SpaceX
SpaceX’s Mr Steven preps for “claw” upgrade for football field-sized net
Photos from Teslarati photographer Pauline Acalin show that SpaceX’s Mr. Steven fairing recovery vessel is undergoing extensive upgrades to the arms that secure the catch net, likely in support of what CEO Elon Musk described as a factor-of-four extension of the net’s catching area.
In order to accomplish that fourfold increase in usable area, SpaceX will have to effectively double the reach of Mr Steven’s four ‘limbs’, a significant change that explains why the vessel appears to have had all four arms amputated. Intriguingly, the vessel’s upgrades are taking place at SpaceX’s recently-leased Berth 240, the company’s preferred location for berthing its fleet of rocket recovery vessels, conducting Falcon 9 booster recovery ops, and -eventually – the first Mars rocket factory in 2019.
As of now, it’s unclear what approach SpaceX will take for upgrading Mr Steven’s arms – with only one detached example visible at Berth 240, it appears that the company will either add on to the hardware already built for the boat or start from scratch in order to optimally extend their reach. A new net, of course, will also be needed to span the fourfold increase in area – in other words, up to roughly 6000 square meters, 65,000 square feet, or 1.5 acres. I have little doubt that SpaceX will be able to reliably catch Falcon 9 payload fairings with a net as large or larger than American and European football fields (~1.3 acres vs. ~1.7 acres).
An artist rendering of a Falcon 9 fairing parasailing towards Mr Steven’s net. Original photos by Chuck Bennett (Instagram @chuckbennett) and SpaceX. (Chuck Bennet/SpaceX/Eric Ralph)
SpaceX’s has roughly four weeks until their next West coast launch and thus another opportunity to attempt to catch a Falcon 9 payload fairing. That mission is currently scheduled for early July 20th from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) in Vandenberg Air Force Base. Teslarati’s West coast photographer will continue to check up on Mr Steven to judge whether the vessel will be ready in time for launch.
-
- One of Mr Steven’s four amputated arms, removed in preparation for upgrades. (Pauline Acalin)
-
- A sad Mr Steven sits beside Berth 240, sans arms. (Pauline Acalin)
-
- Berth 240 demolition begins! (Pauline Acalin)
-
- A Falcon 9 fairing overlooks SpaceX’s Berth 240 construction progress, June 20th. (Pauline Acalin)
BFR factory construction
Meanwhile, serious demolition has begun at Berth 240, likely preparing a number of basic necessities before any major building begins. A giant pile of broken concrete lays witness to that process, likely involving the appraisal, repair, and replacement of utilities and pipe systems currently buried under the facility. Forlorn Falcon 9 payload fairings – pulled intact out of the Pacific Ocean – can be seen stoically looking on while construction crews begin the first steps of a process that will, at least eventually, culminate in the completion of a factory for the rocket that will obsolete Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and their fairings.
Based on land use approvals published in March 2018, the construction will be cut into two phases, with phase one focusing on a smaller, intermediary building capable of support limited Falcon recovery work and potentially initial BFR prototype construction, allowing that process to be moved from the temporary tent it currently is housed in. Phase 2 would see a larger build constructed around the preceding facility, necessitating the demolition of one of Berth 240’s historic buildings. Per the filings, Phase 1 is expected to be finished within 16-18 months of approval, placing its completion sometime in mid to late 2019.
-
- Note the fencing around the actual foundation site for SpaceX’s proposed BFR factory. (Pauline Acalin)
-
- Renders of the proposed BFR factory at Berth 240. (SpaceX)
-
- Blueprints of the proposed BFR factory at Berth 240. (SpaceX)
Elon Musk
Rumored SpaceX-xAI merger gets apparent confirmation from Elon Musk
The comment follows reports that the rocket maker is weighing a transaction that could further consolidate Musk’s space and AI ventures.
Elon Musk appeared to confirm reports that SpaceX is exploring a potential merger with artificial intelligence startup xAI by responding positively to a post about the reported transaction on X.
Musk’s comment follows reports that the rocket maker is weighing a transaction that could further consolidate his space and AI ventures.
SpaceX xAI merger
As per a recent Reuters report, SpaceX has held discussions about merging with xAI, with the proposed structure potentially involving an exchange of xAI shares for SpaceX stock. The value, structure, and timing of any deal have not been finalized, and no agreement has been signed.
Musk appeared to acknowledge the report in a brief reply on X, responding “Yeah” to a post that described SpaceX as a future “Dyson Swarm company.” The comment references a Dyson Swarm, a sci-fi megastructure concept that consists of a massive network of satellites or structures that orbit a celestial body to harness its energy.
Reuters noted that two entities were formed in Nevada on January 21 to facilitate a potential transaction for the possible SpaceX-xAI merger. The discussions remain ongoing, and a transaction is not yet guaranteed, however.
AI and space infrastructure
A potential merger with xAI would align with Musk’s stated strategy of integrating artificial intelligence development with space-based systems. Musk has previously said that space-based infrastructure could support large-scale computing by leveraging continuous solar energy, an approach he has framed as economically scalable over time.
xAI already has operational ties to Musk’s other companies. The startup develops Grok, a large language model that holds a U.S. Department of Defense contract valued at up to $200 million. AI also plays a central role in SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield satellite programs, which rely on automation and machine learning for network management and national security applications.
Musk has previously consolidated his businesses through share-based transactions, including Tesla’s acquisition of SolarCity in 2016 and xAI’s acquisition of X last year. Bloomberg has also claimed that Musk is considering a merger between SpaceX and Tesla in the future.
In a groundbreaking new report from Reuters, SpaceX is reportedly discussing merger possibilities with xAI ahead of the space exploration company’s plans to IPO later this year, in what would be a blockbuster move.
The outlet said it would combine rockets and Starlink satellites, as well as the X social media platform and AI project Grok under one roof. The report cites “a person briefed on the matter and two recent company filings seen by Reuters.”
Musk, nor SpaceX or xAI, have commented on the report, so, as of now, it is unconfirmed.
With that being said, the proposed merger would bring shares of xAI in exchange for shares of SpaceX. Both companies were registered in Nevada to expedite the transaction, according to the report.
On January 21, both entities were registered in Nevada. The report continues:
“One of them, a limited liability company, lists SpaceX and Bret Johnsen, the company’s chief financial officer, as managing members, while the other lists Johnsen as the company’s only officer, the filings show.”
The source also stated that some xAI executives could be given the option to receive cash in lieu of SpaceX stock. No agreement has been reached, nothing has been signed, and the timing and structure, as well as other important details, have not been finalized.
SpaceX is valued at $800 billion and is the most valuable privately held company, while xAI is valued at $230 billion as of November. SpaceX could be going public later this year, as Musk has said as recently as December that the company would offer its stock publicly.
The plans could help move along plans for large-scale data centers in space, something Musk has discussed on several occasions over the past few months.
At the World Economic Forum last week, Musk said:
“It’s a no-brainer for building solar-powered AI data centers in space, because as I mentioned, it’s also very cold in space. The net effect is that the lowest cost place to put AI will be space and that will be true within two to three years, three at the latest.”
He also said on X that “the most important thing in the next 3-4 years is data centers in space.”
If the report is true and the two companies end up coming together, it would not be the first time Musk’s companies have ended up coming together. He used Tesla stock to purchase SolarCity back in 2016. Last year, X became part of xAI in a share swap.
Elon Musk
SpaceX Starship V3 gets launch date update from Elon Musk
The first flight of Starship Version 3 and its new Raptor V3 engines could happen as early as March.
Elon Musk has announced that SpaceX’s next Starship launch, Flight 12, is expected in about six weeks. This suggests that the first flight of Starship Version 3 and its new Raptor V3 engines could happen as early as March.
In a post on X, Elon Musk stated that the next Starship launch is in six weeks. He accompanied his announcement with a photo that seemed to have been taken when Starship’s upper stage was just about to separate from the Super Heavy Booster. Musk did not state whether SpaceX will attempt to catch the Super Heavy Booster during the upcoming flight.
The upcoming flight will mark the debut of Starship V3. The upgraded design includes the new Raptor V3 engine, which is expected to have nearly twice the thrust of the original Raptor 1, at a fraction of the cost and with significantly reduced weight. The Starship V3 platform is also expected to be optimized for manufacturability.
The Starship V3 Flight 12 launch timeline comes as SpaceX pursues an aggressive development cadence for the fully reusable launch system. Previous iterations of Starship have racked up a mixed but notable string of test flights, including multiple integrated flight tests in 2025.
Interestingly enough, SpaceX has teased an aggressive timeframe for Starship V3’s first flight. Way back in late November, SpaceX noted on X that it will be aiming to launch Starship V3’s maiden flight in the first quarter of 2026. This was despite setbacks like a structural anomaly on the first V3 booster during ground testing.
“Starship’s twelfth flight test remains targeted for the first quarter of 2026,” the company wrote in its post on X.
Tesla confirms that it finally solved its 4680 battery’s dry cathode process
Tesla Giga Texas to feature massive Optimus V4 production line
