Full History Of SpaceX In Timeline From 2001

2001: Musk Joins Mars Society and Announces Mars Oasis

In early 2001, Elon Musk met Robert Zubrin, donated $100,000 to the Mars Society, and briefly joined its board of directors. He also announced Mars Oasis, a project to land a greenhouse and grow plants on Mars.

2002: SpaceX Founding

In 2002, Space Exploration Technologies Corp., also known as SpaceX, was founded. The company is headquartered at the Starbase development site in Starbase, Texas, and has made advancements in rocket propulsion, reusable launch vehicles, human spaceflight, and satellite constellation technology.

2002: SpaceX Founded by Elon Musk

In 2002, SpaceX was founded by Elon Musk with the goal of reducing the cost of space launches to enable the creation of a self-sustaining colony on Mars.

2002: Musk Begins Recruiting SpaceX Staff

In early 2002, Elon Musk started recruiting staff for SpaceX, with its initial headquarters in a warehouse in El Segundo, California.

2003: SpaceX Leases McGregor Facility

In 2003, SpaceX leased the McGregor facility, which was originally the site of the Bluebonnet Ordnance Plant during World War II and later used by Beal Aerospace.

2004: SpaceX Protests NASA Contract

In 2004, SpaceX protested NASA's sole-source contract to Kistler Aerospace with the Government Accountability Office (GAO). NASA withdrew the contract and formed the COTS program.

November 2005: SpaceX Employee Count Reaches 160

By November 2005, SpaceX had grown to 160 employees. Elon Musk personally interviewed and approved all of SpaceX's early employees.

2005: Plans for Human-Rated Space Program Announced

In 2005, SpaceX announced its plans to pursue a human-rated commercial space program, which eventually led to the development of the Dragon spacecraft.

2005: SpaceX Awarded IDIQ Contract by U.S. Air Force

In 2005, SpaceX announced that 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: Decision to Develop Falcon 9

In 2005, SpaceX decided to develop the Falcon 9, a reusable heavy-lift vehicle, instead of the intermediate-capacity Falcon 5.

2006: NASA Supports Falcon 9 Development

In 2006, NASA accelerated the development of the Falcon 9 by committing to purchase commercial flights in exchange for demonstrated capabilities through the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, awarding $278 million for the development of Dragon spacecraft, Falcon 9, and demonstration launches of Falcon 9 with Dragon.

2006: SpaceX Awarded NASA COTS Contract

In 2006, NASA selected SpaceX and awarded the company $396 million under the COTS program to demonstrate crew and cargo resupply capabilities to the International Space Station (ISS).

2006: First Falcon 1 Launch

In 2006, SpaceX conducted the first launch of its Falcon 1 rocket as part of the DARPA Falcon Project, which evaluated new U.S. launch vehicles.

2006: NASA COTS Phase 1 Contract Awarded

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: ULA Monopoly Over Air Force Launches Broken

In 2006, United Launch Alliance (ULA) held a monopoly over U.S. Air Force launches of classified payloads.

April 2007: Pentagon Approves 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 of the Falcon 1 on its fourth attempt. This success, along with a NASA contract, saved the company financially.

2008: Third Consecutive Falcon 1 Launch Failure

In 2008, SpaceX faced its third consecutive failure with the Falcon 1 launch, which put the company's future in jeopardy. Simultaneously, Tesla Motors faced financial troubles, leaving Elon Musk near bankruptcy.

2008: Falcon 1 Successfully Reaches Orbit

In 2008, the Falcon 1 rocket successfully launched into orbit after three prior failed attempts, marking a significant milestone for the company.

July 2009: Falcon 1 Retired After Second Successful Launch

In July 2009, the Falcon 1 was retired after its second successful launch. This allowed SpaceX to focus on developing the larger Falcon 9 rocket. Gwynne Shotwell was promoted to company president for successfully negotiating the CRS contract with NASA.

June 2010: First Launch of Falcon 9

In June 2010, the Falcon 9 was launched for the first time with the Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit as part of the NASA COTS program.

December 2010: First Operational Dragon Spacecraft Launched

In December 2010, the first operational Dragon spacecraft was launched on COTS Demo Flight 1 aboard the Falcon 9's second flight, completing all mission objectives and returning safely to Earth. By this time, SpaceX was manufacturing one Falcon 9 and Dragon every three months.

December 2010: First Private Company to Launch, Orbit, and Recover a Spacecraft

In December 2010, with the launch of the SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1 mission, SpaceX became the first private company to successfully launch, orbit, and recover a spacecraft.

2010: Successful COTS Demonstration Flight

In 2010, SpaceX had a successful COTS (Commercial Orbital Transportation Services) demonstration flight, and was then chosen to receive a Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract.

2010: First Falcon 9 Launches from SLC-40

Since 2010, SpaceX has used Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) for Falcon 9 launches, mainly to low Earth and geostationary orbits.

April 2011: NASA Awards SpaceX CCDev Contract

In April 2011, NASA awarded SpaceX a $75 million contract under its second-round Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program to develop an integrated launch escape system for Dragon, in preparation for human-rating it as a crew transport vehicle to the ISS.

2011: Estimated Cost for NASA to Develop Falcon 9

In 2011, NASA estimated that it would have cost the agency about $4 billion to develop a rocket like the Falcon 9 booster based upon NASA's traditional contracting processes, about ten times more than what it cost SpaceX.

2011: SpaceX Awarded First NASA Contract for Astronaut Transportation

In 2011, SpaceX was awarded its first contract from NASA as part of the Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program. The contract aimed to develop a commercially operated spacecraft capable of delivering astronauts to the ISS.

2011: Lease of Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4

In 2011, Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4E) was leased from the military for payloads to polar orbits.

2011: First Crewed Vehicle Launched from the US Since 2011

In 2011, the Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission launched, marking the first time a crewed vehicle had launched from the U.S. since 2011.

May 2012: Dragon Berthed with the ISS

During SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 2 in May 2012, Dragon successfully berthed with the ISS, marking a first for a private spacecraft.

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. After the flight, the company's private equity valuation nearly doubled to $2.4 billion.

August 2012: NASA Awards SpaceX Space Act Agreement

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 Launched

In October 2012, SpaceX CRS-1, the first of 12 planned resupply missions under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract, was launched. It achieved orbit, berthed with the ISS, remained on station for 20 days, and then re-entered the atmosphere, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.

December 2012: SpaceX Announced Launch Contracts with United States Department of Defense (DoD)

In December 2012, SpaceX announced its first two launch contracts with the United States Department of Defense (DoD). The United States Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center awarded SpaceX two EELV-class missions: Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) and Space Test Program 2 (STP-2).

2012: Commercial Resupply Services to ISS Begin

By 2012, SpaceX completed all test flights under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program and started delivering Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) missions to the International Space Station. Additionally, around this time, SpaceX initiated hardware development to achieve reusability of the Falcon 9 first stage.

2012: SpaceX Awarded Another NASA Contract for Dragon 2 Development

In 2012, SpaceX received another contract from NASA to further develop and test its Dragon 2 spacecraft for astronaut transportation to and from the ISS.

2012: No Commercial Launches from the US

In May 2020, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine stated that the United States has 70% of the commercial launch market, a major improvement since 2012 when there were no commercial launches from the country, thanks to NASA's investments into SpaceX.

2012: Active Reusability Test Program Begins

In late 2012, SpaceX initiated its active reusability test program, focusing on testing low-altitude, low-speed aspects of the landing technology, where the Falcon 9 prototypes performed vertical takeoffs and landings (VTOL).

2013: First Commercial Mission for Private Customer

In 2013, SpaceX launched its first commercial mission for a private customer, expanding its services beyond government contracts.

2013: High-Velocity Atmospheric Return Tests Begin

In late 2013, SpaceX commenced high-velocity, high-altitude tests of booster atmospheric return technology, continuing its reusability test program.

2013: Market Pressure on Competitors to Lower Launch Prices

Prior to 2013, the commercial comsat launch market was dominated by Arianespace and International Launch Services. With a published price of $56.5 million per launch to low Earth orbit, the Falcon 9 rocket became the least expensive in the industry, creating market pressure on its competitors to lower their launch prices.

April 14, 2014: Lease Signed for Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A

On April 14, 2014, SpaceX signed a 20-year lease for Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A.

July 2014: FAA Issues Permit

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the permit for the launch facility at Boca Chica in July 2014.

August 2014: First Plans Announced for Starbase

In August 2014, SpaceX announced first plans for the launch facility at Boca Chica near Brownsville, Texas, known as Starbase.

September 2014: SpaceX Awarded NASA CCtCap Contract

In September 2014, NASA awarded SpaceX the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contract to finalize the development of the Crew Transportation System, including milestones, flight tests, and operational missions.

September 2014: NASA Chose SpaceX and Boeing to Transport U.S. Crews to ISS

In September 2014, NASA selected SpaceX and Boeing to develop systems for transporting U.S. crews to and from the ISS. SpaceX was awarded $2.6 billion to complete and certify its Dragon 2 spacecraft by 2017.

January 2015: Google and Fidelity Invest in SpaceX

In January 2015, SpaceX raised $1 billion in funding from Google and Fidelity Investments in exchange for 8.33% of the company, valuing SpaceX at approximately $12 billion. That same month, SpaceX announced plans to develop Starlink, a satellite constellation providing global broadband internet service.

May 2015: SpaceX completed Crew Dragon Pad Abort Test

In May 2015, SpaceX completed the first key flight test of its Crew Dragon spacecraft, a Pad Abort Test, demonstrating the emergency escape system's functionality.

June 2015: Hyperloop Competition Announced

In June 2015, SpaceX announced that it would sponsor a Hyperloop competition and would build a subscale test track.

June 2015: Falcon 9 CRS-7 Mission Failure

In June 2015, the Falcon 9 experienced its first major failure when the CRS-7 mission exploded two minutes into the flight due to a failed steel strut in the second stage, causing a breach in the helium pressure vessel.

December 2015: First Successful First Stage Landing

In December 2015, SpaceX successfully landed and recovered a Falcon 9 first stage for the first time with Falcon 9 Flight 20, achieving a major milestone in reusable rocket technology.

2015: Expansion of McGregor Facility

By 2015, SpaceX had expanded the McGregor facility significantly from 256 acres in 2003 to 4,000 acres.

2015: Construction Ramps Up at Boca Chica

Construction ramping up in the latter half of 2015 at the new launch facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

2015: Starlink Development Began

Development for Starlink, an internet satellite constellation, began in 2015.

2015: NASA Extended Phase 1 CRS Contracts

In 2015, NASA extended the Phase 1 Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contracts by ordering an additional three resupply flights from SpaceX, bringing the total to twenty cargo missions to the ISS.

2015: First Successful First-Stage Landing

In 2015, SpaceX achieved its first successful landing of the Falcon 9's first stage, marking a major step towards reusable rocket technology.

2015: ULA Anticipating Business Slump

In 2015, anticipating a slump in domestic, military, and spy launches, United Launch Alliance (ULA) stated that it would go out of business unless it won commercial satellite launch orders and announced a major restructuring to decrease launch costs by half.

2015: DSCOVR Launched on Falcon 9

In 2015, the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) was launched on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle.

2015: Falcon 9 v1.1 Certified for National Security Space Launch (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 payloads classified under national security.

2015: SLC-4W Converted to Landing Zone 4

In 2015, the neighboring SLC-4W at Vandenberg was converted to Landing Zone 4 for booster landings.

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: First Building Opened in Redmond, Washington

The first building for Starlink's satellite development and manufacturing operations campus opened in early 2015 in Redmond, Washington.

January 2016: Second Phase of CRS Contracts Awarded

In January 2016, a second phase of Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contracts was awarded, with SpaceX being one of the recipients. SpaceX was slated to fly up to nine additional CRS flights using the upgraded Dragon 2 spacecraft.

April 2016: First Successful Landing on Drone Ship

In April 2016, SpaceX achieved its 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 Awarded First National Security Launch to SpaceX

In April 2016, the U.S. Air Force awarded the first national security launch to SpaceX. The mission was to launch the second GPS III satellite for $82.7 million, approximately 40% less than the cost for previous similar missions.

September 2016: Falcon 9 Explosion During Static Fire Test

In September 2016, a Falcon 9 exploded during a propellant fill operation for a pre-launch static fire test, destroying the AMOS-6 communications satellite. This incident led to a four-month launch hiatus while SpaceX investigated the cause.

October 2016: Discount for Reused Falcon 9 First Stage

By October 2016, after several successful landings, SpaceX began offering customers a 10% price discount for flying their payload on a reused Falcon 9 first stage, incentivizing the use of reusable rockets.

2016: Falcon 9 Pre-flight Failure

In 2016, a Falcon 9 experienced a failure before a static fire test.

2016: Allegation of Sexual Misconduct by Musk

In May 2022, a Business Insider article alleged that in 2016, Musk engaged in sexual misconduct with a SpaceX flight attendant in a private jet, citing an anonymous friend of the flight attendant.

2016: Raptor Engine Test Fired

In late 2016, development versions of the Raptor engine were test-fired.

January 2017: SpaceX Returns to Flight

In January 2017, SpaceX resumed flight operations after a four-month hiatus following the Falcon 9 explosion in September 2016, marking the end of the investigation and corrective actions.

March 2017: First Re-launch of Payload-Carrying Orbital Rocket

In March 2017, SpaceX launched a returned Falcon 9 carrying 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, making it the first landing of a reused orbital class rocket.

May 1, 2017: First NRO Launch Purchased from SpaceX

On May 1, 2017, the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) conducted its first launch purchased from SpaceX.

July 2017: SpaceX Valuation Reaches $21 Billion

In July 2017, SpaceX raised $350 million, raising its valuation to $21 billion, showcasing the company's rapid growth and investor confidence.

2017: Starship Intended to Supersede Existing Hardware

As of 2017, SpaceX planned for the Starship system to supersede its existing launch vehicle hardware by the early 2020s.

2017: Target year for Dragon 2 certification

By 2017, SpaceX was expected to complete and certify the Dragon 2 spacecraft as per the NASA contract awarded in September 2014.

2017: First Re-launch of First Stage

In 2017, SpaceX successfully re-launched the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket for the first time, demonstrating the viability of reusable rocket technology.

2017: SpaceX Testimony on Space Act Agreement Process

In 2017, SpaceX testimony suggested that the NASA Space Act Agreement process of setting only a high-level requirement for cargo transport to the space station while leaving the details to industry had allowed SpaceX to design and develop the Falcon 9 rocket on its own at a substantially lower cost.

2017: Initial Starlink Test-Flight Satellites Launched

In 2017, initial prototype test-flight satellites for Starlink were launched on the SpaceX Paz satellite mission.

2017: First Hyperloop Competition Held

SpaceX held the first of its annual Hyperloop competitions in 2017.

February 6, 2018: Falcon Heavy Inaugural Mission

On February 6, 2018, the Falcon Heavy successfully completed its inaugural mission, launching Elon Musk's personal Tesla Roadster into heliocentric orbit.

March 2018: Leading Global Commercial Launch Provider

By March 2018, SpaceX had more than 100 launches on its manifest, representing approximately $12 billion in contract revenue from both commercial and government customers. This made SpaceX the leading global commercial launch provider in terms of manifested launches.

March 2018: SpaceX Secured Additional Contract from U.S. Air Force 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, Elon Musk had his employees build a mini-submarine to assist in the rescue of children trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand, but the submarine was ultimately deemed impractical and not used.

2018: Contracts Valued at Over $12 Billion

By 2018, SpaceX had approximately thirty missions on the manifest, representing over $12 billion under contract.

2018: First Flight of Falcon Heavy

In 2018, after more than a decade of development, Falcon Heavy, constructed from three Falcon 9 boosters, completed its first successful flight.

February 2019: SpaceX Secured Contract to Launch 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.

May 2019: First Batch of Starlink Satellites Launched

In May 2019, SpaceX launched the first batch of 60 Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9.

June 25, 2019: Space Test Program 2 (STP-2) Launched 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 Online

In 2019, the first operational satellite of the Starlink internet satellite constellation became operational, marking the beginning of SpaceX's venture into satellite-based internet services.

2019: Full Uncrewed Test Flight Conducted

In early 2019, SpaceX successfully conducted a full uncrewed test flight of its Crew Dragon spacecraft. The capsule docked to the ISS and then splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean.

2019: First Dragon 2 Flight to ISS

In early 2019, the second-generation Dragon 2 spacecraft conducted its first flight, without crew, to the ISS.

2019: Pad 39A Prepared for Starship Launches

Pad 39A has been prepared since 2019 to eventually accommodate Starship launches.

2019: Last SpaceX Hyperloop Competition Held

SpaceX held the last of its annual Hyperloop competitions in 2019.

2019: First Suborbital Launches from Boca Chica

The first suborbital launches from the SpaceX facility in Boca Chica, Texas, occurred in 2019.

January 2020: SpaceX Conducted In-Flight Abort Test

In January 2020, SpaceX conducted an in-flight abort test of the Dragon spacecraft. This was the last test flight before flying crew, in which the Dragon spacecraft fired its launch escape engines in a simulated abort scenario.

March 2020: NASA Contracts SpaceX for Dragon XL Development

In March 2020, NASA contracted SpaceX to develop the Dragon XL spacecraft. The Dragon XL was intended to send supplies to the Lunar Gateway space station and was planned to be launched on a Falcon Heavy launch vehicle.

March 2020: Dragon XL Revealed

In March 2020, SpaceX revealed the Dragon XL, a resupply spacecraft for NASA's planned Lunar Gateway space station, under a Gateway Logistics Services (GLS) contract.

April 2020: SpaceX CRS-20 Departed from ISS

In April 2020, the final Dragon 1 mission, SpaceX CRS-20, departed the ISS. Following this mission, the Dragon 1 spacecraft was subsequently retired from service.

May 2020: US Dominates Commercial Launch Market

In May 2020, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine stated that the United States has 70% of the commercial launch market, a major improvement since 2012 when there were no commercial launches from the country, thanks to NASA's investments into SpaceX.

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: SpaceX Launched Third GPS III Launch

On June 20, 2020, SpaceX launched the third GPS III launch for the U.S. Air Force.

August 2020: SpaceX Awarded National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Contract

In August 2020, the U.S. Space Force awarded its National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contracts for the following 5–7 years. SpaceX won a contract for $316 million for one launch, and was set to handle 40% of the U.S. military's satellite launch requirements over the period.

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. The crew consisted of NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker, along with JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, all members of the Expedition 64 crew.

December 2020: First Cargo Flight of 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: COVID-19 Antibody Testing Program

In 2020, SpaceX created a COVID-19 antibody-testing program, inviting all employees to participate with the help of doctors and academic researchers.

2020: Dragon 2 Crewed Missions Begin

In 2020, SpaceX started using its Dragon 2 capsules for crewed missions for both NASA and private entities, marking a new era of human spaceflight for the company.

2020: Initial Starlink Test Operation Began

In late 2020, initial test operation of the Starlink constellation began.

April 23, 2021: Crew-2 Launched to International Space Station

On April 23, 2021, the Crew-2 mission launched to the International Space Station carrying NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and K. Megan McArthur, JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet.

April 24, 2021: Crew-2 Successfully Docked on April 24, 2021

On April 24, 2021, the Crew-2 mission successfully docked with the International Space Station, following its launch on April 23.

July 2021: Plans to Build 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 Workplace Sexual Harassment Published

In December 2021, claims of workplace sexual harassment from five former SpaceX employees, ranging from interns to full engineers, were published. These included claims of unwanted advances and uncomfortable interactions, and of a culture of sexual harassment existing at the company and one where complaints made to executives, managers, and human resources officers went largely unaddressed.

2021: Inspiration4 Mission Launched

In 2021, SpaceX launched Inspiration4, its first paid crewed spaceflight for private individuals. The mission, on behalf of Shift4 Payments CEO Jared Isaacman, launched the Crew Dragon Resilience on a Falcon 9 from Florida, placed the Dragon capsule into low Earth orbit, and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean three days later.

2021: Future Launch Timeframe

In February 2019, it was announced that SpaceX secured a contract from the U.S. Air Force to launch another three national security missions, all slated to launch no earlier than FY 2021.

2021: SpaceX Signed $1.8 Billion Contract with National Reconnaissance Office

In March 2024, it was 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.

2021: Starlink First Orders Taken

In early 2021, Starlink took first orders for its internet service.

May 2022: Employees Terminated After Open Letter

In May 2022, Gwynne Shotwell announced that some employees who were involved with the letter condemning Elon Musk's harmful Twitter behavior, as well as the company to clearly define SpaceX's 'no-asshole' and 'zero tolerance' policies, had been terminated. Shotwell claimed that unsponsored, unsolicited surveys were sent to employees during the work day and that some felt pressured to sign the letter.

November 2022: Executive Changes at 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. CNBC reported that these executive moves demonstrated "the sense of urgency within the company to get Starship flying".

December 2022: Starshield Announced

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: Starship Preparation Accelerated

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 the oil rigs intended for use as floating launch platforms, but had not ruled out sea-based platforms for future use.

August 2023: DOJ Filed Lawsuit Against SpaceX for Discrimination

In August 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against SpaceX for allegedly discriminating against refugees and asylum seekers in its hiring process, citing violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

December 2023: Starlink User Terminal Facility Opened

In December 2023, Starlink opened a user terminal manufacturing facility just outside of Bastrop, Texas.

2023: Report on Workplace Injuries

In 2023, Reuters reported that "SpaceX employees say they’re 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 death was that of Lonnie LeBlanc, a former United States Marine.

2023: Orbital Launches Start at Boca Chica

Orbital launches started in 2023 from the SpaceX Starbase facility in Boca Chica.

March 2024: SpaceX Building Spy Satellite Network

In March 2024, it was 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. This new network would be able to operate as a swarm in low orbits.

May 4, 2024: Second Spacesuit Unveiled

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: Starlink Mini Introduced

In June 2024, SpaceX introduced a compact version of its Starlink antennas, the "Starlink Mini", designed for mobile satellite internet use and offered for $599 in an early access release.

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June 2024: Ex-Employees File Lawsuit Against Musk and SpaceX

In June 2024, eight ex-employees, who had been previously fired for penning the open letter against Elon Musk, filed a lawsuit against Musk and SpaceX alleging sexual harassment and discrimination.

August 2024: Environmental Violations at Starbase

In August 2024, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality cited SpaceX for violating environmental regulations by repeatedly releasing pollutants into water near the Boca Chica launch site. The EPA fined SpaceX approximately $150,000 for allegedly discharging "industrial wastewater" and violating the Clean Water Act.

August 2024: Headquarters Relocation

The Hawthorne facility served as SpaceX's headquarters until August 2024, when the headquarters were relocated.

December 2024: Musk Doesn't Have Access to Government Secrets

In December 2024, WSJ reported that Musk didn't have access to government secrets.

December 2024: Federal Agencies Investigated SpaceX

In December 2024, federal agencies investigated SpaceX for security violations as well as Musk's alleged drug use.

2024: Only Pad Supporting Falcon Heavy Launches

As of 2024, Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A is the only pad that supports Falcon Heavy launches.

2024: SpaceX Operates Rideshare Program

As of 2024, SpaceX operates Rideshare and Bandwagon (mid inclination) programs. This provides additional competition for small satellite launchers.

2024: SpaceX Revenue Estimated Over $10 Billion

In 2024, a space industry newspaper estimated SpaceX's revenue to be over $10 billion, indicating the company's substantial financial growth.

2024: McGregor Facility as Most Advanced

SpaceX calls the McGregor facility the most advanced and active rocket engine test facility in the world. As of 2024, over 7,000 tests had been conducted at the facility since it opened.

February 2025: DOJ Filed Motion to Dismiss Case Against SpaceX

In February 2025, the DOJ filed a motion to dismiss the case against SpaceX, with prejudice.

May 2025: Falcon 9 Launch Cadence

As of May 2025, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets have landed and flown again more than 450 times, achieving a launch cadence of 1-3 launches per week.

2025: Dominant Space Launch Provider

As of 2025, SpaceX is the world's dominant space launch provider, with its launch cadence eclipsing all others. SpaceX, NASA, and the United States Armed Forces work closely together via governmental contracts.

2025: SpaceX Starship Flight 7 Rocket Explosion

In 2025, the SpaceX Starship Flight 7 rocket experienced an explosion, resulting in debris scattering across the Caribbean Sea and releasing substantial air pollution into the upper atmosphere.