SpaceX is a private space exploration company founded by Elon Musk in 2002 with the goal of revolutionizing space travel and eventually making life multi-planetary. In the 20 years since its founding, SpaceX has emerged as the biggest competitor of NASA, the United States government's space agency. There are several factors that have contributed to SpaceX's rise to prominence.

Firstly, SpaceX has been able to achieve a number of impressive milestones in a relatively short amount of time. In 2012, the company became the first privately-funded organization to send a spacecraft, the Dragon, to the International Space Station (ISS). Since then, SpaceX has launched numerous missions to the ISS, successfully delivering supplies and conducting research on behalf of NASA.

Secondly, SpaceX has been able to significantly reduce the cost of spaceflight, making it more accessible to both public and private entities. The company has developed reusable rockets, such as the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, which can be flown multiple times, dramatically reducing the cost of launches. This has enabled SpaceX to win contracts from both NASA and private companies, and has helped to drive innovation and competition in the space industry.

Thirdly, SpaceX has a bold and ambitious vision for the future of space exploration, which has captured the imagination of many people around the world. The company has set its sights on colonizing Mars, and has developed a spacecraft, the Starship, which it hopes will eventually transport humans to the red planet.

Finally, SpaceX is led by Elon Musk, a charismatic and visionary entrepreneur who has a track record of disrupting industries and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Musk's leadership and public profile have helped to raise the profile of SpaceX and attract top talent to the company.

While SpaceX has emerged as a major competitor to NASA, the two organizations also have a close and collaborative relationship. SpaceX has worked closely with NASA on numerous missions, and has received funding and support from the agency to help develop its technology. NASA has also contracted SpaceX to provide transportation services to the ISS, and the two organizations are working together on the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the moon by 2024.