News
SpaceX to launch a mystery ‘ZUMA’ payload in November
According to FCC documentation and information from industry insiders, SpaceX is planning to conduct its 17th launch of 2017 on November 10th. Scheduled to lift off from SpaceX’s Florida-based LC-39A launch pad 12 days after the current date for Koreasat 5A, the now-routine ~14 day mission cadence is not the topic of interest this time around.
Rather, the mystery surrounding this newly-revealed launch exists because not a soul in the spaceflight fan community appears to know what the payload is – (code)named ZUMA – or who ZUMA is being launched for. This secrecy would would be far from unusual if the mission was being flown for the National Reconnaissance Office or another military agency, but there is no evidence to suggest that Falcon 9 will be carrying a government payload.
Further, the limited information currently available is somewhat contradictory, making this launch and payload even more intriguing. A veil of secrecy as thick as this surrounding a commercial satellite or satellites is extraordinarily unusual. There simply is no immediately obvious explanation for why a commercial entity would require this level anonymity for a satellite launch.
The Redditor’s username has been redacted for the sake of privacy.
What we know
Based on two recently unearthed FCC launch and landing permits, SpaceX Mission 1390 will launch from LC-39A no earlier than November 10th, followed by first stage recovery at the nearby Landing Zone-1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Courtesy of a Reddit user with friends inside SpaceX and a member of the NASASpaceflight forums, we also know that payload is codenamed ZUMA (or Zuma) and its launch is exceptionally time-sensitive for unknown reasons. The Reddit user also provided info that would completely negate any possibility that the payload is being launched for a government entity, as government agencies would not be concerned about revenue generation. A launch date of November 15th was also provided, reportedly pushed back a few days by a “slight slip in testing”.
SES-11’s refurbished Falcon 9 seen on the morning of October 11th. ZUMA will launch from the same pad. (Tom Cross/Teslarati)
Based on the above information, several preliminary conclusions can be drawn. First stage recovery on land indicates that the payload will be heading to an orbit well below the geostationary (transfer) orbits sought by established communications satellite operators. The launch could be for one of several prospective Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation companies, with OneWeb, Telesat, and Boeing the obvious first choices. However, it seems unrealistic to argue that a handful of experimental LEO communications satellites could possibly provide a company “lots of potential future revenue” or that those initial experimental satellites would be “extremely critical”. While the intense competition among the prospective LEO operators would rationalize some degree of ZUMA’s secrecy, it defies belief that potential LEO constellation competitors would willingly pay SpaceX for launches when that revenue might directly fund SpaceX’s own competing constellation, Starlink. Another obvious option would be SpaceX’s own experimental communications satellites, but such a move would not be in the best interests of a launch provider while launches for their own paying customers’ are slipping into 2018 due to a lack of launch capacity.
All things considered, the information posted on Reddit is far from official and should not be treated as conclusive. Still, reliable sources from NASASpaceflight.com have corroborated at least the name, ZUMA, and added that the Falcon 9 it will launch aboard is expected to be new. Assuming SpaceX itself is willing or able to reveal their identity, it looks like we will simply have to wait to find out who the mysterious customer is and what exactly warranted this unusual level of secrecy.
Tesla has landed a massive deal to expand its charging infrastructure for heavy-duty electric trucks — and not just theirs, but all manufacturers.
Tesla entered an agreement with Pilot Travel Centers, the largest operator of travel centers in the United States. Tesla’s Semi Chargers, which are used to charge Class 8 electric trucks, will be responsible for providing energy to various vehicles from a variety of manufacturers.
The first sites are expected to open later this Summer, and will be built at select locations along I-5 and I-10, major routes for commercial vehicles and significant logistics companies. The chargers will be available in California, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.
Each station will have between four and eight chargers, delivering up to 1.2 megawatts of power at each stall.
The project is the latest in Tesla’s plans to expand Semi Charging availability. The effort is being put forth to create more opportunities for the development of sustainable logistics.
Senior Vice President of Alternative Fuels at Pilot, Shannon Sturgil, said:
“Helping to shape the future of energy is a strategic pillar in meeting the needs of our guests and the North American transportation industry. Heavy-duty charging is yet another extension of our exploration into alternative fuel offerings, and we’re happy to partner with a leader in the space that provides turnkey solutions and deploys them quickly.”
Tesla currently has 46 public Semi Charger sites in progress or planned across the United States, mostly positioned along major trucking routes and industrial areas. Perhaps the biggest bottleneck with owning an EV early on was charging availability, and that is no different with electric Class 8 trucks. They simply need an area to charge.
Tesla is spearheading the effort to expand Semicharging availability, and the latest partnership with Pilot shows the company has allies in the program.
The company plans to build 50,000 units of the Tesla Semi in the coming years, and with early adopters like PepsiCo, DHL, and others already contributing millions of miles of data, fleets are going to need reliable public charging.
🚨 Pilot working with Tesla to install and expand Semi Chargers is a perfect example of two industry leaders working together for the greater good.
As more commerce companies expand into EVs, Semi Charger will be more commonly available for electrified fleets, making efforts… pic.twitter.com/VPLIYyq15b
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 27, 2026
Tesla is partnering with other companies for the development of the Semi program, most notably, a conglomeration with Uber was announced last year.
Tesla lands new partnership with Uber as Semi takes center stage
The ride-sharing platform plans to launch the Dedicated EV Fleet Accelerator Program, which it calls a “first-of-its-kind buyer’s program designed to make electric freight more affordable and accessible by addressing key adoption barriers.”
The Semi is one of several projects that will take Tesla into a completely different realm. Along with Optimus and its growing Energy division, the Semi will expand Tesla to new heights, and its prioritization of charging infrastructure.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s Boring Company opens Vegas Loop’s newest station
The Fontainebleau is the latest resort on the Las Vegas Strip to embrace the tunneling startup’s underground transportation system.
Elon Musk’s tunneling startup, The Boring Company, has welcomed its newest Vegas Loop station at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
The Fontainebleau is the latest resort on the Las Vegas Strip to embrace the tunneling startup’s underground transportation system.
Fontainebleau Loop station
The new Vegas Loop station is located on level V-1 of the Fontainebleau’s south valet area, as noted in a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. According to the resort, guests will be able to travel free of charge to the stations serving the Las Vegas Convention Center, as well as to Loop stations in Encore and Westgate.
The Fontainebleau station connects to the Riviera Station, which is located in the northwest parking lot of the convention center’s West Hall. From there, passengers will be able to access the greater Vegas Loop.
Vegas Loop expansion
In December, The Boring Company began offering Vegas Loop rides to and from Harry Reid International Airport. Those trips include a limited above-ground segment, following approval from the Nevada Transportation Authority to allow surface street travel tied to Loop operations.
Under the approval, airport rides are limited to no more than four miles of surface street travel, and each trip must include a tunnel segment. The Vegas Loop currently includes more than 10 miles of tunnels. From this number, about four miles of tunnels are operational.
The Boring Company President Steve Davis previously told the Review-Journal that the University Center Loop segment, which is currently under construction, is expected to open in the first quarter of 2026. That extension would allow Loop vehicles to travel beneath Paradise Road between the convention center and the airport, with a planned station located just north of Tropicana Avenue.
News
Tesla leases new 108k-sq ft R&D facility near Fremont Factory
The lease adds to Tesla’s presence near its primary California manufacturing hub as the company continues investing in autonomy and artificial intelligence.
Tesla has expanded its footprint near its Fremont Factory by leasing a 108,000-square-foot R&D facility in the East Bay.
The lease adds to Tesla’s presence near its primary California manufacturing hub as the company continues investing in autonomy and artificial intelligence.
A new Fremont lease
Tesla will occupy the entire building at 45401 Research Ave. in Fremont, as per real estate services firm Colliers. The transaction stands as the second-largest R&D lease of the fourth quarter, trailing only a roughly 115,000-square-foot transaction by Figure AI in San Jose.
As noted in a Silicon Valley Business Journal report, Tesla’s new Fremont lease was completed with landlord Lincoln Property Co., which owns the facility. Colliers stated that Tesla’s Fremont expansion reflects continued demand from established technology companies that are seeking space for engineering, testing, and specialized manufacturing.
Tesla has not disclosed which of its business units will be occupying the building, though Colliers has described the property as suitable for office and R&D functions. Tesla has not issued a comment about its new Fremont lease as of writing.
AI investments
Silicon Valley remains a key region for automakers as vehicles increasingly rely on software, artificial intelligence, and advanced electronics. Erin Keating, senior director of economics and industry insights at Cox Automotive, has stated that Tesla is among the most aggressive auto companies when it comes to software-driven vehicle development.
Other automakers have also expanded their presence in the area. Rivian operates an autonomy and core technology hub in Palo Alto, while GM maintains an AI center of excellence in Mountain View. Toyota is also relocating its software and autonomy unit to a newly upgraded property in Santa Clara.
Despite these expansions, Colliers has noted that Silicon Valley posted nearly 444,000 square feet of net occupancy losses in Q4 2025, pushing overall vacancy to 11.2%.
Tesla lands massive deal to expand charging for heavy-duty electric trucks
Elon Musk’s Boring Company opens Vegas Loop’s newest station
