Elon Musk’s SpaceX has scored a major win with its Starship rocket. After several setbacks, the company successfully launched the massive spacecraft from South Texas on Tuesday, August 26. The mission proved that the rocket can soar, deploy payloads, and re-enter the atmosphere, marking a historic rebound for Musk’s ambitious space project.
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For context, Starship is a next-generation reusable mega-rocket designed to carry people and cargo to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Starship’s 10th Flight Marks Breakthrough
The latest mission was Starship’s 10th test flight since SpaceX began trials of the 403-foot rocket in 2023. Meanwhile, it also marked a big comeback for the mission after several failed launches. In 2025, the company ran three test flights, and each had problems with the upper stage. Flights 7 and 8 ended in explosions, while Flight 9 lost control before re-entering.
Interestingly, the test flight was originally scheduled for August 24 but was called off at the last minute due to a ground systems issue.
Musk’s Big Bet on SpaceX
Musk is betting heavily on the rocket, which is designed to eventually carry satellites, research equipment, and even astronauts. Notably, Starship is central to SpaceX’s future missions and Musk’s dream of sending people to Mars. The journey hasn’t been smooth, but SpaceX has always followed a “fail fast, learn fast” approach. Instead of moving cautiously, the company pushes rapid progress, treating rocket explosions not as disasters but as opportunities to gather valuable data.
Furthermore, the mission is important for NASA as well. The agency has hired SpaceX to use a modified version of Starship to land astronauts on the Moon under its Artemis program, officially set for 2027.
Is TSLA Stock a Buy?
While SpaceX continues to capture headlines with Starship, investors are also keeping a close eye on Musk’s other flagship, Tesla (TSLA). Let’s take a closer look at what analysts are forecasting for TSLA stock.
Wall Street analysts remain divided on TSLA stock, offering mixed opinions on its future outlook. According to TipRanks, TSLA stock has received a Hold consensus rating, with 13 Buys, 15 Holds, and eight Sells assigned in the last three months. The average stock price target for Tesla shares is $305.4, suggesting a potential downside of 13.2% from the current level.
