A NASA safety panel member has estimated that about 22 flights are needed to refuel the Starship lander before a planned Moon landing. The number would be a major challenge for the mission, which NASA is still aiming to complete in 2028. SpaceX founder Elon Musk replied that the estimate is far too high and said the real figure would be six to eight. Uncertainty remains over how much fuel will boil off in orbit and how efficiently it can be transferred between ships. NASA is working with SpaceX and Blue Origin to remove obstacles to their lander development.
SpaceX plans to attempt catching a Starship rocket during its next test flight and aims to increase its launch cadence. The company will also conduct a refueling test in 2027, a key milestone for lunar missions. CEO Elon Musk expects weekly launches by mid-2027, with the goal of achieving rapid reusability. SpaceX will focus on launching its own payloads, including Starlink satellites and data center prototypes, next year.
Elon Musk says Tesla and SpaceX are exploring a possible merger, with special committees at both companies examining the idea. Musk said he is not involved in the talks because of potential conflicts of interest. He added that any deal would need approval from at least 50 per cent of Tesla shareholders. SpaceX posted net income of $US4.4 billion last quarter, compared with a loss of around $US1 billion a year earlier, driven by its Starlink satellite internet service and AI data centres. Revenue rose to $US14.58 billion, above analysts' forecasts.
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SpaceX's data centres and Grok agents earned more profit than investors expected in the third quarter. Its artificial intelligence business now makes up 52 per cent of its income. Total revenue reached $14.6 billion, and the company returned to profit with net income of $4.4 billion. Chief executive Elon Musk predicted that annual recurring revenue from the business could reach between $500 billion and $1 trillion by the end of 2027. The company expects to spend $35 billion to $40 billion on new capital investments in the fourth quarter.
