News
SpaceX’s first flight-proven Falcon Heavy Block 5 launch and landing in photos
Aside from center core B1057’s unfortunate demise, Falcon Heavy’s third launch was a huge success, placing two dozen satellites into three separate orbits over the course of nearly four hours.
Described as SpaceX’s most challenging launch ever, successfully completing the mission – known as Space Test Program-2 – has hopefully helped to guarantee that the US Department of Defense will fully certify Falcon Heavy for high-value military launches. SpaceX already has two such missions on its 2020/2021 launch manifest, although both are dependent upon the US Air Force deciding that the company’s newest rocket is ready. Teslarati photographers Pauline Acalin and Tom Cross were both on site to capture Falcon Heavy’s spectacular third launch, hopefully a sign of things to come as space agencies and commercial markets begin to warm to the new launch capabilities offered by the SpaceX rocket.
With the frenzied launch and landing now complete, we can look back through an array of photos produced over the course of Falcon Heavy’s STP-2 mission. Tom and Pauline (as well as dozens of other press photographers) endured hellish Florida humidity, heat, and mosquitos from start to finish, thankfully pushing through the environment to capture amazing photos of Falcon Heavy before and during launch.
STP-2 marked the first time two flight-proven Block 5 Falcon Heavy boosters were simultaneously re-launched on a later FH mission, as well as the first time the US military has flown a dedicated SpaceX mission with any kind of flight-proven Falcon – let alone two of them. Both side boosters performed flawlessly, while – for the third time in a row – the new center core was sadly unable to return to port aboard drone ship Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY).
Incredibly, despite the fact that SpaceX had the USAF, NASA, and the future of Falcon Heavy’s US military launch career hanging on the line, the company’s engineers and technicians were able to pull off quite the feat, turning side boosters B1052 and B1053 around for a second launch just 74 days after their April 11th debut. In other words, despite the countless hurdles, the dual side booster reuse tied and nearly beat SpaceX’s current reusability records (71 days overall, 74 days for Block 5). This bodes extremely well for record-smashing rapid refuses of Falcon 9 boosters in the near future.
With their second launches now snuggly under their belts, B1052 and B1053 will very likely be converted into regular Falcon 9 boosters and enter into circulation as part of SpaceX’s flight-proven Falcon 9 fleet. With the ex-side boosters, that fleet could soon stand at an impressive eight flightworthy rockets, all nearing readiness or already ready for their next launches.
Falcon Heavy’s second successful launch in 11 weeks is nevertheless a touch bittersweet, as the rocket’s next (fourth) launch – barring mystery interim missions – is scheduled no earlier than fall 2020, 15-18 months from now. After that Q4 2020 launch, known as AFSPC-44, Falcon Heavy has another three firm contracts with launches in 2021, followed by a tentative fourth contract with Inmarsat that still needs to be finalized. For now, we’ll have to savor Falcon Heavy’s STP-2 launch – likely the last for quite some time.
Check out galleries of Pauline and Tom’s excellent photos of the massive SpaceX rocket below.
Falcon Heavy readies for its second launch in 11 weeks, June 24th. (Pauline Acalin) 
Falcon Heavy’s metal-capped payload fairing glints in the sun, loaded with 24 satellites as part of the USAF STP-2 rideshare mission. (Pauline Acalin) 
Falcon Heavy Flight 3 bares one of its two sooty, flight-proven side boosters. (Pauline Acalin) 
The weather in Florida was horrifically hot and humid, as usual. (Tom Cross) 
(NASA – Kim Shiflett) 
(Pauline Acalin)
A long-exposure captured this spectacular view of Falcon Heavy’s launch, side booster and core stage separation, upper stage ignition, side booster reentry burns, and side booster landing burns – all in one frame. (Tom Cross) 
Liftoff! (Tom Cross) 
Falcon Heavy lifts off from Pad 39A on its third launch ever. Sadly, center core B1057 was unable to stick its drone ship landing. (Tom Cross) 
Pad 39A’s Crew Access Arm (CAA) glows blue as Falcon Heavy takes flight. (Tom Cross) 
A remote camera set up by Teslarati photographer Pauline Acalin captured this incredible view of all 27 Merlin 1D engines powering Falcon Heavy’s first stage. (Pauline Acalin)
Want to remember the awesomeness of Falcon Heavy every single day? Consider a limited-edition set of high-quality prints, signed by both Teslarati photographers to commemorate the rocket’s inaugural Starman launch.
Elon Musk
Tesla AI5 chip nears completion, Elon Musk teases 9-month development cadence
The Tesla CEO shared his recent insights in a post on social media platform X.
Tesla’s next-generation AI5 chip is nearly complete, and work on its successor is already underway, as per a recent update from Elon Musk.
The Tesla CEO shared his recent insights in a post on social media platform X.
Musk details AI chip roadmap
In his post, Elon Musk stated that Tesla’s AI5 chip design is “almost done,” while AI6 has already entered early development. Musk added that Tesla plans to continue iterating rapidly, with AI7, AI8, AI9, and future generations targeting a nine-month design cycle.
He also noted that Tesla’s in-house chips could become the highest-volume AI processors in the world. Musk framed his update as a recruiting message, encouraging engineers to join Tesla’s AI and chip development teams.
Tesla community member Herbert Ong highlighted the strategic importance of the timeline, noting that faster chip cycles enable quicker learning, faster iteration, and a compounding advantage in AI and autonomy that becomes increasingly difficult for competitors to close.
AI5 manufacturing takes shape
Musk’s comments align with earlier reporting on AI5’s production plans. In December, it was reported that Samsung is preparing to manufacture Tesla’s AI5 chip, accelerating hiring for experienced engineers to support U.S. production and address complex foundry challenges.
Samsung is one of two suppliers selected for AI5, alongside TSMC. The companies are expected to produce different versions of the AI5 chip, with TSMC reportedly using a 3nm process and Samsung using a 2nm process.
Musk has previously stated that while different foundries translate chip designs into physical silicon in different ways, the goal is for both versions of the Tesla AI5 chip to operate identically. AI5 will succeed Tesla’s current AI4 hardware, formerly known as Hardware 4, and is expected to support the company’s Full Self-Driving system as well as other AI-driven efforts, including Optimus.
News
Tesla Model Y and Model 3 named safest vehicles tested by ANCAP in 2025
According to ANCAP in a press release, the Tesla Model Y achieved the highest overall weighted score of any vehicle assessed in 2025.
The Tesla Model Y recorded the highest overall safety score of any vehicle tested by ANCAP in 2025. The Tesla Model 3 also delivered strong results, reinforcing the automaker’s safety leadership in Australia and New Zealand.
According to ANCAP in a press release, the Tesla Model Y achieved the highest overall weighted score of any vehicle assessed in 2025. ANCAP’s 2025 tests evaluated vehicles across four key pillars: Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection, and Safety Assist technologies.
The Model Y posted consistently strong results in all four categories, distinguishing itself through a system-based safety approach that combines structural crash protection with advanced driver-assistance features such as autonomous emergency braking, lane support, and driver monitoring.
This marked the second time the Model Y has topped ANCAP’s annual safety rankings. The Model Y’s previous version was also ANCAP’s top performer in 2022.
The Tesla Model 3 also delivered a strong performance in ANCAP’s 2025 tests, contributing to Tesla’s broader safety presence across segments. Similar to the Model Y, the Model 3 also earned impressive scores across the ANCAP’s four pillars. This made the vehicle the top performer in the Medium Car category.
ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg stated that the results highlight a growing industry shift toward integrated safety design, with improvements in technologies such as autonomous emergency braking and lane support translating into meaningful real-world protection.
“ANCAP’s testing continues to reinforce a clear message: the safest vehicles are those designed with safety as a system, not a checklist. The top performers this year delivered consistent results across physical crash protection, crash avoidance and vulnerable road user safety, rather than relying on strength in a single area.
“We are also seeing increasing alignment between ANCAP’s test requirements and the safety technologies that genuinely matter on Australian and New Zealand roads. Improvements in autonomous emergency braking, lane support, and driver monitoring systems are translating into more robust protection,” Hoorweg said.
News
Tesla Sweden uses Megapack battery to bypass unions’ Supercharger blockade
Just before Christmas, Tesla went live with a new charging station in Arlandastad, outside Stockholm, by powering it with a Tesla Megapack battery.
Tesla Sweden has successfully launched a new Supercharger station despite an ongoing blockade by Swedish unions, using on-site Megapack batteries instead of traditional grid connections. The workaround has allowed the Supercharger to operate without direct access to Sweden’s electricity network, which has been effectively frozen by labor action.
Tesla has experienced notable challenges connecting its new charging stations to Sweden’s power grid due to industrial action led by Seko, a major Swedish trade union, which has blocked all new electrical connections for new Superchargers. On paper, this made the opening of new Supercharger sites almost impossible.
Despite the blockade, Tesla has continued to bring stations online. In Malmö and Södertälje, new Supercharger locations opened after grid operators E.ON and Telge Nät activated the sites. The operators later stated that the connections had been made in error.
More recently, however, Tesla adopted a different strategy altogether. Just before Christmas, Tesla went live with a new charging station in Arlandastad, outside Stockholm, by powering it with a Tesla Megapack battery, as noted in a Dagens Arbete (DA) report.
Because the Supercharger station does not rely on a permanent grid connection, Tesla was able to bypass the blocked application process, as noted by Swedish car journalist and YouTuber Peter Esse. He noted that the Arlandastad Supercharger is likely dependent on nearby companies to recharge the batteries, likely through private arrangements.
Eight new charging stalls have been launched in the Arlandastad site so far, which is a fraction of the originally planned 40 chargers for the location. Still, the fact that Tesla Sweden was able to work around the unions’ efforts once more is impressive, especially since Superchargers are used even by non-Tesla EVs.
Esse noted that Tesla’s Megapack workaround is not as easily replicated in other locations. Arlandastad is unique because neighboring operators already have access to grid power, making it possible for Tesla to source electricity indirectly. Still, Esse noted that the unions’ blockades have not affected sales as much.
“Many want Tesla to lose sales due to the union blockades. But you have to remember that sales are falling from 2024, when Tesla sold a record number of cars in Sweden. That year, the unions also had blockades against Tesla. So for Tesla as a charging operator, it is devastating. But for Tesla as a car company, it does not matter in terms of sales volumes. People charge their cars where there is an opportunity, usually at home,” Esse noted.
Tesla AI5 chip nears completion, Elon Musk teases 9-month development cadence
Tesla Model Y and Model 3 named safest vehicles tested by ANCAP in 2025
