{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/39fc4a99-8861-437d-81e2-684d13e48f92/6a1853d169630795d8a57b80?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Elon Musk’s astronomical SpaceX bet","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/62e286a934d4d92155874248/1779979094626-7d2adb38-f1ac-4e53-a570-69a8180ed97e.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Nearly everything about SpaceX seems otherworldly–even its forthcoming IPO. Not only will it be the <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/05/21/spacex-is-capitalism-on-rocket-fuel?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=moneytalks&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">largest</a> in history (by some margin) but, to make good on its promises, the company will need to put data centres in space and build a 1m-person city on Mars. Both of those <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/briefing/2026/05/21/elon-musk-is-going-all-in-on-an-unproven-technology?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=moneytalks&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">ambitions</a> depend on SpaceX’s next-generation rocket, Starship. So will Elon Musk's latest test-flight IPO be meteoric or explosive?</p><p><br></p><p>Guests and hosts:</p><ul><li>Henry Tricks, <em>The Economist</em>’s US technology editor</li><li>Tim Cross, <em>The Economist</em>’s senior science writer</li><li>Mike Bird, co-host of “Money Talks”</li><li>Alice Fulwood, co-host of “Money Talks”</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered:</p><ul><li>SpaceX IPO</li><li>Starship</li><li>Orbital data centres</li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>Transcripts of our podcasts are available via</em><a href=\"http://economist.com/podcasts\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em> economist.com/podcasts</em></a><em>.</em></p><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href=\"https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>subscribe to Economist Podcasts+</em></a><em>.</em></p><p><em>For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our</em><a href=\"https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em> FAQs page</em></a><em> or watch</em><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em> our video</em></a><em> explaining how to link your account.</em></p>","author_name":"The Economist"}