SpaceX announced its Starship megarocket will attempt its first-ever orbital launch on Sept 28, a pivotal milestone in the development of the giant reusable launch vehicle that, if successful, will open a new chapter in commercial crewed deep-space exploration.
Core Summary NASA announced on September 18 a contract modification worth nearly $950 million with SpaceX, adding three additional Crew Dragon flights to the International Space Station. The supplemental award further reinforces SpaceX’s position as the core contractor within NASA’s commercial crew program and has triggered a fresh round of discussion about single-vendor dependence. Event Details According to CNBC, the contract modification, valued at approximately $950 million, is part of an extension of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP). The three newly added missions are intended to support ISS crew rotations and scientific research, with launch timing to be determined based on NASA’s overall mission schedule and station operational needs. ...
Spaceflight Now reported on September 13 that SpaceX completed the 700th launch of its Falcon rocket family in the early hours of the day from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, sending the final three O3b mPOWER medium-Earth-orbit satellites for Luxembourg-based operator SES into orbit, formally closing out the multi-year medium-Earth-orbit satellite internet upgrade program. The Falcon family has crossed from maiden flight to 700 missions in just over a decade, averaging more than 60 launches per year and becoming the most frequently launched and most reusable rocket series in commercial spaceflight. The success not only cements SpaceX’s lead in the reusable launch and commercial launch services markets, but also gives SES a fully upgraded capability to deliver differentiated services to government, maritime, aviation and telecom operator customers around the world.
SpaceX shares unlocked on August 6, with early employees planning to cash out. Some engineers who joined in 2009 could see massive windfalls worth tens of millions of dollars.
Prominent investment firm Ark Invest increased its holdings in Circle and SpaceX following Q2 earnings, demonstrating continued optimism about crypto finance and the space industry.
SpaceX Stock Hits New All-Time Low as AI Capex Jumps in Q2 SpaceX’s stock price has plummeted to a record low following the release of its first quarterly earnings report, which revealed massive capital expenditure plans for artificial intelligence infrastructure. The sharp decline reflects growing investor concern over the company’s aggressive AI spending strategy and its potential impact on profitability. The aerospace and electric vehicle conglomerate reported that AI-related capital expenditures surged dramatically in the second quarter, as CEO Elon Musk pushes to integrate advanced AI capabilities across Tesla’s autonomous driving systems, SpaceX’s satellite operations, and xAI’s language models. Musk told investors that people were “underestimating” his company’s AI ambitions. ...
SpaceX Posts First Earnings: Q2 Revenue Surges 92%, Bitcoin Holdings Lose $540M [Core Summary] Elon Musk’s SpaceX released its first quarterly earnings report since going public on August 4, showing a 92% year-over-year revenue surge in Q2 that exceeded Wall Street expectations. However, the company posted a $540 million unrealized loss on its Bitcoin holdings due to price volatility, highlighting the double-edged sword of crypto assets on corporate balance sheets. The report comes ahead of a major insider share unlock. ...
SpaceX’s Starship completed its 13th test flight, achieving what the company called the ‘softest splashdown ever,’ marking a major breakthrough in reusable rocket technology.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket completed its 36th flight, setting a new reuse record, while its Starlink satellite internet business reached a new development milestone.
Core Summary A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster has successfully completed its 36th launch and landing recovery, setting a new world record for the number of flights by a reusable orbital-class rocket. This milestone achievement further demonstrates the maturity and commercial viability of rocket reuse technology, laying a solid foundation for dramatically reducing space transportation costs and accelerating humanity’s space exploration progress. Event Details According to Space news, the Falcon 9 booster designated B1081 successfully delivered its payload to the intended orbit in the latest mission, then precisely landed on the droneship in the Atlantic Ocean, completing its historic 36th flight. The booster has previously executed multiple Starlink satellite deployment missions. ...