SpaceX

SpaceX, or Space Exploration Technologies Corp., is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company founded by Elon Musk in 2002. Its primary goal is to reduce space transportation costs in order to enable the colonization of Mars and facilitate other space missions. SpaceX is known for its development of the Falcon 1, Falcon 9, and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles, as well as the Dragon spacecraft that transport cargo and crew to the International Space Station (ISS). The company also made significant advances in reusable rocket technology, allowing rockets to return to Earth and be reused for multiple launches, thereby drastically lowering the cost of access to space. SpaceX has garnered attention for its ambitious projects, including the Starship vehicle intended for missions to Mars and beyond, and for its role in increasing private sector involvement in space exploration.