

SpaceX
SpaceX’s next-gen Falcon 9 spied continuing tests in Texas
Awaiting the first static fire of SpaceX’s newest upgraded Falcon 9, known as Block 5, local observers and SpaceX fans alike have been on high alert ever since the first booster (B1046) went vertical at the company’s McGregor, TX facilities on Feb. 26.
Preparing for a suite of tests ahead of its inaugural launch from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, B1046 has been quiet in Texas for much longer than most Falcon hardware. Much like the additional static fires they complete at SpaceX’s launch facilities, boosters are meant to spend less than a week or two on the static fire test stand in McGregor – several days to set up, a few days to complete the static fire, and several days to validate the data gathered and ensure that the hardware is still healthy. 1046, however, has remained vertical at the TX test stand for a bit more than three weeks, and only appears to have ignited once for very brief (~1s) firing around two weeks ago.
- SpaceX’s first Block 5 Falcon 9 seen vertical at the company’s McGregor, TX testing facilities on March 20. (Reddit /u/HollywoodSX)
- SpaceX’s individual Merlin test stands (three are pictured) continue their busy work of testing all Merlin engines. (Reddit /u/HollywoodSX)
- SpaceX technicians can be seen preparing Merlin 1Ds for static fire testing. (Reddit /u/HollywoodSX)
According to photos taken by Reddit user HollywoodSX, the booster is still vertical at the stand as of March 20, and is now sporting what looks like an odd splotch above its relocated “SpaceX” logo. At this point, it can be assumed that SpaceX is cautious with significantly new Falcon 9 hardware, carefully testing a booster with fairly new structures, heat-shielding, Merlin 1Ds, and an array of additional refinements.
Perhaps the first static fire attempt was scrubbed prematurely; perhaps it was intentionally brief to check out startup parameters for all nine Merlins; or perhaps it began as a wet dress rehearsal (propellant loading test) that proceeded into an ignition test. More probably, however, the first routine static fire attempt likely uncovered some minor bugs in the booster’s new hardware or design, signified by the fact that B1046 appears to have remained vertical for the entire interim period. Had serious problems been uncovered, the rocket would have been brought horizontal and taken inside SpaceX’s on-site facilities for in-depth analysis, disassembly, and repairs or modifications.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgfboKIB17H/
Moreover, SpaceX shipped another Falcon 9 booster out of its Hawthorne, CA factory on Monday, March 19. Barring something far outside the norm, the above booster is almost certainly B1047, better known as the second-ever Block 5 first stage. 1047’s shipment would all but guarantee that 1046’s testing is progressing largely as planned. If there were, in fact, major issues with the rocket leading to unplanned delays, 1047 would almost certainly remain at SpaceX’s Hawthorne factory until the problems with the booster in McGregor could be properly characterized. If repairs or modifications had to occur, Hawthorne is a far more convenient and optimal environment to complete them, and delaying shipment would also avoid unnecessarily taking the risk and wasting the week or so it takes to prepare and ship the rocket cross-country.
All things considered, Block 5’s inaugural flight appears to be moving forward slowly but surely, and anyone with interest in aerospace is eagerly awaiting its first flights. As of March 18, the satellite – Bangabandhu-1 – is still in France, awaiting confirmation from SpaceX of T-15 days to launch before shipping out to Florida. Tentatively scheduled for launch NET April 5, that date would appear to need SpaceX’s confirmation today – any later and the launch is likely to be delayed equivalently.
- Falcon 9 1035 and its Dragon cargo roar away from LC-40 on their second trips to space. (Tom Cross)
- Falcon 9 roars into the dark California sky with PAZ and Starlink. (Pauline Acalin)
Up next for SpaceX is the fifth launch for Iridium Communications, NET March 29 from California. Days later, SpaceX’s next reused Cargo Dragon mission (CRS-14) is scheduled to lift off from SpaceX’s Florida LC-40 pad on April 2. Both launches will feature sooty, flight-proven Falcon 9 boosters and will be covered live by Teslarati’s photographers Pauline Acalin and Tom Cross.
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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News
SpaceX set to launch Axiom’s mission for diabetes research on the ISS
Axiom’s Ax-4 will test CGMs & insulin stability in microgravity—potentially reshaping diabetes care for Earth & future astronauts.

Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission is set to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Ax-4 will advance diabetes research in microgravity, marking a milestone for astronaut health.
Axiom Space’s fourth crewed mission is scheduled to launch with SpaceX on May 29 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Ax-4 mission will carry a diverse crew and a record-breaking scientific payload to the International Space Station (ISS).
The Ax-4 crew is led by Axiom’s Peggy Whitson and includes Shubhanshu Shukla from India, Sławosz Uznański from the European Space Agency, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The mission represents firsts for India, Hungary, and Poland, with Uznański being Poland’s first astronaut in over 40 years.
Ax-4 will conduct nearly 60 science investigations from 31 countries during its two-week ISS stay. A key focus is the “Suite Ride” initiative, a collaboration with Burjeel Holdings to study diabetes management in microgravity.
“The effort marks a significant milestone in the long-term goal of supporting future astronauts with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM), a condition historically deemed disqualifying for spaceflight,” Axiom noted. The mission will test Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) and insulin stability to assess their performance in space.
Axiom explained that testing the behavior of CGMs and insulin delivery technologies in microgravity and observing circadian rhythm disruption could help diabetes experts understand how CGMs and insulin pens can improve diabetes monitoring and care in remote or underserved areas on Earth. The research could benefit diabetes management in isolated regions like oil rigs or rural areas.
The mission’s findings on insulin exposure and CGM performance could pave the way for astronauts with diabetes to safely participate in spaceflight. As Axiom and SpaceX push boundaries, Ax-4’s diabetes research underscores the potential for space-based innovations to transform healthcare on Earth and beyond.
Elon Musk
EU considers SES to augment Starlink services
The EU considers funding SES to support Starlink. With MEO satellites already serving NATO, SES could be key in Europe’s space autonomy push.

European satellite company SES is negotiating with the European Union (EU) and other governments to complement SpaceX’s Starlink, as Europe seeks home-grown space-based communication solutions. The talks aim to bolster regional resilience amid growing concerns over reliance on foreign providers.
In March, the European Commission contacted SES and France’s Eutelsat to assess their potential role if American-based Starlink access for Ukraine was disrupted. The European Commission proposed funding EU-based satellite operators to support Kyiv. Ukraine is considering alternatives to Starlink over concerns about Elon Musk’s reliability.
Arthur De Liedekerke of Rasmussen Global warned, “Elon Musk is, in fact, the guardian of Ukraine’s connectivity on the battlefield. And that’s a strategic vulnerability.” However, SpaceX’s Starlink constellation is leagues ahead of any competition in the EU.
“Now the discussions are much more strategic in nature. They’re much more mid-term, long-term. And what we’re seeing is all of the European governments are serious about increasing their defense spending. There are alternatives, not to completely replace Starlink, that’s not possible, but to augment and complement Starlink,” SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh told Reuters.
SES operates about 70 satellites, including over 20 medium Earth orbit (MEO) units at 8,000 km. The company provides high-speed internet for government, military, and underserved areas. It plans to expand its MEO fleet to 100, enhancing secure communications for NATO and the Pentagon.
“The most significant demand (for us) is European nations investing in space, much more than what they did before,” Al-Saleh said.
Competition from Starlink, Amazon’s Kuiper, and China’s SpaceSail, with their extensive low-Earth orbit constellations, underscores Europe’s push for independence.
“It is not right to say they just want to avoid Starlink or the Chinese. They want to avoid being dependent on one or two providers. They want to have flexibility,” Al-Saleh noted.
SES’s discussions reflect Europe’s strategic shift toward diversified satellite networks, balancing reliance on Starlink with regional capabilities. As governments ramp up defense spending, SES aims to play a pivotal role in complementing global providers, ensuring robust connectivity for military and civilian needs across the continent.
News
Amazon launches Kuiper satellites; Can it rival Starlink?
With 27 satellites in orbit, Amazon kicks off its $10B plan to deliver global broadband. Can Bezos’ Kuiper take on Musk’s Starlink?

Amazon’s Project Kuiper launched its first 27 satellites on Monday, marking the start of a $10 billion effort that could compete with SpaceX’s Starlink with a global broadband internet network.
Amazon’s Kuiper satellites launched aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Project Kuiper’s recent launch is the initial step toward deploying Amazon’s 3,236 satellites for low-Earth orbit connectivity. Amazon’s satellite launch was initially set for April 9 but was delayed due to bad weather.
Now that the Kuiper satellites have been launched, Amazon is expected to publicly confirm contact with the satellites from its mission operations center in Redmond, Washington. The company aims to start offering Kuiper services to customers later this year. Project Kuiper was unveiled in 2019 and targets consumers, businesses, and governments who need reliable internet service, similar to Starlink.
Amazon has a deadline from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to deploy 1,618 satellites by mid-2026. Analysts suggest the company may require an extension to its Kuiper satellite deployment deadline due to the project’s year-long delay from its planned 2024 start.
United Launch Alliance could conduct up to five more Kuiper missions this year, according to ULA CEO Tory Bruno. Amazon noted in a 2020 FCC filing that Kuiper services could begin with 578 satellites, initially covering northern and southern regions.
Kuiper’s launch pits Amazon against SpaceX’s Starlink and telecom giants like AT&T and T-Mobile, with a focus on underserved rural areas.
“There’s an insatiable demand for the internet,” Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos told Reuters in January. “There’s room for lots of winners there. I predict Starlink will continue to be successful, and I predict Kuiper will be successful as well.”
Global interest in satellite alternatives is rising. Ukraine is exploring Starlink alternatives with the European Union (EU), driven by concerns over Elon Musk. Germany’s military, Bundeswehr, also plans its own constellation to ensure independent communications. However, like Amazon’s Kuiper Project, EU options lag behind Starlink.
Amazon’s consumer expertise and cloud computing infrastructure give Kuiper a competitive edge despite Starlink’s market lead. As Kuiper ramps up launches, its success could reshape broadband access while challenging SpaceX’s dominance in the satellite internet race.
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