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SpaceX wins $1.6B Space Force contract for 18 Falcon 9 launches
2 months ago
- SpaceX received $1.6 billion in launch task orders for 18 Falcon 9 missions under the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 program.
- The launches, taking place from Vandenberg Space Force Base through 2027, support the Space Based Sensing and Targeting portfolio for military satellite constellations.
- SpaceX is also building two major satellite systems for the portfolio under separate multibillion-dollar contracts, including the Space Data Network Backbone and Airborne Moving Target Indicator.
- This is the largest publicly disclosed order under the Phase 3 Lane 1 program, which uses a commercial-style procurement approach for lower-risk national security missions.
- The Space Force raised the Phase 3 Lane 1 contract ceiling to $17 billion from $5.6 billion due to anticipated growth in military launch demand.
- Completing 18 launches by 2027 requires a sustained cadence of roughly one mission per month from Vandenberg.
- Only SpaceX currently has the launch frequency, operational Falcon 9 rockets, and West Coast infrastructure to execute such a campaign, despite seven companies being eligible.
- The procurement process was completed in about two months, demonstrating the speed of the Lane 1 contracting approach.
A discarded SpaceX rocket is on a high-speed collision course with the moon
2 months ago
- A discarded SpaceX rocket upper stage is on a collision course with the moon, expected to impact on Wednesday at 5,400 mph near Einstein Crater.
- The impact is accidental and highlights the growing problem of space debris cluttering Earth's orbit.
- This will be the second known accidental lunar crash by a rocket, following a Chinese rocket segment in 2022.
- The crash will release energy equivalent to three tons of TNT, creating a crater about 90 feet wide and 16 feet deep, visible to spacecraft but not Earth-based telescopes.
- Scientists plan to observe the event using NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and South Korea's Danuri orbiter to study debris risks for future astronauts.
- The abandoned rocket stage, measuring 40 feet and weighing 10,000 pounds, launched two private lunar landers in January 2025.
Starlink exempted from FCC ban on foreign-made routers
2 months ago
- The Trump administration exempted SpaceX's Starlink routers from the FCC ban on foreign-made routers.
- The exemption lasts until February 1, 2028, and was approved by the Department of Defense.
- The FCC's Covered List bans consumer routers with foreign components unless exempted, due to national security risks.
- Netgear and Amazon have received exemptions, but companies with Chinese ties are expected to struggle obtaining them.
- SpaceX has some routers made in the USA, but others are manufactured in Vietnam.
THERE IS A CAR IN SPACE
2 months ago
- SpaceX Falcon Heavy successfully launched on February 6, 2018, carrying a Tesla Roadster as payload.
- The rocket boosters detached and landed themselves successfully for reuse.
- The car is in geostationary orbit within the Van Allen radiation belt, testing radiation shielding for Air Force missions.
- The Tesla Roadster will launch for Mars within the next 8 hours.
- The article emphasizes the novelty: 'There is a car in space.'
Lucky 13 Starship sends out satellites and stays intact
2 months ago
- SpaceX's Starship completed its 13th flight test, deploying operational next-generation Starlink V3 satellites for the first time.
- The rocket set a record for maximum dynamic pressure (Max-Q) during ascent, with all 33 Raptor engines firing on the Super Heavy booster.
- After stage separation, the booster performed a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, though not all engines ignited as planned.
- The upper stage (Ship) deployed 20 Starlink V3 satellites using a 'Pez Dispenser' system, and SpaceX conducted tests on solar array deployment and laser communications with all 20 satellites.
- The satellites were intentionally deorbited and burned up after tests, but data collected will help improve future V3 batches.
- Starlink V3 satellites offer download speeds up to 1 terabit per second, a major upgrade over V2, enhancing direct-to-device services.
- After satellite deployment, Ship relit one Raptor engine, descended, and achieved its softest-ever splashdown in the Indian Ocean, with intact landing and significant heat shield data.
- This test addressed engine issues from the previous flight, with modifications to both the booster and upper stage.
- The initial launch attempt was aborted due to four engine failures, leading to replacement of six booster engines for the successful second try.
Unplanned impact: NASA says SpaceX rocket parts could hit Moon
2 months ago
- A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket upper stage from January 2025 is projected to accidentally crash into the Moon on August 5, 2026.
- The impact may not be visible from Earth; NASA considers it very difficult to see, though experts debate whether a dust cloud could be illuminated by the Sun.
- The debris piece weighs about four tonnes and travels at over two kilometers per second.
- This unplanned collision highlights the growing issue of space debris; a similar incident occurred four years ago involving a Chinese rocket stage.
SpaceX stock drops to a new low and loses $1T in value in a month
2 months ago
- SpaceX stock has fallen below its $135 IPO price, closing at $131.11 on Thursday.
- The company has lost about $320 billion in market value since its IPO and $1 trillion since its June peak.
- A planned Starship launch was aborted due to engine issues, with a retry scheduled for early next week.
- SpaceX's IPO raised over $85 billion, the largest in history, but the stock has been in steady retreat.
- Upcoming lockup expirations will allow employees and early investors to sell shares after the first quarterly report.
How hard is it to build orbital data centers, actually?
2 months ago
- SpaceX's future value relies on orbital data centers, not rockets or spacecraft.
- The plan includes launching a constellation of 1 million satellites to power millions of frontier-class GPUs.
- The AI1 satellite, an iteration of orbital data centers, has disclosed size and power details.
- Elon Musk stated that the technology leverages existing Starlink V3 components, not requiring 'magic'.
- Technical challenges include heat dissipation, radiation, and latency, with economic feasibility being a major hurdle.
- Industry debate exists on the viability, with some experts noting 'massive technical challenges' despite potential solvability.
SpaceX built to separate retail investors from their money
2 months ago
- SpaceX (SPCX) shares have dropped approximately 28% from their post-IPO peak above $200.
- Veteran investor George Noble has renewed his bearish stance on the stock.
- Noble warns that the stock is likely to face a wave of insider selling in the coming months.
xAI makes its rebrand to SpaceXAI complete with a new logo
3 months ago
- xAI has been rebranded to SpaceXAI following its acquisition by SpaceX, with a new logo and updated social media handle.
- The rebranding occurred after SpaceX's historic IPO, which raised $75 billion and valued the company at approximately $1.77 trillion.
- SpaceX's AI segment reported significant capital expenditures of $12.7 billion in 2025, exceeding investments in space and connectivity areas.
- Despite net losses in AI, SpaceX views the AI market as having immense potential and plans to launch AI compute satellites by 2028.
- SpaceX has secured major AI infrastructure deals, including monthly payments of $1.25 billion from Anthropic and $920 million from Google.

spacex

SpaceX wins $1.6B Space Force contract for 18 Falcon 9 launches

A discarded SpaceX rocket is on a high-speed collision course with the moon

Starlink exempted from FCC ban on foreign-made routers

THERE IS A CAR IN SPACE

Lucky 13 Starship sends out satellites and stays intact

Unplanned impact: NASA says SpaceX rocket parts could hit Moon

SpaceX stock drops to a new low and loses $1T in value in a month

How hard is it to build orbital data centers, actually?

SpaceX built to separate retail investors from their money

xAI makes its rebrand to SpaceXAI complete with a new logo