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Russia deems SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 safe to launch cosmonauts
Seven years after Russian bureaucrat and oligarch Dmitry Rogozin – faced with economic sanctions in response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine – suggested that the US send its astronauts to orbit with a trampoline, Rogozin – now head of Roscosms – says that his space agency has deemed that ‘trampoline’ safe enough to carry Russian cosmonauts.
That ‘trampoline’, of course, is SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. Back in April 2014, NASA had yet to even award the main Commercial Crew contracts that would fund the development of two new redundant crewed spacecraft and launch solutions. Having prematurely canceled the Space Shuttle in 2011, the US had inexplicably forced itself – entirely of its own volition – into a situation where the only way it could crew the space station it helped spend $100 billion to build was to buy seats on Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, faced with economic sanctions for its illegal activities in the Crimean Peninsula that partially impacted Russia’s space industry, Roscosmos took advantage of its sudden monopoly over International Space Station (ISS) astronaut access and began aggressively increasing the prices NASA had to pay to crew the ISS. Ultimately, before SpaceX and Crew Dragon finally gave NASA an alternative, the space agency went from paying a minimum of $30M per seat in 2007 to a peak of $90M per seat in 2020.
While NASA Commercial Crew partner Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is also expected to cost the agency a staggering $90M per seat when it eventually comes online, a seat on SpaceX’s first seven Crew Dragon astronaut launches is expected to cost around $55M, saving NASA a considerable sum relative to Russia’s Soyuz pricing. It’s quite likely that that price will drop even further in the likely event that NASA purchases additional Crew Dragon launches in the near future.
As of today, there’s a real chance that SpaceX will complete all six initially contracted crew launches – Crew-1 through Crew-6 – by mid-2023 and before Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has completed a single operational astronaut launch. To ensure enough lead time to prepare for future Dragon astronaut launches, NASA would likely need to award SpaceX additional contracts by mid to late 2022.
Additionally, after a year or more of discussions between NASA and Roscosmos, Rogozin says that the agency is finally willing to seriously discuss a crew swap program that would see a cosmonaut and US astronaut regularly switch places on Dragon and Soyuz. While not technically necessary, the program has long been a practical symbol of national cooperation in the Space Shuttle era and also ensures that both space agencies have systems in place to cross-train astronauts in the event that a catastrophe grounds one country’s access to the ISS.
Ultimately, Roscosmos clearing Crew Dragon to launch its cosmonauts is perhaps the last and most hard-won stamp of approval SpaceX has secured from traditional space stalwarts, virtually all of which spent most of the 2000s and some of the 2010s belittling, discounting, or ignoring the company.
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Tesla opens first public Tesla Semi Megacharger site in Los Angeles
The development was highlighted in a post on social media platform X by the official Tesla Semi account.
Tesla has opened its first public Tesla Semi Megacharger site in Los Angeles. The station reportedly offers up to 750 kW charging speeds and is open to Tesla Semi customers.
The development was highlighted in a post on social media platform X by the official Tesla Semi account.
Tesla Semi Megachargers
The Los Angeles site seems to be the first public Tesla Semi Megacharger that is not located at a Tesla factory. It is also the third Megacharger site currently visible on Tesla’s map.
The Megacharger system is designed specifically for the Tesla Semi and is capable of delivering extremely high charging speeds to support long-haul trucking operations. Infrastructure such as this will likely play a key role in making the Semi competitive with diesel-powered transport trucks.
Tesla’s progress with the Semi has also drawn attention in recent days after Elon Musk biographer Ashlee Vance shared photos from inside the Tesla Semi factory near Giga Nevada. The images suggested that preparations for higher production volumes may be underway, hinting that a broader ramp of the Tesla Semi’s production indeed be approaching.
New deployment strategies
Tesla has continued expanding its broader charging network through several new strategies aimed at accelerating infrastructure deployment. One of these initiatives is the Supercharger for Business program, which allows third parties to purchase Tesla Supercharger equipment and deploy charging stations while still integrating with Tesla’s network.
The program recently marked a milestone in Alpharetta, Georgia, where the city deployed four 325 kW city-branded Superchargers near the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety on Old Milton Parkway. The chargers support the city’s Tesla Model Y police vehicles while also remaining accessible to the public.
As per a report from EVwire, the project was designed not only to support fleet charging but also to generate economic returns that could offset the city’s investment. Tesla’s Supercharger for Business program has already attracted several participants, including businesses and charging providers such as Suncoast Charging, Pie Safe bakery in Idaho, Francis Energy in Oklahoma, and Wawa convenience stores.
Elon Musk
The Boring Company’s Vegas Loop moves 82k riders during CONEXPO
The Loop’s feat was highlighted by The Boring Company in a post on its official account on social media platform X.
The Boring Company said its Vegas Loop system transported roughly 82,000 passengers during the recent CONEXPO-CON/AGG construction trade show in Las Vegas. The event was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) from March 3-7, 2026.
The Loop’s feat was highlighted by The Boring Company in a post on its official account on social media platform X.
CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026
CONEXPO-CON/AGG is one of the largest construction trade shows in North America. This year’s event was quite impressive, attracting more than 140,000 construction professionals from 128 countries across the world.
Considering the number of this year’s attendees, the LVCC Loop seemed to have proven itself to be a very useful transportation solution. A video posted by The Boring Company on its official X account featured attendees expressing their enthusiasm for the underground transport system, with some stating that they would like to see similar tunnels across Las Vegas.
The LVCC Loop is only part of the greater Vegas Loop network, which is actively under construction.
New Vegas Loop extensions
One of the newest additions is a station at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas resort on the Strip. The station is located on level V-1 of the resort’s south valet area, according to a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. From the Fontainebleau, passengers can travel free of charge to stations serving the Las Vegas Convention Center, as well as to Loop stations at Encore and Westgate.
The system is also expanding beyond the Strip corridor. In December, The Boring Company began offering Vegas Loop rides to and from Harry Reid International Airport. These trips include a limited above-ground segment after receiving approval from the Nevada Transportation Authority to allow surface street travel tied to Loop operations.
The Boring Company President Steve Davis previously told the Review-Journal that the University Center Loop segment, which is currently under construction, is expected to open in the first quarter of 2026. The extension would allow Loop vehicles to travel beneath Paradise Road between the convention center and the airport, with a planned station just north of Tropicana Avenue.
News
Tesla preps to build its most massive Supercharger yet: 400+ V4 stalls
The project will be an expansion of the current Eddie World Supercharger in Yermo, California, and will take place in several stages.
Tesla is preparing to build its most massive Supercharger yet, as it recently submitted plans for an over 400-stall Supercharging station in California, which would dwarf its massive 168-stall location in Lost Hills, California.
The project will be an expansion of the current Eddie World Supercharger in Yermo, California, and will take place in several stages.
The expansion, adjacent to the existing Eddie World Supercharger, which is currently comprised of 22 older V2 and V3 stalls limited to 150 kW, unfolds across six phases.
Construction on Phase 1 begins later this year with 72 V4 stalls. Subsequent stages will progressively add hundreds more, culminating in over 400 next-generation chargers. Site plans label expansive parking arrays across Phases 1–5 along Calico Boulevard, with Phase 6 design still to be determined.
Tesla is planning an absolutely massive Supercharger expansion in Yermo, California!!
Over the course of 6 phases, Tesla is set to add over 400 V4 stalls in a commercial development known as Eddie World 2.
The first phase, which should begin construction sometime this year,… pic.twitter.com/ks5Y5dE8lR
— MarcoRP (@MarcoRPi1) March 6, 2026
The project was first flagged by MarcoRP, a notable Tesla Supercharger watcher.
Strategically located midway on I-15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, the station targets heavy EV traffic on this high-demand corridor.
The surrounding 20-mile stretch already hosts over 200 high-power stalls (including 40 at 250 kW, 120 at 325 kW, and more), plus 96 in nearby Baker—yet bottlenecks persist during peak travel.
In scale, it eclipses all existing Tesla Superchargers. The current record holder, the solar- and Megapack-powered “Project Oasis” in Lost Hills, California, offers 164 stalls. Barstow’s former leader had 120. Eddie World 2 will be more than double that size, cementing Tesla’s dominance in ultra-high-capacity charging.
Tesla finishes its biggest Supercharger ever with 168 stalls
Development blends charging with convenience. Architectural drawings show integrated retail: a 10,100 square foot Cracker Barrel, a 4,300 square foot McDonald’s, a 3,800 square foot convenience store, additional restaurants, drive-thrus, outdoor dining, and lease space.
EV-centric features include pull-through bays for Cybertrucks and trailers, ensuring accessibility for larger vehicles and future Semi trucks.
Tesla opens first public Tesla Semi Megacharger site in Los Angeles
The Boring Company’s Vegas Loop moves 82k riders during CONEXPO
