A Starship space station? NASA wants a modified SpaceX Mars rocket to orbit Earth

Plus: Hubble telescope captures enigmatic planet undergoing atmospheric changes with every orbit [Blueprint]( SpaceX's Starship rocket program is the culmination of founder, Elon Musk's original plan of sending humans to Mars and making humans an interplanetary species. In recent developments, the Starship boasts its upper stage's impressive 29.5-foot diameter means it could fit up to 100 passengers at a time. Now, NASA has announced it has selected seven companies via its Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities-2 initiative (CCSC-2). CCSC-2 is an unfunded Space Act Agreement that provides NASA consultation and technical expertise. NASA stated that SpaceX is collaborating with the space agency on an integrated low Earth orbit architecture in today’s [Must Read article](. 🆓 Also today, download this free guide about [Seven Ways to Reduce Non-Value-Added Work in Industrial Design from Dassault Systemes](. Based on a survey of 187 manufacturers, this Tech-Clarity research study examines industrial design, where time is wasted, and best practices to avoid non-value-added work. 🎬 But first, here’s your [video of the day](. Good morning. I’m Shubhangi, an editorial assistant 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 a waitress named Elon Musk's tech giant We delve into the intriguing story of Elon Musk's 'X Corp' and the serendipitous origins of its name. Join us as we explore the symbolic significance of the letter 'X' and its mysterious allure in various fields. From a simple suggestion to a revolutionary 'everything app,' this tale showcases the unyielding spirit of innovation that has shaped our technological landscape. 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 [A Starship space station? NASA wants a modified SpaceX Mars rocket to orbit Earth]( SpaceX's Starship rocket program is the culmination of founder Elon Musk's original plan of sending humans to Mars and making humans an interplanetary species. And yet, Musk has always championed the launch system, originally called the Interplanetary Transport System, as a versatile spacecraft that could be used as a rapid point-to-point transportation system for Earth — a modified version of Starship has also been contracted by NASA for the Artemis III Moon landings, expected to take place in 2025. Now, NASA has announced it has selected seven companies via its Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities-2 initiative (CCSC-2), an unfunded Space Act Agreement that provides NASA consultation and technical expertise. The US space agency envisions Starship as a "transportation and in-space low-Earth orbit destination." [Read More]( HOT TOPICS - 🔬 [Researchers use superconductor material KTaO3 to develop high magnetic field-resistant films]( The researchers applied molecular beam epitaxy to grow the KTaO3 thin films and developed a high-quality superconductive material with limited flaws. - 🌍[Google's android alert failed to notify people of Turkey earthquakes: BBC investigation]( The earthquakes caused mass destruction and over 50,000 deaths in Turkey. - 🔋 [7 major automakers join hands to set up 30,000 EV fast chargers in North America]( The first stations are scheduled to open in the United States next year, with Canada following later. - 🍄 [Forest fungi can eat and dissolve plastics, much like they do with bark]( Is this the solution we have been waiting for? - 🦕 [145 million-year-old fossils reveal new dinosaur species in Thailand]( Minimocursor phunoiensis is the name given to this new ancient plant-eating dinosaur species. [Science]( [🔭 Hubble telescope captures enigmatic planet undergoing atmospheric changes with every orbit]( A youthful planet has been exhibiting unpredictable alterations in its atmosphere during each revolution around its parent star. The Hubble Space Telescope made this fascinating discovery as it observed the planet orbiting AU Microscopii (AU Mic), a remarkably active red dwarf star. It was noted that the planet appeared to be retaining its atmosphere steadily. [Read More]( [Culture]( [🇻🇦 Ancient Roman emperor Nero's theater finally unearthed near Vatican City]( Roman archaeologists believe that they may have found remains of Nero's theater just east of Vatican City. Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was the fifth emperor of Rome, ruling from AD 54 to AD 68. He was a poet-warrior with a deep interest in theatrical arts, and on his deathbed, he said, "What an artist dies with me!" [Read More]( [Innovation]( [🕹️ North Korea's imitation of US 'Hawk' and 'Reaper' UAVs officially showcased]( North Korea has released images and footage of what appear to be exact replicas of U.S. RQ-4 "Hawk" and MQ-9 "Reaper." It is currently unclear how capable these new North Korean examples are. Along with footage from North Korea's Weapons and Equipment Exhibition 2023 in Pyongyang, state media has also released footage of the drones in flight. [Read More]( QUESTION OF THE DAY Would enhancing infrastructure by adding EV chargers nationwide help improve the climate crisis? [Doubt it]( [Definitely a progress]( [Doomed no matter what]( [Bunkering down underground]( "What an artist dies with me!" Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, fifth emperor of Rome THINGS WE LOVE [Instant Vortex Slim 6QT Air Fryer]( [Laptop Bed Tray Desk]( [GOLDENKEY Digital Security Safe]( [Bluetooth Thermal Label Printer]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Are wines losing the battle against climate change?]( [premium] - [Harvard scientists make a 3D-printed heart muscle beat using a new kind of ink]( - [Why are researchers vacuuming up animal DNA in the forest?]( - [Thailand's 'Fusion Hub' dream one-step closer with first Tokamak]( - [Earth's plate tectonics underwent a big change lately, uncovers new study]( - [Manganese ocean ‘potatos’ are highly radioactive]( [premium] - [Recycling's hidden microplastic menace]( [premium] - [The best and most innovative ideas for new batteries]( Need help with advertising? Reach 150,000 engineering and tech professionals. [Contact us](mailto:sales@interestingengineering.com?subject=Newsletter Sponsorship) what else? 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