A private aerospace company founded by Elon Musk in 2002. One of the long-term goals of SpaceX is to colonize Mars, which Musk believes is essential to perpetuate humanity in the future.
Major Firsts for a Private Rocketship Company
Starting in 2008, SpaceX is known for its many firsts as a private (not public) company. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket family has flown more than a hundred times, and in 2010, SpaceX was the first private company to launch a spacecraft into orbit and recover it. In 2017, it reused a commercial spacecraft designed for cargo, and in 2020 was first to send humans into orbit. In 2023, the SpaceX rocket was the most powerful ever.
In late 2024, SpaceX caught the 232-foot booster from its heavy Starship rocket with mechanical arms back at its launch pad. Normally, boosters splash into the ocean miles away. This was a first for any spaceship company, private or public. See
Starlink.