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SpaceX awarded double-satellite Falcon 9 launch contract, sixth win of 2019
SpaceX continues to reap the benefits of strong market demand for Falcon 9’s combination of affordability and performance with an announcement that the company has won its sixth launch contract in 2019.
Announced on July 3rd by Space Norway and several other stakeholders, a SpaceX Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch an identical pair of communications satellites to an unusual orbit no earlier than late 2022. Northrop Grumman will build both ~2000-kilogram (4400 lb) spacecraft.
Known officially as the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM), Space Norway has partnered with satellite operator Inmarsat and the Norwegian Ministry of Defense to provide connectivity to civilian and military users in and around the Arctic. Additionally, the US Air Force will have its own communications payloads on both satellites, rounding out the extremely busy mission.
The two ASBM satellites will be built around the GEOStar-3 bus, originally introduced by Orbital Sciences Corporation (acquired by Alliant Techsystems to become Orbital ATK, then acquired by Northrop Grumman to become Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems). Each satellite will produce 6 kW via solar arrays, while the GEOStar-3 bus can support all-chemical propulsion, all-electric propulsion, or a hybrid approach. Falcon 9’s 2022 launch of ASBM will mark the first time that GEOSat-3 satellites have utilized their stacking capability, with both spacecraft heading to orbit on the same rocket.
Perhaps the most unique aspect of the ASBM mission is the extremely unusual orbit Falcon 9 will be launching them to. According to info published by Space Norway on June 24th, they will be targeting a final orbit roughly comparable to the Molniya orbits originally used by Soviet Union military communications satellites as early as the mid-1960s. ASBM’s orbits will also be highly elliptical and approximately polar, with an apogee of 43,000 km (26,700 mi) and a perigee of 8000 km (5000 mi). Traditionally, Molniya orbits had much lower perigees, but the higher perigee of ASBM satellites should allow them to operate indefinitely without having to worry about atmospheric drag lowering their orbits.
The ASBM satellites will reach their perigee somewhere over Antarctica and will generally power down their communications hardware until they are back over the Arctic. By having two satellites, the other satellite will be able to guarantee continuous coverage while its twin is out of contact.
With an overall payload weight around 4000 kg (8800 lb), it’s likely that Falcon 9 has the performance necessary to place the spacecraft in a transfer orbit (likely ~300 km by 43,000 km) and safely land on a SpaceX drone ship, in which case the satellites would raise their perigees themselves. It’s unlikely that a recoverable Falcon 9 launch has enough performance to send the satellites directly to their final orbits, although an expendable mission might be able to do it.
Regardless, this launch contract is yet another sign that SpaceX will continue to have strong demand for Falcon 9 launch services in the coming years. ASBM is the sixth win for SpaceX just in the last four or so months, beginning in February with three US military contracts, followed by a NASA contract in April and a Korean mission in June.
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Tesla Diner to transition to full-service restaurant as Chef heads for new venture
“I am leaving the Tesla Diner project to focus on the opening of Mish, my long-desired Jewish deli. Projects like Mish and the Tesla Diner require a sharpness of focus and attention, and my focus and attention is now squarely on Mish.”
Tesla Diner, the all-in-one Supercharging and dining experience located in Los Angeles, will transition to a full-service restaurant in January, staff said, as Chef Eric Greenspan said he would take on a new project.
A report from the Los Angeles Times says Greenspan confirmed through a text that he would leave the Diner and focus on the opening of his new Jewish deli, Mish.
Greenspan confirmed to the paper:
“I am leaving the Tesla Diner project to focus on the opening of Mish, my long-desired Jewish deli. Projects like Mish and the Tesla Diner require a sharpness of focus and attention, and my focus and attention is now squarely on Mish.”
Greenspan took on the job at the Tesla Diner and curated the menu back in March, focusing on locally-sourced ingredients and items that would play on various company products, like Cybertruck-shaped boxes that hold burgers.
Tesla Cybertruck leftovers are the main course at the Supercharger Diner
The Tesla Diner has operated as somewhat of a self-serve establishment, where Tesla owners can order directly from their vehicles through the center touchscreen. It was not exclusive to Tesla owners. Guests could also enter and order at a counter, and pick up their food, before sitting at a booth or table.
However, the report indicates Tesla is planning to push it toward a sit-down restaurant, full of waiters, waitresses, and servers, all of which will come to a table after you are seated, take your order, and serve your food.
It will be more of a full-featured restaurant experience moving forward, which is an interesting move from the company, but it also sounds as if it could be testing for an expansion.
We know that Tesla is already considering expanding locations, as it will be heading to new areas of the country. CEO Elon Musk has said that Tesla will be considering locations in Palo Alto near the company’s Engineering HQ, and in Austin, where its HQ and Gigafactory Texas are located.
Musk said that the Diner has been very successful in its first few months of operation.
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Tesla adds new surprising fee to Robotaxi program
“Additional cleaning was required for the vehicle after your trip. A fee has been added to your final cost to cover this service. Please contact us if you have any questions.”
Tesla has added a new and somewhat surprising fee to the Robotaxi program. It’s only surprising because it was never there before.
Tesla shocked everyone when it launched its Robotaxi platform and offered riders the opportunity to tip, only to tell them they do not accept tips. It was one of the company’s attempts at being humorous as it rolled out its driverless platform to people in Austin.
As it has expanded to new cities and been opened to more people, as it was yesterday to iOS users, Tesla has had to tweak some of the minor details of the Robotaxi and ride-hailing platforms it operates.
First Look at Tesla’s Robotaxi App: features, design, and more
With more riders, more vehicles, and more operational jurisdictions, the company has to adjust as things become busier.
Now, it is adjusting the platform by adding “Cleaning Fees” to the Robotaxi platform, but it seems it is only charged if the vehicle requires some additional attention after your ride.
The app will communicate with the rider with the following message (via Not a Tesla App):
“Additional cleaning was required for the vehicle after your trip. A fee has been added to your final cost to cover this service. Please contact us if you have any questions.”
The cost of the cleaning will likely depend on how severe the mess is. If you spill a soda, it will likely cost less than if you lose your lunch in the back of the car because you had a few too many drinks.
This is an expected change, and it seems to be one that is needed, especially considering Tesla is operating a small-scale ride-hailing service at the current time. As it expands to more states and cities and eventually is available everywhere, there will be more situations that will arise.
The messes in vehicles are not a new situation, especially in a rideshare setting. It will be interesting to see if Tesla will enable other fees, like ones for riders who request a ride and do not show up for it.
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Tesla Model Y sold out in China for 2025
Customers who wish to get their cars by the end of the year would likely need to get an inventory unit.
It appears that the Model Y has been sold out for 2025 in China. This seems to be true for the four variants of the vehicle that are currently offered in the country.
Tesla China’s order page update
A look at Tesla China’s order page for the Model Y shows a message informing customers that those who wish to guarantee delivery by the end of the year should purchase an inventory unit. This was despite the Model Y RWD and Model Y L showing an estimated delivery timeline of 4-8 weeks, and the Model Y Long Range RWD and Model Y Long Range AWD showing 4-13 weeks.
As per industry watchers, these updates on the Model Y’s order page suggest that Tesla China’s sales capacity for the remainder of 2025 has been sold out. The fact that estimated delivery timeframes for the Model Y Long Range RWD and AWD extend up to 13 weeks also bodes well for demand for the vehicle, especially given strong rivals like the Xiaomi YU7, which undercuts the Model Y in price.
Tesla China’s upcoming big updates
What is quite interesting is that Tesla China is still competing in the country with one hand partly tied behind its back. So far, Tesla has only been able to secure partial approval for its flagship self-driving software, FSD, in China. This has resulted in V14 not being rolled out to the country yet. Despite this, Tesla China’s “Autopilot automatic assisted driving on urban roads,” as the system is called locally, has earned positive reviews from users.
As per Elon Musk during the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting, however, Tesla is expecting to secure full approval for FSD in China in early 2026. “We have partial approval in China, and we hopefully will have full approval in China around February or March or so. That’s what they’ve told us,” Musk said.
Tesla Diner to transition to full-service restaurant as Chef heads for new venture
Tesla adds new surprising fee to Robotaxi program
