History of SpaceX in Timeline
SpaceX, founded in 2002, is a private American aerospace and AI company headquartered in Starbase, Texas. It has pioneered advancements in rocket propulsion, reusable launch vehicles, human spaceflight, and satellite constellation technology. By 2026, SpaceX became the leading orbital launch provider, surpassing both private competitors and national programs. The company maintains close working relationships with governmental entities such as NASA and the United States Armed Forces through various contracts.
2002: SpaceX Founding
In 2002, Elon Musk founded Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, SpaceX, with the aim of revolutionizing space technology.
2002: Staffing the Company
In early 2002, Elon Musk started looking for staff to work in his company which would later be named SpaceX.
2004: Protest Against NASA Contract
In 2004, SpaceX protested NASA's sole-source contract award to Kistler Aerospace to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), leading NASA to withdraw the contract and form the COTS program.
November 2005: SpaceX Employee Count
By November 2005, SpaceX had grown to 160 employees, with Elon Musk personally interviewing and approving each one.
2005: Human-Rated Space Program Announced
In 2005, SpaceX announced plans to pursue a human-rated commercial space program, which would later evolve into the Dragon spacecraft.
2005: Awarded Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract
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: Falcon 9 Development Decision
In 2005, SpaceX decided to develop the Falcon 9, a reusable heavy-lift vehicle, instead of the Falcon 5.
2006: NASA COTS Contract Award
In 2006, NASA selected SpaceX and awarded the company $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 Phase 1 Contract
In 2006, SpaceX secured a NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Phase 1 contract to showcase cargo delivery capabilities to the ISS, potentially leading to a contract option for crew transport.
2006: First Falcon 1 Launch
In 2006, the first of three Falcon 1 launches, purchased by the United States Department of Defense under the DARPA Falcon Project, resulted in failure.
2006: ULA held monopoly
Since 2006, United Launch Alliance (ULA) held the monopoly over U.S. Air Force launches of classified payloads.
April 2007: Pentagon approves use of Cape Canaveral SLC-40 by SpaceX
In April 2007, the Pentagon gave SpaceX the green light to use Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40).
September 28, 2008: First Successful Launch
On September 28, 2008, SpaceX achieved its first successful launch on the fourth attempt. This was a turning point that saved SpaceX from financial collapse.
2008: First CRS Contracts Signed
In 2008, NASA signed the first Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contracts, awarding $1.6 billion to SpaceX for 12 cargo transport missions, covering deliveries up to 2016.
2008: Falcon 1 Successful Launch
In 2008, the Falcon 1 successfully achieved orbit after three prior failed attempts, marking a significant milestone for SpaceX.
2008: Falcon 1 Launch Failures
In 2008, the third consecutive failure of the Falcon 1 launch, between 2006 and 2008, brought SpaceX to the brink of collapse.
July 2009: Falcon 1 Retirement
In July 2009, following its second successful launch, the Falcon 1 was retired, allowing SpaceX to focus on developing the Falcon 9.
June 2010: First Falcon 9 Launch
In June 2010, the Falcon 9 launched for the first time with the Dragon Spacecraft Qualification Unit, a mockup of the Dragon spacecraft.
December 2010: SpaceX becomes first private company to orbit and recover a spacecraft
In December 2010, with the launch of the SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1 mission, SpaceX achieved a milestone, becoming the first private company to successfully launch, orbit, and recover a spacecraft.
April 2011: NASA Contract for Launch Escape System
In April 2011, NASA awarded SpaceX a $75 million contract to develop an integrated launch escape system for Dragon as part of the Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program.
2011: Lease of Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4E)
In 2011, SpaceX leased Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4E) from the military for launching payloads into polar orbits.
2011: First CCDev contract awarded to SpaceX
In 2011, SpaceX received the first contract as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program, aimed at developing commercially operated spacecraft capable of delivering astronauts to the ISS.
2011: Last crewed vehicle launched from the U.S.
In 2011, it was the last time a crewed vehicle had launched from the U.S.
May 2012: Dragon successfully berthed with the ISS
In May 2012, the Dragon spacecraft successfully berthed with the ISS during SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 2, marking a historic first for a private spacecraft.
May 2012: Dragon C2+ Launch
In May 2012, with the Dragon C2+ launch, Dragon became the first commercial spacecraft to deliver cargo to the International Space Station, leading to a near doubling of the company's private equity valuation.
August 2012: 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: Launch of SpaceX CRS-1
In October 2012, SpaceX CRS-1, the first of the 12 planned resupply missions, launched, achieved orbit, berthed, and remained on station for 20 days before re-entering the atmosphere and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.
December 2012: SpaceX announces launch contracts with U.S. Department of Defense
In December 2012, SpaceX announced its first two launch contracts with the United States Department of Defense (DoD).
2012: Commercial Resupply Services to ISS
In 2012, SpaceX completed all Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) test flights and commenced Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) missions to the International Space Station (ISS).
2012: Second CCDev contract awarded to SpaceX
In 2012, SpaceX was awarded a second contract to continue the development and testing of its Dragon 2 spacecraft as part of the Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program.
2012: Reusability Test Program Begins
In late 2012, SpaceX initiated its active reusability test program, focusing on low-altitude, low-speed landing technology with Falcon 9 prototypes.
2012: No commercial launches from the country
Since 2012, there were no commercial launches from the United States.
2013: First Commercial Mission for Private Customer
In 2013, SpaceX launched its first commercial mission for a private customer, marking a significant step in expanding its services beyond government contracts.
2013: High-Velocity Atmospheric Return Tests
In late 2013, SpaceX began high-velocity, high-altitude tests of the Falcon 9 booster's atmospheric return technology.
2013: Market pressure on competitors
SpaceX's low launch prices, especially for communications satellites flying to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), have resulted in market pressure on its competitors to lower their own prices, around 2013.
April 14, 2014: SpaceX signs lease for Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A
On April 14, 2014, SpaceX signed a 20-year lease for Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A.
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.
2014: Start of unreported workplace injuries documented by Reuters
Since 2014, 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 of Lonnie LeBlanc.
May 2015: First key flight test of Crew Dragon spacecraft
In May 2015, SpaceX completed the first key flight test of its Crew Dragon spacecraft, a Pad Abort Test.
June 2015: Falcon 9 CRS-7 Failure
In late June 2015, the Falcon 9 experienced its first major failure when the CRS-7 mission to the ISS exploded two minutes into flight, traced to a failed steel strut.
December 2015: Successful Landing and Recovery of First Stage
In December 2015, SpaceX achieved the first successful landing and recovery of a Falcon 9 first stage during Falcon 9 Flight 20, showcasing progress towards reusable rockets.
2015: DSCOVR launched
In 2015, Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) was launched on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle.
2015: NASA extends Phase 1 contracts
In 2015, NASA extended the Phase 1 contracts by ordering an additional three resupply flights from SpaceX, and then extended the contract further for a total of twenty cargo missions to the ISS.
2015: Conversion of SLC-4W to Landing Zone 4
In 2015, SLC-4W was converted to Landing Zone 4 for booster landings at Vandenberg Space Launch Complex.
2015: Successful First-Stage Landing
In 2015, SpaceX achieved its first successful landing of a Falcon 9 first stage, marking a major step towards reusable rocket technology.
2015: ULA anticipated slump in launches
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.
2015: Falcon 9 certified for National Security Space Launch
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 national security payloads.
2015: Use of Launch Complex 13 as Landing Zones 1 and 2 for Falcon 9
In 2015, the former Launch Complex 13 at Cape Canaveral was repurposed and renamed Landing Zones 1 and 2, and have since been used for Falcon 9 first-stage booster landings.
January 2016: Award of second phase of contracts
In January 2016, a second phase of contracts was awarded, with SpaceX as one of the awardees.
April 2016: First Successful Landing on Drone Ship
In April 2016, SpaceX achieved the first successful landing on the autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) 'Of Course I Still Love You' in the Atlantic Ocean.
April 2016: First national security launch awarded 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 previous missions.
September 2016: Falcon 9 Explosion During Test
In early September 2016, a Falcon 9 exploded during a pre-launch static fire test, destroying the AMOS-6 communications satellite and causing a four-month launch hiatus.
October 2016: Price Discount for Reused Falcon 9
By October 2016, after successful landings, SpaceX began offering customers a 10% price discount for flying payloads on a reused Falcon 9 first stage.
2016: Completion of first CRS contract deliveries
By 2016, SpaceX had completed the deliveries outlined in its initial Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA.
2016: Alleged sexual misconduct by Elon Musk
In 2016, Elon Musk allegedly engaged in sexual misconduct with a SpaceX flight attendant on a private jet. This allegation surfaced in an article published in May 2022.
January 2017: Return to Flight
In January 2017, SpaceX returned to flight after a four-month launch hiatus following the Falcon 9 explosion in September 2016.
March 2017: First Relaunch of Payload-Carrying Orbital Rocket
In March 2017, SpaceX relaunched a returned Falcon 9 for the SES-10 satellite, marking the first reuse of a payload-carrying orbital rocket.
May 1, 2017: First NRO launch takes place
On May 1, 2017, the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) had its first launch from SpaceX.
July 2017: Company Valuation Raised
In July 2017, SpaceX raised $350 million, increasing its valuation to $21 billion.
2017: First Re-launch of First Stage
In 2017, SpaceX successfully re-launched a Falcon 9 first stage, demonstrating the viability of reusable rocket technology.
2017: Deadline for Dragon 2 completion and certification
SpaceX won $2.6 billion to complete and certify Dragon 2 by 2017 to transport U.S. crews to and from the ISS.
March 2018: Global Commercial Launch Provider
By March 2018, SpaceX had over 100 launches on its manifest, representing approximately $12 billion in contract revenue, and had become the leading global commercial launch provider.
March 2018: SpaceX secures contract to launch 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.
May 2018: Completion of Boring Company test tunnel
In May 2018, The Boring Company completed a short test tunnel on and adjacent to the SpaceX headquarters and manufacturing facility.
December 2018: The Boring Company tunnel opens to the public
In December 2018, The Boring Company's completed test tunnel was opened to the public.
2018: SpaceX missions in 2018
In 2018, SpaceX had approximately thirty missions on the manifest, representing over $12 billion under contract.
2018: Falcon Heavy First Flight
In 2018, the Falcon Heavy rocket, assembled from three Falcon 9 boosters, completed its inaugural flight after more than a decade of development.
January 2019: SpaceX announces workforce layoff of 10%
In January 2019, SpaceX announced it would lay off 10% of its workforce to help finance the Starship and Starlink projects.
February 2019: SpaceX secures 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, slated to launch no earlier than FY 2021.
May 2019: SpaceX valuation rises to $33.3 billion
By May 2019, the valuation of SpaceX had risen to $33.3 billion after raising $1.33 billion of capital across three funding rounds.
May 2019: SpaceX launches first large batch of Starlink satellites
In May 2019, SpaceX launched the first large batch of 60 Starlink satellites, beginning to deploy what would become the world's largest commercial satellite constellation the following year.
June 25, 2019: Launch of STP-2 on a Falcon Heavy
On June 25, 2019, the Space Test Program 2 (STP-2) was launched on a Falcon Heavy launch vehicle.
2019: First Starlink Satellite Operational
In 2019, SpaceX launched the first operational satellite for the Starlink internet constellation, marking the beginning of a significant revenue stream for the company.
2019: Uncrewed test flight
In early 2019, SpaceX successfully conducted a full uncrewed test flight of its Crew Dragon spacecraft to the ISS, where it docked before splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean.
2019: Pad 39A prepared to accommodate Starship launches
Since 2019, Pad 39A has been in preparation to eventually accommodate Starship launches.
January 2020: In-flight abort test conducted
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.
March 2020: SpaceX valuation reaches $36 billion
By March 2020, SpaceX's valuation had reached $36 billion.
April 2020: Departure of final Dragon 1 mission
In April 2020, the final Dragon 1 mission, SpaceX CRS-20, departed the ISS, and the Dragon 1 was subsequently retired from service.
May 2020: United States has 70% of the 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, a major improvement since 2012.
May 2020: SpaceX launches NASA astronauts into orbit
In May 2020, SpaceX successfully launched two NASA astronauts (Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken) into orbit on a Crew Dragon spacecraft during Crew Dragon Demo-2, making SpaceX the first private company to send astronauts to the International Space Station and marking the first crewed orbital launch from American soil in 9 years.
May 30, 2020: First crewed mission to the ISS launched from Launch Pad 39A
On May 30, 2020, SpaceX launched its first crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) from Launch Pad 39A.
June 20, 2020: Third GPS III launch
On June 20, 2020, SpaceX launched the third GPS III.
August 2020: Space Force awards NSSL contracts to SpaceX
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.
August 19, 2020: SpaceX valuation increases to $46 billion
On August 19, 2020, SpaceX's valuation increased to $46 billion after a $1.9 billion funding round.
November 16, 2020: Crew-1 mission launched to the ISS
On November 16, 2020, the Crew-1 mission was launched to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Michael Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker along with JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, all members of the Expedition 64 crew.
2020: Dragon 2 Crewed Missions
In 2020, SpaceX began operating Dragon 2 capsules for crewed missions, serving both NASA and private entities.
February 2021: SpaceX valuation rises to approximately $74 billion
In February 2021, SpaceX raised an additional $1.61 billion in an equity round from 99 investors, raising the company valuation to approximately $74 billion.
April 16, 2021: Starship HLS wins NASA contract
On April 16, 2021, Starship HLS won a contract to play a critical role in the NASA crewed spaceflight Artemis program.
April 23, 2021: Crew-2 launched to the ISS
On April 23, 2021, Crew-2 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 successfully
On April 24, 2021, the Crew-2 mission successfully docked on the International Space Station (ISS).
July 2021: SpaceX unveils drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas
In July 2021, SpaceX unveiled another drone ship named A Shortfall of Gravitas.
August 29, 2021: A Shortfall of Gravitas lands a booster from CRS-23
On August 29, 2021, SpaceX's drone ship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" landed a booster from CRS-23 for the first time.
October 2021: SpaceX valuation rises to $100.3 billion
By October 2021, the valuation of SpaceX had risen to $100.3 billion.
December 13, 2021: SpaceX announces carbon dioxide removal program
On December 13, 2021, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that the company was starting a carbon dioxide removal program that would convert captured carbon into rocket fuel.
December 2021: Sexual harassment claims published
In December 2021, claims of workplace sexual harassment from five former SpaceX employees were published. The employees claimed unwanted advances and a culture of sexual harassment where complaints went unaddressed.
2021: Launch of national security missions
By 2021, SpaceX would be launching national security missions.
2021: Launch of Inspiration4 mission
In 2021, SpaceX launched Inspiration4, its first paid crewed spaceflight for private individuals, on behalf of Shift4 Payments CEO Jared Isaacman.
2021: Contract signed with the National Reconnaissance Office
In 2021, a $1.8 billion contract was signed with the National Reconnaissance Office.
May 2022: Allegations of sexual misconduct and employee response
In May 2022, an article alleged that Elon Musk engaged in sexual misconduct in 2016. In response, employees wrote an open letter condemning Elon's Twitter behavior. Employees involved with the letter were later terminated, as announced by Gwynne Shotwell.
August 2022: ESA discusses using SpaceX launchers
In August 2022, Reuters reported that the European Space Agency (ESA) began initial discussions with SpaceX that could lead to the company's launchers being used temporarily due to Russia blocking access to Soyuz rockets. Since the invasion of Ukraine and the greater war between Russia and Ukraine, Starlink has been extensively used.
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. Shyamal Patel would move to the Cape Canaveral site. These moves reflected a sense of urgency to get Starship flying.
December 2022: FCC approves launch of SpaceX's next-generation Starlink satellites
In December 2022, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the launch of up to 7,500 of SpaceX's next-generation satellites in its Starlink internet network.
2022: Falcon 9 sets record for most launches in a year
In 2022, SpaceX's Falcon 9 became the world record holder for the most launches of a single vehicle type in a single year, with 61 launches, nearly all of which were on a Falcon 9 rocket.
2022: Starship preparation accelerated at 39A
In 2022, Starship preparation at Pad 39A was accelerated due to delays in launch FAA permits for Boca Chica, Texas.
April 20, 2023: Starship's first orbital flight test ends in explosion
On April 20, 2023, Starship's first orbital flight test ended in a mid-air explosion over the Gulf of Mexico before booster separation due to engine failures.
October 2023: SpaceX executive accuses regulators of delaying Starship launch
In October 2023, a senior SpaceX executive stated the company had been ready to launch the next Starship test flight since September, accusing government regulators of disrupting the project's progress.
November 2023: SpaceX to acquire Pioneer Aerospace
In November 2023, SpaceX announced it would acquire its parachute supplier Pioneer Aerospace out of bankruptcy for $2.2 million.
November 18, 2023: Starship's second flight test ends in explosions
On November 18, 2023, SpaceX launched Starship on its second flight test, with both vehicles flying for a few minutes before separately exploding.
2023: Reuters reports on workplace injuries
In 2023, Reuters reported that SpaceX employees are paying the price for the push to colonize space at breakneck speed, revealing high injury rates. The report documented at least 600 unreported workplace injuries since 2014, including one death.
March 13, 2024: FAA grants SpaceX Starship launch license
On March 13, 2024, the FAA granted SpaceX the "launch license" for its next uncrewed Starship launch configuration flight test.
March 14, 2024: Starship launches for the third time reaching planned suborbital trajectory
On March 14, 2024, Starship launched for the third time and for the first time Starship reached its planned suborbital trajectory.
March 2024: Reuters reports on SpaceX building spy satellite network
In March 2024, Reuters reported that, as part of a $1.8 billion contract signed with the National Reconnaissance Office in 2021, SpaceX is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites.
June 4, 2024: SpaceX receives license for Starship's fourth flight test
On June 4, 2024, SpaceX received the launch license for Starship's fourth flight test with FAA including a clause that would allow SpaceX to launch subsequent test flights without a mishap investigation, provided that they met a similar launch profile and used the same specification of hardware.
June 2024: Lawsuit filed against Musk and SpaceX
In June 2024, eight ex-employees filed a lawsuit against Musk and SpaceX alleging sexual harassment and discrimination. The lawsuit has since stalled on headquarter jurisdiction grounds.
July 16, 2024: Musk announces SpaceX HQ move to Brownsville, Texas
On July 16, 2024, Elon Musk posted on X that SpaceX would move its headquarters from Hawthorne, California, to SpaceX Starbase in Brownsville, Texas, citing California's AB1955 bill.
August 2024: SpaceX HQ officially moves to Brownsville, Texas
According to records filed with the California Secretary of State, in August 2024, SpaceX's headquarters officially moved to Brownsville, Texas.
October 12, 2024: SpaceX receives FAA approval for Starship's fifth flight test.
On October 12, 2024, SpaceX received FAA approval for Starship's fifth flight test. The flight was the first without engine failures, and the first successful tower catch.
November 19, 2024: SpaceX launches Starship on sixth flight test
On November 19, 2024, SpaceX launched Starship on its sixth flight test. The booster aborted the catch attempt, while the ship conducted a relight in space.
December 2024: Report on Musk and Government Secrets
In December 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk did not have access to government secrets.
2024: Only pad that supports Falcon Heavy launches
As of 2024, Launch Complex 39A is the only pad that supports Falcon Heavy launches.
2024: Rideshare and Bandwagon programs operate
As of 2024, SpaceX operates a Rideshare and Bandwagon (mid inclination) programs, providing additional competition for small satellite launchers.
2024: Estimated Revenue
In 2024, a space industry newspaper estimated SpaceX's revenue to be over $10 billion, indicating the company's significant financial success.
2024: First private spacewalk on Polaris Dawn mission
SpaceX's 2024 Polaris Dawn mission featured the first-ever private spacewalk, marking a major milestone in commercial space exploration.
January 16, 2025: SpaceX launches Starship on seventh flight test
On January 16, 2025, SpaceX launched Starship on its seventh flight test, with the first Block 2 Ship, Ship 33, which also carried a demonstration payload, a Starlink V3 simulator. The test resulted in the second catch of the Super Heavy booster, B14, but after 8 minutes, SpaceX lost contact with the upper stage of the Starship, which resulted in the failure of the ship during the ascent. The FAA required a mishap investigation of the failure on January 18.
March 7, 2025: SpaceX launches Starship rocket from Texas, contact lost mid-flight
On March 7, 2025, SpaceX launched another Starship rocket, this time from Texas. Contact was lost minutes into the test flight and the spacecraft came tumbling down and broke apart, with wreckage seen across Florida's skies. Per preliminary investigation, Starship's 7th test flight was disrupted by an oxygen leak, flashes and sustained fires in its aft section, which caused the rocket's engines to shut down and turn on the spacecraft's self-destruct system.
May 2025: Falcon 9 Reusability Milestone
As of May 2025, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets have successfully landed and flown again over 450 times, achieving a launch rate of 1–3 times per week, demonstrating the effectiveness of their reusability program.
June 18, 2025: Starship rocket explodes during static fire test
On June 18, 2025, a SpaceX Starship rocket exploded during a static fire test at the company's Starbase facility in Texas, following what the company described as a “major anomaly”.
July 2025: SpaceX agrees to invest in xAI
By July 2025, as part of the issuance of $5 billion in equity, SpaceX agreed to invest $2 billion in xAI.
December 2025: Musk confirms SpaceX IPO
In December 2025, Elon Musk confirmed the initial public offering (IPO) of SpaceX, which is expected to take place in mid-2026.
2025: Report of potential Chinese investments in SpaceX
In 2025, ProPublica reported that Chinese investors were investing in SpaceX via offshore entities, raising national security concerns. Later in 2025 ProPublica reported that Chinese equity ownership in SpaceX likely extended to direct investment, citing the court testimony of investor Iqbaljit Kahlon.
2025: Valuation of SpaceX
In 2025, an offer to buy internal shares valued SpaceX at $800 billion, making it the most valuable private company worldwide.
2026: Orbital Launch Dominance
By 2026, SpaceX became the leading provider of orbital launches, surpassing all other private competitors and national programs.
2026: Expected Initial Public Offering (IPO)
SpaceX is anticipated to have an initial public offering (IPO) in 2026, reflecting the company's growth and maturity.
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