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Elon Musk is facing problems from more than just his flagship company. As Tesla stock continues to trend downward amid declining sales and consumer backlash, its future appears increasingly uncertain.
With the electric vehicle (EV) leader struggling so much, it can be easy to overlook the fact that Musk’s other companies are also dealing with problems. One of his other enterprises is off to an extremely discouraging start this year, after multiple public failures, likely severely diminishing confidence in its products.
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The company in question is SpaceX, Musk’s space exploration and technology startup, which became the world’s most valuable privately held company in December 2024. Unfortunately, since then, it has attempted multiple rocket launches that haven’t gone well, making things even more complicated for Musk.
Now the company is gearing up to continue operations in the coming months, raising concerns among regulators.
SpaceX’s road to takeoff may not be smooth
Anyone who follows SpaceX’s recent progress knows that the company isn’t off to a good start in 2025. The company has launched multiple Starship rockets this year, a central component of Musk’s plan to help colonize Mars, both of which have ended in a literal explosion.
Related: Elon Musk faces growing legal Twitter/X problem
This comes at a time when SpaceX had previously seemed poised to usher in a new era of space tourism, something Musk had been highly focused on for years. With his new proximity to President Donald Trump, it seemed likelier than ever that his rocket company could reach new heights.
However, after multiple explosions in just a few months, SpaceX may have a difficult time convincing regulators that its problems are over. The company is preparing to attempt another launch, which will send its Starship 9 rocket over the Caribbean, specifically over several British territories.
According to reports, the previous SpaceX launches resulted in debris falling on these exact islands, a group that includes the British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, and Anguilla. This has prompted concern among UK regulators that the people of these islands could be in danger if the SpaceX launch proceeds as planned.
“The worries from the UK government, detailed in a letter to a top American diplomat on Wednesday, follow the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision last week to grant SpaceX’s request for a fivefold increase in the number of Starship launches allowed this year, from five to 25,” reports ProPublica.