Elon Musk reveals date of SpaceX Starship v3's maiden voyage
Teslarati • • business
Key Points:
- SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that the next Starship launch, featuring the upgraded v3 design with taller Super Heavy Booster and more powerful Raptor 3 engines, is scheduled within 4 to 6 weeks, targeting early to mid-May 2026.
- The v3 iteration aims to significantly increase payload capacity to around 200 metric tons to low Earth orbit, supporting ambitious missions like NASA’s Artemis lunar projects and future crewed Mars flights.
- Musk dismissed recent media reports claiming SpaceX is planning a $2 trillion IPO, labeling them as false, despite ongoing speculation about the company's potential public offering.
- The U.S. Space Force awarded SpaceX a $178.5 million contract to launch missile tracking satellites beginning in 2027, reinforcing SpaceX's growing dominance in national security space launches.
- Tesla reported Q1 2026 vehicle deliveries of 358,023 units, slightly below expectations, reflecting a strategic shift as CEO Musk emphasizes the company’s future value lies more in AI, robotics (Optimus), and energy storage than traditional car sales.
