SpaceX aims to launch two NASA astronauts to space in the company's Crew Dragon capsule on Wednesday, marking the first crewed mission in SpaceX history and the first launch of NASA astronauts from the U.S. since 2011. The launch is a historic moment in the future of the U.S. space program and for SpaceX. Already, however, SpaceX has vastly exceeded any expectations Elon Musk had when he founded the aerospace company 18 years ago. "I always thought we would fail," Musk said of founding SpaceX during a press conference with NASA in March 2019 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. "So, this is … it's all upside." At the time, SpaceX had just successfully test-launched the Crew Dragon spacecraft, which it designed and built, on the Falcon 9 rocket at Kennedy Space Center. Crew Dragon flew unmanned to deliver 400 pounds of supplies to the International Space Station.

And to hear Musk tell it, all of SpaceX's success is the result of a tremendous gamble. "I thought maybe we had a 10% chance of reaching orbit starting out," he said. Those around Musk were skeptical too. "When we started SpaceX, they said, 'Oh, you are going to fail.' And I said, 'Well, I agree. I think we probably will fail,'" Musk said. "They said I would … lose all the money from PayPal, I was, like, 'Well, you are probably right,'" Musk said. But "was worth trying anyway," said Musk.