January 3
Elon Musk Reaffirms Focus on Mars

In response to a discussion on X, Elon Musk dismissed the Moon as a "distraction," emphasizing that SpaceX is “going straight to Mars.” He reiterated that mass-to-orbit is the key metric, with the long-term goal of achieving megaton-scale launches per year to make Mars colonization viable. 

January 10
Starshield Secures $1.6 Billion Contract with Italy

Reports surfaced that Italy is in advanced talks with SpaceX for a five-year $1.6 billion deal to provide secure government telecommunications via Starshield, SpaceX’s defense-focused satellite program. This would mark one of Starshield’s largest known government contracts, reinforcing its position as a major and global player in secure satellite communications.

January 16
Starship Flight 7: Key Takeaways

Starship’s seventh flight test on January 16, 2025, advanced reusability and vehicle upgrades while highlighting areas for improvement.

✅ Mission Successes

• Super Heavy booster launched successfully with all 33 Raptors.

• Hot-stage separation performed nominally.

• Boostback burn executed with 12 of 13 planned engines.

• Second-ever successful catch of Super Heavy using launch tower arms.

⚠️ Starship Upper Stage Anomaly

• Six Raptor engines ignited post-separation.

• Telemetry lost ~8.5 minutes into flight due to a fire in the aft section.

• Elon Musk confirmed the cause as an oxygen/fuel leak above the engine firewall, leading to pressure buildup beyond vent capacity.

• Resulted in rapid unscheduled disassembly (RUD).

• No hazardous materials or environmental impact expected from debris.

  

  The debris from Starship Upper Stage RUD. Source: SpaceflightNow

🔄 Next Steps

• SpaceX to implement new fire suppression systems and improve leak detection for future flights.

• Investigation underway in coordination with FAA.

• Starship Flight 8 already in prelaunch testing.

• Continuous iteration toward full reusability.

January 18
Trump Signals Support for Space Expansion

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that his administration would pursue a "manifest destiny into the stars" by launching American astronauts to “plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars”. Musk’s joyful reaction underscores the political momentum surrounding space policy heading into the Trump administration.

January 22
SpaceX’s Gigafactory Plans in Florida

The FAA has published SpaceX’s proposal for a 380-foot-tall "Giga Bay" facility on Florida’s Space Coast, expected to be completed by 2026. The site will significantly expand Starship manufacturing capacity, supporting higher launch cadence and marking a move toward lower-cost mass-manufacturing.

January 24
SpaceX Expands into Agriculture

Farmers are the latest group to benefit from SpaceX’s satellite internet revolution. A new partnership with John Deere shows Starlink’s growing role in agriculture, with new deployments that bring satellite connectivity to farmers. This another manifestation SpaceX’s push into rural broadband markets, leveraging satellite coverage where terrestrial infrastructure is lacking.

January 27
Apple Collaborates with Starlink for Iphone Connectivity

Bloomberg reported that Apple is secretly working with SpaceX and T-Mobile to integrate Starlink connectivity into iPhones. While details remain scarce, the move signals Apple’s willingness to rely on Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell (DTC) technology for future mobile satellite services. The news had an immediate impact on the market: Globalstar (GSAT) shares fell over 20%, as Apple had previously partnered with them for low-bandwidth IoT services, even investing in the company. Meanwhile, AST SpaceMobile (ASTS), a key DTC competitor, dropped ~10% before rebounding. The market reaction suggests growing investor concern that Apple's alignment with SpaceX could shift the balance of power in satellite-to-cell connectivity.

January 30
Musk Confirms Starlink DTC Data Capability

Musk stated that current Starlink DTC satellites support medium-resolution images, music streaming, and podcasts, with next-gen satellites expected to support medium-resolution video. This confirms steady progress toward fully operational satellite-based mobile broadband.

We model for DTC video and call services beginning in 2026, following the launch of the first Starlink V3 satellites via Starship, which are expected to begin later this year.