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SpaceX Falcon 9 booster returns to port on a drone ship for the first time in six months
On November 15th, Falcon 9 booster B1048 returned to port aboard a SpaceX drone ship, the first such return in almost half a year. With that arrival, SpaceX also completed a critical Falcon 9 Block 5 reusability milestone, paving the way for B1048 to continue setting records.
On November 11th, Falcon 9 B1048 made history when it lifted off with 60 Starlink v1.0 satellites, becoming the first rocket booster to launch four separate orbital-class missions. Approximately eight and a half minutes later, B1048 also become the first orbital-class rocket booster to land after its fourth successful launch, setting the vehicle up to be SpaceX’s path leader for future nth-reuse milestones, starting with the first 5th flight in the near future.
Starlink v1.0’s November 11th launch effectively marked the start of SpaceX’s operational satellite constellation deployment, every mission of which will be an opportunity for the company to test new reusability firsts and reduce the risk before certain flight-proven hardware is offered to commercial customers. Company executives have recently indicated that SpaceX hopes to launch as many as 24 Starlink missions – each carrying ~60 satellites – in 2020, giving SpaceX a huge number of opportunities to push the envelope of booster and fairing reusability.
On the ~650 km (340 mi) trip back to Port Canaveral from drone ship Of Course I Still Love You’s (OCISLY) Atlantic Ocean recovery position, the ship – towed by tug Hawk – was forced to briefly divert northwest to escape high seas, but Falcon 9 B1048 was secured by the drone ship’s Octagrabber robot, preventing it from suffering a fate similar to Falcon Heavy booster B1055. By all appearances, the thrice-reused Falcon 9 booster survived the weather and swells unscathed, even as OCISLY itself was visibly banged around, damaging a generator and antenna.
After OCISLY and B1048 arrived in Port Canaveral on the 15th, SpaceX recovery technicians quickly craned the booster off of the drone ship, placing it on the company’s dockside rocket-processing stand. It appears that SpaceX intends to retract B1048’s four carbon fiber landing legs, potentially in a bid to rapidly turn the booster around for a second Starlink v1.0 mission before the end of 2019.
B1048.4’s in-port recovery operations also marked the first time SpaceX has used Port Canaveral’s brand new mobile crane, delivered to the port in January 2019.
While B1048 has become the first Falcon 9 booster to launch four orbital-class missions, SpaceX has another two thrice-flown flightworthy boosters (B1046 and B1049), the former of which is preparing for its own fourth launch as early as December 2019. B1046 is assigned to Crew Dragon’s In-Flight Abort test, a mission that will almost certainly destroy the booster and its inert upper stage when Crew Dragon attempts to escape the rocket while traveling at supersonic speeds. B1049 could support another Starlink mission or the commercial debut of a thrice-flown SpaceX booster and is likely already set for flight after it completed its third launch nearly six months ago.
Coincidentally, B1048’s Nov. 15 port return was SpaceX’s first drone ship recovery since B1049’s third launch and landing, which saw that booster arrive in port in late May 2019. That nearly six-month gap is one of the longest SpaceX has gone without an ocean recovery since Falcon 9’s first successful drone ship landing in April 2016. With any luck, Starlink will ensure that a similar lull is just shy of impossible until Starship takes over and Falcon 9/Heavy is fully retired, likely a solid half a decade away.
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A new Tesla patent that has been granted to the company this week has revealed a potential strategy for solving a major issue that could impact both the Full Self-Driving suite and Optimus.
The patent, which is No. 12,636,684, describes a “Lens Cleaning System,” and was submitted by Tesla in May 2025.
The language in the patent details a lens cleaning system that can dispense fluid and wipe it away with a wiper assembly.
Optimus can see you now… 🤖👁️
The patent for @Tesla_Optimus‘s eye structure just dropped. $TSLA pic.twitter.com/Jac4VhDmKH
— SETI Park (@seti_park) May 26, 2026
This would effectively clean any debris that would potentially impact the visibility of the cameras on Tesla automobiles or Optimus’s camera eyes. Perhaps the most pertinent example is through the Full Self-Driving suite, as debris that can accumulate on the vehicle’s exterior cameras can impact the suite’s ability to operate effectively.
This requires a remedy through manual cleaning, but this patent hints that Tesla could be planning to implement this new technology on its upcoming vehicles.
Interestingly, we have started to see it on some Robotaxi vehicles, and it will likely be included in the Cybercab, especially as that vehicle will enable full autonomy.
Back in January, the first Model Y Robotaxi units were spotted with camera washers on the side repeaters, as the video below shows fluid squirting and rinsing off any debris that is limiting visibility.
🚨 Tesla looks to have installed Camera Washers on the side repeater cameras on Robotaxis in Austin
pic.twitter.com/xemRtDtlRR— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 23, 2026
This hardware patent does bring up an interesting question for those of us who own Teslas with AI4 and have been told that our cars will one day be capable of full autonomy: Will this washer be available as a retrofit on already-built cars?
Perhaps the “Lens Cleaning System” patent is a good look at one way Tesla plans to combat one of the most obvious issues of autonomy that utilizes a camera-based system. For Optimus, it could be less needed as it could be manually cleaned by owners. For cars, it seems like a bigger necessity, especially as autonomy nears and Tesla gets close to launching a feature-complete FSD suite.
SpaceX’s Starlink product has just gotten its latest airline adoptee, and the move marks the successful partnership of three of the “Big Four” U.S. airlines.
American Airlines announced on Tuesday that it would utilize Starlink in more than 500 narrowbody aircraft beginning in the first quarter of 2027. These include the Airbus aircraft in its fleet, including the new A321XLR and A321neo.
With the new partnership with American Airlines, Starlink is now present on three of the largest airlines in the country: American, United, and Southwest.
Starlink gets its latest airline adoptee for stable and reliable internet access
Starlink’s VP of Enterprise Sales, Jason Fritch, said:
“We are proud to bring Starlink on board American Airlines, delivering fast and reliable internet to passengers and crew. Whether traveling for leisure or business, Starlink enables a fully connected experience gate to gate, making every flight smoother and more enjoyable.”
Additionally, American Airlines Chief Customer Officer, Heather Garboden, said:
“As a premium global airline, we are continuously seeking out world-class partners like Starlink to deliver what our customers need and want. The addition of Starlink solidifies American as a leading airline in keeping passengers connected in flight.”
Starlink has been on a tear over the past year, as it has continued to be adopted by a wide variety of airlines as a more consistent and reliable way to provide WiFi to its passengers. It has already gained a great reputation among residential users, but its biggest commercial application appears to be how it is being used in the air.
American Airlines will adopt Starlink on more than 500 of its narrowbody aircraft beginning in Q1 2027
“As a premium global airline, we are continuously seeking out world-class partners like Starlink to deliver what our customers need and want,” said American Airlines Chief… pic.twitter.com/XY2wflycc0
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) May 26, 2026
The only airline of the Big Four not to adopt Starlink thus far is Delta, which chose to opt for the alternative, which is Amazon Leo. CEO Ed Bastian said to Bloomberg that Delta chose Amazon’s product over Starlink’s because “the opportunities, in terms of the improved bandwidth with a much lower price point than what we’ve ever seen from Starlink, will make a big difference.”
Delta will not start installing Amazon Leo until 2028.
“Of course, we expect Starlink will be warning people that we’re going to go with an inferior product,” Bastian said. “But I’m not too worried about partnering with Amazon.”
Tesla Cybertruck’s newest trim level is nearing its first deliveries just a few months after being offered for an incredible deal.
Back in February, Tesla officially launched a new trim of the Cybertruck, the All-Wheel-Drive, starting at just $59,990. It was a lot of truck for the money, especially considering what it offered the Rear-Wheel-Drive variant for last year, which was a total flop.
The $59,990 price that was offered initially was a deal due to its 325-mile range rating, powered tonneau, three bed outlets, Powershare capability, coil springs with adaptive damping for a refined suspension feel, Steer-by-Wire and four-wheel steering, a 6′ x 4′ composite bed, towing capacity of 7,500 pounds, and a powered frunk.
Tesla is now nearing deliveries of this trim, according to watcher Sawyer Merritt, as Tesla has officially started assigning VINs to people who ordered the vehicle initially:
I can confirm that Tesla has officially started assigning VINs to people who initially ordered the $59,990 Cybertruck Dual-Motor AWD, which means first deliveries should start in the coming weeks!
• 325 mile range
• 7,500 lb towing capacity
• 0-60mph: 4.1s
• Bed with… pic.twitter.com/PQwVYbZf6j— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) May 24, 2026
Earlier this month, we reported on units of the trim being spotted outside Gigafactory Texas by Joe Tegtmeyer.
Tesla Giga Texas buzzing as new Cybertruck appears to enter production
This Cybertruck trim was interesting because it was released basically out of nowhere, priced incredibly well, and gathered many orders in a small amount of time. However, CEO Elon Musk noted just days afterward that the vehicle would only be priced at this bargain level for ten days.
Tesla fans were not happy.
Awful way to treat customers – particularly when they already sent out a marketing email announcing the $59,990 truck…with zero mention of it being a limited-time offer.
— Ryan McCaffrey (@DMC_Ryan) February 24, 2026
However, the issues with the pricing strategy have blown over since the February unveiling event, and now that deliveries are near, Tesla fans are anticipating the truck making its way to their driveways soon.
The truck is currently priced at $69,990, and deliveries for new orders are slated for between August and September 2026.
Tesla patent reveals strategy for solving major Full Self-Driving, Optimus issue
SpaceX Starlink gets its latest airline adoptee, grabbing three of the ‘Big Four’
