SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft from its Hawthorne, California headquarters. Founded by Elon Musk in 2002 after identifying prohibitively high launch costs and decades of stagnant rocket technology, the company has evolved from disruptive startup to industry leader through its development of reusable launch vehicles. The Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy programmes demonstrated operational rocket reusability - vehicles that launch, return to Earth, and fly again - fundamentally altering launch economics and reliability across the commercial space sector.
The company's operational portfolio spans launch services, cargo and crew transport to the International Space Station, and satellite constellation operations. Starlink, described as the world's largest satellite constellation, delivers satellite internet services globally. SpaceX's technical focus encompasses reusable rocket engineering, orbital launch vehicle development, human spaceflight systems, and satellite technologies. The company's approach prioritises engineering solutions that reduce operational costs while maintaining mission reliability.
SpaceX's long-term strategic objective centres on establishing a self-sustaining presence on Mars and enabling multi-planetary human settlement. This mission shapes the company's development programmes and operational philosophy, driving continued investment in launch vehicle performance, reusability economics, and deep-space capability. The company operates within the aerospace, launch services, satellite internet, and human spaceflight sectors, maintaining an engineering-focused culture that emphasises unconventional approaches to legacy industry challenges.