10 Things You Didn’t Know About SpaceX (Even If You’re a Fan!)

When Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002, the idea of a private company launching rockets into orbit—and returning them—seemed like science fiction. Now, SpaceX is not only doing it regularly, but also redefining the space industry with reusable boosters, Martian ambitions, and record-breaking launches.

But behind all the headlines and livestreams, SpaceX holds some surprising secrets and wild facts even superfans don’t always know. Buckle up—because here are 10 things you didn’t know about SpaceX!

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1. SpaceX Almost Went Bankrupt—Twice

Before Falcon 1 finally reached orbit in 2008, three failed launches had nearly drained all of SpaceX's resources. Elon Musk later revealed they had just enough money for one more try—and if that launch failed, it was over.

That fourth flight succeeded—and NASA awarded SpaceX a $1.6 billion contract just days later. Talk about a save at the buzzer.

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2. Their Rockets Run on... Kerosene and Liquid Oxygen

You might expect futuristic fuel, but SpaceX’s Falcon 9 uses RP-1 (a refined kerosene) and liquid oxygen (LOX)—not unlike jet fuel.

This combo is powerful, reliable, and relatively low-cost—perfect for reusability and rapid launch cadence.

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3. They Landed a Rocket on a Boat Named “Of Course I Still Love You”

Yes, that’s really the name of one of SpaceX’s autonomous drone ships—a tribute to sci-fi author Iain M. Banks. Other ships include “Just Read the Instructions” and “A Shortfall of Gravitas.”

SpaceX makes rocket landings not just brilliant—but weirdly poetic.

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4. SpaceX Built the World's Most Powerful Operational Rocket

The Falcon Heavy, launched in 2018, generates over 5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff—making it the most powerful operational rocket in the world (until Starship takes over).

Its first payload? Elon’s personal Tesla Roadster, now drifting through deep space.

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5. NASA Now Relies on SpaceX for Astronaut Launches

Since 2020, NASA astronauts have flown aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon to the International Space Station—marking the first time in history a private company launched humans into orbit.

It ended America’s 9-year gap in crewed launches after the Space Shuttle retired.

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6. They Built Their Rockets from Scratch (And Fast!)

Unlike most aerospace companies, SpaceX builds 80–90% of its hardware in-house—from engines to avionics to software.

This allows them to iterate faster, cut costs, and launch more often than anyone else in the industry.

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7. SpaceX Is Building a Global Internet Network (Starlink)

With over 6,000 satellites launched and thousands more coming, Starlink is SpaceX’s ambitious plan to provide high-speed, low-latency internet anywhere on Earth—especially remote regions.

Bonus? It also funds SpaceX’s Mars missions.

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8. Starship Will Be the Tallest Rocket Ever Built

The fully stacked Starship + Super Heavy system stands at 120 meters (394 feet)—making it taller than the Saturn V.

It’s designed for 100+ tons of payload, interplanetary missions, and full reusability—the holy grail of spaceflight.

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9. Elon Musk Doesn’t Own All of SpaceX

While Elon Musk is the founder and largest shareholder, he owns about 42% of SpaceX (as of 2024). The rest is owned by employees, early investors, and venture funds.

Still, Musk controls about 78% of voting shares, keeping him firmly in charge.

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10. They Want to Colonize Mars—Seriously

SpaceX isn’t just about launches. Elon Musk’s endgame is building a self-sustaining city on Mars, with a million people and the ability to survive independently from Earth.

They aim to launch the first cargo missions in the 2030s—and possibly send humans within a decade.

It’s not a fantasy. It’s a master plan.

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Conclusion: SpaceX Is Just Getting Started

From near-bankruptcy to revolutionizing global spaceflight, SpaceX has already made space more accessible, reusable, and exciting than ever. But the most mind-blowing part?

They’re still just warming up.

The rockets will get bigger. The missions more ambitious. And one day soon, we may watch humans land on Mars—with a SpaceX logo on the side of the ship.

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