Elon Musk‘s rocket company, SpaceX, is preparing to test the newest version of its massive Starship rocket on Thursday, one day after the company publicly filed for a major IPO. The launch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. local time from Starbase in South Texas and will be the first flight of Starship Version 3. The upgraded rocket is designed to improve performance, reliability, and reusability, which are all central to SpaceX’s long-term plans. The timing is important because SpaceX is trying to go public at a valuation that could reach as much as $2 trillion.
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Starship is a major part of that story because the rocket is expected to carry cargo and astronauts to the moon and eventually Mars. It could also support SpaceX’s Starlink plans, which include the launch of large satellite networks that may one day be used for AI-related computing infrastructure. NASA is also relying on Starship for its Artemis moon program, with SpaceX holding about $4 billion in lunar landing contracts.
The test comes after several Version 2 flights ended in explosions or technical failures, along with ground-testing accidents at Starbase. SpaceX is still working toward the first fully reusable rocket system, where both the Super Heavy booster and Starship spacecraft return intact and fly again. On Thursday, the booster is expected to separate and attempt a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, while Starship will continue toward near-orbital speeds, deploy 20 mock Starlink satellites and two test spacecraft, inspect heat shield hardware, and then splash down in the Indian Ocean about an hour after launch.
What Is the Prediction for TSLA Stock?
When it comes to Elon Musk’s companies, most of them are privately held. As a result, until SpaceX goes public, retail investors can invest in his most popular company, Tesla (TSLA). Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Hold consensus rating on TSLA stock based on 12 Buys, 12 Holds, and five Sells assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. Furthermore, the average TSLA price target of $403.86 per share implies 3.2% downside risk.
