Beyond launch: SpaceX’s expanding role in U.S. defense
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launches the USSF-124 mission for the U.S. Space Force on Feb. 14, 2024. (Image credit: SpaceX via X) By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 16 May 2025 SpaceX’s ascent from commercial launch provider to indispensable national security asset marks one of the most significant shifts