Luna-25: Russia’s first moon landing in 47 years ends in a crash

Plus: New ‘AI-brained’ Chinese satellite has just been launched 🚨 Russia’s Luna-25 spacecraft has crashed into the lunar surface after suffering a catastrophic failure, ending the nation's first moon mission in over 45 years. This disaster occurred just hours before the probe was due to make a historic soft landing on the Moon’s unexplored south pole today. We have more details about this unfortunate development for the Russian space program in today’s [Must Read](. Also today, Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are becoming crucial to manufacturing’s success. The [Control Engineering AI & Machine Learning eBook]( shows how AI drives efficiencies through greater insight and is becoming a crucial part of manufacturing success. Good morning. I’m Tim, Newsletter Editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let’s start the week! VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( This kite can move a cargo ship without fuel These kites propel mammoth cargo ships using prevailing winds, transforming sea travel. 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 [💥 Luna-25: Russia’s first moon landing in 47 years ends in a crash]( After launching on August 10th and beaming back initial images, Luna-25 experienced technical issues on Saturday that caused it to veer into an uncontrolled orbit. Ground control was unable to regain command before the wayward spacecraft eventually collided into the lunar surface. The lunar lander carried instruments to study the Moon's soil, magnetic field, and plasma environment. It was expected to detect ice deposits in a demonstration of Russia's revived lunar ambitions. So this loss deals a heavy blow to Russia's space program and its effort to re-assert itself as a leader in moon exploration after decades of difficulty. Many new robotic and human missions will head to the Moon over the coming years, but Luna-25's failure reminds us that space is hard and success is never guaranteed, even after nearly 50 years of advancement since the heady days of the race too the Moon. [[Read More]( HOT TOPICS - 🤖 [Food delivery robots are being robbed in the US]( Videos have surfaced of vandals kicking and forcefully opening the machines. - 🤐 [Phone hacking tech firm asks cops not to disclose its use]( A leaked video shows a senior employee asking law enforcement officials to keep the tech "hush hush." - 🩻 [Surgical robot allows cancer patients to heal faster]( The machine complements the work of skilled doctors without replacing them. - ⌫ [Twitter erases photos from 2011-2014, users panic]( The links that used Twitter’s URL shortener are also broken. - 🔥 [Wildfires leading to extinction? Palaeontologists investigate]( Is there a pattern emerging? A recent study draws parallels with the past. [Innovation]( 🛰 New ‘AI-brained’ Chinese satellite has just been launched China's revolutionary AI-powered “WonderJourney” satellite could usher in fully autonomous spacecraft very soon. The satellite's primary task will be to conduct system testing and validate various intelligent applications in orbit. These applications include connecting with future smart cars and drones and monitoring environmental conditions like forest fires, soil moisture, and pest diseases. [[Read More]( [Transportation]( 🤫 Flying car 'Epiphany Transporter' has near-silent NASA-proven thrusters Unlike traditional aircraft with broad wings, the Epiphany Transporter boasts morphing, dual-mode, ducted thrusters that enable it to hover like a helicopter and cruise flight like an airplane. It is also exceptionally quiet, making it ideal for urban environments. The interior accommodates two passengers, their luggage, and even their golf clubs, promising a seamless travel experience. [[Read More]( [Culture]( 🎓 Need a life coach? Google's AI could soon be the answer Amidst serious competition from the likes of OpenAI, Baidu, and Microsoft, Google is looking into creating innovative tools that use generative AI to respond to deeply personal inquiries. The project's ambition extends to generating ideas, offering tutoring services, and assisting in planning. [[Read More]( QUESTION OF THE DAY Would a personal AI life coach work for you? [No, what could it teach me?]( [Yes, it could help a lot]( [I have privacy concerns]( [I would only disappoint it]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS 🍻 Beer soup is a daily delicacy best left to our ancestors, according to 49 percent of you. However, 9 percent would definitely indulge. 49% Better suited for ancestors 21% Too bold for me 20% Reflecting on it 9% Definitely indulging “An abnormal situation occurred on board the automatic station, which did not allow the maneuver to be performed with the specified parameters.” Roscosmos, the Russian space agency THE ACCESSORY CORNER null [XREAL Air AR Glasses](null) [$379]( [Cleaner Kit for AirPod]( [$23.99]( [Bellroy Tech Kit]( [$55]( [Gkrvb Compressed Air Duster]( [$39.99]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Oh crap! There are now robots for cleaning toilets]( - [Cruise to halve its robotaxi fleet following two crashes in San Francisco]( - [Using home lampshades to turn pollutants into purified air]( - [Why do matter and the universe exist at all?]( [premium] - [Bridging the gap between doctors and medical technology]( [premium] - [Anti-piracy group shuts down Books3, a popular dataset for AI models]( - [ChatGPT could land OpenAI in legal face off with New York Times]( - [Rocket Lab will launch NASA's Earth energy measuring cubesats]( Need help with advertising? Reach 150,000 engineering and tech professionals. [Contact us](mailto:sales@interestingengineering.com?subject=Newsletter Sponsorship) what else? For the week’s top engineering stories, subscribe to [Vital Component]( For expert advice on engineering careers, subscribe to [Engineer Pros]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Give Feedback](mailto:tim.snaith@interestingengineering.com?subject=User feedback for the Blueprint) --------------------------------------------------------------- © Copyright 2023 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 530 Fifth Ave, 9th floor New York, NY 10036, USA All Rights Reserved You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage your e-mail preferences [here.]( Unsubscribe from our emails [here.]( See our full [privacy policy]( or [terms of conditions](.