June 3
SpaceX's Projected 2025 $15.5 Billion Surpasses NASA's Entire Budget

Elon Musk announced that SpaceX anticipates generating approximately $15.5 billion in revenue for 2025 - nearly identical to Mach33's predictions - which outpaces NASA's entire budget for the same period. This projection is a result of SpaceX's rapid growth, driven by Starlink and its reusable launch vehicles. The company's ambitious launch schedule aims for 170 missions this year to further reinforce its dominant position in the commercial space sector.

June 4
500th Falcon-Family Orbital Launch Marks 15 Years of Falcon 9

SpaceX’s Starlink 11-22 mission lifted off from Vandenberg SFB, delivering 27 v2 Mini satellites and marking the 500th orbital launch by a Falcon-class rocket, exactly 15 years after Falcon 9’s debut. Booster B1063 logged its 26th flight, then nailed another droneship landing - now unsurprising given the fleet’s record-breaking reuse economics. Hitting the 500-launch milestone highlights how Falcon’s reliability and fast-turn pad ops continue to proliferate the ever-denser Starlink deployment schedule and keeping SpaceX well ahead of rival launch providers.

June 5
Musk Decommissions SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft, Then Subsequently Walks Back

In a now-deleted announcement, Elon Musk stated he was to decommission SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft following Donald Trump's post proposing to cut billions in government subsidies and contracts to Musk's companies. The Dragon spacecraft (critical for NASA’s ISS operations) was set to play a key role in the station’s decommissioning, with SpaceX awarded $843 million to manage ISS disposal, a plan that was at risk due to the conflict. Musk’s decision could disrupt U.S. space exploration, as the Dragon is the only operational spacecraft capable of returning significant cargo from the ISS.

Following the advice of a user on X, Elon Musk then retracted his earlier announcement to decommission the Dragon spacecraft following escalating tensions with President Trump.

June 6
Trump Walks Back Threat, Reaffirms Support for Starlink

Donald Trump reversed course on earlier threats to cancel federal contracts for Elon Musk’s companies, publicly stating he would not cut funding to Starlink and calling it “a good service.” He added that he “wishes Elon Musk well,” softening the tone of a public feud that briefly rattled market observers and raised questions about SpaceX’s government revenue. The shift came just days after Trump floated pulling “billions” in subsidies and contracts, including for SpaceX.

June 9
Starlink Hits 6 Million Users, Expands Global Footprint

Starlink announced it now provides high-speed broadband to over 6 million users across more than 140 countries and territories. This milestone reflects strong subscriber growth driven by terrestrial network gaps, particularly in remote, rural, and mobile-use scenarios. As user count climbs, economies of scale improve with each satellite launch, boosting Starlink’s valuation and revenue potential. Continued momentum across direct-to-cell, enterprise, maritime, and aviation verticals strengthens the business case and investor confidence in Starlink’s long-term growth trajectory.

June 12
US Space Command Warns of China's "Dogfighting" in Orbit

U.S. generals told Reuters they have tracked five Chinese satellites flying close to one another, similar to fighter pilots practicing combat moves. Beijing might blind, jam, or seize U.S. spacecraft during a Taiwan crisis. Commanders also cite Russian co-orbital threats, including a possible nuclear payload, and have instructed contractors to harden communications, imaging, and GPS constellations. Military planners are adding AI targeting, rapid-launch tactical rockets, and on-orbit spares to keep assets online in combat. Large commercial networks, notably Starlink, are central to this defense posture because they can be replenished quickly and are difficult to disable.

June 13
White House Directs Review of SpaceX Contracts Amid Musk–Trump Rift

The Trump administration has reportedly instructed NASA and the Department of Defense to reevaluate their ongoing contracts with SpaceX, following Elon Musk’s public dispute with former President Trump. The review includes billions of dollars in launch and broadband service agreements. However, the practical impact may be limited, given SpaceX remains far ahead of competitors in both heavy-lift launch and global satellite connectivity. There are currently no viable substitutes for key SpaceX offerings, and while other firms are working to close the gap, they remain years behind on capability, cadence, and infrastructure. Unless a superior alternative materializes, government agencies are unlikely to risk mission readiness or coverage quality.

June 13
FAA considers new launch fees tied to airspace congestion

Ars Technica reports that the FAA is considering per-launch fees on commercial space operators to compensate the airline industry for airspace closures during rocket launches. The plan, still in early discussion, would charge spaceflight companies based on the size and duration of airspace disruptions, aiming to offset costs incurred by rerouted flights. While not yet formal policy, the proposal signals growing tension between aviation and spaceflight interests as U.S. launch cadence accelerates. SpaceX in particular, with its multiple weekly launches, could face material cost implications if such fees are adopted. The fee structure is expected to be debated in upcoming FAA reauthorization bills and could spur broader regulatory engagement by space firms seeking to protect cadence and margins.

June 13
ESA Seeks €1 B for Dual-Use Satellite Constellation

The European Space Agency is pushing EU member states for a €1 billion investment to develop a fleet of 15–30 satellites capable of military-grade Earth observation. These satellites would integrate optical radar, onboard AI, and real-time tasking—supporting defense, climate monitoring, and intelligence missions—with a projected total cost of €4–6 billion over 10–15 years. ESA's bid also ties into a requested 36% boost in agency financing to €23 billion, aimed at reducing reliance on U.S. partners amid growing geopolitical tensions. The proposal is expected to be finalized in November during the ESA Ministerial Council. If approved, it the ESA's move will could serve as an indicator for a longer-term shift toward dual-use space systems in Europe, creating new market opportunities for industrial subcontractors.

June 13
Trump reportedly urged FCC chair to approve EchoStar spectrum deal

According to Bloomberg, President Donald Trump personally encouraged FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to cut a deal with EchoStar over disputed 2 GHz spectrum rights. EchoStar’s S-band holdings have become a flashpoint in its battle with SpaceX. This revelation adds political complexity to ongoing FCC rulemaking around spectrum sharing, particularly as SpaceX pushes to repurpose underused frequencies for direct-to-cell Starlink service. The backchannel contact also raises questions about political influence in FCC decisions, which may now face scrutiny as the Commission moves toward finalizing its new NGSO-sharing framework.

June 15
Musk Proposes Boeing-Level Production for Starship

Elon Musk shared that SpaceX targets manufacturing Starship at a scale comparable to Boeing and Airbus, signaling a move toward industrial-level output. While no timeline was disclosed, this ambition implies substantial investment in factories and supply chains. Achieving such production scale would support more frequent missions and progress toward interplanetary goals.

June 19
Starship Ship 36 Explodes in “Major Anomaly” During Static‑Fire Test

During a late-night test stand check at Starbase on June 18, Starship Ship 36 erupted into a massive fireball just before its planned static‑fire sequence ahead of Flight 10. The incident occurred midway through the propellant loading process and was described by SpaceX as a “major anomaly.” There were no injuries or community impact thanks to pre-established safety exclusion zones. Early analysis from Elon Musk suggests a nitrogen COPV vessel in the payload bay may have failed below pressure, an issue not encountered in previous tests. Despite this setback, the blast highlights the inherent risks of rapid prototype development and SpaceX's resilience in turning failures into actionable data. The company has begun securing the site and continues to press ahead with Flight 10 preparations once the investigation concludes.

June 23
T-Mobile Sets October Start for Starlink-Powered Data Service

A post summarizing remarks by T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert says the carrier will wind down its Direct-to-Cell beta in July and roll out a paid “T-Satellite” package on October 1, Reuters confirmed. Nearly 1.8 million customers have already enrolled, with 657 Starlink satellites dedicated to the service.

The plan promises nationwide dead-zone coverage. However, there's no full-speed internet yet. T-Mobile calls it “2G-style” data. Think basic maps, weather, messaging apps and lightweight web APIs, not 4K video streaming. T-Mobile’s exact promise is that on 1 October 2025 the Starlink-powered T-Satellite network will turn on low-bandwidth data service for apps that are optimized for it.

By bundling satellite connectivity as a free perk in its $100-a-month “Experience Beyond” tier while charging a flat $10 for users on rival networks, T-Mobile is using a classic upsell-plus-wholesale play, driving high-ARPU upgrades inside its own base and monetising competitors’ subscribers at the same time.

The timing is crucial because AT&T and Verizon, working with AST SpaceMobile, fresh off successful satellite-to-smartphone video-call demos and soon ramping monthly satellite launches ahead of a U.S. beta later this year, are racing to offer their own direct-to-cell plans, so T-Mobile’s $10 wholesale option doubles as a pre-emptive strike to lure those subscribers before competing services go live.

June 23
SpaceX Reuse Strategy Drives Launch Costs Down and Flight Rate Up

SpaceX launch-operations vice-president Kiko Dontchev told followers that Falcon 9 reusability and a redesigned payload dispenser have “slashed the cost per kilogram to LEO and boosted annual launch slots.” Current public pricing shows rideshare payloads at $6,500 per kg, and Musk projects as many as 170 Falcon flights this year, evidence that the lower‐cost model is scaling quickly and strengthening the company’s cash flow for future vehicles such as Starship.

June 24
EU Industry Chiefs Pursue Joint LEO Constellation Factory

Responding to an EU Commission call for “a single market for space,” Airbus, Leonardo and Thales met this week to refine “Project Bromo,” a shared production line for low-Earth-orbit satellites. Reuters reports that while antitrust and cost-sharing issues may push talks beyond July, leaders say a pan-European builder could cut unit prices and keep the region competitive with Starlink and Chinese constellations. If the venture clears regulatory hurdles, it would channel fresh capital into Europe’s space supply chain and expand domestic manufacturing capacity.

June 26
Final Crew Dragon C213 Set for Maiden Flight on Axiom Mission 4

SpaceX has launched its fifth and final Crew Dragon capsule, C213 “Grace”, on Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS. On 25 June 2025 at 06:31 UTC (02:31 EDT) a Falcon 9 Block 5 (booster B1094-2) thundered off Pad 39A, Kennedy Space Center. Nine minutes later, the brand-new Dragon separated while the first stage executed a return-to-launch-site landing at Landing Zone 1, marking the booster’s second successful recovery. Grace carried a four-person crew: Peggy Whitson (commander), Shubhanshu Shukla, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Tibor Kapu, who docked to the station’s Harmony zenith port on 26 June for a planned 10- to 14-day stay devoted to micro-gravity research and outreach.

With Grace safely in orbit, SpaceX’s human-rated fleet now stands at five reusable Dragons, each cleared for up to 15 flights, giving NASA, Axiom, and other partners more scheduling flexibility just as demand for low-Earth-orbit missions accelerates. No competing commercial crew vehicle is yet certified to fly private customers, so the successful Ax-4 launch further cements SpaceX’s lead in the market.

June 27
SpaceX Plans $250 M ‘Gigabay’ to Boost Starship Output by 2026

A Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing, caught by space analyst Niall-Ian Anderson on X, shows SpaceX will build a 700,000-square-foot “Gigabay” at Starbase, Cameron County, for roughly $250 million. The structure will replace older high-bay facilities and allow parallel integration of multiple Starship boosters and upper stages, expanding covered floor space about five-fold. Construction is slated to finish by the end of 2026, aligning with SpaceX’s target to ramp fully reusable launches for Starlink, lunar cargo and NASA’s Artemis program. The project is expected to create immediate construction jobs and add long-term engineering roles, underscoring investor optimism in high-volume Starship production.