November 1
Space Force Ups Satellite Internet Budget to $13B

The U.S. Space Force has raised the budget for its Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) program from $900 million to $13 billion, reflecting growing reliance on satellite internet. Now in its second year, PLEO has allocated $660 million to providers, with most contracts awarded to SpaceX's Starlink.

Michael Sheetz estimates SpaceX could capture up to $9 billion if it continues to win 75% of awards, cementing Starshield’s dominance in military satellite communications. Meanwhile, the NRO unveiled SpaceX-built spy satellites, offering persistent, near-continuous surveillance capabilities.

November 1
Apple Backs Globalstar with $1.5B for 5G Satellite Expansion

Apple is reportedly funding the construction of an estimated 40-80 new Globalstar satellites, with a $1.1B cash injection as well as a $400M equity investment (20% equity). These satellites aim to introduce 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), and makes Globalstar (GSAT:NYSE) a noteworthy Starlink competitor worth keeping an eye on.

November 5
NRO Unveils SpaceX-Built Spy Satellites for Surveillance

While Starshield takes care of military communications, the National Reconnaissance Office’s constellation is purpose-built for surveillance. "You can’t hide, because we’re constantly looking," said NRO Director Chris Scolese. Over 80 of these mass-produced satellites, weighing under a ton each, have already launched on Falcon 9 rockets, with plans to quadruple the NRO’s orbital presence within a decade. This "proliferated architecture" delivers high-resolution imagery of critical sites at unprecedented speeds, enabling faster and more persistent monitoring than ever before.

This shift reflects advances in digital electronics and dramatically lower launch costs, which have made it feasible to replace legacy fleets of large, expensive satellites. "The cost of entry has come way down," said Troy Meink, NRO’s principal deputy director.

November 6
Starlink Demand Soars in Africa, Terminals Sell Out in Five Countries

Starlink terminals have sold out in five African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar, with urban centers like Abuja, Lagos, Nairobi, and Lusaka facing particularly high demand. In response, Starlink has temporarily halted new sign-ups in several cities, citing network capacity limits due to the overwhelming number of users attempting to access the service. "Starlink is working to increase Internet capacity in dense urban areas in Africa as fast as possible," the company stated, while noting significant capacity remains available outside city centers.

This surge in demand highlights the critical need for reliable internet access across underserved regions. In Nigeria, for example, cities like Port Harcourt and Warri have experienced stock shortages, prompting local providers to reassess pricing strategies to stay competitive. The rapid adoption of Starlink underscores its growing role in bridging the digital divide in Africa’s rapidly urbanizing regions.

November 8
Global Starlink Latency Map Highlights Network Reach and Speed

A newly released dataset visualizes Starlink latency data across the globe, showcasing the connection speeds between Starlink terminals and Points of Presence (PoPs). The map uses lighter colors to indicate lower latency values, which generally correspond to proximity to active Starlink PoPs.

This dataset, managed by Elcome International, provides real-time insights into Starlink's network performance, highlighting latency variations by geography. It offers a detailed view of how Starlink is connecting users worldwide and demonstrates the service's growing reach and capacity. The map is based on millions of telemetry data points, updated regularly, and highlights Starlink’s rapid expansion in providing low-latency satellite internet.

November 9
SpaceX Defends Starlink DTC Against Omnispace Claims to FCC

SpaceX filed a detailed response with the FCC, countering Omnispace’s allegations aimed at blocking the rollout of Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell (DTC) service in collaboration with T-Mobile. SpaceX criticized Omnispace for making "increasingly absurd claims" and attempting to exert veto power over T-Mobile's use of its own spectrum. The filing stated, “The record is clear that even though Omnispace has no rights to operate in the United States, it has persisted in seeking to block T-Mobile from using its own spectrum in accordance with the supplemental coverage from space order.”

The response comes amid accusations from Omnispace that Starlink’s DTC-equipped satellites are causing increased noise in the S-band frequencies, potentially disrupting their mobile satellite services. SpaceX refuted these claims, noting a lack of evidence and accusing Omnispace of avoiding coordination efforts that are standard practice to resolve spectrum conflicts. This dispute highlights the growing competition and regulatory friction in the emerging satellite-to-cellular communication market.

November 9
25 Starship Launches in 2025?

According to Kathy Lueders' presentation at CONACES, Elon Musk has set an ambitious target of 25 Starship launches for 2025, signaling SpaceX's confidence in scaling operations for its next-generation rocket. SpaceX also plans to attempt Starship recoveries within the next six months, contingent on the success of upcoming flights. These milestones reflect SpaceX's rapid progress toward achieving fully reusable spaceflight

November 10
Innovation or Imitation? China Builds Booster Catch Tower

Chinese ‘startup’ Cosmoleap, also known as Dahang Yueqian Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd., is making headlines for its rapid progress in reusable rocket technology. Founded in March 2024, the company has constructed a "chopstick clamp" booster recovery tower, a strikingly similar concept to SpaceX's Starship recovery system. The company has also developed a verification platform and advanced flight control systems to support reusable liquid rocket technology.

November 13
Starlink Backpack

SpaceX has introduced a new Starlink backpack, available for $199 in the U.S., designed for portability and protection of the Starlink Standard Kit. The sleek backpack can store the Gen 3 router, power supply, a 5m Standard Starlink Cable, and even a 16-inch laptop.

With a rugged and durable exterior, the backpack ensures your Starlink equipment stays safe from the elements, making it ideal for travelers and remote workers seeking reliable internet on the go. The product is available now via the Starlink shop.

November 14
Elon Hints: Tunnels Key to Mars Habitats

In response to speculation about The Boring Company’s potential role in building a Martian city, Elon Musk commented, “Tunnels will be important on Mars.” While not confirming specifics, the statement highlights the potential of tunneling as a solution to the Red Planet’s harsh surface conditions. Could The Boring Company’s Earth-based tech be laying the groundwork for humanity’s first underground habitats on Mars?

November 15
Starlink Nearing 5 Million Customers, Falcon 9 Phase-Out Timeline Revealed

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell mentioned that Starlink is nearing 5 million customers globally, emphasizing the need for healthy competition in the satellite broadband market. It was only 2 months ago when Starlink had passed 4 million! Shotwell also mentioned that Falcon 9 will be flying six to eight more years, giving us more visibility into when Falcon 9 will phase out in fastarship ift6

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November 19
Starship IFT-6 Completes Key Tests

SpaceX conducted the sixth flight test of Starship from its Starbase facility, achieving critical milestones in its journey toward full reusability. The Super Heavy booster, powered by 33 Raptor engines, successfully lifted off, completed stage separation, and performed a boostback burn. Although a catch attempt was aborted due to automated health checks, the booster executed a controlled landing splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

Starship demonstrated a successful ascent and reignition of a single Raptor engine in space, a key capability for future deorbit burns required for orbital missions. The ship completed reentry, executed a flip maneuver, and soft-landed in the Indian Ocean, with telemetry relayed via Starlink.

This test provided valuable data on thermal protection, subsonic flight dynamics, and hardware performance, bringing SpaceX closer to achieving rapid and reliable Starship reusability. The insights gained will further refine the system as it prepares for fully orbital missions.

November 19
Elon Musk Highlights Starlink's Role in Funding Mars and Starship Progress

Musk emphasized that Starlink is funding humanity’s path to Mars, explaining its significance with a nod to the Hohmann transfer orbit diagram, which is featured on the Starlink router - symbolizing the connection between Starlink revenue and interplanetary exploration. Although we had figured this out by now through our modelling, it is reassuring to hear it for the man himself.

On the Starship front, Musk revealed that the current Starship is over twice as powerful as the Saturn V Moon rocket, with plans for the upcoming Starship V3 to be three times as powerful, targeting a flight within a year. He also shared performance metrics, noting that Flight 6 achieved liftoff thrust of ~7,500 tons with a mass of ~5,000 tons. The Starship V3 tanker version is expected to weigh over 7,000 tons, dwarfing Earth’s largest aircraft, the Boeing 747, which tops out at less than 500 tons fully loaded.

November 25
Starlink Completes DTC Constellation

SpaceX completed its Direct-to-Cell constellation with the launch of the final 12 of the 320 new satellites. This milestone enables global texting and calling services, marking a significant step forward for satellite-based mobile connectivity.

November 28
FCC Approves Starlink DTC License, Defers Waiver Decision

The FCC has granted SpaceX a commercial license for its Direct-to-Cell (DTC) program, allowing Starlink to provide services like texting and calling via satellite across the U.S. This approval marks a significant win for SpaceX, as competitors had hoped to block the license. It positions Starlink to expand its mobile connectivity offerings, solidifying its leadership in satellite-to-cell communications.

However, the FCC deferred a decision on SpaceX’s request for a waiver of out-of-band emissions (OOBE) limits, which could impact the system’s operational flexibility. While the waiver remains unresolved, the approval of the license ensures that Starlink can move forward with its DTC rollout, maintaining momentum in this rapidly evolving market.

December 2
Rumored SpaceX $350B Tender Offer Aligns with Mach33’s Projections

SpaceX is reportedly exploring a tender offer to sell insider shares at a valuation of approximately $350 billion, significantly surpassing the $255 billion valuation considered last month. Within our network, we have no reason to believe this number is fake. This would position SpaceX as the most valuable private company globally, reflecting robust investor confidence in its ambitious ventures, particularly Starlink and Starship.

Mach33's Q3 2024 SpaceX Intelligence Report, published in September, projected an end-of-year valuation of $370 billion. This reinforces Mach33's reputation for delivering highly accurate financial insights ahead of market trends. Investors or Managers overseeing large SpaceX positions are encouraged to subscribe to our premium research, where exclusive analyses, valuation updates, and forward-looking modeling are provided.