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SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says the Internet-providing satellite constellation Starlink has “achieved breakeven cash flow,” meaning it is now bringing in as much money as it spends. Musk went on to say that Starlink now has the majority of active satellites in orbit and he expects the constellation to have most of the total satellites in orbit very soon. Excited to announce that @SpaceX @Starlink has achieved breakeven cash flow! Excellent work by a great team.

The European Space Agency signed a deal with SpaceX to launch four navigation and communication satellites for the Galileo constellation on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets. Each launch will contain two of the satellites. The ESA had initially hesitated to use a foreign space launch service due to the classified information in the satellite constellation. However, it has become more flexible in choosing a launch service since most of Europe imposed sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine.

Elon Musk announced that SpaceX will provide Starlink-based Internet access to internationally recognized aid groups attempting to provide humanitarian aid in Gaza. It will also provide access to groups from the United Nations working in Gaza. Starlink will support connectivity to internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza.

NASA launched its Psyche probe from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on October 13, 2023, at 10:19 am EDT. The launch became the first launch of an interplanetary mission for SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy. The core Falcon Heavy rocket spent all its fuel to ensure that Psyche obtains the best trajectory for its 2.2-billion-mile journey. SpaceX did not plan on retrieving the core booster for reuse. However, it did retrieve the two side boosters for refurbishment and reuse.

According to a new page on SpaceX’s official Starlink website, the company is planning a Starlink-based direct-to-cell service. The plans include texting service as early as 2024 and voice, data, and an “Internet of Things” application in 2025. The service will be available on existing LTE phones and requires only a clear view of the sky. The thousands of Starlink satellites in orbit, with more being launched frequently, makes this kind of service possible.

SpaceX has settled allegations of stifling an employee’s right to discuss workplace conditions with other SpaceX employees. The U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed the allegations after the employee complained. The unnamed employee had communicated with SpaceX’s human resources department about issues in the workplace. He had been told not to discuss the matter with coworkers. The complaint with the NLRB was filed in September 2022.

In December 2022, SpaceX unveiled Starshield, a proposed application for the internet-providing Starlink satellite constellation. Now the Pentagon has awarded SpaceX a one-year contract for Starshield that could be worth up to $70 million. The contract allows for “end-to-end service” that includes Starlink terminals, access to the Starlink constellation’s communications capabilities, ancillary equipment, and network management.

Axiom Space has selected the crew for its third privately funded mission to the International Space Station. Retired NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría will command Axiom-3. He has previously commanded Axiom-1. His NASA experience includes three space shuttle missions and a role as commander for the International Space Station’s Expedition 14. He joined Axiom Space after retiring from NASA in 2012.

Canadian broadband communications company Telesat tapped SpaceX to launch its “Lightspeed” satellite constellation. The first satellites will launch in 2026 and the full constellation will be in orbit by late 2027 if everything goes as planned. According to Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg, the company chose SpaceX for “the best combination of price, performance, reliability and schedule tempo.” SpaceX also previously launched a Telesat satellite in 2018, as seen in the below video.

X has filed a lawsuit to stop enforcement of California’s new state-level content moderation law, Assembly Bill 587. It alleges that the measure could have a chilling effect on rights outlined in the First Amendment to the Constitution, especially free speech laws. Elon Musk’s X Sues California Over Content Moderation Legislationhttps://t.co/jvMjNnt2lQ pic.twitter.com/xX7loxitQo — Forbes (@Forbes) September 8, 2023 California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed the bill into law.