[Lekooks] Fwd: Elon Musk News Premium - Issue 108

[Liz Kreml]

Hi everyone,

During Joys and Concerns I shared that I will be curating a newsletter
about Elon Musk. There are actually two versions, a free one and this
Premium version I'm sharing. I'll also be posting on some social media
sites and keeping a news feed up to date.

I can't believe someone is going to pay me to research, read and write
blurbs on what Elon Musk and his companies are up to. I do it anyway! Life
really is a hoot. And it's nice to be reminded that good things are still
happening.

Take care,
Liz


If we are facing in the right direction. all we have to do is keep walking.
- Zen Proverb

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Elon Musk News <news at elonmusknews.org>
Date: Fri, Apr 28, 2017 at 12:02 PM
Subject: Elon Musk News Premium - Issue 108
To: Lizkreml at gmail.com


Elon Musk News Premium - Issue 108

Note From The Curator
The top three stories in this issue of *Elon Musk News Premium* are:

   1. Weather looks good for Falcon 9 launch Sunday, but payload still a
   mystery
   <http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=65bbe9c73d&e=a96f0cc537>
   2. Leaked Tesla factory photos reveal ‘alien’ robot army for Model 3
   production line
   <http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=ee8ba26e5e&e=a96f0cc537>
   3. First Sighting of The Boring Company's Boring Machine [Gallery]
   <http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=13c6610984&e=a96f0cc537>

If you're like me, you love obscure facts about Elon Musk and his
companies. That's why I've included a trivia section at the bottom of this
newsletter (thanks for the idea Brandon!). There is also a link to a form
where you can submit your own trivia Qs+As. Let me know what you think!

I am also bringing a new curator on board. She is a long-time premium
member, and has a ton of knowledge about Elon Musk and his companies! As a
result I need to change the time the newsletter is published on Tuesdays &
Fridays.

Could you please take 30 seconds and let me know which time you prefer
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=3d41218314&e=a96f0cc537>
?

Thank-you for being part of this community, and enjoy issue 108!

Sincerely,
Zachary
Featured Quote
"First principles is kind of a physics way of looking at the world. You
boil things down to the most fundamental truths and say, 'What are we sure
is true?' … and then reason up from there."
— Elon Musk

*From **Kevin Rose*
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=cbc30a1735&e=a96f0cc537>
SpaceX
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=7be4548c10&e=a96f0cc537>
Weather looks good for Falcon 9 launch Sunday, but payload still a mystery
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=b1f5ac80b8&e=a96f0cc537>

An official weather outlook issued by U.S. Air Force meteorologists
Thursday calls for partly cloudy skies on Florida’s Space Coast for liftoff
of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket just after sunrise Sunday with a clandestine
payload for the U.S. government’s intelligence agencies.

Forecasters predict the only concerns at launch time Sunday will be liftoff
winds and cumulus clouds associated with isolated rain showers around
launch pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. There is an 80 percent
chance of acceptable conditions. The launch period opens at 7 a.m. EDT
(1100 GMT) and extends for two hours. SpaceX and the National
Reconnaissance Office, which owns the top secret payload launching on the
Falcon 9 rocket, have not announced when the launch will occur during the
two-hour window.
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=a7e5b4da4c&e=a96f0cc537>
SpaceX Falcon 9 ready for Sunday's classified US Department of Defense
launch mission
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=ab19d011d6&e=a96f0cc537>

SpaceX confirmed via Twitter shortly after noon on Tuesday (Pacific Time)
that it successfully completed a static fire testing of its Falcon 9 rocket
ahead of Sunday’s launch.
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=7fa5bf2473&e=a96f0cc537>
11 of the Coolest Job Openings at SpaceX
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=10c6dae256&e=a96f0cc537>

*Zach says: The positions listed are quite diverse and range from
instructional designer, to recovery operations engineer, to capture manager
and more! Let me know if you end up applying for one of these positions :)*
Tesla
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=a5a53c1e56&e=a96f0cc537>
Leaked Tesla factory photos reveal 'alien' robot army for Model 3
production line
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=4f284bdf99&e=a96f0cc537>

New insider photos taken by an individual who claims to be a Field Service
Engineer for Kuka Robotics – maker of the “X-Men superhero robots”
responsible for producing Tesla’s Model S, Model X and energy product line
– has revealed an army of 467 new robots that will reportedly be used on
the upcoming Model 3 production line.

Elon Musk said on an earnings call last August that the Model 3 production
line would ultimately resemble something like an “alien dreadnought”. The
robots captured in the photos appear to be largely manufactured by
Augsburg, Germany-based Kuka robotics. The Kuka robots, each costing
anywhere between $50k to as much as $500k can manage multiple tasks by
switching adapters and moving across multiple axes.
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=f3f3193ab6&e=a96f0cc537>
Tesla’s Advanced Automation group continues work on Model 3 lines as union
loses popularity
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=88adbbb3f0&e=a96f0cc537>

*Zach says: This article contains the letter that Elon Musk sent to the
employees at Grohmann. It is an excellent example of his leadership style,
and makes for a great read! *

While Tesla’s acquisition of Grohmann Engineering to create Tesla Advanced
Automation Group gave an opportunity for German union IG Metall to make a
push to unionize the workforce, the effort seems to be slowing down. After
CEO Elon Musk got personally involved following threats of a strike last
week, sources at Grohmann told Electrek that the union is losing ground and
some workers are even canceling their membership.

Around the same time, founder Klaus Grohmann retired, which Reuters is now
presenting as him being “ousted” because he disagreed with the move, while
Tesla says that the acquisition was part of his retirement plan. As we
reported last week, we learned that CEO Elon Musk held a Q&A with the Tesla
Grohmann employees earlier this month to hear their concerns and sent them
a letter last week with an updated offer.
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=1d75cd5eac&e=a96f0cc537>
Elon Musk meets with China’s Vice Premier as Tesla looks for new
Gigafactory locations
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=3c822a02cf&e=a96f0cc537>

While in China, Musk met with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang. The nature of
the discussion wasn’t disclosed, but it comes as Tesla is looking for 2 or
3 more locations to build Gigafactories for both batteries and cars.

Things got more exciting when Tesla announced earlier this year that it
plans to select 2 to 3 more Gigafactory locations by the end of 2017. Due
to the previous comments about establishing manufacturing capacity in
China, one of the plants is expected to be in the country. In the past,
company officials have linked the construction of a Chinese plant with the
launch of the Model 3 in the country. A Tesla factory in China would be for
domestic production, not for export, in order for Tesla to get rid of
import duties on its vehicles.
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=7c3c57e1e6&e=a96f0cc537>
Tesla starts rolling out automatic emergency braking built on its own
Autopilot architecture
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=2646046f3f&e=a96f0cc537>

Automatic emergency braking was the last major feature available in Tesla’s
first generation that the company needed to build using its own new
architecture and sensor suite on the second generation Autopilot.

Ironically, the feature is coming out the same day that Consumer Reports
decided to lower the ratings of the Model S and X because they don’t have
AEB yet. In the magazine’s defense, the AEB is technically 4 months late
since CEO Elon Musk first guided feature parity in December 2016, but the
timing is still suspiciously weird.
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=c27e773256&e=a96f0cc537>
Pre-Release Tesla Model 3 Spotted with Design Tweaks
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=774f0c338d&e=a96f0cc537>

The new version spotted Monday features a slight change to the rear
charging port. In earlier sightings from this month, the port appeared to
be entirely blacked out. In the case of the Model S and Model X, the port
is a solid red color that matches better with the rear stop lights. In this
new sighting, it looks like Tesla may be experimenting with a two-tone door
that looks more like a light than it does on previous models. It looks more
pleasing aesthetically, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that Tesla is
looking to extend the rear light around the left side.

Unlike the previous sightings, this model also features the Tesla badge.
There was little doubt the vehicle would feature the company’s branding,
but it shows the company is drawing closer to final production.
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=0776648110&e=a96f0cc537>
Tesla Model 3: new white release candidate spotted testing
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=2a9bf52cf4&e=a96f0cc537>

After someone spotted an updated blue Tesla Model 3 release candidate, we
were wondering if it’s actually a new unit or just an updated version of
the last blue release candidate. Now we can finally confirm that a third
Model 3 release candidate is being tested on public roads since a white
prototype has been spotted.
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=00d997a602&e=a96f0cc537>
Analyst: Tesla Could Sell a Million Cars Far Sooner Than Predicted
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=aed0de4769&e=a96f0cc537>

Tesla is on course to sell one million cars per year by 2020 or 2021,
according to a fund that saw big returns from buying shares in the company.
If it comes to fruition, Tesla would increase its global sales by more than
tenfold in just four years, transforming it from a niche automaker into a
mainstream competitor.

In a letter to shareholders released Tuesday, Baron Partners Fund claimed
that Tesla could start earning $70 billion in annual revenue and $7 billion
in operating profits in just four years time, money that will be used to
expand the business to several times its size.
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=5963cc68de&e=a96f0cc537>
Elon Musk converts $10M of SolarCity Notes to 33,333 shares of Tesla stock
at $300/share
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=223d284d64&e=a96f0cc537>

A new SEC Form 4 filing shows that Tesla CEO Elon Musk converted $10
million in SolarCity Senior Notes for 33,333 shares of Tesla stock at a
$300 per share price. The ‘Zero Coupon Senior Notes’ being converted were
acquired by Musk on December 7th, 2015 for $10 million and not due until
2020. The conversion of SolarCity Senior Notes is seen more as an
administrative transaction, as the resulting number of shares gained is a
little more than a few drops in the bucket when compared to the 33,599,088
number of shares of Tesla stock Musk owned prior to the transaction.
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=f911830658&e=a96f0cc537>
3 Drivers Filed a Lawsuit Against Tesla for "Vaporware" Autopilot
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=b1042aac0b&e=a96f0cc537>

All three of the drivers purchased or leased a Tesla Model S in late
November or early December of 2016. The three men say in the lawsuit that
when he purchased the car the Tesla website stated that both Enhanced
Autopilot and standard safety features would be available in December of
2016. Their claim states that when they received the cars, the promised
features were not functional.

In response to the lawsuit, Tesla released a statement saying: “Many of the
features this suit claims are ‘unavailable’ are in fact available, with
more updates coming every month. We have always been transparent about the
fact that Enhanced Autopilot software is a product that would roll out
incrementally over time, and that features would continue to be introduced
as validation is completed, subject to regulatory approval.” In the
statement, the company also writes that it has never claimed to have full
self-driving abilities, and calls the lawsuit “inaccurate and
sensationalist.”
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=923efef2dd&e=a96f0cc537>
How to escape from a Tesla Model X Falcon Wing door that lost power
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=9ee5374212&e=a96f0cc537>

YouTuber Xiaomage documented the process of popping off the rear speaker
cover and showing how one can manually open the Model X Falcon Wing door.
However, the YouTuber notes that the door can be difficult to manually open
because of its weight. It is clear from the video that the dual-hinged door
is dead weight and requires some strength to open manually.
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=aaea5afeca&e=a96f0cc537>
We wish the Tesla EXP Concept was real
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=6416673799&e=a96f0cc537>

*Zach says: The design gallery is stunning! Definitely worth a look.*

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the Tesla EXP Concept. Not something plucked
from the vast, industrious mind of Elon Musk, but the work of a Spanish
designer by the name of Xabier Albizu. As such, it doesn’t actually exist.
But Xabier has nonetheless gone into a fair bit of detail, imagining the
powertrain and how the aero might work. As Xabier sees it, the EXP has four
electric motors – one for each wheel – that allow for true four-corner
torque vectoring. The only real resemblance we can see between this and
other Teslas is at the front, where the designer has “reinterpreted the
Tesla design language” by incorporating the familiar Model S/X grille. Fine
by us – it’s a hypercar. Should look a bit mad.
The Boring Company
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=ea54be62f3&e=a96f0cc537>
First Sighting of The Boring Company's Boring Machine [Gallery]
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=22eba239d0&e=a96f0cc537>

*Zach says: This is the largest gallery I could find of The Boring
Company's new Boring Machine. Enjoy!*
Neuralink
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=cbcc448ec6&e=a96f0cc537>
Elon Musk "Definitely Wants to Avoid" Neuralink Police Torture
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=4667cae185&e=a96f0cc537>

Elon Musk doesn’t want to torture people. Why does that bear mentioning?
Perhaps it is the not-outlandish concerns that his neural lace-like concept
to merge the mind and A.I. might, in some dystopian future, be used for
interrogation. On Thursday, the serial entrepreneur took to Twitter to
reassure his followers that his Neuralink employees are working to
“definitely” avoid such scenarios.

Musk has big plans for Neuralink, none of which involve cyber-prisons. The
company’s technologies could be initially used to help paraplegics, people
with traumatic memories, or to help repair brain injuries that came about
as the result of a stroke. Future, non-medical applications could be
telepathic communication, increasing knowledge (think learning Kung Fu in
The Matrix), or watching movies in virtual reality.
Trivia
Where did the Falcon 9's name come from?
Answer in the next issue :)

*Have an electrifying trivia question we should ask in our next issue? **Submit
it here*
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=24dd8c5dbe&e=a96f0cc537>
*.*
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<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=8627cb9dc1&e=a96f0cc537>
Get 20% Off Our Tesla & SpaceX Themed Apparel
<http://elonmusknews.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3ec9cf9e6380e8e734e9a8d81&id=e626bedef3&e=a96f0cc537>

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Elon Musk News Anson Ave Coquitlam, British Columbia V3B 2H6 Canada
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