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Follow a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 booster recovery from start to finish [video]
All major aspects of SpaceX’s most recent Falcon 9 Block 5 booster recovery have been documented from start to finish, offering a solid glimpse into the work that actually goes into getting a rocket booster from the deck of a SpaceX drone ship to one of the company’s many hangars for inspections, repairs, and refurbishment.
Filmed by USLaunchReport, a SpaceX-focused nonprofit staffed by U.S. veterans, the group’s coverage of a variety of SpaceX events may not always offer the highest production quality, but the sheer tenacity and patience of those behind the cameras allow them to capture unique and interesting events that almost nobody else is keen to wait around for.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 booster sails into port aboard droneship OCISLY after successful reusehttps://t.co/zQtidwzvhp
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) November 21, 2018
Over the course of four videos focused on SpaceX’s recovery of Falcon 9 Block 5 booster B1047, USLaunchReport offered good views of four major events that occur during all rocket recovery operations: the drone ship’s return to port, Falcon 9’s move from ship to shore, the booster’s landing leg removal (or retraction), and the booster’s transfer from a vertical to horizontal orientation and transport by road back to a SpaceX hangar.
Of Course I Still Love You arrives at Port Canaveral
As with all of Falcon 9’s drone ship landings, B1047 came to a rest on a station-keeping OCISLY several hundred miles east of the Florida coast, coincidentally landing directly in front of a giant rainbow cued by rain clouds, both visible in the background. In theory, B1047’s second landing should by no means be the rocket’s last: if Falcon 9 Block 5’s first stage upgrades are as successful as they hoped to be, the rocket could well see a productive life of 100 launches or more between now and BFR’s complete takeover.
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- Falcon 9 B1047 approaches its second successful landing aboard OCISLY. (SpaceX)
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- In a more perfect world, Falcon 9 would have been responsible for the rainbow. (SpaceX)
For at least the next 5-10 years, however, SpaceX followers will continue to be treated to spectacular Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy booster recoveries, particularly the moment when each booster sails through the narrow mouth of Port Canaveral or Port of Los Angeles, offering spectators almost unbeatable views of just-landed SpaceX rockets.
SpaceX – Last Ten Miles To Dock.
Next Men at Work. B1047.2 https://t.co/6C4YDhUpJ6— Mike Wagner (@USLaunchReport) November 21, 2018
Falcon 9’s lift from ship to shore
Soon after the drone ship docks in port, SpaceX recovery technicians install a brace and lifting jig that attaches to Falcon 9’s booster interstage, using the same mechanisms that connect the first stage to the second stage prior to stage separation. The interstage’s mechanical actuators are strong enough to support – at a minimum – the entire weight of an empty Falcon 9 booster, allowing SpaceX to simply attach the jig and lift Falcon 9 off of the drone ship with any number of large but commercially available cranes.
Rather than directly lowering the rocket and allowing it to rest directly on its landing legs again, SpaceX technicians make use of a custom-built stand that acts as a sort of barebones, static replica of the mounts Falcon 9s are attached to at SpaceX launch pads. Structurally optimized to allow Falcon 9 and Heavy to be held down on the launch pad while operating at full thrust, a series of four solid-metal attachment points interface with those hold-down clamps, attach to Falcon 9’s four landing legs, and offer an easily accessible and structurally sound method of sitting a booster upright (sans legs) and maneuvering it during recovery operations.
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- An excellent look at Block 5 booster B1048’s aft, showing off two of four launch clamp attachment points. (Pauline Acalin)
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- A view of Falcon 9 resting on said clamp attach points. (Pauline Acalin)
Once Falcon 9 is sat stably atop its recovery stand, SpaceX technicians remove the rocket’s four landing legs and their associated telescoping deployment assemblies. While SpaceX has recently begun to attempt the in-situ retraction and stowage of Falcon 9 landing legs once returned to land, a number of experimental retraction attempts appear to have produced less than satisfactory results. This time around, the retraction jig was visibly stripped and SpaceX technicians did not attempt any leg retractions. However, those recovery technicians are now so experienced and familiar with the optimized procedures that Falcon 9 booster can go from port arrival to horizontal transport to a SpaceX hangar in just a little over 48 hours, and that trend continued with B1047.2.
Good observations by @USLaunchReport. The lifting cap was stripped of the leg retraction hardware, so SpaceX is presumably changing the design of the retraction system.https://t.co/WRwLNbLKqF
— Michael Baylor (@MichaelBaylor_) November 23, 2018
From | to __
Although Falcon 9 and Heavy rockets come into their prime once vertical, the rockets spend the vast majority of their lives horizontal, either in transport from facility to facility or stationary inside a SpaceX hangar, awaiting launch, undergoing integration, or being refurbished. Translating Falcon 9’s massive ~30-ton, 135-foot-tall (41m) booster from vertical to horizontal is a feat within itself, requiring the coordinated use of two large cranes, multiple technicians with guidelines, and one of several giant booster transport jigs owned by SpaceX.
SpaceX’s seasoned recovery technicians make it look easy, but the reality is in almost polar opposition. The fact that Falcon 9’s structure is built primarily of aluminum-lithium alloy tanks with walls maybe half a centimeter (~5 mm) thick certainly doesn’t make this process any easier, as even the slightest misstep or tank depressurization (Falcon 9 is almost always pressurized with nitrogen when horizontal) could structurally compromise the rocket and result in irreparable damage.
The cherry on top
A reliable crowdpleaser, the last critical step in any Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy recovery is the booster’s careful transport – by road – from its port of call (or landing zone) to a dedicated SpaceX hangar (or factory), where the rocket can be far more thoroughly inspected, repaired, and maintained between launches. With Falcon 9 Block 5’s May 2018 introduction, the latter segment has become more important than ever before, as the upgraded rockets are already routinely conducting launches with as few as three months between them, bringing SpaceX closer than ever before to realizing a long-term aspiration of operating a fleet of rapidly and (relatively) easily reusable orbital-class rockets.
Often slowly driving just a few dozen feet from passing bystanders and traffic, this short few-mile trip from Port Canaveral to either Kennedy Space Center (KSC) or Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) is typically done with Falcon 9 boosters entirely uncovered, aside from nine small booties that cover their nine Merlin 1D engines. Without unique and easily missed moments like this, it might well be just shy of impossible to get fewer than several hundred feet away from an operational SpaceX rocket, certainly a luxury but one that would still be sorely missed.
All things considered, the crew at USLaunchReport ought to be thanked for their relentless patience and commitment to getting the shot. For those of us who mean to resist the tendency for SpaceX’s sheer inertia to rapidly make the extraordinary all but mundane, these long, highly detailed, and often esoteric videos will (hopefully) never get old.
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!
Elon Musk
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.
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.
by
u/Qwertygolol in
TeslaFSD
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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.
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.
Live From Downtown Austin:
Tesla Cybercab with new logo Graphic at their Autonomy Popup pic.twitter.com/MTTb9KDr3b
— David Moss (@DavidMoss) March 13, 2026
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.
News
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.
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.”
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.”
Tesla just sent out a new email thanking Model S/X owners.
“These vehicles made it possible for Tesla to develop the technology that would move our world toward autonomy. As we make way for this autonomous future, Model S and Model X production will be ending. If you’d like to… pic.twitter.com/IeUhZ3iDnX
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) March 27, 2026
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.
Tesla FSD mocks BMW human driver: Saves pedestrian from near miss
Tesla Robotaxi gets a small but significant change
Tesla makes latest announcement on Model S and Model X
Elon Musk says Tesla is developing a new vehicle: ‘Way cooler than a minivan’
Elon Musk launches TERAFAB: The $25B Tesla-SpaceXAI chip factory that will rewire the AI industry
