SpaceX Wins First European Return-Cargo Client as NASA Adds Three More Crewed Flights

NASA adds three crewed ISS missions for $946M, Starfall signs first European client, and the FCC grants SpaceX worldwide telecom authority.

SpaceX has locked in a pair of commercial and government wins on opposite sides of the Atlantic, even as its shares drifted lower to close out the week.

NASA has awarded the company three additional crewed missions to the International Space Station, a contract modification worth $946 million that extends SpaceX's human spaceflight commitments through 2030. The add-on lifts the total value of the underlying CCtCap program to $5.92 billion, cementing the company's standing as a dependable partner for state-backed space logistics and giving its crew capsules a booked-out manifest well into the next decade.

Starfall Breaks Into Europe

On the commercial side, SpaceX's Starfall orbital return-cargo service has signed its first European customer. The integrator Space Cargo will fly a mission under the agreement, marking the first time a European client has bought into the service. The deal widens SpaceX's revenue base beyond simply placing payloads in orbit, adding a return leg that brings cargo back to Earth.

Regulators Open the Door for Starlink Mobile

SpaceX is also pushing ahead on the communications front. According to media reports, the Federal Communications Commission granted the company worldwide authority on Thursday under the so-called Section 214 framework. The approval covers facilities and the resale of telecommunications services between the United States and foreign markets, laying the groundwork for SpaceX to offer its planned Starlink Mobile cellular services internationally over its own satellite network.

Government demand for satellite infrastructure is climbing in parallel. Reuters reported that Britain on September 10 disclosed spending of nearly $40 million on SpaceX satellite services, making it the first country outside the US to publicly confirm use of Starshield, the company's military and intelligence-focused offering. Reuters noted yesterday that growing investor appetite for the space sector is being driven largely by rising government and corporate outlays on satellite networks and communications systems — a market in which SpaceX ranks among the key players.

Starship Eyes Its First Orbital Run

Back at the launch pad, SpaceX is targeting a narrow window for its next Starship test flight, with Reuters reporting that the company is readying the attempt. The mission is slated to send the vehicle into Earth orbit for the first time and deploy Starlink V3 satellites once there. Reaching orbit represents a pivotal milestone for the rocket program, serving as the proof point that the system can operate in routine, day-to-day service.

Analysts Split, Shares Slip

The stock finished Friday at EUR 132.70, a modest daily decline of 1.6 percent. Even so, the shares remain 14 percent above their 50-day average of EUR 116.71, and over the past 30 days the stock is up 11 percent. The muted session captures the tension between technical progress on flight tests and the operational hurdles still ahead.

Analyst opinion is similarly divided. MoffettNathanson raised its price target on September 14 to $142.00 from $131.00 while keeping a Neutral rating, according to media reports. Other market watchers take a more cautious view. That spread suggests investors continue to weigh the risks of future test phases and the timing of commercial operations differently — and the upcoming launch date will hand the market its next hard data point on how the Starship program is actually progressing.