History of SpaceX

After being ousted as the CEO of PayPal in late 2000, Elon Musk started to gain an interest in space exploration ventures. This spark of interest, according to Musk, came when he is being asked by his friend entrepreneur Adeo Ressi about his plan for the future after PayPal. Musk looked up at NASA's website and was surprised that NASA did not have any concrete plan for a human mission to Mars.{{Cite book |last=Berger |first=Eric |title=Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX |date=March 2, 2021 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-06-297997-1 |edition= |location=New York, NY |author-link=Eric Berger (meteorologist)}}{{Rp|pages=9–10}} He then began to attend space conferences and provided funding for private space projects, which include The Planetary Society's solar sail and the Ansari X Prize crewed spaceflight competition.{{Rp|page=10}} Musk also pledged US$100,000 to the Mars Society and was invited to be in its board of directors.{{Cite web |date=September 25, 2001 |title=MarsNow 1.9 Profile: Elon Musk, Life to Mars Foundation |url=https://spaceref.com/status-report/marsnow-19-profile-elon-musk-life-to-mars-foundation/ |access-date=May 18, 2023 |website=SpaceRef |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Vance |first=Ashlee |author-link=Ashlee Vance |date=May 14, 2015 |title=Elon Musk's Space Dream Almost Killed Tesla |work=Bloomberg.com |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-elon-musk-spacex/ |access-date=May 18, 2023 |archive-date=May 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516202413/http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-elon-musk-spacex/ |url-status=live }} As early as August 2001, in contemporary sources, Musk has publicly expressed his support for making humans an interplanetary species at the Mars Society's annual convention.{{Cite web |last=Cowing |first=Keith |date=August 30, 2001 |title=Millionaires and billionaires: the secret to sending humans to Mars? |url=https://spaceref.com/uncategorized/millionaires-and-billionaires-the-secret-to-sending-humans-to-mars/ |access-date=May 18, 2023 |website=SpaceRef |language=en-US |quote=}} The same month, Musk resigned from his position at Mars Society.

According to Robert Zubrin, Mars Society's founder, he provided Musk contact to aerospace engineer Jim Cantrell as a technical adviser for the society's Mars Gravity Biosatellite project.{{Cite book |last=Zubrin |first=Robert |title=The Case for Space: How the Revolution in Spaceflight Opens Up a Future of Limitless Possibility |date=May 14, 2019 |publisher=Prometheus Books |isbn=978-1-63388-534-9 |location=Amherst, New York |oclc=1053572666 |author-link=Robert Zubrin}}{{Rp|pages=30–31}} From there, Musk, Cantrell, along with a few other engineers worked on Mars Oasis, a project that aimed to grow a plant in Martian soil as a publicity stunt for garnering interest to Mars missions.{{Rp|page=10}} Mars Oasis project is independent from the Mars Society. Musk and his team travelled twice to Russia, once in October 2001 and another in February 2002 with Michael D. Griffin, to obtain a refurbished intercontinental ballistic missile to launch Mars Oasis. Both attempts failed – the missiles were outrageously priced by the ISC Kosmotras at $8 million per missile when queried, and the team was concerned that the price would go up even higher after the deal had been finalized.{{Rp|page=10}} Reportedly, this is because Musk and his team were not regarded highly by the Russians.{{Rp|page=10}}

After the second failed attempt to procure a missile, the Mars Oasis plan was abandoned and Musk pondered the feasibility of building a rocket himself. As he learned more about the United States space industry, in retrospect, Musk realized that the Mars Oasis mission would more likely lead to an unsustainable Mars program, similar to how the Apollo program operated. According to Musk, the crucial component for a sustainable Mars program is a low launch cost.{{Rp|page=|pages=11–12}}

In early 2002, with that realization, Musk met with aerospace engineers at a hotel in Los Angeles International Airport to discuss founding a space launch company, with reportedly some having scoffed at the idea. In April, from that group he invited five that could join the company as early employees: Michael Griffin, Jim Cantrell, John Garvey, Tom Mueller, and Chris Thompson. Griffin, Cantrell and Garvey declined the invitation, while Mueller and Thompson became the company's first and second employee respectively. Musk provided half of his $180 million from PayPal stocks to the newly founded company securing both employees with two-years' worth of salary. The company was named "Space Exploration Technologies Corporation", originally with "S.E.T." as a shortened name, but it was quickly changed to be "SpaceX".{{Rp|page=|pages=12–14}} According to filings, SpaceX was incorporated on March 14, 2002,{{cite web |title=Delaware Business Search (File # 3500808{{snd}}Space Exploration Technologies Corp) |url=https://icis.corp.delaware.gov/eCorp/EntitySearch/NameSearch.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920145319/https://icis.corp.delaware.gov/Ecorp/EntitySearch/NameSearch.aspx |archive-date=September 20, 2016 |access-date=February 1, 2022 |publisher=Delaware Department of State: Division of Corporations}} but according to various sources SpaceX's de facto founding date might instead be May 6 or around June.{{Cite web |last=Friedman |first=Josh |date=April 22, 2003 |title=Entrepreneur Tries His Midas Touch in Space |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-apr-22-fi-spacex22-story.html |access-date=May 18, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=October 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221029184256/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-apr-22-fi-spacex22-story.html |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Falcon 1}}

File:SpaceX falcon in warehouse.jpg

Musk assumed the role of Chief Engineer, after having offered the title to Griffin who did not join SpaceX. Mueller was in charge of developing rocket engines, propellant tanks and plumbing; Thompson was in charge of making the rocket's body and couplings. Hans Koenigsmann, who was recommended by Thompson and had met Musk a few months earlier, joined SpaceX and was in charge of making the rocket's avionics (electronic systems).{{Rp|page=|pages=13–15}} In August 2002, Gwynne Shotwell was hired as the head of sales for the company.{{Rp|page=|pages=16–17}}

At first, SpaceX's employees would meet at hotels in airports, but later the company headquartered at a building in 1310 East Grand Avenue, El Segundo, California. The building was {{Cvt|3000|ft2|m2}}, which at the time housed only a few cubicles and fewer than a dozen employees.{{Rp|page=|pages=14–15}} The company at the time was under a flat hierarchy, so employees (including Musk) could freely switch roles and do other person's tasks if needed. Musk personally interviewed the first three thousand employees, most were college graduates (because they do not have family attachments), and pushed them to work long hours at their highest effort.{{Rp|page=|pages=15, 19–20, 25}}

SpaceX's first rocket was named Falcon 1 by Musk, taking inspiration from the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars, and also because the rocket would have only one booster engine.{{Cn|date=January 2025}}{{Explain|reason=What is the image here? What does a falcon have to do with have only one booster?|date=January 2025}} Falcon 1 was designed with a core tenet of low launch cost; according to contemporary sources the rocket has an advertised price of $6 million per launch. This is the reason SpaceX implemented tight vertical integration for manufacturing rocket parts.{{Rp|page=|pages=13–15}} Unlike most aerospace companies at the time, the Falcon 1 was developed in an iterative and incremental process instead of the waterfall process.{{Rp|page=|pages=23–25}} Musk was being extremely optimistic about the launch schedule; he wanted to launch Falcon 1 by the end of 2003, but late December 2005 would be when the rocket was first ready for flight.{{Rp|page=26}} A mockup for the rocket was first officially unveiled to the public and the government at the National Mall, Washington, D.C. on December 8, 2003.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=December 8, 2003 |title=The Space Review: The Falcon and the showman (page 1) |url=https://www.thespacereview.com/article/70/1 |access-date=May 21, 2023 |website=The Space Review |archive-date=May 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521142852/https://www.thespacereview.com/article/70/1 |url-status=live }}

{{Further|SpaceX Merlin|SpaceX Kestrel}}{{Multiple image

| image1 = SpaceX Merlin engine.gif

| image2 = SpaceX Kestrel engine2.gif

| footer = CAD models of Falcon 1 engines

| total_width = 270

| caption1 = Merlin

| caption2 = Kestrel

}}

The Falcon 1's first stage needed a rocket engine that produces about {{Cvt|70000|lbf||order=flip}} of thrust and used a kerosene–liquid oxygen propellant combination. However, because Mueller had little experience at building a turbopump for the engine, he initially outsourced the turbopump from NASA's Fastrac engine. The one- or two-year long procurement process was too long for SpaceX, so the company contracted the manufacturer directly (named Barber-Nichols) to build Fastrac's turbopump. Later, a Barber-Nichols employee suggested that the engine should be named for a type of falcon bird, because the rocket itself is named 'Falcon 1'. Mueller called the first stage engine "Merlin" after a medium-sized falcon and the second stage engine "Kestrel" after the small falcon.{{Rp|page=|pages=37–38}}

SpaceX also needed a test site for the Merlin and Kestrel engines. In 2002, the company rented a space at the Mojave Air and Space Port to test the turbopumps, but soon SpaceX ran into issues with the testing facility: one time, black sooty clouds from the turbopump enveloped the air traffic control tower. A bigger and more lax testing facility was needed, especially because the Mojave Spaceport only allows testing of engines that have less than one-half the thrust of the Merlin engine. SpaceX finally chose a testing site at McGregor, Texas that was previously owned by the bankrupted Beal Aerospace. To save time, employees from the California headquarters would fly there on Musk's private jet.{{Rp|page=|pages=40, 44–46}} At 9:50 P.M., March 11, 2003, the Merlin engine completed its first ever full firing with a duration of about half a second,{{Rp|page=|pages=27–28}} achieving a thrust of {{Cvt|60000|lbf||order=flip}} and 93% combustion efficiency.{{Cite web |date=March 19, 2003 |title=SpaceX Performs First Rocket Engine Firing |url=https://spaceref.com/press-release/spacex-performs-first-rocket-engine-firing/ |access-date=May 21, 2023 |website=SpaceRef |language=en-US}}

File:Omelek Island.jpg, around 2005]]

Initially, SpaceX planned to launch the Falcon 1 at Vandenberg Air Force Base due to its close proximity to the company's headquarters. The Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3 was licensed to the company in early 2004, and SpaceX employees began the construction of supporting facilities around the launch complex. By early 2005, the first Falcon 1 arrived to the launch site via a flatbed truck.{{Rp|page=|pages=51-53}} In the first week of May 2005, SpaceX tried to perform its first static fire attempt, but after many aborts and recycling due to software bugs and bad instruments, its liquid oxygen supply ran out and the test was cancelled for the day. The second static fire attempt a few weeks later, was also cancelled for the same reason, but the third static fire attempt on May 27 was a success.{{Rp|page=|pages=58–60}}

However, since early 2003, when the Malaysian government contacted SpaceX for launching RazakSAT into a near-equatorial orbit, SpaceX knew that Vandenberg was not an ideal launch site. To get to that orbit from California, the rocket needs to go east and into the continental United States, which is not allowed for safety. The then-current version of the Falcon 1 also needed to borrow velocity from the Earth's rotation to launch RazakSAT, meaning that a suitable launch site would be near the equator. So, after the deal was signed for $7 million, SpaceX selected Omelek Island, Kwajalein Atoll as the place for launching the satellite.{{Rp|page=|pages=53–55,58}} Plans for launching Falcon 1 at Vandenburg were foiled when the Air Force kept delaying giving clearance for SpaceX's launch, citing the impending Titan IV launch of a reconnaissance satellite. SpaceX had to abandon $7 million worth of equipment at Vandenberg.{{Rp|page=|pages=61-62,66-67}}

It was reasoned that waiting until the Titan IV launch or suing the Air Force would not be ideal for the company. In retrospect, Musk commented: "Technically, we weren't kicked out of Vandenberg, we were just put on ice. The Air Force never said no, but they never said yes. This went on for six months. The resources were draining out of the company. Effectively, it was just like being starved."{{Rp|page=66|pages=}}

So, in June 2005, construction of the Omelek launch site begin. Aside from a small concrete bunker, everything else was brought in from the mainland or built from scratch: concrete launch pad, rocket hangar, electric generators, communications, etc. By September, most of the launch site was finished and more than {{Cvt|30|t|lb|abbr=}} of equipment were shipped by sea or air. The first stage of Falcon 1 came in September and the second stage came a month later; they were assembled and carried to the launch site using a wheeled strongback, rolling on top of pieces of plywood. One day before the first attempted Falcon 1 launch, due to frustration and intense pressure, the employees on Omelek went on strike; this was quickly resolved by a supply drop of chicken wings and cigarettes.{{Rp|pages=71-77}}

File:Falcon 1 Prelaunch (67235805).jpg

Originally, TacSat-1 was going to be the payload for the maiden Falcon 1 launch,{{Cite web |date=August 16, 2004 |title=Falcon rocket rides slow road toward flight |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5725500 |access-date=May 21, 2023 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=May 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521142852/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5725500 |url-status=dead }} but eventually the FalconSAT-2 satellite from the United States Air Force Academy was chosen instead.{{Cite web |date=March 24, 2006 |title=SpaceX rocket lost; was fuel leak to blame? |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna11997932 |access-date=May 21, 2023 |website=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=May 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521142852/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna11997932 |url-status=dead }} The static fire test before the launch on November 26, 2005 was postponed due to a helium and oxygen leak by a faulty valve, and the attempted launch on December 20 was also cancelled due to the bad weather. Thompson, who was supervising the launch, found that the Falcon 1 first stage had buckled and was mere seconds away from a violent implosion. This was again caused by a faulty valve that did not open during propellant detanking.{{Cite web |title=Falcon 1 maiden flight delayed again |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8487-falcon-1-maiden-flight-delayed-again/ |access-date=May 21, 2023 |website=New Scientist |language=en-US |archive-date=May 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521142852/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8487-falcon-1-maiden-flight-delayed-again/ |url-status=live }}{{Rp|pages=77-79}}

The following year, a new first stage was shipped to Omelek. After the rocket was assembled, on February 6, the second stage's avionics short circuited and almost lead to the launch's months-long delay, if not for the quickly obtained capacitor from the mainland.{{Rp|pages=82-84}} The maiden launch of Falcon 1 happened on March 24, 2006, at 22:30 UTC,{{Cite news |date=March 24, 2006 |title=SpaceX rocket fails first flight |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4698736.stm |access-date=May 21, 2023 |archive-date=January 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114042636/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4698736.stm |url-status=live }} at which a fire damaged the rocket's pressurization system and cause the Merlin engine to flame off at T+29 seconds.{{Cite web |last=Malik |first=Tariq |date=March 26, 2006 |title=Fuel Leak and Fire Led to Falcon 1 Rocket Failure, SpaceX Says |url=https://www.space.com/2200-fuel-leak-fire-led-falcon-1-rocket-failure-spacex.html |access-date=May 21, 2023 |website=Space.com |language=en |archive-date=May 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521142853/https://www.space.com/2200-fuel-leak-fire-led-falcon-1-rocket-failure-spacex.html |url-status=live }} The next morning, SpaceX employees and civilians from the atoll cleaned up the rocket's debris and eventually found FalconSAT-2 lying inside a machine shop.{{Rp|pages=89-90}}

On August 4, 2008, SpaceX accepted a further $20 million investment from Founders Fund.{{cite press release |first=Emily |last=Shanklin |publisher=SpaceX |url=http://spacex.com/press.php?page=47 |title=SpaceX receives $20 million investment from Founder's Fund |date=August 4, 2008 |access-date=August 10, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104140811/http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=47 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2011 }} In early 2012, approximately two-thirds of the company was owned by its founder{{cite news|work=forbes.com|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/calebmelby/2012/03/12/how-elon-musk-became-a-billionaire-twice-over/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313030030/http://www.forbes.com/sites/calebmelby/2012/03/12/how-elon-musk-became-a-billionaire-twice-over/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 13, 2012|title=How Elon Musk Became A Billionaire Twice Over |date= March 12, 2012|first=Caleb|last=Melby}} and his 70 million shares were then estimated to be worth $875 million on private markets,{{cite web| publisher=businessweek.com |url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-10/elon-musk-anticipates-third-ipo-in-three-years-with-spacex.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213021523/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-10/elon-musk-anticipates-third-ipo-in-three-years-with-spacex.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 13, 2012|title=Elon Musk Anticipates Third IPO in Three Years With SpaceX |date=February 10, 2012}} which roughly valued SpaceX at $1.3 billion as of February 2012.{{cite web |title=Elon Musk on Why SpaceX Has the Right Stuff to Win the Space Race |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2012/04/27/elon-musk-on-why-spacex-has-the-right-stuff-to-win-the-space-race.html |publisher=CNBC |date=April 27, 2012 |access-date=September 9, 2017 |archive-date=December 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216213440/http://www.cnbc.com/id/47207833 |url-status=live }} After the COTS 2+ flight in May 2012, the company private equity valuation nearly doubled to $2.4 billion.{{cite web|publisher=Privco|title={{Sic|hide=y|Privately|-}}held SpaceX Worth Nearly $2.4 Billion or $20/Share, Double Its Pre-Mission Secondary Market Value Following Historic Success at the International Space Station|url=http://www.privco.com/privately-held-spacex-worth-nearly-5-billion-or-20-share-double-its-pre-mission-secondary-market-pricing-following-historic-success-at-the-international-space-station|date=June 7, 2012|access-date=March 2, 2017|archive-date=August 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806214559/http://www.privco.com/privately-held-spacex-worth-nearly-5-billion-or-20-share-double-its-pre-mission-secondary-market-pricing-following-historic-success-at-the-international-space-station|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|publisher=VentureBeat|url=https://venturebeat.com/2012/06/07/privco-spacexs-worth-skyrockets-to-4-8-billion-after-successful-mission/|title=SpaceX's worth skyrockets to $4.8B after successful mission|date=June 10, 2012|access-date=August 31, 2017|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306125528/http://venturebeat.com/2012/06/07/privco-spacexs-worth-skyrockets-to-4-8-billion-after-successful-mission/|url-status=live}}

On June 16, 2009, SpaceX announced the opening of its Astronaut Safety and Mission Assurance Department. It hired former NASA astronaut Ken Bowersox to oversee the department as a vice president of the company.{{cite press release|title=Former astronaut Bowersox joins SpaceX as Vice President of Astronaut Safety and Mission Assurance|date=June 16, 2009|publisher=SpaceX|url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20090618|access-date=July 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118115539/http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20090618|archive-date=January 18, 2012|url-status=dead}} However, it has since been reported that the former astronaut subsequently left SpaceX in late 2011. No reason was given and no replacement in that position was announced.{{Cite news|first=Dan|last=Leone|title=SpaceX Safety VP Quit Late Last Year|url=http://www.spacenews.com/venture_space/120118-spacex-safety-quit.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202235754/http://www.spacenews.com/venture_space/120118-spacex-safety-quit.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 2, 2013|date=January 18, 2012|access-date=October 24, 2012}}

In 2012, SpaceX advertised a launch price of $57 million on Falcon 9, while Arianespace was advertising a launch price of $137 million per launch.{{cite web|url=http://www.investopedia.com/news/how-spacex-reinvented-rocket-launch-industry/|title=How SpaceX Reinvented the Rocket Launch Industry|first=Rakesh|last=Sharma|date=February 26, 2017|access-date=March 2, 2017|archive-date=March 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328113613/https://www.investopedia.com/news/how-spacex-reinvented-rocket-launch-industry/|url-status=live}}

In 2012, an initial public offering (IPO) was perceived as possible by the end of 2013,{{cite news|publisher=Bloomberg|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-09/musk-sees-good-chance-of-spacex-stock-offering-by-next-year.html|title=Elon Musk Anticipates Third IPO in Three Years With SpaceX|date=February 11, 2012|access-date=March 7, 2017}} but then Musk stated in June 2013 that he planned to hold off any potential IPO until after the "Mars Colonial Transporter is flying regularly",{{cite news |last=Schaefer |first=Steve |title=SpaceX IPO Cleared For Launch? Elon Musk Says Hold Your Horses |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveschaefer/2013/06/06/with-tesla-and-solarcity-soaring-elon-musk-talks-down-spacex-ipo-plans/ |access-date=June 10, 2013 |newspaper=Forbes |date=June 6, 2013 |archive-date=November 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128153220/https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveschaefer/2013/06/06/with-tesla-and-solarcity-soaring-elon-musk-talks-down-spacex-ipo-plans/?sh=5aaf6eef59ad |url-status=live }} and this was reiterated in 2015 indicating that it would be many years before SpaceX would become a publicly traded company,{{cite news |author=de Selding |first=Peter B. |date=January 19, 2015 |title=SpaceX To Build 4,000 Broadband Satellites in Seattle |url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-opening-seattle-plant-to-build-4000-broadband-satellites/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150119210849/http://spacenews.com/spacex-opening-seattle-plant-to-build-4000-broadband-satellites/ |archive-date=January 19, 2015 |access-date=March 2, 2017 |publisher=SpaceNews.com}}{{cite web |author=Woodyard |first=Chris |date=June 9, 2015 |title=Elon Musk: SpaceX goes public when Mars flights begin |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2015/06/09/elon-musk-mars-spacex/28768361/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223230305/http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2015/06/09/elon-musk-mars-spacex/28768361/ |archive-date=February 23, 2017 |access-date=August 29, 2017 |work=USA TODAY}} where Musk stated that "I just don't want [SpaceX] to be controlled by some private equity firm that would milk it for near-term revenue."{{cite web |author=Andersen |first=Ross |date=September 30, 2014 |title=Elon Musk puts his case for a multi-planet civilisat... |url=http://aeon.co/magazine/technology/the-elon-musk-interview-on-mars/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612073942/http://aeon.co/magazine/technology/the-elon-musk-interview-on-mars/ |archive-date=June 12, 2015 |access-date=March 2, 2017 |work=Aeon}} The Mars Colonial Transporter project later evolved into the Interplanetary Transport System, then the Big Falcon Rocket, and finally the SpaceX Starship, whose full stack was first tested in 2023.{{cite news | last=Davenport | first=Christian | title=Unmanned Starship explodes over gulf after liftoff | newspaper=Washington Post | date=April 20, 2023 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/04/20/starship-spacex-test-launch/ | access-date=April 22, 2023 | archive-date=April 20, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420153340/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/04/20/starship-spacex-test-launch/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web| title=SpaceX Starship first test flight official site| website=SpaceX| url=https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-test| date=April 22, 2023| access-date=April 22, 2023| archive-date=April 19, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419182009/https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-test| url-status=live}}

File:Falcon 9 Flight 20 OG2 first stage post-landing (23273082823) cropped.jpg

File:CRS-8 (26239020092).jpg

The company has grown rapidly since it was founded, growing from 160 employees in November 2005 to more than 500 by July 2008, to over 1,100 in 2010,{{cite news|url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/497/1|title=Big plans for SpaceX|first=Jeff|last=Foust|date=November 14, 2005|publisher=The Space Review|access-date=March 2, 2017|archive-date=November 24, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051124153155/http://www.thespacereview.com/article/497/1|url-status=live}}{{cite press release|date=July 10, 2008|url=http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/html/government_pages/pr080714-1.html|title=Diane Murphy joins SpaceX as Vice President of Marketing and Communications|publisher=SpaceX|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713163321/http://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/html/government_pages/pr080714-1.html|archive-date=July 13, 2010}} 1,800 in early 2012,{{cite news | first=W. | last=Hennigan | title=SpaceX Again Ready to Blast off After Last-second Launch Abort | url=http://www.spacex.com/company.php | publisher=MSNBC | date=May 21, 2012 | access-date=May 22, 2012 | archive-date=April 25, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425020246/http://www.spacex.com/company.php | url-status=dead }} and 3,000 by early 2013.{{cite web |title=CRS-2 Press Kit |url=http://www.spacex.com/downloads/crs2-press-kit.pdf |publisher=NASA |date=February 25, 2013 |access-date=February 25, 2013 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304132339/http://www.spacex.com/downloads/crs2-press-kit.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2013 }} The company had grown to 3,800 employees and contractors by October 2013,{{cite news |last=Messier |first=Doug |title=ISPCS Morning Session: Gwynne Shotwell of SpaceX |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/10/16/ispcs-morning-session-gwynne-shotwell-spacex/ |date=October 16, 2013 |access-date=December 7, 2013 |quote=Gwynne Shotwell says that SpaceX is now up to about 3,800 employees, counting contractors working for the company. ... 600 more people to hire in next couple months. Finding good software people the hardest skills to fill. |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021205910/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/10/16/ispcs-morning-session-gwynne-shotwell-spacex/ |url-status=dead }} and had "nearly 5,000" in late 2015[http://www.seattletimes.com/business/spacexs-redmond-effort-very-speculative/ SpaceX's Redmond effort ‘very speculative’ ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216164420/http://www.seattletimes.com/business/spacexs-redmond-effort-very-speculative/ |date=February 16, 2017 }} November 7, 2015, accessed February 4, 2016 and February 2016.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cT7_iySwP8%3Ft%3D9000 |title=Gwynne Shotwell comments at Commercial Space Transportation Conference |publisher=Commercial Spaceflight |first=Gwynne |last=Shotwell |time=2:43:15–3:10:05 |date=February 3, 2016 |access-date=February 4, 2016 |archive-date=May 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530094402/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cT7_iySwP8 |url-status=live }}

After the setback of a launchpad explosion, SpaceX got back to flying on January 14, 2017, with its launch of Iridium satellites.{{cite web |last=Larson |first=P. |date=September 1, 2016 |title=Anomaly Updates |url=http://www.spacex.com/news/2016/09/01/anomaly-updates |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216160231/http://www.spacex.com/news/2016/09/01/anomaly-updates |archive-date=February 16, 2017 |access-date=March 2, 2017}} On February 19, 2017, a Falcon 9 carrying CRS-10 conducted the first launch from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-launches-falcon-9-from-historic-nasa-pad/|title=SpaceX launches Falcon 9 from historic NASA pad|access-date=February 21, 2017|language=en|archive-date=February 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205153001/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-launches-falcon-9-from-historic-nasa-pad/|url-status=live}} The first stage of the launch was planned for the end of February 2017, was to be the recovered and refurbished one from April 8, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYFcpgX-afU%3Ft%3D54|title=Tesla Time News 20|date=January 24, 2017|publisher=Now You Know|access-date=March 2, 2017|archive-date=February 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205153004/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYFcpgX-afU%3Ft%3D54|url-status=live}}{{update after|2018|3|31}}

On May 23, 2019, SpaceX deployed the first 60 of around 12,000 satellites in its planned Starlink satellite system{{Citation

| last = Roulette

| first = Joey

| title = First satellites for Musk's Starlink internet venture launched into orbit

| work = Reuters

| url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-exploration-spacex/spacex-launches-first-satellites-for-musks-starlink-internet-service-idUSKCN1SU07Y

| date = May 23, 2019

| access-date = May 24, 2019

| archive-date = November 17, 2020

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201117160230/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-exploration-spacex/spacex-launches-first-satellites-for-musks-starlink-internet-service-idUSKCN1SU07Y

| url-status = live

}} – which it aimed to use to provide low latency network communications via a large constellation in low Earth orbit (LEO).{{cite news |last1=Grush |first1=Loren |title=SpaceX is about to launch two of its space Internet satellites — the first of nearly 12,000 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/15/17016208/spacex-falcon-9-launch-starlink-microsat-2a-2b-paz-watch-live |access-date=February 16, 2018 |work=The Verge |date=February 15, 2018 |archive-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616184857/https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/15/17016208/spacex-falcon-9-launch-starlink-microsat-2a-2b-paz-watch-live |url-status=live }}

On May 30, 2020, SpaceX launched two NASA astronauts (Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken) into orbit on a Crew Dragon spacecraft during SpaceX Demo-2, making SpaceX the first private company to send astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and marking the first crewed launch from American soil in 9 years.{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=SpaceX Lifts NASA Astronauts to Orbit, Launching New Era of Spaceflight - The trip to the space station was the first from American soil since 2011 when the space shuttles were retired. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/30/science/spacex-nasa-astronauts.html |date=May 30, 2020 |work=the New York Times |access-date=May 31, 2020 |archive-date=August 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810172446/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/30/science/spacex-nasa-astronauts.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Wattles |first=Jackie |title=SpaceX Falcon 9 launches two NASA astronauts into the space CNN news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/30/tech/spacex-nasa-launch-astronauts-scn/index.html |date=May 30, 2020 |work=CNN News |access-date=May 31, 2020 |archive-date=May 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531001954/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/30/tech/spacex-nasa-launch-astronauts-scn/index.html |url-status=live }} The mission launched from Launch Complex 39A of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.{{Cite web|title=SpaceX-NASA Dragon Demo-2 launch: All your questions answered|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-why-crew-dragon-demo-2-mission-nasa-spacex-is-important-and-how-it-will-take-place-6434723/|website=indianexpress.com|date=June 2, 2020|language=en-US|access-date=June 2, 2020|archive-date=June 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603035924/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-why-crew-dragon-demo-2-mission-nasa-spacex-is-important-and-how-it-will-take-place-6434723/|url-status=live}} SpaceX Demo-2 successfully docked with the ISS on May 31, 2020{{Cite web|title=Crew Dragon docks with ISS|url=https://spacenews.com/crew-dragon-docks-with-iss-2/|website=spacenews.com|date=May 31, 2020|language=en-US|access-date=June 2, 2020}} and returned the astronauts safely on August 2, 2020.{{Cite web|title=SpaceX splashdown smoothly delivers NASA astronauts back to Earth|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-splashdown-smoothly-delivers-nasa-astronauts-back-to-earth/|website=cnet.com|language=en-US|access-date=June 2, 2020}}

File:KSC-20190624-PH_KLS01_0056.jpg

Musk has stated that one of his goals is to improve the cost and reliability of access to space, ultimately by a factor of ten.{{cite web|title=Space Exploration Technologies Corporation – press|url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20100616|work=spacex.com|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=December 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623215759/http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20100616|archive-date=June 23, 2013|url-status=dead}} In 2004, the company plans called for "development of a heavy lift product and even a super-heavy, if there is customer demand", with each size increase resulting in a significant decrease in cost per pound to orbit. Musk said: "I believe $500 per pound ($1,100/kg) or less is very achievable."{{cite web|publisher=SpaceX|url=http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=10|title=Elon Musk — Senate Testimony, 5 May 2004|date=May 4, 2004|access-date=August 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830032226/http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=10|archive-date=August 30, 2008|url-status=dead}}

A major goal of SpaceX has been to develop a rapidly reusable launch system. {{as of|2013|03}}, including a test program of the low-altitude, low-speed Grasshopper vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) technology demonstrator rocket,{{cite news |last=Mohney |first=Doug |title=SpaceX Plans to Test Reusable Suborbital VTVL Rocket in Texas |url=http://satellite.tmcnet.com/topics/satellite/articles/222324-spacex-plans-test-reusable-suborbital-vtvl-rocket-texas.htm |access-date=November 23, 2011 |newspaper=Satellite Spotlight |date=September 26, 2011 |archive-date=August 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804024136/http://satellite.tmcnet.com/topics/satellite/articles/222324-spacex-plans-test-reusable-suborbital-vtvl-rocket-texas.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Reusable rocket prototype almost ready for first liftoff |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1207/10grasshopper/ |access-date=July 13, 2012 |newspaper=Spaceflight Now |date=July 9, 2012 |quote=SpaceX has constructed a half-acre concrete launch facility in McGregor, and the Grasshopper rocket is already standing on the pad, outfitted with four insect-like silver landing legs. |archive-date=May 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521132738/http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1207/10grasshopper/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Klotz |first=Irene |title=A rocket that lifts off — and lands — on launch pad |url=http://satellite.tmcnet.com/topics/satellite/articles/222324-spacex-plans-test-reusable-suborbital-vtvl-rocket-texas.htm |access-date=November 23, 2011 |newspaper=MSNBC |date=September 27, 2011 |archive-date=August 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804024136/http://satellite.tmcnet.com/topics/satellite/articles/222324-spacex-plans-test-reusable-suborbital-vtvl-rocket-texas.htm |url-status=live }} and a high-altitude, high-speed Falcon 9 post-mission booster return test campaign where—beginning in mid-2013, with the sixth overall flight of Falcon 9—every first stage will be instrumented and equipped as a controlled descent test vehicle to accomplish propulsive-return over-water tests.{{cite news |last=Lindsey |first=Clark |title=SpaceX moving quickly towards fly-back first stage |url=http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-moving-quickly-towards-fly-back-first-stage.html |access-date=March 29, 2013 |newspaper=NewSpace Watch |date=March 28, 2013 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=April 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416030256/http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-moving-quickly-towards-fly-back-first-stage.html |url-status=dead }} SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell said at the Singapore Satellite Industry Forum in summer 2013 "If we get this [reusable technology] right, and we're trying very hard to get this right, we're looking at launches to be in the {{USD|5 to 7 million}} range, which would really change things dramatically."{{cite news |last=Messier |first=Doug |title=Shotwell: Reusable Falcon 9 Would Cost $5 to $7 Million Per Launch |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/01/14/shotwell/ |access-date=January 15, 2014 |newspaper=Parabolic Arc |date=January 14, 2014 |archive-date=February 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216044345/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/01/14/shotwell/ |url-status=dead }}

Musk stated in a 2011 interview, that he hopes to send humans to Mars' surface within 10–20 years.{{cite news|title=Elon Musk: I'll Put a Man on Mars in 10 Years |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/elon-musk-ill-put-a-man-on-mars-in-10-years-2011-04-22/CCF1FC62-BB0D-4561-938C-DF0DEFAD15BA#!CCF1FC62-BB0D-4561-938C-DF0DEFAD15BA |newspaper=Market Watch |date=April 22, 2011 |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |location=New York |access-date=December 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902234053/http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/elon-musk-ill-put-a-man-on-mars-in-10-years-2011-04-22/CCF1FC62-BB0D-4561-938C-DF0DEFAD15BA |url-status = live|archive-date=September 2, 2011 }} In 2010, Musk's calculations convinced him that the colonization of Mars was possible.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-on-mars-its-a-fixer-upper-of-a-planet/|title=Elon Musk on Mars: "It's a fixer-upper of a planet"|website=CBS News|date=September 21, 2012|access-date=March 2, 2017|archive-date=February 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218203837/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-on-mars-its-a-fixer-upper-of-a-planet/|url-status=live}} In June 2013, Musk used the descriptor Mars Colonial Transporter to refer to the privately funded development project to design and build a spaceflight system of rocket engines, launch vehicles and space capsules to transport humans to Mars and return to Earth. In March 2014, COO Gwynne Shotwell said that once the Falcon Heavy and Dragon 2 crew version are flying, the focus for the company engineering team will be on developing the technology to support the transport infrastructure necessary for Mars missions.{{cite AV media|people=Gwynne Shotwell |date=March 21, 2014 |title=Broadcast 2212: Special Edition, interview with Gwynne Shotwell |medium=audio file |url=http://archived.thespaceshow.com/shows/2212-BWB-2014-03-21.mp3 |access-date=March 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322013556/http://archived.thespaceshow.com/shows/2212-BWB-2014-03-21.mp3 |archive-date=March 22, 2014 |format=mp3 |time=41:20–42 |publisher=The Space Show |id=2212 |url-status = dead}} The project evolved into the Interplanetary Transport System,{{cite web | last=Berger | first=Eric | title=Elon Musk scales up his ambitions, considering going "well beyond" Mars | website=Ars Technica | date=September 18, 2016 | url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/09/spacexs-interplanetary-transport-system-will-go-well-beyond-mars/ | access-date=April 22, 2023 | archive-date=September 20, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920000810/http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/09/spacexs-interplanetary-transport-system-will-go-well-beyond-mars/ | url-status=live }} then the Big Falcon Rocket,{{cite web | title=Making Life Multiplanetary | website=YouTube | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdUX3ypDVwI | access-date=April 22, 2023 | archive-date=August 19, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819035735/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdUX3ypDVwI | url-status=live }} and finally the SpaceX Starship.{{cite web | last=Boyle | first=Alan | title=Goodbye, BFR … hello, Starship: Elon Musk gives a classic name to his Mars spaceship | website=GeekWire | date=November 20, 2018 | url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/goodbye-bfr-hello-starship-elon-musk-gives-classic-name-mars-spaceship/ | access-date=April 22, 2023 | archive-date=November 22, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122215524/https://www.geekwire.com/2018/goodbye-bfr-hello-starship-elon-musk-gives-classic-name-mars-spaceship/ | url-status=live }}

In August 2020, SpaceX indicated it was looking to build a resort in South Texas with the intent to turn "Boca Chica into a '21st century Spaceport{{'}}".{{cite news |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/10/spacex-reveals-plans-for-a-texas-spaceport-resort-in-new-job-ad/ |title=SpaceX reveals plans for a Texas spaceport resort in new job ad |work=TechCrunch |date=August 10, 2020 |access-date=August 11, 2020 |archive-date=August 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811071827/https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/10/spacex-reveals-plans-for-a-texas-spaceport-resort-in-new-job-ad/ |url-status=live }}[https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-spaceport-resort-developer-texas-rocket-factory-job-opening/ SpaceX is hiring a Spaceport resort developer for its Texas rocket factory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509142826/https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-spaceport-resort-developer-texas-rocket-factory-job-opening/ |date=May 9, 2023 }}, Teslarati, August 11, 2020. This complex, known as the SpaceX Starbase, has become the main hub for development of Starship. Work has continued steadily at the location, but the FAA and SpaceX have faced a number of legal challenges from environmental advocacy groups regarding threats to wildlife along with other complaints.

Major achievements of SpaceX include:{{cite web |author=Hussain |first=Mir Juned |date=November 12, 2014 |title=The Rise and Rise of SpaceX |url=http://www.yaabot.com/8479/rise-rise-spacex/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130032130/http://www.yaabot.com/8479/rise-rise-spacex/ |archive-date=January 30, 2017 |access-date=March 2, 2017 |work=Yaabot}}

• The first privately funded, liquid-fueled rocket (Falcon 1) to reach orbit (September 28, 2008)
• The first privately funded company to successfully launch (by Falcon 9), orbit and recover a spacecraft (Dragon) (December 9, 2010)
• The first private company to send a spacecraft (Dragon) to the International Space Station (May 25, 2012)
• The first private company to send a satellite into geosynchronous orbit (SES-8, December 3, 2013)
• The first private company to send a probe beyond Earth orbit (Deep Space Climate Observatory, February 11, 2015){{cn|date=November 2024}}
• The first landing of a first stage orbital capable rocket (Falcon 9, Flight 20) (22 December 2015 1:39 UTC){{cite web |title=Twitter: SpaceX successfully deployed 11 satellites into Low Earth orbit and landed back on ground for the first time in history |url=https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/679114269485436928 |date=December 22, 2015 |access-date=December 22, 2015 |archive-date=September 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920110637/https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/679114269485436928 |url-status=live }}
• The first water landing of a first stage orbital capable rocket (Falcon 9) (8 April 2016 20:53 UTC)
• The development of the most powerful operational rocket as of 2020 (Falcon Heavy, first flight February 6, 2018)
• The first private company to send humans into orbit (Crew Dragon Demo-2, May 30, 2020){{cite web|url=http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/dragon_spx-dm2.htm|title=Crew Dragon SpX-DM2|publisher=Spacefacts|access-date=April 22, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703194414/http://spacefacts.de/mission/english/dragon_spx-dm2.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/business/live-news/spacex-launch-today/h_861f6a0693fa4333d5e029693e3669d5|title=Next attempt: Saturday at 3:22 pm EDT|first=Jackie|last=Wattles|publisher=CNN|date=May 27, 2020|access-date=April 22, 2023|archive-date=May 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527212949/https://edition.cnn.com/business/live-news/spacex-launch-today/h_861f6a0693fa4333d5e029693e3669d5|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://spacexnow.com/upcoming.php|title=Upcoming Missions|publisher=SpaceX Now|access-date=April 22, 2023|archive-date=April 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426121805/https://spacexnow.com/upcoming.php|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=SpaceX Launches|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/30/science/spacex-launch-nasa.html#link-40d39c90|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530202004/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/30/science/spacex-launch-nasa.html#link-40d39c90|archive-date=May 30, 2020|access-date=May 30, 2020|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 30, 2020}}
• Most orbital launches of a single rocket model without failure (120 Falcon 9 launches, April 21, 2022){{cite web |title=Most consecutive successful orbital launches by a rocket model |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-successful-commercial-rocket-launcher |access-date=April 22, 2022 |website=Guinness World Records |date=April 21, 2022 |language=en-gb |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422213237/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-successful-commercial-rocket-launcher |url-status=live }}
• The tallest, most powerful, and most massive rocket to ever launch (Starship first test flight, April 20, 2023){{cite web | last=Amos | first=Jonathan | title=SpaceX Starship: Elon Musk promises second launch within months | website=BBC News | date=April 20, 2023 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-65334810 | access-date=April 22, 2023 | archive-date=April 20, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420202244/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-65334810 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | last=Amos | first=Jonathan | title=Biggest ever rocket is assembled briefly in Texas | website=BBC News | date=August 6, 2021 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58120874 | access-date=April 22, 2023 | archive-date=August 11, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811063944/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58120874 | url-status=live }}

{{Missing information|section|2=lower demand from customers in 2019|date=August 2019}}

On March 1, 2013, a Dragon spacecraft in orbit developed problems with its thrusters. Due to blocked fuel valves, the craft was unable to properly control itself. SpaceX engineers were able to remotely clear the blockages. Because of this, it arrived at the International Space Station one day later than expected. Since spacecraft like the Dragon were classified as munitions, and considered weapons under arms regulations until November 2014, SpaceX Mission controllers were unable to release more information to the public."Spacex Gagged By Arms Rule." New Scientist 217.2907 (2013): 4–5. Academic Search Complete. Web. November 4, 2015.

On June 28, 2015 CRS-7 launched a Falcon 9 carrying an unmanned Dragon capsule intended to take supplies to the International Space Station. 2 minutes and 19 seconds into the flight a cloud of vapor was seen by the tracking camera forming outside the craft. A few seconds afterward there was a loss of pressure in the helium tank, after which they exploded, causing a complete failure of the mission."CRS-7 Investigation Update". SpaceX. July 20, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015. The software was not programmed to deploy the parachute for the Dragon capsule after a launch mishap, therefore the Dragon broke upon impact.{{Cite web |author=Clark |first=Stephen |date=July 20, 2015 |title=Support strut probable cause of Falcon 9 failure |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2015/07/20/support-strut-probable-cause-of-falcon-9-failure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217222505/http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/07/20/support-strut-probable-cause-of-falcon-9-failure/ |archive-date=February 17, 2017 |access-date=April 14, 2016 |website=spaceflightnow.com}} The problem was discovered to be a failed 2 ft (61 cm) steel strut, purchased from a supplier, on a helium pressure vessel, which broke due to the force of acceleration. This caused a breach and allowed helium to escape causing the loss of the spacecraft, which exploded.{{cite news |author=Masunaga |first=Samantha |last2=Petersen |first2=Melody |date=September 2, 2016 |title=SpaceX rocket exploded. Establishing the cause involved analyzing a large amount of data |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-spacex-investigation-20160902-snap-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219040426/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-spacex-investigation-20160902-snap-story.html |archive-date=February 19, 2017 |access-date=March 1, 2017 |newspaper=LA Times}} The software issue was also fixed; in addition, an analysis of the entire program was carried out in order to ensure proper abort mechanisms are in place for future rockets and their payload.Nasr, Reem. "Musk: This Is What Caused the SpaceX Launch Failure." CNBC. Consumer News and Business Channel, July 20, 2015. Web. Retrieved November 4, 2015. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell stated that in terms of the differences between the six previous successful Falcon 9 Commercial Resupply Launches, "there's nothing that stands out as being different for any particular flight." Though the craft was set to bring a resupply of food and water to the ISS, the crew members had enough supplies to last another 4 months before another resupply, which would end up being the Russian Progress 60P vehicle.Calandrelli, Emily. "Understanding The Aftermath Of SpaceX's Failed Falcon Launch." TechCrunch. June 29, 2015. Web. November 4, 2015. Student science experiments, as well as a docking adapter and other miscellaneous cargo, were lost due to the CRS-7 failure as well.SpaceX CRS-7. Orlando: NASA, June 2015. PDF.

On September 1, 2016, a Falcon 9 Full Thrust launch vehicle exploded during a propellant fill operation for a standard pre-launch static fire test at Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 40.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/771395212304277504|title=SpaceX on Twitter: Update on this morning's anomaly|website=twitter.com|access-date=September 1, 2016|archive-date=January 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131062926/https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/771395212304277504|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/timeline/the-top-15-events-that-happened-in-space-in-2016/slide/10/|title=The top 15 events that happened in space in 2016|date=December 16, 2016|publisher=TechCrunch|access-date=December 16, 2016|vauthors=Calandrelli E, Escher A|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220172657/https://techcrunch.com/timeline/the-top-15-events-that-happened-in-space-in-2016/slide/10/|url-status=dead}} There were no reported injuries, as the area was cleared for the test. However the payload, the Spacecom AMOS-6 communications satellite valued at $200 million, was destroyed.{{cite web |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/go-for-launch/os-spacex-spacecom-answers-20160906-story.html |title=SpaceX customer vows to rebuild satellite in explosion aftermath |date=September 6, 2016 |author=Marco Santana |publisher=Orlando Sentinel |access-date=March 1, 2017 |archive-date=February 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216160435/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/go-for-launch/os-spacex-spacecom-answers-20160906-story.html |url-status=live }} Spacecom claims its contract, since the launch failed, allows it to choose to receive $50 million or a future flight at no cost.{{cite news|title=Spacecom to claim AMOS 6 compensation from IAI|url=http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-spacecom-to-claim-compensation-for-amos-6-from-iai-1001149933|first=Nitzan|last=Cohen|date=September 4, 2016|publisher=Globes|access-date=March 2, 2017|archive-date=September 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905130757/http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-spacecom-to-claim-compensation-for-amos-6-from-iai-1001149933|url-status=live}} Musk described the event as the "most difficult and complex failure" in SpaceX's 14-year history; SpaceX reviewed nearly 3,000 channels of telemetry and video data covering a period of 35–55 milliseconds for the postmortem.{{cite news |author=Masunaga |first=Samantha |date=September 9, 2016 |title=Elon Musk: Launch pad explosion is 'most difficult and complex' failure in SpaceX's 14 years |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-spacex-investigation-20160909-snap-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216212623/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-spacex-investigation-20160909-snap-story.html |archive-date=February 16, 2017 |access-date=March 1, 2017 |newspaper=LA Times}} In late September, SpaceX stated that interim results suggested that a major breach of the cryogenic helium system of the second stage rocket had occurred.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/23/spacex-investigation-suggests-helium-breach-caused-its-falcon-9-explosion/|title=SpaceX investigation suggests helium breach caused its Falcon 9 explosion|last=Etherington|first=Darrell|website=TechCrunch|date=September 23, 2016|access-date=September 26, 2016|archive-date=September 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926194820/https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/23/spacex-investigation-suggests-helium-breach-caused-its-falcon-9-explosion/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-23/spacex-says-it-will-return-to-rocket-flight-as-early-as-november|title=SpaceX Sees Clue to Rocket Blast in Super-Chilled Helium Breach|last=Hull|first=Dana|date=September 23, 2016|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|access-date=September 26, 2016|archive-date=September 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926075250/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-23/spacex-says-it-will-return-to-rocket-flight-as-early-as-november|url-status=live}} In November 2016, Musk reported the explosion was caused by the liquid oxygen used as the oxidizer turning so cold that it became a solid, and it may have breached the helium pressure vessels which are immersed in liquid oxygen. The vessels are overwrapped with a carbon composite material. The solid oxygen, under pressure, could have ignited with the carbon material causing the explosion.[https://www.theverge.com/2016/11/5/13533900/elon-musk-spacex-falcon-9-failure-cause-solved Elon Musk says SpaceX finally knows what caused the latest rocket failure] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219013804/http://www.theverge.com/2016/11/5/13533900/elon-musk-spacex-falcon-9-failure-cause-solved |date=February 19, 2017 }} The Verge, November 7, 2016 SpaceX concluded its investigation on January 2, 2017, then restarted its business of launching rockets in January 2017.

On April 20, 2023, the SpaceX Starship orbital test flight ended in failure, and the rocket's flight termination system was activated four minutes into the flight.

{{Image frame|content={{Graph:Chart|width=550|height=150|type=rect|x='06,'07,'08,'09,'10,'11,'12,'13,'14,'15,'16,'17,'18,'19,'20,'21|y=1,1,2,1,2,0,2,3,6,6,8,18,21,13,26,31}}

|align=right|caption=Successful SpaceX launches by year|max-width=550}}

SpaceX is privately funded. SpaceX developed its first launch vehicle—Falcon 1—and three rocket engines—Merlin, Kestrel, and Draco—completely with private capital. SpaceX contracted with the US government for a portion of the development funding for the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, which uses a modified version of the Merlin rocket engine.{{cite news |last=Engel|first=Max |title=Launch Market on Cusp of Change |url=http://www.satellitetoday.com/via/satellitegetspersonal/Launch-Market-on-Cusp-of-Change_40648.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218050904/http://www.satellitetoday.com/via/satellitegetspersonal/Launch-Market-on-Cusp-of-Change_40648.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 18, 2013 |access-date=February 15, 2013 |newspaper=Satellite Today |date=March 1, 2013 |quote=SpaceX is not the first private company to try to break through the commercial space launch market. The company, however, appears to be the real thing. Privately funded, it had a vehicle before it got money from NASA, and while NASA's space station resupply funds are a tremendous boost, SpaceX would have existed without it. }} SpaceX developed the Falcon Heavy launch vehicle,{{cite journal |last=Boozer |first=R. D. |date=March 10, 2014 |title=Rocket reusability: a driver of economic growth |url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2466/1 |url-status=live |journal=The Space Review |volume=2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406202450/http://thespacereview.com/article/2466/1 |archive-date=April 6, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2014}} the Raptor methane-fueled rocket engine,{{Cite web|url=http://spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=47400|title=SpaceX Prepared Testimony by Jeffrey Thornburg|website=spaceref.com|date=June 26, 2015|access-date=March 2, 2017|archive-date=March 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319120440/https://spaceref.com/status-report/spacex-prepared-testimony-by-jeffrey-thornburg/|url-status=dead}} and a set of reusable launch vehicle technologies with private capital.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYocHwhfFDc |title=Discussion with Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO, SpaceX |publisher=Atlantic Council |first=Gwynne |last=Shotwell |time=22:35–26:20 |date=June 4, 2014 |access-date=June 9, 2014 |quote=This technology element [reusable launch vehicle technology] all this innovation is being done by SpaceX alone, no one is paying us to do it. The government is very interested in the data we are collecting on this test series. ... This is the kind of thing that entrepreneurial investment and new entrants/innovators can do for an industry: fund their own improvements, both in the quality of their programs and the quality of their hardware, and the speed and cadence of their operations. |archive-date=January 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125082949/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYocHwhfFDc |url-status=live }}

{{as of|2012|05}}, SpaceX had operated on total funding of approximately $1 billion in its first ten years of operation. Of this, private equity provided about $200M, with Musk investing approximately $100M and other investors having put in about $100M (Founders Fund, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, ...).{{cite web|title=SpaceX overview on secondmarket |publisher=SecondMarket |url=https://www.secondmarket.com/company/spacex |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121217191301/https://www.secondmarket.com/company/spacex |url-status = dead|archive-date=December 17, 2012 }} The remainder has come from progress payments on long-term launch contracts and development contracts. {{as of|2012|04}}, NASA had put in about $400–500 million of this amount, with most of that as progress payments on launch contracts. By May 2012, SpaceX had contracts for 40 launch missions, and each of those contracts provide down payments at contract signing, plus many are paying progress payments as launch vehicle components are built in advance of mission launch, driven in part by United States accounting rules for recognizing long-term revenue.{{cite news |last=Watts |first=Jane |title=Elon Musk on Why SpaceX Has the Right Stuff to Win the Space Race |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2012/04/27/elon-musk-on-why-spacex-has-the-right-stuff-to-win-the-space-race.html |access-date=May 3, 2012 |newspaper=CNBC |date=April 27, 2012 |archive-date=December 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216213440/http://www.cnbc.com/id/47207833 |url-status=live }}

In August 2012, SpaceX signed a large development contract with NASA to design and develop a crew-carrying space capsule for the "next generation of U.S. human spaceflight capabilities", in order to re-enable the launch of astronauts from U.S. soil by 2017. Two other companies, Boeing and Sierra Nevada Corporation, received similar development contracts. Advances made by all three companies under Space Act Agreements through NASA's Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) initiative are intended to ultimately lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for both government and commercial customers. As part of this agreement, SpaceX was awarded a contract worth up to $440 million for contract deliverables between 2012 and May 2014.{{cite web |last1=Hennigan |first1=W. J. |date=August 3, 2012 |title=Boeing, SpaceX big winners in NASA competition for new spacecraft |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-nasa-crew-funding-20120802,0,7335499.story |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102140640/http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-nasa-crew-funding-20120802%2C0%2C7335499.story |archive-date=November 2, 2012 |access-date=June 12, 2015 |work=Los Angeles Times}}{{cite web |title=NASA Announces Next Steps In Effort To Launch Americans From U.S. Soil |url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/aug/HQ_12-263_CCiCAP_Awards.html |work=Press Release |publisher=NASA |date=August 3, 2012 |access-date=August 5, 2012 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305002812/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/aug/HQ_12-263_CCiCAP_Awards.html |url-status=dead }}

At the end of 2012, SpaceX had over 40 launches on its manifest, representing about $4 billion in contract revenue. Many of those contracts were already making progress payments to SpaceX, with both commercial and government (NASA/DOD) customers.{{cite web |title=Company overview: Advancing the future |url=http://www.spacex.com/company.php |work=company website |publisher=SpaceX |access-date=December 31, 2012 |archive-date=April 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425020246/http://www.spacex.com/company.php |url-status=dead }}{{as of|2013|12}}, SpaceX had a total of 50 future launches under contract, two-thirds of them were for commercial customers.{{cite news |last=Dean |first=James |title=SpaceX makes its point with Falcon 9 launch |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/12/04/spacex-launch-successful/3866655/ |access-date=December 7, 2013 |newspaper=USA Today |date=December 4, 2013 |archive-date=July 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711121951/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/12/04/spacex-launch-successful/3866655/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |author=Clark |first=Stephen |date=December 3, 2013 |title=Falcon 9 rocket launches first commercial telecom payload |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/007/131203launch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114201728/http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/007/131203launch/ |archive-date=November 14, 2016 |access-date=December 4, 2013 |publisher=Spaceflight Now}} In late 2013, space industry media began to comment on the phenomenon that SpaceX prices are undercutting the major competitors in the commercial commsat launch market—the Ariane 5 and Proton-M{{cite news |author=Clark |first=Stephen |date=November 24, 2013 |title=Sizing up America's place in the global launch industry |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/007/131124commercial/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203224447/http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/007/131124commercial/ |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |access-date=November 25, 2013 |publisher=Spaceflight Now}}—at which time SpaceX had at least 10 further geostationary orbit flights on its books.

In January 2015, SpaceX raised $1 billion in funding from Google and Fidelity Investments, in exchange for 8.333% of the company, establishing the company valuation at approximately $12 billion. Google and Fidelity joined the then current investorship group of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Founders Fund, Valor Equity Partners and Capricorn.{{cite news|url=http://newsdaily.com/2015/01/spacex-raises-1-billion-in-funding-from-google-fidelity/ |title=SpaceX raises $1 billion in funding from Google, Fidelity |agency=Reuters |date=January 20, 2015 |publisher=NewsDaily |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121094554/http://newsdaily.com/2015/01/spacex-raises-1-billion-in-funding-from-google-fidelity/ |archive-date=January 21, 2015 }}{{cite news |author=Berger |first=Brian |date=January 20, 2015 |title=SpaceX Confirms Google Investment |url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-confirms-google-investment/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220155735/https://spacenews.com/spacex-confirms-google-investment/ |archive-date=February 20, 2023 |access-date=March 2, 2017 |publisher=SpaceNews.com}} Although the investment was thought to be related to SpaceX's launch of a Starlink constellation effort,{{cite news |url= http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Google_aboard_as_Musks_SpaceX_gets_1_bn_in_funding_999.html |title= Google aboard as Musk's SpaceX gets $1 bn in funding |author= AFP |publisher= SpaceDaily |date= January 20, 2015 |access-date= March 2, 2017 |archive-date= March 21, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150321022350/http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Google_aboard_as_Musks_SpaceX_gets_1_bn_in_funding_999.html |url-status= live }} Gwynne Shotwell said in March 2015 that the investment was not specifically for the global internet project.{{cite news |last1=Koebler |first1=Jason |title=SpaceX: No One Laughs Anymore When We Talk About Colonizing Mars |url=http://motherboard.vice.com/read/spacex-no-one-laughs-anymore-when-we-talk-about-colonizing-mars |access-date=March 20, 2015 |work=Motherboard |date=March 17, 2015 |archive-date=March 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320010741/http://motherboard.vice.com/read/spacex-no-one-laughs-anymore-when-we-talk-about-colonizing-mars |url-status=live }} Google had been searching for a satellite internet partner since the split with O3b Networks and OneWeb.{{cite news |author=Geuss |first=Megan |date=January 19, 2015 |title=Google might pour money into SpaceX, really wants satellite Internet |url=https://arstechnica.com/business/2015/01/google-might-pour-money-into-spacex-really-wants-satellite-internet/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630152600/https://arstechnica.com/business/2015/01/google-might-pour-money-into-spacex-really-wants-satellite-internet/ |archive-date=June 30, 2017 |access-date=June 14, 2017 |publisher=Ars Technica}}

In 2020, Abu Dhabi-based IHC or International Holding Group bought 94% stakes in a private equity fund namely, Falcon CI IV LP, which had invested in SpaceX. Following the purchase of stakes, SpaceX completed $850 million worth of equity funding round, taking the total value of the company to nearly $74 billion in March 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/banking-finance/459385-spacex-completes-funding-round-of-850m|title=SpaceX, backed by Abu Dhabi-based IHC, completes funding round of $850m|access-date=March 2, 2021|website=Arabian Business|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203025/https://www.arabianbusiness.com/banking-finance/459385-spacex-completes-funding-round-of-850m|url-status=live}} On the other hand, the stock price of IHC also surged 75%, as of April 2021.{{cite web|url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/spacex-investor-international-holdings-stock-price-gain-abu-dhabi-2021-4-1030285915|title=A secretive SpaceX investor has scored a 75% stock gain in the past 3 weeks|access-date=April 8, 2021|website=Business Insider|archive-date=February 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205153002/https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/spacex-investor-international-holdings-stock-price-gain-abu-dhabi-2021-4-1030285915|url-status=live}} IHC is led by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan as the President of the company, who also heads IHC's shareholder, Royal Group. Sheikh Tahnoon, who is the National Security Adviser of UAE also heads several other Abu Dhabi-based ventures including the International Golden Group,{{cite web|url=https://www.gsn-online.com/article/international-golden-group-scoops-contracts-its-home-market|title=International Golden Group scoops contracts in its home market|access-date=March 4, 2021|website=GSN|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628175951/https://www.gsn-online.com/article/international-golden-group-scoops-contracts-its-home-market|url-status=live}} which has ties to the Libyan and Yemeni civil war.{{cite web|url=https://paxforpeace.nl/media/download/pax-report-under-the-radar--arms-trade.pdf|title=Under the radar|access-date=September 11, 2017|website=Pax for Peace|archive-date=February 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205153008/https://paxforpeace.nl/media/download/pax-report-under-the-radar--arms-trade.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.intelligenceonline.com/international-dealmaking/2020/10/07/international-golden-group-key-emirati-supporter-of-haftar,109612017-gra|title=International Golden Group key Emirati supporter of Haftar|access-date=October 7, 2020|website=Intelligence Online|date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=March 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327225841/https://www.intelligenceonline.com/international-dealmaking/2020/10/07/international-golden-group-key-emirati-supporter-of-haftar,109612017-gra|url-status=live}}

• SpaceX Starship design process

{{Reflist}}

{{SpaceX}}

Category:SpaceX

SpaceX

Category:Spaceflight histories