Elon Musk Reveals SpaceX Starship Mars Rocket’s Capability to Launch 100 Tons to Orbit by 2026 & Comments on $17 Billion Starlink Spectrum Deal

This article does not constitute investment advice. The author holds no shares in any of the companies mentioned.

During the All-In Podcast Summit, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk revealed that his company has acquired a significant $17 billion in spectrum from EchoStar. He emphasized that transforming this investment into effective coverage would necessitate corresponding support from smartphones. Musk anticipates that compatible devices will be available within two years. Another key challenge will be constructing satellites capable of utilizing these new frequency bands. He also expressed confidence that SpaceX would showcase the full reusability of the Starship rocket next year while addressing the intricacies of its upper-stage heatshield.

Implications of SpaceX’s Spectrum Acquisition

Addressing the expansive Starlink spectrum purchase, Musk noted that it paves the way for SpaceX to deliver connectivity directly from satellites to mobile devices. Nevertheless, he specified that “there are hardware changes that need to happen in the phone.”Existing smartphones are incompatible with these newly purchased frequencies, necessitating modifications to their chipsets. Consequently, he suggested that phones capable of leveraging this spectrum “probably still aren’t shipping in around two years.”

In addition to the required hardware updates, SpaceX must also construct new satellites to operate on these frequencies. Musk explained that it is critical for the company to collaborate with smartphone manufacturers to integrate these capabilities effectively.“So in parallel, we are building the satellites and working with the handset makers to add these frequencies to the phones, ”he said, highlighting the synchronized development of technology required for seamless communication between devices and satellites.

This substantial acquisition has stirred some activity in the telecommunications market, influencing stock prices of major carriers negatively. When questioned about SpaceX’s intentions to become a global carrier through Starlink, Musk acknowledged it as a potential avenue but stressed that “we’re not going to put the other carriers out of business, ”citing their extensive spectrum ownership as a competitive advantage.

You should be able to have a Starlink, like you have an AT&T or T-Mobile, Verizon, or whatever, you can have a, you know, account with Starlink that works with your, you know, Starlink antenna at home for your WiFi as well as on your phone. And yeah it would be a comprehensive solution for high bandwidth at home and for high bandwidth direct-to-cell.

Looking ahead to the Starship program, Musk expressed optimism that SpaceX will successfully recover the Starship by 2026. This year, the upper stage has proven challenging, achieving only one successful flight out of four attempts. He confirmed that SpaceX plans to launch the third-generation Starship booster and rocket following the next mission, designated as Flight 11.

Musk described the upcoming third-generation Starship as a “gigantic upgrade, ”notably featuring the new Raptor 3 engines. He detailed that this model includes substantial improvements, aiming to transport over 100 tons to a useful orbit, potentially marking a milestone for SpaceX in 2026.

Among the key obstacles facing the Starship project is the development of a functional heatshield.“No one’s ever made a fully reusable orbital heatshield, ”Musk remarked. The design must ensure that it can endure extreme temperatures while remaining lightweight and should not conduct heat to the primary structure or suffer damage from environmental factors, such as rain during ascent. He emphasized the importance of testing the reliability of the heatshield tiles without the exhaustive inspection regime employed for previous systems like the Space Shuttle.