News
SpaceX Starship prototype gets frosty for a launch attempt as early as this week
Update: It appears that SpaceX has completed Starship SN10’s first cryogenic proof test campaign and the company lifted its road closure around 4:30 pm CST, signifying the end of Monday’s testing.
If Monday’s cryo proof was successful, SpaceX has requested possible static fire test windows on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (Feb 10-12), though it’s possible another window could be added on Tuesday, February 9th. If Starship SN10 is able to complete a flawless wet dress rehearsal (WDR) and static fire on Tuesday or Wednesday, there is a chance – albeit small – that SpaceX can turn the rocket and pad around for a launch attempt on Friday.
Unfortunately, the FAA also deemed it necessary to reissue SpaceX’s airspace restrictions with a note that SN10’s launch is still “pending [authorization],” adding additional bureaucratic uncertainty on top of the technical hurdles the Starship still needs to navigate to be cleared for flight.
In the midst of what appears to be Starship SN10’s first cryogenic proof test, SpaceX has filed temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) with the FAA for a third Starship launch as early as this week.
Effectively identical to late Starships SN8 and SN9, both of which suffered last-second failures that led to hard impacts and explosions on December 9th and February 2nd, Starship SN10 is a prototype steel rocket and reusable upper stage measuring 50m (165 ft) tall, 9m (30 ft) wide, and some 1350 metric tons (three million pounds) – about as much as Falcon Heavy – fully fueled.
Like its predecessors, Starship SN10 has been outfitted with a cluster of three Raptor engines producing up to 600 metric tons of thrust (~1.3M lbf) and was built as part of a series of four prototypes designed to prove out a new method of rocket recovery.
As previously discussed on Teslarati, SpaceX unexpectedly distributed safety “alerts” to Boca Chica Village residents on Sunday, February 7th, an act that has only ever signified plans to (attempt to) static fire a Starship prototype. However, Starship SN10 has yet to even complete cryogenic proof testing, referring to a common practice SpaceX has used to verify vehicle health with liquid nitrogen, simulating the extreme cold of liquid methane and oxygen propellant without the risk of a violent fire or explosion.
At the moment, SpaceX is in the middle of putting Starship SN10 through its first LN2 cryo proof attempt(s). SpaceX appeared to abort one attempt around 1:15 pm CST and has kicked off a second attempt around this article’s publishing time (~2 pm CST). If SN10 manages to pass a cryo proof in the early afternoon, there’s a chance – albeit limited – that SpaceX will then attempt to recycle for a live wet dress rehearsal (WDR; replacing LN2 with methane and oxygen) and possible static fire attempt later today.
Even attempting – let alone completing – an inaugural cryoproof and static fire on the same day would be an unprecedented feat, so it’s far more likely that the process will take a couple days. Even if that’s the case, however, it’s still possible that SpaceX could make Starship SN10 ready for another high-altitude launch attempt as early as this week. Stay tuned for updates!
Elon Musk
Brazil Supreme Court orders Elon Musk and X investigation closed
The decision was issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes following a recommendation from Brazil’s Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet.
Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court has ordered the closure of an investigation involving Elon Musk and social media platform X. The inquiry had been pending for about two years and examined whether the platform was used to coordinate attacks against members of the judiciary.
The decision was issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes following a recommendation from Brazil’s Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet.
According to a report from Agencia Brasil, the investigation conducted by the Federal Police did not find evidence that X deliberately attempted to attack the judiciary or circumvent court orders.
Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet concluded that the irregularities identified during the probe did not indicate fraudulent intent.
Justice Moraes accepted the prosecutor’s recommendation and ruled that the investigation should be closed. Under the ruling, the case will remain closed unless new evidence emerges.
The inquiry stemmed from concerns that content on X may have enabled online attacks against Supreme Court justices or violated rulings requiring the suspension of certain accounts under investigation.
Justice Moraes had previously taken several enforcement actions related to the platform during the broader dispute involving social media regulation in Brazil.
These included ordering a nationwide block of the platform, freezing Starlink accounts, and imposing fines on X totaling about $5.2 million. Authorities also froze financial assets linked to X and SpaceX through Starlink to collect unpaid penalties and seized roughly $3.3 million from the companies’ accounts.
Moraes also imposed daily fines of up to R$5 million, about $920,000, for alleged evasion of the X ban and established penalties of R$50,000 per day for VPN users who attempted to bypass the restriction.
Brazil remains an important market for X, with roughly 17 million users, making it one of the platform’s larger user bases globally.
The country is also a major market for Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, which has surpassed one million subscribers in Brazil.
Elon Musk
FCC chair criticizes Amazon over opposition to SpaceX satellite plan
Carr made the remarks in a post on social media platform X.
U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr criticized Amazon after the company opposed SpaceX’s proposal to launch a large satellite constellation that could function as an orbital data center network.
Carr made the remarks in a post on social media platform X.
Amazon recently urged the FCC to reject SpaceX’s application to deploy a constellation of up to 1 million low Earth orbit satellites that could serve as artificial intelligence data centers in space.
The company described the proposal as a “lofty ambition rather than a real plan,” arguing that SpaceX had not provided sufficient details about how the system would operate.
Carr responded by pointing to Amazon’s own satellite deployment progress.
“Amazon should focus on the fact that it will fall roughly 1,000 satellites short of meeting its upcoming deployment milestone, rather than spending their time and resources filing petitions against companies that are putting thousands of satellites in orbit,” Carr wrote on X.
Amazon has declined to comment on the statement.
Amazon has been working to deploy its Project Kuiper satellite network, which is intended to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink service. The company has invested more than $10 billion in the program and has launched more than 200 satellites since April of last year.
Amazon has also asked the FCC for a 24-month extension, until July 2028, to meet a requirement to deploy roughly 1,600 satellites by July 2026, as noted in a CNBC report.
SpaceX’s Starlink network currently has nearly 10,000 satellites in orbit and serves roughly 10 million customers. The FCC has also authorized SpaceX to deploy 7,500 additional satellites as the company continues expanding its global satellite internet network.
Energy
Tesla Energy gains UK license to sell electricity to homes and businesses
The license was granted to Tesla Energy Ventures Ltd. by UK energy regulator Ofgem after a seven-month review process.
Tesla Energy has received a license to supply electricity in the United Kingdom, opening the door for the company to serve homes and businesses in the country.
The license was granted to Tesla Energy Ventures Ltd. by UK energy regulator Ofgem after a seven-month review process.
According to Ofgem, the license took effect at 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday and applies to Great Britain.
The approval allows Tesla’s energy business to sell electricity directly to customers in the region, as noted in a Bloomberg News report.
Tesla has already expanded similar services in the United States. In Texas, the company offers electricity plans that allow Tesla owners to charge their vehicles at a lower cost while also feeding excess electricity back into the grid.
Tesla already has a sizable presence in the UK market. According to price comparison website U-switch, there are more than 250,000 Tesla electric vehicles in the country and thousands of Tesla home energy storage systems.
Ofgem also noted that Tesla Motors Ltd., a separate entity incorporated in England and Wales, received an electricity generation license in June 2020.
The new UK license arrives as Tesla continues expanding its global energy business.
Last year, Tesla Energy retained the top position in the global battery energy storage system (BESS) integrator market for the second consecutive year. According to Wood Mackenzie’s latest rankings, Tesla held about 15% of global market share in 2024.
The company also maintained a dominant position in North America, where it captured roughly 39% market share in the region.
At the same time, competition in the energy storage sector is increasing. Chinese companies such as Sungrow have been expanding their presence globally, particularly in Europe.
Brazil Supreme Court orders Elon Musk and X investigation closed
FCC chair criticizes Amazon over opposition to SpaceX satellite plan
