The US space enterprise is desperately waiting for Starship—will it finally deliver?

Here's something that might surprise you — SpaceX’s real gold isn't just in rockets, but in its massive push into AI, data centers, and even chip manufacturing. According to Eric Berger at Ars Technica, the company’s recent deals, like paying $17 billion for wireless spectrum and planning a million orbital data centers, show it’s diversifying wildly. These moves aren’t just side projects — they’re shaping a future where SpaceX might be valued at up to two trillion dollars, driven by tech ambitions beyond space. But here's where it gets interesting: all this activity is happening while the core Starship project still faces delays and questions. As Berger points out, the industry’s survival hinges on whether Starship finally delivers — or if the company’s sprawling ventures end up pulling focus in conflicting directions. So what does this mean? If SpaceX pulls it off with Starship, it'll redefine what a space company can be. But if not, those massive bets on AI and data centers might end up being the real game-changer — and the real risk.