News
Hey Tesla, Oklahoma has a Big F*cking Field for the Cybertruck Gigafactory (in case you didn't hear)
There are a variety of effective ways to get Elon Musk’s attention. Tweeting is one, sharing memes is another. Tulsa, OK, which is pitching itself as an ideal site for Tesla’s Cybertruck Gigafactory, has decided to dig deep into its creative bones, coming up with a full-on meme assault explaining why the city is perfect for the all-electric pickup’s production.
Recently, Elon Musk noted that Tesla is looking for an idea location at the center of the United States where the Cybertruck could be built. Musk noted that the facility will be producing the all-electric pickup, and perhaps the Model Y as well. Several states have expressed interest for a Giga Cybertruck. But with so many areas vying for the facility, Tulsa, OK, appears to have gone the road less taken.
Introduced as the Big F*cking Field (or BFF, for short), Tulsa’s potential Cybertruck Gigafactory has several features that make it ideal for Tesla. Each of these characteristics was highlighted by the city, with each point being accented by some masterfully-selected memes.
In the BFF’s specs alone, Musk will not only see information about the site’s size (1500 acres) or its infrastructure (includes water lines and roads, among others); the CEO will also get specific measurements of the location’s distance to Mars (150.2 million miles), or the SEC headquarters (1053 miles) for that matter.
The rest of Tulsa’s page for the Big F*cking Field follows much of the same format, especially with regards to its “Google Reviews” and its “Mode Preview.” Musk, being a bonafide meme lord and a huge fan of snarky humor, will likely have a chuckle when he scrolls through the BFF’s page. The Tesla CEO would certainly appreciate the $100 refundable deposit for the 1500-acre land, if any.
But all jokes and memes aside, Tulsa, OK did highlight that if Tesla were to build its Cybertruck Gigafactory in the city, it would move very fast to get the project going. It was even noted that the process will be moving very fast, like “Plaid powertrain” fast. This could very well be a key selling point for the BFF, as Tesla intends to start production of the Cybertruck next year.
Tulsa, OK’s BFF actually has a dedicated Twitter account, and it’s just as sassy as its main website. Over the past few days, the team behind the BFF account has spent its time interacting with members of the social media platform, while trading jabs and memes with commenters (and poking fun at other cities in the United States that are also potential sites of the Cybertruck Gigafactory).
Overall, we have to say that Tulsa, OK’s pitch is very bold. One can even say it’s genius, and it may very well attract the interest of the Tesla CEO.
Those interested to check out Tulsa, OK’s Big F*cking Field could click here.
Elon Musk
SpaceX issues statement on Starship V3 Booster 18 anomaly
The incident unfolded during gas-system pressure testing at the company’s Massey facility in Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX has issued an initial statement about Starship Booster 18’s anomaly early Friday. The incident unfolded during gas-system pressure testing at the company’s Massey facility in Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX’s initial comment
As per SpaceX in a post on its official account on social media platform X, Booster 18 was undergoing gas system pressure tests when the anomaly happened. Despite the nature of the incident, the company emphasized that no propellant was loaded, no engines were installed, and personnel were kept at a safe distance from the booster, resulting in zero injuries.
“Booster 18 suffered an anomaly during gas system pressure testing that we were conducting in advance of structural proof testing. No propellant was on the vehicle, and engines were not yet installed. The teams need time to investigate before we are confident of the cause. No one was injured as we maintain a safe distance for personnel during this type of testing. The site remains clear and we are working plans to safely reenter the site,” SpaceX wrote in its post on X.
Incident and aftermath
Livestream footage from LabPadre showed Booster 18’s lower half crumpling around the liquid oxygen tank area at approximately 4:04 a.m. CT. Subsequent images posted by on-site observers revealed extensive deformation across the booster’s lower structure. Needless to say, spaceflight observers have noted that Booster 18 would likely be a complete loss due to its anomaly.
Booster 18 had rolled out only a day earlier and was one of the first vehicles in the Starship V3 program. The V3 series incorporates structural reinforcements and reliability upgrades intended to prepare Starship for rapid-reuse testing and eventual tower-catch operations. Elon Musk has been optimistic about Starship V3, previously noting on X that the spacecraft might be able to complete initial missions to Mars.
Investor's Corner
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) received fresh support from Piper Sandler this week after analysts toured the Fremont Factory and tested the company’s latest Full Self-Driving software. The firm reaffirmed its $500 price target, stating that FSD V14 delivered a notably smooth robotaxi demonstration and may already perform at levels comparable to, if not better than, average human drivers.
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Analysts highlight autonomy progress
During more than 75 minutes of focused discussions, analysts reportedly focused on FSD v14’s updates. Piper Sandler’s team pointed to meaningful strides in perception, object handling, and overall ride smoothness during the robotaxi demo.
The visit also included discussions on updates to Tesla’s in-house chip initiatives, its Optimus program, and the growth of the company’s battery storage business. Analysts noted that Tesla continues refining cost structures and capital expenditure expectations, which are key elements in future margin recovery, as noted in a Yahoo Finance report.
Analyst Alexander Potter noted that “we think FSD is a truly impressive product that is (probably) already better at driving than the average American.” This conclusion was strengthened by what he described as a “flawless robotaxi ride to the hotel.”
Street targets diverge on TSLA
While Piper Sandler stands by its $500 target, it is not the highest estimate on the Street. Wedbush, for one, has a $600 per share price target for TSLA stock.
Other institutions have also weighed in on TSLA stock as of late. HSBC reiterated a Reduce rating with a $131 target, citing a gap between earnings fundamentals and the company’s market value. By contrast, TD Cowen maintained a Buy rating and a $509 target, pointing to strong autonomous driving demonstrations in Austin and the pace of software-driven improvements.
Stifel analysts also lifted their price target for Tesla to $508 per share over the company’s ongoing robotaxi and FSD programs.
Elon Musk
SpaceX Starship Version 3 booster crumples in early testing
Photos of the incident’s aftermath suggest that Booster 18 will likely be retired.
SpaceX’s new Starship first-stage booster, Booster 18, suffered major damage early Friday during its first round of testing in Starbase, Texas, just one day after rolling out of the factory.
Based on videos of the incident, the lower section of the rocket booster appeared to crumple during a pressurization test. Photos of the incident’s aftermath suggest that Booster 18 will likely be retired.
Booster test failure
SpaceX began structural and propellant-system verification tests on Booster 18 Thursday night at the Massey’s Test Site, only a few miles from Starbase’s production facilities, as noted in an Ars Technica report. At 4:04 a.m. CT on Friday, a livestream from LabPadre Space captured the booster’s lower half experiencing a sudden destructive event around its liquid oxygen tank section. Post-incident images, shared on X by @StarshipGazer, showed notable deformation in the booster’s lower structure.
Neither SpaceX nor Elon Musk had commented as of Friday morning, but the vehicle’s condition suggests it is likely a complete loss. This is quite unfortunate, as Booster 18 is already part of the Starship V3 program, which includes design fixes and upgrades intended to improve reliability. While SpaceX maintains a rather rapid Starship production line in Starbase, Booster 18 was generally expected to validate the improvements implemented in the V3 program.
Tight deadlines
SpaceX needs Starship boosters and upper stages to begin demonstrating rapid reuse, tower catches, and early operational Starlink missions over the next two years. More critically, NASA’s Artemis program depends on an on-orbit refueling test in the second half of 2026, a requirement for the vehicle’s expected crewed lunar landing around 2028.
While SpaceX is known for diagnosing failures quickly and returning to testing at unmatched speed, losing the newest-generation booster at the very start of its campaign highlights the immense challenge involved in scaling Starship into a reliable, high-cadence launch system. SpaceX, however, is known for getting things done quickly, so it would not be a surprise if the company manages to figure out what happened to Booster 18 in the near future.
SpaceX issues statement on Starship V3 Booster 18 anomaly
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
