Lockheed Martin and NASA to test nuclear-powered Mars rocket as soon as 2027

Plus: 🧬 Glass-coated DNA is 4 times stronger but 5 times less dense than steel [Blueprint]( Lockheed Martin has officially been selected by NASA and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to design, build, and test a nuclear-powered rocket demonstrator. The program will test a nuclear-powered rocket in space as soon as 2027. We have the full, exciting story in [today's Must Read article]( below. ❇️ Also today, get your free copy of [The Evolving Ethics of AI: What Every Tech Leader Needs to Know]( to understand the most pressing ethical issues surrounding artificial intelligence and machine learning. This ebook offers expert guidance to navigate this new landscape, making it essential for tech leaders who need to consider ethical implications and make informed, responsible decisions. 🎬 But first, here’s [your video of the day](. Good morning. I’m Tim, an Editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let’s get into it. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers learned about how intelligent life may be more likely to evolve in the oceans than on the land. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+]( today to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( How AGM-114 hellfire became the ninja bomb Originally known as the "Heliborne laser, fire-and-forget missile," the Hellfire quickly earned its iconic nickname, which eventually became its official designation. The Hellfire project has since evolved into a family of missiles, designed to engage both stationary and moving targets. SUPPORT INTERESTING ENGINEERING Invest in science and engineering Insider access to exclusive content, featuring riveting stories that take you right to the heart of the action. Engage with our thriving online community, dive into captivating science discoveries, and stay informed with our enlightening weekly premium newsletters. With IE+, quality reporting is more than just news - and it is Ad-Free. [SUBSCRIBE]( Must Read [🚀 Lockheed Martin to give NASA, Pentagon nuclear-powered rocket for Mars by 2027]( NASA and DARPA have selected Lockheed Martin to design a spacecraft called “The Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations” (DRACO) that will test a nuclear thermal engine in space by 2027, a significant development in the drive towards nuclear propulsion. Nuclear rockets are far more efficient than chemical rockets, needing less fuel and allowing more space for equipment. This technology would enable quicker trips to Mars and reduce the logistic demands of missions. With twice the propulsion of traditional rockets, DRACO's nuke-powered engine would provide greatly enhanced capabilities for deep space exploration. [Read More]( HOT TOPICS - 🔋 [The ultimate guide to battery technology]( Our modern world would look very different without batteries. But what does the future hold for this technology? - ☢️ [Nobel laureate to build rapid-fire laser-powered nuclear fusion reactor by 2030]( Shuji Nakamura's company is looking at boron instead of deuterium as a fuel for its fusion reactors as the former, as it does not produce harmful neutrons. - ❌ [Scientists dispute Professor Avi Loeb's claims he found alien technology]( Loeb claims tiny spherules he and his team found were most likely a “technological gadget with artificial intelligence.” - 🍿 [In bad faith? Netflix lists $900,000 AI job as Hollywood strikes against AI and low wages]( This comes as writers and actors are on strike against low pay and AI intervention in films. - 🇮🇷 [Iran's allegedly AI-guided 'Abu Mahdi' cruise missile is officially live]( Iran’s navy and army have officially received the homegrown, 1,000 km-range, AI-guided “Abu Mahdi” cruise missile. [Innovation]( 🧬 Glass-coated DNA is 4x stronger but 5x less dense than steel Researchers developed a structure of self-assembling DNA and coated it with a very thin layer of flawless glass-like material only a few hundred atoms thick. This made the material very strong, while the voids comprising most of the material’s volume made it lightweight. The end result was a glass nanolattice structure that are four times higher in strength but five times lower in density than steel. [Read More]( [Transportation]( 💥 Aurora’s quad-turbocharged V12 engine will be the most powerful, boasting 1,250 hp Danish supercar makers Zenvo Automotive has announced that it will develop this engine with powertrain specialist Mahle Powertrain. The 6.6 liter quad-turbocharged V12 engine will produce a whopping 1250hp. The peak power comes at 8,000 rpm, and the engine will rev up to 9800 rpm, with claims of a unique soundtrack like no other engine. [Read More]( [Innovation News]( [♻️ This tech can produce hydrogen on-demand by using more efficient Zinc batteries]( The new system uses energy stored during charging in metallic zinc, with hydrogen being held in the water of the electrolyte at ambient pressure and significantly higher density than pressurized or liquid hydrogen gas. The first tests indicate 50 percent efficiency when storing power and 80 percent when producing hydrogen, with an estimated life expectancy of ten years. [Read More]( QUESTION OF THE DAY Is nuclear propulsion the key to interplanetary missions? [Yes, it's absolutely necessary]( [Chemical rockets can do it]( [No, it's too hazardous]( [Still not powerful enough]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS The development of hibernating drones is one of the most significant technological innovations to emerge from the Russia-Ukraine war, according to 59 percent of you. 59% Hibernating drones 25% Long range drones 9% Marine kamikaze drones 8% Anti-personnel drones “Working with DARPA and companies across the commercial space industry will enable us to accelerate the technology development we need to send humans to Mars.” Pam Melroy, NASA Deputy Administrator ENGINEER'S ARSENAL [Dahle 554 Professional Rotary Trimmer]( [HFS (R) Heavy Duty Guillotine Paper Cutter]( [Texas Instruments Graphing Calculator]( [Jet-Bow Beam Combination Drawing Set]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Dying stars entirely made of elusive dark matter may erupt as 'invisible supernovae']( - [Space Force's first-ever 'orbital warfare' exercise has been delayed]( - [Russia offers joint research on its 2027 space station to BRICS members]( - [Are wines are losing the battle against climate change?]( [premium] - [Butterfly flight inspires researchers to explore new ways to create force and electricity]( - [Plant-based milk not nutritionally equal to cow milk, finds new study]( - [New study unearths a beautifully preserved 150 million-year-old turtle]( - [Manganese ocean ‘potatos’ are highly radioactive]( [premium] Need help with advertising? 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