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SpaceX drone ship returns to Los Angeles Port with recovered Falcon 9
Just over three days after SpaceX successfully launched its Iridium-2 payload and recovered the first stage aboard its Western drone ship, the autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) has returned to port to begin the process of offloading its Falcon 9 passenger.
Locals have already begun to post photos on Twitter, and at least one fan livestreamed the arrival. Higher quality photos will undoubtedly arrive soon, and the docking of a drone ship usually closely precedes SpaceX releasing photos of the first stage recovery.
Just Read the Instructions and Falcon 9 B1036 in all its soot-covered glory. (Periscope/@freddyp75)
This marks the second time that SpaceX has recovered an intact Falcon 9 on the West Coast, with the previous recovery also following an Iridium launch in January 2017. Fans might remember the unsuccessful recovery attempt following the West Coast launch of Jason-3, which gracefully fell over upon landing after one of its legs failed to lock. The octaweb and other parts of that first stage were last seen stored outside near SpaceX’s Hawthorne, California facilities.
This booster will also likely end up at Hawthorne before being sent to McGregor, Texas. However, there is also a chance that it will be transported directly to McGregor or even to the company’s Kennedy Space Center facilities for refurbishment. Given that SpaceX’s first successful reuse utilized the other recovered Iridium stage, it is all but certain that this core will be a prime suspect for reuse later this year. It will also be interesting to see how B1036’s new titanium grid fins fared when compared with the old aluminum fins.
The decidedly scenic nighttime recovery of SpaceX’s previous Iridium-1 launch. (SpaceX)
Jumping over to the East Coast, Of Course I Still Love You is currently estimated to arrive in Port Canaveral sometime tomorrow, but that could certainly slip to June 30th depending upon port traffic. The previously reused stage it is carrying was noted to have landed very hard and had a discernible lean due to the crush core in its landing legs being fully utilized. As a result, a great deal of care is likely being take in ensuring the successful return of the stage to port. Aside from making recovery a bit harder for the crew, the lean is of little concern to the actual condition of the recovered stage. For example, the only other leaning first stage has now been converted into a side booster for the upcoming debut of Falcon Heavy, following its successful launch of the Thaicom-8 satellite in May of 2016.
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- Falcon 9 1029’s lean is decidedly more extreme than the stage that launched Thaicom-8. (SpaceX)
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- The aggressive Atlantic Ocean landing of Thaicom-8’s Falcon 9 first stage. (SpaceX)
All things considered, it has been and will continue to be quite a birthday week for Elon Musk. Three launches – one being a successful first stage reuse – and two recoveries in nine days are a staggering accomplishment for SpaceX and a resounding affirmation of Musk’s vision of routine and affordable access to space.
Nevertheless, SpaceX and Musk of course do not sleep, and LC-39A’s transporter erector is currently inside the pad’s integration facility for a static fire tomorrow before yet another launch this Sunday.
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Tesla starts laying the groundwork for FSD tests in Austria
The job opening comes as the company pushes regulatory approvals and data collection in new European markets.
Tesla seems to be ramping its efforts to hire key personnel for FSD’s eventual expansion in Europe. This was hinted at in a new job listing for a vehicle operator role in Vienna, Austria.
The job opening comes as the company pushes regulatory approvals and data collection in new European markets.
Vienna’s vehicle operator role
Tesla posted the job for “Fahrer (Vehicle Operator) (m/w/d)” in its Vienna office on its Careers website, seeking candidates to drive and monitor test vehicles as part of the Autopilot and AI team. The role involves collecting real-world driving data to refine Full Self-Driving systems for the country’s local roads. Responsibilities include operating vehicles in urban and highway environments, documenting system performance, among other tasks.
Applicants need a valid Austrian driver’s license and at least two years of driving experience. Fluency in English is essential, along with a familiarity with driver assist systems. Tesla noted that the position offers a minimum annual gross salary of EUR 32,000, though relevant professional experience and qualifications will be taken into account. Similar to other Tesla roles, the position also offers TSLA stock as an incentive.
Tesla’s FSD Push in Europe
Tesla’s FSD efforts in Europe have accelerated in recent months, with significant progress in Spain serving as a key milestone. In July 2025, Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic launched the ES-AV framework to standardize automated vehicle testing, authorizing Tesla for nationwide FSD trials with 19 vehicles under Phase 3, which allows optional onboard safety operators and remote monitoring.
-->The program, running through November 2027, aims to position Spain as a leader in the field, as DGT stated: “The program is designed to complement and enhance oversight, regulation, research, and transparency efforts, as well as to support innovation and advancements in automotive technology and industry.”
Beyond Spain, Tesla has conducted FSD demonstrations in Germany, France and Italy for consumers, while pursuing national approval in the Netherlands for early 2026.
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Tesla Semi factory looks almost complete during Thanksgiving weekend
Based on recent drone videos, the Tesla Semi factory looks practically ready to start operations.
It appears that the Tesla Semi factory near Giga Nevada is already hard at work preparing for the initial production of the Class 8 all-electric truck. This was, at least, hinted at in a recent drone flyover of the facility from a longtime watcher.
The Tesla Semi factory after Thanksgiving
Drone operator and Tesla Semi advocate @HinrichsZane recently shared some footage he captured of the upcoming facility during the Thanksgiving weekend. Based on his video, it appears that Tesla gave its employees in the area the weekend off. One thing is evident from the video, however, and that is the fact that the Tesla Semi factory looks practically ready to start operations.
The Tesla Semi watcher did point out that the electric vehicle maker is still busy bringing in production equipment into the facility itself. Once these are installed, it would not be surprising if initial production of the Tesla Semi begins.
A new Tesla Semi
The upcoming completion of the Tesla Semi factory near Gigafactory Nevada seems all but inevitable in the coming months. What would be especially interesting, however, would be the vehicles that would be produced on the site. During Elon Musk’s presentation at the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting, a glimpse of the production Tesla Semi was shown, and it looks quite a bit different than the Class 8 all-electric truck’s classic appearance.
As could be seen in the graphic from the CEO’s presentation, the updated Tesla Semi will feature slim lightbar headlights similar to the new Tesla Model Y, Cybertruck, and the Cybercab. Tesla also teased a number of aerodynamic improvements that increased the truck’s efficiency to 1.7 kWh per mile. Extended camera units, seemingly for FSD, could also be seen in the graphic.
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Tesla scores major hire as Apple scientist moves to Optimus team
Chen, who advanced from individual contributor to technical lead during his time at Apple, noted that he was blown away by Tesla’s efforts and synergy.
Former Apple research scientist Yilun Chen has left the tech giant to join Tesla’s Optimus AI team. Chen, who advanced from individual contributor to technical lead during his time at Apple, noted that he was blown away by Tesla’s efforts and synergy.
Apple veteran closes a major chapter
In a farewell note, Yilun Chen reflected on his tenure at Apple as a period defined by rapid growth and exposure to notable internal projects, some of which remain unreleased. His roles spanned engineering, research, early product incubation, and hands-on prototyping, allowing him to build expertise across both mature and emerging teams.
Chen credited mentors, colleagues, and cross-functional collaborators for shaping his trajectory, calling the experience unforgettable and emphasizing how each team taught him different lessons about scaling technology, guiding product vision, and navigating fast-moving research environments. “Each role has offered me invaluable unique lessons… My deepest gratitude goes to my colleagues, mentors and friends,” he wrote.
Tesla’s Optimus lab secured the hire
Chen said the move to Tesla was driven by the momentum surrounding Optimus, a humanoid robot powered by LLM-driven reasoning and Physical AI. After visiting Tesla’s Optimus lab, he admitted that he was “totally blown away by the scale and sophistication of the Optimus lab and deep dedication of people when I got to visit the office.”
His first week at Tesla, he noted, involved spontaneous deep-tech discussions, a flat team structure, rapid prototyping cycles, and what he called a “crazy ideas with super-fast iterations” culture. Chen emphasized that the team’s ambition, as well as its belief that humanoid robots are now within reach, creates an energy level that feels aimed at changing the world.
-->“You can feel the energy to change the world here,” he wrote in a post on social media.
Tesla starts laying the groundwork for FSD tests in Austria
Tesla Semi factory looks almost complete during Thanksgiving weekend
