Russia sets sights on lunar south pole in first moon mission since 1976

Plus: Now Musk wants a ‘noble’ debate with Zuckerberg, not a cage fight. 🚀 Russia embarked on its first moon mission in over 50 years yesterday, launching the Luna-25 spacecraft. In a few days, it will land on the moon’s south pole to look for ice. The historic mission marks a major milestone for the nation's space program, but as we reported earlier this week, it was not without risk: A village close to the launch site was evacuated as a precaution before lift-off. Read the full story in [today’s Must Read article](. 🔐 Also, trusting a security placebo never makes sense. Don't let your organization fall victim to a discredited security approach that provides little or no protection. Here’s a [quick rundown of a half-dozen security practices]( that remain widely used, despite being generally worthless or obsolete. Good morning. I’m Tim, Newsletter Editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. What's happening today? VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( What were the most powerful nuclear bomb explosions in history? Explore the biggest recorded nuclear bomb explosions, from the 15-kiloton “Little Boy” to the astounding 50-megaton Tsar Bomba. 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 🌗 Russia’s first moon mission since 1976 takes to the skies 🇷🇺 Russia launched its first moon mission since 1976 yesterday, sending the Luna-25 spacecraft aboard a Soyuz rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome. The historic mission marks a milestone for Russia's space program after decades without a lunar mission. The lander is designed to make a soft landing on the lunar south pole in search of water ice. If successful, it would be the first spacecraft to touch down in the moon's south polar region. Russian scientists aim to convert any discovered ice into water, oxygen, and rocket fuel. ⚠️ [The entire village of Shakhtinskyi was evacuated]( because of a one-in-a-million chance of impact. Residents were relocated to watch the launch and enjoy a free meal. [[Read More]( HOT TOPICS - 🚀 [Virgin Galactic finally launches first space tourist flight]( Passenger Jon Goodwin had feared he would not be able to fly to suborbital space due to his Parkinson's disease diagnosis. - 🚨 [At least 36 people have died in raging Hawaii wildfires]( “It's like an apocalypse,” said a local resident. - 🛰 [Solar spacecraft to make its first Earth flyby after 17 years]( STEREO-A mission spacecraft will travel between the Sun and Earth this Saturday, August 12. - 💧 [New study enhances hydrogen production efficiency from water]( Hydrogen production has faced many challenges, but water-splitting seems to be promising. Is this what we've been looking for? - 🫀 [Scientists find nine kinds of microplastics in human hearts]( The largest microplastic measured 469 μm in diameter. [Culture]( ✋ Musk wants ‘noble’ debate with Zuckerberg not cage fight In a rapid turn of events, Musk is warming up to engaging in a debate with Zuckerberg instead of a cage fight. Interestingly, this was suggested by Elon's mother, Maye, back in June, but the Tesla CEO kept the fire about the cage fight burning. [[Read More]( [Military]( 🇬🇺 Guam to test island's missile defense systems in 2024 The systems are designed to be the island's first line of defense in case of ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missile attacks. It will feature radars, launchers, interceptors, and a command-and-control system. Some of these elements are in place, but the complete package should be good-to-go by 2024. [[Read More]( [Innovation]( 🐄 Zero, the eco-friendly rocket, to begin testing in Japan Zero is a two-stage rocket that uses liquid methane as its propellant, which is cheap and has good performance. It also uses liquid biomethane from cattle manure to contribute to carbon neutrality. Interstellar Technologies plans to offer customers low-cost and flexible launch services with Zero. 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