Tech giant Microsoft (MSFT) is actually part of the Artemis II mission. That puts Microsoft in the unique position to be part of a historic venture, as the Artemis II mission will feature astronauts going farther than ever before. But a piece of Microsoft’s part in this venture—specifically, Microsoft Outlook—is having a few issues. Despite this, Microsoft stock gained fractionally in Thursday afternoon’s trading.
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“I have two Microsoft Outlooks, and neither one of those are working,” came a voice down to ground control. Apparently, the astronauts are calling down to Houston to reveal that the spacecraft is currently “…running two instances of Microsoft Outlook, and they can’t figure out why.” This in turn is prompting NASA to engage in a remote connection to go in and figure out why there are two Microsoft Outlooks running, and apparently, why neither one will send email.
Some might be surprised that off-the-shelf Microsoft tools are used during space flights, but NASA’s Flight Controller and Instructor Robert Frost noted, “A Windows laptop is used for the same reasons that a majority of people that use computers use Windows.” Essentially, most people are familiar with Windows and how it works, so why bother training people on a proprietary system for a mission that could last a few days? Still, for Microsoft, it is a bit of a black eye that its systems are going into space, and malfunctioning within days.
This is No Longer an Xbox
Remember when Microsoft rolled out the “This is an Xbox” campaign? People promptly got freaked out wondering what Microsoft was planning to change now, and what they would have to do to continue enjoying their favorite games. Well, Xbox’s new boss Asha Sharma has reportedly pulled back on the concept. Users now no longer need wonder just what an Xbox really is.
Reports noted that Sharma retired the campaign—started in November 2024—because it “didn’t feel like Xbox.” This might be tough to countenance; how exactly does “this is an Xbox” not “feel like Xbox”? But given that Sharma is also “…personally leading a reset of how we show up as a brand,” it is more likely a matter of setting up a whole new campaign in general.
Is Microsoft a Buy, Hold or Sell?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Strong Buy consensus rating on MSFT stock based on 34 Buys and three Holds assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. After a 1% loss in its share price over the past year, the average MSFT price target of $582.17 per share implies 56.66% upside potential.
