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Elon Musk Weekly News Update · Elon Musk Podcast

0:00
We have a lot to discuss, particularly the United Launch
0:03
Alliances, UL A's second launch of the year, and Atlas 5 rocket
0:06
mission for the National Reconnaissance Office in the
0:09
Space Force. Called Silent Barker NROL 107,
0:15
this mission aims to deploy watchdog satellites to
0:18
geostationary Earth orbit, which will help us keep tabs on the
0:22
activities of other countries in this orbital regime.
0:25
Now, ULA's activities have been fairly low key in comparison to
0:29
SpaceX, which has conducted 63 orbital missions so far this
0:34
year. But don't let that overshadow
0:37
the significance of the Alice 5 launch, one that had the rocket
0:41
in its most powerful configuration with five solid
0:44
rocket boosters in the goal to improve America's monitoring
0:48
abilities in the geostationary belts, where many of our vital
0:52
communications and observation satellites operate.
0:55
It's more than just a rocket going up, It's about national
0:57
security in the future of space reconnaissance.
1:01
If we backtrack a little bit, UL A's only other launch this year
1:05
was a D4 heavy back in June. SpaceX, on the other hand, has
1:10
been on A roll, managing to accomplish 63 orbital missions
1:14
across all of its launch complexes, including California.
1:18
Now, the sheer number of SpaceX missions has resulted in ULA
1:22
falling into the background, but that doesn't negate the
1:25
importance of these efforts. The Atlas Fives launch marks the
1:29
48th launch of the year from the Space Coast, with only three
1:32
missions not coming from SpaceX. One came from Relativity Space
1:36
launching its 3D printed Terran One rocket in March.
1:39
With still more than three months to go in the year, the
1:42
Space Coast is looking good to beat its 2022 record of 57
1:46
launches. It's not just about quantity.
1:49
The quality and strategic significance of these launches
1:52
are also noteworthy. Silent Barker's mission is a
1:56
classified 1 involving multiple payloads designed to be placed
2:00
in geostationary Earth orbit. Now, Chris Skoleze, director of
2:04
the National Reconnaissance Office of the NRO, explained
2:08
that the satellites will allow for enhanced understanding of
2:11
activities happening in the orbital belt.
2:13
Monitoring geostationary orbit is critical as it offers a
2:17
unique viewpoint for observing Earthbound activities and other
2:20
satellites. And in terms of power, the five
2:22
boosters of the Atlas 5 generated remarkable £2.1
2:26
million of thrust on liftoff, and these burned for around 90
2:30
seconds before separating from the first stage which continued
2:33
its upward trajectory. The Rocket Centaur upper stage,
2:37
powered by a version of the Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10 engine,
2:41
will ferry its national security payloads approximately 24,000
2:45
miles away from their destination.
2:47
Now it's worth mentioning that this isn't Atlas Five's first
2:50
rodeo, This is the 13th time that it's flown with five
2:53
boosters since its debut in 2006.
2:57
Past missions have included NASA's Juneau and New Horizons
3:00
missions, showcasing the Rockets versatility and its reliability.
3:05
Additionally, ULA only has one D4 heavy and 18 more Atlas 5
3:10
rockets left this lineup with 7 earmarked for Boeing CST100 Star
3:15
Liner, 9 for Amazon's Project Viper satellite constellation,
3:19
and two others. Now, ULA does have plans to
3:23
transition to its new Vulcan Centaur rockets, but there have
3:27
been delays. Despite these challenges, the
3:29
next launch is set for as early as September 26th.
3:33
It's an important one, the first of Amazon's 9 Atlas 5 missions
3:38
that will send test satellites into orbit.
3:40
These launches will pave the way for multiple Vulcan missions as
3:43
well as launches of Aryan spaces, upcoming Ariana 6 and
3:47
Blue Origin still in development?
3:49
New Glen rockets. However, things haven't been all
3:53
smooth sailing for SpaceX either.
3:55
The FAA has raised safety concerns regarding Spacex's
3:59
super heavy Starship launch vehicle.
4:02
As a result, SpaceX needs to complete 63 corrective actions
4:06
before another test flight is authorized.
4:09
These include hardware redesigns, launchpad
4:11
reinforcements, and enhanced safety protocols.
4:15
It's another hurdle that SpaceX has to overcome, but it's
4:18
crucial for ensuring the safety and success of future missions.
4:23
SpaceX has been making headlines for its frequent and successful
4:26
launches. It is also encountered some
4:28
regulatory turbulence, particularly from the FAA.
4:31
Now, the FAA cited safety concerns regarding Spacex's
4:35
Starship, and according to the agency, SpaceX needs to correct
4:39
and complete 63 actions before they can launch the Starship
4:44
again. Now, these corrective actions
4:46
encompass a wide range of elements, including hardware
4:49
redesigns, launchpad reinforcements, and bolstered
4:52
safety protocols. And the FA A's involvement isn't
4:55
surprising given its mandate to regulate all aspects of Civil
4:58
Aviation, including commercial space launches.
5:01
And as Spacex's Super Heavy Starship is designed to be a
5:04
reusable orbital class rocket, making it the most powerful
5:08
rocket ever developed, safety considerations are paramount
5:12
Now. The FA A's role here is to
5:14
ensure that the Rockets design, build quality and operational
5:18
protocols meet rigorous standards to protect both the
5:22
crew and the public, and this regulatory hurdle has
5:25
implications for Spacex's broader ambitions.
5:28
The Starship super heavy is crucial to the company's plans
5:31
for interplanetary travel, including missions to Mars and
5:34
delays in its development and testing timeline never ripple
5:37
effect, potentially slowing down a variety of planned missions
5:40
such as the Artemis 3 mission and Artemis 4, and also
5:44
commercial partnerships. Now, these could range from
5:47
lunar landings with Artemis, even more futuristic endeavors
5:51
like establishing a human presence on Mars.
5:55
However, this isn't necessary a roadblock that could derail
5:58
Spacex's overall trajectory. Company has a track record of
6:02
effectively responding to and overcoming regulatory
6:04
challenges. Completing the 63 corrective
6:07
actions is a tall order, but one within the realms of feasibility
6:12
for SpaceX. What this scenario emphasizes is
6:15
the balance that needs to be struck between innovation and
6:17
safety, especially as a commercial space travel becomes
6:21
more central to our future in space exploration.
6:25
Now before we wrap things up, let's touch on the geopolitical
6:29
aspects of these launches. Countries like Russia and China
6:32
have been ramping up their space capabilities including potential
6:36
anti satellite weaponry. Now this adds an extra layer of
6:39
importance to the Silent Barker mission.
6:41
The set lights are expected to monitor any abnormal or
6:44
potentially threatening activities in the geostationary
6:47
orbit, providing both defensive and deterrent capabilities.
6:51
Recently, Morgan Stanley upgraded Tesla stock from equal
6:54
weight to overweight and hike the price target from $200.00 to
6:59
$400.00. This optimistic outlook largely
7:02
stems from their view of Dojo's immense potential, not just in
7:07
advancing Tesla's A I capabilities, but also as a
7:10
service that could be offered on its own.
7:13
Now, Dojo's goal is to effectively process millions of
7:17
terabytes of video data captured from real life driving situation
7:21
from Tesla's plus 4 million cars.
7:24
Now this goal led to a considerably different
7:26
architecture than conventional supercomputer designs and going
7:30
live in July 2023, Dojo serves as the training ground for
7:35
Tesla's machine learning models aimed at bolstering its full
7:38
self driving system or FSD. And unlike conventional
7:41
supercomputers, Dojo is architected to handle millions
7:45
of terabytes of real life video data from over 4 million Tesla
7:49
vehicles on the road right now. Now this unique task called for
7:54
an architecture that broke away from traditional supercomputer
7:57
designs, focusing on efficiency and scalability.
8:00
Now, before Dojo, Tesla was already a formidable name in
8:03
computing. The company had several parallel
8:06
computing clusters, one of which was, by some metrics, among the
8:09
top supercomputers globally. However, there were debates
8:13
about its actual performance due to unclear metrics.
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These test the GPU clusters were pivotal in training neural
8:20
networks to better understand real world driving conditions,
8:24
and with MOJO, Tesla aims to supersede its own lofty
8:27
standards. Mentioned first in 2019 during
8:30
Tesla's Autonomy Investors Day, MOJO faced some blaze due to
8:35
power and thermal challenges. Nevertheless, it officially came
8:39
into the limelight in 2021 and moved into production use in
8:43
2023, equipped with 10,000 NVIDIA H100GP U's to enhance his
8:49
performance. Now Dojo's reception among
8:52
analysts is mixed, yet mostly positive.
8:54
And while some say it's impressive but won't change the
8:57
supercomputing game, others call it an inhouse developed game
9:01
changer that can massively speed up the development of autonomous
9:04
vehicles. Now the endorsement from Morgan
9:06
Stanley is particularly significant, suggesting that
9:09
Dojo could be a catalyst for an unprecedented increase in
9:12
Tesla's market value. The idea is that Tesla's focus
9:16
on custom designed a I chips for video training could afford it a
9:20
formidable advantage in the autonomous vehicle sector and
9:23
beyond. At Tesla's a I day in 2021, the
9:28
introduced Dojo, but at the time they were just getting started.
9:32
They had a first chip and some training tiles, but we're still
9:35
in the process of constructing a full Dojo cabinet in a cluster.
9:39
Fast forward to a ID 22, they made considerable headway,
9:43
including developing a full system tray and they're aiming
9:47
to ramp it up to a 100 exaflop capability by the end of 2024.
9:53
This is particularly significant as Tesla's ambitions becoming
9:57
increasingly computer constrained, especially in self
10:00
driving endeavors. Moreover, Tesla's feature
10:03
doesn't just rest on car sales. Supercharging network with
10:07
partnerships like the one they've received established
10:09
with Hilton Hotels presents another potential revenue
10:13
stream. Adam Jonas believes that the
10:15
advantages and the advancements and chip technology will add to
10:19
this by possibly extending the self driving licensing and
10:23
operating system licensing. Now let's talk numbers for those
10:27
who love them. Morgan Stanley's price target
10:29
shift from 2:50 to 400 isn't trivial.
10:32
The analyst broke down the value and factored in Dojo's impact on
10:36
the overall valuation. This was a pivotal enough shift
10:39
to lift Tesla stock by nearly 10% following the notes release.
10:44
And get this, aside from Tesla, Morgan Stanley also sees the
10:47
possibility of non Tesla fleet licensing revenue, which means
10:51
the reach of Tesla's technological advancements could
10:54
go beyond its own lineup of electric vehicles.
10:58
And while the core business of Tesla has always been tied to
11:01
electric vehicles, this new focus on Dojo is a revenue
11:05
generator isn't really a wild shift.
11:07
In fact, we've mentioned this before that Dojo could
11:10
potentially be offered as a service, augmenting its utility
11:14
and contributing to Tesla's overall value.
11:17
So the concept isn't new, but what is notable is how
11:20
mainstream financial analysts are now seeing Dojo not just as
11:24
a little side project for Tesla for their own vehicles.
11:27
There's a key aspect of Tesla's future growth and the value that
11:32
one more thing before we go there are other market forces at
11:35
play. Currently, there's a looming
11:37
potential of a massive UAW strike that can negatively
11:41
affect Tesla's competitors. This labor strike in competing
11:45
companies could inadvertently give Tesla a huge edge, further
11:49
fueling optimism around Tesla stock and future prospects.
11:54
We're tackling some serious issues surrounding SpaceX, and
11:57
Senator Elizabeth Warren has been very vocal in her calls for
12:01
an investigation to Spacex's role in international affairs.
12:05
The point of contention? A recent decision to block
12:08
Ukraine from utilizing Starlink satellite Network for a military
12:12
operation against Russian warships.
12:15
This issue is sparking wider debates about the authority
12:18
private company should or should not have in matters of national
12:22
and International Security. First, let's contextualize the
12:26
situation that has Senator Warren and many others up in
12:29
arms. Recently communicated via X,
12:33
Elon Musk said about a very sensitive topic.
12:37
The Ukrainian government had asked SpaceX to activate the
12:39
Starlit network in the vicinity of Sevesta poll.
12:43
Now they plan to use this capability against the Russian
12:46
fleet anchor there. After due consideration, the
12:50
decision was to decline the request.
12:53
Had they accepted it, it would have thrust SpaceX into the
12:56
direct role of participating in military action and conflict
13:00
escalation. Now, Senator Warren's argument
13:03
focuses on whether international policy decisions should be
13:07
influenced by a single individual or a private entity.
13:10
She has also alluded to a reevaluating the Defense
13:14
Department's contractual relations with SpaceX.
13:16
The question here isn't just about this one instance with
13:20
Ukraine, though. It goes far beyond this,
13:23
stretching into the dynamics of how private companies,
13:25
especially in the tech sector, integrate and interact with
13:28
government bodies. Senator Jack Reed, who chairs
13:32
the Armed Services Committee, echoed Warren's concerns MORE.
13:36
Recognizing the crucial role that SpaceX has played in
13:39
democratizing access to space, even for national security
13:42
missions, Reed questions the ultimate authority a private
13:46
company should possess in national security decisions.
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Traditional roles are shifting. Government sectors that were
13:52
once exclusively state controlled are now increasingly
13:55
privatized or partnered with private entities.
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Where should the lines be drawn? It's not worthy of the state
14:02
that, at the time of Ukraine's request, SpaceX had no specific
14:05
defense contracts concerning the use of Starlink in Ukraine.
14:09
However, the Defense Department has recently started funneling
14:12
undisclosed financial resources to support Starlink's
14:16
operational use there. Now, as if the Sterling
14:20
controversy wasn't complex enough, let's throw another log
14:23
onto the fire. SpaceX is currently facing legal
14:26
action from the Justice Department accused of
14:29
discriminating against refugees and asylum seekers during
14:31
hiring. The department alleges that
14:33
SpaceX has violated the Immigration and Nationality Act,
14:37
studying that they discouraged or outright rejected these
14:40
groups in the hiring processes. In response to the lawsuit,
14:45
SpaceX is stated that they were advised not to hire non-us
14:49
permanent residents due to international arms trafficking
14:51
laws. Yet the Justice Department
14:54
counters this claim by stating that refugees and asylum seekers
14:57
possess the right to live and work in the United States
15:00
indefinitely. They argue that under export
15:03
control laws, these groups stand on equal level footing with U.S.
15:07
citizens. Now the issue here is
15:10
multifaceted. On one hand, you have SpaceX, a
15:12
private company working closely with government bodies
15:15
navigating A labyrinth of international laws and ethical
15:18
conundrums. On the other hand, you have a
15:20
government body questioning the ethical framework and legal
15:24
boundaries within which they operate.
15:27
So what's the core issue here? Both these situations, the
15:31
refusal to aid Ukraine's military action and the Justice
15:34
Department's lawsuit, point to a complex interplay of factors at
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the crossroads of technology, policy, and ethics.
15:41
And these issues are not isolated, the reflective of
15:44
broader questions the world's grappling with.
15:46
And what role should private entities play in sectors
15:49
traditionally managed by the state?
15:51
Where is the moral compass point when you're standing at the
15:54
intersection of commerce, innovation, and ethics?
15:57
Now? Decisions made by tech companies
15:59
are often not black and white, for example.
16:01
The refusal to activate the Starling network for Ukraine was
16:04
not a matter of taking sides, but rather a complicated ethical
16:07
decision. If SpaceX had agreed to their
16:09
quest, it would be directly involved in a military conflict,
16:13
which is a responsibility that goes beyond the scope of a
16:16
private company. The situation highlights how
16:19
easily tech companies can be pulled into geopolitical
16:21
conflicts, and raises questions about what checks should be in
16:25
place to govern these kinds of interactions.
16:28
Government contracting with private tech companies for
16:30
services related to national security isn't new, though.
16:33
But as technology advances, the scale and impact of these
16:36
contracts grow, and this raises new ethical and policy
16:40
questions. Should a private company like
16:43
SpaceX with considerable impact on national security
16:45
infrastructure, have the ability to make unilateral decisions
16:49
that have been traditionally the prerogative?
16:51
Sovereign states. It's a question that's becoming
16:54
more pertinent as the lines between state and private sector
16:57
blur. Now, turning to the Department
16:59
of Justice lawsuit, it's worth noting that the hiring policies
17:02
of tech companies often intersect with complex laws and
17:04
regulations. However, these olicies should
17:07
not be allowed to discriminate against individuals based on
17:09
their nationality or immigration status, as the Department of
17:13
Justice alleges. But here too, the lines are not
17:16
clear cut, not black and white. SpaceX, given the nature of its
17:19
work, is bound by export control laws that can indeed restrict
17:23
hiring in some instances. The question then is whether
17:26
such laws were interpreted too broadly, leading to
17:30
discriminatory hiring practices. And this case again shows the
17:33
complexity involved with private companies taking on roles
17:36
traditionally held by the state. What's next for SpaceX?
17:39
The working actively to understand the complexities of
17:43
this issue now, the balance between working closely with
17:46
government agencies while maintaining ethical
17:48
responsibility is intricate. It's something that they don't
17:51
take lightly. The coming days and weeks will
17:53
surely bring out dialogue, discussion, and perhaps changes
17:56
in how these kinds of situations are approached, not just by
17:59
SpaceX but by the entire tech industry.
18:02
Possibly. Now these controversies
18:04
surrounding SpaceX shine a light on broader debates about the
18:07
role of private companies in public and international
18:10
affairs. The increased intersectionality
18:12
between private enterprise and state functions raises valid
18:15
concerns that are only going to become more complicated as
18:18
technology advances. What we're witnessing are early
18:22
growing pains of a new era where traditional boundaries are being
18:25
redefined Now, thank you so much for listening to this episode of
18:30
the Elon Musk Podcast. This has been an intense book,
18:33
crucial discussion, and it's only the tip of the iceberg.
18:36
We'll be following these stores as they unfold Spacex's Starship
18:39
project and its dealings with the FAA.
18:41
Recent statements suggest that a new launch license could be
18:45
granted to SpaceX as early as next month, following an intense
18:49
period of technical investigation and corrective
18:52
action. Now this comes after a Starship
18:55
rocket exploded during a test launch in April, leading to a
18:58
joint mishap investigation by both SpaceX and the FAA.
19:03
Now, acting FAA Administrator Polly Trottenberg announced
19:08
optimism for the license approval in the coming weeks,
19:11
and the FAA wrapped up its technical investigation into the
19:14
April test launch, outlining 63 corrective actions that SpaceX
19:18
must take. And while the FAA and other
19:21
governing bodies like NASA in the National Transportation
19:24
Safety Board played oversight roles, the investigation was
19:27
primarily led by SpaceX. And the FAA recently released a
19:31
mishap closure letter detailing expectations around safety and
19:35
environmental issues that the company must meet before it can
19:38
launch its next Starship rocket, But before any engines roar.
19:42
SpaceX still needs a separate environmental nod from the US
19:46
Fish and Wildlife Service, which is yet to be determined, and
19:51
during the ill-fated April launch, the Starships flight was
19:54
far from smooth. 4 minutes into the flight, the rocket exploded
19:58
near Spacex's Boca Chica launch site on the Texas coast, and
20:02
reports showed debris in particulates from the explosion
20:06
affecting the nearby town of Port Isabel.
20:08
A series of issues ranging from structural failure at the
20:12
launchpad to an unexpected delay in the activation of the
20:15
Autonomous Flight Safety System culminated in the catastrophic
20:19
event. And to prevent future mishaps,
20:22
the FAA expects SpaceX to redesign vehicle hardware and
20:26
launchpad, incorporate additional reviews, and apply
20:29
more rigorous change control practices.
20:32
Now, SpaceX has been diligently working to meet the Faa's
20:36
expectations, according to updates on their website.
20:39
New features like a hot staging separation system and an
20:42
electric thrust vector control system are now part of the
20:46
rocket design. These updates aim to increase
20:49
the reliability and safety of future launches.
20:52
Elon Musk himself announced thousands of upgrades to
20:55
Starship in the launchpad and Mecca Zilla, referring to the
20:58
tower launch structure at the Boca Chica site.
21:01
Now let's talk more about Spacex's Starbase in Boca Chica,
21:05
Texas. This launch site has been a
21:07
symbol of innovation and ambition for SpaceX.
21:10
A formerly Wyatt Village, Boca Chica has transformed into a hub
21:14
of aerospace activities. The proximity to the Gulf of
21:17
Mexico allows for easy transportation of rocket
21:20
components, while the vast open land provides an ideal backdrop
21:25
for test launches and subsequent data analysis.
21:28
SpaceX has been increasing its land holdings around the site,
21:31
and the infrastructure has seen significant developments.
21:35
Buildings and tech labs dedicated to research and
21:37
development, assembly buildings for Starship, and even living
21:40
quarters for engineers and staff are in various stages of
21:43
construction. The transformation is a
21:45
testament to Spacex's commitment to the Starship project and its
21:49
broader goals of interplanetary travel.
21:52
However, the site's expansion hasn't come without its share of
21:55
criticism. Environmentalists and local
21:57
groups have expressed concerns about the potential impact on
22:00
local ecosystems and wildlife. Notably, the launch site is
22:03
close to a Wildlife Refuge in Public Beach.
22:06
The proximity to these environmentally sensitive zones
22:09
led to a lawsuit against the FAA in SpaceX demanding a more
22:13
comprehensive environmental impact study.
22:16
Now Starship is designed to be more than just another rocket,
22:19
represents a leap toward fulfilling space ambitions on a
22:22
scale we have not seen before. And with plans to be used in
22:26
NASA's Artemis Moon missions, Artemis 3 in particular.
22:30
In Elon Musk's vision of Mars colonization, there's a
22:33
considerable weight of expectation on Starship. the
22:36
Rockets testing and certification carry not just the
22:39
company's commercial aspiration, but also the dream of expanding
22:42
human civilization beyond Earth to the Moon, and also to Mars
22:47
and beyond. Now, the upcoming weeks will be
22:50
pivotal for SpaceX and the Starship program.
22:52
With the FA A's technical investigation concluded, all
22:55
eyes will be on how swiftly SpaceX can implement the
22:58
recommended changes and secure the necessary permissions for
23:02
the next test launch. For Elon Musk and SpaceX, the
23:05
clocks ticking, especially when you consider the ambitious
23:08
timelines they've set for themselves, including the
23:10
Artemis 3 flight planned for 2025.
23:14
Now, the Artemis 3 mission represents A pivotal moment in
23:17
America's renewed commitment to lunar exploration, slated to
23:21
carry astronauts to the moon surface for the first time since
23:23
1972. And NASA has been collaborating
23:26
with SpaceX, among other partners, to ensure that this
23:29
historic journey comes to fruition.
23:31
The mission aims to land American astronauts near the
23:33
Moon South Pole, a region yet unexplored by humans but thought
23:38
to contain frozen water and other vital resources.
23:41
The goal of Artemis 3 is to go beyond mere exploration.
23:45
They include testing new technologies that would pave the
23:48
way for sustainable lunar settlement and future missions
23:52
to Mars. And in terms of hardware, the
23:54
Starship Human Landing System, the HLS developed by SpaceX
23:58
plays a huge role in the Artemis 3 mission.
24:01
This particular version of the Starship is tailored for the
24:04
unique environments and the requirements of lunar travel,
24:07
including the ability to operate in the Moon's vacuum conditions.
24:11
SpaceX has already made strides improving the capabilities of
24:15
its Starship HLS by successfully testing the vacuum optimized
24:19
Raptor engines simulating key aspects of landing on the Moon.
24:22
These preparatory steps build on Spacex's existing work with
24:26
Raptor engines designed to be flexible enough to adapt from
24:29
sea level conditions to the vacuum of space.
24:33
And the success of RMS3 could not only rewrite our
24:35
understanding of the Moon, but also lay the foundation for
24:38
subsequent missions Under the Artemis program.
24:41
And following RMS3, NASA has already scheduled Artemis 4 for
24:46
2028 or 2029, with plans for a more extended stay on the lunar
24:50
surface. Moreover, a successful Artemis 3
24:53
would cement Spacex's role as the primary contractor for NASA,
24:58
substantiating the private sector's capability in
25:01
contributing to space exploration on a unprecedented
25:05
scale. Achieving the missions goals
25:07
would undoubtedly galvanize global interest in space travel,
25:10
stimulating investment, innovation and public enthusiasm
25:14
for what lies beyond our Earth's realm.
25:17
Now, thank you so much for joining us here on the Elon Musk
25:20
podcast. We've talked about ACEX and the
25:23
FEA substantially this week. So please, if you enjoy SpaceX,
25:27
hit the subscribe button or the follow button on whatever
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podcast latform you're on. Right now it's free and it takes
25:33
just a second. And until next time, please take
25:36
care of yourselves and each other and I'll see you in the
25:38
next one.