SpaceX

Overview Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) is a U.S. private space company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk. SpaceX designs, manufactures and operates launch vehicles, spacecraft, and space‑based communications systems. The company is headquartered at Starbase, Texas, and maintains major operations in Hawthorne, California; McGregor, Texas (engine test); Redmond, Washington (Starlink manufacturing); Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center, Florida; and Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Launch Services • Falcon 9: Partially reusable medium‑lift launch vehicle powered by Merlin engines using RP‑1/LOX. The first stage routinely lands on drone ships or designated landing zones for re‑flight. Individual boosters have surpassed 30 flights. • Falcon Heavy: Heavy‑lift variant consisting of three Falcon 9 cores with higher payload capacity for high‑energy orbits and interplanetary missions. • Launch cadence: SpaceX achieved a record 138 orbital launches in 2024 and passed 120 launches by early October 2025. • Launch sites: LC‑39A and SLC‑40 (Florida), SLC‑4E with LZ‑4 (Vandenberg, California), and Starbase (Texas). SLC‑40 supports cargo and crew; LC‑39A supports crew, cargo, and Falcon Heavy. • Rideshare: Transporter (Sun‑synchronous) and Bandwagon (mid‑inclination) dedicated rideshare lines provide lower‑cost access to orbit for small satellites with standardized pricing and frequent schedules. Starship System Starship is a fully reusable, methane/oxygen, two‑stage super heavy‑lift launch system using Raptor engines. Prototypes are built and flown from Starbase to advance flight, re‑entry, and recovery objectives. In 2025 the program conducted multiple integrated flight tests, including booster landings/splashdowns and ship splashdowns, and continues work toward operational reuse. Starship has been selected by NASA as the human landing system for Artemis lunar missions. Crew and Cargo Programs SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft support NASA and commercial missions. Crew Dragon began operational crew rotation flights to the International Space Station in 2020 and continues to fly NASA and private astronaut missions. Cargo Dragon provides regular resupply under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services contracts. Satellite Networks & Services • Starlink: SpaceX operates a large low‑Earth‑orbit broadband constellation providing fixed and mobility internet services, including maritime, aviation, and enterprise offerings. In 2025 Starlink reported more than six million active customers globally and has begun rolling out direct‑to‑cell text services with mobile carrier partners. • Starshield: A government‑focused line that adapts SpaceX’s satellite bus and communications capabilities for national security users, alongside other hosted payload and remote‑sensing offerings. Government & Commercial Customers SpaceX serves civil, defense, and commercial markets worldwide. U.S. customers include NASA and the U.S. Space Force under the National Security Space Launch program, along with other federal agencies and the National Reconnaissance Office. Commercial customers span communications, Earth observation, in‑space logistics, and human spaceflight. Leadership & Structure • Founder and CEO: Elon Musk; President and COO: Gwynne Shotwell. • Ownership: Privately held.