SpaceX plans to become a permanent user of the Starship launch vehicle starting in the second half of next year

SpaceX pushes beyond the cosmos – participates in MWC 2026

After Elon Musk acquired his startup xAI, SpaceX announced work “at the intersection of genres.” It is therefore logical that it appeared even at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026, traditionally devoted to mobile electronics innovations. At the event it was announced that the Starship launch vehicle will begin regularly delivering cargo into space from mid‑next year.

New Starlink satellites via Starship
Senior vice president of the Starlink project Michael Nicolls said SpaceX will be ready to put a new batch of telecommunications satellites into orbit with Starship by mid‑2027. These are upgraded Starlink models that provide higher data transfer speeds.

Company president Gwynne Shotwell clarified in an interview with *Financial Times* that the first test flight of Starship will take place in four to six weeks. Elon Musk had previously suggested that the 12th launch would occur in early March.

Financial prospects and IPO
It is expected that by mid‑this year SpaceX will conduct its initial public offering (IPO), which could raise the company’s valuation to about $1.5 trillion. A successful test launch of Starship will be a key factor for investors, demonstrating the viability of further development programs.

Earlier in October another Starship launch took place: the rocket lifted off from a Texas site, stayed aloft for over an hour, and returned to the platform in the Indian Ocean. Transitioning Starship to commercial use for launching Starlink satellites is intended to significantly reduce launch cost per unit and allow more satellites to be launched per flight.

Luna and Mars missions
Starship will be used not only to deliver people and cargo to the Moon but also to Mars if SpaceX secures the appropriate contracts from NASA. The rocket can carry up to 250 metric tons of payload. According to Starlink estimates, one launch will allow more than 50 satellites to be deployed, accelerating network formation from mid‑next year.

Last year monthly active Starlink users exceeded 10 million people; by the end of this year the company plans to reach 25 million. By the second half of 2027 SpaceX intends to put 1,200 next‑generation satellites into orbit, ensuring rapid modernization of space communication infrastructure.

Impact on ground network
Currently T‑Mobile and O2 operators use Starlink for emergency communications in areas without terrestrial infrastructure. According to Starlink representatives, the new generation of satellites could eliminate the need to deploy ground nodes in specific regions.

Gwynne Shotwell emphasized that lunar and Martian missions are equally important to Musk. Under NASA pressure, SpaceX had to postpone Mars flight preparation to focus on implementing Artemis lunar programs.