SpaceX Launches Starship Tonight As Stock Cracks

SpaceX is set to launch Starship Flight 13 tonight from Starbase, Texas, in what may be the most consequential test yet for Elon Musk's rocket company. The 90-minute launch window opens at 6:45 PM ET, with Starship's Super Heavy booster igniting all 33 Raptor engines at liftoff. The flight will carry the first functional Starlink V3 satellites, each weighing up to 2,000 kilograms and delivering roughly ten times the bandwidth of the current generation. Because the V3 satellites are physically too large for a Falcon 9 fairing, Starship is the only vehicle capable of deploying them, making it central to the growth story SpaceX pitched investors in its IPO prospectus. Raymond James analyst Brian Gesuale called Starship becoming operational the critical path to the SpaceX investment thesis. Meanwhile, SpaceX stock has slid roughly 20 percent in July, briefly dipping below its 135 dollar IPO price for the first time. According to CNBC and S3 Partners, short sellers have rapidly increased their bets to about 185 million shares, or nearly 29 percent of the public float, representing roughly 25 billion dollars in bearish wagers. KeyBanc analysts note that the first major lockup unlock could arrive around the company's second quarter earnings, potentially adding another 11 percent of outstanding shares to the tradable float. Tonight's launch could be a major inflection point for both the technology and the trade. Disclaimer: Video contains AI generated content. Video contains content from x.com user @SpaceX. #SPCX #SpaceX #Starship 🌐 Find more market-moving insights at https://www.benzinga.com — your one-stop destination for the latest financial news, data, and expert analysis to stay ahead of the markets. 🖥️ Want the same tools the pros use—without the $10K Bloomberg terminal? Benzinga Edge gives you real-time portfolio alerts, weekly stock picks, and pro-grade research in one command center. 👉 https://bit.ly/4unSKiB ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 📲 Follow us on socials @benzinga 🔔 Subscribe To The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Benzinga ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ⚠️ Disclaimer: Investing in financial markets carries risk, and there are no guaranteed returns. All information is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as financial advice. Always do your own research and speak with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Only invest what you can afford to lose. Past performance does not guarantee future outcomes.