Note From The Curator
Here are the top 3 stories in this issue of Elon Musk News:
- How the Falcon 9 explosion may change SpaceX's launch schedule
- Why Zuckerberg Is Disappointed About The SpaceX Explosion
- Tesla to introduce new ‘Supercharger Credit’ system to reduce entry price of Model S & X
In this week's issue we have news on SpaceX's Falcon 9 explosion, Tesla's plan to decouple the price of their vehicles with supercharger access, Elon Musk's neural lace, and much more!
Thanks for reading, and enjoy the 40th issue!
Sincerely,
Zachary K.D.
Elon Musk News
Elon Musk is “Making Progress” on a Neural Lace Brain Hack
Elon Musk announced on Twitter that he is “making progress” on his neural lace design, which is designed to augment human intelligence and thereby avoid the inevitable takeover when A.I.s become smarter than us.
Hypothetically, neural lace systems could wirelessly transmit signals to external devices; instead of typing clumsily on a smartphone’s keyboard, we could think our messages into existence. Another, seemingly more ambitious use would flip the switch, and allow the lace to communicate with neurons via electrochemical stimulation. Traditional learning would become a thing of the past — think Neo learning Kung Fu in the Matrix.
Read the full article | Photo from @elonmusk
SpaceX
How the Falcon 9 explosion may change SpaceX's launch schedule
While it’s still too early to know all the consequences of this morning’s SpaceX explosion, one thing is almost certain: the company’s future launches are likely to be delayed. But we still don’t know what the root cause of the accident was, or how badly the rocket’s launch pad was damaged. Those are what will determine how long SpaceX is grounded from spaceflight — and whether the company’s business will suffer.
"It might be something that has nothing to do with the launch vehicle," Charles Miller, the president of NexGen Space LLC, a space consulting firm, tells The Verge. "It could be the ground-support equipment or something else. So we need to get to the root cause before jumping to conclusions."
Read the full article | Photo from USLaunchReport
Why Mark Zuckerberg is “Deeply Disappointed” about SpaceX’s Explosion
Thursday morning’s SpaceX rocket explosion at SLC-40 launch site at Kennedy Space Center destroyed the AMOS-6 satellite that was set to be launched into orbit Saturday. The loss of the payload puts a dent in Facebook’s plans to beam broadband internet access to parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. “I’m deeply disappointed to hear that SpaceX’s launch failure destroyed our satellite,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement posted to his Facebook page.
(While Zuckerberg’s overall sentiment is clear, it’s worth noting “launch failure” is an inaccurate descriptor for the explosion; SpaceX was conducting a static test of its Falcon 9 booster rocket, and absolutely nothing was going to leave the ground.)
Read the full article | Photo from Alessio Jacona
SpaceX still eyeing fall launch for maiden flight of Falcon Heavy
Recent reports that SpaceX’s inaugural flight of the Falcon Heavy would take place in the spring of next year (2017) don’t gel with what representatives at SpaceX have told SpaceFlight Insider. According to SpaceX, the NewSpace firm is still planning on launching the first of these powerful new rockets “… later this fall.”
Read the full article | Photo from SpaceX
Tesla
Tesla to introduce new ‘Supercharger Credit’ system to reduce entry price of Model S & X
Tesla is about to introduce a new Supercharger Credit program to unbundle the cost of Supercharger access from the vehicle and consequently, lower the entry price of the Model S and X while ensuring that the value of the Supercharger network is better represented by the pricing model. The update could coincide with the release of OS 8 or 8.1.
We weren’t able to confirm the amount of the price reduction, but considering Tesla still offers the option to enable Supercharging access for $2,500 on the original Model S 40/60, which were not offered with included access to the network, it wouldn’t be surprising if the discount will be of about the same amount.
Read the full article | Photo from Electrek
Tesla (TSLA) says it’s currently planning another round of financing for Model 3 and Gigafactory
At the end of last quarter, Tesla had a bigger cash position than ever before with $3.25 billion in principal sources of liquidity – thanks to its recent $1.7 billion stock offering, which was announced to finance the expansion of Tesla’s manufacturing effort for the Model 3 following the increased demand.
Now it looks like Tesla will need more money to finance its ambitious plans. Today, Tesla confirmed that its is currently planning another round of financing. The company added that the funds will be “primarily used for tooling, production equipment and construction of the Tesla’s Model 3 production lines, equipment to support cell production at Tesla’s Gigafactory.” As well as for general expansion of its retail and service presence and to support the capital needs of the new company with the merger of SolarCity.
Read the full article | Photo from Electrek
Tesla Model 3: Tesla’s robot supplier vows to do everything it can to bring up production line on time
In order to start manufacturing on time, Tesla is pushing its suppliers hard. Fanuc, Tesla’s main robot supplier, is among those suppliers and the company says that it is ready to do everything it can to bring up the production line on time. Rob Kuphal, director for sales at Fanuc America, told Bloomberg: “My team and I will work as hard as we can to support an on-time Model 3 startup. It’s tight timing, but it’s attainable with a lot of work between now and then.”
As Tesla confirmed in its shareholders letter for the second quarter 2016 released last month, “some Model 3 production equipment is already on line, including initial capacity in stamping and paint centers”. The company also plans to start construction for a “new Model 3 body and general assembly centers” by the end of the year.
Read the full article | Photo from Steve Jurvetson
Hyperloop
SpaceX starting construction on its own Hyperloop test track in Los Angeles
After several delays, Elon Musk’s rocket company started construction on its own Hyperloop test track at the SpaceX’s headquarters in Los Angeles. According to SpaceX’s own specifications, the test track will be 1-mile long , have a 6-ft diameter and be capable of creating a 99.8% vacuum environment.
The track is being created for the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Design Competition. About 2 dozen teams of students and engineers are creating pods to compete at the competition. The Pod teams will be able to select the tube’s operating pressure for their pods from 0.02 psi (~99.8% vacuum) to 14.7 psi (pressure at sea level). SpaceX says it will take between 15-30 minutes to pump the pressure down to 0.02 psi.
Read the full article | Photo from 42finder
That Crazy Hyperloop Lawsuit Just Got Even Nastier
The wild legal battle between the founders of the company leading the race to build Elon Musk’s Hyperloop took a nasty turn today—including accusations of coup-planning sessions in a garage, stolen computers and files, and “fake pornographic Twitter accounts.”
Read the full article | Photo from Hyperloop One
The Victorian Hyperloop: the forgotten pneumatic railway beneath the streets of London
Since the opening of the first underground railway in London over 150 years ago, we’ve settled on a mix of different ways for moving people through cities: train, tram, bus, car, bike, bus, foot. Over the years, though, major cities could afford to experiment with some pretty far-out technologies.
So it is with the London Pneumatic Despatch Railway (LPDR), a Futurama-ish tube that carried parcels and people beneath the capital in the 1860s. The story begins in the middle of the 19th century, at the height of the British Empire. And it’s all about mail.
Read the full article | Photo from Wikimedia Commons
SolarCity
SolarCity Engineers Install 200 Solar Panels & 7 Tesla Powerwalls In Congo's Virunga National Park
The plan was to install 200 solar panels, 7 Tesla Powerwalls, several SolarEdge inverters, along with lights and plugs for dozens of buildings. In order to complete the project on time, they hired and trained local electricians and construction crews.
After three weeks in Virunga, all three solar microgrids were successfully installed. Now, the park rangers have reliable lighting, communication systems, computers, radios, and GPS units. That means they no longer need to risk their lives to bring in diesel fuel and can more effectively protect the park and its denizens from thieves and poachers.
Read the full article | Photo from Clean Technica
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