SpaceX reported its first quarterly profit since becoming a public company, earning 37 cents per share on $14. 6 billion in third-quarter revenue.
The company ended September with 1. 7 gigawatts of computing capacity, underscoring how rapidly its business is expanding beyond launches and satellite internet.
The rocket carried 26 advanced Starlink satellites, but an engine shut down prematurely and flight controllers ended the mission after about three hours as the spacecraft returned over the Pacific and splashed down north of Hawaii.
The mission had been designed to last about 10 hours and complete six laps around Earth. Starship reached the intended orbit and traveled at roughly 17,500 mph, but it tipped over and caught fire during splashdown after completing only a couple of laps.
Starship’s next flight could attempt a return to the launch site for a tower catch, depending on the findings from Flight 14. The 407-foot rocket is designed for full reusability and is being developed for satellite deployment and future lunar missions.
Separately, federal regulators authorized SpaceX to deploy an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, bringing the authorized Gen2 constellation to 15,000. The authorization includes expanded broadband and mobile capabilities, including direct-to-device connectivity outside the United States and supplemental coverage within it.