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Space Exploration Technologies Corp. CFO Bret Johnsen said China has an “amazing space program” but still falls far short of matching Starship, arguing SpaceX’s reusable launch system could become an advantage as the company pushes artificial intelligence infrastructure into orbit. <\/p>\n
China Narrows Gap In Reusable Rocketry <\/p>\n
“I think the Chinese are trying to get there, right? To their credit, they have got an amazing space program,” Johnsen said Thursday at Goldman Sachs’ Communacopia + Technology Conference. “But not on a Starship level anytime soon, let us put it that way.” <\/p>\n
WATCH: @SpaceX<\/a> CFO Bret Johnsen speaks at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference: https:\/\/t.co\/iThVaEpa7Q<\/a> <\/p>\n \u2014 Goldman Sachs (@GoldmanSachs) September 10, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Don’t Miss: <\/p>\n China is making progress. Reuters reported last month that LandSpace successfully landed the first stage of its Zhuque-3 orbital-class rocket, becoming China’s first private launcher to achieve a ground-based orbital-booster recovery. The methane-fueled rocket can carry about 14.2 metric tons to low Earth orbit, as China accelerates its reusable-rocket push. <\/p>\n Starship Reuse Could Transform Launch Economics <\/p>\n SpaceX, however, is betting on full reuse of both Starship stages. Johnsen said “the moment when it becomes better than terrestrial is all about reusability,” pointing to more than a decade of Falcon 9 booster reflights. <\/p>\n “When you get into, hopefully as soon as next year, where you’re reflying both first and second stage of Starship, the cost curve goes down dramatically,” he said. SpaceX’s prospectus says Starship V3 is expected to carry 100 metric tons and that the company believes full and rapid reusability could eventually reduce the cost to orbit by 99% or more versus NASA’s historical average of $18,500 per kilogram. <\/p>\n Trending: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your ‘Safe’ Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time<\/a> <\/p>\n Orbital AI Bets On Falling Costs <\/p>\n “In terrestrial, everything’s getting actually more expensive,” Johnsen said, citing rising power, cooling, buildings, construction and real-estate costs. By contrast, he said orbital compute should benefit as Starship becomes more efficient and satellite deployment costs fall. <\/p>\n “The cost structure will go down related to the deployment cost,” Johnsen said, adding orbital compute could reach parity with terrestrial infrastructure “maybe as soon as next year.” <\/p>\n Story Continues <\/p>\n SpaceX executives have previously argued Starship could make large-scale orbital compute practical as terrestrial data centers face power, land and cooling constraints. Johnsen said reusable rocketry could “drive our cost of compute dramatically lower than others in the industry.” <\/p>\n The challenge is proving full Starship reuse. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said the company could attempt its first upper-stage tower catch within months, with a first reflight possible by late 2026 or early 2027. <\/p>\n Photo courtesy: Shutterstock <\/p>\n Read Next: <\/p>\n Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market <\/p>\n Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry. <\/p>\n Arrived <\/p>\n Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. 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American PowerGen is developing natural gas-fired power plants in Texas, a fast-growing market fueled by AI data centers, manufacturing expansion, and population growth.<\/a> By advancing projects through permitting, fuel supply, and grid interconnection, the company is positioning itself to help meet rising energy needs while offering investors exposure to the infrastructure supporting the next wave of AI and industrial growth. <\/p>\n Qnetic <\/p>\n As electricity demand rises alongside AI, data centers, and renewable energy, long-duration energy storage is becoming increasingly important. Qnetic is developing a kinetic energy storage system designed to provide long-lasting, chemical-free electricity storage<\/a>, <\/a>offering investors exposure to the infrastructure supporting a more resilient and reliable power grid. <\/p>\n EquityMultiple <\/p>\n For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000<\/a>,<\/a> with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process. <\/p>\n FarmTogether <\/p>\n Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000<\/a> \u2014 fully managed, with no landlord headaches. <\/p>\n Fundrise <\/p>\n