Flight 11 is historical as it will reuse a Super Heavy booster for the first time. Booster 15 will embark on its second flight, having previously completed Flight 8 in March. The booster is equipped with 24 flight-proven Raptor engines to showcase SpaceX’s rapid reusability focus.

Instead of a tower catch, Booster 15 will perform landing tests over the Gulf of Mexico. These data-gathering exercises, which evaluate various descent angles, are vital for future missions and enhance fuel efficiency. They also inform the design of Block 3 boosters, which will be reinforced for steeper descents.

Heat Shield

Significant heat shield upgrades have been made for Flight 11 following issues exposed during the last flight’s reentry. A new “crunch wrap” technique ensures tile security and edge protection. Executive Bill Gerstenmaier detailed that tiles will be mechanically held by a robot, enhancing reliability.

The heat shield is crucial for achieving full rocket reusability, which is essential for future missions to Mars.

SpaceX targets its first uncrewed Mars missions as early as 2026, contingent upon successful technological developments.

SpaceX conducts this flight under a $2.89 billion NASA contract for the Artemis program’s Human Landing System. NASA aims to utilize Starship for lunar missions, tentatively planned for 2027. Live coverage of the mission will commence 30 minutes before liftoff on SpaceX’s platforms.

“Now, we see a far more diverse set of investable companies, indicating space has evolved into a broader market.”

The substantial growth in space investment is largely driven by heightened government spending to support domestic space initiatives in the United States, China, and Europe.

Defence expenditure has become the leading investment catalyst, with the U.S. Space Force projected to receive $40 billion for fiscal year 2026.

Major Funding

China’s Galactic Energy secured the largest funding round, attracting $336 million in September for its Pallas series of reusable launchers.

In the U.S., defence technology firms such as Hadrian, Apex, and Hermeus were at the forefront of major investments.

Public space enterprises have also witnessed significant growth, with Rocket Lab and Planet Labs more than doubling in value.

AST SpaceMobile’s stock surged 306% in 2025, boosted by partnerships with major telecom operators like Verizon and AT&T.

Momentum is expected to persist into 2026 as satellite networks expand, and government procurement increases, paving the way for dual-use technologies in civilian and defence sectors.

Top Hollywood talent agencies have expressed strong opposition to OpenAI’s new video creation app, Sora. The Creative Artists Agency (CAA) voiced concerns about significant risks to their clients and intellectual property rights.CAA represents high-profile clients such as Doja Cat and Scarlett Johansson. The agency questioned OpenAI’s commitment to compensating creators for their work, suggesting that their practices might ignore global copyright principles.

They stated, “Control, permission for use, and compensation is a fundamental right of these workers.”

United Talent Agency (UTA) echoed similar sentiments, labelling Sora’s actions as “exploitation, not innovation.” UTA reinforced that human talent is irreplaceable and affirmed its commitment to defending its clients’ rights. OpenAI has indicated it will implement measures to limit the generation of well-known characters and enhance control for rightsholders.

Industry Response

The memo from WME instructed agents to ensure that all clients are opted out of the latest Sora updates. Disney also took a firm stance, clarifying it had not granted OpenAI permission to use its copyrighted content.

The Motion Picture Association urged immediate action from OpenAI to address copyright infringements related to Sora.

Concerns over generative AI’s impact on copyright have surged within the entertainment industry.

Major companies like Universal and Disney have already pursued legal action against other AI firms over similar issues, highlighting a growing fear regarding the protection of intellectual property.