Tesla’s Roadster appearance at SpaceX has merger watchers talking

teslarati.com Oct 29, 2026

Tesla’s Roadster appearance at SpaceX has merger watchers talking

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 29, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Tesla displayed its next‑generation Roadster at SpaceX’s Hawthorne campus on Oct. 29, positioning the car beside Falcon 9 booster B1019 that achieved the company’s first orbital‑class landing in 2015. The photo, posted by SpaceX engineer Deanna Rice, shows the Roadster, which uses cold‑gas thrusters fed by composite overwrapped pressure vessels identical to those on Falcon 9, parked next to the rocket monument installed. The appearance follows the vehicle’s ramp launch in Texas on Oct. 15 and a video highlighting its fighter‑jet‑style cockpit and stunt capability. Tesla lists sub‑second 0‑60 mph times for the Thrust and Rocket variants, with production slated for 2028 and reservations already open. The display arrives as committees at Tesla and SpaceX evaluate a merger, underscoring growing integration between two firms.

💡 Why It Matters

· The side‑by‑side showcase turns abstract partnership talk into a visible product crossover, signaling that any merger would blend automotive and aerospace tech at a hardware level.

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Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile are trying to shut Starlink out before FCC…

AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile have filed a request with the Federal Communications Commission to remove roughly 300 MHz of spectrum – specifically the 2.5 GHz and 3.45 GHz bands – from a proposal that would allow satellite operators such as SpaceX to provide direct‑to‑device cellular service. The carriers argue that the bands support about 300 million users and that satellite interference could cripple uplink coverage, citing T‑Mobile’s estimate of up to a 96 % loss. Their filing arrives a day before the FCC’s October 29 vote on a notice of proposed rulemaking that would expand eligible spectrum from five to 13 bands and replace the lease‑requirement with a coexistence‑certification model. SpaceX, meanwhile, seeks to add the 902‑928 MHz band and push for modernized interference rules, positioning the dispute as a broader contest over the future of U.S. mobile connectivity.

💡 The outcome will determine whether satellite constellations can compete directly with terrestrial carriers for mainstream mobile traffic, reshaping the architecture of nationwide connectivity.

spacenews.com · Oct 28

Flexell Space and Satoro Agree to Collaborate on In-Orbit Demonstration of Next-Generation…

Flexell Space and Singapore‑based Satoro have signed an agreement to demonstrate Flexell’s next‑generation CIGS and perovskite solar cells on two CubeSat missions launched aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets in 2027 and 2028. Satoro will build the satellites, while Flexell will supply the solar cells and test modules for integration. The missions aim to validate the cells’ power output, radiation tolerance and long‑term reliability in the space environment, comparing in‑orbit data with previous ground‑test results from Flexell’s 2025 and 2026 KSLV‑II flights. Collected data will inform design refinements and provide the technical evidence required for global customers, moving the technology toward commercial supply for satellites and other space infrastructure.

💡 Demonstrating ultralight, high‑efficiency solar cells in orbit will prove a viable, low‑cost power source for the growing CubeSat market, accelerating the shift to more capable, affordable satellite constellations.

space.com · Oct 27

SpaceX Falcon 9 launches early morning Starlink mission from California (video)

SpaceX lifted off a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 3:25 a.m. EDT on Oct. 27, delivering 27 Starlink Group 15‑16 satellites to low‑Earth orbit. The first‑stage booster B1082 performed a controlled separation after 2.5 minutes, steered toward the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship and touched down at T+8:23, marking its 21st Starlink flight and 26th overall mission. The upper stage reignited 53 minutes post‑launch for a brief three‑second burn to circularize the orbit before deploying the payload. The launch was the 117th Falcon 9 flight of 2026, with roughly three‑quarters dedicated to expanding the constellation that now exceeds 11,000 active satellites. Falcon 9’s continued cadence comes as SpaceX pivots toward its larger Starship vehicle and phases out the Falcon 9 for Starlink deployments.

💡 Maintaining a rapid Falcon 9 launch rhythm while transitioning to Starship lets SpaceX grow its broadband network and validate reusable‑booster turnover, securing its dominance in low‑Earth‑orbit services.

teslarati.com · Oct 26

How SpaceX Is raising Raptor’s sea-level thrust while holding engine mass steady

SpaceX’s Raptor engine family has progressed from the first version’s 185 metric‑ton sea‑level thrust at 2,080 kg to a projected Raptor 4 delivering 300 tons at roughly the same mass as Raptor 3. Each iteration has raised thrust while shedding weight: Raptor 2 achieved 230 tons at 1,630 kg, Raptor 3 targets 280 tons at 1,525 kg with flight ratings near 250 tons, and Raptor 4 is expected to hit 300 tons without a mass increase. Across the series, thrust‑to‑weight has improved by more than 60 percent. With 33 engines, Super Heavy could generate about 9,900 tons of liftoff thrust—nearly three times Saturn V’s output—enhancing initial acceleration, reducing gravity losses, and freeing capacity for additional propellant, payload, or engine‑out margins, thereby advancing Starship’s high‑payload, reusable launch ambitions.

💡 By boosting thrust per engine while keeping mass flat, SpaceX extracts more performance from the existing Super Heavy architecture, enabling larger payloads and more efficient missions without redesigning the booster.

space.com · Oct 26

SpaceX ignites giant Super Heavy booster engines ahead of daring Starship launch…

SpaceX conducted a 15‑second fire of Super Heavy booster B22 on Oct. 25, igniting all 33 Raptor 3 engines as part of checks for Flight Test 15. The booster will be mated with upper stage Ship 42, which is also undergoing engine fire and systems verification. Flight 15 aims to attempt the first tower‑catch of the Ship stage, step toward Starship reusability. The mission follows Flight 14’s orbital debut, which delivered 26 Starlink V3 satellites but suffered an upper‑stage engine shutdown. Although a payload for Flight 15 has not been confirmed, SpaceX is positioning Starship to replace Falcon 9 for V3 deployments and to meet NASA’s Artemis lunar‑lander milestones. The test suggests a launch window in November, with milestones including a Florida launch and a booster re‑flight before year‑end.

💡 Demonstrating a tower‑catch would

spacenews.com · Oct 26

Astranis Upgrades Falcon 9 Launch Contract to Dedicated Mission for Entire Block…

Astranis announced on Oct. 26, 2026 that its fourth launch will be upgraded to a dedicated SpaceX Falcon 9 mission in 2028, carrying the entire Block 4 production run of six MicroGEO satellites. The payload will use an Impulse Helios upper stage to perform direct‑inject placement into geostationary orbit, expanding the company’s fleet to 16 satellites after adding to the ten already deployed in Blocks 1‑3. The amendment replaces a 2024 contract that allotted only shared capacity, giving Astranis full use of the rocket’s payload. Block 4 customers, both commercial and governmental, have been pre‑signed and will be disclosed later. The launch supports Astranis’ strategy to meet rising demand for dedicated high‑orbit infrastructure, including communications and space‑domain‑awareness services. Shows strong investor backing and growing customer trust.

💡 By securing a full‑payload Falcon 9 slot, Astranis can deliver an entire satellite block in one launch, accelerating the rollout of dedicated GEO capacity for governments and enterprises that demand sovereign control.