Rocket Lab to deploy suborbital 3D-printed hypersonic drone

Plus: Cybertruck specs leaked, Lockheed Martin’s nuclear spacecraft, AI and quantum biology progress Rocket Lab is gearing up for a high-stakes defense contract demonstrating its versatility as a responsive launch provider. The company’s HASTE system will deploy a scramjet hypersonic vehicle built by Hypersonix into suborbit at speeds up to Mach 7. This mission will test HASTE’s ability to deploy the payload within the upper atmosphere. This unique “direct inject” capability is designed to support affordable development of emerging hypersonic and other technologies. As the launch industry rapidly evolves, Rocket Lab hopes to retain its competitive edge by offering tailored solutions for government and commercial customers alike. Jump over to today’s [Must Read]( to learn how Rocket Lab’s HASTE launch system opens new possibilities for hypersonic flight testing and beyond. 👨🏻‍💻 Also today, AI is going to impact your work significantly, and you need to be well-prepared for it. [ChatGPT For Dummies]( is a great e-book that demystifies the artificial intelligence tool that can answer questions, write essays, and generate just about any kind of text it’s asked for. 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?]( Soviet ZIL 2906: An Ingenious Space Rescue Vehicle This Soviet-era machine is driven by two large screws and was designed to rescue cosmonauts stranded in remote and treacherous terrains after space missions. 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. 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Must Read [🚀 US Defense Department eyes insanely fast 3D printed drone to launch into orbit]( Rocket Lab has a new deal with the US Defense Department to test launch the Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) system, sending a scramjet-powered hypersonic drone into suborbital flight at incredible speeds. The mission will deploy [Hypersonix’s DART AE vehicle]( a 3D-printed drone capable of reaching Mach 7. HASTE leverages Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket modified for direct payload deployment within the atmosphere. This will be Rocket Lab’s seventh suborbital launch contract this year, showcasing their leadership in the emerging field. The company has expertise across launch vehicles, spacecraft, and defense-related missions. Its Photon platform was selected for upcoming NASA lunar and Mars missions. By launching Hypersonix's DART AE drone, the upcoming HASTE mission demonstrates Rocket Lab's capabilities for defense customers. HASTE provides rapid, low-cost testing to advance hypersonic technologies. As interest in reusable systems surges, Rocket Lab is well-positioned to enable innovations that enhance speed, cost, and flexibility for space access. [[Read More]( [Transportation]( [🚨 Tesla insider leaks Cybertruck specs ahead of launch]( A YouTube video revealed leaked dimensions and features of the upcoming Tesla Cybertruck from an unnamed company insider. The electric truck will have an 18.6 foot (5.7 meters) length and weigh up to 6,890 lbs (3,125 kilograms) for the tri-motor variant. The Cybertruck is slightly smaller than full-size competitors but bigger than mid-size trucks. Tesla is expected to start deliveries of the futuristic pickup by end of November. This leaked information comes alongside a new policy revealed by Tesla that [prohibits Cybertruck owners from reselling their vehicles]( within the first year in order to prevent speculation and flipping, underscoring the company's aim to tightly control early access to the highly anticipated pickup. Click below for more on the leaked details of this hotly anticipated vehicle. [[Read More]( [Innovation]( [☢️ Lockheed Martin advances space nuclear power technology]( Lockheed Martin secured a $33.7 million contract to mature nuclear-powered spacecraft systems under a US Air Force initiative. The project centers on a fission reactor providing 6-20 kilowatts of heat converted to electricity. Nuclear electric propulsion offers greater energy capacity versus solar arrays for deep space missions. Learn more about the next phase in advanced spacecraft power sources. [[Read More]( [Science]( [🧬 AI and quantum biology improve microbe gene editing]( Oak Ridge National Laboratory combined AI, quantum biology, and bioengineering to enhance CRISPR gene editing tools for microbes. The iterative machine learning model helped predict guide RNA effectiveness for renewable chemical production. The advance also has potential for drug development and genome editing across organisms. Explore how machine learning is revolutionizing gene editing. [[Read More]( QUESTION OF THE DAY The US and China set to forbid use of AI technology in autonomous weaponry. Do you think all sides will honor this? [Yes, if a treaty is in place]( [Yes, but what about other entities?]( [No, work will carry on in secret]( [They're unlikely to agree]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS On Saturday, we asked you how you would power your private tropical island paradise. The results are in! 49% Wind and solar 32% Ocean thermal sounds great 12% A small nuclear plant 8% I'd have no need for it “It is essential to keep a human in the loop in nuclear command and control given some of the problems we’ve seen so far with AI.” Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the German Marshall Fund of the United States AMAZON AMAZERS [DEEBOT X2 Robot Vacuum]( [$1,199.99]( [Kobra Plus 3D Printer]( [$286.98]( [Jabra Elite Wireless Earbuds]( [$224.99]( [DualBrew Drip Maker]( [$127.49]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Frank Borman: First man to orbit the Moon, passes away at 95]( - [This amazing flying sports car can be yours for just $160,000]( - [AI-powered headphones let users choose what they hear]( - [Are we closer than ever to 3D printing virtually anything?]( [premium] - [Webb and Hubble join forces to study MACS0416, a cosmic giant]( - [Northrop Grumman’s Arctic mission passes key test]( - [How fit you are as a child predicts how developed your brain will be]( - [AI-powered traffic signs can reduce emissions from vehicles]( - [Zooplanktons are creating 366,000 dangerous nanoplastics per day]( - [The brain can distinguish between a human error and a blameless one]( Need help with advertising? 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