Falcon 1

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Why SpaceX Became Crucial To The U.S. Space Program
CNBC· 2025-08-24 15:01
Three. Two. One.Zero. Ignition. Liftoff.SpaceX has become synonymous with U.S. Space supremacy. SpaceX is irreplaceable as a national asset. Right now, SpaceX is just completely dominant.But it's dominant because it's the best. For years, the U.S. Government and SpaceX have had a mutually beneficial relationship. The government is an extraordinary customer from us, both the Department of Defense as well as NASA.The news these days is we have $22 billion worth of government contracts. We earned that. Booster ...
How the U.S. space industry became dependent on SpaceX
CNBC· 2025-08-24 13:00
Core Insights - SpaceX is currently valued at approximately $400 billion and plays a crucial role in U.S. space access, having evolved significantly since its founding in 2002 by Elon Musk [1][6] Company Development - SpaceX was established using funds from Elon Musk's PayPal sale, with the initial goal of developing the Falcon 1 rocket to compete against existing launch providers [1] - The company faced challenges, including three failed launches of the Falcon 1 before securing government contracts that provided essential funding [3][4] Government Contracts - In 2008, NASA awarded SpaceX a $1.6 billion contract for Commercial Resupply Services, which was pivotal for the company's survival and growth [5] - This contract involved using the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule for 12 missions to the International Space Station [5] - In 2014, SpaceX received an additional $2.6 billion contract from NASA to develop vehicles for transporting astronauts [5] Market Dominance - SpaceX has become a dominant player in the space market, conducting a record 134 orbital launches in 2024, which accounted for 83% of all spacecraft launched that year [6] - The company’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule are the primary vehicles for NASA's missions to the International Space Station [7] Technological Contributions - SpaceX's Starlink satellites provide essential internet access to remote areas and support U.S. allies during conflicts [7] - The company is also developing the Starship rocket for lunar missions and a network of spy satellites under a $1.8 billion contract with the U.S. government [7] Industry Impact - SpaceX has transformed the space industry by lowering launch costs, fostering a community of companies with access to space, and influencing competitors like Amazon and OneWeb to utilize its launch services [8]
X @Elon Musk
Elon Musk· 2025-08-15 17:39
RT SMX 🇺🇸 (@iam_smx)Grok Imagine just brought this moment to life.Elon Musk in 2006, staring at debris from Falcon 1, which was the first of three failed rocket launches from SpaceX’s early days. https://t.co/xqYzHfSP8q ...
X @Tesla Owners Silicon Valley
Tesla Owners Silicon Valley· 2025-08-05 12:04
Elon Musk on the Starship efficiencies “The cost per flight and cost per ton for payload of the Starship will go below the Falcon 1”Can’t believe it’ll have that much improvement given its size and power. https://t.co/mQsoY19crk ...
X @Tesla Owners Silicon Valley
Tesla Owners Silicon Valley· 2025-06-14 17:59
Starship 3 will be 400 times more payload for less than the cost of a Falcon 1. https://t.co/tLb8JcEpf7 ...
X @Tesla Owners Silicon Valley
Tesla Owners Silicon Valley· 2025-06-13 06:46
Elon Musk“Falcon 1 is about half a ton to orbit. Starship 3 will be 400 times more payload for less than the cost of a Falcon 1. These are unthinkable numbers. Nobody ever thought this was possible.” https://t.co/ntq0PQwQQK ...