SpaceX Goes Public in Record $75B IPO, Plans Orbital Data Center Satellites by 2027

SpaceX went public on the Nasdaq on June 12, 2026, in the largest IPO in history. Shares jumped 20 percent on the first day, pushing the company's market capitalization above $2 trillion. Founder and CEO Elon Musk, who holds a 38 percent stake in SpaceX, became the world's first trillionaire.

Musk's combined holdings, including roughly $165 billion in Tesla stock and stakes in Neuralink and the Boring Company, pushed his net worth past $1 trillion. The IPO raised approximately $75 billion, according to reports from The Register.

Orbital data center plans revealed

SpaceX, which merged with xAI, has filed plans to launch up to 1 million compute satellites. The company detailed its AI1 satellite design earlier this month. COO Gwynne Shotwell said the first AI1 units would launch in late 2027. She added that SpaceX intends to put compute capabilities on its Starlink broadband and Starlink mobile satellites before the AI1's debut.

• AI1 satellites are designed to function as orbital data centers for AI inference workloads.
• SpaceX has filed regulatory paperwork for up to 1 million compute satellites.
• The company plans to integrate compute modules into existing Starlink satellites starting before 2027.
• Critics have raised concerns about space debris, latency, and the feasibility of in-orbit computing at scale.

Valuation skepticism and market reaction

Analysts at Morningstar believe SpaceX is overvalued by 114 percent relative to its IPO price. The company remains primarily loss-making, and the orbital data center proposal has drawn criticism from astronomers, satellite operators, and some investors. Retail investors lined up to buy shares, according to The Register, but some analysts warn the valuation is speculative.

SpaceX's listing is the most valuable public debut ever, but the company faces significant technical and regulatory hurdles. The Federal Communications Commission and international bodies will need to approve the massive satellite constellation. Shotwell said the company is working with regulators and expects to begin launching AI1 units in late 2027. Whether the orbital data center model proves viable remains an open question for the industry.