When SpaceX was founded in 2002, few predicted that it would grow at such a rapid pace. NASA is providing funding to SpaceX, who is finding ways to do what NASA does faster and for lower cost. SpaceX is now one of the top companies in the aerospace industry. CEO Elon Musk is not only revolutionizing the space industry but the world.

Born in South Africa, Elon Musk has a Bachelor of Science in Physics, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Wharton School. When he was 24, he enrolled at Stanford to pursue a PhD in applied physics. Soon after enrolling, he dropped out of Stanford to start a business. In addition to the aerospace industry, Elon Musk is making strides in autonomous vehicles, solar power energy, and electric vehicles. Elon's ambitions are bold. He can be compared to some of the world's most influential people such as Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Pony Ma.

SpaceX is making unprecedented strides in the aerospace industry, which could lead to significant changes in the future. Their recent contributions to space flight make them a company to watch. Hopefully, SpaceX accomplishes their ultimate goal to colonize Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun. Many companies are working towards achieving the feat of sending humans to Mars, but so far, nobody has been successful.

25 Business Magnate Elon Musk Is The CEO Of SpaceX

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Let's start out with something easy. Elon Musk is considered to be one of the world's most intelligent people and is recognized as a real-life Tony Stark. These days, he is featured in the technology section of the newspaper every other day. In his youth, he became well-versed in computer programming, creating a video game called "Blastar."

Nowadays, when Elon isn't heading companies such as The Boring Company, Tesla, Inc., and SpaceX, he is dating actresses like Amber Heard and Talulah Riley. "As important as Steve Jobs was, no doubt about it — [and] you have to add him to Bill Gates, because they birthed the personal computing revolution kind of together — here's the difference: Elon Musk is trying to invent a future, not by providing the next app," said renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson when referring to Elon Musk.

24 SpaceX May Send The First Humans To Mars in 2024

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Contingent on the successful launch of cargo ships to Mars and numerous other factors, SpaceX will attempt to be the first space aerospace company to send humans to the red planet. As of now, the goal is for 2024.

The people at SpaceX are more than capable when it comes to building rockets. Still, even Elon Musk admits that sending humans to Mars is going to be a difficult task that comes with many risks. Also, there are obstacles in the way of this project such as how they are going to pay for it? Elon Musk is wealthy, but SpaceX will need billions of dollars to fund this unprecedented mission.

23 SpaceX Wants To Build A Spacefaring Civilization On Mars

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Not only does SpaceX want to send humans to Mars, but they also plan to make a spacefaring civilization on the red planet. Reasons in favor of colonizing the planet include: to create a backup world for the citizens of Earth, to advance our knowledge of the fourth planet of the sun, and for the possibility of finding life on another planet in our solar system.

It is doubtful that SpaceX will colonize Mars; many attempts have been made in the past. Even today, organizations besides SpaceX, such as Mars One, are working towards Mars colonization.

22 SpaceX Knows How To Cut Costs

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SpaceX has demonstrated that they are a leading force in manufacturing spaceships. Not many private companies have attempted the feat, yet SpaceX is growing at a rapid pace. Much of SpaceX's success in the field is owed to their cost-cutting capability. As detailed by thedailybeast.com, "the company pulled off something contractors almost never do: it cut costs but not corners. The bill for the Falcon 9 rocket came in at about a third of what NASA would have laid out on the project." SpaceX can do it better than NASA for a fraction of the cost. What else can SpaceX do to wow us?

21 A SpaceX Cargo Mission Is Planned For 2022

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Although ambitious, SpaceX is planning a cargo mission to Mars set to take off in 2022. At least two ships will be sent to Mars with one key goal being to find a source of water. The rockets will also play a part in building infrastructure, mining equipment, and life-support on Mars. Since SpaceX's ultimate goal is to send humans to Mars, they have to prepare the planet beforehand. At this point, the idea of sending humans to live on Mars in the 2020s seems highly implausible. We can't predict the future, but if anyone can do it, it is SpaceX.

20 SpaceX Will Be Involved In Japanese Billionaire Yusaku Maezawa's Mission To Fly To The Moon In 2023

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SpaceX is a force to be reckoned with in the cosmo sector. Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa is so impressed with the accomplishments of SpaceX that he has chosen to be the first private passenger to go to the Moon. Yusaku Maezawa will be flying on SpaceX's new BFR, which will fly around the Moon. Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa said that he doesn't want to fly alone, which is why he will fly with a group of artists. As detailed by space.com, "these people will hail from a variety of disciplines, potentially including painters, sculptors, photographers, musicians, film directors, fashion designers, architects and more," said Maezawa.

19 SpaceX's New BFR (Big Falcon Rocket) Has An Updated Design—And A New Name

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The new BFR (Big Falcon Rocket), which will be used as a private passenger spaceship for a trip around the Moon, has an updated design. The spaceship's length has increased from 157.5 feet to 180 feet. Also, there is a significant change that the new BFR will utilize seven Raptor engines instead of six like its predecessor. In a recent Tweet by Elon Musk, he announced that the new name of BFR will be "Starship."

The substantial size of the Big Falcon Rocket allows for 100 people to fit inside. According to techcrunch.com, "Musk said it makes sense to have about a dozen people on the first manned flight along with extra supplies." The added front fins to the BFR make it a gorgeous spacecraft!

18 Falcon Heavy Is The Most Powerful Operational Rocket By A Factor Of Two

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Not only is Falcon Heavy SpaceX's most powerful rocket, but it is the most powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of two. According to the website of spacex.com, "With the ability to lift into orbit nearly 64 metric tons (141,000 lb)---a mass greater than a 737 jetliner loaded with passengers, crew, luggage and fuel--Falcon Heavy can lift more than twice the payload of the next closest operational vehicle."

Even with so much power, Elon Musk doesn't plan to send a rocket in the deep reaches of outer space. He would rather explore nearby astronomical bodies like the Moon and Mars. It's only a matter of time before SpaceX upgrades their flagship rocket into something more powerful.

17 SpaceX Teamed Up With Microsoft's Co-Founder Paul Allen

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Only the brightest minds are teaming up with SpaceX. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to work with SpaceX, just someone who can get things done. Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, was planning to build the world's largest aircraft. He teamed up with SpaceX so that they could create the rockets. SpaceX's track record made them an exceptional choice for the task. As mentioned by theregister.co.uk, SpaceX later had to pull out of the project to focus on Falcon 9's launch system.

Unfortunately, on October 15th, Paul Allen passed away from complications related to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. We will forever miss Paul Allen for being a Microsoft co-founder, and for his contributions to SpaceShipOne.

16 SpaceX's Advanced Abort System

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The abort system of SpaceX has an intelligent design. It's been a while since there has been a significant spaceship malfunction leading to the loss of an Astronaut's life. Nothing is more important than safety when it comes to launching a rocket. If a mission could put its passengers in danger, it shouldn't be pushed forward.

SpaceX's abort system was tested on May 6th, 2015. The Dragon spacecraft launched from Florida over the Atlantic Ocean, then came back down to Earth. One past spaceship explosion occurred after gases mixed in the tank. Since SpaceX has many rocket launches planned for the future, they need to have top safety standards.

15 "SpaceX" Isn't The Full Name Of The Company

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It is rare for anyone to call SpaceX by its full name. The actual name of the private aerospace manufacturer is "Space Exploration Technologies Corp." It is way easier to say "SpaceX" and the shortened version of the full name of the company is part of the logo. One might wonder what the significance of SpaceX's full name could be?

Soon after inception, Space Exploration Technologies Corp caught the attention of media for its milestones. The company is praised for having returned a spaceship from low-orbit. Space Exploration Technologies Corp. is the full name of the company, yet we would probably like it anyways even if it was named "The Boring Company" (name of Elon Musks's other company).

14 The Dragon Capsule Can Carry A Heavy Payload

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According to cbc.ca, "A SpaceX delivery full of Christmas goodies arrived at the International Space Station on Saturday, following a slight delay caused by a communication drop-out."

With multiple residents aboard the International Space Station, it is required to resupply the ship regularly. Since 2012, SpaceX has worked with NASA to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. Remarkably, SpaceX's Dragon can launch a 6,000kg (13,228 lbs) payload.

The website of cbc.ca also said, "the holiday food includes smoked turkey, green bean casserole, candied yams, cranberry sauce and fruitcake. There also are shortbread and butter cookies, with tubes of icing for decorating." They also delivered mice and worms, which will be used for International Space Station science experiments.

13 The Falcon Heavy Rockets Are Named After The Millennium Falcon

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People who describe working for SpaceX mention that you'll hear plenty of Star Trek references while inside their headquarters. SpaceX is a growing company that is taking job applications for Falcon Build Engineer, Avionics Production Manager, Manufacturing Specialist, Inventory Specialist, Lead Avionics Test Technician, and Sr. Buyer.

The Millennium Falcon is "the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs," says Han Solo. Similarly, the Falcon Heavy is built for speed. Through the use of a hyperdrive, the Millenium Falcon can reach hyperspace and travel faster than the speed of light. Could a future SpaceX Falcon generation reach the speed of light?

12 SpaceX Technology Will Be Used For More Than Just Spaceships

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SpaceX is famously known for producing reusable rockets. While previous rocket boosters were good for one launch, and Falcon 9's could only be used twice, the new SpaceX Block 5 boosters can be used on average, 100 times. Space exploration technology has its relevant uses on Earth. Spinoff technologies develop as the result of spacecraft advancements. Some examples of space-related innovations that resulted in spinoffs are space blankets, invisible braces, 3D foods printing, Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs), Infrared Ear Thermometers, improved Firefighter Gear, Temper Foam, Portable Cordless Vacuums, and Improved Mine Safety. It's certainly a company to watch for the future.

11 SpaceX Is Valued At Approximately $25 billion

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SpaceX is valued at approximately $25 billion. With many plans for the future, there's no telling where SpaceX is headed. The website of businessinsider.com puts Elon Musk's net worth at $23 billion. More importantly, SpaceX has secured deals with companies that will allow them to remain in operation.

As reported by arstechnica.com, NASA is concerned about the appropriateness of SpaceX culture. Elon Musk took a puff of a substance during a podcast. Now, investors and analysts are wondering whether Elon Musk should continue to head the company or play a smaller role. Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson believes Elon Musk is a positive influence on SpaceX, and the incident during a podcast shouldn't matter.

10 SpaceX Is The First Private Company To Send Cargo To An International Space Station

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It's the first private company to send cargo to an International Space Station. "It took an astounding 136 space flights on seven different types of launch vehicles to build it," according to gizmodo.com. The company of SpaceX is trusted with delivering cargo to the International Space Station. It may seem like a small task, but for the station to function, its residents to need to be resupplied with food and materials for experiments. The International Space Station provides astronauts with a zero-gravity environment that is almost impossible to create on Earth. The extent to which SpaceX has assumed control of space functions is extraordinary.

9 CEO Elon Musk Launched His Tesla Roadster Into Space

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Believe it or not, the payload of Falcon Heavy's first launch was a Tesla Roadster. The red car belonged to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who is also the CEO of the automotive company Tesla, Inc. The photo you see above is a real shot of the car from outer space. The Tesla Roadster vehicle holds a few trinkets and a peculiar dummy named "Starman."

The vehicle may or may not approach the asteroid belt on its first orbit. It will likely go between Mars and Jupiter. It could be some time before the car leaves our solar system; if ever.

8 SpaceX's Falcon Used The Same Launchpad As The Kennedy Space Center

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Viewers of Falcon Heavy Rocket will likely have enjoyed the experience of being at the Kennedy Space Center, which is located on Merritt Island in Florida. The Kennedy Space Center is ideal for space launch since the climate provides opportunities to launch spaceships year-round, there is barely any wildlife nearby, and it's far from the city.

Falcon Heavy is one of the ships that were launched at Kennedy Space Center. The historic landmark opened in 1962. Other notable launches that took place at Kennedy Space Center are the Apollo 4, Apollo 10, and Apollo 11. Apollo 11 sent astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong to the Moon, making "one giant leap for mankind."

7 It Took A Long Time To Prepare For The Launch Of Falcon Heavy

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The launch of the most powerful operational rocket in the world took a significant amount of preparation. As you could imagine, the complexity of the Falcon Heavy is a bit more than the homemade one you might have made at home. The slightest flaw in the design of a rocket will likely lead to technical difficulties with the chance of a launch explosion. There is almost a 50% chance of a rocket failing, which is why inspections and testings are done routinely. SpaceX does not want a repeat of the situation that occurred aboard Apollo 13. The incident led to astronaut John Swigert communicating, "Houston, we have a problem."

6 SpaceX Is Privately Funded

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The fact that SpaceX is privately funded and doesn't rely on government funding can work as both an advantage and disadvantage. Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, is a genius and many people know this. His ability to operate so many businesses at the same time makes him an invaluable asset to SpaceX. Not to mention that Elon Musk's sizeable investments back much of SpaceX's equity. As a privately funded company, the decision-making process is faster, allowing SpaceX to micromanage better. "SpaceX has vaulted to become one of the most valuable private companies in the world," says cnbc.com