South African–born Elon Musk has worked hard over the past few months in attempts to gain permission to launch SpaceX’s Starlink broadband–by–satellite service in South Africa. But far from nearing those permissions, there are signs that he still has a mountain to climb. Local reports say that political party Rise Mzansi’s leader, Songezo Zibi, and […]

Musk, writing on his X social media platform, has confirmed reports that SpaceX will launch an IPO. No date for the actual IPO was given but it is understood that it will happen well within one year. It is likely to be the biggest-ever IPO in history. SpaceX will use the money it raises in […]

AST SpaceMobile, together with telco giant AT&T, is to start beta-tests of its Direct-to-Cellular satellite service over the US. A statement talked of using “real smartphones” in the tests and using the first five AST satellites already in orbit. AST is due to launch a much larger satellite in a week’s time from an Indian […]

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is reportedly delaying a planned unmanned Moon landing by its giant Starship rocket to June 2027. The manned version will then follow in 2028, according to reports. However, this schedule is somewhat later than originally sought by NASA which wanted the human landing by 2027. The dates come from an article in […]

October 25th saw SpaceX launch its 135th launch mission this year. The rocket carried a batch of 28 Starlink satellites in what was another routine mission for SpaceX, although it set a record and beats the total launched in 2024 by SpaceX. The launch was from Vandenburg Spaceforce Base in California. The launch used Booster […]

NASA’s Acting Administrator Sean Duffy sys that SpaceX’s Moon Lander programme is running late. He praised the Elon Musk business but admitted that SpaceX is behind on the schedule. Duffy said that NASA would reopen the contract to other bidders. “The President wants to make sure we beat the Chinese — he wants to get […]

SpaceX’s massive Starship is set for its latest test flight today [October 13th], its eleventh, in the early evening Texas (CT) time. The mega-rocket is listed to launch at 7:15pm EDT (23.15 GMT) subject to the usual weather and last-minute technical considerations. Flight 11 will be the fifth Starship launch this year. SpaceX hopes to […]

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has quietly registered the service trademark ‘Starfall’ through the tiny Polynesian kingdom of Tonga. The application was made on May 19th and recognised by the US Patent & Trademark Office on October 9th. The filing covers launch, on-orbit & re-entry services, spaceflight travel, in-space manufacturing services, custom manufacturing and processing of pharmaceuticals. […]

Elon Musk’s Starlink service is offering some major concessions to South Africa in an attempt to get permission to launch services in the country. Starlink has itemised significant investment promises for the government. Ryan Goodnight, senior director in charge of market access at Starlink has reportedly raised a few key points at the AGM of […]

Analysts at Quilty Space have updated its model to include a forecast for Starlink’s broadband-by-satellite division for 2026. Quilty projects revenues of $15.9 billion (€13.6bn), EBITDA of $11 billion, and Pro-forma free cash flow of $4.9 billion. Quilty’s report suggests that by the end of this year Starlink could have 8.2 million customers, and “sustaining […]