

News
SpaceX rocket booster aces 9th launch and landing for the first time
In a new rocket reusability first, a SpaceX Falcon 9 booster has successfully completed its ninth orbital-class launch and landing, leaving the company just one mission away from a target that’s been front and center for years.
Known as Starlink V1 L21 or Starlink-21, today’s launch also set no less than three more records on top of Falcon 9’s latest envelope expansion. Aside from the increasingly familiar primary purpose of deploying another batch of 60 operational ‘v1.0’ Starlink satellites, which Falcon 9’s first stage managed without issue, Starlink-21 marked the fastest payload fairing reuse by a huge margin.
The mission flew both halves of a carbon fiber composite nosecone that first launched just 49 days ago on January 24th, a feat that both crushes the previous record – 87 days – by almost 60% and represents a mere 16 months between the first fairing reuse ever and the first turnaround under 50 days. A Falcon 9 booster was reused for the first time in March 2017 and SpaceX took nearly four years (46 months) from that milestone to achieve the first sub-50-day booster turnaround.
Most importantly, though, Falcon 9 booster B1051’s flawless ninth launch and landing leaves SpaceX a single mission – and perhaps as few as 4-6 weeks – away from achieving a goal that’s been at the forefront of its reusable rocketry efforts for at least three years. Back when Falcon 9’s Block 5 upgrade first debuted in May 2018, CEO Elon Musk revealed a target of at least 10 launches per booster with minimal maintenance and 100 or more flights with regular periods of more significant refurbishment.
More recently, a recently-retired executive and one of SpaceX’s most senior employees revealed his opinion that there are no obvious showstoppers preventing the company from flying boosters like Falcon 9 B1051 significantly more than ten times before any major rework or part replacements are required.
While slightly less spectacular, Starlink-21 also set the record for the shortest time between two SpaceX launches on the same coast (a little over three days) and broke Launch Complex 39A’s pad turnaround record by more than two days. A step further, SpaceX has already scheduled its next launch – Starlink-22 – no earlier than (NET) March 21st, meaning that the company’s other Florida launch pad (LC-40) is also on track to support two launches in ~10 days.
If Starlink-22’s schedule holds, there’s a significant chance that SpaceX will be able to prepare another Starlink mission for flight, potentially making March 2021 the company’s first five-launch month ever.
News
Tesla reiterates FSD’s biggest advantage, even if it’s still Supervised
Even in its current Supervised state, FSD is already pretty life-changing.

Tesla Full Self Driving (FSD) has a ton of potential. Once it is rolled out as an Unsupervised system, it could change the transportation sector. But even in its current Supervised state, FSD is already pretty life-changing.
This was highlighted recently by the electric vehicle maker through its official Tesla account on social media platform X.
Tesla FSD Unsupervised
Tesla’s self-driving aspirations are expected to come to fruition with the release of FSD Unsupervised, which is currently already being used in the Fremont Factory and Giga Texas. With FSD Unsupervised, Teslas are able to navigate from the end of their production lines to the facilities’ outbound lots without a human driver.
Tesla has previously noted that FSD Unsupervised should see its initial release in Texas and California this year. As noted by Tesla in a post on X, autonomy, when deployed at scale, does not just make cities more livable. It also gives back time to people. This is what makes autonomous driving systems potentially world-changing.
Still Supervised, But Already Useful
FSD today, however, is still Supervised, which means that it still requires constant attention from the driver. This is one of the main points of criticism from Tesla skeptics, as FSD’s current Supervised nature is typically used to argue that it is no better than other adaptive cruise control systems that other carmakers offer. As per Tesla in a follow-up post, however, FSD Supervised already makes life easier.
This is because FSD Supervised works on inner city roads, and while the driver is still observing the car to ensure that it operates well, trips could easily become a lot less tiring. This is especially true for long trips, which could take a toll on the driver if vehicles are driven manually.
“You can get a glimpse of that today: although FSD Supervised currently does require your supervision, you will still notice that your commute or long drives are suddenly so much less taxing. No constant micro-adjustments in rush hour traffic. No frustration. Car does it all for you,” Tesla wrote in its post on X.
News
Hyundai protects buyers from Trump’s tariffs with assurance program
Hyundai’s new Assurance Program will absorb Trump’s auto tariff costs, keeping prices flat for U.S. buyers.

Hyundai is protecting buyers from U.S. President Trump’s auto tariffs through its new Assurance Program.
The South Korean automaker’s U.S. COO Claudia Marquez launched the Assurance Program at the 2025 New York International Auto Show. The initiative addresses the impact of President Trump’s 25% tariffs on the auto sector, a dominant topic at the event.
Marquez emphasized Hyundai’s commitment to price stability during his announcement. The Assurance Program absorbs tariff-related costs, leveraging Hyundai’s robust U.S. production to mitigate impacts.
“When it comes to the customers, which again is tough and even for us just for planning purposes, what we wanted to make sure is that we have a plan, so we launched our Hyundai Assurance Program, which is confirming and assuring to customers that [prices] are not going to go up, at least this next couple of months,” she told Yahoo Finance.
Hyundai of America produces 40% of its vehicles in the U.S. through its Alabama factory and the newly opened Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Savannah, Georgia. The Georgia plant began Ioniq 5 production in October 2024 and plans to start Ioniq 9 output by Q1 2025.
“We have a strong representation in the US. We have a factory in Alabama, and just recently, two weeks ago, we opened our new Metaplant in Savannah, Georgia, where we produce our EVs Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9,” Marquez said.
As President and CEO Jose Muñoz noted, Hyundai’s localization strategy strengthens its tariff resilience. Initially focused on EVs, HMGMA will also produce hybrids following a 2024 dip in EV sales.
“We are looking forward to officially opening Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia. Our localization strategy in the important U.S. market will help mitigate the impact of any potential policy change,” Muñoz said at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting.
While Hyundai’s U.S. plants provide a buffer, building such facilities is costly and time-intensive, with potential policy shifts looming by 2028. For now, the Assurance Program and localized production help Hyundai navigate Trump’s tariff, ensuring customer affordability amid trade uncertainties.
News
Starlink executives meet with India’s Commerce Minister

Starlink is advancing its India entry plans, with senior executives meeting Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
Starlink senior executives and Minister Goyal discussed investments and partnerships in India. The talks are pivotal for Starlink’s entry into the Indian market. Starlink’s delegation, including Vice President Chad Gibbs and Senior Director Ryan Goodnight, met Goyal on Wednesday.
“Discussions covered Starlink’s cutting-edge technology platform, their existing partnerships & future investment plans in India,” Goyal posted on X.
The meeting with Starlink executives marked the first official engagement with an Indian Minister and underscores SpaceX’s commitment to the region, reported ET. As of this writing, Starlink has not announced future meetings with Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
SpaceX has already started preparing to bring its satellite internet service to the Indian market. The aerospace company has secured deals with India’s top wireless carriers, Bharti Airtel and Jio Platforms, to distribute Starlink equipment and services through their outlets.
Bharti Airtel announced its partnership with Starlink first, followed by Jio Platforms. Both wireless carriers aim to leverage Starlink’s technology to expand internet access in India and their customer base. SpaceX is also in discussions with Vodafone Idea Ltd.
“We are in exploratory talks with various Satcom providers, including Starlink,” commented Vodafone.
These partnerships position Starlink to tap India’s vast telecom market, with potential for further collaboration. Despite these strides, Starlink still awaits regulatory approval to operate in India.
As of November 2024, the company must fully comply with the government’s security regulations, particularly on data storage, to secure its license. The pending approval highlights the complexities of entering India’s tightly regulated telecom sector, where compliance is critical.
Starlink’s push into India aligns with its global expansion strategy, leveraging its satellite constellation to deliver high-speed internet to underserved regions. The partnerships with Bharti Airtel and Jio Platforms, combined with ongoing talks with Vodafone Idea, signal strong local support for SpaceX’s technology.
However, regulatory hurdles remain a key challenge. As Starlink navigates India’s security requirements, its investments and carrier tie-ups could reshape the nation’s internet landscape, offering a new era of connectivity if approval is granted.
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