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Elon Musk Weekly News Update · Elon Musk Podcast

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This is a place that we explore the most fascinating
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developments in technology entrepreneurship, space
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exploration. SpaceX, Tesla, The Boring
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Company, all things The Tesla Cyber Truck recently faced off
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against the Baja 1001 of the most demanding off road trails
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in the world. But two cyber trucks, fresh off
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the assembly line and a Starlink Mobility unit Tesla live stream
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the test drive that took the trucks through a variety of
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terrain stretching up to 900 miles.
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And guess what? The video has guarded over 2
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million views so far. So let's start by talking about
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this incredible test drive. An engineer from Tesla was on
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board and set the tone at the beginning, saying success is
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uncertain but excitement is guaranteed, and the terrain they
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drove through did justice to that statement.
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We're talking mountains, deserts, forests of cacti and
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even salt ponds. And the route started in San
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Diego and had been ongoing for about a week when Tesla went
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live with the video feed. It's not just a walk in the
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park. This is a strenuous test
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designed to push the Cyber Truck completely to its limits Now.
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The cyber Truck showcased its off road capabilities, which
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include air suspension and active dampers, and the terrain
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they navigated was as varied as you can imagine.
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According to the engineer, they went through Baja deserts, sandy
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washes, and rocky ridges. They even made it through
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forest, filled with giant cacti and crossed several mountains.
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It wasn't all smooth sailing though.
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The team reported 2 flat tires during the journey.
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But even then, the Tesla engineer declared the test a
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resounding success. And this adventurous trek served
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as a compelling real world test for the Cyber Truck, showing off
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its versatility and resilience in a range of challenging
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environments. Now let's backtrack a bit.
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Cybertruck has been in the spotlight since it was first
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introduced in Texas. After overcoming supply chain
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delays, they had postponed its 2019 launch.
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Tesla CEO Elon Musk said it was expected to be released sometime
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this year, and it was unveiled at a grand opening party of
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Tesla's Giga, Texas manufacturing facility on April
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7th, 2022. The event was a mega bash that
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attracted thousands of electric car enthusiasts, and given the
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anticipation, Tesla took the opportunity to host this test
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drive. The route was carefully mapped
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out with charging stations set up at hotels along the way, and
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as the engineer pointed out, the trip cover the entire Baja
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Peninsula down to Cabo. Clocking in at 12180 miles, This
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makes it a replicable route for any Tesla owner intrigued enough
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to try it for themselves. Now let's talk about what makes
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the Cyber Truck a standout vehicle in the 1st place.
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The truck uses ultra strong glass and a polymer layered
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composite designed to absorb and redirect impact.
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It boasts what Tesla describes as a nearly impenetrable
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exoskeleton. This is all about strength and
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endurance. From its stainless steel
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structural skin to Tesla's armored glass, The Cybertruck
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isn't just about durability, it's also quite functional.
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It can handle a payload of up to 3500 pounds and has a towing
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capacity of over £14,000. Plus it includes onboard power
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and compressed air. And the Tesla engineer involved
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in the test drive summed it up by calling the trucks hardcore,
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Super fun and super reliable. Now, according to Elon Musk
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during a Tesla shareholder meeting in May, the company aims
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to produce around 250,000 cyber trucks each year, subject to
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demand and subject to change. And when first announced,
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prospective buyers can reserve the truck for an initial deposit
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of just $100, originally slated to cost under 40,000.
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Current estimates by auto research firm Kelley Blue Book
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suggests that the starting price may be a little bit closer to
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50,000. Share prices of Tesla which had
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risen more than 110% year over year, saw a minor dip of nearly
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2% in a pre market trading lately.
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Now this however has damped the enthusiasm around Tesla's
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project. The cyber trucks capabilities
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and its sleek design continues to capture imagination and
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market interest alike. Now despite all the buzz Tesla
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shares, they took that little slight dip.
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Elon Musk himself has expressed confidence in the Cyber Truck.
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In response to a report that did not include any legacy
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automakers in the top ten competitive list, Musk tweeted
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Chinese automakers are the most competitive in our experience,
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showing he believes Tesla's innovations are ahead of the
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curve. Next, we have an absolutely
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fascinating story that touches upon our unending quest to
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understand the universe and our place in it.
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It's about NASA's seven-year mission, Osiris Rex to the
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asteroid Bennu, and the bounty of scientific treasures.
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It is brought back to our Earth now, the mission recently
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concluded, revealing some unexpected finds that could
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reshape our understanding of planetary sciences.
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And it also opens up a world of possibilities for future space
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exploration. Astronomers and scientists are
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exhilarated over the initial results coming out of the Osiris
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Rex mission. The spacecraft's voyage to Bennu
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culminated in September, when a capsule carrying rock samples
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and space dust safely landed in the Utah desert.
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The samples were already showing compelling findings, offering
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hints to some of the biggest questions in science.
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How did Earth become a water planet?
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What are the resources available on rich asteroids like Bennu?
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And what does this mean for the future of space missions now?
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Interestingly, the Osiris Rex mission has uncovered a lot more
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material than anticipated. Upon opening the external
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container, scientists found samples that had actually leaked
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out. This happy accident allowed for
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a quick preliminary analysis, which revealed some intriguing
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discoveries. The asteroid bits included
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waterlogged clay minerals that could explain Earth's water
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origins. Asteroids similar to Bennu may
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have crashed into Earth long ago, filling our oceans and
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making our planet habitable. Now, in addition to this,
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scientists found sulphur and magnetite in the samples.
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These elements are critical for many geological transformations
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and may have played a central role in the origin of life on
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Earth. The asteroid is also rich in
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carbon, the key element in the building blocks for life.
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So it appears that Osiris Rex didn't just bring back rocks, it
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brought back a scientific treasure trove that will keep
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researchers busy for years to come.
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A great thing about the Benue mission is it's multiple
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dimensions. NASA and various corporations
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have their eyes set on asteroid mining as a way to propel human
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exploration further into the solar system.
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In understanding Bennu will help to identify what resources exist
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on similar asteroids. More importantly, we'll also
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offer insights into how challenging it would be to
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harvest and process these resources for fuel and other
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uses. There are high stakes involved
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in the economics and logistics of space mining.
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For example, could we use the carbon found at Bennu for
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constructing habitats or energy generation in space?
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Could sulphur be used in some chemical processes or power
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generation? And if so, with this radically
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alter the cost dynamics of human settlements on other planets or
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other moons. And moreover, understanding that
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mechanical properties of asteroids like Bennu could
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influence the design and functionality of mining robots
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in the future, the Osiris Rex mission provides invaluable data
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about the composition, density, and structural integrity of
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asteroid material, which would be useful for future space
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mining operations. What's also compelling is that
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the Osiris Rex mission doesn't just stand alone.
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Japanese space missions have also returned samples from other
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asteroids, although in smaller quantities.
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Comparing samples from different missions could provide a fuller
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picture of the variety and distribution of resources in the
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asteroid belt, enabling a more comprehensive strategy for space
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resource exploitation. Now the mission to Bennu isn't
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only about understanding our origins or fueling the future
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space voyages. It's also about planetary
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defense now. Bennu falls under a small
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category of asteroids with orbits that might intersect with
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Earth's. According to scientific
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calculations, there's a one in 2700 chance that Bennu could
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collide with Earth by September 2182.
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While not a planet killer like the one that eradicated the
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dinosaurs, Bennu is large enough to destroy several cities or
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generate massive tsunamis. Now, understanding the nature
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and trajectory of asteroids like Bennu helps to develop
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strategies to alter the past of potential Earth impacting
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objects. Scientists could use the
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insights gleaned from the mission to devise methods of
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changing an asteroid's orbit, employing taxes such as kinetic
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impactors or gravity tractors to the end.
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Studying Bennu becomes a form of proactive defense.
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By grasping the properties of this asteroid, humanity can
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better prepare to deflect similar objects that may be on a
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collision course with Earth in the future.
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This kind of knowledge, combined with international cooperation,
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could provide a shield against asteroidal threats, making the
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planet a little safer for future generations.
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And in the time when bad news seems to dominate the headlines,
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Osiris Rex Mission offers a very positive narrative.
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NASA has collaborated closely with space agencies in Japan and
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Canada, along with scientists from dozens of countries around
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the world. This is a testament to how
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missions of cosmic curiosity can bring humanity together, uniting
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us in a common quest for knowledge rather than pulling us
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apart. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson
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encapsulated the sentiment when he rhetorically asked why are we
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doing this? His answer was pretty
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straightforward, though, he said, because at NASA we're
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trying to find out who we are, what we are, where we came from,
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and what our place is in this vastness we call the universe.
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And such collaborations extent beyond mere scientific
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endeavors. They serve as proof that
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international cooperation can produce outcomes that benefit
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everybody involved. If fosters a sense of global
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unity, revealing that when humans work together toward a
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common objective, extraordinary things can be accomplished.
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So what's next? The samples from Bennu will
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continue to be analyzed for years, offering continuous
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revelations about our solar system, Earth's origins, and the
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possibility for space explorations in the future.
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The OSIRIS Rex spacecraft itself is now headed toward another
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asteroid, Apophis, adding another chapter to its already
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extraordinary journey. And in the coming years, the
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data from Osiris Rex will be coupled with other missions to
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build a composite understanding of the solar system's resources,
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threats, and mysteries. New missions might even extend
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to other celestial bodies, exploring moons and planets with
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the same zeal we've demonstrated for asteroids with ships like
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Spacex's Starship. And the real beauty of this
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mission and why it's so electrifying is that we're at
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the very beginning of understanding what we found.
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As we analyze the samples more, we'll be uncovering surprising
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insights that could alter our understanding of the universe
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and our place in it and how the Earth was actually formed.
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Now, thank you so much for tuning into this episode of the
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show. If you enjoyed this journey into
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the wonders of space exploration and further universe, hit the
11:41
subscriber the follow button on the platform you're listening on
11:44
right now. Moving on, we're going to
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explore a fascinating collaboration between fashion
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and space exploration. Rata, the Italian luxury fashion
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house, has teamed up with Axiom Space to design lunar space
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suits for NASA's upcoming Artemis 3 mission.
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This mission aims to send humans to the moon in 2025 aboard a
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SpaceX Starship rocket, and this will include the first woman to
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walk on the lunar surface. Now, it seems fashion and space
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exploration have found common ground.
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Prada recently announced their partnership with Axiom Space to
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design space suits for NASA's Artemis missions.
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Now this is going to happen in 2025, and the mission is
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historic in many ways. Not only does it mark humanity's
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return to the moon after more than 50 years, but it also
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includes plans for new people to step on the moon, including the
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first woman. Now Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada's
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group marketing director, spoke enthusiastically about the
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collaboration, and according to Bertelli, the ethos of Prada
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aligns seamlessly with the adventurous spirit required to
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venture into new realms like space exploration.
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Now the company intends to leverage its decades long
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experience in experimentation, cutting edge technology,
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fabrics, and design expertise for this project.
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Axiom Space, for their part, has been vested with the
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responsibility of developing space infrastructure from NASA's
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Artemis 3 mission. And in a statement, Axiom CEO
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Michael Sufredny lauded Prada's prowess with raw materials and
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manufacturing techniques as key to creating a comfortable yet
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functional space suit. Now As for the space suits
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themselves, specifics are still under wraps, but indications are
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there that Prada will build upon a prototype previously released
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by Axiom. Last year, Axiom secured a $228
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million contract to design these suits as part of a larger $1.3
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billion package focused on the 2025 mission.
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Now these aren't just any space suits, they come equipped with
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joints designed to offer more flexibility than those worn
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during the Apollo missions. The suits are also expected to
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feature built in HD cameras, allowing a real time connection
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back to Earth. The overall aim is to offer
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astronauts an enhanced ability to explore the lunar surface and
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conduct scientific experimentation.
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Now this isn't the first time a company traditionally focused on
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fashion has ventured into space suit design though.
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If you look back to the Apollo 11 mission, you'll find that
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International Latex Corporation, more famous for designing
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Playtex bras and girdles, was tasked with creating the suits
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for Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
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Now, these suits were complex and very expensive, comprising
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21 layers of various materials like synthetics, neoprene
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rubber, and metallized polyester films, and they cost a
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staggering $100,000 each. At that time, Neil Armstrong
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himself noted the effectiveness and reliability of the suit he
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wore. In a letter to NASA, Armstrong
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highlighted not just the suit's photogenic qualities, but its
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ability to function Florida State in the harsh conditions of
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space. Prada's history with design and
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technology is more nuanced than one might initially consider.
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The company's involvement in sailing through the Luna Rasa
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Challenge for the Americas Cup has given them unique insights
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into material science and high stress engineering.
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As Lorenzo Brotelli, Prada's group's marketing director,
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highlighted, they're going to transfer that wealth of
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knowledge to the development of these lunar suits.
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It's an incredible leap from sea to space, but one that Prada is
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uniquely positioned to make. And on the flip side, NASA has
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been pushing the envelope and human space exploration since
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its inception, and though it's Artemis 3 mission is monumental
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planning to send the first woman in person of color to the moon,
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the agency recognizes that suits are critical technology.
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They've got a history too, a legacy of working with
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unexpected partners. So NASA teaming up with a high
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fashion brand like Prada isn't as far fetched as it seems.
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Axiom Space is the glue that binds these two Titans together.
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Founded in 2016, the company is in the business of making space
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accessible not just for astronauts but also to private
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citizens. And Axiom has its own plans
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beyond NASA's missions to build a commercial space station.
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And the suits develop in collaboration with Prada, will
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find their use not only on the moon but also in future space
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walks from Axiom's own orbiting platform.
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It's a multi faceted partnership 1 where each player brings
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something irreplaceable to the table.
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So what's next in this high stakes, high fashion space
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venture? Axiom Space is not just stopping
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at designing suits in the US for NASA.
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The company is also planning to launch the first segment of its
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commercial space station in 2026.
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Now, this move could eventually see the Prada design suits
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adapted to this new commercial space station for commercial
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space walks for regular people, pedestrians like you and me.
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It's clear that the partnership between these two is more than
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just the static. It's also pushing the boundaries
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of what's possible between fabrics and fashion and space
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exploration. And it unites seemingly
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disparate worlds. Prada and Axiom are charting
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course for the future, one that promises to be as stylish as it
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is ambitious. Sticking with the NASA topic,
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we're going to be talking about a very compelling SpaceX and
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NASA mission that aims to explore an asteroid called
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Psyche. This asteroid isn't just any old
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space rock, though. It's largely metallic and
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resembles the Earth's core. And with the launch slated as
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soon as this Thursday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in
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Florida, the Psyche mission is expected to open new Frontiers
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and our understanding of planetary formation.
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I will be covering various aspects of this mission, from
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the spacecraft's journey to why this particular asteroid is so
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vital for scientific research. And you can also check out the
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live stream on Thursday morning at 9:00 AM Eastern Time on our
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YouTube channel at Space News Pod.
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Now the idea for exploring an asteroid may seem very
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futuristic, but the future is very close.
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NASA's Psyche mission has been in the works for quite some time
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with a year long delay throwing a small wrench into the planning
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of this mission. And nevertheless, the spacecraft
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name after the asteroid it aims to explore is prepped and almost
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ready for its expedition. And the launch vehicle for this
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mission? Spacex's triple core Falcon
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Heavy rocket, which will propel the spacecraft on a six year,
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2.2 billion mile journey. This is not just another
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mission, though, it's a first in many ways.
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Notably, it's the first time NASA is targeting an asteroid
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that isn't primarily rock or ice, and instead Psyche consists
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mostly of metal. And the mission could offer
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insights into the cores of terrestrial planets, including
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our own Earth. That's a scientific jackpot,
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considering that the Earth score remains inaccessible for direct
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study. Now the countdown is on and the
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launch window is narrowing, and the Psyche mission has launched
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opportunities every day between October 12th and October 25th,
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with a 20% chance of favorable weather conditions.
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NASA and SpaceX are charting October 12th at precisely 10:16
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AM Eastern Time for this much awaited lift off.
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So what makes Psyche so special? Located about three times
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farther from the Sun than Earth, this asteroid could harbor
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secrets that shed light onto the core structure of terrestrial
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planets. Named after a Greek goddess,
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Psyche has fascinated scientists because of its uniqueness in the
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asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
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And planetary formation is a very chaotic process and psyche
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could be the exposed core of a planet but never got the chance
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to form completely. Scientists theorize that it is
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composed mainly of nickel iron, which makes it different from
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other celestial bodies like Mars, Venus and Earth that are
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abundant in iron oxides. And unlike these planets, Psyche
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doesn't appear to have much in the way of iron oxides,
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suggesting a different kind of planetary formation history.
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It's at 140 mile wide chunk of metal and rock, potentially
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offering a glimpse into the early solar system and the
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chaotic processes that go on in the formation of planets.
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Now when it comes to the Psyche spacecraft, the adage good
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things come in small packages as fitting though the spacecraft
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could cover the surface of a standard tennis court when it's
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solar razor deployed. What's inside is a compact
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treasure trove of a scientific equipment designed to unlock the
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mysteries of this asteroid, Psyche and possibly of our solar
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system. But let's not forget the
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spacecraft itself is a marvel of modern engineering.
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Equipped to survive six year long journey to the vacuum space
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to reach its distant target, the first piece of equipment we
21:13
should talk about is a magnetometer.
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This is not just a run-of-the-mill instrument, it's
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a specialized equipment to detect ancient magnetic fields.
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If Psyche does turn out to be the core of a long disintegrated
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planet, then traces of a magnetic field could provide
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game changing insights into planetary science.
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The magnetometer will scour the asteroid for such traces,
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potentially helping us understand the magnetic
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properties of celestial bodies that never really got the chance
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to become fully fledged planets. Now.
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Then there's the Gamma Ray and neutron spectrometer, another
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critical device on board. Its role is to perform a kind of
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elemental analysis of the asteroid.
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By detecting gamma rays and neutrons, this instrument can
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help us understand the chemical elements that make up Psyche,
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effectively deciphering its composition.
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This can answer questions like whether the asteroid is nickel
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or iron or other metals, and by extension shed light on the
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elements that make up planetary cores.
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Now last but not least, a multi spectral imager.
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This will capture detailed images of Psyche, but it goes
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far beyond simple photography. The imager will capture data
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across various wavelengths, allowing scientists to assess
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the mineral composition and topography of the asteroid.
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Intended with the other instruments.
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This imager completes a holistic toolkit for space exploration.
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Additionally, the Deep Space Orbital Communication System
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will experiment with long range laser communications technology,
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a pioneering step that could set the stage for future deep space
22:48
missions. Now the mission timeline spans
22:51
almost six years and covers an enormous distance.
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The spacecraft will use a solar electric propulsion system and
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get a gravity assist from Mars on its way, and upon arrival in
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2029, it will spend around 26 months studying the asteroid.
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The spacecraft is expected to begin transmitting images to
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Earth as soon as it detects the asteroid, allowing us a visual
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treat along with scientific data.
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Delays have plagued this mission, with the original
23:18
launch date in August of 2022 being pushed back.
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The reasons include software issues and operational
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challenges, and to tackle these, NASA added more team members and
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even revised its Hybrid Work policy to increase on site
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collaboration. And all the hard work seems to
23:35
be paying off at NASA, SpaceX and the Psyche.
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Mission managers recently conducted a Flight Readiness
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Review certifying the mission for final launch preparations.
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And with last minute simulations and fine tuning, the spacecraft
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appears set for its groundbreaking journey to
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explore the metal rich asteroid. The launch window has been
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adjusted to be between October 12th and October 25th, giving
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the teams more time to complete flight ready checks and ensure
24:03
everything is in order. We're now closer than ever to
24:06
uncovering the secrets that could redefine our understanding
24:10
of planetary cores in the formation of rocky planets like
24:14
Earth and also our solar system. Finally, we're focusing on the
24:18
US electric vehicle market, which recently hit an impressive
24:21
milestone with over 300,000 EV sales in just the third quarter.
24:26
But interestingly, Tesla's market share has decreased.
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We'll be examining these sales figures and looking into what
24:33
the future holds for Tesla and other automakers in the ever
24:37
competitive EV space. Today, and for the first time,
24:41
electric vehicle sales in the US cross the 300,000 mark in a
24:45
single quarter. This comes as a result of
24:47
heightened market activity, which has seen a surge in demand
24:51
for a wider variety of EV options.
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Notably, while Tesla remains A dominant force in the industry,
24:57
its market share has decreased to just half of the overall pie,
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a slip from the 62% they held earlier in the year.
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This transition has taken place in a market it's becoming highly
25:10
contested, with the economic landscape characterized by high
25:14
inflation and soaring barring costs.
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Automakers have made aggressive moves to attract new customers.
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It's not just the traditional giants.
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New entrants like Rivian are exceeding expectations and
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making waves in the industry. Price wars have ignited across
25:30
the industry, with Tesla spearheading this trend.
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As a result, average EV prices dropped to $50,683 in September,
25:39
a declined from 52,212 in the prior month.
25:44
Though Tesla initiated the price reductions, the strategy was
25:47
adopted by other players, which helped drive more sales across
25:50
the board. However, Tesla has been
25:53
struggling to meet market expectations for quarterly
25:56
deliveries and issue exacerbated by factory upgrades for newer
26:00
versions of their vehicles. So what's next for Tesla?
26:03
Well, the much anticipated Cybertruck could be the catalyst
26:06
for re establishing Tesla's market dominance.
26:10
When Tesla launched the Model S back in 2012, it had virtually
26:14
no competition. Most American EV options at the
26:16
time were rudimentary like neighborhood electric vehicles
26:20
like the Nissan Leaf. Tesla used this head start to
26:24
build a massive lead, but over time that lead had diminished.
26:27
Several factors contribute to this trend as well.
26:30
Firstly, while Tesla's more affordable models like the Model
26:33
3 and Model Y continue to see impressive sales figures, it's
26:37
more luxurious. Model S and Model X cars have
26:40
lost traction. According to Automotive News,
26:43
Model S registrations fell by 51% in the first half of this
26:48
year compared to the same period last year.
26:51
Model X sales dropped 18% as well.
26:54
Secondly, competition is no longer sibling idly.
26:58
Brands like Chevy, Volkswagen, and Hyundai are making
27:01
significant strides in the market.
27:04
For instance, Chevy's Bolt EUV sales more than doubled year
27:07
over year, from 11,774 units last year to 27,802 this year.
27:16
Third, while Tesla doesn't spend money on advertising, other
27:20
automakers do. General Motors has been pumping
27:23
money into advertising its electric vehicles and as a
27:26
result it's now owning 6% of the Usev market.
27:31
Tesla was the early bird to the EV market, but the landscape
27:34
changed dramatically. There are far more competitors
27:37
today, including new entry in Saint Vivian like we talked
27:39
about before, which saw exponential growth in sales this
27:42
year. A critical question facing Tesla
27:45
is whether it needs to innovate further to maintain or extend
27:48
its market share. Tesla's long promised $25,000
27:53
sub Model 3 has been on the drawing board for years but
27:57
hasn't come to fruition. Meanwhile, rivals are filling
28:00
their product line UPS to cater to a broader array of consumer
28:04
needs. Tesla has stated that factory
28:06
downtime impacted its global third quarter sales, but it
28:09
seems like a transient issue that doesn't really explain the
28:12
decline in market share. And according to Experian data,
28:15
Tesla shares of the market dropped from 65.1% a year ago to
28:20
58% currently. And while Tesla does maintain a
28:25
commanding lead, the question is for how long can they keep it?
28:30
While Tesla and other companies are rushing to launch electric
28:34
pickup trucks, recent studies suggest that pickup truck buyers
28:37
are the most resistant to adopt. E VS the Reluctant stems from
28:42
concerns about charging infrastructure range in price
28:46
when compared to the sales of conventional trucks.
28:48
The numbers for electric trucks are poultry brands like GM and
28:52
Ford are trying to buck the trend.
28:53
For example, Ford has sold about 12,000 of its Lightning electric
28:58
trucks so far this year. However, the numbers are still
29:01
marginal compared to traditional pickups.
29:04
The entry point for electric pickups is high as well.
29:08
Even with initial promises of more affordable pricing, the
29:11
costs have risen. For instance, the least
29:14
expensive Rivian R1T starts at $73,000, way above the comfort
29:21
zone for most potential buyers. The research also indicates that
29:24
potential preferences seem to play a role in a vehicle's
29:27
choice. Pickup truck buyers are more
29:29
likely to lean, conservative and out for vehicles that are
29:32
powerful, rugged and prestigious, traits not often
29:36
associated with electric pickups.
29:38
And the appetite for electric vehicles in the United States is
29:41
growing, albeit more so for compact and mid sized cars than
29:45
for pickup trucks. Data shows a strong demand for
29:48
EVs in the 35,000 to $49,999 price range, which means Tesla's
29:54
Model 3 and Y continue to remain vital for the company's future
29:58
success. The government is also doing its
30:00
part to accelerate the shift towards EV mobility, with a
30:04
focus on creating charging infrastructure and offering tax
30:07
credits for EV purchases. These initiatives will likely
30:10
catalyze the market, further benefiting all players, not just
30:14
Tesla. And the combination of rising
30:16
competition, governmental policy and consumer preferences will
30:20
continue to shape the sector. Tesla's performance in the
30:23
coming quarters will be scrutinized as never before.
30:27
Will they manage to regain lost ground or will we see a new
30:30
leader in the Usev market? Well, we're not going to know
30:34
for a little while because Tesla still has a pretty good lead on
30:38
everybody else. Thank you so much for tuning
30:41
into this episode. If you enjoyed today's
30:43
discussion, please hit the subscribe or follow button on
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now. It's free, takes a moment.
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And remember, all of our episodes are about 10 minutes or
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So until next time, stay curious, take care of yourselves
30:59
and each other, and I'll see you in the next one.