SpaceX, IPO and Elon Musk
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More than 20 years after founding SpaceX, the record-breaking company that transformed the global space industry, Elon Musk is planning to take the enterprise public.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 27 Starlink satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. The first stage then made the company's 550th landing.
SpaceX is planning to raise tens of billions of dollars through an initial public offering next year, multiple outlets have reported, and Ars can confirm. This represents a major change in thinking from the world’s leading space company and its founder, Elon Musk.
Can you buy SpaceX stock? Several recent reports have suggested that billionaire Elon Musk's rocket company is planning to go public sometime in 2026.
Theoretically, Chinese rockets based on the Soyuz design might carry astronauts (or cosmonauts, or Chinese taikonauts) to ISS. But current U.S. law forbids Chinese participation in the ISS project, so that's probably a no-go.
The company is looking to raise $30 billion, which would make it the biggest IPO ever, just ahead of Saudi Aramco's in 2019.
"As far as we know, no coordination or deconfliction with existing satellites operating in space was performed, resulting in a 200 meter close approach between one of the deployed satellites and STARLINK-6079 (56120) at 560 km altitude.
SpaceX is planning yet another California rocket launch, and you have a variety of options to watch it – if you're willing to stay up late.
Alphabet Inc. is set to book another sizable paper gain after SpaceX completes a tender offer that effectively values the closely held company at about $800 billion.