SpaceX
SpaceX test-fires Falcon 9 Block 5 booster for upgraded rocket’s fifth launch
After a couple of weeks of mysterious delays, SpaceX is once again back in the saddle for its next orbital mission and has successfully completed Falcon 9’s routine prelaunch wet dress rehearsal and static fire. This rocket will launch Telstar 19V’s (launched in July) sister communications satellite Telstar 18V to a high-energy transfer orbit at 11:28 PM EDT, September 8 (03:28 UTC, September 9).
SpaceX’s static fire testing – conducted once in Texas with just the first stage and once at the launch site with the upper stage attached – is very nearly identical to a real launch, save for the fact that the rocket is not allowed to actually lift off from the pad, and only ignites its main engines for a handful of seconds.
Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete—targeting September 8 launch of Telstar 18 VANTAGE from Pad 40 in Florida.
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 5, 2018
Almost entirely unique to SpaceX in the launch industry, Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy are perhaps the only operational (orbital-class) rockets in the world to still conduct routine test fires of integrated segments, including both boosters, upper stages, and even Dragon spacecraft thrusters (both Crew and Cargo variants). Other launch providers like ULA, Arianespace, and Roscosmos will typically test engines individually, but that testing is often not even routine – spot checks more than anything systematic.
In fact, SpaceX’s system of hardware testing as extraordinarily extensive. Aside from test firing integrated boosters and upper stages, SpaceX doubles down on that testing both at the launch site and in Texas. Prior to integrated testing, essentially all rocket engines (sea-level Merlin 1Ds, vacuum Merlin 1Ds, SuperDraco thrusters, Draco thrusters, and Falcon’s cold gas maneuvering thrusters) are hot-fire (or cold-fire, in the case of the cold gas thrusters) tested in Texas after completing assembly in Hawthorne.
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- The second Block 5 booster, B1047, debuted at LC-40 on July 21. (Tom Cross)
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- Falcon 9 B1049 arrived at the launch pad just hours after the successful launch of Telkom-4, August 7. This rocket will launch Telstar 18V before landing on drone ship Of Course I Still Love You. (Tom Cross)
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- The first Block 5 Falcon 9 lifts off on May 4, 2018. (Tom Cross)
After that, the individual rocket engines and thrusters are shipped back to Hawthorne, integrated into their Dragon, Falcon upper stage, or Falcon booster parent rocket, and then shipped back to Texas once more for integrated test-fires, shipped to their launch site, and test-fired yet again (in the case of Falcon 9 and Heavy, not Dragon). This extraordinarily systematic testing apparatus is without a doubt unique to SpaceX, with the only closest comparison being found in small launch startup Rocket Lab, which is also extensively vertically integrated, including in-house tests of all engines prior to shipment.
Much like modern aircraft (particularly airliners) routinely test all critical systems prior to takeoff, particularly a full-thrust engine check with brakes applied, SpaceX and Rocket Lab are explicitly attempting to replicate in spaceflight the sort of practices that have helped to make air travel perhaps the safest and most reliable method of transportation ever created by humans.
@SpaceXFleet My roommate (@Kraken_Brad) just sent me this from Fishlips. #OCISLY movin out! pic.twitter.com/QE0ObV9i79
— Stephen Marr (@spacecoast_stve) September 4, 2018
For prompt updates, on-the-ground perspectives, and unique glimpses of SpaceX’s rocket recovery fleet check out our brand new LaunchPad and LandingZone newsletters!
SpaceX employees, including its CEO Elon Musk, shaded American Airlines on social media this past weekend due to the company’s reported talks with Amazon’s Starlink rival, Leo.
Starlink has been adopted by several airlines, including United Airlines, Qatar Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, WestJet, Air France, airBaltic, and others. It has gained notoriety as an extremely solid, dependable, and reliable option for airline travel, as traditional options frequently cause users to lose connection to the internet.
Many airlines have made the switch, while others continue to mull the options available to them. American Airlines is one of them.
A report from Bloomberg indicates the airline is thinking of going with a Starlink rival owned by Amazon, called Leo. It was previously referred to as Project Kuiper.
American CEO Robert Isom said (via Bloomberg):
“While there’s Starlink, there are other low-Earth-orbit satellite opportunities that we can look at. We’re making sure that American is going to have what our customers need.”
Isom also said American has been in touch with Amazon about installing Leo on its aircraft, but he would not reveal the status of any discussions with the company.
The report caught the attention of Michael Nicolls, the Vice President of Starlink Engineering at SpaceX, who said:
“Only fly on airlines with good connectivity… and only one source of good connectivity at the moment…”
CEO Elon Musk replied to Nicolls by stating that American Airlines risks losing “a lot of customers if their connectivity solution fails.”
American Airlines will lose a lot of customers if their connectivity solution fails
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 14, 2025
There are over 8,000 Starlink satellites in orbit currently, offering internet coverage in over 150 countries and territories globally. SpaceX expands its array of satellites nearly every week with launches from California and Florida, aiming to offer internet access to everyone across the globe.
Currently, the company is focusing on expanding into new markets, such as Africa and Asia.
News
Tesla hints at Starlink integration with recent patent
“By employing polymer blends, some examples enable RF transmission from all the modules to satellites and other communication devices both inside and outside the vehicle.”
Tesla hinted at a potential Starlink internet terminal integration within its vehicles in a recent patent, which describes a vehicle roof assembly with integrated radio frequency (RF) transparency.
The patent, which is Pub. No U.S. 2025/0368267 describes a new vehicle roof that is made of RF-transparent polymer materials, allowing and “facilitating clear communication with external devices and satellites.”
Tesla believes that a new vehicle roof design, comprised of different materials than the standard metallic or glass elements used in cars today, would allow the company to integrate modern vehicular technologies, “particularly those requiring radio frequency transmission and reception.
Tesla has recently filed a US patent application on integrating RF transparent materials into the roof structure.
“facilitating clear communication with external devices and satellites”
Tesla fleet is getting @Starlink connectivity integration soon. LFG @Tesla @elonmusk… pic.twitter.com/bLa8YtPLd1
— Chansoo Byeon (@Chansoo) December 9, 2025
Instead of glass or metallic materials, Tesla says vehicles may benefit from high-strength polymer blends, such as Polycarbonate, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, or Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate.
These materials still provide ideal strength metrics for crashworthiness, stiffness for noise, vibration, and harshness control, and are compliant with head impact regulations.
They would also enable better performance with modern technologies, like internet terminals, which need an uninterrupted signal to satellites for maximum reception. Tesla writes in the patent:
“By employing polymer blends, some examples enable RF transmission from all the modules to satellites and other communication devices both inside and outside the vehicle.”
One of the challenges Tesla seems to be aware of with this type of roof design is the fact that it will still have to enable safety and keep that at the forefront of the design. As you can see in the illustration above, Tesla plans to use four layers to increase safety and rigidity, while also combating noise and vibration.
It notes in the patent that disclosed examples still meet the safety requirements outlined in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
Starlink integrated directly into Tesla vehicles would be a considerable advantage for owners. It would come with a handful of distinct advantages.
Initially, the inclusion of Starlink would completely eliminate cellular dead zones, something that is an issue, especially in rural areas. Starlink would provide connectivity in these remote regions and would ensure uninterrupted service during road trips and off-grid adventures.
It could also be a critical addition for Robotaxi, as it is crucial to have solid and reliable connectivity for remote monitoring and fleet management.
Starlink’s growing constellation, thanks to SpaceX’s routine and frequent launch schedule, will provide secure, stable, and reliable internet connectivity for Tesla vehicles.
Although many owners have already mounted Starlink Mini dishes under their glass roofs for a similar experience, it may be integrated directly into Teslas in the coming years, either as an upgrade or a standard feature.
Investor's Corner
SpaceX IPO is coming, CEO Elon Musk confirms
However, it appears Musk is ready for SpaceX to go public, as Ars Technica Senior Space Editor Eric Berger wrote an op-ed that indicated he thought SpaceX would go public soon. Musk replied, basically confirming it.
Elon Musk confirmed through a post on X that a SpaceX initial public offering (IPO) is on the way after hinting at it several times earlier this year.
It also comes one day after Bloomberg reported that SpaceX was aiming for a valuation of $1.5 trillion, adding that it wanted to raise $30 billion.
Musk has been transparent for most of the year that he wanted to try to figure out a way to get Tesla shareholders to invest in SpaceX, giving them access to the stock.
He has also recognized the issues of having a public stock, like litigation exposure, quarterly reporting pressures, and other inconveniences.
However, it appears Musk is ready for SpaceX to go public, as Ars Technica Senior Space Editor Eric Berger wrote an op-ed that indicated he thought SpaceX would go public soon.
Musk replied, basically confirming it:
As usual, Eric is accurate
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 10, 2025
Berger believes the IPO would help support the need for $30 billion or more in capital needed to fund AI integration projects, such as space-based data centers and lunar satellite factories. Musk confirmed recently that SpaceX “will be doing” data centers in orbit.
AI appears to be a “key part” of SpaceX getting to Musk, Berger also wrote. When writing about whether or not Optimus is a viable project and product for the company, he says that none of that matters. Musk thinks it is, and that’s all that matters.
It seems like Musk has certainly mulled something this big for a very long time, and the idea of taking SpaceX public is not just likely; it is necessary for the company to get to Mars.
The details of when SpaceX will finally hit that public status are not known. Many of the reports that came out over the past few days indicate it would happen in 2026, so sooner rather than later.
But there are a lot of things on Musk’s plate early next year, especially with Cybercab production, the potential launch of Unsupervised Full Self-Driving, and the Roadster unveiling, all planned for Q1.
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SpaceX shades airline for seeking contract with Amazon’s Starlink rival
