SpaceX’s Big Day: A Historic Starship Launch, a Tesla Merger Under Scrutiny, and a $74 Billion AI Bet
SpaceX is preparing to try catching both Starship stages with its launch tower, right after announcing more than $74 billion in new AI campuses, but a possible Tesla merger now has a skeptic in Texas’ incoming attorney general.
SpaceX, the innovative aerospace company, is having a busy day with three significant events unfolding simultaneously. First, a Starship rocket is scheduled to launch after 5:45 p.m. ET, with the ambitious goal of catching both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage using the launch tower's arms at Starbase, Texas. This marks the first attempt to catch the latest iteration of the Super Heavy booster, and the Starship's never-before-tried capture.
Second, SpaceX has announced an unprecedented $74 billion investment in two AI supercomputing campuses, one in Texas and another in Arizona. The initial construction phase in Texas, involving 444 acres, is projected to cost over $24 billion. The larger, $50 billion campus in Cochise County, Arizona, promises to deliver a staggering 6 gigawatts of compute power.
SpaceX aims to collaborate with local electric co-ops to manage costs and reduce the burden on rate payers' bills. However, the project has faced opposition, with a petition signed by 2,400 people urging the county to deny the permit.
Lastly, there are indications that SpaceX is in merger talks with Tesla (TSLA -1.50%), but these discussions are under close scrutiny from the newly elected Attorney General of Texas, Nathan Johnson. Johnson has vowed to investigate Musk's business dealings in Texas, raising concerns about any potential merger between the two companies. While the merger deal could be sealed by December or early 2027, regulatory approval could prove to be a formidable hurdle after the recent midterm elections in Texas.
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