In this episode of Get the Check, the hosts dive into SpaceX. They explore the founding story of Elon trying to buy an old USSR rocket. They also discuss SpaceX’s rocket launch timeline and how the company goes from near-bankruptcy to redefining space travel. Also Elon’s ambition to make rockets into a profitable business through verticalization and rocket reusability. From partnerships with NASA to groundbreaking rockets like the Falcon 9 and Starship, the hosts trace the company’s journey to profitability and its aim to make humans a multi-planetary species. Beyond SpaceX, the hosts cover Elon’s private wifi company Starlink, which is a cash cow for Elon and connected to SpaceX because the rockets transport Starlink’s satelittes. Finally, they zoom out and discuss the competitive ecosystem including Rocket Lab, Bezos’ Blue Origin, and other country’s space programs. Get ready for banter, billionaires, and bold breakthroughs on this week’s episode! You can follow @getthecheckpod on all social media platforms to catch next week’s episode on dating apps!

00:00 Intro

05:05 Founding story

08:25 Falcon 1: First privatized rocket to reach space

11:00 Falcon 9: Pioneering reusability

15:48 Starship: The next frontier

17:41 SpaceX’s business model

18:43 Starlink: Internet from space

22:20 Rocket rideshare program

23:08 How SpaceX reduced costs

25:02 Privatization of space

26:51 Competitors

31:46 Who owns space?

34:47 Restaurant of the week