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Roadster's rocket hop clears five Tesla models in Texas
The demo in Texas had the Roadster leap over five other Tesla vehicles, and The New York Times puts its price at no less than two hundred thousand dollars; parking remains unaddressed.
On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on Best of BBNPublished
Photo: Editor928111 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0Watch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from Best of BBN at 2:49 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are TechCrunch's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by TechCrunch: “Tesla reveals SpaceX-powered Roadster that flies and falls with style”, with reporting from The New York Times.
- Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 2:49 AM ET on Best of BBN, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.
- Topics: Roadster, Tesla, Ford EV, Texas.
- BBN covered this story before: Tesla's Long-Delayed Roadster Finally Takes Flight (October 15).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe new detail is the demo itself: in Texas, the Roadster used thrusters to hop over a Cybercab, a Cybertruck, a Semi, a Model Y and a Model 3.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentIt jumped over five cars. The whole lineup was just sitting there, like traffic cones.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentHere's how it works: rocket thrusters push air or gas down hard, and the car goes up.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe New York Times says the price is at least two hundred thousand dollars, so you are paying for the push.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo where do you park it?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentWherever the thrusters leave you. That is my concern, and the neighbors' roof should be theirs.
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Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Océanos y dados · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Thomas Wolf , www.foto-tw.de · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Melanie Wallner · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Robert.Harker · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: ABI imagery from NOAA's GOES-18 satellite · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
The story so far
- Tesla's China-Made EV Sales Rise as Europe Recovers · Seeking Alpha
- Tesla's Roadster 2 finally debuts Thursday, nine years late · Wired
- The Tesla Roadster could have stayed vaporware · The Verge
- Seven of 16 planetary vital signs hit record extremes · Wired
- Tesla's 2026 Roadster starts at $200,000 and aims at gas-car fans · The New York Times
- Tesla's Long-Delayed Roadster Finally Takes Flight · WSJ
- Roadster's rocket hop clears five Tesla models in Texas (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Friday, October 16, 2026 · the Tech archive · all months
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