Direct-to-satellite Starlink coming to Tesla vehicles, but not in the way you’d expect

At a joint event between SpaceX and T-Mobile, the two companies announced that they will be launching a direct-to-phone connection with Starlink Gen 2 satellites. Elon Musk took to Twitter soon after to confirm that this same connection will allow direct connections with Tesla vehicles.
Expand Expanding CloseTesla to supply up to 8 MWh of Powerpacks for SpaceX’s Starbase solar farm

Tesla is going to supply up to 8 MWh of Powerpacks for SpaceX to expand its solar farm at Starbase in Boca Chica. It’s the latest of many collaborations between Tesla and SpaceX.
Expand Expanding CloseNASA contracts Canoo to build EVs that will transport astronauts to launchpad for Artemis missions [Update]

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced it has chosen EV startup Canoo to provide zero-emission EVs to transport its crew to the launchpad for NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon. Canoo will soon join the likes of Tesla and Rivian as EV automakers integrated into the realm of space exploration.
Expand Expanding CloseHere’s why Elon Musk is TIME’s 2021 Person of the Year

TIME magazine has named Elon Musk its 2021 Person of the Year. Here’s why it selected the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX Dragon delivers solar arrays to the International Space Station

An uncrewed SpaceX Dragon CRS-22 cargo ship launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on June 3 and arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) two days later. It was carrying, among many other things, two new solar arrays that will power the ISS.
Expand Expanding CloseElon Musk says he moved to Texas to focus on Tesla Gigafactory and SpaceX’s Starship development

Elon Musk confirmed that he personally moved to Texas full time and revealed that the reason is to focus on Tesla Gigafactory Texas in Austin and SpaceX’s Starship development in south Texas.
As for the future of the electric automaker and rocket company in California, it is still unclear.
Expand Expanding CloseTesla adds ‘spaceship’ to future potential products to work on for its designers

Tesla hints at more SpaceX collaboration as it adds “spaceship” to future potential products to work on for its future designers.
Expand Expanding CloseTesla and SpaceX ramp up synergy with workers moving, battery purchases, and more

Tesla and SpaceX are ramping up their synergy effort with workers moving between Elon Musk’s two companies, battery purchases, and more.
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SpaceX is using Tesla battery packs in new ‘Starship’ Mars vehicle prototype

In the latest example of cooperation between Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Tesla, the former appears to be using battery packs from the latter in their “Starship” prototype, a vehicle they hope will help humanity get to Mars.
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Tesla Model X will carry first astronauts flying in SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft to launch pad

SpaceX is preparing to make its first demo launches for NASA’s commercial crew mission program, which aims to bring back the capability for U.S. spacecraft to fly astronauts to space.
The rocket company plans to use Tesla Model X vehicles to bring the first astronauts flying in the Crew Dragon spacecraft to the launch pad.
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SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition live blog and livestream

Electrek (Seth and myself) are in Hawthorne today for the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition where teams of engineers and students are going to try to break some speed records with prototype pods of this new mode of transportation.
We are going to bring you as much as possible through our social media platforms and this post is going to be the hub for the event.
Elon Musk says Tesla next-gen Roadster’s ‘SpaceX package’ will include rocket thrusters

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says that the automaker’s next-gen Roadster will have a ‘SpaceX package’, which will include “~10 small rocket thrusters.”
While it sounds like a joke, Musk has made other comments hinting at the plan actually being real.
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Tesla could use SpaceX’s upcoming satellite constellation-based internet, says SpaceX President

SpaceX started building a satellite constellation for a space-based broadband internet service and there has been some speculation about Tesla using the network.
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s President and COO, now contributes to that speculation by saying that ‘Tesla could use the network’ in a new interview.
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Elon Musk wants to combine Boring Company’s Hyperloop with SpaceX’s rockets to get anywhere on earth in less than an hour

Elon Musk’s vision for the Boring Company becomes clearer as the CEO reveals that he plans on combining the startup’s hyperloop technology with SpaceX’s plan to use its latest rocket program to create a transportation system to get anywhere on earth in less than an hour.
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SpaceX is about to launch its first prototype internet satellites and Tesla is getting a ground station

After the highly publicized Tesla Roadster launch on a Falcon Heavy, it looks like there’s going to be again some synergy between Elon Musk’s two main companies.
SpaceX is about to launch the first two prototypes for its satellite constellation to provide internet broadband services and Tesla is getting a ground station.
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Astronomers spot Starman and his Tesla Roadster floating through space
After this week’s planned Falcon Heavy test launch with a Tesla Roadster as ballast, the world was treated to some incredible images of the car, with driver, orbiting the Earth. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had the good sense to attach multiple cameras to the car so everyone could see what was happening up there, and the images did not disappoint.
Now, a couple days later, astronomers at an observatory on the ground have given us a different view of Starman and his Tesla Roadster – a tiny dot speeding along amongst the stars on its journey towards the asteroid belt.
Tesla Roadster successfully launched into space on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket

Ahead of the launch, Elon Musk said that many unknown factors result in “about a 50% chance” that the Falcon Heavy demonstration flight fails and destroys his Tesla Roadster in the process.
Yet, the launch was actually successful and all three first stage boosters separated to propel the second stage with the Tesla Roadster into space.
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Elon Musk shares simulation video of Tesla Roadster going to Mars on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy
A day ahead of the planned demonstration launch of SpaceX’s new Falcon Heavy rocket, CEO Elon Musk released a simulation video of a Tesla Roadster, the demonstration payload, going to Mars.
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Tesla Roadster set to launch into space on SpaceX Falcon Heavy on February 6

Elon Musk’s unbelievable plan to use his own Tesla Roadster as the demonstration payload for the inaugural test launch of SpaceX’s new rocket, the Falcon Heavy, is reportedly set to happen on February 6.
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Tesla delivers a Powerpack system to SpaceX’s new spaceport in Texas

Tesla has delivered yet another Powerpack project and this time, it’s a lot closer to home and yet it could help send things far away from earth.
SpaceX’s new rocket launch site in Texas is getting a new energy storage system from Tesla.
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Tesla (TSLA) and SpaceX could join forces, suggests Morgan Stanley

We have recently seen increasing numbers of collaborations between Tesla and SpaceX, two companies co-founded and led by Elon Musk.
Now an analyst suggests that the two companies could nurture an even closer relationship over time, including “possible strategic partnerships, technology transfer, co-investment and potentially a combination.”
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Elon Musk says he is launching a Tesla Roadster into space. Really? (update: yes, really)
In today’s installment of “is Elon Musk actually a crazy person,” he has announced on Twitter that the payload of the first SpaceX falcon heavy rocket will be his personal “midnight cherry” Tesla Roadster.
In tribute to David Bowie, the plan is for the car to be playing “Space Oddity” on its speakers during the launch.
Tesla is discharging Solar Bonds early with interest, but converting Elon Musk’s [updated]
Update: the article has been updated to reflect the fact that while Musk’s and the Rive brothers’ solar bonds were discharged like everyone else’s, they were transferred to regular bonds under the same terms.
SolarCity launched a Solar Bond Program in 2014. It was presented as an interesting way for people to invest in solar with minimum cost requirements and without having to install panels on their roof. Elon Musk himself, his cousins and SolarCity co-founders Lyndon and Peter Rive, and Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX, ended up being the biggest buyers in the program.
Now we learn that Tesla is discharging most of its solar bonds ahead of the maturity date and paying back all the principal with interests for the life of the bonds – though not for Musk and his cousins.
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Tesla is developing IT tools in collaboration with SpaceX, hires new Chief Information Officer from Juniper
Last year, we reported that Tesla’s Chief Information Officer Jay Vijayan quietly left in January 2016 and his position stayed mostly vacant until now.
Gary Clark, who was IT CTO and Engineering CIO at Juniper until recently, joined Tesla over the last month to take over the automaker’s IT department.
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