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SpaceX set for second weekend launch, new titanium grid fins to be tested
After a highly successful Friday launch and recovery of a reused Falcon 9, a second vehicle is preparing to launch on the opposite coast of the United States. Scheduled to lift off at precisely 1:25 p.m. PST, this mission will see a brand new Falcon 9 lift Iridium’s second set of ten NEXT satellites, after which the first stage will attempt to land in the Pacific Ocean aboard Just Read The Instructions, SpaceX’s West Coast drone ship.
If the schedule holds, the 46 hours separation between launches will make SpaceX one of very few entities to have launched the same vehicle in such close succession. While Russia/USSR and the Republic of China have tended to routinely launch missions with as few as a handful of hours in between, it is extremely rare in the United States, and such an accomplishment will likely make SpaceX the second private company to ever conduct two launches in under 48 hours.
This turnaround, which COO Gwynne Shotwell clarified could safely be as few as 24 hours, bodes extremely well for SpaceX’s and Musk’s goal of being able to launch every 24 hours. With the COO of the company already under the impression that 24 hours would be safely and reliably achievable, all that lies in the way of 24 hour cadence is pad availability. With current cadence suggesting that at least two weeks of down time is needed after a launch to verify pad health, the late-fall reactivation of Launch Complex 40 and eventual activation of SpaceX’s planned Boca Chica, Texas launch facility will give SpaceX three general-purpose pads and one limited use-case pad (Vandenberg Air Force Base) to launch from by late 2018 or early 2019. Three general purpose pads would allow SpaceX to launch every four or five days, assuming no improvements in pad resilience and autonomy, and this weekend’s back to back launches will demonstrate that SpaceX is easily capable of fully taking advantage of those three (or four) pads once they are all active.
Falcon 9’s fancy new titanium grid fins. (SpaceX/Instagram)
As for the launch today, it will debut some intriguing new hardware intended to improve the ease of reusability for the first stage. Musk offered a tweet storm last night and SpaceX one or two photos to explain the utility of the vehicles distinctive and unusual black grid fins. Ready to launch in just over an hour from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Falcon 9 and its new grid fins will place the next ten iridium NEXT satellites in Low Earth Orbit. The first stage will then proceed to the autonomous spaceport drone ship Just Read The Instructions, while testing its rather fancy titanium grid fins. Considerably larger than their aluminum predecessors, this new iteration of grid fins will is intended to both provide more control authority and glide capability in anticipation of the Falcon Heavy, while also offering improve resilience to the extreme heat and forces grid fins must necessarily cope with during reentry. You may have noted grid fins appearing to glow red and orange with the heat of reentry in past live coverage, and recovered stages demonstrate just how harsh high temperatures can be to aluminum. Titanium is famously resistant to heat and will thus optimally be able to be reused with no refurbishment or replacement whatsoever.
With the launch just over an hour out and no current known issues, you can watch SpaceX’s regularly amazing live coverage of the launch at spacex.com/webcast.
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Tesla Model Y L spotted on transport trucks in Australia
One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier.
Tesla’s upcoming Model Y L has been spotted on transport trucks in Australia. Sightings of the six-seat extended wheelbase Model Y variant have been reported on social media platform X by members of the Australian Tesla community.
One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier.
The sighting follows earlier observations by Tesla enthusiasts in Sydney, where a covered vehicle believed to be a Model Y L was spotted at a Supercharger.
The Sydney sighting drew attention after observers noted that the vehicle’s tare weight appeared to match the ADR approval listing for the Model Y L, suggesting it could indeed be the extended wheelbase variant of the electric SUV.
Tesla has previously confirmed that the Model Y L will launch in Australia and New Zealand in 2026. The confirmation was reported by techAU following a media release from Tesla Australia and New Zealand.
The Model Y L expands the existing Model Y lineup with seating for six passengers. The vehicle features a longer body compared with the standard Model Y in order to accommodate a spacious second and third row.
Tesla has opted for a 2-2-2 seating configuration instead of a traditional seven-seat layout for the Model Y L. The design includes two individual seats in the middle row to provide easier access to the third row and additional passenger space.
Tesla Australia and New Zealand has also stated that the Model Y L will be covered under the company’s updated warranty structure beginning in 2026.
Tesla has not yet announced pricing or official range figures for the Model Y L in Australia.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk shares timeframe for X Money early public access rollout
X Money is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.
Elon Musk has stated that X Money, the digital payments system being developed for social media platform X, is expected to enter early public access next month.
The update was shared by Musk in a post on X. “𝕏 Money early public access will launch next month,” Musk wrote in his post.
As noted in a Reuters report, X Money is being developed as a digital payment service that’s directly integrated into the X platform.
The system is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.
Musk has previously discussed plans to introduce payments and financial services as part of X’s broader development.
Since acquiring the platform in 2022, Musk has discussed expanding X to include a range of services such as messaging, media, and financial tools.
Elon Musk has shared his goal of transforming X into an “everything app.” During a previous podcast interview with members of the Tesla community, Musk mused about turning X into something similar to China’s WeChat, which allows users to shop, pay, communicate, and perform a variety of other tasks.
“In China, you do everything in WeChat… it’s kickass… Outside of China, there’s nothing like it, people live on one app. My idea would be like how about if we just copy WeChat,” Musk joked at the time.
To prepare for the rollout of X Money, X has partnered with payment company Visa to support the development of payment services for the platform’s users. The move could allow X to tap into the growing demand for digital and in-app financial transactions as the company builds additional services around its existing user base.
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Tesla Cybercab display highlights interior wizardry in the small two-seater
Photos and videos of the production Cybercab were shared in posts on social media platform X.
The Tesla Cybercab is currently on display at the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., and observations of the production vehicle are highlighting some of its notable design details.
Photos and videos of the production Cybercab were shared in posts on social media platform X.
Observers of the Cybercab display unit noted that the two-seat Robotaxi provides unusually generous legroom for a vehicle of its size. Based on the vehicle’s video, the compact two-seater appears to offer more legroom than Tesla’s larger vehicles such as the Model Y, Model X, and Cybertruck.
The Cybercab’s layout allows Tesla to dedicate nearly the entire cabin to passengers. The vehicle is designed without a steering wheel or pedals, which helps maximize interior space.
Footage from the display also highlights the Cybercab’s large center screen, which is positioned prominently in front of the passenger bench. The display appears intended to provide entertainment and ride information while the vehicle operates autonomously.
Images of the vehicle also show an additional camera integrated into the Cybercab’s C-pillar. The extra camera appears to expand the vehicle’s field of view, which would be useful as Tesla works toward fully unsupervised Full Self-Driving.
Tesla engineers have previously explained that the Cybercab was designed to be highly efficient both in manufacturing and in operation. Cybercab Lead Engineer Eric E. stated in 2024 that the Robotaxi would be built with roughly half the number of parts used in a Model 3 sedan.
“Two seats unlocks a lot of opportunity aerodynamically. It also means we cut the part count of Cybercab down by a substantial margin. We’re gonna be delivering a car that has roughly half the parts of Model 3 today,” the Tesla engineer said.
The Tesla engineer also noted that the Cybercab’s cargo area can accommodate multiple golf bags, two carry-on suitcases, and two full-size checked bags. The trunk can also fit certain bicycles and a foldable wheelchair depending on size, which is quite impressive for a small car like the Cybercab.
Tesla Model Y L spotted on transport trucks in Australia
Elon Musk shares timeframe for X Money early public access rollout
