SpaceX might get investment capital from Saudi and UAE investors
According to several reports in the business press, SpaceX is presently negotiating with investment companies in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to possibly provide additional investment capital to the company.
Citing two individuals reportedly familiar with the matter, The Information noted that Saudi Arabia’s Water and Electricity Holding Company, Badeel, and the United Arab Emirates’ Alpha Dhabi are participating in the funding round. Morgan Stanley is reportedly organizing the investment effort.
At present it is unknown how much would be invested. It is also unclear if this foreign investment in an American rocket company can pass muster with the U.S. State Department.
SpaceX has already raised about $10 billion in private investment capital as well as $4 billion from NASA for the development of Starship/Superheavy.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
According to several reports in the business press, SpaceX is presently negotiating with investment companies in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to possibly provide additional investment capital to the company.
Citing two individuals reportedly familiar with the matter, The Information noted that Saudi Arabia’s Water and Electricity Holding Company, Badeel, and the United Arab Emirates’ Alpha Dhabi are participating in the funding round. Morgan Stanley is reportedly organizing the investment effort.
At present it is unknown how much would be invested. It is also unclear if this foreign investment in an American rocket company can pass muster with the U.S. State Department.
SpaceX has already raised about $10 billion in private investment capital as well as $4 billion from NASA for the development of Starship/Superheavy.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Will SpaceX itself pay for missions to the Moon and Mars? There is no commercial return on investment from a Mars colony. That is only done for science and adventure. Yet SpaceX has investors who presumably are looking for a return on their investment.
Steve Richter asked: “Will SpaceX itself pay for missions to the Moon and Mars?”
Maybe they won’t have to, or, at least, a good chunk of the cost. There are plenty of people with money looking for some science and adventure. Lots of PR value in sponsorship of the first Human mission to Mars.
And if they do have to foot the bill, it’s not so very different than the prospecting done by energy companies. You can’t find resources you don’t look for, and I would wager SpaceX has an eye on developing interplanetary trade. If Mars has as much water as seems likely, it might be the cheapest place to get the stuff in the Inner System.
Speaking of energy companies-Musk needs to change course and support Space Solar Power-as energy sector money will likely outperform Starlink.
Pass Congressional approval?? Just let Hunter, Joe, and Jim in on the action and VIOLIN! IT’s done!! (yeah I know – just be facetious)
Or as a former boss liked to say… “VIOLA!”
Steve Richter,
You wrote: “There is no commercial return on investment from a Mars colony.”
Just because you cannot think of any activities that could provide commercial return on investment does not mean that there are none. One of the factors in favor of Mars missions is the coming low cost of transport to and from there. As with commerce in low Earth orbit, which is becoming far more commonplace due to the low launch costs, profitable commerce elsewhere can become possible elsewhere, too.
On the other hand, Elon Musk has noted that the goal is to make humanity a multi-planetary species, not to make money hand over fist. Maybe some investors are looking for a humanitarian goal like this. People keep saying that corporations are just out for a buck, yet here we are, looking at a corporation that has a different goal in mind, and people still find fault.
On the third hand (the Gripping Hand, for Niven/Pournell fans), a small population living in a hostile environment is likely to come up with some mighty handy inventions that we could use back here on Earth.
Edward said:
“Maybe some investors are looking for a humanitarian goal like this. People keep saying that corporations are just out for a buck, yet here we are, looking at a corporation that has a different goal in mind, and people still find fault.”
Elon is still a one off in that regard. Gates doesn’t spend real money on space—and Bezos too busy playing with his new girlfriend and yacht.
Getting space in the energy sector—which never went broke—is the key.
And with the Saudis backwardness—and now the UAE said to help China funnel arms to Russia through Turkey—Elon better sup with them using the longest spoon he has.