Ex-SpaceX engineers are building a cheap, portable nuclear reactor

NASA just launched a new spacecraft to explore 8 ‘trojan’ asteroids, Bell showcases its up-and-coming helicopter. Oct 16, 2021 # Good day! Just a couple of hours ago, NASA launched its spacecraft in a mission called Lucy. Tasked with exploring 8 trojan asteroids around Jupiter to find clues about the primordial material that formed the outer planets. In yet another invention intended for space exploration ending up proving useful for humans on earth, a team of former SpaceX engineers is building a cheap and portable nuclear reactor. The best part about it is that it's transportable by means of land, sea, or even air. Moving into defense: During a recent event, Bell showcased how it is doing with its up-and-coming model 360 Invictus stealth helicopter, and it's a perfect combo of technology and simplicity. This is The Blueprint. Keep reading. INNOVATION [Ex-SpaceX Engineers Are Building a Cheap, Portable Nuclear Reactor]( [A concept image of Radiant's microreactor.]( From memory foam to cochlear implants and infrared thermometers, many of the great inventions we take advantage of today were originally intended to address the problems faced in space environments. Now, [carrying their expertise from aerospace over]( a team of former SpaceX engineers is developing the "world's first portable, zero-emissions power source". Why it matters? There are two good reasons: - It's lightweight and can bring power to remote areas. - It's cost-effective, which makes it a viable option to scale for energy demand in populated areas. There are other contenders in the portable nuclear reactor field. [Especially a floating kind]( is causing quite the stir. What sets Radiant's reactor apart is that its ability to be transported by air, sea, and land routes. The prototype microreactor outputs 1 MW, which is enough to power about a thousand homes for 8 years. Being a prototype-phase product, the company's test campaign will determine the microreactor's fate. [Read More]( SCIENCE [NASA Just Launched a New Spacecraft to Explore 8 'Trojan' Asteroids]( [The launch]( NASA's Lucy mission [successfully launched]( on Saturday at 5:34 am ET (09:34 UTC) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Here’s what we know about the one-of-a-kind mission: Why is it called Lucy? The mission is named after our fossilized human ancestor called Lucy. Lucy’s skeleton provided unique insight into humanity's evolution and, similarly, the Lucy mission will aim to provide breakthroughs in our knowledge of planetary origins and the formation of the solar system. What will it investigate? The $981 million mission will seek to find knowledge on as many [asteroids located near Jupiter]( as possible (eight different asteroids — a Main Belt asteroid and seven Trojans). How will it work? Lucy will use boosts from Earth's gravity to complete its journey. Why is it unique? Lucy’s very complex path is unique in the sense that [no other space mission]( has been launched to as many different destinations in independent orbits around the sun. It will showcase for the first time, the variety of the primordial bodies that developed the planets. [Read More]( INNOVATION [Bell 360 Invictus Is Set To Be the Army’s New Attack Reconnaissance Chopper]( [Bell 360 Invictus]( During the recent AUSA 2021 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, D.C., Bell showcased details about [its 360 Invictus program](. The company disclosed that the program is moving swiftly through manufacturing, assembly, components testing, and system integrations. The specs of the heli: With its articulated rotor, lift-sharing wing, and optimized tail rotor, the 360 Invictus offers high maneuverability, making it a formidable attack and recon helicopter fit for a diverse set of situations and conditions. 360 Invictus comes equipped with a 20mm cannon and an internal payload with a modular effects launcher. Thanks to its advanced sensors and air-launched effects, it provides the pilot with high situational awareness. Its supplemental power unit can act as a horsepower booster to increase cruise speed, perform dashes, do swifter turns, and hover payload. Its power can also be used as an auxiliary power source for ground maintenance. And let's not forget about [other defense companies' promising projects](. [Read More]( QUOTE OF THE DAY “ An expert is a person who has found out by his own painful experience all the mistakes that one can make in a very narrow field. ” Niels Bohr - quoted in Dr. Edward Teller's Magnificent Obsession by Robert Coughlan, in LIFE magazine (6 September 1954), p. 62 [Video]VIDEO OF THE DAY [Jet Suit Gives Paramedics Super Human Abilities]( It’s ideal for dangerous terrain that is difficult to access on foot. [Jet Suit Gives Paramedics Super Human Abilities]( AND ANOTHER THING... - Using a lens made of quantum gas, a new record was set for the [coldest temperature ever recorded](. - Giant planet discovered orbiting dead star may be a [glimpse into our solar system's future](. (CBS News). - Newly discovered fossils show that the earth looked [a lot like Tolkien's ‘Middle Earth’](. - Semiconductor this, semiconductor that. Here's how they make [the world of transistors]( work. (Veritasium/YouTube) - Flying taxis got a major boost from a new [ultrafast charging system](. - In need of a quick pick-me-up? [Short home workouts]( can help. (NPR) - The story of Alan Turing: The [Nazi-fighting computer genius]( betrayed by his country. Prepared by Loukia Papadopoulos and Utku Kucukduner Enjoy reading? Don't forget to forward to a friend! Was this email forwarded to you? [Subscribe]( [About Us]( | [Advertise]( | [Contact Us]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( [Instagram]( You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( to manage your newsletter subscriptions. © Copyright 2021 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 201 Spear Street, Suite 1100 San Francisco, CA 94105 | All Rights Reserved [Interesting Engineering]