Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace company that designs, manufactures, and launches rockets and spacecraft. Elon Musk founded the company in 2002 with the stated goal of reducing the cost of access to space and, over the long term, supporting human settlement of Mars. The business is privately held and is headquartered at Starbase, Texas, with major operations in Hawthorne, California, Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
SpaceX moved from a startup with no flight hardware to one of the most active launch providers in the world. Its work spans two connected businesses: a launch and spacecraft operation built around reusable rockets, and Starlink, a satellite internet network that the company builds, launches, and operates itself.
What SpaceX builds
The company's core products are its launch vehicles and spacecraft. The Falcon 9 is a partially reusable two-stage rocket whose first stage returns to land on a pad or a drone ship and flies again, a design that lets SpaceX reuse boosters across dozens of missions. Falcon Heavy combines three Falcon 9 first-stage cores for heavier payloads. The Dragon spacecraft carries cargo and crew to the International Space Station under contracts with NASA, and a crewed version has flown private missions as well.
SpaceX is also developing Starship, a fully reusable two-stage launch system made up of the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage. The vehicle is intended to carry large payloads and crews to orbit, the Moon, and eventually Mars. NASA has selected a version of Starship as a human landing system for its Artemis program, which ties the vehicle's development to planned crewed lunar missions.
Founding and milestones
After founding the company in 2002, Musk funded early development as SpaceX worked toward its first orbital flight. The small Falcon 1 rocket reached orbit in 2008 after several failures, making SpaceX the first privately developed liquid-fueled rocket to do so. That result helped the company win a NASA cargo resupply contract that provided revenue and credibility during its early years.
The Falcon 9 entered service in 2010 and became the company's workhorse. In 2015 SpaceX landed a Falcon 9 first stage back on the ground for the first time, and in 2017 it reflew a recovered booster, steps that established orbital-class reuse as a routine part of its operations. In 2020 a Crew Dragon spacecraft carried NASA astronauts to the International Space Station, the first crewed orbital flight launched from the United States since the Space Shuttle retired in 2011. The Falcon family passed its 500th launch in 2025.
Starlink
Starlink is SpaceX's satellite internet service. The company launches batches of small satellites into low Earth orbit on its own rockets and sells broadband access to consumers, businesses, and governments using ground terminals that connect to the constellation. Because the satellites orbit much closer to Earth than traditional geostationary internet satellites, the service is designed to deliver lower latency, and it can reach rural and remote locations that lack wired broadband.
Starlink has grown into a large share of SpaceX's launch activity, with many Falcon 9 missions dedicated to adding satellites to the network. The service has been deployed for disaster response and in conflict zones, and it has become a significant source of recurring revenue that helps fund the company's rocket development, including Starship.
Scale and valuation
SpaceX remained private for more than two decades, raising capital through funding rounds and tender offers rather than the public markets for most of its history. Its valuation rose steadily as launch cadence and Starlink subscriptions grew, and reporting in early 2026 placed the company among the most valuable private firms in the world, with a valuation above one trillion dollars. The company has also drawn attention for its rising annual revenue, driven largely by Starlink.
SpaceX is part of a wider commercial space sector that has attracted heavy private investment, including companies focused on in-space transportation and infrastructure. For one example of that funding activity, see our coverage of Impulse Space's $500 million Series D for orbital mobility.
Sources and official site
SpaceX publishes mission information and vehicle details on its official site at spacex.com. NASA documents the company's crew and cargo work under the Commercial Crew and Commercial Resupply programs at nasa.gov.
For a broad reference on the company's history, products, and financing, Wikipedia's SpaceX entry aggregates sourced reporting and primary documents.
Frequently asked questions
When was SpaceX founded and by whom?
SpaceX was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, who serves as chief executive and chief engineer.
Where is SpaceX headquartered?
SpaceX is headquartered at Starbase, Texas. It moved its headquarters there from Hawthorne, California, where it still runs major manufacturing operations.
What does SpaceX build?
SpaceX builds the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, the Dragon cargo and crew spacecraft, and the Starship launch system. It also builds and operates the Starlink satellite internet network.
What is Starlink?
Starlink is SpaceX's satellite internet service. It uses a large constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit to provide broadband access, including in rural and remote areas, through small ground terminals.
Is SpaceX a public company?
SpaceX remained privately held for most of its history, raising money through private funding rounds. Reporting in early 2026 valued the company above one trillion dollars, ranking it among the most valuable private companies.