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NASA taps SpaceX for more astronaut missions as Boeing Starliner remains grounded
Teslarati • • science
Key Points:
- NASA awarded SpaceX a $946 million contract modification for three additional astronaut missions (Crew-15, Crew-16, Crew-17) to the ISS, extending their Commercial Crew contract to $5.92 billion for 17 flights through 2030.
- Tesla’s Optimus factory at Giga Texas is nearing completion of its steel frame, with construction progressing on multiple floors; the facility aims to start high-volume robot production by summer 2027, targeting 10 million units annually.
- Tesla and SpaceX face a trademark dispute with TERA-print LLC over the name "Terafab" for their planned chip fabrication plant, leading to a federal lawsuit after settlement talks failed; the case will be decided by a judge in Texas.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a Special Order demanding Tesla provide sworn explanations by September 30 on how its Cybercab meets federal safety standards without traditional controls like a steering wheel or foot pedals, amid regulatory scrutiny of its certification process.
