SpaceX Expands Its Fleet with Acquisition of Boeing 737-800 Aircraft

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), led by visionary entrepreneur Elon Musk, has recently broadened its aviation footprint with the acquisition of a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This move, executed through its Falcon Aviation Holdings unit, represents a significant expansion beyond SpaceX’s core focus on spacecraft and satellite technology.

The aircraft, bearing the registration N154TS (msn 30515), officially joined SpaceX’s assets in August 2023. It previously served with Air China (CA, Beijing Capital) before being retired in July 2022. The 21.6-year-old Boeing model spent a considerable time parked at Lake Charles Chennault until mid-December 2023. Notably, it has been removed from ADS-B data tracking websites, but it has been spotted at various airports including Washington Dulles, Orlando International, Los Angeles International, Victorville, and Brownsville. The latter is of particular interest as it is in proximity to SpaceX’s manufacturing and launch site at Boca Chica, Texas.

Falcon Aviation Holdings, under which the 737-800 is registered, shares the same Hawthorne, California address as SpaceX, indicating a close operational alignment. Similarly, SpaceX’s Gulfstream Aerospace executive jets are registered to Falcon Landing, a sister Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with the same corporate headquarters.

As of now, SpaceX has not publicly commented on the acquisition, leaving the specific purpose of the 737-800 open to speculation. Industry observers are keen to understand whether the aircraft will be utilized as a corporate shuttle for SpaceX or if it will serve a more innovative role, possibly as a testbed for the company’s cutting-edge aerospace technologies.

This acquisition by SpaceX, a company renowned for its ambitious and forward-thinking ventures, sparks curiosity about the potential applications and implications of a commercial airliner within its diverse and technologically advanced operations.