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SpaceX Dragon XL could supply NASA astronauts around the Moon and Earth

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SpaceX’s Moon Dragon could one day deliver supplies to astronauts in Earth orbit on top of its raison d’etre – resupplying NASA’s future lunar space station (Gateway).

Known as Dragon XL, the new SpaceX spacecraft was unexpectedly revealed earlier this year when NASA solely awarded it a Gateway Logistics Services contract potentially worth billions. Dragon XL is almost entirely built out of hardware and systems already built and proven with Cargo Dragon and Crew Dragon over 20 space station launches and two orbital missions, respectively.

Due to NASA’s ever-shifting plans and strategies, however, it’s far from guaranteed that a habitable Gateway will ever actually be built – let alone by the rough 2024 target that’s currently favorable. Given that a huge amount of Dragon XL has already technically been developed, its development should be on the slightly easier side as far as SpaceX programs go. As such, Dragon XL could be ready for flight months or even years before any lunar space station is in place with astronauts to take advantage of it. That possibility raises the question: does NASA plan on SpaceX performing a Dragon XL flight test before its lunar cargo debut?

Dragon XL is designed to resupply a lunar space station like the one pictured here but it could potentially be used with the International Space Station, too. (Northrop Grumman)

In the unsurprising event that NASA has arranged for a demonstration mission prior to Dragon XL’s first mission-critical lunar resupply launch, a cargo trip to Earth’s International Space Station (ISS) could be a valuable segue. Effectively an expendable, high-volume amalgamation of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Cargo Dragon 2 spacecraft, Dragon XL will lose the ability to return payload to the Earth’s surface (downmass) in return for a dramatic increase in payload upmass.

According to NASA, Dragon XL is designed to deliver up to 7.6 tons (~16,800 lb) of cargo – 5 tons pressurized, 2.6 tons unpressurized – to the lunar Gateway and weigh no more than 14 metric tons upon arrival. Compared to Cargo Dragon 1 and 2, XL thus offers a 25-50% improvement. As an expendable spacecraft, Dragon XL is likely going to be much simpler and lighter than SpaceX’s recoverable and reusable Dragon capsules, it’s also reasonable to assume that the new spacecraft could be substantially cheaper, too. Finally, thanks to that 14 ton Gateway mass target, it’s conceivable that a recoverable Falcon 9 booster could launch a fully-loaded Dragon XL to the ISS without issue, making the cost of launch more or less identical to any other Dragon mission.

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Cargo Dragon 1 completed its 20th and final ISS mission earlier this year. (NASA)
Cargo Dragon 2, a modified version of the Crew Dragon pictured here, is expected to launch for the first time no earlier than Q4 2020. (NASA)

On the other hand, though, Dragon XL’s mission is substantially different – and in some ways more challenging – than the Dragons it’s built off of. Notably, the deep space environment can be substantially more challenging from both a thermal management and radiation perspective, while propulsive maneuvers, operations, and autonomous docking so far from Earth would be a first for SpaceX. A demonstration mission to the International Space Station (ISS) would fail to put Dragon XL through any of those unproven scenarios.

Excluding a demo mission to the ISS, a Falcon 9-launched Dragon XL could potentially serve as an extra-cheap option for NASA to deliver large volumes of supplies, hardware, and experiments to the space station, complimenting Cargo Dragon’s reusability and downmass capabilities. Of course, no current contract exists that would allow SpaceX to fly Dragon XL outside of two resupply missions to the lunar Gateway, but NASA is by no means averse to the idea according to Mark Wiese, manager of Gateway Deep Space Logistics.

Ultimately, the likelihood of Dragon XL being coopted for ISS cargo delivery is low but there is clearly a chance that NASA will exploit its substantial investment in the new SpaceX spacecraft for more than just two Gateway supply runs.

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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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Tesla FSD mocks BMW human driver: Saves pedestrian from near miss

Tesla FSD anticipated a BMW driver’s lane drift before the human behind the wheel could react.

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A video posted to r/TeslaFSD this week put a sharp spotlight on Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software being able to react to pedestrian intent than an actual human driver behind the wheel. In the Reddit clip, a BMW driver can be seen rolling through a neighborhood street completely unaware of a pedestrian stepping in to cross. At the same time, a Tesla  driving on FSD had already begun slowing down before the pedestrian even began their attempt to cross the street The BMW kept moving, prompting the pedestrian to hop back, while the Tesla came to a stop and provide right-of-way for the human to safely cross.

That gap between what the BMW driver saw and what FSD had already processed is the story. Tesla FSD wasn’t reacting to a person in the street, rather it was reading the signals that a person was about to enter it based on the pedestrian’s movement, trajectory, and their trajectory to telegraph intent.

Tesla’s FSD is now built on an end-to-end neural network trained on billions of real-world miles, learning to interpret subtle human behavioral cues the same way an experienced human driver does instinctively. The difference is consistency. A human driver distracted for two seconds misses what FSD does not.

Tesla sues California DMV over Autopilot and FSD advertising ruling

Reddit commenters in the thread were blunt about the BMW driver’s failure, with several pointing out that the pedestrian was visible well before the crossing. One response put it plainly that the car on FSD saw the situation developing before the human in the other car had registered there was a situation at all.

Tesla has published data showing FSD (Supervised) is 54% safer than a human driver, accumulated across billions of miles driven on the system. Elon Musk has said FSD v14 will outperform human drivers by a factor of two to three, and that v15 has “a shot” at a 10x improvement. Pedestrian safety is where the stakes are highest, and where intent prediction closes the gap fastest. At 30 mph, a car covers roughly 44 feet per second. An extra second of awareness from reading a person’s body language rather than waiting for them to step out is often the difference between a near miss and a fatality.

Video and community discussion: r/TeslaFSD on Reddit

FSD saves man from becoming a pancake. BMW driver nearly flattens him.
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Tesla Robotaxi gets a small but significant change

In the world of Tesla, where billion-dollar battery breakthroughs and autonomy milestones dominate headlines, a quiet design update can still pack a punch.

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Credit: David Moss | X

In the world of Tesla, where billion-dollar battery breakthroughs and autonomy milestones dominate headlines, a quiet design update can still pack a punch.

Last week in downtown Austin, sharp-eyed observers spotted a subtle but telling evolution on the Cybercab: a new “ROBOTAXI” logo graphic now graces the vehicle’s doors at Tesla’s Autonomy Popup.

What looks at first glance like a minor stylistic choice is, in fact, a deliberate rebranding move that hints at how the company envisions its robotaxi fleet fitting into everyday life.

The updated lettering is bold, graffiti-inspired, and unapologetically street-smart. Rendered in black with dripping white accents and a glowing yellow outline, the font evokes urban energy and playful irreverence.

Gone is the sleek, minimalist typography that defined earlier Cybercab prototypes. In its place is something more human, almost rebellious.

The new logo pops against the Cybercab’s smooth, metallic body, turning the autonomous pod into a rolling piece of public art rather than just another futuristic taxi.

Designers know that fonts are silent brand ambassadors. They shape perception before a single ride is taken. Tesla’s classic sans-serif aesthetic screams precision engineering and Silicon Valley cool.

The new Robotaxi script leans into accessibility and fun, suggesting the vehicle is approachable, not intimidating. For a product meant to ferry strangers through city streets 24/7, that matters. It signals that the robotaxi isn’t reserved for tech elites; it’s for everyone.

Tesla Cybercab spotted next to Model Y shows size comparison

The timing is no accident. With regulatory approvals for unsupervised autonomy advancing and Tesla preparing to scale Cybercab production, the company is shifting from prototype showcase to fleet deployment.

A fresh logo helps differentiate the vehicles visually in dense urban environments—crucial for rider recognition and brand recall. It also aligns with Elon Musk’s long-standing ethos: make the future feel exciting, not sterile.

Small changes like this often foreshadow a larger strategy. Tesla has always obsessed over details—door handles, screen interfaces, even the curvature of a steering wheel.

Updating the Robotaxi font reflects the same meticulous care now applied to consumer-facing autonomy. It’s not just paint on metal; it’s a statement that the ride of the future should feel personal, memorable, and undeniably cool.

In an industry racing toward self-driving fleets, Tesla’s willingness to evolve even the smallest visual cues shows confidence. A font won’t launch the robotaxi network, but it might just help millions climb aboard with a smile.

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Tesla makes latest announcement on Model S and Model X

The announcement follows Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s statement on the Q4 2025 earnings call in late January. Musk described the decision as an “honorable discharge” for the two vehicles, noting that production would wind down in Q2 2026.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has officially begun winding down production of its flagship Model S and Model X in the United States, notifying owners via email that the long-running models will soon reach the end of the line.

The email, sent to U.S. customers on March 27, opens with gratitude. “Model S and Model X marked the beginning of the world’s transition to electric transportation,” it reads. “These vehicles also made it possible for Tesla to develop the technology that would move our world toward autonomy.”

Tesla officially begins sunset of Model S and Model X

It then delivers the news directly: “As we make way for this autonomous future, Model S and Model X production will be ending. If you’d like to bring home a new Model S or Model X, order yours soon from our limited inventory.”

The message closes with a simple thank-you: “Thank you for being part of our journey.”

The announcement follows Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s statement on the Q4 2025 earnings call in late January. Musk described the decision as an “honorable discharge” for the two vehicles, noting that production would wind down in Q2 2026.

The move frees factory floor space at Fremont, California, for next-generation manufacturing, including Optimus humanoid robots and the upcoming Robotaxi platform.

Introduced in 2012 and 2015, respectively, the Model S and Model X were Tesla’s original halo cars. They proved EVs could outperform gasoline luxury vehicles in acceleration, range, and tech features while pioneering over-the-air updates and early autonomy hardware.

Although they never matched the volume of the Model 3 and Model Y, their engineering breakthroughs laid the foundation for the company’s current lineup and full self-driving development.

Early adopters highlighted how the cars convinced them to invest in Tesla stock and the EV movement. Some U.S. owners who had not yet received the note voiced mild frustration, and international customers confirmed the outreach remains U.S.-only for now.

Tesla has not detailed an exact final production date beyond the Q2 2026 target or confirmed immediate replacements. Speculation continues about a possible Cybertruck-derived SUV, but the company’s public focus has shifted squarely to autonomy and robotics.

For buyers still interested in the S or X, the window is closing. Inventory is described as limited, and Tesla’s Korean division has already set a March 31 cutoff for new orders in that market. The email serves as both a farewell and final sales push, an elegant close to a chapter that helped define modern electric driving.

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