SpaceX IPO

Learn about SpaceX and its anticipated IPO, including key business drivers, potential valuation, and how to trade its stock via CFDs when it lists.

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When is the SpaceX IPO date?

As of April 2025, SpaceX has not confirmed an official initial public offering (IPO) date. However, market speculation has grown following comments from Elon Musk suggesting that Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet division, could go public first. Analysts widely expect an IPO or spinoff by 2025 or 2026, depending on regulatory conditions and capital market appetite.

Key IPO timing factors include:

Starlink spin-off potential: SpaceX may list its Starlink business separately to unlock value and give investors direct access to its satellite broadband growth.
Revenue and valuation growth: SpaceX was valued at around $350bn in December 2024, based on a secondary share sale. Continued expansion in satellite coverage and launch cadence strengthens its IPO case.
Market conditions: a recovery in tech and aerospace IPO sentiment could provide a favourable window for SpaceX to go public.

What is SpaceX?

SpaceX, or Space Exploration Technologies Corp., is a US-based private aerospace company founded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk in 2002. Its mission is to reduce space transportation costs and enable human colonisation of Mars. SpaceX has grown into the world’s leading commercial launch provider and is also expanding its satellite internet coverage via its Starlink division.

You can stay updated on the latest SpaceX and Tesla price trends with our news and analysis section.

Key milestones in SpaceX’s journey

2002Founded by Elon Musk with the goal of making space travel more affordable.
2008Successfully launched Falcon 1, becoming the first private company to send a liquid-fuelled rocket into orbit.
2012First commercial company to deliver cargo to the ISS with its Dragon spacecraft.
2020Launched NASA astronauts to the ISS, marking the first crewed launch by a private firm.
2024Expanding Starlink coverage globally and preparing for Starship missions to support future lunar and Mars exploration.

How does SpaceX make money?

SpaceX makes money across several key business lines, combining government contracts, commercial services, and consumer offerings.

Revenue stream	Description
Launch services	Paid by NASA, the US Department of Defense, and commercial clients to launch payloads using its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.
Starlink subscriptions	Monthly fees from consumers and businesses accessing high-speed internet via the Starlink satellite constellation.
Government contracts	Long-term funding from NASA and other space agencies for crewed and cargo missions to the ISS and beyond.
Satellite deployment	Commercial clients pay to deploy their satellites into orbit aboard SpaceX rockets.
Future Starship services	SpaceX plans to monetise deep-space missions, including lunar transport and cargo.

As of late 2024, SpaceX is reportedly generating over $13bn in annual revenue, with Starlink making up a growing share.

What might influence the SpaceX live stock price?

Once SpaceX (or its Starlink division) goes public, its share price will be driven by a combination of company-specific milestones and broader sector dynamics. Given SpaceX’s position at the intersection of aerospace, telecommunications, and cutting-edge tech, the stock is likely to attract intense investor interest – but also heightened scrutiny.

Starlink user growth and path to profitability

Starlink is expected to be a central pillar of SpaceX’s valuation. It currently serves over 4.5 million customers globally (as of early 2025), offering high-speed internet in rural and underserved areas via its satellite constellation. Analysts will watch closely for continued user growth, especially in emerging markets where broadband alternatives are limited.

Other key metrics that could move the stock:

ARPU (average revenue per user) and churn rates
Starlink’s profitability timeline – currently reinvests heavily in satellite launches
Regulatory wins in large markets like India, Brazil, or Africa
New commercial deals, including with aviation or maritime industries

If SpaceX shows that Starlink can reach sustainable profitability while scaling globally, investors may reward the stock with premium growth multiples. On the flip side, high operating costs and logistical hurdles in hard-to-serve regions could temper enthusiasm.

Launch cadence, cost efficiency, and reusability

SpaceX claims to have completed over 138 successful launches in 2024, mostly thanks to its reusable Falcon 9 rocket system. It has dramatically lowered the cost of space access, undercutting rivals and winning long-term contracts from NASA, the Pentagon, and commercial satellite operators.

Share price could react to:

Any launch failures or hardware malfunctions
Delays or cost overruns with Starship, its next-generation heavy-lift vehicle
Increased launch volume or new contract wins
Evidence of growing margins from rapid rocket turnaround and reuse

SpaceX’s ability to continue scaling its launch operations while keeping costs low is critical to its long-term margins and investor confidence.

Progress on Starship and deep-space ambitions

Starship, SpaceX’s fully reusable rocket under development, is central to its long-term vision. It’s designed to carry massive cargo loads and passengers to the Moon, Mars, and beyond – and is contracted for future Artemis missions by NASA.

What could influence the stock:

Milestones in Starship orbital test flights
Successful refuelling demonstrations in space
Securing government contracts or private-sector applications (e.g., space mining, lunar tourism)
Regulatory or environmental delays from FAA or international agencies

Positive Starship developments may ignite investor excitement around SpaceX’s role in interplanetary transport. But persistent delays or technical setbacks could weigh on the valuation, especially if revenue from Starship doesn’t materialise quickly.

Regulatory hurdles and geopolitical tensions

SpaceX operates in a highly regulated industry that spans defense, telecommunications, and aerospace. Its operations are impacted by national and international laws around satellite frequencies, airspace usage, and military collaboration.

Potential stock price influences include:

Export restrictions or compliance issues under ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations)
FCC rulings on satellite spectrum allocation
Legal battles over Starlink’s environmental or orbital impact
Heightened scrutiny from international rivals, such as China or Russia, in the context of space race tensions

As governments increasingly view space as strategic infrastructure, any regulatory missteps or geopolitical pushback could cause volatility.

Competitive landscape and innovation cycles

While SpaceX is the dominant commercial launch provider today, competition is heating up across every vertical – from launch to satellite internet.

Key rivals include:

Amazon’s Project Kuiper, planning to launch over 3,000 satellites for global broadband
Blue Origin, developing the New Glenn rocket and lunar landers
OneWeb, backed by the UK government and focused on LEO internet
Traditional players like ULA, Arianespace, and China’s CASC

Innovations in propulsion, reusability, satellite miniaturisation, and AI-powered space analytics could reshape the market. SpaceX must maintain its edge or risk being disrupted – especially if competitors offer lower costs or win regulatory favour.

Market sentiment and IPO dynamics

As one of the most anticipated IPOs of the decade, SpaceX could experience volatile early trading, amplified by hype and media coverage.

Key influences on sentiment may include:

Demand during the IPO bookbuild and initial pricing range
Early analyst coverage and institutional ratings
Broader macro environment: high interest rates, tech stock volatility, or geopolitical instability could all sap enthusiasm
Elon Musk’s public persona and potential cross-over influence from Tesla, Neuralink, or X (formerly Twitter)

Retail investor interest may also play a large role, especially if the IPO draws a fan base similar to Tesla’s. Social media buzz, meme stock momentum, or speculative trading could all lead to dramatic short-term swings.

How to trade SpaceX stocks via CFDs

Choose a platformCapital.com offers CFD trading on thousands of global stocks, including new IPOs and aerospace firms.
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Fund your accountDeposit funds into your account. Only trade with capital you can afford to risk.
Track the IPOMonitor SpaceX IPO news, key filings, and price charts after the stock begins trading.
Trade the stockUse long or short positions to trade price movements. Add stop-losses or take-profits to manage risk.

Learn more in our CFD trading guide.

Which space and aerospace stocks can I trade?

While SpaceX remains private, there are several publicly listed companies with exposure to aerospace, rockets, and satellite technology:

Rocket Lab (RKLB) – small satellite launch provider and SpaceX competitor
Virgin Galactic (SPCE) – suborbital space tourism company
Boeing (BA) – aerospace giant involved in ISS missions and space hardware
Lockheed Martin (LMT) – key NASA and defense contractor with deep space programmes
Northrop Grumman (NOC) – builder of launch systems and spacecraft
Amazon (AMZN) – developing satellite constellation via Project Kuiper

See our full shares trading guide to explore more opportunities.

FAQ

Who owns SpaceX?

SpaceX is a privately held company. Elon Musk is the largest shareholder, with other stakes held by early employees, venture capital firms (such as Founders Fund, Sequoia Capital), and institutional investors including Fidelity and Andreessen Horowitz. The company has raised billions through multiple funding rounds.

How much is SpaceX worth?

SpaceX’s latest valuation in 2024 was approximately $350bn, making it one of the most valuable private companies in the world. This is based on growth in Starlink subscriptions, successful launches, and a growing backlog of contracts.

When will SpaceX IPO?

There is no confirmed date yet, but a SpaceX IPO or a Starlink spin-off is widely expected within the next year or two. Elon Musk has hinted that a public offering could follow once Starlink reaches steady cash flow.

Can I invest in SpaceX before the IPO?

Pre-IPO shares are usually reserved for institutional investors, but some secondary platforms may offer access through private share transactions. These are high-risk, less liquid, and often restricted.

Will SpaceX be available for CFD trading?

If SpaceX goes public, brokers like Capital.com may offer its stock as a CFD. This allows traders to speculate on price moves without owning the underlying shares, with access to leverage and both long and short positions. However, leverage also amplifies risk. Availability will depend on demand and post-listing liquidity.