SpaceX

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), a privately owned American aerospace manufacturer, was founded in 2002. Headquartered near Brownsville, Texas, SpaceX employs approximately 14,210 people. The company focuses on aviation and aerospace component manufacturing, and has significantly advanced rocket propulsion, reusable launch systems, human spaceflight, and satellite constellation technologies. By the end of the 2010s, SpaceX had become a leading global space launch provider, its launch frequency comparable to China's and exceeding that of other private competitors. SpaceX collaborates extensively with NASA and the U.S. Armed Forces through government contracts.