News
SpaceX’s recovery boat Mr Steven has a new net to catch Falcon 9 fairings
While photographer Pauline Acalin just barely missed a toasty Cargo Dragon returning to roost earlier that morning, a routine checkup on SpaceX’s Port of Los Angeles facilities revealed a hefty new net installed on the recovery boat Mr. Steven, as well as noteworthy activity at the huge tent currently harboring the rocket company’s BFR tooling.
After completing a thrillingly routine International Space Station resupply mission (SpaceX’s fourteenth) and spending a month on orbit, the commercial spacecraft reentered Earth’s atmosphere at a respectable 7.5 km/s before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean for the second time. Currently, SpaceX’s Dragon capsule is the only operational spacecraft capable of returning an appreciable amount of cargo from the ISS, and Capsule 110 (1 referring to Dragon 1, 10 referring to the tenth integrated spacecraft) returned even more cargo (nearly 2 mT) than it delivered to the ISS, including the space robot Robonaut 2, various completed experiments, and expired hardware. As of CRS-12, SpaceX has effectively ended production of new Cargo Dragon capsules, and has since flown two additional missions using refurbished capsules, perhaps paving the way for the first-ever triple reuse of an orbital commercial spacecraft. CRS-15, Dragon’s next flight, is currently scheduled for early July.
Here’s the SpaceX Dragon capsule that came back to Earth over the weekend being unloaded in San Pedro’s Outer Harbor this morning. Photo by Chuck Bennett. pic.twitter.com/GBypff51MW
— Megan Barnes (@meg_barnes) May 7, 2018
Although Pauline missed the battle-scarred capsule’s second return to Port of San Pedro, her travels were not for naught. Berthed at SpaceX’s leased dock space, SpaceX recovery technicians appeared to have installed and rigged a brand new net aboard fairing recovery vessel Mr. Steven in the several days between her visits. While he has yet to catch a fairing out of the sky (the ultimate goal of the program), the vessel has returned to land two of three largely intact fairing halves, the only payload fairings to have ever been recovered in one piece after an operational rocket launch. The first successful recovery followed PAZ, and although – per sources familiar with the matter – that particular half experienced catastrophic cracking while being hoisted from the ocean onto Mr. Steven’s deck, it appears that the second intact half (following Iridium-5) did not meet the same fate. It’s probable that – assuming Musk does mean to conduct helicopter drop tests – the structurally-intact Iridium-5 half is thus a prime candidate for air drop tests to perfect the system’s accuracy, as fairings immersed in saltwater are not candidates for operational reuse.
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- It’s good to first remember just how huge Falcon payload fairings are. (NASA, 2018)
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- Soon after parafoil deployment, a payload fairing is captured gliding gently ahead of a soft ocean landing. (Elon Musk)
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- PAZ’s recovered fairing half sadly cracked beyond repair while being hauled aboard Mr Steven. (Pauline Acalin)
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- The Iridium-5 half, however, is not believed to have suffered any significant structural damage during recovery ops. (Pauline Acalin)
Meanwhile, several thousand miles to the East, SpaceX nailed their first intact recovery of a fairing half in the Atlantic following the historic and successful launch of NASA’s TESS, an exoplanet observatory that will more than fill the boots soon to be left empty by forlorn Kepler. Likely to discover thousands upon thousands more planets orbiting other stars, it is perhaps fitting that the mission also featured a successful Falcon 9 booster recovery and the first-ever (more or less…) intact recovery of both halves of a payload fairing. One half was absolutely shredded, but USLaunchReport reported that the half not caught on video was in comparatively perfect condition.
Returning to Mr. Steven’s visibly-upgraded catcher’s mitt, the newly-installed net is by all appearances magnitudes larger, heavier, and stronger than the minimal mesh specimen it is clearly replacing. Given the fact that SpaceX thus far has self-admittedly failed to catch a gliding fairing half in the net, it seems unlikely that such a drastic upgrade would be necessitated by any field-testing that occurred since Mr. Steven’s debut late last year. Rather, a significantly more capable net seems to more readily fit alongside CEO Elon Musk’s tweet reveal three weeks prior that SpaceX would attempt to close the final major loop of Falcon reusability by recovering the orbital upper stage (S2). Estimated to weigh approximately 4000 kilograms empty, the upper stage is a minimum of four times heavier than Falcon 9’s payload fairing halves, Mr Steven’s current meal of choice. Judging from the new net’s beefy rigging, broader bars, and general appearance, one could safely argue that it looks at least several times stronger than the mesh net before it. One could also argue that the absolutely massive metal arms installed on Mr. Steven are far larger than what might be required to catch the extremely low mass-to-area ratio payload fairings, with structural heft and bulky netting more reminiscent of safety nets present on naval vessels that are designed to catch aircraft and helicopters weighing five metric tons or more.
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- Although both halves clearly attempted soft-landings with parafoils (evidenced by the black metal bars sticking up here), only one of them made it back intact. (USLaunchReport)
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- The half not pictured in these photos was reportedly more or less intact, successfully landing in the ocean after launching NASA’s TESS. (USLaunchReport)
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- Mr Steven is currently undergoing arm surgery (upgrades) at SpaceX’s future BFR factory lot, known as Berth 240. (Elon Musk)
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- Mr Steven and his fancy net 2.0, caught on May 7. Bright yellow…for style. (Pauline Acalin)
Currently scheduled to liftoff around 4:12 p.m. EST May 10 from SpaceX’s LC-39A Florida launch pad, the company’s next mission will send Bangladesh’s first communications satellite – Bangabandhu-1 – to a geostationary transfer orbit. Equally significant, it will hopefully become the successful inaugural flight of Falcon 9 Block 5, a highly reliable and reusable collection of upgrades to the workhorse SpaceX rocket. Soon after, SpaceX will likely aim to complete two additional launches in late May, one from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base (Iridium-6/GRACE-FO) and the other from LC-40 in Cape Canaveral (SES-12). While the latter two launches – per their flight-proven boosters – will be expended, the first Block 5 booster (B1046) will attempt to land aboard drone ship Of Course I Still Love You, already on station in the Atlantic.
Follow us for live updates, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and a sea of beautiful photos from our East and West coast photographers.
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Elon Musk
Elon Musk reveals date of Tesla Full Self-Driving’s next massive release
Initially planned for a January or February release, v14.3 aims to add some reasoning and logic to the decisions that Full Self-Driving makes, which could improve a lot of things, including Navigation, which is a major complaint of many owners currently.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed the date of Full Self-Driving’s next massive release: v14.3.
For months, Tesla owners with Hardware 4 have been utilizing Full Self-Driving v14.2 and subsequent releases. Currently, the most up-to-date FSD version is v14.2.2.5, which has definitely brought out mixed reviews. With releases, some things get better, and other things might regress slightly.
For the most part, things are better in terms of overall behavior.
However, many owners have been looking forward to the next release, which is v14.3, about which Musk has said many great things. Back in November, Musk said that v14.3 “is where the last big piece of the puzzle lands.”
He added:
“We’re gonna add a lot of reasoning and RL (reinforcement learning). To get to serious scale, Tesla will probably need to build a giant chip fab. To have a few hundred gigawatts of AI chips per year, I don’t see that capability coming online fast enough, so we will probably have to build a fab.”
Initially planned for a January or February release, v14.3 aims to add some reasoning and logic to the decisions that Full Self-Driving makes, which could improve a lot of things, including Navigation, which is a major complaint of many owners currently.
Tesla Full Self-Driving v14.2 is a considerable improvement from early versions of the suite, but we have written about the somewhat confusing updates that have come with recent versions.
Tesla Full Self-Driving v14.2.2.5 might be the most confusing release ever
They’ve been incredibly difficult to gauge in terms of progress because some things have gotten better, but there seems to be some real regression on a handful of things, especially with confidence and assertiveness.
Musk confirmed today on X that Tesla is already testing v14.3 internally right now. It will hit a wide release “in a few weeks,” so we should probably expect it by late April.
It’s in testing right now. Wide release in a few weeks.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 19, 2026
Overall, there are high hopes that v14.3 could be a true game changer for Tesla Full Self-Driving, as many believe it could be the version that Robotaxis in Austin, Texas, some of which are driverless and unsupervised, are running.
It could also include some major additions, including “Banish,” also referred to as “Reverse Summon,” which would go find a parking spot after dropping occupants off at their destination.
What Tesla will roll out, and when exactly it arrives, all remain to be seen, but fans have been ready for a new version as v14.2.2.5 has definitely run its course. We have had a lot of readers tell us their biggest request is to fix Navigation errors, which seem to be one of the most universal complaints among daily FSD users.
Cybertruck
Chattanooga Charge: Tesla and EV fans ready for the Southeast’s wildest Tesla party
From Cybertruck Convoys to Kid-Friendly Fun Zones: The Chattanooga Charge Has Something for Everyone
Hundreds of like-minded Tesla and EV enthusiasts are descending on Chattanooga Charge this weekend for the largest Tesla meet in the Southeast. Taking place on March 20–22, 2026 at the stunning Tennessee Riverpark.
If you were there last year, you’ll know that it’s the ultimate experience to see the wildest Teslas in action, see the best in EV tech, and arguably the most fun – finally put a name to the face and connect with those social media buddies IRL! Oh, and that epic night time Tesla light show is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will transform the Riverpark into something out of a sci-fi film that’s remarkably unforgettable and must be seen in person.
This year’s event takes everything up a notch, with over 100 Cybertrucks expected to be on display, many sporting jaw-dropping modifications and custom wraps that push the boundaries of what these stainless steel beasts can look like.
Whether you’re a diehard Tesla fan, EV supporter, or just EV-mod-curious, the sheer spectacle is worth the drive.
The Chattanooga Charge doesn’t wait until Saturday morning to get started. The weekend technically kicks off Friday, March 20th, and the venue sets the tone immediately. Come share roadtrip stories over drinks at the W-XYZ Rooftop Bar on the top floor of the Aloft Chattanooga Hamilton Place Hotel, with sunset views over the city.
Come morning, nurse your hangover with a some good coffee, and convoy with hundreds of other Tesla and EV drivers through Chattanooga to the event for some morning meet and greets before the speaker panel starts and the food trucks fire up.
Tesla owner clubs travel from across the country to be here, not just to show off their vehicles,, but to connect, share, and celebrate a shared passion for the future of driving.
Sounds like a plan to me. See you there, guys. Don’t miss it. Get your tickets at ChattanoogaCharge.com and join the charge. 🔋⚡
Chattanooga Charge is a premier Tesla and EV gathering inspired by the X Takeover, known as one of the largest Tesla event gatherings. What began as a bold idea from the team at DIY Wraps/TESBROS, hosted in their hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the event quickly became a movement across social media. The first annual Chattanooga Charge united over 16 Tesla clubs from 16 states, proof that the EV community was hungry for something big in the South. Year after year, the event has grown in scale, ambition, and heart.
News
Tesla Full Self-Driving gets latest bit of scrutiny from NHTSA
The analysis impacts roughly 3.2 million vehicles across the company’s entire lineup, and aims to identify how the suite’s degradation detection systems work and how effective they are when the cars encounter difficult visibility conditions.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has elevated its probe into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) suite to an Engineering Analysis.
The analysis impacts roughly 3.2 million vehicles across the company’s entire lineup, and aims to identify how the suite’s degradation detection systems work and how effective they are when the cars encounter difficult visibility conditions.
The step up into an Engineering Analysis is often required before the NHTSA will tell an automaker to issue a recall. However, this is not a guarantee that a recall will be issued.
🚨 The NHTSA said it was upgrading a probe into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) platform to an “engineering analysis”
It will examine 3.2 million vehicles and aims to determine its effectiveness in evaluating degraded road conditions pic.twitter.com/2dkrv1mR8o
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) March 19, 2026
The NTHSA wants to examine Tesla FSD’s ability to assess road conditions that have reduced visibility, as well as detect degradation to alert the driver with sufficient time to respond.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) will evaluate the performance of FSD in degraded roadway conditions and the updates or modifications Tesla makes to the degradation detection system, including the timing, purpose, and capabilities of the updates.
Tesla routinely ships software updates to improve the capabilities of the FSD suite, so it will be interesting to see if various versions of FSD are tested. Interestingly, you can find many examples from real-world users of FSD handling snow-covered roads, heavy rain, and single-lane backroads.
However, there are incidents that the NHTSA has used to determine the need for this probe, at least for now. The agency said:
“Available incident data raise concerns that Tesla’s degradation detection system, both as originally deployed and later updated, fails to detect and/or warn the driver appropriately under degraded visibility conditions such as glare and airborne obscurants. In the crashes that ODI has reviewed, the system did not detect common roadway conditions that impaired camera visibility and/or provide alerts when camera performance had deteriorated until immediately before the crash occurred.”
It continues to say in its report that a review of Tesla’s responses revealed additional crashes that occurred in similar environments showed FSD “did not detect a degraded state, and/or it did not present the driver with an alert with adequate time for the driver to react. In each of these crashes, FSD also lost track of or never detected a lead vehicle in its path.”
The next steps of the NHTSA Engineering Analysis require the agency to gather further information on Tesla’s attempts to upgrade the degradation detection system. It will also analyze six recent potentially related incidents.
The investigation is listed as EA26002.
Elon Musk reveals date of Tesla Full Self-Driving’s next massive release
Chattanooga Charge: Tesla and EV fans ready for the Southeast’s wildest Tesla party
