The SpaceX IPO isn’t just a financial event—it’s a cultural one. It marks the moment when the idea of space as a speculative frontier officially became a tangible, investable reality. For decades, space exploration has been the domain of dreamers and governments, but now it’s on Wall Street’s radar. What’s fascinating here isn’t just the money—though $85 billion is staggering—but the shift in perception. SpaceX has managed to convince the market that its interplanetary ambitions aren’t just science fiction; they’re a roadmap. Personally, I think this is a turning point for how we view space: no longer as a distant dream, but as a near-term opportunity.
What makes this particularly fascinating is how SpaceX has redefined the aerospace industry. Reusability wasn’t just a technical innovation; it was a philosophical one. By making rockets reusable, SpaceX didn’t just cut costs—it challenged the entire industry’s mindset. Starlink did the same for telecommunications, proving that space could solve terrestrial problems. Now, with orbital data centers, SpaceX is forcing us to rethink even the orbits we use. It’s not just about launching satellites; it’s about reshaping how we interact with space itself.
But here’s the catch: low Earth orbit (LEO) is getting crowded. With over 10,000 satellites already up there and plans for a million more, LEO is on the brink of becoming a traffic jam. Starlink alone performed 300,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers in 2025—a 50% increase from the year before. If you take a step back and think about it, this isn’t just a logistical problem; it’s an existential one. The Kessler effect, where collisions create a cascade of debris, could render parts of LEO unusable. What many people don’t realize is that this isn’t a distant threat—it’s happening now.
This raises a deeper question: if LEO is becoming unsustainable, where do we go next? Enter very low Earth orbit (VLEO), roughly 200 to 300 kilometers above Earth. Historically, VLEO has been seen as impractical because atmospheric drag pulls objects back to Earth within weeks. But that same drag is also its strength: it clears debris quickly, making it a ‘self-cleaning’ orbit. What this really suggests is that VLEO could be the key to sustainable space infrastructure.
At NewOrbit, we’ve developed a propulsion system that allows satellites to operate in VLEO for over five years, turning what was once a limitation into an opportunity. This isn’t just about avoiding collisions—though that’s critical. VLEO can also enable sharper imagery, cheaper spacecraft, and even reliable phone signals in remote regions. In my opinion, this is the future of space: not just higher, but lower.
The SpaceX IPO should be a wake-up call. It proves that space is now a mainstream investment, but it also highlights the risks of overcrowding. If we’re going to put a million satellites in orbit, we need to think about sustainability from the start. Regulators, companies, and investors need to treat orbital sustainability as a design requirement, not an afterthought. This means new orbits, new satellites, and new incentives for lower-altitude operations.
One thing that immediately stands out is how quickly the space industry is evolving. What was once dismissed as a dream—reusable rockets, orbital data centers, VLEO—is now becoming reality. But with that progress comes responsibility. SpaceX has shown what’s possible when you think big and move fast, but the next challenge is to do so sustainably.
From my perspective, the future of space isn’t just about reaching farther—it’s about doing so intelligently. VLEO isn’t just an alternative; it’s a necessity. It’s not just about reducing collision risk; it’s about unlocking new possibilities. As we celebrate SpaceX’s milestone, let’s also recognize the warning it carries: space is no longer infinite, and how we use it will define its future—and ours.
A detail that I find especially interesting is how this all ties into AI. With AI projected to consume 99% of global electricity by some estimates, orbital data centers could be a game-changer. If SpaceX succeeds, it could control a significant portion of global AI infrastructure within a decade. But that power comes with responsibility. The same innovation that makes this possible also demands a sustainable approach.
In the end, the SpaceX IPO is more than a financial event—it’s a call to action. It’s a reminder that space is no longer just a frontier; it’s an ecosystem. And like any ecosystem, it requires care. Personally, I think the next decade will be defined not by how many satellites we launch, but by how wisely we do it. The future of space isn’t just about going higher—it’s about going smarter.
