SpaceX, or Space Exploration Technologies Corp., founded in 2002, is an American space technology company and a dominant launch provider. It designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft, including the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Dragon spacecraft, and Starship. SpaceX partners with organizations like NASA and the United States Armed Forces and is known for its advancements in reusable launch vehicles, human spaceflight, and satellite constellation technology like Starlink. Key words: launch provider, reusable rockets, space exploration, Starlink, Falcon, Dragon, Starship, NASA.
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NASA awarded a contract to SpaceX on 2024-11-25 valued at $256,600,000 for the Falcon Heavy launch and related services for Dragonfly during a launch window running from 2024-07-05 to 2028-07-25.
NASA selected SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy to launch the Dragonfly mission to Titan in 2028.
The approximately 320 Gen2 satellites equipped with a direct-to-smartphone payload are sufficient to enable texting services SpaceX has targeted to launch 2024.
The FCC is allowing SpaceX to operate Gen2 spacecraft at lower altitudes between 340 and 360 km, down from 525–535 km, to reduce latency.
The Federal Communications Commission granted SpaceX conditional approval on 2024-11-26 to use Starlink broadband satellites to provide Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) to T-Mobile smartphone users in cellular dead zones across the United States.
Multiple satellite operators including EchoStar, Omnispace, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper opposed SpaceX’s request to provide SCS services or operate Gen2 satellites at lower altitudes over interference concerns.
NASA awarded SpaceX a $331,800,000 contract in 2021 for the Falcon Heavy launch of the first two elements of the lunar Gateway that required an extended payload fairing and additional prelaunch processing.
SpaceX has permission to use T-Mobile’s cellular frequencies on up to 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites to provide Supplemental Coverage from Space, provided the operations do not interfere with other networks.
NASA paid $178,000,000 under a 2021 contract for the Falcon Heavy launch of Europa Clipper, which launched 2024-10-14.
SpaceX has around 4,100 Gen1 Starlink satellites in orbit and has permission to operate up to 4,408 Gen1 satellites between approximately 540 and 570 km.
Elon Musk's SpaceX is testing the Starship, the world's heaviest and most powerful rocket.
Capella Space CEO Frank Backes expects the administration will not direct all business to SpaceX and will use SpaceX as a model for disrupting traditional programs.
NASA selected SpaceX to provide launch services for the Dragonfly mission under NASA’s New Frontiers Program.
NASA plans to use cargo versions of Artemis lunar landers developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX to deliver a pressurized rover and a surface habitat to the lunar surface in the early 2030s.
SpaceX’s Starship will deliver the pressurized rover developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) no earlier than fiscal year 2032.
SpaceX performed the fourth permitted Starship/Super Heavy launch from Boca Chica on 2024-11-19 and aborted the planned booster catch back at the launch site.
The Federal Aviation Administration released an updated draft environmental assessment for increasing the number of annual Starship/Super Heavy launches and landings from SpaceX’s Starbase test site at Boca Chica, Texas on 2024-11-20.
Anduril is implementing SDANet, a mesh network that utilizes commercial space internet services like SpaceX’s Starlink to create high-speed connections between space domain awareness platforms.
Lunar Outpost signed an agreement on 2024-11-21 for SpaceX to use Starship to transport the company’s Lunar Outpost Eagle rover to the moon.
Lunar Outpost selected SpaceX’s Starship to deliver its Lunar Outpost Eagle Artemis lunar rover to the moon.