SpaceX has had a busy year, as seen by its 19 completed flights and 12 planned flights in 2021. After blasting off from Cape Canaveral on June 17, Falcon 9 blasted through clouds for the US Space Force, successfully launching the GPS-III satellite. But SpaceX's plans to land it near trouble and Tesla gets investigated.
A Falcon 9 rideshare flight is scheduled for June 25. NASA likewise announced Crew-3 mission is scheduled for "no sooner than Sunday, October 31," with a return journey planned for November.
According to Inverse, Musk unveiled intentions to launch the Starship rocket in May, which is still in development, beyond Earth's orbit . Musk stated in an April news conference that he thought the mission will take place before 2024. A shot of Starship's Super Heavy rocket taken on June 15 reveals SpaceX is actively working on making the historic mission a reality.
@twitter|https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1405587123843911685?@
That is, assuming SpaceX avoids the wrath of Texas officials, who have threatened legal action against the business for improper road and beach closures to accommodate launches.
SpaceX was granted permission by the Federal Aviation Administration to block public areas around their Boca Chica launch facility for up to 300 hours this year, a number Tesla has surpassed in less than six months.
BOCA CHICA, TX - SEPTEMBER 28: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk gives an update on the next-generation Starship spacecraft at the company's Texas launch facility on September 28, 2019, in Boca Chica near Brownsville, Texas. (Photo by Loren Elliott/Getty Images)
This infraction, which is aggravated by SpaceX security guards mimicking law police, could result in a third-degree felony and prosecution against the firm, according to News4SanAntonio.
ALSO READ: SpaceX is Making Starship's Orbital Launch Tower Ahead of Potential SN16 Test Launch
Elon Musk's Tesla in Hot Waters, Too
Musk's company SpaceX is not the only one in hot water. After a spring plagued by terrible incidents and contentious software modifications that contributed to them, Inverse said Tesla's Autopilot continues to attract unfavorable attention.
Reuters said that The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has disclosed 30 open investigations into Tesla collisions dating back to 2016, 10 of which were fatal, in which Autopilot was suspected.
Tesla is not the only automaker under investigation for Autopilot; Volvo, Lexus, and Cadillac all have two active NHTSA investigations.
Despite Tesla's long-standing interest in fully autonomous vehicles (via MarketWatch), the current Autopilot system requires drivers to monitor automated operations such as steering and braking. However, due to muddled messaging, not all drivers are aware of this.
After this March, the NHTSA started eight Tesla Autopilot investigations, and Tesla drivers were seen with their hands off the wheel as late as last week. (In the instance of this Florida motorist, ABC-7 said he was reading a paperback novel while behind the wheel.) Tesla has not issued a statement in response to the NHTSA's news of its investigations.
On the other hand, Tesla aims to create full self-driving capabilities, possibly with your help as a customer. Autopilot testing jobs have recently become available around the United States, including in New York, California, and Washington, DC Applicants must be competent to drive a Tesla and operate the computer software.
RELATED ARTICLE: Elon Musk Places $52 Million Bet for Boring Las Vegas Tunnel to Transport Passengers
Check out more news and information on Elon Musk in Science Times.
