{
  "id": 14950619,
  "title": "Tesla's new flying Roadster did exactly what Elon Musk said it would in a post 8 years ago",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/teslas-new-flying-roadster-did-exactly-what-elon-musk-said-it-would",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-16T11:58:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-described-tesla-flying-roadster-tech-8-years-ago-2026-10"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Eight years after Elon Musk first shared his vision for Tesla's Roadster, the company's latest creation has taken to the skies in much the same way Musk described it. On Thursday, Tesla's Roadster was seen leaping into the air, following a test run at a SpaceX facility in Texas. Musk's initial announcement in 2019 detailed a plan for the Roadster to use cold-gas thrusters powered by ultra-high-pressure air stored in composite pressure vessels, replacing the two rear seats. The technology was put to the test during the demonstration, with the Roadster climbing a curved ramp, rolling through the air, and landing on its wheels. Musk's commitment to his technology innovations has been more consistent than his production schedule, which has seen multiple delays. Despite the delays, the Roadster's technology has proven successful, similar to Musk's other ambitious technological promises, such as his plan for SpaceX to catch a Super Heavy booster with its launch tower arm using grid fins.",
  "summary": "Musk told Marques Brownlee in 2019 that Tesla's Roadster would use cold-gas thrusters. The car briefly flew using that",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Elon Musk shifts responsibility to Trump over satellite restrictions affecting Ukraine",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/elon-musk-shifts-responsibility-to-trump-over-satellite-restrictions",
        "published": "2026-10-14T21:30:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "The Memo: Crisis and chaos hit Ukraine as questions multiply over Trump’s role",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/the-memo-crisis-and-chaos-hit-ukraine-as-questions-multiply-over",
        "published": "2026-10-14T22:50:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "Ukraine faces loss of key satellite support amid tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/ukraine-faces-loss-of-key-satellite-support-amid-tensions-between",
        "published": "2026-10-14T23:38:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "Ukraine denies attacking Russian refineries after Trump’s ‘energy truce’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/ukraine-denies-attacking-russian-refineries-after-trumps-energy-truce",
        "published": "2026-10-14T23:53:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "In 2018, Elon Musk gave Flint schools $480,350 for water filters; four years later, students could drink from fountains after years without safe water",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/in-2018-elon-musk-gave-flint-schools-480-350-for-water-filters-four",
        "published": "2026-10-15T02:01:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Axios",
        "title": "Scoop: Inside Elon Musk's massive Texas rescue mission",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/scoop-inside-elon-musks-massive-texas-rescue-mission",
        "published": "2026-10-15T09:00:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Insider",
        "title": "Elon Musk just unveiled a Tesla Roadster that flies — take a look",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/elon-musk-just-unveiled-a-tesla-roadster-that-flies-take-a-look",
        "published": "2026-10-16T01:17:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Economic Times",
        "title": "Elon Musk unveils flying Tesla",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/elon-musk-unveils-flying-tesla",
        "published": "2026-10-16T02:38:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}