This Nazi-style megagun aims to replace space rockets

Plus: 🤖 XQ-58A ‘Valkyrie’ drone successfully flown by AI pilot [Blueprint]( 💡A bold new startup called Longshot is developing a radical alternative to traditional space launches: An immense pneumatic cannon that fires cargo into orbit at hypersonic speeds. This kinetic launch system could provide rapid, economical orbital access if proven viable — though only for cargo, not humans. Jump to [today’s Must Read]( for more detail on how Longshot plans to throw access to space wide open with a concept that can be traced back to one of Hitler’s World War 2 revenge weapons. Good morning. I’m Tim, an Editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. What else is new today? VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( How the superconductor discovery could change our world forever South Korean scientists claim to have created a room-temperature superconductor that could revolutionize everything from computing to transport. 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 [This Nazi-style megagun aims to replace space rockets]( ⤴️ California-based hypersonic launch startup Longshot is developing a kinetic launch system to fire cargo into space, with no rockets required. Using a miles-long air cannon, it will accelerate payloads to incredible speeds, and it will be a significantly cheaper route to orbit. Their multi-stage compressor gun will boost projectiles up to Mach 30, shooting them into orbit in seconds. 💫 While only for cargo, not humans, by repeatedly firing projectiles “like toothpaste” into space, Longshot are taking at rapid, economical access to space. 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[Innovation]( 🤖 XQ-58A ‘Valkyrie’ drone successfully flown by AI pilot An experimental drone has officially flown under artificial intelligence control, the Air Force Research Laboratory (ARFL) announced. This follows around two years of research and development with the intent of creating unmanned fighter aircraft. [Read More]( [Science]( 🌏 PLATO mission could detect tens of thousands of habitable planets In 2026, the European Space Agency (ESA) will launch PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO), an exoplanet-hunting mission that will investigate over 245,000 stars to look for planets similar to Earth. The mission is expected to find tens of thousands of potentially habitable planets. [Read More]( [Health]( 🧫 New chemotherapy can kill all solid tumors in animal trials So far, the therapy has proven successful in animal models and researchers will soon begin human trials. The new cancer-killing pill, called AOH1996, targets a cancerous variant of PCNA, a protein that, in its mutated form, is critical in DNA replication and repair of all expanding tumors. [Read More]( job alert In this section you’ll find the latest jobs as featured on: [jobs.interestingengineering.com]( [Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)]( [-,US]( [Engineering Manager, Payroll and Tax]( [New York,US]( [Senior Network Engineer]( [London,UK]( [Tower Technician]( [Plainfield,US]( [Sr. Engineer, Enterprise applications]( [San Jose,US]( [Software QA Analyst]( [New Bremen,US]( [Senior Agile Software Engineer (Azure Cloud Native)]( [-,US]( [Cyber Security Engineer]( [Draper,US]( [Senior Data Science Engineer, Adobe Firefly]( [San Jose,US]( [Software Engineer III, Infrastructure, Project Starline]( [San Francisco,US]( QUESTION OF THE DAY What do you make of Longshot’s plan to use a pneumatic gun to fire payloads into orbit? [Very smart]( [Nice idea, but it won't work]( [Limited practical use]( [I'd like to see it in action]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS While 40 percent of you are happy with terrestrial accommodation, are combined 58 percent would like to be a guest in an orbital hotel, if the price was right. 40% No, I prefer Earth 38% Yes, but out of my budget 20% Yes, it's a dream of mine 2% No, they'll never exist “AI will be a critical element to future warfighting and the speed at which we’re going to have to understand the operational picture and make decisions.” Brigadier General Scott A. 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