Earlier this week, SpaceX performed a test engine fire on its Kennedy Space Center launchpad, signaling that the maiden flight of the company's Falcon Heavy rocket is imminent.
News of another SpaceX launch has investors clamoring for the chance to invest in space travel's most innovative company.
Unfortunately, SpaceX is still a privately held company, offering no shares to the eager investor.
Despite this, Money Morning is keeping a close watch on the future of the SpaceX IPO.
In fact, we have every reason to believe the launch of the Falcon Heavy is a huge step toward a SpaceX IPO.
Here's why...
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The Falcon Heavy Is Vital for Deep Space Travel
If successful, the Falcon Heavy flight will be SpaceX's 18th consecutive launch in the last year and the first of 30 flights that SpaceX has planned for 2018.
Consistently scheduled and safe launches like these are vital to SpaceX's ultimate goal: deep space travel.
Elon Musk, the CEO of electric auto maker Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA) and SpaceX, has pinned a public offering on SpaceX's ability to consistently travel into deep space. At a conference in July 2015, Musk said that his company would remain privately owned at least "until flights to Mars begin."
A successful flight by the Falcon Heavy will bring this goal much closer to reality.
The Falcon Heavy has 27 SpaceX Merlin engines, allowing it to generate more than 5 million pounds of thrust. This not only makes the Falcon Heavy the most powerful rocket in the world, it allows the SpaceX flagship to carry more than 140,000 pounds into low earth orbit. That's more than twice as much as current competitors.
Both the power and competitiveness of the Falcon Heavy means that cost-effective and well-supplied trips to the red planet are increasingly likely.
But there's an even bigger factor aside from the Falcon Heavy that indicates when we will see a SpaceX IPO...
Here's When You'll Be Able to Invest in SpaceX
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Both SpaceX and NASA have recently ramped up programs to send humans into deep space.
NASA is currently developing a "Space Launch System" to carry humans and supplies to Mars. However, the launch of NASA's new rocket alone is estimated to cost more than $1 billion a launch, making it incredibly inefficient.
As a result, there is a high likelihood that NASA will turn to cheaper alternatives and private companies, such as SpaceX, in an effort to accomplish its goals.
According to NASA's Director of Planetary Science, Jim Green, SpaceX could put passengers on the surface of Mars by 2020 at the earliest.
If everything goes to plan, we could see a SpaceX IPO in less than two years.
However, there is plenty of opportunity for profit right now...
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