🎢 Longest, tallest, fastest: Would you ride Falcon’s Flight?

Plus: OpenAI staff threaten to walk, inflatable heat shield test, 3D printed fix for low weapons stocks Saudi Arabia is taking rollercoaster innovation into new territory with their upcoming Falcon's Flight ride. Powered by a high performance Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) system, it will reach speeds exceeding 150 mph that make windshield protection essential for passengers. The Kingdom is staking more of its economic future on the promise of technology-driven, ultra-extreme tourism experiences designed to attract thrill-seekers worldwide, rather than oil extracted from beneath its sands. If the Falcon takes flight as planned in 2024, it will add to the sense that a new Arabian economy fueled not by black gold but by adrenaline and the bold imaginative designs is taking shape. Forget oil dependence — is technology-driven entertainment where Saudi Arabia spreads its wings into the future? Find out more in today’s [Must Read](. Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. 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[SUBSCRIBE]( HOT TOPICS - 🤿 [Royal Australian Navy divers hit by Chinese sonar, sparking outrage]( While conducting minor repairs in international waters near Japan, Australian naval divers were apparently exposed to active sonar pulses from Chinese naval vessels. - 💣 [UK turns to AI, robotic dogs to reduce bomb-disposal risks]( The robotic dogs have a set of skills that can be used to great advantage while reducing risk to human life. - 🤫 [NASA’s X-59 ‘quiet’ supersonic jet now closer to being the real thing]( Now, with most components sitting right in place, NASA and its contractor, Lockheed Martin, have decided to get the X-59 a fresh coat of paint. - 🚀 [SpaceX shares stunning images of Starship liftoff and separation]( Elon Musk said the Starship launch pad is in “great condition” after the rocket successfully performed a hot-staging separation during its second test flight. - 🇬🇧 [Power meets precision in Noble's latest masterpiece, the M500]( The driver-centric marvel features a Ford Raptor engine and manual transmission. Must Read [🎢 World’s tallest, longest & fastest rollercoaster to debut in Saudi Arabia]( Saudi Arabia is set to unveil the world's tallest, fastest, and longest rollercoaster in 2024. Called Falcon’s Flight, the ride will soar to a towering 640 feet (195 meters) at its highest point and reach exhilarating speeds up to 156 mph (251 km/h). Travelling over 2.6 miles (4.2 kilometers), it will shatter existing records for rollercoaster height, speed, and length when it opens at the upcoming Six Flags Qiddiya theme park near Riyadh. Falcon's Flight will perform a staggering vertical cliff dive using magnetic launch technology, subjecting riders to forces of weightlessness. Its train is designed to resemble a falcon and can accommodate 14 passengers. Despite its extreme specs, riders won't require any protective gear thanks to windshields on each car. The coaster is said to weave a path in and out of the entire Qiddiya resort. Saudi Arabia is betting big on mega attractions like this to boost tourism and reduce economic reliance on oil and gas. When completed, Six Flags Qiddiya will feature 28 cutting-edge rides across six themed lands spanning nearly 80 acres. The Falcon is set to take flight soon, but in the meantime you can watch a simulation of the experience by clicking below. [[Read More]( [Culture]( [😡 OpenAI employees revolt, call for board to resign]( After OpenAI’s board abruptly fired CEO Sam Altman, over 500 employees signed a letter demanding the board resign instead. Even co-founder Ilya Sutskever expressed regret and outrage. With Microsoft offering jobs to all OpenAI staff, the board faces mounting pressure. Will OpenAI implode spectacularly? Follow this unfolding AI drama. [[Read More]( [Military]( [🦾 3D-printed rockets to replenish US arsenal]( A company called Ursa Major has developed a 3D printing technique to produce rocket parts faster and cheaper. Their goal is to eliminate bottlenecks in manufacturing rockets like Javelin and Stinger to replenish depleted US weapons stocks. By printing layers of metal, they can create customized components in days instead of months. Learn how 3D printing could revolutionize rocket production. [[Read More]( [Innovation]( [🛡 NASA tests inflatable heat shield for future Mars landings]( NASA successfully tested an innovative inflatable heat shield that could enable larger spacecraft to land safely on Mars. The balloon-like shield survived re-entry from space, proving the Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) concept. This technology may allow future missions to deliver heavy equipment and even astronauts to the Martian surface . Learn more about how this inflatable shield could help assist the exploration of Mars. [[Read More]( job alert In this section you’ll find the latest jobs as featured on: [jobs.interestingengineering.com]( [Cloud Engineer]( at Quotient inc Fort Meade(US) [Engineering Manager]( at ServiceTitan Remote(US) [FISCD Margin Advisor - Software Engineer Senior]( at FIS Global Jacksonville(US) [Engineering Lead, Atlas Search]( at MongoDB San Francisco(US) [Senior Software Engineer - Cloud Engineering Infrastructure]( at Oracle -(US) [Lead CyberArk Engineer (Remote Possible)]( at First American Financial Corporation Santa Ana(US) [Software Engineer III]( at Zoll Medical Corporation -(US) [Network Security Engineer]( at Inspira Health Network Bridgeton(US) [Platform Engineer 4637]( at MetroStar Washington(US) [Senior Software Engineer]( at TRISTAR Bloomington(US) QUESTION OF THE DAY Would you ride the world's tallest, fastest, longest rollercoaster in Saudi Arabia? [Yes, I love extreme rollercoasters!]( [No way, that's too intense for me]( [You go first]( [OpenAI’s story arc is more thrilling]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS We asked you about OpenAI’s board’s decision to fire CEO Sam Altman. Only 7 percent believe they made the right call. 47% Only time will tell 33% OpenAI’s loss is Microsoft’s gain 13% No, it was a mistake to fire him 7% Yes, the board made the right call “I deeply regret my participation in the board's actions.” Ilya Sutskever, co-founder and board president of OpenAI AMAZON AMAZERS [JBL Wireless Bluetooth Speaker]( [$119.95]( [Beats Studio Pro]( [194.99]( [Bang & Olufsen Wireless Speaker]( [$179]( [Startech Backpack]( [$136.99]( AND ANOTHER THING - [New device allows the brain to function independently from the body]( - [Chinese researchers create a wireless charger for implants]( - [Teenage galaxies are extremely hot, finds James Webb Space Telescope]( - [Abu Dhabi debuts the world's largest single-site solar power plant]( - [Supercomputer decodes Supergalactic Plane's spiral galaxy mystery]( - ['Be stars' linked to triple systems, defying previous assumptions]( - [10 of the largest dinosaurs that ever roamed planet Earth]( - [Crucial personality traits of successful start-up founders]( - [Scientists find unusual form of magnetism in human-engineered material]( - [These bats don’t use their penis for penetration — so what is it for?]( Need help with advertising? 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