SpaceX
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spaceship shown off in first high-res orbital portraits
Taken by Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, the first high-resolution photos of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft have begun to trickle in, offering the best views yet of the advanced human-rated spacecraft in its natural habit: Earth orbit.
Filling in for a distinct and uncharacteristic lack of official photos from NASA, the spacecraft’s inaugural spaceflight had thus far only been documented through NASA’s own live coverage of its International Space Station (ISS) rendezvous, limited to a relatively low-quality stream. With Oleg’s extremely high-resolution captures, we can begin to see SpaceX’s Crew Dragon with a level of detail previously only seen (if ever) on the ground.
Stunning photos of Dragon 2 docking from Oleg Kononenko! https://t.co/Lu9zlKFPt9
He was monitoring from the Russian section, near the Soyuz, due to Rocosmos contingency procedures.
Hires set:https://t.co/lFuRSzlvpQ pic.twitter.com/6wrBqVDPOP
— NSF – NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) March 4, 2019
In all fairness to NASA, the ISS is operating with just three crew members, only one of which – Anne McClain – is a NASA astronaut. Particularly the case for an operation as critical as Crew Dragon’s inaugural orbital docking attempt, the task of controlling space vehicle rendezvous typically requires the full attention of one or two onboard astronauts – in this case, NASA’s Anne McClain and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut David Saint-Jacques. Veteran Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, however, was required by Roscosmos to remain in the Russian segment of the ISS in the event of a catastrophic anomaly during Crew Dragon’s approach to the station.
Just prior to launch, NASA broke the news that its Russian ISS partners had expressed concerns about the design of Crew Dragon’s approach trajectory, mainly focusing on the fact that a loss of control or communications while moving towards the station would leave no way for the spacecraft to naturally slow down. In other words, a dead spacecraft with a forward velocity would simply continue moving forward until it impacted the ISS, a bit like a semi-truck crash in slow motion (i.e. < 0.5 m/s or 1 mph). Weighing a hefty 12 tons (~26,600 lbs) during the arrival, even an extremely low-speed impact could undoubtedly do some damage to the ISS, although an actual hull breach (and thus a need to evacuate) would be extraordinarily unlikely. Still, Oleg was unable to significantly assist during the rendezvous itself, although the cosmonaut was front and center after Crew Dragon’s successful capture.
Taking advantage of the opportunity to observe, the cosmonaut was able to take a number of photos of Crew Dragon’s arrival, although the location of its docking port makes for a less than optimal perspective. Still, it’s hard to complain about any extremely high-quality photos of Crew Dragon, and Oleg’s are nothing short of spectacular. Highlighting the spacecraft’s nose section and docking port hardware, as well as limited views of its trunk section and body, this is quite possibly the first time SpaceX’s newest vehicle has been publicly shown off at this level of detail.
This privileged view includes a detailed look at Crew Dragon’s Draco maneuvering thrusters (elongated black ovals below SpaceX logo), two shrouds containing half of its SuperDraco abort thrusters (beneath the NASA meatball and flag emblem), the ‘Dragon Claw’ latch connecting the capsule and trunk (a smooth rectangle in the lower right), and even a (likely) duo of LIDAR arrays to the left and right of the docking adapter ring. Other notable appearances include the disposable trunk section’s radiators (a series of white rectangles visible on the left) and empennage, four fins meant to provide aerodynamic stability in the event of an abort. Just out of view is trunk’s sculpture-like solar array, curved to fit along the upper (relative) half of the section and fixed in place to minimize failure modes associated to deployable solar arrays like those used on Cargo Dragon.
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- Crew Dragon is backlit by an orbital sunrise over Earth’s limb on its inaugural March 2019 spaceflight. (Anne McClain)
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- Crew Dragon’s ISS approach. (Oleg Kononenko)
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- A better view of the solar array half of Crew Dragon’s trunk section. (NASA)
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- Cloooooser… (Oleg Kononenko)
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- (Oleg Kononenko)
After completing its successful space station docking debut on the morning of March 3rd, Crew Dragon is scheduled to depart the ISS and reenter Earth’s atmosphere for a soft landing in the Atlantic Ocean around 9 am PST (14:00 UTC) on March 8th. According to the SpaceX and NASA hosts of the live docking coverage, Crew Dragon’s DM-1 departure from the ISS will also be treated to a hosted webcast, potentially all the way through reentry and recovery aboard the customized SpaceX vessel GO Searcher. According to CEO Elon Musk, there is a slight but present chance of anomalous behavior during reentry due to aerodynamic instability caused by the shrouds covering Crew Dragon’s unique SuperDraco abort system, while NASA continues to have concerns (largely unexplained) about the spacecraft’s redundant parachute system.
Regardless of technical concerns, Crew Dragon’s reentry will be the final critical challenge in the way of completing its first demonstration launch (DM-1), proceeded by a flawless launch and equally flawless docking. If successful, it will explicitly pave the way for the spacecraft’s second demonstration mission (DM-2), in which two NASA astronauts will be transported to the ISS. That major milestone could occur as early as July, although slips are probable.
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Investor's Corner
SpaceX is launching a secret spacecraft that could change how things are made in space
SpaceX’s secret disk-shaped Starfall capsule is targeting a market no reentry vehicle has cracked.
SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, June 23 for the first flight of Starfall, a reentry capsule the company has developed almost entirely in private. The Falcon 9 launch window opens at 6:43 a.m. ET from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, with a backup window available the same time on June 24. SpaceX has made no public announcement about the vehicle, only providing launch details. Everything known about it has come through FAA and FCC regulatory filings.
What makes Starfall different starts with its shape. Rather than the traditional cone used by Dragon and every other cargo return capsule in operation, Starfall is a flat disk that measures roughly 10.2 feet (3.1 meters) wide and just 2.5 feet (0.75 meters) tall, and weighing 4,630 pounds (2,100 kg) and capable of returning up to 2,200 pounds (1,000 kilograms) of payload from orbit. The disk geometry maximizes structural efficiency and payload volume relative to mass, and the heat shield mechanically jettisons just before splashdown, allowing recovery teams to retrieve both the capsule and the shield separately from the Pacific Ocean.
The difference with Starfall from existing competitors, such as Varda Space Industries, which has largely built the orbital manufacturing market and returns heavy payloads per flight is that Starfall’s specification is roughly 30 times more per mission, and is designed to be mass-produced and launched on either Falcon 9 or Starship. That combination of volume and launch access is something no standalone startup can replicate, and it puts SpaceX in direct competition with the companies that currently pay it to reach orbit.
SpaceX to launch military missile tracking satellites through new Space Force contract
The intended market is orbital manufacturing: pharmaceuticals, protein crystals, semiconductors, and advanced optical fiber that physically cannot be produced in the presence of gravity. FAA documents describe Starfall’s long-term purpose as building a “self-sustaining commercial in-space manufacturing market” and as a potential successor to the industrial capabilities of the International Space Station, which is set to retire in the late 2020s. Military rapid global cargo delivery is a parallel application under active discussion with the Pentagon.
The reason some industries seek manufacturing in space comes down to gravity. On Earth, gravity causes materials to settle, separate, and deform during production. In microgravity, those constraints disappear.
SpaceX’s already controls launch access, which means it currently functions as the landlord for every competitor in the orbital manufacturing return space. Starfall converts that landlord position into vertical ownership, and it would no longer just carry other companies’ capsules to orbit, but rather operate the capsule, own the return logistics, and capture the service revenue directly. Viewed alongside Starlink, Colossus, and the xAI merger, Starfall fits a consistent pattern: SpaceX identifying infrastructure layers that others depend on and moving to own them outright. Orbital manufacturing return is the next layer on that list.
If Tuesday’s reentry, parachute sequence, and recovery demonstration goes as planned, the second FAA-approved test flight follows. A successful pair of demos would position SpaceX to begin offering Starfall as a commercial service, likely first to pharmaceutical and materials science customers before scaling toward the military and broader manufacturing segments.
President Donald Trump unveiled an upgraded Boeing 747-8 at Joint Base Andrews on June 19, 2026, describing the Qatar-gifted aircraft as an interim Air Force One equipped with advanced communications systems, including Starlink, Elon Musk’s SpaceX satellite internet service.
The plane, valued at around $400 million and modified for presidential use, serves as a bridge until the delayed VC-25B replacements arrive. Trump highlighted its luxury features and new technology during remarks to service members.
Trump stated:
“We have communication equipment up there that nobody’s ever seen before. It’s the highest level and, uh, including Starlink. My friend Elon is going to be very happy, but, uh, Starlink and we have, uh, four or five different sets of double and triple communications like people haven’t seen.”
He added:
“And it represents what can happen with hard work, innovation, and aggressive timelines because we did this quickly and yet there’s never been communication like is on this plane.”
🚨 President Trump confirmed today that the new Air Force One is equipped with Starlink:
“We have communication equipment up there that nobody’s ever seen before, it’s the highest level and including Starlink…my friend Elon is going to be very happy.” pic.twitter.com/IhkDmtr5hL
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) June 20, 2026
The aircraft features a redesigned red, white, and blue livery and has been outfitted with Starlink satellite connectivity alongside other secure systems.
Trump praised the plane’s uniqueness, calling it among the world’s most luxurious. The gift from Qatar and subsequent modifications have drawn attention, with the jet positioned as a solution for presidential travel. It is expected to support operations, including potential ceremonial roles such as Fourth of July flyovers.
The event marked the formal introduction of the converted jet, which will help maintain capabilities while the primary Air Force One fleet undergoes modernization. Defense observers note the inclusion of commercial satellite technology like Starlink as part of efforts to ensure resilient communications, crucial to keep the country running as the President is in the sky.
President Trump’s comments underscored appreciation for rapid upgrades and innovation in equipping the aircraft. The plane remains a U.S. government asset and is slated for eventual transfer related to presidential library purposes after its service.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk just upped his Tesla stake further fueling SpaceX merger conversation
Elon Musk just collected a $116 billion Tesla payday and the timing is eye-opening
Elon Musk quietly collected one of the largest single-transaction paydays in corporate history on Monday. A Form 4 filed with the SEC on June 17, 2026 disclosed that Musk exercised 303,960,630 Tesla stock options from his 2018 compensation package, with the transaction dated June 16. No shares were sold on the open market.
The numbers are straightforward but striking. Musk exercised the options at a split-adjusted strike price of $23.34, with Tesla closing at $404.66 that day, putting the spread at $381.32 per share and generating roughly $115.9 billion in paper gains in a single transaction. To cover the exercise cost, Tesla withheld 17,531,857 shares through a net share settlement, meaning Musk paid nothing out of pocket.
For perspective, in 2018, Elon Musk’s award was originally approved by Tesla shareholders on March 21, 2018, and structured entirely around performance milestones that many analysts at the time called unreachable. Every tranche eventually vested. The original grant covered 20,264,042 shares at $350.02, which after Tesla’s 5-for-1 split in 2020 and 3-for-1 split in 2022 adjusted to 303,960,630 shares at $23.34. A Delaware court rescinded the award in January 2024, ruling the board was conflicted. As Teslarati reported, Tesla shareholders voted to ratify the package anyway in June 2024 by a wide margin. The Delaware Supreme Court reversed the decision in December 2025, finding full cancellation too extreme, and Tesla’s board signed an Implementation Agreement on April 21, 2026 to formally deliver the shares.
The Tesla and SpaceX merger everyone is talking about is quietly building
The timing and structure of the Form 4 filing carries more weight than a routine stock option exercise typically would. Musk exercised his 2018 Tesla award on June 16, a week into SpaceX completing its IPO and trading publicly, and giving SpaceX a public market valuation and share currency for the first time in the company’s history. A stock-for-stock merger between two companies requires the acquiring entity to have tradeable shares it can offer to the target’s shareholders, and SpaceX now has exactly that. At the same time, Musk just increased his direct Tesla voting power to approximately 20%, giving him greater influence over any shareholder vote that a merger would require. The restricted shares he received cannot be sold until 2033, which removes any near-term incentive to cash out and instead positions this stake as long-term structural collateral in a deal. Additionally, Musk’s two companies are already deeply intertwined through shared semiconductor fabrication at their joint TERAFAB facility in Austin, cross-company supply chain transactions, and Tesla’s $2 billion investment in xAI prior to the SpaceX-xAI merger.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives has publicly placed the odds of a Tesla and SpaceX combination at 80% to 90% by early 2027. The Implementation Agreement that made Monday’s exercise possible was signed on April 21, 2026, roughly two months before the SpaceX IPO closed. That sequencing, building Musk’s Tesla ownership to its highest point ever immediately before SpaceX gains the public currency needed to acquire it, is either an extraordinary coincidence or a carefully staged foundation for the largest corporate merger in history.
SpaceX is launching a secret spacecraft that could change how things are made in space
Tesla Semi spotted with ground truth validation equipment as launch looms
