NASA just gave SpaceX more crew missions because Boeing can't certify

Key Points:

• NASA plans to add six post-certification missions to SpaceX’s Commercial Crew contract, with up to three ordered immediately and the rest available through 2030, due to Boeing’s technical delays and SpaceX being the sole certified crew transporter to the ISS.
• SpaceX’s recent Starship V3 test flight demonstrated key capabilities including engine-out compensation, controlled splashdown, and deployment of heat shield inspection satellites, advancing rapid reusability and supporting NASA’s Artemis lunar missions.
• The Starship V3 launch faced a scrub due to a hydraulic pin issue on the launch tower, highlighting the complexities of preparing the world’s most powerful rocket despite iterative development successes and setbacks.
• SpaceX filed its S-1 registration with the SEC ahead of a planned June IPO, revealing $18.7 billion revenue in 2025 driven by Starlink, but a $4.9 billion loss largely due to heavy investment in Elon Musk’s AI company xAI.
• The IPO aims to raise about $75 billion at a $1.75 trillion valuation, potentially the largest in history, with a dual-class share structure maintaining Musk’s control, and the investor roadshow scheduled for early June.