Uber and SpaceX: Problems with American flight start-ups

Several start-ups aiming for the skies are currently experiencing problems in the USA. SpaceX has to cancel a launch, Uber is selling its air cab division.

These are troubled times for American aerospace start-ups: First, the ride-hailing service Uber announced that it was selling its air cab project Uber Elevate, then Elon Musk's aerospace company SpaceX had to abort the test of a new rocket after just 1.3 seconds.

According to SpaceX, a problem with the engine was the reason for the abortion. The prototype was to be launched to an altitude of 12.5 kilometers for the first time, instead of the previous 150 meters. According to Musk, the new "Starship" rocket should be completely reusable, in contrast to his previous models, where this was only partially the case.

At Uber, the end of the air cab business is part of a whole series of cost-cutting measures initiated by CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. In addition to Uber Elevate, he also stopped Uber's work on self-driving cars and the business with electric rental bikes. Last quarter, Uber lost 1.1 billion US dollars and almost a fifth of its turnover.

However, the air cab division will not be scrapped; instead, the aviation technology company Joby, which had previously cooperated with Uber, will take over the business.