Overview
- The unmanned demonstration showed the Roadster launch from a steel ramp and perform aerial maneuvers on Thursday at a SpaceX test site near Waco, Texas.
- Tesla said the Rocket variant uses cold‑gas propulsors with roughly ten thrusters fed by compressed‑air tanks of about 600 liters and an underbody suction system to create brief lift and extreme control.
- The company released performance estimates — including 0–97 km/h in under one second, a 370+ km/h top speed and more than 480 km range — but those figures have not been independently verified.
- Tesla opened reservations with large deposits for limited versions and said the single‑seat Rocket will not be authorized for public roads, raising practical and legal limits on use.
- Analysts reacted with skepticism about delivery timing, certification and costs and investors pared shares as markets shifted focus to Tesla’s upcoming quarterly results and cash needs.