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Weekly Space Recap: August 7 – August 13

A collage of the last week in space! (Credits: SpaceX, NASA, Virgin Galactic, Richard Angle)

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Here are some of the stories you may have missed in the past week. The second week of August 2023 featured updates to Boeing’s delayed Starliner capsule, the Artemis II crew getting a look at their ride around the moon to SpaceX making more progress with the Starship program.

Boeing’s Starliner Delayed Further – More testing is in store for the long-delayed spacecraft as the company needs to verify the parachute system works as intended and finish removing a flammable tape that was inadvertently used on the capsule.

SpaceX continues Starlink launches – SpaceX launched 15 V2 mini Starlink satellites from California. The webcast featured beautiful views of Orbital Sunset as seen from the 2nd stage of the Falcon 9 as it completed its journey to space.

Booster 9 heads back to the production site – Following the first static fire test since the Integrated Test Flight, Booster 9 was removed from the Orbital Launch Mount and transported back to the production site for inspections and most likely engine swaps as 4 shut down early during the test.

Rocket Lab shares positive Q2 results – The company had a good Q2 and shared updates moving into Q3 and beyond, including additional launch contracts and updates on their new medium-lift rocket Neutron that will be a competitor with the Falcon 9 in the future.

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Artemis II crew check out their ride around the Moon – The first crew to fly around the Moon in 50 years got a view of their ride, the Orion capsule, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The capsule is currently still being tested and assembled. Their trip is currently planned for no earlier than November 2024.

Virgin Galactic completes first all-civilian flight – The VSS Unity carried three civilians to 88.5 km on a trip to space, depending on which definition you follow. The passengers were able to enjoy a few minutes of weightlessness before returning to their seats for the glide back to the ground.

Amazon to fly Kuiper prototypes on Atlas V – Originally meant to launch on the new United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket, delays to that program have forced Amazon to switch to the Atlas V. Amazon had already bought multiple Atlas V launches. However, those were intended to fly many more satellites than just two prototypes.

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SpaceX caps off week with another Starlink launch – SpaceX launched 22 V2 mini Starlinks from Cape Canaveral just after midnight, with Booster 1069 completing its 9th flight. This launch marked four launches in 8 days for the company before taking a small break.

This past week included a mix of good news and bad news, depending on which way you look at it. Hopefully, Boeing can get their program on track, as having two providers to send astronauts to the ISS is very important.

What do you think of the news that broke last week? Looking ahead to this week, SpaceX is at it again with more Starlink launches.

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Thanks for reading the Weekly Space Recap!

Questions or comments? Shoot me an email at rangle@teslarati.com, or Tweet me @RDAnglePhoto.

Launch journalist, specializing in launch photography. Based on the Space Coast, a short drive from Cape Canaveral and the SpaceX launch pads.

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China considering EV acceleration limits to curb high-speed accidents

If approved, the regulation would be a national standard.

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Credit: Tesla Asia/X

Recent reports have emerged stating that China is considering new national standards that would restrict how fast electric vehicles can accelerate upon each startup. The potential regulation is reportedly being considered amidst a rise in EV-related crashes. 

The draft for the proposed regulation was released by the Ministry of Public Security on November 10. If approved, the regulation would be a national standard.

New regulation targets default performance limits

Under the proposal, all passenger vehicles would start in a state where acceleration from 0–100 km/h (0-60 mph) would take no less than five seconds. This rule would apply to both pure EVs and plug-in hybrids, and it is aimed at preventing unintended acceleration caused by driver inexperience or surprise torque delivery. 

The public has until January 10, 2026, to submit feedback before the rule is finalized, as noted in a CNEV Post report.

Authorities have stated that the change reflects growing safety concerns amidst the arrival of more powerful electric cars. The new regulation would make it mandatory for drivers to deliberately engage performance modes, ensuring they are aware and ready for their vehicles’ increased power output before accelerating.

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A rise in accidents

China’s EV sector has seen an explosion of high-powered models, some capable of 0–100 km/h acceleration in under two seconds. These speeds were once reserved for supercars, but some electric cars such as the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra offer such performance at an affordable cost. 

However, authorities have observed that this performance has led to an uptick in accidents. I recent years, incidents of crashes involving lack of control in vehicles with rapid acceleration have risen, as per an explanatory note accompanying the draft. 

Part of this is due to drivers seemingly being unprepared for the power of their own vehicles. For context, driving schools in China typically use cars that accelerate to 100 km/h in more than 5 seconds. This level of acceleration is also typical in combustion-powered cars.

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Tesla Superchargers crowned best EV charging network in the UK for 2025

The Tesla Supercharger network was voted Best Large EV Charging Network for the second consecutive year.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has once again claimed the top spot in the UK’s most anticipated EV charging satisfaction survey. As per Zapmap’s 2025 driver satisfaction rankings, the Tesla Supercharger network was voted Best Large EV Charging Network for the second consecutive year. 

The annual survey, based on thousands of EV driver responses, measures reliability, ease of use, and payment experience across the UK’s public charging landscape.

Tesla tops the survey’s “Large” category

Zapmap’s 2025 rankings, which were drawn from nearly 4,000 battery electric vehicle (BEV) drivers, reflect how quickly public charging is evolving across the UK. For the survey’s “Large” network class, which includes systems with over 500 devices, Tesla once again stood out for reliability and cost efficiency. 

The automaker now offers 1,115 open Supercharger devices at 97 public sites, roughly 54% of its total UK network. That’s a 40% increase in public availability compared to September 2024. A particularly appreciated aspect of the Supercharger network is its cost, which continues to be “significantly lower prices than most rapid/ultra-rapid networks, with drivers also appreciating its reliability,” Zapmap noted.

Tesla Regional Manager’s comments 

Ollie Dodd, Senior Regional Manager for Northern Europe Charging at Tesla, shared his appreciation for the Supercharger network’s award. 

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“We’re thrilled to win Zapmap’s Best EV Charging Network for the second year in a row. Being recognized by the drivers themselves shows that our customer-centric and data-driven approach to building sites is well-received. We look forward to showcasing more customer-centric features in 2026 as we expand the network further and look towards new initiatives in roaming and payment methods,” he said.

Conducted during September and October 2025, Zapmap’s eighth annual survey found that reliability and payment flexibility remain top priorities among EV drivers, two things that the Supercharger network particularly excels in. Fortunately for UK EV owners, the Supercharger network is also aggressively growing.

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Tesla Superchargers to be opened for VW ID.4 and ID. Buzz owners

The adapter, however, would need to be purchased by eligible customers.

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Credit: Volkswagen

Volkswagen has announced that owners of the ID.4 and ID. Buzz will soon gain access to Tesla’s expansive Supercharger network across North America. 

Starting November 18, eligible drivers can charge at more than 25,000 compatible DC fast chargers using a Volkswagen-approved NACS adapter. The adapter, however, would need to be purchased by eligible customers. 

Volkswagen goes NACS

To connect with the Tesla Supercharger network, ID.4 and ID. Buzz owners will need a $200 Volkswagen NACS-to-CCS adapter, which is available from dealers or online at parts.vw.com. Original owners of 2025 models can claim a $100 rebate within 90 days of purchase, with the program running through July 15, 2026, as noted in a press release. Starting with model year 2026, the NACS adapter will be included as standard equipment on all new Volkswagen EVs.

It should be noted that Volkswagen’s NACS adapter enables charging exclusively on DC fast chargers compatible with Tesla’s North American Charging System. It cannot be used with Level 1 or Level 2 AC chargers, including Tesla’s own Destination Charger network. Select 2024 and 2025 models will also receive a software update to ensure optimal performance when charging through NACS.

Volkswagen of America SVP’s comments

Volkswagen of America Senior Vice President of Product Marketing and Strategy Petar Danilovic shared his excitement about the ID.4 and ID. Buzz’s upcoming use of the Tesla Supercharger Network. 

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“This is great news for our EV owners,” he said. “They will now be able to access the more than 25,000 DC fast chargers on the Tesla Supercharger network across the United States, in addition to the more than 5,000 fast chargers on Electrify America’s grid. This makes life much more convenient, whether you are taking a road trip or you rely on public charging should home charging not be an option.”

To use the Supercharger Network, ID.4 and ID. Buzz owners could use the Tesla app to find compatible stations and pay directly for their charging sessions. Combined with Electrify America’s growing network, ID.4 and ID. Buzz owners now have more options for their charging needs, allowing them to travel long distances in their all-electric cars.

@teslarati 🚨🚨 Tesla Full Self-Driving and Yap is the best driving experience #tesla #fsd #yapping ♬ I Run – HAVEN.
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