News
SpaceX aces first Moon launch with a reused rocket
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has become the first in history to launch a spacecraft to the Moon using reused hardware.
That spacecraft: a domestically-developed South Korean ‘pathfinder’ and Moon orbiter known as KPLO or Danuri. Weighing about 678 kilograms (~1500 lb) and roughly the size of a small car, KPLO will be the South Korea’s first mission beyond Earth orbit and, if successful, could make it the 8th country in history to reach orbit around another planetary body. According to officials from South Korea’s Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), the Moon orbiter is just the tip of the country’s ambitions, which it hopes will include missions to the lunar surface, asteroids, and even Mars in the “near future.”
South Korea chose SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to launch KPLO by 2020 in late 2017, barely six months after the company’s first commercial reuse of the rocket’s recoverable first stage (booster). Five years later, the launch of a new Falcon booster is a rare and noteworthy event, and the company has simultaneously matured payload fairing recovery and reuse into a routine and common process.
The KPLO mission is now the first time in spaceflight history that a reused rocket has launched a spacecraft to the Moon. SpaceX chose to launch KPLO on the sixth flight of Falcon 9 booster B1052, and was also able to convince KARI to opt for a reused payload fairing, saving the institute money while also demonstrating just how widely accepted even Falcon fairing reuse has become. KPLO’s fairing halves flew for the fourth time as part of the Moon launch and will be recovered for future use after they splash down in the Atlantic Ocean.
Falcon booster B1052 likely has an even longer career ahead of it, as SpaceX has flown three other boosters 13 times and reportedly intends to launch each booster at least 15 times.
Safely on its way into deep space, KPLO’s efficient “ballistic lunar trajectory” or BLT will take it on a circuitous, multi-month journey around an Earth-Sun Lagrange point that should eventually reach the right position to enter lunar orbit in December 2022. While Falcon 9 is fully capable of sending KPLO directly to the Moon on a trans-lunar injection (TLI) trajectory, KARI decided late in development to switch to a BLT trajectory, saving around 165 meters per second of delta V that can instead be used to significantly extend the orbiter’s useful longevity around the Moon.
KPLO’s defining purpose is to image the Moon with several cameras and scout for a landing site for a future South Korean Moon lander, but it will also undoubtedly contribute to planetary science and help improve humanity’s understanding of its closest neighbor. One instrument – ShadowCam – supplied by NASA could prove essential for characterizing the quantity of water ice hidden in the Moon’s permanently shadowed regions. Water ice could eventually be mined and turned into rocket propellant depots on the lunar surface.
Elon Musk
SpaceX issues statement on Starship V3 Booster 18 anomaly
The incident unfolded during gas-system pressure testing at the company’s Massey facility in Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX has issued an initial statement about Starship Booster 18’s anomaly early Friday. The incident unfolded during gas-system pressure testing at the company’s Massey facility in Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX’s initial comment
As per SpaceX in a post on its official account on social media platform X, Booster 18 was undergoing gas system pressure tests when the anomaly happened. Despite the nature of the incident, the company emphasized that no propellant was loaded, no engines were installed, and personnel were kept at a safe distance from the booster, resulting in zero injuries.
“Booster 18 suffered an anomaly during gas system pressure testing that we were conducting in advance of structural proof testing. No propellant was on the vehicle, and engines were not yet installed. The teams need time to investigate before we are confident of the cause. No one was injured as we maintain a safe distance for personnel during this type of testing. The site remains clear and we are working plans to safely reenter the site,” SpaceX wrote in its post on X.
Incident and aftermath
Livestream footage from LabPadre showed Booster 18’s lower half crumpling around the liquid oxygen tank area at approximately 4:04 a.m. CT. Subsequent images posted by on-site observers revealed extensive deformation across the booster’s lower structure. Needless to say, spaceflight observers have noted that Booster 18 would likely be a complete loss due to its anomaly.
Booster 18 had rolled out only a day earlier and was one of the first vehicles in the Starship V3 program. The V3 series incorporates structural reinforcements and reliability upgrades intended to prepare Starship for rapid-reuse testing and eventual tower-catch operations. Elon Musk has been optimistic about Starship V3, previously noting on X that the spacecraft might be able to complete initial missions to Mars.
Investor's Corner
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) received fresh support from Piper Sandler this week after analysts toured the Fremont Factory and tested the company’s latest Full Self-Driving software. The firm reaffirmed its $500 price target, stating that FSD V14 delivered a notably smooth robotaxi demonstration and may already perform at levels comparable to, if not better than, average human drivers.
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Analysts highlight autonomy progress
During more than 75 minutes of focused discussions, analysts reportedly focused on FSD v14’s updates. Piper Sandler’s team pointed to meaningful strides in perception, object handling, and overall ride smoothness during the robotaxi demo.
The visit also included discussions on updates to Tesla’s in-house chip initiatives, its Optimus program, and the growth of the company’s battery storage business. Analysts noted that Tesla continues refining cost structures and capital expenditure expectations, which are key elements in future margin recovery, as noted in a Yahoo Finance report.
Analyst Alexander Potter noted that “we think FSD is a truly impressive product that is (probably) already better at driving than the average American.” This conclusion was strengthened by what he described as a “flawless robotaxi ride to the hotel.”
Street targets diverge on TSLA
While Piper Sandler stands by its $500 target, it is not the highest estimate on the Street. Wedbush, for one, has a $600 per share price target for TSLA stock.
Other institutions have also weighed in on TSLA stock as of late. HSBC reiterated a Reduce rating with a $131 target, citing a gap between earnings fundamentals and the company’s market value. By contrast, TD Cowen maintained a Buy rating and a $509 target, pointing to strong autonomous driving demonstrations in Austin and the pace of software-driven improvements.
Stifel analysts also lifted their price target for Tesla to $508 per share over the company’s ongoing robotaxi and FSD programs.
Elon Musk
SpaceX Starship Version 3 booster crumples in early testing
Photos of the incident’s aftermath suggest that Booster 18 will likely be retired.
SpaceX’s new Starship first-stage booster, Booster 18, suffered major damage early Friday during its first round of testing in Starbase, Texas, just one day after rolling out of the factory.
Based on videos of the incident, the lower section of the rocket booster appeared to crumple during a pressurization test. Photos of the incident’s aftermath suggest that Booster 18 will likely be retired.
Booster test failure
SpaceX began structural and propellant-system verification tests on Booster 18 Thursday night at the Massey’s Test Site, only a few miles from Starbase’s production facilities, as noted in an Ars Technica report. At 4:04 a.m. CT on Friday, a livestream from LabPadre Space captured the booster’s lower half experiencing a sudden destructive event around its liquid oxygen tank section. Post-incident images, shared on X by @StarshipGazer, showed notable deformation in the booster’s lower structure.
Neither SpaceX nor Elon Musk had commented as of Friday morning, but the vehicle’s condition suggests it is likely a complete loss. This is quite unfortunate, as Booster 18 is already part of the Starship V3 program, which includes design fixes and upgrades intended to improve reliability. While SpaceX maintains a rather rapid Starship production line in Starbase, Booster 18 was generally expected to validate the improvements implemented in the V3 program.
Tight deadlines
SpaceX needs Starship boosters and upper stages to begin demonstrating rapid reuse, tower catches, and early operational Starlink missions over the next two years. More critically, NASA’s Artemis program depends on an on-orbit refueling test in the second half of 2026, a requirement for the vehicle’s expected crewed lunar landing around 2028.
While SpaceX is known for diagnosing failures quickly and returning to testing at unmatched speed, losing the newest-generation booster at the very start of its campaign highlights the immense challenge involved in scaling Starship into a reliable, high-cadence launch system. SpaceX, however, is known for getting things done quickly, so it would not be a surprise if the company manages to figure out what happened to Booster 18 in the near future.
SpaceX issues statement on Starship V3 Booster 18 anomaly
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
