SpaceX has unveiled the Starlink Mini 2, marking the first time the portable satellite terminal includes an integrated, swappable battery for true off-grid use. The device features a 71 Wh removable battery that provides up to 4.5 hours of connectivity on a single charge and attaches via a tool-free quick-release mechanism; users can hot-swap depleted batteries or power the dish continuously via 60W USB-C.

The terminal weighs 1.6 kg with the battery and kickstand attached, connects to the internet in approximately 60 seconds, and includes a physical power button and LED status indicators.

Key hardware upgrades over the original Mini include a slimmer design, Wi-Fi 6 support extending coverage to 167 square meters, and an IP67 durability rating for dust and water resistance. While the original Mini required external power banks, the Mini 2 eliminates this dependency, though spare batteries are expected to be sold separately for about $50.

Availability is currently limited to an invitation-only preorder in the United States at $999, which bundles the hardware with 12 months of Roam Unlimited service (valued at $2,100). 

SpaceX has signed a major supply contract with German equipment manufacturer SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES to build heterojunction (HJT) solar cell production lines at its Bastrop, Texas facility. The initial turnkey production line, valued at over $69 million, is scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2027.

This agreement is part of a broader strategic partnership aimed at scaling manufacturing capacity to support more than 100 GW of production equipment annually for SpaceX’s Starmind satellite constellation, which CEO Elon Musk has described as a plan to create a "sentient sun" for orbital AI computing.

"SpaceX has ordered 100 GW/year of HJT solar manufacturing equipment from Singulus in Germany," Musk wrote on X. "This is for Starmind to create a sentient sun."

SINGULUS will provide a complete turnkey production line for high-efficiency HJT solar cells, which combine crystalline and amorphous silicon layers.

All solar cell production will take place at SpaceX’s Gigasat facility in Bastrop, Texas, establishing a vertically integrated manufacturing path for the Starmind satellites.

The partnership began in March 2026, with SpaceX providing significant financial funding to SINGULUS in both March and October 2026, including through a subordinated secured loan.

While the first line is confirmed for first half of 2027, SINGULUS plans to supply multiple additional lines to meet the 100 GW annual equipment target as satellite production accelerates.

The Starmind program involves a constellation of satellites designed to carry heavy computing payloads that run AI workloads in orbit, powered by solar energy generated directly in space.

Musk clarified on X that the 100 GW/year figure refers to the capacity of the manufacturing equipment rather than the electricity generated, signaling an ambition to produce hundreds of thousands of satellites.

The solar arrays are a critical component, as they reportedly constitute most of the mass of each Starmind satellite, making domestic cell production essential for supply chain durability.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admitted to an extramarital affair with Alice Huang, a suspected Chinese spy, in a letter to staff on Sunday, prompting the company’s board to launch an independent investigation into potential national security breaches.

U.S. intelligence agencies determined that Alice Huang, an executive at a Singapore-based data center company and Nvidia customer, Megaspeed, was recruited by China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS). She allegedly engaged in a "honeypot" operation to influence Jensen Huang, who has advocated for looser AI chip export restrictions to China, and to help restricted Chinese firms acquire advanced Nvidia GPUs.

Megaspeed had reportedly purchased billions of dollars in Nvidia hardware and faced scrutiny regarding potential export control violations and whether advanced chips were being channeled into China.

In a memo titled "A message to our company," Huang stated, "I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did." He accepted full responsibility, apologized to his family and colleagues, and expressed his commitment to protecting Nvidia and U.S. national security.

Nvidia’s Board of Directors initiated an independent investigation, assisted by outside counsel, to determine if Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence effort and if any secrets were compromised. Despite the probe, the board expressed full confidence in his leadership, noting that routine customer interactions do not inherently involve sensitive information.

The State Department and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously warned top Trump officials about the relationship, leading to the public disclosure by The New York Times in late October.

The Chinese government dismissed the spying allegations as "groundless speculation" and "smears."

The U.S. House Select Committee on China requested that Huang appear before Congress to answer questions regarding potential security protocols, foreign adversary espionage risks, and U.S. export control compliance.

U.S. markets reacted with a slide in Nvidia’s share price.