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Tesla community celebrates 49 years of Elon Musk’s relentless pursuit of dreams and sustainability
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is celebrating his 49th birthday today, and both the electric car and space community are celebrating a life that has so far been dedicated to the pursuit of dreams and sustainability. Musk’s journey has been arduous, but his sheer determination has played a notable part in accelerating today’s shift towards renewables and interplanetary endeavors.
It is said that discomfort is something that could harness the best in a person. For Musk, this does seem to be the case. As a teenager, Musk fled to Canada with around $2,000 to his name, and he lived off manual labor for some time to make ends meet. Finishing college, Musk was similar to other graduates, being $100,000 in debt. Yet despite this, Musk was a dreamer, and his fascination with space, tech, and sustainability were intact.
Musk’s first successes came in the tech sector, starting with Zip2, a directory service that could, in a way, be considered as a predecessor of programs like Google Maps. He then went on to online banking with X.com, which, after a merger with Confinity, was sold to eBay as PayPal. Musk’s earnings from the sale of PayPal ultimately helped start SpaceX, a private space company. It did not take long before Musk became the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tesla, an electric vehicle company.
Elon Musk’s successes today prove that hard work is needed for real results. Previous interviews have mentioned Musk remarking that projects such as mass producing the Tesla Model 3 or creating reusable rockets is difficult. And it’s true. Musk is arguably one of the most hands-on CEOs in the industry today, at some points in recent years even bunking on Tesla’s Fremont Factory to help out the company in ramping vehicle production.
But all this hard work also results in a lot of hard-won victories. When Elon Musk joined Tesla as the company’s primary investor, and as he took the reins of the company as its CEO during the financial crisis, the idea of an electric car company being the most valuable automaker in the world by market cap was farfetched. But this is exactly what has happened over the years. It took a ton of hard work with each vehicle release, but there is no denying the fact that Tesla today is a force to be reckoned with in the auto sector.
The same goes for SpaceX. The private space firm could be considered as Musk’s true labor of love, being a company that is currently pursuing Musk’s personal childhood dream of making humans into an interplanetary species. Just like Tesla, the road has not been easy for SpaceX, with the company teetering over the edge of bankruptcy amidst the multiple failures of its first custom-designed rocket, the Falcon 1. The Falcon 1 was a humble rocket, and it took three failures before it was able to reach orbit nominally.
The victory of the Falcon 1 ultimately paved the way for the emergence of SpaceX’s resident workhorse, the Falcon 9. Equipped with nine Merlin Engines, the Falcon 9 marked its place in space history through its sheer reliability, and later on, its unique reusability. The Falcon 9, as well as its upgraded configuration, the Falcon Heavy, stand as the pinnacle of rockets today, with their capability to be reflown and reused after landing on land and at sea.
If there is one thing that is similar among Elon Musk’s primary companies and the CEO himself, it is the fact that they move very fast. Tesla was able to outpace the EV competition since its vehicles, which were the benchmark in performance and tech to begin with, are moving targets for competitors. SpaceX is the same way. Despite the dominance of the Falcon 9 in terms of reusability and cost, the company is now looking towards its next great project — Starship — a massive rocket that is designed for actual interplanetary travel.
Ultimately, it is quite fascinating to see what Elon Musk has accomplished over his 49 years. But what is even more exciting is that there is more to come. Tesla is only getting started in the energy sector, and SpaceX looking to even higher heights. The next few years for Musk would most definitely be even more compelling.
Elon Musk
NASA sends humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972 – Here’s what’s next
NASA’s Artemis II launched four astronauts toward the Moon on the first crewed lunar mission since 1972.
NASA’s Space Launch System rocket launches carrying the Orion spacecraft with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, commander; Victor Glover, pilot; Christina Koch, mission specialist; and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist on NASA’s Artemis II mission, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, from Operations and Support Building II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA’s Artemis II mission will take Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back aboard SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft launched at 6:35pm EDT from Launch Complex 39B. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
NASA launched four astronauts toward the Moon on April 1, 2026, marking the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in December 1972. The Artemis II mission lifted off from Kennedy Space Center aboard the Space Launch System rocket at 6:35 p.m. EDT, sending commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day journey around the far side of the Moon and back.
The mission does not include a lunar landing. It is a test flight designed to validate the Orion spacecraft’s life support systems, navigation, and communications in deep space with a crew aboard for the first time. If the crew reaches the planned distance of 252,000 miles from Earth, they will set a new record for the farthest any human has ever traveled, surpassing even the Apollo 13 distance record.
As Teslarati reported, SpaceX holds a central role in what comes next. The Starship Human Landing System is under contract to carry astronauts to the lunar surface for Artemis IV, now targeting 2028, after NASA restructured its mission sequence due to delays in Starship’s orbital refueling demonstration. Before any Moon landing happens, SpaceX must prove it can transfer propellant between two Starships in orbit, something no rocket program has done at this scale.
The last time humans left Earth’s orbit was 53 years ago. Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt of Apollo 17 were the final people to walk on the Moon, a record that stands to this day. Elon Musk has long argued that returning is not optional. “It’s been now almost half a century since humans were last on the Moon,” Musk said. “That’s too long, we need to get back there and have a permanent base on the Moon.”
The Artemis program involves 60 countries signed onto the Artemis Accords, and this mission sets several firsts beyond distance. Glover becomes the first person of color to travel beyond low Earth orbit, Koch the first woman, and Hansen the first non-American astronaut to reach the Moon’s vicinity. According to NASA’s live mission updates, the spacecraft’s solar arrays deployed successfully after liftoff and the crew completed a proximity operations demonstration within the first hours of flight.
Artemis II is step one. The Moon landing and the permanent lunar base come later. But after more than five decades, humans are heading back.
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Tesla removes Model S and X custom orders as sunset officially begins
In a significant development that marks the beginning of the end for two of its longest-running models, Tesla has removed the custom order configurator for the Model S sedan and Model X SUV from its website.
Tesla has officially started the “honorable discharge” of the Model S and Model X with a massive move, removing the two vehicles from Custom Orders and only offering inventory options.
It is the latest move Tesla has made to pull the Model S and Model X from its lineup, a decision CEO Elon Musk announced during its last quarterly earnings call.
Tesla brings closure to flagship ‘sentimental’ models, Musk confirms
In a significant development that marks the beginning of the end for two of its longest-running models, Tesla has removed the custom order configurator for the Model S sedan and Model X SUV from its website.
As of April 1, visitors to tesla.com/model-s and tesla.com/modelx are now redirected exclusively to limited inventory listings rather than a design studio, allowing buyers to select paint, wheels, interior options, or performance upgrades. Only pre-built vehicles currently in stock are available for purchase or lease.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed the change directly on X, posting: “Custom orders of the Tesla Model S & X have come to an end. All that’s left are some in inventory.”
Custom orders of the Tesla Model S & X have come to an end. All that’s left are some in inventory.
We will have an official ceremony to mark the ending of an era. I love those cars.
This was me at production launch 14 years ago: pic.twitter.com/6kvCf9HTHc
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 1, 2026
We will have an official ceremony to mark the end of an era.” Accompanying the statement was a throwback photo from the Model S production launch in 2012, underscoring the emotional weight of the decision.
Musk had first signaled the phase-out during the company’s Q4 2025 earnings call in January, describing it as time for an “honorable discharge” of the programs to free up resources at the Fremont factory for Optimus humanoid robot production and autonomous vehicle initiatives.
The Model S, introduced in 2012, and the Model X, which followed in 2015, were instrumental in establishing Tesla as a premium electric vehicle leader.
The sedan offered class-leading range and acceleration, while the SUV’s signature falcon-wing doors became an iconic feature. Together, they proved EVs could compete in the luxury segment. Yet sales volumes have dwindled in recent years as Tesla prioritized higher-volume Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.
The flagships now represent a tiny fraction of overall deliveries, making continued custom production inefficient as the company accelerates toward robotaxis and next-generation platforms.
Prospective buyers are urged to act quickly. Remaining U.S. inventory vehicles—some nearly new—may include incentives such as lifetime free Supercharging, Full Self-Driving (Supervised) capability, and premium connectivity, depending on configuration.
Leasing options start around $1,699 per month for select Model X units, though exact pricing and availability fluctuate. International markets, including Europe and China, have already seen similar restrictions in recent months.
The move aligns with Tesla’s broader strategy to streamline its lineup and redirect manufacturing capacity toward autonomy and AI-driven products. While some enthusiasts lament the loss of personalization, the company views the transition as necessary progress.
Tesla has indicated that once the current inventory sells out, new Model S and Model X vehicles will no longer be offered.
For loyal owners and fans, the promised “official ceremony” may provide a fitting send-off. In the meantime, the website change serves as a clear signal: the era of bespoke flagship Teslas has quietly concluded, and the focus has fully shifted to the future.
Elon Musk
SpaceX files confidentially for IPO that will rewrite the record books
SpaceX files confidentially for a record-breaking IPO targeting a $1.75T valuation and $80B raise, driven by Starlink growth and its xAI merger.
Elon Musk’s rocket and satellite company submitted its draft registration to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission today for an initial public offering, targeting June at a $1.75 trillion valuation. This would be the largest in history.
SpaceX has filed confidentially with the SEC, first reported by Bloomberg. SpaceX would be valued above every S&P 500 company except Nvidia, Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Amazon.
The filing uses a confidential process that allows companies to work through SEC disclosures privately before initiating a public roadshow. With a June target, official details through a formal prospectus is expected to go public in April or early May, after which SpaceX must wait at least 15 days before beginning investor marketing.
While SpaceX is best known for its Falcon 9 and Starship rockets, the $1.75 trillion valuation is anchored by Starlink, its satellite internet service. Starlink ended 2025 with 9.2 million subscribers and over $10 billion in revenue, which is a figure analysts project could reach a staggering $24 billion by the end of 2026. A February all-stock merger with xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence venture, further boosted the valuation.
SpaceX officially acquires xAI, merging rockets with AI expertise
Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley are lined up as senior underwriters. SpaceX is also considering a dual-class share structure to preserve insider voting control, and plans to allocate up to 30% of shares to retail investors, which is roughly three times the typical norm.
NASA sends humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972 – Here’s what’s next
Tesla removes Model S and X custom orders as sunset officially begins
SpaceX files confidentially for IPO that will rewrite the record books
Elon Musk says Tesla is developing a new vehicle: ‘Way cooler than a minivan’
Elon Musk launches TERAFAB: The $25B Tesla-SpaceXAI chip factory that will rewire the AI industry
