Key Takeaways SpaceX has gained FAA approval for its ninth Starship test flight, following a detailed safety review of the prior flight. The FAA asserted that SpaceX has addressed previous mishap causes, allowing for a return to flight. The eighth test featured a successful stage separation but ended with the Starship breaking up in the…
Key Takeaways SpaceX’s Starbase is now officially a city in Texas, named Starbase, TX, to support the Starship program. Starbase City covers 1.5 square miles, including SpaceX’s launch site, with a governance structure dominated by SpaceX employees. Starship Flight 9 is scheduled for May 27, 2025, as SpaceX continues to advance its ambitious space endeavors…
Key Takeaways SpaceX is promoting its Starlink satellite constellation as a potential alternative to GPS. The company highlighted the potential for Starlink to provide Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) solutions alongside broadband services. In a letter to the FCC, SpaceX emphasized the importance of quickly deploying low-Earth orbit satellite constellations for advanced PNT services. SpaceX…
Key Takeaways SpaceX has received FAA approval to launch Starship rockets up to 25 times a year from its Starbase location in Texas. The FAA’s approval is part of a broader license review process, pending additional evaluations in several areas including safety and environmental impact. The final environmental assessment claims that increased launch activities will…
Key Takeaways Starbase has officially become a city, approved by a vote of 212 to 6, primarily consisting of SpaceX employees. Starbase City seeks to increase its SpaceX launches from five to 25 annually to streamline missions to Mars. Led by Mayor Bobby Peden, the city governance includes officials with strong SpaceX affiliations. Starbase has…
Key Takeaways Alphabet’s Q1 profits surged by $8 billion due to its early investment in SpaceX. Alphabet’s net income jumped by 46%, reaching $34.54 billion, thanks to advertising and SpaceX’s success. SpaceX has grown to a valuation of approximately $350 billion, making it a top private company globally. SpaceX benefits from NASA contracts and its…
Key Takeaways SpaceX is proposing to build key components for Trump’s Golden Dome, also known as the Iron Dome, aimed at creating a missile defense shield for the U.S. SpaceX is collaborating with Palantir and Anduril on this project, planning to deploy a vast network of satellites for missile detection and threat neutralization. The proposal…
Key Takeaways SpaceX is ready to bring home astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams after a nine-month stay on the ISS. The planned return is set for Tuesday, March 18, when the Dragon capsule will undock and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere 17 hours later. Splashdown is expected to occur off the Florida coast, concluding a mission…
Key Takeaways Musk plans to send Starship to Mars by the end of 2026 with Tesla’s Optimus robot on board. Optimus will be part of the first uncrewed mission, potentially paving the way for human landings by 2029 or 2031. Musk’s historical projections have been ambitious, originally setting a target for a crewed Mars mission…
Key Takeaways SpaceX is preparing to launch the Crew-10 mission to bring home U.S. astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been on the ISS for nine months. NASA and SpaceX are collaborating to ensure the successful return of the astronauts, with ideal weather conditions expected for the evening launch from the Kennedy Space…