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Lesson Info

Post Type
Article
Level
Level 4 / B2
Published
Title
SpaceX Enters the Stock Market
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-06-13-spacex-enters-stock-market/

In this lesson:

  • Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
  • Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
  • Reading Read the main text.
  • Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
  • Main Idea Choose the overall message of the text.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Put Events in Order Arrange events from the story into the order they happened.
  • Multiple Choice Check understanding.
  • Words That Go Together Connect words and collocated phrases from the lesson.
  • Discussion Builder Think about how ideas relate to each other to choose connecting expressions.
  • Sentence Unscramble Reorder mixed phrases into correct sentences.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?

a) SpaceX says it will focus only on AI.

b) The world’s first trillionaire.

c) SpaceX’s share price falls below its opening price.

A rocket with steam gathering around its base as it gets ready to launch.
SpaceX's Starship rocket.

Ask: (1) Are you interested in investing? (2) Do you like space themes in movies or on TV? Why or why not?

VOCAB LIST

debut (n.) — The first public appearance or launch of something.
trillionaire (n.) — A person whose total wealth is worth one trillion dollars or more.
Nasdaq (n.) — A major U.S. stock exchange where people buy and sell shares in companies.
investor (n.) — A person or group that puts money into something to make a profit.
ticker (n.) — A short group of letters used to identify a company’s stock.
analyst (n.) — A person whose job is to study information carefully and give an opinion.
IPO (n.) — An initial public offering, when a private company first sells shares to the public.
share price (n.) — The price of one share in a company.
launch (n./v.) — The start or release of something new, such as a product, service, or stock.
ambition (n.) — A strong goal or plan to achieve something big.

Reading

SpaceX has taken a major step from private company to public giant. On June 12, the rocket, satellite, and AI company began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX. Its initial public offering, or IPO, raised $75 billion, making it the largest stock market debut in history.

The company sold shares at $135 each, giving it a value of about $1.77 trillion before trading began. Once investors were able to buy and sell the stock, the price quickly rose. It opened at $150 and later closed at $160.95, lifting SpaceX’s value above $2 trillion.

The successful launch of the stock also pushed Elon Musk into a new financial category. Because he owns a large part of SpaceX, the rise in the share price made him the world’s first trillionaire, according to several financial reports.

Many investors are excited because SpaceX is not only a rocket company. Its Starlink satellite internet service already reaches millions of customers, and the company says future growth may come from artificial intelligence, space-based data centers, and long-term plans connected to Mars. Supporters see SpaceX as a company that could shape several industries at once.

However, the IPO has also raised serious questions. SpaceX lost money in 2025, and some analysts argue that its value depends more on future hopes than present profits. Critics also worry about Musk’s strong control over the company and the wider problem of extreme wealth. For ordinary investors, the share price may move sharply if confidence changes.

For now, the market has given SpaceX a warm welcome. The harder test will come later, when investors judge whether the company can turn its huge ambitions into steady results instead of only exciting stories about the future.

SpaceX Enters the Stock Market

Level 4 Source: cnbc.com, bbc.com

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

A rocket with steam gathering around its base as it gets ready to launch.
SpaceX's Starship rocket.

SpaceX has taken a major step from private company to public giant. On June 12, the rocket, satellite, and AI company began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX. Its initial public offering, or IPO, raised $75 billion, making it the largest stock market debut in history.

The company sold shares at $135 each, giving it a value of about $1.77 trillion before trading began. Once investors were able to buy and sell the stock, the price quickly rose. It opened at $150 and later closed at $160.95, lifting SpaceX’s value above $2 trillion.

The successful launch of the stock also pushed Elon Musk into a new financial category. Because he owns a large part of SpaceX, the rise in the share price made him the world’s first trillionaire, according to several financial reports.

Many investors are excited because SpaceX is not only a rocket company. Its Starlink satellite internet service already reaches millions of customers, and the company says future growth may come from artificial intelligence, space-based data centers, and long-term plans connected to Mars. Supporters see SpaceX as a company that could shape several industries at once.

However, the IPO has also raised serious questions. SpaceX lost money in 2025, and some analysts argue that its value depends more on future hopes than present profits. Critics also worry about Musk’s strong control over the company and the wider problem of extreme wealth. For ordinary investors, the share price may move sharply if confidence changes.

For now, the market has given SpaceX a warm welcome. The harder test will come later, when investors judge whether the company can turn its huge ambitions into steady results instead of only exciting stories about the future.

Speaker: American Female  Duration: 2:39  Watch on YouTube

Two ways to use this audio:

  • Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
  • Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

SpaceX has taken a major step from private company to public giant. On June 12, the rocket, satellite, and AI company began trading on the Nasdaq under the (1) SPCX. Its initial public (2) , or IPO, raised $75 billion, making it the largest stock market debut in history.

The company sold shares at $135 each, giving it a value of about $1.77 trillion before trading began. Once investors were able to buy and sell the stock, the price quickly rose. It opened at $150 and later closed at $160.95, lifting SpaceX’s (3) above $2 trillion.

The successful launch of the stock also pushed Elon Musk into a new financial category. Because he owns a large part of SpaceX, the rise in the (4) made him the world’s first trillionaire, according to several financial reports.

Many investors are excited because SpaceX is not only a rocket company. Its Starlink satellite internet service already reaches millions of customers, and the company says future growth may come from artificial intelligence, space-based data centers, and long-term plans connected to Mars. Supporters see SpaceX as a company that could shape several (5) at once.

However, the IPO has also raised serious questions. SpaceX lost money in 2025, and some (6) argue that its value depends more on future hopes than present profits. Critics also worry about Musk’s strong control over the company and the wider problem of extreme wealth. For ordinary investors, the share price may move sharply if confidence changes.

For now, the market has given SpaceX a warm welcome. The harder test will come later, when investors judge whether the company can turn its huge (7) into steady results instead of only exciting stories about the future.

Main Idea

Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.

Main Idea

Choose one:

  • SpaceX’s IPO made investors excited, but it also raised questions about the company’s future. Correct answer
  • SpaceX’s IPO showed how Starlink and new technology could become the company’s most important businesses.
  • SpaceX’s IPO focused attention on Elon Musk’s wealth and control of the company.
True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • SpaceX's IPO raised $75 billion.
    The first paragraph says the IPO raised $75 billion, making it the largest stock market debut in history.
  • SpaceX was already worth more than $2 trillion before trading began.
    The second paragraph says SpaceX was worth about $1.77 trillion before trading began and went above $2 trillion only after the stock rose.
  • Some analysts say SpaceX’s value depends more on future hopes than present profits.
    The fifth paragraph says some analysts argue that SpaceX’s value depends more on future hopes than present profits.

True or False

1. SpaceX's IPO raised $75 billion. TRUEFALSE True

2. SpaceX was already worth more than $2 trillion before trading began. TRUEFALSE False

3. Some analysts say SpaceX’s value depends more on future hopes than present profits. TRUEFALSE True

Put Events in Order

Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (5):

  • The stock price rose during trading, pushing SpaceX’s value above $2 trillion.
  • SpaceX began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX.
  • The stock later closed at $160.95.
  • SpaceX sold shares at $135 each before trading began.
  • The stock opened at $150.
  1. SpaceX sold shares at $135 each before trading began.
  2. SpaceX began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX.
  3. The stock opened at $150.
  4. The stock price rose during trading, pushing SpaceX’s value above $2 trillion.
  5. The stock later closed at $160.95.

Multiple Choice

1. What pushed SpaceX’s value above $2 trillion?

   a) The stock price rose after investors began buying and selling shares.Correct

   b) Starlink added millions of new customers on the same day.

   c) The company lowered the price of each share during trading.

   d) Elon Musk sold more of his ownership in the company.

2. Why are many investors excited about SpaceX beyond rockets?

   a) They think the company will stop working on space projects soon.

   b) They see growth potential in Starlink, AI, space-based data centers, and Mars-related plans.Correct

   c) They believe the company has already solved its profit problems.

   d) They expect ordinary investors to control the company more in the future.

3. What concern do critics raise in the article?

   a) SpaceX may leave the stock market if prices fall.

   b) Starlink has already stopped growing.

   c) Musk has strong control over the company, and the value may rely too much on future hopes.Correct

   d) The company is planning to end its Mars program.

4. What does the article suggest investors will judge later?

   a) Whether the company can choose a new stock ticker

   b) Whether Musk can become even wealthier

   c) Whether Starlink can stop serving millions of customers

   d) Whether the company can turn its huge ambitions into steady resultsCorrect

Words That Go Together

Loading vocabulary activity...

Words That Go Together

Match each word with the words it goes with:

1. raiseg) serious questions

2. buy and sellf) stock

3. lifte) a company’s value

4. reachd) millions of customers

5. shapec) several industries

6. loseb) money

7. turna) ambitions into steady results

a) ambitions into steady results

b) money

c) several industries

d) millions of customers

e) a company’s value

f) stock

g) serious questions

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. many investors bought shares because they see SpaceX as more than a rocket company.

    I think, / But, / Also, / For example,

    I think, many investors bought shares because they see SpaceX as more than a rocket company.

  2. Future plans can make a company more exciting, they should not hide weak profits.

    and / because / but / so

    Future plans can make a company more exciting, but they should not hide weak profits.

  3. SpaceX works on rockets, satellite internet, AI ideas, and Mars plans. it could affect several industries at once.

    So, / Still, / For example, / However,

    SpaceX works on rockets, satellite internet, AI ideas, and Mars plans. So, it could affect several industries at once.

Sentence Unscramble

  1. A. to profit. B. a clear path C. if the company D. I might E. had F. buy shares

    I might buy shares if the company had a clear path to profit.

  2. A. because B. A public company C. ordinary investors D. more pressure E. may face F. expect G. steady results.

    A public company may face more pressure because ordinary investors expect steady results.

  3. A. fast decisions, B. add risk. C. but it can also D. too much control E. can produce F. To me, G. in one person's hands

    To me, too much control in one person's hands can produce fast decisions, but it can also add risk.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think so many investors were willing to buy SpaceX shares?
  2. Do you think future plans should strongly affect a company’s value? Why or why not?
  3. What are the risks when one person has a lot of control over a company?
  4. Is it a problem when one person becomes extremely rich? Why or why not?
  5. Would you personally buy shares in a company that lost money last year? Why or why not?
  6. Humans will live on Mars one day. Agree or disagree?
  7. Do public companies face different pressures than private companies? How?
  8. What company in your country gets the most attention from investors or the public?

Answers SpaceX Enters the Stock Market / Level 4

Think Ahead: b

Listening: (1) ticker, (2) offering, (3) value, (4) share price, (5) industries, (6) analysts, (7) ambitions

Main Idea: SpaceX’s IPO made investors excited, but it also raised questions about the company’s future.

True or False:

  1. True. The first paragraph says the IPO raised $75 billion, making it the largest stock market debut in history.
  2. False. The second paragraph says SpaceX was worth about $1.77 trillion before trading began and went above $2 trillion only after the stock rose.
  3. True. The fifth paragraph says some analysts argue that SpaceX’s value depends more on future hopes than present profits.

Multiple Choice: a, b, c, d

Put Events in Order:

  1. SpaceX sold shares at $135 each before trading began.
  2. SpaceX began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX.
  3. The stock opened at $150.
  4. The stock price rose during trading, pushing SpaceX’s value above $2 trillion.
  5. The stock later closed at $160.95.

Vocabulary:

  1. raise: serious questions
  2. buy and sell: stock
  3. lift: a company’s value
  4. reach: millions of customers
  1. shape: several industries
  2. lose: money
  3. turn: ambitions into steady results

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Opinion. 2) Contrast. 3) Result.

  1. I think,
  2. but
  3. So,

Sentence Unscramble:

  1. I might buy shares if the company had a clear path to profit.
  2. A public company may face more pressure because ordinary investors expect steady results.
  3. To me, too much control in one person's hands can produce fast decisions, but it can also add risk.

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