SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed that NASA will account for only 5% of the company’s revenue in 2026. Instead, the Starlink satellite internet service is expected to be a major income stream. Musk shared this information in a response to a post on the social media platform X, where he stated that while he loves NASA, it will not be a significant source of SpaceX’s income.
NASA’s Contribution to SpaceX Revenue
Musk’s comments indicate that NASA’s contribution to SpaceX’s revenue will be relatively small compared to other sources. He stated that NASA will account for approximately 5% of SpaceX’s revenue in 2026. In contrast, the Starlink commercial system is expected to make up the vast majority of SpaceX’s revenue.
True. I love NASA, but they will only be ~5% of SpaceX revenue this year.
Vast majority of SpaceX revenue is the commercial Starlink system.
- Elon Musk
SpaceX’s Revenue and IPO
SpaceX reportedly generated close to $16 billion in revenue in 2025, with a profit of $8 billion. The company’s Starlink business accounted for 50% to 80% of its revenue. Musk had previously suggested that NASA would make up around 7% of SpaceX’s total revenue. The company’s projected revenue for 2026 is expected to be around $24 billion, according to BNN Bloomberg.
SpaceX’s Future Plans
SpaceX has announced a merger with Musk-backed xAI amid a potential IPO in June. The company is also rumored to be considering a merger with Tesla Inc. Meanwhile, SpaceX has pivoted its efforts to focus on reaching the moon, putting Musk’s long-talked-about ambitions of building a colony on Mars on the backburner. Musk stated that the overriding priority is securing the future of civilization, and the moon is a faster and more achievable goal.
Key Points
- NASA will account for approximately 5% of SpaceX’s revenue in 2026
- The Starlink commercial system will make up the vast majority of SpaceX’s revenue
- SpaceX’s projected revenue for 2026 is expected to be around $24 billion
- The company has announced a merger with xAI and is considering a potential IPO in June
- SpaceX has pivoted its efforts to focus on reaching the moon, rather than building a colony on Mars