SpaceX Launches with 1.9 Billion New Funding Round
It looks like Elon Musk will be launching with a pocket full of new cash.
SpaceX raised $1.9 billion in new funding from 75 investors. This grows the rocket maker’s equity value to $46 billion.
Earlier this month, the modern technology company completed the two-month mission carrying two NASA astronauts in its Dragon spacecraft.
This is under its vision of starting commercial human spaceflights for interplanetary travel by 2021. Hence, this is also a revolutionary bump in America’s future in space exploration, including in operational crew missions to ISS.
The firm plans to launch another mission to International Space Station in late October.
The return of the two astronauts is another history recorded with the splashdown occurring the first time again in 45 years.
Immediately after the success, SpaceX secured a multi-billion dollar contract with US Air Force, surpassing the Bezos-owned Blue Origin.
The Falcon Rockets will replace the Russian rocket technology previously used in the US but now banned due to geopolitical tensions.
The new rounds of funding will be used to build the firm’s Starlink satellite constellation to offer a global commercial broadband connection by next year.
What’s New with SpaceX Starlink Satellite?
Musk once again tops technology news in latest Starlink Satellite launch.
After suffering from delays brought by uncooperative weather and additional technical checkouts, the Hawthrone-based firm sends another big batch of broadband-capable Starlink Satellites into space.
These are carried by Falcon 9, marking the booster’s sixth flight to space for this week. The rocket ascended to space from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Although the technology will help in enhancing connectivity, this does not come without a cost.
Many astronomers and observers complain that the amount of sunlight reflected by the orbiting routers interfere with scientific observations. In the latest launch, the units are equipped with a visor to counteract the brightness.
SpaceX worked with many space-related organizations to solve the problem, now that they plan to launch thousands of satellites into low-Earth orbit in the coming years.
Thus, VisorSat-equipped satellites will be less reflective than previous versions produced. They are particularly designed to be less visible from telescopes on Earth’s surface.
Although the first batch using the new technology was launched just earlier this month and yet to reach their orbit, this did not impede the firm from starting the second batch of satellites.
Recently, the aerospace manufacturer also perfected its method for catching their equipment falling from space. SpaceX caught half of the nose cone that once protected its 58 satellites using a ship with a net.
