SpaceX and Tesla boards form special committees to review merger

techcrunch.com Oct 21, 2026

SpaceX and Tesla boards form special committees to review merger

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 21, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

SpaceX and Tesla boards have each established independent special committees to evaluate a potential merger, a move prompted by shareholder requests. Elon Musk, CEO and largest shareholder of both companies, clarified that he cannot participate in the committees due to conflict of interest. The committees comprise independent directors from both boards, though Musk and his brother remain non‑independent. Neither committee has yet agreed on terms, and Musk emphasized that shareholder approval is essential for any merger to proceed.

💡 Why It Matters

· The committees signal a serious, shareholder‑driven consideration of a union that could reshape the aerospace and automotive sectors, potentially accelerating joint AI, robotics, and chip‑manufacturing initiatives.

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Elon Musk just confirmed the Tesla and SpaceX merger step everyone was…

Elon Musk announced that Tesla and SpaceX have each formed independent director committees to explore a merger, marking the first formal step toward combining the companies. The disclosure came during SpaceX’s Q3 earnings call, where Musk noted his conflict of interest and outlined shared interests in super‑intelligence software, chip design, and mass‑to‑orbit capabilities. No terms have been agreed, and a merger would require a 50% shareholder vote on Tesla’s side, a high hurdle given Musk’s 20% stake. The committees will likely revisit the issue at Tesla’s upcoming annual meeting.

💡 The merger could unify two of the most influential tech firms, potentially reshaping the aerospace and automotive sectors. It also forces shareholders to confront unprecedented governance and valuation challenges.

space.com · Oct 21

SpaceX will attempt 1st-ever double Starship rocket catch on next test launch,…

SpaceX plans to attempt the first simultaneous recovery of both stages of its Starship launch vehicle on the upcoming test flight, targeted for next month, CEO Elon Musk announced during the company’s Q3 earnings call. The 400‑foot Starship, composed of the Super Heavy booster and the Ship upper stage, is designed for full‑cycle reuse; catching each stage with tower‑mounted “chopstick” arms would mark the first fully recovered orbital rocket. SpaceX has previously secured the booster on three flights, but has never captured the upper stage, which travels higher and faster. Success would validate Musk’s goal of launching Starship more than 10,000 times per year by 2030 and support the deployment of the next‑generation Starlink V3 constellation and future Mars missions.

💡 Capturing both stages proves full‑cycle reusability, turning Starship into a true airline for space and unlocking the launch cadence needed for massive satellite constellations and interplanetary missions.

teslarati.com · Oct 21

SpaceX showcases exactly how it plans to catch Starship next month

SpaceX revealed a animation of the planned tower‑catch maneuver for Starship’s upcoming Flight 15. The 80‑second clip shows upper stage re‑entering belly‑first, using forward and aft flaps to steer, then swinging vertical and descending into launch tower’s “chopstick” arms, where it will be secured and hung. Elon Musk said a successful catch would mark the first full recovery of an orbital launch vehicle and estimated the odds of success on the first attempt as “more likely than not.” The company has already tested the hardware with Ship 42, lifted into a simulated catch position, and expects FAA approval to include both stages returning to the launch site. Flight 15 is slated for next month, with Musk forecasting weekly Starship flights by mid‑2027.

💡 A successful tower catch would prove Starship can be fully recovered, unlocking rapid reuse and dramatically lowering launch costs.

teslarati.com · Oct 20

SpaceX reports its second earnings today: here’s what to expect

SpaceX will report its second quarterly earnings after its IPO, with analysts projecting $12.72 billion in revenue and $0.13 EPS. Revenue is expected to rise 65 % from Q2, driven mainly by AI/SI, which could double to $5.12 billion and account for half of total sales. Connectivity is projected at $4.84 billion, while Space revenue is estimated at $1.41 billion. Investors will focus on AI revenue targets, Starlink subscriber growth, capex plans, and Starship operational updates.

💡 The earnings reveal whether SpaceX’s AI push can sustain its rapid revenue growth and justify its high valuation. The call will also clarify the company’s capital allocation and Starship progress, key factors for investors assessing long‑term profitability.

teslarati.com · Oct 20

SpaceX delivers blockbuster Q3 results as Super Intelligence segment booms

SpaceX posted its first solidly profitable quarter since its IPO, reporting $14.58 billion in revenue, a 161 percent year‑over‑year increase that beat the $12.7‑$12.9 billion consensus. Adjusted EBITDA rose 306 percent to $8.8 billion and GAAP net income turned positive at $4.4 billion, reversing a $1.1 billion loss a year earlier. The Super Intelligence (SI) segment generated $7.56 billion, an 830 percent jump, overtaking Connectivity as the company’s largest revenue source. Growth stemmed from new cloud contracts, the Cursor acquisition and expanding use of Grok models and the Grok Bot personal agent. Starlink contributed $5.25 billion, with 13.6 million subscribers and $69 ARPU, while the Space segment added $1.77 billion, highlighted by the first revenue‑producing Starship launch of 26 V3 satellites. Cash and marketable securities stood at roughly total $90 billion available.

💡 SpaceX’s rapid pivot to AI has made its Super Intelligence unit the company’s top‑line driver, reshaping a business once defined by rockets into a cloud‑computing powerhouse. The shift gives the firm a diversified cash‑flow base that can fund its ambitious launch roadmap without relying on government contracts.

teslarati.com · Oct 20

SpaceX just launched its secret Starfall saucer again

SpaceX launched its Starfall reentry capsule for the second time on Tuesday, carrying it as the payload of the Bandwagon‑5 rideshare mission. Falcon 9 lifted off from Florida’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 7:04 a.m. ET with 32 satellites, and the first‑stage booster landed on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas nine minutes later. Starfall separated 2 h 48 min after liftoff, after a long gap following the final customer satellite. SpaceX posted that the deployment sequence is complete, noting Starfall offers affordable, routine microgravity access for research and manufacturing.

💡 The return of Starfall signals SpaceX’s commitment to expanding commercial microgravity services, potentially accelerating on‑orbit manufacturing and scientific experiments that were previously limited to larger, costlier platforms.