Finally, in August 2021, China tested a nuclear-capable HGV-Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS), which could provide the People’s Republic Army with a space-based global strike capability, further reducing warning time prior to a strike. China has also tested the Starry Sky-2 (or Xing Kong2), a nuclear-capable hypersonic vehicle prototype-a “wave rider” that uses powered flight after launch and derives lift from its own shockwaves. The DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missile, which was tested could be modified to carry a conventional or nuclear HGV, and the highly maneuverable DF-ZF HGV (previously referred to as the WU-14) at least nine times since 2014. They have already conducted several successful tests of the DF-17, a medium-range ballistic missile specifically designed to launch HGVs and threaten the U.S. ![]() But that strategy carries risks: If the economy slips into a prolonged recession, Quilty warns, "they could find themselves out of cash and out of runway.China has conducted flight-tests of an HGV and some analysts believe it may be planning to mate conventionally armed HGVs with its DF-21 and DF-26 ballistic missiles in support of an anti-access/area-denial strategy. "SpaceX is probably betting that market conditions will be better next year," he says. Given the troubles in the tech sector, it makes sense that SpaceX would try and stretch its existing cash for now. "We do not anticipate needing to raise funding," he said in response to a question from Reuters.īut Starship will take multiple years to bring to market, and it likely will need additional money, says analyst Chris Quilty. SpaceX did not respond to NPR's request for comment about how it's planning to finance Starship, but Elon Musk told listeners at his briefing that, for now, the company's existing investments and government contracts should be enough to keep the program going. "I think we're seeing the market start to adapt." Already, he says, some startups are planning giant satellites and other projects that would require Starship's huge cargo bay. Together, Aldrin’s three walks in space totalled a record 5 1/2 hours, proving that human beings can function effectively in the vacuum of space. Lovell, Jr., on the four-day Gemini 12 flight. "I think it'll take some time," he says, but he believes companies will find ways to use Starship's enormous launch capacity. Buzz Aldrin performing an extravehicular activity On November 11, 1966, he joined James A. If Starship can work, it will allow SpaceX to launch Starlink satellites cheaply, and will likely enable many more companies to develop new space business models, says Brendan Rosseau, a research associate at Harvard Business School who tracks space. "Who is Starship going to serve? I think that's a question," she says. ![]() And investors have been lining up to plow money into its bold vision and big projects. It's valued at close to $140 billion, making it one of the biggest private companies in the country. ![]() That would be a problem for most space launch companies, but SpaceX is different. "Until Starship is flying and the development costs are down and it's generating revenue instead of consuming cash, and until they start getting new Starlink satellites on orbit, I think it'll be a challenge for them," he says. But Quilty and other analysts believe Starship and Starlink will keep the company in the red for a while. SpaceX makes money launching commercial and government satellites on its existing rockets, and it's starting to generate income from Starlink. "It's hard to imagine how they could be generating cash with those level investments," says Chris Quilty, the founder of Quilty Space, a company that tracks the space industry. Space SpaceX's massive rocket Starship explodes 4 minutes after liftoff
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