The Times of India

In 2001, Elon Musk tried purchasing Russian rockets, but the failed deal led to SpaceX

Elon Musk's 2001 trip to Russia to buy used rockets for SpaceX failed, prompting him to build his own. This pivotal moment, before SpaceX's official founding, shifted his strategy from acquisition to in-house manufacturing. The initial setback ultimately led to SpaceX's revolutionary approach to cost-effective spaceflight and its current industry leadership.