From Joe Tegtmeyer.
Gigafactory Texas! This is where Model Y’s, and Cyber Truck production happens and in 2026, the Next Generation Car(s), Cybercab & the Optimus Robot!
I spent the weekend in Austin at the Everyday Astronaut’s Astro Awards event, which was amazing and a lot of fun and I was fortunate to tour Firefly on Monday and observe a live static fire of one of their Reaver rocket engines!
Because of this, I decided to take advantage of being near Giga Texas and flew Monday late afternoon for this video. Monday was also a national holiday, so no production was underway although there was some construction work.
Timestamps:
Drone flight overview with discussion & illustration: 0:06 to 4:29
Drone flight footage & infographics: 4:51 to 28:26
Ini the video introduction, I provide some images and discussion about the Astro Awards and a video I did with Astrolab on their innovative wheel design on their FLIP Lunar lander which will be launching in June or July this year! You can watch this video via the link in the sources below.
I also talked about my Firefly tour on Monday along with a short video clip of the Reaver rocket engine static fire that I was able to watch at close distance … a really awesome experience!
Coming back to Giga Texas, I discuss the Cortex 2 Chiller plant parts 1 & 2 and the remarkably quick progress that is being made. Part 1 has a large part of the superstructure assembled for 4 of the 6 fan units along with some of the exterior wall panels being installed. Part 2 now has almost 3 of the 4 perimeter walls poured with concrete while crews are adding more forms to extend the walls to eventually close in the entire structure.
Another big development we discuss is the arrival of the first 11 Megapacks that will be installed along the west side of Cortex 2 near where all the transformers and related electrical cabinets and systems have been installed. A new large crane has also arrived on site and will be assembled probably to lift these Megapacks or other heavy equipment around Cortex 2.
Finally, we discuss the electrical switchyard expansion progress, including work to support all six of the huge transformers. More trenching, cable installation and steel assembly that accompanies the transformers along with electrical utilities trucks that may signal high-tension wire installation may soon begin.
Thank you for watching and I hope this has been informative, educational, and entertaining for you. If you would like, please consider supporting me via Patreon (link is in the description of this video and in the video itself) so I can continue to make and share these incredible videos.
Sources used in this video:
Link to my YouTube video on Astrolab’s Rover wheel design:
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Be sure to check out additional Texas Gigafactory footage on these channels:
@Jeff Roberts
Video, photos, illustrations, and commentary on this video is by me, Joe Tegtmeyer unless otherwise annotated.
Music in this video is obtained from the YouTube free and unrestricted and royalty-free use library. Ending song is Mr. Sunny Face – Wayne Jones
Drones used are DJI Mini 2, Mavic Air 2 & Air 3.
Drone flight over Giga Texas is with permission of Tesla and CEO Elon Musk
