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SpaceX’s first high-altitude Starship prototype just “passed cryo proof” testing
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says that the first high-altitude Starship prototype – known as SN8 – just “passed cryo proof” testing in South Texas, potentially setting the ship up for a ~15 km (9.5 mile) flight test in the near future.
Meanwhile, NASA astronaut Bob Hines recently overflew SpaceX’s Boca Chica, Texas Starship factory with several compatriots, offering an excellent aerial view of the company’s bustling facilities in the midst of Starship SN8’s critical cryo proof test campaign.
Hines managed to catch the Moon alongside one of the T-38 trainer jets NASA astronauts routinely use for training and travel, serving as a reminder that SpaceX won $135 million to build a Lunar Starship that might someday return humans to Earth’s lone companion. Likely with or without NASA’s involvement, the Starship prototype production and test program SpaceX is deep in the midst of will directly determine if and when the company visits – and lands on – the Moon and Mars.
Over the last three days, SpaceX has gradually put Starship SN8 – the first prototype meant for high-altitude flight testing – through its paces, beginning with a seemingly aborted “cryo proof” test on October 5/6. During the first attempt, SpaceX appeared to pressurize the rocket tank section with cold nitrogen gas and perhaps a small volume of liquid nitrogen before reopening the highway. Starship SN8 also actuated its large aft flaps under its own power for the first time on October 4th and SpaceX has performed several more actuation tests in the days since.
24 hours later, SpaceX tried again, this time successfully loading Starship SN8’s liquid oxygen and methane propellant tanks with perhaps a thousand metric tons (2.2 million pounds) of liquid nitrogen – used to simulate the ultra-cold temperatures of cryogenic propellant without the risk of a catastrophic fire or explosion. After cryo load, SpaceX reportedly attempted to pressurize the rocket’s tanks to their limits but the test was stopped somewhat short when Starship SN8 sprung “a small leak…near the engine mounts” after reaching pressures of 7 bar (~100 psi).
Precisely as Musk predicted, SpaceX apparently managed to fix the minor leak in less than 24 hours and began the third round of Starship SN8 cryo proof testing late on October 7th. Once again, the rocket was fully loaded with liquid nitrogen and spent some 2-3 hours under cryogenic stress as SpaceX likely stress the thrust structure (“thrust puck”) by simulating the thrust of Raptor engines with hydraulic rams. Nothing out of the ordinary happened and Musk has yet to comment on the test, suggesting that things went largely as planned.
Intriguingly, SpaceX then geared up for a fourth night of cryogenic testing on October 8/9. It’s not entirely surprising that the company would want to test the first Starship built primarily with a new steel alloy as thoroughly as possible. If SN8’s fourth night of testing produces satisfactory results and SpaceX is less than concerned with the leak discovered during the second round of testing, the company could be ready to install three engines and attempt the first multi-Raptor static fire test ever.
Update: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says that Starship SN8 “passed cryo proof” testing, most likely setting the rocket up for the first triple-Raptor static fire test ever attempted. If SN8 passes static fire testing, it will most likely be outfitted with a nosecone and forward flaps and attempt another three-engine static fire using smaller ‘header’ propellant tanks, ultimately preparing it to support the first high-altitude flight test of a Starship prototype if all goes according to plan.
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Tesla arsonist who burned Cybertruck sees end of FAFO journey
The man has now reached the “Find Out” stage.
A Mesa, Arizona man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for setting fire to a Tesla location and vehicle in a politically motivated arson attack, federal prosecutors have stated.
The April 2025 incident destroyed a Tesla Cybertruck, endangered first responders, and triggered mandatory sentencing under federal arson laws.
A five-year sentence
U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa sentenced Ian William Moses, 35, of Mesa, Arizona, to 5 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for maliciously damaging property and vehicles by means of fire. Moses pleaded guilty in October to all five counts brought by a federal grand jury. Restitution will be determined at a hearing scheduled for April 13, 2026.
As per court records, surveillance footage showed Moses arriving at a Tesla store in Mesa shortly before 2 a.m. on April 28, 2025, carrying a gasoline can and backpack. Investigators stated that he placed fire starter logs near the building, poured gasoline on the structure and three vehicles, and ignited the fire. The blaze destroyed a Tesla Cybertruck. Moses fled the scene on a bicycle and was arrested by Mesa police about a quarter mile away, roughly an hour later.
Authorities said Moses was still wearing the same clothing seen on camera at the time of his arrest and was carrying a hand-drawn map marking the dealership’s location. Moses also painted the word “Theif” on the walls of the Tesla location, prompting jokes from social media users and Tesla community members.
The “Finding Out” stage
U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine noted that Moses’ sentence reflects the gravity of his crime. He also highlighted that arson is never acceptable.
“Arson can never be an acceptable part of American politics. Mr. Moses’ actions endangered the public and first responders and could have easily turned deadly. This five-year sentence reflects the gravity of these crimes and makes clear that politically fueled attacks on Arizona’s communities and businesses will be met with full accountability.”
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell echoed the same sentiments, stating that regardless of Moses’ sentiments towards Elon Musk, his actions are not defensible.
“This sentence sends a clear message: violence and intimidation have no place in our community. Setting fire to a business in retaliation for political or personal grievances is not protest, it is a crime. Our community deserves to feel safe, and this sentence underscores that Maricopa County will not tolerate political violence in any form.”
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Tesla says its Texas lithium refinery is now operational and unlike anything in North America
Elon Musk separately described the site as both the most advanced and the largest lithium refinery in the United States.
Tesla has confirmed that its Texas lithium refinery is now operational, marking a major milestone for the company’s U.S. battery supply chain. In a newly released video, Tesla staff detailed how the facility converts raw spodumene ore directly into battery-grade lithium hydroxide, making it the first refinery of its kind in North America.
Elon Musk separately described the site as both the most advanced and the largest lithium refinery in the United States.
A first-of-its-kind lithium refining process
In the video, Tesla staff at the Texas lithium refinery near Corpus Christi explained that the facility processes spodumene, a lithium-rich hard-rock ore, directly into battery-grade lithium hydroxide on site. The approach bypasses intermediate refining steps commonly used elsewhere in the industry.
According to the staff, spodumene is processed through kilns and cooling systems before undergoing alkaline leaching, purification, and crystallization. The resulting lithium hydroxide is suitable for use in batteries for energy storage and electric vehicles. Tesla employees noted that the process is simpler and less expensive than traditional refining methods.
Staff at the facility added that the process eliminates hazardous byproducts typically associated with lithium refining. “Our process is more sustainable than traditional methods and eliminates hazardous byproducts, and instead produces a co-product named anhydrite, used in concrete mixes,” an employee noted.
Musk calls the facility the largest lithium refinery in America
The refinery’s development timeline has been very impressive. The project moved from breaking ground in 2023 to integrated plant startup in 2025 by running feasibility studies, design, and construction in parallel. This compressed schedule enabled the fastest time-to-market for a refinery using this type of technology. This 2026, the facility has become operational.
Elon Musk echoed the significance of the project in posts on X, stating that “the largest Lithium refinery in America is now operational.” In a separate comment, Musk described the site as “the most advanced lithium refinery in the world” and emphasized that the facility is “very clean.”
By bringing large-scale lithium hydroxide production online in Texas, Tesla is positioning itself to reduce reliance on foreign refining capacity while supporting its growth in battery and vehicle production. The refinery also complements Tesla’s nascent domestic battery manufacturing efforts, which could very well be a difference maker in the market.
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Tesla Optimus V3 gets early third-party feedback, and it’s eye-opening
Jason Calacanis’ remarks, which were shared during a discussion at CES 2026, offered one of the first third-party impressions of the yet-to-be-unveiled robot
Angel investor and entrepreneur Jason Calacanis shared some insights after he got an early look at Tesla’s upcoming Optimus V3. His remarks, which were shared during a discussion at CES 2026, offered one of the first third-party impressions of the yet-to-be-unveiled robot.
Calacanis’ comments were shared publicly on X, and they were quite noteworthy.
The angel investor stated that he visited Tesla’s Optimus lab on a Sunday morning and observed that the place was buzzing with energy. The investor then shared a rare, shocking insight. As per Calacanis, Optimus V3 will be so revolutionary that people will probably not even remember that Tesla used to make cars in the future.
“I don’t want to name drop, but two Sundays ago, I went to Tesla with Elon and I went and visited the Optimus lab. There were a large number of people working on a Sunday at 10 a.m. and I saw Optimus 3. I can tell you now, nobody will remember that Tesla ever made a car,” he noted.
The angel investor also reiterated the primary advantage of Optimus, and how it could effectively change the world.
“They will only remember the Optimus and that he is going to make a billion of those, and it is going to be the most transformative technology product ever made in the history of humanity, because what LLMs are gonna enable those products to do is understand the world and then do things in the world that we don’t want to do. I believe there will be a 1:1 ratio of humans to Optimus, and I think he’s already won,” he said.
While Calacanis’ comments were clearly opinion-driven, they stood out as among the first from a non-Tesla employee about Optimus V3. Considering his reaction to the humanoid robot, perhaps Elon Musk’s predictions for Optimus V3 might not be too far-fetched at all.
Tesla has been careful with its public messaging around Optimus V3’s development stage. Musk has previously stated on X that Optimus V3 has not yet been revealed publicly, clarifying that images and videos of the robot online still show Optimus V2 and V2.5, not the next-generation unit. As for Calacanis’ recent comments, however, Musk responded with a simple “Probably true” in a post on X.
Tesla arsonist who burned Cybertruck sees end of FAFO journey
Tesla says its Texas lithium refinery is now operational and unlike anything in North America
