The dark and without gravity space has always been a curious subject for the human mind. Humans build many technological aspects to observe and integrate outer space information.
Many space agencies started to emerge from studying space. SpaceX and Space Force is one of them.
Key Takeaways
- SpaceX is a private aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, while Space Force is a branch of the United States military focused on space operations.
- SpaceX’s primary goal is to develop reusable rockets and spacecraft for commercial space travel and exploration, while Space Force aims to protect and defend US interests in space.
- SpaceX relies on innovation and cost-effective technologies to compete in the commercial space industry, while Space Force operates under government funding and oversight.
SpaceX vs Space Force
SpaceX is a communication company owned by Elon Musk. SpaceX manufactures three heavy launch vehicles. Ninety million US dollars were spent on manufacturing the first launch vehicle. Space forces are the armed forces which carry out military operations in the US. Funds are provided to the space force by the government.
SpaceX is a private aerospace and communication company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk. The company’s headquarter is situated in Hawthorne, California, United States.
Space Exploration and Technologies Corp. are brands named SpaceX, which was founded to colonise Mars with reduced transportation costs. Its manufacturing facility manufactures heavy launch vehicles like Falcon 9, some of the rocket engines, etc.
The Space Force is the military service branch of the respective nations’ armed forces, hence not an independent industry. The Space Force is founded to ease out the process of outer space military operations and space warfare.
It can be combined with air forces, such as in many developing countries or independent defence agencies like Indian Defense Space Agency.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | SpaceX | Space Force |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Private aerospace and communication industry | The military branch of armed forces of respective countries. |
| Applications | NASA and Dragon contracts, Commercial launches, global commercial launch provider, starship, Starlink, and first crewed launches. | Many types of satellites, such as earth observation, spy, communication, military. Provide satellite navigation, space tourism, space exploration, etc. |
| Spaceflight types | Orbital | Sub-orbital, Orbital, Interplanetary, Interstellar, Intergalactic. |
| Spacecrafts | Three launch vehicles Falcon1, Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, autonomous spaceport drone ships, Dragon spacecraft, starship | Robotic spacecraft including satellite, space probe, and cargo spacecraft. Also, human space flights include space capsules, space stations, spaceplanes. |
| Goal | Colonizing Mars with reduced transportation costs. | Outer space military operations and space warfare. |
What is SpaceX?
SpaceX is a private aerospace and communication company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk. The company’s headquarter is situated in Hawthorne, California, United States.
Space Exploration and Technologies Corp. are a brand named SpaceX. It was founded to achieve the goal of colonizing Mars with reduced transportation costs.
Its manufacturing facility manufactures heavy launch vehicles like Falcon 9, some rocket engines, Cargo Dragon, crew spacecraft, and Starlink communication satellites for space communication.
The first launch vehicle of SpaceX Falcon 1 was an expandable, small-lift launch vehicle. It was developed under private funding of 90 million Us dollars.
The other Launch vehicle Falcon 5, with an intermediate capacity of Falcon 1, was built in 2005. Also, in 2009, a reusable heavier lift vehicle was built under the name Falcon 9.
The first operational Dragon Spacecraft was launched in 2010 aboard COTS Demo Flight 1. In 2011 it started its Commercial Crew Development ( CCDev ) program. Also, in 2012 tested, reusability test programs were.
After this, it completed many commercial launches and became the leading commercial launch provider globally in 2017. Currently, it is working on Starship, Starlink and first crewed launches.
What is Space Force?
The Space Force is the military service branch of the respective nations’ armed forces, hence not an independent industry. The Space Force is founded to ease out the process of outer space military operations and space warfare.
Russian Space Forces were the first Space Force to be established in the world in 1992 as an independent military service. But it lost its independence after merging with Strategic Rocket Forces from 1997 to 2001 and later into the Russian Air Force in 2015.
The Chinese CPLASSF has many aspects of cyber force but is also considered as a Space Force in some situations. The newly established United States Space Force, founded in 2019, is the only independent Space Force in the world.
Nations with small or developing Space Forces are merging the Space Force unit with the air force unit under a single military branch. The developing space forces such as Russian AeroSpace or Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps AeroSpace Force follow a hybrid of air and space force.
Also, the French Air and Space Force does not identify the space force as independent. In contrast, some countries are putting them as independent defence agencies, such as the Indian Defense Space Agency.
While these Space Forces operate on space commands provided by COMAE of Brazil, NORAD OF Canada and USA, CDE of France, DSA of India, COS of Italy, SOS of Japan, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, CONIDA of Peru, KV of Russia, ADD of South Korea, UKSC of UK and USSPACECOM of USA.
Main Differences Between SpaceX and Space Force
- SpaceX is a type of private aerospace and communication industry, while the Space Force is part of the military branch of the respective countries’ armed forces.
- SpaceX gained success in NASA and Dragon contracts, Commercial launches, global commercial launch provider, starship, Starlink and first, crewed launches. The Space Force has applications in many types of satellites, such as earth observation, spy, communication, and the military. Provide satellite navigation, space tourism, space exploration, etc.
- SpaceX mainly prefers the orbital type of spaceflights, while Space Force launches sub-orbital, interplanetary, interstellar, and intergalactic space flights.
- SpaceX has successful space crafts such as launch vehicles Falcon1, Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, autonomous spaceport drone ships, Dragon spacecraft, and starship. The Space Force has robotic spacecraft, including satellites, space probes, and cargo spacecraft. Also, human space flights include space capsules, space stations, and spaceplanes.
- SpaceX aims to colonise Mars with reduced transportation costs, while Space Force is built for outer space military operations and space warfare.
Last Updated : 27 July, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
