China Edges Ahead of Musk's SpaceX, Launches First Methane-fueled Rocket to Orbit
Elon Musk Podcast31 Heinä 2023

China Edges Ahead of Musk's SpaceX, Launches First Methane-fueled Rocket to Orbit

On the latest episode of "The Elon Musk Podcast," we're discussing a recent milestone in the global space race. China has leapfrogged SpaceX and Blue Origin, successfully launching the world's first methane-fueled rocket into orbit. The Chinese company, LandSpace, accomplished this feat with its Zhuque-2 rocket, which was launched from the Gobi Desert. This not only marks a significant step forward in China's ambitious space program but also underscores the escalating competition in the field of space exploration.

American companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin have also been working on developing methane-fueled rockets, also known as methalox rockets, largely due to their environmental and cost benefits. However, their attempts so far have been met with setbacks, such as the destruction of SpaceX's Starship and the failed launch of Relativity Space's Terran 1. With China's successful launch, the landscape of the international space race continues to shift rapidly.

Jaksot(1167)

Billionaires are following Elon Musk out of California

Billionaires are following Elon Musk out of California

California's proposed Billionaire Tax Act would impose a one-time 5% wealth tax on residents worth over $1 billion, potentially raising $100 billion from about 200 people. Larry Page and Peter Thiel are reportedly making plans to leave. Tech founders are calling it an organized seizure. Governor Newsom opposes it. The vote is in November 2026, but the residency cutoff is January 1, 2026, which is why billionaires are moving now.https://wilwaldon.com

30 Joulu 13min

Can Isaacman Beat China to the Moon?

Can Isaacman Beat China to the Moon?

Jared Isaacman was sworn in as NASA administrator on December 18 after a nomination process that included Trump pulling his name, a feud with Elon Musk, and a leaked 62-page restructuring plan. Now he says the US will land astronauts on the moon before Trump's term ends in January 2029. We break down who Isaacman is, what happened to his nomination, what Project Athena reveals about his vision, and whether any of this is achievable. https://wilwaldon.com

29 Joulu 12min

Musk Says "People Will Die" Over NYC's New Fire Commissioner

Musk Says "People Will Die" Over NYC's New Fire Commissioner

Elon Musk criticized incoming NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani for appointing Lillian Bonsignore as FDNY commissioner, warning "people will die" because she has never been a firefighter. Bonsignore is a 31-year FDNY veteran who led EMS operations during COVID-19 and responded to 9/11. We break down her qualifications, the political context, and whether Musk's criticism holds up.

28 Joulu 14min

China Just Deployed Humanoid Robots to Its Border With Vietnam

China Just Deployed Humanoid Robots to Its Border With Vietnam

China has deployed humanoid robots to patrol border crossings with Vietnam. The UBTECH Walker S2 can guide travelers, conduct inspections, patrol corridors, and swap its own batteries for 24-hour continuous operation. Deliveries began in December 2025 under a $37 million contract. We break down what the robots actually do, how the technology works, what it means for workers, and where this fits in the global robotics race.

28 Joulu 20min

15 People Are Dead. Tesla Was Warned About Door Traps

15 People Are Dead. Tesla Was Warned About Door Traps

A Bloomberg investigation found at least 15 people have died in crashes where Tesla doors would not open. Elon Musk was warned about the design flaw in early 2016 during Model 3 development. Now federal regulators have opened a second investigation, lawsuits are stacking up, and Tesla says a redesign is coming. We break down the facts, the timeline, and what owners can do right now.

27 Joulu 12min

DOGE Cut 271,000 Jobs. Spending Still Went Up.

DOGE Cut 271,000 Jobs. Spending Still Went Up.

The Department of Government Efficiency disbanded in November after cutting 271,000 federal jobs, the largest peacetime workforce reduction since World War II. But new data shows federal spending rose by $250 billion anyway. Elon Musk now calls DOGE only "somewhat successful" and says he would not do it again. We break down what happened, why the math never worked, and what Musk's government experiment reveals about the limits of disruption in Washington.

24 Joulu 13min

Musk Says xAI Will Ship an AI-Generated Game by 2026 - EP#1184

Musk Says xAI Will Ship an AI-Generated Game by 2026 - EP#1184

Elon Musk's xAI is recruiting developers to build an AI-powered gaming studio from scratch. The company says it will release a fully AI-generated game before the end of 2026. This is not a research demo. It is a consumer product claim that puts xAI in direct competition with Microsoft, Nvidia, and traditional game publishers experimenting with AI. We break down what xAI is building, how the technology works, and what it could mean for the $600 billion gaming industry.

23 Joulu 18min

How Musk Gained $150 Billion in One Week

How Musk Gained $150 Billion in One Week

Elon Musk became the first person in history worth $700 billion after the Delaware Supreme Court restored his $139 billion Tesla pay package. Four days earlier he crossed $600 billion on SpaceX's surging valuation. He is now worth more than the next three richest people combined. The path to becoming the world's first trillionaire is now in view.

23 Joulu 12min