News & Updates
The latest news and updates from companies in the WLTH portfolio.
SpaceX's post-IPO swoon is typical
After the June 11 market close, Elon Musk took his Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (otherwise known as SpaceX) public. Price: $135 a share. Result: The company raised some $75 billion before expenses. The next day, when the shares could be traded, the shares reached $176.52, then dropped to $160.95. Still, it was good day: The shares were up 19.2%. The following Monday, on June 15, SpaceX (SPCX) jumped 19.6% to $192.50. The following day, the shares rose another 4.8% to $201.80, achieving a market capitalization of $2.64 trillion. But few realized SpaceX's big opening run had ended. The June 16 high was $225.64, and that's been the peak for the stock. So far. SpaceX shares swoon SpaceX has mostly been sliding ever since because many investors (or traders) saw the peak and sold, happy to let others take over the risk with a company long on a huge idea but still developing the guts of the venture. On July 16, the stock finished at $131.11, down 3.1% on the day. And that's just the start. * SpaceX has fallen for five straight days. * It's down nearly 41% from its June 16 high. * And it's down 2% below that June 11 IPO price - and down 41% from the June 16 high. * There are some 180 million shares sold short, according to charting site TradingView.com. Meaning many traders believe the decline has more to run. So they're selling shares, hoping to buy them back at a lower price generating nice profits. SpaceX has big dreams and Elon Musk As a business, SpaceX isn't through. Elon Musk is bright, resourceful, driven, fantastically ambitious and well-connected. He has a vast number of fans, admirers and supporters who believe he's a genius visionary who will achieve his dream of populating the moon and beyond. The mission statement in the company's prospectus clearly articulates the audacious dream that powers Musk and his company: "Our mission is to build the systems and technologies necessary to make life multiplanetary, to understand the true nature of the universe, and to extend the light of consciousness to the stars." So that means hardware (chips, computers and space ship), software (lots of artificial intelligence) and intense development testing. The first goal - to colonize the moon - may take some years (and billions of dollars of SpaceX equipment. And years (and more money) after that to get to, say, Mars. And it didn't seem to help matters that SpaceX followed up with a controversial $20 billion bond offering to finance artificial intelligence development in its XAI group. AI, as we all know, sucks up billions of dollars of investment capital, with uncertain profitability. All IPOs suffer growing pains In the meantime, stocks are stocks, and initial public offerings are IPOs. Rarely after a company goes public does the share price rise consistently. And SpaceX right now is behaving like a lot of companies that have gone public. As a comparison, Meta Platforms went public (as Facebook) at $38 a share in May 2012. It promptly slumped, reaching a low of $17.55 in September 2012, according to Yahoo Finance data. The stock didn't close above $38 until Aug. 2, 2013. Fast forward to July 16, 2026. Meta, which has never split its stock, closed at $664.54. Which means if you bought 100 Meta shares at the 2012 IPO price and held on, your stake has jumped in value from $3,800 to $66,454. You would have more if you bought Meta in September 2012 when the shares dropped below $18. And still more if you reinvested dividends since they were initiated in 2024. Musk himself knows about market volatility thanks to Tesla, the electric vehicle company he joined in 2004 and soon took over. The company has evolved into a global brand that faces intense competition, especially from China. In late 2024, Tesla jumped nearly 190%, peaking at $479.86. It then fell 55% over the next five months. The shares recovered those losses by December 2025. IPOs, in fact, have a tough history. Small IPOs generally are no longer public within five years, according to a 2016 study published in the Harvard Business Law Review. A large IPO (which SpaceX unquestionably is) can weather a lot, but the first few years may be a struggle. An April 2026 study by ASB Growth Ventures showed that nearly 70% of newly listed companies underperform their benchmark indices within three years of listing. More SpaceX Big dreams require big patience So the performance of SpaceX's shares may be more volatile, but, given Musk's global celebrity, understandable. If Musk and his team can get their prime product, the Starship reusable rocket, to work safely and efficiently, the very patient investor may get rewarded. These include the biggest investment and money managers, many of whom put up seed capital for SpaceX 10-to-15 years ago. Already, many have reaped huge gains from the IPO, according to a June 12 Inc. magazine report. Peter Thiel's Founders Fund invested $600 million in SpaceX. The stake may be worth $20 billion. Baron Capital's $2-billion stake may be worth up to $12 billion. (If the firm has elected not to sell any of its holdings.) So far, one is not hearing sounds of panic. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc. This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 9:03 AM.
SpaceX's post-IPO swoon is typical
After the June 11 market close, Elon Musk took his Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (otherwise known as SpaceX) public. Price: $135 a share. Result: The company raised some $75 billion before expenses. The next day, when the shares could be traded, the shares reached $176.52, then dropped to $160.95. Still, it was good day: The shares were up 19.2%. The following Monday, on June 15, SpaceX (SPCX) jumped 19.6% to $192.50. The following day, the shares rose another 4.8% to $201.80, achieving a market capitalization of $2.64 trillion. But few realized SpaceX's big opening run had ended. The June 16 high was $225.64, and that's been the peak for the stock. So far. SpaceX shares swoon SpaceX has mostly been sliding ever since because many investors (or traders) saw the peak and sold, happy to let others take over the risk with a company long on a huge idea but still developing the guts of the venture. On July 16, the stock finished at $131.11, down 3.1% on the day. And that's just the start. * SpaceX has fallen for five straight days. * It's down nearly 41% from its June 16 high. * And it's down 2% below that June 11 IPO price - and down 41% from the June 16 high. * There are some 180 million shares sold short, according to charting site TradingView.com. Meaning many traders believe the decline has more to run. So they're selling shares, hoping to buy them back at a lower price generating nice profits. SpaceX has big dreams and Elon Musk As a business, SpaceX isn't through. Elon Musk is bright, resourceful, driven, fantastically ambitious and well-connected. He has a vast number of fans, admirers and supporters who believe he's a genius visionary who will achieve his dream of populating the moon and beyond. The mission statement in the company's prospectus clearly articulates the audacious dream that powers Musk and his company: "Our mission is to build the systems and technologies necessary to make life multiplanetary, to understand the true nature of the universe, and to extend the light of consciousness to the stars." So that means hardware (chips, computers and space ship), software (lots of artificial intelligence) and intense development testing. The first goal - to colonize the moon - may take some years (and billions of dollars of SpaceX equipment. And years (and more money) after that to get to, say, Mars. And it didn't seem to help matters that SpaceX followed up with a controversial $20 billion bond offering to finance artificial intelligence development in its XAI group. AI, as we all know, sucks up billions of dollars of investment capital, with uncertain profitability. All IPOs suffer growing pains In the meantime, stocks are stocks, and initial public offerings are IPOs. Rarely after a company goes public does the share price rise consistently. And SpaceX right now is behaving like a lot of companies that have gone public. As a comparison, Meta Platforms went public (as Facebook) at $38 a share in May 2012. It promptly slumped, reaching a low of $17.55 in September 2012, according to Yahoo Finance data. The stock didn't close above $38 until Aug. 2, 2013. Fast forward to July 16, 2026. Meta, which has never split its stock, closed at $664.54. Which means if you bought 100 Meta shares at the 2012 IPO price and held on, your stake has jumped in value from $3,800 to $66,454. You would have more if you bought Meta in September 2012 when the shares dropped below $18. And still more if you reinvested dividends since they were initiated in 2024. Musk himself knows about market volatility thanks to Tesla, the electric vehicle company he joined in 2004 and soon took over. The company has evolved into a global brand that faces intense competition, especially from China. In late 2024, Tesla jumped nearly 190%, peaking at $479.86. It then fell 55% over the next five months. The shares recovered those losses by December 2025. IPOs, in fact, have a tough history. Small IPOs generally are no longer public within five years, according to a 2016 study published in the Harvard Business Law Review. A large IPO (which SpaceX unquestionably is) can weather a lot, but the first few years may be a struggle. An April 2026 study by ASB Growth Ventures showed that nearly 70% of newly listed companies underperform their benchmark indices within three years of listing. More SpaceX Big dreams require big patience So the performance of SpaceX's shares may be more volatile, but, given Musk's global celebrity, understandable. If Musk and his team can get their prime product, the Starship reusable rocket, to work safely and efficiently, the very patient investor may get rewarded. These include the biggest investment and money managers, many of whom put up seed capital for SpaceX 10-to-15 years ago. Already, many have reaped huge gains from the IPO, according to a June 12 Inc. magazine report. Peter Thiel's Founders Fund invested $600 million in SpaceX. The stake may be worth $20 billion. Baron Capital's $2-billion stake may be worth up to $12 billion. (If the firm has elected not to sell any of its holdings.) So far, one is not hearing sounds of panic. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc. This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 8:03 AM.
SpaceX's post-IPO swoon is typical
After the June 11 market close, Elon Musk took his Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (otherwise known as SpaceX) public. Price: $135 a share. Result: The company raised some $75 billion before expenses. The next day, when the shares could be traded, the shares reached $176.52, then dropped to $160.95. Still, it was good day: The shares were up 19.2%. The following Monday, on June 15, SpaceX (SPCX) jumped 19.6% to $192.50. The following day, the shares rose another 4.8% to $201.80, achieving a market capitalization of $2.64 trillion. But few realized SpaceX's big opening run had ended. The June 16 high was $225.64, and that's been the peak for the stock. So far. SpaceX shares swoon SpaceX has mostly been sliding ever since because many investors (or traders) saw the peak and sold, happy to let others take over the risk with a company long on a huge idea but still developing the guts of the venture. On July 16, the stock finished at $131.11, down 3.1% on the day. And that's just the start. * SpaceX has fallen for five straight days. * It's down nearly 41% from its June 16 high. * And it's down 2% below that June 11 IPO price - and down 41% from the June 16 high. * There are some 180 million shares sold short, according to charting site TradingView.com. Meaning many traders believe the decline has more to run. So they're selling shares, hoping to buy them back at a lower price generating nice profits. SpaceX has big dreams and Elon Musk As a business, SpaceX isn't through. Elon Musk is bright, resourceful, driven, fantastically ambitious and well-connected. He has a vast number of fans, admirers and supporters who believe he's a genius visionary who will achieve his dream of populating the moon and beyond. The mission statement in the company's prospectus clearly articulates the audacious dream that powers Musk and his company: "Our mission is to build the systems and technologies necessary to make life multiplanetary, to understand the true nature of the universe, and to extend the light of consciousness to the stars." So that means hardware (chips, computers and space ship), software (lots of artificial intelligence) and intense development testing. The first goal - to colonize the moon - may take some years (and billions of dollars of SpaceX equipment. And years (and more money) after that to get to, say, Mars. And it didn't seem to help matters that SpaceX followed up with a controversial $20 billion bond offering to finance artificial intelligence development in its XAI group. AI, as we all know, sucks up billions of dollars of investment capital, with uncertain profitability. All IPOs suffer growing pains In the meantime, stocks are stocks, and initial public offerings are IPOs. Rarely after a company goes public does the share price rise consistently. And SpaceX right now is behaving like a lot of companies that have gone public. As a comparison, Meta Platforms went public (as Facebook) at $38 a share in May 2012. It promptly slumped, reaching a low of $17.55 in September 2012, according to Yahoo Finance data. The stock didn't close above $38 until Aug. 2, 2013. Fast forward to July 16, 2026. Meta, which has never split its stock, closed at $664.54. Which means if you bought 100 Meta shares at the 2012 IPO price and held on, your stake has jumped in value from $3,800 to $66,454. You would have more if you bought Meta in September 2012 when the shares dropped below $18. And still more if you reinvested dividends since they were initiated in 2024. Musk himself knows about market volatility thanks to Tesla, the electric vehicle company he joined in 2004 and soon took over. The company has evolved into a global brand that faces intense competition, especially from China. In late 2024, Tesla jumped nearly 190%, peaking at $479.86. It then fell 55% over the next five months. The shares recovered those losses by December 2025. IPOs, in fact, have a tough history. Small IPOs generally are no longer public within five years, according to a 2016 study published in the Harvard Business Law Review. A large IPO (which SpaceX unquestionably is) can weather a lot, but the first few years may be a struggle. An April 2026 study by ASB Growth Ventures showed that nearly 70% of newly listed companies underperform their benchmark indices within three years of listing. More SpaceX Big dreams require big patience So the performance of SpaceX's shares may be more volatile, but, given Musk's global celebrity, understandable. If Musk and his team can get their prime product, the Starship reusable rocket, to work safely and efficiently, the very patient investor may get rewarded. These include the biggest investment and money managers, many of whom put up seed capital for SpaceX 10-to-15 years ago. Already, many have reaped huge gains from the IPO, according to a June 12 Inc. magazine report. Peter Thiel's Founders Fund invested $600 million in SpaceX. The stake may be worth $20 billion. Baron Capital's $2-billion stake may be worth up to $12 billion. (If the firm has elected not to sell any of its holdings.) So far, one is not hearing sounds of panic. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc. This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 8:03 AM.
There is an untold story behind SpaceX's post-IPO swoon
After the June 11 market close, Elon Musk took his Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (otherwise known as SpaceX) public. Price: $135 a share. Result: The company raised some $75 billion before expenses. The next day, when the shares could be traded, the shares reached $176.52, then dropped to $160.95. Still, it was good day: The shares were up 19.2%. The following Monday, on June 15, SpaceX (SPCX) jumped 19.6% to $192.50. The following day, the shares rose another 4.8% to $201.80, achieving a market capitalization of $2.64 trillion. But few realized SpaceX's big opening run had ended. The June 16 high was $225.64, and that's been the peak for the stock. So far. SpaceX shares swoon SpaceX has mostly been sliding ever since because many investors (or traders) saw the peak and sold, happy to let others take over the risk with a company long on a huge idea but still developing the guts of the venture. On July 16, the stock finished at $131.11, down 3.1% on the day. And that's just the start. * SpaceX has fallen for five straight days. * It's down nearly 41% from its June 16 high. * And it's down 2% below that June 11 IPO price -- and down 41% from the June 16 high. * There are some 180 million shares sold short, according to charting site TradingView.com. Meaning many traders believe the decline has more to run. So they're selling shares, hoping to buy them back at a lower price generating nice profits. SpaceX has big dreams and Elon Musk As a business, SpaceX isn't through. Elon Musk is bright, resourceful, driven, fantastically ambitious and well-connected. He has a vast number of fans, admirers and supporters who believe he's a genius visionary who will achieve his dream of populating the moon and beyond. The mission statement in the company's prospectus clearly articulates the audacious dream that powers Musk and his company: "Our mission is to build the systems and technologies necessary to make life multiplanetary, to understand the true nature of the universe, and to extend the light of consciousness to the stars." So that means hardware (chips, computers and space ship), software (lots of artificial intelligence) and intense development testing. The first goal -- to colonize the moon -- may take some years (and billions of dollars of SpaceX equipment. And years (and more money) after that to get to, say, Mars. And it didn't seem to help matters that SpaceX followed up with a controversial $20 billion bond offering to finance artificial intelligence development in its XAI group. AI, as we all know, sucks up billions of dollars of investment capital, with uncertain profitability. All IPOs suffer growing pains In the meantime, stocks are stocks, and initial public offerings are IPOs. Rarely after a company goes public does the share price rise consistently. And SpaceX right now is behaving like a lot of companies that have gone public. As a comparison, Meta Platforms went public (as Facebook) at $38 a share in May 2012. It promptly slumped, reaching a low of $17.55 in September 2012, according to Yahoo Finance data. The stock didn't close above $38 until Aug. 2, 2013. Fast forward to July 16, 2026. Meta, which has never split its stock, closed at $664.54. Which means if you bought 100 Meta shares at the 2012 IPO price and held on, your stake has jumped in value from $3,800 to $66,454. You would have more if you bought Meta in September 2012 when the shares dropped below $18. And still more if you reinvested dividends since they were initiated in 2024. Musk himself knows about market volatility thanks to Tesla, the electric vehicle company he joined in 2004 and soon took over. The company has evolved into a global brand that faces intense competition, especially from China. In late 2024, Tesla jumped nearly 190%, peaking at $479.86. It then fell 55% over the next five months. The shares recovered those losses by December 2025. IPOs, in fact, have a tough history. Small IPOs generally are no longer public within five years, according to a 2016 study published in the Harvard Business Law Review. A large IPO (which SpaceX unquestionably is) can weather a lot, but the first few years may be a struggle. An April 2026 study by ASB Growth Ventures showed that nearly 70% of newly listed companies underperform their benchmark indices within three years of listing. More SpaceX Big dreams require big patience So the performance of SpaceX's shares may be more volatile, but, given Musk's global celebrity, understandable. If Musk and his team can get their prime product, the Starship reusable rocket, to work safely and efficiently, the very patient investor may get rewarded. These include the biggest investment and money managers, many of whom put up seed capital for SpaceX 10-to-15 years ago. Already, many have reaped huge gains from the IPO, according to a June 12 Inc. magazine report. Peter Thiel's Founders Fund invested $600 million in SpaceX. The stake may be worth $20 billion. Baron Capital's $2-billion stake may be worth up to $12 billion. (If the firm has elected not to sell any of its holdings.) So far, one is not hearing sounds of panic.
SpaceX's only problem is finding more space to work with
SpaceX's IPO marks the moment the space dream became a mainstream capital markets story. For decades, it has sold a vision of interplanetary civilization on behalf of the wider space industry. In one sense, not much has changed. That vision remains central to its identity. What has changed is that the market is no longer treating that ambition as distant science fiction. No company raises more than $85 billion on vision alone. SpaceX has reached the public markets as something rarer: a company whose long-term mission is extraordinary, but whose near-term infrastructure is already becoming essential. That belief is not built on hype. It is built on a refusal to accept the old aerospace consensus and the ability to execute a new vision. SpaceX put reusability at the center of launch architecture and forced the rest of the industry to rethink what a rocket company could be. Then it built Starlink, and forced the world to rethink telecommunications too. Now, as it moves into orbital data center, it will need to rethink the orbits at which satellites fly as well. The vast majority of the more than 10,000 satellites in space currently operate in low Earth orbit (LEO), roughly 500 to 700 kilometers above the Earth. That number is set to increase dramatically, with SpaceX applying to put up to 1 million new satellites into space. The reality is that, if orbital data centers are to become viable, we will need to think seriously about operating satellites even lower, in very low Earth orbit, or VLEO, roughly 200 to 300 kilometers above the Earth. That is because LEO is already becoming crowded. In addition to the satellites already in space, tens of thousands of pieces of debris are being tracked in orbit, with millions more fragments too small to track. Starlink satellites executed around 300,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers in 2025, a 50% increase from 2024. If we move from 10,000 satellites to one million in LEO, the number of maneuvers needed to avoid collisions could become extraordinary. That is not an argument for writing off orbital data centers. The investment case is compelling, given the pressure AI is placing on the world's electrical grids. Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, has predicted that AI could account for 99% of total electricity generation, while some estimates suggest annual spending on grids will need to double to $970 billion by 2050. If SpaceX is right that orbital data centers can help solve this problem, it could end up controlling a significant share of global AI infrastructure within five to ten years. SpaceX is also likely to hold that advantage for a long time, given no other company can yet match the scale, complexity and cost profile of its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. However, there has been far less discussion about where these satellites will go, and what happens if they collide with space debris. The Kessler effect, long discussed as a theoretical risk, describes a scenario where one collision creates thousands of pieces of debris, which then cause further collisions and still more debris. In the worst case, this could create an exponential cascade that makes parts of the orbit around Earth virtually unusable. For years, this has felt like a distant problem. But with more satellites being launched every day, governments and industry need to think seriously about how it could become a reality. They need to agree where satellites go, how long they stay there, and how to remove them once they have outlived their usefulness. This is why SpaceX, and the wider space industry, will need to operate satellites in VLEO as well if the orbital data center vision is to become reality. Historically, that has proved almost impossible. Atmospheric drag pulls objects at these altitudes back to Earth within weeks, making it commercially challenging to keep satellites there. But that same drag is also a safety mechanism. It means any debris is cleared from orbit within weeks too. In other words, VLEO is the first "self-cleaning" orbit we can use, and it dramatically reduces long-term collision risk. At NewOrbit, we have developed a unique electric propulsion system that makes it possible for satellites in VLEO to operate not just for a few weeks or months, but for more than five years. That changes the commercial case for VLEO, turning what was once seen as an impractical orbit into one that can support long-duration, high-value space infrastructure. For expensive hardware like orbital data centers, that should not only reduce repair costs over the long term, but also help reduce insurance costs. Much like SpaceX's own mission was once dismissed as a dream, the technology needed to make VLEO viable is advancing fast. In a world where megaconstellations are becoming the norm, VLEO flight will become essential. This orbit does not just reduce collision risk. It can also unlock sharper imagery from smaller, cheaper spacecraft and direct-to-device connectivity that could make phone signals reliable even in remote regions. The SpaceX IPO should therefore be seen as both a milestone and a warning. It proves that space infrastructure has entered mainstream capital markets, but it also raises the possibility that LEO could become a permanently congested operating environment. We need an alternative. That will require regulators, agencies, investors and companies to treat orbital sustainability as a design requirement, not an afterthought. There will need to be different satellites, different orbits and new incentives to encourage lower-altitude operations. SpaceX has shown what happens when a company moves quickly and thinks at enormous scale. But the challenge now is not just to show what can be unlocked by putting more satellites into space. It is to do so in a way that is sustainable and useful for hundreds of years to come. Increasingly, that future will be lower than we think. Anatolii Papulov is the CEO and co-founder of NewOrbit.
SpaceX Buying Tesla at Current Valuations Would Not 'Pass Muster,' Gary Black Says as SPCX Retreats From
Musk Control Does Not Erase Board Duties "Those who think $SPCX will buy $TSLA don't understand the concept of board fiduciary duty," Black wrote on X. Black put Musk's control at 82% of SpaceX's voting power and 42% of its equity. SpaceX's prospectus shows Musk retained overwhelming voting control, including power to elect the board, while public shareholders have limited influence over corporate decisions. "That doesn't magically let the SPCX board off the fiduciary hook," Black said. Dilution Math Undersells A Tesla Takeover His central objection is dilution. SpaceX shares traded near $131 Friday, below their $135 IPO price and far below their post-listing peak. Buying Tesla with stock would require SpaceX to issue substantial new shares, reducing investors' ownership. "At $132 and sinking, SPCX can't just buy TSLA in a 25% dilutive equity deal," Black said. "The math won't pass muster." Wall Street Weighs Merger Logic And Risks Wall Street has examined the idea. Jefferies estimated that a nil-premium transaction could leave Musk with 55.3% voting control while preserving room to offer Tesla shareholders a premium. JPMorgan called a combination "strategically coherent on paper," pointing to integration across artificial intelligence, robotics, energy, transportation and space, while warning of governance, execution and regulatory complications. The debate comes before Tesla reports second-quarter results on July 22. According to Benzinga Pro data, Wall Street expects earnings of 32 cents per share and revenue of $26.02 billion. Tesla has already reported 480,126 vehicle deliveries for the quarter. Price Action: Tesla stock is trading 2.03% lower at $383.30 during pre-market hours on Friday. Benzinga edge rankings indicate TSLA stock as a Momentum score in the 42nd percentile and a Growth score in the 88th percentile. Image via Shutterstock Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.
SpaceX IPO earns millions for US Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler - CNBC TV18
US Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler multiplied the value of her investment in Elon Musk's SpaceX after she was nominated for the job, earning millions of dollars from the company's record initial public offering, a Reuters review of her financial disclosures showed. Loeffler invested between $1 million and $5 million as of January 3, 2025, in xAI, Musk's AI and social media firm that has since merged with SpaceX, according to a required financial disclosure submitted before she became SBA's administrator. Later in 2025, Loeffler invested again in SpaceX and xAI between $1 million and $5 million, according to a separate financial disclosure covering her investments for all of 2025 that she signed on May 14, 2026. Reuters obtained the form from the SBA on June 12. Loeffler's second investment has not been previously reported. Two independent government ethics attorneys agreed with Reuters' assessment of Loeffler's disclosure. Cabinet members use ranges to declare the value of their assets on their required financial disclosure forms, and they do not disclose the dates of their investments before taking office. SpaceX is a military contractor for the U.S. government. Federal law prohibits cabinet members from participating in decisions involving a company in which they have a financial interest. Public records do not show a financial relationship between SBA and xAI or SpaceX. xAI was not included on the public list of AI tools used by SBA employees in 2025. Loeffler and her team did not respond to multiple requests for comment about her SpaceX investment. Loeffler's bet on SpaceX paid off. The company priced the biggest-ever US IPO on June 12, valuing the space, satellite and AI provider at $1.77 trillion. Her first investment in xAI would have been worth between $7 million and $2.6 billion on the day of the IPO, depending on the exact amount she invested and the date she made it, said Franco Granda, analyst at data provider PitchBook. The second investment would have been worth between $2.2 million and $25.4 million that day, he said. The earlier the investment, the more it would have been worth at the IPO, he said. xAI's valuation increased by more than 7,000% between its first investment round and January 5, 2025. SpaceX's valuation more than doubled in 2025. At least 10 Trump administration officials listed investments in SpaceX or xAI on their 2025 financial disclosure forms. None of those officials works for the Defense Department. Billionaire Musk, a former Trump adviser, is the founder and CEO of SpaceX. Loeffler initially invested in xAI via a private placement, according to her disclosure form. Private placements are typically open to select individuals and institutions with significant financial resources. Loeffler is a wealthy businesswoman. She was the founding chief executive at Bakkt, a bitcoin trading platform, and spent 16 years working at Intercontinental Exchange, the firm that owns the New York Stock Exchange, according to her LinkedIn profile. She is married to Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeffrey Sprecher. Loeffler briefly represented Georgia in the Senate. The SBA helps entrepreneurs start and build their small businesses, according to the agency website. It connects business owners with lenders and funding to help them recover from natural disasters, among other responsibilities. The Senate confirmed Loeffler as SBA administrator on February 19, 2025.
SpaceX (SPCX) Faces A New Risk After Iran Named Starlink A Military Target
Never miss an important update on your stock portfolio and cut through the noise. Over 7 million investors trust Simply Wall St to stay informed where it matters for FREE. * Iran has declared Space Exploration Technologies' Starlink infrastructure and its Middle East ground station as military targets. * This move introduces defense-contractor-level risk to SpaceX, extending beyond its traditional commercial space and connectivity profile. * The designation raises questions about insurance coverage, security requirements, and operational continuity for Starlink assets in the region. Space Exploration Technologies, traded as NasdaqGS:SPCX, now sits at the center of a new geopolitical flashpoint that goes beyond launch cadence or satellite deployment metrics. With the stock at $131.11 and shares down 13.8% over the past week and 35.0% over the past month, investors are already contending with sharp short term volatility. The recent returns may prompt readers to reassess how exposure to SPCX fits alongside more traditional aerospace, defense, and communications holdings. This development effectively shifts part of SpaceX's profile toward the type of risk typically associated with critical defense infrastructure. Readers may want to think about whether to classify SPCX closer to a pure commercial growth story or as a hybrid exposure that carries geopolitical and security sensitivities. Future analysis will likely focus less on launch headlines alone and more on how this new risk category filters into insurance costs, capital allocation, and long term resilience of the business model. Stay updated on the most important news stories for Space Exploration Technologies by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Space Exploration Technologies. Is Space Exploration Technologies's balance sheet strong enough for future acquisitions? Dive into our detailed financial health analysis. Quick Assessment * ✅ Price vs Analyst Target: At US$131.11 versus an average analyst target of US$240.29, Space Exploration Technologies trades about 45% below consensus. * ❌ Recent Momentum: The stock has fallen 35.0% over the past 30 days, suggesting sentiment has turned sharply cautious. There's only one way to know the right time to buy, sell or hold Space Exploration Technologies. Head to Simply Wall St's company report for the latest analysis of Space Exploration Technologies's Fair Value.
Starship launch fails to take off as SpaceX stock plunges to new low
SpaceX was forced to abort its latest Starship launch just seconds before lift off on Thursday after some of the engines on the world's biggest rocket failed to start. The scrubbed launch came just hours after SpaceX shares fell below their initial public offering (IPO) price of $135 for the first time, marking a 40 per cent drop in value over the last month. The share price fell a further 6 per cent in pre market trading in the minutes following the Starship launch failure. The IPO on 12 June saw SpaceX founder Elon Musk become the world's first trillionaire, though the latest stock slide has seen his net worth slip to $833 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. SpaceX's valuation is strongly tied to the success of Starship, though it is yet to prove itself to be mission ready. The company is relying on the rocket to fulfill a multi-billion-dollar contract with Nasa to send astronauts to the Moon, as well as to grow its own Starlink internet network, which is SpaceX's largest source of revenue. Thursday's launch attempt from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas was the first to carry a payload of next-generation Starlink V3 satellite, which are twice as big as earlier versions and capable of delivering more than 10 times the capacity. "Starship is planned to deploy 20 satellites which will extend solar arrays and antennas and will attempt to connect with the larger Starlink constellation via high-capacity lasers," SpaceX wrote in its mission brief. "The Starlink satellites will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship and are expected to demise upon reentry approximately 20 minutes after deployment." The most recent Starship launch in May saw the 124-metre-tall rocket lift off successfully, before the second stage deployed dummy versions of the Starlink V3 satellites. During the descent of the first stage, multiple engine failures meant the giant rocket crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, leading the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to order an investigation into public safety. The latest engine failure will require some of the engines on Starship's Super Heavy booster to be replaced, according to Mr Musk. "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort," the SpaceX CEO wrote on X following the failed launch attempt. "To be confident of a good flight, two Raptors will be removed and replaced." SpaceX said the next Starship launch attempt will take place "as early as next week", though no specific date has been set.
Here are Friday's biggest analyst calls: Nvidia, SpaceX, Netflix, Apple, Tesla, Alphabet, 3M, Moody's & more
Here are the biggest calls on Wall Street on Friday: Wells Fargo upgrades SBA Communications to overweight from equal weight Wells says buy the dip in the cellular tower company. "Upgrading SBAC to Overweight; PT to $210 ($220 Prior). Collapsed take-private headlines and a broader towers pullback sent shares sharply lower." Bank of America reiterates Netflix as buy The firm lowered its price target to $105 per share from $125 on Netflix following earnings. "While results were largely in line, they were not strong enough to fundamentally alter the debate. Netflix's decision to move engagement reporting to an annual cadence (from semiannual), coupled with softer-than-expected UCAN revenue appears to be weighing on shares despite continued subscriber growth." William Blair upgrades BJ's Wholesale to outperform from market perform The firm says it sees sales momentum. "We are upgrading BJ's to Outperform as we believe sales continue to build momentum with the potential for significant upside to consensus expectations this year and next on both the top and bottom lines." Jefferies initiates Moody's as buy Jefferies says it sees earnings growth. "We initiate on credit ratings and analytics provider MCO at Buy." Jefferies initiates MSCI as buy Jefferies says the company is a "high-quality compounder." "We initiate on index, data, and analytics provider MSCI at Buy." Bank of America reiterates Nvidia as buy Bank of America says Nvidia remains the most-owned semis stock. "In the S & P 500, NVDA r emains most-owned semi at 77.8% of funds, followed by AVGO at 75.1%; least-owned are SWKS at 3.0%, MCHP/ON at ~5%" Citi names Fox a top pick Citi says the company is a new top idea. "We believe weakness in Fox following the Roku announcement is overdone" Mizuho initiates Zentalis as outperform Mizuho says the biopharma company is at an inflection point. "We initiate ZNTL at Outperform, $8 PT..." BMO initiates Silgan Holdings as outperform BMO says it likes the company's transformation. "Silgan has transformed its business mix with faster-growing, higher-margin dispensing categories, specialty packaging, and pet food. It is no longer just a human food can company." HSBC upgrades Apple to buy from hold HSBC says it sees a "strong cycle ahead." "Apple's strong product pipeline and improved AI capabilities to support hardware revenue growth, we increase 2027e by 7%.We also expect AI applications to boost higher margin Services revenue: we increase 2027 estimates by 5.4%" Read more. Bernstein reiterates SpaceX as outperform Bernstein urged clients to remain calm following the delay of the Starship launch for SpaceX. "We have watched scrubbed launches before, as they are not unusual. Our modeling assumptions have been that Starship launches are on a timeline through 2031 that is slightly more than one year behind our understanding of company plans." JPMorgan upgrades Emerson Electric to overweight from neutral JPMorgan upgraded Emerson ahead of earnings and says investors should buy the dip. "The stock has underperformed the sector by 3% over the last three months, by 14% over the last six months, and by 15% over the last 12 months. We upgrade to OW and are long into the quarter." JPMorgan upgrades Arcos Dorados to overweight from neutral JPMorgan says shares of the fast food LatAm franchisee of McDonald's are compelling. "For Arcos, we see SSS accelerating in Brazil in 2Q following a weak 1Q, with 2H also expected to improve." Stephens initiates Dutch Bros as overweight Stephens called the company a "high growth drive through beverage platform." "We are initiating coverage on Dutch Bros with an Overweight rating and $80 PT." BMO initiates Crown Holdings as outperform BMO says shares are too attractive to ignore. "We see CCK as an attractive beverage can and cash flow story trading at a discounted valuation." JPMorgan upgrades 3M to overweight from neutral The firm upgraded the stock ahead of earnings. "We think 3M can start to turn the dial on positive earnings revisions as growth takes hold, which should support the multiple, with improving trajectory into 2027; we raise our organic growth/EPS outlook in 2026/2027 with further room for upside, raise our PT to $180 (from $178), upgrade to OW and are long into the quarter." Canaccord initiates Jazz Pharmaceuticals as buy Canaccord says it has "greater visibility" for the biopharma giant. "We're initiating coverage of JAZZ with a BUY rating and $290 price target." Bank of America reiterates Tesla as buy Bank of America says it's bullish on Tesla earnings next week. "We think investor focus for TSLA 2Q earnings will remain on its robotaxi deployments, particularly the pace of fleet scaling and new markets." Raymond James upgrades EchoStar to strong buy from market perform Raymond James says shares are compelling. "We upgrade shares of EchoStar to Strong Buy, from Market Perform. We calculate that ECHO is currently trading at a ~40% discount to our full sum-of-the-parts valuation and sitting at its YTD low." Bank of America upgrades ERock to buy from neutral The firm upgraded the power company on valuation. "We upgrade ERock (EROC) to Buy from Neutral and maintain our $16 PO." Bank of America upgrades PPG Industries to buy from neutral Bank of America says it sees organic growth for the specialty chemicals company. "We are upgrading shares of PPG to Buy from Neutral and increasing our PO to $134." Bank of America upgrades Fervo Energy to buy from neutral Bank of America upgraded the geothermal energy company on valuation. "We upgrade Fervo Energy (FRVO) to Buy from Neutral with a revised $36 PO." Oppenheimer upgrades Ecolab to outperform from perform The firm says it sees an attractive entry point. "We're upgrading Ecolab from Perform to Outperform. The primary drivers are: 1) Ecolab's core business performing well across the vast majority of its portfolio, poised to garner volume/pricing growth in excess of expenses. 2) The company's four 'growth engines' are ramping strongly delivering accretive margin contribution." BMO reiterates Alphabet as outperform BMO says Alphabet is the "best way to own AI." "Reiterate Outperform and top pick; raise target price to $455 from $435."
SpaceX Starship launch aborted after multiple engines fail to start
Here's everything to know about the scrub of Starship's 13th flight test, and when it could next get off the ground now. SpaceX was unable to launch its massive Starship rocket on a crucial flight test from South Texas after multiple engines failed to start when liftoff was imminent. The countdown to launch had proceeded as planned throughout much of the day as SpaceX, the commercial spaceflight company founded by tech mogul Elon Musk, worked toward Starship's 13th mission since 2023. But after millions of pounds of propellant were loaded into the world's largest rocket and the engine startup sequence had begun, the system triggered an automatic abort of the launch. The trouble, as Musk revealed on social media soon after, appeared to be multiple engines failing to start. The delay could extend into next week at a time when SpaceX is on the clock to have Starship ready not just for a potential Florida debut in 2026, but for a vital NASA mission in 2027. That mission, known as Artemis III could set the stage for a historic human moon landing the following year. Here's everything to know about the Starship launch abort, and when it could next get off the ground now. Did Starship launch today? Flight 13 scrubbed SpaceX was working toward a Thursday, July 16, launch of its Starship rocket, with a 90-minute launch opening at 6:45 p.m. ET at its Starbase company town and headquarters in Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border. The launch, though, was scrubbed at the last minute. Elon Musk says engine issues triggered last minute auto abort The delay in the launch came after "some of the engines" failed to start on Starship's first stage that provides the initial burst of thrust at liftoff, known as Super Heavy, Musk, SpaceX's chief executive, said in a post on social media site X. The issue triggered an automatic launch abort. Before another launch is attempted, Musk added in a follow-up post that two of the booster's 33 Raptor-class engines will be removed and replaced. When could Starship launch now? SpaceX targets early next week Neither Musk nor SpaceX have announced a new target launch date. In his posts, Musk only alluded to an attempt coming in "a few days," or "early next week." When a launch date is set, a 90-minute launch window will open at 6:45 p.m. ET, SpaceX says on its website. How to watch Starship launch live The launch will be available to stream on SpaceX's website beginning about 30 minutes before liftoff. SpaceX will also provide updates on social media site X. What is Starship? Starship is the massive rocket that SpaceX, the commercial company founded by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, has been testing since April 2023. SpaceX is developing the rocket to be a fully reusable transportation system that can carry huge satellites and other payloads to space, meaning both the rocket and vehicle can return to the ground for additional missions. Musk's vision has long been for Starship to be an interplanetary vehicle that takes humans to Mars, where they can establish a self-sustaining colony. While the world's richest man has indicated that SpaceX will focus on building a lunar city first, the company has already announced a human-led expedition to Mars' orbit - though it has not set a target date. SpaceX is also under contract with NASA to develop a lunar lander configuration of its Starship, known as the Human Landing System, to ferry astronauts to the moon under the U.S. space agency's Artemis program. How tall is Starship? Is it the world's largest rocket? Starship's most recent flight test in May marked the debut of SpaceX's third-generation prototype of the rocket. Standing at 407 feet tall when fully stacked, the new iteration of Starship - known as Version 3, or V3 - became the largest and most powerful rocket SpaceX has ever launched. Similar to previous designs, the fully integrated Starship spacecraft is composed of both a 236-feet-tall lower-stage booster known as Super Heavy, as well as a 171-feet-tall upper stage simply called Starship. What is Starship flight 13? What to expect For the next Starship test flight, SpaceX said it is aiming to complete similar objectives as the last launch in May in which it debuted its Version 3 prototype. SpaceX plans to push the performance of the Super Heavy booster - responsible for the initial burst of thrust at liftoff - before it lands in the Gulf of Mexico, renamed in the U.S. under executive order as the Gulf of America. The upper stage, which is designed to eventually fly in orbit, will also be put to the test as it flies halfway around the world ahead of a landing in the Indian Ocean. In a major first, Starship will be carrying 20 larger versions of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites that it will attempt to deliver into suborbital space. The satellites will deploy solar arrays and antennas while attempeting to connect with SpaceX's larger Starlink constellation higher up in orbit before they fall toward the ground and burn up in the atmosphere about 20 minutes later. If this sounds familiar, that's because SpaceX has deployed mock Starlink satellites during previous Starship flight tests. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]. Subscribe to the free Florida TODAY newsletter.
SpaceX AI Satellites Will Have 250 Kilowatts of Power
GPU average power consumption if it's doing inference over the course of 24 hours is ~2/3 of its peak power, even if you're super efficient. SpaceX AI Sat V1 peak power spec has been raised to ~250kW (battery-assisted), with average power of ~160kW. Will be able to handle an NVL72 Ruben rack. The satellite is designed to handle one full NVL72 Ruben (Rubin/Vera Rubin-era) rack, whose power draw is in the ~190-230+ kW range depending on the exact configuration and power profile (Max Q vs. Max P). 100 kW extra power, at 220 Wh/kg average pack density, ~40% usable DoD for safety/longevity). 10-minute boost (600 s, common short inference spike or thermal buffer): Energy = 100 kW × (10/60) h ≈ 16.7 kWh Battery mass ≈ 16.7 kWh / 0.22 kWh/kg ≈ 75-85 kg (depending on exact DoD and overhead). 30-minute boost (more conservative for sustained high-load periods) Energy ≈ 50 kWh Battery mass ≈ 225-280 kg. 5-minute boost (very short peaks): Energy ≈ 8.3 kWh → ~35-45 kg.
SpaceX Aborts Starship Test
SpaceX has rapidly expanded its satellite internet business and outlined ambitious plans to build artificial intelligence data centres in orbit. SpaceX called off a planned Starship test flight on Thursday just as the rocket's booster began firing, after several engines failed to start. "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort. Now offloading propellant," company chief Elon Musk wrote on X. Musk later said two Raptor engines would be removed and replaced, with another launch attempt most likely early next week. The mission was due to be Starship's 13th test flight. Its objectives largely mirror those of the mostly successful May mission, which marked the debut of the third-generation version of the powerful spacecraft. That flight demonstrated several elements of the updated design but encountered technical problems. Engine issues on the Super Heavy booster forced it to crash into the Gulf of Mexico instead of completing a controlled return. SpaceX said it had since introduced several hardware and software changes to address the problems identified during the previous test. The next mission will seek to complete the launch, ascent, stage separation, boostback manoeuvre and offshore landing burn without complications. Starship's upper stage is expected to deploy 20 Starlink V3 satellites. SpaceX also plans to restart a Raptor engine in space and test upgrades to the spacecraft's heat shield. The flight will be the company's first since SpaceX went public in June through a record initial public offering. Its shares closed at USD 131.11 on Thursday, below the IPO price of USD 135. SpaceX has rapidly expanded its satellite internet business and outlined ambitious plans to build artificial intelligence data centres in orbit. The progress of Starship is also crucial for NASA, which has contracted SpaceX to develop a modified version of the spacecraft as a lunar landing system. | BGNES
SpaceX (SPCX) Faces A New Risk After Iran Named Starlink A Military Target
Never miss an important update on your stock portfolio and cut through the noise. Over 7 million investors trust Simply Wall St to stay informed where it matters for FREE. * Iran has declared Space Exploration Technologies' Starlink infrastructure and its Middle East ground station as military targets. * This move introduces defense-contractor-level risk to SpaceX, extending beyond its traditional commercial space and connectivity profile. * The designation raises questions about insurance coverage, security requirements, and operational continuity for Starlink assets in the region. Space Exploration Technologies, traded as NasdaqGS:SPCX, now sits at the center of a new geopolitical flashpoint that goes beyond launch cadence or satellite deployment metrics. With the stock at $131.11 and shares down 13.8% over the past week and 35.0% over the past month, investors are already contending with sharp short term volatility. The recent returns may prompt readers to reassess how exposure to SPCX fits alongside more traditional aerospace, defense, and communications holdings. This development effectively shifts part of SpaceX's profile toward the type of risk typically associated with critical defense infrastructure. Readers may want to think about whether to classify SPCX closer to a pure commercial growth story or as a hybrid exposure that carries geopolitical and security sensitivities. Future analysis will likely focus less on launch headlines alone and more on how this new risk category filters into insurance costs, capital allocation, and long term resilience of the business model. Stay updated on the most important news stories for Space Exploration Technologies by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Space Exploration Technologies. Is Space Exploration Technologies's balance sheet strong enough for future acquisitions? Dive into our detailed financial health analysis. Quick Assessment * ✅ Price vs Analyst Target: At US$131.11 versus an average analyst target of US$240.29, Space Exploration Technologies trades about 45% below consensus. * ❌ Recent Momentum: The stock has fallen 35.0% over the past 30 days, suggesting sentiment has turned sharply cautious. There's only one way to know the right time to buy, sell or hold Space Exploration Technologies. Head to Simply Wall St's company report for the latest analysis of Space Exploration Technologies's Fair Value.
SpaceX IPO earns millions for US Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler
US Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler multiplied the value of her investment in Elon Musk's SpaceX after she was nominated for the job, earning millions of dollars from the company's record initial public offering, a Reuters review of her financial disclosures showed. Loeffler invested between $1 million and $5 million as of January 3, 2025, in xAI, Musk's AI and social media firm that has since merged with SpaceX , according to a required financial disclosure submitted before she became SBA's administrator. Later in 2025, Loeffler invested again in SpaceX and xAI between $1 million and $5 million, according to a separate financial disclosure covering her investments for all of 2025 that she signed on May 14, 2026. Reuters obtained the form from the SBA on June 12. Loeffler's second investment has not been previously reported. Two independent government ethics attorneys agreed with Reuters' assessment of Loeffler's disclosure. Cabinet members use ranges to declare the value of their assets on their required financial disclosure forms, and they do not disclose the dates of their investments before taking office. SpaceX is a military contractor for the US government. Federal law, opens new tab prohibits cabinet members from participating in decisions involving a company in which they have a financial interest. Public records do not show a financial relationship between SBA and xAI or SpaceX. xAI was not included on the public list of AI tools, opens new tab used by SBA employees in 2025. Loeffler and her team did not respond to multiple requests for comment about her SpaceX investment. Value of SpaceX investment soars Loeffler's bet on SpaceX paid off. The company priced the biggest-ever U.S. IPO on June 12, valuing the space, satellite and AI provider at $1.77 trillion. Her first investment in xAI would have been worth between $7 million and $2.6 billion on the day of the IPO, depending on the exact amount she invested and the date she made it, said Franco Granda, analyst at data provider PitchBook. The second investment would have been worth between $2.2 million and $25.4 million that day, he said. The earlier the investment, the more it would have been worth at the IPO, he said. xAI's valuation increased by more than 7,000% between its first investment round and January 5, 2025. SpaceX's valuation more than doubled in 2025. At least 10 Trump administration officials listed investments in SpaceX or xAI on their 2025 financial disclosure forms. None of those officials works for the Defense Department. Billionaire Musk, a former Trump adviser, is the founder and CEO of SpaceX. Loeffler initially invested in xAI via a private placement, according to her disclosure form. Private placements are typically open to select individuals and institutions with significant financial resources. Loeffler is a wealthy businesswoman. She was the founding chief executive at Bakkt, a bitcoin trading platform, and spent 16 years working at Intercontinental Exchange, the firm that owns the New York Stock Exchange, according to her LinkedIn profile. She is married to Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeffrey Sprecher. Loeffler briefly represented Georgia in the Senate. he SBA helps entrepreneurs start and build their small businesses, according to the agency website. It connects business owners with lenders and funding to help them recover from natural disasters, among other responsibilities. The Senate confirmed Loeffler as SBA administrator on February 19, 2025.
SpaceX Starship launch aborted after multiple engines fail to start
Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. SpaceX was unable to launch its massive Starship rocket on a crucial flight test from South Texas after multiple engines failed to start when liftoff was imminent. The countdown to launch had proceeded as planned throughout much of the day as SpaceX, the commercial spaceflight company founded by tech mogul Elon Musk, worked toward Starship's 13th mission since 2023. But after millions of pounds of propellant were loaded into the world's largest rocket and the engine startup sequence had begun, the system triggered an automatic abort of the launch. The trouble, as Musk revealed on social media soon after, appeared to be multiple engines failing to start. The delay could extend into next week at a time when SpaceX is on the clock to have Starship ready not just for a potential Florida debut in 2026, but for a vital NASA mission in 2027. That mission, known as Artemis III could set the stage for a historic human moon landing the following year. Here's everything to know about the Starship launch abort, and when it could next get off the ground now. Starship: Everything to know about flight 13 Did Starship launch today? Flight 13 scrubbed SpaceX was working toward a Thursday, July 16, launch of its Starship rocket, with a 90-minute launch opening at 6:45 p.m. ET at its Starbase company town and headquarters in Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border. The launch, though, was scrubbed at the last minute. Elon Musk says engine issues triggered last minute auto abort The delay in the launch came after "some of the engines" failed to start on Starship's first stage that provides the initial burst of thrust at liftoff, known as Super Heavy, Musk, SpaceX's chief executive, said in a post on social media site X. The issue triggered an automatic launch abort. Before another launch is attempted, Musk added in a follow-up post that two of the booster's 33 Raptor-class engines will be removed and replaced. When could Starship launch now? SpaceX targets early next week Neither Musk nor SpaceX have announced a new target launch date. In his posts, Musk only alluded to an attempt coming in "a few days," or "early next week." When a launch date is set, a 90-minute launch window will open at 6:45 p.m. ET, SpaceX says on its website. How to watch Starship launch live The launch will be available to stream on SpaceX's website beginning about 30 minutes before liftoff. SpaceX will also provide updates on social media site X. What is Starship? Starship is the massive rocket that SpaceX, the commercial company founded by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, has been testing since April 2023. SpaceX is developing the rocket to be a fully reusable transportation system that can carry huge satellites and other payloads to space, meaning both the rocket and vehicle can return to the ground for additional missions. Musk's vision has long been for Starship to be an interplanetary vehicle that takes humans to Mars, where they can establish a self-sustaining colony. While the world's richest man has indicated that SpaceX will focus on building a lunar city first, the company has already announced a human-led expedition to Mars' orbit - though it has not set a target date. SpaceX is also under contract with NASA to develop a lunar lander configuration of its Starship, known as the Human Landing System, to ferry astronauts to the moon under the U.S. space agency's Artemis program. How tall is Starship? Is it the world's largest rocket? Starship's most recent flight test in May marked the debut of SpaceX's third-generation prototype of the rocket. Standing at 407 feet tall when fully stacked, the new iteration of Starship - known as Version 3, or V3 - became the largest and most powerful rocket SpaceX has ever launched. Similar to previous designs, the fully integrated Starship spacecraft is composed of both a 236-feet-tall lower-stage booster known as Super Heavy, as well as a 171-feet-tall upper stage simply called Starship. What is Starship flight 13? What to expect For the next Starship test flight, SpaceX said it is aiming to complete similar objectives as the last launch in May in which it debuted its Version 3 prototype. SpaceX plans to push the performance of the Super Heavy booster - responsible for the initial burst of thrust at liftoff - before it lands in the Gulf of Mexico, renamed in the U.S. under executive order as the Gulf of America. The upper stage, which is designed to eventually fly in orbit, will also be put to the test as it flies halfway around the world ahead of a landing in the Indian Ocean. In a major first, Starship will be carrying 20 larger versions of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites that it will attempt to deliver into suborbital space. The satellites will deploy solar arrays and antennas while attempeting to connect with SpaceX's larger Starlink constellation higher up in orbit before they fall toward the ground and burn up in the atmosphere about 20 minutes later. If this sounds familiar, that's because SpaceX has deployed mock Starlink satellites during previous Starship flight tests. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]. Subscribe to the free Florida TODAY newsletter. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX Starship launch aborted after multiple engines fail to start
SpaceX Starship launch aborted after multiple engines fail to start
Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. SpaceX was unable to launch its massive Starship rocket on a crucial flight test from South Texas after multiple engines failed to start when liftoff was imminent. The countdown to launch had proceeded as planned throughout much of the day as SpaceX, the commercial spaceflight company founded by tech mogul Elon Musk, worked toward Starship's 13th mission since 2023. But after millions of pounds of propellant were loaded into the world's largest rocket and the engine startup sequence had begun, the system triggered an automatic abort of the launch. The trouble, as Musk revealed on social media soon after, appeared to be multiple engines failing to start. The delay could extend into next week at a time when SpaceX is on the clock to have Starship ready not just for a potential Florida debut in 2026, but for a vital NASA mission in 2027. That mission, known as Artemis III could set the stage for a historic human moon landing the following year. Here's everything to know about the Starship launch abort, and when it could next get off the ground now. Starship: Everything to know about flight 13 Did Starship launch today? Flight 13 scrubbed SpaceX was working toward a Thursday, July 16, launch of its Starship rocket, with a 90-minute launch opening at 6:45 p.m. ET at its Starbase company town and headquarters in Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border. The launch, though, was scrubbed at the last minute. Elon Musk says engine issues triggered last minute auto abort The delay in the launch came after "some of the engines" failed to start on Starship's first stage that provides the initial burst of thrust at liftoff, known as Super Heavy, Musk, SpaceX's chief executive, said in a post on social media site X. The issue triggered an automatic launch abort. Before another launch is attempted, Musk added in a follow-up post that two of the booster's 33 Raptor-class engines will be removed and replaced. When could Starship launch now? SpaceX targets early next week Neither Musk nor SpaceX have announced a new target launch date. In his posts, Musk only alluded to an attempt coming in "a few days," or "early next week." When a launch date is set, a 90-minute launch window will open at 6:45 p.m. ET, SpaceX says on its website. How to watch Starship launch live The launch will be available to stream on SpaceX's website beginning about 30 minutes before liftoff. SpaceX will also provide updates on social media site X. What is Starship? Starship is the massive rocket that SpaceX, the commercial company founded by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, has been testing since April 2023. SpaceX is developing the rocket to be a fully reusable transportation system that can carry huge satellites and other payloads to space, meaning both the rocket and vehicle can return to the ground for additional missions. Musk's vision has long been for Starship to be an interplanetary vehicle that takes humans to Mars, where they can establish a self-sustaining colony. While the world's richest man has indicated that SpaceX will focus on building a lunar city first, the company has already announced a human-led expedition to Mars' orbit - though it has not set a target date. SpaceX is also under contract with NASA to develop a lunar lander configuration of its Starship, known as the Human Landing System, to ferry astronauts to the moon under the U.S. space agency's Artemis program. How tall is Starship? Is it the world's largest rocket? Starship's most recent flight test in May marked the debut of SpaceX's third-generation prototype of the rocket. Standing at 407 feet tall when fully stacked, the new iteration of Starship - known as Version 3, or V3 - became the largest and most powerful rocket SpaceX has ever launched. Similar to previous designs, the fully integrated Starship spacecraft is composed of both a 236-feet-tall lower-stage booster known as Super Heavy, as well as a 171-feet-tall upper stage simply called Starship. What is Starship flight 13? What to expect For the next Starship test flight, SpaceX said it is aiming to complete similar objectives as the last launch in May in which it debuted its Version 3 prototype. SpaceX plans to push the performance of the Super Heavy booster - responsible for the initial burst of thrust at liftoff - before it lands in the Gulf of Mexico, renamed in the U.S. under executive order as the Gulf of America. The upper stage, which is designed to eventually fly in orbit, will also be put to the test as it flies halfway around the world ahead of a landing in the Indian Ocean. In a major first, Starship will be carrying 20 larger versions of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites that it will attempt to deliver into suborbital space. The satellites will deploy solar arrays and antennas while attempeting to connect with SpaceX's larger Starlink constellation higher up in orbit before they fall toward the ground and burn up in the atmosphere about 20 minutes later. If this sounds familiar, that's because SpaceX has deployed mock Starlink satellites during previous Starship flight tests. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]. Subscribe to the free Florida TODAY newsletter. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX Starship launch aborted after multiple engines fail to start
SpaceX Starship launch aborted after multiple engines fail to start
Here's everything to know about the scrub of Starship's 13th flight test, and when it could next get off the ground now. SpaceX was unable to launch its massive Starship rocket on a crucial flight test from South Texas after multiple engines failed to start when liftoff was imminent. The countdown to launch had proceeded as planned throughout much of the day as SpaceX, the commercial spaceflight company founded by tech mogul Elon Musk, worked toward Starship's 13th mission since 2023. But after millions of pounds of propellant were loaded into the world's largest rocket and the engine startup sequence had begun, the system triggered an automatic abort of the launch. The trouble, as Musk revealed on social media soon after, appeared to be multiple engines failing to start. The delay could extend into next week at a time when SpaceX is on the clock to have Starship ready not just for a potential Florida debut in 2026, but for a vital NASA mission in 2027. That mission, known as Artemis III could set the stage for a historic human moon landing the following year. Here's everything to know about the Starship launch abort, and when it could next get off the ground now. Did Starship launch today? Flight 13 scrubbed SpaceX was working toward a Thursday, July 16, launch of its Starship rocket, with a 90-minute launch opening at 6:45 p.m. ET at its Starbase company town and headquarters in Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border. The launch, though, was scrubbed at the last minute. Elon Musk says engine issues triggered last minute auto abort The delay in the launch came after "some of the engines" failed to start on Starship's first stage that provides the initial burst of thrust at liftoff, known as Super Heavy, Musk, SpaceX's chief executive, said in a post on social media site X. The issue triggered an automatic launch abort. Before another launch is attempted, Musk added in a follow-up post that two of the booster's 33 Raptor-class engines will be removed and replaced. When could Starship launch now? SpaceX targets early next week Neither Musk nor SpaceX have announced a new target launch date. In his posts, Musk only alluded to an attempt coming in "a few days," or "early next week." When a launch date is set, a 90-minute launch window will open at 6:45 p.m. ET, SpaceX says on its website. How to watch Starship launch live The launch will be available to stream on SpaceX's website beginning about 30 minutes before liftoff. SpaceX will also provide updates on social media site X. What is Starship? Starship is the massive rocket that SpaceX, the commercial company founded by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, has been testing since April 2023. SpaceX is developing the rocket to be a fully reusable transportation system that can carry huge satellites and other payloads to space, meaning both the rocket and vehicle can return to the ground for additional missions. Musk's vision has long been for Starship to be an interplanetary vehicle that takes humans to Mars, where they can establish a self-sustaining colony. While the world's richest man has indicated that SpaceX will focus on building a lunar city first, the company has already announced a human-led expedition to Mars' orbit - though it has not set a target date. SpaceX is also under contract with NASA to develop a lunar lander configuration of its Starship, known as the Human Landing System, to ferry astronauts to the moon under the U.S. space agency's Artemis program. How tall is Starship? Is it the world's largest rocket? Starship's most recent flight test in May marked the debut of SpaceX's third-generation prototype of the rocket. Standing at 407 feet tall when fully stacked, the new iteration of Starship - known as Version 3, or V3 - became the largest and most powerful rocket SpaceX has ever launched. Similar to previous designs, the fully integrated Starship spacecraft is composed of both a 236-feet-tall lower-stage booster known as Super Heavy, as well as a 171-feet-tall upper stage simply called Starship. What is Starship flight 13? What to expect For the next Starship test flight, SpaceX said it is aiming to complete similar objectives as the last launch in May in which it debuted its Version 3 prototype. SpaceX plans to push the performance of the Super Heavy booster - responsible for the initial burst of thrust at liftoff - before it lands in the Gulf of Mexico, renamed in the U.S. under executive order as the Gulf of America. The upper stage, which is designed to eventually fly in orbit, will also be put to the test as it flies halfway around the world ahead of a landing in the Indian Ocean. In a major first, Starship will be carrying 20 larger versions of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites that it will attempt to deliver into suborbital space. The satellites will deploy solar arrays and antennas while attempeting to connect with SpaceX's larger Starlink constellation higher up in orbit before they fall toward the ground and burn up in the atmosphere about 20 minutes later. If this sounds familiar, that's because SpaceX has deployed mock Starlink satellites during previous Starship flight tests. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]. Subscribe to the free Florida TODAY newsletter.
SpaceX Starship launch aborted after multiple engines fail to start
Here's everything to know about the scrub of Starship's 13th flight test, and when it could next get off the ground now. SpaceX was unable to launch its massive Starship rocket on a crucial flight test from South Texas after multiple engines failed to start when liftoff was imminent. The countdown to launch had proceeded as planned throughout much of the day as SpaceX, the commercial spaceflight company founded by tech mogul Elon Musk, worked toward Starship's 13th mission since 2023. But after millions of pounds of propellant were loaded into the world's largest rocket and the engine startup sequence had begun, the system triggered an automatic abort of the launch. The trouble, as Musk revealed on social media soon after, appeared to be multiple engines failing to start. The delay could extend into next week at a time when SpaceX is on the clock to have Starship ready not just for a potential Florida debut in 2026, but for a vital NASA mission in 2027. That mission, known as Artemis III could set the stage for a historic human moon landing the following year. Here's everything to know about the Starship launch abort, and when it could next get off the ground now. Did Starship launch today? Flight 13 scrubbed SpaceX was working toward a Thursday, July 16, launch of its Starship rocket, with a 90-minute launch opening at 6:45 p.m. ET at its Starbase company town and headquarters in Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border. The launch, though, was scrubbed at the last minute. Elon Musk says engine issues triggered last minute auto abort The delay in the launch came after "some of the engines" failed to start on Starship's first stage that provides the initial burst of thrust at liftoff, known as Super Heavy, Musk, SpaceX's chief executive, said in a post on social media site X. The issue triggered an automatic launch abort. Before another launch is attempted, Musk added in a follow-up post that two of the booster's 33 Raptor-class engines will be removed and replaced. When could Starship launch now? SpaceX targets early next week Neither Musk nor SpaceX have announced a new target launch date. In his posts, Musk only alluded to an attempt coming in "a few days," or "early next week." When a launch date is set, a 90-minute launch window will open at 6:45 p.m. ET, SpaceX says on its website. How to watch Starship launch live The launch will be available to stream on SpaceX's website beginning about 30 minutes before liftoff. SpaceX will also provide updates on social media site X. What is Starship? Starship is the massive rocket that SpaceX, the commercial company founded by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, has been testing since April 2023. SpaceX is developing the rocket to be a fully reusable transportation system that can carry huge satellites and other payloads to space, meaning both the rocket and vehicle can return to the ground for additional missions. Musk's vision has long been for Starship to be an interplanetary vehicle that takes humans to Mars, where they can establish a self-sustaining colony. While the world's richest man has indicated that SpaceX will focus on building a lunar city first, the company has already announced a human-led expedition to Mars' orbit - though it has not set a target date. SpaceX is also under contract with NASA to develop a lunar lander configuration of its Starship, known as the Human Landing System, to ferry astronauts to the moon under the U.S. space agency's Artemis program. How tall is Starship? Is it the world's largest rocket? Starship's most recent flight test in May marked the debut of SpaceX's third-generation prototype of the rocket. Standing at 407 feet tall when fully stacked, the new iteration of Starship - known as Version 3, or V3 - became the largest and most powerful rocket SpaceX has ever launched. Similar to previous designs, the fully integrated Starship spacecraft is composed of both a 236-feet-tall lower-stage booster known as Super Heavy, as well as a 171-feet-tall upper stage simply called Starship. What is Starship flight 13? What to expect For the next Starship test flight, SpaceX said it is aiming to complete similar objectives as the last launch in May in which it debuted its Version 3 prototype. SpaceX plans to push the performance of the Super Heavy booster - responsible for the initial burst of thrust at liftoff - before it lands in the Gulf of Mexico, renamed in the U.S. under executive order as the Gulf of America. The upper stage, which is designed to eventually fly in orbit, will also be put to the test as it flies halfway around the world ahead of a landing in the Indian Ocean. In a major first, Starship will be carrying 20 larger versions of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites that it will attempt to deliver into suborbital space. The satellites will deploy solar arrays and antennas while attempeting to connect with SpaceX's larger Starlink constellation higher up in orbit before they fall toward the ground and burn up in the atmosphere about 20 minutes later. If this sounds familiar, that's because SpaceX has deployed mock Starlink satellites during previous Starship flight tests. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]. Subscribe to the free Florida TODAY newsletter.
SpaceX Starship launch aborted after multiple engines fail to start
Here's everything to know about the scrub of Starship's 13th flight test, and when it could next get off the ground now. SpaceX was unable to launch its massive Starship rocket on a crucial flight test from South Texas after multiple engines failed to start when liftoff was imminent. The countdown to launch had proceeded as planned throughout much of the day as SpaceX, the commercial spaceflight company founded by tech mogul Elon Musk, worked toward Starship's 13th mission since 2023. But after millions of pounds of propellant were loaded into the world's largest rocket and the engine startup sequence had begun, the system triggered an automatic abort of the launch. The trouble, as Musk revealed on social media soon after, appeared to be multiple engines failing to start. The delay could extend into next week at a time when SpaceX is on the clock to have Starship ready not just for a potential Florida debut in 2026, but for a vital NASA mission in 2027. That mission, known as Artemis III could set the stage for a historic human moon landing the following year. Here's everything to know about the Starship launch abort, and when it could next get off the ground now. Did Starship launch today? Flight 13 scrubbed SpaceX was working toward a Thursday, July 16, launch of its Starship rocket, with a 90-minute launch opening at 6:45 p.m. ET at its Starbase company town and headquarters in Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border. The launch, though, was scrubbed at the last minute. Elon Musk says engine issues triggered last minute auto abort The delay in the launch came after "some of the engines" failed to start on Starship's first stage that provides the initial burst of thrust at liftoff, known as Super Heavy, Musk, SpaceX's chief executive, said in a post on social media site X. The issue triggered an automatic launch abort. Before another launch is attempted, Musk added in a follow-up post that two of the booster's 33 Raptor-class engines will be removed and replaced. When could Starship launch now? SpaceX targets early next week Neither Musk nor SpaceX have announced a new target launch date. In his posts, Musk only alluded to an attempt coming in "a few days," or "early next week." When a launch date is set, a 90-minute launch window will open at 6:45 p.m. ET, SpaceX says on its website. How to watch Starship launch live The launch will be available to stream on SpaceX's website beginning about 30 minutes before liftoff. SpaceX will also provide updates on social media site X. What is Starship? Starship is the massive rocket that SpaceX, the commercial company founded by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, has been testing since April 2023. SpaceX is developing the rocket to be a fully reusable transportation system that can carry huge satellites and other payloads to space, meaning both the rocket and vehicle can return to the ground for additional missions. Musk's vision has long been for Starship to be an interplanetary vehicle that takes humans to Mars, where they can establish a self-sustaining colony. While the world's richest man has indicated that SpaceX will focus on building a lunar city first, the company has already announced a human-led expedition to Mars' orbit - though it has not set a target date. SpaceX is also under contract with NASA to develop a lunar lander configuration of its Starship, known as the Human Landing System, to ferry astronauts to the moon under the U.S. space agency's Artemis program. How tall is Starship? Is it the world's largest rocket? Starship's most recent flight test in May marked the debut of SpaceX's third-generation prototype of the rocket. Standing at 407 feet tall when fully stacked, the new iteration of Starship - known as Version 3, or V3 - became the largest and most powerful rocket SpaceX has ever launched. Similar to previous designs, the fully integrated Starship spacecraft is composed of both a 236-feet-tall lower-stage booster known as Super Heavy, as well as a 171-feet-tall upper stage simply called Starship. What is Starship flight 13? What to expect For the next Starship test flight, SpaceX said it is aiming to complete similar objectives as the last launch in May in which it debuted its Version 3 prototype. SpaceX plans to push the performance of the Super Heavy booster - responsible for the initial burst of thrust at liftoff - before it lands in the Gulf of Mexico, renamed in the U.S. under executive order as the Gulf of America. The upper stage, which is designed to eventually fly in orbit, will also be put to the test as it flies halfway around the world ahead of a landing in the Indian Ocean. In a major first, Starship will be carrying 20 larger versions of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites that it will attempt to deliver into suborbital space. The satellites will deploy solar arrays and antennas while attempeting to connect with SpaceX's larger Starlink constellation higher up in orbit before they fall toward the ground and burn up in the atmosphere about 20 minutes later. If this sounds familiar, that's because SpaceX has deployed mock Starlink satellites during previous Starship flight tests. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]. Subscribe to the free Florida TODAY newsletter.