News
SpaceX will offer a ridesharing flight for NASA and Iridium launch mission
Earlier this year, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket returned to flight after its September 1, 2016 anomaly by launching the first set of Iridium NEXT satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO). Further confirming Iridium’s dedication to SpaceX, the company announced yesterday that their constellation of 75 global communication satellites is now fully contracted to be launched into orbit by eight Falcon 9 rockets. They’ve also snagged a rare opportunity to go into space with NASA.
announces 8th launch, rideshare with NASA/GFZ to deliver 5 Iridium NEXT satellites to LEO, expected by early 2018. https://t.co/ZVHksJxX40
— IridiumIR (@IridiumIR) January 31, 2017
According to Iridium CEO Matt Desch, NASA and Iridium will be sharing the eighth and final Iridium NEXT launch in order to take advantage of cost savings. This will be Iridium’s first ever ridesharing mission.
It's official: launching 75 of our 81 NEXT sats on a total of 8 Falcon 9s. Same cost through 2018 as last plan with Dnepr. Rideshare=smart! https://t.co/Tj1tt3pQ8K
— Matt Desch (@IridiumBoss) January 31, 2017
Also confirmed by Desch, nine of the satellites in orbit will be spares, and another six satellites of the 81 built will remain on the ground as spares. The eighth Falcon 9 launch is scheduled to take place from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California by early 2018, as detailed in Iridium’s press release announcing the mission.
With SpaceX’s upcoming SES-10 mission using a refurbished first-stage booster (currently planned for March 2017), the question of whether any of the eight Iridium launches would be following suit was put forth. Desch responded to a Twitter inquiry on the matter, stating that all the contracted boosters would be new.
— Matt Desch (@IridiumBoss) January 31, 2017
SpaceX recently released a photo of the refurbished core to be used on the SES-10 mission after it successfully completed a static test fire.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BP8zK2DFxhq
The satellite that will be joining Iridium’s flight is the Geosciences Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission, a joint NASA/GFZ German Research Centre endeavor to expand and eventually replace the currently operating GRACE mission launched in 2002.
GRACE features two identical satellites named “Tom and Jerry” which follow one another in orbit at a specified distance while primarily measuring variations in Earth’s gravity field. GRACE-FO will be deployed into a separate low-Earth orbit from the Iridium payload.
Up next for SpaceX is its 10th cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station, tentatively scheduled for no earlier than February 14, 2017, followed by the rescheduled Echostar 23 launch at the end of February and the previously mentioned SES-10 in March.
Per #SpaceX email, it's official that CRS10 mission of #Dragon will be 1st flight from #LC39A at Kennedy in mid-February. @NASASpaceflight
— Chris G (@ChrisG_SpX) January 29, 2017
News
Ford is charging for a basic EV feature on the Mustang Mach-E
When ordering a new Ford Mustang Mach-E, you’ll now be hit with an additional fee for one basic EV feature: the frunk.
Ford is charging an additional fee for a basic EV feature on its Mustang Mach-E, its most popular electric vehicle offering.
Ford has shuttered its initial Model e program, but is venturing into a more controlled and refined effort, and it is abandoning the F-150 Lightning in favor of a new pickup that is currently under design, but appears to have some favorable features.
However, ordering a new Mustang Mach-E now comes with an additional fee for one basic EV feature: the frunk.
The frunk is the front trunk, and due to the lack of a large engine in the front of an electric vehicle, OEMs are able to offer additional storage space under the hood. There’s one problem, though, and that is that companies appear to be recognizing that they can remove it for free while offering the function for a fee.
Ford is now charging $495 on the Mustang Mach-E frunk (front trunk). What are your thoughts on that? pic.twitter.com/EOzZe3z9ZQ
— Alan of TesCalendar 📆⚡️ (@TesCalendar1) February 24, 2026
Ford is charging $495 for the frunk.
Interestingly, the frunk size varies by vehicle, but the Mustang Mach-E features a 4.7 to 4.8 cubic-foot-sized frunk, which measures approximately 9 inches deep, 26 inches wide, and 14 inches high.
When the vehicle was first released, Ford marketed the frunk as the ultimate tailgating feature, showing it off as a perfect place to store and serve cold shrimp cocktail.
Ford Mach-E frunk is perfect for chowders and chicken wings, and we’re not even joking
It appears the decision to charge for what is a simple advantage of an EV is not going over well, as even Ford loyal customers say the frunk is a “basic expectation” of an EV. Without it, it seems as if fans feel the company is nickel-and-diming its customers.
It will be pretty interesting to see the Mach-E without a frunk, and while it should not be enough to turn people away from potentially buying the vehicle, it seems the decision to add an additional charge to include one will definitely annoy some customers.
News
Tesla to improve one of its best features, coding shows
According to the update, Tesla will work on improving the headlights when coming into contact with highly reflective objects, including road signs, traffic signs, and street lights. Additionally, pixel-level dimming will happen in two stages, whereas it currently performs with just one, meaning on or off.
Tesla is looking to upgrade its Matrix Headlights, a unique and high-tech feature that is available on several of its vehicles. The headlights aim to maximize visibility for Tesla drivers while being considerate of oncoming traffic.
The Matrix Headlights Tesla offers utilize dimming of individual light pixels to ensure that visibility stays high for those behind the wheel, while also being considerate of other cars by decreasing the brightness in areas where other cars are traveling.
Here’s what they look like in action:
- Credit: u/ObjectiveScratch | Reddit
- Credit: u/ObjectiveScratch | Reddit
As you can see, the Matrix headlight system intentionally dims the area where oncoming cars would be impacted by high beams. This keeps visibility at a maximum for everyone on the road, including those who could be hit with bright lights in their eyes.
There are still a handful of complaints from owners, however, but Tesla appears to be looking to resolve these with the coming updates in a Software Version that is currently labeled 2026.2.xxx. The coding was spotted by X user BERKANT:
🚨 Tesla is quietly upgrading Matrix headlights.
Software https://t.co/pXEklQiXSq reveals a hidden feature:
matrix_two_stage_reflection_dip
This is a major step beyond current adaptive high beams.
What it means:
• The car detects highly reflective objects
Road signs,… pic.twitter.com/m5UpQJFA2n— BERKANT (@Tesla_NL_TR) February 24, 2026
According to the update, Tesla will work on improving the headlights when coming into contact with highly reflective objects, including road signs, traffic signs, and street lights. Additionally, pixel-level dimming will happen in two stages, whereas it currently performs with just one, meaning on or off.
Finally, the new system will prevent the high beams from glaring back at the driver. The system is made to dim when it recognizes oncoming cars, but not necessarily objects that could produce glaring issues back at the driver.
Tesla’s revolutionary Matrix headlights are coming to the U.S.
This upgrade is software-focused, so there will not need to be any physical changes or upgrades made to Tesla vehicles that utilize the Matrix headlights currently.
Elon Musk
xAI’s Grok approved for Pentagon classified systems: report
Under the agreement, Grok can be deployed in systems handling classified intelligence analysis, weapons development, and battlefield operations.
Elon Musk’s xAI has signed an agreement with the United States Department of Defense (DoD) to allow Grok to be used in classified military systems.
Previously, Anthropic’s Claude had been the only AI system approved for the most sensitive military work, but a dispute over usage safeguards has reportedly prompted the Pentagon to broaden its options, as noted in a report from Axios.
Under the agreement, Grok can be deployed in systems handling classified intelligence analysis, weapons development, and battlefield operations.
The publication reported that xAI agreed to the Pentagon’s requirement that its technology be usable for “all lawful purposes,” a standard Anthropic has reportedly resisted due to alleged ethical restrictions tied to mass surveillance and autonomous weapons use.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to meet with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei in what sources expect to be a tense meeting, with the publication hinting that the Pentagon could designate Anthropic a “supply chain risk” if the company does not lift its safeguards.
Axios stated that replacing Claude fully might be technically challenging even if xAI or other alternative AI systems take its place. That being said, other AI systems are already in use by the DoD.
Grok already operates in the Pentagon’s unclassified systems alongside Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Google is reportedly close to an agreement that will result in Gemini being used for classified use, while OpenAI’s progress toward classified deployment is described as slower but still feasible.
The publication noted that the Pentagon continues talks with several AI companies as it prepares for potential changes in classified AI sourcing.

