Just a few decades back, commercial space travel sounded like a fever dream or a sci-fi fantasy. But SpaceX has continued to imbibe people with hope and worked to reduce space transportation costs, igniting big dreams in the bargain. One of its most ambitious projects is the Starship launch. SpaceX’s Starship is set to be a fully reusable transportation system that will ferry goods and people to “Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.”
Starship of House SpaceX, the First of Its Kind, Flying High Above the Earth and Around the Moon, the Product of Human Engineering, the Deliverer of Possibilities, the Reusable, the Breaker of Molds.
A SpaceNews report mentions that SpaceX’s Gary Henry, senior advisor for national security space solutions, told a panel that the Starship was in good shape, following a static fire of 31 of its 33 engines.
In the last two years, the aerospace company has postponed a starship launch multiple times, pending licensing requirements from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). But this time, everything appears to be gearing towards March.
SpaceX Prepares to Let Starship Fly
Henry’s affirmation appears to be in line with CEO Elon Musk’s Twitter declaration from last month.
If remaining tests go well, we will attempt a Starship launch next month
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 4, 2023
“We had a successful hot fire, and that was really the last box to check,” Henry said at the Space Mobility conference in Orlando held in coordination with the US Space Force. “The vehicle is in good shape. The pad is in good shape.”
Elon Musk’s grand plans for Starship include travel to Mars and back. He envisions a reusable and expendable version of the spacecraft that will save costs and resources.
SpaceX’s plans for the Starship has it shooting for the moon and stars. In 2021, NASA and SpaceX signed a contract worth nearly $3 billion to use Starship to ferry astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface of the moon.
NASA has plans to avail of this facility for its Artemis program – its mission to the moon. So, as the current US administration has promised to make this dream a reality, it is likely that the next astronauts to the moon will travel in SpaceX’s Starship.
Federal filings indicate that the Starship test flight will launch from the Starbase spaceport site in Boca Chica, Texas. Its rocket booster will perform a partial return and land in the Gulf of Mexico or return to Starbase and be caught by the launch tower while Starship will perform a targeted landing in the Pacific Ocean.
SpaceX is yet to officially announce a date for the Starship launch. But if successfully launched, it could bring in much more investment and lead SpaceX ahead of its rival’s like Amazon’s Blue Origin and Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic.
Will Starship Propel a Starlink IPO?
There have been rumors of a Starlink IPO ever since Elon Musk hinted at letting people have a piece of the low-orbit satellites.
Early this year, CNBC reported that SpaceX was looking to raise funds to the tune of $750 million at a valuation of $137 billion. According to Crunchbase data, the company has raised almost $10 billion till date and counts NASA, Bracket Capital, and the United States Space Force among its many investors.
SpaceX has, in the past, launched multiple missions for NASA and even taken private citizens to space. One of the objectives of the company is to normalize space travel for paying customers and not just government-funded astronauts.
SpaceX chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell has indicated that the company is making money and is in no hurry to take external investment. The company is however focused on improving its technological prowess and making advancements in space-related tech.
As far back as two years ago, Elon Musk has hinted at being open to the prospect of a Starlink IPO. As of December 2022, the service exceeded one million subscribers.
At least a few years before Starlink revenue is reasonably predictable. Going public sooner than that would be very painful. Will do my best to give long-term Tesla shareholders preference.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 24, 2021
SpaceX is determined to build a galaxy of Starlink satellites as it works on revolutionizing Internet access. Furthermore, SpaceX’s universal launches will cement its position as an aerospace powerhouse — the benefits of which could translate to a Starlink IPO. Getting a stake in a business that managed to craft reusable rockets and power the Internet from above the Earth is a tantalizing prospect for investors.
Although Musk has come under fire for his moves involving Twitter takeover and neglecting Tesla, there is no denying that the billionaire entrepreneur has led SpaceX to greater heights.
When functional and fully operative, Starship will carry the first of many dreams of space agencies and eager space travelers. It remains to be seen whether the March launch of this spacecraft will be successful or not, but if I were you, I would be betting on SpaceX for the win.
