Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002 to develop reusable rockets and spacecraft.
The company’s full name is Space Exploration Technologies Corp., commonly shortened to SpaceX. Musk established it after becoming frustrated by the cost of launching missions into space and by the difficulty of obtaining a rocket for a proposed Mars project.
SpaceX initially focused on the Falcon 1, a relatively small orbital rocket. After several unsuccessful attempts, Falcon 1 reached orbit in 2008. The company later developed the Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon spacecraft, Falcon Heavy, and Starship systems.
SpaceX is often confused with Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, or Virgin Galactic, which are separate aerospace companies. SpaceX’s distinguishing role in launch history includes routine booster recovery and commercial crew flights to the International Space Station. Its headquarters are in Hawthorne, California.