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SpaceX Falcon 9 fires up ahead of second to last 2019 launch and landing
SpaceX has successfully static fired a Falcon 9’s booster engines ahead of its second to last launch and landing of 2019, on track to make December the company’s busiest month of the year.
About a month after successfully lofting 60 Starlink satellites and 11 days after sending Cargo Dragon on its way to the ISS for CRS-19, SpaceX has two more launch scheduled in 2019: Kacific-1 no earlier than (NET) December 16th and Starlink-2 NET December 30th.
For SpaceX, the turn of the decade will mark the end of an historic year – let alone decade – of milestones for the intrepid commercial space company, including achievements like’s Crew Dragon flawless orbital launch debut, the fourth flight of a refurbished Falcon 9 booster, the first-ever reuse of a flight-proven payload fairing, and a duo of spectacular Starhopper flight tests to name just a few.
First up, SpaceX will fly twice-flown Falcon 9 booster B1056.3 for the third time. B1056.3 previously supported CRS-17 and CRS-18, back to back Cargo Dragon space station resupply missions for NASA. Currently targeting a Monday, December 16th launch, SpaceX is set to place the jointly-owned JCSAT-18/Kacific-1 broadband communication satellite for Japan’s Sky Perfect JSAT Corp. and Singapore’s self-proclaimed “next-generation broadband satellite operator”, Kacific Broadband Satellites.
According to a Kacific, after deploying from Falcon 9 and circularizing into a geostationary orbit some 22,000 miles (36,000km) over the Asia-Pacific region, the JCSAT-18/Kaficic-1 satellite “will stream broadband to 25 nations in South East Asia and the Pacific Islands via 56 spot beams.” All told, the satellite will offer a maximum bandwidth of 70 gigabits per second (Gbps) with each spot beam serving up to 1.25 Gbps.
Kacific was founded in 2013 by CEO Christian Patouraux to provide desperately needed communication services to the Asia Pacific region, “where high prices and unsuitable technology were prohibiting access.” Kacific looks to “provide high speed, affordable and accessible internet to extra-urban, rural, and remote users” with Kacific-1, the company’s first (partially) dedicated satellite.
Ahead of Monday’s launch attempt, the JCSAT-18/Kacific-1 satellite was fully encapsulated inside Falcon 9’s payload fairing, both halves of which SpaceX will try to catch with recovery vessels GO Ms. Tree and GO Ms. Chief in what will be the company’s first simultaneous catch attempt ever. Meanwhile, B1056 has its own recovery attempt penciled in and drone ship Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY) departed Port Canaveral on December 12th, headed ~650 km (400 mi) downrange. OCISLY arrived at its recovery zone earlier today, as did Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief, now stationed about 140 km (90 mi) further East.
As per usual, Falcon 9 B1056.3 and its expendable upper stage performed a wet dress rehearsal (WDR) and static fire, identical to launch operations minus the rocket actually lifting off. The Kacific-1 mission’s December 16th launch trajectory allows for an 88-minute window from 7:10 pm – 8:38 pm EST (0010-0138 UTC, December 17) and weather forecasts are currently 90% go.
As mentioned, twin fairing recovery vessels GO Ms. Tree and GO Ms. Chief departed Port Canaveral on December 13th in a bid to attempt their first simultaneous Falcon fairing recovery, meaning that each ship will attempt to catch one parasailing fairing half. This mission is technically the second time both ships have port left together for a recovery, but their first whole-airing catch attempt was called off before it could start due to rough seas and high winds in the Atlantic Ocean. Prior to being rechristened Ms. Tree, Mr. Steven suffered severe damage during a planned February 2019 catch attempt, losing its net and two of four arms after the ship was caught in high seas.
Following Kacific-1, SpaceX’s final launch of 2019 – barring delays – will likely be the company’s second dedicated Starlink v1.0 mission, a 60-satellite payload that will almost certainly make SpaceX the world’s largest commercial satellite operator. Starlink-2 is scheduled to launch NET December 30th.
SpaceX will stream Falcon 9’s Kacific-1 launch and landing and the webcast will kick off some 15 minutes before liftoff, NET 6:55 pm ET (23:55 UTC), December 16th.
Check out Teslarati’s newsletters for prompt updates, on-the-ground perspectives, and unique glimpses of SpaceX’s rocket launch and recovery processes.
Elon Musk
SpaceX just forced Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile to team up for the first time in history
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon just joined forces for one reason: Starlink is winning.
America’s three largest wireless carriers, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, announced on On May 14, 2026 that they had agreed in principle to form a joint venture aimed at pooling their spectrum resources to expand satellite-based direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity across the United States in what can be seen as a direct response to SpaceX’s Starlink initiative. D2D, in plain terms, is technology that lets a standard smartphone connect directly to a satellite in orbit, the same way it connects to a cell tower, with no extra hardware required.
The alliance is widely seen as a means to slow Starlink’s rapid expansion in the satellite internet and mobile markets. SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile service launched commercially in July 2025 through a partnership with T-Mobile, starting with messaging before expanding to broadband data. SpaceX secured access to valuable wireless spectrum through its $17 billion deal with EchoStar, paving the way for significantly faster satellite-to-phone speeds.
SpaceX was not shy about its reaction. SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell responded on X: “Weeeelllll, I guess Starlink Mobile is doing something right! It’s David and Goliath (X3) all over again — I’m bettin’ on David.” SpaceX’s VP of Satellite Policy David Goldman went further, flagging potential antitrust concerns and asking whether the DOJ would even allow three dominant competitors to coordinate in a market where a new rival is actively entering.
Weeeelllll, I guess @Starlink Mobile is doing something right! It’s David and Goliath (X3) all over again — I’m bettin’ on David 🙂 https://t.co/5GzS752mxL
— Gwynne Shotwell (@Gwynne_Shotwell) May 14, 2026
Financial analysts at LightShed Partners were blunt, saying the announcement showed the three carriers are “nervous,” and pointed to the timing: “You announce an agreement in principle when the point is the announcement, not the deal. The timing, weeks ahead of the SpaceX roadshow, was the point.”
As Teslarati reported, SpaceX’s next generation Starlink V2 satellites will deliver up to 100 times the data density of the current system, with custom silicon and phased array antennas enabling around 20 times the throughput of the first generation. The carriers’ JV, which has no definitive agreement, no financial structure, and no deployment timeline yet, will need to move quickly to matter.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is targeting a Nasdaq listing as early as June 12, aiming for what would be the largest IPO in history. With Starlink now serving over 9 million subscribers across 155 countries, holding 59 carrier partnerships globally, and now powering Air Force One, the carriers’ joint venture announcement landed at exactly the wrong time to look like anything other than a defensive move.
Tesla just raised Model Y prices for the first time in two years, with the largest increase being $1,000.
The move signals shifting dynamics in the competitive electric vehicle market as the company continues to work on balancing demand, profitability, and accessibility.
The new pricing affects premium trims while leaving entry-level options unchanged. The Model Y Premium Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) now starts at $45,990, a $1,000 increase.
The Model Y Premium All-Wheel Drive (AWD)—previously referred to in the post as simply “Model Y AWD”—rises to $49,990, also up $1,000. The top-tier Model Y Performance sees a more modest $500 bump, bringing its starting price to $57,990.
Tesla Model Y prices just went up:
New prices:
🚗 Model Y Premium RWD: $45,990 – up $1,000
🚗 Model Y AWD: $49,990 – up $1,000
🚗 Model Y Performance: $57,990 – up $500 https://t.co/e4GhQ0tj4H pic.twitter.com/TCWqr3oqiV— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) May 16, 2026
Base models remain untouched to preserve affordability. The entry-level Model Y RWD holds steady at $39,990, and the base Model Y AWD stays at $41,990. This selective approach keeps the crossover accessible for budget-conscious buyers while extracting more revenue from higher-margin configurations.
After years of aggressive price cuts to stimulate volume amid slowing EV adoption and rising competition from rivals like BYD, Ford, and GM, Tesla appears confident in underlying demand. Recent lineup refreshes for the 2026 Model Y, including refreshed styling and efficiency gains, have helped maintain its status as America’s best-selling EV.
By protecting base prices, Tesla avoids alienating price-sensitive customers while improving margins on the more popular variants.
Tesla Model Y ownership review after six months: What I love and what I don’t
For consumers, the changes are relatively modest—under 3% on affected trims—and still position the Model Y competitively against gas-powered SUVs in the same class. Federal tax credits and potential state incentives may further offset costs for eligible buyers.
This marks a subtle but notable shift from the deep discounting era that defined much of 2024 and 2025. As the EV market matures into 2026, Tesla’s pricing strategy will be closely watched for clues about production ramps, new variants like the rumored longer-wheelbase Model Y, and broader profitability goals.
In short, today’s adjustment reflects a company that remains dominant yet pragmatic—willing to test higher pricing where demand supports it. It is unlikely to deter consumers from choosing other options.
Elon Musk cannot be fired from SpaceX, and there’s a reason for that.
In a blunt post on X on Friday, Elon Musk confirmed plans to structurally shield his leadership at SpaceX, ensuring he cannot be fired while tying a potential trillion-dollar compensation package to the company’s long-term goal of establishing a self-sustaining colony on Mars.
Yes, I need to make sure SpaceX stays focused on making life multiplanetary and extending consciousness to the stars, not pandering to someone’s bullshit quarterly earnings bonus!
Obviously, IF SpaceX succeeds in this absurdly difficult goal, it will be worth many orders of…
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 15, 2026
The revelation stems from a Financial Times report detailing SpaceX’s intention to restructure its governance and compensation framework. The moves are designed to protect Musk’s control and align his incentives with the company’s founding mission rather than short-term financial pressures. Musk’s reply left no ambiguity:
“Yes, I need to make sure SpaceX stays focused on making life multiplanetary and extending consciousness to the stars, not pandering to someone’s bullshit quarterly earnings bonus!”
He added that success in this “absurdly difficult goal” would generate value “many orders of magnitude more than the economy of Earth,” though he cautioned that the journey will not be smooth. “Don’t expect entirely smooth sailing along the way,” Musk wrote.
The strategy reflects Musk’s deep concerns about how public-market expectations could derail SpaceX’s core objective. Founded in 2002, SpaceX has repeatedly stated its purpose is to reduce the cost of space travel and ultimately make humanity a multiplanetary species.
Unlike Tesla, which went public in 2010 and has faced repeated battles over Musk’s compensation and board influence, SpaceX remains privately held. Musk has long resisted taking the rocket company public precisely to avoid the quarterly earnings treadmill that forces most CEOs to prioritize short-term stock performance over ambitious, high-risk projects.
By embedding protections against his removal and linking any outsized pay package to verifiable milestones—such as a functioning Mars colony—SpaceX aims to insulate its leadership from activist investors or board members who might demand faster profits or safer bets.
Musk has referenced past experiences, including his ouster from OpenAI and shareholder lawsuits at Tesla, as cautionary tales. In those cases, he argued, external pressures risked diluting the original vision.
Critics may view the arrangement as excessive, especially given Musk’s already substantial voting power and wealth. Supporters, however, argue it is a necessary safeguard for a company pursuing goals measured in decades rather than quarters. Achieving a Mars colony would require sustained investment in Starship development, orbital refueling, life-support systems, and in-situ resource utilization—technologies that may deliver no immediate financial return.
Musk’s post underscores a broader philosophical point: true breakthrough innovation often demands tolerance for volatility and a willingness to ignore conventional business wisdom. As SpaceX prepares for increasingly ambitious Starship test flights and eventual crewed missions, the new governance structure signals that the company’s North Star remains unchanged—humanity’s expansion beyond Earth.
Whether the trillion-dollar package materializes depends on execution, but Musk’s message is clear: SpaceX exists to reach the stars, not to chase the next earnings beat. For investors or employees who share that vision, the protections are not a perk—they are a prerequisite for success.
SpaceX just forced Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile to team up for the first time in history
Tesla Model Y prices just went up for the first time in two years
