highly detailed replicas of the rocket: the Falcon 9 carrying the Dragon spacecraft, a Falcon 9 with a 17-foot fairing for unmanned launches, and the Falcon Heavy, a heavy-lift version.

All models will be available in 1/72 scale and will measure 26-30 inches tall, depending on the version. Proach will also be offering 1/48 scale replicas of the Dragon spacecraft and the Falcon 1, SpaceX's first launch vehicle.

Nick Proach has been a professional aerospace model maker since 1971. He founded Proach Models in 1994 and since then has produced and sold high-quality replica spacecraft to museums and collectors around the world.

Proach Models can be found at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long Island, NY, the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH, the Ontario Science Center in Toronto, ON, and the HR MacMillan Science Center in Vancouver, BC. Their models have been used as training aids by NASA and the U.S. Air Force. Their customers also include former astronauts.

Proach Models have also flown in space. A model of the S1 Space Station truss segment flew aboard Atlantis in 2002 and a small Russian Soyuz spacecraft model flew with Richard Garriot aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 2008.

Proach Models are considered to be some of the most authentic and detailed replica spacecraft available today.