Part 8/13:
He also discusses the ongoing development of the Starship spacecraft, confirming plans for a 42-engine configuration by 2027, emphasizing the durability of stainless steel over aluminum for re-entry resilience, and sharing a new SpaceX laser communication experiment capable of connecting satellites at 25 gigabytes per second over 4,000 km.
Technological Frontiers and Controversies
Musk revisits the debate around Tesla's self-driving technology, criticizing reliance on lidar and radar sensors, which he claims can increase safety risks due to sensor disagreements. He advocates for a vision-only approach—relying solely on cameras—arguing that it simplifies systems and leverages large datasets for improved safety.