🚀 First US lunar lander in 50 years lifts off

Plus: iPhone allegedly survives 16,000-foot drop after Alaska Airlines mid-air blowout                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 January 08, 2024 | [Read Online]( For the first time in over five decades, a US lunar lander has embarked on its voyage to the Moon's surface. Early this morning, Astrobotic’s Peregrine spacecraft lifted off aboard United Launch Alliance’s next-generation Vulcan Centaur rocket. Peregrine makes history as the first American moon lander since Apollo. For more on the vessels, payloads and what the wider meaning for American spaceflight ambitions, jump to today’s [Must Read](. Also today, we begin our coverage from CES 2024 in Las Vegas. Stand by for exciting product launches, ingenious innovations, and early signs of trends that will drive the tech narrative throughout the year. 👀 Have you subscribed to Engineer Pros? For the latest engineering news, career updates, and insider knowledge every Tuesday, [sign up here](. Good morning. I’m Tim, newsletter editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let’s start the week! Reading time: 5 minutes Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe ✉](  VIDEO OF THE DAY Is there a safest seat on an airplane? Plane safety decoded: Studies hint the back might be safer, but where's your go-to seat? IE+ 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]( HOT TOPICS - 📱 [iPhone survives 16,000-foot drop after Alaska Airlines mid-air blowout]( An iPhone that was allegedly onboard the Alaska Airlines Boeing aircraft that had a mid-air blowout last week has been found in perfectly working condition, having survived a 16,000-foot drop. - ✋ [FAA grounds Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after Alaska Airlines incident]( The flight, carrying 171 passengers was en route from Portland, Oregon, when a piece of fuselage ripped off the plane's left side, causing a rapid decompression. - 🇦🇪 [UAE joins NASA for the first space station to orbit the Moon]( As part of the agreement, NASA will fly a United Arab Emirates astronaut to Gateway on a future Artemis mission. - 🤖 [A new robot constitution that won't kill humans by Google]( Google introduces AutoRT, SARA-RT, and RT-Trajectory. They promise a revolution in how robots learn, decide, and navigate our world. MUST READ 🚀 [First US lunar lander in 50 years lifts off on Vulcan rocket]( Following multiple delays since 2019, Vulcan’s successful launch begins the first mission United Launch Alliance's successor to the Delta and Atlas rockets. Its NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS) program payload, the Peregrine lunar lander, is now en route to the Moon after separating safely from the launcher. If the lander touches down successfully next month, it will deposit the first American moon rover along with NASA instruments, cultural artifacts, and corporate payloads. Space memorial companies have also dispatched ashes of Star Trek actors and DNA samples of its creator Gene Roddenberry on this mission. The core objective is proving NASA’s private sector lunar landing capacity, but the mission will also probe deep space radiation, lunar ice deposits, and other research goals that will help pave the way for a renewed human presence. [Read more >]( [INNOVATION]( 🎪 [Consumer Electronics Show 2024 kicks off with AI power taking center stage]( This week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas brings over 4,000 companies together, many of which are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence. CES, owned by the Consumer Technology Association draws 170,000 attendees to its 2-million-square-foot venue, and serves as technology’s premiere trade show. Our dedicated team is present on-site to deliver comprehensive coverage of the latest technological advancements over the next six days. This year’s focus lies in making everyday tasks simpler, even in the kitchen. Click below to see what’s cooking. [Read more >]( [SCIENCE]( 🍎 [Apple sees worst ever start to the year]( Tech titan Apple’s share price plunged this week, marking its worst yearly start ever, shaving $177 billion off its market valuation as Microsoft closes in. Triggered by worries over demand for iPhones and forthcoming federal antitrust lawsuits, the descent steepened after rare consecutive analyst downgrades amid doubts over sales growth. With legal, competitive and macroeconomic hurdles stacking up, the company faces its biggest test of resilience since assuming the top spot. [Read more >]( Question of the Day Do you buy interesting new gadgets as soon as they are launched? [Yes, I am an early adopter]( [No, I have all I need]( [I like to wait and see]( [I invent my own gadgets]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS On Saturday, we asked if you would like to have a robot do your household chores. Here are the results. 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Yes, it would be a help (37%) 🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ No, not necessary (27%) 🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Maybe (13%) 🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Depends on cost (23%) “I’ve been covering [Apple] for a long time and I’ve never seen two downgrades before an earnings report.” Gene Munster, managing partner of Deepwater Asset Management THINGS WE LOVE [[FATORK Mini Projector] FATORK Mini Projector $189.99]( [[OBSBOT AI-Powered Phone Mount] OBSBOT AI-Powered Phone Mount $149.00]( [[K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker] Skullcandy Crusher Headphones $148.90]( [[Magnetic Levitating Speaker] Magnetic Levitating Speaker $139.00]( AND ANOTHER THING - IE+ [When will we 'weigh' the neutrino? A new Project 8 study etches closer]( - [Amazon-backed firm unveils revolutionary indoor solar tech at CES 2024]( - [NASA's XRISM mission to unveil unseen universe with X-Ray vision]( - [Trench 94: The eerie final resting place of US Navy's nuclear submarines]( Need help with advertising? Reach 150,000 engineering and tech professionals. 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