How The U.S. Became So Dependent On SpaceX

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SpaceX has grown from a small startup founded by Elon Musk in 2002 to one of the world’s most valuable private firms. But this may have not been possible without numerous government contracts along the way, to the tune of $22 billion according to SpaceX. Over the years, the U.S. government has also become dependent on SpaceX for access to space. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket are the primary means by which NASA launches astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station. The company’s Starlink satellites have become indispensable for providing internet access to remote areas as well as to U.S. allies during wartime. The company’s Starship rocket, though still in testing, is also key to the U.S. plan to return to the moon. SpaceX is also building a network of spy satellites for the U.S. government called Starshield under a $1.8 billion contract. Even competitors including Amazon and OneWeb have launched their satellites on SpaceX rockets. Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 2:10 - Early days 6:07 - Market dominance 10:07 - Leveling the playing field Produced by: Magdalena Petrova Edited by: Nic Golden Henry Senior Director of Video: Jeniece Pettitt Animation: Jason Reginato, Emily Park Additional Footage: Getty Images, NASA Additional Sources: The Atlantic » Subscribe to CNBC: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC » Subscribe to CNBC TV: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCtelevision » Watch CNBC on the go with CNBC+: https://www.cnbc.com/WatchCNBCPlus About CNBC: From 'Wall

Published 2025-08-24 · Watch on YouTube ↗
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