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SpaceX’s mysterious Zuma mission ready for launch after fueling rehearsal
SpaceX’s Launch Complex-40 is nearly ready to host its second Falcon 9 launch since it was reactivated after extensive repairs and upgrades. The mission should be familiar: the Zuma payload SpaceX is tasked with launching was previously delayed in mid-November after the launch company discovered potential manufacturing defects in one or more of its carbon-composite payload fairings.
Still cloaked in intense secrecy, Zuma was originally rescheduled for liftoff on the evening of January 4th, but weather issues led SpaceX to recycle the launch to Friday, January 5th. Forecasts had initially looked promising, but weather changes and that may still be the case with the new Jan 5 date. Meanwhile, in the approximately two months separating Zuma’s present and first scheduled launch attempts, SpaceX has officially transferred all Falcon 9 launches to its newly reactivated LC-40 pad in order to free up LC-39A for Falcon Heavy’s inaugural launch attempt, currently NET January 15. Zuma’s Falcon 9 booster, number 1043, was in fact spotted being transferred from 39A’s integration facilities to LC-40 by a Kennedy Space Center tourist.
Zuma’s Falcon 9 spotted leaving 39A’s integration facilities on December 15. (Instagram /u/robhubar)
More recently, SpaceX announced that its launch team had conducted what is known as a wet dress rehearsal (WDR) with Falcon 9 1043, whereby the booster would be prepped and loaded with propellant as if it were preparing to conduct a static fire. This acts as a test of both the launch facility’s complex ground systems and the rocket’s functionality, at least short of actually igniting its nine Merlin 1D engines. It’s not entirely clear why SpaceX decided to conduct a WDR for Zuma, as the procedure is rather rare for the company, but the best explanation probably involves simple caution with a relatively untested and new launch pad, LC-40.
As of January 3, both SpaceX and CCAFS’ 45th Space Wing confirmed that the launch was now targeting January 5, with a window of opportunity from 8-10pm EST or 5-7PM PST. However, this date may also slip a day or two, hinted at by the 45th Space Wing’s “TBD” launch date for the mission. Nevertheless, the delay-beleaguered Zuma will presumably arrive soon at its unusual Earth orbit within the next several days.
Team at the Cape performed a propellant loading test of Falcon 9 on Pad 40 this morning – additional static fire test of the rocket was not necessary. Targeting January 5 launch of Zuma.
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 3, 2018
Unlike Iridium-4, which expended its flight-proven Falcon 9 first stage after liftoff, Zuma will be launching aboard a shiny, new Block 4 Falcon 9, and its boosters will attempt a recovery at SpaceX’s LZ-1 landing facility just a few miles away from LC-40. While it is entirely unclear how large the Zuma satellite(s) is/are, an LZ-1 landing essentially guarantees that it is relatively light and headed to a relatively low Earth orbit, meaning that the recovered 1043 will be a prime candidate for at least one additional reflight in its future.
Follow along on Instagram as our launch photographer Tom Cross covers SpaceX’s upcoming activities live from the Space Coast.
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Tesla is not sparing any expense in ensuring the Cybercab is safe
Images shared by the longtime watcher showed 16 Cybercab prototypes parked near Giga Texas’ dedicated crash test facility.
The Tesla Cybercab could very well be the safest taxi on the road when it is released and deployed for public use. This was, at least, hinted at by the intensive safety tests that Tesla seems to be putting the autonomous two-seater through at its Giga Texas crash test facility.
Intensive crash tests
As per recent images from longtime Giga Texas watcher and drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer, Tesla seems to be very busy crash testing Cybercab units. Images shared by the longtime watcher showed 16 Cybercab prototypes parked near Giga Texas’ dedicated crash test facility just before the holidays.
Tegtmeyer’s aerial photos showed the prototypes clustered outside the factory’s testing building. Some uncovered Cybercabs showed notable damage and one even had its airbags engaged. With Cybercab production expected to start in about 130 days, it appears that Tesla is very busy ensuring that its autonomous two-seater ends up becoming the safest taxi on public roads.
Prioritizing safety
With no human driver controls, the Cybercab demands exceptional active and passive safety systems to protect occupants in any scenario. Considering Tesla’s reputation, it is then understandable that the company seems to be sparing no expense in ensuring that the Cybercab is as safe as possible.
Tesla’s focus on safety was recently highlighted when the Cybertruck achieved a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This was a notable victory for the Cybertruck as critics have long claimed that the vehicle will be one of, if not the, most unsafe truck on the road due to its appearance. The vehicle’s Top Safety Pick+ rating, if any, simply proved that Tesla never neglects to make its cars as safe as possible, and that definitely includes the Cybercab.
Elon Musk
Tesla’s Elon Musk gives timeframe for FSD’s release in UAE
Provided that Musk’s timeframe proves accurate, FSD would be able to start saturating the Middle East, starting with the UAE, next year.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated on Monday that Full Self-Driving (Supervised) could launch in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as soon as January 2026.
Provided that Musk’s timeframe proves accurate, FSD would be able to start saturating the Middle East, starting with the UAE, next year.
Musk’s estimate
In a post on X, UAE-based political analyst Ahmed Sharif Al Amiri asked Musk when FSD would arrive in the country, quoting an earlier post where the CEO encouraged users to try out FSD for themselves. Musk responded directly to the analyst’s inquiry.
“Hopefully, next month,” Musk wrote. The exchange attracted a lot of attention, with numerous X users sharing their excitement at the idea of FSD being brought to a new country. FSD (Supervised), after all, would likely allow hands-off highway driving, urban navigation, and parking under driver oversight in traffic-heavy cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Musk’s comments about FSD’s arrival in the UAE were posted following his visit to the Middle Eastern country. Over the weekend, images were shared online of Musk meeting with UAE Defense Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Dubai Crown Prince HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed. Musk also posted a supportive message about the country, posting “UAE rocks!” on X.
FSD recognition
FSD has been getting quite a lot of support from foreign media outlets. FSD (Supervised) earned high marks from Germany’s largest car magazine, Auto Bild, during a test in Berlin’s challenging urban environment. The demonstration highlighted the system’s ability to handle dense traffic, construction sites, pedestrian crossings, and narrow streets with smooth, confident decision-making.
Journalist Robin Hornig was particularly struck by FSD’s superior perception and tireless attention, stating: “Tesla FSD Supervised sees more than I do. It doesn’t get distracted and never gets tired. I like to think I’m a good driver, but I can’t match this system’s all-around vision. It’s at its best when both work together: my experience and the Tesla’s constant attention.” Only one intervention was needed when the system misread a route, showcasing its maturity while relying on vision-only sensors and over-the-air learning.
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Tesla quietly flexes FSD’s reliability amid Waymo blackout in San Francisco
“Tesla Robotaxis were unaffected by the SF power outage,” Musk wrote in his post.
Tesla highlighted its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system’s robustness this week by sharing dashcam footage of a vehicle in FSD navigating pitch-black San Francisco streets during the city’s widespread power outage.
While Waymo’s robotaxis stalled and caused traffic jams, Tesla’s vision-only approach kept operating seamlessly without remote intervention. Elon Musk amplified the clip, highlighting the contrast between the two systems.
Tesla FSD handles total darkness
The @Tesla_AI account posted a video from a Model Y operating on FSD during San Francisco’s blackout. As could be seen in the video, streetlights, traffic signals, and surrounding illumination were completely out, but the vehicle drove confidently and cautiously, just like a proficient human driver.
Musk reposted the clip, adding context to reports of Waymo vehicles struggling in the same conditions. “Tesla Robotaxis were unaffected by the SF power outage,” Musk wrote in his post.
Musk and the Tesla AI team’s posts highlight the idea that FSD operates a lot like any experienced human driver. Since the system does not rely on a variety of sensors and a complicated symphony of factors, vehicles could technically navigate challenging circumstances as they emerge. This definitely seemed to be the case in San Francisco.
Waymo’s blackout struggles
Waymo faced scrutiny after multiple self-driving Jaguar I-PACE taxis stopped functioning during the blackout, blocking lanes, causing traffic jams, and requiring manual retrieval. Videos shared during the power outage showed fleets of Waymo vehicles just stopping in the middle of the road, seemingly confused about what to do when the lights go out.
In a comment, Waymo stated that its vehicles treat nonfunctional signals as four-way stops, but “the sheer scale of the outage led to instances where vehicles remained stationary longer than usual to confirm the state of the affected intersections. This contributed to traffic friction during the height of the congestion.”
A company spokesperson also shared some thoughts about the incidents. “Yesterday’s power outage was a widespread event that caused gridlock across San Francisco, with non-functioning traffic signals and transit disruptions. While the failure of the utility infrastructure was significant, we are committed to ensuring our technology adjusts to traffic flow during such events,” the Waymo spokesperson stated, adding that it is “focused on rapidly integrating the lessons learned from this event, and are committed to earning and maintaining the trust of the communities we serve every day.”
Tesla is not sparing any expense in ensuring the Cybercab is safe
Tesla’s Elon Musk gives timeframe for FSD’s release in UAE
