Elon Musk’s reusable rocket maker and satellite internet company, SpaceX, is raising $750 million in a new funding round that values the company at $137 billionaccording to correspondence obtained by CNBC.
In December, Bloomberg first reported that SpaceX was allowing insiders to sell at $77 per share, which would have put the company’s valuation closer to $140 billion.
2022 collection
The company raised more than $2 billion in 2022, including a $250 million round in Julyand was valued at $127 billion during an equity round in May, CNBC previously reported.
According to an email sent to potential SpaceX investors, Andreessen Horowitz (aka a16z) is likely lead the new round of financing. Early SpaceX investors included Founders Fund, Sequoia, Gigafund, and many others.
A16z also participated in Elon Musk’s leveraged buyout of Twittera $44 billion deal that closed in late October 2022.
SpaceX
SpaceX and a16z they didn’t reply right away to a request for comments.
Last year, SpaceX it achieved several new milestones but faced delays to its Starship program, which is part of NASA’s effort to bring astronauts back to the moon.
The company’s satellite Internet service, Starlink, surpassed one million subscribers and provided a lifeline to users in Ukraine who suffered infrastructure disruptions after the Russian invasion. SpaceX also managed to surpass 60 reusable rocket launches in a single year through its Falcon program.
launch vehicles
Now, the The company continues development of its Starship and Super Heavy launch vehicles at the company’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. It’s unclear when the company will move to the next step in the program, which involves an orbital launch test of these larger vehicles.
Musk has repeatedly spoken out about geopolitical issues on Twitter, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson recently asked SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell if her “distraction” as the new owner and CEO of Twitter could affect the SpaceX’s work with the space agency, NBC News reported. Nelson said Shotwell assured him that he would not.
What does NASA say?
NASA now is considering whether SpaceX can help rescue residents on the International Space Stationincluding an astronaut and two cosmonauts with Russia’s Roscomos, according to CNET.
Russia’s Soyuz capsule leaked coolant in December, and an investigation is underway to determine if the spacecraft can safely bring the crew home. or if it will be necessary to take emergency measures instead.
