Why is SpaceX going public?

"I am hesitant to foist being public on SpaceX, especially given the long term nature of our mission. Tesla went public because it didn't have any choice. Public companies are judged on quarterly performance. If SpaceX had a bad quarter as a public company, short sellers would be hitting us over the head with a large stick."

"An IPO can raise a lot of money for a company while letting longtime investors exit. But there's a price. It's possible the private market has overvalued the company or the financials don't look as good as everyone hoped. And it's much easier for investors to bail on a public company than a private one."

Elon Musk has consistently opposed taking SpaceX public, stating in a 2013 memo that he wanted to delay an IPO until the Mars transport system was operational. He cited Tesla's forced public offering as a cautionary example, noting the company had no choice. Public markets impose quarterly performance scrutiny that conflicts with SpaceX's long-term mission focus. Going public exposes the company to short sellers, stock volatility from rocket failures, and regulatory oversight. While IPOs provide capital and investor exits, they risk overvaluation, reduced investor loyalty, and pressure that could compromise SpaceX's ambitious objectives.

Read at The Verge