SpaceX Successfully Reaches Orbit with Starship, Advancing Starlink's Scale and Financial Horizons

SpaceX achieved a major milestone by successfully sending Starship into orbit for the first time on September 28, following Elon Musk’s ambitious projection of achieving hourly flight cadences within two to three years.
The breakthrough flight directly supports the scaling of SpaceX’s high-margin Connectivity division, where Starlink subscribers have doubled to 12 million and segment operating income climbed 79% to $1.66 billion in Q2 2026. Analysts highlight that reliable orbital deployment and reusable vehicle economics are critical to unlocking Starlink's multi-billion-dollar broadband revenue potential, even as the company navigates premium private market valuations.