<h2>SpaceX Layoffs</h2>
<p>SpaceX CEO Elon Musk blamed the company&#8217;s decision to <a href="https://futurism.com/spacex-lay-off-10-percent-workforce">lay off 10 percent of its workforce</a> on its Starship and Starlink projects this week, calling them &#8220;absolutely insane.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;SpaceX has two absolutely insane projects that would not only bankrupt the company,&#8221; he said, as <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/31/elon-musk-spacex-layoffs-due-to-starship-and-starlink-projects.html">reported by <em>CNBC</em></a>. &#8220;There&#8217;s Starship and Starlink.&#8221;</p>
<h2>&#8220;Absolutely Insane&#8221;</h2>
<p>The comments came during an investor call for Tesla, the electric car manufacturer where Musk is also CEO. Though his language was colorful, the two projects he blamed for the SpaceX&#8217;s tight purse strings are indeed complex.</p>
<p>Starship is the company&#8217;s <a href="https://futurism.com/elon-musk-bfrs-name-fourth-time-starship">oft-renamed rocket</a> that it plans to use to transport crews of up to 100 humans <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/20/18104389/big-falcon-rocket-bfr-starship-spacex-elon-musk">to Mars</a> and <a href="https://futurism.com/elon-musk-reach-moon-starship-raptor">the Moon</a>. Starlink will remain closer to home, but is still ambitious: it&#8217;s a <a href="https://futurism.com/spacex-satellites-approval-fcc">network of satellites</a> that the company plans to use to offer global broadband internet.</p>
<h2>Star Power</h2>
<p>Starship and Starlink are putting such a strain on SpaceX&#8217;s finances, Musk said during the investor call, that the company is going to need to remain fiscally cautious until they&#8217;re completed.</p>
<p>&#8220;SpaceX has to be incredibly spartan with expenditures until those programs reach fruition,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE: </strong><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/31/elon-musk-spacex-layoffs-due-to-starship-and-starlink-projects.html">Elon Musk blames SpaceX layoffs on &#8216;absolutely insane&#8217; Mars rocket and satellite internet projects</a> [<i>CNBC</i>]</p>
<p><em><strong>More on SpaceX: </strong><a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/starship-spacex-damaged-hurricane-winds">Hurricane-Force Gusts Knocked Over SpaceX&#8217;s Starship Last Night</a></em></p>


Elon Musk blames two SpaceX projects for the company's layoffs.

Elon Musk blames SpaceX layoffs on "absolutely insane projects"

Space Chase

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk blamed the company's decision to lay off 10 percent of its workforce on its Starship and Starlink projects this week.

Elon Musk Blames SpaceX Layoffs On “Absolutely Insane Projects”

"SpaceX has two absolutely insane projects that would not only bankrupt the company."

<h2>To the Moon</h2>
<p>Elon Musk really wants to get to the Moon – and &#8220;as fast as possible,&#8221; he wrote in a <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1091154222173712384">tweet last night</a>.</p>
<p>The Twitter thread also included <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1091156245132673024">new details</a> about SpaceX&#8217;s Raptor engine, which could boost the spacetech company&#8217;s <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/stainless-steel-starship-spacex">enormous stainless steel Starship</a> into space.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Preparing to fire the Starship Raptor engine at <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> Texas <a href="https://t.co/8JCOi1BG6z">pic.twitter.com/8JCOi1BG6z</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1091154222173712384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2019</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2>Streamlined Design</h2>
<p>Conventionally, rockets have used multiple stages, each specialized for flight through Earth&#8217;s atmosphere or the vacuum of space respectively.</p>
<p>SpaceX appears to be streamlining the process with one engine design, according to <a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/02/spacex-simplifying-mars-rocket-design-aiming-toward-lunar-tests-first/"><em>Ars Technica&#8217;s </em>analysis</a> of Musk&#8217;s tweet. The approach will have some key advantages, according to <em>Ars</em>: it could take significantly less time and money to develop and test the rockets.</p>
<h2>What About Mars?</h2>
<p>So what about Mars? SpaceX touted Starship as the <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-first-starship-test-four-weeks">ultimate passenger vehicle</a> that could ferry people all the way to the Red Planet. So why all the talk about going to the Moon?</p>
<p>There&#8217;s a good chance it has to do with limited budgets. Earlier this year, SpaceX laid off <a href="https://futurism.com/spacex-lay-off-10-percent-workforce">10 percent of its staff</a> as part of a &#8220;strategic realignment.&#8221; After all, launching <a href="https://futurism.com/spacex-satellites-approval-fcc">thousands of satellites</a> and developing giant spaceships is expensive.</p>
<p>Besides, SpaceX already <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-moon-bfr-passenger">promised a Japanese billionaire</a> a trip around the Moon on board the Starship.</p>
<p>But Mars isn&#8217;t  out of the question yet. Given enough time and money — and eventually completed trips to the Moon — SpaceX could still make it to Mars.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/02/spacex-simplifying-mars-rocket-design-aiming-toward-lunar-tests-first/">In new Starship details, Musk reveals a more practical approach</a> [<em>Ars Technica</em>]</p>
<p><em><strong>More on Starship: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/starship-spacex-damaged-hurricane-winds">Hurricane-Force Gusts Knocked Over SpaceX&#8217;s Starship</a></strong></em></p>


The same Raptor engine could take Starship through air and the vacuum of space.

Elon Musk's new goal: "reach the Moon as fast as possible"

What About Mars?

Elon Musk announced a streamlined version of SpaceX's Raptor engine design that will take Starship to space and beyond as well.

Elon Musk’s New Goal: “Reach the Moon as Fast as Possible”

Destination: Moon.

<h2>Two Sides</h2>
<p>To hear Elon Musk tell it, 2018 was a terrible year. &#8220;It was excruciating,&#8221; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/16/business/elon-musk-interview-tesla.html">he lamented</a> to <em>The New York Times</em> in August.</p>
<p>But a <em>Washington Post</em> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/elon-musks-highflying-2018-what-150000-miles-in-a-private-jet-reveal-about-his-excruciating-year/2019/01/29/83b5604e-20ee-11e9-8b59-0a28f2191131_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">story</a> published Tuesday paints a different picture.</p>
<p>The newspaper tracked every trip Musk took on Tesla&#8217;s corporate jet in 2018 and found that while his company was burning through $100 million per week and <a href="https://electrek.co/2018/10/15/tesla-45000-employees-elon-musk/">laying off</a> thousands of employees, the billionaire was jet-setting across the globe — mostly on the company dime and definitely not always for business purposes.</p>
<p><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I-HCMbTDWVo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<h2>Musk on the Move</h2>
<p>According to <em>WaPo</em>, the jet flew in excess of 150,000 miles over the course of more than 250 flights in 2018 — and Musk wasn&#8217;t even always on board. Sometimes, the jet was simply flown from one part of L.A. to another so Musk could meet it at the closest airport.</p>
<p>When Musk was on the jet, many of his trip <em>were</em> business-related, taking him to and from the airports nearest SpaceX&#8217;s headquarters, Tesla&#8217;s headquarters, and Tesla&#8217;s Gigafactory.</p>
<p>But based on the <em>WaPo</em> report, Musk also took a vacation in Chile, spent spring break in Jordan and Israel, and visited the sets of two HBO dramas: &#8220;Westworld&#8221; in Texas and &#8220;Game of Thrones&#8221; in Northern Ireland.</p>
<p>The Ireland trip took place just three weeks after Tesla laid off about 3,500 employees, a move <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/12/tesla-to-cut-about-9-percent-of-jobs-across-company-report.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Musk called</a> &#8220;difficult, but necessary.&#8221;</p>
<h2>CEO to CEO</h2>
<p>Tesla spokesman Dave Arnold characterized this frequent air travel as par for the course for someone in Musk&#8217;s position. &#8220;Until we can teleport,&#8221; Arnold told <em>WaPo</em>, &#8220;there’s unfortunately no alternative that would allow him to do his job as effectively.&#8221;</p>
<p>But other CEOs seem to manage just fine.</p>
<p>Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos took <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/where-bezoss-jet-flies-most--and-what-it-might-say-about-amazons-hq2/2018/11/02/792be19a-de16-11e8-b3f0-62607289efee_story.html?utm_term=.dac0830f30f1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100 fewer flights</a> than Musk in 2018, according to <em>WaPo</em>. Apple, meanwhile, spent <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/320193/000119312517380130/d400278ddef14a.htm#toc400278_23" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$93,000</a> on flights for CEO Tim Cook in 2017 — Tesla reportedly shelled out $700,000 for Musk&#8217;s travels that same year.</p>
<p>And Bezos and Cook head up companies that actually could afford to bankroll a flight itinerary comparable to Musk&#8217;s.</p>
<h2>Company Dime</h2>
<p>The <em>WaPo</em> article asserts that Musk&#8217;s 2018 travel was &#8220;largely paid for by Tesla.&#8221; However, a Tesla spokesperson told the publication that the company &#8220;does not cover the costs for Musk’s personal trips and that Musk, SpaceX, and Tesla review the flights and agree on who pays for each trip.&#8221;</p>
<p>Still, even if that&#8217;s true, $700,000 is a lot of money to spend on business-related travel in one year, and based on <em>WaPo</em>&#8216;s report, Musk flew just as much — if not more — in 2018 than he did the year prior.</p>
<p>When Musk laid off <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/tesla-layoffs-staff-elon-musk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7 percent of Tesla&#8217;s staff</a> earlier this month, he said it was because the company needed to cut costs. The next time it feels an urge to streamline finances, it might want to take a hard look at how often its CEO goes wheels up on the company dime before handing out pink slips.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE: </strong><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/elon-musks-highflying-2018-what-150000-miles-in-a-private-jet-reveal-about-his-excruciating-year/2019/01/29/83b5604e-20ee-11e9-8b59-0a28f2191131_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elon Musk’s Highflying 2018: What 150,000 Miles in a Private Jet Reveal About His ‘Excruciating’ Year</a> [<em>The Washington Post</em>]</p>
<p><em><strong>More on Tesla: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/tesla-layoffs-staff-elon-musk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elon Musk: Tesla Is Laying off 7 Percent of Its Staff</a></strong></em></p>


He criss-crossed the globe while his company bled money.

Tesla paid for Elon Musk's private jet while laying off thousands

Frequent Flyer

Elon Musk flew more than 150,000 miles on Tesla's corporate jet in 2018, according to the Washington Post, and not all of his trips were business-related.

Tesla Paid for Elon Musk’s Private Jet While Laying off Thousands

See how the CEO managed to rack up 150,000 miles in one year.

<h2>Round Five</h2>
<p>Tesla is gearing up to mass-produce its fifth vehicle, an electric SUV called the &#8220;Model Y.&#8221;</p>
<p>The carmaker sent a letter to shareholders on Wednesday saying Tesla would switch on the assembly line for the Model Y, which has been <a href="https://futurism.com/elon-musk-says-tesla-model-y-is-coming-to-market-sooner-than-expected">in the works since 2015</a>, before the end of 2020, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/30/teslas-model-y-is-coming-in-2020/">according to <em>TechCrunch</em></a> — and it&#8217;ll complete a cheeky joke hidden in the company&#8217;s model identifiers.</p>
<h2>Learning Experience</h2>
<p>In the letter, Tesla assured its investors that things would be different this time around. It predicted that it would cost less to manufacture the Model Y than it did the Model 3, which was <a href="https://futurism.com/elon-musk-tesla-life-or-death">fraught with delays</a> due to <a href="https://futurism.com/tesla-dropped-full-self-driving-mode">technical challenges</a> and difficulty scaling up production rates.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s because much of the hardware from the Model 3 assembly lines can be repurposed to build Model Y vehicles — Tesla doesn&#8217;t expect that it will have to start from scratch, <em>TechCrunch</em> reports.</p>
<h2>Spell It Out</h2>
<p>Look, we know. Put the Roadster aside and you&#8217;re left with Tesla models &#8220;S,&#8221; &#8220;3,&#8221; &#8220;X,&#8221; and &#8220;Y.&#8221;</p>
<p>Get your giggles out now — we&#8217;re trying hard to focus more on the potential benefits of electric-powered SUVs. If Tesla meets its goals this time around, then all the people crowding the roads with needlessly-large vehicles will have one less excuse for holding onto their gas-guzzlers.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/30/teslas-model-y-is-coming-in-2020/">Tesla says the Model Y is coming in 2020</a> [<em>TechCrunch</em>]</p>
<p><strong><em>More on Tesla: <a href="https://futurism.com/tesla-920-million-debt">More Bad News: Tesla Is About to Owe $920 Million in Debt</a></em></strong></p>


Give me an S! Give me a 3! Give me an X! Give me a Y!

Tesla plans to mass-produce the Model Y SUV next year

S3XY

In a new letter to company shareholders, Tesla announced that it plans to begin mass-producing the Model Y SUV by the end of 2020.

Tesla Plans to Mass-Produce the Model Y SUV Next Year

The names of Tesla's first four cars spell a sneaky joke.

<h2>Crew Dragon Test Fire</h2>
<p>SpaceX just completed a test fire of the Falcon 9 rocket that will hopefully launch the space company&#8217;s <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-crew-dragon-vertical-first-test-launch">futuristic Crew Dragon</a> spacecraft into space.</p>
<p>If all goes well — SpaceX still has a number of tests planned — it could be the first time astronauts launch into space from American soil since the Space Shuttle&#8217;s last trip back in 2011.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Static fire test complete—targeting February launch from historic Launch Complex 39A for Crew Dragon’s first demonstration flight! <a href="https://t.co/sJF24U3UOM">pic.twitter.com/sJF24U3UOM</a></p>
<p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1088633393149968384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2019</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The rocket in question stood proud at Launch Pad 39A at NASA&#8217;s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral yesterday. All nine first-stage engines were briefly ignited.</p>
<h2>Dragon Breath</h2>
<p>In a <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1088671896332165120">joyous and emoji-laden tweet</a>, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk promised that the first astronauts could be going to the International Space Station as soon as this summer — that is, if February&#8217;s test flight goes according to plan.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s an important first step, and if the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/21/18151626/spacex-falcon-9-gps-iii-launch-air-force-watch-live">21 successful Falcon 9 launches</a> in 2018 alone are anything to go by, chances are pretty good that SpaceX can pull this off.</p>
<h2>Higher Stakes</h2>
<p>Rather than only carrying cargo and scientific experiments aboard an otherwise empty Dragon spacecraft, human lives are at stake this time around.</p>
<p>SpaceX plans to run an <a href="http://www.parabolicarc.com/2018/11/28/how-spacex-conduct-inflight-abort-test-crew-dragon/">in-flight abort test</a> before it allows any astronauts inside the Crew Dragon.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE: </strong><a href="https://www.space.com/43122-spacex-test-fires-crew-dragon-falcon9-rocket.html?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social">SpaceX Test Fires Rocket for 1st Crew Dragon Launch in February</a> [<em>Space.com</em>]<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p class="LC20lb"><em><strong>More on Crew Dragon: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-crew-dragon-vertical-first-test-launch">SpaceX&#8217;s Crew Dragon Goes Vertical for First Test Launch</a></strong></em></p>


But it's only the first of a series of tests before astronauts are allowed to climb on board.

SpaceX just test fired the rocket that'll launch its Crew Dragon

Crew Dragon Test

SpaceX completed the first test fire of the Falcon 9 rocket that will hopefully carry the groundbreaking Crew Dragon spacecraft into space.

SpaceX Just Test Fired the Rocket That’ll Launch Its Crew Dragon

SpaceX plans to launch the first astronauts from American soil since 2011.

<h2>Advanced Summon</h2>
<p>Some Teslas can change lanes, make turns, and steer by themselves. And soon you might be able to steer them from afar, like giant remote control (RC) car.</p>
<p>In a Tuesday tweet, Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that &#8220;regulators&#8221; had approved Tesla&#8217;s Advanced Summon feature, and that the feature is &#8220;almost ready.&#8221; The news comes after Musk complained in a <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1083255516959330304">Jan. 10 tweet</a> that he was &#8220;getting some regulatory pushback&#8221; for the idea.</p>
<p>&#8220;You’ll be able to drive [your Tesla] from your phone remotely like a big RC car if in line of sight,&#8221; Musk promised in <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1057884071005569024">a tweet</a> back in November. &#8220;By next year, a Tesla should be able to drive around a parking lot, find an empty spot, read signs to confirm it’s valid and park,&#8221; he <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1057690425710891009">added in December</a>.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Almost ready to roll out. Regulators just approved.</p>
<p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1087861594892029953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2019</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2>Ghostride</h2>
<p>The current iteration, called &#8220;Summon,&#8221; was introduced in 2016 and is limited to simple maneuvers that move the car in and out of parking spaces using the on-board ultrasonic sensors.</p>
<p>The upcoming Advanced Summon feature would take advantage of the car&#8217;s Autopilot cameras and will be available, Musk <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1057871356367269888">confirmed</a> in November, to all cars produced <a href="https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-advanced-summon-final-validation-early-access-release-date-regulators-elon-musk/">in the last two years</a>.</p>
<h2>Delays</h2>
<p>Musk promised the Advanced Summon feature would be coming in roughly six weeks back in November. Twelve weeks later it&#8217;s still not here, but Musk&#8217;s latest tweet is a sign of movement.</p>
<p>Musk also didn&#8217;t mention what specific regulatory body he was referring to. Thanks to the partial government shutdown, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) might not be available to approve such a feature, as <em>The Drive</em> <a href="http://www.thedrive.com/news/26134/elon-musk-says-tesla-has-regulatory-approval-for-its-rc-car-summon-feature">points out</a>.</p>
<p>But it&#8217;s an exciting concept that&#8217;s bound to appeal to current and future Tesla owners.</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE: </strong><a href="http://www.thedrive.com/news/26134/elon-musk-says-tesla-has-regulatory-approval-for-its-rc-car-summon-feature">Elon Musk Says Tesla Has Regulatory Approval for Its &#8216;RC Car&#8217; Summon Feature</a> [<em>The Digest</em>]<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><em><strong>More on Tesla&#8217;s Autopilot: <a href="https://futurism.com/tesla-sentry-mode-dash-cam-360-degree">Elon Musk: A “360 Degree Dash Cam” Will Soon Keep Your Tesla Safe</a></strong></em></p>


Is the partial government shutdown to blame for the delay?

Elon Musk: regulators approved Tesla "remote control" feature

Advanced Summon

In a tweet on Tuesday, Elon Musk revealed that "regulators" approved Tesla's Advanced Summon feature, and that the feature is "almost ready."

Space Chase

Elon Musk Blames SpaceX Layoffs On “Absolutely Insane Projects”

"SpaceX has two absolutely insane projects that would not only bankrupt the company."

News

/ Off World

/ Elon Musk

/ Spacex

/ Starship

SpaceX Layoffs

“Absolutely Insane”

Star Power

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