SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation) is an American aerospace manufacturer and satellite communications company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was established in 2002 by Elon Musk with the aim of making space transportation more affordable to facilitate Mars colonization.
The company produces various launch vehicles such as Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship, as well as multiple rocket engines, spacecraft like Cargo Dragon and Crew Dragon, and Starlink communications satellites.
According to reports, SpaceX acquired Pioneer Aerospace for $2.2 million USD. This deal comes after Pioneer Aerospace Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month. The acquisition will prevent Pioneer from becoming obsolete and foster improvements in manufacturing parachutes designed to survive orbital velocity speeds.
Pioneer Aerospace Corporation is one of the largest aerodynamic deceleration manufacturers in the world. Founded in 1938, Pioneer’s headquarters and distribution centers are located in Columbia, Mississippi, and Bloomfield, Connecticut. The company has designed and manufactured parachutes and parafoils used by the military, NASA, and Leisure. It also provides the drogue parachutes for SpaceX’s Dragon capsules.
