The Evolution of SpaceX and Tesla: Seven Years After Falcon Heavy’s Historic Launch
Back in February 2018, when Falcon Heavy took off with Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster as its payload, both SpaceX and Tesla were in very different places. At that time, there were doubts about the feasibility of Falcon Heavy, while Tesla was struggling with Model 3 production challenges.
Tesla’s market capitalization was around $55-60 billion, a figure that critics believed was already too high. On the other hand, SpaceX was known for taking risks that traditional aerospace companies avoided, establishing itself as an aggressive private launch provider.
The launch of the Roadster was a bold move. Falcon Heavy’s maiden mission did not carry a paying payload or a government satellite; instead, it sent a car drifting in space with David Bowie’s music playing in the background. While some viewed it as a mere stunt, for Elon Musk and the SpaceX team, it was a declaration that certain things should simply inspire people.
And inspire it did. Fast forward seven years, and the results speak for themselves for both SpaceX and Tesla.
Today, Tesla has become the most valuable automaker globally, with a market capitalization of approximately $1.54 trillion. The Model Y has achieved the status of the best-selling car in the world by volume for three consecutive years, a feat unimaginable in 2018. Tesla has also made significant advancements in autonomy, enabling its vehicles to navigate complex real-world environments using vision alone.
Additionally, there is Optimus, originally a man in a suit that has now evolved into a humanoid robot program envisioned by Musk as potential Von Neumann machines. These systems could have the capability to build civilizations beyond Earth, marking Tesla’s expansion beyond being just a car company into the realms of AI, robotics, and manufacturing.
SpaceX’s journey has been equally remarkable.
The Falcon 9 has emerged as the go-to workhorse in the global launch industry, completing over 600 missions to date. SpaceX has successfully landed a Falcon booster more than 560 times, with the Falcon 9 launching more frequently than all other active launch vehicles combined, often taking off multiple times per week.
The Falcon 9 has transported astronauts to and from the International Space Station using Crew Dragon, restoring U.S. human spaceflight capabilities. SpaceX’s Starlink, once a controversial concept, now dominates the satellite communications industry, offering broadband connectivity worldwide and revolutionizing space-based networks deployment.
Following its merger with xAI, SpaceX is now valued at around $1.25 trillion and is anticipated to pursue what could potentially be the largest IPO in history.
And then there is Starship, Musk’s fully reusable launch system designed not only to reach orbit but to facilitate human multiplanetary exploration. What was once an aspirational idea in 2018 is now actively being developed, flight-tested in public view, and integral to NASA’s upcoming lunar missions.
Looking back, Falcon Heavy’s historic launch with Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster was never solely about a car in space. It was a signal that SpaceX and Tesla were ready to think bigger, move faster, and embrace risks that others wouldn’t.
The Roadster continues to orbit the Sun. Seven years later, the question is not “Will this work?” but rather “How far can this go?”