News
SpaceX to attempt “hot” Falcon 9 landing at sea in spite of heavy payload
Although SpaceX’s launch of PAZ and two Starlink demo satellites has been pushed back to Thursday by weather concerns, work back on the East coast is continuing apace in preparation for the Sunday, February 25 launch of an exceptionally heavy communications satellite.
Updated February 24: SpaceX has postponed Sunday’s launch, as it attempts to conduct additional testing on the fairing’s pressurization system. “Once complete, and pending range availability, we will confirm a new targeted launch date”, notes SpaceX.
Eloquently deemed Hispasat 30W-6 (1F), the hefty 6000+ kg spacecraft will be sent to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) atop a brand new Falcon 9 rocket, quite a rare occurrence in the last several months. Based on the satellite’s considerable mass and public understand of Falcon 9’s performance, it was reasonably assumed that the rocket would need to launch in an expendable configuration to lift its payload to the proper orbit. However, in an unexpected turn of events, local observers with access to Cape Canaveral Air Force Base (CCAFS) or Kennedy Space Center (KSC) have observed what unequivocally appear to be grid fins and landing legs attached to the fresh Falcon 9, Booster (B)1044.
Local observers have observed grid fins and landing legs attached to the unflown Falcon 9, hinting at an aggressive landing attempt.
Falcon 9 B1044 conducting tests at SpaceX’s McGregor, Texas facilities earlier this year. (SpaceX)
Further corroborating this evidence of an imminent landing attempt, Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) have been published that indicate a possible landing location for the SpaceX rocket. NOTAMs are used to instruct aircraft and boats of potentially hazardous areas that must be avoided within a certain time frame – for those of you with memories of scrubbed launches caused by wayward boats or aircraft, these notices are what those offending individuals were supposed to be cognizant of. NASASpaceflight.com forums user Raul has kindly maintained a custom Google Maps fork that is regularly updated with data provided in NOTAMs, and serves as an invaluable visualization for those of us that do not pilot boats or planes quite as frequently as others.
SpaceX drone ship Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY) has taken quite a beating in the past few months – most recently she was nearly speared by Falcon Heavy’s 300+ mph center core. Nevertheless, the storied vessel has been relentlessly repaired and maintained by SpaceX’s crew of recovery fleet technicians and can be expected to leave its Floridan Port Canaveral berth within the next 24 hours – so long as the company intends to attempt recovery of Falcon 9 B1044.
-
- OCISLY and a landed Falcon 9 return to port after the most recent successful ocean recovery, October 30 2017. (Tom Cross)
-
- Falcon Heavy’s stunning dual side booster recovery. (SpaceX)
-
- Elon Musk walks among his recovered Falcon Heavy boosters at LZ-1 and 2. (Elon Musk)
As launch photographer Tom Cross works to acquire a license that would allow him to place remote cameras nearby the drone ship, viewers can capture the drone ship landings on SpaceX’s webcast. We’ll continue to provide on-the-ground coverage of both rocket launch and landings.
Meanwhile, back on the West coast, photographer Pauline Acalin is busy covering SpaceX’s launch of PAZ and two Starlink demo satellites. Due to slightly off-nominal upper level winds, just barely violating Falcon 9’s engineering margins for wind shear, the launch attempt earlier this morning was scrubbed and pushed back 24 hours, now NET 6:17am PST Feb. 22. Although the flight-proven booster flying with PAZ will be expended in the Pacific Ocean after launch, it appears likely that the launch will feature SpaceX’s first full-on attempt at recovering a payload fairing half intact.
SpaceX’s live coverage will begin at the livestream below approximately 15-20 minutes before launch.
Elon Musk
Starlink achieves major milestones in 2025 progress report
Starlink wrapped up 2025 with impressive growth, adding more than 4.6 million new active customers and expanding service to 35 additional countries, territories, and markets.
Starlink wrapped up 2025 with impressive growth, adding more than 4.6 million new active customers and expanding service to 35 additional countries, territories, and markets. The company also completed deployment of its first-generation Direct to Cell constellation, launching over 650 satellites in just 18 months to enable cellular connectivity.
SpaceX highlighted Starlink’s impressive 2025 progress in an extensive report.
Key achievements from Starlink’s 2025 Progress
Starlink connected over 4.6 million new customers with high-speed internet while bringing service to 35 more regions worldwide in 2025. Starlink is now connecting 9.2 million people worldwide. The service achieved this just weeks after hitting its 8 million customer milestone.
Starlink is now available in 155 markets, including areas that are unreachable by traditional ISPs. As per SpaceX, Starlink has also provided over 21 million airline passengers and 20 million cruise passengers with reliable high-speed internet connectivity during their travels.
Starlink Direct to Cell
Starlink’s Direct to Cell constellation, more than 650 satellites strong, has already connected over 12 million people at least once, marking a breakthrough in global mobile coverage.
Starlink Direct to Cell is currently rolled out to 22 countries and 6 continents, with over 6 million monthly customers. Starlink Direct to Cell also has 27 MNO partners to date.
“This year, SpaceX completed deployment of the first generation of the Starlink Direct to Cell constellation, with more than 650 satellites launched to low-Earth orbit in just 18 months. Starlink Direct to Cell has connected more than 12 million people, and counting, at least once, providing life-saving connectivity when people need it most,” SpaceX wrote.
News
Tesla Giga Nevada celebrates production of 6 millionth drive unit
To celebrate the milestone, the Giga Nevada team gathered for a celebratory group photo.
Tesla’s Giga Nevada has reached an impressive milestone, producing its 6 millionth drive unit as 2925 came to a close.
To celebrate the milestone, the Giga Nevada team gathered for a celebratory group photo.
6 million drive units
The achievement was shared by the official Tesla Manufacturing account on social media platform X. “Congratulations to the Giga Nevada team for producing their 6 millionth Drive Unit!” Tesla wrote.
The photo showed numerous factory workers assembled on the production floor, proudly holding golden balloons that spelled out “6000000″ in front of drive unit assembly stations. Elon Musk gave credit to the Giga Nevada team, writing, “Congrats on 6M drive units!” in a post on X.
Giga Nevada’s essential role
Giga Nevada produces drive units, battery packs, and energy products. The facility has been a cornerstone of Tesla’s scaling since opening, and it was the crucial facility that ultimately enabled Tesla to ramp the Model 3 and Model Y. Even today, it serves as Tesla’s core hub for battery and drivetrain components for vehicles that are produced in the United States.
Giga Nevada is expected to support Tesla’s ambitious 2026 targets, including the launch of vehicles like the Tesla Semi and the Cybercab. Tesla will have a very busy 2026, and based on Giga Nevada’s activities so far, it appears that the facility will be equally busy as well.
News
Tesla Supercharger network delivers record 6.7 TWh in 2025
The network now exceeds 75,000 stalls globally, and it supports even non-Tesla vehicles across several key markets.
Tesla’s Supercharger Network had its biggest year ever in 2025, delivering a record 6.7 TWh of electricity to vehicles worldwide.
To celebrate its busy year, the official @TeslaCharging account shared an infographic showing the Supercharger Network’s growth from near-zero in 2012 to this year’s impressive milestone.
Record 6.7 TWh delivered in 2025
The bar chart shows steady Supercharger energy delivery increases since 2012. Based on the graphic, the Supercharger Network started small in the mid-2010s and accelerated sharply after 2019, when the Model 3 was going mainstream.
Each year from 2020 onward showed significantly more energy delivery, with 2025’s four quarters combining for the highest total yet at 6.7 TWh.
This energy powered millions of charging sessions across Tesla’s growing fleet of vehicles worldwide. The network now exceeds 75,000 stalls globally, and it supports even non-Tesla vehicles across several key markets. This makes the Supercharger Network loved not just by Tesla owners but EV drivers as a whole.
Resilience after Supercharger team changes
2025’s record energy delivery comes despite earlier 2024 layoffs on the Supercharger team, which sparked concerns about the system’s expansion pace. Max de Zegher, Tesla Director of Charging North America, also highlighted that “Outside China, Superchargers delivered more energy than all other fast chargers combined.”
Longtime Tesla owner and FSD tester Whole Mars Catalog noted the achievement as proof of continued momentum post-layoffs. At the time of the Supercharger team’s layoffs in 2024, numerous critics were claiming that Elon Musk was halting the network’s expansion altogether, and that the team only remained because the adults in the room convinced the juvenile CEO to relent.
Such a scenario, at least based on the graphic posted by the Tesla Charging team on X, seems highly implausible.
Starlink achieves major milestones in 2025 progress report
Tesla Giga Nevada celebrates production of 6 millionth drive unit
