SpaceX

SpaceX is Elon Musk's aerospace technology company. It progresses pretty much as one would expect from the cheap seats in 2021, but of course I have taken various liberties with the storyline...and hope Mr. Musk doesn't care too much what a low-ranked writer has to say about him, particularly since it's almost all positive as hell. I mean, I'd go to work for SpaceX if I weren't damn near retirement age.

SpaceX does go on to colonize Mars. Musk chooses a site at Terra Meridiani, which is right on the Martian equator, and seems to be in an area where there is plentiful ground water. He is on the ground there by about 2030. Of course, the US Space Force is developing starships by then (the first ones will be commissioned in 2033); but he doesn't care. He set his sights on Mars and that's where he's going. Which is not a bad thing, because the only human-habitable planet that will be discovered before about 2050 will be Sanddoom (al-Saḥra'), and frankly, population pressure on Earth sort of dictates that people have somewhere to pioneer.

SpaceX remains a player throughout the series, generally building the smaller spaceframes (merchant ships, shuttles, gigs, runabouts, etc.) BaeNorGrumLockMart isn't interested in producing. They also have a sideline building contragravity ambulances and other flying first responder vehicles.

SpaceX is also involved in creating and maintaining the warp message relay system, which it owns 49/51 with the Wolff-Von Barronov Corporation.