We mined SpaceX's acquisitions, investments, and partnerships to discern the company's strategic priorities.
The aerospace industry is at an inflection point.
Gone are the days when governments were the only players involved in space exploration. In the last decade, private companies like Elon Musk-led SpaceX have driven dramatic declines in launch costs, fueling an explosion of activity: 2022 saw a record 180 rockets launch into orbit, with 61 coming from SpaceX.
Innovation and cost reduction in space tech have also unleashed new opportunities on Earth, from expanding internet access to redefining military operations. Competition is heating up, not only between aerospace players, but also from non-traditional players like Amazon, which recently got the green light from the FCC for its Project Kuiper satellite constellation.
It’s a crucial moment for SpaceX — now the second-most valuable private tech company, at $137B — to defend its moat, while also expanding into new areas of growth. For instance, it has recently made moves into the enterprise cloud market through partnerships with Microsoft and Google.
Using CB Insights data, we uncovered the 3 most important strategic priorities highlighted by SpaceX’s recent acquisitions, investments, and partnerships. We then categorized companies by their business relationships with SpaceX across these areas:
- Space exploration
- Telecommunications
- National security
