SPACE INDEX COMPANIES INSIGHTS SECTORS PRODUCTS NEWS BLOG ANSWERS RESEARCH ABOUT FOR COMPANIES BUILD / 2026.06.03
European Space Agency logo European Space Agency Intergovernmental agency coordinating European space programs across science, Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications, and human spaceflight vs SpaceX SpaceX logo
HEAD-TO-HEAD2 shared sectors
European Space Agency SpaceX
Founded 1975 2002
Headquarters Paris, France Hawthorne, California, USA
Type government private
Status operating operating
Employees 3,739 10,493
Total funding $1.3B
Latest round Secondary Market
Sectors Planetary Exploration, Earth Observation & Remote Sensing, Launch Services, Navigation & Positioning, Satellite Communications Launch Services, Satellite Communications, Satellite Manufacturing
Products listed 8 9
Federal contracts 20 ($4.90B)
Launches 810 (83%)
Leaders listed Josef Aschbacher, Dietmar Pilz, Toni Tolker-Nielsen Elon Musk, Gwynne Shotwell, Bret Johnsen
News mentions 14 28
SHARED SECTORS
FREQUENTLY ASKED

How do European Space Agency and SpaceX compare?

Both companies work in Launch Services, Satellite Communications. European Space Agency was founded in 1975 and SpaceX in 2002.

Which is larger, European Space Agency or SpaceX?

SpaceX reports the larger workforce, with 10,493 employees versus 3,739.

Which has more US federal contracts, European Space Agency or SpaceX?

SpaceX has been awarded more, with $4.90B across 20 awards.

Which has more launches, European Space Agency or SpaceX?

SpaceX leads with 810 tracked launches (83% success rate).

Numbers refresh on every render against the live Space Index database. Federal contract data from USAspending.gov; launches from LaunchLibrary2.