History of SpaceX in Timeline
SpaceX, founded in 2002, is an American space technology company that has revolutionized space exploration. It specializes in rocket propulsion, reusable launch vehicles, human spaceflight, and satellite constellations. By 2025, SpaceX became the dominant space launch provider, surpassing competitors and national programs. The company maintains close working relationships with NASA and the U.S. Armed Forces through governmental contracts.
2002: Elon Musk begins staffing SpaceX
In early 2002, Elon Musk began to look for staff for his company, soon to be named SpaceX. Musk approached five people for the initial positions at the fledgling company, including Griffin, Jim Cantrell, John Garvey, Tom Mueller, and Chris Thompson.
2003: SpaceX Leases McGregor Facility
SpaceX leased the McGregor facility in 2003. The company has since expanded it significantly from 256 acres (104 ha) in 2003.
2004: SpaceX Protests NASA Contract
In 2004, SpaceX protested against NASA to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) because of a sole-source contract awarded to Kistler Aerospace, which led to NASA withdrawing the contract and forming the COTS program.
November 2005: SpaceX Employee Count
By November 2005, SpaceX had 160 employees, showing its growth in the early years.
2005: SpaceX Awarded IDIQ Contract by USAF
In 2005, SpaceX announced it had been awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, allowing the United States Air Force to purchase up to $100 million worth of launches from the company.
2005: Human-Rated Commercial Space Program Plans
In 2005, SpaceX announced plans to pursue a human-rated commercial space program through the end of the decade, a program that would later become the Dragon spacecraft.
2005: Falcon 9 Development
In 2005, SpaceX decided to proceed with the development of the Falcon 9, a reusable heavier lift vehicle, instead of the Falcon 5.
2006: NASA Awards COTS Contract to SpaceX
In 2006, NASA selected SpaceX and awarded $396 million to provide crew and cargo resupply demonstration contracts to the International Space Station (ISS) under the COTS program.
2006: SpaceX Wins NASA COTS Contract
In 2006, SpaceX won a NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Phase 1 contract to demonstrate cargo delivery to the ISS, with a possible contract option for crew transport.
2006: First Falcon 1 Launch
In 2006, The first two Falcon 1 launches were purchased by the United States Department of Defense under the DARPA Falcon Project, which evaluated new U.S. launch vehicles suitable for use in hypersonic missile delivery for Prompt Global Strike.
2006: ULA Monopoly
Since 2006, United Launch Alliance (ULA) had held the monopoly over U.S. Air Force launches of classified payloads until SpaceX broke it.
April 2007: Pentagon Approves SpaceX Use of SLC-40
In April 2007, the Pentagon approved the use of Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) by SpaceX.
September 28, 2008: First Successful Falcon 1 Launch
On September 28, 2008, SpaceX achieved its first successful launch on the fourth attempt, saving the company, and NASA awarded the first Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract awarding $1.6 billion to SpaceX in December.
2008: NASA Awards CRS Contracts
In 2008, NASA awarded the first Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contracts, including $1.6 billion to SpaceX for 12 cargo transport missions.
2008: Falcon 1 Successful Launch
In 2008, the Falcon 1 successfully launched into orbit after three previous failed attempts, marking a significant achievement for SpaceX.
2008: Falcon 1 Launch Failures
In 2008, the first three launches of the Falcon 1 rocket, between 2006 and 2008, all resulted in failures, which almost ended the company. At the same time, financing for Tesla Motors had failed, and consequently Tesla, SolarCity, and Elon Musk personally were all nearly bankrupt.
July 2009: Falcon 1 Retired
In July 2009, following its second successful launch, the Falcon 1 was retired to focus on the development of the larger Falcon 9 rocket. Gwynne Shotwell was also promoted to company president at the time.
June 2010: First Falcon 9 Launch
In June 2010, the Falcon 9 launched for the first time with the Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit, using a mockup of the Dragon spacecraft.
December 2010: SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1 Launch
In December 2010, SpaceX became the first private company to successfully launch, orbit, and recover a spacecraft with the launch of the SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1 mission.
December 2010: Operational Dragon Spacecraft Launch
In December 2010, the first operational Dragon spacecraft was launched aboard COTS Demo Flight 1, the Falcon 9's second flight, and safely returned to Earth after two orbits, completing all its mission objectives. Also by December 2010, the SpaceX production line was manufacturing one Falcon 9 and Dragon every three months.
2010: Successful COTS Demonstration Flight
In 2010, SpaceX had a successful Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) demonstration flight. Following this success, SpaceX was chosen to receive a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract.
April 2011: NASA Contract for Integrated Launch Escape System
In April 2011, NASA issued a $75 million contract to SpaceX to develop an integrated launch escape system for Dragon as part of its second-round Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program.
2011: SpaceX Awarded First CCDev Contract
In 2011, SpaceX was awarded its first contract as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program, aimed at developing commercially operated spacecraft to deliver astronauts to the ISS.
2011: Lease of Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4E
In 2011, Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4E) was leased from the military for payloads to polar orbits.
2011: Last Crewed Launch from US before Crew Dragon Demo-2
Since 2011, there had not been a crewed vehicle launched from the U.S. until the Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission launched in May 2020.
May 2012: SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 2
In May 2012, Dragon successfully berthed with the ISS during SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 2, marking the first time a private spacecraft achieved this milestone.
May 2012: Dragon Delivers Cargo to ISS
In May 2012, with the Dragon C2+ launch, Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to deliver cargo to the International Space Station, and the company valuation nearly doubled to $2.4 billion.
August 2012: Space Act Agreement with NASA
In August 2012, NASA awarded SpaceX a fixed-price Space Act Agreement (SAA) to produce a detailed design of the crew transportation system.
October 2012: SpaceX CRS-1 Launch and Berthing
In October 2012, SpaceX CRS-1, the first of 12 planned resupply missions, launched, achieved orbit, berthed with the ISS, and remained on station for 20 days.
December 2012: SpaceX Announces Launch Contracts with DoD
In December 2012, SpaceX announced its first two launch contracts with the United States Department of Defense (DoD) for EELV-class missions: Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) and Space Test Program 2 (STP-2).
2012: Commercial Resupply Services to ISS
By 2012, SpaceX completed all Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) test flights and started delivering Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) missions to the International Space Station (ISS). Also around that time, SpaceX started developing hardware to make the Falcon 9 first stage reusable.
2012: SpaceX Awarded Second CCDev Contract
In 2012, SpaceX received another contract to continue development and testing of its Dragon 2 spacecraft within the Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program.
2012: No US Commercial Launches
In 2012, there were no commercial launches from the United States.
2012: Reusability Test Program Begins
SpaceX's active reusability test program began in late 2012 with testing low-altitude, low-speed aspects of the landing technology. The Falcon 9 prototypes performed vertical takeoffs and landings (VTOL).
2013: Market Pressure on Competitors
By 2013, SpaceX's low launch prices, especially for communications satellites flying to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), had resulted in market pressure on its competitors to lower their own prices.
2013: First Commercial Mission for Private Customer
In 2013, SpaceX launched its first commercial mission for a private customer.
2013: High-Velocity Atmospheric Return Tests
In late 2013, SpaceX began high-velocity, high-altitude tests of the booster atmospheric return technology.
April 14, 2014: SpaceX Leases Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A
On April 14, 2014, SpaceX signed a 20-year lease for Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A. The pad was subsequently modified to support Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches.
July 2014: FAA Issues Permit for Starbase Facility
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the permit in July 2014 for SpaceX's Starbase facility.
August 2014: First Plans for Starbase Launch Facility
SpaceX announced first plans for the launch facility in Boca Chica near Brownsville, Texas in August 2014.
September 2014: CCtCap Contract Awarded
In September 2014, NASA awarded SpaceX the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contract to finalize the development of the Crew Transportation System. The contract included several technical and certification milestones, an uncrewed flight test, a crewed flight test, and six operational missions after certification.
January 2015: Funding from Google and Fidelity Investments
In January 2015, SpaceX raised $1 billion in funding from Google and Fidelity Investments, establishing the company valuation at approximately $12 billion. The same month SpaceX announced the development of the Starlink satellite constellation to provide global broadband internet service.
May 2015: Crew Dragon Pad Abort Test
In May 2015, SpaceX completed the first key flight test of its Crew Dragon spacecraft, a Pad Abort Test.
June 2015: Hyperloop Competition Announcement
In June 2015, SpaceX announced that it would sponsor a Hyperloop competition, and would build a 1.6 km (0.99 mi) long subscale test track near SpaceX's headquarters for the competitive events.
June 2015: Falcon 9 CRS-7 Failure
In June 2015, the Falcon 9 experienced its first major failure when the seventh ISS resupply mission, CRS-7, exploded two minutes into the flight. The problem was traced to a failed steel strut holding a helium pressure vessel.
December 2015: First Successful First Stage Landing
In December 2015, SpaceX achieved a successful landing and recovery of a Falcon 9 first stage, marking a significant milestone in reusable rocket technology.
2015: McGregor Facility Expansion
By 2015, the company expanded the McGregor facility significantly to 4,000 acres (1,600 ha).
2015: NASA Extends CRS Phase 1 Contracts
In 2015, NASA extended the Phase 1 CRS contracts by ordering an additional three resupply flights from SpaceX, bringing the total to twenty cargo missions to the ISS.
2015: Starlink Development Begins
In 2015, SpaceX began developing Starlink, an internet satellite constellation.
2015: First Successful First-Stage Landing
In 2015, SpaceX demonstrated the first successful landing of a Falcon 9 first stage, a significant step towards reusable rocket technology.
2015: ULA Restructuring
In 2015, anticipating a slump in domestic, military, and spy launches, ULA stated that it would go out of business unless it won commercial satellite launch orders. To that end, ULA announced a major restructuring of processes and workforce to decrease launch costs by half.
2015: DSCOVR Launch
In 2015, the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) was launched on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle as part of a contract with the United States Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.
2015: Falcon 9 Certified for NSSL
In 2015, the Falcon 9 v1.1 was certified for National Security Space Launch (NSSL), allowing SpaceX to contract launch services to the Air Force for classified payloads, breaking ULA's monopoly.
2015: Conversion of SLC-4W to Landing Zone 4
In 2015, the neighboring SLC-4W was converted to Landing Zone 4 for booster landings.
2015: First Starlink Building Opens in Redmond
In early 2015, the first Starlink building opened in Redmond, Washington. This is where Starlink's satellite development and manufacturing operations take place.
2015: Landing Zones 1 and 2 Used for Booster Landings
Since 2015, the former Launch Complex 13 at Cape Canaveral, now renamed Landing Zones 1 and 2, has been used for Falcon 9 first-stage booster landings.
2015: Construction Ramps Up at Starbase
SpaceX broke ground on the new launch facility in 2014 with construction ramping up in the latter half of 2015.
January 2016: Award of Second Phase of CRS Contracts
In January 2016, NASA awarded a second phase of CRS contracts, with SpaceX as one of the awardees, planning up to nine additional CRS flights with the upgraded Dragon 2 spacecraft.
April 2016: First Landing on Drone Ship
In April 2016, SpaceX achieved the first successful landing of a Falcon 9 first stage on the autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) Of Course I Still Love You in the Atlantic Ocean.
April 2016: U.S. Air Force Awards Launch to SpaceX
In April 2016, the U.S. Air Force awarded the first national security launch to SpaceX to launch the second GPS III satellite for $82.7 million, approximately 40% less than estimated costs for similar missions.
September 2016: Falcon 9 Explosion During Test
In early September 2016, a Falcon 9 exploded during a propellant fill operation for a standard pre-launch static fire test, destroying the AMOS-6 communications satellite payload. The explosion was caused by the liquid oxygen propellant turning so cold that it solidified and ignited with carbon composite helium vessels.
October 2016: Price Discount for Reused Falcon 9
By October 2016, following the successful landings, SpaceX indicated they were offering their customers a 10% price discount if they choose to fly their payload on a reused Falcon 9 first stage.
2016: Conclusion of First CRS Contract Phase
By 2016, the first CRS contracts awarded by NASA were concluded, marking the end of the initial phase for delivery of cargo and supplies to the ISS on commercially operated spacecraft.
2016: Falcon 9 Pre-Flight Failure
In 2016, a Falcon 9 experienced a pre-flight failure before a static fire test.
2016: Sexual Misconduct Allegation
In 2016, there was an allegation that Musk engaged in sexual misconduct with a SpaceX flight attendant in a private jet.
2016: Raptor Engine Test Firing
In late 2016, development versions of the Raptor engine were test-fired.
January 2017: Return to Flight
In January 2017, SpaceX returned to flight after a four-month launch hiatus following the Falcon 9 explosion during a test in September 2016.
March 2017: First Re-launch of Payload-Carrying Orbital Rocket
In March 2017, SpaceX launched a returned Falcon 9 for the SES-10 satellite, marking the first time a re-launch of a payload-carrying orbital rocket went back to space. The first stage was recovered again, also making it the first landing of a reused orbital class rocket.
May 1, 2017: First NRO Launch by SpaceX
On May 1, 2017, the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) had its first launch by SpaceX.
July 2017: Company Valuation
In July 2017, the company raised $350 million, raising its valuation to $21 billion.
2017: Starship Development Intention
As of 2017, SpaceX intended for the Starship system to supersede the company's existing launch vehicle hardware by the early 2020s.
2017: Target Completion Date for Dragon 2 Certification
By 2017, SpaceX was contracted to complete and certify the Dragon 2 spacecraft for crew transport to and from the ISS, including a crewed flight test with at least one NASA astronaut.
2017: Congressional Testimony on Falcon 9 Rocket
Congressional testimony by SpaceX in 2017 suggested that the NASA Space Act Agreement process of setting only a high-level requirement for cargo transport to the space station had allowed SpaceX to design and develop the Falcon 9 rocket on its own at a substantially lower cost.
2017: First Re-launch of First Stage
In 2017, SpaceX successfully re-launched a Falcon 9 first stage that had previously been used, marking another major milestone in reusable rocket technology.
2017: Initial Starlink Prototype Test-Flight Satellites Launched
In 2017, initial prototype test-flight satellites were launched on the SpaceX Paz satellite mission.
2017: First Hyperloop Competition
SpaceX held the annual Hyperloop competition from 2017.
March 2018: Launch Manifest and Contract Revenue
By March 2018, SpaceX had more than 100 launches on its manifest representing about $12 billion in contract revenue, making it the leading global commercial launch provider measured by manifested launches.
March 2018: U.S. Air Force Awards SpaceX Contract for GPS III Satellites
In March 2018, SpaceX secured an additional $290 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to launch another three GPS III satellites.
July 2018: Mini-Submarine Built for Thailand Cave Rescue
In July 2018, SpaceX employees built a mini-submarine to assist in the rescue of children stuck in a flooded cavern in Thailand, however, the submarine was ultimately not used.
2018: SpaceX Missions and Contracts
In 2018, SpaceX had approximately thirty missions on the manifest and represented over $12 billion under contract.
2018: Falcon Heavy First Flight
In 2018, after more than a decade of development, Falcon Heavy, constructed from three Falcon 9 boosters, had its first flight.
February 2019: SpaceX Secures Contract for National Security Missions
In February 2019, SpaceX secured a $297 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to launch another three national security missions, all slated to launch no earlier than FY 2021.
June 25, 2019: STP-2 Launch on Falcon Heavy
On June 25, 2019, the Space Test Program 2 (STP-2) was launched on a Falcon Heavy launch vehicle.
2019: First Flight of Raptor Engine
In 2019, the Raptor engine flew for the first time, powering the Starhopper vehicle to an altitude of 20 m (66 ft).
2019: First Operational Starlink Satellite
In 2019, the first operational satellite of the Starlink internet satellite constellation came online, marking the beginning of SpaceX's venture into satellite internet services.
2019: First Suborbital Launches from Starbase
In 2019, the first suborbital launches occurred from the Starbase facility.
2019: Uncrewed Test Flight of Crew Dragon
In early 2019, SpaceX successfully conducted a full uncrewed test flight of the Crew Dragon, which docked to the ISS and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean.
2019: Preparation of Pad 39A for Starship Launches
Since 2019, Pad 39A has been prepared to eventually accommodate Starship launches.
2019: Last Hyperloop Competition
SpaceX held the annual Hyperloop competition until 2019.
January 2020: In-Flight Abort Test of Dragon Spacecraft
In January 2020, SpaceX conducted an in-flight abort test, the last test flight before flying crew, in which the Dragon spacecraft fired its launch escape engines in a simulated abort scenario.
April 2020: Final Dragon 1 Mission
In April 2020, the final Dragon 1 mission, SpaceX CRS-20, departed the ISS, after which the Dragon 1 was retired from service.
May 2020: US Dominates Commercial Launch Market
In May 2020, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine remarked that thanks to NASA's investments into SpaceX, the United States has 70% of the commercial launch market.
May 30, 2020: First Crewed Mission to ISS from Launch Pad 39A
On May 30, 2020, SpaceX launched its first crewed mission to the ISS from Launch Pad 39A.
June 20, 2020: Third GPS III Launch by SpaceX
On June 20, 2020, SpaceX launched the third GPS III satellite.
August 2020: SpaceX Awarded NSSL Contract by U.S. Space Force
In August 2020, the U.S. Space Force awarded its National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contracts for the following 5–7 years, with SpaceX winning a contract for $316 million for one launch and handling 40% of the U.S. military's satellite launch requirements.
November 16, 2020: Crew-1 Mission Launched to ISS
On November 16, 2020, the Crew-1 mission was successfully launched to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker, along with JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi.
December 2020: First Flight of Cargo Variant Dragon 2
In December 2020, the cargo variant of Dragon 2 flew for the first time, for a resupply to the ISS as part of the CRS contract with NASA.
2020: Dragon 2 Crewed Missions
In 2020, SpaceX began to operate its Dragon 2 capsules to deliver crewed missions for NASA and private entities, marking a significant step in human spaceflight.
2020: Creation of COVID-19 Antibody-Testing Program
In 2020, SpaceX, in collaboration with doctors and academic researchers, invited all employees to participate in the creation of a COVID-19 antibody-testing program.
2020: Starlink Test Operation Begins
In late 2020, SpaceX began initial test operations of the Starlink constellation.
April 23, 2021: Crew-2 Launched to ISS
On April 23, 2021, the Crew-2 mission was launched to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and K. Megan McArthur, JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet.
April 24, 2021: Crew-2 Docks to ISS
On April 24, 2021, the Crew-2 mission successfully docked to the International Space Station after launching the previous day.
July 2021: Announcement of Second Raptor Engine Production Facility
In July 2021, SpaceX announced plans to build a second production facility for Raptor engines at McGregor.
December 2021: Claims of Sexual Harassment at SpaceX
In December 2021, claims of workplace sexual harassment from five former SpaceX employees were published, including allegations of unwanted advances, uncomfortable interactions, and a culture of unaddressed complaints.
2021: Inspiration4 Mission Launch
In 2021, SpaceX launched the Inspiration4 mission, the first paid crewed spaceflight for private individuals, on behalf of Shift4 Payments CEO Jared Isaacman.
2021: Contract with NRO
In 2021, SpaceX signed a $1.8 billion contract with the National Reconnaissance Office.
2021: Planned Launch of National Security Missions
In 2021, SpaceX was slated to launch three national security missions under a $297 million contract secured in February 2019 with the U.S. Air Force.
2021: Starlink First Orders
In early 2021, SpaceX began taking first orders for Starlink services, with customers expecting internet service speeds of 50 Mbit/s to 150 Mbit/s and latency from 20 ms to 40 ms.
May 2022: Employees Condemn Musk's Behavior
In May 2022, after an article alleged sexual misconduct by Musk, some SpaceX employees collaborated on an open letter condemning "Elon's harmful Twitter behavior" and calling for clearer enforcement of company policies, leading to terminations.
November 2022: Executive Oversight of Starbase
In November 2022, SpaceX announced that COO Gwynne Shotwell and vice president Mark Juncosa would oversee Starbase, its Texas launch facility, along with Omead Afshar, who at the time oversaw operations for Tesla in Texas.
December 2022: SpaceX Announces Starshield Program
In December 2022, SpaceX announced Starshield, a program to incorporate military or government entity payloads on board a Starlink-derived satellite bus.
December 2022: Starlink Reaches 1 Million Subscribers
In December 2022, Starlink reached over 1 million subscribers worldwide.
2022: Acceleration of 39A Starship Preparation
In 2022, with delays in launch FAA permits for Boca Chica, Texas, the 39A Starship preparation was accelerated.
February 2023: Sale of Oil Rigs
As of February 2023, SpaceX had sold its oil rigs that were intended to be modified into floating launch platforms for Starship. However, sea-based platforms were not ruled out for future use.
August 2023: DOJ Lawsuit Against SpaceX
In August 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated a lawsuit against SpaceX, accusing the company of discriminating against refugees and asylum seekers during its hiring procedures. The lawsuit alleges violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as SpaceX purportedly favored U.S. citizens and permanent residents over refugees and asylum recipients. SpaceX has denied these allegations, referencing U.S. export control law.
2023: Workplace Injuries Report
In 2023, Reuters reported that SpaceX employees are paying the price for the billionaire’s push to colonize space at breakneck speed. An examination of OSHA's records revealed injury rates higher than the industry's averages. In addition, Reuters documented at least 600 previously unreported workplace injuries at SpaceX, including crushed limbs, amputations, electrocutions, head and eye wounds and one death. The person who died was Lonnie LeBlanc, a former United States Marine.
2023: Orbital Launches Begin at Starbase
In 2023, orbital launches began at the Starbase facility.
March 2024: Reuters Reports SpaceX Building Spy Satellite Network
In March 2024, Reuters reported that SpaceX is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites as part of a $1.8 billion contract signed with the National Reconnaissance Office in 2021, designed to operate as a swarm in low orbits.
May 4, 2024: Unveiling of Second Spacesuit for EVA
On May 4, 2024, SpaceX unveiled a second spacesuit designed for extravehicular activity, planned to be used for a spacewalk during the Polaris Dawn mission.
June 2024: Introduction of Starlink Mini
In June 2024, SpaceX introduced the Starlink Mini, a compact version of its Starlink antennas designed for mobile satellite internet use, offered for $599 in an early access release.
June 2024: Lawsuit Against Musk and SpaceX
In June 2024, eight ex-employees, the same who had previously been fired for penning the open letter against Elon Musk, filed a lawsuit against Musk and SpaceX alleging sexual harassment and discrimination. The lawsuit has since stalled on headquarter jurisdiction grounds.
August 2024: Environmental Violations at Starbase
In August 2024, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality cited SpaceX for violating environmental regulations at the Starbase facility by repeatedly releasing pollutants into water near the Boca Chica launch site. The EPA also fined SpaceX approximately $150,000.
August 2024: Relocation of SpaceX Headquarters
The Hawthorne facility was SpaceX's headquarters until August 2024. However, the move to relocate SpaceX's headquarters was seen as largely symbolic.
December 2024: Federal Investigation into SpaceX
In December 2024, federal agencies launched an investigation into SpaceX concerning potential security violations. The investigation also looked into allegations of drug use by Elon Musk.
December 2024: WSJ Reports on Musk's Access to Government Secrets
In December 2024, the WSJ reported that Elon Musk didn't have access to government secrets.
2024: Launch Pad 39A Supports Falcon Heavy Launches
As of 2024, Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A is the only pad that supports Falcon Heavy launches.
2024: McGregor Facility Testing
As of 2024, SpaceX calls the McGregor rocket engine test facility the most advanced and active in the world, with over 7,000 tests conducted since it opened, and seven engine test fires on a typical day.
2024: Rideshare and Bandwagon Programs
As of 2024, SpaceX operates a Rideshare and Bandwagon (mid inclination) programs. This provides additional competition for small satellite launchers.
2024: Estimated SpaceX Revenue
In 2024, it was estimated that SpaceX had a revenue of over $10 billion, highlighting the company's financial growth and success in the space industry.
February 2025: DOJ Motion to Dismiss SpaceX Lawsuit
In February 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a motion to dismiss the case against SpaceX with prejudice, related to the allegations of discrimination in hiring practices. This action concludes the legal proceedings initiated in August 2023.
May 2025: Falcon 9 Launch Cadence
As of May 2025, the company's Falcon 9 rockets have landed and flown again more than 450 times, reaching a launch cadence of 1–3 launches per week.
July 22, 2025: Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy Launch Statistics
As of July 22, 2025, the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy had been launched 517 times, achieving 514 full mission successes, one partial success, and one in-flight failure.
2025: Dominant Space Launch Provider
By 2025, SpaceX had become the world's dominant space launch provider, surpassing other private competitors and national space programs.
2025: Starship Flight 7 Rocket Explosion
In 2025, the SpaceX Starship Flight 7 rocket exploded, dispersing debris across the Caribbean Sea and releasing significant amounts of harmful air pollution into the upper atmosphere.
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