SpaceX has filed for an IPO, ending its long tenure as a private company. Elon Musk's aerospace venture is preparing to offer shares to public investors, a move that opens the door to market trading for one of the most visible names in the space industry. The filing itself confirms the company is actively pursuing a public listing.

SpaceX built its reputation on reusable rocket technology and the Starlink satellite internet constellation. As a private firm, it dodged the quarterly reporting and regulatory scrutiny that come with public markets. An IPO would change that, forcing the company into more transparent financial disclosure and giving investors direct exposure to its revenue.

The filing doesn't set a timeline or offering price. For traders, the move raises immediate questions about how SpaceX's private valuation will translate once shares trade openly. Musk has historically kept his companies private, so this filing marks a notable shift in how he manages his business interests.