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SpaceX’s Crew Dragon gets tentative NASA target for first astronaut launch

Crew Dragon arrives at the International Space Station for the first time ever during its March 2019 DM-1 mission. (NASA)

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6 years ago

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New information from both NASA and the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) confirm that SpaceX is currently targeting – at least very tentatively so – Crew Dragon’s first launch with astronauts aboard no earlier than November 15th, 2019.

SpaceX is currently in the midst of a complex, high-stakes anomaly investigation after its flight-proven DM-1 Crew Dragon capsule suffered a catastrophic failure on April 20th. That investigation is nowhere near full closure due to the fact that the interests of NASA and the Commercial Crew Program (CCP) are equally interwoven into the work involved. Given the potential consequences of a similar failure occurring with astronauts (public or private) aboard, NASA is unlikely to accept anything less than a no-stone-left-unturned analysis and failure resolution, including any necessary design changes to Crew Dragon, no matter how far-reaching.

As NASASpaceflight.com’s Chris Gerbhardt notes, the Crew Dragon-related dates included in the NASA Flight Planning Integration Panel (FPIP) document are extremely tentative. They’re really only there to serve as placeholders for longer-term International Space Station planning, already a necessarily uncertain endeavor. Nevertheless, NASA’s NET November 15th 2019 planning date for Crew Dragon DM-2 (the first crewed test flight) was likely okayed by SpaceX – if not provided outright by the company – before going into an official FPIP.

In other words, November 15th is probably a real target but should be treated as an absolutely-positively-no-earlier-than launch date for Crew Dragon’s first astronaut-laden mission to the ISS. Back in late March (after DM-1’s successfully completion but before the capsule’s ground failure), anonymous Russian space industry sources confirmed that NASA’s DM-2 planning date was July 25th, while also indicating that the space agency was already preparing for delays that could push DM-2 as late as November 2019.

Specifically, an anonymous Roscosmos source told Russian outlet TASS that “the [DM-2] launch of Crew Dragon is likely to be postponed to November”. Given that that delay was rumored – albeit quasi-officially – and reported on nearly a month before Crew Dragon capsule C201 catastrophically exploded during testing, it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in a November 2019 DM-2 planning date officially released by NASA more three months later.

Crew Dragon stumbles, but optimism remains

As is often said, things were going perfectly up to the point that they weren’t. Despite 2-3 months of NASA paperwork and review-related delays, SpaceX’s first flightworthy Crew Dragon performed flawlessly during orbital rendezvous, docking, departure, and reentry to the extent that NASA and SpaceX officials were joking on-webcast about their partial disbelief. NASA’s lengthy post-mission review effectively concluded as much, although there is always room for improvement.

Due to those aforementioned DM-1 delays (roughly early January to early March), DM-2’s Crew Dragon assembly and integration was delayed in turn to preserve access in case DM-1 revealed flaws or necessary changes. Things didn’t quite go as planned, but the delayed integration has turned out to be beneficial, preserving access to most of Dragon 2’s critical subsystems without requiring major disassembly before any anomaly-related changes are implemented.

A May 2019 NASA update indicated that SpaceX’s DM-2 Crew Dragon (likely the vehicle previously assigned to the subsequent USCV-1 mission) is in the late stages of assembly. Once the anomaly investigation is complete and the DM-2 spacecraft is updated with any necessary modifications, SpaceX will likely require an additional ~4 months of work to reach flight-readiness. (NASA)

Per a late-May update from CCP manager Kathy Lueders, SpaceX has effectively shifted its Crew Dragon hardware assignments over one to account for the loss of the DM-1 capsule, C201. The vehicle previously assigned to DM-2 has been reassigned to a critical in-flight abort (IFA) test, previously meant to use flight-proven C201. Per charts provided during Lueders’ presentation, SpaceX’s replacement DM-2 capsule (likely the capsule previously assigned to the following mission, Crew-1) is in a sort of holding pattern to allow for modifications that may be required after the DM-1 failure investigation concludes.

Per a previous December 2018 update from Lueders, SpaceX’s original DM-2 spacecraft (now assigned to IFA) was expected to be fully assembled, shipped to Pad 39A, and ready for launch by June 2019. Accounting for DM-1’s delays, that spacecraft could likely be ready for the abort test as early as July or August, which meshes with post-anomaly indications that IFA is now scheduled no earlier than fall (September 2019)

Backlit by Earth’s limb, Crew Dragon DM-1’s ISS arrival was captured by astronaut Anne McClain on March 3rd. (NASA/Anne McClain)

All things considered, a pragmatic analysis suggests that Crew Dragon‘s DM-2 launch will most likely happen no earlier than Q1 2020, although miracles (and nightmares) are certainly possible. For the time being, all that really matters to SpaceX is wrapping up the C201 failure investigation as quickly and accurately as possible. Only after the company has publicly announced the results of that investigation should any IFA or DM-2 launch dates be taken with anything less than a full shaker of salt.

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Eric Ralph is Teslarati's senior spaceflight reporter and has been covering the industry in some capacity for almost half a decade, largely spurred in 2016 by a trip to Mexico to watch Elon Musk reveal SpaceX's plans for Mars in person. Aside from spreading interest and excitement about spaceflight far and wide, his primary goal is to cover humanity's ongoing efforts to expand beyond Earth to the Moon, Mars, and elsewhere.

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Elon Musk

Tesla Supercharger Diner officially opens: menu, prices, features, and more

Tesla’s Supercharger Diner in Los Angeles is open after seven years in the making.

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6 hours ago

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July 21, 2025

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tesla diner in los angeles during daytime
Credit: Matt Hartman

Tesla has officially opened its Supercharger Diner in Los Angeles to the public for the first time. It is an 80-Supercharger lot with two movie screens and a full-service 24/7 diner that serves a wide variety of locally sourced food for patrons while they charge or even just stop by.

It is not exclusive to Tesla owners, as anyone can stop by to experience the Diner and movie theater. It officially opened to the public at 4:20 p.m. local time.

In 2018, CEO Elon Musk said he was hoping to build a full-scale 50s era diner that served as a drive-in movie theater. Seven years later, it has officially come to life, and in typical Tesla fashion, it opened at a very appropriate time of day. We heard of people waiting as many as 13 hours for the site to open.

Tesla Diner Menu

BURGERS & SANDWICHES

  • Tesla Burger: $13.5
    • 1/3 lb. prime Brandt Beef with New School American cheese, lettuce, caramelized onions, pickles and Electric Sauce on a Martin’s Potato Roll
    • Add bacon: $3
    • Add Wagyu beef chili: $3
    • Add organic free-range fried egg: $2
    • Sub veggie patty
  • Hot Dog: $13
    • All-beef Snap-o-Razzo hot dog with mustard and onion pickle relish on a Martin’s Potato Roll. Served with fried potatoes
    • Add New School cheese sauce: $1
    • Add Wagyu beef chili: $1
  • Diner Club Sandwich: $13
    • Roasted turkey, Epio Bacon, blistered cherry tomatoes, lettuce, avocado and maple black pepper mayo on toasted Tartine buttermilk bread
  • Tuna Melt: $14
    • Wild-caught albacore tuna salad with New School American cheese and pickles on grilled Tartine buttermilk bread
  • Fried Chicken & Waffles: $15
    • Classic or spicy pickle-brined organic free-range chicken between two buttermilk waffles with maple black pepper mayo
    • Add New School cheese sauce: $1
    • Add bacon: $2
    • Add organic free-range fried egg: $3
    • Sub Martin’s Potato Roll
  • Grilled Cheese: $9
    • New School American cheese on grilled Tartine buttermilk bread
    • Add blistered tomatoes: $1
    • Add Avocado: $1.50
    • Add Epic Bacon: $3

ALL-DAY BREAKFAST

  • Egg Sandwich: $12
    • Two organic free-range scrambled eggs on a Martin’s Potato Roll with Epic Bacon, New School American cheese, baby arugula and Electric Sauce
    • Add avocado: $1.50
    • Substitute waffle Avocado Toast: $11
    • Sliced avocado, lime, tomatoes, pepitas, radish and arugula on toasted Tartine buttermilk bread
  • Greek Yogurt Parfait: $9
    • Strauss Creamery organic Greek yogurt, roasted strawberries, organic gluten-free granola and local honey
  • Breakfast Tacos: $9
    • Organic free-range scrambled eggs, beef chorizo, crispy potatoes and New School American cheese sauce folded inside two Tehachapi Grain Project organic flour tortillas. Served with a side of avocado crema
    • Sub bacon: $1
    • Add avocado: $1.50 Biscuits & Red Gravy: $15
  • Buttermilk biscuit with beef chorizo gravy and an organic free-range fried egg
  • House-Baked Cinnamon Roll: $7
    • Warm, frosted cinnamon roll with flaky salt

SIDES

  • Tallow-fried French fries: $4
    • Make it a cheese fries: $1 extra
    • Make it Wagyu chili cheese fries: $3 extra
  • Hash Brown Bites: $8
    • Crispy, tallow-fried shredded potatoes served with choice of dip
  • Wagyu Beef Chili Cup: $8
    • RC Provisons Wagyu beef chili with diced white onion and New School American cheese sauce
  • Buttermilk Waffle: $5 • Dusted with powdered sugar, served with real maple syrup
  • Market Salad: $10
    • Market kale and arugula, blistered cherry tomatoes, radishes, celery, shredded carrots, avocado, salted pepitas and toasted breadcrumbs.
    • Served with Dilly Ranch
    • Add roasted turkey: $3
    • Add fried chicken: $3.50
    • Add veggie patty: $4.50
    • Add tuna salad: $5
  • Epic Bacon:
    • $12 Four strips of maple-glazed black pepper bacon served with choice of dip

KIDS MENU

  • Kids Burger: $13
    • Prime Brandt Beef with New School American cheese
  • Kids’ Grilled Cheese: $13
    • New School American cheese on grilled Tartine buttermilk bread. No crust
  • Chicken Tenders: $13
    • Made with organic free-range chicken

DESSERTS

  • Soft Serve: $6
    • Chocolate, vanilla or swirl
  • Slice of Pie à la Mode: $12
    • Warm slice of Winston’s apple or pecan pie (gf) served with Valley Ford Creamery softserve a la mode
  • Chocolate Chip Cookie: $5
    • Warm chocolate chip cookie with flaky sea salt

DRINKS

  • Cane sugar sodas: $4 each: Cola, diet cola, lemon-lime, root beer, orange, black cherry or cream.
  • Milkshakes $8
    • Vanilla, chocolate or strawberry. Make it a Pie Shake for an extra $4
    • (apple or pecan).
  • Lemonade: $4
  • Organic Draft Kombucha: $8
  • Drip Coffee: $4
  • Nitro Cold Brew: $4.5
  • Espresso (hot, iced, decaf): $4
  • Cappuccino (hot, iced, decaf): $5.5
  • Latte (hot, iced, decaf): $6
  • Iced Nitro Matcha: $6.5
  • Charged Sodas:
    • Creamsicle: $7
      • Orange soda, cream soda, vanilla foam, fresh orange and orange popping boba
    • Shirley Temple: $7
      • Lemon-lime soda, grenadine, fresh lime and maraschino cherries
    • Lime Rickey: $7
      • Lemon-lime soda and fresh lime
    • Catawba Flip: $7
      • Grape soda, vanilla foam, nutmeg and grapes
    • Dirty Kombucha: $10
      • Citrus kombucha, vanilla foam, fresh orange and lime, maraschino cherries.

Tesla Diner Details

The opening of the Diner was launched by Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla’s Chief Designer:

There is also merchandise available at the Diner, including:

  • Tesla Bot Action Figure
  • Hollywood Retro Diner Tee
  • Tesla Sweets | Supercharged Gummies: Dog Mode Chill, Mango Bolt, and CyberBerry
  • Tesla Diner Trucker Hat
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Elon Musk

Elon Musk’s Neuralink posts massive update with new milestone

This is the first time Neuralink has successfully implanted two patients in a single day.

Published

12 hours ago

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July 21, 2025

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neuralink link device with white background
(Credit: Neuralink)

Elon Musk’s Neuralink has posted a massive update with a new milestone that puts the company’s progress into perspective. Over the past few years, we have seen tremendous strides in Neuralink’s capabilities.

Now, the company has completed a new first, bringing more hope to the future of this revolutionary technology.

Neuralink’s third brain chip patient shares first video edited with BCI

Neuralink revealed in an update on Monday morning that it has officially completed two implants in a single day, with Patients 8 and 9 both receiving devices over the past weekend.

“Both participants are recovering well and in great spirits,” the company said in the short update. It did not disclose which day the surgeries were completed, but it did state explicitly that they both occurred on the same day:

Musk said that Neuralink’s capabilities could do “life-changing good for ultimately millions, maybe billions, of people.” Right now, it is being used to help combat life-altering diseases, such as ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, as well as cervical spinal cord injuries.

Eventually, Neuralink could resolve things like anxiety, depression, and blindness, among many other ailments.

Its Link device also received FDA recognition for speech restoration earlier this year, marking a significant bit of progress in the program as it explores ways to cure ailments of various natures.

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Elon Musk gives key update on plans for Tesla Diner outside of LA

More Tesla Supercharger Diners are on the way, Elon Musk says, as long as the initial one is successful.

Published

13 hours ago

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July 21, 2025

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tesla diner supercharger in los angeles california at night
Credit: Tesla

Elon Musk has given a key update on its plans for the Tesla Supercharger Diner, as the first location in Los Angeles is set to open today, July 21.

The idea for the Supercharger Diner, which resembles a 50s-style eatery with elements of futuristic technology, is seven years in the making. Many wondered whether Tesla would expand its idea for a Supercharger restaurant outside of LA, and now we have an answer directly from Musk.

Elon Musk confirms awesome new features at Tesla Diner Supercharger

The Tesla CEO said that the company will establish these types of experiences “in major cities around the world, as well as at Supercharger sites on long distance routes.”

The Supercharger Diner has plenty of ways to draw in customers, and although the food and merchandise sold at the location will not be a major contributor to Tesla’s balance sheet, where investors want to see it, it could pay off in other ways.

The Diner is not exclusive to Tesla owners, so those who drive gas cars can still stop in for a burger, fries, and a shake while roaming around Los Angeles. The features of the Diner, however, do require a Tesla vehicle.

In-car ordering and movie screens syncing to the center touchscreen are two things that Tesla owners will enjoy that other drivers will not. These might be trivial, but the experience on its own could be a way that some consider buying a Tesla.

It might sound crazy that a singular diner experience would flip someone to buy a car, but it’s not the most outlandish thing we’ve ever come across.

The question is where Tesla will plan to build these Supercharger Diners. Musk has already indicated that Starbase, Texas, will be one location, which fits with one of his other companies, SpaceX.

Austin could be an ideal location, but New York, Miami, Washington D.C., Boston, and plenty of other popular metro areas within the U.S. could see their own diners in the coming years.

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