Starship’s path to reusability looks murky after SpaceX’s S-1

SpaceX’s filing and a recent Starship test suggest the rocket could still launch new Starlink satellites even if full reusability remains unfinished.

But failed engine relights and slower subscriber growth cast doubt on whether Starship can deliver the ultra-low launch costs SpaceX is counting on.

If reusability slips, Starlink expansion and future space-based plans could become much more expensive and harder to justify.

The story highlights a key risk in SpaceX’s business model: Starship must work cheaply and repeatedly for Musk’s economics to hold.