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SpaceX just completed its 100th launch of 2024

Credit: SpaceX

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SpaceX just completed its 100th launch of 2024 with the Starlink 10-10 launch.

The company kicked off its 100th launch campaign of the year at 2:10 a.m. EDT from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, where liftoff occurred from Space Launch Complex 40.

The Falcon 9 first stage booster was tail number B1080, which had ten previous flights, including a mission that took astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), and two Cargo Dragon missions to the ISS, among a few other launches.

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SpaceX put 23 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into orbit with the launch. About eight minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9 first stage touched down on the ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ droneship.

This was the 81st booster landing on that droneship and the 353rd booster landing for SpaceX, Spaceflight Now reported.

It was not the only launch that took place during the early morning hours of October 15, either. The company also had another Starlink launch take place from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, with group 9-7 taking flight. This put 20 additional satellites into low Earth orbit.

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In 2023, SpaceX launched 96 times, accounting for 43 percent of all launches across the world, NASASpaceFlight data showed.

91 Falcon 9 and five Falcon Heavy rockets made up the 96 launches, with the previous record being 64 launches in one year.

It has been a busy few days for SpaceX, who also completed a monumental launch on Sunday with the fifth Starship test flight taking off from Texas.

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SpaceX aces fifth Starship test flight with successful Super Heavy booster catch

SpaceX completed its launch and then did the unthinkable by catching the Super Heavy booster back on Mechazilla. Starship splashed down safely in the Indian Ocean several hours later.

I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.

Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

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Neuralink’s Patient Registry is now open globally

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(Credit: Neuralink/YouTube)

Neuralink opened its patient registry to people globally, broadening access to its brain-computer interface trials.

“The Neuralink Patient Registry is now open globally! If you have quadriplegia and are interested in exploring groundbreaking ways to control a computer using your thoughts, you can now sign up from anywhere in the world,” the company announced in a recent X post.

Interested individuals can join by submitting their email through Neuralink’s patient portal.

The tech firm currently runs two feasibility trials: the PRIME Study and the CONVOY Study. While Neuralink didn’t clarify which study the registry targets, accepted patients are likely to participate in the PRIME Study, which is focused on its Link brain-computer interface (BCI). The CONVOY Study explores brain-controlled assistive robotic devices.

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In February, Neuralink shared details on PRIME Study participants—Conrad, Alex, and Brad—who showcased transformative experiences with Link. Alex, a PRIME participant, also enrolled as the inaugural participant in the CONVOY Study. Unlike PRIME’s broad testing of Link, CONVOY zeroes in on controlling devices like an assistive robotic arm (ARA).

ARA control expands autonomy beyond smart devices and could allow people with paralysis to perform tasks in daily life such as feeding themselves and handling physical objects,” Neuralink explained.

The global registry rollout marks a milestone for Neuralink, amplifying its reach to those with quadriplegia. With PRIME and CONVOY advancing, the company edges closer to merging human cognition with technology, potentially reshaping assistive solutions.

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Investor's Corner

BYD to overtake Tesla in BEV sales this 2025: Counterpoint Research

Counterpoint’s insights were shared by the market researcher on its official website.

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(Credit: BYD)

Counterpoint Research has estimated that Chinese automaker BYD will be able to overtake American electric car maker Tesla in Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) sales this 2025.

Counterpoint’s insights were shared by the market researcher on its official website.

The (Counter)Point

Counterpoint Research’s latest Global Passenger EV Forecast suggests that BYD will be capturing a 15.7% global market share this year. This is expected to be driven by scale, innovation, and strong backing from the Chinese government.

The market researcher highlighted a number of factors that could help BYD become the world’s premier BEV maker this year. These include the company’s 1,000-kW ultra-fast charging technology and 10C charging rate batteries, which exceed Tesla’s current Supercharger offerings.

“The system can deliver 400 km of range in just 5 minutes, setting a new industry benchmark, far outpacing Tesla’s Supercharger, which adds about 275 km in 10 minutes. This technological leap is expected to significantly ease consumer concerns around charging time and boost EV adoption by reducing charging anxiety,” Abhik Mukherjee, Research Analyst at Counterpoint, stated

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The Tesla Factor

Counterpoint argued that Tesla, in comparison, is confronting several challenges, from damaged public perception due to CEO Elon Musk’s politics to geopolitical tensions between the United States and key markets like China. The market researcher highlighted Tesla’s soft sales in Europe and other markets, though it did not seem to consider the company’s changeover to the new Model Y across its global factories in Q1 2025.

“CEO Elon Musk has scored somewhat of an own goal against Tesla, and we are about to catch a glimpse of how much the company’s sales were hurt in Q1 2025. This is a big opportunity for BYD and if they deliver on the fast-charging promise, this could be the turning point for BYD and the China BEV story globally,” Counterpoint Associate Director Liz Lee stated.

Not the First Forecast

As noted in a CNEV Post report, this is not the first time that Counterpoint has predicted that BYD will overtake Tesla’s BEV sales. Last July, the market researcher expected BYD to overtake Tesla in 2024 to become the world’s top BEV maker. Tesla still beat BYD’s BEV sales at the end of 2024, however, with the American EV maker delivering a total of 1,789,226 vehicles globally versus the Chinese automaker’s 1,764,992 units.

In Q1 2025, however, BYD does seem to have momentum. BYD sold 416,388 passenger BEVs in the first quarter. As per Tesla’s Q1 vehicle delivery and production report, the company was able to deliver a total of 336,681 vehicles in the first quarter of 2025.

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Starlink Expands in Brazil via John Deere Partnership

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(Credit: John Deere)

Starlink is expanding in Brazil through John Deere and it is boosting connectivity for rural agriculture.

The agricultural equipment giant rolled out Starlink’s satellite broadband service in Brazil and parts of the U.S., targeting underserved regions. Shipments of Starlink equipment began in January 2025, according to Jahmy Hindman, SVP and CTO at John Deere, with sales already topping 2,000 units.

“We’re actually seeing sales surpass expectation at this point,” said Aaron Wetzel, VP of production and precision ag production systems at John Deere, in an interview with Mobile World Live. He added, “For us to really create the value for them through our technology solutions, we need to bring that connectivity to them.”

Wetzel noted that around 20% of the U.S. lacks reliable internet. Meanwhile, 70% of John Deere’s North American connectivity relies on AT&T’s 4G network.

John Deere integrates SpaceX’s internet service into its agricultural equipment by placing Starlink terminals on the machine’s cabs. The company offers Starlink equipment as an aftermarket product, shipped directly from factories. Starlink service delivers downlink speeds of 50Mb/s to 100Mb/s, uplink speeds of 10Mb/s to 20Mb/s, and latency between 20 and 70 milliseconds.

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Starlink’s internet services allow farmers to use John Deere’s mobile app. With Starlink and the mobile app, farmers can access live video feeds, sensor data, and real-time data sharing. Internet access also gives farmers access to advanced features like autonomy, remote diagnostics, enhanced self-repair, and machine-to-machine communication.

In August 2024, John Deere announced its partnership with Starlink. It is expected to sell an aftermarket solution of rugged Starlink terminals and cellular modems, enabling them to connect to agricultural machines and farm management systems. John Deere had an early access program for its ruggedized Starlink terminals, which were open to customers in the United States and Brazil.

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