A DIY rocketeer wants to launch an astronaut

Musk's Boring Company's Prufrock-1 TBM surfaces at Vegas Loop station, New 'game-changing' technology removes 99% of carbon dioxide from the air Feb 07, 2022 [View in browser]( I've always liked model rockets, but I never actually sent one of mine into space. A Danish amateur spaceflight program just might pull off that feat and send up an astronaut, too. Copenhagen Suborbitals has rounded up 50 volunteers, one of whom may actually venture into space, aboard its amateur rocket. But before we get to our big story about amateur rocketeers, you have to watch this video of a skilled artisan hand-crafting genuine parchment. Talk about a clean slate for your Monday. Good morning. I’m Derya, an editor here at IE. Welcome to The Blueprint. Let’s get into it. [Video]VIDEO OF THE DAY [Here's how genuine parchment is prepared by hand]( A skilled artisan at work shows how in detail. [Here's how genuine parchment is prepared by hand]( INNOVATION [Musk's Boring Company's Prufrock-1 TBM surfaces at Vegas Loop station]( [Prufrock-1 arriving in Vegas.]( Elon Musk's The Boring Company [achieved a major milestone last Saturday]( as its Prufrock-1 Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) surfaced at Resorts World in Las Vegas. - What’s next? An overground station will now need to be built before the destination is added to the Loop. The city has plans to increase the number of stations to connect more parts of the city like International Airport, Allegiant Stadium, and the University of Nevada in the future. Show off the future. The Boring Company is determined to solve our traffic woes. The first successful project was completed at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which ferried 15,000-17,000 passengers daily during CES 2022 earlier this year. Using the underground loop, a 45-minute transit through congested roads can be completed in just two minutes, since, unlike subway cars, electric passenger vehicles used in TBC's Loop can move at 150 mph (241 km/h). But no system is flawless, since traffic jams [are not a wholly uncommon facet in Musk’s tunnels](. [Read More]( SCIENCE [New 'game-changing' technology removes 99% of carbon dioxide from the air]( [Exhaust pipe exhausting carbon dioxide.]( Engineers from the University of Delaware [developed a method capable of capturing]( 99 percent of carbon dioxide from the air using an electrochemical system powered by hydrogen. - Silver bullet? The team's prototype is designed to scrub CO2 out of a vehicle's exhaust, but it could also be used for aircraft, spacecraft, and submarines. And aside from boosting the performance of carbon capture technology, the new method could also enable the commercial production of more sustainable fuel cells. Money in it. While the new system has great potential for improving carbon capture as a whole, some scientists have cautioned that carbon capture will not be enough to avert the climate crisis. In fact, some scientists think [carbon capture is a "dangerous distraction"]( used as an excuse to slow the transition away from fossil fuel consumption. Nevertheless, several large carbon capture projects are in the works, including a new carbon capture facility in Scotland that [will remove up to 1 million tons of CO2]( from the atmosphere per year. [Read More]( INNOVATION [A DIY rocket builder enlists 50 volunteers to launch an amateur astronaut]( [A rocket.]( A group of 50 volunteers at Copenhagen Suborbitals [are building a rocket called “Spica”]( to send to space, and if the intrepid group actually succeeds in lifting the rocket off the ground and into orbit, it will mark a key milestone for amateur space ventures. - The group consists of amateur rocketeers in Denmark. Their goal is to launch a person into sub-orbital space on a homemade rocket and a very tight budget. They're the world's only manned amateur space program and they have launched five rockets since 2011. Small moves. Not just for billionaires? The volunteers venture a guess that it’ll take at least 10 more years before Spica will fly into orbit. While a lot can go wrong, if they make it, Spica will be the first amateur spacecraft to loft a crewed suborbital flight. We wish them luck, and needless to say, we’ll be following this project closely, as it’s [not like something similar hasn’t been attempted before](. [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS Copenhagen Suborbitals is not alone. On May 17, 2004, Civilian Space eXploration Team (CSXT) achieved the first officially verified flight of an amateur high-power rocket into space. Do you think that amateur rocketeers should receive government aid? Be sure you check back tomorrow for the results! [Yes. Look out, Elon and Jeff!]( [No. Rocket science is too dangerous.]( [I don’t see the point. Why not join the government?]( [What a waste of resources.]( Yesterday’s Results The teen who tracks Elon Musk's private jet on Twitter wants a Tesla vehicle in exchange for deleting his account. We asked whether you believe Musk should give him what he wants, and the answer seems to be a definitive no, since it would encourage potential vexers. No, it would encourage potential vexers. 54% I think this is a trivial matter. 25% Yes, I don’t think a Tesla would bother a billionaire like Elon Musk. 15% I'm not sure since the teenager did not break the law. 6% QUOTE OF THE DAY “ In biology, nothing is clear, everything is too complicated, everything is a mess, and just when you think you understand something, you peel off a layer and find deeper complications beneath. Nature is anything but simple. ” Richard Preston in ‘The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus’ AND ANOTHER THING... - Can AI save humanity from climate change? That’s the wrong question. Machine learning can work wonders, [but it’s only one tool among many](. - So if you've had the omicron variant, [should you get a booster]( And if so, how long should you wait after the infection has passed? (Live Science) - [Two long-awaited laws introduced]( into the House of Representatives could finally let ordinary citizens fix their pricey tech items, instead of having to pay the manufacturer (or buy a new one). - Two teams have shown [how quantum approaches can solve problems faster]( than classical computers, bringing physics and computer science closer together. (Quanta Magazine) - People are fraudulently [driving up NFT prices by buying their own work]( The practice should be illegal, but the NFT space is not yet properly regulated. - Some animals and plants [are rapidly adapting to our warming, polluted world](. How alarming that is depends on your perspective. (WIRED) - Have you [ever wondered who invented the bra]( and for what reasons? And most importantly, are these still valid in 2022? [Share to Win]SHARE TO WIN [All products]( Share The Blueprint! Give your friends deeper insights into engineering and tech, and win exclusive IE swag for free. [Read Details]( Share your link Copy & share your referral link with others. [ [Referral Program Terms and Conditions]( Prepared by Derya Ozdemir and Brad Bergan Enjoy reading? Don't forget to forward to a friend! Was this email forwarded to you? 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