Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) retail shareholders want to know when the company will merge with Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA), show off its Starship moon lander test article, and refuel Starship in orbit.

What Press SpaceX on Starship

The top question on SpaceX’s questionnaire ahead of its third-quarter earnings call, with 38 upvotes, noted that President Gwynne Shotwell said Starship human landing system hardware is now being produced at Starbase. They asked how much progress has been made and when they’ll show off the test article.

Another, with 24 upvotes, asked when SpaceX will run its orbital refueling demo for Starship and whether it will be combined with a long-duration demo.

SpaceX sent Starship into orbit for the first time in late September, deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites after 13 suborbital flights.

On the second-quarter call, Shotwell said the Artemis III mission is next year, when SpaceX will dock with NASA’s Orion spacecraft. She called propellant transfer in orbit critical to both SpaceX’s internal and moon lander ambitions.

Tesla Merger Talk Lingers

“When will SpaceX merge with Tesla?” drew 26 upvotes, the second most of any question.

RBC Capital Markets said SpaceX could acquire Tesla for $480 per share, creating a combined company worth $3.74 trillion.

Barclays analyst Dan Levy said a deal could be announced by early December, Bloomberg reported, but Polymarket traders put the odds of an official announcement by Dec. 31 at 16%. The odds rise to 65% by the end of 2027.

CEO Elon Musk said in September that Tesla and SpaceX collaborate so closely across many areas that, when asked why the companies remain separate, people should imagine what action might follow.

What Wall Street Expects in Q3

Analysts expect SpaceX to report third-quarter revenue of $12.94 billion, according to Benzinga Pro data. The second-quarter total of $7.81 billion beat the Street estimate of $6.93 billion.

Analysts expect earnings of 16 cents per share. SpaceX reported a second-quarter loss of nine cents per share, which beat estimates of a loss of 24 cents. A profit could help SpaceX qualify for the S&P 500 Index down the road if profits continue quarter to quarter.

SpaceX reports third-quarter results Tuesday after the bell, the second report since its blockbuster IPO. The earnings call webcast starts at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Price Action: On Monday, shares closed 1.32% higher at $147.96 and fell 0.034% to $147.91 in early pre-market trading on Tuesday.

Benzinga Edge rankings indicate that SpaceX’s stock shows a positive price trend in the short, medium, and long term.